Chapter 24: Before the Monsoon Arrives!

Maridan slammed her hammer onto the wooden training post. Even without using her full strength, the blow left a conspicuous, deep crater in the solid timber.

Then came the second strike.

Alerted by Maridan, Oran had been keeping a close eye on her waist and thighs. He noticed how her muscles tightened like springs. With every swing, the tensed muscles of her lead leg stored the excess inertia. As she raised the hammer, those muscles released, accelerating the lift, while the muscles in her rear leg and back repeated the process to store power for the next strike.

It was like a seesaw.

"Hrah!"

As Maridan pivoted and swung the hammer for a final, crushing blow, wood chips flew everywhere, and the post split open with a palm-wide crack.

She rested the heavy hammer on the ground with a thud and asked, "Did you see that?"

Oran nodded thoughtfully. He felt that this technique of "recovering force" was incredibly useful, and it likely wasn't limited to just hammers.

"As long as you understand! It looks simple, but it takes a lot of hard work to really master it. You can practice it slowly on your own later."

Unaware of what Oran was thinking, Maridan set the hammer aside with satisfaction. "That’s enough training for today. Relax your muscles and come back inside; I have something to tell you."

"Ah, yes!" Oran quickly did a few stretches before following her in.

When he entered the living room, Maridan was sitting cross-legged on an unusually large floor mat, sipping tea. Seeing him enter, she pointed to another cushion nearby. Oran sat down obediently.

"You’ve been taking on quite a few missions lately. You must be close to meeting the criteria for promotion to a two-star hunter, right?"

"Yes," Oran nodded. "I’ve completed enough missions. I plan to prepare for a little while longer and then take the promotion test in the near future."

"Pick up the pace," Maridan said, setting down her massive teacup—which the teapot couldn't even fill—with a meaningful look. "The monsoon season is coming soon. If you can promote to two-star by then, I might be able to pull some strings and get you an opportunity to see the world."

"The monsoon season?" Oran was confused for a few seconds before realization dawned on him. "You mean...?"

"Exactly! Just as you think," Maridan grinned broadly. "Does that give you enough motivation for the promotion now?"

"Yes! I’m going to accept a mission right now!" Oran stood up excitedly. After bidding farewell to Maridan and Lamark, he rushed out.

"That’s more like a kid. I don’t know why he keeps such a straight face all the time," Maridan remarked as she picked up the giant cup again, taking a gulp as if she were drinking ale.

Lamark walked over with a worried expression. "Are you really planning to let Oran participate in the Harvest Festival? That seems too early for him."

"It’s not too early," Maridan’s smile faded slightly. "The kid isn't the type to follow in the footsteps of others, taking steady steps up a staircase. His strange talent only flourishes under immense pressure. And what offers more pressure than an 'Elder Dragon'?"

"That’s an Elder Dragon! A living natural disaster!" Lamark’s tone sharpened, sounding somewhat angry.

"True, but that creature is also the Elder Dragon humans are most familiar with, the one with the lowest casualty rate during contact."

"A low casualty rate is only relative! Is there a year when the sandship fleet doesn't suffer losses?!"

"If you're a hunter, is there ever such a thing as complete safety?" Maridan glanced at her husband, effectively ending the debate. "Stop talking nonsense. Any ambitious hunter wouldn't pass up an opportunity like this. If he can endure the pressure and make it through, his mindset and will will be transformed. If he can't handle it and breaks, then it’s better he retires early, rather than leaving us constantly worried."

...

"You want to promote to two-star already?" Joda stared at him. "How long has it been since you became a one-star hunter? Four months? Or three? Have you accumulated enough completed one-star missions... alright, it seems you have."

If anyone knew exactly how many one-star missions Oran had completed in these past few months, it was Joda, as most of the receipts for Oran's missions had passed through his hands.

"But really, why the rush? You just turned seventeen this month, right? Your peers are still training in the camp, and you're already thinking about two-star status? Wouldn't it be better to polish your skills a bit more?" Joda couldn't help but lecture him.

He had a clear understanding of Oran's strength; promotion wasn't a stretch for him—it was almost a natural progression. However, he had seen too many arrogant young hunters over the years who, driven by too much zeal, ended up battered and broken against the cruelty of nature. As a senior, he hoped Oran would make a safer choice.

Oran felt a bit conflicted. According to his original plan, he had intended to settle in for another month or two, waiting until he had mastered the new hammer inertia technique. But the "carrot" Maridan had dangled before him was too tempting; he wanted to try, no matter what.

"Actually," he decided to tell the truth, "Ms. Maridan suggested I promote as soon as possible."

As for the monsoon season, pulling strings, or seeing the world, he saw no need to mention those; it would sound like he was showing off.

"Maridan? Which Maridan?"

Oran tried to describe her. "Well, she used to be a hunter, she's retired now, nearly seventy, uses a great hammer, tall, very strong, covered in tattoos, and has very sharp teeth..."

"Stop." Joda raised a hand in a "wait" gesture. Oran couldn't tell if it was his imagination, but Joda seemed to shrink into his own shoulders.

"Cough. Since it's that senior's suggestion, then it's undoubtedly correct." Joda stopped discussing whether Oran should promote and began to seriously consider how to increase his chances of success.

"There aren't many two-star threats in the desert region, and even fewer near Loc Lac. The most common is the Velocidrome; further north, there are the Seltas and the Congalala. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend either of the latter two. The Seltas can fly, and you have no experience dealing with such monsters; you'd be at a disadvantage. As for the Congalala, for a long time, it was classified as a three-star threat. Only in recent years, as hunting records accumulated and methods to deal with it were summarized, was it reclassified as two-star. Even so, the Congalala is one of the most troublesome two-star monsters. I suggest group hunting; it's really not suitable for a promotion mission."

Joda's advice was detailed and objective. Oran didn't hesitate long before making his decision. "Then I'll take the Velocidrome. I'm quite familiar with that monster."

As for the others, forget it. His goal was to promote quickly to gain the recommendation, not to invite unnecessary suffering.

"A smart choice," Joda nodded with relief. "You can't accept promotion missions directly from me; you need to apply at the Guild Hall. Even though you'll be taking this on as 'One-Star Hunter Oran' rather than as a member of the guerrilla squad, go ahead and wear that citadel guerrilla gear for now—it's sturdier than your old hunter set. I trust the Guild won't mind. As for the rest... let me think."

Joda stood up, walked to the door, and shouted, "Saji! Are you there? Come here quickly!"

"Coming, meow!"

Hearing the call, Saji trotted over. "Boss, what is it, meow?"

"You two have partnered up many times and know each other well. Saji, you'll temporarily act as Oran's hunting partner to accompany him on his promotion mission."

Oran opened his mouth to speak, but Joda cut him off. "Saji isn't exactly a mature Palico yet. I'm not having it follow you to lower the difficulty of the mission, just to give you an extra layer of insurance. In case you get careless and get knocked out by the monster, it might be able to drag you back."

"Boss, isn't that a bit of a jinx, meow..."