Monster Hunter (2004) - Volume 3, Chapter 1

Volumes 1 and 2 of this series are on Baka-Tsuki.

I'll be posting the contents of this post and future chapters of this project to Baka-Tsuki as well.

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Monster Hunter - Capacity of a Leader
(Book 3 of the Monster Hunter Series)
Author: Yuuki Rin
Illustrator: Koyama Shigeto

Chapter 1 - Irritation

This is not the refreshing feel of fresh grass clinging to one’s cheeks, but rather the discomfort from fangs of bugs that had reached one’s skin through the gaps between armor pieces.

The jungle’s atmospheric temperature is high. Cool breezes from the nearby river helps to alleviate the heat, but it is hot nonetheless.

While on the same level, the jungle’s heat is different from the desert’s dry hotness, in that it gives one the impression of having an additional layer of soaked clothing stick to their skin.

Zeeg Grandest thought it was strange that while armor pieces made from fire wyvern shells are highly capable of blocking external heat, they also effectively disperse internal heat. Then again, if that were to not be the case, he wouldn’t have been able to stay put in the bushes for the past hour, waiting for his prey.

One whole day has passed since the start of this hunt. In accordance to the Hunter’s Guild contract, there should be less than an hour left before a carriage arrives to pick them up.

If that were to happen, the hunt at hand would be considered a failure. That is the single most important thing that they want to avoid. Although it certainly is disappointing for one to forfeit the quest’s contract fee, but reputation is what they are more worried about. If one were faced with consecutive failures, good hunting requests would stop coming their way. 

On top of all that, the wyvern population is not so large in the first place. If a subjugation of a wyvern were to be requested, it would only be in cases when the client is truly desperate, meaning it is only natural for the guild to assign quests to hunters whose skills are up for the job.

One of the factors dictating that criteria is one's rank as a hunter, but it is natural that their recent hunting achievements would take priority when considering such things.

If one were to take long breaks from hunting, their skills would become rusty. Even if their ranks were high, they wouldn't be deem reliable if it's been years since they hunted their last wyvern.

In this aspect, the party Zeeg is currently a member of is one with a great amount of prestigious achievements. They've hunted a great variety wyverns, and the boy even owns the rare armor set, made from scales and shells of the powerful fire wyvern Rathalos, at the young age of 18.

Of course, the boy acknowledges the fact that it was not obtained with his strength alone, but with the combined strength together with his comrades.

Without moving any other part of his body, Zeeg averted only his eyes- He looked to his left at the bottom of the cliff that stood there.

From the bushes, a pair of sand-colored horns protruded upwards, as if to pierce the heaven.

Those are the shoulder pads of the Diablo Mail, a piece of body armor manufactured from horns and shells of the desert-dwelling herbivore wyvern Diablos.

That large man had fortified his whole upper body with Diablo armor, and for his lower body, armor made from shellss of the armor wyvern Gravios. His whole body may be covered in heavy armor, but he is certainly not a coward.

One would understand when they look at the Field Horn hanging from his waist.

Manufactured with a unique engineering technique, the horn serves to emit a sound that attracts the attention of monsters.

Only ones who have confronted wyverns before would comprehend the magnitude of courage it takes to blow the horn in the presence of such beasts.

That large man is still active in his hunting career at the old age of 60- He is Gannon Denon. Even though the color white is becoming more and more prominent over his originally black hair, not one bit of his physical strength has deteriorated.

Gannon's Diablo Spear may not have any special attributes like the Hellfire lance, which can emit fire and burn the target's flesh with each stab, but what he is currently using has greater sharpness that enables it to pierce through tougher wyvern scales.

A pair of small horns could be seen shaking beyond the shoulder pads. Those are the horns attached to the large man's helmet. Although Zeeg could not see the large man's face, the boy averted his line of sight back to his front upon feeling an intimidating gaze directed back at him.

Their prey this time will be coming from the sky, but the threats they have to be aware of is not limited to that point alone.

Aside from the sky, there are three entrances to their current area, including the log that acts as a bridge across the river, a large opening in the cliff, and a path that goes between the river and he cliff.

Luckily for today, giant bug monsters such as Vespoids and Hornetaurs, that seem to come back no matter how many is struck down, were nowhere to be seen.

Zeeg couldn't come to a conclusion whether it's because of the change in climate or a premonition of things to come, but it makes their job easier nonetheless.

Normally, they would have to tediously deal with those giant bugs with the size of large dogs, with carapace as sharp as knives, and with needles that inject their opponents with paralyzing toxins.

Hearing subtle movements in the air, Zeeg shifted his line of sight to the river's direction. Think of the Neoptreons and they doth appear- Something like that had happened to them before.

However, what caused the movement in a patch of damp grass wasn't a bug.

A giant flower bloomed among the lush greenery, thickly covered in spike-shaped petals and shining in a metallic silver.

Nay, that is no flower.

In the jungle, there exists giant flowers that emit the scent of rotten flesh, but like how Gannon's armor isn't an actual monster, what stood there wasn't a flower, but rather the waist part of an armor set that gives such an impression.

It is a fashionable armor piece, made of materials obtained from the female fire wyvern Rathian, designed as if intended to be an evening dress made of steel. This particular design if for use by women, and while the waist armor this girl is currently wearing is weaker in terms of defense compared to what she used to wear, it has an advantage in its reduced weight.

Still, Zeeg speculated that there is an additional reason for this girl who is a year younger than him- for Elmeria Franport to suddenly change her armor of choice to one with lower defense.

That is because the time she changed to the Rathian set coincided with when Zeeg made the switch to his newly obtained Rathalos set. In other words, she's certainly saying that she doesn't want to wear the same armor set as the boy.

Still, even if Fradio Heart, one of their comrades, would say something like,

"Hehehe... Matching armor sets, I see..."

Even if he intended them as mere jokes, the boy and the girl would surely be overwhelmed with embarrassment and awkwardness, but Zeeg never thought that it would be enough of a reason to change one's armor, as it actually is a matter of life and death.

("......Seriously, does she dislike it that much?")

Zeeg would often take offense when he sees that armor. Not only due to his distaste for its appearance, but also the girl wearing it.

And in the direction of that Elmeria girl, a hunk of metal could be seen.

It is a heavy weapon handled by the young lady, unfitting for her thin arms- A hammer.

The hammer is a difficult to use weapon type, as it focuses on pulverizing prey with powerful swings, while completely neglecting defense. Even so, Elmeria chooses to not wear some parts of her armor in exchange for more manageable mobility, meaning even a single hit from a monster could end up being fatal.

The reason she's able to choose such a dangerously specialized attack style is because she's hunting in a party, in which Gannon is the one pulling the monsters' attacks toward himself.

("......Isn't she becoming more of a coward lately?")

That was what Zeeg thought while looking furtively at the girl's profile and her long blonde hair, tied together at her nape.

The boy couldn't shake the thought that the girl's decisions up to now have been way too cautious. It is only natural that it is a leader's responsibility to care for their comrades' safety and know when to pull back. Only then will they be considered a full-fledged hunter, but that's totally different from being a coward.

Even during this hunt, they had many chances to take. But Elmeria would always choose to go the safe route, not taking any risks.

Even when Zeeg would say things will go well, she wouldn't accept his proposal. Even when wounds were so light that they can practically be licked off, she would tell him to use medicine on them.

("......I'm not just some little brat, dammit.")

Of course, from Elmeria's standpoint, she probably wouldn't consider the boy to be a even halfway to the top yet, but it's not like he's so useless that he doesn't know the state of his own body.

While keeping himself from clicking his tongue in annoyance, the boy returned his line of sight to his front.

If he were to not stop thinking unnecessary thoughts, he wouldn't be able to move his body as effectively as he can at the most crucial moment. That moment may very well be what decides between life and death.

Sensing in his ears a faint sound of grass being stepped on, Zeeg held his breath.

As faint as it may be, the boy knew very well that Gannon and Elmeria also noticed it.

He peeled his eyes wide open and turned to that direction- Into the darkness beyond the large opening in the cliff. But having just adjusted his eyes to the brightness, he couldn't peer into the darkness without difficulty.

Even so, the boy looked on, and could eventually see the orange color of a rotting fruit exuding from beyond that darkness.

Of course, that doesn't mean the darkness is literally rotting.

Zeeg could hear a short gasp that he unintentionally let out from his throat, and feel the damp sweat that formed under his red armor.

The color started forming a shape, as a crested head protruded from the darkness.

("It just has to be Ioprey......")

Zeeg groaned from the depths of his abdomen.

Those things are the most demanding type to deal with among small carnivore monsters. Their throats contain Poison Sacs, and they hunt by appearing in large numbers and spitting poison at their prey repeatedly, then ganging up on their weakened target.

Moreover, the one that just appeared isn't alone.

One crested head after another appeared from the opening in the cliff, each raising up their heads as if to sniff for the scent of prey.

Five in total- Under normal circumstances, this quantity wouldn't be something to worry about.

However, now is a very bad time. That is because the plan was to have Fradio lure "her" here. It a melee were to break out in this location, even an Iodrome will pose a threat.

Zeeg lifted his waist up slightly and reached for the handle of his great sword- of the Lacerator Blade+, but stopped upon feeling a piercing glare from behind. 

Turning around while taking care to not be noticed by the Iopreys, Zeeg's eyes met with Elmeria's unsparing blue-green pupils. Obviously, what she meant to communicate was "don't make a move".

Zeeg answered with some gestures, his message being "it'll be better for us to take them down first". As tough as it may be, even Gannon's Diablo armor won't defend against poison. It won't be an easy task to keep those Iopreys in order while fighting against "her" at the same time. As reply, Elmeria made a decision that totally astonished the boy.

She raised a finger and pointed at the riverbank.

("Step aside, you say!?")

As if she was reading Zeeg's mind, Elmeria nodded. Get away from this location and wait for those Iopreys to leave before coming back- that was surely what she meant.

She wasn't joking, apparently.

Right now, Fradio should be in the process of luring "her" from the nest to this location. Sounds of that man's heavy bowgun being shot could be heard several times in the distance, and the trained noses of hunters could smell the unique scent of Paint Bullets which had been fired at "her".

At any second now, "she" will be here.

This is undoubtedly their last chance for this hunt. It it were to fall all apart at the last moment because of some Iopreys, the frustration would be unbearable. 

Looking away from the girl, Zeeg moved without making any sound and reached for his Lacerator Blade+ with his hand, wrapped in a wyvern scale gauntlet. A reproaching sound could be heard from behind. The boy could feel Elmeria breathing out of the spaces between her teeth in a menacing manner as a warning, but he pretended to not hear her.

At that moment, the Iopreys broke into a commotion and cried out to each other.

The boy thought they've been noticed, but that was not the case. Observing the Ioprey pack breaking off to their left and right as if to make way for something, Zeeg then peered curiously into the darkness once more.

A prominent crest, violet in color as if packed densely with poison, appeared from the darkness in a position approximately two head lengths higher than those of the Iopreys. Under its head is a large swollen throat sac. From the other side of the small hill, it looked at the Ioprey pack menacingly with its eyes, shining like golden ink drops.

("So there's an Iodrome here as well......")

Zeeg could feel impatience burning in his chest.

Iodromes usually act in independent groups, but sometimes they would follow a certain creature acting as their leader. It is a monster called Iodrome, and while its size is not quite as big as other wyverns, its toughness level is on par with Yian Kut-Kus.

The Iopreys' primary prey are giant bugs, but if other creatures were to disturb their feeding grounds, they wouldn't let it slip either. Additionally, this current location is surely one of their best feeding grounds.

Even if the group were to decide to retreat, they wouldn't be able to leave this area without being noticed anymore. The Iodrome is sharp-sighted. Also, even staying hidden is not a viable option either.

There's the option to have "her", who is being lured here, fight those Iopreys, but that's not really a reliable tactic.

Besides, if they were to jump head first into the ensuing chaos, all of the monsters' attention would be focused on the hunters.

("I just have to do it.")

Zeeg came to that judgement.

While Elmeria may be the leader, it doesn't mean that the other hunters are below her. They all paid their share of contract fee and had their share of participation in the hunt. Meaning, if the request were to not be fulfilled, the boy would lose his share of contract fee and his own reputation. He just can't afford to let that happen.

Zeeg gripped the handle of his Lacerator Blade+ and got up to his feet. "Don't!", an ear-piercing exclamation came mixed in with the sound of the river's flow, but the boy paid it no heed.

At this point, they would've been noticed either way.

The boy rushed ahead in one go, swiping the grassy-smelling sweat off his body. He then stopped and simultaneously flicked up his waist to spring up the sword on his back, grabbed and pulled on the handle, and brought the blade down in an overhead slash.

Retractable blades sprung out of the sword's body like wyvern fangs, digging into the head of one Ioprey, then pinned it down on the damp earth just like that.

The great sword's wielder then pulled his weapon up and rotated his body in a side revolving swing, splitting the Ioprey's skull apart. The blade mowed down and dug into another Ioprey's legs, tearing its flesh and bone.

Letting out a shriek, the Ioprey collapsed.

The other Iopreys screamed in unison, and the boy listened to those high-pitched voices while raising his sword for another overhead slash, decapitating another Ioprey.

Amid the gushing body fluids, the boy utilized the sword's recoil to make a sideways evasive roll.

On the spot where he was standing on just a moment ago, the ground was dyed in blood and bluish purple toxin, the greenery started to change color and withered before his eyes.

The boy instantly stood up and mowed down the neck of another Ioprey. The monster fell, its crested head spinning in the air before falling down right in front of the boy. Seeing the neck swell up, Zeeg leaped out of the way. A mixture of toxin and saliva spurted out, hitting a tree and raising white smoke.

Things are going great, was what the boy thought, but at that moment the clear sky suddenly darkened.

A fierce gust of wind blew from the front, followed by a thunderous roar that shook the hot, damp atmosphere and caused ripples on the river's surface.

("So it's here!")

While using his sword to guard against the gale, Zeeg took a look at "her" through his helmet's visor.

Wind burst forth as the creature spread its wings, blowing away the poisonous mists and swaying the trees' branches.

As if to challenge the new arrival, the Iodrome raised its head and cried out. It's as if it was declaring this place as its territory.

However, a head on a long neck extended down from the sky and bit the Iodrome's neck, easily ending its living breath.

The smaller creature's thin neck swelled up, then exploded. As toxin splattered all over the place, some of "her" scales seemed to have been burnt, and violet fluid dripped from "her" mouth, but "she" doesn't seem to be injured.

On top of the Iopreys that had been thrown out of order and attempting their escape, the large body, as green as the jungle, swooped down. As for Zeeg, he had already gotten out of the way somehow.

As one of the Iopreys got terribly trampled under that foot, its amber-colored eyes popped off, and its internal organs were wrung out of through mouth.

Immediately after, the other Ioprey that got away was struck by "her" tail and knocked into the river, never to resurface again.

As if to cancel out the sound of flowing water, "her" roar echoed throughout the area- She is Rathian, a female fire wyvern called by some as the queen of the jungle.

In awe of the menacing existence, the boy's body stiffened.

Although he had hunted it multiple times prior, he would have this same feeling in situations like this.

That is because it is every person's fundamental level of fear.

There's a saying among hunters that, if one doesn't feel that fear anymore, then it would be time to retire. That is because hunters who have lost their feelings of fear would in turn lose their fear of death.

Whether that's true or not, the boy could never get used to the uneasiness that goes against even how he wants to move his body.

As Zeeg clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, the Rathian's face turned around in his direction. Her golden eyes met with Zeeg's, who was crouching on one knee behind the bushes.

From the opening mouth, what remained of the crunched Iodrome head was dropped to the ground, along with the lingering toxin and blood. It's as if she was telling the boy that he'll be the next one.

The wyvern then raised another roar, knocking Zeeg down on his buttocks with the voice's sheer pressure.

The giant mouth opened up before him, showing the pitch black interior of the throat. Beyond it, a faint flickering light could be seen, as if it's a fireplace that is being lit up.

It reeked of blood. Just the smell of blood is what's not so different between himself and the Ioprey, was what the boy thought.

He's living, and what's he smelling is death.

While the boy was frozen in place and wondering whether or not he'll be eaten, the sound of Field Horn echoed throughout the area. That sound is what gives hunters courage, while in turn induces fear and rage in their prey.

The Rathian immediately reacted, turning around in the direction of the cliff.

Gannon dropped the Field Horn from his hands, then readied his set of lance and shield, both created from the hardest shells of Diablos.

Letting out another roar, the Rathian then charged forward. A great amount of dirt was kicked up from the damp ground, causing large ripples as they fell into the river. The spike that protrudes from the monster's lower jaw, said to be used for child rearing, clashed with the shield, scattering sparks. Without stopping, the Rathian pushed Gannon towards the cliff.

"You're the one who started this, so don't just sit there!!"

Hearing that angry shout from behind, the boy turned around and saw Elmeria, who is in the process of slipping past the Rathian's tail in order to get to the other side.

Just like that, she applied a great amount of force into the swing of her hammer- one that appears to be half-broken, striking the Rathian's leg.

The hammer's exposed core seemed to shine, and its impact caused a ripple in the Rathian's leg. It then spread throughout the monster's body, causing its scales to stand up in an unnatural manner with some of them being ejected right off, followed by gushing blood.

The wyvern let out a seemingly painful shriek, while at the same time raising its tail up. The barbs on that tail are poisonous.

The tail bent and lashed like a whip, and Zeeg immediately felt that it's dangerous.

That is because Elmeria is still dragged along by her hammer's swinging arc, and her stance is not yet readjusted. The swinging tail is undoubtedly being aimed at her.

Sheathing his great sword, Zeeg ran through the space between the wyvern's legs. The fear he felt in this moment gave him goosebumps. It those feet were to move, he would be easily trampled down.

Noticing that, Elmeria's eyes opened wide, questioning the boy's action.

There was no time for any explanation. Zeeg saw in the edge of his eyes that the Rathian's tail momentarily stopped, as it is getting ready to slam down on Elmeria.

Zeeg leaped at the girl, with the intention to push her down.

Under him, the girl let out a startled scream.

That was followed by a punch on his helmet, simultaneously with a terrible impact on his back from the strike that he was trying to defend against.

("Seriously!?")

Zeeg moaned. With intense pain in his neck. He had been hit from above and below at the same time. Elmeria's physical strength is comparable to an attack from a wyvern. After all, she's able to wield a giant hammer like it's nothing.

"S- Sorr-"

Without listening to the end, Zeeg got up and swung his great sword at the Rathian. The attack was for venting anger, from getting hurt as a reward of going through the trouble of saving someone.

However, the blade fanned the air.

The Rathian soared up into the sky. It made a midair somersault spin with great force, and Zeeg raised his great sword up to guard against it. The tail raked the ground, leaving behind a small pond where water from the river flowed into. Sparks scattered as the bards collided against the sword.

Strong toxin, with potency on a whole other level compared to those of the Ioprey's, scattered from the wounds on the tail. It splashed on the boy's great sword and armor, raising steam.

A muffled voice could be heard.

Looking that way, Gannon was on his knees, pressing on one eye with his hand. Smoke rose from the helmet, in the area surrounding that eye. He had been hit with the Rathian's poison.

Elmeria's face went pale as she broke into a run. 

"You idiot!"

Zeeg shouted out to her, but it probably didn't get through to her ears.

At that moment, smelling the unique scent of sulfur, Zeeg looked up at the sky.

Landing on the riverbank opposite to this side, the Rathian took a deep breath. A great amount of air was sucked in through its nose.

"Elme-"

The boy knew that he wouldn't make it in time, so all he could do was give a warning.

The interior of the Rathian's throat shone in red, and a large fireball was shot out from its wide open mouth. It exploded upon impact, engulfing Gannon and Elmeria in a fire vortex.

Zeeg covered his face, but was still blown away by the explosion, landing on the ground in a unsightly manner. Hot wind blew onto his body. The heat that seeped through his armor lightly burned his hair and skin.

He rolled into the river, hearing a steaming sound as water evaporated upon touching his armor, then hurriedly lifted his body back up.

A whirlwind then hit the surrounding area, blowing away smoke and extinguishing flames.

The scorched earth had been turned black, and the trees turned into charcoal. A burnt smell drifted throughout the area, and the water in the small pond left by the Rathian even evaporated.

However, Gannon and Elmeria weren't burnt along with the area.

Surely, the large man had shielded Elmeria at once. His shield had been deployed on front of them, and its surface is covered in soot. After confirming that the two were safe, Zeeg felt a weight being lifted off his chest, and so he turned around once more.

The Rathian spread its giant wings and began its ascent. At this point, it's gone up so high that the sword wouldn't be able to reach it anymore. One of its legs was injured, and red drops of blood splattered throughout the area as it dangled.

For a moment, Zeeg felt his line of sight meeting with those golden eyes.

That wyvern, called by some as queen of the jungle, raised its voice one more as it beat it wings in order to change its direction. Zeeg immediately reached for the leather pouch on his waist and took out a Flash Bomb, but upon seeing that the Rathian is no longer looking his way, the boy had to let it go.

The green queen flew away quietly, despite its bloody, dangling right leg. What remained in the area were only the gust from her beating wings and the burnt stink resulting from her fire.

Zeeg knew full well of the reason they weren't able to finish it off. It was due to Elmeria running off to Gannon's side.

That was when the group's cooperation completely crumbled away.

When it comes to his role as decoy, Gannon did his part perfectly. It's evident from how he dealt with the fireball that was meant for him. It was Zeeg and Elmeria's duty to focus their attacks when they see an opening, but Elmeria forgot that when she ran to help Gannon.

And this is the result.

Irritation burned inside the boy's chest, so much that he felt like spitting fireballs like a Rathalos. But now is not the time. He still has to see this work through to the end.

Sealing his leather pouch close, Zeeg then turned to Gannon.

"......You alright?"

"I am."

Although clearly in pain, he was still able to give a firm answer.

On the other side of Gannon's shield, Elmeria raised her face.

Her face is even paler than usual.

As a result of the fireball's heat, her blonde hair had been messed up. Her eyes quivered in fear, but Zeeg never thought it to be unsightly.

No matter how skilled the hunter, they would never forget their fears.

However, her course of action just now was different from usual.

"......Glad to hear that."

Saying that as if it was just for courtesy, Zeeg turned away from the pair and started walking, stepping on the dry, black soil.

"W- wait! Where do you think you're going!?"

In response to Elmeria's voice, Zeeg turned his head around without stopping his feet.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to chase after it."

His nose can still smell the paint on the target.

From the strength of this smell, the location she's currently heading to should be beyond the opening in the cliff- the area with dense vegetation.

While not a place where he swing his great sword around easily, but the hindrance also applies to the Rathian.

The color of the wyvern's body blends in fairly well with the environment there, making it an ideal location for the monster to hide in, but the boy still thought he's the one who has the overall advantage.

One reason is because the thick vegetation will serve as shield against the monster's fireballs and poisoned tail.

"Y- you can't!"

Zeeg expected that statement from her, but he still couldn't help but click his tongue as he stopped his feet.

What could she have meant when saying he can't?

Elmeria's previous strike must have completely broken the Rathian's knee joint. One would know when they look at its rear view as it flew away.

If the boy were to chase it down right now, he might be able to defeat it before escort arrives to pick them up.

"Gannon has to be treated! You help too, Zeeg! We're carrying him back to basecamp!"

The injury shouldn't have been that severe. The Rathian's barbs didn't pierce his eye- or even touch his face, for that matter. It was just a small drop of toxin, so washing it off with river water and applying some antidote should suffice. That much can be done in only a few minutes, right here. Even if they were to go back to camp, the degree of medical treatment they would be able to do wouldn't change.

"......Is it really that bad, Gannon?"

Zeeg directed his question not at Elmeria, but at the man himself.

Gannon leaned his shoulder against his lance that had been staked to the ground. Half of his face was inflamed and has turned violet, and the eyelids of his injured side has become badly swollen.

Elmeria removed the man's helmet, then used clean drinking water from her canteen to rinse his eye, rather than drawing water from the river, then applied the antidote. The area between his brows started to wrinkle as white vapor rose up. The medicine's effect kicked in before long, greatly alleviating the swollen areas and the color of his skin.

"How're you feeling?"

"......Hm, all good now."

Gannon said that and started to stand up, but Elmeria's hands held the man's shoulder down. The girl then turned to the boy, her eyes burning with anger.

"Help me out here, Zeeg."

Those words meant to "ask" for help, but her tone made it sound more like an "order". Zeeg felt something in his head being cut off. It might have been that thing people call the cord that holds one's patience together.

"......You've gotta be kidding."

As if spitting those words out, Zeeg spoke up. Elmeria's facial expression turned severe right before his eyes. It's like a mirror. Zeeg knew full well that he himself is also making that face. Even though he knew, he just couldn't keep quiet. The boy opened up his visor and gave Elmeria a dark look.

"Don't you get it? If we let it get away now, we'll fail this hunt, you know?"

Without a doubt, this is the last chance they have for this hunt. Even so, while they're stuck in this argument, the wyvern is probably recovering from its injuries, and the carriage that is coming to pick them up is almost here. Zeeg couldn't bear to meet those eyes that look on with pity and disdain for the quest's failure.

"Gannon's eye isn't something that can be replaced."

Elmeria raised her voice, showing determination as hard as Machalite in her decision. Her implication was that she wasn't ever asking for any opinion to be expressed. However, the boy couldn't just obediently go along with that.

That is because, at any rate, the boy was born and raised in the same village as the legendary hunter, the Hero of Kokoto. This results in him being met with ridiculous expectations from others. That in turn gets him a great amount of job recommendations, but on the other hand, failure would mean tarnishing his village's name.

Even if he were to say "I'm me", the society's spotlight focused on him wouldn't go anywhere.

"C'mon, old man did say that he's all good now."

"Gannon would still say that even when he's not."

Of course he won't, was what Zeeg thought, but he kept quiet because nothing he says would be able to sway Elmeria right now. Gannon is a hunter to his bones. Although he would go great lengths in order to protect Elmeria, he's not a rookie that would bluff things off in this kind of situation.

"......Just- do what you want."

Zeeg closed his visor, turned his back to the pair, and started to walk off.

"And where do you think you're going!?"

"Isn't that obvious? I'm going to hunt it. In that state, I should be able to pull it off alone. I can't afford to let this one go."

"You stop right there!"

Light footsteps could be heard, caused by Elmeria who ran towards Zeeg, stopping to stand between the boy and the opening in the cliff. She's carrying the Breath Core on her back. Zeeg admired her for being able to run with such speed with that thing on her back, but that does nothing to quell his anger.

"......Out of the way."

"I won't let you do as you please. We're going back to camp- And you're helping."

"Enough with that bullshit!"

Zeeg took off his helmet- the Rathalos Helm, and hurled it down on the scorched ground. Elmeria is apparently unfazed, and Zeeg is indeed angry at himself for letting out such a childish behavior, but for him to go pick up his helmet right now would make things even more awkward. Moreover, he is also irritated by how Elmeira is seemingly able to see through all of his thoughts.

"What did we come all the way here to do!? Wasn't it to hunt the Rathian!? And you're going to let it all go just like that!? Are you going to let all the trouble we went through for the last few days go to waste!?"

"I never said that kind of thing! But still, hunters have to know when to quit! If Gannon were to lose his eye, would you be able to take any responsibility!?"

"Wasn't that why I told you I'd go alone!? You can just take Gannon and go back to camp!"

"And since when did I give you the permission to do that!?"

Those slapping words caused Zeeg to roll his eyes. To him, it felt like he's being written off, like he's being told that he's not good enough to hunt the Rathian by himself.

Sure, wyverns in guild-designated hunting grounds are tougher than those in the hunting grounds near villages. But Zeeg's abilities were enough for him to hunt the one-horned wyvern Monoblos by himself. That wounded Rathian may still be a tough job for him, but it is not impossible.

"......Out of my way."

Acknowledging that what he did earlier was uncool, Zeeg picked up his helmet and held it under his arm, then used his other arm to push Elmeria away. However, the girl who stood there in an imposing stance also had the weight of the Breath Core on her waist, causing the light push on her shoulder to not move her at all.

A defiant gleam could be seen in her eyes. "I'm not even scared of wyverns' charges, and you think you can push me away with those thin arms?", was probably what she was thinking.

"You..."

"Coming at me with that attitude doesn't scare me one bit. Who do you think I am? I became responsible for you the very moment you became one of us. If you go out there and die, it'd be troublesome. You seriously think you're a first-rate hunter now? Don't be ridiculous. Just being able to hunt a Monoblos doesn't make you special. For a member of my party, that is."

It's useless no matter what he says, thought the boy. He gave it a thought, but couldn't recall since when did this girl turn into someone who doesn't listen to others. Maybe she had always been gradually changing all this time, as if being slowly encroached by Ioprey poison.

People don't notice the change in their long-time companions. And when they do, they'd be completely taken by surprise- Zeeg just remembered that he had once heard something along those lines.

"Having an argument in this time and place, I see."

Upon hearing that calm voice with a hint of coldness, Zeeg turned around.

A man approached, walking along the riverbank.

On his head was an ashen grey helmet with curled horns pointed to the back, and two eye holes giving an impression of a demon, with other parts of his body wearing the same type of equipment- Equipment created from hides of the poison bird wyvern Gypceros, except for the torso that was left naked, giving an impression of an executioner. An unforgettable appearance, even at the slightest glance.

Holstered on his back was the Tankmage, a type of heavy bowgun, which also has parts made of the Gypceros's Rubbery Hides.

"It's not that big of a problem. We're going back to camp for now, so get ready."

"Oh? Then, we're giving up on the Rathian?"

Under the Gypceros hide mask, Fradio's eyes narrowed.

"I never said that. We're having a good look at Gannon's injuries first, then-"

"We don't have time for this."

Zeeg interrupted the girl.

"If we go back, its wounds would be healed while we're there. If we're going to finish the hunt, it's now or never. If you're taking Gannon back to camp, then fine. But I'm going."

"Didn't I already tell you that you can't!?"

Zeeg turned back to Elmeria.

"And what's up with that!? No one's telling you that you're responsible for me! This isn't like back then when the guild had you take care of me! Or rather, if you have any brilliant plan to finish the hunt after we all go back to camp, then let's hear it!"

"That's......"

Elmeria bit her lips.

From her expression, it was evident that there was never such a plan. She insisted on it purely because, with priority above all else, she wanted to take Gannon back to camp.

Zeeg knew full well that the relationship between those two were a lot more than just hunting comrades. However, that has nothing to do with the hunt at hand.

Right now, their purpose is to complete the hunt as requested.

Returning alive is important, of course, but there's no meaning in worrying about it to the point of not being to complete requests. To be insulted for one's cowardice is what hunters can't bear with.

"......What do you say, Fradio?"

Zeeg asked while glaring at Elmeria, who is now casting her eyes down. Even while turned away, the boy knew that the man was making a move. Perhaps he was crossing his arms, or perhaps he was inserting his hand into his mask to scratch his chin- the chin with shape unknown to anyone, on a face no one has ever seen.

"Well... If you're asking whether or not to abandon the hunt, I'd say we have no choice but to abandon."

Elmeria's expression lightened up. "I told you so" was clearly what her eyes were saying.

That irritated Zeeg. Fradio ended up siding with her, was what the boy thought. In any case, the three members have been operating for a long time together in the same party. All this time, hunting under Elmeria's command. With that in mind, one's personal judgement would naturally be less reliable when compared to the girl's. Even so, Zeeg didn't think the decision he came to was wrong. However-

"We're already out of time, you see."

Fradio pointed up. At that instant, as if being called by the man himself, in the direction of the basecamp, a signal flare's trail of white smoke could be seen as it rose up to the blue sky. It signaled that the escort carriage had arrived. The team had wasted more time here than they had thought.

Failure, once again.

Denied of the reward money and precious materials they would receive had they succeeded.

A hard blow indeed, for one to lose money when they have been saving up for a new weapon. On top of that, it had been quite a while since they last received a request as big as to subjugate a wyvern.

It was supposed to be a chance they couldn't afford to miss.

The feeling of irritation just won't go away. All that time spent arguing should have been plenty for finishing the hunt.

"......Damn it all!"

Zeeg kicked the burnt, dry earth. Blackened dead soil fell into the river, creating countless ripples.

The Rathian's roar could be heard in the distance, as if it was laughing at the shallow-mindedness of its tiny hunters-

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