Bare Your Fangs

I-I told you we shouldn't have come here!

Wh-What?! YOU were the one saying there was treasure to be found!

AHHHHHHHH!

W-We're gonna be eaten alive!

H-Huh? An arrow?

Where in the world did it come from...

Y-You don't think, ?

"Even faced with a boiling caldera, the coelus know only how to swim." Those two have no business in a place like that, They aren't even properly equipped.

...Well, I suppose the fact a couple of amateurs made it that far in the first place proves the area is safer than it used to be.

Cerius?

I thought we were supposed to meet in Ratle...

Ah, forgive me, Aldo. I was responding to a cry for help.

Huh? I don't hear anything...

That's because it's already been taken care of.

Shall we be off to Ratle, then? I need your help finding someone.

Yeah sure. No problem.

(All he did was fire an arrow way off into the distance... Can he actually see what he's aiming at?)

......

Wh-Whoa... What a shot...

How's that even possible from such a distance?!

It sure as hell wouldn't be for a couple of small-time treasure hunters like us...

Y-Yeah...

So who're we looking for?

A talented huntress who is notoriously difficult to track down. I've heard that she's been seen in the village recently.

In Ratle? Why here?

Ratle is a hub of sorts for hunters, said to be blessed by the great Salamander. The Vasu Mountains are home to countless medicinal herbs and rare ores.

But that is not what attracts our kind. For us it is the bloodthirsty beasts that roam these lands.

You've spent quite a bit of time around here, then?

Aye. I once called the lands around Ratle my hunting ground, and met a great many fellow hunters. One in particular left a deep impression on me, and that is who we search for today.

Hey. Buddy.

Couldn't help overhearin' yer conversation just now. Yer a hunter, 'eh? A strong one from the looks of it.

I am indeed. On both counts.

Hah! We got us a cocky one here! But don't worry, I saw that shot ya took earlier...

Two heads in one shot from that distance... I'd say ya've earned the right to boast a bit.

Anyhow I've got a job for ya. I want ya to take down a red dinosaur out in the Vasu Mountains.

Care to explain in more detail?

Ain't much to say. That damn lizard's made it impossible to cross the mountain path, and I want it gone.

I'm willin' to pay ya fer the deed, so how about helpin' me out?

Very well. I'll hunt this beast.

Such is my duty.

That's great! I actually asked someone else before ya, but they never made it back. Poor sod's probably a dinosaur turd by now.

Then this beast shouldn't be taken lightly. We'll need to put it down before it causes further casualties.

I apologize for the sudden change of plans, but would you care to join me, Aldo?

Yeah, I'm in. I wouldn't want anyone else getting hurt.

You heard the man. We'll take the job. As the locals say, "Leave the fire kindling to Salamander."

D-Do they now? Can't say I've ever heard that one...

It just means that you should leave these kinds of tasks to the experts.

S-Sure, if ya say so. You'll find the dinosaur about halfway up the Vasu Mountains.

Understood. We'll return shortly.

I'm countin' on ya.

Well then, let's not waste any time. We can return to searching for my acquaintance after this is done.

It doesn't seem to be around...

Don't be so sure... "Sometimes you can't see the fire for all the smoke."

Look at your feet. See how the soil is discolored there?

Oh! I hadn't even noticed...

It's not natural. It was caused by someone or something kicking the dirt to cover their tracks.

So our opponent isn't just strong...it's smart.

So it would seem. Keep your guard up.

The tracks are still fresh, so our target must be close. If we keep following this path...

UWAAAH! OUTTA THE WAAAAAAY!!!

Huff, huff... Phew...

Oh? Is that who I think it is?

What? Got something on my face?

Yio!

Aldo?! What're YOU doing here?

You're an acquaintance of the Dinosaur Slayer, Aldo?

Dinosaur Slayer?

Come to think of it I remember you saying something about the people in Ratle calling you that.

U-Umm...

Y-Yeah! Th-That's me, Ratle's one and only Yio the Dinosaur Slayer!

Huff, huff... Phew...

Oh? Is that who I think it is?

What? Got something on my face?

I should have expected as much. Wherever terrible lizards make their home, the Dinosaur Slayer is sure to roam.

Dinosaur Slayer? That's a pretty impressive title.

U-Umm...

Y-Yeah! Th-That's me, Ratle's one and only Yio the Dinosaur Slayer!

Came here as soon as I heard one of the lumbering bastards was skulking about. You leave him to me.

Ever the gallant warrior. How fortunate we are to have found you.

You mean Yio's who you were looking for in the first place?

Correct. A warrior whose overwhelming presence drives even dinosaurs to flee in terror, whose axe splits heaven and earth with every strike.

You wouldn't think that just looking at her...

By the way, Yio. It seems like something had you pretty scared just now. What was that all about?

O-Oh yeah! Over there! There's a huge red d-d-d-d-dinosaur, and, !

I-I mean, ! I wasn't scared! I was just putting some space between us!

Aye. spacing is everything in a close-range battle. I take it you were trying to draw it in for a perfect one-strike kill? I could learn a lot from a legend like you...

It's just ahead of here, correct? Let's give chase.

W-Wait up, Cerius!

I know I agreed to hunt the bugger, but I wasn't expecting it to be so big! Anybody'd turn tail at the sight of that! That archer looks pretty strong though... I guess it'll be fine to just leave everything to him.

Yioooo! You coming? Weren't you here to hunt that dinosaur?

O-On my way, Aldo!

It's close. We need to proceed carefully.

Y-Yeah...

Are you well? Your hands are shaking.

I-I get this way when I'm excited!

Alright! I'll take the lead from here.

Y-You can do this, Yio...

Nothin' to be afraid of...

Nope, nothing at all...

YIO! IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!!!

Hwah! HWAAAWAWAH!!!

Yep. That looks like our dinosaur.

I better get out there to support her!

Hold steady, Aldo.

Leave this to the professionals.

But...

I don't doubt your strength, Aldo, believe me. But when it comes to dinosaurs, we're the ones with the most experience.

We'll be able to take it down safely and efficiently, you just need to trust us.

...Alright. I trust you.

To arms, Dinosaur Slayer!

Y-Yeah! On me, !

W-Wait?! Aren't you coming with me?!

She's incredibly efficient. By pinning the enemy down where she has, she's given me the perfect distance to provide ranged support. No ordinary hunter could make such brilliant tactical decisions so quickly... The Dinosaur Slayer is truly a force to be reckoned with.

I don't quite follow.

She's forcing the enemy into the optimal range of our weapons. In this case, it's more effective for her to wear down the enemy at close range, allowing me to line up a kill shot. But in some cases, we would want to weaken the enemy with supporting fire so she could land a close range killing blow herself. That courageous charge of hers will ensure we take down our foe as efficiently as possible.

Wow, Yio! After Cerius's detailed explanation I'm starting to see you in a different light!

N-Not you too, Aldo...

Sob... O-Okay... I'll do it. I've just...gotta...do it...

N-Nevermind! I CAN'T DO IIIT!!!

Don't you think she's drawing it in a little too close?

Not at all. This distance suits me just fine.

She must have a lot of faith in me to put herself in such a precarious position... I mustn't let her down.

Rapid fire's not enough, huh? Its hide is tougher than I expected.

There's something strange about that dinosaur...

I-It's running away!

......

Aren't you going after it, Cerius?

Aye. It's headed towards the volcano. Let's go.

I wanna go home...

Over there!

Ugh! I've just gotta steel my nerves...

...Hold steady.

You think maybe it's protecting its young?

Even with all those wounds?

It seems my intuition was correct.

Huh?

It's eyes. They weren't the eyes of a killer.

It must have descended the mountain in search of food. It meant no harm to the people here. In fact, it probably would have left the area on its own given a little time.

It should never have been the target of a hunt in the first place.

Then that request...

Heh, well done...

Did me a real favor weakenin' it that much. Wait, Ain't that the broad I sent out on my first request?

U-Uh-oh...

I figured you'd been eaten already. Glad to see yer still amongst the livin'.

U-Urk...

What are YOU doing out here?

Waitin' for ya to get the job done, that's what.

Why?

'Cause these red dinosaurs are a little special. When their horns are first developin' they glitter like gemstones, and they're worth their weight in gold to the right buyer.

It'll be like takin' candy from a baby...dinosaur.

That confirms my suspicions, then.

You're a poacher.

Maybe, but I always split the proceeds fairly. I'll see that you an' the broad get yer share. Leave the rest to me.

I think not.

Huh? Yer plannin' to get in my way when we're already this close?

Of course! This creature would never harm people if left unprovoked. It just wants to live here in peace. Monster or not, I won't allow you to kill it just to make some money!

Yer worried about a dinosaur when there's this much money on the line? These things are dangerous. Death's too good for 'em if ya ask me.

Hey! Watch your mouth!

Please tell me you've got a little more sense in ya than this tree hugger. You two know how it goes out here, You're either the hunter or the hunted.

Aye. I have no problem with your personal choice to hunt this creature.

Cerius!

Glad to see at least one of ya has some sense.

But having come to my own conclusion that this animal is not acceptable prey, I also have a duty to try and stop you, by force if necessary.

Wait, what?

When we hunters take a life, we do so as part of the cycle of nature. We don't kill indiscriminately.

If you believe that this is a harsh world of hunters and the hunted, then prove to me you are the former. Fight me. The outcome will determine who is right and who is wrong in this matter.

Tch... Hard-headed bastard.

Have it your way. More profits for me.

Can't even fight your own battles, huh?!

Aldo. Dinosaur Slayer. Might I request your assistance in this matter?

On it!

Dunno how I feel about going from "Dinosaur Slayer" to "Dinosaur Savior", but I can't just sit back and watch!

Sick 'em! Tear their throats out!

"The golden bell tolls for he that plucks the blossom."

Or put more simply, Wicked lives are short lived.

Don't try something like this again. As you've already seen first-hand, my arrow will find its mark, no matter how far you run.

D-Dammit!

You really didn't attack us, huh? I'm amazed Cerius picked up on that.

Off with you now. If you go further up the mountain no one will bother you.

You have my thanks, Aldo, Dinosaur Slayer.

This might have gone much differently without your help. You really do live up to your reputation.

O-Oh, uh... Gl-Glad to hear I could be of some help. Now, uh, how about we get outta here?

Right. We should get back to Ratle.

Y-Yeah! I'll be on my way then!

Forgive me if I'm being too forward, but could you lend me just a little more of your time? There is much I could learn from you.

If you were to teach me the secrets of dinosaur slaying...

...Then I would be happy to share with you all I know of hunting.

...Huh?

That sounds amazing! Mind if I join you two, Yio?

Uh...um...

...Oh, alright! I guess I can spare the time.

(...She's been tripping over herself all day long. I get the feeling she might not actually be very good around dinosaurs.) What's she gonna do when he presses her on details?)

...A-Alright! I guess I can spare the time.

Excellent. I promise to be a model student.

(...Well, if she says it's fine, then I guess it's fine.)

Shall we be off to the tavern, then?

...Really? You two fought together before?

Aye. It was during a large-scale raid that brought together warriors from all over these lands.

Among them, none stood out to me more than the Dinosaur Slayer. And why wouldn't she? I witnessed her go toe to toe with a monstrous T-Rex and live to tell the tale.

O-Oh yeah... That thing came outta nowhere...

I-I mean, ! I carefully observed its movements and tried to lure it away before it became a threat! It was nothing, really!

(She was definitely running for her life...)

(Sounds pretty fishy, gotta say. But if Cerius says she's the real deal, then who am I to argue?)

There's no need to be modest. That was the best possible course of action under those circumstances.

Hunting is all about diversion and spacing. Only a master hunter would have the confidence to engage such a beast at close range so quickly to buy us time.

You should be proud of what you did that day.

Y-You really think so?

Barkeep. I'll have another order of the Nadaran hot wings.

Isn't that enough junk food for one night?

I'm just getting started! Spicy food has a way of tempering the inquiring mind, you see, and we still have much to discuss.

If you say so...

I'm sharing a meal with the one and only Dinosaur Slayer of Ratle. I have to savor every moment.

Heheh... I'm starting to like you, you know that?

Well now that you've gone and gotten me all fired up, how about you tell me what it takes to be as strong a hunter as you? I'm dying to hear your secret.

And I'm happy to tell it. Sharing our expertise is the cornerstone of responsible hunting.

Indeed, that hunger for knowledge might be exactly what got the name Dinosaur Slayer into the history books. Ask away.

Alright then. Why don't you start by telling me a little about your frame of mind.

Anything in particular you'd like to know?

What exactly is hunting to you?

I hunt...because...

......

......

(Huh?) Hello? Cerius? Anybody home?

Ah, yes. Forgive me.

Earlier you told the poacher that hunters don't take lives needlessly. Wanna elaborate?

"The path of the hunter is higher than the peaks of Nadara, deeper than the Man-eating Marsh."

Wh-What's that supposed to mean?

It means some questions don't have simple answers.

I see... I guess I just need to search for the answer myself, 'eh?

......

Thanks! You've really opened my eyes. I'll keep on training and get stronger, mark my words. I look forward to our next hunt.

Do you mind if I ask you something, Aldo?

Hm? What is it?

What are you fighting for?

What am I fighting for? Hmm, I guess... I fight because there are people I want to help.

So that's your path...

...Nevermind. Forget I said anything.

Huh?

I had a good time today. I hope we can do this again sometime.

Barkeep. Can we get the bill?

Looks like Yio isn't the only one tripping over her words today. That's not like you Cerius...

You know... This hunting thing is actually kinda deep.