Chapter 61: Lack of Confidence (First Part)

After a brief moment of contemplation, Muti accepted Aurang's proposal.

In her eyes, the latter's combat style was somewhat chaotic, yet he had managed to hold his own against the Barroth before she arrived. When she was injured, he even picked up her longsword and single-handedly suppressed the beast.

To her, their situations were reversed.

She held the title of a three-star hunter, but her combat capability was barely at the two-star level, whereas he possessed the rank of a two-star hunter while wielding the strength of a three-star.

She wanted to temper herself and achieve a breakthrough by hunting three-star monsters, but that did not mean she had a death wish.

She had failed this hunt, sustaining severe injuries before managing to escape—what about the next time? Or the time after that?

Having a companion would make all the difference. When one's strength fell short, the two of them could press the attack together.

Alternatively, they could take turns engaging the monster and cover for each other. This would ensure basic safety while giving both of them opportunities to hone their skills.

As for his request to learn longsword techniques, she felt no pressure in agreeing.

Her martial arts had been taught by her family elders, free from any restrictive school traditions; she was free to teach anyone she pleased.

Furthermore, there was something he did not know.

The longsword was not the only weapon she wielded with proficiency—she was adept at the greatsword as well.

That explained why it had been so agonizing for her earlier to watch Aurang wield a longsword as if it were a greatsword; it had truly been a double dose of torment.

Having reached a cooperation agreement, Aurang cheerfully extended his hand and shook Muti's. "It's settled, then.

"By the way, did you come to Barubare specifically to hunt a Barroth, or do you plan to use it as a base of operations for a while?"

"I'll probably be staying for quite a while." Since she had decided to cooperate, Muti naturally saw no reason to hide her upcoming itinerary. "At least until I become a hunter truly worthy of a three-star rating."

Her statement piqued Aurang's curiosity. "I'm quite curious. Earlier, I heard you call yourself a 'fake' three-star, and now you say you aren't worthy of it.

"Why do you feel you don't match your current rank?"

Muti bit her lip, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally spoke. "Actually, there's nothing much to hide, it's just a bit embarrassing.

"The reason I managed to advance to three-star so early isn't entirely due to my own strength."

Hearing this, Saji curiously scrambled up, resting its forepaws on the edge of the table. "Not entirely due to your own strength, meow? Did you ask someone for help on your three-star promotion exam, meow?"

Aurang reached out and flicked the tip of its ear, signaling the little fellow not to pry too deeply.

Muti lowered her head, replying in a voice remarkably soft for her tall stature: "It's my hunting partner. It's extremely strong; I even feel that it could have dealt with that Great Maccao all by itself, without me.

"Ever since I became a one-star hunter, it has always taken care of me, giving me the illusion that 'I'm not so bad after all.'

"It wasn't until after I was promoted to three-star that I hid it from my partner and went to challenge a Great Maccao alone, and the result was a crushing defeat.

"It was only then that I realized I was just a 'fraud' being carried along.

"So I temporarily parted ways with it and came here alone, wanting to make up for what I lack and become a truly exceptional hunter."

Aurang and Saji exchanged a look.

Saji couldn't help but verify, "By your hunting partner, do you mean a Felyne, meow?"

"Mm."

Aurang began to understand where her lack of confidence stemmed from. It was essentially: I'm not even as good as my own cat?

Wake up! That was definitely not your fault; that cat was simply overpowered! Even Saji was struck with a sense of defeat!

Seeing Muti, whose mood had just brightened from the lavish meal, sink back into depression, Aurang pressed a hand to his forehead.

He sincerely believed that instead of constantly challenging monsters to improve herself or prove something, she needed to recover her self-confidence first.

When they cooperated to drive away the Barroth earlier, he had noticed that Muti had no flaws in her combat techniques—at least none discernible to his eyes—and she lacked no practical experience. Yet she remained timid and hesitant, which now seemed clearly to be a manifestation of lack of confidence.

How could she regain her confidence?

Hunting a three-star monster by her own strength was the most direct method.

Very well, it was a vicious cycle.

Reminding Muti of this was pointless. She seemed like an honest girl, but she wasn't stupid at all; she must be well aware of her own problem.

Otherwise, she wouldn't keep using the phrase "break through myself" instead of the more direct "I want to become stronger."

Yet, what good was knowing? Psychological issues of this sort only worsened the more one cared about them and the more anxious one became to resolve them.

From this perspective, Muti's current choice was the best approach. With her swordsmanship and talent, if she ground away at it for a year or two, could monsters at the level of the Barroth and Great Maccao really block her path forever?

Once she possessed absolute strength, psychological problems like self-doubt would naturally resolve themselves.

"Let's go." Having figured this out, Aurang stood up. "We're well-fed and well-watered. Rest early, take good care of your injuries, and once you're fully healed, we'll go challenge that Barroth again.

"If one doesn't work, we'll fight five; if five don't work, we'll fight ten. There are so many three-star monsters, we can just hunt them one by one. Accumulating more quest records will make it easier to promote to four-star when the time comes."

"Mm." Muti looked at Aurang with a trace of envy.

She was still agonizing over how to prove herself as a qualified three-star hunter, while he was already considering accumulating quest counts for a four-star promotion. If she had that kind of drive, perhaps she wouldn't have been constantly getting bonked on the head by her hunting partner.

The two humans and one cat bid farewell to the Meowster Chef and prepared to return to their respective lodgings.

As it turned out, they walked side by side all the way to the doors of the Assembly Hall's Great Dragon Ship. Exchanging a silent glance, they realized that since neither of them was a local of Barubare, where else could they stay besides the Assembly Hall?

"Um, Aurang, do me a favor," Muti suddenly said in a low voice.

"What is it?"

"Go inside first and check if there's a lady wearing glasses and a green suit in the lobby."

Aurang naturally guessed who she was referring to. "You mean Chief Sophia?"

"Mm." At that moment, Muti looked remarkably like a young girl who had stayed out too late and feared being scolded by her elders, lowering her voice. "If she's not there, give me a signal."

"And if Lady Sophia is there?" Aurang asked with amusement.

"Then, then—"

"Oh, come on. It's just a failed quest; it's not that embarrassing. Can the Chief really scold you over that? Who hasn't been carried by their cat before?"

"It's not..."

Before Muti could explain, Aurang had already pulled aside the fabric curtain at the entrance of the Assembly Hall.

His gaze swept across the room, and he saw the intellectual, scholar-like Chief sitting behind the counter, quietly engrossed in a thick tome.

The rowdy, boisterous atmosphere of hunters gorging themselves and shouting in the tavern failed to affect her in the slightest.

Seeming to sense the young hunter's gaze, Lady Sophia raised her head toward the entrance and gave a nearly imperceptible nod to the former.

Immediately afterward, her gaze fell upon Muti, who was standing outside the assembly hall trying to sneak away.

A flash of light gleamed across her spotless lenses.

"Muti?"

"Eep—" A faint, pathetic squeak squeezed out of Muti's throat.

There was no escaping now.

"Muti!" Lady Sophia called her name again, her tone noticeably sharper than before.

She hurried out from behind the counter, practically jogging all the way to Muti. "Why are you covered in injuries?!"

"I'm fine, they're just scrapes—" Muti stammered.

"Scrapes? You have a splint on your leg and rib braces, you've probably broken several bones!" Lady Sophia's tone was unexpectedly severe. "Get over to the counter and sit down properly. I'll go find a physician to examine you thoroughly."

Watching Chief Sophia's departing stride, Aurang made what he considered a reasonably sound deduction. "Is Chief Sophia your mother?"

"No." Muti pulled a long face. "The Chief and my mother are good friends; they used to travel together..."

Aurang: "..."

Why did it feel like an identical conversation had just taken place?