Miss Nymera was a very efficient person. Though she had said she needed a few hours to prepare and would depart before evening, she actually completed her pre-trip preparations in less than an hour.
Her Armor remained her original Rathian Armor, but her Weapon had changed from the previous Khezu Light Bowgun to a dark red Light Bowgun that was unusually massive, its size almost comparable to many a Heavy Bowgun.
The Rathalos Cannon. As its name suggested, it was a first-rate Light Bowgun crafted from Rathalos materials.
As a Blademaster, Altaïr didn't understand the specifics of its performance very well, but the iconic massive drum magazine and six parallel barrels looked very intimidating indeed, suggesting firepower that was undoubtedly formidable.
Noticing their gazes, even Nymera, who had maintained an air of nonchalance, couldn't help but reveal a hint of a proud expression.
"The Rathalos is a 5★ Threat Level Monster. I, as I am now, do not have the qualifications to challenge one alone. Gathering the materials for this Bowgun truly required no small amount of effort."
"Did you go on group hunts with other 5★ hunters?" Isis asked curiously.
"Naturally. I had the gall to collaborate with several senior hunters for months, hunting the Rathalos multiple times before I finally managed to forge this 'Rathalos Cannon'.
"On the basis of the original model, I modified the barrels, greatly enhancing accuracy and sustained firepower. After all, the most commonly used ammunition for the Rathalos Cannon is Flaming Ammo. Under continuous Rapid Fire, the barrels can easily overheat and stop firing. With multiple linked barrels, there's no need for such worries. The only drawback is that the Bowgun body became heavier, but for more powerful firepower, this level of cost is very much worth it."
When it came to topics related to Bowguns, Nymera's words became noticeably more plentiful, and even her speech rate noticeably increased.
"Six barrels firing in rotation must mean a very fast firing rate, meow. Wouldn't the amount of ammunition consumed be exceptionally high too, meow?" Sajji crowded close to the Rathalos Cannon, looking it over from side to side, his whole body almost pressed against it.
Never mind that his Rathalos series had been updated for many generations; when it came down to actual performance, there was still quite a gap compared to a proper Rathalos Weapon like this.
"Indeed. Therefore, I have brought a sufficient quantity of ammunition." Nymera stepped aside, revealing the cart behind her.
That's right, she had arrived dragging a cart.
The cart was piled high with ammunition crates. According to Nymera, these were primarily Flaming Ammo. Generally, one basic load for attribute Bowgun Ammo is sixty rounds. However, when the Rathalos Cannon fires Flaming Ammo, it can perform a three-shot Rapid Fire burst, consuming ammunition at triple the rate of other Light Bowgun models. (There's no way to gloss over this.)
Therefore, adhering to the principle of triple upon triple, she had brought nine basic loads of Flaming Ammo. As for other commonly used ammunitions like Sticky Ammo, Pierce Ammo, Lv3 Normal Ammo, and such, she had also brought a fair amount of each.
The ammunition crates on the cart were piled into a small mountain, making Altaïr feel this woman wasn't aiming to hunt the Duramboros; she was aiming to burn the Duramboros to ashes.
Such a quantity of ammunition was absolutely impossible to carry on one's person. Most of it would have to be stored at the camp initially, retrieved for resupply after use, often requiring on-the-spot Crafting of ammunition in the hunting grounds, and so on.
Although it was quite troublesome, this was the price that Gunners must pay for mastering long-range attack capabilities and formidable destructive power.
"I can help carry some then." Isis peeked over Nymera's shoulder. "Speaking of which, you're a hunter from Kamura Village, right? I saw you using Wirebugs earlier.
"But don't hunters from Kamura usually raise Palamutes?
"Especially for Gunners, Palamutes can temporarily act as vanguards, assist in combat, carry hunters for swift movement, and also help transport large amounts of ammunition.
"Haven't you considered getting a Palamute as a hunting partner?"
Altaïr had the same question in his mind, but he wasn't as forthright as Isis. He just guessed that Nymera probably had some personal reason, like a past hunting partner having perished and her being unable to let go, which was why he didn't voice his query.
Sure enough, faced with Isis's question, Nymera fell silent.
Seeing this, Altaïr hurriedly tried to steer the conversation away from this minefield, but then he heard Nymera murmur quietly.
"Because I'm a cat person."
Altaïr: "..."
What's wrong with this person?
Noticing Altaïr's peculiar expression, Nymera chuckled softly, "That was merely a jest. I'm fond of both Felynes and Palamutes.
"It's just that I grew up under my teacher's guardianship and care. My teacher's shop has many Felyne employees who have worked there for years, and my teacher's husband is a master at raising Palamutes.
"They taught me that the choice of a hunting partner must not be made lightly. Once chosen, it's a lifelong companionship, so one must be prudent. Thus, I have never firmly resolved to seek a hunting partner."
Alright, this reason was much more sensible than the earlier "I'm a cat person."
Helping Nymera push and pull the cart together with Isis, Altaïr said, "Actually, I don't think you need to be quite that cautious. When you meet a suitable hunting partner, it's about mutual adjustment and mutual respect.
"Your teacher's meaning was probably that too, not passively waiting for so-called 'predestined partners.'"
"Mm-hmm!" Sajji chimed in, helping push the cart beside Altaïr. "Bonds are built, meow, they don't fall from the sky, meow."
Clawdia jumped onto Isis's back, "Me and Isis are different, meow! We were destined before we were born, meow!"
Looking at the Felynes surrounding the two, Nymera's eyes held unconcealed envy. Perhaps, she should also be more proactive in seeking her own bond.
—--
The group dragged the cart laden with ammunition boxes to the Guild Hall tavern and greeted the Guildmarm, Lady Safar.
Although Nymera wasn't a registered hunter of the Geo Wandreo Guild, she had been operating out of this city as a base for the past year or two, and had many acquaintances here. It was only proper to inform them before setting out.
Lady Safar didn't say anything unnecessary, just smiled warmly, instructed Nymera to be careful, and wished her good fortune in her hunts.
Altaïr silently compared this mature, elegant Guildmarm lady in his mind with a certain guild receptionist Guildmarm.
If a similar scene were to happen at the Metapetatto Guild Hall, for instance, if Senior Jara came from Val Habar and invited him and Isis on a long trip to hunt some Monster elsewhere...
That Noya would probably vault over the counter, cling to Isis's leg, and beg her tearfully to sign a guarantee not to change guilds.
After that internal grumbling, the three of them and two cats boarded the Airship back to Metapetatto.
—--
They started with their mutual acquaintance Francesca as the opening topic, gradually talking about each other's pasts.
Nymera was surprised by Isis's parents' identities and also moved by Altaïr's childhood experiences. Bit by bit, she opened up and told the two about her own past.
Just as Altaïr had guessed, she was of mixed blood: her mother was a native of Kamura Village, and her father was a craftsman from a kingdom in the Old World.
Over twenty years ago, during a calamity known as the "Rampage," both her parents passed away, leaving her an orphan.
Now, she had no memories of her birth parents, only remembering that in Kamura Village, children like her were not few.
Fortunately, the villagers were all very kind, and the village had invested significant resources to establish an orphanage to raise and educate them as young children.
Thus, her childhood wasn't particularly hard. Growing up, she made many friends, and her life could be called happy.
It's worth mentioning that her peculiar speech habit was also formed during this period.
The one responsible for teaching them cultural knowledge was a Wyverian merchant named Youen. He usually loved speaking this way, and before the villagers knew it, those young children from back then had been taught by him to speak in this blended, unconventional style.
"At around ten years old, I was adopted by my teacher. I helped in the shop and also learned from my teacher the skills related to hunting and using Bowguns." When speaking about this, Nymera's face carried deep nostalgia.
"Feels a bit similar to what Altaïr experienced as a kid," Isis nodded vigorously.
"Wait a second."
Sensing something off, Altaïr raised his hand. "I've heard you mention your teacher's shop before. So, what business was your teacher actually in? How could she also teach you Hunter techniques? Ah… I get it. Your teacher was once a Hunter, retired, and opened a shop?"
Altaïr felt he had guessed the truth.
"Not so," Nymera gently shook her head. "My teacher was never a Hunter; she has always been, from start to finish, the owner of a tea and snack shop."
"And she taught you Bowgun?!"
"Teacher was very skilled with the Heavy Bowgun, you know. Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat."
"Is a tea and snack shop owner being proficient with a Heavy Bowgun normal?!"
"In our village, everyone is like that," Nymera said with a completely matter-of-fact expression. "Teacher's husband is the village beast tamer, but he's exceptionally skilled with the Charge Blade."
"Your village has a problem…"
(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.
PEOPLES
Palamute — Large, wolf-like canine companions native to Kamura Village, trained from birth to hunt alongside Hunters. Palamutes are highly intelligent, capable of independent combat, and can carry a Hunter on their back for rapid traversal of terrain. For Gunners in particular, a Palamute offers a decisive tactical advantage: it can absorb attacks, serve as a mobile ammunition carrier, and reposition the Hunter quickly across a battlefield. Like the bond between a Hunter and a Felyne Palico, the partnership with a Palamute is considered a lifelong commitment in Kamura tradition, not to be entered into lightly.
ITEMS
Flaming Ammo — A type of Bowgun ammunition that deals Fire elemental damage on impact. It is the primary offensive round for weapons built from Rathalos materials, pairing naturally with the Fire affinity of those components. Flaming Ammo is particularly effective against monsters with low Fire resistance, and under Rapid Fire, it can deliver concentrated bursts of elemental damage at a rate that overwhelms a target's natural defenses. Its high consumption rate requires careful ammunition management on longer hunts.
Pierce Ammo — A type of Bowgun ammunition designed to penetrate through a target rather than detonate on the surface. A Pierce round travels in a straight line through a Monster's body, dealing damage at multiple points along its path. It is most effective against large monsters with elongated body structures, where the round can strike multiple hitzones in a single shot. Choosing the right trajectory to maximize the number of meaningful hits is a key skill for any Bowgun user carrying Pierce Ammo.
CONCEPTS
The Rampage — A catastrophic recurring event tied to the region surrounding Kamura Village, in which hordes of monsters of all kinds stampede through the area in a blind frenzy, threatening to overwhelm any settlement in their path. The true origin of the Rampage lies with a pair of Elder Dragons whose periodic emergence sends violent storms and tremors across the land, driving countless creatures into panicked flight; those that survive the storms may be transformed into hardened Apex variants that lead subsequent hordes. Kamura Village has suffered through multiple Rampages across its history and responded by constructing dedicated fortifications, known as the Stronghold, built into the canyon that guards the village's approach. Despite these preparations, the casualties from past Rampages have left lasting marks on the community, with entire generations of children raised as orphans in their wake.