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Hunting Quest: Punish the Troublemaker (3★)
Quest Content: Hunt one Kecha Wacha
Quest Location: Ancestral Steppe
Quest Duration: 7 days
Reward: 3200z
Possible Monsters: Jaggi, Vespoid, Maccao
Merchant Guild Liaison: Near the trade route leading north, a Kecha Wacha has appeared. That wretched creature constantly sneaks in at night to damage goods and terrify the merchants.
Several merchants have been scared witless, and precious silks have been ruined by indelible snot. The losses are heavy, please help us deal with it!
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After carefully reading through the document, Altaïr did not rush to set out. This slip didn't have an emergency marker, so there was no need to be overly hasty.
He first found Isis and briefly mentioned that he had taken on a Rank-Up Quest. Consequently, Isis followed along, saying she wanted to treat them to a Canteen meal at Chef Meow's shop.
According to her, as a higher-rank Hunter, although she couldn't participate in the Rank-Up Quest with them, eating a Canteen meal together would give her a sense of participation.
Altaïr didn't quite understand why she cared so much about a "sense of participation."
Immediately after, they went to find Jara.
Of course, it wasn't just to add another dining companion. Being a local Hunter, Jara had a high probability of having hunted a monster like the Kecha Wacha. Gathering experience from someone with actual combat history was always more direct than reading information in the Hunter's Notes.
As it turned out, Jara followed up with "Let's talk while we eat," and the number of guests heading to Chef Meow's small shop grew by one more.
The Canteen meal originally intended for the hunt thus turned into a social gathering.
"A Kecha Wacha, huh? You really chose the right monster," Jara said while tossing an appetizer provided by Chef Meow into his mouth.
"Is this monster easy to deal with?" Isis asked curiously.
"I wouldn't say that." Jara swallowed the food in his mouth. "Kecha Wacha are very agile and love to scramble around; hunting them can really raise your blood pressure. But at the end of the day, they aren't exactly ferocious monsters.
I recall they eat insects and aren't very aggressive. Even if you mess up by mistake, you can usually make it back safely."
Altaïr nodded in understanding. Among the other choices earlier, the Nibelsnarf and Khezu were both known to prey on humans. While the Yian Kut-Ku also fed on insects and small crustaceans, they had violent temperaments; many people had been pecked to death by them.
In contrast, while Kecha Wacha were involved in many attack incidents, they were more like pranks, and one rarely heard of anyone losing their life.
Chef Meow's cooking efficiency was staggering, and the dishes arrived quickly. Jara began eating heartily without letting it interfere with the business at hand. "A Kecha Wacha's elemental weakness is fire. You probably don't have a fire-element weapon? Well, not much to be done about that.
Their primary weapons are their two foreclaws and their hooked tail. They also spit snot at you, be careful; their snot is a highly viscous glue. Getting hit by it will hinder your movement. Prepare some Deodorant; it can dissolve that mucus.
Kecha Wacha are very agile and excel at climbing. Try to fight them in open, clear areas. If you're in a region dense with vines and branches, it'll be a headache, that part is actually the opposite of a Tigrex.
Let me think what else..."
Altaïr quickly forked a large piece of grilled meat for Jara to prevent the food run from interrupting his thoughts.
"Ah, right. Kecha Wacha have sensitive hearing. Flash Pods and Sonic Bombs are effective against them. If one is hanging in the trees and won't come down, you can try those two items.
But take note: when it gets angry, it uses those large ears to cover its entire face. In that state, don't bother using Flash Pods or Sonic Bombs; they're useless.
Hmm... they can also glide like flying squirrels and will sometimes perform a gliding strike, but the speed isn't fast and the power is just so-so. Just keep it in mind.
There's not much else. Just remember one thing: don't get angry, don't lose your head, take it slow, and it won't be hard to handle."
The information Jara provided was very detailed. Next, he gave a thorough explanation of the Kecha Wacha's combat habits and recommended strategies, all of which Altaïr recorded in his notes.
Although Altaïr didn't get to eat much during this Canteen meal, he felt his probability of a successful hunt had increased by at least twenty to thirty percent.
Barely filling his belly, Altaïr bid farewell to his companion and senior for the time being. He returned to his room to grab extra Flash Pods and Sonic Bombs, then went to the general store to buy some Deodorant.
Sajji also took the time to adjust the propellant in the shells, increasing the amount of Fire Herb used.
While doing so would weaken the explosive force of the shells to some extent, it enhanced the incendiary effect, similar to the Flaming Ammo commonly used by Gunners. It served as a modest compensation for Altaïr's lack of a fire-element weapon.
Having completed all preparations, Altaïr set out with Sajji.
The target hunting grounds for this quest were in the Ancestral Steppe. Given Val Habar's current geographical position, it was basically right at their doorstep.
In less than two hours, they reached the nearest camp, the one located on the mountainside that they had used during the Tigrex hunt.
For a Hunter's stamina, this level of travel didn't even count as a warm-up.
It was still morning, so there was no need for rest.
Setting down extra supplies and performing a quick check of their equipment and items, Altaïr and Sajji left the camp and headed straight for the forested area where the Kecha Wacha frequently appeared.
—--
At Dundorma Harbor, a merchant ship laden with cargo from the New World slowly came to a halt.
The dockworkers who had been waiting there swarmed forward, preparing for the unloading work. But before the gangplank could even be lowered, a small figure took the lead and jumped down from the gunwale, giving the workers a start.
It was a Palico wearing fluffy "clothing" and a hood.
"Goodbye, Yuwan! Stay safe on the road, nya."
"If you ever want to head back to the New World, come take our ship again, nya!"
The sailors on the deck waved at the Palico, their faces full of reluctance to see her go.
Fluffy and cute-looking, and though she didn't talk much and didn't like being held, she was an expert at catching fish and made delicious dried fish for everyone. Who wouldn't like a Palico like that?
Yuwan turned around and gave a small nod to the sailors on the deck as a farewell, then tightened her hood and quickly left the wharf.
Her home was near the docks, but she didn't return to it because she knew there was no one there. There was no need to make a special trip back to an empty house.
She adjusted the straps of her weapon, picked up her small travel pack, and walked toward the residential area located further inland, finally arriving at an ordinary neighborhood.
Buildings made of blue brick, narrow walkways, small front yards, and neighbors leaning over low walls chatting with one another.
Unlike those luxurious districts for the wealthy, the architectural style here was quite simple, yet it possessed a warm, human touch that relaxed the mind and body.
She came to a house, stepped into the unlocked little courtyard, nervously straightened her armor and face, and then knocked on the door.
Knock, knock...
Very quickly, a light pitter-patter of footsteps sounded from inside.
Standing outside, Yuwan froze. A human's footsteps couldn't be this light. Were those Palico footsteps? Did she have other Palico companions now?
For a moment, a storm of thoughts raced through Yuwan's mind, and her instinct was to run away, but the door had already been pulled open.
The one who opened the door was indeed another Palico. It was tall and slender, with tufts of fur at the tips of its ears and a fluffy mane between its chest and neck, proving it had some New World Grimalkyne blood.
That Palico brushed its well-groomed, shimmering golden mane. "Meow? Isn't this my slovenly, foolish little sister, nya?
What, are you so ashamed of yourself upon seeing your magnificent older brother that you're turning around to run, nya?"
"..."
Yuwan, who was just about to turn away, stopped in her tracks. Her paws tensed.
Taking a deep breath, she ran a few steps and leaped into the air, delivering a clean and decisive flying kick that sent the striking Palico inside the door tumbling into the entryway.
"Why is it you, nya! What are you doing here, nya!"
Before the dazed and flashy Palico could respond, a pair of hands grabbed Yuwan under her armpits and hoisted her up, pulling her into a tight embrace and rubbing against her!
"Eek! It's Yuwan! It's been so long!"
The kicked flashy Palico bounced up and started scolding indignantly. "Resorting to violence the moment you see your brother after all this time, how rude, nya!"
After finishing its rant, it looked at the master who was hugging its sister. "Didn't you see her kick your partner, nya?!"
"Mhm, it looked quite satisfying. Should I give you a kick too?"
"Meow?!"
(Translated by yourtl.app)
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TL NOTES: LORE SECTION
Some terms and creatures referenced in this story may be unfamiliar to readers new to the Monster Hunter universe. The following entries provide additional context.
ITEMS
Sonic Bomb — A throwable item that emits a powerful burst of sound on impact. Highly effective against monsters with acute hearing, forcing them to surface from underground or disengage from certain attack states. Less reliable once a monster has entered an enraged state, as heightened aggression dulls its sensitivity to the effect.
Deodorant — A consumable item that neutralizes sticky or debilitating substances applied to the hunter's body, such as the adhesive mucus of the Kecha Wacha or the webbing of certain insect monsters. Restores normal movement speed immediately on use.
PEOPLES
Grimalkyne — A subspecies of feline people native to the New World, distinct from the Felynes and Melynx of the Old World. They are generally more feral and tribal in nature, living in tight-knit clans across various biomes. Their physical traits, including longer limbs and distinctive ear tufts, occasionally appear in Felyne bloodlines through cross-regional contact, as noted in the description of Yuwan's brother.