"Seven?! You're a host for seven girls?!"
"Well, Lala doesn't really show up much. So most of the time it's six." Hubby admitted.
Oh my god! Seven girls?! Wouldn't taking care of a harpy and slime be challenging enough? Or better yet, why does this guy even have seven girls living with him? Is he like one of those guys that doesn't try to impress girls, but loads fall head over heels for him?
"Why do you even have so many with you, anyway?" Well, it's worth finding why.
"I don't know!" Hubby admitted. "First Miia ended up coming here by accident. Then, Papi kidnapped me. And-"
"OKAY! I get it." Alright, so Hubby just ended up with them coming into his life.
Right...
"Taiden-san?"
Huh, why do I feeling Papi found something in my caravan?
"What is this?" Yep, Papi found my gammoth helmet.
"That's my helmet. So, could you be careful with it?" Fortunately, Papi wasn't doing anything that could damage it.
But then Suu got her hands on it, wearing it like a mask. Look rather odd too, a slimy girl covered in a raincoat... wearing a gammoth helmet.
"What kind of helmet is that, anyway?" asked Hubby smiling at Suu and Papi's as they kept on playing.
"It's part of my gammoth armor." Seriously, that armor works wonders in cold places. "Took me a long time and loads of trunkspines to even-"
"Gammoth? Don't you mean a mammoth?" questioned Hubby.
Yeah, I can understand why he'd ask that. I mean, take away the snow on it's legs, tail, and red and bluish fur. And a gammoth does sort of look like a mammoth, or a giant popodrome.
"No, gammoth. Does sort of look like a mammoth though." Yeah, a mammoth that decided to take steroids one day.
"Well, we're here."
Already?
"Guys, could you put that back where you got it?" I feel mean asking that, only because both Suu and Papi gave me the innocent look.
Hey, you try saying no to a harpy or slime-
Oh. My. God.
Yes, that was my reaction. Staring open mouth at Hubby's house... no, more like a mansion!
"Yeah, it's a big place." admitted Hubby rubbing the back of his neck.
Big? It's HUGE! Seriously, you can hide a rathian and rathalos in there... Might make a good nest for them as well.
"I'll just open the gate for you." Hubby called as he made his way to the gate.
I'm sorry, I still can't get my head around how big his place is. I get you might need some 'special requirements', to take care of a harpy and slime. But, this seems a bit... over the top. Unless, he needs it for the other five girls.
"Taiden! You can come through now!" That snapped me back to reality.
"You heard him, Tafu." I coxed Tafu, to be honest, she seemed all the more happy to oblige.
Maybe it's because there's enough space for her, or possibly cos she's near Suu and Papi. No doubt she's now got a soft spot for them, and to be fair... I kinda do too.
Well, it's differently big enough for a caravan and aptonoth, we ended up just settling down next to Hubby's balcony. Could climb up there within a few seconds, no doubt.
"I'm sorry, I don't have any shelter for Tafu to stay in." apologized Hubby as I got off.
"It's okay, she sleeps outside anyway." I assured Hubby letting Tafu off from the caravan.
Well I'm not gonna let a aptonoth try to get into my caravan! Good thing Tafu was already dust bathing, she always does that before resting. It's like her way of making herself at home.
Well, it's best if I set up. The sooner I do that, the sooner I can go off to get some-
"AHH!"
"DARLING! YOU'RE BACK!"
Darling? Sounds like Hubby's other-
Oh.
Well, this is something you don't see everyday. Only a few feet from where I had gotten off the caravan, Hubby was now coiled in the embraced of a... SNAKE GIRL?! Thank goodness I'm not scared of snakes.
But, then again. There isn't really anything scary about her, actually. A long red tail, matching her long hair. And amber eyes cloaking two slit pupils, which.. actually looks quite cool.
"MHIIIA!"
"Huh? Oh, sorry Darling!" the snake girl quickly apologizing, releasing Hubby from her embrace.
That was when she finally caught sight of me, oh wait, no. More like caught sight of Tafu, lumbering over to my side.
"Um, who are you?" the snake girl asked as Hubby began to get up.
"Tai-Tai" I probably sound so stupid right now.
"Miia! You're not coiling Master again, are you?"
"Lamias are said to passionate, Centorea-san."
Okay, so I've met a harpy, a slime, a lamia (thanks to whoever that was informing me). Surely, whoever is coming over can't be any stranger? Can they?
Oh my, I am SOOOO wrong!
Well, I'm guessing the centaur would be Centorea. Not hard to link those two together. But she does seem rather properly dressed too, a long skirt over her horse part. Blond hair, tied into a pony-tail (Ha! Pony-tail) reaching all the way down her back. Her arms folding under- WOAH! Those things are huge. Probably has some back problem thanks to them.
The other girl- hold on, THEY DO HAVE MERMAIDS HERE! Well, having said that, she obvious fits the maid part. Actually, if it wasn't for her webbed hands and obvious pink tail, I probably would have mistaken her for a maid. A maid limited to wherever a wheelchair would allow.
"Welcome back, sir!" The mermaid greeted Hubby, clapping her webbed hands together. "Did you get what you wanted?"
"Something more actually." Hubby explained brushing the dust from his shirt "Everyone, this is Taiden Buredo-san. He's visiting Japan and he needed a place to stay."
"Oh, pleasure to meet you, Taiden-san." the lamia greeted bowing slightly. "Names Miia."
"It's a pleasure to meet someone outside of Japan." the mermaid admitted. "Please, call me Mero."
"And I'm Centorea." That was when Tafu decided to investigate, sniffing Centorea as the centaur seemed almost surprised. "Wha- What kind of beast tis this?"
"Uh, monster actually." I explained making my way over. "Tafu's a-"
"The huntress, lays a trap for her prey..."
Huh?
Looking down, I caught sight of what looked like a piece of webbing. Placed like a trap around my feet- oh no.
"AHH!"
I don't know how fast it even happened, or even how the others were reacting. All I could see was the world turned upside down as I hanged from my legs, my arms and face wrapped up in webbing as something pulled me up. Or better yet, someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry Honey." a sarcastic voice apologized. "I had no clue you came-"
Maybe this persons finally realized they've got the wrong guy? Yep, they're pulling off the webbing from my face, probably didn't realize what they even caught-
Oh. My. God.
Right, as much as I prefer to stay away from spiders... I've gotta admit, this girls actually looks quite badass. Six red eyes, though four seemed cloaked under her white hair. Arms covered in... is that a endoskeleton or exoskeleton? Pretty much, apart from her armored arms and six eyes, her top body looked rather normal. The rest, pretty much all spider, with one massive skull mark.
"You're not Honey." she realized as if disgusted.
"No, I'm vinegar." What? vinegar attracts flies.
"Rachee-san? I'm down here." Hubby called down from below.
Uh oh, Tafu doesn't look too happy, slamming her tail down with her eyes on me... or better yet, the spider girl holding me off the ground-
BOOM!
"Ahh!"
Ow...
"Taiden-san? Are you okay?" asked Papi landing beside me, while Tafu began to pull the webbing off me.
"I'm fine." Yeah, I'm fine. It's not like I've fallen from high places before.
It wasn't until Tafu helped me up that I noticed the massive crater in the wall, or better yet, aptonoth head shaped crater. Tafu must have rammed into it to get Rachee to drop me.
"You mind telling me what a dinosaur is doing here?" Rachee questioned as she got up.
"One, she's not a dinosaur, she's an aptonoth." Man, this is getting old correcting people. "Two, she's with transport."
"Wait, you mean she pulls your caravan?" Miia asked looking at my caravan, her tail flickering about which I'll admit, did look a bit... hypnotic.
"All the time, she's stronger than she looks." that earned me a nudge from Tafu, she always loves a compliment.
"Yeah, the crater the wall did point that out." Rachee pointed out, hey, she only has herself to blame for that.
"Miss Centorea? You think maybe you can pull that?" Mero asked as Centorea began to blush furiously, probably not the best question to ask a centaur. "You do have plenty of strength-"
"I'M NOT A PACK-HORSE!" Yeah, figured that would be her answer.
I really don't need anyone helping me, seriously. Tafu's always fine carrying stuff on her back, food, wood, clothes, dead monsters. Which reminds me, gotta repair that hole in the roof by tonight. Can't risk a night with that there, what? I don't want rain to pour though it!
Well, now I have spot for the caravan, would be a good idea to gather some wood... and food.
"Wait, you're going already?" Hubby asked seemingly confused.
Dude, I'm just going to get some wood and food, nothing too big.
"Well, I need to get some wood to repair that hole in the roof." I pointed out. "And stock up on food."
"What do you mean 'repair-" Well, look's like Rachee found the mark of the astalos. "Oh... how did you do that?"
"It's a long story." What? I'm not gonna tell the same person who hoisted me up in webbing. It's too soon to open up.
"Don't you think you might need some help carrying wood here?" Hubby questioned, looking up at the caravan.
"I'll be fine, Tafu's alright carrying stuff." Hey, it's not that I don't appreciate Hubby's concern for me. It's just I can manage fine on my own.
"Cerea-san? Would be alright helping them?" Right, because Centorea would defiantly help-
"Absolutely, Master!" Wait, what?!
From the looks of the other girls, they seemed just as baffled as I am. But hey, at least with Centorea helping. Bringing wood back should be smooth sailing.
Then again, there are plenty of monsters happy to prove me wrong.
X An hour later...
Never let it be said that centaurs were lazy workers.
We've only been collecting wood for a good hour, and by now, Centorea's collected twice as many as I can carry in my arms. But hey, I'm not complaining. Though, if Tafu could talk, she would probably complain about how much she would need to carry.
But then again, what is a centaur doing here in Japan? Actually, what are any monster girls doing here in Japan?
I get I'm not one to question something so... mythical. Practically any monster I've hunted can be thought of as mythical. But, still. You can't help but wonder just why.
"Taiden-san? Is something wrong?" Huh, guess Centorea noticed me in my 'thoughtful mood' .
"No, nothing." There's no point lingering onto that subject right now... but... "I'm just, a bit... surprised I guess."
"Oh, am I the first centaur you've met?" Centorea asked making her way over to another lot of wood.
"Well, yes." First female centaur at least, who knows what a male centaur look's like. "If you don't mind me asking, how come you're here in Japan?"
Oh boy, that seemed to have hit a nerve, judging from Centorea tensing her hands into a fist, and avoiding me seeing she face.
"With all due respect, Taiden-san. I'd rather not speak of that." Okay, fair enough. Maybe I should keep quite about that.
"Oh, sorry if I... went too far." I honestly don't know if I even did go too far.
"No, you were just asking." Wow, she composed herself quickly as she reached down to the wood. "I shouldn't have made you feel- AHH!"
"WOAH!"
Oh come on, she made me and Tafu jump because of a konchu?! Although, she's probably never seen on before. Big bugs, rolling around in armor that you can't slice though (trust me, I've tried before).
"WHAT IN HADES NAME TIS THAT?!" Centorea demanded as the konchu rattled it's shell.
"It's just a konchu." Kicking the ground with her hooves, man, she's really rattled up about it! "And you don't need to do that! Calm down"
"I am not calming down while this... this abomination continues to rattle!" Abomination? Try saying that when you see a Gigginox, or a Khezu.
"It's just a threat display." Though you're threatened by it. "That things utterly harm-"
"AHHHH!" -less?
Okay, as serious as a konchu, clamped on a centaur's face is. I seriously couldn't help myself but laugh, mostly as Centorea kicking about. Kind of reminds me of bull-riding a little.
"MMT MT MOFF! MMT MT MOFF!" I'm guessing she means 'get it off', not that I can.
What? I'm not being mean, I just don't want her to kick me! Heard a horse can kill you if they kick you in the right place.
"Right. Just- Stop moving." Seriously, I feel unless right now, "No- Cen- Centorea- I can't- HOLD STILL, SO I CAN GET IT OFF YOUR FACE!"
Right then, the konchu suddenly leaped off Centorea's face, curling into a ball as it landed in her hands. Did I say the magic word?
"It stopped? Why did it stop?" Hey, its off face.
"Maybe it's scared." Hopefully of me or Centorea. "But just put it down, and lets-"
Hold on. What's that up there?
Something's flying down. Two large wings, beating in the fly as it came down towards us, maybe it's a bird wyvern. Or worse, flying wyvern.
"Something's coming." Thank's Centorea-obvious.
Question is, what? Please don't be that astalos! Please don't be that astalos! Please don't be that astalos!
CRASH!
Shaking ground so announce the landing off a- Yain Kut-Ku!
Thank goodness for that, being honest, I'm not to worried about this monster. Yain Kut-ku's are easy monsters to deal with, either throw a sonic bomb (or make a loud noise) if you want to stun it... and make it angry. Or throw konchu at it-
"Centorea, throw that bug at-"
WHAT THE! Where did she get a sword from?!
"FOUL CREATURE! BEGONE FROM HERE!" Centorea declared, charging at the yain kut-ku. You can't be serious. "OR FACE THE FURY OF CENTOREA SHIANUS-"
BOOM!
Yep, a fireball in the face is what you get from rushing into a fight, Centorea Jenkins. Well, leave it to someone who knows what they're doing.
"HEY, CHICKEN LITTLE!" Well that got it's attention. "This what you're after?"
A nice, round, delicious konchu!
"Catch!" Well, that'll keep it distracted long enough to get Centorea a safe distance from it.
While the yain kut-ku ran over to the konchu (Ha! Ha! look's so stupid running with it's wings out.), pecking at it. I was able to pull Centorea back... which some help Tafu... okay a lot of help.
By now though, the yain-ku-ku had worked out the konchu was food. With one quick throw in the air, the konchu disappeared into the the yain-kut-ku's mouth. With one last bulge in it's neck (Ew, that look's gross!), the konchu was gone.
Time from some monster scolding...
"Tafu! Throw me up!" with me holding onto her crest, Tafu threw me at the yain-kut-ku.
Well, not how I usually mount a monster, but it worked. Stabbing my craving knife into it's back, the yain-kut-ku went ballistic! Shaking from side to side, and trying to peck at me. Not at all noticing Tafu lining up her tail in position. And-
BANG!
One aptonoth tail slap, add an mounted yain-kut-ku, equals a downed yain-kut-ku. Plus, a hunter lying in a pile of wood.
"Next time, if you want a konchu. Don't go hurting centaurs for one." maybe not the best one liner, but at least I'm giving it the main message.
Don't hurt Centorea, unless you want me and Tafu coming for you!
Getting up, the yain-kut-ku took one last look at Tafu as she slammed her tail on the ground. And with no hesitation, took off into the air. Better to fight another day, then die today.
"Taiden-san?" Huh?
Looking up, I caught sight of Centorea staring at me. Eyes wide with shock and confusion, not sure if she's confused about me, or the yain-kut-ku.
"What are you?" Yep, she's confused about me.
"Maybe it's best if I explain to everyone else." What? I'm gonna tell everyone about the truth sooner or later.
And besides, how big a deal can a monster hunter be, compared to a monster girl?
