Monster Hunter Grand Assembly

In the blink of an eye, a week had passed since the First Corps hunters arrived at the base.

Over the past seven days, the group had spent time investigating their current conditions and the structure of the gathering hub.

The base existed to provide logistical support for the hunters. The group could use zenny to purchase items and supplies, or combine zenny and materials to craft equipment at the smithy.

As members of the First Corps, the Felynes also provided starter support for their early progression.

Kairo Retsu skimmed through the offerings and noticed that, while Elder Dragon equipment was unavailable, all other materials and gear were for sale.

What astonished him was the reason the Elder Dragon gear wasn't available—when he asked, the Felynes answered:

They would only sell it once the hunters had earned the qualification.

"So, it's not that it doesn't exist… We just can't afford it yet, huh…" Kairo muttered, mildly exasperated by the Felynes' overwhelming capability.

Well, this was a species that could literally retrieve hunters from the claws of forbidden Elder Dragons via cart. It made sense they'd be that strong…

On the other hand, their bodies had all experienced some degree of enhancement after arriving here.

The most noticeable cases were Kairo Retsu and Kazuma, whose abdomens had gone from one soft patch to multiple carved abs.

Furthermore, although everyone spoke different native languages, they could fully understand each other now—

Even obscure jokes or cultural references came through effortlessly.

And once they were handed Monster Hunter weapons, they immediately gained knowledge on how to wield them—even Naofumi's shield didn't stop him from equipping Monster Hunter gear.

But perhaps the most important thing they confirmed was…

The miraculous power of the Felyne cart.

During a test in the training area, when they were experimenting with weapon mechanics and explosion damage, an accidental detonation caught Kazuma completely off guard.

All that remained was his skull, which landed next to the others.

And yet, even in that state, a Felyne with dazzling rainbow fur came speeding in, dragging a cart behind it.

It scooped up the pile of Kazuma's ashes, took a few laps around the area, and then dumped a fully restored Kazuma off the cart—intact.

"Meow! Grand Master! First Corps Hunters! We, the Felyne Cart Team, will be in charge of your evacuation duties from now on!"

The prismatic Felyne said this brightly to the group of stunned men. "And we'll make sure the hunters never face real death danger!"

"Felynes can do anything!!"

"WOAH! Prismatic Felyne Cart?! That's insanely flashy!" Kairo Retsu cried out in awe, equally shocked by Kazuma's resurrection. "Honestly… we really did underestimate the Felynes again, didn't we…"

"This is basically a demon cat," Naofumi muttered for once, showing sarcasm. "So if we fail a quest… we can't even die?"

"C'mon, kiddo, don't be so negative. At least we're safe, right?" Joseph threw an arm around Naofumi's shoulder. "Even the Pillar Men's death rings got solved with a couple of pills. These Felynes really can do anything~nia."

"You're getting brainwashed way too fast!!" Kazuma shouted, freshly resurrected. "I literally just died in an explosion!!"

"What's the big deal? You'd have died in pieces and gotten revived by Aqua anyway," Kairo Retsu said. "But I guess it means our future hunts won't be so… grim."

"Now that you mention it, I do feel a bit reassured," Kairo said, spreading his hands. "We can revive via Felyne cart even after death. That means we've got ourselves a healthy, functional hub!"

"Well then… let's officially start planning the [Muzan Kibutsuji] hunt."

Kairo clenched his fist. "Let that bastard witness the power of love and bonds!"

"What love and bonds?! We've only known each other for a week!!!"

"Quit whining! This is a Grand Master's order! To the canteen!"

Around mealtime, the four of them—grown men, all—gathered once more at the hub's massive dining table. The giant display on the wall flickered to life.

"Felyne meals incoming, meow!"

Busy Felynes rushed about, quickly placing dish after mouthwatering dish in front of them. Granny Felyne also arrived.

"Meow~ Hunter Lords, looks like you're preparing for battle, meow."

"In that case, this old Granny will give you all her full support."

She smiled gently. "I hope the meal I prepared is to your liking."

"It's amazing, it's amazing!" Kairo Retsu mumbled through mouthfuls. "Granny Felyne's cooking is the best!"

"I'm glad you enjoy it."

Granny smiled warmly at the hunters. "Then, I wish you all a satisfying meal…"

Once they had eaten their fill, Kairo Retsu leaned back, burped, and began casting Demon Slayer onto the screen.

"We've still got plenty of time," he said, rubbing his stomach. "So let's get a solid understanding of this story—and of just what Muzan Kibutsuji really is."

—Hunter Lore Recap In Progress—

They watched from the very beginning, starting with Tanjiro's family tragedy, and continued from there.

They even read through the manga arc of the Infinity Castle.

The toll paid by the Demon Slayer Corps, the brutal fights, and the eventual death of Muzan in sunlight left an impression.

His sheer monstrosity made them all agree he was something far removed from humanity.

Joseph, in particular, found something uncanny about Muzan. He felt echoes of Kars in him—though Kars, at least, had some charm and wasn't that weak…

"So their Breathing Techniques don't really have those fancy visuals, right?" Joseph asked.

"Yeah. The Breathing Techniques just strengthen lung and heart capacity, enhance physical abilities… all those water and fire effects are just artistic flair and sword styles," Kairo explained. "Also, according to the quest info, Muzan is 'currently' attacking the Ubuyashiki family. Which puts the timing right before… Infinity Castle."

He added, "The quest isn't timed, but if we want to kill Muzan, we've only got one night. If he escapes, he'll hide—and with his personality, we'll never find him again."

"..."

Naofumi was silent, but his expression was troubled. Joseph noticed and asked, "Hey Shield Guy, what're you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking… if Muzan gets defeated anyway in the end, then what's the point of our hunt?" Naofumi said. "Even if we don't do anything, the Demon Slayer Corps will still destroy him, right?"

"…Saving people?" Kairo tilted his head, arms crossed. "I mean, if we go by the Monster Hunter philosophy…"

"Nature has its own self-correcting forces. Like Hamon against vampires… or the Demon Slayer Corps against demons."

"It's an ecological counterstrike. But even if the counterstrike succeeds, the natural world still pays a heavy price."

Kairo tilted his head in thought. "So maybe that's why we were sent in?"

"In the end… even though everyone here complains about hassle," Kairo glanced at Joseph, Kazuma, and Naofumi—

"You're all the kind of people who step in when it counts. Thinking about it like that, we've got some real chemistry, don't we?"