"This actually counts as malnutrition?" Erik looked at the newly purchased large insect net in his hand, speaking with disbelief.
The Professor glanced sideways at him and suddenly asked, "What are the average wingspan and body length of a Vespoid?"
"Average wingspan 227 centimeters, average body length 119 centimeters," Erik answered without hesitation.
Altaïr couldn't help but give him a few extra glances.
From the young man's previous words and actions, it was clear he had never actually seen a Vespoid in person, yet he could casually cite precise data. It seemed his studies had truly stuck in his mind.
"The wingspan isn't visible with the wings folded, but can't you see the body length? This Vespoid's body isn't even 90 centimeters long. Vespoids are holometabolous insects, there's no 'still growing' phase. If it's not malnutrition, what is it?"
Facing the Professor's lecture, Erik tilted his head thoughtfully and countered, "But the 119-centimeter average body length is based on Vespoids from around the world, right? Even within the same species, morphological differences can occur in different regions, like with the Great Hornfly. Maybe Vespoids in desert areas are naturally smaller?"
The Professor choked on his words, grinding his teeth as he squeezed out, "From your perspective, that possibility exists."
Their conversation grew louder, disturbing the Vespoid that had just landed on the rock wall. It spread its wings and hovered in the air.
The nearly two-meter-long insect wings vibrated at high speed, producing a loud, piercing noise like machinery operating at high RPMs. Standing even slightly close would make one's ears hurt.
What they had heard earlier was this sound, weakened by distance.
Altaïr drew his Long Sword partially from its sheath, while Isis raised her large shield, positioning herself in front of the Professor and Erik.
Unlike docile creatures like Aptonoth, Vespoids are highly aggressive. Once disturbed, they actively attack humans.
Their tail stingers are nearly 20 centimeters long, like bayonets, capable of piercing straight through flesh.
Vespoids can also secrete paralysis toxin from glands in their tails. If stung, even robust hunters would be paralyzed for quite some time.
If an elder like the Professor took a hit, he might not survive. Thus, neither of them dared be careless.
Seeing Isis ready her Gunlance as if to fire at the hovering Vespoid, the Professor quickly stopped her, "Take it easy! We should try to preserve the corpse as intact as possible. Dissecting it might reveal some clues!"
Isis paused her finger on the trigger and looked toward Altaïr.
Altaïr also seemed somewhat troubled.
While a Vespoid's size is exaggerated compared to ordinary insects, its one-meter-long body is still quite fragile against hunter weapons. A solid strike with too much force could shatter it into pieces.
Killing it is easy, but preserving an intact corpse is difficult. If he used Sword and Shield or Dual Blades, it wouldn't be a problem, but with a Long Sword, he honestly wasn't confident.
Seeing Altaïr's hesitation, Isis planted her Gunlance aside. "I'll handle it."
Altaïr nodded, swapping positions with Isis and retreating in front of the old man and youth. Isis set down her large shield and caught the Long Sword he tossed to her.
The comment about her being unsuited for the Long Sword was merely a matter of temperament and mindset. In terms of pure swordsmanship alone, Isis, who had trained rigorously since childhood, was easily a full tier above his current self.
As if sensing the killing intent, the Vespoid hovering mid-air suddenly darted erratically from side to side.
This was the precursor to a Vespoid's attack, using unpredictable flight patterns to distract opponents before swiftly circling behind to deliver a vicious strike.
Isis held the sheathed Long Sword at her waist, not yet drawing the blade, her gaze locked intently on the darting Vespoid.
The distracting flight patterns failed to break her concentration. Only when the Vespoid truly launched its attack, closing in with lightning speed, did she finally draw the blade.
A flash of steel, and the Vespoid crashed to the ground.
Its body remained unscathed, but one of its transparent wings had been cleanly severed. Even after landing, the detached wing continued vibrating helplessly as the insect spun in circles, permanently grounded.
With its flight capability lost, the Vespoid posed no further threat. Isis resheathed her sword and returned Iron Gospel to Altaïr.
Altaïr clicked his tongue repeatedly in admiration.
While he learned quickly, some skills couldn't be mastered through comprehension alone. That instantaneous draw cut, though he knew the technique, would require years of dedicated practice to execute with Isis' level of precision.
The Professor too seemed somewhat astonished. He wondered why someone with such swordsmanship would choose to wield a Gunlance instead, though he ultimately kept the question to himself.
Erik was equally curious, but his attention remained entirely fixed on the spinning Vespoid on the ground.
Weapons and techniques meant nothing to him. He immediately grabbed his insect net and moved forward, only to have Altaïr seize his collar and pull him back.
"What are you doing?" Altaïr asked irritably.
Erik blinked, looking utterly innocent. "Getting a closer look!"
Altaïr sighed in exasperation before turning to the Professor. "I'll finish it off first. Any parts I should avoid damaging?"
The Professor considered briefly. "Just avoid the abdominal segment. The rest shouldn't matter much."
"Right." Drawing his Carving Knife, Altaïr stepped forward and pinned the still-vibrating wing under his boot. Carefully avoiding the curled abdomen and its stinger, he drove the blade into the Vespoid's thoracic segment.
"Screech..."
Amid the sharp cry, the Vespoid's struggles gradually weakened until all movement ceased.
Meanwhile, the Professor and Erik had already prepared for dissection.
Masks and gloves were donned, and the Professor produced a compact case containing various delicate knives and tweezers, specialized tools for dissection.
Altaïr glanced at his own "small" carving knife, which ordinary people would consider a large cleaver, grimaced slightly, and put it away.
Isis also approached curiously, joining Altaïr in watching the odd pair dissect the Vespoid's corpse by lantern light.
Both hunters shared the same astonished thought: Dissection can be done like this?
For hunters like them, the pinnacle of carving monster corpses meant avoiding unnecessary damage to valuable materials.
Unlike these scholars? The Vespoid's carapace could be peeled into multiple layers. After removing the outer shell and exposing the internal organs, even the membranes covering the organs could be peeled into two additional layers.
The Vespoid took them nearly an hour to fully dissect.
"So?"
Seeing the Professor hand his tools to his disciple for cleaning, remove his gloves, and stand up, Altaïr asked curiously, "Any findings?"
"Yes." The Professor took off his mask, his expression neutral. "The crop is nearly empty, the chitinous carapace is somewhat thin, and the muscle layer is underdeveloped. This Vespoid is indeed malnourished."
Altaïr: "..."
This counts as findings?
Noticing the hunters' expressions and guessing their thoughts, the Professor shot them a sidelong glance. "What kind of discovery were you expecting? And this information already tells us a great deal.
For instance, this area isn't very suitable for Vespoid survival. If it doesn't find a more suitable habitat, it could die within weeks.
For example, this is a solitary Vespoid, unrelated to the 'swarm' we're trying to track.
Moreover, Vespoids in the desert should naturally be like this, indicating everything is normal around here.
We've gathered all this information on our first day out. What more did you want?"
Altaïr and Isis exchanged glances. So this is how scholars are?
After a moment, Isis spoke up somewhat apologetically, "Um, Professor... if you don't need them, could we collect the Paralysis Needle and Body Fluid?
They're quite useful materials..."
"Suit yourselves." The Professor waved a hand, wearing an "I'm used to this" expression.
So this is how hunters are.