MHGA Chapter 216 – Gunlance Rookie: David
With growing unease about the Kirin, the cameras on the floating vehicle had already zoomed out far enough to lose sight of the scene.
"What the hell was that monster...?"
Arasaka Yorinobu sat on the hovercar, brow deeply furrowed, staring in a daze.
Originally—
He had set out to prevent Saburo Arasaka from acquiring that bizarre Recovery Medicine.
But now, Yorinobu was beginning to realize—
The situation unfolding in Night City far exceeded anything he had imagined.
What Arasaka Yorinobu didn't see on the camera…
Was that after defeating Kairo Retsu's team, the Kirin rummaged through Kairo's backpack and pulled out a bunch of items—
Only for a rainbow-streaked Palico to rush in and snatch away the unconscious hunters' bodies.
Kirin stamped its hooves in frustration, but in the end, it simply bit down on some scavenged materials and began its return to its new territory.
Shortly thereafter…
At the Gathering Hub entrance—
"What a damn monster," Kairo Retsu cursed.
"It bounced my blade! Its hide is trash-tier tough! Its attacks come in strings! And it freakin' steamrolled me!!"
"Piece of shit monster!"
His shouting immediately drew the attention of Rakuro Hizutome, who had just arrived at the base.
"What do you mean, 'piece of shit monster'?"
Rakuro hurried over and saw the rather battered team of four.
"Wait… Did you guys just come back from fighting the Kirin?"
"So how was it? You lost, huh?"
Rakuro's eyes gleamed with challenge.
Seems like this Kirin was a serious threat—one that promised a worthy battle.
"Haaah…"
Naofumi Iwatani let out a long sigh.
"A complete failure."
He rubbed the surface of his shield.
"Even I had a hard time blocking its attacks."
"Cluster Bombs and Spread Shot had some effect, but the Kirin is just too agile and compact."
Naofumi massaged his temples.
"Most attacks miss.
Hitting its weak points is basically impossible."
"Even when I landed a couple of direct hits with Cluster Bombs—
That was it."
Naofumi added,
"The recoil from the damn shells is just way too much."
"Yeah, Kirin's body is insane," Tanjiro added.
"Feels like stone.
Even with a weapon, it's hard to cut into it."
Tanjiro detailed what he'd observed about the Kirin's body structure.
"And I still don't get why the Kirin just straight-up attacked us."
Kairo Retsu scratched his head.
"You think it went rabid from hunger or something?"
As the Hunters discussed their first recon, over in Night City—
David had already met with Maine's crew, introduced by Maine himself, along with a few other edgerunners.
"H-hello!"
David stood stiffly, clutching the Defender Gunlance.
"I'm David Martinez!
Starting today, I'll be running jobs with you all…"
"…?"
Lucy, cigarette dangling from her lips, gave David a confused stare.
David glanced at her a few times before quickly looking away.
Hadn't she helped cover for him about the Sandevistan?
Why'd he go and deliver himself straight to Maine?
And now he was suddenly part of Maine's edgerunner crew?
"Alright!
Since we're welcoming a newbie—let's drink!"
The other edgerunners, after getting acquainted, kicked off a welcome party for David.
Lucy, however, waited until David had a moment to himself—
Then yanked him by the collar into a corner.
"You dumbass, what the hell are you doing here?!"
She glared at him, frustrated.
"You—"
"I dropped out."
David spoke first, cutting her off.
"I'm from a single-parent household.
My mom got into a car crash—she can't work anymore.
I need money."
"You…"
Whatever Lucy had planned to say all got stuck in her throat.
"Sorry… for making you mad before."
David looked down, ashamed.
"I didn't know why you were angry.
I wanted to apologize, but I couldn't find you…"
"You really are…"
Lucy groaned, ruffling her hair in irritation.
Not sure what to say, she instead pointed to the weird Gunlance strapped to David's back.
"What the hell is that thing?
You plan on using that to be an edgerunner?"
She knocked on the massive, brick-like weapon.
"Why not just buy a smart weapon?
Even a kinetic gun would be more practical than this."
"It's… something a senpai recommended."
David looked at the Gunlance with conflicted eyes.
"I kind of like this weapon. And besides…"
"I've got a Sandevistan now.
Compared to other weapons—
this Gunlance lets me make better use of it."
David explained seriously.
"You…"
Lucy looked like she was about to argue, but—
At some point, Maine had wandered over and slung an arm over David's shoulders.
"So, you two know each other?"
"We do! / We don't!"
David and Lucy answered in perfect unison—
but with totally opposite responses.
Maine narrowed his eyes at them both.
Then clapped David on the shoulder.
"Perfect.
Since you two know each other, I'm putting you in charge of helping David get up to speed with how we do things."
"Huh?!"
Lucy flared up.
"Why me?!"
"You know him, that's why."
Maine shrugged.
"This is David's first real job.
Make sure you guide him properly.
Don't let me down."
Maine turned and walked off without waiting for objections.
"So… what do I do now?"
David asked nervously once Maine was out of earshot.
"…Haaah."
Lucy sighed deeply, then grabbed David by the collar again.
"Come with me!"
"Wha—where are we going?"
David asked in confusion.
"To find an empty lot.
You're gonna show me what that weird thing on your back can actually do."
Lucy snapped.
"What kind of idiot just suddenly shows up in front of me like this…"
she grumbled.
"If you don't know how to use that thing, I suggest you ditch it.
Otherwise, you're gonna end up dead real fast."
"Uh… Lucy…"
David suddenly asked from behind.
"You knew the Sandevistan in me was reserved for Maine, right?
So why…
didn't you tell him about it?"
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