"These are the brothers Randolph and Sigvald. Randolph, the elder, is a 5★ Lance user, and Sigvald is a 4★ Switch Axe user."
Altaïr, Isis, Morgan, and the two local Hunters who had hunted the Barioth with Morgan sat together at a table.
Morgan made the introductions.
"Our Northlander names might be a bit of a mouthful for you, so just call us Rand and Sig." The bearded Lance user held out a broad hand and shook hands with Altaïr and Isis.
He had a typical Northlander appearance: large hands and feet, a broad frame, and golden-brown hair tangled into his full beard. His body hair was also remarkably thick, perhaps even providing some insulation.
At first glance, he did not seem particularly tall, but he actually stood over 180 centimeters. His massive frame and heavy build made him look short and stocky.
For a heavily armored defender, it was an ideal physique.
The Switch Axe user, Sig, was taller than his elder brother and about the same height as Altaïr. Tattoos covered his shaved scalp and continued down over his body. Although his face looked fierce and menacing, his personality was lively, even bordering on unruly.
The two brothers reminded Altaïr of Nuri and Asa from the Loc Lac Rangers.
Come to think of it, their personalities were somewhat alike too. In both pairs, the elder brother was steadier while the younger was more energetic.
Rand and Sig simply seemed more forthright and... irascible, like the sort who would start a fight at the slightest disagreement. Perhaps that was common among Northlanders.
In any case, the local Hunters had left a similar impression on Altaïr the last time he visited Liber...
"These are Altaïr and Isis. They're my current teammates." As if worried the brothers might misunderstand, Morgan added, "They had an important quest to complete earlier, so I came north alone to Hunt the Barioth. They're both 6★ Hunters."
Sig choked on his drink and exclaimed, "6★?! Seriously? These two barely look twenty! They're the same rank as Haifa and the others?"
Rand glared at his younger brother. "Sorry. He's always like this and never knows when to keep his mouth shut. Don't take it to heart."
Altaïr naturally did not mind. He was more interested in the names Sig had let slip. "You know Haifa and Karin?"
The moment he asked, he realized he had stated the obvious.
Teacher Karin and Teacher Haifa had been stationed in Liber for several years. How could two local Hunters possibly not know them?
"Are they still in Liber? I stopped by their home before coming to the Guild Hall, but no one seemed to be there..."
"You're acquainted with them?" Rand's expression turned slightly odd.
Looking for someone at the Guild Hall was normal, but going straight to their home was rather unusual.
Altaïr hesitated, then decided there was no reason to conceal it. "Karin is my mother. Teacher Haifa is also an elder who watched me grow up."
Sig choked again. "You're Karin's son?! Damn, I didn't even know Karin had a kid, let alone a High Rank Hunter!
"Come to think of it, I remember Karin being pretty fair-skinned. With your complexion, your old man must've been dark as hell..."
Thud! Flesh struck flesh with a dull impact.
Rand drove an elbow mercilessly into his brother's ribs. Altaïr suspected he had actually heard a bone crack.
"Shut your mouth!" After snarling at his motormouthed brother, Rand offered Altaïr another earnest apology. "Sorry about that. I'll give him a proper beating later.
"Or do you want to slap him around a few times first?"
Altaïr's mouth twitched as he waved a hand. "Forget it. He didn't mean any real harm. But let me clarify one thing: we're not mother and son by blood.
"I'm an orphan. Lady Karin adopted me and trained me. She's both my adoptive mother and my teacher."
"Oh, so that's how it is... Tch, you could've said so sooner..." Sig clutched his ribs, his face twisted in pain.
After shooting his brother another vicious glare, Rand turned to Altaïr. "I haven't seen either of them at the Guild Hall for a while. They're probably away on a quest.
"As for which quest, only the Guild Master would know."
Altaïr had only intended to stop by and see them, but a sudden unease stirred in his chest.
Isis, who spent every waking hour at his side, noticed the change immediately. She set down her utensils, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "Should we go ask?"
Altaïr nodded without a word.
Morgan glanced at him, planted both hands on the table, and rose. "I'm done eating. I'm heading to the smithy. My new armor is finished except for the leg piece.
"If I drop off the materials and ask them to rush it overnight, it should be ready by dawn."
Altaïr opened his mouth, then gave a wry smile. "There's no need to push them that hard. Teacher Haifa aside, Teacher Karin is far too cautious to get into trouble. I'm just... a little curious about where they went, that's all."
Morgan shot him a sidelong glance. "Don't overthink it. I've just been freezing my ass off in this frozen wasteland for too long. I want to get somewhere warm as soon as possible."
With that, he strode briskly away.
"A textbook tsundere, meow..." Sajji muttered under his breath, too quietly for anyone else to hear.
Rand understood Altaïr's concern all the same. He drained his cup and wiped the beer foam from his beard with one broad hand. "If you want to speak with the Guild Master, I can take you to him.
"Sig, stay here and finish the rest. Don't let it go to waste."
With the offer made so directly, Altaïr saw no point in standing on ceremony. He murmured his thanks and followed Rand. Isis wolfed down the rest of her food in two bites and hurried after them.
—--
With Rand to guide them, Altaïr and Isis met the regional Guild Master without difficulty.
He was a one-eyed old man, his face deeply weathered by wind and cold. A coat sewn from Sea Beast hide hung from his shoulders, and the pungent tobacco he chewed filled the air around him. He looked less like a Guild official than a foul-tempered old pirate.
"You're Altaïr?" The old man took Altaïr's identification, glanced over it, and confirmed his identity. "Karin and Haifa have told me quite a bit about you.
"I expected some greenhorn, but you're already a High Rank Hunter? Impressive, young man."
Altaïr could tell the old man was not one to beat around the bush, so he made his request directly. "Guild Master, I heard Teacher Karin and Teacher Haifa haven't returned in some time. May I ask where they went?"
The old man looked up at him. "Hah! Worried about them? You're a dutiful son.
"Don't fret. It isn't an especially dangerous quest, nor is it classified. If you want to know, I'll tell you.
"For some reason, an aged Gammoth left its original habitat in the Furahiya Mountains and wandered onto the northern snowfields.
"Those creatures only grow more formidable with age. An individual like this one, whose fur has already turned white, is known as an Elderfrost. If it truly had to be hunted, even a full team of High Rank Hunters might not be confident of success.
"But their quest is simply to monitor it from a distance and ensure that the aged Elderfrost Gammoth doesn't wander too close to any human settlements.
"Their last report came a week ago. With communication so difficult on the snowfields, that much time is normal. If you're still uneasy, you can go check on them."
The old man paused, his gaze turning stern and sharp. "But remember this: unless it is absolutely necessary, do not engage the Elderfrost Gammoth.
"Given a Gammoth's habits, there is little danger as long as you don't get too close. But if you anger that beast, it will show you the wrath of the snowy mountains."
P.S. Official sources describe Elderfrost as an aged individual that has lived for many years, grown to an enormous size, and accumulated extensive combat experience.
Whether the shell on its head is cracked has no effect on its abilities, so in theory, more than one Elderfrost should exist.
This makes Elderfrost somewhat different from Deviants such as Bloodbath Diablos and Grimclaw Tigrex. Although players can hunt those Deviants repeatedly, the setting treats each of them as a unique individual.