No sound at all?
Altaïr was a little stunned. This was the first time he had ever heard Lambert describe someone that way.
But it was not exactly bad news. At least Lambert had not said anything alarming like, "There's a demon hidden in his heart!" Right? Vari himself merely looked bewildered, unable to understand what they were talking about.
Altaïr schooled his expression and continued. "Anyway, let's start by introducing yourselves, including your preferred combat style, tactical position, and so on."
Under Altaïr's warning gaze, Lambert curled her lip and said simply, "Lambert, 2★ Hunter. I only use the Hunting Horn. I prefer using Echo Waves to rattle a Monster's brain into mush.
As for tactical positioning or whatever, I'm not too clear on that. I usually Hunt alone and haven't worked with others much."
Not bad. She had covered nearly everything that needed to be said. Altaïr shifted his gaze to the young Gunner.
The boy named Vari seemed almost overly polite. He ducked his head again before speaking. "My name is Vari. I'm also a 2★ Hunter.
My preferred combat style... I don't think I really have one. The same goes for tactical positioning. I generally just follow the seniors' orders.
Unlike Ms. Lambert, I joined the Rangers right after graduating from the training camp. The seniors have always led me during operations. Aside from my promotion exam, I've basically never acted alone."
Vari's answer was perfectly reasonable. Although his voice was a little soft, he spoke clearly and logically. He was clearly not so socially inept that he could not communicate, as Altaïr had worried.
His lack of solo combat experience did not matter. Altaïr was not about to send him off to duel a Monster alone. By comparison, someone as prickly as Lambert, who almost never cooperated with others, was far more of a headache.
He glanced again at the weapon on Vari's back. It was a Light Bowgun model called the "Cross Bowgun."
Altaïr knew this type of Bowgun. Its power was nothing exceptional, but it could fire a wide variety of Bowgun Ammo, and the materials needed to make it were not difficult to obtain, mostly bone materials, metal ores, Konchu shells, and the like.
It was the kind of interim weapon that the training camp's Gunner instructors strongly recommended.
All in all, Vari was a remarkably ordinary young man.
Altaïr thought for a moment, then said, "Once we locate the target and enter combat, you two stay back-to-back.
One of you will be responsible for bringing the target down. Leave killing the prey to me. The other will keep watch for sneak attacks from other Egyurasu.
If multiple targets appear, it would be best to use Flash Pods. In short, as long as you can knock the target out of the air and into my attack range, I can finish it quickly."
"Understood."
"Got it."
Lambert and Vari nodded in unison.
"I'll handle bringing the target down," Lambert added. "I've knocked that kind of Monster out of the air with Echo Waves before, so I have experience!"
"Okay." Vari nodded again without hesitation.
"Then it's settled." Lambert returned to the bow of the ship, where she continued eating sand and feeling the wind.
She disliked standing beside Vari. It felt like stepping into a completely silent room, which made her somewhat uncomfortable.
Vari looked a little lost. He could tell that Lambert did not like him very much, though he could not understand why. Reserved as he was, he was not about to approach her and risk bothering her.
With nothing else to do, he returned to crouching silently at the stern, repeatedly checking his weapon and Ammo as his instructors and seniors had taught him.
Altaïr glanced at the two of them with no intention of forcing them to get along.
Some people simply did not click. As long as they could complete the mission smoothly, there was no need for them to become friends.
Less than a quarter of an hour after leaving Loc Lac, they discovered their first target, or rather, two targets.
Two Egyurasu less than ten meters apart were circling in midair, seemingly searching for food.
"Time to get to work. Stay safe."
Altaïr stopped the Sandship while it was still dozens of meters from the targets. After dropping the anchor spikes, he jumped off the ship and took the lead, walking toward the two Egyurasu.
He wanted to draw as much of the Monsters' attention as possible so that the two behind him would be safer.
"Multiple targets. Flash Pod..." Vari muttered to himself, pulling out a Flash Pod and gripping it in his palm.
"Not yet. The two Egyurasu are very close together. I'm confident I can knock them both down in quick succession." Lambert shook her head at Vari. "Hurry up and follow."
"Oh." Vari obediently put the Flash Pod away.
By then, the two Egyurasu had already noticed them but had not attacked right away.
"Not naturally aggressive, are they?" Altaïr muttered to himself.
Perhaps these Small Flying Wyverns only truly bared their fangs when acting under Guanzorumu's orders.
You haven't done anything wrong so far, but for the city's safety, all I can say is sorry.
Altaïr drew his Long Sword.
Not far behind him, Lambert had already raced through the melody for an Echo Wave, but she did not stop there. She continued plucking the strings, compressing the melody further.
The newly enhanced Wind Horn's resonance chamber buzzed and trembled, causing even the gravel on the ground nearby to ripple like water.
"Ha!" With a low shout, she unleashed an invisible sound wave.
The nearer Egyurasu shrieked as its body plummeted.
Seizing the opportunity, Altaïr rushed forward like lightning. Before the Egyurasu could stabilize its flight, he raised his Long Sword high and swung.
The sharp, trident-like blade tip sliced cleanly through the Egyurasu's abdomen. Entrails and blood spilled out, and the Egyurasu crashed headfirst into the ground, quickly falling silent.
Enraged by its companion's death, the other Egyurasu dove toward them, ready to pounce, when another Echo Wave thundered out.
A second Egyurasu corpse soon lay on the ground.
The battle ended quickly and smoothly. Vari stood on full alert with his Bowgun in hand but never even had a chance to fire.
Altaïr shook the blood from his blade. "Vari, cut the tail tip from each of those two Egyurasu as proof of mission completion.
Today's plan is to hunt ten Egyurasu."
"Yes, Senior Altaïr." Vari slung his Bowgun onto his back, drew a small knife, and quickly walked over to the two corpses.
He had been told to cut off two tail tips, so that was exactly what he did. He did not even glance at the usable materials elsewhere on the bodies.
Such unquestioning obedience pleased Altaïr greatly.
He shot Lambert a glance that clearly said, "Look at him!" She was still debating whether to go over and skin a couple of hides to sell.
Lambert pursed her lips, kicked at the sand, and headed back to the Sandship.
The three set off again, leaving the two corpses on the sand to give off a thick, bloody stench.
Resources were scarce in the Dead Sand Sea. Within minutes, nearby insects, lizards, and even Monsters such as Delex and Cephalos would swarm in and devour both corpses completely.
A great many Egyurasu had gathered in the desert near Loc Lac. Not long after the small Sandship began moving again, they discovered another group.
Three of them this time.
"Leave bringing them down to me." Lambert hefted her Hunting Horn. "I've already prepared the melody. I can release three Echo Waves in one go, which is perfect!"
"Alright." Vari nodded as readily as ever.
Altaïr glanced at the two of them but said nothing.
The battle began much like the previous one. Lambert brought the first Egyurasu down with an Echo Wave, and Altaïr seized the opening to kill it instantly.
But just as she released the second Echo Wave, the other two Egyurasu suddenly veered upward in alarm, causing her sonic attack to miss.
Sweat beaded on Lambert's forehead. The two Egyurasu had flown out of her attack range!
At that moment, a Flash Pod flew out from beside her, catching the two Egyurasu in time, disorienting them, and sending them crashing to the ground.
Altaïr had been about to pull the trigger on his Slinger and launch a Flash Pod of his own. He took his finger off the trigger and paused for a few seconds, then walked over to the two Egyurasu struggling on the ground and finished them off one by one, looking somewhat amused.
Lambert turned to look at Vari behind her.
He held his Light Bowgun at the ready and vigilantly scanned their surroundings with a serious expression, showing no sign that he had been the one to throw the timely Flash Pod.
"You–" Lambert hesitated as she started to speak.
Thinking she was about to blame him for taking over her role, Vari hurriedly explained, "Senior Altaïr said it was best to use Flash Pods against multiple targets, so I've... I've kept one ready."
"I wasn't talking about that." Lambert waved dismissively. "You already used a Flash Pod to bring the targets down. Why didn't you hurry and follow up with a few shots?"
"But I'm in charge of keeping watch?"
"You–"
(Translated by yourtl.app)