Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 15 - Chapter 2.5

5

After we finished up business for the day and made it back to the Ruu settlement, there ended up being a huge scene there as well. But, well, the primary commotion came from Lala Ruu’s indignation once she heard what had happened from Reina Ruu. After all, she had been doubtful of Leeheim’s actions right from the start.

“I knew it! I just knew something like this was going to happen eventually. That noble was always shooting you creepy looks, Reina!”

“Calm down, Lala. You losing your temper won’t accomplish anything,” Mia Lea interjected. However, even she had a bit of a strained smile when she looked at Reina Ruu. “That goes for you too, Reina. If you were going to be depressed about what happened afterward, then you should have controlled your emotions a little better, wouldn’t you say?”

“Right. I’m sorry... What will I do if we can’t do business in the post town anymore after this?” Reina Ruu lamented, now clearly on the verge of tears. With looks of clear concern on their faces, Rimee and Vina Ruu also snuggled up to their sister.

“Well, I suppose you aren’t as skilled at handling men as Vina... Now then, just what shall we do?”

“Don’t you think we should consult with Melfried, since he’s in charge of mediating with the people of the forest’s edge? We went ahead and reached out already in the post town,” I interjected.

“Reached out?” Mia Lea Ruu questioned with a tilt of her head.

“Yes. There’s a man named Yang who works in the post town. We told him what happened. He’s the head chef for the house of Daleim, so he’ll tell Polarth, who should get in contact with Melfried in turn.”

“I see, that’s good news. But still... It’s forbidden to enter or leave the castle town once night falls, correct?”

“Right. If at all possible, it would be good to get in contact with Donda Ruu before that, but what do you think?”

“Hmm, I want to say we should ask Ryada Ruu to go summon him. But Ryada Ruu’s only got one good leg, so it would be dangerous if he ran into a giba along the way...”

“In that case, I will accompany him,” Ai Fa volunteered. “I do not know where the traps are set throughout the Ruu hunting grounds, so I couldn’t go on my own. But if I had Ryada Ruu’s guidance, we wouldn’t be in any danger.”

“But aren’t you taking a break from giba hunting because you’re not in perfect condition yourself?”

“Even if it would be difficult to capture a giba, I can at least protect myself from one. Besides, as long as we don’t go too deep into the hunting grounds, there won’t be much of a risk of running into any of the beasts. Once we get far enough in, we simply need to blow a grass whistle to summon a Ruu hunter. If we get even one of them, we can have them fetch Donda Ruu.”

After a bit of thinking, Mia Lea Ruu nodded, “All right. I’m not exactly well versed in the dangers posed by the hunting grounds. But if Ryada Ruu agrees that it would be safe, then we’ll be counting on you, Ai Fa.”

Once Ryada Ruu was informed of the circumstances, he also gave his approval. “I’ve still got enough strength left in me to swing around a blade. So with Ai Fa at my side, I can’t see it being dangerous in the least.”

Ryada Ruu was Sheera and Shin Ruu’s father, a slim man who was just a bit under forty. His mustache had a refined appearance and looked good on him. He used to be a skilled hunter, but hurt his leg on the job and now helped out around the house instead.

As she watched him put on his hunter’s cloak and hang his blade from his hip, his wife Tari Ruu sighed deeply and remarked, “I never imagined I would see you looking like that and heading off into the forest again, Ryada...”

Sheera Ruu and her younger brothers all looked concerned too as they saw Ryada Ruu off. But as for Ryada Ruu himself, he just shot his family a gentle smile.

“There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be back soon, so take care of the work around the house, Sheera.”

“Of course... Ai Fa, please watch out for our father Ryada.”

“Yes, I swear to see him back safely.”

At that, Ai Fa and Ryada Ruu disappeared into the forest together.

Lem Dom had been standing there watching them go alongside us, and she now gave a deep sigh. “Hunters heading out to the forest really do make for such striking figures. It’s hard to imagine this Ryada Ruu man has withdrawn from giba hunting, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Still, it’s only been a few months since he retired.”

At that point, Reina Ruu threw her arms around Sheera Ruu, still looking like she was on the verge of tears.

“I’m so sorry, Sheera Ruu. Now even Ryada Ruu is getting dragged into this, all because I couldn’t contain my temper...”

“Don’t apologize. My father Ryada seemed quite proud to be heading into the forest. He must be overjoyed at the chance to do so despite no longer being a hunter,” Sheera Ruu replied, giving a faint smile. “Besides, both Ai Fa and my father said there wouldn’t be any danger, and I believe their words.”

At that point, the sound of Mia Lea Ruu giving a hearty clap caused Reina and Sheera Ruu to both shoot up straight.

“Now then, let’s all carry out our own work! You were still in the middle of preparations, weren’t you, Sheera Ruu?”

“Y-Yes. I think I’ll be finished shortly, though...”

Apparently Sheera Ruu had taken on prep work, having stayed behind today for the sake of her little brother. Ultimately, she and Reina Ruu were the ones in charge of the Ruu stalls.

“Once that’s done with, I would appreciate further instruction from you, Asuta. If we’re going to be manning the stove for the Rutim banquet, then we’ll need the proper training.”

“That’s true. Well then, let’s get working.”

Feeling freshly remotivated, we headed for the kitchen. Just like Ai Fa and Ryada Ruu, we had our own work we needed to carry out. That was what it meant to be people of the forest’s edge. First up came finishing the prep work, then experimenting with giba curry, and finally training for the banquet. In other words, we had a whole heap of work we needed to take care of.

Reina Ruu’s eyes were still a bit teary, but even so, she put everything into her work. And by the time Ai Fa and Ryada Ruu returned, roughly an hour or so had passed.

“Ah, I’m glad to see you made it back safely. And it seems you brought back quite the souvenir,” Mia Lea Ruu said, speaking up as representative for everyone.

Ai Fa and Ryada Ruu had brought back Donda and Ludo Ruu, and the latter two were carrying a massive giba.

“We managed to bloodlet this one. Ryada Ruu, could you get it cleaned up?”

After a firm yet gentle glance at Sheera Ruu in the kitchen, Ryada Ruu nodded, “Of course.”

Then after the giba was carried to the dissection room, Reina Ruu, Mia Lea Ruu, and I all went ahead and explained the circumstances to Donda Ruu. When we were finished, he loudly snorted, “Hmph! What a ridiculous annoyance. So, you’re saying Melfried and I should settle the matter?”

“That’s right. I don’t think Leeheim will try to stir things up any further, but still...if there’s any chance that he might, it could get really bad.”

“Hrmm, well, we are talking about the eldest son of a count here. Our only option seems to be justly determining who was at fault.”

Reina Ruu had been acting brave, but at that, her eyes started tearing up again. And realizing that, Donda Ruu turned his burning gaze upon his daughter.

“You really only slapped away his arm and explained the customs of the forest’s edge, right, Reina?”

“Yes... I apologize for my short-tempered actions.”

“You swear that you didn’t beat him to a pulp or the like?”

“O-Of course. I didn’t do anything so extreme as that.”

“Then stop looking like you’re about to break down sobbing,” Donda Ruu stated, placing his bulky hand atop Reina Ruu’s head. “I’m the one who said there was no need to reject those flowers. You aren’t the only one responsible here. So leave the rest to me.”

“Right... I’m sorry, father...” Reina Ruu replied, tears now streaming down her face.

As Donda Ruu’s brow furrowed, he turned toward Mia Lea Ruu. Even though he was one of the foremost hunters of the forest’s edge, it seemed even he might not know how to handle his daughter’s tears.

Mia Lea Ruu placed her hands on Reina Ruu’s shoulders and nestled up close, then shot her husband a beaming smile.

“Well then, we’re counting on you, clan head. The totos is already prepared over there.”

“Right. I’ll bring Ludo along with me. If we don’t make it back before the sun sets, then go ahead and eat without us,” Donda Ruu replied, and then he shot me a glare. “So, they’ve already heard about this in the castle town?”

“Yes. Yang wrapped up his work early and promised to let Polarth know, so at the bare minimum he must have heard about all this.”

“Hmph. If that noble heard, then that should be enough for now. Looks like we put a burden on you too...”

I really was grateful to hear such words from Donda Ruu. And so, feeling rather overjoyed, I smiled back. “No, it’s nothing compared to all the trouble I’ve caused you up till now. Please take care, Donda Ruu.”

“Hmph, I don’t need you to tell me that.”

With that, Donda and Ludo Ruu departed.

After looking out of the corner of my eye at Mia Lea Ruu comforting Reina Ruu, I turned and faced Ai Fa.

“Good work, Ai Fa. I’m just glad you made it back safely.”

“I told you there was no danger, didn’t I? I’m well versed in knowing how to avoid giba.” As always, Ai Fa seemed perfectly calm and composed. And her blue eyes now pointed in the direction where Donda and Ludo Ruu had disappeared. “We’ve done everything we can. Now we just have to believe that the nobles of Genos will see things as they are.”

“It’ll be fine. This relationship of trust we’ve built up over these last couple months won’t just fall apart because of something like this,” I replied, honestly half trying to convince myself.

The sun had fully set before we finally heard what happened at the ensuing meeting in the castle town.

◇

“Everything’s been settled, nice and easy. Actually, it was pretty much all them apologizing to us,” Ludo Ruu explained.

After returning from the castle town, Ludo Ruu had come and visited the Fa house to let us know what happened. We had been in the middle of dinner, but stopped eating to hear his report.

“The lord of the land said he would give a warning to the noble who tried to make a move on Reina. Apparently that guy should have stepped aside as soon as Reina turned down his gift.”

“I see. Glad to hear it. I’m sure Reina Ruu must be so relieved too.”

“Yeah, she’s probably sobbing like a kid about now. I can already see the troubled look on my old man’s face,” Ludo Ruu said with a mischievous chuckle. “And that Melfried noble looked real angry too. It was hard to see on his face, but I could feel him getting that same sort of air about him as Jiza.”

“He was angry? At what?”

“At that Leeheim guy. The nobles of Genos are right in the middle of trying to correct their relationship with us people of the forest’s edge, and then Leeheim almost screwed it all up with his temper. Melfried said that was a ‘grave matter,’” Ludo Ruu replied, bringing his hands together behind his head. “And Polarth was there too. He was really concerned about whether or not you’d be coming to the castle town, Asuta.”

“Right. I’d be happy to go for it as long as the leading clan heads give their permission.”

“We’ll just have to wait for Dari Sauti and Gulaf Zaza to give their responses. That’s what my old man said. But, well, I can’t see any reason for turning the request down,” Ludo Ruu remarked, then suddenly he leaned forward. “So Asuta, you’ve been invited to the castle town twice now?”

“Yeah. To inspect some new ingredients, and to cook for that banquet to greet the envoys from Banarm. What about it?”

“Well, if you’re going there twice, do you think I could help guard you at least one of those times?”

“Hmm? You want to go to the castle town, Ludo Ruu?”

“I don’t care a lick about the castle town, but if I stick close to you, I should get a chance to eat your cooking,” Ludo Ruu replied, staring at the meal spread out before us. “I haven’t gotten a chance to eat anything you’ve made lately. And it sure does look tasty... I still haven’t eaten dinner yet, you know...”

“Ah, I can share a bit of my portion if you’d like.”

“You mean it?” Ludo Ruu asked, his eyes sparkling.

“Is there not a dinner waiting for you back at the Ruu settlement? And wouldn’t eating at another’s house not just once but twice would go against the customs of the forest’s edge?”

“It’s not like it’s a taboo or anything, right? It’s gotten really late and I haven’t eaten anything, so I’m starving!”

Well, we could hardly turn him away after all that. I portioned off a bit of the giba offal stew that we had left on the stove to keep warm, and some of the still-untouched cold shabu-shabu salad for Ludo Ruu.

As he ate it, Ludo Ruu narrowed his eyes and went “Mmm!” with a girlish and adorable smile. “Your cooking’s just as tasty as always! I can’t wait for Dan Rutim’s birthday banquet!”

“Ah, you were invited too? I heard it would be two members invited from each related clan...”

“Of course I’ll be there! I’m not going to yield a chance to eat your cooking to anyone!”

There were now just two days left till Dan Rutim’s birthday. My invitation to the castle town and Mikel’s second visit to the forest’s edge would come after that. And now that today’s incident had been firmly put to rest, I was finally free to focus on that big event.

“Hmm? Are you eating hamburger steak there, Ai Fa?” Ludo Ruu questioned, craning his neck. In a flash, Ai Fa pulled her plate in close.

“I need soft food because my tooth hurts! So I absolutely refuse to hand this over!”

“Nobody’s asking you to. But now that I’ve eaten a bit, it’s only making me feel all the hungrier...”

“Then hurry back to your own house already!”

Just like yesterday, it ended up being another hectic night. Still, even that sort of commotion felt very reassuring to me.

I’m glad Melfried and Polarth were understanding. I just hope that we can reconcile things with Leeheim too.

With that thought in mind, I once again started eating my own dinner.