Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 12 - Chapter 3.4

4

And so, the world grew awash in the light purple hue of twilight.

The time for dinner had arrived.

As for the place, it was being held outdoors, in the central plaza.

The main Ruu house might have been big, but it would still be quite difficult for them to accommodate this many people there. After all, there were already twenty-six people set to attend before adding on sudden guests like Dan Rutim, so it had been decided in advance that we would be eating outside.

We had also already bought the goods needed for that in the post town. Specifically, cloth to lay out on the ground and large plates for serving the food.

“I can pay for them, since we’ll be able to use them again for later banquets,” Reina Ruu had said, so the funds had come from her earnings.

It had already been seven days by this point since the Ruu clan had begun doing business on their own. Doing some simple calculations, they should have earned 2700 red coins from sales, and since they didn’t need to pay extra for personnel or giba meat, over seventy percent of that should have been pure profit.

Naturally, those earnings belonged to the Ruu clan itself rather than Reina Ruu and the other girls personally, but apparently Donda Ruu had no objection to using them for this kind of thing.

And so, now there were several large cloths spread out in front of the main Ruu house, atop which we laid out the numerous large plates.

In the center was a stand made of stone, on which sat the pots full of soup. And surrounding that were the attendees, who had swelled to a total of thirty-five.

Twelve members of the main Ruu house and six from Shin Ruu’s branch family.

Seven former members of the Suun clan.

Me, Ai Fa, and Bartha for another three.

Then there were Dan and Gazraan Rutim, Rau Lea, Dari Sauti, Gulaf Zaza, and the Fou and Beim clan heads, our seven additional guests.

It really was quite a large group, almost like we were throwing a banquet.

But rather than smiles, everyone in the crowd wore serious expressions as their faces were illuminated by the bonfires. Rimee Ruu and the young children from Shin Ruu’s house were the only ones present whose eyes were sparkling with excitement.

“Well then, I see our dinner is ready for us to begin. However...” Donda Ruu started in a solemn tone, seated at the head of the group. “Tonight’s dinner has a further meaning beyond simply taking in the life needed to make it through the day. Especially to those of you who have inherited the blood of the criminal known as Zattsu Suun.”

Those relatives of that wicked former clan head were all seated in a row directly facing Donda Ruu.

Zattsu Suun’s son, a man currently awaiting execution: Zuuro Suun.

Currently not belonging to any clan, and working for the Dom to atone for the crime of fleeing custody: Diga and Doddo.

Falling under the Ruu clan: Mida.

Belonging to the Lea clan: Yamiru Lea.

Now members of the Rutim clan: Oura and Tsuvai.

Those were the seven in question.

“While Zattsu Suun was the leading clan head of the forest’s edge, he committed countless crimes. And though none of you were any more aware than we were that he had fallen to become little more than a bandit... you did follow the unacceptable rules set by that man, and for ten years pillaged the forest of Morga.”

Donda Ruu’s piercing gaze pinned them down, one by one.

“And even after Zattsu Suun fell ill and stepped down from his position, the new clan head Zuuro Suun ordered the branch houses to keep following those same wicked rules...”

Zuuro Suun just kept listlessly hanging his head, motionless.

“Zuuro Suun’s three sons shamelessly committed numerous outrages, both at the forest’s edge and in town.”

Diga and Doddo showed no signs of looking up, either.

Despite Mida’s stomach grumbling at the food before him, he earnestly kept his gaze fixed on Donda Ruu.

“Furthermore, the women lacked the strength to keep those foolish men in check, and one closed off her heart entirely...”

Oura sat there quietly, keeping her knees together and listening.

“Another didn’t realize her family’s guilt...”

Tsuvai looked away, wearing her usual displeased expression.

“And yet another plotted to bring even further chaos to the forest’s edge.”

Yamiru Lea remained expressionless. However, her eyes flicked up to stare at Donda Ruu.

“Your punishments have already been determined. Having been the one to take over as leading clan head, Zuuro Suun must pay for these crimes with his life, but the rest of you were instead stripped of your clan names. Though they had become part of the Dom clan, Diga and Doddo yielded before Zattsu and Tei Suun, so for the time being we are having them prove the state of their souls to us. However, there exists no law here at the forest’s edge that demands you all be punished further.” At that, Donda Ruu thrust out his clenched fist toward the group. “Tomorrow, you shall stand before that noble of Genos who wishes to mete out greater punishment to you all. In your own words, you shall explain how you have nothing further to feel ashamed of. While we shall lend you our aid as your comrades, what will be tested is your own pride and convictions. But if you lack those traits as people of the forest’s edge, we shall be unable to help you. If nothing else, make certain that you fully understand that fact.”

No one said a word in response.

And then, Donda Ruu slowly lowered his arm.

“Furthermore, there are those who have started doing business in the post town, hoping to bring greater prosperity to the forest’s edge and our people. It goes without saying at this point, but of course I speak of Ai Fa and Asuta of the Fa clan. Up until now, only a small portion of the clans, we of the Ruu and those under us, as well as the Fou and Sudra, have lent them our aid. However, it’s an undeniable fact that they have earned an astounding number of coins.”

Everyone continued to remain silent.

“Zattsu Suun attacked townsfolk and pillaged Morga in an attempt to achieve much the same goal. He sought greater strength and wealth to fight back against the nobles of Genos, and he ultimately strayed from the proper path. But what about us...? Are the Fa and Ruu clans doing what’s right? I believe those of you here who share Zattsu Suun’s blood have both a right and a responsibility to learn that for yourselves. And so, we have this dinner.”

Still, not so much as a word from the former members of the Suun clan.

“This introduction has gone on long enough, though. If I don’t wrap it up, some old fool’s liable to start causing a fuss at any moment,” Donda Ruu said with a grin, as Dan Rutim looked rather displeased over on my left.

“I’ve got no clue who you’re talking about, but while you’ve rambled on and on, the food’s been getting cold, Donda Ruu!”

At that, Donda Ruu closed his eyes and abruptly started the pre-dinner prayer, “We give thanks for the blessings of the forest... And we offer our gratitude to Asuta, Ai Fa, Mia Lea Ruu, Sati Lea Ruu, Vina Ruu, Reina Ruu, Lala Ruu, Rimee Ruu, Tari Ruu, and Sheera Ruu, who manned the flame and gave us our life for this night...”

It made for quite a spectacle, over thirty people all reciting that.

Once the pre-dinner prayer was finished, Donda Ruu said, “Now then...” only to express his misgivings, though it was quite unusual for the man. “How exactly should we eat all this? It looks like you’ve prepared quite a bit, but our arms aren’t that long.”

“That’s certainly the question. I’d like to think we can overcome it through the spirit of cooperation, though,” I replied in as bright a tone as I could manage, trying to clear away the gloomy air hanging over Zuuro Suun and his family. “Reina Ruu also bought lots of individual plates, so please go ahead and split the food off onto those. And if you want something far away, you can have the people nearby pass the plate, right?”

Our crowd of thirty-five was currently seated in a circle, with the food placed in the center. I figured it would be tough to do it buffet style while we were sitting, and so I had worked something out in advance.

“For now, we’ll go ahead and just dish out the soup to start. Everyone, please feel free to eat up.”

“You say that, but I don’t even know where to start!” Rau Lea happily chimed in from Ai Fa’s right.

There was plenty of everything, piled up atop the huge tray-like dishes lined up before us.

The giba burgers with fruit wine sauce.

Myamuu giba, in which the aria, tino, and pula were all cooked together.

The cubed giba meat stew, which was boiled with whole aria.

Meat and chatchi stew, with piping hot chatchi as its selling point.

The giba sauté arrabbiata, which added chitt seeds to the tarapa sauce.

Giba cutlets, which were accompanied by a heaping helping of fresh salad.

The giba spare ribs, which were carefully glazed in a teriyaki substitute sauce and grilled.

And a mountain of baked poitan piled high, as well as a stir fry of various vegetables.

It was true that with all this, it was only natural to have difficulty choosing from all the options. And this was definitely the most packed menu I had ever prepared.

With this dinner, nearly all of the Ruu settlement’s store of giba meat would be exhausted. For half a month now the hunters had been on break, and besides, meat pickled in pico leaves only lasted for around twenty days regardless. In fact, it was actually pretty amazing that they were able to have enough for the festival of the hunt, tonight’s dinner, and even enough to use in business on top of that.

Of course, it wasn’t as if they’d entirely run out immediately either tomorrow or the day after, but if they didn’t hunt fresh giba soon, even the great and powerful Ruu clan would end up starving. Naturally, they could use their earnings to buy karon or kimyuus meat instead... but nobody from the forest’s edge would ever think that way.

So is this whole fight with the nobles just seen as a big, unnecessary pain by the hunters of the forest’s edge? I thought to myself as I rose from my seat and started dishing out the soup, which was my responsibility as head chef.

First up was the new dish, giba soup prepared with karon milk. It was another recipe I had more or less completed back at the Turan manor.

I made a stock from thoroughly boiling giba shoulder meat, aria, tino, chatchi, and nenon, then added karon skim milk, plus raw poitan for thickness. The seasonings were just salt and pico leaves, without anything like milk fat in it. It ended up as something like a healthy and refreshing milk soup.

I went ahead and dished that out onto wooden plates, only to notice at some point Reina Ruu had also stood and was setting places, starting from the head of the group.

And then there was a loud shout of, “Ooooh!” When I turned to look, I found Dan Rutim looking completely taken aback, frozen in place and holding spare ribs in both hands.

“A-A-Asuta, these ribs—”

“Right. I tried changing up the proportion of tau oil and fruit wine a bit. And I also added a special ingredient called chitt seeds, but does it suit your tastes?”

“It’s delicious! So delicious it’s to die for!”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

Now that I thought about it, the Fa and Ruu were the only clans that purchased tau oil, so Dan Rutim must have only had a chance to enjoy the stuff during the festival of the hunt.

“Asuta, Asuta, this flavor—”

“Right, as long as the Rutim clan can get a hold of tau oil and chitt seeds, they should be able to make it too. I’ll ask the inn owner I purchase tau oil from if it would be possible to order more.”

“How is it that you’re able to read my mind like that, Asuta...?”

Yes. How mysterious.

At any rate, Dan Rutim had thoroughly pulverized the gloomy and solemn feeling in the air, and instantly things turned as lively as any banquet.

The women were cheerfully chatting away as they started out by grabbing the nearby dishes. And it seemed like, unsurprisingly, the more unfamiliar dishes were garnering more attention than the old standards like giba burgers and myamuu giba.

“Whoa, this is so strangely soft!” Dari Sauti loudly proclaimed.

When I looked, I saw that he had cubed giba meat stew atop his plate.

“That’s boiled giba chest meat. Is that softness maybe a bit unsatisfying for a hunter after all?”

“No... I was surprised, but I have no complaints about the taste. In fact, it was actually so delicious that it caught me off guard.”

Next to him, the Fou clan head was eating the same dish and gently sighing, and in the next spot over the Beim clan head was looking at his plate of myamuu giba in shock.

“This... is supposed to be the same dish you served at the clan head meeting, isn’t it?”

“Yes. We changed the taste a bit by using an ingredient called tau oil, though.”

On top of that, the dishes everyone ate back then had been prepared by the Suun women Mia Lea Ruu and I had taught. By the time we got to the myamuu giba they had grown fairly capable, but there was an obvious difference in how it turned out compared to this version, which had been prepared by Sheera Ruu.

As that thought was running through my head, a voice shouted out, “Ow!” from behind. “Asuta, the inside of my mouth hurts! Is this dish really alright?!”

That had come from Rau Lea, and he had giba sauté arrabbiata atop his plate.

“Yeah. That dish uses a spice favored by easterners called chitt seeds. I kept the spice down quite a bit compared to the version that I sell, but is it still too much?”

“Hrmm... It’s like I accidentally bit down on a clump of pico leaves...” Rau Lea grumbled, and yet he took another bite of the dish. “It hurts, but it’s tasty...”

“In that case, I’m glad. If it hurts too much, then you can use the soup to soothe your mouth.”

Next to Rau Lea, Bartha was eating the same dish while taking hearty swigs of fruit wine.

“That sure is clever of you, using chitt seeds of all things. You pretty much can’t get a hold of them without ties to a merchant from the east. Still... that skill of yours is something else, Asuta.”

“Thank you. But I didn’t make this meal all on my own. I had the help of everyone from the Ruu clan, too.”

The members of the Ruu clan, both the main house and branch family, all seemed to be enjoying the food.

The women had taken the initiative in passing the dishes around, and they were bringing them to the men, too. I could spy Rimee Ruu and Shin Ruu’s little brothers smacking their lips and wearing brimming smiles while eating meat and chatchi stew and giba spare ribs.

Mia Lea Ruu and Granny Tito Min were seated beside Granny Jiba, and they were eating giba burgers, cubed giba meat stew, and the special soft dish, giba menchi katsu, that I had prepared just for the elder.

Ludo Ruu was talking to his older brother Darmu Ruu about something or other after seeing him again for the first time in a while, and looked to be recommending the giba cutlets. And atop the boy’s plate sat the specially-made giba meat and chatchi croquettes he had begged me to prepare.

Lala Ruu had gone to deliver the soup to the group from Shin Ruu’s house, and took a seat with them to eat her own food. It wasn’t normally something you saw during dinner, but apparently it was acceptable to change places during this event.

Donda Ruu was discussing something with Jiza Ruu while wearing a serious expression, and next to him Sati Lea Ruu was feeding Kota Ruu the broth of the giba soup prepared with karon milk. It seemed the child had finally reached the point where he could handle baby food. In all likelihood, Kota Ruu was part of the first generation that would be raised solely on the new type of cooking I had brought here to the forest’s edge. That thought alone caused me to tense up.

Still, aside from a small portion of the group, everybody was smiling. It really was just as lively as a banquet.

It was at that point that my eyes met with Gazraan Rutim’s.

I gave him a nod, and then glanced over the whole group.

The soup had made it around to everybody. However, there were some who hadn’t so much as touched their plates. Naturally, they would be the group of seven seated at the foot of the crowd. Oh, and Gulaf Zaza, who was right near them, looked like he had done nothing but just keep on drinking fruit wine.

Placing some of the leftover giba spare ribs and meat and chatchi stew on a couple plates, I went and headed over that way.

“Hello, Zuuro Suun... And Diga and Doddo, too. It’s been a while.”

Diga had been hanging his head, and now he sluggishly looked up.

I unwittingly gulped when I saw how shockingly haggard he had become.

Diga had been so big and muscular, but now he looked about as thin as the Fou clan head. His eyes were sunken and his cheeks gaunt. When added to his already flat features, that gave him one seriously gloomy-looking face. Plus his hair was unkempt and there was stubble all around his mouth, making him seem like a different person entirely.

On the other hand, Doddo’s appearance hadn’t undergone quite so much of a shift. He appeared to have slimmed down a bit, but his robust frame probably kept him from losing too much mass. And there hadn’t been much of a change in his face that looked like a stone lion, or his short and stout build. It just felt like he was entirely lacking in drive.

And then, there was Zuuro Suun.

It really was my first time seeing the man since the clan head meeting.

Originally he had been a fat man even larger than Diga, but he had completely shriveled up. He really looked at least a whole size smaller than he used to. His flabby skin had grown flaccid, and now his face looked like a deflated toad. Though his little black eyes were partly obscured under their heavy lids, I could still see they were cloudy, and reminded me of a dead fish. Like how Oura and the members of the Suun branch houses had once looked...

This... This is even worse than I expected.

The only one in the group facing a death sentence was Zuuro Suun. It just hadn’t been carried out for nearly a month now, due to Cyclaeus’s demands that we hand him over.

And when he had learned of Cyclaeus’s persistent demands, he had cried out to be killed immediately.

Was Cyclaeus hoping to wipe out Zuuro Suun by his own hand? Or was his plot to reinstate the Suun as the leading clan, like Yamiru Lea had once hypothesized? The truth was still unclear, but Zuuro Suun himself had begged for death. But that request had been denied, and the man had been left a walking corpse.

On top of that, the skin around his wrists was abraded and red with blood. And that went not just for Zuuro Suun, but also Diga and Doddo. Was that because they usually had leather straps binding them? Even now, they had leather straps around their ankles, with a line between them only about thirty centimeters long. That sort of binding was meant for criminals, so that they would be able to walk, but not run.

They just sat there in place, looking like nothing more than dolls made of mud despite all the dishes laid out before them.

All of this is because I exposed the Suun clan’s crimes...

I had no regrets when it came to Diga and Doddo. They had committed vile acts again and again, so somewhat drastic measures were probably needed in order to handle them. And no matter how pitiful their circumstances became, I wasn’t likely to forget my grudge over how they kidnapped Ai Fa.

But with Zuuro Suun, it was different. Thinking on how my deduction meant this man would lose his very life... It felt like someone had grabbed hold of my stomach. Even if I told myself I had no other choice, it was still pretty damn hard to make peace with.

Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to look away from this pathetic figure. The leading clan heads decided he was to be executed, and the people of the forest’s edge accepted that fact. All of our comrades here at the forest’s edge were prepared to shoulder the burden of his death. And so I set the plate I was holding in front of Zuuro Suun, somehow managing to hold myself together in spite of the stormy emotions threatening to drown me.

“Won’t you please eat my cooking, Zuuro Suun...?”

The man didn’t move in the least. Was he even registering that I was in front of him?

To the right of those central three sat Mida and Yamiru Lea, while Oura and Tsuvai were to their left, and none of them seemed to have touched their plates, either. Even Mida apparently hadn’t eaten at thing.

“Mida, are you not going to eat? I’m pretty confident in all the dishes we made today.”

“Mmh...”

Mida’s little eyes just kept on staring at Zuuro Suun and the others. In the past, his attention had been more focused toward Yamiru Lea, Tsuvai, and Oura, so I had thought maybe he cared about them more than the men of his former family. But now, as he held his loudly gurgling stomach, Mida just kept on staring at his father and brothers with pain in his eyes.

“All of you must have heard Donda Ruu’s words, too...” Gulaf Zaza eventually stated in a low, deep tone from nearby. The impact of the man’s voice was enough to cause Diga and Doddo to flinch and cower even further.

“We’re heading to face off with that Cyclaeus noble in order to make up for the crimes of your father and grandfather, Zattsu Suun. Do you not even have the pride and convictions needed to at least try to wipe away your past shame?”

“I-I...”

“Zattsu Suun betrayed all of us and brought disaster to the people of Genos without us knowing. Regardless of his methods, Asuta of the Fa clan is giving his all in an attempt to mend the relationship that man distorted. And so Donda Ruu figures you all need to taste the cooking he’s selling in the post town, too. Will you insist on continuing to feign ignorance, even after hearing all that...?”

“P-Please hold on, Gulaf Zaza. Being questioned by you would make anybody shrink away.” While internally giving my sincere gratitude to Gulaf Zaza for what he was trying to say, I went ahead and continued on, “Food isn’t tasty when you force someone to eat. So please, everyone just dig in and enjoy it.”

“What are you even saying...?” Gulaf Zaza questioned while taking a swig of fruit wine, his eyes shining bright like some will-o’-the-wisp.

With a calming breath, I turned back toward the former members of the main Suun house.

“Still, let me speak my mind at least a little longer, Zuuro Suun. And you too, Diga and Doddo. We’ve had nothing but bad blood between us. You caused the Fa clan some serious harm, while we worked to expose your crimes, so it’s not like we’d feel any affection toward one another.”

None of them said a word.

“However, ever since Ai Fa took me into the Fa clan, I’ve tried to live as a simple person of the forest’s edge. I want to think of all of you as comrades, and have you feel the same way about me. And Donda Ruu made it clear that you’re still fellow people of the forest’s edge, too. And in that case, I would also like to be your comrade.”

Still nothing.

“Zattsu Suun was so worried about the future of the people of the forest’s edge that he strayed from the proper path. And we’ll need everyone’s help to get us back on the right track.”

“I don’t believe Zuuro Suun possesses the strength needed to comprehend such complex matters as he is now,” Yamiru Lea stated, suddenly standing and walking over next to me. Then, she kneeled down and picked up her father’s plate of soup.

“Now then, drink up. Didn’t you have just as much of an interest in delicious food as Mida, Zuuro Suun?”

The man’s vacant eyes turned and looked at Yamiru Lea.

“There are very tasty fruits and vegetables growing out there in the forest of Morga, aren’t there? But Asuta’s cooking uses even more delicious ingredients from the fields...”

Her father’s trembling fingers reached out and grabbed the plate.

After giving a satisfied look, Yamiru Lea then turned her attention toward Diga.

“Diga, you used to love the kimyuus meat you bought with coins, didn’t you? Even though you didn’t have the courage to head into the post town yourself.”

“Huh...? I...”

“The giba meat Asuta prepares is more delicious than that, though. Did you perhaps find the cooking from the clan head meeting insufficient? Even so, today’s dishes are certain to satisfy you.”

With that, Yamiru Lea grabbed the plate of food I had brought and placed it in front of him.

“You’ve grown so thin because the food given to you by the Zaza and Dom clans isn’t enough to satisfy you, right? Just go ahead and eat this already.”

Diga timidly reached out and grabbed the plate.

Seeing that, Yamiru Lea turned toward Doddo.

“Doddo, that goes for you too. You aren’t even allowed to drink your beloved fruit wine anymore, so you should feed your appetite instead to satisfy your body and soul.”

Doddo showed no response to his sister’s words.

“Can you not hear what I’m saying?”

For just an instant, Yamiru Lea’s eyes once more flashed with the look of some poisonous snake.

And in response, Doddo let out a hoarse “Eek!”

“Goodness, none of you have any guts at all. Without the title of the leading clan behind you, you can’t even pretend to act confident, can you?”

Yamiru Lea slowly rose to her feet, and now she faced Mida’s way.

“Mida, you should hurry up and eat, too. If you dawdle too long, everyone from the Ruu and Rutim will snatch it all up.”

“Right...”

“Are you really alright with not eating even a single bite of this grand feast?”

“Yeah... I’d hate that...”

“Then eat. I’ll go get some food for you,” Yamiru Lea stated, turning around. And as she did, her eyes glanced at me. “Asuta, are you also not having anything? You shouldn’t be putting up with hunger to deal with these fools.”

“Right. But you haven’t eaten yet either, have you, Yamiru Lea?”

“I’ve been drinking fruit wine,” she replied while turning away in a huff, and then started grabbing food. And as she leaned over seductively, she looked back toward Oura.

“Oura, could I have you help me? I don’t have enough hands to carry all this.”

“Yes... Of course, Yamiru... Ah, I mean Yamiru Lea...”

At her daughter’s prompting, Oura also stood and started helping. And seeing that, I went ahead and lent a hand, too.

“Thank you, Yamiru Lea. I figure I probably couldn’t have gotten them moving on my own,” I whispered to her, only for her to shoot me back a chilly glare out of the corner of her eye.

“I don’t see any reason for you to thank me. They were just being such pathetic cowards that it was making me angry.”

Just what exactly were things like in the Suun house back when they were still family?

That clan head was depravity personified, the eldest son rested on his laurels as his successor, and the second son was a crude, violent drunk. The youngest son always seemed out of it, while the youngest daughter had no doubts that the prosperous Suun were the supreme rulers of the forest’s edge. And as for the clan head’s bride and her father, they had eyes like dead fish.

Just how had the eldest daughter conducted herself in the midst of all that, when she had wished from the depths of her heart for the clan’s destruction, despite being eyed as a true successor by the previous clan head, who was the root of all that evil?

At the very least, I couldn’t imagine she used to portion out food for the clan head with an angry look back then, like she was doing now.

“Hey, Mida, are you eating properly?” some small children asked while running over with plates.

It was Rimee Ruu, as well as Shin Ruu’s younger siblings.

“Look, it’s myamuu giba! It’s gonna run out if you don’t get some soon, so we brought it over!”

“Right... Thanks...”

“Mida, make sure you share with Tsuvai and everyone,” Yamiru Lea added.

“Right...” Mida replied again, with a tremble of his cheeks.

At last, his little piglet-like eyes had started shining again.