Monster Hunter: I can hear the monsters' thoughts

Chapter 51 Acorn Cat Armor
"Master Lin Lin, my name is Coconut Date. I've heard your deeds from my father and admire you greatly. Please allow me to follow you!"

Huh? Dates? Aren't those the children of sea buckthorn?
Lin Lin looked at the cute cat in front of him with shiny fur that looked like it would be nice to pet, and for a moment his heart was moved.

However, he still had some sense and did not agree immediately. Instead, he asked Jujube to come into the house to talk.

Coconut Tree sat very uncomfortably on the sofa made of monster leather, watching Lin Lin pour a glass of juice and hand it to him at the table.

"Drink some water first, don't be nervous, and speak slowly."

"Thank you, thank you, meow..."

Lin Lin washed another plate of local dates, picked up one and put it in his mouth, then pushed the rest of the plate towards Xiao Ailu. "Why do you want to become a hunting cat? It's okay, there's no need to rush to answer. Just tell me what you really think."

Jujube first drank some juice, then ate a date, and felt his nervousness calm down a little. When he heard Lin Lin's question, he thought carefully for a long time and replied:
"Actually, at first, I just wanted to go visit Jieyun because I heard that my father was in trouble."

"But we don't have the money for an airship, nyan, and crossing the sand plains to reach Yukumo is too dangerous, nyan. So I thought, if I become a hunter, nyan, I'll definitely be able to get there, nyan!"

Lin Lin raised his eyebrows in surprise. It was a really honest answer. If it were in the world before he traveled through time, the answer he would get would most likely be a bunch of clichés based on values.

However, the date's answer was clearly not over yet. It paused and continued:

"But my father came back today, meow. He told me about your deeds in detail, meow. This made me admire you very much, meow!"

"I also want to be like Master Lin Lin and have the power to protect others, meow. That way, when someone needs me, I won't have to wait helplessly like I do now, meow!"

Lin Lin stared at the date palm seriously for a while. Although it seemed very nervous, it obviously had no intention of changing its tone.

Well, I'm quite determined to become a hunting cat...

"So, do you think you're ready? Hunting is extremely dangerous. You often have to face giant monsters tens or hundreds of times your size. The slightest mistake could cost you your life."

The date palm lowered its head, and judging from its slightly trembling body, it was probably in a very uneasy mood.

After a long time, Date spoke in a trembling voice.

"I...I will try my best not to hold Master Lin Lin back, meow..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Yezao felt it was over. Didn't it seem like it had no confidence by saying that? How could Lord Lin Lin believe that it could become a qualified hunting cat?

Even though I told it that it could lose its life at any moment, it was clearly terrified, yet it still refused to give up...

Lin Lin nodded, "Okay, I recognize your determination."

Meow? !

Yezao's sky-blue cat eyes widened instantly, and his two pointed ears, which had been limp on his head, stood up immediately. He excitedly jumped up from the sofa, "Master Lin Lin, really?! You really recognize me, meow!"

Lin Lin smiled slightly, "I just acknowledge your determination, don't be too happy too soon."

Date quickly sat down again, but its long tail was still swinging restlessly behind it.

"First, to become a hunting cat, you have to get your parents' permission."

Joey had clearly said he would visit during the day, but the little guy had come here in the middle of the night, clearly on his own, without his parents' approval. Then Lin Lin noticed that after he said this, Coconut's mood hadn't fluctuated at all, and he didn't show the nervous look he had just shown in front of him. He was afraid that he had already figured out how to convince them.

"Secondly, it's unknown how much of my current resolve will remain once I actually get to the hunting grounds, so I need to conduct an investigation."

"Tomorrow I will go to the gathering place to accept a commission. You will follow me and I will observe your performance. If you can still maintain your current determination, then you are welcome to become my partner."

"But, but, I don't know how to fight yet, meow..."

"You don't need to participate in the battle, you just need to protect yourself. I heard that Felynx are good at digging and burrowing. If there is any danger approaching, just hide. Is that okay?"

"Of course not, meow!"

……

The next day.

Lin Lin got up early, did some simple exercises in the palace-like room, and then enjoyed a huge breakfast delivered to his door.

I have to say that the service in this top-end cabin is truly luxurious, so luxurious that even Lin Lin, who didn't spend a penny, felt a little embarrassed.

After dinner, he rested briefly before going for a jog. The sun had just risen in the sky, and the quiet city gradually became noisy. His hunter life had made his body clock incredibly healthy. Thinking back on it, the days of staying up late playing games and being unable to get up at 8 am seemed like a distant thing from a previous life.

When Lin Lin finished running, he picked up the shield and axe and practiced gymnastics several times. It was not until he began routine maintenance of the bone armor that his door was knocked again.

The one who came to visit was naturally Elu Cat, and the whole family of Seabuckthorn, Joey and Date were present.

Lin Lin originally thought that this lineup was because Coconut Date failed to convince his parents and was forced to come and apologize, but he didn't expect that the other party would say "I entrust this child to you, meow".

Lin Lin couldn't help but asked, "Aren't you worried?"

But the answer he got was "Master Lin Lin is a very reliable hunter, meow!"

Well, they really trust me, what else can I do? I can only try my best to live up to their trust!

So Lin Lin took Seabuckthorn to Locklark's processing shop, found the follower weapon processor who specialized in making equipment for Felynx, and bought a set of acorn cat armor and a bone cat pickaxe.

Since cats rarely differ in size, this kind of set prepared for novice hunting cats is basically ready-made and does not require much effort to make.

Due to the small size of cats, their equipment is much simpler than that of hunters. For example, this set of Acorn Cat Armor is made of leather and hard acorns as the main materials, and consists of only two parts: a helmet and armor.

As for the bone cat pick, it was even more crude. It was just a sharpened bone fixed on the tip of a sturdy wooden stick. Just looking at the pick head of the cat pick, it was almost a replica of the bone knife that Lin Lin used when he first arrived in the stream area.

Lin Lin looked up and down at the neatly dressed Date. It turned out that he really looked like the real deal, except that he looked a little timid and embarrassed when being stared at... Well, that was quite interesting.

"Use this set of equipment for practice. If we can hunt together in the future, I'll find a way to get you a better set."

"Now everything is ready, let's go and take the mission!"

　Hunter cats and follower cats are actually two different concepts, but I don’t think it’s necessary to make such a detailed distinction here. What do you think?
　　PS: I saw the Shield Axe Thunder Dragon in the demo. Damn Capcom, they started in the wilderness and ended up in the Iceborne, right? My awesome super solution!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)