The Airship touched down in Metapetatto.
Dressed in the most basic Hunter's Armor, with an Iron Horn forged from Iron Ore, looking like the words "rookie on board" might as well have been stamped on her forehead, Lambert followed behind Altaïr down the gangway.
The girl, who usually seemed listless, actually looked a little excited now. She kept looking this way and that, this way and that.
"The sounds of this city are more interesting than Dundorma's."
"There's a way to put that, meow?" Sajji, who had gotten somewhat familiar with them after two days of traveling together on the Airship, asked curiously, "Dundorma is the largest and most prosperous city in the Old World, meow. Is there really a city more interesting than Dundorma, meow?"
The girl shook her head. "It's different. Dundorma is like... mm, a grand symphony, precise, complex, magnificent. Mixing in even a slightly different sound would feel very out of place.
"This place might not be as prosperous as Dundorma, but there's a... freer feeling!"
"That's because you're away from home for the first time." Walking up ahead, Altaïr didn't turn his head. "Take you out of Dundorma, drop you into any city in the world, and you'd feel free."
The girl tilted her head and thought it over. "You have a point, you know."
A grin gradually spread across her face. "Mom and Dad, the Instructor, all of them, thousands of miles away now. Heh heh heh heh."
Altaïr didn't stop walking. He said nothing, only raised his fist at her.
Lambert let out a heavy sigh. "Never mind. Absolute freedom brings emptiness too..."
"First I'll take you to the Guild Hall to meet the person in charge here, then I'll find you a place to stay.
"Rent here is pretty cheap, but for a rookie like you it's still a significant expense. Work hard on your quests, or watch out, you might not even afford the rent."
With that, Altaïr continued leading the way.
Metapetatto wasn't a small city, but compared to Dundorma it was on a completely different order of magnitude. In just a little over fifteen minutes, they made their way from the port to the Hunter's Guild Hall in the city's central district.
"Yo! Altaïr, been a while!"
"That new Armor looks sharp!"
As the two humans and one Felyne pushed open the door and entered, familiar Hunters called out to Altaïr one after another, and he answered each with a smile.
Some also cast curious glances at the unfamiliar girl with dark circles under her eyes behind him.
But Lambert clearly had no interest in making a wide circle of friends. She simply swept her gaze across the room, then retracted it, following behind Altaïr on her own.
Seeing no sign of Isis and Nymera in the Guild Hall, Altaïr led Lambert straight toward the Quest Counter.
Behind the counter, the Guildmarm's eyes sparkled, her fiery gaze practically glued to Lambert.
Judging by the gear, a rookie, fresh out of the box, brand new. But could anyone walking alongside Altaïr be just an ordinary rookie? No way. There had to be something special about her!
Hehehe, a talented rookie. Her absolute favorite!
Lambert's perception was quite sharp, and she naturally noticed the strange Guildmarm's gaze. Such an openly brazen stare made her feel utterly uncomfortable, and she instinctively edged behind Altaïr.
"Altaïr, you're back?" The Guildmarm rubbed her hands together like a scheming villain. "And this unfamiliar young lady is?"
"Lambert. Dundorma Training Camp's current Chief Student, just graduated, sixteen years old. She'll likely be active around Metapetatto for a while.
"Low on cash, so figure out a lodging situation for her," Altaïr stated briskly and to the point.
Dundorma Training Camp! Chief Student!! Graduated at sixteen!!! These labels struck Miss Noya's passion like kerosene thrown onto an open flame.
"Ah~! What an adorable young lady! Do you also like smoky eye makeup?"
That fervent gaze seemed almost capable of burning right through a person, and the Guildmarm's syrupy voice sent a jolt through Lambert's entire body.
She leaned back, her face showing undisguised disgust. "Ugh, what's the deal with this one? So gross."
"She's the Guildmarm of the Metapetatto Guild, Miss Noya," Altaïr introduced, a touch helplessly.
"Terrifying. Senior Altaïr, have you recently considered relocating your base of operations?"
Hearing their exchange, Noya swiftly wiped away the sweet smile that most people found so appealing and pulled out a pair of rimless glasses from beneath the counter, putting them on.
After clearing her throat, she adopted a clinical, businesslike tone and said, "Ms. Lambert, is there anything I can help you with?"
"Now she's putting on airs. Even grosser," Lambert turned her head aside and muttered under her breath.
Beside her, Sajji asked curiously, "What kind of sound do you hear from Guildmarm Noya, meow?"
Lambert narrowed her eyes at him for two seconds. "A bottomless swamp bubbling away, blup-blup-blup."
Noya: "?"
Altaïr tapped the top of Lambert's head with his hand. "Show some courtesy. She is the Guildmarm of the Metapetatto Guild, after all."
Hearing this, Lambert composed herself, lowered her head with a blank expression, and gave a slight bow. "Hello, Madam Guildmarm."
Noya: "..."
A difficult, rebellious teenage girl, huh. But no matter! No matter how difficult, she won't escape my grasp!
"Little Lillian, bring out the list and introduce this young lady to the special features of our Metapetatto Guild Hall!"
"'Kay!" Lillian, the young receptionist who was a few years younger than Lambert, pulled out the room rate chart and expertly began introducing the various luxury rooms unique to the Metapetatto Guild Hall.
Unexpectedly, Lambert's rebellious attitude softened when she was dealing with a child.
Picking up on this immediately, Guildmarm Noya decisively resolved to entrust all of Lambert's future reception duties entirely to Lillian. If the two could eventually become close friends and confidantes, wouldn't that be just another way to tie Lambert to Metapetatto?
"Guildmarm, have Isis and Nymera returned yet?" While letting the two girls continue their chat, Altaïr turned toward the Guildmarm, whose eyes were darting around restlessly.
"Hm? Ah, right, Isis also came back today, just a few hours earlier than you. As for Nymera, she just finished a Hunt and returned the day before yesterday.
"The two of them went out together at noon, probably to buy something or other."
Altaïr nodded as he listened. Isis wasn't the type to spend hours window-shopping, so she would likely be back before long. He decided to wait in the Guild Hall.
Beside them, at Lillian's suggestion, Lambert had chosen a perfectly ordinary Hunter Cabin, and now Lillian had dragged her off to see the room.
The moment Lambert left, Guildmarm Noya solemnly grabbed Altaïr's hands and shook them up and down with vigor.
"What kind of reward would you like? A free room upgrade? Priority access to quest intel? Or a whole stack of dining coupons?"
"...That girl is a problem child. Her Instructor and parents asked me to look after her. You just keep an eye on her for me, that'll do."
"Ho ho, I'd pay attention to that even without you asking. A promising seedling that's finally landed in our garden; I won't let her wither away."
"Your sense of resolve on that point is something I don't doubt at all." Altaïr exhaled. This Guildmarm might be a bit flighty in day-to-day matters, but when it came to serious business she was always utterly reliable.
"Right, about that village with the dual Nerscylla Urgent Quest..."
The moment Altaïr brought up the subject, the smile faded from Guildmarm Noya's face. "So you found out."
"Yeah, I met that boy named Archi in Dundorma." After a pause, Altaïr continued, "Since you knew about it, I figured you'd have kept him here in Metapetatto.
"True, we don't have a training camp on this side, but a letter of recommendation would've been easy for you, right?"
Noya rested her chin on her hand, expression wistful. "Yeah, but at the time the Jungle was in full upheaval. It was no place for him to stay, let alone let him become an official Hunter. Otherwise, someday he'd get hot-headed, charge straight into the depths of the Jungle, and throw his life away.
"Better to send him to Dundorma and give him a change of scenery. That was always the best option."
"Fair enough." Altaïr inclined his chin slightly. "At least now that the Estrellian chaos has been dealt with, he's lost the target of his revenge, and he's got a little sister to take care of. If he gets through this stretch, he'll gradually be able to recover..."
"Hm hm hm?!" Altaïr was barely halfway through when the Guildmarm abruptly snapped her head up. "You're absolutely right! Then why should a promising seedling of our great Jungle be handed over to Dundorma?!
"No way! I'm going to write to them right now and demand that boy back! Could siblings lost in an unfamiliar place possibly find a good life in Dundorma? They'd be better off coming to our Metapetatto!
"Though our training camp here hasn't been built yet, finding him a reliable Instructor will still be easy!
"If he's worried about leaving his little sister, I'll help him take care of her! That kid's about Lillian's age; she can join us as a Guild receptionist!"
Sajji raised both paws high. "The average age of our Guild Hall receptionists can finally drop below thirty, meow!"
Bang! A fist slammed down onto Sajji's head. Guildmarm Noya ground her teeth. "Utter nonsense! Little Lillian is only ten!
"The average age of our Guild Hall receptionists is fifteen. Remember that!"
Watching Sajji clutch his head, Altaïr had no desire to speak up for him anymore. That one never learned unless he took a few knocks.
At that very moment, the Guild Hall's gate was pushed open, and two familiar figures appeared in the doorway.
Spotting Altaïr by the Quest Counter, Isis ran over in delight. "Altaïr, you're here! Ah, right, I have something to give you!"
"What a coincidence. Me too." Altaïr also smiled as he rummaged through his pack.
"A letter written personally by Aunt Karin!"
"The books Master Amos told you to memorize."
(Translated by yourtl.app)