Chapter 90

At the "Spirit Workshop," with the addition of new members and workbenches, the morning meeting was held with renewed spirits.

"Well, Wayne, Pat, Reina, from now on, I want you to develop your unique skills."

"Sure, sure. Unique skills, huh."

Wayne said this with a lazy tone.

Aina, seeing his attitude, frowned.

(Does he still not trust Roland's appraisal skills? It's about time he recognized Roland's abilities.)

"I've already given Wayne a task. To use 'Magic Stone Cutting' to create equipment for A-class mages. In addition to that, I want you two to compete with him using your unique skills. Take a look at this."

Roland pointed to a harp and a used suit of armor placed on a nearby stand.

"First, Pat. I want you to fix the sound of this harp."

"The sound?"

"Yes. This harp was brought in for repair by a bard in town, but the tuning is off. I want you to fix it."

Roland played the harp to demonstrate.

It was a terrible sound, even to a layman's ears.

"Even if you tell me to fix the tuning... I've never touched a musical instrument before."

"No problem. What you'll be doing is ultimately alchemy."

[Skill 'Tuning' Explanation]

Use alchemy to restore the tuning of a musical instrument.

Performing this on equipment can sometimes grant special effects.

"Can you do 'Metal Shaping'? Try it on this harp."

"Okay."

Pat, still not quite getting it, struck the harp with a hammer.

(What? What's happening?)

Pat played the instrument and immediately felt that the tuning had changed.

When Roland played the harp, the sound was clearly improved.

"Yep, it's better."

(A strange sensation. It's as if I understood what was happening inside the instrument the moment I struck it. A feeling I've never experienced when working with iron.)

"Did you get a sense of how to use the 'Tuning' skill? If so, keep working on the harp until the tuning is completely fixed. Next, Reina."

"Yes."

"You're going to regenerate the iron from this armor."

"Regenerate iron...?"

"Yes. That's your unique skill, 'Scrap Regeneration.'"

[Skill 'Scrap Regeneration' Explanation]

By re-refining already shaped metal, you can restore the metal.

"The method is simple. First, break down this used armor into pieces small enough to fit into the smelting furnace. Then refine it. Can you try it?"

"Understood. I'll give it a try."

Reina, without any questions, started working.

First, she hammered the armor to break it down to a suitable size and then placed it in the furnace.

(She's a straightforward girl. She should be easy to handle.)

Pat was working on the harp on his assigned workbench, trying different methods.

(I can feel the sound changing, but I've never shaped an instrument before, so I'm not quite sure how to proceed.)

Pat sighed and fell into thought (he had a habit of doing this when he got stuck on a job).

(Did I really make the right decision coming here? I left 'Dragon's Ember' on a whim, but that was a clear breach of contract. No matter how much I was neglected, that's still...)

Then, Wayne came over to the adjacent workbench and placed some iron.

"Hey, Pat. You came here too, huh?"

"Wayne..."

"Of course, you were tricked by Edgar. Damn, that guy's a real piece of work."

"I... I couldn't take the way things were going there anymore."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean? Well, I guess I see your point. You were singled out by Edgar, after all."

"..."

"But, this place isn't much better. The guild leader, Roland, gives crazy instructions and has no clear training plan."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. Because of him, I've been through hell. Damn, every workplace is a dump."

"Anyway, Wayne, didn't the guild leader tell you to process magic stones?"

"Huh? It's fine. I need to beat Edgar. I don't have time to follow Roland's instructions. Besides, what's 'Magic Stone Cutting'? I've never seen such a skill at 'Dragon's Ember.' Unique skills don't just appear that easily. What does an appraiser know about alchemy? You should be careful about that..."

Just as he was saying this, Reina's voice came from the smelting furnace.

"Roland! I've regenerated the iron!"

"Let me see. Oh, this is Iron C. Well done."

Roland carefully examined the iron Reina had brought.

(The original armor was made of Iron B. It's impossible to restore it to its original quality, but this is good enough for reuse.)

[Reina Hart's Unique Skill]

'Scrap Regeneration': C (↑2)

(As expected, skills that haven't been developed grow quickly. She went from E-class to C-class with just a little guidance.)

"Great job, Reina. With this, you can save a lot of iron by accepting used items."

"Thank you. I never thought I could do something like this."

"Keep it up and keep using 'Scrap Regeneration.'"

Pat was impressed by the iron Reina had regenerated.

(Amazing. To perfectly regenerate iron from such a worn-out suit of armor. I've never seen a skill like that before.)

(Reina has such a skill, and Roland, the S-class appraiser, saw it in her at first glance. He was treated as a fraud at 'Dragon's Ember,' but he might have real skills.)

"Hey, Wayne, what do you think of Roland... Wayne?"

When Pat tried to talk to Wayne, Wayne was already furiously hammering the iron and had moved on to magic stone cutting.

The rough magic stone was quickly smoothed and began to shine.

Breathing heavily, Wayne submitted the finished magic stone to Roland.

"Huff, huff. Hey, Roland, I've done the 'Magic Stone Cutting.' Appraise it."

"Let's see. Well, if you put your mind to it, you can do it. The unique skill's effect is clearly working."

[Storm Magic Stone]

Magic Power: 50 (↑40)

"Of course. This is child's play for me."

"However, it's still not enough for an A-class staff component. Keep working on it."

As he said this, Roland handed Wayne a new magic stone.

"Tch. Just wait. I'll make A-class equipment in no time!"

Wayne, who had been lazy until then, returned to his workbench and started cutting magic stones with renewed vigor.

(I can't lose to Aina, and I can't lose to Reina either.)

Pat chuckled at Wayne's behavior.

(Wayne, you haven't changed. You get so competitive.)

"Roland! Can I regenerate this iron too?"

Aina brought a cart full of rusty tools.

"Oh? What's this?"

"They were left in the back storage. I thought maybe I could try after seeing Reina's unique skill."

"Sure. Reina, can you try it?"

"Yes, I'll do it."

(Reina is energetic too. This is a good workshop.)

I can work here for a while.

Pat thought this and regained his composure.

[Wayne Mertz's Unique Skill]

'Magic Stone Cutting': C (↑2)

[Patrick Garcia's Unique Skill]

'Tuning': C (↑2)

"Lawsuit?"

Raul looked puzzled when he heard the unfamiliar word from Medes.

"Yes. It seems Roland has been frequenting our workshop recently, despite the ban. Moreover, he seems to have encouraged our staff to breach their contracts and join his guild. This cannot be overlooked, and I believe we should sue 'Spirit Workshop.'"

"Isn't that a bit premature? First, we should call the two who disappeared and verify the facts..."

"That's not possible. This is actually Gilbert's suggestion."

Raul's face darkened at the mention of Gilbert's name.

"Again, Gilbert's suggestion? Even if he's a good customer, you're being used too much. We haven't even received the advance payment yet..."

"The amount is significant. Besides, Gilbert says this is his last request regarding 'Spirit Workshop.'"

"Even so..."

"Raul, think about it. It's a serious issue that someone was encouraged to breach their contract by Roland's persuasion. It could happen again. We need to take action."

"I think reprimanding the two who breached their contracts is enough..."

"Raul, this is a done deal. Don't argue about it now. Instead, the 'Crescent Knights' will be returning from the dungeon soon. Make sure you're fully prepared."

"I understand."

Raul looked out the window towards the 'Volcano Dungeon.'

(It's quiet. Did Lord Ugan really avoid the 'Giant Fire Dragon' as planned?)

While 'Dragon's Ember' and 'Spirit Workshop' were having their minor conflicts, the 'Crescent Knights' led by Ugan were not idle. They had already led the local guild on their first dungeon exploration.

Let's go back a bit and follow their trail.

When Ugan and the 'Crescent Knights' arrived at 'Dragon's Ember,' they were warmly welcomed.

"Welcome, 'Crescent Knights.'"

Medes greeted them with his usual charming smile (he was always polite at first).

"Thank you, Medes. We'll be in your care. Hey, Raul. Haven't you gotten rusty?"

"Of course not. It's good to see you, Lord Ugan."

Raul greeted Ugan with unusual politeness.

He was generally arrogant with everyone, but S-class adventurers were an exception. He respected them as one of the few who could fully utilize his equipment.

Ugan handed his magic sword, 'Graniel,' to Raul.

"Take care of this for me."

"Sure, leave it to me."

"By the way, Lord Ugan, about the new equipment..."

"Wait a moment. First, I want to investigate the dungeon and the 'Giant Fire Dragon.'"

"Then, let me provide the information we've gathered independently and make suggestions for the equipment."

"Thanks. I'll hear all that later. But, I also want to gather information independently."

"There's no need for that. We know the local situation best. Please leave it to us."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

Ugan said firmly.

"I'm not doubting you, but information can be biased. There's a difference in stance between the alchemy guild and the adventurer guild. We need to verify the information ourselves. Misinformation can be fatal for us adventurers. We can't trust others easily. Don't take it personally."

"However, adventurers who come here are accustomed to using our equipment. Our proposals are highly regarded among adventurers. For example, we suggest fire lances for 'Fire Dragon' countermeasures..."

"That's how the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' ended up in a major fiasco, right?"

Medes' cheeks twitched slightly (the change was so subtle that only someone with keen observation skills would notice), but he managed to maintain his smile.

"Understood. I'll limit myself to maintaining existing equipment and providing budget estimates for new equipment."

"Thank you."

The 'Crescent Knights' left their equipment with 'Dragon's Ember' and went out to gather information in the city.

"Double S adventurers are indeed calm. They're a different breed from the young ones at the Magic Academy."

Raul said admiringly.

"Hmph. Not necessarily. Being too experienced can be a problem. They rely too much on their long-standing instincts and can't accept others' advice easily."

"What's wrong? Why are you in a bad mood?"

"Nothing. I'm not in a bad mood."

The 'Crescent Knights' determined through their investigation and calculations that they could explore the 'Volcano Dungeon' three times with their funds.

For the first exploration, Ugan decided to focus on collecting minerals, leaving the 'Giant Fire Dragon' for later.

The second exploration would be for slaying the 'Giant Fire Dragon,' and the third would be a reserve.

The problem was coordinating with the local guild.

When the 'Crescent Knights' announced they would explore the 'Volcano Dungeon,' the local adventurers came to their lodging, offering to help.

One of them said:

"The 'Volcano Dungeon' has a complex path that can't be explored without a local guide. Additionally, we need to consider battles with the thief guild. Please use us as guides or shields."

Another said:

"Transporting minerals requires manpower. I've heard that the 'Crescent Knights' prioritize agility. You may not be accustomed to heavy labor. Please use us for mining, transportation, and handling."

Yet another said:

"If you explore the dungeon without involving the local guild, you'll make all the local guilds your enemies. Even the 'Crescent Knights' would find it extremely difficult to return with any spoils. The local guilds only want rewards to continue their business. If you pay them, they won't attack you. However, working with a mixed group might be concerning. We can select and introduce reliable local guilds to you. We can adjust the interests. Please leave it to us."

Thus, the experienced local guilds pressured the 'Crescent Knights' in various ways, forcing them to involve more adventurer guilds than initially planned.

However, Ugan and his team did not form alliances with all the local guilds that volunteered, as the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' had done.

They strictly reviewed the guilds' size, requested rewards, financial status, track record, and the adventurers' skills and stats, selecting only those that wouldn't hinder their progress (though, compared to the 'Crescent Knights,' their proficiency was significantly lower, which affected the overall average).

It took three days to complete all the preparations and gather at the entrance of the 'Volcano Dungeon.'

Coincidentally, this was the day Monica and her team were dealing with the first assassin sent by 'Dragon's Ember.'

Before entering the dungeon, Ugan emphasized:

"We are about to begin exploring the 'Volcano Dungeon.' As previously discussed, we will explore it in three stages. This time, we will focus on collecting minerals and leave the 'Giant Fire Dragon' for later. Please cooperate with each other during the exploration."

Thus, the 'Crescent Knights' and their allied guilds entered the dungeon.

As soon as they entered, a 'Fire Dragon' attacked.

The alliance was slightly shaken.

"A 'Fire Dragon'!"

"Damn, so soon?"

"Hey, you go first."

The local adventurers, lacking 'Fire Dragon'-specific equipment, were hesitant to engage in combat, as it would lead to significant exhaustion.

They didn't want to be worn out so early in the exploration.

The 'Fire Dragon' seemed to sense their fear, flying leisurely around and applying pressure.

The adventurers retreated step by step, their morale draining.

"Damn, we have no choice."

A bow user and a warrior equipped with a 'Fire Lance' from the 'Crescent Knights' stepped forward.

The arrow from the bow user hit the 'Fire Dragon,' which then charged at the bow user.

The bow user quickly moved, drawing the 'Fire Dragon's' attention, while the warrior struck from a blind spot, thrusting the 'Fire Lance' into the 'Fire Dragon's' throat.

The heated tip of the 'Fire Lance' burned through the 'Fire Dragon's' throat.

The adventurers cheered.

"Great job!"

"Typical 'Crescent Knights.'"

(They're not as tough as they talk.)

Ugan was inwardly unimpressed by the local adventurers' enthusiasm.

(However, making them enemies would be too detrimental. I need to handle them carefully and use them effectively.)

"The 'Crescent Knights' will handle the dragons, including the 'Fire Dragon.' The local guilds will deal with the lesser monsters and the thief guild."

Ugan gave the instructions, careful not to show his dissatisfaction.

With clear roles, the alliance cooperated smoothly, advancing through the dungeon without friction.

Ugan, while leading the alliance, remained vigilant of the rear.

(This feeling. They're definitely there. The thief guild is right behind us, waiting for an opportunity. They're a nasty bunch.)

"Is something