My Last Hunt

Class Test 3

The native hunter guided Qiao toward several streets in the town. There was small cottage at the far end particularly picturing not part of the town. "The master work in this cottage if necessary else he lives in the most expensive house of this town. People say that he earned much from his profession." The native hunter gestured toward the cottage. 

The hunter brought Qiao here because according to the rumor if anyone wanted to meet the master around this time of the day then they could stand in front of the cottage and ask permission for visit. The master recently returned leaving the tamed beast at the near hill and went inside the cottage silently. 

No one noticed that the master was limping unable to walk properly. The attendant got worried to see but did not ask anything. "I am not seeing any visitor. Make them return and visit tomorrow." Only the attendant was aware that famous weapon maker was huntress. After retirement she took the profession of diggers. 

Aino entered the cottage and locked the door. The stone attacks slashed her left arm and leg creating injury and it was soaking her fleece in blood. She was in hurry to heal. Tossing the randomly placed equipment and shuffling through the broken parts of the weapons she was unable to find her pouch that has the healing stone. 

Annealing weapon was tough and it was normal to get injured during the process so the weapon makers keep healing stones under their hands. Here it was different, the weapon maker was not organized and so do her belongings in the cottage. Aino was about to call the attendant and ask where was the stone when she heard familiar voice. 

She dragged herself toward the shut off window sneaking from the corner. In her attempt Aino fell and finally the pouch came in her sight. She hurriedly picked and started healing. Aino did not forget to keep her ears at the talk outside. 

"I wanted to meet the weapon maker. Is he present?" Qiao asked looking at the somewhat grim face of the person standing at the door of the cottage. "You can come tomorrow. Master is not seeing any visitor today." The attendant followed the orders of the master. Qiao heard but he was not going to wait for the next day. 

He was under the days of the Class Test. Fifteen days were assigned to him for this Class Test everyday meant a new adventure and he would not able to waste in waiting for the weapon maker's mood. "I will wait here then." Qiao waved his hand and sat on the bench near the cottage. 

He thought to wait and see why the master was in seclusion. Aino was worried why this hunter came looking for her then she held her wild imaginations aside and thought rationally. "He might be here for some weapon? But I cannot design it until healed. Why he is waiting outside the cottage? What if I want to go back my abode?" Aino was talking to herself. 

She was looking terrible in present clothing and wanted to change anew. Aino opened the back door thinking that she could silently leave. Qiao was not just sitting outside of the cottage. His senses were all alert. As soon as the back door opened, he stood up and walked toward the back cottage. A human covered in all maroon clothing was walking like robber. 

Qiao contracted his brows. He disliked the way this master was sneaking out instead of letting the visitor ask for the concern. "Are you the weapon maker master?" He sounded plain. Aino left her one feet in the air and the next on ground. She gritted her teeth at the sharp senses of this hunter. "Er…" Aino barely pinched her tongue to not speak. 

In her head she was scolding her attendant to be so ignorant. "This clothing is familiar." Qiao observed the hesitation of the master and then scrutinized from head to toe. This stature was much familiar. "You are not the master, right?" he finally found who was behind the covered clothing. 

"What are you saying to the master? You should fear offending stronger master." The attendant came and interrupted. He was loyal attendant of the weapon maker, the master never directly talked to the visitors or the town's people since the time master returned from the Hightown after retirement. 

"Are you sure the hunter hiding face behind the clothing is your master? Qiao asked to confirm. He was confident in his observation and it was clear that this clothing and the person was the same. "Then you both are scammers?" he harshly uttered questioning. 

Aino gritted her teeth and turned her face showing who she was, "I am the retired Weapon Maker and not scammer." The Weapon Makers were free to decide whether they wanted to stop the professional work for the Hightown. They could return to their hometowns or reside somewhere in new place. They were free to choice some new journey or profession. There was no restriction by the Hightown. 

Since Weapon Making took lot of toil Aino got retired very early because she was tempted by the Digger's profession. Now was she was secretly Digger. Sometimes she could find time in designing her dream weapon. 

This was also the reason that she was tempted for the digger profession. Her plans were to collect some stronger stones and then design her dream weapon. Though she tamed the Olpen beast race but never defeated any Hunter King. 

Now her attention was fixed to get this position. For this she was trying to creating weapon of its kind. She was among those few who take the number of stones as burden and wanted weapon of the same level. Qiao side smiled, his observation proved accurate. 

This snatcher huntress was also Weapon Maker, he never imagined in his wildest dreams. She noticed his smile and came to know that she should not have acted this way. "I am here for the Weapon Maker Master with some urgent bid." Qiao spoke out reason why he was here.