After careful consideration, Isis ultimately decided to accept Sheila's proposal.
The reason was simple: she had very little time left to prepare. Within a few days, she would board the Knowledge Seeker and set out for the mine where the target was located.
Both the Lagiacrus Armor Set and the Zamtrios Z Armor Set had glaring elemental weaknesses. Even setting aside the cost, she did not have enough time to gather enough Element Res Jewels to compensate for those flaws.
Specialized Tools could help to some extent, but they were only emergency measures and were not suited to prolonged combat.
Given all that, preparing two Armor Sets to handle changing conditions was the safest option.
Even then, a Hunter would normally leave the spare Armor Set at camp and return to change equipment when necessary.
However, the mine occupied by the target was not an established hunting ground. There was not even a Hunter camp nearby.
Leaving the Armor Set somewhere and returning for it when needed was possible, but there was always a risk that a Monster might damage it or that it might be lost.
In that case, she might as well agree to the scholars' testing request.
Although she had reached the decision through careful reasoning, watching the Royal Academy staff cheerfully carry both of her primary Armor Sets aboard the ship still made Isis uneasy.
"Did they really have to take both sets?" she muttered under her breath.
A Royal Academy technician dressed like a mechanic smiled. "The Support Rocket's center of gravity and other parameters need to be adjusted specifically for your equipment. We will return the Armor Set you need before the Hunt officially begins.
"Miss Isis, please rest assured. Support Rocket technology is already quite mature. We absolutely will not damage your equipment."
"All right..."
Watching the technician leave, Isis still could not shake her anxiety.
Never mind the possibility of a malfunction during rocket delivery. A Hunter's equipment was both rugged and delicate. Could these people really "take care" of it properly?
Just then, a short but nimble figure scampered up beside her. "Isis, don't worry! I'll keep an eye on them for you!"
Isis turned, then looked down. "Kitty?"
If anyone in the world could look down at Kitty without making her angry, it was Isis.
Kitty bared her small fangs. "I managed to convince Sheila to let me board the Knowledge Seeker for this mission!
"I'm only an apprentice scribe, so I'll just be recording minor data and running errands. I'm also strictly forbidden from leaving the ship...
"But you can trust me completely, Isis!"
Kitty's eyes gleamed. "I know plenty about Hunter equipment. My deadbeat dad has so much gear that he can't maintain it all himself, so he always dumps the work on me!
"I'll keep an eye on your equipment, make sure those amateurs don't mess with it, and guarantee that it stays in top condition!"
Isis finally breathed a genuine sigh of relief.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
—--
"Then it's settled. If anything goes wrong, I'll leave the covering fire to you."
In the Gathering Hall tavern, Altaïr reached out and shook Morgan's hand.
After learning that Altaïr intended to use the Brute Tigrex to "sharpen his blade," everyone opposed the idea, including Master Amos, Isis, and Sajji.
Isis and Sajji even issued the same threat in perfect unison: "We'll write to your mother!"
Although both had a 6★ Danger Rating, a Brute Tigrex was far more aggressive than a Kuarusepu.
If Altaïr found himself at a disadvantage against a Kuarusepu, escaping with his life would not be too difficult. Its ecology showed it to be a relatively passive Monster.
Against a Brute Tigrex, however, he would face a brutal pursuit that would not end until one of them was dead.
According to Master Amos, training himself was fine, but he still needed to keep the risk manageable. He could challenge the Brute Tigrex, but only if he found some way to give himself a safety net.
Altaïr accepted the argument.
After repeatedly weighing the need to preserve the challenge against the need to control the risk, he approached Morgan, who was preparing to return to Tidal Island.
He did not need Morgan to participate in the entire battle. He only wanted him to provide covering fire if necessary. That way, if the fight turned against them, they could cover each other and retreat safely.
Morgan readily agreed to Altaïr's request.
Even apart from helping a friend, the mission would be a valuable training opportunity for him. Gaining more experience against Monsters with high Danger Ratings would greatly help his future promotion to High Rank.
"All right, now that we've settled the favor I wanted to ask, I have some good news for you too."
"What is it?" Morgan's expression was as impassive as ever, easily giving the impression that he was displeased.
Anyone who knew him well, however, could tell that he was actually in quite a good mood.
"The Guild Manager told me that the materials collected during the Teppeki Shen Gaoren Repel Quest have finished undergoing the Guild's initial processing. We can collect them from the counter at any time."
Morgan raised his slender eyebrows. "So it's time to discuss how to divide them?"
"There's nothing to discuss. All the materials allocated to the four of us are yours."
"Huh?" Morgan's composure broke, and a rare look of astonishment crossed his face.
Amusement gleamed in Altaïr's eyes. It was not easy to coax such a reaction from that expressionless face. He should have brought a camera.
"What do you mean, they're all mine?" When Altaïr merely smiled at him without answering, Morgan could not help pressing him for an explanation.
"Exactly what I said," Altaïr replied with a smile. "Before returning to her hometown, Nymera voluntarily gave up her claim to the materials and told us to handle them however we saw fit.
"I consulted one of the Guild's smiths. He said equipment forged from these materials would not suit Isis or me, but he had heard that they could be used to forge an excellent Heavy Bowgun.
"Since that's the case, there's no need for any further discussion about how to divide them.
"However, the smith specifically warned us that Bowguns made from Shen Gaoren materials have extremely complex structures and are beyond the abilities of an ordinary smith. Teppeki Shen Gaoren materials would be even harder to process, so we need to choose carefully.
"Luckily, your primary weapon was destroyed during the interception, and you still have an opportunity to commission a top master smith. If these materials don't go to you, who else would we give them to?"
Morgan's expression grew complicated. "But I'm only 5★. Rare materials like these would be better used by you High Rank Hunters..."
"Oh, come on. Don't stand on ceremony." Altaïr waved a hand, cutting him off. "Is there really such a vast difference between 5★ and 6★? All of us were 5★ just a week ago. Since the materials are well suited to a Bowgun, take them."
For a moment, Morgan did not know what expression to make.
Before joining the advance team and meeting Altaïr and the others, he had always been a lone wolf. He had rarely even formed temporary parties with other Hunters. This was the first time he had experienced an entire group willingly handing their materials over to him.
"All right. Then I won't stand on ceremony." After a brief silence, Morgan nodded, then changed the subject.
"By the way, I heard that Nymera returned to her hometown to train in the Secret Arts. Will she be gone long?"
"Quite a while. I heard it'll take at least half a year. If she encounters a bottleneck, it could take a year or even longer." Amusement flickered in Altaïr's eyes. He had an idea what Morgan was thinking.
That was exactly where Altaïr wanted the conversation to go, so he gave Morgan an opening.
"Isis and I are both Blademasters. Without a Gunner to support us at range, our tactical options will be severely limited. If we can't find a trustworthy Gunner to join us, it'll be a real headache."
Morgan rolled his eyes and took the hint. "In that case, how about I travel with you for a while, at least until Nymera finishes her training and returns?"
"We couldn't ask for anything better."
P.S. The Shen Gaoren Armor's defense actually seems passable. As for why Isis did not receive a set... I simply could not accept the way it looked...