As the overlord of the seas, the Lagiacrus would not admit defeat so easily, even while firmly pinned by the One-shot Binders.
It turned and dove into the ocean, dragging the two Dragonships connected to the other end of the steel cables toward deeper waters.
The battle would likely continue for some time, but the ensuing struggle no longer had much to do with Altaïr and his companions.
From the sailors to the Hunters aboard those two Dragonships, everyone was an expert with rich experience in naval combat; this wasn't the first or second time they had dealt with a Monster like the Lagiacrus.
Over the years, the Geo Wandreo Guild had repelled Monsters from the Inland Sea and the Open Sea countless times, maintaining a firm grip on this Golden Trade Route and ensuring the safety of passing merchant ships with a reputation for excellence. A single Lagiacrus would likely pose no insurmountable challenge to them.
The three people by the embankment gathered together.
"That was the only Monster attacking the port, right?" Altaïr was the first to ask.
"Correct." The female Gunner nodded. "It appears to be an individual that wandered into these waters from the Open Sea. If it were a local Sea Beast, it would know that coming here only leads to trouble, which is why attacks aren't frequent."
"What about those two Hunters from before?" Altaïr continued.
He was referring to the 2★ and 3★ Insect Glaive user and Bow user who had been fighting alongside the female Gunner when he first arrived.
Although he had directed them to assist with the evacuation as soon as he arrived, they had still technically fought side-by-side, so he felt the need to check on them.
The female Gunner replied with a smile, "Thanks to you, they seem to be unharmed. Now that the crisis is resolved, they have likely gone their separate ways."
"It's good that they're not hurt." Altaïr nodded.
The female Gunner took a half-step back, straightened her Armor, and folded her hands in front of her, bowing formally. "I haven't had the chance to thank you both properly.
Thanks to the timely arrival of you two, we were able to contain that Lagiacrus to this breakwater, preventing further damage and casualties."
"It's only right. As fellow Hunters, anyone would lend a hand in this situation," Altaïr replied with a polite smile.
Just then, Isis took off her helmet, tilted her head, and suddenly asked the female Gunner, "You are Miss Nymera, right?"
"..." Altaïr's smile froze.
Was it really necessary to ask such an obvious question? Did she think he hadn't opened with that because he hadn't guessed it? The plan was to lay the groundwork first, build some trust and rapport, and then state their purpose!
The female Gunner was slightly taken aback, pausing for half a second before replying, "Indeed, my name is Nymera. May I ask who you two are?"
Altaïr wanted to tell Isis not to be so blunt, but he was a step too late.
Isis blurted out with a delighted expression, "That's great! We came here specifically to find you!"
"To find me?" The Gunner named Nymera looked bewildered.
Altaïr had intended to exchange pleasantries first and then create a "What a coincidence!" atmosphere, but since someone had already let the cat out of the bag, he had no choice but to shift strategies. "Yes, we were introduced by a senior to come find you.
We heard from Ms. Safar at the Guild Hall that you might be here at the estuary dock, and we rushed over as soon as we saw the SOS flare on our way."
"I see." Nymera nodded slightly, glancing at her surroundings. "This does not seem to be the place for conversation. Shall we return to the Guild Hall first?"
"Of course."
—--
The three of them returned to the Guild Hall. After a brief explanation of the situation at the dock to the Guildmarm, Ms. Safar, they found a small, quiet table.
Before sitting down, Nymera removed her Rathian Helm, which resembled a military cap fitted with multi-functional goggles, allowing her short hair, which barely reached her jawline, to fall loose.
She rested her hands against her thighs and bowed slightly. "I have yet to formally introduce myself. My name is Nymera, a 4★ Gunner from Kamura Village. I specialize in Light and Heavy Bowguns."
Altaïr bowed in return. "Hello, I am Altaïr from Loc Lac, also a 4★ Hunter. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Maybe we should stop using such formal honorifics with each other?" Isis suggested tentatively from the side.
This Gunner named Nymera was clearly a few years older than them, but she still fell within the same general age group; she was by no means an "elder." Using constant honorifics made Isis feel a bit uncomfortable.
Altaïr didn't find it awkward himself, after all, Karin had always taught him to be polite, and he used honorifics with most people, but he did notice that Nymera's way of speaking was a bit peculiar. Some of her phrasing was strangely archaic, though not quite to the point of being truly pedantic. He wasn't sure if it was the influence of her hometown's dialect or something else.
In response to Isis's suggestion, Nymera gave a slight nod. "Reasonable. It would perhaps be better for us to relax."
"Mm-hmm!" Isis nodded vigorously. "Just call me Isis. I'm from Dundorma, also a 4★ Hunter, and I suppose I'm a Gunlance user for now. Everyone, sit, sit!"
Altaïr and Nymera both reached out simultaneously in a "Please, after you" gesture. Ultimately, Nymera, being the elder, bowed her head helplessly and sat first. Finally, the three of them were settled around the small table.
"Ordering!" Isis called out, raising her hand high before looking at Nymera. "Sister Nymera, does this tavern have any recommended dishes?"
Nymera tilted her head slightly in thought. "This place connects the Inland Sea and the Open Sea; seafood is the specialty."
"Ohh! Got it!"
Altaïr took this opportunity to observe her in a way that was as unobtrusive as possible.
Judging by her face, this Gunner was likely around the same age as Senior Serl, perhaps a bit younger, somewhere in her early twenties, not yet twenty-five.
Her hair color was similar to Teacher Karin's, a deep shade nearing ink-black, which seemed to be a characteristic of people from the Western Continent.
However, her features were quite sharp, with a straight bridge to her nose and slightly deep-set eyes, while her pupils were light in color, the common facial features of people from the Old World Northern Regions. Perhaps she was mixed-race?
Questions of appearance, race, and ethnicity only briefly crossed Altaïr's mind before he dismissed them. Even though she was quite striking and could certainly be called a beauty, that wasn't what concerned him.
Altaïr's gaze fell upon Nymera's Rathian Armor.
The Rathian Armor was not brand new; it was covered in scratches, and there were visible signs of repair on the pauldrons.
It was clear that this Rathian set hadn't just been put on; it had been in use for at least a year or two.
This detail spoke volumes.
For instance, a 3★ Hunter could choose an easy target like a Blue Yian Kut-Ku to relatively easily promote to 4★. After that, by cooperating with a team, it wasn't overly difficult to scrape together a set of 4★ equipment.
Such a Hunter could certainly be considered a 4★ Hunter, but their strength would be at the bottom of the tier. While they might be a qualified piece of a team's puzzle, their individual prowess would always be lacking.
The Gunner before him clearly didn't belong to that category. Based on what Senior Francesca and Guildmarm Safar had said, Nymera usually focused on solo hunts. Combined with the wear and tear on this Rathian Armor, she must have been a 4★ for quite some time.
Perhaps when he had just become an official hunter, she had already attained the 4★ rank.
A 4★ Hunter like this, whether in terms of skill, experience, or solo combat capability, far exceeded the "shortcut" variety.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for her to tie down that Lagiacrus while leading two low-rank Hunters before they arrived.
A Gunner like her naturally had the capability to become their companion.
As for chemistry and compatibility, it was still hard to say for now; after all, the previous battle hadn't lasted long, nor had the intensity been particularly high.
But at the very least, he could be certain she wasn't the toxic kind of Gunner who fired wildly without regard for the vanguard's safety.
As expected of a Gunner recommended by Senior Francesca; she passed in every respect.
Nymera noticed Altaïr's observant gaze, but she didn't mind, as she was also observing these two young Hunters she had known for less than two hours.
Impressive strength and startlingly young, that was her first impression of the pair.
To be honest, before they took off their helmets, she had assumed they would be veterans in their thirties at least. In reality, were they even twenty?
Soon, the guild receptionist brought food and drinks to their table.
Nymera grabbed a glass of beer, took a light sip, and spoke up: "Forgive me for asking, but who is the senior you two mentioned earlier?"
"Mmmph!" Isis stuffed a large piece of meat into her mouth, her voice muffled as she couldn't quite free her tongue.
Altaïr took over the conversation: "It was Senior Francesca who suggested we come find you."
"Senior Francesca?" Nymera looked confused for a second before a look of realization dawned on her face. She replied with a smile, "Do you mean Miss Francesca? I see. So you two are friends of hers?"
Isis swallowed her food with a forceful gulp. "That's right, she's my sister!"
(Translated by yourtl.app)