After Shalan repeatedly urged them on, Altaïr and Sajji did not spend much longer wandering Mezeporta's urban districts.
—--
By afternoon, Altaïr and the two Felynes had returned to the Airship assigned to the escort mission.
Bud, the operation's leader, looked visibly startled when he saw the Felyne trailing behind Altaïr with a small bundle on her back.
Before he could ask, Shalan sprang forward. "I'm a 9★ Palico and the hunting partner of Hayata, the Red Blade, meow!
"Altaïr invited me to join this quest as extra insurance. Hurry up and arrange a room for me, meow!"
Bud instinctively looked at Altaïr.
The corner of Altaïr's mouth twitched as he gave Bud an awkward but polite smile.
Bud pondered the situation for two seconds.
He was not one of the Guild Knights known for combat prowess. In some respects, his work was closer to that of the Guild's clerical staff, making the ability to read people's expressions essential.
After speaking with Altaïr several times over the past two days, Bud felt almost certain that the Felyne's claim that "Altaïr invited me" was false.
Her status as a 9★ Palico and the Red Blade's hunting partner, however, was probably genuine. She had even produced her Guild identification.
How was he supposed to handle such a terrifyingly high-ranked Palico?
Shalan hopped onto the ship's gunwale and proudly lifted her chin. "If you don't agree, that's fine, meow. I'm close to the Diva too. She can bring me aboard just as easily, meow!"
After Shalan put it that way, Bud had little choice but to give in.
Felynes were not pets. Within the Guild's system, Palicoes and Hunters held essentially equal standing. That was especially true of high-ranked Palicoes like Shalan, whose contributions across all kinds of missions could rival those of High Rank Hunters.
Status followed ability. Faced with a 9★ Palico of her caliber, Bud was supposed to address her with an honorific.
As for Shalan's claim that she knew the Diva well, Bud was inclined to believe it.
If some slick, frivolous man had walked up and said, "I'm close to the Diva. Let me aboard," Bud would have turned him away without hesitation, even if he were a High Rank Hunter.
But Shalan was a Felyne, and a particularly polished, well-groomed female Felyne at that. Besides, the Diva was always surrounded by a group of Felynes...
There really seemed to be no reason to refuse her outright.
And so, Shalan successfully bluffed her way aboard.
Since the Diva and her party had yet to board, Shalan began strutting around the ship with her paws clasped behind her back, looking like a lion patrolling its territory.
—--
That evening, an utterly ordinary-looking carriage rolled quietly through Mezeporta's streets and came to a stop beside the escort Airship.
Contrary to the grand reception Altaïr had imagined, complete with a route lined by cheering fans, the actual welcoming ceremony was extremely simple.
There were no crowds of fans and certainly no procession lining the streets to welcome the Divas. Mr. Bud merely led a few Guild Knights down from the ship to greet them.
Several robe-clad Felynes were the first to step out of the carriage. They took up positions on either side of the door and bowed slightly, their manner deeply respectful.
Then two blonde women emerged hand in hand, one following the other.
The first woman to descend was breathtakingly beautiful. Even Altaïr, accustomed to Morgan's face, was momentarily stunned.
The young woman's expression held a hint of helplessness, as though the Felynes' excessive deference left her both resigned and troubled.
She had to be Mezeporta's "little Diva," the one Lady Shalan had mentioned.
Half a step behind her came a tall Wyverian woman whose age was difficult to judge.
She wore a semitransparent robe of ancient design over dark brown skin. Her features could not be called beautiful and her hairstyle was peculiar, yet she possessed a strange aura that made it difficult to look away.
(She was clearly connected to the Diva of the Wilds; their headdresses were identical.)
Altaïr was far more familiar with this woman's appearance. More than one pencil sketch of her hung on the walls of Isis's room.
She was the legendary songstress renowned throughout the world, the woman everyone pictured first when they heard the word "Diva."
Shalan called her the "great Diva."
There was no helping it. Both Divas' true names were shrouded in mystery, so they could only be distinguished this way...
"Boring, meow." Standing on the ship's gunwale, Shalan curled her lip.
Like Altaïr, she had no interest in going over to greet the newcomers warmly. She simply watched from the ship.
"Those two really do seem to get along, meow. I was hoping for open conflict and hidden rivalry, the kind of outward harmony with barbs beneath the surface, meow."
"The Divas are said to be able to convey emotions and communicate through song. There are even accounts of them communicating with Elder Dragons and soothing their fury.
"Seen that way, isn't it only natural for the two of them to understand each other and become kindred spirits?"
"Natural or not, boring is boring, meow," Shalan grumbled.
"I want to see them clash like this: 'In the end, we can never understand each other.' 'A song like yours can't change anything!' 'You call yourself the future. Prove it to me!' Meow!"
"Judging by those two Divas, none of that is likely to happen, meow." Sajji scratched his head. "To get the kind of scene you're hoping for... we'd probably have to bring Lambert here, meow."
Shalan's ears perked up. "Who's Lambert, meow? Where is she, meow? I can go bring her here, meow."
Altaïr: "..."
...
Why had he opened his mouth back then? And how had Lady Shalan managed to talk him into this?
He really needed to steer clear of Lady Shalan from now on.
While the man and two Felynes were talking, the two Divas had already climbed the gangway and boarded the ship.
The Felynes who had accompanied the young Diva did not board with her, but one still insisted on remaining at her side.
Having no other choice, the young Diva made a request of Bud. "They are not my attendants or worshippers, but my family, the ones who raised me.
"Could Totori alone be allowed to remain by my side?"
"Of course. That's no problem at all." Bud readily agreed.
In truth, he had prepared himself for both Divas to come aboard with a number of maids and attendants in tow. As long as their numbers were not excessive, he had not planned to object.
To his surprise, however, the Wyverian Diva had brought only one Wyverian attendant, while the young Diva did not have a single maid. She carried her own luggage, without the slightest hint of putting on airs.
Totori, the Felyne who stayed close to the young Diva, seemed less like an attendant than an overprotective mother fretting over a daughter traveling far from home alone...
Altaïr walked over to offer the two Divas a brief greeting.
A silver-white blur darted out from beside him and, under Totori's hissing glare, leaped straight into the young Diva's arms.
"Meow, meow! Little Diva, it's been so long, meow! I'll protect you this time, meow!"
Shalan made her voice cloyingly sweet, without a trace of her earlier "I'm only here to watch the show, meow" attitude.
At first, the young Diva looked surprised. Then delight spread across her face. "Shalan? Does this mean Sister Hayata is traveling with us too?"
"Hayata's busy with another quest, meow." Shalan glanced at Totori, then rubbed herself vigorously against the young Diva's neck again.
"This kid is the Hunter escorting us, meow. His name is Altaïr. He's Hayata's junior fellow disciple and son-in-law, meow. Not bad, right, meow?"
Altaïr: "..."
...
That was painfully difficult to respond to.
Thankfully, the young Diva spoke first. She gave Altaïr a curious once-over, then bowed slightly. "Mr. Altaïr, thank you for going to so much trouble on our behalf."
The Wyverian Diva beside her also turned her head, seemingly studying him.
Altaïr struggled to keep his expression under control and nodded in return.
He had a sinking feeling this would be the most troublesome quest he had faced in the past two years...
P.S. The vocalist for Monster Hunter songs in World and earlier titles is Ikuko Noguchi, while Frontier's singer is Maaya Sakamoto. These correspond here to the Wyverian Diva, the older Diva, and the Frontier Diva, the Young Diva, respectively. As for the little loli Diva in Wilds... she hasn't come out yet.