Young people are always full of energy. If possible, Altaïr would have set out to deal with that Barroth the very next day after arriving in Val Habar.
Unfortunately, even with the help of physicians and potions, Isis needed several days to recover from her injuries. Without their new friend leading the team, his 2★ rank didn't qualify him to accept a 3★ threat level mission.
He wasn't the type to indulge in eating, drinking, and merrymaking, nor could he stay in his room lying around all day. Killing time was difficult for him.
Fortunately, there were many things to do in a brand new city.
Stocking up on daily necessities, including a cat bed, was just incidental. They still had the most important matter to attend to, finding a place where Sajji could access and learn about machinery.
Their initial idea was to find a workshop and negotiate with the owner to allow Sajji to observe and learn there, but they were met with rejection.
Workshops in Val Habar did frequently produce mechanical parts like gears, connectors, and fasteners, since almost every household in the city owned a caravan.
However, no one was willing to waste precious time on a Felyne who could be said to have no foundation at all.
They might have considered it if Sajji were willing to stay as a long-term apprentice, but this was clearly just for "stealing knowledge." No workshop owner, no matter how good-natured, would do such a thankless task.
After spending most of the day wandering around with Sajji to no avail, Altaïr had to come up with another plan.
Suddenly, he thought of a certain fat guy. That Insect Glaive user named Jara was a native of Val Habar; he might be able to offer some advice?
"Come on, let's find a local and ask first."
Val Habar was different from other cities. There were no fixed streets or buildings here; people lived either in tents or caravans. It was entirely possible that someone living in the northern part of the city last month had moved to the southern part this month.
Thus, specific addresses held no meaning in this city.
Fortunately, Jara had left a way to find him before he departed. As he had said, Altaïr randomly found a popular food stall, bought a snack, and asked the owner.
"Boss, do you know a hunter named Jara? About 180 centimeters tall, build..."
His words were cut off by the owner. "You mean Fat Jara? Yeah, I know him. He ate here just a couple of days ago. What's up?"
"Do you know where he lives?" Altaïr's smile was a bit strained; he wasn't very good at this kind of inquiry. "I'm his friend. He told me that if I wanted to find him, I should ask at a stall with good craftsmanship."
"Heh, that sounds like that fat guy's style."
The "good craftsmanship" comment made the owner quite happy. "Finding him is easy. He likes to live near the market. Lately, the market's not far to the east. Just follow this street and you'll get there."
Following the owner's directions, Altaïr and Sajji quickly found the so-called market.
All kinds of vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, flour, dairy products, spices, and seasonings were available, it was hard to imagine such a market existed in a desert region.
After asking around a bit more, they easily found their target.
That was a caravan shaped like a giant steamed bun, where Jara, whom they were looking for, lay on a massive lounge chair, tossing some kind of small nuts into his mouth one after another.
Altaïr approached with Sajji and greeted him.
"Oh? If it isn't little Altaïr!" Jara tried to sit up, but his bulging belly prevented him. After several attempts, he managed to roll off the lounge chair, looking somewhat disheveled.
"Here to grab a meal together? Or is there something you need help with?" He brushed the dust off his pants as he spoke.
"Brother Jara, sorry to bother you." After a polite greeting, Altaïr directly stated their purpose.
Upon hearing this, Jara confirmed, "Little Sajji likes mechanical stuff, and you came to Val Habar for that reason, so you want to find him a way to learn and get involved with mechanical technology?"
"Yes, meow." Sajji lifted his head, looking expectantly at the fat man, only to realize he could only see Jara's belly. He took a few steps back and raised his head again to look at him.
"You shouldn't go looking for workshops. The craftsmen are busy making a living and have no time to entertain you." Jara tossed a few more nuts into his mouth. "But this isn't hard to arrange. Follow me, I'll introduce you to someone."
Once again, Jara led them through the maze-like streets and alleys of Val Habar.
Before long, they arrived at a particularly "high-end"-looking caravan.
The reason it looked "high-end" was that the other caravans they had seen were mostly made of wooden frames.
Only this one used a large amount of metal, making it look very sturdy and undoubtedly quite heavy. It raised doubts about whether beasts like Aptonoth or Popo could pull such a massive thing.
Sajji immediately crawled under the caravan, circling the steel-made wheel axles, his tone brimming with excitement.
"There are actually transmission gears and chains, meow! This caravan has its own power source, meow!"
Jara pointed a carrot-like finger at Sajji. "The little one has sharp eyes."
After teasing him, he skillfully pulled down the foldable metal ladder and knocked on the carriage door.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
He knocked with considerable force, and soon a voice came from inside the carriage. "Who is it? Trying to break the door down?"
The door was pulled open by a woman who appeared to be around the same age as Jara, both in their twenties.
Unlike Jara, who was pale, plump, and resembled a freshly steamed bun, the woman had a deep wheat-colored complexion, with clearly defined muscles on her limbs, especially her forearms, which were quite sturdy.
Usually, only professions like craftsmen, mechanics, or hunters, which require frequent use of hand strength, would have forearms like that.
Tossing the fried doughnut he had bought on the way to her, Jara explained to Altaïr and the others with a smile, "This one is kind of my childhood friend. Her profession is a mechanical craftsman, and her hobby is being a hunter."
What did he mean by "hobby is being a hunter"? Altaïr's eyes showed confusion.
"Don't listen to this fatso's nonsense. I'm Naziya, just a hunter, a 2★ Switch Axe user, and sometimes I use a Charge Blade depending on the situation.
As for mechanical craftsman, let's just say it's a family tradition, it's a hobby!" The woman took a big bite of the doughnut and glared at Jara disapprovingly.
Jara gave Altaïr a heavy slap on the shoulder. "See this young man? Seventeen years old, a 2★ hunter who overpowered a Barroth! And his friend, also seventeen, is 3★!"
"Now that's what you call a real hunter! What you do can barely count as a part-time job!"
"Bullshit!"
Naziya didn't hesitate to swear. "It's because I'm constantly dragged by you damn friends into fixing this and making that for you, accumulating nowhere near enough completed missions to get promoted!"
"Find me a 3★ Monster right now, and I'll carve the damn thing open right in front of you, believe that or not?!"
After exchanging daily-greeting-style insults for a bit, Jara looked toward Sajji, who had poked his head out from under the wagon, and said with a laugh:
"This one's parents are top-notch mechanical researchers. They worked on developing transforming weapons years ago and were even invited to become professors at Dundorma's academy later on."
"Back then, this guy was in his rebellious phase and refused to follow his aunt and uncle, insisting on staying in Val Habar to be a hunter. Ended up stuck in a mediocre spot."
"Keep running your mouth, you fat bastard, and I'll take back that damn steamed bun wagon I worked so hard to make for you!" Naziya glared at him furiously.
Jara remained cheerful and unbothered. "She says her dream is to become a top-tier hunter, but really, she's trying to identify flaws in transforming weapons from a user's perspective and improve them."
"In terms of mechanical theory and skill, there aren't many in all of Val Habar who can match her. Teaching you would be more than enough."
"Teach?" Naziya glanced at Altaïr standing beside Jara and frowned. "I have no interest in teaching or playing teacher."
If her earlier scolding leaned more toward friendly banter, this statement was a clear and definite refusal.
"Don't be so quick to say no. Don't you always love petting other people's cats?" Jara pulled Sajji out from under the wagon and held him up in front of Naziya. "Don't want to teach a person? How about teaching a Felyne?"
"..."
Staring at Sajji's fluffy belly, Naziya stayed silent for several seconds before finally giving in and reaching out to vigorously rub it a few times. "W-well, it's not entirely out of the question!"