Daybreak

What? The hunter doesn't beat the monster? Lame!

Yeah, he's the greatest hunter in the village! Why couldn't he beat the monster?

That's just how the story goes.

But the Rathalos that attacked the village got away.

It's 'cause they were all too weak. When I become a hunter, I'll chase that Rathalos away in the blink of an eye!

Cut it out! I saw it with my own eyes. You're no match for it!

Look! What do you think this is?

The spear used to hunt the Rathalos!

Yato told me to take care of it for now, which means I'm worthy of carrying it. I'm the one who's gonna be the greatest hunter in the whole village. You just go home and sleep!

I dare you to say that again! Spirit Helm Breaker! Take that!

Alright, kids, that's enough.

What did the hunter say in the end?

Well...

It's time for lunch. Go eat, and I'll continue the hunter's story afterwards.

Go on now.

Mirai... it's already been half a month, but sometimes it feels like it was yesterday.

Your memory is improving.

I've never forgotten about Akira... Is old Kashiwau awake?

Still in a coma, but the doctor says he's gotten a lot better. He has a lot of life in him yet.

Things have been so busy lately, new streets and new houses...

Good thing we'd saved up some money from the Originium mining, and made Hiroshi Ritou cough up the money he embezzled.

The beginning is the easy part though. The question is what kind of industry should the village pursue...

Mirai, can't we try the Suzuka cultivation method you mentioned, once things have settled down?

Oh, I was lying about that.

L-Lying?

You know how sensitive Suzuka herbs are. It's not really feasible to cultivate them outside their native habitat with current technology.

But you said—

You guys would never have been willing to move if I didn't. You lost your wits in the face of danger and Ritou played you like a fiddle. I had to find a way to get people to leave.

The future... Just thinking about the livelihood of the village is making my head hurt.

Actually, I do have an idea.

Really?

Really.

Go ahead then, I'm listening.

We can make use of our experience working in the mines.

We can have our people go out to work in mature Originium projects and bring back safe, established technologies relying on existing supply chains.

Do you realize what you're saying? We finally managed to escape that Originium mine, and now you're trying to send us back in?

Weren't you one who wanted to blow it up?

It wasn't about the mine itself, but the fact that you were digging up more than you could manage, and none of you would listen to reason.

We've been working directly with Originium ore for so long and gained so much experience. That can only come in handy.

Originium is too dangerous. Catastrophe, Oripathy... are we really going to go back to living in fear?

Even so, Uncle, there's nowhere in Terra we can avoid living alongside Originium.

The bright lights of the great cities are fueled by the Originium industry, after all.

It's too late to turn our backs on it and go back to the old ways.

But... how can we...?

Starting over doesn't mean abandoning everything we once had.

What we know about the Originium industry is just the tip of the iceberg. We need to move forward, learn from mature industrial systems, and gain more experience.

We'll learn to benefit from Originium in a safe, controlled manner.

We brought this disaster on ourselves because of our short-sightedness, but that doesn't mean we have to abandon the idea entirely.

On the contrary, we must learn to respect Originium and respect the destruction it can cause, in order to fully enjoy the opportunities that it brings.

We shouldn't let the sacrifices of the past go to waste. Besides, we have our friends from Rhodes Island helping us now.

Yes...

You're right. I should think about the village's future in more practical terms.

Originium industry... I don't know how much of our existing experience will apply, but like you said, it's worth a try.

And when the situation in the village improves, can you build me a beautiful lab with the latest technologies?

What? What are you planning?

To cultivate Suzuka outside its native habitat, of course. Along with other research, with the aim of breaking free from a reliance on Originium.

To bring us closer to a day when we won't have to cower in the shadow of disaster, when we can stand tall and look towards the light...

Towards tomorrow.

I-I'm still worried, Yato. What if the Doctor finds out that we took a detour here on our way back from the mission?

Are you going to tell them?

Of course not!

Here we are.

Wow... Everything really was destroyed by the Catastrophe.

The whole hill was reduced to ashes. And those ashes rose into the clouds and continue to fall even now...

How long has it been, Corne?

Half a month.

Already? Feels like it happened yesterday.

I heard the Felynes have been integrated into Rhodes Island?

Yes. The official name is the Felyne Task Force, led by the Palico, but the Scholar insists on calling it the Terra Research Commission and claims to be the leader.

They deal with unusual lifeforms, record the flora and fauna of Terra... and look for a way home.

The Palico added that last bit, because apparently Arty and Scholar have completely forgotten about it.

...Yeah, I can imagine the Scholar's excitement.

The rebuilding of Roka is underway too. Everything's getting better, don't worry.

Mm... do you know why I came here?

Not to reminisce about the past, that's for sure.

You know me so well.

Do you remember the Rathalos?

Ah... the monitoring report says it hasn't left the Soubo Mountains. It can be seen circling them amidst the cloud of ashes from time to time.

It won't be easy to spot it from a place like this. Lemme take a look...

It's right there, up in the sky.

Where? Oh, I see it now.

I came to...

(Catches a piece of ash)

Witness its fall.

......

(Reaches out)

Hm?

Oh, er... You got some ash on your shoulder.

Mm.

Are you... smiling?

It's nothing. Let's go.