If you wanted to go Sandship drifting, first you needed a Sandship.
Unlike casually lashing together a wooden raft to float on water, the hull structure of a Sandship capable of traversing the Desert was quite specialized. The best option for Altaïr and Sajji, and indeed their only option, was to rent one.
However, as they inquired along the way and arrived at the trading company that rented out small Sandships, they learned that with the onset of the monsoon season, the number of tourists visiting Rekusara had surged dramatically.
"The Sandships were all rented out early this morning." The deeply tanned boss, wearing a large straw hat, pursed his lips. "Rent out a Sandship, take tourists for a quick spin around the nearby dunes, and you can make a tidy sum. Even our own shop hands aren't thinking about work anymore."
Altaïr and Sajji exchanged a glance.
"Then what if we want to go to Val Habar? Where is Val Habar currently anchored?" Altaïr pressed.
Sandship drifting was just for fun; it wouldn't matter much if they couldn't rent one. But if their journey to Val Habar was also going to be affected, that would be a real headache.
"Val Habar? Val Habar's less than two hundred kilometers west right now." The boss took a puff of his dry tobacco pipe and continued, "This year's especially high number of tourists is related to that as well.
"Rekusara and Val Habar are jointly holding a small Sandship racing competition. Not just here, either; experts are coming from Loc Lac and even as far as Sekumea to compete.
"You could call it a trend started by the Loc Lac food festival. These past few years, all the cities in our Great Desert have been putting on all kinds of competitions, and they really do attract quite a few tourists.
"Young man, judging by your accent, you're also from the sand sea area, right? Haven't you heard about it?"
Altaïr smiled at the boss. "I've been in the northlands for a few years and only got back today, so I still don't know anything."
The Great Desert lay at the southernmost tip of the Old World, so the people of the Great Desert were accustomed to referring to all regions outside the Great Desert collectively as the "northlands."
"I see. Welcome home!" The boss patted Altaïr's arm heartily. "As for how to get to Val Habar...
"Young man, you're a Hunter, right? Pick almost any caravan and they'd probably be happy to take you along. The trip would be slow, though; a little under a week at least.
"Or you could try your luck outside the city. The racing competition is in two days, and the whole route goes from Leke Bay by the sea all the way to Val Habar. There should be quite a few competing Sandships coming and going right now to familiarize themselves with the course.
"See if you can talk your way onto one and hitch a ride. The winds are strong during the monsoon season, and the pilots of those competing vessels are highly skilled. Two hundred kilometers, just a few hours' trip.
"You might even make it to Val Habar in time for dinner, ha ha ha!"
Altaïr's eyes lit up as he listened. After sincerely thanking the enthusiastic boss, he headed out of the city together with Sajji.
Just as the boss had said, among the undulating dunes outside the city, they could see plenty of vessels carrying tourists out across the sand.
The operators of these small Sandships were mostly residents of Rekusara. They weren't necessarily highly skilled professionals, but they knew enough to keep out-of-town tourists happy.
Altaïr figured that if he took the helm, he could probably pilot one faster than they could.
Not paying much attention to these pleasure craft, Altaïr and Sajji headed straight toward the coast.
According to the boss they'd just spoken with, the bay was the starting point of the speed race, and there they'd likely see plenty of truly capable pilots.
He'd see if any of them could take him and Sajji for a thrill ride. If they could find someone willing to take them to Val Habar, that would be even better.
Of course, on that last point, Altaïr held virtually no hope.
After all, it wasn't just him this time. Four fully armed Hunters in total, plus a Palamute loaded with luggage. A small Sandship couldn't possibly carry that many people.
"Swoosh!"
A swift shadow shot past Altaïr and Sajji. It was a small Sandship painted entirely bright red, with an aggressively flamboyant design.
In almost the blink of an eye, it vanished among the undulating dunes.
If the Sandships ferrying tourists outside the city were toddling infants, then this one was a Dual Blades user who'd chugged Dash Juice, activated Demon Mode, and gone all out at full speed.
No need to guess; this had to be a professional competing in the speed race.
"Good lord, it's nearly flying."
"Meow-damn, even an Airship can't necessarily go that fast, meow."
Before their voices faded, several more brilliantly colored Sandships shot past, each not much slower than that red one.
The man and the Felyne caught the spark in each other's eyes and unconsciously quickened their pace.
The Val Habar business could wait. First, they'd see if any racer could give them a ride and let them experience the thrill of breakneck speed!
They practically jogged all the way to the coast, where the scene was unexpectedly lively.
Racers were fine-tuning their vessels and preparing to launch for practice; vacationing tourists were either spectating or lounging on deck chairs and sunbathing; vendors were hawking all sorts of snacks and goods. The place was bustling.
In one area near the shore, a particularly dense crowd had gathered, packed in ring after ring.
Shrill yet rousing music, the rapid rattle of Bowgun fire, long canine howls, cheers from onlookers, and, impossible to ignore, a booming cannonade that drew waves of applause every time it sounded. All manner of rowdy noise mingled together.
Wait. Cannon fire?
Altaïr, who had been in a curious spectator's mood just a moment before, suddenly looked grim. He was about to move closer, but someone was faster.
Several figures in form-fitting off-white uniforms and iconic straw hats strode briskly toward the gathering crowd.
Altaïr and Sajji exchanged glances.
Those uniforms, they knew all too well. That was the garb of the Loc Lac Rangers.
But still, the Loc Lac Rangers were Loc Lac's public security force. What were they doing all the way here in Rekusara?
The man and the Felyne quickened their steps and followed.
Ahead, several members of the Loc Lac Rangers pushed through the crowd and began dispersing it, glaring furiously at the culprits who had caused the commotion.
"What do you think you're doing?!" the burly man in the lead roared.
Isis, who seconds ago had raised her Gunlance and fired skyward, opened her mouth, stammered for two seconds, and then managed to force out, "We... are performing music! That's right, this is a musical instrument!"
The burly man, himself a Gunlance user, glanced back at the Gunlance slung behind him, and his rage flared even hotter. "Do you think we'll believe that nonsense?!"
Lambert raised her Hunting Horn with a dead-serious expression. "The Hunting Horn is a musical instrument, and the Hunting Horn is a Hunter's weapon. The Gunlance and Bowgun are also Hunters' weapons, so the Gunlance and Bowgun are also musical instruments!"
As the burly man stared at her as if she were insane, Lambert pointed at Hibiki beside her. "And even a Palamute can be a musical instrument!"
"Awooo..."
"Hahaha! The little lady makes a good point!" The crowd of onlookers, loving every bit of the chaos, erupted in jeers and laughter.
Seeing the situation spiraling into even greater disorder, the burly man pinched the bridge of his nose. "Forget it. Take them back first."
"Should we restrain them?" a young Ranger beside him asked quietly.
"...No need. Clear the crowd first. Don't let them pack in here; it'll only draw more people."
"Yes, sir."
With several Rangers working at it, the crowd of onlookers finally began to disperse.
Nymera gestured for Isis and Lambert to stay quiet, then stepped in front of the burly man with an apologetic expression.
"Our sincere apologies, Commander. We were merely overwhelmed by the majestic beauty of the vast desert meeting the boundless sea. Overcome by emotion for a moment, we truly did not intend to cause a disturbance."
The burly man fixed his gaze on her, and his tone softened slightly. "Your actions may not technically constitute a crime, but they have seriously disrupted public order.
"You are all Hunters, I assume. I will escort you to the Guild Hall. The local Guild will determine whether any penalties are warranted."
Nymera let out a breath of relief upon hearing this and bowed. "Our thanks. We will cooperate."
The fact that he said he would take them to the Guild Hall, rather than to the city guard commander, meant he was also inclined to let the matter slide.
This incident would probably blow over with a scolding at the Guild. But if it reached the municipal office, they might either be released outright or locked up for a few days.
"Send them to the Guild? That won't do." Altaïr strode over from a distance, reaching out to drape an arm over the burly man's shoulders. Sajji nimbly used Altaïr's arm as a bridge to scamper onto the burly man's other shoulder.
Altaïr turned toward the pleasantly surprised Isis with a savage grin.
"These villains who've disrupted public order should be hauled straight to the city guard commander and punished severely! Lock them up for a good few days and fine them thousands of zenny!"
(Translated by yourtl.app)