"One more thing. Judging by your appearance, neither of you looks like a Northlander." Looking every bit the pirate, the old Guild Manager popped another wad of chewing tobacco into his mouth.
"If you plan to enter the snowfields, you had better find a reliable guide. The snowfields are a vast white expanse with no landmarks, and strangers easily lose their way. You don't know how to camp in subzero temperatures or how to deal with a blizzard.
"Charge in unprepared, and you won't even need to encounter a Monster. The extreme weather alone will be enough to freeze you to death."
Altaïr nodded.
He had no intention of being stubborn about this. Venturing into the snowfields was no different from entering the Great Desert; without thorough preparations and a guide, it was all but a death sentence.
Rand, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. "I'll be your guide. We just finished Hunting a Barioth and were planning to rest for a while anyway. I happen to be free."
The old Guild Manager grunted. "This kid grew up crawling through the snow. With him as your guide, you really can rest easy."
"Then we'll be in your debt, Mr. Rand." Altaïr gave him a slight bow. "We will pay you for your time. We'd also like you to handle the supplies, and naturally, we will cover every expense."
"No need to pay me." Rand grinned, flashing his teeth. "Everyone in Liber owes Teacher Karin and Teacher Haifa a debt of gratitude, and Morgan just saved my life.
"Northlanders never forget a debt. If word got out that I'd charged you for something as minor as guiding you, people would look down on me."
Hearing the sincerity in Rand's voice, Altaïr realized that insisting on paying might actually offend him. Yet Morgan and his teachers had not asked for this, so it did not feel right to accept a favor owed to them...
As Altaïr wrestled with the problem, Isis suddenly spoke. "Rand, I know how to train someone in Shield Assault. How about we use that as payment?"
"Shield Assault?" Rand, who had hardly ever left Liber, was hearing the term for the first time.
The old Guild Manager glanced at him and snorted. "Lucky brat. That's Lord Fabius's signature Lance Hunter Art. Learning such an advanced technique just for serving as a guide once... you're making out like a bandit."
Rand's mouth opened and closed. A rare, bashful hesitation crossed his fierce face beneath all that shaggy hair and beard. "Lord Fabius's Hunter Art... That's... that's hard to turn down...
"I'll go prepare the supplies and transportation! I'll have everything ready by tomorrow morning!"
With that, the burly man hurried away in high spirits.
—--
At dawn the next morning.
Altaïr and Isis arrived early at the Guild Hall tavern. They ate a high-calorie Northlander breakfast while waiting for the others to arrive.
Morgan was the first to arrive.
He was no longer wearing the familiar Seltas Queen Gunner Set. Instead, he had changed into a new Armor Set that was predominantly white.
It was a Barioth X Armor Set.
This was a lightweight Armor Set. Apart from fasteners at a handful of points, it contained virtually no metal.
The main body was crafted from thick Barioth fur, with the creature's hard shells reinforcing key areas. Every piece of material had been meticulously selected from the finest available.
The set had been painstakingly constructed from the best parts of six Barioth. Its performance far surpassed that of an ordinary Barioth set, making it true High Rank armor.
"Why does it look slightly different from the Barioth X Armor Set I remember?" Isis scratched her head in confusion. "I've seen Aunt Nadia wear one. I remember the women's version being kind of..."
As she spoke, she pulled a notebook and pen from Altaïr's belongings and swiftly sketched a simple drawing.
"...Like this. It shows off the thighs."
Morgan: "..."
"..."
Why did you automatically assume I was wearing the women's version?!
Despite his exasperation, Morgan's expression remained composed. "Because of the sizing, the headpiece, chest piece, and armguards use the women's design.
"The waist and thigh measurements are easier to adjust, as is the trouser length. The exposed thighs and long hem of the women's version would also get in the way, so the waist armor and greaves use the men's design."
"So you're wearing the women's version on top and the men's version below, meow? No wonder your outfit looks neither male nor female, meow," Sajji chimed in, poking his head out.
"..." A vein bulged at Morgan's temple.
Altaïr snatched back his notebook and pushed Sajji down again. "Don't listen to those two. This balances appearance and practicality, and it suits you very well.
"A man wearing high slits that expose his thighs would look far stranger."
Morgan shot Altaïr a look that said, "You get me."
The workshop owner had strongly urged him to wear the complete women's set, arguing that no one could tell he was male anyway and that the women's design was cute and would make him popular, or some such nonsense.
But he only wore women's armor because the men's pieces did not fit properly. It was not as if he had a cross-dressing fetish...
Altaïr gestured for Morgan to sit down, then asked, "Appearance isn't the point. How does it perform?"
"Excellent." A hint of a smile appeared on Morgan's face. "This Armor Set might not look bulky, but the carefully selected, high-quality materials give it excellent protection.
"It is close-fitting and lightweight without sacrificing defense, so it does not hinder my movements at all. I can target a Monster's vital points more precisely (Critical Eye) and perform all kinds of tactical maneuvers more nimbly (Evasion, Airborne).
"It is also much lighter than my old Seltas Queen Gunner Set, significantly reducing the physical strain (Constitution)."
"Those are all very practical effects," Altaïr said approvingly.
Isis giggled and leaned closer. "That means all your equipment has reached High Rank quality now. Are you ready to become a High Rank Hunter?"
Morgan's expression grew slightly solemn. "I'm going to give myself a little more time. Once I'm completely accustomed to the new equipment and have mastered a few more techniques I'm working on, I can attempt the promotion. I can't afford to fall too far behind the rest of you."
"Go at your own pace. There's no need to rush," Altaïr reminded him. "Now that you have finished upgrading your gear, whether you become a High Rank Hunter sooner or later is little more than a difference in title."
"For a Gunner, taking on a 6★ Monster alone is more dangerous than it is for us Blademasters. Don't push yourself before you're confident."
"Don't worry. I'm not the impulsive type."
Just then, the Guild Hall door opened again, and a cold draft swept inside.
Rand, his arms full, kicked the door shut behind him and walked over to the group's table.
"Here. Trekking across the snowfields takes more than the Armor on your backs. Put on this cold-weather gear.
"I couldn't get my hands on reliable new gear in time. Altaïr, your build is similar to Sig's, so wear his. This one is my wife's. She's a big woman too, so Miss Isis should be able to wear it.
"Honestly, these worn-in old clothes are softer and warmer than new ones."
Altaïr and Isis accepted the fur coats Rand handed them. Made from Anteka pelts, the coats seemed to have been carefully scrubbed and dried. They were fluffy, soft, free of any unpleasant odor, and comfortable to the touch.
Morgan did not need anything prepared especially for him. After two months here, he already had everything he needed.
"These are emergency food supplies. They're different from regular rations; everything is extremely high in calories. Keep them close to your body in the safest place you have, and whatever happens, don't lose them.
"The fuel, insulated sleeping bags, emergency medicine, and everything else are already loaded onto the sled outside. Once you're ready, we can leave at once."
"What about Sig?" Morgan asked casually.
Rand shrugged, tracing a circle around the group with one finger. "There are four of us. With him, we'd be five, and that's bad luck. He's sitting this trip out."
Morgan nodded in understanding.
Seeing that everyone had finished eating, Altaïr decided not to linger. He stood and draped the fur coat over his shoulders. "Let's head out, then."