Amos's words left the two of them in an awkward position.
The sudden farewell had made them forget all about the matter.
"Sorry, Master Amos." To keep the misunderstanding from getting any worse, Altaïr quickly explained, "Nymera just said goodbye to us. She's going back to her hometown for a while, and we were seeing her off at the tavern."
Amos's expression softened when he heard that. If that was the reason, he could certainly understand.
Altaïr had been trying to figure out how best to persuade Isis to abandon her risky idea, so he casually added, "Isis wants to Hunt a Kuarusepu alone, and I'm trying to talk her out of it."
Isis: "???"
Could you at least not be so smooth about ratting me out?!
Amos's face darkened again, and a hint of reproach entered his voice. "Get inside!"
The two of them followed Amos into the house. The moment he turned away, Isis huffily kicked Altaïr in the shin.
The three of them entered the living room. Amos pointed to the chairs beside the dining table and motioned for them to sit, then took a seat across from them and asked for the details.
For a moment, they both felt as though they were being interrogated.
After hearing both sides of the story, Amos looked at Isis. "I agree with Altaïr. It's fine to test your own strength, but you have to consider the risks.
"You haven't finished replacing your equipment yet, and a Monster like Kuarusepu, for which very little combat information is available, isn't a suitable trial target."
Under normal circumstances, Isis would listen whenever Amos spoke in such a serious tone.
But perhaps because Nymera's departure had left her emotional, or for some other reason, she chose to stand her ground this time.
"The right way to reduce the risk is to gather more detailed information and prepare accordingly, not simply switch to an easier target.
"I'm already a High Rank Hunter. Sooner or later, I'll have to face a powerful, unfamiliar enemy alone.
"Am I supposed to tell the Guild that it's too dangerous and ask for a weaker opponent, or say I can't handle it alone and demand that they send stronger reinforcements?"
"That's sophistry," Altaïr said helplessly. "I already told you, being forced to face danger out of duty is one thing. Going out of your way to look for trouble is another."
Knowing full well that she could never beat Altaïr in an argument, Isis simply gave up on debating him.
She stood up and braced both hands on the table. "Either way, I've decided to Hunt Kuarusepu alone. This is the promotion exam I've set for myself. Even if you two disagree, I'm still going."
With that, she left the living room, and Clawdia quickly scurried after her.
She supported Isis unconditionally.
Even though she did not want Isis to put herself at risk, if Isis insisted on doing so, she would follow her.
A hunting partner and her Hunter are one, meow! Bringing a Felyne still counts as hunting alone, meow! You lose, Altaïr, meow!
By the dining table, Altaïr and Amos looked at each other in silence.
After a moment, Amos let out a long sigh. "That stubborn streak of hers... She usually has trouble making up her mind, but once she does, nothing can change it. She's exactly like her mother."
"Bang!" A heavy door slammed on the second floor, making it clear that Isis was refusing to communicate.
"It seems there's no changing her mind." Amos glanced up at the second floor.
Five or ten years ago, he would have gone upstairs, unlocked Isis's door, and given her a stern talking-to.
But after the day's back-to-back developments, Isis's promotion to High Rank and the revelation that she had a boyfriend, Amos realized that she was no longer a child. That heavy-handed approach probably would not work anymore.
Altaïr thought for a moment. "What if we officially let Isis Hunt alone, but I secretly follow her, just in case?"
"Are you sure you can follow her the whole way without giving yourself away?" Amos asked.
Altaïr answered honestly, "I'm not sure."
He had never received professional stealth training. How could he tail someone for an extended period without being spotted?
"Then it would only backfire."
"That's true..."
They both knew Isis's personality well enough to understand that the plan would not work.
"Aren't you two being a little overprotective, meow?" Sajji stood on tiptoe, his head barely clearing the tabletop. "She's a High Rank Hunter. Isn't it only natural for her to face a 6★ Monster alone, meow?
"Even if the Hunt doesn't go well, she should have no trouble retreating safely with Clawdia covering her, meow. Of course there's a risk, but what Hunt doesn't involve some danger, meow?"
With that, he looked at Altaïr. "You've snuck off to Hunt alone plenty of times yourself, meow. So why does it suddenly count as an 'unnecessary risk' when Isis does it, meow?
"At least she waited until she was promoted to 6★ before considering a solo challenge against a 6★ Monster, meow.
"Or do you really think she's weaker than you, meow?"
Amos gave Altaïr a strange look. If Sajji had not brought it up, he might have forgotten that this was the same young man who constantly skirted the line by challenging Monsters above his rank.
For a moment, Altaïr was speechless.
—--
Early the next morning, Isis sat at the dining table eating breakfast with a blank expression. When Altaïr took the seat beside her, she even scooted ten centimeters away.
Her expression and movements made it clear that she was still fuming, but the fact that she had come down for breakfast told Altaïr she was not that angry. When she truly lost her temper, not even food could sway her.
"So, uh..." Altaïr gathered his thoughts. "Master Amos and I discussed it again yesterday, and we don't think there's anything wrong with you wanting to challenge Kuarusepu alone. So... yes, we support you."
Isis paused with the bread halfway to her mouth, then turned toward him suspiciously. "Really?"
"Really." Altaïr nodded.
Amos set some butter and homemade jam on the table. "But as you said, you must gather information carefully and prepare properly. You can't just charge recklessly toward a completely unknown High Rank Monster without knowing anything about it."
"Of course I'll prepare properly!"
Isis's expression visibly brightened. "I know Kuarusepu is a rare Monster. Ordinary Monster field guides won't even mention it, let alone provide detailed information!
"So I plan to visit the Royal Academy. As a High Rank Hunter, I have permission to consult materials held by academic organizations, right?
"I can also ask the scholars for help. Since it's such a rare Monster, there can't be many related specimens, can there?
"I can promise to provide them with some samples after the Hunt. The scholars should be happy to help, and they might even find me a suitable target!
"As for combat information, I plan to ask experienced High Rank Hunters! Dundorma has more of them than anywhere else. Someone there must have Hunted a Kuarusepu before!"
Altaïr was a little stunned by the torrent of words.
He now realized more clearly than ever that Isis had always been smart. The reason she usually did not use her head was entirely his fault.
Amos's eyes also held a hint of pride.
Being a High Rank Hunter was a resource in itself. All she had to do was ask, and local Guilds, academic organizations, and even private institutions such as the Merchant Guild would give priority to assisting her. The fact that Isis had realized this so quickly would make many things much easier.
After rattling off her entire plan in a single breath, Isis wolfed down the rest of her food in record time, wiped her mouth, and stood up.
"I'm full! I'm heading to the Gathering Hall first. I'll ask the Guild Manager to help coordinate the quest. If Dundorma can't arrange it, I'll have Francesca write a letter to Bherna Village.
"Once I'm done at the Gathering Hall, I'm going to the Royal Academy. Don't follow me. Since I said I'm Hunting alone, I'm going to do all the preparations myself!"
With that, she called for Clawdia and ran out the door.