Eneito Base
Daily update.
If you haven't read yesterday's installment, please start from the previous one (2-6).
Gii, gii. I woke to the sound of that familiar chittering.
Light was filtering in through the tent entrance. It was full morning already.
"...Don? Food?"
I shook off the sleep as I sat up, but Don had already toddled off into the backpack. Not food, then.
Guess he stayed up keeping watch till I woke. Just got tired and figured it was my turn.
"Thanks, buddy."
I slipped out the tent flap carefully so as not to wake the blissfully snoring little guy.
Sarsa was posted up right outside, tending to her bow and dagger.
"Sorry, slept in?"
"Good morning, Master."
Sarsa hopped to her feet in a flash and ladled out some soup from the pot she'd set aside.
"Yeah, thanks."
She'd already eaten, apparently. It was just me digging in solo.
"Where's the rest of 'em? Already headed out?"
"Yes, before dawn, it seems."
The young trio. They'd hit the sack later than me, but still beat me out the door.
"You talk to them?"
Sarsa nodded solemnly when I asked about the trio to fill the lull.
"Yes, they spoke to me. I told them you were the son of some important connections."
"Oh, gotcha."
I wasn't sure if we needed to fake our status here too, but better safe than sorry if it kept eyes off Sarsa.
"They were here hunting dog-type pelts. Heading back to town today."
"Huh. So what about us... Our load's still light. Hit the forest again, or push to the military outpost?"
"Yes."
Sarsa never really piped up on stuff like this. Total "Your call, Master" mode. Was that why the old-timer crowd went nuts for her type?
"...Let's push on."
Might as well scope out the military outpost. Plus, trudging through that dim forest again sounded soul-crushing. Time for a change of pace.
We geared up and suited up.
I slept in most of my armor anyway, but if you've got the slack, you wanna at least swap the underlayer. So off it came, then back on.
While I fussed with that, I mulled over yesterday's takeaways.
Aiming for legs and weapon grips was smart. But when Bashabasha got broken, I panicked and got sloppy. Like I reflected last night, that's issue one.
Fix? Stay cool, and pick up more support spells or tactics.
Also, outside straight attacks, I've got nothing big besides the magic gun. Need to beef up my attack spells... but magic ain't a quick grind.
Oh, and I'm barely using my improved earth magic. Waste. Starting today, drill sand spells hard. Sand magic—creating or manipulating sand. Basic earth magic staple. I can kinda do it now, but not at practical power yet.
Good for magic-resistant foes or when I can't aim the gun. Lean into Slow Stone or whatever.
Magic bullets? Yeah... those are toy-tier now.
"Master, all set."
"Right."
For the first time that day, we set off north from the tent space.
Target: the military outpost. Eneito Base, I think it was called.
A light rain had fallen overnight, leaving the grasslands fresh with dew. The season's past peak heat too—getting easier from here.
Side note: Hottest month here's June, coldest December. Kinda more calendar-true seasons than back in Japan, in a way.
Though the latitude's farther north, so winters hit brutal.
We're nearing August now—feels like early October in Japan terms.
Wonder if they've got "autumn flavors" here. Fingers crossed.
"Master, Allorer."
Sarsa nocked an arrow and called the warning.
Up above, an eagle-like bird circled our heads. Legit monster—shows an opening, and it'll dive.
We'd passed 'em by harmlessly before, but this one had us dead to rights.
"Can you hit it?"
"A bit far..."
"Wait till it dips lower. I'll harass, you drop it."
"Yes."
We held position, vigilant. It got impatient—or figured we'd stopped—and dove fast.
Palm out, magic bullets in a stream. The Allorer dodged nimbly, but the flinch gave Sarsa her window. Arrow struck true.
It thrashed—bam, bam—merciless follow-ups. Down it went, limp.
"Nice shooting."
"Straight-line flight, I can track it."
Sarsa's talent was going nuclear.
We recovered the corpse before scavengers hit—Sarsa handled the butchering too.
Hunting guild material right there. Hell, with her starter job, she could've gone pro archer and skipped slavery. Nah, merchant girl's not thinking "hey, hunter life!" Yeah.
"Master, all processed."
"Good work."
Magic stone, feathers, beak—the takes. Feathers for fletching, beak for alchemy. Meat's sparse and nasty, they say.
"Clean skinning."
"As practiced."
She bowed. Nailing practice shots on the fly? Impressive.
"Lotsa Allorers... Yeah, different from the south."
"Indeed. Stay sharp."
We pressed on along the path, dropping occasional Allorers and dog-types.
"That..."
Deep into the grasslands now, a massive shadow loomed right ahead.
Presence Sense skill hadn't pinged yet. Far off. But clear as day.
"Is that a Rebeus? Huge..."
No wonder Sarsa gasped. One word: dinosaur. Big herbivore type.
Earth'd slap a "saurus" on it. Quadruped, long neck. Stretched high, munching plants slow-like. But size tricked the eye—probably fast up close.
Hunter guild info: sole grassland monster not "hunt in moderation," but "hands off entirely."
Not that you'd want to. House-sized at least. Body length? 20 meters, nah, 30 easy. Bigger than that dino exhibit skeleton from my kid days. Insane.
Can't hunt 'cause rare and herbivorous.
Get too close, it rages. Otherwise harmless, and chases off other monsters. Handy.
Harmless herbivore = not monster? Nah, criteria's fuzzy: spawn point origin, magic stone, spell-like powers, or just plain vicious to humans.
Rebeus spawn here, have stones, and go berserk-smashy. Checks out.
"Leave it be, yeah?"
"Yes."
Why on the path? Whatever. We skirted wide, crouched low, slipped by unseen.
If we had to fight? Bashabasha might make openings on that bulk, but too big to trap. And would our hits even dent? Probably not.
Warrior squads cull overpop or town-near ones during drills. Respect.
"Oh, structures ahead... That the outpost?"
Post-Rebeus, sneaking forward revealed a moat-and-stake fortification.
Dusk already—lights at the gate made it pop.
Eneito Base: one of Teba Warrior Squad's open outposts.
Bridge over the moat to the entrance, guarded by a leather-armored spear guy. Gatekeeper.
"Heard this place is open. Cool to enter?"
"ID?"
"Yup."
Flashed my Monster Hunter Guild card.
"Guildie, huh. In you go."
"Thanks."
"First time? Need a guide?"
"You do that? Hell yeah."
"Just the basics. Restricted zones too—listen up."
"Got it."
Quick breather in the gate shack, then our guide warrior strolled in.
"Teba Warrior Squad, Eneito Garrison—Kargid so Ruij. Names?"
"Yoyo. This is my attendant, Sarsa."
"Pleasure. Basics only from me. Some facilities are paid."
"Gotcha."
"Tent spots first. Renting part of the temp drill field."
"Food?"
"BYO fine. Canteen's partial open—but squad eats first. Mind that."
"Roger."
"Let's move."
Tailed Kargid to tent space, water points, etc. No baths, figures.
"Canteen next."
Laughter leaked from a lit building en route. Lively.
"What's that?"
"Squad rec room. Cards and such. Closed to outsiders."
"Ah, makes sense."
"Mix in randos, gambling heats up, work suffers. Banned ages ago."
"Yeah... fair."
Vendors'd swarm otherwise. Squad's gotta clamp down.
"Here's the canteen. Oh, good monster meat? We buy."
"Squad doesn't hunt for food?"
"Can't make it our gig. Always a meat scramble here. Limited stock..."
"Rough."
Squad life's no picnic.
"Other open outposts like this?"
"Probably similar?"
"Hm..."
Not bad. No forever-home, but monster-free with chow? Base it here a week, doable.
"You probably heard, but stay clear of capital Warrior Squad or army bases."
Kargid's warning. Local Teba squad's one of three powers with outposts here. Others: the two he named.
Capital Warrior Squad: elites from the capital, policing upper Kansen River. Snobby to hunter-types. Annoying.
Army: In a world packed with standing Warrior Squads everywhere, the royals' "army" is interpersonal combat specialists. Squads focus monsters; army handles noble meddling or foreign pushback.
Tame houses skip war gear, leave it to the royals, stick to monsters.
That's how royals stay royal.
Why here, monster holy land? Drills. Peacetime—no border scraps—so don't rust the big guns. Treat subhumans as foes for practice hunts.
Their northwest base: stray near, risk getting "hunted" as spies.
"Guild drilled it in: Teba Squad only."
"Yup."
"Why open yours at all?"
"Mission's pushing monster hunts. Get it?"
"Kinda..."
"Capitals might be joyriding. We fight and defend this land. Use whatever works."
"Hm."
Some pride there.
"Tickets here. Oi, three."
"Aye."
"Cash..."
"On me today—welcome ritual."
"Th-thanks."
Arrogant, but solid dude.
"Pick from what's left. Late means scraps, but beggars can't."
"True."
"Quite the menu..."
Sarsa's eyes sparkled. Food mode: engaged.
"This monster bird stew..."
"Arshi. Bone broth's killer, light overall. Tasty."
Gulp.
"Uh, two of those."
Sarsa was hooked. Monster bird, but chicken thigh stew vibes. Sounded good.
Quick serve, tray up. Less meat than hoped—scramble life. But veggies soaked in broth? Yum.
Seats aplenty, half-full crowd.
"Here. That's the tour. Questions?"
"Itadakimasu. Nah... Sarsa?"
Munch munch.
"...Heh. None, looks like. Post-meal, restricted zones. Drill field and canteen only, basically."
"Ah."
Just those two, huh.
"Paid facilities?"
"Training ground off-hours. Small kitchen too."
"Oho..."
Won't need with canteen. For home cooks? Rare monster hauls, maybe.
"No magic stone buys?"
"Stones? Cheap, but yeah... I think."
"Squad buys?"
"Kinda. Brass hates big noise. Limited quant."
Off-books deals? Smells like politics. Hands off.
"Other cautions?"
"Merc scraps on drill field? We sit 'em out. Lady in tow—watch your backs."
"Got it."
Business as usual.
"Bladeplay? We step in. Detain, squad rules apply. No drama."
"Yeah... Say Sarsa gets jumped, I clap back—still nabbed?"
"Depends. Won't walk free. Conflicting stories? Truth judge, full trial. Careful."
"Judges, huh..."
Sarsa'd offered to one back with merchants. What's the deal?
"Innocent or not, you pay judge fees. Avoid mess."
"Eek, roger. Duo travel—guys are riskier than monsters sometimes. Gotta clap back eventually."
"Fair. Locals know drama here's bad news. Cool heads till exit? Smooth. After? Your funeral."
"...Scary if they jump us outside. Got it."
"Mm."
Sarsa ate on quietly. Bit bummed. Longing eyes. But freebie seconds? Nah.
"Other dishes look fire. Tomorrow's fun."
"Yes!"
Sarsa perked. Peak energy: mealtime.
"Heh..."
"What?"
"You two really master-servant? Looks like lovers."
"R-really?"
"Master is Master."
Sarsa shut it down cool as I flushed. Kinda deflating...
Lovers? I'd be dumped in two secs for "slave harem time!" Slave's fine. Slave.
"Got time? Local monsters?"
After, Kargid briefed nearby beasts—Kansen River basin focus—quick restricted tour, done.