"This Daddy has never been afraid of anyone when it comes to strength, but today I actually stumbled in front of you, kid. What the heck did you eat growing up, kid? In another ten years, won't you be flying to the sky?"
Ted, who had to grab the wine glass and pour the wine into his mouth because his palm was too wide to fit through the handle, wiped his mouth with his sleeve and grumbled.
This giant man named Ted is a Four-Star Hunter and an acquaintance of Oshura.
The day they returned to Minagarde, they happened to run into each other at the counter area of the Gathering Hall, so Oshura introduced Gordon to Ted and his companions.
Ted is a member of a fixed hunting party, and this party is a bit special—three members, including Ted, are actually a family.
Besides Ted, who is a Gunlance User, there is his younger sister, Maksim, who is skilled with the Hunting Flute, and their father, Miles, a Light Bowgun User.
Today, Gordon was free, so he joined them at their table to drink and chat.
Maksim is a tall female hunter, over one hundred eighty centimeters tall, not inferior to most men.
Gordon had some impression of this female hunter; when Oshura was drinking alone, she was the first to tease Oshura. The two seemed to be good friends.
Miles is an old hunter with gray hair, estimated to be nearly sixty years old, and is the oldest of all (active) hunters Gordon knows.
He has extremely rich hunting experience, is a Six-Star Light Bowgun User, and once served as an instructor at the Hunter Training Camp. Oshura seemed to have received his guidance back then, and Amos must respectfully call him "Senior" when he comes.
It is said that this old man was once a Heavy Bowgun User, but as he got older and his physical strength declined, he switched to the lighter Light Bowgun.
He is currently in a semi-retired state and has not taken on any High-Rank quests for many years. He has only not retired because he cannot rest assured about his two boisterous children.
Regarding Gordon winning the arm wrestling match against Ted, the happiest person was actually Ted's sister, Maksim, or more accurately, she was gloating.
Let you brag all day about your unparalleled wrist strength?
As they chatted, they naturally talked about Gordon's previous quest to hunt a King Yian Kut-Ku.
"Oh? Little Brother Gordon, you said Oshura finally got that King Yian Kut-Ku's green fur?" Maksim seemed very surprised, even with a hint of regret in her tone.
The fact that someone spent half a year hunting seven King Yian Kut-Kus has almost become a running gag at the Minagarde Hunter's Gathering Hall.
"It's gone now. There's no good topic to tease Oshura with anymore, what a pity..." Maksim rested her chin on her hand, saying something inhuman.
Gordon: "..."
"So-called luck is just an elusive thing. As long as you work hard in the right direction, you will always gain something," the taciturn old man Miles said in a faint tone.
As he spoke, he also picked up his cup and took a sip, but it wasn't ale, but hot barley tea. He exhaled a warm breath and continued, "That child, this time she finally didn't use Fire Bullet to target the head?"
Gordon: "..."
Did this old senior see through everything long ago?
Noticing Gordon's bewildered expression, Miles glanced at him, "It seems you were the one who found out. That child Oshura has good talent, but her temper is too impetuous, and she doesn't like to use her brain.
Blaming everything on luck is the most foolish way of thinking. I originally wanted to use this opportunity to temper her character more. Never mind, with half a year of experience, she will become somewhat steadier, and her future path will be smoother."
Gordon shrank his neck. Although he knew Miles didn't mean to blame him, he still felt a little scared.
"What? So it wasn't because of luck?" Ted, who had gone to exchange for a larger wine glass, returned and stroked his bald head, his surprise no less than Gordon's.
Maksim was the same; clearly, she hadn't thought in that direction either.
Gordon noticed that Miles's expression changed for a moment, as if he had just relieved himself.
Miles was indeed having a headache.
His eldest son was a reckless man who only knew how to charge forward. Fortunately, as a Gunlance User, there wasn't much problem with doing so. His daughter seemed a bit dark-bellied and liked to tease people, but in reality, she wasn't much smarter than her brother.
When will they grow up?
Gordon took a small sip of wine, his gaze darting between the three people with varying expressions for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Old man, are you thinking of bringing Oshura into your team to replace your position?"
Miles turned his gaze to Gordon, "Hmm? Why do you think so?"
"Since you know Oshura likes to use Fire Bullet to target the King Yian Kut-Ku's head, then you must have hunted King Yian Kut-Kus with her, and more than once, right?"
"Yes, the first two King Yian Kut-Kus were hunted by the four of us together."
"Since it's a fixed team, and you yourself are a Light Bowgun User, cooperating with Oshura, who is also a Light Bowgun User, so many times, it's very likely that you had an assessment purpose.
Of course, there are other possibilities, which is why I asked to confirm."
Miles listened to Gordon's words, and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes.
What Gordon analyzed wasn't complicated, but at least it proved that this was a child who could think.
Much better than his own two kids...
"That's right, I'm getting old, so I want to find a companion who can replace my Archer position."
Gordon put down his wine glass, carefully chose his words, and continued, "You must have already extended an invitation to her, but it was rejected?"
Miles nodded his chin. There was nothing to analyze about this; since Oshura was not a member of their team at this time, the answer to this question was obvious.
"She refused very decisively? Even a little resistant?"
"Yes, she said she wouldn't consider those things for now."
"...Then have you ever considered why Oshura would refuse your invitation?"
"Hmm?" Miles turned his gaze back to Gordon.
Of course, he had considered this: incompatible personalities, insufficient chemistry, overlapping members, not used to teaming up—all of these were possible.
But no matter the reason, teaming up is not something that can be forced, so when he brought it up once and was rejected, he didn't continue to pester her.
"Well, I'm just offering a possibility, you might overlook this from your perspective and age," Gordon said, scratching the tip of his nose.
"It's fine, go ahead and speak. It's just a chat," Miles said casually, but a hint of curiosity couldn't help but appear in his eyes.
Ted and Maksim also looked over with great interest, wanting to hear what Gordon would say.
"You see, your team is a well-known family team in the Gathering Hall, right? A family forming a team, with no outsiders ever joining, that should be quite rare."
"..."
Miles's expression changed slightly, as if he realized something, while Ted and Maksim remained completely bewildered.
"When you invited Oshura to join your family team, she might have over-interpreted it as you inviting her to become a family member. As for the way to become a family member, uh, daughter-in-law or something?"
Ted: "?"
Maksim: "!"
Miles: "..."
--+--
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!
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