Miles started lecturing.
Even those who loved to watch a good show now kept their distance, casting glances of either sympathy or schadenfreude towards Oshura.
Miles's words were actually very reasonable; even if he wasn't an Archer, Gordon could understand the veteran's meaning.
Using a Light Bowgun for close combat wasn't impossible, but it required special weapons, ammunition, and appropriate armor sets.
Oshura's behavior, like jumping into a monster's face and firing wildly when provoked, was actually a loss of emotional control and very dangerous.
Facing the old instructor, Oshura, knowing her mistake, couldn't muster any thought of resistance and just sat obediently like a child, ready to be lectured.
Miles seemed to get angrier as he spoke, his emotions appearing a bit agitated.
Gordon later learned from Ted that their mother, who was Miles's wife, was also a Hunter, a Six-Star Dual Blades user, and very powerful.
The two-person team she formed with Miles could be said to be the strongest two-person combination in the Minagarde Hunter's Gathering Hall at that time, having successfully completed countless High-Rank quests.
However, it was during a Five-Star quest that was not particularly difficult for them that, due to some oversight, the Dual Blades user lost her life in the Hunting Field; this incident was a huge blow to Miles.
The reason he retired from the front lines in his golden age around forty and became an instructor in the training camp for over ten years was to teach young people "caution" and "thinking."
But what bothered him most was that both of his children took after their mother in personality, each more reckless than the last; in desperation, he had to return to the field, hoping to guide these two blockheads while he could still move.
This guidance lasted for several years.
Now, he had finally found a Light Bowgun User with good talent who also got along well with Maksim and the others, thinking that perhaps he could take over and form a team with his children.
But this one, too, had a reckless personality.
A team full of reckless individuals wouldn't last long!
"No! I have to teach you from scratch how to hunt cautiously!" Miles, who always gave off a stable and reliable impression, suddenly stood up. "We're going to take a quest!"
Oshura paused at his words, subconsciously glancing at Ted, a hint of resistance in her expression.
Miles, with his sharp gaze, immediately realized what Oshura was resisting and waved his hand directly, saying, "You, I, and Maksim will form a team of three; Ted is not allowed to go."
Ted: "?"
Worried that Oshura might overthink it, Miles specifically added, "The so-called 'family' team is just a joke others made; it's really just me, an old man, worrying about these two siblings, so you don't need to mind it.
Whether you want to team up with Maksim and Ted in the future is your freedom, but for now, I need to thoroughly correct your hunting attitude!"
"Eh?!"
Ignoring Oshura's resistance, Miles dragged Oshura and Maksim to the quest counter, leaving only Gordon and Ted looking at each other.
Ted, especially, pointed at his nose in disbelief, "This Daddy was abandoned by the team?"
"Apparently so." Gordon shrugged, having no intention of giving his elder brother any face.
Who would have thought that Ted, instead of being sad, slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Great, I'm finally free!"
"Huh?" Gordon blinked.
"Waiter! Bring me some wine! And another 'Attacker's Deluxe Beta Set Meal'! Oh no, two portions! This Daddy is paying for Gordon's!" Ted yelled his order, and after getting a reply from the waitress, he turned to Gordon with a bitter expression and said:
"Do you know how I've lived these past few years, hunting with my old man?"
Only when talking about his father would Ted not use the verbal tic "This Daddy" or "us."
"No idea, but judging by your excitement, it probably wasn't easy."
"Before leaving the Hunting Camp, we had to check our gear twice, then check each other's once. The amount of recovery medicine had to be full. Special hunting tools like Flash Bombs had to be prepared if there was any chance they'd be used.
Great Barrel Bombs became standard equipment; can you believe we usually dragged a cart into the Hunting Field?
After entering the Hunting Field, no hunting for meat, no fishing, and absolutely no grilling meat; we could only eat the food we brought. The old man thought good food would make people drop their guard.
After the hunt, only one person could carve, and the other two had to be on full alert, weapons at the ready, and, and..."
Listening to Ted's long list of complaints, Gordon gained a bit of insight into the situation.
Old Man Miles was clearly a very old-school Hunter; he inherited the cautious traditions of the Hunter pioneers.
For young Hunters who grew up after the Hunter system was perfected, this excessive caution was simply incomprehensible.
Even middle-aged Hunters like Amos would prioritize a balance of work and rest in the Hunting Field, rather than maintaining constant Focus.
This hunting style was indeed safer and more efficient, but the hunting process itself was very tense and oppressive.
Over time, it could lead to problems, like Ted's current state.
"This Daddy is f***ing sick of it! I'm going fishing in the Hunting Field! I won't come back until I catch a King Tuna!"
"King Tuna are sea fish. Are you planning to go to the West Continent by sea?" Gordon poured cold water on his enthusiasm.
"I don't care! Spring Night Carp, Diffusion Dragon Fish, Little Goldfish, anything! I'm going to fish for all of them! This Daddy also wants to hunt Herbivore Dragons! Xianggu Pigs too, oh, and Ling Deer and Mammoth! I'm going to have a barbecue party in the Hunting Field!"
Gordon didn't know how to respond anymore.
This guy, who was more than ten years older than him but still strictly supervised by his father every day, seemed to rebound quite strongly once he got a chance.
"Alright, alright, Brother Ted, if you really want to go on a vacation to the Hunting Field, perhaps you could choose a gathering quest. That way, there's no pressure, plenty of free time, and you can really enjoy yourself."
"Yes! You're absolutely right!"
An unusually excited Ted clapped his hands and shouted, "It's best if it's a quest where the gathering targets are delicious ingredients, like large matsutake mushrooms, white livers, and stuff! Two birds with one stone, saves time! Gordon, let's go after we eat!"
Gordon looked utterly bewildered, "When did I say I was going too?"
I often barbecue in the Hunting Field; why would I make a special trip for that?
"We're friends, right? Share the good times! Besides, you can participate in Three-Star quests, can't you? Three-Star gathering quests provide locations for a lot of premium ingredients, you know. Don't you really want to try them?
You can also take the time to gather more dyeberries, herbs, and other materials to stock up your inventory. Even if you only gather a few specialty mushrooms, you can still sell them for money.
You can play, you can eat, and you can earn money. Don't you really want to go?"
Gordon licked his lips. To be honest, he was actually a bit tempted—doing some gathering quests as a change of pace from hunting large monsters seemed quite interesting?
"Then shall we go to Shuretsusen Hill? Or Metabe Forest? The wetlands are too far, so let's not consider them."
"Metabe Forest!" Ted answered very decisively.
"Reason?"
"Rich in produce!"
"Then let's go!"
--+--
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.