Monster Hunter:Hunter's Notes

As Amos said, the reason why Gordon checked the grass roots and soil was to confirm whether it had rained in the past day or two.

Now that a definite answer has been obtained, the next search will have a general direction.

Like the giant wild boar, the Strange Face Tribe is also a race that loves mushrooms. Unlike the former who only know how to eat them, these cunning little things can use mushrooms in a much wider range.

Gordon had personally seen a strange-faced clan using a huge mushroom cap as a bamboo hat to disguise themselves and sneak attack the approaching spirit deer.

According to instructor Ernest, some larger groups of Strange Faces have even mastered the technology of mixing gunpowder with nitrous mushrooms and gunpowder grass, and then developed "thermal weapons."

Fortunately, these "high-tech" strange-faced tribes are currently only found in the New World. For the time being, you don't need to worry about a Cha Cha Pu (Qimian-faced tribe) suddenly jumping out of the grass and covering your face with a bomb barrel or something...

In any case, all kinds of mushrooms are quite attractive to the Qimian clan.

Gordon decided to first find a place suitable for mushroom growth, search for traces of the Strange Face Tribe, and then track and hunt the footprints.

The types of vegetation on the outskirts of the Metabe Forest are similar to those on the Shuretson Hills. Gordon is very experienced in how to find places where mushrooms grow in this environment.

Along the way, he carefully observed the growth status of forest plants, the density of tree shade, and the distribution of water veins. Not long after, he discovered a decaying crossbar full of large areas of specialty shiitake mushrooms beside a small water reservoir in the forest.

To be honest, if he hadn't known that Yamos and Hayata were not far behind him, and had the unique pride of young people, he would have rushed forward with a cheer and collected a lot.

Putting aside those slightly embarrassing thoughts, Gordon told Pork Chops to pay attention to the police circle, while he approached the crossbar and observed carefully.

After just two glances, Gordon clenched his fists excitedly.

This specialty shiitake mushroom has clearly shown signs of being "visited" before!

The crossbar covered with mushrooms is located at a higher position, and it should be difficult for animals such as large wild boars and mushroom pigs to reach. Moreover, these marks are different from the messy appearance of those gluttons who have eaten them. Many mushrooms have been cut off at the root.

.

In other words, they are "harvested"!

Gordon couldn't help but get closer, squinting and searching carefully. Soon, he found a few small footprints on the moss attached to the crossbar and the surrounding soil.

The footprints are only about the size of two fingers placed together, and the shape is somewhat similar to that of a human being, but there is no toe structure.

Gordon was sure that these were the footprints left by the Strange Face Tribe!

Squatting down, he gently touched the soil at the edge of the footprints with his fingertips, picked up some more, and twisted it on his fingertips.

"It's still fresh. It should have been left in the middle of last night."

He followed the tracks and searched for a while, and soon he found a small animal trail that could easily be overlooked if he didn't pay attention - that is, a natural trail with relatively sparse vegetation because small and medium-sized creatures frequently pass by.

.

The animal path curves intermittently, and finally points to a certain direction deep in the dense forest.

Gordon looked back and found that Yamos was also looking at him from a dozen meters away. The two exchanged glances and saw the latter lightly tapping his chin. Gordon no longer had any worries.

With a big boss following you, what else is there to worry about?

"After leaving the pork chop, pay attention to the sounds and smells."

"Meow!"

Behind them, Hayata was trying to keep up with a sad face.

This was her first time walking in a dense forest full of leafy vines and fallen leaves.

Yamos just followed her leisurely and did not provide any additional help. Since she wanted to become a hunter, she had to adapt to all of this.

As a "special equipment for novices", the advantages of the hunter suit are reflected at this time.

——Light enough and able to provide the most basic protection.

The hard leather greaves protected her ankles and knee joints well, preventing sprains. Even the sharp blades of grass and thorns in the bushes could not break through the protection of the hunting suit, leaving her covered with cuts and bruises.

Of course, it is inevitable that there will be a few blood stains on the exposed cheeks.

"Teacher Yamos, how far is it..."

After holding on for a while, Hayata finally couldn't hold on any longer and put her hands on her knees, breathing heavily.

Yamos, who was breathing normally as if he were walking in the garden, glanced at her cheeks that were red from suppressing the pain, then glanced around, put his fingers in his mouth, and blew a loud and short whistle.

Gordon, who was busy walking not far ahead, immediately stopped and turned around to look.

Yamos pressed his palms towards him and made a "rest" gesture. Gordon was stunned when he saw this, and then touched the bridge of his nose with some embarrassment.

He has never hunted in a team and lacks the sense of cooperation.

This time, it is true that Hayata in the team is a pure "slugger", but fellow hunters often encounter similar problems when they team up to hunt.

Can a dual-sword user carrying a pair of lightweight swords weighing several kilograms have the same physical energy consumption as a gun-wielding user carrying a tower shield and a gun gun with a total weight of more than 100 kilograms?

Always paying attention to the status of your companions is also a necessary part of cooperative hunting.

"Feel sorry......"

As soon as Gordon started to apologize, he was interrupted by Yamos with a wave of his hand, "Nothing, I stopped you just because Hayata needed to take a breather.

We have entered the territory of the Strange Face Clan, and they should appear soon. Maybe there are patrolling guys watching us secretly now.

Adjust your condition and get ready for battle."

Yamos said this not only to Gordon, but also to Hayata.

The little girl who suddenly became nervous immediately pulled out the hunter's knife stuck across her waist, put the buckler in her right hand on her chest, and looked around, as if she was ready to fight anyone at any time.

Gordon and the others seemed much more calm. They checked the sharpness of their weapons, checked whether the armor straps were tight, and added a small amount of water before they were ready.

Only the eyes that glanced around and the ears that trembled slightly from time to time revealed their concentration at this time.

"Here they come, two."

Yamos's gaze suddenly turned to a certain direction. He did not intend to draw his weapon, but grabbed Hayata's back collar and began to retreat.

It took several more seconds before Gordon accurately captured the movement coming from that location.

It was the "squeaking" sound of shrub branches and leaves being squeezed apart, and some kind of high-pitched and weird cry.

"Quack!"

"Chaba ga ga ga ga!"

Gordon put his right hand on the hilt of the sword behind his shoulder and fixed his gaze on the slightly swaying bush. When two short figures jumped out of the bush one after another, he waved down the sword behind him without hesitation.

Great sword.

"Whoa!"

The preemptive attack failed. The heavy hook-shaped head of the explosive knife was embedded in the soil, and it seemed difficult to pull it out for a while.

Hayata, who was watching the battle from behind, couldn't help but exclaimed.

Only then did she see clearly what the two figures who avoided Gordon's sword slash looked like.

This is a small humanoid creature about sixty centimeters tall. It has a very skinny body and an uneven gray-green skin that reminds people of moss-covered limestone.

The helmets, which seemed to be made from the shells of certain large tree fruits, were covered with strange patterns. This helmet, or mask, was almost half the size of their bodies and covered their heads tightly.

This is also the origin of their racial name.

——The Strange Face Clan.