Group Performance
Chapter 1: The Youngest Ruu Son’s Little Adventure
1
It was the second day of the ashen month, two days after the dinner party to foster friendship between the leading clan heads of the forest’s edge and the nobles of Genos.
The wicked nobles Cyclaeus and Ciluel had both been arrested for their crimes, but there was still an air of unrest hanging over Genos. The reason was because the bandit group that those nobles had manipulated from the shadows, known as the Winds of Black Death, still hadn’t been apprehended.
According to Cyclaeus’s confession, apparently they were the ones who had once infiltrated the Zaza settlement, and also dressed as hunters of the forest’s edge and attacked the Dabagg plantations. The lord of Genos put out a warning to stay on guard until those dangerous outlaws were all arrested, so Ai Fa and Asuta of the Fa clan were still staying at the Ruu settlement.
Asuta had been unable to resume business with his stalls, so he had instead been spending his time holding study sessions for the women under the Ruu. As for Ai Fa, she had been riding off on her totos to go hunt around the Fa house every day, then once she finished her work as a hunter, she would return to the Ruu settlement. That was how the two of them were currently spending their time.
Of course, the hunters of the Ruu were also carrying out their own work. No matter how dangerous the Winds of Black Death might have been, they couldn’t exactly go sneaking into the settlement while the sun was high in the sky, and besides, they had no reason to go after the people of the forest’s edge now that the nobles giving them orders had been arrested. Even Ai Fa and Asuta were only staying at the Ruu settlement just on the unlikeliest of off chances that anything might happen.
And so, despite the uneasy feeling in the air, the days at the forest’s edge had been quite peaceful of late. But on this second day of the ashen month, there was at least a little bit of a stir.
◇
“Hmm? What’s the commotion about?”
It was currently around sunset at the Ruu settlement. Ludo Ruu had been on a casual stroll after finishing his hunting work, until he came across a group making a stir off in a corner of the plaza.
The trio consisted of Lala Ruu, Shin Ruu, and Mida. As Ludo Ruu approached, Lala Ruu turned his way with an angry glare.
“Ah, Ludo, you tell them too! You can’t suddenly become a great hunter by acting all reckless, right?!”
“Man, you’re noisy. What in the world is going on here, Shin Ruu?”
It seemed like the only one actually kicking up a fuss here was Lala Ruu. Unlike her, Shin Ruu’s eyebrows were drooping as he stared at Ludo Ruu, as if asking for help.
“It’s nothing, really. I was just trying to do some training as a hunter with Mida.”
“Like I said, it’s reckless to go training like that right after finishing up your hunting work! Dinner’s soon anyway, so why not just rest a bit till then?!”
“But...” Shin Ruu murmured, a brooding look in his eyes.
“Hmm...” Ludo Ruu pondered, scratching his head. “Hey, usually Lala’s wrong about everything, but this time it looks like you’re at fault. I told you before, didn’t I? Letting your body rest is an important part of our work as hunters.”
“Yeah, I’m trying to keep that in mind, but still...”
“What if you wreck yourself through training and then screw up on the hunt tomorrow? I’m sure my old man and Ryada Ruu would tell you the same.”
Shin Ruu didn’t have anything to say in response.
“Besides, the hungrier Mida is, the weaker he gets. When he’s starving right before dinner like this, you could probably take him down in no time flat just by sweeping out his feet,” Ludo Ruu continued while giving Mida’s protruding belly a thump. But after feeling the impact, he furrowed his brows a bit. “Mida, did you lose a little weight again?”
“Hmm...? I’m not really sure...” Mida absentmindedly replied from high up above. He didn’t seem to be paying any attention whatsoever to the commotion down by his feet.
However, his round little eyes buried under fat looked sort of listless. Perhaps he was concerned about Zuuro Suun, who was being held in a prison in the castle town. The man who had once been his father would soon have his crimes judged, after which he would be sent off to some unknown location.
“Right...” Ludo Ruu murmured, thumping that belly again. “You may not look very different, but it seems your fat’s been getting replaced with muscle. I still definitely won’t let you beat me at the next festival of the hunt, though.”
“Yeah...”
“At any rate, picking a fight with Mida is dangerous. Whether you win or lose, if this belly of his falls on you, it could easily break a bone. So wait till both of you are in top condition first.”
“Got it...” Shin Ruu replied, the look in his eyes growing even more broody. “Was I unable to choose the right path forward because I’m still so immature?”
“Hmm? What are you on about now? If you’re immature, then that would go even more so for the majority of the other hunters around your age, right?”
“But I can’t beat you or Mida in a contest of strength, and back then...I couldn’t protect Asuta either.”
“Hey, Shin Ruu!” Lala Ruu shouted, looking even angrier. But Ludo Ruu held out his hand to silence her.
“Umm, Shin Ruu, about that... Hrmm, what was it again? My old man and brother have something they say at times like this...”
Shin Ruu just looked confused.
“Imprudent! Right, that’s imprudent! It’s only natural not to accept your own mistakes and want to improve. But if you rush things and make poor choices, you’ll end up getting weaker rather than stronger, right?”
Shin Ruu didn’t respond.
“That day’s going to be a lifelong shame for me too. Even with Asuta being held hostage, if my old man had been there he might still have been able to do something about it. When I think about that, it makes me so angry that it makes me want to get stronger and stronger too.”
Shin Ruu hadn’t been the only one guarding Asuta when that Lefreya noble had him abducted. After all, Ludo Ruu had been on the job too.
However, Shin Ruu had been right by Asuta’s side, while Ludo Ruu had been standing sentry outside the building. That was likely why the young hunter had ended up lamenting his own powerlessness all the greater. Ludo Ruu could understand just how he felt to a painful degree.
“That’s exactly why we need to train properly, isn’t it? If you go down the wrong path, then I’ll end up getting stronger all on my own.”
“Hey, try thinking about how Shin Ruu’s feeling at least a little! Don’t you think you could phrase that a bit better?” Lala Ruu retorted, now shooting Ludo Ruu an angry glare.
“You sure are a hassle... Isn’t it tiring being angry like that all the time?”
“I’m only angry because you two keep doing stuff to make me mad!”
“I didn’t do anything at all. This is such a pain... You two should just hurry up and get married already. Ah, but Lala’s still thirteen... Ugh, so that means this’ll keep going on for two more years?”
At that, Lala Ruu’s fists came flying. But Ludo Ruu just dodged, circling around behind Mida.
“What, you’re gonna get married, aren’t you? There’s no way you’re gonna settle down with someone else at this point, right?”
“Shut up, Ludo, you stupid jerk! You’re always saying stuff you shouldn’t!”
Lala Ruu persistently tried to follow, but Ludo Ruu kept circling around so that Mida was left standing there aloofly between them. And as he watched on, Shin Ruu’s face was even redder than Lala Ruu’s.
“Y’know, you’re always teasing everybody else about it, but what about you?! You’re fifteen now, so you could take a bride, couldn’t you?” Lala Ruu retorted, panting after having finally given up on her pursuit.
“What about me? Are you saying there’s some woman I’d want to marry?”
“You should be asking yourself that, not the people around you! The Ruu have a ton of related clans, so you must at least have a couple girls you’re interested in, right?”
“Hmm, nah, can’t think of anyone whose face would get all red just from a bit of teasing.”
Once again, Lala Ruu’s fists came swinging.
And as Ludo Ruu avoided them, Shin Ruu finally spoke up.
“Still, it’s a fact that folks under the Ruu are worried about how the members of the main house have been waiting so long to marry. That might mainly be Vina Ruu and Darmu Ruu’s fault, but eventually it’ll be your problem too, won’t it, Ludo Ruu?”
“What’s it really matter? Even if you just leave things be, folks who are meant to be together will be together. You two should know that better than anyone.”
In the end, Shin and Lala Ruu were the only ones whose faces were left red.
It was then that a figure came wandering over from the other side of the plaza.
“Ah, so this is where you were, Ludo Ruu? Dinner will be starting soon.”
“Huh? Hey, Morun Rutim. What have you been up to?”
“I’ve been getting in plenty of cooking practice since midday. But we went so long, it looks like I’ll be borrowing a bedroom in the main house tonight.”
Morun Rutim was the youngest daughter of the main Rutim house. She had a bit of a plump build resembling her father’s, and was also fifteen just like Ludo Ruu. Ultimately, she was a gentle-featured woman with a very charming smile.
“Ooh, sounds like you’re pretty fired up.”
“Yeah, well, you see, when the Ruu clan reopens their stalls for business, I’m going to end up taking turns with Ama Min to help out. So until then, I’ll be studying at the main Ruu house.”
The Ruu clan was also planning a grand reopening for their stalls once those outlaws from the Winds of Black Death were apprehended. At first, the Rutim couldn’t help out with that work since they were shorthanded on women, but since they had welcomed Tsuvai and Oura into their clan, they were finally able to spare the personnel.
“Gotcha. So, what’s for dinner tonight? Asuta’s been thinking up all sorts of new dishes again, hasn’t he?”
“Hee hee, you’ll just have to wait and find out.”
“I see. Well then, let’s hurry on back! Shin Ruu, Mida, see you tomorrow. And Lala, don’t go causing too much trouble at Shin Ruu’s house, all right?”
“Shut up! I’ll be back after dinner, okay, Morun Rutim...?”
“Right. We’ll have lots of time to chat in the bedroom.”
Lala Ruu was once again set to eat today’s dinner at Shin Ruu’s house. It was an arrangement that had been put in place to allow Shin Ruu’s older sister Sheera Ruu to get plenty of instruction from Asuta in the main house’s kitchen. So on days like this, Sheera Ruu would eat dinner at the main house, while Lala Ruu would head to Shin Ruu’s house in turn.
Though they were both members of the Ruu clan, it was quite rare to get the opportunity to eat dinner with the main family if you were a member of a branch house, like Sheera Ruu was. Plus, Asuta and Ai Fa were staying at the Ruu settlement, so adding Morun Rutim on top of that made things feel sort of like a banquet. Looking at it that way got Ludo Ruu pretty excited.
“Ugh, I’m starving! I’m really looking forward to seeing what dishes are waiting for me!” Ludo Ruu proclaimed on their way to the main house, to which Morun Rutim offered him a smile from beside him.
“Hey, Lala Ruu and Shin Ruu seem to be getting along as well as always, don’t they?”
“Yeah, that’s true. I can’t help but wonder if they’re going to go and get married the day after Lala turns fifteen or something.”
“You’re overexaggerating,” Morun Rutim retorted with a smile. But then in the next moment, her expression grew clouded.
“What’s the matter?” Ludo Ruu asked as they walked along through the plaza.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“You had a sad look on your face just now, didn’t you?”
“I-I don’t think so.”
“You totally did. Do you have a guy you like or something?”
At that, Morun Rutim turned just as red as Lala Ruu had before.
“W-Why are we talking about men all of a sudden?”
“Because we were just talking about Lala and Shin Ruu. Doesn’t it make sense to assume that?”
“Ludo Ruu, you can be pretty goofy, but you really do keep a careful eye on people, don’t you?”
“What? I may be goofy, but I just see what I happen to see.”
“I’d say that’s amazing, though. Plus, you’re really kind too.”
It didn’t exactly feel that way to Ludo Ruu. In fact, he had just a little while ago been running his mouth and getting chased around by his little sister.
But at any rate, Morun Rutim’s face was extremely red, and she had a very serious look in her eyes.
“U-Um, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you, Ludo Ruu!”
“Go ahead, just throw it on out there.”
“I’m serious here, so could you listen seriously too?”
“I’m being serious. You’re a precious member of the clans under ours, and we’ve been close since we were little,” Ludo Ruu replied, stopping and facing Morun Rutim.
The girl fidgeted and stared down at the ground. Though Ludo Ruu was small for a boy, Morun Rutim was even shorter than he was.
“It looks like...I’ve found a man I have feelings for.”
“Yeah, I figured out that much.”
“But I don’t know what to do... It’d definitely just cause trouble for him...”
“There’s no way that’s true. Anybody out there would love to have you for a bride.”
“Th-That’s not true at all. I look just like my father Dan, after all...”
“I wouldn’t really say you look just like him. Well, except for how you make the same exact face when you’re angry.”
Morun Rutim didn’t reply.
“But you only get mad when you have a good reason, so what’s the issue? If someone can make you angry, they’re gonna be in the wrong anyway. And you’re so cute when you smile that I can’t imagine anyone having a problem with marrying you.”
“It’s really not a problem?”
“Of course not.”
Upon hearing that, Morun Rutim timidly looked up.
“Then just let me say...this is sure to surprise you.”
“No it won’t. If you’re okay with telling me, just come out and say it.”
In response, Morun Rutim whispered something so quietly it was impossible to pick up.
“Hmm?” Ludo Ruu questioned, moving in closer.
“...om...”
“I can’t hear you. What’d you say?”
“It’s Deek Dom...”
Ludo Ruu had declared he wouldn’t be surprised, but now his eyes opened wide in shock.
“Umm, isn’t Deek Dom about the same age as my old man?”
“Of course not! Haven’t you met him before, Ludo Ruu?!”
Deek Dom had also come along on guard duty during the meeting with the nobles. And they must have met at least briefly at the clan head meeting...but the only impression that came to mind was the giba skull over his head, the searing gaze of his black eyes underneath, and his burly limbs coated in scars.
“Hmm, I can’t really remember too well... But where exactly did you get a chance to meet him, Morun Rutim?”
“Just like you, it was on the day of that meeting with the nobles. My father Dan and brother Gazraan went along, so all the members of the Rutim clan gathered at the Ruu settlement. And we had a chance to talk a bit.”
“Did you seriously fall for him just like that...?”
“Yeah... Is that weird?”
“Hmm...” Ludo Ruu pondered.
It might well have been true that there were plenty of folks at the forest’s edge who fell in love at first sight. As far as Ludo Ruu could see, his sisters Vina and Reina Ruu had been quite taken with Asuta ever since the day they’d met.
“I guess it may not be weird at all. I mean, apparently giba start making kids then and there when they meet.”
“Umm, could you please not lump me in with giba...?”
“Ah, yeah. Still, I can get why you’ve been so worried. It’d be one thing if we were talking about a clan under the Ruu, but he’s subordinate to one of the other leading clan heads, which makes things tricky in a bunch of ways.”
“Right... Plus he’s the head of the main Dom house, while I’m the youngest daughter of the main Rutim house... Both of us are members of the main houses of the next biggest clans under the Ruu and Zaza, so it’s not like we can just go acting as we please...” Morun Rutim lamented with a deep sigh. If it was possible, she looked sadder than Dan Rutim did when he finished off all the ribs.
“Hmm...” Ludo Ruu pondered again. Before he could think of anything sensible to say, though, Morun Rutim cut him off in a fluster.
“Umm, thanks, Ludo Ruu. Just talking to you helped calm me down a bit.”
“Eh? But nothing’s been resolved at all.”
“Yeah, but it was impossible from the start. Besides, it’s not like there would be a chance for the Dom and Rutim clans to meet in the future anyway, so there won’t even be an opportunity for us to form a bond...”
“In that case, why not discuss it with Gazraan Rutim? He’s good at handling troublesome stuff like that.”
“No, I think I’d just trouble Gazraan if I brought it up to him,” Morun Rutim replied in an oddly decisive tone.
Well, it was true that if Gazraan Rutim really were skilled with that sort of thing he probably wouldn’t have stayed single until he was twenty-three and worried everyone around him.
“So it’s fine... I probably won’t want to marry anyone else for the time being, but I’m sure eventually those feelings will settle down,” Morun Rutim said, now wearing her usual bright smile. “Thanks for listening. Now then, everyone’s waiting, so let’s hurry on back.”
With that, Morun Rutim took off running for the house awash in twilight. And as he watched the small roundish girl take off, Ludo Ruu once again pondered, “Hmm...”
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