The Hunter and the monster faced off.
They both knew their current state wasn't suitable for continued battle, but neither was willing to turn away first. Whoever showed weakness first could lose the initiative in the fight.
Gordon suddenly grinned and smiled.
The reason Hunters can survive, and even triumph over, monsters far stronger than humans is due to their flexible minds and endless tactics.
If their skin is soft and bodies fragile, they arm themselves with metal and the scales of monsters.
Without sharp claws and teeth, they use wisdom and technology to create all sorts of powerful weapons.
If their stamina and self-healing ability can't compare to monsters, they make up for it with alchemical medicine.
With one hand, Gordon plunged his Great Sword into the ground in front of him, then reached into the satchel at his waist and pulled out the Hunters' favorite recovery medicine G.
This was a high-grade recovery medicine, made by adding honey to ordinary recovery medicine and further extracting it. Its medicinal effect was nearly double that of the common version.
Of course, the cost was also much more expensive. Under normal circumstances, Gordon would be reluctant to use it, but now was the best time to use it.
He gulped down the emerald green liquid in the glass bottle in two mouthfuls, then tossed the bottle aside and smacked his lips. The taste was good.
The effect was even better.
A warm sensation instantly spread throughout his body, and the bleeding from the wounds on his chest, ribs, and palms quickly stopped.
Complete recovery was naturally impossible; it would take some time for the medicine to fully take effect. But in just these few seconds, he felt as though he had recovered at least seventy to eighty percent of his combat strength.
The Blue Velocidrome slowly retreated.
Its beastly intuition told it that the opponent was by no means bluffing.
In just two or three breaths, how had that guy's clearly weakened aura recovered so much?!
Its bright yellow vertical pupils fixed on the Hunter, the Blue Velocidrome continued to back away—it knew it had to retreat.
Reaching the edge of the dense forest, the Blue Velocidrome let out a threatening roar. It stared deeply at Gordon, and seeing that the latter had no intention of pursuing, it turned and disappeared into the jungle, finally vanishing into the gloomy shadows of the trees.
Gordon shook his somewhat fatigued arms, then crouched down, took out his whetstone, and carefully sharpened every hook blade of the Burst Blade that was stained with blood.
Continuous hacking had dulled the Burst Blade's hook blades somewhat. If not sharpened in time to restore their sharpness, it would affect the weapon's power.
After sharpening his weapon, Gordon drank another bottle of recovery medicine and ate some carried food to replenish his stamina. After a short rest, he re-shouldered his Burst Blade.
Carefully distinguishing the footprints and bloodstains hidden among the weeds and fallen leaves, Gordon confidently looked in a certain direction.
The Blue Velocidrome couldn't escape.
The Blue Velocidrome species are skilled Hunters but not good at hiding their tracks.
In the Shuretsusen Hill forest at the end of winter, a half-day chase finally concluded in the afternoon as the sun set.
The Blue Velocidrome attempted to escape, counterattack, and even called upon its kin near its nest to set up ambushes multiple times, but Gordon steadily resolved them all.
Even at the very end, the Blue Velocidrome, with its hind legs severely injured and combat ability greatly impaired, didn't pose any real trouble for him.
The large head crest, symbolizing its status as the king of its pack, was ultimately cut off by the Hunter, becoming a trophy to prove the hunt's completion.
After much difficulty escorting the caravan to a safe section of the road, Zhu Pa, who rushed back, didn't return to the Hunting Camp to meet Gordon until after sunset.
Looking at the Blue Velocidrome materials, still stained with blood, Zhu Pa seemed a bit dejected.
It seems Lord Gordon doesn't need my help; he can successfully hunt these powerful monsters on his own, meow.
But Gordon just pointed to his shattered chest armor and the terrifying wound from his chest to his ribs, which, though the bleeding had stopped, still had exposed flesh, and said with a smile:
"If you had been there, I wouldn't have been so severely injured."
"Yes, I'm sorry, meow!"
"I'm not blaming you; I'm just stating a fact. Don't mope around there, come quickly and help me stitch and bandage the wound!"
"Okay, meow!"
"Ow, ow, ow, ow!"
"It's going to be crooked! Don't move, meow!"
"Could you be gentler?!"
"I'm just an Airou, not good with needle and thread, meow! Please bear with it, meow!"
After successfully hunting the Blue Velocidrome and smoothly completing the urgent quest, Gordon's Hunter rank naturally advanced to Two-Star.
Looking at the second star-shaped mark branded onto the beast hide cover of his Hunter's Notebook, the young Hunter grinned like an idiot.
The increase in Hunter rank represented more than just honor.
More available quests, higher pay standards—all of these were tangible benefits.
Compared to these, the "minor injuries" he sustained were hardly worth mentioning.
As for the scar left on his chest due to Zhu Pa's poor stitching skills? Gordon wouldn't even care about such a small matter. As a Hunter, who doesn't have a few scars on them?
To celebrate his promotion, Gordon specifically dragged his instructor and Zhu Pa to the village's only tavern and restaurant for a big meal.
Charcoal-grilled Mammoth steak, salad of fruit warts and tender potatoes, thick soup of Herbivore Dragon tail stewed with onions and tomatoes, cream-baked Mushrooms...
The meal cost nearly 500z, but Gordon didn't feel bad about it.
Occasional luxury is necessary!
After the big meal, Gordon and Zhu Pa's lives returned to normal.
With winter over and the several-month hunting ban lifted, the Hunter's Guild had accumulated a large number of pending requests. Even a remote place like Kokoto Village received many assignments.
Although the vast majority were still One-Star requests.
Gordon, finally qualified to accept Two-Star quests, directly pushed aside that pile of One-Star requests, not even bothering to look at them, and gleefully picked up the single Two-Star quest slip.
The Guild's classification of quest difficulty was very mature and standardized. Even between the lowest One-Star and Two-Star, there was a very clear distinction.
One-Star quests primarily involved collecting settlement items like special Mushrooms and hunting multiple small monsters like Blue Velocidrome and Great Wild Boar.
However, starting from Two-Star, large monsters would be involved.
Although they were only Great Wild Boar King and Blue Velocidrome, which were considered "insignificant" by powerful Hunters, they were also a hurdle that all novice Hunters had to face.
Cross it, and there's potential for further advancement; fail to cross it, and one might spend a lifetime toiling only with Mushrooms and raw meat.
According to the Hunter's Guild statistics, at least one-third of registered Hunters spent their entire lives lingering in One-Star quests.
Perhaps due to a lack of Courage to face large monsters, or insufficient talent, or considerations for safety and family, they had no desire to become stronger and would not actively engage with dangerous large monsters, seeking only a peaceful and stable life.
These "gathering Hunters" were scorned by some, pitied by others, and mocked by still others, but no one could deny their contributions to human society.
Otherwise, who do you think completed the massive volume of One-Star quests, which accounted for over sixty to seventy percent of the total Guild quests?
Of course, Gordon, whose mind was currently filled with "earning money, getting stronger, hunting more powerful monsters," wouldn't consider these things. At this moment, his gaze was firmly drawn to that Two-Star quest slip.
To be precise, he was attracted by the string of numbers in the reward column.
—
Gathering Quest: Spicy Delicacy (★★)
Quest Content: Collect one Rathalos egg
Reward: 8800z
Quest Location: Shuretsusen Hill
Time Limit: 15 days
Gluttonous Tycoon: Pour the golden egg liquid into hot, boiling oil, remove immediately after it expands and solidifies, drizzle with volcanic chili sauce from Aeld, and eat it while hot. That fluffy, tender, spicy taste, once tasted, can never be forgotten!
Go and bring me a Rathalos egg! Money? I have plenty!
—
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Kazenova223
If you guys wanna check it out.