Disclaimer: Written by Rime. Translated by Arcana. Approved by Rime to transfer from pixiv. The characters were not owned by the writer nor the translator. Characters were borrowed from the players of MHD. To members of MHD, if there are any problems, there would be no problem in removing.
Chapter Notes: The Genealogy of Hunters 4: Case Mr. Sido
Theme: Written as Lead, Read as Pray
Characters: Mr. Sido, Nobutuna, Riku, Falt, jack
(The 'j' in 'jack' is a small letter.)
Chapter Summary:
When Mr. Sido went to the snow mountains to help collect mountain herbs for his friend, he met a man with Narga armor. He called out to him, and asked for his company to collect the herbs with him.
It was often said that the bodies of wyverns were pieces of panaceas, from the bones, skins, scales of the living creatures, to teeth, claws, all of these were important raw materials indispensable to many valuable medicines.
It wasn't limited onto the bodies of the wyverns. From their fluids and wastes that could be found everywhere, to the grasses called wyverngrasses and the mushrooms called wyvernshroom, both fertilized on the dead bodies. All of these were rich in nutrients. Depending on the combining, they were very useful in making ancient medicines with tremendous effects. They were also very delicious by eating raw, and acted as the food supplies of treasure hunters.
But that didn't mean wyverns held secret powers that could heal a person, they did not held any magical powers. Enduring all types of environments, in order to maintain a strong body, coexisting among similar creatures in the survival of the fittest, their bodies evolved differently from humans. In fact, that was it. The course was simple, therefore the wyverns were strong and of many kinds.
"Just as I thought, lifecrystals alone aren't enough. It will be good if there's some more moves I can try on..."
The silver-white hair looked dazzling under the reflection of the daylight.
"But, all bitterbugs, herbs, and antidote herbs didn't work, right? If we can think of anything else... How about blue mushrooms?"
"I tried most of them... how is it. What I left haven't tried yet are anteka antlers and kelbi horns."
"How many godbugs have you killed..."
"I built graves for them."
That's not the main problem. Though he showed a bitter look, he was easygoing.
Godbugs were said to be insects with longevity that could live for a thousand year. Generally among all insects, their sizes were comparatively big, as large as the palm of an adult. Their heads were so hard that they wouldn't move an inch even when hit by rocks. On the contrary, their abdomens were so soft that the touch felt like marshmallows. Because the backs were filled with joints, some people called them jointbugs also. They were relatively beautiful bugs.
They were active regardless of day and night, but they could mostly be found during evening. The godbugs glowed in bluish-white during the evening sun, resembling to souls. In some far-off villages, there was a festival which people released them into the sky representing the dead peoples. jack had told him that the saying of godbugs could live for a thousand year originated from this area. Actual godbugs didn't have such long lives, because they were generally eaten by other creatures. Other creatures because of their high nutrients they got often targeted them. Godbugs fed on the bitterbugs that were smaller than them. Their abdomens filled with the filtered and accumulated liquids of the bitterbugs, alone contained much power to become the materials of medicines.
"I wonder what is not enough... Why won't it react immediately"
"Talking about instant effect... blue mushrooms are the only proper ones"
In jack's hand, was the result of mixing godbugs and wyvern fangs together.
Wyvern fangs were big and hard, it was often crushed into smaller pieces with hammers and smaller pieces of ore. Swatting it with one's all might after heating once with fire, they would cleave easily, because they were taken from wyverns that contained flame sacs. It was said that using the fangs as bullets of bowguns was a way to make use of this property.
By crushing wyvern fang and godbug in a medicine bowl together none stop, the fangs would burst into small pieces due to the shock of being crushed, and by that shock, the godbug would become smaller grains. Including the hard head, it would become powder neatly. It was then placed under a place where sun shone to dry and was filtered with a net. Done in this way, these pure white powders were now known as lifecrystals. They were treated as basic medicine in various fields in the medical sector. It was said that it would be unfit for a doctor to be without them.
"Mr. is there anything more? Medical herbs that I could get my hands on easily, and with such immediate effects"
"Hmmm- Haven't you already tried most of them? Let me think."
As much as Mr. Sido knew about jack, he was the top researcher among many of the laboratories of the Hunters Guild. The genre didn't mattered. As long as he showed interested towards it, he would hunt it by himself with his dual swords. He was equipped with such abilities. His parents were both researchers belonging to the Hunters Guild, he had heard about many studies from his parents since he was small. As he wished to further promote his own research, he obtained the qualification of a hunter. By accepting quests himself, he often obtained many study materials.
Lifecrystals were the invention of his parents. He inherited their studies.
"...Chameleos and Shakalakas mean nothing, right"
"The latter one had only make it more beautiful, unexpectedly"
"Dragon grass and dragon mushroom didn't work too"
"Yeah... but I got some interesting effects from them. That can be used to suppress fever for approximately one hour. It might be suitable for children"
"What about Monoblos? If I remember correctly, that helped bone setting."
"The powder will be hardened. Kind of like candies. By the way, I tried to taste it, but it is unreasonably hot to eat. Suitable for treating frostbites."
"What about the hundred-leaves clover? They are powerful medicine for cuts, and I think they got immediate effect."
"The hundred will become thousand... Counting it was a trouble therefore I stopped."
"Hmm- how about going out of the category? Why don't you try something like dragon herbs?"
"Ah-, that-, kind of impossible considering the money- ..."
They sighed. He transferred the powder in the medicine bowl into a small bag. The white powder piled up like a mountain quickly. It is the color of the snow mountains, he thought. An instant.
"Oh, right."
"Yes?"
"Have you tried mountain herbs?"
Speaking of Mr. Sido, he was a plant researcher. It was a considerably well-known name among hunters that earned their livings by collecting and selling them. For the point that he could talk to plants.
Actually there was no such thing of really being able to talk to them. Knowing the property and characteristic of each individual plants well, and by reading the nature of the locality and the climate, he followed and arrived at them only. It was a surprising strong advantage between the jobs called business hunters.
Speaking of the wide sense of implication, he might not be called as a hunter for being without any assertiveness, but he had the part of doing anything for the purpose well. He became a hunter for the things he wanted to know. He became a hunter for the sceneries he wanted to see. He was an example of showing that hunting monsters wasn't the only purpose of hunters.
"I can't bring much back alone..."
He stood before the posters of the guild. Looking up at many recruiting offers, there weren't many free hunters. After all, many focused on monster hunt. There weren't many powerful people interested in collecting mountain herbs.
But, he knew that the mountains now were dangerous. Not only him, but many hunters knew so. It was approximately two weeks ago that he heard about the notification from the guild.
"Sword and shield alone against a Tigrex, seems kind of reckless..."
Though there was nothing wrong in doing so, he wanted to go through it unhurt if possible. Because the objective was the objective. It would only be deplorable to end up with serious wounds just for mountain herbs.
He looked backwards turning around. Hunters were hanging around in the guild. There weren't so many hunters in the villages neighboring the snow mountains. Besides the mountains were treated to be in danger of sudden attacks from Tigrex, those who had climbed to the mountains willingly, surely had already departed. There didn't seem to be many people he could call out to.
(Novices won't be able to protect me)
I will be relief if a skilled person can accompany me, he sighed when the door of the guild opened. The doors in the villages near the mountains were heavy everywhere, a loud sound was made. It was one of the methods to protect people from the chill. Silence ran through the guild from the sound of the bad working door. It was in an instant.
"...?"
All the hunters looked at the same direction at once. A man letting his eyes swam calmly in the silence entered. He was wearing equipments that he had never seen before. The guild regained the noise immediately, but several hunters could be seen going away without a sound from the entrance. There was no way he couldn't notice. A large space was formed around him.
(...What's with this?)
Once again, he looked at the man who just entered. His lips were covered with a piece of red Khezu cloth, he couldn't see his face very well. Black hair was rather rare in this area. His black eyes had considerable translucency.
But, they glazed with prevarication deep inside.
He was not able to guess whether he was tired or despaired. The man walked straightly towards the reception of the high rank quests.
"Hey."
"Who is he?"
"Oh, somewhat a little... It's said in this way, rather weird? Though he came to this village recently... he have ranked up three ranks within a week."
"One week? That's short... What is his rank now?"
"Four or five... It is approximately ten days ago when the guild manager told us."
The hunters nearby chased his back with eyes full of mysterious. Weird he was described as, weird he was indeed. No one had seen those armors before, and the brightness of his eyes seemed to be full of extraordinary dark power. In addition, his speed since his debut. It couldn't be held to be concerned by the hunters who were familiar with this neighborhood.
(What is it)
He couldn't help but concerned.
He stepped his feet forward. He could feel the hunter whom he just talked to call out to him, without scrambling, he patted his shoulder.
"Hey"
"...?"
"Mind helping me out?"
With a look of amazement, the man blinked blankly. He blinked calmly as if the gloomy feeling a while ago was just a lie.
He looked puzzled for a moment, please, tilting his head as he begged, okay, he answered in a husky voice.
Just as he thought collecting mountain herbs sounded bewildered. Given a delicate face, Mr. pushed him out of the guild through the back. Ok, let's go. It will be good to finish as early as possible.
On the mountain, the air was fresh and cold. Whenever the warm shade of the sunlight passed through his skin, he would be aware of how cold he really felt.
A bird cried in a high-pitch in the distance.
Hey, it was awhile after they left the camp that he was being called from behind.
"...If it is to collect points of the village, it doesn't have to be mountain herbs"
"Points are not what I'm aiming for. I just wanted some mountain herbs."
"For what?"
"They are plants very good for nourishment. Many plants that grow on the snow mountains tolerate well in the cold. As the representative, the mountain herbs are unexpectedly useful."
"Really..."
"Aren't they often sold in the village? By boiling them, they can warm people's body, though the effect isn't as good as hot drink. The taste is delicious too. During the winter which savings of meat are poor, they are precious food."
"...I know it for the first time."
"Is this your first time on the snow mountains?"
"It is. It is for the first time."
Slowly, in a low voice, he talked calmly. He tended to apt, but he didn't seem to be a bad person. However, Mr. could notice the smelling of blood somewhere.
He had continued his career as a hunter for long yet he had not seen his equipments before. Thinking of all possibilities, he tried to ask slowly.
He had not seen the creature known as the Living Shadow before. He heard that they moved around without leaving a trace, but to Mr., it was adverse, leaving not a trace meant leaving a trace. In the old jungle or the green forest, where all large-sized creatures left no traces, were perhaps where they lived.
"Is that the armor of Nargacuga?"
"...You know about it?"
"Nope, this is the first time seeing it."
"...Oh"
With a breeze, the air was cold. Ah, this is cold, he thought. He was being cautioned against. He was able to tell by the presence behind him.
Mr. held knowledge too about the Secret Guild of the Hunters Guild, the existence that wore the black of Nargacugas, the existence known as the Order of the Black Beast.
There was a special force called the Guild Knights in the Hunters Guild. It was said so. No one had ever met any hunters belonging to the Guild Knights, even if they had met, they would basically not claim themselves to be a Guild Knight. It was after all an urban legend. In rumors, in order for the Hunters Guild to be formed as a guild, it was said that they needed to work as an intermediary of the quests and controlled poachers.
The reason why hunters were afraid of these Guild Knights, was because they were known as hunters that hunted hunters. Their hidden works were mainly investigations against poachers and people that killed in the name of hunter, they controlled them, and carried out erasure. They were hunters recognized by the Hunters Guild with the permission to murder.
The group known as the Order of the Black Beast, was slightly different from them. It was called as the Secret Guild, but the Hunters Guild did not officially recognize it. This meant that it was not a group of hunters. It was said that they existed only in silence, with the proviso that they would cover up the unmanageable parts of the Guild Knights, they carried out their activities in the dark under the naive monitoring of the Hunters Guild. This was just another urban legend. It was rare for the Guild Knights to let illegal hunters escaped.
They would be struck off the list, being unable to hold onto a weapon, a hunter would no longer be a hunter. Then, when hunters that were not hunters picked up a weapon, what would he or she be. The targets of the Order were basically narrowed here... ... he was told so. In fact, the main quests of the Order were to confine such criminals. He heard also that they would poach monsters, and harm other people. In other words, they were all-rounder.
Not recognized by the Kingdom, it was another Hunters Guild. Although the scale wasn't national, but it was certain in this area, that it was another Hunters Guild different from the official Hunters Guild. This might be the right of way speaking. To such a dreamlike story, Mr. came to a conclusion. Would he be, one of the members of the Order of the Black Beast. Although it didn't mean that everyone wearing Nargacuga armors were the members of the Order, but considering that equipments in this area, he could understand why people would suspect the possibility. Beyond the mountains, before the desert, there was a wide piece of land called rain forest, he heard that Nargacugas certainly breathed there.
"I feel relieved."
"...What?"
"I heard that the armors of Nargacugas can make ones movement light. ...I don't have to worry even if a Tigrex appears."
"...Who said that, I am strong?"
"They rarely appeared in front of anyone, even if they appeared no records would be left, that's Nargacuga right? It's that armor right? You have defeated it right?"
"...Turns out to be like that."
"Aren't you strong enough. I heard that you raised your hunter rank at once."
"It's by chance."
"You're humble."
"It's not like that."
It's not like that. Because he said it too painfully, Mr. stopped mentioning any further.
(Right, I might be overdoing a little)
His past did not matter. Even if he really belonged to the Order and did works of killing others, he was just, a hunter recognized by the Hunters Guild now.
He have eyes as if to blame himself, as if to suppress everything, he is having a pair of eyes demanding for a place to die.
(Don't his eyes looked as if he is entreating the world to kill him?)
Basically, the man called Mr. Sido, could not forgive anyone trying to make the world a murder.
Immersing deeper.
He could merely watch in blank amazement, as a knife plunged into his face.
The cry disappeared from his ear. It was suppose to be a scream, yet he heard nothing. In large drops blood fell, unable to twist his body, the blade reflected onto his remaining eye, he should have scream his throat to empty, yet he heard nothing.
Who was the one that shouted why from the bottom of his heart.
Who was the one that mutilated the eye with that rustic disordered blade.
Who was the one that could only forget about breathing without moving.
Who was the one that was warped in fear, as the blade continued to advance, shivering as his limbs were being restrained fearfully.
When the blade left the face, with a splat, something dropped onto the floor.
It was an eyeball that was destroyed and could no longer kept its orbicularity.
He had done nothing. I did it alone. He was sure that he had said it. He was sure that he had shouted it out. He was sure that he had shouted it out with his own mind. Why can't it reach him. Why can't he listen. Why is it him that took the punishment but not me.
The mission is supposed to be a success. Certainly one window was lost. But, still, isn't it good enough already.
(I don't know,)
Falt, you, why did you come alone without receiving an official request.
Welled up with this question and that question, the reality in front of his eyes was overwhelmed. In the end, he could only watch the physical plunder without moving a single finger. His main weapon, was supposed to be bow. If he lost an eye, his ability would be burdened with twice the handicap other people got.
He should be scared. The sight he had disappeared suddenly. He should be terrified. The blade catching his view approaching gradually. Even if his pupil was touched he could still see the sight went out in red with pain. Sounds of the optic nerves being cut were made deep inside his eye. Something with heat was being dragged out, thus it became a hollow.
(It is not weird that betrayal inside the Order costs death penalty. This is already light.)
Is this betrayal. He cried. How is helping out with my work a betrayal.
The boss answered calmly. The mission was handed to you. That was the trust from the Order. That trust was cut. This person betrayed the trust of the Order.
He only came because he was worried about me, why would this happen. Why, is it he but not I. Towards him who was shouting, the boss replied calmly.
Wasn't it your fault that you were being worried about.
(Wasn't it because you are too weak)
Because you held neither the strength to kill, the wisdom to deceive, nor the readiness to betray.
In order to compensate it, he went, he acted so, as a result it was a betrayal. It was only like that.
Punishment is necessary within the Order. The cold words pierced through him. Because of weakness. Because I am weak?
(Because I am weak, Falt was,)
Did he have the right to hug the shoulder of him, who pressed against one eye and continued to scream as he crouched down.
Still, he said.
I am not weak. No. It is not so. This is wrong. This place is wrong.
We aren't people that must stay in such a place.
Therefore, he had said.
He believed, absolutely, that he would come.
Repeating several times going back and forth from the base camp to the mountain top, the red box was filled only with the colors of the flower, just like a coffin, Nobutuna murmured. You know it well. Mr. raised his face with a smile.
"Mountain herbs are often used as mourning flowers."
"...Isn't that because there aren't other flowers on the mountains."
"Villages far away used them also. Many of them are shipped from here."
"From here? They specially order them?"
"Aren't the mountain herbs white. Besides, they are good to keep. As it can be seen, each petal is considerably thick, because they are brought up strongly in the mountains. Also, they won't be weakened due to day differences... It's because they lived half frozen. Aren't they more obstinate than common plants?"
"...Lived, half frozen..."
"Even the lands are lacked of nourishment, even in the shadows where the sun can't reached, with the little time and little thing there is, they lived as they pleased. Without overdoing anything, they lived smartly.
"...How long before they die?"
"Because it is an annual plant, they only bloom once throughout the year. Unlike the countries in the east, there aren't any seasons here. When the petals increase to twelve, the leaves open and pollinate, using the nutrient saved in the root the seeds are made. The pistil bulges and the flower falls, there then, it refine once, I should express it this way."
"...You sure know then in details"
He said with admiration, floating in Nobutuna's eyes were only pure respect. Ah, he can do such an expression. He understood that he learned something new, and was impressed by the structure of the world. Mr. smiled. Probably this person isn't a bad person.
"Just in case, if not I will be a shame towards the lowest seat of the recognized researchers of the guild. It will be hard if I don't know a certain amount of information."
"Being a researcher, seemed to be hard. How many types on Earth do you need to remember?"
"It's up to the individual-? There are serious types of people that only know one kind thoroughly, on the contrary, there are also types of people that are tied up by the characteristics. For example, the color of the flower, the season of pollination, the effects during combination, etc. That's the reason why the Books of Combos continued to increase."
"I see..."
Let's go. Let's collect some more, and go back. The sun had began to set. The dusk of the snowy mountain was transparent. The period of time for the snow to become orange was short, yet with the light color that shone onto the snow alone, somewhere seemed slightly sad.
"Do you know that this snow mountains are slightly more special than other high grounds."
"Special?"
"This is the place where the dusk can be seen in indigo blue."
This way, Mr. turned around suddenly. Stepping onto the grass, setting his feet onto piles of snow, keeping off from the cold, they headed up to the mountaintop. One step before a rock, Mr. stopped. Looking around the palpable area for a while, he pointed casually.
"That side is the sun, right"
"Yeah."
"From that side to the opposite side of the mountain top, powdery snow is piled up. Together with the dust piled up at the bottom, when they are rolled up and are blown by the wind towards this side, the setting sun will become blue."
The dust dancing into the sky, covering the whole area, it could be seen as that.
"The mountain herbs during that period of time can be seen as blue flowers also, reflecting the blue."
"...I will like to see that for once"
"Right?"
Though I have only seen it for a few times, it is really beautiful, that even the word 'beautiful' might not be enough.
"I believe that there are still many places like this out in the world."
The words disappeared as it sank with a lingering sound remaining. The wind was cold. For a while, Nobutuna looked up at the sky in silence. The red setting sun was still beautiful. The snow surrounding glimmered gently frequently, slowly soothing something.
"...Hey"
"Yeah?"
"Why are the plants able to live, even if they are half frozen?"
He looked up. Nobutuna stared at the setting sun with an empty expression. Unexpectedly, Mr. returned his eyes to the sky. He was sure that he wouldn't be hoping to receive model answers like because of the properties or because they were evolved that way.
Certainly, mountain herbs would not be able to grow or blossom outside of the snowy mountains, but to normal plants, this was a wrong place for them to establish on. A sunnier place would be better. A richer land would be better. However, they chose to bloom there. Nobody wanted to know the reason they chose that place, probably the mountain herbs themselves didn't know too.
The plants in the desert were the same too. Even under the inferior environment, they survived in the area.
Why is that so. What Nobutuna wanted to hear about should be this.
Even Mr. didn't know the reason.
But, he had a thought.
"Isn't it because they want to live."
Besides, Mr. continued to smile.
"Even the mountain allows it"
"...Allows..."
"No matter how poor the plants are, all of them are permitted by the Earth to breathe. Everything we see in this world are so. Therefore, I like them. Truly, they are there because they are there. The fact they won't lose themselves are much stronger than humans. Just by looking at them, gives me strength."
"...Won't lose themselves..."
"...This means that even for a person, no matter who he or she is, no matter what they are, there is always a place they can go to"
He was teaching him that. Nobutuna remained silent. Running his eyes for an instant, he could see his eyes stayed still. However he knew that his face hid half of what he thought. He couldn't tell what he was thinking as half of his face was covered. However, he could see him grasping his fist strongly.
There seemed to be a place in his mind. There seemed to be a part he felt something.
(This is good)
It seemed to work.
A breeze blew from behind. Oh, maybe the sky will become indigo blue for us. He thought so as he stretched himself. All of a sudden, he was being thrust away by the neighboring Nobutuna.
"?"
"Run!"
"What, eh, ah,"
"Run! Through the mountain top back to the base camp! We will be cornered if we go down from here!"
Hurry up! It was a shout. Standing up in a hurry, so this is what happens, Mr. realized about the reality. A roaring wyvern scattered the snow, destroying the beautiful scene, thrusting his forefoot firmly onto the ground, it roared ferociously. The echoed voice was absorbed and faded into the snow slightly far away. It was supposed to be a roar that could make one's cells shivered and body froze, yet it was hard for sounds to echo within the snow mountains, at times that the Tigrex came out, at worst, they couldn't expect help.
"Don't draw your sword! Just run! The footing here is bad!"
"Wah, wah, wah,"
"Didn't I tell you to just run!"
He grabbed onto his arm strongly, and started dashing like the wind.
With a groan from behind, the sound of the ground gouged. He was pushed from the back. His face landed flat onto the snow, he could hear sounds cutting the wind above him. He heard a terrible sound, the ground shook, as he looked up, he could see cracks appearing on the rock.
The scooped snow shouldn't have been that firm. That means that they contained quite a speed.
"Get up!"
This time he was being dragged by the neck without any discussion. He felt that his body was floating, as soon as his feet reached the ground, he was again pulled strongly by his arm. What is this. What happened.
"Wait... What, is,"
"Popos were secured a few days ago by the village! There is no food for them on the mountain now! It'll be too reckless for the two of us to fight against starving ones!"
"Eh, but, that, we,"
But if it's with you, I think the two of us will be fine. He said as he nearly bit his tongue, yet the eyes Nobutuna flashed at him and made him gave up on the thought,
They were running short of potions, there weren't much hot drinks left also, besides they were now on the mountains that made combinations difficult.
"It's impossible to fight two hungry furious ones at the same time, it's too reckless!"
He could hear the two howling roar wyvern from behind.
He waited three days.
It was three days that rained a lot.
Inside the dark forest, he continued to wait without moving.
It was not possible to even sleep.
"...Quitting the Order means only death."
The boss said. He waited for his next words.
"I intend to understand your character. It isn't something suitable for the Order. Still I intend to understand that you have improved your skills much, in order to live onwards."
He only stared into the depth of his eyes in silence.
"...Still do you insist to go"
"Yes."
He replied in a low voice.
"I'm bringing Falt along with me."
His opponent bended his eyes.
"...Humans, always betray."
"..."
"They tell lies, they deceive each other. In this world, not including the fights to live, humans were probably the only creatures that would murder the same kind for their own self-interests. Jealousy, hatred, and hatred...We are really difficult creatures. Because things like money that can represent group hypnosis appear, therefore there's indiscrimination."
"..."
"Not for the sake of living, but in order to make themselves more convenient, they wouldn't care about the others, kill, deceive and betray...As long as we're humans, we would also have such a side. Others have their own reason and faith, and for the sake of it there are times that they cannot feel that they're living."
"..."
"The works we handled are mostly things like these. Our requests came from people that don't care about others, we accept for money... ... What a really unpleasant organization."
"Why, does it exist"
"..."
"Why do you create an organization that kills other."
"...I believe the reason is not compatible for me to tell."
Still you ask about it, what a good-natured person you are. He laughed. Nobutuna did not laugh.
"Cause I think it's necessary."
He only answered in a deep, deep tone. He had no intention to speak further more. Standing up, he walked pass the side of Nobutuna without a sound, and said.
"If you can take him along then take him."
"..."
"Let me make this straight. One year, if you succeed in escaping for us, then it will be invalid."
"What if I fail...?"
"You will only die."
It was three days full of battles, sleeplessness and desperate.
We might not be able to talk, he informed him by himself. I'm listening, he chuckled. I'll wait for you, he replied. He who lost an eye answered with only an okay.
It was three days that rained a lot. Getting wet through, still he waited. Not to mention, pursuers came of course. His favorite long sword was stained with the fat and blood of humans.
Staring at the corpses laying in front of him, he shockingly understood that he killed them, still he held onto the handle, and waited for him. He believed that he would come. Nobutuna remembered that he had once told him in the past that he longed for the far-off world, and would quit if he could.
Cause I think it's necessary, the boss had said. Nobutuna had said nothing. It is necessary. It was true, if it was not, he would only feel his crime increased. If someone could shoulder another's debt, even to people that were filled with hatred and jealousy, it would be possible to open a big hole in the heart. And, he gradually understood. How many irreparable things had he done.
Still, the crime really wouldn't decrease. There was no way it could decrease, Nobutuna couldn't notice about it. If the roots of negative feelings deep inside him could not exterminate, as a result such a thing would only continue to boil unlimitedly. In the end, it was the reason because humans were humans.
Humans always betrayed. Made lies. Deceived each other.
What was wrong for the sake of money. The concept of money bear within a human, what was wrong to use it skillfully without permission.
Still, Nobutuna could not do so. He didn't understand.
In reality, he lived that way also, by killing others and taking things away from them. Surely, he could not deny that he had killed innocent crime-less people before.
(Who will be the one to judge me)
It was three days that rained a lot.
His eyes burned when the sun rose on the forth day. Tears flowed out.
Falt had not came.
Trying to bear everything, his throat shivered. Deep inside his eyes were hot, his brain was shaking. Why, he murmured. There was nothing to answer him except the dead bodies.
Falt, had not came.
As if it was a judgment, an answer, it sank into the vacant body.
Descending from the mountaintop, almost arriving at the base camp after a struggle, a shadow dropped from straight above. Smacking his lips as he draw his sword, Mr. gulped down his shriek behind him.
This thing, is large.
"...We can't expect help. Unless it's someone skillful, they will just die pointlessly."
"This thing is having too much instantaneous force...'
"We're lucky already that the two of them separately... What shall we do. Fight?"
"There's no need. If we can wound it to a certain extent, it wouldn't chase into the human habitation... Let's get away, and end the quest. We must let the other hunters know, or victims might appear."
"You go first... Wait for me for ten minutes. During that period, take care of the procedure."
"Got it."
The black and red shadow ran out. Swinging his sword against the roar. Mr. knelt down, just in case, he set up a pitfall trap he brought along. As the Tigrex focused on Nobutuna, he ran to the side. He wasn't allowed to look back. He wouldn't let any instant chance slip away.
With the sound of slashing at the back, he headed straight forward towards the base camp. He turned around without knowing whether he had or not heard the roar of the giant wyvern, he threw a flash bomb out. A white shadow flashed threw in an instant, the tail of the scared wyvern jerked in irritation.
He ran. He ran with all his got for five minutes before he reached the base camp.
"Two Tigrexs! One is appearing by the water place ahead! There's no sight of the other one! If someone wants to hunt them then go! But it's freaking large!"
"...Seriously!"
"Hey, is it heading this way?"
The base camp was full of hunters departing for the mountain. Even though their quests were different, their destinations were basically the same. There were also other base camps on the mountain, because the main base camp was surrounded by rocks similar to precipice, it would be hard to defense against sudden attacks from monsters. There were many times he met hunters on other quests there. This time there were five.
"There's one people drawing it's attention now! He will be back by five minutes! Someone set up a tent just in case, and those who are leaving evacuate now! Okay-?"
"Got it!"
Everyone started their works fast. Hunters were professional in these areas. Even though their aims were different, and sometimes they would compete against each other, at times like these they would cooperate splendidly.
"Is there a need to prepare for battle?"
"It should be fine. I set a pitfall also."
"Will it come down"
"Cause there's no Popos, it seemed to be super furious."
Really, a guy looked up. His blond hair glimmered as the moonlight of the moon that just rose shone.
"Then isn't one people alone dangerous. It's almost night? I'll go."
"Really?"
"The one fighting against it, short distance type?"
"Long sword."
"Then it'll be fine. I'm rear support type. Around five minutes? I'll go and drag him back."
That's reassuring. Mr. nodded, and reached his hand straight inside the box. After calling the Felyvne Tag, he called out to the guy jumping down from a high place.
"I'll only wait for five minutes from now! Don't do anything rash!"
"Oookay"
"Everyone can return after you're done, got it? There isn't anyone that want to hunt Tigrex, right?"
"Hey, is only the two of them really fine?"
Towards the words he heard, he nodded.
"The one staying behind probably has the ability of G rank I think."
I am not sure about the other one, but if he carried a bow on his back, I think he won't be a burden.
The roar rang out. He turned his blade. The snow was soaked red with blood. Dodging half a step backwards from the lowering claws, he pierced with his sword in his hand. Raising a shriek, the wyvern drew back. Blood ran through its eyes, burning with pain and anger.
Thanks to the trap set by Mr., the battle was quite at ease. He was lucky that it was a place with less snow. He turned around, taking a defense he slipped through just in time. He wielded his sword continuously against the violent tail wiping against the ground. Scales scraped off, gouging the blade into the naked flesh, touching the bone. The wyvern leaped. With one more stroke of sword, the tail should be cut.
(Cut it out! Will it just fly)
The effect of the drink started to fade out. His fingers started to grow numb with cold. With only a few more minutes before he needed to go, the Tigrex didn't seem willingly to leave.
(If I can't find something to secure the sword before my hand froze, I won't be able to hold onto it)
But he couldn't find the chance under the situation of one-on-one.
With a hurl, snow cracked. Holding his arm over the head, he could slightly see the fragments by the edge of his eyes. Slowly turning towards him, here which became an upward slope, he wouldn't be able to dodge downwards. There was no place he could protect his body with.
He could hear a distorted shriek. The snowballs that were supposed to fly did not come. He looked up, and he ran and slipped through the gap. Hunters did not need the time to be confused. Along with his weapon, he smashed the right claw of the Tigrex.
(What was that,)
What was the flinch just now.
"Hey, the hunter over there-!"
"!"
"Let's run away!"
"Okay!"
At the last minute, a sound vibrated from a distant. Drawing the bow to limit, the guy shot straightly at the forehead of the roar wyvern. Taking the chance as its head flinched, he ran out. The guy standing behind the wyvern, stepped onto the side lightly. The snowballs just now must be prevented by him.
"Thanks"
"Not at all"
His tone was light, yet he was no question a professional as he kept on guard perfectly on what was happening behind. He took out a green ball from his item pouch. Ah, he thought. He almost stopped, it was stuffed into his hand forcibly, he opened his eyes widely.
"You go back. Cause farcaster is one person's use."
"Hey,"
"I, wanna hunt that thing"
"Want to hunt... with bow?"
"Don't look down on rear support."
Bye, that's it. Holding up one hand, he ran to the rear of the daunted wyvern hurling the snow. He turned around and waved to him. He was very calm and composed. What, what, the guy thought as put his hand to his mouth and called on him.
"Your companion is waiting for you, go to him early!"
That the first time, Nobutuna came to his sense. Go back. He is waiting. Go back.
(This means that even for a person, no matter who he or she is, no matter what they are, there is always a place they can go to.)
"...Hey, don't die! I'll wait for you!"
"Of course!"
He threw the farcaster handed to him on the ground strongly.
They set up the tents once again on the mountainside of the way back to the village. There were three of them. One of them belonged to themselves. Another one belonged to the hunters that came along. The one left was no surprising belonged to guy that went to solo hunt the Tigrex. He chatted with the others. Four of the hunters came to the mountain together, it hadn't been long for them since graduation from beginners, thus they weren't very experienced. We don't have the strength to face a Tigrex yet, thank you for letting us know. They lowered their heads to Mr.
The lowest requirement as hunters was that one must understand about their own abilities and took actions. Still they deserved to be praised for the four of them could be able to work as four in this situation. He waved his hand lightly and smiled.
"...Mr., if this condition continued, it won't snow tonight nya. We can set off when we saw the raising sun nya."
"Okay... I'll look forward to it."
"Be back by then, nya?"
"We'll be back. It'll be alright."
You can take a sleep. The leader of the Felyne Tag lowered its head as he said, returning to their own Felyne-used tent. His breath was cold.
The two of them sat by the fire started earlier, they stared at the flame without moving.
"...Hey"
"Yes?"
"Why are you Mr.?"
Isn't Master, the second person pronoun of the Felynes. It was too dark for him to see the expression of Nobutuna murmuring. Mr. formed a smile. Seems like he started thinking about something again.
"It's my father."
"Hm?"
"He was called as Mr by everyone."
His father was a teacher in a school of the town. He was full of knowledge, everyone liked his character. His mother had told him that he was a gentle and modest person. Though his body was weak, and died early, Mr. believed that he had lived a good life.
"It was my wish when I was a child to be called as Mr. one day. After my father died, I inherited his knowledge and books, it was quite interesting. That's the reason I joined the institute."
It was really interesting to learn a lot of stuffs, he loved learning, and he hoped for fields of vision. He began to hope to see for himself what he learned. He wanted to visit every place there was.
"After I obtained the qualification of a hunter, I met many people. I saw many places, and touched many things. After a few years as a hunter, there was one more qualification I wanted to get."
"One more?"
"The qualification of hunter doctor."
They were hunters that held the qualifications of both the Hunters Guild and the Doctors Guild, they were called as that by the normal hunters, respecting them. They belonged to both guilds, with the two qualifications, they received financing from both guilds. They also held the rights to buy and sell the knowledge, combos, and treatments. It was a special qualification, the fact that they needed to be a hunter and a doctor at the same time, showed a corresponding nature was needed. The number of them was considerably small till now, it was the level that even large hunting parties might not be able to have one among them.
"One way or another, I am not a doctor specialized in healing and recovery or things in the similar direction. I specialized in using poison, paralysis and sleep effects. Normally, they worked even on large wyverns and will cause death if used on humans, but I can use them to put bodies of human back to their normal state."
"...Erm?"
"Hm, it's kind of hard to understand... There, for example when hunters used up all their strengths, they are usually carried back to the tent with serious wounds right? The problem will be, who will be the one to treat their wounds. If it's for once or twice, going back to the camp to take a rest, they will usually recover with medical effects or their own recovering abilities. But, what if an arm is shed, or the face is crushed, these aren't rare cases."
"Ah...Erm, kind of, yeah."
"In those cases if treatment aren't done immediately, it'll result in death. That's one of the reasons why the death rates of hunters are high. Under serious injuries that even potions can't catch up with, one must return to the town or village to receive a thorough treatment or else it will be bad"
"You're, right. Yeah, I see."
"But the places where hunters are, are confined in the hunting grounds. Many lives died before they reached the town or the villages. ... Hunter doctors are the only people that held the knowledge of healing in the hunting grounds, it's a special guild."
There's a really amazing people among my acquaintances, he specialized in healing. Towards sudden bone fractures and organ injuries, he could carry out appropriate treatments with potions and other types of medicine. He pictured the man with white silver hair. Though he was the requester, he should still be reading books even it was already midnight.
"What I do is difficult from that, but to stop the injuries on the human bodies temporarily, letting their own recovering abilities take care of the rest. This way is actually, slower in curing but harder to break."
"Why is that?"
"By compensating sudden injuries with sudden potions, the recovering ability of the body will start to be unable to catch up with the medicine. One will become unable to live without potions. In the case of hunters, with power juice as the representative, demondrug and armorskin, it is very easy to become dependent on them. Hunting will become hard without them."
It is the privilege of human knowledge to rely on medicines, yet one must not neglect the things one possessed naturally. This was always left inside Mr.'s heart.
"When one stopped living the way as one is, what one have will only be below despair. Eventually one will reach an extreme. The heart also, the body also, everything also"
"..."
"...just by looking, will become painful"
Gaining the knowledge, longing for the scenarios, shifting his eyes at the whole world, feeling touched, walking onwards as if he was trembling. Everything born from the nature, none of them were distorted, they only lived the way as they were. Everything born from humans, sometimes might be distorted, and headed towards the sad end. The things that were there as they were, would forget about their original shape, in the end that would be lost, disappeared as if rotted.
"There are many of them among hunters. Forgetting what one wanted to do, only nothing but continued to repeat slaughters again and again. ...Everyone is good people, yet people fall helplessly. ...Thinking of whether is there anything I can do, I took the qualification of hunter doctor."
Faraway the voice of something disappeared echoed. Gently the flame flickered, the ashes crumpled.
"It was at that time. My felyne comrade said 'You're not master anymore nya! It's Mr. nya!' to me. The other felynes heard about it and started calling me that also. ...Though I think it should be doctor, but it doesn't matter... It's really dearly, the same title as my father. I was really happy."
"..."
"...By the way... counseling can be counted as a part of my job."
"...So that's why you talked to me"
It was a silent voice, replying with only a chuckle. Nobutuna wouldn't look up.
"I am, really not good with it."
"..."
"Seeing such people will make myself sad too"
When one stopped living the way as one is, what one have will only be below despair.
"Isn't that, undoubtedly, sad?"
Thew, the wind blew. The fire flickered. He didn't think of continuing forcefully the stopped conversion. With the sound of the fire popping by his ears, he took a cup in his hand. He poured the flower tea boiling with the mountain herbs into it.
"...Think of it as a part of your job to listen"
When the fillings of his cup decreased half, words of murmurs emitted from Nobutuna. His cup hadn't decrease at all.
"...My friend..."
"..."
"In a dark place... I left him behind alone..."
Putting his hand behind his head, he crouched hiding his face with his knees, said slowly in a low voice.
"He was... locked up..."
It was a voice of repentance.
"I couldn't... bring him out..."
"..."
"...I ran away... alone..."
It was a voice of confession.
Mr. certainly did not know what had happened. Friend. Left behind. Ran away. Ahh, he thought. Mr. bended his eyes.
That must be. To him.
That must be something really sad.
"...I can no longer see him... He's in a place where we can never meet again..."
Towards he who slightly nodded, knowing that he had heard something severe, Mr. said softly.
"Is he, no longer, in this world"
Incidentally, he looked up. He moved his head slightly. Ahh, that's great. Mr. chuckled.
"You can meet him again as long you're alive."
"..."
"If he is still in this world, he is allowed by the world to be there. ...If he can live the way he is, certainly, towards the place that he belongs, he will go."
And it is what called a friend, to give blessings, no matter what that place is. Mr. Sido thought so.
"You called him, if he answers you, then towards the place that you belong, both of you will go."
"..."
"You can cry, Nobutuna"
"..."
"If you feel sad for your wish not being able to be granted now, you should cry. Crying doesn't particularly stand for weakness."
With a sound, he tossed a towel nearby to him. Aimed at his face on purpose, Mr. stood up.
"When you're sad, you should cry."
Hey, if you're sad then let yourself be sad, and cry all you want.
When one stopped living the way as one is, what one have will only be below despair. Then, live the way as it is, be the way as it is.
"I'll give you some space"
Turning his back. He headed towards the direction of the snow mountain. At the direction that echoed just now, it must be the death agony, the guy that went with a bow should be coming back anytime.
Afterwards, he didn't know whether Nobutuna cried or not.
"Oh. Ah. You come to welcome me?"
"Yup. That doesn't- ... Wow?"
"Thank you very much-It's a really good game-. It was a really good condition that that thing is out of stamina, I finished it crunchily. Hoooooooray."
Slip. Squish. Slip. Squish.
"That guy is really strong-. Is he your friend?"
"Eh, nope. We met the first time today, and I asked him for help... I need some hands"
"I see-. I'm seriously lucky. Gotcha thank him. Now I can live another week at ease-, seriously a big help-"
Slip. Squished. Slippery. Squish.
He continued to walk towards the camp. He didn't stop for once.
"But it's really freezing. As expected the night on mountains are really cold. You got any beer or wine?"
"Ah-...nope... But there's tea."
"Ah-it doesn't matter I just want something to drink. It's really painful to eat snow. I want toilet."
Slippery. Squish. Slip. Squished.
"Ah. Look look. Here-–– you, I'm back-–– praise me praise me-"
"..."
Nobutuna turned his face up and looked. Surely, even the guy could see his perplexed expression. Opening the eyes that seemed to be frozen, without saying anything, he leisurely put down the object he was carrying in front of the burning fire.
"Ah-, it's heavy"
"..."
"..."
He twisted his shoulders emphatically, and he grinned.
"It was you that weakened it that far. So absolutely, I think some certain rewards should be needed, therefore I bring it back."
"... You carried it?"
"...Along that road?"
"Yup."
Isn't something weird? Tilting their heads with such faces, isn't it weird, they exchanged their faces looking at each other.
What the guy had dropped in front if them was a tail of Tigrex.
"I haven't carved it yet so you can still go for it. It might be kinda small, but go ahead and take it."
"..."
"..."
"By the way your eyes, it's kinda red, are you okay?"
"...Ah...I'm fine."
"I see. Then whatever. Ah-. It's getting cold. Freezing. Towel. Ah, you got any hot water?"
"Ah, yeah. I'll pour some tea for you."
"Thank you-"
With a rustle the shadow entered deep into the tent. Mr. picked up a small kettle. Pouring the hot tea in a cup as he shivered. Silence.
They bursted into laughter.
"Wa, aha, what, what was that just now! He brought the tail back! Is this a joke-!"
"Ha, haha, no, no way- ...what's with this development, really,"
"He took it back com-completely! No, he is a type that I have never seen before! What a fun guy!"
"Things like rewards, do-doesn't matter at all...! Why, did him, this, in this coldness,"
"Don't say stuffs like that, it can be sell at a moderate price right-?"
"Ahahahaha, he came out, he came out!"
"What's with that, don't say as if I'm some kind of mole."
I'm gonna put down my bow, wait for me my tea. He said as he covered his head with a towel and re-entered the tent. There was a brazier inside there, it should be warmed up by now. For a while, he laughed in pain holding onto his stomach, Mr. laughed so hard that he was filled with tears.
"Still, much more... In the world of hunter, they are still many interesting people."
"...Yeah... You're right."
"It's fun."
"... Yeah. You're right."
Ahh, he sighed.
Finally Nobutuna, he laughed.
Finally deep inside his eyes, light has returned.
"...What?"
"Yes?"
"Eh? Why? Eh? What's with this?"
Nobutuna looked at the tail in a hurry. His eyes roved between the tail and the tent. Mr. tilted his head. It was a fresh expression, but he couldn't understand.
"What's the problem?"
"That guy, he's a bow user right?"
"He did say so. He said he's gonna put down his bow just now."
"... What? What's with this?"
Is something the problem, he tilted his head to the other side. Nobutuna said with wonders from his bottom of his heart.
.
.
"That guy, how did he cut the tail?"
Author's Note:
The made-up rate has already passed 300%. It's probably going to go higher! This chapter is focused on Mr. Sido and Nobutuna. I aimed to write Mr. Sido cool. I proved with all I got that "bows are decorations"! Huh, that's a famous of line of Riku. I think it'll be fun to have different occupations even among hunters. I wonder how do godbugs look like... I'll be happy to have you read along the story together with me. Thanks for reading!
Translator's Note:
Here's the forth chapter. It's really amazing to see someone cut the tail with an arrow ( • w • ) The usual 'if you see any mistakes, or have any suggestions, feel free to tell me!' statement. Thanks for reading.