After putting Maki through a series of necessary tests, the Director let her go.
Later that day, Maki would lead a team out to track down the Shagaru Magala, whose whereabouts remained unknown, so she needed time to rest beforehand.
Altaïr returned to his isolated cabin, removed his Armor, and collapsed onto his bedroll.
After all, he was not a human Monster with seemingly limitless stamina like Isis. He had suffered a severe Frenzy Virus infection, battled a Rathian through the night until he overcame the disease, and then immediately donated five hundred milliliters of blood...
The ordeal might not have left him debilitated, but exhaustion was unavoidable.
Fortunately, after overcoming the infection completely, the restlessness and murderous impulses that had plagued him for two days subsided. At last, he could sleep properly.
—--
It felt as though he had only just closed his eyes when a small paw began patting his face and roused him from his slumber.
He opened his eyes and found Sajji crouching beside his bedroll.
The dim light beyond the window made him realize that he had slept through the entire day without noticing. His body felt somewhat heavy, and a dull ache throbbed at the back of his head.
Clearly, that stretch of sleep had not been enough to recover fully from the combined toll of illness, battle, and blood loss.
"Boss, Lady Maki and the others are about to leave, meow. Lots of people are seeing them off. Do you want to go watch?" Sajji asked quietly.
"Of course."
Still somewhat groggy, Altaïr hurried out of his bedroll, put on his shoes, and ran from the cabin.
Maki clearly commanded extraordinary respect among the people of Kamura Village. Nearly everyone in the stronghold had come to see the team off, and some people had even made the several-hour journey from Kamura Village expressly for the occasion.
The crowd gathered at the stronghold gate.
Everyone knew that this quest would be long and dangerous.
Maki checked the items and supplies in her Palamute partner's packs while Hinoa stood behind her with a gentle smile, adjusting the fit of Maki's Armor straps.
Master Utsushi carried his Hunting Horn on his back as he spoke with the villagers who had come to see them off. Ayame, impatient as ever, stretched eagerly nearby.
Altaïr pushed through the crowd. He wanted to say something, but although he opened his mouth, no words came.
He was not the sort of person who would wave and shout, "Take care!" or "Do your best!" at a send-off.
Having completed her final checks, Maki noticed his gaze and waved without a word before swinging into her Palamute partner's saddle.
Hinoa and the others mounted their own Palamutes as well.
With a shout, the squad of Kamura Village's strongest Hunters charged through the stronghold gate and vanished in the blink of an eye into the mountain forest beneath the evening glow.
The farewell crowd gradually dispersed. Isis came to stand beside Altaïr, who remained there in silence.
"Are you worried about Aunt Maki and the others?"
Altaïr gave her a strange look. "What kind of name is 'Aunt Maki'?"
Isis scratched her head. "She told me to call her that. She's close to my parents, so she counts as an elder. Is calling her Aunt Maki really that strange?"
"Fine, it isn't strange." Altaïr scratched his cheek. "I'm not worried about them. Any one of them is much stronger than we are, and this isn't their first Shagaru Magala Hunt. Nothing will go wrong.
"I just think... even after paying a price most people could never imagine, having everyone around her like this must feel pretty good."
"Yeah." Isis nodded. "Oh, right. Here. Make sure you wear this."
Isis pressed a Wystone into Altaïr's hands. It had only just been refined and remained rather rough because there had been no time to polish it, but it was fully functional.
She pointed to her own neck. "Nymera, Morgan, and I all received one. Aunt Maki told me to keep an eye on you. Don't take it off unless your life is at stake."
"All right..."
Altaïr hung the Wystone around his neck.
The effect was immediate. Although he had already overcome the infection, he could still feel the Frenzy Virus active inside his body, held in check only by his will.
The moment he donned the Wystone, however, the Frenzy Virus went inert within seconds and fell dormant.
"The Director said that as long as we keep wearing these, we essentially won't have to worry about contracting the Frenzy Virus. Even if we become infected, it won't flare up.
"Over the next few months, our bodies will absorb and metabolize most of the Frenzy Virus, though a tiny amount will remain.
"Once we retrieve more samples and the scholars refine higher-quality Wystones, we'll be able to eradicate the disease completely."
Altaïr grunted in acknowledgment.
He had originally intended to leave a small amount of the Frenzy Virus inside his body for future use.
Lady Maki's warning had changed his mind.
He was still in a period of rapid growth. There was no need to draw on that power deliberately, exhaust his potential, and create hidden dangers for his future.
Ever-improving swordsmanship, a body and fighting spirit tempered through countless battles, and steadily accumulated experience were the things he could always rely on.
"Is there anything to eat? I'm a little hungry." Altaïr changed the subject. "Let's have a proper meal, then sleep until we've fully recovered. Tomorrow, we should head out and Hunt our own target."
The smile instantly vanished from Isis's face. "There is food. Nymera made a mountain of Bunny Dango."
"Uh..."
"She said she knew we weren't used to eating nothing but staple foods and needed protein, so she made us something special..."
"What did she make?" Altaïr could not help pressing when Isis hesitated.
"Meat-filled Bunny Dango."
"I... suppose that could work? We could think of them as sticky steamed buns."
"But they're sweet! She said Bunny Dango has to be sweet. That's nonnegotiable!"
Altaïr fell silent for a few seconds, then sighed soundlessly. "There are Kelbi and Bullfango in the mountain forest near the stronghold. Hunt a couple and bring them back. I'll make some Well-done Steak."
Isis immediately brightened. "Are you sure your body is all right?"
"I'm fine. Just hurry. Well-done Steak takes time."
"Got it!" Isis spun around and made to dash off without another word.
Altaïr hurriedly called her back. "Take Hibiki with you and have him carry the prey! Remember to bring back an extra Mosswine too. I promised him I'd roast a whole one just for him!"
—--
The small nighttime barbecue somehow grew into a much larger gathering. Besides Isis, Morgan, and the others, Rosso arrived with several members of the Cluster Heavy Bowgun Squad, shamelessly inviting themselves to the meal.
Kamura Village did not lack ordinary food, but a pre-Hunt Canteen meal inevitably meant all manner of colorful Bunny Dango.
In the half year since Nymera's return to Kamura Village, it remained unclear how much her hunting skills had improved, but her ability to make Bunny Dango had advanced by leaps and bounds. Even Yomogi would sincerely praise her work as "not bad."
Nymera had hoped to show off her skills to her companions, but the entire group gathered instead around the campfire where Altaïr was roasting meat. Her own hunting partner, Hibiki, had led the charge. The result left her utterly crushed.
It could not be helped. For Hunters from the Old World, wolfing down a pile of colorful, cloyingly sweet dumplings before a Hunt was difficult, even if they offered the unique medicinal benefits of a proper Canteen meal.
Altaïr knew how to work medicinal ingredients into food as well. The aroma of sizzling, lightly charred fat and the sharp scent of spices overwhelmed the herbs' faint bitterness, and Isis and the others ate with great satisfaction.
Nymera alone was left looking utterly dejected.
Her one consolation was that the enormous batch of Bunny Dango she had worked so hard to make would not go to waste.
Besides these carnivorous outsiders, plenty of local Kamura Village Hunters were stationed at the stronghold. Nymera's Bunny Dango proved quite popular among them, restoring some of her confidence.
After eating and drinking their fill, the group slept soundly through the night.
When Altaïr awoke the next morning, he felt completely recovered.
—--
The Hunters assembled in the stronghold's combat arena. Guild Master Hojo stood with a thick stack of quest forms in hand. The day of the Hunt had arrived.