Having no immediate need for new equipment and needing to pack for the long journey ahead, Nymera did not follow Altaïr and the others to the smithy, but instead returned to her lodgings early.
Sajji originally wanted to go back as well to continue improving his Rathalos Model-09 and Rakna-Kadaki No. 2, but Altaïr grabbed him by the tail.
"Don't be in such a hurry to run off. I ordered new equipment for you this time too. Go try it on first."
"Meow?" Sajji's ears twitched as he looked down at the Nerscylla Palico Armor he was wearing, which made him look like a copper statue.
"We only changed into this set less than two months ago, meow. Isn't it too wasteful to get new equipment already, meow?"
As an Assist Cat whose primary means of combat involved operating various machinery, Sajji believed his need for Armor and weapons was very low; after all, he almost never engaged in close-quarters combat.
If it weren't for dealing with extreme circumstances, he wouldn't even want to carry his Felyne Sword. It was just extra weight; he would rather carry a few more cannonballs.
"Wasteful? There are plenty of scraps. There's more than enough to make a set of Palico Armor and a Felyne Sword. Letting them sit unused is the real waste." Altaïr gripped Sajji's little paw, preventing him from fleeing.
"Meow, alright then, meow. You're the Boss, meow." Under Altaïr's firm insistence, Sajji stopped refusing, though he remained quite uninterested.
Isis looked at the Glavenus materials she was cradling in her arms and carrying on her back, then asked Clawdia in a low voice.
"Clawdia, we don't have that many Glavenus materials. The scraps are probably just enough to make you either Palico Armor or a Felyne Sword. If we try to do both, we might run out. Which one do you want more?"
"Palico Armor, meow! I want new Palico Armor, meow!" Clawdia answered without a moment's hesitation.
The Armor she currently wore was Tobi-Kadachi Palico Armor crafted from Tobi-Kadachi materials she had hunted herself.
This set of Palico Armor was styled like a fluffy cloak. It looked very cute and was easily mistaken for everyday clothing, which often caused people to overlook her identity as a Palico.
Granny Shalan liked this set very much and often wore it as fashion, but Clawdia didn't like it, meow! She had wanted to change for a long time, meow!
Now that there was finally a chance to upgrade to stronger Palico Armor, Clawdia looked extremely excited.
As for the weapon, she liked those too, but in daily combat she used her steel claws more often, so the need for a weapon wasn't urgent.
Watching the usually quiet Clawdia hopping around in excitement, Altaïr flicked Sajji's ear.
"See that? That is the attitude you should have when you find out you're getting new equipment. Why are you so dismissive?"
"I would rather wear work clothes, meow. Then I could carry more tools like wrenches and hammers, meow..." Sajji grumbled.
Altaïr was helpless, but he couldn't actually let this fellow wear work clothes. They offered zero Defense; if an accident happened, it would be extremely dangerous.
Amidst their bickering, Altaïr's group arrived at the "Meta Great Iron Hammer" located at the port.
As the visitor's bell above the door let out a crisp "ding-ling," the two humans and two cats pushed their way inside.
Looking up, they saw Balina, whom they hadn't seen for quite a while, sitting behind the counter. She had a bandage wrapped around her forehead and one arm in a sling, looking rather miserable.
"Balina, when did you guys get back?" Isis stared wide-eyed. "Wait, you're injured? And you're helping watch the shop while injured?" "Ah! It's Isis!" Balina, who had been looking a bit listless, perked up and lifted her head. Noticing the worried glances from Isis and the others, she waved her bandaged hand.
"This? Oh, it's fine now, practically healed. It's just that Mom was worried the recovery wasn't stable yet, so she made me keep the splint on for a couple more days."
Altaïr's brow furrowed. If even Balina, an apprentice member, had sustained injuries like this, the rest of the Vanguard Hunting Party must have fared even worse.
"How are Serl and the others?"
Balina rubbed her nose with the back of her hand. "Boss Serl and Senior Brandley both took some hits, and Master Buck's injuries are fairly serious. He'll have to stay at the medical clinic for a while, but thankfully the doctor said there won't be any lasting effects."
Hearing this, Altaïr and Isis felt a slight sense of relief.
They knew that the Vanguard Hunting Party had been escorting a Royal Paleontology Scriveners investigation team to the western side of the Old Jungle, near the coastline, to investigate the anomalies occurring in the Jungle.
The investigation team hadn't returned by the time they themselves had set out to find the Estrellian. Had it not been for the Carrier Pigeons flying back and forth to maintain communication, the Guildmarm Noya would have begun considering organizing a rescue party.
"As long as everyone's safe. What did you run into?" Altaïr asked.
Balina looked hesitant and whispered, "The investigation team leader and Boss Serl said it had to be kept secret, but since it's Senior Altaïr and Isis..."
"Stop!"
Altaïr quickly raised a hand in a "timeout" gesture. "If there's a confidentiality requirement, then don't say a word. Not just to us, to anyone, including your family and friends. Do you understand? Once you start leaking information, it's impossible to stop, and trouble will find you."
"Mhm, I haven't told anyone yet." Balina nodded obediently, feeling a small weight lift from her chest.
If Isis and the others had pressed her out of curiosity, it would have been a real headache.
"Anyway, we're here to pick up some gear and place a new weapon order. Balina, is your grandfather in?" Altaïr decisively changed the subject.
He wasn't the overly curious type; even if he truly wanted to know what had happened to that team, he would go directly to the Professor to ask rather than badgering a young girl.
"Oh, yes! That set of glittering golden Armor and the Long Sword, those were your orders, right, Senior Altaïr? I'll go call Grandpa!"
Balina jogged away, soon popping her head back out from the curtain separating the shop from the inner smithy. "Grandpa says you can come in!"
Altaïr nodded, and the two humans and two cats filed inside.
Inside the smithy, the old smith, wearing a scorched and punctured leather apron and dragon-hide gloves, nodded his chin toward them in greeting.
"Sir–"
"I know what you're going to ask. It's already finished." The old smith cut Altaïr off and continued, "However, there's one final stage of surface treatment left. I wanted to get your opinion on it."
"Huh?" Altaïr was slightly stunned.
This was the first time he'd ever heard of a craftsman asking a Hunter for input on the manufacturing process.
Without further explanation, the old smith led the two of them to the armor mounted on a humanoid stand.
Before Altaïr even had a chance to offer a critique, Isis let out a sharp whistle. "Very sharp!" It was a suit of Armor that looked as if it had been forged from pure gold.
Judging by the coverage and thickness of the plating, it was a typical full-coverage Heavy Armor. The classic Rathalos Set and Tigrex Set both fell into this category.
If one were to describe the first impression this Armor gave, it would be "sharp." It was steeped in aggression from head to toe; it felt less like a suit of Armor and more like a weapon in its own right.
The blade-like horn atop the helm, the pauldrons fashioned from Bladescale Hone to resemble clenched steel claws, the Spiked Knuckles on the back of the hands, the thorns at the elbows and knees, and the bladed hooks at the front of the battle boots.
It seemed there wasn't a single part of it that couldn't be used to wound an enemy.
Altaïr, who already favored an offensive style, fell in love with this aggressively designed Armor at first sight.
Those blades covering the suit seemed to be constantly urging him to enter the hunting grounds immediately and engage in a bloody struggle with a Monster.
While Altaïr stood there staring blankly at the Armor, Isis spoke up for him. "So, old gentleman, what did you mean by that 'craftsmanship' stuff you mentioned earlier?"
Coming back to his senses, Altaïr also looked toward the old smith.
"This gold-textured Armor is very well-suited for polishing; the final result would be quite striking.
Whether it is polished or not has no impact on the Armor's performance. It is your choice: do you want a more low-profile matte finish, or a flamboyant mirror polish?"
"What would it look like after polishing?" Isis asked curiously.
"Hmm..."
The old smith picked up a bottle of grease used for lubricating machinery from a nearby workbench, dabbed a bit on his finger, smeared it onto the breastplate of the Armor, and then spread it with a cloth.
"Something like that."
"..." Altaïr's eye twitched. Was the man afraid the Monsters wouldn't be able to spot him?!
"Matte finish! Definitely a matte finish!"
(Translated by yourtl.app)