Together with Sajji, they thoroughly tidied up the room.
They carefully stored valuables like cash and jewelry, arranged daily necessities one by one, and even washed all their change of clothes before hanging them outside the window.
Looking at the clean, tidy, and now more lived-in Hunter Cabin, Altaïr and Sajji placed their hands on their hips and let out a comfortable sigh.
There were still some things they needed to buy, like a soft cushion for Sajji to sleep on.
After all, it was a single-person Hunter Cabin, and the bed was a bit narrow, just right for one person, but a bit cramped with a Felyne added.
So Altaïr planned to buy Sajji a soft cushion, along with some small pillows and blankets, so Sajji could sleep comfortably too.
Besides that, there were water cups, soap for washing bodies and clothes, snacks and books for passing the time, and so on. Altaïr noted them all down in his memo, planning to buy everything in one go on the streets later.
"Gurgle..." The sound of empty stomachs growling echoed in the room.
Altaïr looked at Sajji, and Sajji looked back at him at the same time.
"It's you, right?"
"It's clearly you, meow!"
After a pointless argument, they both agreed it was time to find something to fill their stomachs.
Altaïr changed into casual clothes, while Sajji only wore a small vest. The man and cat traveled light and left the Guild Hall together.
Of course, there was food at the guild hall tavern, from the most basic grilled meat naan to high-end dishes made with rare ingredients, they had everything. But neither of them planned to have their first meal in this city there.
On their way to the Guild Hall, they had seen many tempting stalls and shops. For newcomers to the city, these roadside snacks were more appealing.
As for which one to choose, it wasn't hard, just pick the one with the longest line.
And so, they ended up queuing in front of a shack specializing in grilled meat.
Sajji's ears folded back, looking somewhat reluctant. "It doesn't seem any different from the grilled meat in Loc Lac, meow. It's all wrapped in naan, meow. Even the smell is the same, meow."
Altaïr was also hesitant. He wanted to see if Val Habar's grilled meat was really the same as Loc Lac's, but he was worried that if it turned out to be exactly the same, it would feel like a waste to have their first meal in Val Habar be something they were already tired of eating back home.
Just as they were hesitating, someone behind them in the line spoke up.
"Are you from Loc Lac? First time in Val Habar?"
Altaïr and Sajji turned around. The speaker was a hunter, equipped with armor, an Insect Glaive slung diagonally across his back, and a Kinsect resting on his arm.
This was unmistakably an Insect Glaive user, but it was the first time they had seen one this fat.
It wasn't the kind of fat where excess flesh drooped and made walking difficult, but rather a high body fat percentage with plenty of muscle underneath the thick fat, like a Tetranadon.
Hunters with similar builds were rare, since with the amount of exercise hunters got, it was hard to accumulate much fat even if they ate and drank heavily every day. However, there are a few hunters who deliberately consume excessive amounts of high-calorie food to achieve this stout and robust physique, gaining stronger core strength and a more stable center of gravity.
They are usually heavily armored hunters focused on defense, or Hammer users.
For weapons like the Insect Glaive, which extremely prioritize agility and coordination, I've genuinely never seen a fat person use one; could you even manage to fly with that body?
Altaïr certainly wouldn't be so rude as to voice the question in his mind, but his expression couldn't help turning peculiar.
This led to a misunderstanding from the other party, "Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation, but I can tell you the answer to that grilling topic you were just discussing."
The fat Insect Glaive user patted his large belly, "Whether it's Val Habar's grilled meat or Loc Lac's grilled meat, I can tell them apart without even tasting them!"
Now Altaïr and the others grew interested. After all, they had nothing better to do while waiting in line, "How so? What's the difference between the two?"
The Insect Glaive user rubbed his oily, smooth chin, "Actually, the difference is quite subtle. From the marinating and grilling of the meat to the type of flatbread, they're basically the same, since both originate from the diet of desert nomads.
The real difference lies in the toppings!
Loc Lac's grilled meat is usually served with fresh onions, while Val Habar's grilled meat is sprinkled with lots of Val Habar before eating!"
"What do you mean by 'sprinkled with lots of Val Habar', meow?"
"Huh? You didn't know?" The fat Insect Glaive user wore an expression of astonishment, as if saying, "You came all this way without knowing that?" before growing excited.
"The so-called 'Val Habar' is a composite spice, it's a specialty of this city and the origin of the city's name!
In Val Habar, Val Habar is the most indispensable seasoning. The people of Val Habar can live without salt, but they absolutely cannot live without Val Habar!"
The Insect Glaive user grew more and more fervent as he spoke, waving his chubby hand and pointing, "Look! Young man! Look at this city! What color do you think it is?"
"Uh, colorful?"
"What do you mean by colorful?!" The fat man pursed his lips, "That's just the surface! Look at the whole picture, the atmosphere! What color does this city give off as a whole?"
Altaïr couldn't help but recall the warm yellow slopes of Val Habar he'd seen from a distance on his way here, and the warm sunlight streaming into his small room.
"Like the warm yellow of afternoon sunlight?" Altaïr ventured.
"Exactly!" The fat man's chubby hand slapped heavily on his shoulder, "A warm yellow bordering on orange-red! That's why the city of Val Habar is that color too!
Because what flows in our veins is also Val Habar!"
"I-I see." Altaïr was taken aback by the other's passion.
Sajji even started clapping, "By the way, it's almost our turn in line, meow! Let's try what Val Habar grilled meat with Val Habar tastes like, meow!"
"That won't do."
The fat Insect Glaive user suddenly grabbed Altaïr's arm with one hand and lifted Sajji by the scruff of his neck with the other, pulling them out of the line.
"This grilled meat shop's flavor is quite good, and I come here to eat almost every day, but when it comes to being 'the best,' it's still lacking just a bit. Since it's your first time here, you absolutely must try the best! Follow me!" The chubby Insect Glaive user tilted his head, though the motion was barely noticeable since his neck was as thick as his skull.
Having missed lunch, spent the afternoon cleaning their room, and just endured a long queue, Altaïr and Sajji were starving. Just as they were about to reach the counter to make their purchase, the portly Insect Glaive user dragged them out of line.
The person behind them had already started ordering, and it seemed inappropriate to cut back in now. After exchanging helpless glances, the man and cat had no choice but to follow the chubby Insect Glaive user, silently praying the final taste would justify all these twists and turns.
Led by the stout hunter, they wound through Val Habar's streets and alleys. Despite his bulk, his steps were remarkably agile, if Altaïr and Sajji didn't quicken their pace, they risked losing him at any moment.
After nearly ten minutes of half-jogging, they finally arrived before an inconspicuous small tent. An elderly Wyverian woman who looked impossibly ancient was slowly grinding something with a mortar and pestle.
"Is this... an apothecary?" Altaïr stared at a small sign by the tent entrance that read 'Max Potions and Herbal Medicine Sold Here.'
"Correct." The chubby man briefly acknowledged before squatting beside the old woman, his posture forming an almost perfect sphere. "Apothecary Granny, they're visiting our city for the first time and have never tried Val Habar. Could you grind some fresh for us?"
The elderly woman slowly lifted her head, giving the Insect Glaive user a resigned look, but ultimately retreated into the tent to gather ingredients.
"Many spices are also medicinal ingredients, so Apothecary Granny also blends Val Habar seasoning. And her Val Habar blend could easily be called the most authentic in all of Val Habar!" The chubby hunter explained while patting his belly. "She usually refuses to make it for me, only on occasions like this will she reluctantly agree."
Altaïr: "..."
No wonder you're so enthusiastic. You just want to eat it yourself.
Apothecary Granny was very old and moved slowly. Altaïr and his companion felt too awkward to hurry her along. Only after over half an hour did a small pouch of spices end up in their hands.
The chubby Insect Glaive user bowed deeply, receiving it with both hands as if it weren't mere seasoning but some rare treasure.
"So where's the grilled meat, meow?" Sajji asked weakly, his ears drooping from hunger. "Does granny also work as a grill cook, meow?"
"Of course not, what are you thinking?" The portly hunter looked at him reproachfully. "Apothecary Granny is a master alchemist!"
Sajji barely restrained himself from cursing aloud. You damn well know she's a master alchemist, meow?!
But the Insect Glaive user's face shone with excitement. "The finest spices naturally deserve the finest meat! Come! I'll take you to Chef Meow!"