The day after Aldrete Crow broke through the Mount Golem. Tsutomu told the clan members that they were going to start moving in earnest now.


''I think we'll start moving in earnest today. For now, let's break through the Fire Dragon.''
It's been a long time coming.


　Amira clasps her hands together and crunches her joints as she sits on the couch. It had been a month since she hadn't lost consciousness even after the release of her dragonization. The infinite circle was repeating its steady training and activities.

　The hierarchy with the Hierarchy Lord would not be able to return on the way back because the black gate of return would disappear. Therefore, Tsutomu didn't want to challenge the Hierarchy Lord if he couldn't trust the tank's abilities at least. But in the past two months, the cooperation with Daryl has deepened and he feels that he is more competent than the previous Garum. Hanna's avoidance tank was becoming more and more common, so Tsutomu decided to take on the fire dragon.

　Besides, various monsters from the volcanic hierarchy ahead of him will also appear, so the purpose was to get him used to them now. Diniel was an old explorer and Hannah had been there for a long time, so it wouldn't be a problem, but Daryl and Amira didn't know the dungeon very deeply. Daryl had been a baggage carrier until Garum taught him to tank, and Amira had been able to conquer dungeons quickly with her unconscious dragonization.

　These two would naturally have monsters that they had never fought before. Particularly the rare monsters and the Demiliches, the wilderness backstage hierarchy lord. Those were the ones I wanted to let them gain combat experience since they would have the opportunity to fight in the next level.

　Also, in order to sit down and think about sponsors, Tsutomu talked to Amy during this period. Amy was happy to hear about her specialty, and she was happy to tell me about her sponsorship with a casual look on her face.

　Oli, the accountant of the Clan House, also advises her that relying on Tsutomu's funds is not a good idea. So Tsutomu decided to accept the sponsorship and let Oli manage the funds of the clan.


Therefore, Mr. Tsutomu has decided to entrust me with the management of the clan's equipment. I look forward to working with you. First of all, Diniel-san. The cost of purchasing arrows is far too high.
"Necessary expenses.
''The average amount of arrows you used in your golden search has already been checked. Compared to that, it's obviously a waste of money, isn't it?
...it's a b*tc*. b*tc* orc.


　Diniel doesn't like Oli very much because he is forced to bathe him every day. And since Oli is quite powerful, he had called him an orc, spoofing his name. But it wasn't Oli who responded to Diniel's tirade, it was Daryl and Hannah.


''How dare you say that, Diniel-san!　Please apologize to Mr. Oli!
'Yes!　I won't allow you to speak harshly of Oli!
'I don't deserve to listen to two people who are in the hands of orcs.
What the hell is wrong with you?


　Daryl has been grabbed by Oli for his stomach, and Hannah likes the massage and feather grooming. Amira was also being grabbed by her stomach, but she was depressed about being nagged, so she pretended not to see it. Diniel looks at them with cold eyes.


'It's like a tame dog being fed and a bird in heat with an orc. A classic example of greed. Don't you feel ashamed of yourself?
I'm going to be mad!
Well, well, well. Please calm down.


　Oli restrained Hannah, who was red in the face and tried to crowd Diniel, and the discussion continued after that. And in the end, Diniel decided to reduce the number of arrows he had to purchase due to budgetary constraints.

　In the midst of such turmoil in the Clan House, Tsutomu had signed a sponsored contract with the store where Daryl and Garum were buying their equipment--Doren Workshop. The content of the contract was to advertise the store's imprint on equipment and magic bags. With this, there's no need to be so aware of the sponsorship, and the equipment is not tied up.

　In exchange for putting the shop's imprint on every clan member's equipment and magic bag, the Doren Workshop will transfer a percentage of the increased sales and provide a discount on armor maintenance and new work. That contract will greatly reduce the cost of Daryl's heavy armor. The sponsored contract is also a great way to connect with the Doren Workshop.

　Thanks to that, Amira was also able to have her steel greatsword relaunched for free, so she was in a pretty good mood. She does equipment inspections every day without fail, but after all, if she can have it serviced by a craftsman, it's the best thing to do.

　The normalization of clan management in the battle against various monsters. A sponsorship agreement with Doren Workshop. This January, I focused on those three things. The highest tier hasn't moved at all because of that, but I can say that we've accomplished enough.


'A fire dragon, huh?'


　Diniel mumbles to himself while maintaining his bow in the living room. Aldrete Crow's seventy level breakthrough has made it hazy, but the golden investigation also broke through the fire dragon the other day. When Tsutomu was about to call out to her to see if she was concerned about that.


''You already look weak. After the Stampede,''


　In addition to the rampaging dragons, the thunder dragon ice dragon black dragon. To Diniel, who had seen them firsthand, the fire dragons seemed insignificant. At her words, Tsutomu crossed his arms.


''Well, with this group of people, we will be able to win consistently. Let's take it easy.''
...Yes.
Yeah.


　Daryl and Hannah seemed less energetic than usual, perhaps because they were anxious to take on the fire dragons. All of the major clans have broken through the fire dragons, except for the Silver Beast. The Guild and the Labyrinth Conqueror Squad also broke through the Fire Dragon at the same time as the Golden Examining, and although there are signs that the Guard Corps is about to break through as well, it will still be a difficult category to break through the Fire Dragon.


''It's okay. The two of them have grown up in the past two months. Especially Hannah, she's already looking like a different person.''
Is that so?　But it's a fire dragon........


　Hannah scratches her cheek with a confident face. Her blue hair, which was always bouncing with energy, was also somehow dreary. She had fought dozens of times against fire dragons while she was enrolled in Aldoret Crow, but ended up being wiped out. An absolute powerhouse who couldn't imagine the prospect of winning. Such a perception was ingrained in Hannah.


''If Hannah should fall apart, Daryl and Diniel will cover for her, we'll be fine. Let's take it easy.
Hey.
"...By the way, what happens if I collapse?
If Daryl collapses, the game is over at that point, so don't ever collapse.
I'm going to have a stomach ache.


　Daryl rubbed his stomach, letting out a wry smile at Tsutomu's unconcerned face as he gave him pressure. This was Daryl's first time facing a fire dragon in the first place, so it would seem that he would rather be the one to be covered than Hannah. However, Tsutomu had been convinced over the past two months that Daryl would have no problem with it.


'Is Amira... at the rate she's going, is she going to be okay?
Huh?
'No, Camille seemed confident, but when it came to the battle, she was heartbroken.
'Ha!　Don't be like that old lady. I'm not intimidated by a lizard like that.
''Sure, Amira's also experienced a rampaging dragon. She really is like a lizard compared to that one.
..........


　Amira had joined the Stampede defense as an attacker near the rear guard. And the situation was different from Camille's because she was directly receiving the sign of the rampaging dragon. However, as if she didn't want to remember that time, Amira blatantly averted her gaze.


''Alright, let's go then.''


　Since they had already practiced cooperation in the fire dragon battle, there was no particular reason for concern. Tsutomu confidently headed to the guild with everyone, and after completing the reception, he moved to the fifty-nineth level.


　--▽▽▽--


　After exploring the fifty-nine levels and finding the black gate to the sixty levels, the Infinite Circle PT wore a red thread fire bundle, which was an anti-fire dragon bracelet. Only Hannah wrapped it around her waist so as not to inhibit the wings on her back.


''Shall we go?''


　Daryl and Hannah looking nervous. Amira with a vigorous look on her face. With Diniel, who hadn't changed from his usual appearance, Tsutomu proceeded to open the black gate to the 60th level.

　The landscape of a canyon with several high cliffs on the sixty levels that have been shifted. Then a fire dragon appeared from the cliff valley ahead and roared.

　Although its roar was less powerful than that of the tyrannical dragon, it was still so powerful that an ordinary person would be in awe and unable to move. Diniel and Hannah, who received the roar, didn't seem particularly unfazed, but Daryl and Amira were visibly floating.


''Dragon--''
Wait.


　Tsutomu immediately held Amira's mouth as she tried to turn into a dragon as soon as she received the fire dragon's roar. The skill would not be effective unless it was uttered out of his mouth. Therefore, if the mouth is blocked during the process, of course the dragonization will not be activated.

　He took his hand away from the wriggling Amira, and as soon as he saw the gliding fire dragon and predicted that the standard breath was coming, he immediately gave his instructions.


'It's the usual pattern. Breaths are coming. Each of you should protect yourself with your fire armor.''
Yes!
Yes!


　Hannah immediately took the fire armor she was wearing around her waist and put it on. I'm sure you'll be able to see that I'm not the only one. I'm sure that Daryl also listened to Tsutomu's instructions and immediately put the hood on his head.

　It's not that Daryl isn't susceptible to pressure, but if someone else gives him instructions, he'll follow them and move quickly. So as long as he has instructions, he won't stop.


"Amira.
I'm sorry.
Okay. It seems like all dragons do that.


　Amira was ashamed that she had been inspired by the roar and unconsciously tried to turn into a dragon, and immediately put on her fire armor after bowing to Tsutomu.


''Diniel--''


　After looking at the three of them and confirming that there was no problem, Tsutomu finally looked at Diniel and gulped. That Diniel had clipped his unwilling eyes and was concentrating on the fire dragon.


''........You know what you're going to do.
Yes.
Okay, you got it.
I got it.


　Diniel replied with a slight upward movement of her bow, and then she guarded her arrow to the oncoming fire dragon. While the other four bent over to prepare for the breath, she was the only one standing proudly.


''Power Arrow.''


　Unafraid of the fire dragon, which was leaking red flames from its mouth, Diniel fired a single arrow at the fire dragon. It pierced the green stone between the fire dragon's eyebrows with precision. After finishing the arrow, Diniel quickly pulls his hood up and squats down to prevent the breath.

　The fire dragon loses its ability to fly and glides down, sliding its huge body to the ground. Diniel accurately shot the fire dragon in the forehead without even using a flashbulb, and as soon as he saw that the breaths had stopped, he stood up.


''Daryl!''
Combat Cry!


　In response to Tsutomu's voice, Daryl released his Combat Cry into the fire dragon. Then the fire dragon battle in the infinite circle began.