It was nearly noon on the golden sands of Metapetatto Bay. The tide was gradually receding, revealing a beach that had been washed smooth, moist, and rich with nutrients.
A few bubbles rose from the sand. Suddenly, a small patch of the level surface caved in, and the depression expanded rapidly until it became a sandy pit two or three meters in diameter.
A Daimyo Hermitaur poked half its body out, its small, black pearl-like eyes scanning the surroundings. Once it confirmed there was no danger, it crawled out of the pit with confidence, using its pincers to scoop damp sea sand into its mouthparts to filter out algae and microorganisms.
Shortly after its appearance, more and more small creatures began to emerge across the beach.
Crabs smaller than a finger, clams with shells slightly agape extending their siphons to breathe, worm-like mollusks...
In the blink of an eye, the entire beach had become a bustling scene of life.
Unfortunately, this flourishing prosperity on the coastal tidal flats did not last long.
Strange, howling shrieks of "Gu-ohh!" and "Ga-woo!" echoed from the dense treeline nearby. The alert Daimyo Hermitaur stopped feeding instantly, its limbs scurrying as it dove back into its sandy burrow, its claws churning the grit to bury itself once more.
As if receiving a signal, the countless small lives across the tidal flats ceased their activity and burrowed into the sand to hide.
The rustling flats fell silent in an instant, leaving only the tiny holes and mounds on the mirror-smooth sand to prove that the previous bustle had not been an illusion.
An orange-red giant bird stepped out from the trees, entering the flats revealed by the receding tide.
Then came a second, and a third... A total of five Yian Kut-Ku traveled together, like an aggressive invading army, brashly intruding upon the shoreline.
In the distance, a girl wearing glasses who was observing from the bushes lowered her binoculars and asked softly, "Teacher, the books don't seem to mention that Yian Kut-Ku come to the coastal tidal flats to forage?"
"That is why we must come to the wild in person, Alma. Remember, the knowledge recorded in books is not even one-ten-thousandth of what nature holds."
Alma nodded gently.
Seeing that her student was taking the lesson to heart, Sheila smiled and continued her lecture. "Under normal circumstances, Yian Kut-Ku have two primary food sources.
"The first are earthworms, insects, and small arthropods like millipedes found everywhere in the soil of the Jungle; these are the staples for most Yian Kut-Ku.
"The second are river snails, shellfish, shrimps and crabs, and other small crustaceans along the riverbanks of the Misty Peaks, as well as some small Fish. These are also on their menu.
"This is the fully verified knowledge that books will tell you.
"However, books rarely mention that for individuals whose diet consists mainly of crustaceans, the calcium and pigments from the shells accumulate in their bodies. This makes their own shells harder and their color deeper.
"Mainstream academic theory suggests that this is the reason for the emergence of the Yian Kut-Ku Subspecies, the Blue Yian Kut-Ku. The fact that Blue Yian Kut-Ku are frequently sighted in areas with dense water networks, such as the Swamp and Misty Peaks, indirectly proves this point. Books also rarely mention that Yian Kut-Ku living in the Desert struggle to find sufficient food with their original diet, so they primarily feed on a Small Monster called the Konchu.
"This is the kind of knowledge you can only acquire by taking the initiative to learn for yourself."
Speaking to this point, Sheila paused for a moment before continuing, "The salt content in coastal tidal flats is too high, so they rarely serve as primary feeding grounds for Yian Kut-Ku.
"However, the situation here is very unique. Too many Yian Kut-Ku have gathered in the nearby mountain forests; if they fed in their usual manner, there likely wouldn't be enough food to go around.
"Only the bountiful beaches of Metapetatto Bay can satisfy the appetites of so many Yian Kut-Ku at once.
"I even suspect that the Estrellian intentionally chose its hiding place in the western jungle near Metapetatto Bay because it understood this.
"Because only here can they sustain their 'Yian Kut-Ku Legion'."
Alma's eyes widened. "Would they actually consider things to that extent?"
"Of course, these are just my personal speculations." Sheila raised her binoculars, glancing at a distant Yian Kut-Ku that was using its shovel-shaped beak to scoop up beach sand and filter out the small organisms within.
"It's impossible to say for sure what the long-term effects of excessive salt intake will be on the Yian Kut-Ku flock, but it certainly won't be without impact.
"If this continues, it might not be long before this group of Yian Kut-Ku begins showing symptoms of various diseases, and it's not impossible that they could die off in massive numbers.
"The Yian Kut-Ku in the Jungle are not inexhaustible. If swarms of them leave their original habitat and die here, it will have an unpredictable impact on the Jungle.
"After that, the Estrellian packs might continue to migrate and attract a new 'guardian legion,' leaving the Jungle's ecology in a total mess.
"Looking at it from this perspective, it's no wonder the ancient Schrade texts refer to the Estrellian as the 'Dragon of Calamity'."
Having never heard her teacher speak of such things, Alma felt a sense of unease, and a hint of pity flickered in her eyes as she looked at the Yian Kut-Ku.
"I feel... like those Yian Kut-Ku are a bit pitiful," Alma said softly. "Forced to leave their original habitat and come to an unfamiliar forest, eating food that seriously harms their health just to survive, all while facing the Hunt by Hunters... it's almost like they're slaves controlled by the Estrellian."
Sheila glanced sideways at her student.
In the past, Alma had few opportunities to be in touch with nature and would occasionally say things that sounded quite terrifying without any prior investigation, such as, "Wouldn't it be better if we just wiped them all out?"
That was naturally wrong.
But it would be even more foolish if merely pitying the Yian Kut-Ku affected her judgment of the overall situation or even led her to interfere with the reasonable Hunting conducted by Hunters.
One must realize that, much like for a Hunter, it is never a good thing for a scholar to be either too cold-blooded or too kind-hearted.
"Alma, do not let your emotions dictate your judgment." Sheila's tone grew serious. "Our job is not to protect these few Yian Kut-Ku before us, but to bring everything back to its proper course.
"You may think the Yian Kut-Ku are pitiful, but what about the tidal creatures that were never meant to be Yian Kut-Ku prey? Aren't they pitiful too?"
Alma opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words, her mind in a state of confusion. Sheila watched her student, who had fallen into a state of confusion.
This girl wasn't an "extreme-to-the-core" freak like Erik; while she wasn't overly sentimental, she had the same capacity for empathy and pity as any other young girl her age.
"Having empathy is a good thing, but don't let your emotions override your reason." Sheila's tone was more serious than ever before.
"Your dream is to become a top-tier scholar of cultural anthropology, to venture deep into the wilderness to investigate ancient ruins and lift the veil of mystery from vanished civilizations.
"To achieve such a dream, becoming a Handler is the fastest and most direct path.
"And to become an excellent Handler, you must learn to judge situations accurately, make decisions on behalf of the Guild, and become a guiding beacon for the Hunters' actions."
"Make decisions on behalf of the Guild... become a guiding beacon for the Hunters..." Alma murmured, repeating her teacher's words.
Listening to their conversation, Olivia, who was lurking beside them, broke into a grin.
She was the one in charge of the operation here. As an academic advisor, Ms. Sheila had the right to offer suggestions, but she held no decision-making power, after all, her current role was not that of a Handler.
However, at a moment like this, she didn't mind doing Sheila a favor and acting as a temporary "teaching tool."
"Ms. Sheila, we have never conducted a Hunt for five Yian Kut-Ku at once. Do you believe such an action is justified?"
Sheila was clearly caught off guard by Olivia's sudden question; hadn't the Hunt already been agreed upon?
But she quickly caught on to the latter's intention. Giving Olivia a grateful look, she spoke in the formalized phrasing of a Handler:
"In the name of the Guild, as a member pursuing the harmony of the ecosystem, I authorize the Hunt."
*
PS: A brief explanation for readers who haven't played Wilds: Handlers in Wilds hold higher decision-making power than those in World (though they certainly undergo layers of vetting and assessment). Based on their on-site judgment, they can directly issue a Hunting License on behalf of the Guild.
In terms of plot presentation, it really feels like the Hunter is Alma's Stand (lol).
I have to say, while this entry isn't as fun as World, Alma is much more likable than the Handler was. She feels pity, she gets sad and feels sorry when she sees Arkveld go berserk, but when it's time to issue a license, she issues it without hesitation.
(Translated by yourtl.app)