Another Stupid Isekai

- So guys, how are you today? - asked Mahinder, looking at Sudarshana.

She looked to the side, to have a peek at everybody.

- We are good. Although the day started bright and early, we have been great so far.

- I've been told that hunters usually wake up with the sun, he said, switching to me.

- Yes - I confirmed. - Everybody wants to get out as early as possible, to get as many crystals as possible. So they usually start bright and early and finish when it becomes hard to encounter monsters.

- Right now you are utilizing a system where you have to have a certain rank to go to a certain hunting ground, correct?

I looked at Ki'rai since she had more experience with the ranking system than I.

- F rank hunters can go to goblins and rats. E ranks can go to wolves. D ranks can go to rocs. C can hunt bears, harpies, undead, and lizardmen. B rank are ogres, giant spiders, walking trees, and giants.

- What about A rank? - he asked.

- To clear the dungeons you need at least one rank above the hunting ground's difficulty is, so the A ranks can clear the dungeons of the hardest monsters.

- There is also a newly discovered water elemental's territory - added Sudarshana - but it hasn't been ranked yet.

- So, what are your ranks? - asked the host.

- I'm F rank - said Tihana. - But I don't hunt very much, since I have school.

- C rank - said Ki'rai.

Then Mahinder's eyes rested on me.

- I don't have a rank... yet. I've been too busy with stuff lately to formally get one.

- Too busy?

- Yes. My mother has visited us, and we did a little trip around India, then there was the mission to Uhm's, and I've been involved since I speak their language. I've also been building a house in Dwarka, so my mother could visit more often...

- Oh. That's very noble of you. You mentioned the mission. It brought doctor Sudarshana here a lot of attention after she a dairy on her blog describing the events. I'm personally the most fascinated by the singing event she described. Could you describe it from your point of view?

- Yeah, sure. Then night already fell, and some of the Uhms came to pay us a visit. They brought some of the local wine. It's made of a bamboo-like plant called - I inserted the original name - which translates to a tall flower. Everybody got a bit drunk, and then the Uhms started singing. It was... Incredible. The sound made the air vibrate a little, and you could not only hear it but feel it with your whole body. It was... mesmerizing.

He smiled.

- I wish I could hear it - he said.

- Unfortunately, we were so consumed by the beauty of the performance,e that nobody even thought of recording it - said Sudarshana. - But during the second visit I'm definitely going to do that, so everybody can listen to their music.

The crowd responded with clapping and cheering.

- You should invite them here and make them record an album - the host joked, causing a bit of laughter. - On your blog, you mentioned the Despised, a military organization among the otherwise very peaceful race. Could you talk a bit about that?

- I personally saw them more like masters pursuing the mastery of body and mind through exercise. They were very focused on training, and meditation. There was very little violence actually. They trined through sparring sessions, but it was very friendly. Like a fair competition. I personally think that if the environment around them would be more peaceful, they wouldn't even have the groups among them dedicated to scouting, and defending from the dangers.

- Unfortunately, the world is a harsh place - he smiled a little. - Now when I think about the idea of inviting them here, it could actually be a bad idea. We might cause them a heart attack with all the violence around the planet.

Sudarshana smiled.

- We would definitely have to prepare them mentally - she agreed.

- We talked already a bit about their culture, music, but what about the food? You mention on your blog, that they have a tradition to welcome their guests with their type of bread that is called mahuu, and milk from an animal called uuuun.

- Yes. Their diet is mainly plant-based, with few exceptions. One is milk, and the other is fish. Although they only consume the latter on rare occasions. Normally it's raw, or cooked vegetables, cooked groats, that turn into a white mush. They put a few different things on big leaves of other plants, and make wraps. They also eat mushrooms. Usually boiled, and cut into pieces.

- Wow, that's incredible.

- Lastly, I wanted to talk about their belief system. They believe in some kind of ascension through meditation, yes?

- They think that you can elevate yourself, and prepare to be reunited with the cosmic force of nature, which is the source of everything. On the other hand, if you are not prepared, you will be trapped in your corpse for eternity. They actually bury the corpses in box-like coffins made out of the same material they use to build their houses. It's something between clay and concrete. Unfortunately, we couldn't see their necropolis under the House of Elders.

- It's similar to Buddism - he pointed out.

- In some ways, yes - she agreed. - Its a mix of a circle of life, and a Buddism. My colleague could tell you more since he spent more time discussing those matters. I focused more on the language.

- Peter, you learned their language through the sapling, like many other hunters, yes? Why not take this approach? - he switched between me and her.

- Yes, I did. But you are wrong with the many hunters. It's just a few.

- Still, isn't it a more efficient option? - Mahinder asked Sudarshana.

- Yes, but the prices on crystals are very high. I'm not sure if I will be able to afford it. Not to mention you need a class point actually, so It might be out of my reach - she explained. - But, I'm very good with languages, so I can learn it on my own.

She finished with a smile.

- That's an attitude worth praising - said the host. - Now I want to switch a bit to Ki'rai, since she is such an incredible guest. It's my first time interviewing another species. But! First a little commercial break! Please stay tuned for more on Koffee with Mahinder.

The cameras slowly zoomed out, as the band started playing, and the audience clapping and cheering.