"We can discuss the academic question of whether the Guren Shen Gaoren is a Lone Species or a Subspecies later."
Altaïr kept his eyes fixed on the Professor. "The question is, what do we do next?"
The Professor's expression grew complicated. "There's nothing we can do."
Altaïr understood exactly what the Professor meant by "there's nothing we can do."
To stop a Shen Gaoren from destroying a town along its migration route, humans had to build a full defensive fortress and Battle Street in advance, then mobilize a large force of elite fighters, all for a chance to drive it back.
If those two Shen Gaoren wanted to meet, the weapons in the Hunters' hands would never be enough to stop them.
"Maybe we don't need to stop them at all. This could actually be good news for us," Erik said suddenly. "There are only two reasons for a creature to migrate over a great distance.
"The first is cyclical migration, like that of birds following food and a comfortable climate. The second is reproduction.
"We can't be certain why the Shen Gaoren is migrating, but reproduction seems much more likely than food or climate, doesn't it?"
Erik's words made the Hunters freeze for a moment.
Altaïr quickly caught on. "You mean the Shen Gaoren we've been tracking and the Guren Shen Gaoren might be opposite sexes?
"The one we've been tracking suddenly changed course to find a mate?"
"It makes sense, doesn't it?" Erik shrugged.
"That is certainly possible..." the Professor mused. "Of all the theories about why Shen Gaoren migrate, reproduction is the most widely accepted.
"Creatures as large as Shen Gaoren are fundamentally incapable of living in groups.
"Aside from mating, the only other reason for two Shen Gaoren to actively seek each other out would be a territorial dispute.
"However, a Shen Gaoren, which naturally dislikes heat, would have no reason to leave the sea and enter the volcanic region to challenge a Guren Shen Gaoren for territory.
"Its original route also took it north, not toward the volcano's core area. That supports the theory."
Isis excitedly joined in. "So it originally set out on a long journey to find a mate, only for the wind from the volcanic eruption to carry the irresistible scent of perfume its way.
"Then it turned its head, spotted a beautiful, exotic girl, and promptly abandoned its long-distance search for love?"
"Even if they aren't trying to mate and are actually hostile to one another, that's fine too," Altaïr said, his thoughts racing as his tone took on a sinister edge. "Fire is the Shen Gaoren's weakness, right? If they fight, the Guren Shen Gaoren, with all the heat and magma pouring from its body, should be able to wound it badly.
"Whether it retreats into the sea to recover or drags its wounded body back to its original migration route, that's good news for us."
"A reckless Shen Gaoren tries to court a fiery, hot-tempered foreign girl, gets rejected, and has its face clawed to ribbons. Wow, that's kind of pitiful..."
"If they don't part ways after meeting and instead travel north together, wouldn't that be too dangerous?" Nymera asked anxiously.
Isis leaned back dramatically. "After winning her over, it takes its cute foreign girlfriend along while it keeps looking for another mate? That's way too weird..."
Altaïr helplessly pinched Isis's mouth shut. "...That's enough. Stop reading so many weird books."
The Professor thought for a moment, then shook his head. "So far, the Guild's Shen Gaoren sighting records have never included two of them traveling together. The scenario Miss Nymera described is extremely unlikely.
"If that somehow happened, Manti Town could never withstand a coordinated assault from two Shen Gaoren.
"In such an extreme case, organizing a defense would be meaningless. The best option would be to notify Manti Town as quickly as possible and evacuate the entire town."
"If a meeting between the Shen Gaoren and the Guren Shen Gaoren would work to our advantage, couldn't we actively bring them together?" Altaïr suggested, growing energized.
"It may not be as simple as you think." The Professor's expression turned serious again. "Don't forget, we're deep inside the volcanic region.
"Even if the Shen Gaoren doesn't enter the very heart of the volcano after changing course, it will still pass through the core area.
"As an intruder, it is very likely to provoke an aggressive response from the other powerful creatures living there.
"The powerful creatures occupying the volcano's core area can almost all unleash extreme heat, flames, or magma. They are natural enemies of the Shen Gaoren, which may choose to retreat and return to its original migration route."
"By 'other powerful creatures,' do you mean Elder Dragons native to the volcanic region?" Isis asked tentatively. "Would we have to fight other Elder Dragons to bring the two Shen Gaoren together?"
"If another Elder Dragon truly appeared, of course we couldn't interfere. That could lead to consequences even more terrifying than an attack on Manti Town."
As he spoke, the Professor gave her a disdainful look. "But can't you think around the problem for once?"
Isis did not understand at first, but Altaïr took over. "The Professor isn't saying we should clear the way for the Shen Gaoren. Anything powerful enough to halt its advance is beyond our ability to drive off anyway.
"But we can approach this from the Guren Shen Gaoren's side and find a way to lure it toward the Shen Gaoren.
"It's native to this region, so it's less likely to be intercepted.
"Once the two meet, what happens next is no longer our problem. We can simply wait and see."
"I see!" The idea finally clicked for Isis. She scooped up Dango, who was crouched atop Hibiki's forehead.
Spinning around, she returned to their original luring plan. "Dango, time to work!"
Although both operations involved luring Monsters, drawing the Guren Shen Gaoren away was nothing like luring the Ioprey before.
The two tasks were on entirely different levels of difficulty and danger.
Altaïr had not worried about sending Isis alone to lure the Ioprey pack because he knew that, even if she failed and they surrounded her, she could still break through.
But the Guren Shen Gaoren...
According to the Professor, the Guild had only sighting records of the Guren Shen Gaoren, not combat records. Its movements, attack methods, and everything else about it remained unknown.
Acting alone was too risky.
Therefore, Altaïr decided that he and the Professor would accompany Isis and take charge of the luring operation.
Nymera, Morgan, and Erik would continue tracking the Shen Gaoren. Hibiki would also remain at Nymera's side.
After all, the Shen Gaoren moved more slowly than a Hunter, so there was little point in the luring team riding Palamutes.
For the tracking team, however, a Palamute would significantly improve their odds of escaping if anything with two wings and four legs suddenly appeared.
Hakucho, meanwhile, accompanied the luring team. His aerial reconnaissance, coordinated with Sajji's, was indispensable.
—--
Once the teams had reorganized, Altaïr, Isis, and the Professor began sprinting at full speed.
Hakucho and Sajji had needed only half an hour earlier, but they had flown. On two legs, the others might not arrive even after half a day.
Sajji was glad he had retained the good habit he had learned from Lady Shalan: carefully memorizing Monster activity areas during reconnaissance.
Their route was not the shortest, but it was certainly safer.
In particular, they gave a wide berth to the area where the black Tigrex had attacked Sajji and Hakucho earlier.
Because they had taken turns resting during the pursuit, everyone still had plenty of stamina. They ran from afternoon until nightfall and finally reached the area where the target was active.
With Sajji and Hakucho guiding them from the air, they found the target.
Seeing the creature up close from the ground was far more awe-inspiring and overwhelming than observing it during aerial reconnaissance.
It was like the volcano itself, with endless heat contained inside its body.
Dark smoke like a volcanic cloud poured from the dragon skull, while liquid as bright and hot as lava flowed through gaps in its carapace, tracing mysterious patterns reminiscent of inscriptions on bronze vessels.
Every step of its pillar-thick legs splashed up great sheets of lava, leaving footprints shaped like crimson lotus blossoms in its wake.
"What a pretty girl!" Isis clicked her tongue in admiration. "Much better-looking than that dusty Shen Gaoren!"
"This one might be the male, you know." Altaïr rolled his eyes, took Dango from Isis's shoulder, and pressed him against his own body.
"Mew!"
A cloud of hazy white smoke enveloped him.
"Hey! Big guy over there! I'm introducing you to a date!"
* * *
This chapter was translated with YourTL.app. The site can also translate novels for readers when no English version is available.