"You seem to be discussing something rather interesting."
Isis jumped at the sudden voice beside her ear. Lambert had drifted up behind her like a ghost without making a sound and spoken in a low voice.
With an irritated huff, Isis reached out, grabbed Lambert by the back of the neck, pulled her close, and playfully ruffled her hair.
"Don't ever sneak up on people and talk right into their ear again!"
After a period of nutritional supplements and physical training, Lambert no longer looked quite so frail, but she was still far from sturdy or strong. Held in Isis's arms, she was like a little bird, utterly unable to struggle free.
Her unkempt, mid-length hair was quickly tousled into a mess. Only after she murmured an "Okay" did Isis finally release her.
Isis had no intention of hiding the pioneering operation from her. Since Francesca had written that recruitment would be open, there was no need for secrecy.
"Pioneering a new region?" As expected, Lambert's eyes lit up.
For someone who yearned for excitement and the unknown but hated a rigid, predictable life, a pioneering operation like this held an obvious appeal.
Chia, sitting at the same table, also looked eager.
It meant venturing into an untouched secret area with companions, carrying the spark of civilization into a perilous wilderness, and building an entirely new base there.
Perhaps in a hundred years, another great city would rise there, and those first pioneers would be written into the history books. Seventeen or eighteen was precisely the age to yearn for freedom and adventure. What teenager could resist such a prospect? As it turned out, one could. Vari did not seem particularly interested.
To him, traveling from the Great Desert to the boundless Old Jungle already felt like entering a completely new world.
Since he was already in a "New World," why rush off to another one?
Chia soon calmed down as well.
If he had only himself to consider, he would gladly have swallowed his pride and asked for a chance. Perhaps the pioneering team could use a junior Hunter like him to handle odd jobs.
But he had a little sister to care for. Pioneering sounded thrilling and romantic, but it would undoubtedly be dangerous and no place for noncombatants, especially the elderly, the infirm, or children.
Could he leave his young sister behind in Metapetatto while he went off pioneering? He could never do that.
Compared with watching his little sister grow up healthy and happy, the excitement and pride of pioneering new lands meant nothing. Once he realized that, he lost all interest in joining the operation.
He returned to telling his new friend Vari about life in the Jungle.
Watching Lambert brim with excitement, as though she might hoist a Hunting Horn and start playing on the spot, Altaïr reminded her, "We're not against you going, but it's not for us to decide.
"Besides, we haven't even decided whether we want to join. Everything has to wait until after we meet Francesca and discuss it with her.
If you're interested, come with us to Dundorma. Just be prepared to get rejected and make the trip back alone."
"No problem!" Lambert devoured the rest of the food on her plate in a few bites, called, "I'm going to get ready!" and ran off.
"Vari, you've never seen the Jungle at night, have you? Let me take you up the bell tower for a look!"
As he said this, Chia also rose from the table and pulled Vari, who had yet to recover his wits, to his feet. After saying goodbye to Altaïr and the others, they left the tavern table.
Clearly, Chia did not want to intrude on Altaïr and the others' conversation.
Altaïr could not help feeling a little wistful. With his home destroyed and only his little sister left beside him, Chia had probably seen plenty of both kindness and hardship. He had matured far too much since they first met.
Chia had always been independent and decisive, with a strong drive to act that sometimes made him headstrong.
That much had been clear when he slipped out of his village and infiltrated a Monster's nest to rescue his missing father. Later, blinded by hatred, he had traveled alone to Dundorma and joined a training camp, determined to avenge his loved ones.
Chia's drive complemented Vari's mild temperament, lack of initiative, and exceptional ability to follow through.
The two should get along well. Altaïr even had a hunch that, in just a few years, these young Hunters at the start of their journeys might grow into remarkable people.
He was beginning to understand why Francesca was so fond of bringing people together.
Bringing the right people together and watching them grow side by side gave whoever introduced them a special sense of fulfillment. "Altaïr." Isis's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Do you think Sis Francesca... I mean, the people running the pioneering team, will let Lambert join?"
As 5★ Hunters, Altaïr, Isis, and Nymera had no reason to worry about their own chances.
Even in Dundorma, where powerful Hunters gathered in great numbers, 5★ Hunters were reliable core personnel, especially when they formed an established 5★ hunting party.
Apart from enormous undertakings like the Research Commission's decades-long, even century-long expedition to an entire New World, ordinary pioneering operations would not keep High Rank Hunters in the field for years. The Guild could not spare them.
That made 5★ Hunters at the pinnacle of Low Rank ideal candidates. Even without a personal invitation, no pioneering team would turn them away.
Lambert, however, was only a 2★ Hunter. "Lambert? I'd say she's fairly likely to be rejected." Altaïr leaned back in his chair, clearly not optimistic about her prospects.
Otherwise, he would not have spoken so bluntly earlier or told her to prepare for the possibility of making the return trip alone.
The girl was talented, certainly, but talent promised only future potential, while the pioneering team needed immediate combat strength.
What good was future strength if she could not contribute now? "But what if she really does get rejected? Do we just leave her here?" Unease showed plainly on Isis's face.
Lambert had acquired plenty of labels: genius Hunting Horn user, antisocial girl with dark circles, mad musician, eccentric weirdo, and more.
But to Isis, Lambert was simply a fool who could not even manage her own meals properly. "You don't need to worry so much." Altaïr sighed in exasperation. "She's not actually stupid. There were just things she hadn't understood before. She's been diligently following the diet and training plan you made for her.
Now that she's earned 2★, she's more or less past the beginner stage where she needs someone to 'show her the ropes.' She doesn't need us looking after her all the time.
Besides, we haven't decided to join the pioneering team yet, and she hasn't actually been rejected. Why are you getting so worked up already?"
"That's true." Isis scratched her hair and stopped fretting.
"There is still one matter we should consider carefully." Nymera's expression turned serious.
"What?"
"What is it?" Altaïr and Isis asked in unison.
"This pioneering expedition will last a long time. If we decide to join, we'll also have to withdraw our registration from Metapetatto and give it up as our base of operations. We should think carefully about how to explain that to... the Guildmarm."
Altaïr and Isis instinctively glanced toward the Quest Counter. Noya sensed their gazes immediately, tilted her head, and gave them a sweet smile, even forming a heart with both hands.
"This..." Isis began, then quickly turned away and lowered her voice to a whisper. "Noya would burst into tears on the spot, wouldn't she?
Altaïr, you're better with words. You tell her."
"I second that." Nymera nodded.
Altaïr had no answer for them.
(Translated by yourtl.app)