Upon hearing the hearty laughter and Fugen's familiar shout of "A Blaze of Glory," Yomogi hurried out and found a quiet corner where the two old men could sit.
The broad-framed elder waved a hand. "Yomogi! First, bring us some of your signature Bunny Dango and some bean soup with extra sugar! Just a little something to whet our appetites!"
Most elderly people had a sweet tooth, and these two were no exception.
Yomogi gave a wry smile. "Elder Fugen, Bunny Dango are hard to digest. How about skipping the Dango and letting me add some egg pudding to your bean soup instead?"
The old man folded his arms and bellowed with absolute authority, "No! I want Bunny Dango! Now hurry!"
Besides loving sweets, older people also tended to be stubborn and fiercely protective of their pride.
Left with no choice, Yomogi headed to the kitchen, wondering how she could make Bunny Dango that would be easier on their stomachs.
Nymera brought Isis over with hot tea and a few light snacks that would be easy to eat.
Setting the tea before the two elders, Nymera said with a smile, "Elder Fugen, it's been a long time since you last came by."
"I'm getting old. My legs aren't as nimble as they used to be," Fugen replied, casting a sidelong glance at the other old man as he removed his wide-brimmed hat. "Not like this fellow, who still has the energy to roam all over the world. Oh, right. Is this strapping young lady a friend of yours? I've never seen her in the village, and I couldn't possibly have overlooked such promising talent."
"She's Isis, one of my companions from the Old World. We came to visit together," Nymera said cheerfully by way of introduction. "This is Elder Fugen, the former Village Chief of Kamura. He was incredibly formidable in his youth, and his name is still known all over the world!"
Isis nodded rapidly, her face filled with admiration. "I've heard of you! You're the legendary Tiger of Kamura!"
Delighted that a young visitor from afar still knew his name, Fugen gave his companion a hearty slap on the shoulder. "Hahaha! Did you hear that? The name of the Tiger of Kamura still lives on!"
"Isis?" The old man in the wide-brimmed hat seemed particularly interested in her name. He looked her up and down, quickly recognizing familiar traits in her.
"Those emerald-green eyes, that build... You must be..."
Isis had already begun to suspect the old man's identity, and his reaction to her name only confirmed her guess.
She bowed deeply once more. "Are you the Caravaneer? My mother told me so many stories about you and the caravan!"
Her mother had joined a caravan in her youth. Most of its members now lived in Val Habar, including Ms. Sophia, the Felyne Chef, the Wyverian artisan, and the old merchant.
As the caravan's founder, the Caravaneer had served as Guild Master of Val Habar for several years before handing the position over to his deputy, Ms. Sophia. He had then set out on a journey of his own, and news of him had been scarce ever since.
As a result, Isis knew him only from stories and had no memory of ever meeting him.
"Hahaha, so you really are their daughter." The Caravaneer laughed heartily. "You were only two years old the last time I saw you, about this tall."
He held a hand level with the table, reconsidered, then raised it a little higher, and a little higher again. "You were already taller than the Felyne Chef, even then! Hahaha!"
Isis scratched her head with a sheepish grin.
Since Isis knew the former Village Chief's friend, Nymera left her to keep the two elders company while she handled the few customers in the shop by herself.
The Caravaneer asked Isis a great many questions about her life, and Altaïr, who had been copying recipes in the kitchen, was soon called out as well.
The elderly Caravaneer studied Altaïr for far longer than he had Isis before finally nodding in satisfaction. "Not bad, not bad."
As the group chatted, the conversation naturally turned to their Hunter ranks.
When the two elders learned that Altaïr and Isis were only in their early twenties and had already reached 5★, they showed more appreciation than surprise.
At their age, very little could genuinely surprise them anymore.
Then Fugen managed to surprise Altaïr...
The tall, broad-shouldered old man before him was the legendary Tiger of Kamura, a former master-level Hunter whose skill had surpassed even Master Amos and Isis's mother.
Altaïr immediately assumed the manner of a junior seeking guidance, firing off one question after another about the intricacies of swordsmanship that had long troubled him.
Fugen was amazed that Altaïr had explored the art of the sword so deeply at his age. His unconventional ideas, which blended principles from other weapons, made the old Blademaster's eyes light up.
If his advanced age had not limited his mobility, and if leaving his guests in the middle of a conversation had not been so rude, he would have dragged Altaïr straight to the Training Area to see what he could do.
Even so, he drew on his experience and understanding of swordsmanship to answer many of Altaïr's questions. Altaïr was ecstatic, clutching his notebook and scribbling furiously.
Isis could only stare in dismay.
Long Sword users were already more numerous than Gunlance users, and the same was true of powerful masters. Altaïr was also proficient with several other weapons, including Dual Blades, Great Sword, and Hammer, so he could find someone to learn from almost anywhere, then rely on his natural coordination to weave it all together.
He had already edged ahead of her lately. If he now had the chance to learn from a legendary Long Sword master, wouldn't the gap between them only keep growing?
Isis turned a pleading look on the Caravaneer. If only he had been a master-level Gunlance or Lance user who could give her a few pointers as well.
Unfortunately, he was not...
The Caravaneer had begun his career as a Guild scribe, a clerical position, and was now a traveler. He could not offer that kind of hands-on instruction.
But when he saw Isis's crestfallen expression, his heart softened, and he racked his brain for some way to help.
Fortunately, he had traveled far, seen a great deal, and met all manner of people. Although he could not coach Isis directly on combat techniques, he could still offer her some advice.
He beckoned to Isis, and she immediately scooted closer and squeezed in beside him.
"You use a Gunlance, right? Unlike bladed weapons such as the Long Sword or Dual Blades, a Gunlance requires you to get more creative with your equipment."
"Equipment?" Isis looked puzzled. "Do you mean replacing my armor and weapon with better ones?"
"Not exactly. Hmm, replacing your armor and weapon is certainly one option. But tell me, do you favor a heavily armored, defense-focused style, or an Insta-Block style that balances offense and defense?"
"I balance offense and defense! I'm good at attacking too!" Isis's eyes sparkled.
She had a feeling the old man's advice might hold the key to her breakthrough into High Rank.
"Then, once you're confident enough to hunt High Rank Monsters, visit the Highlands in the Goldra Region of the northwestern Old World.
"A special Monster called Kuarusepu lives there. Armor made from its materials should suit you perfectly."
Isis nodded rapidly, carefully committing the unfamiliar Monster's name to memory.
"But I meant something else when I said you should get creative with your equipment." The Caravaneer steered the conversation back on course. "Like the Charge Blade and Switch Axe, the Gunlance has a relatively complex mechanical structure.
"As you grow stronger, don't forget that improving your weapon's mechanical performance is just as important.
"Many technologies fail to spread not because they are ineffective, but because few users can cope with their drawbacks.
"For example, you know about Kamura's Blast Dash, don't you? Most Gunlance users can't control that kind of recoil..."
Isis's eyes grew brighter as she listened. "I can use Blast Dash! I even had someone modify my Gunlance with a muzzle brake!
"Are you saying there are other parts of a Gunlance that can be modified besides the muzzle brake?"
"Of course." The Caravaneer rubbed his chin. "I've seen modifications that increase the power of Wyvern's Fire so drastically that firing without bracing behind the shield would burn the user, designs that allow two Wyrmstakes to be loaded at once, and others that raise the barrel temperature and chamber pressure to boost the weapon's power indirectly...
"But every one of those modifications has drawbacks. Some damage the weapon, while others can even injure the user. Very few Gunlance users can handle them..."
"No problem!" Isis flexed her arm with complete confidence. "I'm built tough!"
(Translated by yourtl.app)