After purchasing food for dinner at the market, Haifa made a point of taking Altaïr on a long stroll around the area.
Calculating that Karin's anger should have mostly dissipated by now, the two finally returned to their lodgings at the Guild Hall, walking side-by-side with their arms over each other's shoulders.
Altaïr pushed the door open cautiously.
Inside the living room, Karin was kneeling on a cushion holding a cup of tea, while Sajji lay flat on his back across her lap, emitting a rhythmic purring sound. Karin smiled, set down her teacup, and scratched his furry belly.
It was a stark contrast to the scene Altaïr had imagined, one where Karin would be holding Sajji by the scruff of his neck with one hand and her other hand on her hip, scolding him incessantly.
Haifa poked her head in as well, laughing playfully. "See? They're getting along just fine!"
Upon seeing the two enter, the person and cat who had been so harmonious and relaxed nearly instantly stiffened their expressions.
"Sajji, keep an eye on that boy for me from now on," Karin said, rubbing Sajji's head. "If he ever acts recklessly again, you hit him for me. If he still won't listen, write me a letter, and I'll come teach him a lesson myself."
Sajji snapped to attention, standing tall and even raising a paw in a clumsy, makeshift military salute.
"Understood, meow!"
Altaïr: "..."
Leaving Sajji behind to flee alone earlier seemed to have been a mistake.
Whether she had exhausted her scolding in the afternoon or the cat-petting had smoothed over her mood, Karin finally refrained from extending her lecture into the evening.
Haifa and Altaïr laid out the food they had bought on the coffee table. Whatever didn't fit went on the floor as the group began to enjoy their dinner.
Unlike Metapetatto with its warm climate and lush vegetation, Liber was situated in a frigid zone, and its food variety was relatively monotonous. The diet consisted primarily of animal products: jerky made from Popo Meat, ham from Anteka meat, large blocks of butter, and a wide variety of seafood, some fresh and some pickled.
Vegetables and fruits were scarce. Aside from cold-resistant potatoes and butterbur buds, there were only some frozen fruits with pitch-black skins that looked rather unappealing.
Altaïr wasn't a picky eater and sampled a bit of everything, though unfortunately, he didn't find any of it particularly delicious.
The climate here was cold, the soil was barren, and fuel was scarce, making it difficult for advanced culinary techniques to develop.
Only the quality of the seafood was truly excellent. Sajji was currently wrestling with an Armor Crab larger than his own head; his teeth and claws couldn't break through that thick shell, so Karin eventually had to pry it open for him with a small knife.
Haifa used a piece of dried fish as a spoon to scoop a chunk of butter into her mouth. After being in Liber for over a year, she and Karin had grown accustomed to these eating habits that outsiders would find bizarre.
As she chewed, she spoke: "We're all family here, so let's stop being so polite and worried about formalities.
Karin and I just finished a quest a couple of days ago, so we should have a short break. If there are any specific materials or weapons you need, kid, just say the word.
It wouldn't be right to take you out to farm every single elemental weapon, as that might get us in trouble with the Guild, but if it's just one type, it shouldn't be much of a problem.
Consider it a gift for your promotion to 4★."
"Is that really okay? Wouldn't that be considered a head start?"
"Not really." Karin set down her food. "Twenty years ago, when the Guild began gradually revising the regulations to loosen restrictions, the goal was specifically to accelerate the growth of young Hunters." In fact, after certain restrictions were relaxed, the number of accidents caused by overambitious early starts actually decreased significantly, and the promotion speed for young Hunters has indeed been accelerating.
"Of course, you still get the brainless fools who get carried all the way to the top, but those people don't live long, and they are a tiny minority. Just consider them weeded out by nature."
Karin's tone was indifferent.
Her personality easily gave people the false impression of being stiff and dogmatic about regulations; in reality, her personal boundaries were quite flexible.
Altaïr swallowed hard.
Wyvern Blade "Blood", Magma Disaster, Usurper's Boltslicer. Which of those wasn't a famous, high-quality weapon?
Based on what his teachers were saying, as long as he said which one he wanted, they would take him out and help him forge one?
To say he wasn't tempted would be a lie, but after a great deal of internal struggle, he ultimately declined. "I think I'll pass. A weapon that wasn't obtained by defeating a Monster with my own strength always feels like it's missing something."
Exchanging a glance with Karin, Haifa gave a dry chuckle. "I figured you wouldn't agree. Fine then, wanting to climb the ranks steadily on your own merit is a good thing.
"So, you're planning on leaving in a couple of days, right?"
She didn't think for a moment that Altaïr would stay in this city any longer just for sightseeing.
Altaïr was about to nod, but then he felt a twinge of reluctance. "But traveling all the way to Liber and then just heading back immediately feels like a waste, doesn't it? The Airship tickets cost several thousand round-trip."
"What? Do you want us to reimburse your travel expenses?" Haifa squinted at him.
"It's not that..." Altaïr didn't think his skin was quite that thick yet.
"Zamtrios," Karin spoke up suddenly. "4★ threat level. Its materials can be used to craft the ice and water dual-element Cool Cleavers. It frequently appears on the ice fields and frozen seas near Liber.
"If you don't want to leave empty-handed, you could try hunting one of those. It would be a good chance for us to see if you've made any progress compared to a year ago."
"A Zamtrios... now that you mention it, that does seem like a fitting target." Altaïr considered it seriously.
He had come here wearing his Skalda S armor and carrying his Iron Gospel. Any missing hunting items could be bought at the general store; the only issue was that Sajji hadn't brought his specialized equipment, so the support he could provide in battle would be limited.
However, that didn't seem like much of an issue. Since his teachers were treating this as a small test, fighting solo was only natural.
"Wait a second." Haifa climbed to her feet and walked briskly back to her room. After the sound of rummaging through cabinets, she emerged holding a bracelet that emitted a faint shimmer.
"Consider this Talisman a prize. If your performance satisfies us, I'll give this to you. It's one I used to use."
Karin thought for a moment, then went to her locker and took out a Talisman of her own. "I have one here as well. You can choose one of the two based on your preference."
Altaïr was surprised and delighted. As a 4★ Hunter, he was no longer a novice; by rights, he should have been wearing a Talisman by now.
The quality of Talismans available on the market was mostly mediocre, and the price for anything slightly better was so high it was unaffordable. He hadn't been able to bring himself to buy one. Isis, for her part, already possessed a defensive Talisman that Amos had prepared for her; while its quality wasn't anything legendary, it was considered quite excellent for Low Rank.
Altaïr had originally planned to find some free time to head to the Volcano and try his luck, never expecting such a stroke of good fortune to come his way.
"So, what effects do these two Talismans have? How about I take a look first?"
"So confident?" Haifa held up a finger, dangling her Talisman back and forth. "Mine here is a Rook Talisman, and its primary blessing is 'Earplugs.'
The strength of the blessing is fairly average, but it has no side effects. While I wouldn't call it 'sexy,' it's certainly practical. I used it right up until I reached 5★."
Altaïr was quite tempted by what he heard.
"Earplugs" was just the common name; the blessing's official effect was called "Hearing Protection." Its function was simple: it helped the wearer filter out certain frequencies of noise, making it incredibly useful when dealing with Large Monsters that roared frequently.
Karin placed the Talisman she was holding onto the coffee table and said in a flat tone, "King Talisman. It has the effect of Divine Blessing."
The corner of Haifa's mouth twitched violently.
A King Talisman was two full tiers higher than her Rook Talisman. Her own offering was something she had retired from her younger days, while Karin had essentially pulled out one of the Talismans she actively used.
Wasn't this a bit too much of a bargain for this kid?
"Is this really okay?" Altaïr was naturally interested, but the value of this Talisman far exceeded his expectations. He felt awkward reaching out for it.
If something like this were sold on the market, it would go for at least six figures.
Karin glanced at him. "If you want to earn my approval, obtaining this Talisman won't be that easy.
First, you must hunt alone; you cannot receive help from any hunting partners. Second, you cannot make any significant mistakes during the battle, nor can you sustain any injuries.
Well? Do you want to take the challenge?"
Hearing Karin's words, Altaïr's Spirit instantly flared up.
"Of course!"
Zamtrios, you're dead meat!
(Translated by yourtl.app)
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TL NOTES — LORE SECTION
Some terms and creatures referenced in this story may be unfamiliar to readers new to the Monster Hunter universe. The following entries provide additional context.
EQUIPMENT
Talisman — A wearable accessory, also called a Charm in later generations, that passively grants the hunter one or more skill bonuses. Talismans are found through mining, quests, or crafting, and their effects vary widely in quality. A high-tier Talisman with a rare blessing can be worth more than many pieces of armor combined.
SKILLS & TECHNIQUES
Earplugs (Hearing Protection) — A passive skill that reduces or entirely negates the stagger effect caused by a Large Monster's roar. Without it, hunters caught in the blast radius of a roar are briefly immobilized, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks. Considered one of the most universally useful skills for frontline fighters.
Divine Blessing — A passive skill that grants the hunter a random chance to reduce incoming damage. Unpredictable but potentially life-saving, it is highly prized for its ability to soften otherwise fatal hits.