Chapter 1: Day of Change
1
As the fifth day of the white month dawned, it wasn’t like we sensed any omens of things being off.
Four days ago, on the night of the first day of the month, Dora had been attacked by brigands. Then the next day Milano Mas’s daughter almost got abducted, and someone sneaked into the Zaza settlement at nighttime. And the night after that, we ended up facing off with Goram Redbeard’s son Jeeda at the Fa house. That was certainly a lot for just the first three days of the month.
Perhaps it was only natural, but we had been bracing ourselves more and more as time went on. But as if to mock the tension we were feeling, the fourth day of the white month passed on by without incident, leaving us to feel somehow let down coming into this morning.
“You absolutely mustn’t let your guard down, Asuta. It’s incredibly easy for people to let themselves become slack at times such as this, after all,” Ai Fa stated with a strict look as I finished up loading my prepared food into the wagon.
She had decided that she would come to town on guard duty every other day, and this was the point in her rotation where she stayed home instead. And so I firmed up my resolve as best I could and replied, “Understood,” with a nod. “You take care too, Ai Fa. The number of giba around here should be on the rise again, right?”
“Indeed. There have been more and more giba about since the start of the month. In fact, I hear tell that one of the Ran men was seriously injured just yesterday.”
“Seriously? That’s definitely concerning.”
The morning sun and gentle breeze felt pleasant, and it was an extremely tranquil morning all around. However, the topic we were discussing was anything but.
“Hey, do clans like the Fa and Ran have break periods like the hunters of the Ruu?”
As she stroked Gilulu’s neck, Ai Fa turned and went, “Hmm?” with a questioning look. “I explained as much before, but giba periodically shift their foraging grounds in search of more plentiful food. As they eat up the fruits, roots, small plants, and the like, they then move from north to south or vice versa, frequently moving all about the forest.”
“Right. And that process is what led them to leave the forest and go after the Genos fields, isn’t it? I remember.”
“Indeed. As that occurs, the areas of the forest that have been picked clean take some time to flourish once again. And so for a time the giba won’t go near there, and the hunters living in the area take time off. Such periods come around three times a year, but it’s not as if it is fixed which clan will have time off in a certain month or the like.”
“Then all clans get three break periods a year?”
“That’s right. They seem to be eating rather vigorously this time around, so it may not even be a month before we get time off...”
“I see. I’m glad,” I said, unwittingly breaking out in a smile.
Ai Fa, meanwhile, tilted her head and looked rather confused.
“What are you glad about, exactly? If our neighboring clans like the Fou and Ran are unable to hunt giba, it will be difficult to procure meat during that time, you know.”
“But by then the Ruu will start hunting again, so I don’t think it should be an issue. We may even be able to buy meat from the Sauti soon enough, too... Still, putting all that aside, aren’t you glad to have a chance to rest up?”
“I train hard during break periods. Of course, that doesn’t compare to hunting work, but it’s still not enough of a difference for me to feel happy or displeased over,” Ai Fa bluntly answered. “And besides, there’s no guarantee that our issues with the nobles will be cleared up before that coming break period. Because of that, I will not be able to relax my mind even if I have a chance to rest my body.”
“Ah, right... Still, if that can at least get dealt with, then you’ll be able to take it easy. So it really is a good thing, right?”
At the very least, the thought of Ai Fa being able to take half a month off from her dangerous hunting work sounded nice to me. But for some reason, she was giving a displeased pout.
“It would certainly be for the best if you no longer needed to be guarded, but if that happened, there wouldn’t be any reason left for me to go to the post town.”
“Huh? Is that an issue, somehow?”
“It’s boring, being left home alone...”
I was truly, legitimately taken off guard. I had never imagined such words would come from Ai Fa.
“Ah, er, but... I guess I can’t exactly go taking half a month off from my work in the post town too, huh?”
“Of course not,” she replied, grinding her head up against mine. Apparently she considered such an action interchangeable with kicking me in the leg. “I was simply irritated by you gloating away without considering my feelings. You really don’t sympathize enough with your clan head.”
“S-Still, I’m taking a break once every ten days now. If your time off lasts for half a month, then those breaks should overlap once or twice. So I’ll do whatever I can on those days to alleviate your boredom.”
With that, Ai Fa’s head came to a stop.
And then, she stared at me from up close and personal.
“Now that you mention it, your first such days off are fast approaching, aren’t they?”
“Yeah, it’ll be the seventh and eighth of the white month, so the day after tomorrow and the following day.”
“Then I believe I’ll take a day off from hunting in the forest, too. I caught two giba the day before yesterday, so the fatigue has been building up a bit.”
“I see. Then you should definitely go ahead and do so.”
“In that case, you and I will both be off on the eighth of the white month.”
“Yeah, sounds like it.”
“I finally understand what you meant about feeling glad...” Ai Fa said with a smile, from up so close I could feel her breath. That seriously made for one heck of a surprise attack. “This should be your first time taking a break since the clan head meeting, Asuta.”
“Y-Yeah, now that you mention it, I think you’re right.”
“We acted separately until dark on the day of the meeting itself, and on the days before and after you were busy preparing food. Furthermore, you were at the Ruu settlement both times, too.” I was earnestly impressed she could remember all that from so far back. “In that case, it’s been even longer since you have spent a full day in the Fa house... In fact, I was heading into the forest each day before that too, so we must not have spent an entire day together since we built the outdoor stove.”
“That’s some seriously impressive memory, there! I mean, we’re talking more than two months back, right?”
“Indeed. I believe that was around ten days or so after I picked you up out in the forest. So back then, I must not have considered you as utterly irreplaceable as I do now...” she replied, clunking her head into me while still wearing a smile. “Now that I think back on it, when I was spending day and night hunting with my father, our break periods helped to bring us even closer. I’ve never forgotten that feeling...”
“O-Oh, really?”
“Both you and I have work that we need to carry out. However... That may be exactly what makes such days off feel so precious.”
“R-Right...”
“And right now, we’re in the midst of dealing with Cyclaeus, an opponent we still know little about. I certainly hope that we can at least spend those days peacefully.” With that, Ai Fa stepped back, her eyes sparkling in a manner fitting to a girl her age as she wore the formal expression of a clan head and firmly stated, “Well then, Ludo Ruu’s group should be arriving soon. Keep on striving at your work, but make sure not to let your guard down.”
“Yeah, you too, Ai Fa,” I replied while feeling a bit jumbled up inside.
And so, we set off down our own paths again that morning.
At the time, we gave the same farewell as always, knowing nothing of what trials awaited us today, or what suffering they would bring.
◇
Soon after arriving in the post town, we found a pleasant reunion awaiting us. Once we picked up the stalls from The Kimyuus’s Tail we went to stop and pick up vegetables as always, where we were greeted by Dora and Tara’s smiling faces.
“Dora! You’re doing better already?!”
“Ah, sorry for worrying you, Asuta. And the same to everyone else, too,” Dora said with a grin.
Just seeing that familiar smile was enough to cause me to tear up a bit.
“Hey, what’s with that face? It wasn’t that serious of an injury, you know. Didn’t my son tell you that?”
“Yes, but... Well, I’m just really glad to see you doing well. And it’s good seeing you again too, Tara.”
“Yup!” Tara replied, a big smile filling her small face.
“At any rate, I’m glad that you folks look like you’re doing alright, too. So, do you want the same number of vegetables as always?”
“Yes, please.”
With a sort of bashful chuckle, Dora started pulling vegetables out of stuffed bags.
He really was just the same as always. However, there was still gray cloth wrapped around his right shoulder. He had been attacked by bandits dressed as people of the forest’s edge who were looking to rob him, and as a result he had to take three days off of work.
The faint green stains I could spy on his bandages must have been from some sort of medicinal herb. That probably explained the faint stinging odor I was picking up, too. In fact, it was the same sort of smell as the medicine Vina Ruu had used when she hurt her ankle.
“Um, what should I even say about all this... I really am at a loss for words, honestly.”
“I’m telling you, there’s nothing for you to worry yourself over, Asuta. Outlaws tend to gather in prosperous towns. Honestly, bandits have been just as much of a pain for all of us as giba.”
“But bandits dressed like hunters of the forest’s edge aren’t quite so common, right? Still, I’m relieved to see you’re alright, too,” Ludo Ruu interjected with a serious look.
Dora shot him a gentle smile back, too.
“No matter how they may dress, they’re still bandits. And it’s the guards’ job to catch them, so there’s no need for us to go worrying about all that.”
“Yeah, but...” I started to reply, only for some unusual commotion to emerge from the surrounding area.
Instantly, Ludo Ruu’s gaze turned back toward the road.
Speak of the devil, huh?
There were a number of guards dressed in leather armor and carrying spears, and they were heading our way.
“Man of the forest’s edge, you’re Asuta of the Fa clan, aren’t you? We have a matter to discuss, so please accompany us back to the station,” the man at the head of the group proclaimed.
He was pretty short and thin, but his helmet had a fluttering tassel adorning it. As for the rest of the group, there were five other guards standing there behind him.
“What exactly is this about? I have to get ready for work after this...”
“It won’t take long. There are just a number of matters we’d like to confirm.”
On the one hand, he had a haughty attitude, but on the other, he didn’t seem all that bold. In fact, he looked pretty clearly intimidated by being faced with hunters of the forest’s edge.
“Hey, what business do you have with Asuta, exactly? If it’s about that incident with the bandits from a few days back, my son should have already explained everything,” Dora stated with an angry look, stepping out in front of the guards.
And in response, the little guard captain dubiously knitted his brows.
“And who are you? One of the vegetable sellers who were attacked by those bandits, perhaps? If so, this has nothing to do with all that, so stay out of this.”
“Ah, Dora, I’m the one they’re summoning, so—” I interjected in a fluster, trying to stop him. And then, yet another voice butted in from the side.
“Yeah, you’re treating him like a criminal, dragging him back to your station like that. Are you saying the kid did something wrong?”
To my surprise, when I turned to look I didn’t find any familiar faces. However, there were now around seven or eight unfamiliar ones gathered around us. And that alone was enough to make the little guard captain’s face go pale.
“Wh-Who are you all? I assure you, this is nothing like that! Like I said, we just want to confirm some matters!”
The five guards standing behind him were also adjusting their grips on their spears, bewildered looks on their faces. A restless air had started simmering throughout the street.
“So what matters are you talking about, exactly?”
“It’s not like there’s any proof yet that those bandits were people of the forest’s edge, right?”
“This is real fishy. Out with it. Tell us the reason, already.”
It was possible a good number of them were folks I had seen at the stalls. Around half were southerners, while the other half were from the west. But folks from the south all dressed so similarly, and I didn’t see any regulars among the westerners.
And a number of tall figures with their faces hidden under the hoods of their leather cloaks had started filling in the spaces between those townsfolk wearing their serious expressions. Naturally, they were easterners.
“Wh-What do you mean, fishy?! W-We’re carrying out official duty, you know,” the guard captain shrilly yelled out.
With that, one of the younger guards who at least seemed to have retained a bit of his wits stepped forwards.
“Captain, at this rate we’ll simply cause needless turmoil. It’s true that it won’t take long at all, so wouldn’t it be acceptable to simply do it here and now?”
“No, but—”
“I believe it would be less dangerous than dispersing these people in order to bring this man of the forest’s edge along with us to the station. If it’s alright, I could carry out that task in your place...”
“Right! In that case, I will leave it up to you,” the guard captain replied, beating a swift retreat. While forcing back a sigh, the younger guard moved farther forward. Apparently there were all sorts within their organization.
“Asuta of the Fa clan, of the forest’s edge. What we wish to confirm are details about the bandit who attacked you all on the 31st day of the blue month.”
“The bandit who attacked us...?” I repeated, my heart skipping a beat at that unexpected statement.
With a nod, the young guard replied, “Right. We received a report from a resident of the vicinity, stating that a bandit in a fur cloak pulled a blade and attacked you all while you were walking through the residential district on the 31st. And we were told the assailant had a small build that implied they were a woman or child, and that they had blazing red hair. Is that all correct?”
The matter with Jeeda had reached the guards after all.
I gripped my fists tight, then nodded back and said, “Yes...”
I couldn’t give any testimony that would put Jeeda in a bad spot. However, I also couldn’t exactly go lying and making myself into a criminal, either.
“Why did you not place a report that same day? By leaving bandits like that be, you place your fellow citizens at risk.”
“My apologies. He only seemed concerned with the people of the forest’s edge, so I believed he wouldn’t cause anyone else harm,” I replied, giving the same answer I had once offered to Sanjura.
And in turn, I got the same sort of response back.
“That’s no reason not to report him, though. By leaving him be, you risk being placed in danger again yourselves, don’t you?”
“Yes. However, if he has a just reason for hating the people of the forest’s edge, then I was thinking it would be better to solve things by talking them out. But that wouldn’t be possible if he’s arrested as a criminal first...”
The guard went silent, a gloomy look on his face.
And the crowd surrounding us were all watching with expressions full of suspicion and concern.
“Still, you’re ultimately just thinking of your own circumstances, there... Drawing a blade in town is undoubtedly a crime, and furthermore, not even reporting such a criminal and choosing instead to let them be is clearly making light of the laws of Genos.”
“Yes, I also believe it was thoughtless of us... But it seemed he had been watching us from afar for a while. When we noticed that and chased after him it resulted in violence, but if it weren’t for that I don’t believe he would have drawn his blade.”
“However, judging crimes is a task assigned to our guard corps and the legal officers. As mere citizens, you all have no authority to pardon a criminal.”
Now it was my turn to be struck silent.
Dora started to argue, “Hey, but—” only for the guard to break out in an even more sour expression.
“It’s not as if we came here in order to punish you for that. Just note that such actions won’t be permitted in the future. You people of the forest’s edge are full-fledged citizens of Genos and the western kingdom. And so, as children of Selva, you have a responsibility to uphold the law and a right to be protected by it.”
“Right,” I replied with a cautious nod.
Dora and the rest of the crowd seemed rather surprised by the guard’s words... but the hunters with us cautiously narrowed their gazes as they carefully listened.
“So, the bandit’s appearance didn’t differ from the earlier description I gave? If you can remember his face and the like more clearly, we could put out a detailed description.”
“My apologies, but I didn’t see that clearly... His unkempt hair covered his face too, so I couldn’t make out his features very well,” I replied, offering just a bit of false testimony.
After shooting me a doubtful glare for a few moments, the young guard finally said, “Well, fine,” with a shake of his head. “At any rate, red-haired westerners are unusual, and combined with the fact that he has a small build like that of a child, that should be enough for a wanted poster. And that bandit was wearing the fur cloak of some other animal than a giba?”
“Yes. The coloring of the fur was something I hadn’t really seen around Genos.”
“There shouldn’t be many folks other than hunters out there wearing fur cloaks, either... Hey, you vegetable seller,” the man called out, turning toward Dora with an arrogant look. “Were the bandits who attacked you really wearing giba pelts? Apparently the one who attacked these folks wore one that was a lighter color, with a pattern to it.”
“It was dark, so I can’t say for certain... But they were definitely wearing necklaces made with giba tusks,” Dora responded, looking displeased at having to say so. “I already explained to you all that the people of the forest’s edge would never do such a—”
“We’re aware. You don’t need to keep raising your voice over every little thing,” the guard said with an annoyed wave of his hand, and then in a slightly louder voice he proclaimed, “This seems like a good opportunity, so allow me to inform everyone here: Last night, there was an attack on another plantation’s storehouse performed by bandits dressed as hunters of the forest’s edge.”
“Huh?!” I found myself shouting without thinking.
I had thought that yesterday was our first peaceful day in a while, but it turns out disaster struck again without us knowing.
“There were three of them wearing giba pelt cloaks, with cloth wrapped around their faces. Though their identities remain unknown, it seems certain that these are the same bandits who struck four days ago.”
The surrounding crowd started to murmur. And by this point it was more than the initial ten or so folks, as a good number of people had come and stopped to see what the commotion was all about.
So that everyone present could hear him, the young guard raised his voice even further and stated, “After the incident four days back, the militia’s nighttime guard was strengthened. And yet in spite of that, innocent citizens were once again attacked and had their precious crops stolen. This is a gravely concerning situation... Even more so since those bandits were dressed in the clothing of the forest’s edge.”
“Hey, but that’s—”
“Stop talking and listen. If the people of the forest’s edge wished to hide their identities, they would start with those cloaks and necklaces. To hide their faces without doing so seems dubious in the extreme. Therefore, we are strongly considering the view that these are the acts of criminals pretending to be hunters of the forest’s edge,” the young guard firmly proclaimed.
I could hear a number of impressed sounding oohs coming from the crowd.
“Naturally we will not know the truth until we capture these bandits, but take care not to be misled by baseless rumors. And you mustn’t cause a commotion over the treatment of the people of the forest’s edge, like what happened before. Do not go disparaging them without proof... These words come from the militia leader Sir Ciluel himself, and should be distributed as an official notice throughout the post town today.”
Hearing those words put me on guard, and also seriously shook me.
The militia leader was Cyclaeus’s younger brother, so for him to clearly and openly defend the people of the forest’s edge... It didn’t seem like the sort of straightforward good news I could simply feel relieved over.
The young guard looked just a bit prideful as he glanced out over the murmuring crowd. I got the impression that he was condescending to us just a touch, like what he was proud of was that they treated even outsiders like the people of the forest’s edge justly.
That might have honestly been how the man truly felt. However, I couldn’t help but be suspicious of the intentions of that militia leader whose words he was conveying.
Just what exactly are they plotting now...?
As for the crowd, they looked perplexed as they listened to the guard’s words. Some of them appeared relaxed and relieved, while others clicked their tongues and left.
Seeing those unfriendly reactions toward the people of the forest’s edge, it was like I could feel a dark cloud billowing up inside of me.
Could that be what Cyclaeus had been aiming for?
To give favorable treatment to the people of the forest’s edge and advocate for them, sowing distrust in the hearts of the townsfolk... Was that the true goal behind having those bandits crudely play at disguising themselves and attack plantations?
If I’m just overthinking things, then it’s fine. But...
What if it really was like Ai Fa had once speculated, that this was a plot to thrust these crimes upon the three hunters who accompanied Kamyua Yoshu? What would happen if we were getting “unjust” protection on top of that?
Would it be possible to once more instill doubts in the townsfolk that the people of the forest’s edge wouldn’t be punished no matter what wrongdoing they may get up to? People we were close to like Dora were one thing, but for the folks who were just now listening to that guard with relief on their faces... Was it possible the people of the forest’s edge could once more lose the trust of those who had been advocating for us with righteous indignation?
Still, would Cyclaeus even stand to gain anything from such actions?
Up till now, I wouldn’t have been able to answer that. But thanks to my talk with Yamiru Lea two days prior, I had a new hypothesis to go on: that Cyclaeus was trying to reinstate the Suun as the leading clan in order to make the people of the forest’s edge easier to control, forcing things back to the way they used to be.
If that turned out to be true... If he wanted to return us to a state of being misunderstood and impoverished, forced to desperately hunt giba just to survive, then there might well be significant meaning to shattering the bonds between the forest’s edge and the post town.
I certainly wouldn’t mind if that was all just my imagination getting the better of me, though...
It definitely wouldn’t be such a bad thing if it turned out Cyclaeus wasn’t as wicked and crafty as I thought. I was just preparing for the worst, so that the rug wouldn’t be pulled out from under us. And no matter how fanciful my imagination may be, I was still going to inform Zasshuma and Donda Ruu about that hypothesis, too.
After all, we absolutely had to win this fight, no matter what.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login