Altaïr nodded slowly, lost in thought.
Joda smiled. As an "old bird" who had been with the Loc Lac Rangers for nearly thirty years, he knew all too well what a young lad like Altaïr was worried about.
Before Altaïr could ask, he proactively offered two options. "Things are different from the old days of volunteering. Nowadays, the Loc Lac Rangers have dedicated funding allocated by the Loc Lac Guild, and we even have our own logistics support system.
In other words, you can treat it as a stable job.
A fixed salary, free accommodation, standard-issue equipment provided as needed, and so on. It's quite appealing, you know."
At this point, his tone suddenly shifted. "But, I can tell you're not interested in that kind of arrangement. You're not planning on staying with the Loc Lac Rangers for long, are you, kid?"
"Yeah." Altaïr nodded without hesitation.
It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but his initial idea after running away from home was just to find a place to stay. Somehow, that had turned into joining the Loc Lac Rangers.
"There are actually quite a few young people who think like you, so we have a corresponding policy.
How about treating it as a short-term gig? A week or two is fine, a few months is no problem, and a year is even better.
Although the fixed salary will be a bit lower, you'll have more freedom with your time. I can make the call to assign you more hunting and subjugation quests, the kind the Guild recognizes and counts toward your quest total, so it won't affect your promotion to 2★.
We can also provide lodging and equipment. Of course, the equipment is just a temporary loan; you'll need to return it when you leave."
Altaïr was a little stunned. "Aren't these terms... a bit too generous?"
"Ha!" Joda speared a large piece of roasted meat with his fork and placed it on Altaïr's plate. "Of course, not just anyone can get this kind of treatment. But you're a genius, after all.
Isn't it normal to give you a few perks? Just remember, if you plan to leave, let me know a few days in advance, or it'll mess with the work schedule."
With Joda having put it that way, it would be impolite to refuse.
There was no need to worry about being tricked, either. The Loc Lac Rangers had a good reputation; they wouldn't stoop to scamming a fledgling hunter like him.
Besides, the Loc Lac Rangers were under the direct leadership of the Loc Lac Guild, and he was quite familiar with that mustachioed Guild Master...
"Then I'll be in your care." Altaïr stood up and bowed to Joda, who was across the table.
"Hah! We desert folk don't go in for that kind of etiquette." Joda walked over with a laugh, wrapping him in a hug with his big, greasy hands. The steel-like stubble on his chin pricked Altaïr's face.
Resha and Sajji seized the opportunity to chow down.
The best way to eat roasted meat was to wolf it down. Before long, the large platter of meat had been picked clean by the three people and one cat.
"Ahh~! I'm so full!" Resha patted her belly, a blissful look on her face.
Sajji also yawned, its eyes narrowing. "Meow–"
"You're the one who ate the most!" Joda glared at Resha. "Skipping work and mooching a meal... I'll let it slide this time since you brought Altaïr here."
With that said, he turned to Altaïr. "I'll have Resha take you to get a set of gear. Although the Ranger's Armor set isn't exactly high-level armor, it's still a bit better than what you're wearing.
You need a place to stay too, right? Have Resha take you for that as well. Anyway, if there's anything you don't understand, just ask her.
I won't assign you a specific patrol area. You mainly want to do slaying quests to rack up the count needed to get promoted to 2★, right?
There are more of those quests than you could ever finish, so I'll assign you a few extra. When you've got nothing else to do, you can also patrol with Resha and Sajji for a change of pace."
Altaïr nodded.
"That's settled, then. You all should get going. There's still a lot to do this afternoon. Sajji, you keep an eye on Resha for me. Don't let her wander off and slack."
"As you command, meow!"
Resha made a face at Joda before leading Altaïr and Sajji away.
—--
Joda remained in his seat for a while longer, seemingly waiting for someone.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, a woman dressed in standard desert attire, a gauze skirt and a matching shawl, sat down opposite him.
"I had a feelin' someone was followin' that kid from a distance. Knew it had to be you," Joda said, crossing his arms.
The woman removed the shawl covering her face. "My apologies. The boy has been a bother to you."
Joda let out a breath. "Miss Karin, although you're the boy's teacher and adoptive mother, isn't this whole 'following him around' business a little inappropriate?"
A hint of embarrassment couldn't help but appear on Karin's perpetually cold, expressionless face. "You misunderstand. This is the first time I've ever done something like this. The main reason is..."
After pausing for several seconds, she finally continued, "I'm planning to leave."
"Hoh? That's great news," Joda said with a smile.
Loc Lac wasn't small, but it wasn't that big either. As the leader of the Loc Lac Rangers, he couldn't possibly know everyone.
But he certainly knew of Karin, a foreigner who had long since settled in Loc Lac and was also a fellow Dual Blades user. He knew a few things about her.
He knew her skill as a hunter surpassed his own, and the only reason she was stuck at 5★ was that she had pleaded with the Guildmaster to refuse the promotion quest to 6★.
5★ and 6★ were a watershed. 5★ and below was the so-called "Lower Rank," where quests were taken on a purely voluntary and completely free basis.
But once a hunter reached the "Upper Rank" of 6★ and above, they had to start accepting assignments from the Guild to handle high-difficulty incidents in various locations.
But she couldn't leave.
"I haven't known him for long, but I can tell he's a level-headed kid. His skills are also far beyond his peers. He'll have no problem venturing out on his own. I really don't see what you have to be so worried about."
Another long silence followed. Joda could see what Karin was hesitating about, so he didn't press her.
Almost a minute passed before she spoke again. "Altaïr's talent as a hunter is good. Very good."
"I know that. He became an official hunter before he even turned seventeen. How could his talent not be good?"
"No, that's not what I mean." Karin organized her thoughts. "His coordination is extraordinary. When I first discovered this, I thought he would become a Dual Blades user like me.
But after a period of training, I discovered that his strength is equally formidable. While not the absolute strongest, it completely meets the standard for using heavy weapons.
At that time, I thought he might be better suited for morphing weapons like the Charge Blade and Switch Axe."
Joda nodded as he listened.
"When Haifa heard about this, she happily ran over and jokingly taught him the technique for the Great Sword's Charged Slash. He learned that just as quickly.
I didn't think much of it at the time. After all, while hunters who are skilled with multiple weapons are rare, they're not unheard of.
Until one day, I saw him in the training grounds, holding a single blade from a set of Dual Blades with both hands, 'playing' at practicing a Charged Slash."
Joda continued to nod. "Oh?"
Any blademaster knew that the Great Sword's Charged Slash wasn't just a matter of tensing your muscles and exerting force. The weight of the Great Sword itself was especially crucial during the charging process.
It was like smithing, the weight of the forge hammer is essential; not even a master craftsman could pound iron with their bare hands.
Unless, of course, it was someone who had honed certain martial skills to the absolute extreme. By relying solely on the opposition between their own muscles, they could achieve a similar effect. With that level of skill, it wouldn't be surprising if they could pull off a Charged Slash with an umbrella.
But Altaïr clearly did not possess that degree of martial skill.
That left only one possible reason he could do it: it was some kind of special talent that defied common understanding.
Karin continued in a low voice, "After so many years of development, the weapons and techniques used by hunters have become more or less fixed. Even if new moves are developed from time to time, the 'core' of each weapon remains unchanged.
Like the Long Sword's Spirit, the Dual Blades' Demon Mode, the Great Sword's charge, the Hammer's inertia combos, and so on.
But Altaïr seems able to break these limitations through his superhuman coordination and muscle control.
You should be well aware of what it would mean to let him continue developing freely."
"It means uncontrollability and danger." Joda pressed his fingers to his brow. "The final form of any weapon is built upon the sacrifices of countless predecessors.
The reason hunters grow stronger and stronger is that they stand on the shoulders of those who came before them.
What Altaïr is doing is like jumping around on the shoulders of countless ancestors. The moment he missteps and falls, he'll be smashed to pieces."