Hunting: The Dawning

Chapter 12: I'm Pig Chop, Meow

After encountering the terrifying human craftsman, the Felyne thought it would be better to ask someone more amiable for directions.

Looking around, it finally fixed its gaze on the small and thin Dragonoid old man.

Compared to the tall humans, this old man, who was not much taller than itself and whose numerous wrinkles almost covered his eyes, seemed more approachable.

"Sir, please... is this Kokoto Village, meow?" The Felyne was still a bit trembling when speaking due to the previous experience.

"Hmm? Guess?" The village chief, who seemed to have senile dementia, tilted his head and said.

"..."

Facing the old man's kind smile, the Felyne felt like crying.

Father, meow! Do I really have to practice in this place, meow? Humans are so scary, meow! Dragonoids are so strange, meow!!

Finally, a kind-hearted aunt passing by helped the bewildered Felyne out of the predicament.

After hearing that it had come all the way to look for "a hunter named Gordon", she led it to the training ground.

After arriving at the training ground, the Felyne bowed deeply to the kind aunt who turned and left to express its gratitude, and its impression of humans improved a lot.

Hearing that someone had come to look for him specially, Gordon stopped training for the moment and walked over while wiping the sweat with a towel.

Obviously, he hadn't expected that the "person" who came was a Felyne. His expression couldn't help but become a bit surprised.

"Well, hello. I'm Gordon. May I ask who you are?"

"G... Lord Gordon, hello, meow! I'm Pig Chop. My father asked me to come to Kokoto Village to find you and hoped that you would allow me to practice with you, meow!"

The Felyne named Pig Chop tried hard to straighten its chest, trying to make itself look taller and stronger.

The slightly trembling whiskers and the straightened tail revealed its inner nervousness. Speaking all these words in one breath was a big test for the timid it.

The overly formal grammar, the slightly strange address, and the very characteristic name "Pig Chop" immediately brought Gordon's memory back to two weeks ago.

"Is your father Steak?" Although he had basically determined it in his heart, Gordon still thought it would be better to confirm it again.

"Yes, meow. I'm the eldest son of Steak, meow!"

Pig Chop waved its small paws to emphasize, and its round eyes were full of admiration. "My father said that Lord Gordon is a brave and powerful hunter, meow!"

"Uh, just call me Gordon. I'm not a great person, and far from being powerful. You don't need to use honorifics." Gordon scratched the back of his head a bit embarrassedly.

"But my father said that humans attach great importance to etiquette, meow?"

"That's true, but I'm not your elder either. So just use the address between peers." Gordon explained.

"Okay, Gordon..."

Pig Chop's ears twitched. "But I find it very strange, meow! Let me still call you Lord Gordon, meow!"

"Let's talk about this later."

Rubbing his forehead, Gordon found that it was not so easy to change Pig Chop's language habits all at once, so he shifted the topic to more important matters.

Steak had saved his life, and he should return the favor. Now that Steak's child had come to him, as long as it was something he could help with, he would definitely not refuse.

"What does your father mean by asking you to practice with me?"

"That is to ask me to sign a contract with Lord Gordon and become Lord Gordon's hunting Felyne, meow!"

Gordon was stunned upon hearing this.

The so-called hunting Felyne was an Ailuran partner of a hunter. They would go to the hunting ground together to hunt monsters and provide various supports for the hunter.

The relationship between a hunter and a hunting Felyne was not a simple superior-subordinate one, but combat partners who could trust each other with their backs.

In the hunting ground, a hunting Felyne could provide a variety of supports for the hunter, and the way of support was related to the specialty of the Felyne.

For example, some Felynes were good at close combat, and such hunting Felynes would always fight side by side with the hunter at the front line; some Felynes were good at using hunting items and would set traps and bombs for the hunter when the monster was not paying attention, creating opportunities for the hunter; some Felynes were good at playing music, and they would play a certain strange flute tune to inspire the hunter's fighting spirit and potential...

Besides specialties, the character of a hunting Felyne would also have a great impact on their behavior.

The reckless ones would often rush to attack the monster regardless of everything, while the pacifist who loved gathering might run to the side to pick mushrooms during the battle...

However, ultimately, what really determined the ability of a hunting Felyne was their experience and the tacit understanding with their partner hunter.

If the relationship between the two sides was close enough, the hunting Felyne might even bravely blow the horn flute when the master was in danger of being chased by the monster, attracting the monster's attention and sacrificing itself to cover the master's retreat.

No matter what the way was, it was certain that a hunting Felyne could help the hunter.

Accepting Steak's child as a hunting Felyne, could this be called returning a favor? This was clearly a big gift, right?

Gordon crouched down and looked into Pig Chop's eyes at the same level. "If we don't consider your father's opinion, what do you think, Pig Chop?

To be honest, I'm just a novice who has just become a one-star hunter. In comparison, it would be a better choice to go to Schreiter City to look for those experienced hunters, right?"

Pig Chop stretched out its claws and scratched its pointed ears, speaking with admiration, "Lord Gordon is a very powerful hunter! I saw it with my own eyes, meow!"

"With your own eyes?"

"Yes, meow! That day I was gathering in the forest and heard the sound of a battle. After secretly approaching, I saw with my own eyes that Lord Gordon knocked the Great Wild Boar King to death with its tusk, meow!

One day, Lord Gordon will surely become a legendary hunter, meow! Following Lord Gordon to practice is not only my father's suggestion but also my wish, meow!"

Gordon was speechless upon hearing this.

Since the other party had said so, refusing again would not be politeness but affectation.

He smiled and stretched out his hand, holding Pig Chop's small paw. "Then let's become stronger together. Please give me more advice in the future, Pig Chop."

"Meow!"

Seeing that Gordon agreed, Pig Chop carefully took out a roll of carefully tied parchment from its backpack.

This was the contract of the Felyne.

Gordon didn't hesitate. He took the contract, browsed it briefly, and then bit his thumb and left a blood fingerprint on it, which symbolized "commitment".

Pig Chop did the same. It used the tip of its cat pickaxe to prick its paw pad and left a small paw print on the contract.

From then on, they became partners who shared life and death.

"Come on, Pig Chop. Let's go home. Let's have a big meal to celebrate today!"

Gordon grabbed Pig Chop's backpack, put it on his shoulder, and rubbed Pig Chop's furry little head hard with the other hand, smiling and saying.

After carefully putting away the contract, Pig Chop hesitated a little and finally jumped onto Gordon's back.

This was one of the ways for Felynes to express closeness and trust.

"Uh, how heavy are you, Pig Chop?" Gordon pretended to scream in pain and teased maliciously.

The fur on Pig Chop's back stood up. "No way, meow! I'm only twenty kilograms, which is the standard weight, meow! Although I eat a lot, I have been exercising well, meow!!"

"Ha, then you should eat more later. Tomorrow's training won't be easy."

"No problem, meow!"

"How about having fried pork chops for dinner? There's nice wild boar meat at home."

"Although it sounds a bit strange, I'm really looking forward to it, meow!"