Altaïr and Sajji once again followed behind the chubby Insect Glaive user, jogging along as they listened to his explanation. According to him, they were now heading to "Chef Meow's" shop.
Just from the name, it was clear that Chef Meow was a Felyne.
Felynes possessed a more sensitive sense of smell and taste than humans, making them natural-born chefs. In fact, many Felynes worked in the food and beverage industry. It was said that all the chefs in the guild hall tavern were Felynes.
Many hunters had the habit of ordering a large table of delicious food to replenish their nutrients before heading out on a hunt.
Some Palicos even learned cooking skills in addition to their hunting techniques, allowing them to prepare meals for hunters in the wild or at camp.
Because of this, these pre-hunt feasts were often referred to by hunters as "Canteen" meals.
Compared to regular meals meant solely to satisfy cravings, Canteen meals were quite particular.
Deliciousness and satiety were the basics, they needed to provide hunters with the necessary calories for high-intensity combat. More refined versions included special ingredients and medicinal herbs to further enhance a hunter's physical capabilities.
In some regions, due to local dietary habits, specially blended drinks or glutinous rice balls were used as substitutes for Canteen meals, which were widely condemned by hunters as unorthodox practices.
Of course, such things didn't happen in Val Habar. According to the chubby Insect Glaive user, Chef Meow was himself a master of Canteen meals.
Visiting Chef Meow's shop for a big meal before heading out on a hunt had become a common habit for many Val Habar hunters. In comparison, the guild hall tavern in Val Habar seemed much less prominent.
By the time they arrived at Chef Meow's shop, the sky had already darkened.
All the tables and chairs set up in front of the shop were occupied. They waited for quite a while before finally securing a table as a group of guests finished their meal and left.
Altaïr and Sajji, who had barely eaten all day, were already past the point of hunger and didn't feel particularly famished anymore.
After having Altaïr and Sajji sit down to secure the spot, the chubby Insect Glaive user dashed over to the kitchen area and began whispering with the distinctively dressed Felyne chef.
Upon seeing the small bag of spices in the chubby Insect Glaive user's hand, the chef's expression noticeably turned serious.
Wiping drool from his mouth as he returned to the table, the chubby Insect Glaive user chuckled, "It's all settled. Chef Meow will take good care of us. Now we just wait to enjoy the feast!"
"Um, we haven't had the chance to ask yet..." Altaïr hesitated as he looked at this overly familiar chubby man. Initially, they had only exchanged a few words while waiting in line together, so there was no need to inquire about each other's names.
But now that they were sitting down to eat together, it seemed inappropriate not to know each other's names.
"Ah, sorry, sorry! I've been rambling on about food without introducing myself." The chubby Insect Glaive user wiped his face. "The name's Jara. As you can see, I'm an Insect Glaive user.
By the way, little brothers, you two are hunters too, right?"
"Yes, I'm Altaïr, from Loc Lac." Altaïr proactively extended his hand and shook Jara's.
"I'm Sajji, meow." Sajji also briefly introduced himself. "But how did you figure it out, Mr. Jara, meow? Boss and I never mentioned anything about being hunters, meow, and we're wearing regular clothes, meow."
"Pace, pace!" chuckled the chubby man named Jara. "Ordinary folks can't keep up with my steps so easily.
I only remembered to slow down after walking a few steps, then turned around and found you hadn't fallen behind at all. That's when I figured it out."
"I see," Altaïr nodded slowly. "Speaking of which, this Chef Meow probably isn't a local of Val Habar, is he?"
Altaïr glanced around as he spoke. "From the food offerings, cooking utensils, to his own attire, nothing seems characteristic of desert regions."
"That's right, Chef Meow comes from a very distant land." Jara fanned himself with his broad, thick palm. "See that massive iron wok in his hands?
He specializes in a cooking method called 'stir-fry' using that wok, and he also likes steaming food with high-temperature vapor. These cooking techniques I've only ever seen him use.
Oh, and those steamed buns made with vapor are absolutely delicious! I can't wait, I'm going to order two baskets now so we can have something to fill our stomachs first!"
Jara, who had just sat down barely two minutes ago, darted off again. Altaïr couldn't help marveling inwardly; with this guy's agile, active nature and strong drive, just how much must he eat to maintain his current portly figure?
"Hmm?"
As his thoughts wandered, a tall, slender figure approaching from the oil-lit street caught his attention.
Wasn't that Isis?
Her condition clearly wasn't good, she walked with a slight limp, one arm hanging limp, a bandage wrapped around her forehead, and her cheek somewhat swollen. The whole person appeared both pitiful and comical.
Her destination was also Chef Meow's food stall. Seeing from afar that all seats were taken, visible disappointment spread across her bruised face.
Just as she hesitated between enduring strange looks from others while waiting standing, or simply settling for another stall, she heard someone calling her name.
"Hey! Isis!" Altaïr stood up from the table and waved to her.
Unexpectedly, Isis's first reaction upon seeing him wasn't to approach, but to cover her face with her hands, instinctively turning as if to hide.
A question mark popped up over Altaïr's head.
His shout attracted more than just Isis's attention, Chef Meow, busy cooking, also looked up and then shrieked, immediately dropping his wok and ladle before rushing around the cooking counter.
"Meow! What happened to you, meow?" Chef Meow jumped around Isis, seemingly wanting to examine her injuries.
With more and more people's eyes focusing on her, Isis looked like she was about to cry. "It's nothing, I'm fine really."
"Why don't you sit down first?" Altaïr pointed to the square table in front of them. "There's still a seat available."
With nowhere to hide, Isis had no choice but to come sit at their table.
"I'll get the first aid kit, meow!"
Isis quickly reached out and grabbed Chef Meow's tail. "I'm really fine, Uncle Meow. You should go back to your work, things on the stove are about to burn."
"Meow...!" Chef Meow shrieked again, telling Altaïr "Little brother, please look after her for me, meow! I'll add free dishes to your order, meow!" before hurriedly running back to his cooking station.
Just then, Jara returned carrying two steaming baskets. Seeing the bruised and dejected Isis sitting at the table, he turned to ask Altaïr: "Your friend? Looks pretty rough."
Sajji also looked at him curiously; how come he didn't know Altaïr had friends in Val Habar?
Faced with their questions, Altaïr had no choice but to explain briefly, "The Long Sword user who came to help during the encounter with Barroth the other day was her."
As for why Isis had ended up in her current state, he had some guesses.
There wouldn't have been enough time for her to return to the city and take on other quests. She must have gone off alone to hunt that Barroth after they parted ways.
If he wasn't mistaken, that Barroth had been her target all along, which would explain why she had coincidentally appeared near that marshland.
But wasn't she a 2★ hunter? How could she have taken on a quest to hunt Barroth, a 3★ threat level monster?
It couldn't be poaching, could it?
Given that they had fought side by side, even if she had been poaching, Altaïr didn't plan to expose her directly in front of others.
So he changed his approach and asked, "Did you run into that Barroth again later?"
Though bruised and battered, Isis looked weak and meek, but her mind was sharp. She quickly grasped Altaïr's thoughts and concerns.
"I'm sorry!"
She stood up and bowed so deeply it looked like she was about to smash her forehead against the table. "I wasn't entirely honest back then. Actually, my hunter rank is 3★, and that Barroth really was my target."
Altaïr breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, at least it wasn't poaching.
Now everything made sense. Isis must have accepted the Barroth hunting quest first but arrived at the hunting grounds when it was already getting dark. For safety reasons, she rested at the camp, planning to hunt after daybreak.
That night, she was startled by Barroth's roars and the sounds of battle, so she came to check it out. Seeing Altaïr engaged with Barroth, she joined the fight.
After driving Barroth back together, they parted ways. He returned to the campsite to guard the merchant caravan, while she continued to pursue the injured Barroth, only to end up defeated.
As for her being a 3★ hunter, it didn't surprise him much. With her swordsmanship as a foundation, it was only natural she could advance to 3★.
As for why she had hidden her true hunter rank...
Was it really so strange to be cautious around a stranger of the opposite gender when meeting for the first time in the wild?
Given their previous collaboration, Altaïr wasn't particularly surprised, but Jara, who was standing nearby, widened his eyes in shock.
"Wait, how old are you to already be 3★?!"
"Seventeen," Isis muttered softly. "But I'm only a half-baked 3★, that's why I was too embarrassed to say it..."