Altaïr was the first to leave. After saying goodbye to Amos, he boarded an airship for Tirio Volcano with Morgan.
They would first hurry to Harth, where the Troverian Master Craftsman would forge Morgan a new weapon. Altaïr would also spend some time there making adjustments and preparing himself, ensuring he was in peak condition to face the formidable Brute Tigrex.
The day after Altaïr's departure, Isis boarded the large airship known as the Knowledge Seeker.
Its air sacs filled, its boiler roared to life, and its propulsion sails unfurled.
The brand-new vessel slowly rose into the sky and accelerated northward, toward the mineral-rich mountains and hills of the continent's northern reaches.
Since the Knowledge Seeker was still undergoing flight trials, it was not carrying a full complement. Facilities such as the onboard tavern had yet to open, and the cabins were oppressively quiet.
After spending some time in her private cabin, Isis grew bored and went up to the deck.
The deck, by contrast, was bustling with activity.
Royal Academy scholars and staff had gathered in small groups to measure and record all kinds of flight data.
Isis edged closer and listened for a while. When she realized she could not understand a word, she sheepishly wandered off.
She was currently the only Hunter aboard, so finding someone with whom she had anything in common was difficult. The only two people she knew reasonably well, Alma and Kitty, were both busy with their own work, while Clawdia had never been much of a conversationalist. Isis could not help feeling a little frustrated.
Fortunately, the Knowledge Seeker was fast. Even while maintaining a steady cruising speed so the crew could gather more data, it crossed the vast East Trad Wetlands in a single day and reached the northern mountain region where their target had been sighted.
The Knowledge Seeker dropped below the clouds and began a slow descent.
Once her odd jobs were done and she finally had some free time, Kitty hurried over to Isis. "Isis! I asked the meteorologist!
"The weather in these mountains should remain mostly sunny for the next two days. There might be some rain, but it shouldn't last long.
"The Support Rocket has finished its adjustments too, so you can take back the Armor Set you'll need.
"I've kept a close eye on both sets and even found time to give them a thorough maintenance check. I guarantee they're in perfect condition!"
Hearing that, Isis planted a hand on Kitty's head and vigorously ruffled her hair. "Nicely done. Thanks!"
With that, she strode toward the Support Rocket delivery system by the ship's railing. The staff member who had borrowed her Armor Sets was there, and she planned to retrieve her Zamtrios Z Armor Set first.
Since the weather was sunny, the Kuarusepu's energy attacks would most likely rely on intense heat. The Zamtrios Z Armor Set, with its excellent fire resistance, was ideal.
"Heh heh heh!" Kitty turned away with a peculiar laugh.
She had set herself a goal: within two years, she would complete every course required of a Handler and become Isis's Handler as soon as she graduated!
In truth, achieving that goal within two years would not be easy.
Her mother was a Handler, so Kitty knew exactly how much knowledge and how many skills a qualified Handler needed to master.
Every Handler was a qualified Royal Paleontology Scrivener, but not every qualified Scrivener could become a Handler capable of supporting a Hunter in the field.
On top of that, Isis was a High Rank Hunter. Becoming one in her early twenties was extraordinary. In another two or three years, she might even earn a title.
Under normal circumstances, even if Kitty completed all her training, a rookie Handler could never be partnered with a Hunter of that caliber.
But they were cousins. All Kitty had to do was take good care of Isis, and once she graduated, Isis might personally ask the Guild to appoint Kitty as her Handler. Surely the Guild would not object to that, right?
That way, she could skip straight to the top and follow Isis into a vast, thrilling world filled with legendary creatures!
Wouldn't that be even more exciting than becoming a Hunter herself? Heh heh heh heh!
While Kitty daydreamed off to one side, Isis finished putting on her Armor Set with Alma's help.
The Armor Set's weight was reassuring. Isis moved around, testing it, and found that every joint operated smoothly, with almost no stiffness at all.
She carefully inspected the seams and every other place where dirt or rust might accumulate. Everything had been cleaned and polished until it was spotless.
Every connector had been coated with just enough grease to fully lubricate the parts without leaving them sticky or causing any leakage.
Even Isis herself rarely had the patience to do such a perfect job.
"Kitty really put her heart into this," Isis said with feeling.
"She did." Alma smiled as she handed Isis the helmet. "Kitty has barely had a moment to breathe lately.
"Besides her usual coursework, she's been recording data, doing odd jobs, and maintaining the Armor Sets. Even with all that, she came to me specifically to ask for book recommendations so she could broaden her knowledge through independent study.
"Even at the Royal Academy, you'd struggle to find anyone more diligent and hardworking."
"She's definitely going to become a great scholar," Isis said admiringly.
At the same time, she silently warned herself not to keep ordering Kitty around. The girl was going to become a scholar; how could Isis waste time she should be spending on her studies?
The little troublemaker from years ago had become so diligent. Isis could not afford to fall behind either.
With that thought, Isis reined in her wandering mind and grew serious. "Alma, check all our gear and supplies. We're almost ready to set out."
"Understood." Alma quickly inspected the personal gear they had prepared, then nodded firmly. "Everything is ready. We can leave at any time. Are we starting the Hunt immediately?"
"We'll see. First, we'll find the target's tracks." Isis slung her weapon across her back, tightened the straps, and stepped up to the railing to look down.
"Hunting isn't about jumping in front of a Monster and immediately trying to kill it. You have to consider the Monster's territory, the surrounding terrain, your own condition, and many other factors. Only then can you devise the right strategy and begin the Hunt.
"We generally conduct reconnaissance first. That's what we're about to do now."
"I see." Alma diligently wrote down Isis's words.
Isis unfolded the map and compared it with the terrain below, quickly confirming their current position. "Tell the operator to keep descending. We're landing."
Alma was taken aback. "Here? According to the map, we're still about ten kilometers from the target mine in a straight line..."
"We're landing here," Isis emphasized. "The Knowledge Seeker is too large and conspicuous. It'll easily scare the target away. Don't bring the ship any closer until I signal you."
Alma adjusted her glasses and nodded nervously. "Understood. I'll let them know."
This was her first time assisting a Hunter in the field as a Handler. She felt a jarring disconnect between the knowledge she had gained from training and books and what she needed at that first critical moment.
Fortunately, Isis was patient and good-natured. A more blunt and direct Hunter would probably have grown impatient with such a basic question from a rookie.
Alma patted her cheeks and forced herself to calm down. She quickly found the captain and operator and explained the situation.
This was a Hunting operation. Until the target was killed or captured, the Hunter's judgment took priority over everything else.
The Knowledge Seeker found a suitable cliff ledge and slowly descended. The crew fired a rope from a Ballista to secure the hull to the rock face, then lowered the gangplank.
The Knowledge Seeker now served as a temporary camp where the Hunter could return to rest and resupply at any time.
Isis and Alma descended the gangplank to the ground.
Isis stretched her limbs and looked in the direction of the mine. "The terrain between here and the mine isn't too steep. We need to reach it within an hour and a half. Can you keep up?"
Alma tightened the straps of the heavy pack on her back and took a deep breath. "I can."
"Let's move."
Bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, the Hunter and Handler disappeared into the winding mountain path.
Standing on tiptoe and leaning over the ship's railing, Kitty watched them go with shining eyes.
"Just you wait! Two years from now, I'll be the one following Isis!"
* * *
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