Jean swung her new hunting horn around excitedly.
Isa and Luke backed away, both freaked out by how the music was now coming from the Khezu's mouth.
"Be careful with that, it's dangerous." Judah told her.
"I know, I know!" Jean replied, accidentally smashing it into a wall.
Judah thought for a few seconds.
"This might be out of nowhere, but would you mind joining our expedition? We're in need of someone who can make weapons and the like. Assuming you're not already in a group, that is."
"Yeah, sounds fine. What's your goal, though?"
"We're looking for some people."
"Hmm. Who?"
"Would it be okay if I held off on explaining who, for the time being? Sorry, that's probably just annoying."
"It's fine. Now you've got me hooked. Can't just refuse now, I've gotta find out who you mean and why you can't say. That's a good recruitment tactic."
"It wasn't meant to be a tactic."
"And yet it worked regardless. You must be some kind of genius. That aside, the question is what we should do about team setups? Five is an awkward number when there's only four allowed."
"Oh, don't worry. We've got four more, they're just out right now."
"That doesn't fix the problem, though."
"That is true."
"So, that's our current problem." Judah finished telling the events to the other team.
"We have enough for two full teams and one on their own," Mary said "Though that might be kinda unfair."
"Oh, I'll just go on my own!" Laura replied excitedly "I can fight monsters on my own."
"You'll just get lost if you do that." Luke complained.
"It'll be fine, it'll be fine."
"No, he's right." Zara said "Well, I guess that would fix the problem of having an odd number, but we can't use you if you just wander off. I've got the solution. I'll just stay back here and sleep while you're all out doing work. I'm willing to make that sacrifice for the team."
"You'll pull your own weight too." Judah sighed "Let's just go with teams of three."
"Tch. Maybe when we get thirteen."
"I'm not really planning on recruiting that many."
"You picked up two more in the time it took us to do one quest. When will your rampage stop?"
"I don't want to hear that from the one who swindled someone."
"Huh?" Laura asked.
"Don't worry about it." Zara told her, before turning to continue her argument "Besides, none of you spoke up when it was happening. That makes you complicit."
"That doesn't make it okay for you to have done it? This is besides the point. I think that by now we've got all the vital roles covered. We've got a navigator, a cook, a doctor and a blacksmith. I'm not sure what else could be important."
"You forgot about musician." Jean told him.
No one answered that.
"So gunners aren't important, huh?" Luke asked.
"Why do you keep doing that?" Isa asked.
"Because I'm right."
"No."
"We need a monster tamer." Mary smiled, seemingly proud of this idea.
"Why?" Judah asked back.
"Because most of us fight alongside monsters. Except Laura and Fen."
"Uh, nah. Not really."
"Huh?"
"Well, I didn't know you were all the same, so I was going to bring it up later. He's called Fang."
"Oh. Cool. But still, I don't think any of us would be more suited for that role than the other."
"It's a good idea though. Right?"
No one answered. Her expression refused to change.
"Right?"
The next day arrived.
"So what jobs do we have this time?"
"I wanna fight the Gammoth. That cool?" Fen asked.
"Yeah. I think it's really cool, even." Spence replied "It's the one that uses ice, right? So the joke is that-"
Isa kicked him, before realising something.
"Wait, why is there a quest for a Gammoth? This place isn't that cold."
"On the way to the third zone it gets colder." Jean explained.
"Huh. Weird."
"This entire place is weird." Judah replied "Well, I suppose I should also go to fight the Gammoth. Anyone else?"
"Me, me." Jean threw herself into the group of three.
"Sure, you."
The three of them made their way towards the snowy mountains.
"Ok, around here should be good." Fen snapped his fingers. A beast bounded towards them.
"How're you doing, Fang?"
He smiled and pet the Lunagaron.
"That's so intimidating." Judah thought.
"Wow, he's kinda cute." Jean moved forward to try petting him.
"No, wait, just back up a-"
Jean reached out before he could finish his sentence. Fang growled, causing Jean to back off.
"He's not very friendly to anything other than me. Sorry, just give him time to get comfortable with you before trying anything like that. Otherwise I can't guarantee he won't go on the attack."
"Sure thing." She seemed undeterred by this setback.
"Now that I think about it, I guess we never really brought it up." Judah wondered aloud "What hunter rank are you two at?"
"Thirty seven."
"Thirty five."
"...You got here before we did, so I guess that makes sense."
"Huh? What's yours, then?" Jean asked.
"Thirty."
Jean made a facial expression that was impossible to describe or comprehend.
"Be quiet."
"I didn't take you for the type to care about things like that, cap'n."
"I don't, really. It's better this way, since it means we can get to the next zone quicker. It's just a bit weirder to have two members with higher ranks with the captain, isn't it?"
"Wanna swap?" Jean asked.
"I don't think that's how it works." Fen replied. "Well, still. I don't have any real interest in taking a leading role, so you'll just have to live with that captain role of yours."
"That was the plan anyway."
They continued further on, the wind picking up and obscuring their vision with snow.
"Are those two monsters of yours doing okay?"
Jean looked at Tama.
"Nothing a hot drink can't fix, though I think it'd be for the best to get this over with quicker."
"Titan's doing a bit better, but I would rather he doesn't have to stay out here for longer than necessary."
"Guess we'll have to hurry. You'd think that something so big would be easier to spot."
"Maybe we should split up and send out a signal when one of us spots it." Judah suggested.
"Maybe, but that's so boring." Jean spun around "Gah, just get out here you big dumb-!"
The group finally noticed a silhouette just obscured from view by the snow flying around them. Jean looked up at the monster that towered over her in shock.
"How did you even do that!?" Instead of an answer, the beast tried to crush her. Tama dragged her out of the way at the last moment.
"I have no idea how it got here, but everyone prepare for combat!"
"Calm yourself, cap'n." Fen walked in front of him as he readied his shield. "This one doesn't look too tough. So how about you just kick back and let us show off a little?"
He drew his axe and let it hit the ground.
"Ready for a good old round of slashing, Fang?"
The Lunagaron enthusiastically growled, readying himself for combat. Fen's axe flared up briefly.
A moment later, he launched himself forwards. The Gammoth had no time to respond as he ran past and slashed at it. Fang followed behind him, slashing at it from the front with his claws
The axe's fast strikes made short work of the snow protecting the Gammoth's legs. It roared as it tried to crush him, but the hunter avoided every attack effortlessly. Fang continued to tear through whatever was within his reach.
Jean watched on quietly. Judah studied the fight, trying to spot even a single opening for him to enter. The wild slashes continued, until the Gammoth started to pull him with a vacuum with air. Fen was unable to dodge it, barely slowing himself down as he was pulled in. With only a short distance between them, the Gammoth got ready to slam down. Fen readied himself to dash back as soon as the vacuum stopped, but something unexpected followed.
Judah stood between them, blocking the impact of the stomp.
"Huh? Didn't I say to leave it to us?"
"I can't just stay away and let you do everything by yourself, can I?"
"Huh." Fen paused for a moment. "You show-off."
"That goes for you as well!"
"Oh, can I finally join now?" Jean spun in before smashing her new hunting horn against the Gammoth's right tusk. The strike had little effect, just causing her to shake. "Hm. Yeah that didn't work like I wanted it to."
"So both of you want a piece? I mean, sure, I can't stop you. But we're not too good at fighting in a group, so this might work out poorly."
"You're going to be fighting with us from now on, right?" Judah replied "No better way to learn than practice."
"Guess that makes sense. Alright. Orders accepted, cap'n. Try not to get caught up in my slashes."
He dashed forward, launching himself into the air while attacking. Fang stuck to the creature's back legs, attacking with relentless and incredible speed. Judah and Titan approached from the front, while Jean rode Tama as she slipped around it and attacked from the side.
The Gammoth rampaged with everything it had, trying to shake off its attackers, but the onslaught proved too much. A few minutes later, Fen unleashed a powerful swing which caused its movements to completely cease.
"Looks like that's that." Jean pulled out her carving knife. "Guess that's what happens when you pick a target who possibly can't deal with you just to look cool."
"Oh, it was that obvious?"
"That weapon…" Judah thought aloud "It's an accelaxe, isn't it? I think I've heard about it before, but I've never seen one."
"Oh, aren't you well-informed? Yeah, it's exactly that. Though it's got a few customisations thrown in. It's real fun to mess with, so I got a little carried away. You wanna try it?"
"No, it's incredibly fast. I'm more comfortable with slower, sturdier gear. And also staying on the ground."
"Your loss."
"Well, more importantly," Jean smiled "Good job on cutting it up, Fang. I'm gonna pet you now."
"Are you stupid? He's still-"
Before Fen could finish she had already closed in. Without a moment of hesitation, he moved to attack. His jaws clamped around her head.
"Fang, no!"
Judah and Tama both moved to free her.
Jean gave a stop sign from there, her head still stuck.
"It's okay." Her voice was slightly muffled. "It doesn't hurt too bad. I think he's warming up to me."
"No, I think he's just gone from seeing you as a threat to seeing you as food."
"So I'm not an enemy."
"Let her go, Fang. You can't eat this one."
"So other humans are fine?" Judah asked back.
"No? I didn't say that… directly."
He urged Fang a few more times and then started to pull his jaws open, until she was finally released.
"We'll have to work on his behaviour a bit." Fen mused. "But, he should be okay as long as you all stay away from his claws or mouth."
"No promises." Jean replied.
"Please, do promise." Judah instructed her, before switching his attention to Fen "Oh well. You seem like you'll be handy to have around, so it'll be good to have you on our side for this journey."
"Thanks, cap'n. I'll follow whatever unreasonable orders you want."
"No, I don't plan on giving those."
"But if you do, then it's good."
"But I won't."
"How come I never got anything nice like this?" Jean asked.
"Because you forced yourself into the group."
"And?"
Judah didn't answer that. Fen smiled blankly at the conversation before him.
TO BE CONTINUED