Hard As A Rock

We should lend that long-horned Hunter a paw with the Rathalos!

Purr-haps you might want to rethink that, Smithy! This locale and the New World we were headed to are two completely diffurent places.

The villagers here don't go into the forest to hunt, or craft weapons and armor with meownster materials...

There's so meowch stuff in this village I've never seen befur, and I have no clue where they came from or how they work.

Though based on what Yato said, some of them seem to be observing the endemic life here, like the members of the Elder Dragon Observation Team or the Ecological Research Center...

But it's still so diffurent in so meowny aspects!

Diffurent?

Pawsitively! We must figure out a way back as soon as pawssible; I still have a chance to be the purr-ime Ecological Researcher of the New World!

Isn't this a New World too...?

Smithy! Are you saying... this is simply yet another undiscovered New World? More impurr-tantly, one that no other Commission has been to befur?

No Hunters or Researchers! None of those Elder Dragon Observation Team louts! A totally diffurent, brand new world that only we know of!

If I can make ampaw recordings of our observations and findings here... I'll be basking in the limelight as a star scholar when we get back!

Those Wyverians buried in their books will be so stunned by my newfound gnawledge—I'm purr-ty clever if I do say so myself!

Mrow?

No, that's not it... I have to think this over carefully.

We're not the sort to just follow the Hunters all day, and we've already helped them deal with the Rathalos once!

Rathalos! Bang bang!

I won't prevent mew from going if you really want to, Smithy. I'm just going to wait here and see...

Whoa! Look, guys! Are they Felines?

How could they be Felines when they're this tiny? And so fluffy too... how cute!

Hey! What are mew doing!

Whoa, it can speak too! That's so adorable!

Can you play with us, little Feline?

We can carry you and give you pretty clothes to wear.

Or throw you in the air! And catch you! Just like that!

Prepawsterous... you sharp-eared cravens, I hail from the Royal Pawleontology Scriveners and am not your plaything!

Let's try giving it some headpats.

No, I can't!

Smithy...come back...wait fur me!

I've decided, yes!

Since they've made such a sincere request to use my purrfound expurrtise to deal with the Rathalos...

As a former Royal Pawleontology Scrivener, my purrfessionalism would never allow me to refuse to lend a paw!

Let us be off, posthaste!

Oh, so you're saying... you came upon a monster the size of a house in the forest near our village? And that it can fly and breathe fire in all directions, and even has venomous claws...

Haha, the forest is truly a wonder.

I understand that you may find that hard to believe, but we saw it with our own eyes. We even fought it.

While I can't confirm that this will escalate into some new kind of crisis, I suggest we immediately notify all the villagers and start evacuating as per standard Catastrophe measures.

How unfortunate for you to come all this way, only to run into such a troubling matter.

I am called Ataru Takii, the headman of this little Roka village. The peace we enjoy here stems not from me alone, but is thanks to all of our efforts.

Please, have a taste of this tea.

It's a local specialty of ours, and not only is it refreshing, it can also help speed up recovery.

Don't mind if I do.

Takii, we don't have the luxury of time here.

...I'll take a sip later.

Did you not understand what I said? Only by swiftly evacuating the villagers can we ensure their safety and handle the crisis without any worries.

Ah, youth are always in such a rush, but that's not a bad thing. As the saying goes, the early fowlbeast gets the worm.

Please have a seat, you two. We still have time to discuss this in more detail.

Yato, why not hear him out first?

I hope you will carefully consider our proposal and, if conditions permit, fortify the village defenses to ensure everyone is safe during the evacuation.

You mentioned this before, but from where did you come from again? Rho-something...

Rhodes Island.

Ah, yes. Rhodes Island.

You must be Operators Yato and Noir Corne, yes? If memory serves me right.

Let me try to recall why I contacted you people back then... Oh yes, you claim to be able to treat Oripathy?

Recently, several families in Roka seem to have gotten infected.

The Shimanaga, Watazawa, Senno, and Ishidori households... the last one in particular has an especially young child who's contracted Oripathy, and it is heartbreaking to see.

We are well versed in handling everything related to Oripathy, so you can leave that matter to us.

Of course, and thank you very much for coming, but there remains another small issue nagging at me.

What are you talking about?

I just can't wrap my head around it, why are you so concerned with the monsters in the forest?

Are you not a pharmaceutical company?

......

Let me explain. Regional outbreaks of Oripathy often have an underlying cause, and the best way to effectively deal with it is to eliminate the source of Originium dust.

To be honest, we investigated the mountains earlier and found some clues linking the outbreak to that creature.

Although we can't conclusively prove it yet, prevention is always better than cure.

I see, I see. How meticulous; I'd expect no less of Rhodes Island. I do hope the village youths can learn a thing or two from you.

I must still insist that you heed our advice to ensure the safety of everyone in the village.

Ah, yes. I still have one more question for the both of you though.

Please, go ahead.

...How did you find the tea?

Please don't try to change the subject—

It's pretty good, tasty and invigorating. Way better than the mass-produced bottled stuff you find in bars.

Oh yes, those Mitsumoto bigshots also like it very much.

So you do business with the Mitsumotos...

We use a very expensive herb called Suzuka to make this blend of tea. It grows near the Soubo mountain range and nowhere else.

All the Suzuka tea produced in all of Higashi comes from this tiny region you find yourselves in.

Besides that, we also specialize in handcrafted ironwork and ornamental woodcrafts, thanks to the high quality ores and variety of trees we have around here.

What are you getting at?

To put it bluntly, only a few years back we were but a tiny hunting village, and our livelihood depended on how well the hunt went.

We would sing and dance around the campfire when the woods were bountiful, but there were also times when we could count the days our rations would last on one hand, not to mention the ever-present worry of being attacked by beasts at night.

But these last few years, we've been able to replace our thatched rooves with wood, light up our streets at night, and our children are able to enjoy hot baths every day.

Now, nobody has to go hunting in the mountains, nor worry about tomorrow.

So to leave our homes over some vague hunch you have... the villagers won't readily accept it.

I have no intention of making this permanent. Once the situation has been taken care of, you should be able to return.

And how many days would that take? One? Two? Maybe a month? A year? Can you ensure the village stays intact? That we will be able to return to the lives we have now?

Can Rhodes Island guarantee that?

As of right now... I'm afraid not. We can't predict the exact scale of the situation, but—

Of course you can't, which is why we won't leave.

How is the villagers' safety not your top priority?! I can guarantee you that this thing exists, so how can we simply ignore the threat of such a large and dangerous creature?

Are you absolutely sure?

Of what?

We have a saying here: when you see butterflies fluttering in fall, in truth they are but falling leaves.

We are all too familiar with this forest, Ms. Yato, so perhaps what you think you saw was simply that.

What are you—

Alright!

Corne...

We'll go do checkups on the village's Infected, and then arrange a treatment plan based on our findings.

Thank you both, really. But now that you bring up treatment plans... I do have one more small favor to ask of you.

We're listening.

Could you possibly provide us with some Oripathy-suppressing drugs right now?

What for...?

This situation really worries me to no end, even with the two of you here. So just in case a similar outbreak occurs again in the future, I would like us to at least have some medication ready.

Please rest assured, I intend to pay in full for everything.

There's no need for that, we'll just handle the source of the—

Yato.

Will it be a bother?

No... there's no problem, we can give you some right away.

Oh yeah, Headman Takii. I still have a question... You said the village used to make a living through hunting, so are there any hunters still around?

With no need to hunt, naturally we have no hunters.

'Cause I met someone earlier, when we just got here, who looked an awful lot like a hunter. I think he said his name was Kashiwau, do you know who that is?

A hunter? Ha, in truth even I could call myself a hunter.

He's pretty old, so he tends to run his mouth. He likes to go to the mountains and swing sticks at trees.

But... his eccentric personality might cause you some trouble in future, so I think it would be best to stay away from him.

He doesn't seem to have any family around either, did he get into some kinda trouble?

You ask interesting questions. He's just the reclusive sort. Every village has one or two of them, it's nothing unusual.

It's getting late, so why not call it a day here? I wish you both a pleasant stay in our humble abode.

Sorry to bother you.

Ah...right. Just a piece of friendly advice.

Seasoned hunters all know this: the more curious the forest beast, the more easily it falls into a trap.

Do keep that in mind.

I can only blame myself for underestimating the village's reluctance to evacuate.

It was unwise to try to get them to leave with only the suspicion of danger and no hard evidence.

I think... even if we brought evidence, he still wouldn't believe us that easily.

He's been refusing to hear us out, and even wants us to stay away from the Rathalos.

Did you stop me earlier because of the way he was acting?

Well, his reason for wanting the drugs was sort of unusual and more than a little fishy, so I figured it'd be faster to just agree and then see what he does.

As for his parting words... It's hard to see them as anything but a warning.

I don’t care.

Regardless of the attitude of the people here, we have only one duty: to protect them from any threat.

Needless to say, I will find a solution.

Hm...

As for you, you care too much.

I just... I just thought Kashiwau was acting a bit too oddly.

I understand your concern, but it has nothing to do with our mission.

Don't waste your energy on irrelevant things.

Kill them!

Aaaagh—

Kusso... Just a dream.

I saw you again in it...

Mr. Kashiwau, are you there?

Come in...

I brought some onigiri and boiled bamboo shoots, I'll just leave them on the table, okay?

I also got some bento boxes from the city, so you can just warm them up and—oh, are you heading out?

Yes, I'm going up the mountain.

Are, are you going to deal with that... oversized flying monster those two operators were talking about?

I'm just going on a regular hunt.

Then... can I just say... I've been preparing for this day, and now that a super powerful monster has appeared, it's time I finally became a proper hunter.

Look, I have a bow, leather hiking boots, and a knife. I'm healthy and pretty strong.

So... can I come hunting with you?

No.

What... can't you at least think it over?

I can help you with a lot of things, like carrying your hunting spear, setting up traps, carrying pelts down the mountain...

You're too young for that, kid. With no experience, you'll only slow me down.

I'm not a kid anymore! Back in the day, children my age would already be out hunting, there's no way you don't know that.

I'll be good and stay out of trouble!

That's enough from you.

Everyone says... there are no more hunters in the village....*sob*

Hunters defeat the beasts in the forest, and are the strongest heroes of the village, like you.

It's obvious that you've been protecting everyone the whole time, so why do they talk about you like that?

They even say you're not a real hunter, just a doddering old man who goes up the mountain to get his bones chewed on by beasts...

They said...*sigh*

The forest... becomes more dangerous by the day.

It's no longer safe for anyone to set foot in.

They... They were lying, right Mr. Kashiwau? You're a real hunter, right?

I...

I'll take care of that monster and return. Believe me.

Alright, enough crying.

Though it may be too early for you now, I still believe that one day you'll be a real hunter.

This is a promise between the two of us, alright?

Yeah... promise.

Huh? Why are all the villagers coming out?

Raise your hands, yes, like that.

Don't be afraid, I'm just taking a quick look.

Alright, good girl.

Next please.

Hmph...

Can I ask... how's my health? I've been getting a lot of headaches lately.

Don't worry, it's nothing serious.

Here are some painkillers. No need to take one daily, just whenever you feel severe pain.

Thank you.

Yato, you should come check out the angiography results.

Alright... please wait a moment, I'll be back right away for the rest of the consultation.

Do you see this?

How could this be...?

...Alright.

Sorry to have kept you waiting, but I have a question to ask.

Actually, there have been some slight changes detected in your condition. Have you encountered anything unusual lately? Or visited any places you don't normally go?

Ah! Is... Is it serious?

Not for now, but if you continue to be exposed to active Originium and develop Oripathy, dealing with the consequences won't be easy.

It doesn't even have to be recently, but please try and recall if you've had any unusual encounters, especially with Originium.

Active Originium...? But how? They said I was properly protected when I went in.

Went in? Where?

Narumatsu! Don't say things that will make the doctor misunderstand.

—!

I, I'm just a blacksmith... how could I possibly have been exposed to Originium, there must be some sort of mistake.

Indeed, our village is fairly disciplined, so there shouldn't be any cause for concern here, Doctor.

...I understand. Please be careful to stay away from areas that might be contaminated with active Originium, and not to touch any suspicious objects in the future.

That was the last one.

Find out anything new?

They've all been saying the same things, either that they never leave the village or nothing at all.

Using the possibility of contracting Oripathy as a scare tactic hasn't been effective. The moment you ask about anything other than their condition, or ask where they've been, they immediately put up their guard.

Although only a few individuals were diagnosed with acute Oripathy and were instructed on how to properly deal with it, we cannot underestimate the extent to which Oripathy has affected the village as a whole.

The results you showed me earlier... Were the rest of them similar?

Yep.

......

If they haven't been in contact with Originium recently, then where did the outbreak come from?

According to the angiogram results, the villagers have been exposed to active Originium for at least a few years.

Only in trace amounts, though, resulting in vague symptoms and only a few that have actually contracted Oripathy.

It's due to limited exposure to an extremely low concentration of Originium particles, I think.

Was it at the same level we detected in the Rathalos's scratch marks?

No... that was high enough to induce Oripathy outright and is probably related to the few villagers who did contract the disease. They also mentioned they went into the forest.

(Breathes deeply)

Let's see. If this area has been under continuous exposure to Originium, and then one day it suddenly spiked, could it be that...

Both sources of Originium... come from the same place?

Very likely.

Hello there.

You're from earlier.

Excuse me, I should have introduced myself. I am called Hiroshi Ritou, and my family has lived here for many generations.

Hello. Do you need something from us?

I hope the two of you can forgive me for interrupting your inquiry earlier, I was simply worried that he had misspoken in public, which could have consequences.

Consequences? What do you mean?

Ah, because of a certain matter in this village... many people have dirty laundry they'd rather not air.

Y-You two! Are you the visiting doctors?

Um... we can only examine for Oripathy.

What's got you in such a hurry?

Ah, could it be...?

Please! You have to save the Ishidoris' boy!

I'm his neighbor, and he's really sick... He keeps on vomiting blood.

Vomiting blood?

That sounds serious, we'd better get going.

I'll come with you.

Pass the drainage tube.

Pliers! Quickly!

Gauze!

*cough*... *cough* *cough*—

Phew—we succeeded. Luckily, we've dealt with a similar situation before.

Yeah, I remember that. Back then, you were doing it to yourself...

I take it your idle chatter means you need more to do? Go give him a suppressant shot.

Doctor... will he be okay?

He's out of danger.

There was bleeding in his lungs, and being in the wrong posture caused a blood clot to clog up his airways... Make sure he sits up properly and gets ample rest.

Thank goodness.

It's too early to breathe easy, things aren't looking very well for him.

His infection has been the most severe we've seen so far here, though fortunately he got a suppressant shot just in time.

But that will only slow the symptoms, and will have to be followed up with more shots. He might even need to be brought back to Rhodes Island.

But to be in this condition... what exactly did he come into contact with?

I don't know, there shouldn't have been anything...

That doesn't make sense. What about his family?

I don't know either...

What exactly are you all hiding?

*sleep talking* Papa...

*sleep talking* Papa, would... never lie...

*sleep talking* Monster... Giant monster...

—!

A monster?

You can't say that!

Ahhh! Miss, please don't get any closer!

Corne, keep her in check.

My throat... water...

Here you go—careful, drink it slowly.

*gulping*

I'm here to help, so don't be afraid.

Where's your family?

Papa, he... got taken away by the village headman soon after he came back from the cave.

What cave?

Child! You mustn't speak of that to outsiders! This only concerns—

Shut up! Can it be any more important than a child's life?

*cough*...

Papa... He would go into the cave every morning, and come back late at night.

But yesterday... *cough*... there was a loud noise from the cave.

The village headman said... he needed people to take a look... So Papa went in, and got a fever when he came back... and had rocks growing on him.

Oripathy worsens rapidly.

Sounds like he might have come into direct contact with active Originium and gotten some of it on his body, causing the boy's condition to deteriorate too.

Papa said, there are big monsters in the cave and it's not safe... but the village headman said he was lying, so nobody believed him... and then he got taken away.

He would never lie... never...

There, there. He wasn't lying. We... saw a monster with our own eyes.

Really...?

Yes, but don't worry. We're very strong, and won't let the monster harm the village.

Can you defeat it, lady...? And protect the village... Papa didn't lie...

Mm... I give you my word. As captain of Rhodes Island Op Team A4, I, Operator Yato, accept your commission.

And I never break my promises.

Thank you.

Now that's enough talking, you need to get some more rest, okay?

Step aside, Corne.

—!

You... You should have seen that kid's condition earlier, right?

Many of the villagers have been infected, and if the source of the Originium dust isn't taken care of, you will all contract Oripathy, and things will only get worse from there.

The next person to end up like this will be you! Am I clear?

So tell me what exactly it is you're all hiding!

Sorry, I can't...

......

Let her go, she had no choice. Perhaps it's better that I explain.

Please leave, I'll talk to them.

Thank you.

Finally talking?

The cave the boy mentioned... It's in the mountain behind the village. Many villagers work down there under the village headman.

What's inside?

I don't work there, so I don't know. And even if I did know, I wouldn't be able to talk about it, just like she couldn't.

So the village headman is the one making sure everyone keeps their mouths shut?

Well, I didn't say that.

...Please take care of the child. In the meantime, I'll go clarify matters with the headman.

Wait, are you sure about that?

If the situation isn't resolved, the village will only be in more danger!

And do you really think he'll tell you the truth? You'll only get ambiguous answers and end up even further from a solution.

He's right, Yato.

I...

I know where it is.

This is the place he mentioned, and I already scouted out the area. There aren't many houses on this side of the village, and the terrain is pretty wack, so that doesn't seem suspicious at first glance.

Over there, there are two villagers chatting like they're just taking a break out behind the mountain.

But it's obvious that they keep glancing at that one house over there.

I'll take them down, and you go take a look inside.

Wait, what if we mess this up?

Knock out two innocent villagers and they'll definitely kick us out of the village.

Smithy here has an idea fur mew!

—!

Whoa, where did you guys come from?

We've decided to come help mew two with the Rathalos, so you should be on your hindpaws thanking us fur the assistance!

So you think you can lure them away?

I don't think anything, Smithy's the one with the idea.

Yato, let's leave it to them, and the both of us can sneak in from the back.

Smithy... Is this idea of yours really going to work?

And where did all these ingredients come from?

Chop! Stir! No stopping meow!

Ahhh, how appawlling!

I, a furmer Royal Pawleontology Scrivener, destined to be the most amazing researcher of the New World...

Am not some ordinary canteen chef!

Turn it over! It's done! Well done!

Is it time for dinner yet?

What are you talking about? The sun hasn't even set yet.

I didn't have breakfast or lunch today, not even a snack...

Ever since those two outsiders arrived, the headman stationed me here to keep an eye out, so I haven't had the chance to get a bite.

I'm so hungry...

Can you keep a lid on it? You're not the only one who's hungry here.

Hey, do you think those two will really come looking? Haven't they been busy treating the villagers?

Just follow the headman's orders and stay put.

Do you want what happened with that girl to happen again? She turned the village upside down back then.

Fine, fine, I'll hold it in.

Wait, what's that smell?

Smell? What smell—Ah!

Perfectly roasted meat, melted grease bubbling over the vegetables, and the sweet scent of roasted fruit... I've never smelled anything like it before!

(*salivating*)

Just stop talking, I can smell it too, you know...

C'mon, let's take a look, maybe someone's brought us food.

You go. I'll wait here.

Are you sure? Didn't you say you were hungry too?

...Just a quick look.

Mrrow! A nutritious and energizing meal pawmade by Felynes, purrfect fur dinner!

A table fur two, purrhaps?

You're...

Ah, they're—

Smithy! We have customeows!

Okay! I'm... I'm standing still, right here.

Be gentler when you step on m—ouch!

Is this the cave the kid was talking about?

It doesn't seem natural. There are signs of excavation work all along the walls.

They even laid tracks on the ground... These prints look pretty fresh too, so they must have used it recently.

The entrance to the cave was sealed when we came in, and it didn't look like they closed it for us... but to keep something in.

Given what the Ishidori kid said, there was probably an accident here recently... Do you think the tracks might lead us closer to the Rathalos?

We'll know once we go deeper in.

What's that up ahead?

Wait, don't move!

I'll go take a looksee.

Slow down, you... Be careful.

No problemo, it doesn't seem to be alive.

Burnt clothing... Looks like it was taken off before it caught fire.

There's more over there.

A helmet and portable flashlight... Maybe that kid's dad left it here.

There's a ventilation shaft just up ahead. He probably left his things here and tried to escape through the shaft but failed.

So he was running away, and probably really nervous.

This hole is big enough to house a Rathalos, so most likely...

Corne, go test the burnt clothes.

I've got the results. There's traces of active Originium, in a similar concentration to the sample we got from the scratch marks in the forest, but slightly higher.

...Do you smell anything strange, Yato?

Blood, from up ahead.

I'll go take a looksee.

This is... a piece of meat?

Huge chunks of meatbeast, and fresh too. Probably left here shortly before we came in.

Seems like they dragged it down here, but why?

Maybe to attract some kind of carnivore? Ah...

Attract... the Rathalos!

Mraaa!

Mwaagh!

Mraaaahh!

Stupid long-horned Hunter! What are mew shouting for!

Because you guys just jumped out without any warning!

Ah... that particular smell again...

We purrfectly distracted those guards and there was so meowch left over!

We knocked them out cold!

So it ended up like the original plan anyway... Wait, leftover what?

Don't mew mind it... just keep going!

We'll be here for a bit, there's a lot of investigating to do.

They're going to catch up with mew.

Huh... what's going to catch up?

People.

Why would there be people down here?

Is it not purrfectly normal for people to try and catch mew if you sneak into their place?!

Even if Smithy didn't pilfur their kitchens, mew would have been discovered eventually.

What on Terra is going on here?

Everyone, shut up.

Listen.

The sound is apurr-oaching!

They're going to catch up with us!

No... that sound is...

Coming from within the cave.

Infected creatures!