Unlike Francesca, Altaïr was not about to dismiss everything outright. He still gave Isis a chance.
"Did you think of a name? Let's hear it."
"Uh..."
Isis hastily swallowed the words "Grilled Shrimp" that had just popped into her head. She was not stupid; she knew perfectly well that no one would agree to that.
She glanced around, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "How about 'Charcoal Grill' or 'Charcoal Fire'? Don't they have that kind of burning, passionate feel?"
"..."
Altaïr and the others fell silent for a moment, then promptly revoked Isis's right to speak.
Morgan had never cared much about names, so he halfheartedly proposed a few team names such as "Hope," "Dawn," and "Valor."
The names were perfectly conventional and would sound suitably stirring when shouted aloud, but Francesca made it clear that those hunting group names had long since been registered. They could forget about using any of them.
Nymera, however, was brimming with enthusiasm. A literary young woman who liked to pepper everyday conversation with obscure expressions and write haiku in her spare time, she immediately rattled off several names.
"Komorebi," "Tōhanabi," "Kagero," "Oborozuki," "Akanetoki," "Kazahana"...
Isis and Morgan looked utterly lost. Altaïr understood only a few of them; only Francesca, the most educated person present, could make much sense of these "regional poetic expressions."
Nymera eagerly began to explain. "'Komorebi' means sunlight filtering through gaps in the branches and leaves, while 'Tōhanabi' describes dazzling yet silent fireworks seen in the distance..."
"Stop. Too convoluted." Altaïr raised a hand to halt her. "Wait, isn't 'Kagero' Mr. Kagero's name?"
"'Kagero' can also mean heat haze shimmering above the ground beneath the blazing sun, a dance of light and shadow!" Nymera was clearly growing excited. "It is beautiful, passionate, and pleasant to say. I could try discussing the matter with him; Mr. Kagero surely wouldn't refuse..."
Francesca rubbed her forehead. "I wouldn't recommend it. Some of those names do sound quite nice, but their meanings also need to be immediately clear. After all, most Hunters aren't highly educated." "Take those famous hunting groups, for example. 'Silver Lining' refers to a ray of hope in the darkness, 'Squad Leader' refers to the person at the top, and 'Wings of the Gale' refers to a swift and fierce combat style..."
"Hmph..." Nymera muttered under her breath, "Ambiguity is what creates beauty..."
Francesca ignored the literary young woman, whose own education was not actually all that impressive, and turned to Altaïr. "What do you think?"
"I don't have any particularly good ideas at the moment. What about you, Senior Francesca?"
Francesca shrugged. "I have even fewer ideas. You really need to come up with this yourselves. As long as all four of you like it, even something like 'Big Red Sausage Squad' would be fine." "Still, I'd suggest approaching it from the angle of your squad's role, defining traits, or shared interests." "A team name isn't like a personal nickname, which may change over time. Of course, someone higher up might someday decide to bestow a nice title on you."
"Once a squad name is registered with the Guild, it basically follows you for life. You wouldn't want to introduce yourself by saying, 'I'm so-and-so from the Big Red Sausage Squad,' would you?"
"Yeah... this really does require some serious thought," Altaïr mused. He did not particularly care about his own reputation or image, but the team's image mattered to him.
The group discussed the matter for quite a while without reaching a conclusion, so they had no choice but to set it aside for the time being. They would wait until someone thought of a name everyone could agree on, then register it with the Guild.
As they talked, the dishes gradually began arriving at the table.
The most eye-catching dish was the giant lobster in the center of the table. Port Tanzia truly lived up to its reputation as the largest seaport city in the south. Nearly a meter long even without its antennae, the lobster was the first of its size Altaïr and the others had ever seen.
The Felyne Chefs had steamed it before grilling it, a method that preserved as much of the lobster's juices as possible while enhancing its texture and aroma through high-heat searing.
Altaïr carefully noted the method. They could not carry a steamer in the wild, but improvising a lid and simmering the food with a little water should produce a similar result.
Aside from the lobster centerpiece, there was an astonishing quantity of grilled fish, shrimp, crabs, shellfish, and even a few Monster-derived ingredients.
Isis ate until she was stuffed, something she had not done in quite a while, while Altaïr added several more recipes worth trying to his notebook.
—--
After the meal, Francesca showed the group around the bustling streets of Port Tanzia. From Furahiya furs to crafts from the Land of Fire and medicinal herbs from the Fonron Region, products from across the Old World and even the New World could be found there.
Morgan also found a shop selling the heat-resistant metal for which Sun Worship Town was famous. Pleasantly surprised, he bought some at a high price. His Cannon: Calamity had not yet been reinforced with heat-resistant metal, and prolonged use of gunpowder charges could damage the barrel. He had planned to visit Sun Worship Town when he had the time, but unexpectedly found what he needed right there.
—--
The next day, Isis and Nymera paired up and continued sightseeing around Port Tanzia.
Morgan politely declined their invitation and chose to go off on his own. He seemed strongly opposed to joining this sort of women-only outing because it would only deepen other people's misconceptions about his gender.
As though people did not already misread his gender...
In any case, Morgan decided to try some more "manly" activities. In the end, on the recommendation of the adorable Guild receptionists in sailor uniforms, he boarded a Dragonship and headed out to sea to hunt a Lagiacrus.
—--
Altaïr, meanwhile, set out separately with Sajji aboard the Airship sent by the Guild.
This Airship differed from the common civilian models. At less than thirty meters long, it fell into the medium-sized category, and its air sac bore the Guild's banner. The interior could not be called luxurious, but its facilities were refined and comprehensive. Altaïr even spotted a Machine Cannon at the stern, covered by a tarp and ready to defend against possible Monster attacks.
It reminded him of the Airship belonging to Her Highness the Princess that he had boarded several years earlier. Unless he was mistaken, this type of Airship was probably intended specifically for transporting important personnel or supplies.
Altaïr sought out the officer in charge of the Airship to ask about the quest.
The officer was a Guild Knight in his early forties. He clearly knew that Altaïr was a High Rank Hunter and treated him with considerable courtesy.
"Mr. Bud, where are we going? Can you tell me the plan?" After exchanging pleasantries and briefly introducing themselves, Altaïr went straight to the question that had been puzzling him.
The Guild Knight named Bud looked somewhat troubled. "I apologize, Mr. Altaïr. If I could, I would tell you the complete plan, but to be honest, I'm not entirely clear on it myself.
The orders I received were to rendezvous with you first, then head to Mezeporta to pick up the people we're protecting and guard them while they complete a ritual."
"An escort quest? Them? A ritual?" Altaïr stared at him, thoroughly confused.
He did not mind temporarily serving as a bodyguard for certain important people, but if the objective was protection, why had the Professor chosen him?
Wouldn't Isis, with her heavy armor and defensive fighting style, be better suited?
According to Mr. Bud, the people under protection were two women. Isis could guard them at close quarters around the clock. Wouldn't that be safer?
The Professor had said earlier that he had recommended Altaïr for the quest because of his sound "judgment."
Since when did escort work require sound judgment?
"I don't know the specifics either," the middle-aged Guild Knight said with a wry smile. "All I know is that the people we're protecting are the Divas."
"..."
Altaïr raised an eyebrow in surprise.
There were many singers in the world, but only two people bore the title "Diva."
They were said to possess special abilities beyond those of ordinary singers.
One of them usually resided in Dundorma. Her age was unknown, but as far as Altaïr knew, she had been famous across the continent for at least fifty years and had left behind many beloved songs that were still widely sung.
Her songs included "Song of Beginnings," "Song of the Spirits," "Moonquake," and, among her recent hits, "Song of Guidance"
and "Song of Weaving."
Isis was a devoted fan, with numerous handwritten copies of the lyrics and posters she had drawn herself decorating her bedroom.
The other Diva was a rising star who had become famous in recent years. Altaïr did not know much about her; the little he knew had come from Isis, and the young singer seemed to be active around Mezeporta.
"So we're going to Mezeporta now. Does that mean we're picking up the Diva based there?"
"Not only her." Mr. Bud shook his head. "As I said earlier, it's 'them.' We're escorting both Divas.
Both of them together."