Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 11 - Chapter SS1.1

Intermezzo: Adventure Down Drunkard Way

1

On that day, there was a great tumult throughout the Genos post town from the morning onward. The reason behind that went without saying. Yesterday, Asuta of the forest’s edge, who had been doing business in the town, had been abducted by someone.

While she was helping out at the inn run by her family, Yumi had learned of that fact. And when she first heard it, she thought it was just a bad joke. Once she realized it was true, her head became a chaotic mess of anger and sadness, unable to even form proper thoughts. Still, she somehow managed to get in contact with her buddies and run around town with them till sunset, yet Asuta was nowhere to be found.

Though it was now a brand new day, it was hard to say that her emotions had calmed down in the least. When she woke up she was told to prepare the midday meals for the customers, so she had to head into the kitchen. But the whole time, emotions far hotter than the stove’s flames burned in her chest.

Yumi’s family made a living running an inn known as The Westerly Wind. It was an old, cheap place that served the thugs and poor folks about town. But it at least certainly wasn’t small, so there were no shortage of people who stayed there. And as she boiled up some meat and veggies for those customers, Yumi put together her plan for the day.

“My, the town’s still in such a commotion. Look how long it took me to handle a single shopping trip!” her mother proclaimed as she returned holding a large bundle.

“A commotion? Did they find the guys who took Asuta?” Yumi asked.

As her mother sat the bundle down on a table, she replied, “No,” with a shake of her head. “But the people of the forest’s edge have come streaming into town. And seeing that, the guards have been running about in a fluster, causing a huge mess.”

“The people of the forest’s edge aren’t planning on heading to the castle, are they?”

“No, it seems they intend to search the town themselves for their abducted comrade. If they tried to push their way into the castle, then that really would end in bloodshed.”

“I see,” Yumi said with a big sigh.

Apparently, the people of the forest’s edge were having some sort of quarrel with the nobles in the castle town. Considering the timing, it would make sense to think Asuta’s abduction was the doing of some noble, but they would be seen as criminals if they tried to force their way into the castle town without passes. And so, Yumi felt truly relieved to hear they weren’t flying completely off the handle.

“Anyway, I went ahead and bought fuwano too. Once you’re done with the stew, I’ll need help with that too.”

“Huh? But I’ve got business to take care of after this.”

“What business is that, exactly? With the guards and people of the forest’s edge wandering all over town, this is no time to be going out.”

“But I can’t just leave Asuta be!” Yumi shot back, only for her mother to break out in a worried look.

“There’s really no helping this. If the culprit actually is a noble, nobody will be able to bring them to justice. I’m sorry to say it, but it’s best to just forget about the people of the forest’s edge and giba cooking and all that.”

“But why?! You said Asuta’s cooking was really, really tasty too, right, Mom?!”

That was why Yumi was in the middle of trying to have her parents purchase giba meat cooking to sell at The Westerly Wind. Since her mother had also been eating Asuta’s cooking for some time, she hadn’t been all that opposed to the idea. No, the one who was against it was her father. But she continued trying, and eventually Yumi got her father to agree to meet with Asuta, but then this whole disaster happened and set things back.

“But you know we can’t go against nobles. If the folks from the castle set their eyes on us, they could crush this inn in no time flat.”

“That’ll never happen! And besides, are you saying nobles can just do whatever they want?!”

“Nobles can only be judged by other nobles. We can’t do anything to them at all.”

Now good and truly mad, Yumi threw the firewood she had been holding to the ground.

“I’m not giving up, no matter what! I won’t just let the nobles mess with Asuta!”

“Ah, hold on, Yumi...!”

“The stew’s already cooked! You can bake the fuwano yourself, Mom!” Yumi yelled as she ran from the kitchen.

She kept on going straight out of the inn and toward the main road. These slums had a bad reputation even for the post town, and the guards wouldn’t even set foot in the place. But since Yumi was born and raised in the area, it was pretty much her back yard.

Genos was a prosperous town. According to visitors, it was either the first or second most well off in all of the Western Kingdom of Selva. However, almost all that wealth was gathered in the castle town, while it wasn’t rare at all for folks to die of starvation out here in the slums.

The castle town was protected by stone walls that reached higher than the roofs of houses. Going from one side of those walls to the other was like stepping into a different world. Yumi would likely never step inside them, and it was completely unimaginable that any nobles from the castle would visit this area. To folks from the slums, nobles might as well have been some kind of celestial being living up above the clouds.

So that means they’re allowed to do stuff like this?!

As that thought ran through her head, Yumi dashed out onto the main road, which ran straight down the center of the post town. There were large houses and shops lined up on either side of it, and it was full of people walking this way and that from dawn till dusk. The business carried out by these people really did bring a lot of wealth into Genos.

However, things were different today. Like her mother had said, there was a sense of danger hanging in the air. There were an awful lot of guards out along the road, and also, she could spy hunters of the forest’s edge here and there in their giba pelt cloaks.

It wasn’t as if there was any sort of commotion going on. But the tension lingering about was almost palpable. Any merchants or travelers that had no interest in the situation were all looking down and walking quickly, as if to avoid getting caught up in it all.

It’s just like back then...

She was thinking of the time when the criminals from the forest’s edge had the post town in a panic.

There had been a turbulent feel like this about town back then, too. And it hadn’t gone away until the criminals paid with their lives.

Argh! And things had been really moving in a good direction thanks to Asuta and everyone else... Yumi thought while grinding her teeth, only to spy a familiar face approaching from the other side of the street. It was one of her buddies, the son of a bar owner.

“Hey, you’re late. Did your dad try to stop you?”

“I had a big fight with him first thing in the morning, so we’re not even talking. How are things around town...?”

“Do I even need to answer that? I mean, just look around. Earlier, it seemed like the guards and the people of the forest’s edge were both ready to draw their blades at any moment, so I guess it’s calmed down a bit since then.”

“I see... What about the guys who abducted Asuta? You still haven’t found any leads?”

“Nope. We went around to all the inns, but there was no one who fit the bill. If he was kidnapped by a noble, he’s got to be inside the stone walls, right...?”

With a “Damn!” Yumi kicked the ground. “Isn’t there any way to sneak inside those walls? Is there anyone around who does business with somebody from the castle or something?”

“There’s no way anyone from a place that well off would hang out with guys like us. You’re not thinking of trying to climb up the stone walls, are you? Because that really will get you skewered.”

Yumi glanced about the street, biting her lip.

Though it was a whole lot livelier here than in the slums, the folks doing business were still all commoners. They couldn’t even defy the guards, much less nobles.

And yet, yesterday folks from around the post town really did stand up against the guards. That vegetable seller who was so fond of Asuta, that other inn owner, and several more pushed their way into the guard station and insisted they find the bastards who kidnapped Asuta.

Perhaps as a result of their efforts, the guards soon sent out search parties to find the culprits. It helped that the owner of The Sledgehammer who was there during the kidnapping had seen their faces. Using the wanted posters that had been put out as a guide, Yumi and her friends had searched up until it got dark out... but they still hadn’t found so much as a single lead.

As she trembled with regret, Yumi’s buddy called out, “Hey, for now, why don’t we get something to eat? I’ve been running around all morning, so I’m starving.”

“Yeah, you go do that. I’m not in the mood, though.”

“Really? If you take too long, other folks’ll eat up all the giba cooking.”

“Huh?” Yumi questioned, turning and shooting a glare without thinking. “You’re talking about giba cooking even though Asuta’s missing? Are you seriously drunk this early in the morning?”

“Don’t shoot me such a scary look, geez. The people of the forest’s edge are running their stalls without Asuta.”

That news left Yumi feeling truly, thoroughly shocked.

And she felt something like a glowing ember lighting up in the depths of her chest.

“Why are they taking it easy and running stalls at a time like this? Do they care more about coins than they do about Asuta?”

“I didn’t ask, so I’ve got no clue. Why not ask them in person if you’ve gotta know?”

“Alright... That’s just what I’ll do.”

Yumi headed north down the road. That was the direction where all the stalls were laid out, and Asuta’s two were positioned all the way at the far northern extreme.

As she went, she actually didn’t pass anyone from the forest’s edge. Even though a lot of hunters were in town, they probably only amounted to a few dozen at most. That just seemed to be even more evidence of how lightly they were treating this matter with Asuta, which made Yumi all the more angry.

Before long, a crowd appeared in front of her.

Apparently even on a day like today, business was still booming.

The majority of the customers looked like they came from Jagar or Sym. However, around 20 percent or so seemed to be citizens of Selva. All in all, that was pretty much the same proportions as always.

As she suppressed the rage bubbling up inside her, Yumi joined the line along with her buddy. Though it was frustrating to admit, the smell wafting through the air was still delicious, even without Asuta around.

“Welcome. That’ll be two coins,” the girl manning the stall said when Yumi’s turn came around.

“Hey, you—!” Yumi shouted in a hostile voice, only to suddenly catch her breath.

The one manning the stall was that black haired girl who started alternating with Vina Ruu. Though she didn’t look like Vina Ruu at all, apparently she was the girl’s younger sister. She was small, had a bit of a childish face, and had very well proportioned features. And right now, she was desperately forcing a smile, her eyes red from crying.

“Ah... You’re the daughter of that inn, the one who’s always stopping by. Thank you for coming even on a day like this.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah...”

“Just the one? It will be ready shortly.”

After saying that, she swiftly put together a giba burger.

Once she had accepted it and handed over her coins, Yumi slid on over to the side of the stall.

“Hey, what exactly are you all doing continuing to do business on a day like this?”

“Huh?” the girl questioned, looking confused.

However, since the next customer soon offered their coins, she was left unable to answer Yumi’s query.

With that, the red-haired girl helping out at the other stall slid over toward them. She had been working the stalls for some time now too, and her name was Lala Ruu. From what Yumi knew, she was another of Vina Ruu’s little sisters.

“Reina, I’ll take over. At least for today, it’s important to talk to folks from around town, right?”

“Yeah, thanks. In that case, I’ll leave things to you for just a bit.”

After entrusting Lala Ruu with her work, the black-haired girl named Reina came out from the rear of the stall and approached Yumi.

If she was a relative of those other girls, then that must have meant her name was Reina Ruu. At any rate, the first thing she did was face Yumi’s group and bow.

“My apologies for once again causing a commotion in town. But I hope you’ll believe me when I say that we hold no animosity toward you townsfolk.”

“R-Right. I didn’t think that was the case or anything... But anyway, why are you carrying on with running your business even though Asuta’s been kidnapped?”

“Well, we believed it wouldn’t do to let the bonds Asuta has put so much effort into forging be severed by this. And so, we members of the Ruu are trying to hold those bonds with the townsfolk in place until he returns.”

Until he returns... Yumi felt a shocking amount of warmth behind those words.

“I see. Then you haven’t given up on Asuta either. I thought for sure that—”

“Asuta will absolutely return. He has already overcome great peril, time and time again,” Reina Ruu firmly stated.

And though her eyes were still red from crying, there was a strong light shining in them too. Despite how childish her looks might have been, this girl was still a person of the forest’s edge. And it seemed Yumi still didn’t fully comprehend just how tough they really were.

“Once we’re finished with work, we’ll also switch to searching for Asuta. Of course, we have to prepare to run the stalls tomorrow too, so we can’t spend all that much time... But still, we want to do absolutely everything that we can.”

“Right, I get you. We’ve been running all about town too. We’ll get Asuta back, no matter what it takes.”

With that, Reina Ruu broke out in a brilliant smile.

“All of you have been making an effort, too? On behalf of the people of the forest’s edge, I give you my thanks.”

“Yeah, I definitely want to thank you too,” Yumi said, taking a bite out of the giba burger she was holding. “Man, this is good! It’s about as tasty as the ones Asuta makes.”

“Thank you... However, in regards to the giba burger, we members of the Ruu clan have actually been making them for some time now.”

“Huh?! Really?!”

“Yes. Asuta’s skills are still necessary to prepare the myamuu giba, though, which is why both stalls are only selling giba burgers today.”

“I see. That’s amazing! You shouldn’t have any issues doing business, then.”

“Right. Despite all the commotion, our number of customers hasn’t been dropping. In fact, it seems like it’s been on the rise... It’s all because Asuta overturned the customs of the forest’s edge and formed such bonds with the townsfolk.”

At that point, the violent emotions that had been smoldering away in Yumi’s chest vanished completely. Thinking back on it, there was no way anyone as earnest as the people of the forest’s edge could go and simply abandon one of their comrades. Yumi secretly felt ashamed at her foolishness for thinking so.

“Well then, give it your all! If we learn anything, I’ll come let you know right away!”

“Right. Thank you so much.”

Waving to Reina Ruu as she went, Yumi headed back down the road along with her buddy. Her friend had remained silent the whole time, but now he took a bite of his giba burger and gave a sigh.

“The women of the forest’s edge are all so pretty. Man, I just can’t get enough of that smile of hers...”

“Hey, don’t go looking at people of the forest’s edge like that!”

“What the heck? You’re always looking at Asuta that way, aren’t you, Yumi?”

“Don’t be stupid! That’s not how it is!” Yumi shouted, giving her buddy a firm kick in the rear. “Anyway, we’ve got to help out, too! We’ve got to hit up all the places thugs hang out, not just the inns!”

“Owww... They’ve got other people doing that already. And besides, even the post town alone is seriously huge. We can’t exactly cover the place in a day or two.”

“Then we’ll just have to do it in three or four! Stop complaining about it, already!”

“I’m not complaining. I mean, I’ve got no intention of just leaving Asuta to his fate, either,” her buddy replied, tossing the last of the giba burger into his mouth.

The boy had once been prejudiced against the people of the forest’s edge, too. In fact, when Asuta first started doing business in the post town, Yumi and her buddies had intentionally gone to hassle him.

But before they knew it they had become regulars at his stalls, and were now running around town for his sake. That was just the sort of bonds Asuta had formed with folks from around town.

I’ll never let something like this destroy what he built! Yumi thought to herself, only for her buddy walking alongside her down the road to go, “Ah. Some other people I know were supposed to be checking this street. I’ll meet up with them, so can I leave Drunkard Way to you?”

“Yeah, since that place is dangerous if you’re not a local.”

Drunkard Way was the street nestled deepest in the section of town where The Westerly Wind was located. Even fearless ruffians needed to work up some serious resolve to head that far into the slums.

“Will you really be alright on your own though, Yumi? I can get some men together too if you need them.”

“If we go as a big group, it’ll just put folks on edge, and we don’t need that. And I’m at least as good at running away as the rest of you, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Got it. I’ll see you later, then,” her buddy shot back before taking off running down a side street.

Having finished off her giba burger, Yumi also swiftly headed back down the road. She wasn’t exactly fond of the idea of setting foot in Drunkard Way, but she also couldn’t go leaving the place out of a search for the sort of lowlifes who’d go around kidnapping people.

By the time she had made it back to her starting point, she was suddenly taken aback. That was because there were now people of the forest’s edge just about to walk down the side path toward the slums.

“H-Hold on! Where are you two going?”

The two of them turned her way.

One was a hunter clad in a giba fur pelt, while the other was a woman dressed in the attire of the forest’s edge. The man was quite large and had a robust figure, while the woman was small and rotund.

“Excuse me, but who are you...?”

“I-I’m Yumi, from The Westerly Wind, and I wouldn’t recommend going down that way carelessly. That place is a hangout for drunken scoundrels, even in the middle of the day!”

“A hangout for scoundrels... Then that’s all the more reason we need to search it.”

Though the large man looked quite intimidating, his voice was calm and relaxed. And honestly, his face wasn’t the least bit frightening. Though it was fittingly masculine for his build, his gaze was nice and refreshing and his expression was gentle. Somehow, he had the feel of a large, sturdy tree about him.

“I’m sure you’re confident in your skills as a hunter of the forest’s edge... But the sorts who hang out down that way are seriously troublesome. And you all don’t want to cause a commotion about town either, right?”

“That’s true. But we must be thorough and search everywhere. Otherwise, we won’t be able to convince the folks from the castle town.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“We wish to prove that Asuta is not anywhere outside of the castle town. Then the intention is to negotiate with the nobles in order to gain permission to search the castle town, too,” the hunter of the forest’s edge said, then he suddenly broke out in a grin. “My apologies for the late introduction, but I am Gazraan Rutim, from the Rutim clan of the forest’s edge. This is my younger sister Morun. You have my gratitude for your concern, Yumi of The Westerly Wind.”

That was how Yumi and Gazraan Rutim met.

And also, it was the start of the modest adventure they would have that day.