Going over the bridge of having to either clean my armor at the guild or walk home bathed, but in dirty armor, I left my things in a basket and went into the spacious bath.
I rinsed myself, carefully washed my tightly braided hair and moved towards the large basin.
Water vapor wafted around, thanks to the guild having a thermal bath and I slowly lowered myself.
The water was hot, almost to the point of being too much, but I slid down anyways.
When the hot water reached my chest and then shoulders, I let out a contend sigh.
The Zenrade skins and parts made me a good 1,500 Zenny, as I only had materials of two carcasses, but I couldn’t complain.
My expression melted into pure relaxation and I let my eyes wander.
It was a mixed bath, but you had to actively go to the open air part while the indoor area was still partitioned.
I felt a few small waves coming as another huntress sat down near me.
“Don’t look so startled,” a gravelly yet rich voice said.
My head moved towards her, “I wasn’t startled.” “Sure you look a bit more relaxed now, but it’s obvious you’ve killed your first monster today.” It did?
I touched my face and looked down at my own reflection.
My face didn’t seem any different than usual.
The same straight nose, slim angular jaw and the same blue eyes as always.
“You’re shaking,” she said.
She was right, my hands shook a fair bit.
I didn’t know how I could miss this or how my first actual fight with my life on the line had affected me.
“Sorry,” I replied, voice quiet.
“Please don’t laugh, but I encountered two Zenrade today when I searched around a cave.” “Doesn’t matter if it’s a Zenrade or a high Myzura drake.
A fight for death’s a fight for death.” I stared at her wide eyed, “you think so?
But Zenrade are considered weak, I thought.” She let out a hollering laugh, “sure, but you said you fought in a cave and with how you didn’t clean your armor first, you’re a rookie.” “Is it that obvious?” My voice was filled with disbelief.
She turned fully towards me.
Despite her age, she had a toned body and more than an ample bosom.
Her hair was a faded shade of blue, worn in one long braid, she seemingly had pulled up and held in place by hair pins.
One look at her green eyes, they reminded me of fresh fern, revealed the wisdom of a huntress with experience.
My parents’ eyes had a similar look, I guess it had to be a hunter thing.
I noticed a deep and old looking scar that went from her right shoulder down to her belly button.
It was painful looking and even went across her ample chest.
She was older than my parents, I was more than sure about that, but I couldn’t help but admire her.
“It is to an old hunter like me,” she said and continued, “the scar you’re staring at was a Rugadir drake.” My eyes darted away and I felt my face growing hot.
I mumbled out, “sorry for staring.” “Have you heard of Rugadir drakes?” I shook my head and she continued, “they’re deadly.
They spew fire, hotter than the hottest furnace and live deep in volcanic areas.
It wasn’t even a kill quest, just an egg hunt, but the beast got me good.
Managed to avoid its breath, but its poisoned talons almost killed me.” “It’s a wonder you made it out alive,” I mused, sounding like I knew what she was talking about.
But I remembered Rugadir well, they were the cover monster back when Frontier Hunter was still single-player only and I never managed to beat that damn thing.
It was only in the latest online version that I managed to take it down regularly.
They basically were dragons, but big.
These cruel beasts coming right out of developer hell were up to 40 meters long and easily could have a wingspan of 140 meters.
The next hollering laugh, “girl, that sounded like you knew them before.” ‘Oh shit,’ I thought and scrambled for an answer, but not finding words.
“I’m just messing with you,” she laughed again at how panicked I must have reacted.
I smiled awkwardly, oh..” Then I slowly stood up, “I should take care of my armor now.” And shuffled out to clean my armor and change.
My face was bright red, hopefully from the hot water and not the old huntress.
It took me 4 days to gather those stupid mushrooms and I had to actually check every damn cave.
Exhausted or rather annoyed by the difficulty of gathering materials, I came back into the guild.
I made my way over towards a guild employee, an older looking man and as I came close he showed me, as if on cue, the same bright smile Sue did, welcome to the hunters guild, how may I be of service?” I laid down 15 midnight cup mushrooms on the counter and the quest together with my guild seal.
He verified the delivered items and his guild book.
“Well done, I hereby verify the delivery of the requested materials.” With agile movements, he laid them out on a tray and a minute later laid out 7,500 Zenny in front of me, which I stored away in my belt pouch.
Then I moved towards the quest board again, but there weren’t any bronze ranked ones available.
My eyes swept around the guild hall, looking for faces I knew, but thanks to being too late for the early folks and too early for the hunters coming back.
I didn’t see any and since my armor wasn’t disgusting today, so I sat down alone at the canteen.
Mom went out in a hunt yesterday and dad was still out on his guild assignment, and I didn’t want to cook for myself.
Not that I wasn’t any good, I wasn’t, but cooking for one person sucked.
A minute later a bored looking guy from the staff came and I ordered myself a horned rabbit stew.
It came with way too much meat, more than I’d have liked, but with how my stomach growled, I wolfed it down.