Following the Wyverian Hunter, I headed deeper into the Veil with Serious Handler. The Admiral was already there, apparently investigating, and welcod us.
"You're finally here. Let's begin the investigation."
We proceeded further toward the center where the bioenergy was gathering. There, a glowing cocoon-like mass was attached to the cave ceiling. The Admiral was quite surprised.
"Oh... this is remarkable."
The Wyverian Hunter examined the cocoon closely and explained.
"This is the crystallized bioenergy of an Elder Dragon, built up over countless years."
It was clearly the cocoon of an Elder Dragon about to be born. Yet these people were too calm. So I quickly warned them.
"That looks like an Elder Dragon cocoon. And it seems about to hatch... It seems dangerous."
"That can't be... You're saying this mass of high-purity energy is an Elder Dragon cocoon?"
These people must have sothing wrong with their eyes. I told Serious Handler and my Palico to stand back.
"I have a bad feeling. Get to a safe place."
"Got it."
"ow!"
They moved to safety. Then, as expected, the cocoon emitted a powerful burst of energy, destroying its surroundings. I quickly grabbed the Wyverian Hunter and the Admiral under each arm, moved to where Serious Handler was taking cover, and tossed them down.
"Geez, were you raised on glue? Why don't you believe people?"
As I spoke, the cocoon overflowed with energy, cracked open, and a giant Elder Dragon I'd never seen before began to erge.
"Whoa! It really was a cocoon..."
"I'll handle this one. Just stay here and watch."
"R-right. We'll leave it to you."
I imdiately drew my dual Great Swords and charged at Xeno'jiiva with my Palico. Xeno'jiiva had just been born and wasn't fully aware yet. Taking advantage of that, I closed in quickly and slashed its chest.
SHLICE!
"KYEEAAK!"
Perhaps because of its size, even a large slash with a Great Sword didn't cut deep.
'This is troubleso...'
So I infused my Great Swords with mana, extending the blades, and tried to sever its leg.
SLASH!
But contrary to expectations, the cut still didn't go deep.
"Huh? Why isn't it working?"
Then Nano explained why.
[The energy contained in your swords was absorbed by Xeno'jiiva. That seems to have halved the attack's power.]
"That's what happened?"
In the original, Xeno'jiiva could absorb bioenergy and use it as its own power.
While I was listening to Nano, Xeno'jiiva turned its head toward and unleashed a powerful energy beam.
KRAKOOOOM~!!!
I quickly rolled to the side, dodged the beam, then ran toward Xeno'jiiva and jumped.
'No choice. I'll have to target a weak point!'
I spun my body rapidly, dual-wielding my Great Swords, and ground away at the back of Xeno'jiiva's neck as I landed.
SCRAPE SHANK SHASHAAAA!
"KEEAAK!!"
CRASH!
Xeno'jiiva collapsed with its neck tattered and torn. Upon checking, the neck was almost entirely severed. It couldn't possibly be alive.
DING~!
You have acquired the ability [(S) Energy Drain].
[(C) Drain Touch] has been absorbed into [(S) Energy Drain].
[(S) Energy Drain]
Can absorb, store, and release energy. (When mana is full, can store an additional amount equal to one's own health.)
Honestly, I had given up on obtaining abilities in the Monster Hunter world, but this one was excellent — a superior version of [Drain Touch] from Konosuba.
"Oh~ Nice!"
While I was examining the ability, the Wyverian Hunter, the Admiral, and Serious Handler ran up to .
"You — are you human? How can you move like that? Carrying two Great Swords no less!"
Serious Handler and my Palico were less surprised, having seen fight before, but the Admiral and the Wyverian Hunter were genuinely shocked.
"I'm the strongest."
"R-right..."
When I confidently said I was the strongest, the Admiral asked no more. Anyway, we carved Xeno'jiiva and returned to Astera. The Admiral handled the reporting, so I just had a al with Serious Handler.
"Let's rest for a few days. We've been running hard."
"Yeah, let's."
Serious Handler didn't object — she seed tired too. The funny thing is, in the ga, after hunting Xeno'jiiva, there's a party and an ending. But perhaps because I killed it too easily, or because so hunters had died, there was no party.
"Oh well, doesn't matter."
We spent the next few days resting. During that ti, I saw Lively Handler training in the training yard. She wore a wooden prosthetic leg.
SWOOSH~ SWOOSH~
"Hup! Hyah!"
"Working hard since morning."
When I spoke to Lively Handler, she noticed and smiled.
"Oh, it's you! Lying in bed was boring."
Lively Handler had a very cheerful disposition. With injuries like hers, most would give up being a hunter, but she didn't. I felt sorry for her, so I decided to give her a gift.
First was a prosthetic leg — not crudely made of wood, but a sturdy, shock-absorbing design. Second, I commissioned the smithy to make a sword and shield from the materials I'd collected, refined them a bit, and gave them to her.
"Oh~ This is really comfortable?"
"Right? I put a lot of care into it, so it shouldn't rust easily. You still need to oil it, though."
"I see. Thanks!"
I was glad she liked them.
"Once you get used to the prosthetic, go on so hunts with Serious Handler. I'll be resting for a while. And since we're short-staffed, it's hard to find a replacent receptionist."
"Got it. Thanks for looking out for ."
I had already discussed this with Serious Handler, so there was no problem. She also agreed to help Lively Handler actively.
A month passed. Serious Handler was reassigned to Lively Handler, and I was assigned the 'Radiant Goddess' from the Gathering Hub as my receptionist. Her vacancy was filled by the receptionist I had rescued earlier — she could no longer follow hunters due to the trauma.
"Take it easy. Sothing might happen. And that would interfere with your work."
"Don't worry. I'm careful."
"Careful? You go all out inside..."
"Only I get to enjoy it?"
"That's not it..."
Well, this is how it turned out.
Anyway, I'd hunted everything there was to hunt in World. So I decided to take it easy and wait for Iceborne. But no matter how long I waited, Iceborne wouldn't trigger. So I decided to give them a push.
"I've confird Legiana moving west. It seems there's sothing across the sea."
"I see. But I can't send an investigation team based solely on your word..."
"Then lend a ship. I'll go and confirm it myself."
"Hmm... Fine. I'll lend you a small ship. You, your receptionist, and your Palico may go."
"Good."
I inford the Radiant Goddess. She didn't want to go, but I convinced her, and we took a small ship together. Since the island we were heading to was extrely cold, I prepared cold-weather gear in advance.
"Be careful out there."
"Understood."
Thus, we departed from Astera.
"Is there really sothing to the west?"
"I told you."
The Radiant Goddess and my Palico looked skeptical.
The ship was moving slowly, so I took out [Triton's Sword], obtained from Pirates of the Caribbean, to steer the ship quickly westward.
"Huh? The wind seems to be helping us."
"I guess."
"It's suddenly getting cold... Huh? There's sothing over there!"
The Radiant Goddess pointed at a large landmass that had appeared ahead.
"There really was sothing."
"Finally believe ? Geez..."
"Hehe, sorry. Anyway, let's take so pictures."
"Okay."
The Radiant Goddess went into the cabin, grabbed a cara — which was huge, given this world's low technology — and started photographing the land. I had to help her.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
"I think I got it."
"Let's go closer."
"No! There could be threats. In situations like this, our priority is to report back."
She was very professional. Reluctantly, we returned to Astera.
'If I'd known this, I wouldn't have brought the cold-weather gear.'
The Commander looked at our photos.
"Incredible. Another island... but it's rather large to call an island..."
The Commander thought for a mont, then called the Admiral and scholars for a eting. News of the new island spread quickly. The Commander drafted a plan and assembled an investigation team.
The investigation team would use the Third Fleet's airship to reach the new island. Hunters, supplies teams, and engineers began working hard to repair the ship. During this ti, the First Fleet Field Master ca to and asked about the Handler.
"I heard about it. The girl you were with died?"
"Yes. That's what happened."
"You don't look sad at all."
I decided to be honest.
"To be honest, she was very difficult to work with. She kept running off, drawing unnecessary monster aggro. And after causing trouble, she never apologized. So I asked the Admiral to change my receptionist. Even then, she didn't change her ways. She endangered her partner hunter and eventually got eaten and killed by a monster."
The Field Master sighed.
"I see... She was too curious. But with your skills, couldn't you have saved her?"
"Why would I? I volunteered to hunt, not to babysit her. And to be clear, she should never have been a receptionist in the first place. She neglected her duties and was driven by her own desires. At the ti of the incident, I was under the Commander's orders not to hunt."
"I'm not blaming you. I just find it regrettable. I thought she would accomplish sothing great. Anyway, I understand."
The Field Master left.
The next day, the Commander called and issued an order: I was to return to the Old World. I didn't know the details, but the Field Master's influence was likely involved.
"What?! Why?"
"After yesterday's eting, we decided. You lack an understanding of the ecosystem. You don't try to understand monsters — you enjoy slaughtering them. You don't fit our Commission."
He wasn't wrong. I'd been pushing ahead quickly to see the cool dragons I wanted. But there were many dangerous Elder Dragons still left. I had no idea how they'd handle them — the problem was, I was the only one who knew.
"Fine. I'll go. I'll take the supply ship next week."
"See to it."
I told the Radiant Goddess and asked if she would co. She decided to return with .
'Good luck without .'
I returned to the Old World on the supply ship. With the money I'd earned, I bought a mansion. I lived happily with the Radiant Goddess and my Palico, hunting troubleso monsters for money.
Then, word ca from the New World: a massive Elder Dragon had appeared, and most of the Commission mbers there had been killed. Probably Mufeto Jiiva or An Ishiwalda.
"Geez..."
I ignored it and tried to live quietly, but suddenly an envoy from the royal palace arrived. The king summoned .
"I am here to see the king."
"So you're the famous hunter. Called the 'Red Star,' are you not?"
"Yes, so they call ."
"You're aware of the situation in the New World. I want you to go and help them."
I'd suspected as much.
"Can I refuse?"
"No! This is an order!"
"Then give a rank higher than the Commander there. Otherwise, I'll go to another kingdom."
The king looked quite surprised.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. As you know, I was exiled from there. Without this, I cannot help."
I could speak so boldly because, over the past few months in the Old World, I had proven my skills. Everyone knew that if I truly decided to go to another kingdom, no one could stop .
"Sigh... Fine. I grant you the rank of Special Inspector General."
"Understood."
Thus, I received the title and returned ho to tell the Radiant Goddess.
"Isn't it dangerous?"
"Don't worry. It'll be fine. You know my skills."
"True. With you, I'm more worried about the monsters."
"And here."
I handed the Radiant Goddess a large bag filled with gold and silver treasures. She looked quite surprised.
"This is..."
"In case I'm late. Use it."
"Okay. Actually, I have a request..."
"What is it?"
Blushing, she said:
"I want to have your child."
"Really? Good! Then I'll need to put in extra effort tonight."
I picked her up and carried her to bed, making sure pregnancy was ON. We spent a passionate night, and the next day, I boarded the ship for the New World.
Other soldiers and hunters sent by the kingdom were also on board.
"Inspector General, Astera is coming into view."
"I see. Everyone, prepare."
"Understood."
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