Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 14 - Chapter 2.3

3

Myme and Mikel eventually showed up around the same time they did yesterday. And when Myme heard Ai Fa and Donda Ruu had given their permission, she was so overcome with emotion that she grabbed hold of my hands.

“Thank you! I never expected we would be given permission so quickly!”

As it happened, the custom to avoid touching members of the opposite gender unnecessarily was particular to the people of the forest’s edge. That was why Myme could grip my hands now, looking like tears of joy were about to start flowing from her eyes.

And next to her, Mikel gave a deep sigh, his brow clearly furrowed.

“So you really got permission, huh? You people of the forest’s edge are surprisingly lacking in caution.”

“It’s because you two would never cause the people of the forest’s edge harm,” I replied, then suddenly felt concerned with what Mikel might be feeling at the moment. “But, um, is it all right with you, Mikel? You aren’t worried about letting your precious daughter come to the settlement at the forest’s edge?”

“You lot have no reason to harm us either... I’m just ashamed of how restless this idiot daughter of mine can be.”

At that, Myme snapped back to her senses and turned toward Mikel.

“I’ll be all right! I swear, I won’t cause anyone any trouble! So is it okay, dad...?”

Mikel didn’t respond.

“Please! I just have to watch Asuta cooking! It’s the first time I’ve had food made by anyone but you that’s moved me this much!”

After giving yet another sigh, Mikel glared back at his begging daughter.

“I’m telling you, I can’t go foisting a tomboy like you off on other people all on your own.”

“Yup, naturally! You’re coming along too of course, dad!” Myme retorted, spreading both arms wide and hugging her father.

Mikel just turned away, a deeply displeased look on his face.

“Naturally, we want to invite both of you. I truly am honored to be able to welcome you to the forest’s edge, Mikel.”

“Hmph. I’ll just be there to keep an eye out and make sure this tomboy doesn’t go doing anything stupid,” Mikel shot back just as bluntly as always.

And after having tightly hugged her father’s bony yet solid frame, Myme turned back my way.

“Well then, when should we schedule it for? My dad shouldn’t have any work tomorrow.”

“Ah, really? On our end, we’ve got no problems with having you over whenever.”

“Then tomorrow it is! That’s all right, isn’t it dad? Ooh, it’s like I’m dreaming!”

Myme looked so blissful that just looking at her raised my spirits. I really was honored that she was so happy just from the thought of seeing me cook.

“Ah, if you don’t mind, I have something I’d like you to taste test again! For today, I brought a karon dish!”

The dish in question was already sitting in the wagon. Once again, I had slipped away from the stalls for a bit to talk with the father-daughter pair.

I went ahead and pulled the container out of the woven basket, and sure enough it was piping hot. Just like with yesterday, she had used a clay container that really seemed to hold in the heat. And when I opened the lid, a sweet smell once again filled my nostrils.

“Hmm, this one seems to be a lot like the dish from yesterday.”

The karon meat was still soaking in a thick red soup. Though the kimyuus meat from before had been swapped out, the color and smell of the soup seemed identical to yesterday.

Still, karon meat was akin to beef. Meanwhile, kimyuus was like chicken, and that alone was enough to cause a change in the overall aroma. And that richer smell from the karon meat was seriously getting my expectations up.

Still, this must be karon leg meat...

In the beginning of my time here, only karon leg meat had been sold in the post town. That restriction had since been lifted, but since torso meat cost more than double as much, I doubted many people were purchasing it. And besides, the stuff used here looked just like the karon leg meat I had seen at inns.

Karon leg meat didn’t have any fat on it at all, and it was very sinewy in exchange, making it quite tough. In fact, it was so tough that you had to cut it as thin as possible when grilling it, or let it cook for quite some time when boiling.

Still, it had a richer flavor to it than kimyuus meat, and there was some appeal to the chewy texture. So my expectations were pretty high as I pressed the prepared wooden spoon up against the meat.

The meat had been cut into even slices, and it offered no resistance as the spoon dug right into it. It really was every bit as tender as the kimyuus meat from yesterday.

I brought it to my mouth along with some of the red soup...and I was struck by an indescribable flavor.

It really was fantastic. Even more so than yesterday’s dish, in fact. The taste of the karon meat worked to accentuate the splendor of the soup even more. The sweetness of the fruit wine, with just the right amount of salt, and the smattering of grated vegetables... It was all in amazing harmony with the karon meat.

“Ah, this is fantastic... I had thought yesterday’s dish couldn’t be perfected any further, but this is even tastier.”

“Huh? Then yesterday’s dish was a failure. What exactly would you say was wrong with it?” Myme questioned with a serious look, pressing in close.

“Oh, no, there was nothing wrong with yesterday’s. This dish is just so wonderful...”

“But I prepared each of them according to the qualities of kimyuus and karon meat. So if today’s is tastier, then that means something went wrong with yesterday’s dish.”

I was definitely more than a little shocked to hear that.

“You adjusted the broth between yesterday and today? I was sure they must be the same...”

“The basics are all identical. But I tweaked the amount of ingredients and heating time a bit,” Myme replied, then she stopped and thought a little. “Karon meat, of course, has more flavor to it than kimyuus, so if you compared them it could make sense to see that dish as better. But kimyuus has a delicious flavor all its own, and I tried my hardest to fully draw it out... It seems I still need to give it more thought, though.”

“I’d say they’re both delicious... I’m sorry for the unnecessary comment there.”

“No, such impressions are just what I was looking for. It might have been an issue with the proportions I used. I’ll try out a variety of things when I get back home.”

When Myme looked up at me, she was once again wearing a cheerful smile. And I could spy a truly inquisitive mind shining behind her light brown eyes.

She really is something else. That passion of hers must be why she was able to make dishes on this level, I thought as I polished off the rest of the food.

Once I was done, I gave Myme a smile.

“Thanks for the food. It really was delicious. I’m looking forward to finally seeing your skills firsthand tomorrow.”

“I’m hardly able to contain myself even now!”

“In that case, I’d like to work out a rough schedule... Could I have you cook twice, Myme?”

“Of course. But why twice?”

“Once for the Ruu clan, since they’ve helped us out so much, and then again at the Fa house where I live. We always have people gather at the Ruu settlement for cooking study sessions, so I’d like you to participate there first.”

“A study session?! I’m really looking forward to it!” Myme replied with a beaming smile.

Meanwhile, Mikel just kept on frowning and looking like none of this was his problem.

“Then once that’s over, could I have you come to the Fa house to prepare a dish for dinner? I’ll make one too, of course, and then we can give each other’s a try for our meal. And once that’s done, my clan head said she will escort both of you back to the Turan lands.”

“Thank you! To not only get to see your skills firsthand, but even eat dinner together...I’m truly, deeply overjoyed!”

I grinned back while feeling much the same, but then I remembered something important we still needed to discuss.

“Oh, there’s one more thing I’d like to propose. If you don’t mind, could we have you cook with giba meat? The people of the forest’s edge don’t have much interest in karon or kimyuus meat, so I think they would appreciate that more.”

After looking dumbfounded for a moment, Myme once again grasped my hand.

“Y-You would let me cook giba meat? But it’s a good deal more expensive than karon leg meat or skinless kimyuus, isn’t it?”

“We have more than enough of it at the settlement at the forest’s edge, though. So much so that it’s cheaper for us if we’re the ones providing it.”

Myme’s eyes teared up as she shouted for the umpteenth time, “Thank you! I’ve always wanted to try cooking with giba meat! To think I’m going to get to use such a wonderful ingredient... It really is just like a dream!”

“Then, do you want to take a bit of giba meat back with you to prepare for tomorrow? It’d be tough in a lot of ways to perform without any practice.”

“Ah, no! I don’t think I could improve much with just a single night of study! And I don’t want to waste such precious meat, so the opportunity to use some tomorrow is already plenty!”

If Myme was fine with that, then I didn’t have any objections.

“All right, then I’ll look forward to working together tomorrow. We run the stalls until the lower second hour, so could you arrive around then?”

“Understood! I’m really looking forward to it!”

Then, just like yesterday, Myme and Mikel bought giba dishes from the stalls and headed back to Turan.

As I watched Yamiru Lea hand over one completed giba meat poitan wrap after another to the wave of customers pressing in on her, I offered her an apology. “Sorry. I’ve had to leave the stall to you a lot today. You haven’t had any issues, have you?”

“No. Fortunately, no ruffians have attempted to threaten me with blades or anything of the like,” Yamiru Lea replied with a composed expression as she continued with her work. Since the sun was approaching its peak, the number of customers was only growing all the while. “So, did you indeed invite that father and daughter pair to the settlement at the forest’s edge?”

“Yes. They’ll be coming tomorrow. And she’ll be participating in our usual study session, so I hope you’ll look forward to it too, Yamiru Lea.”

“I’m nowhere near passionate enough about manning the stove to be excited about such a thing,” Yamiru Lea retorted, and then she suddenly sighed.

Her proud profile wore a sort of pensive-looking expression.

“What is it?” I asked.

Her reply came quietly. “It’s nothing. Just... It’s certainly difficult to think such a day would come, considering how the members of the Suun clan used to intimidate the townsfolk. Back then, we people of the forest’s edge were feared every bit as much as giba.”

For a moment I was at a loss for words, but I soon smiled back. “That’s true. And everything is a result of the hardships the people of the forest’s edge have overcome. So let’s keep on working together and giving our all.”

After falling silent for a bit, Yamiru Lea shrugged her shoulders with a, “Hmph. It’s not as if I have any strength to lend anyone. I’m a weak, pathetic woman who cannot even carry a metal pot on her own.”

“That’s not true at all,” I replied, earnestly feeling that way.

And then, suddenly, there was a strange commotion coming from the street.

When I turned to look, I found a huge totos-drawn wagon approaching from the north. It was a fine rectangular wooden vehicle, pulled by two of the massive birds. A soldier in formal armor and a helmet held the reins, and the body of the wagon was decorated with the emblem of a count’s house.

“Oh, my. Which noble is it today, I wonder?” Yamiru Lea sarcastically whispered.

There were currently only two nobles who would come to purchase food from our stalls: Polarth of house Daleim and Leeheim of house Saturas.

Showing no care for the commotion from the surrounding crowd, the totos wagon came to a stop. The man who emerged was past middle age, holding a large bouquet, and flanked by two guards armed with blades.

The crowd in front of the stalls all ducked their heads and started to move aside, but the man gently called out, “Ah, everyone, please remain as you were. I have not come as a customer of this stall, so I ask that you pay me no heed.” After making that declaration, he came around to the side to speak to us. “My apologies for interrupting your work. Are there any members of the Ruu clan present?”

Lala and Sheera Ruu shared a look.

The norm in situations like this was for a member of the main house to take charge, however in this case Sheera Ruu was in charge of the stalls. After Lala Ruu whispered something to her with a frown, Sheera Ruu nodded and stepped forward.

“Yes, I am a member of the Ruu clan, the eldest daughter of Shin Ruu’s house. My name is Sheera Ruu. What business do you have with me, exactly?”

“I am acting as an envoy of the first son of the house of Saturas, Sir Leeheim. If you would, I ask that you please deliver this bouquet to Lady Reina Ruu.”

At that, Sheera Ruu’s eyes opened wide.

“To Reina Ruu? She isn’t here in town today, though...”

“I am aware. Sir Leeheim is also busy with other affairs today and unable to leave the castle town, so I was dispatched to deliver this item,” the man said with a refined smile as he held out the bouquet. The colorful array of flowers were wrapped in truly expensive-looking silk. It was a magnificent collection of flowers like you would rarely see, not only at the settlement at the forest’s edge, but in the post town as well.

“These flowers are for Reina Ruu? My apologies, but what is the reason behind this gift? We have no custom of giving flowers at the forest’s edge for any occasion other than a birthday...”

“Sir Leeheim has been unable to visit this place for ten days now, so he wished to offer these flowers in apology. Please, go ahead and accept them without reservation.”

With a troubled look, Sheera Ruu turned to face Lala Ruu. With a heaving sigh, the younger girl gave an exasperated shrug of her shoulders.

“Very well... Then, for the time being, I will accept them,” Sheera Ruu stated with a listless smile as she took the flowers.

Seemingly satisfied, the older man gave a bow.

“Well then, please send Lady Reina Ruu our regards. And for now, I shall be excusing myself.”

And with that, the man and the two guards accompanying him got back in the totos wagon. After seeing them leave, Sheera Ruu returned to the stall.

“Good work there, Sheera Ruu. What are you going to do with that bouquet, though?”

“For now, I have no choice but to take it back to Reina Ruu. After that, I suppose the decision will be up to Donda and Mia Lea Ruu.”

She must have decided she couldn’t just reject a gift from a noble solely on her own discretion. And if I had been in her position, I’m sure I would have done the same.

“What exactly did they come for anyway? They didn’t even buy a meal or anything,” Lala Ruu said while sticking out her tongue as she prepared giba burgers. Sure enough, if it were Polarth he would have ordered his underlings to purchase a bunch of giba dishes.

Well, not that Polarth would be sending a bouquet to start with.

Leeheim of house Saturas was one of the participants in the dinner party held in the castle town. But before he departed afterward, he stopped by to give his regards to us chefs from the forest’s edge, which is when he seemed to catch feelings for Reina Ruu.

Roy and Welhide fell for her charms too, but for him to go and send a bouquet... I thought to myself, only for Yamiru Lea to whisper into my ear.

“Quite the troublesome individual has set his eyes on Reina Ruu. If she isn’t careful, we could end up at war with the nobles again, wouldn’t you say?”

“Well, yeah, that’s true... But the heir to a count’s house would never ask a woman of the forest’s edge to marry him. So I’m sure it’ll be just fine.”

Through the chain of hardships we had overcome, the people of the forest’s edge really had formed ties with all sorts of people. Though most of those were things we could be glad for, I suppose it made sense that occasionally some people would have feelings that were not reciprocated.

Still, that’s what it meant to open up to the outside world. You just had to keep clearing up any misunderstandings that arose one by one. And the people of the forest’s edge had still only just gotten started down this new path.

If it comes down to it, we can always discuss the matter with Polarth or Marstein. So it really isn’t the same as when it felt like we were surrounded on all sides by enemies, I thought as I laid out some fresh giba meat atop the tray.

And as the totos wagon from house Saturas departed for the castle town, the intimidated crowd got their nerve back and started returning to the stall.