Just as the Professor had feared, the Research Commission airship was attacked by Monsters twice more on the return trip to Metapetatto.
One was a large Khezu (the thunder-type, not the pale one), which the Hunters repelled using a similar method to how they had grounded the Rathalos.
The other was a Yian Garuga, though it struggled to reach the airship at high altitude. It followed far below for over half an hour before reluctantly departing.
While these encounters could be described as close calls without injury, being attacked by Large Monsters three times in the span of a single day and night was, in itself, highly abnormal.
To confirm the situation, the Professor personally slid down a tether to the cargo bag beneath the hull. After meticulous inspection, he repeatedly confirmed that the Estrellian was still in a deep coma, ruling out the suspicion that it was actively attracting Monsters.
However, this was hardly good news.
If it wasn't an active attraction, did that mean the Estrellian possessed the ability to unconsciously draw Monsters in and cause their bodies to undergo activation?
That was even more worrying than an active attraction...
Consequently, upon arriving at Metapetatto, the Professor did not allow the airship to unload the Estrellian directly within the city, hoping to avoid the risk of a Monster siege.
After coordinating with the local Guild, the location for housing the Estrellian was changed to a refuge several kilometers outside Metapetatto City.
Similar refuges were built near all major cities and human settlements, designed to evacuate and shelter civilians during emergency declarations.
Built underground, the facilities and conditions of the refuge naturally couldn't compare to those within the city, but it excelled in safety and could effectively isolate the various influences caused by the Estrellian.
The Professor's proposal was smoothly approved by the Guild.
In addition to scholars supported by various academic organizations, the Hunter's Guild headquarters specifically dispatched a team of craftsmen and the Knights to set up Defense fortifications. They locked down the temporary research facility to ensure its safety and prevent unauthorized personnel from approaching.
These matters, however, were not the concern of the young Hunters.
Having returned to the Guild Hall, they successfully processed the rewards for the Glavenus Hunt.
As for the operation to assist the investigation team in the Capture of the Estrellian, since it was the first successful Capture, it was settled according to 5★ quest standards at the Professor's suggestion.
Based on what Erik said while accompanying them during the payout, they could forget about getting any Estrellian materials; the scholars had no intention of skinning or dismantling this young Estrellian.
But as compensation, the Professor would prepare some "small gifts" for them later.
Hearing this, Altaïr glanced at his long-worn Skalda S Armor and expressed great anticipation.
"Here, everyone's notes." The Guild Manager placed the trio's Hunter's Notes on the Quest Counter, a subtle smile playing on her face.
"One 5★ quest record each for hunting the Glavenus and capturing the Estrellian. Altaïr, congratulations..."
"What?" Altaïr didn't quite understand what she was congratulating him for.
"Congratulations on being a 4-star Hunter whose number of completed 5★ quests officially exceeds your 4★ quests!" The Guild Manager spoke with mock solemnity. "You truly are the King of Jumping the Gun!" Nymera joined in, clapping along from the side.
"No, not at all, don't talk nonsense," Altaïr denied decisively. "The 4★ quests I've completed are the Nerscylla Urgent Quest, the Duramboros Capture Quest, and the Zamtrios Hunt. Whereas for 5★ quests, there's only this Glavenus Hunt and the Estrellian Capture. That's three to two, how are there more 5★ quests?"
As he spoke, he shifted his focus toward Isis. "This one is the real King of Jumping the Gun. Her 4★ quests consist only of the Basarios Urgent and the Duramboros Capture. She has two 5★ quests as well, two to two, the numbers are tied!"
"I am not!" Isis flatly denied. "Didn't you also hunt a Seregios with Auntie Shalan? Doesn't that count!"
"Heh, encountering that Seregios was just an accident. In essence, it was just an Expedition quest without a difficulty rating, so it doesn't count toward the mission records, just like when we did in that Tigrex two years ago."
Watching Altaïr argue his case, Miss Noya wore a smug smile on her face. "Actually, regarding that Urgent Quest where you promoted to 4-star... I went ahead and appealed to Hunter's Guild headquarters for you. Because two Nerscylla did indeed appear, it had already exceeded the scope of a conventional 4-star quest.
"The directive from headquarters just came down. They've agreed to amend your record for that quest to 5★ and even added a bonus to the reward! So, currently, your 4★ quest completion count is two, while your 5★ quests stand at three!"
Altaïr: "..."
While he was happy to receive extra pay, at a time like this, he only wanted to ask her one thing:
Is your day job really that slow?
"You're the King of Jumping the Gun!" Isis shouted, pumping her fist.
Nymera started clapping again.
"Alright, that's enough joking around." The smiling Guild Manager's expression softened slightly. "I'm telling you this to remind you to focus on completing more 4★ quests in your daily routine. Unless there's a special case like a waiver from His Immenseness, a sufficient number of completed 4★ quests is a hard requirement for promoting to 5★. You can't use 5★ quest records to bypass it. 4★ quests shouldn't be difficult for you, and hunting in a team makes them even more manageable. Don't always think they're not challenging enough; accumulating experience is also vital."
Faced with Miss Noya's advice, Altaïr and Isis put aside their playful banter and nodded seriously in agreement.
"It is quite fortuitous, then," Nymera suddenly spoke up. "With the strength you two possess, completing 4★ quests is a certainty and does not require my participation. I intend to take this opportunity to travel to Minegarde Town to find a smith capable of forging armor and weapons for Hibiki."
Noya crossed her arms and nodded emphatically. "You two should learn from Nymera. Her 4★ quest completions are triple her 5★ count. She has no shortage of both accumulated experience and high-difficulty tempering. By the way, Miss Nymera has met the prerequisites for promoting to 5★ for a long time now. She can apply for a Rank-Up Quest whenever she wishes. Of course, I only mean the conditions have been met; as for when exactly you plan to promote, that's for you to judge."
Nymera added with a smile, "Once I return and have made full preparations, I intend to attempt the promotion to 5★."
Isis's face immediately broke into a pure, radiant smile. "That's wonderful! Once Nymera promotes to 5★, we can follow her to hunt even more 5★ Monsters!"
Guild Manager Noya's face instantly went dark. She felt like her earlier lecture had been for nothing.
Altaïr pointed at Isis, then at himself. "See? For some people, the habit of jumping the gun is innate. For others, it's just an accident."
Realizing her words sounded a bit off, Isis quickly tried to backtrack. "No, no, I meant in the future! In the future, after we've accumulated enough experience with 4★ difficulty quests!"
Only then did Guild Manager Noya's expression improve, though she thought to herself that she would have to keep a closer eye on this girl. A few days ago, she had obtained the contact address for Isis's elders from Shalan; if the girl went too far, she would write a letter home to tattle.
Come to think of it, if she could swindle one of the girl's elders into staying here for a while, wouldn't that be a massive win?
Feeling a chill crawl down her spine under the Guild Manager's cryptic gaze, Isis quickly tucked away her Hunter's Notes. "Um, we have official business to attend to, so we'll be going now, okay?"
"What official business?" Altaïr asked, amused.
Isis's mind blanked for a second, but then she remembered there was indeed something important left to do. "Glavenus materials! I need to place an order for my new weapon! Also, Altaïr, your new armor and weapons should be just about finished. Aren't you going to take a look?"
"You have a point." Altaïr picked up his notes from the counter, stuffed them into his pack, and nodded to the Guild Manager.
"Once our Seregios set, Seregios Long Sword, and Glavenus Gunlance are all ready, we'll go bully some 4★ Monsters in the Jungle."
(Translated by yourtl.app)