Isis held a slab of glittering crystal the size of a Wyvern Egg and moved it to the left.
The Estrellian hatchling and the heads and eyes of its kin followed the crystal left.
She moved it to the right, and the Estrellians' gazes tracked to the right again.
"They really seem to love this stuff, huh?" Isis said, looking amazed.
Altaïr lifted a foot and kicked away the Estrellian hatchling that had poked its head closer trying to lick the crystal. "Yeah, but don't go soft and actually let them eat it. This type of crystal is linked in some way to Estrellian evolution and growth; one mouthful and you might end up with a Subspecies on your hands."
Isis listened, astonished. "I thought Estrellian evolution was mainly driven by hormones? Using activation energy to attract Monsters and induce the Hyper state, then extracting substances from Hyper Monsters to synthesize hormones and all that?"
"The reasons are complicated."
Altaïr had originally intended to repeat what the Professor had told him in full, but he remembered all the complex terminology and knowledge he hadn't understood either, all those "reasonable conjectures," "inconclusive findings," and "possibilities one, two, and three..." Then he looked again at Isis, not stupid, but certainly possessing a rather pure way of looking at things.
Altaïr decisively changed tack. "Just remember this: don't let them touch it."
"Alright." Isis wasn't the kind of person whose curiosity drove her to dig to the root of everything either. She waved a hand and swatted away the Estrellian hatchling's head as it tried to approach again.
"With this, things will definitely be a lot easier."
Isis happily hugged the crystal to her chest. "Originally I was thinking we'd just have to lure them with food, but not every Estrellian is as gluttonous as Bacon. Thanks!"
"Don't thank me. I might have to make the trip to Esther Lake with you."
Less than a second after Altaïr finished speaking, he saw the Professor walking toward them. "Altaïr, once matters here are more or less resolved, you will return to Dundorma with me."
"Huh?" Altaïr didn't react for a moment. "Return to Dundorma?"
"Yes. From the initial encounter with the Hyper Duramboros, to the later discovery of the Star Butterfly wing, the Capture of the Estrellian hatchling, and finally the extermination of the Yian Kut-Ku pack and the siege on the Apex Estrellian, you are the Hunter with the highest degree of participation in this entire incident. Bar none. To be honest, if this were a human-centered criminal case, you'd have enough on you to be a major suspect as the mastermind pulling the strings."
Altaïr: "..."
What kind of thing is that to say?
"Heh heh, just a joke." Whether it was because of the important clues found in the Ruins or for some other reason, the Professor seemed to be in a very good mood, he who was always so stern had actually cracked a couple of quips.
"Everything has already been written up in great detail in the staged reports, but the higher-ups always like to ask a few more questions, so they want you, the person who experienced the entire process, to come. Don't worry, this is a good thing. The so-called inquiry is just going through the motions, and there may even be some extra rewards."
Hearing this, Altaïr felt more assured. He glanced at Isis, who was hugging the crystal and running all over the place walking the Estrellian hatchling. "Wouldn't it be inappropriate if I'm the only one going? What about Isis? And what about Nymera?
"We're all comrades on the same team, having toughed it out together, it wouldn't feel right if only one of us went to receive the commendation."
"When it comes down to it, you're being summoned for questioning. Did you seriously take it for an awards ceremony?" the Professor said, exasperated. "Rest assured, their rewards won't be left out!"
"Fine." Since the Professor had spoken, Altaïr could only agree.
The Professor walked away with his hands clasped behind his back. There were some things he hadn't discussed with Altaïr in detail.
Taking Altaïr to Dundorma this time, the inquiry was secondary. The real reason was that His Immenseness had specifically asked to meet Altaïr.
This was a long-standing habit of His Immenseness: whenever he heard of a promising talent, he would give them more attention and allocate some resources their way.
Of course, he wouldn't forget to add some extra duties either.
Due to her parents, Isis had drawn His Immenseness's attention from an early age. Though she might not remember it herself, she had actually entered Elder Hall at the age of two. And given that the matter of guiding the Estrellians couldn't proceed without her, there was no need to summon her specially.
Nymera's situation was rather unique.
His Immenseness also kept an eye on this young and capable Gunner, but the environment of Kamura was special, with a concentration of various High Threat Level Monsters. Coupled with issues regarding hunting customs, the vast majority of Kamura Hunters chose to return to their homeland after completing their training.
Nymera had likewise clearly expressed this intention, so His Immenseness naturally paid her less attention.
By comparison, Altaïr was practically the "heaven-sent prodigy" type: exceptional talent, outstanding strength among his peers, a foster mother who was also an excellent Hunter, and the Professor, himself a Guild high-ranking official, had given him quite high praise. His name had also appeared multiple times in reports. Naturally, he wanted to see him in person.
Of course, there was no need to tell Altaïr all this.
The kid was sharp and prone to overthinking; it was best to let him face His Immenseness in his most natural state.
After all, an Estrellian was no Yian Kut-Ku. The corpses held considerable research value, and with so many of them, the post-operation cleanup took nearly half a week to barely complete.
To prevent other Monsters from being drawn in, the Hunters who had participated in the battle were also retained as guards until the follow-up work was finished.
At the entrance to the camp, the Hunters who had fought side by side were bidding each other farewell.
Isis, needless to say, couldn't leave just yet, she still had to assist the Guild in returning that group of Estrellians to their original habitat.
Thankfully, that group of Estrellians was very docile, showing no aggression from beginning to end. The Professor judged that sea transport would be feasible.
In two more days, the large sea vessel dispatched by the Guild would arrive at Metapetatto Bay to carry this group of Estrellians away.
Serl, Brandley, Heath, and Niro would return directly to Metapetatto. That was their base of operations. Nymera, who had no other plans for the time being, would also travel with them.
Dawn returned to Manti Town, a commercial town located near the Latio Volcano Range. The middle-aged man, quiet but incredibly reliable, clapped each of them on the shoulder one by one and invited them to visit his home whenever they had a chance to come to the Volcano region.
Altaïr, Olivia, and Kagetsu, on the other hand, would travel with the large Airship to Dundorma.
Olivia was a Guild Knight herself and needed to return to headquarters to report on her duties. This didn't surprise Altaïr at all. It was Kagetsu who struck him as odd.
"Aren't you a Yukumo villager? Why are you going to Dundorma?" Altaïr asked offhandedly.
From Kagetsu's appearance and name, one could tell she wasn't an Old Worlder. Someone had asked about it during casual conversation, and that was when Altaïr learned that this somewhat eccentric junior was from the same hometown as Teacher Karin.
At Altaïr's question, Kagetsu's expression stiffened. She laughed awkwardly and said, "Because the People's Tavern in Dundorma pays the highest wages for part-time work!
"Come to think of it, do any of you know a better place to work part-time? I heard the Hunter's Guild Hall in Metapetatto is lavishly built?"
Altaïr and the others exchanged glances.
Niro, whose mouth was the biggest, waved his hands and said, "Forget about Metapetatto. The guild receptionist there is also the Guildmarm herself.
"If you go there, you'll probably be hunting during the day and working as a receptionist at night, worked to the bone."
"Eek!"
"Oh, Isis." Altaïr walked up to her. "On this trip to Dundorma, I'll go pay a visit to Master Amos.
"Is there any message you'd like me to pass along?"
Isis tilted her head and thought for a moment. "No need. Just tell Amos that I've been working diligently and haven't been slacking off!
"Once things here are wrapped up, I'll head straight back to Metapetatto. Let's meet up there in about half a month."
"Alright. See you in half a month, then."
PS. I saw some readers worried in the comments that there would be a harem plot. That won't happen, because I'm completely bad at that kind of storyline.
(Translated by yourtl.app)