Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 18 - Chapter 3.3

3

The lord of the forest didn’t appear the next day either.

Perhaps because of the massive haul of giba from the day before, the forest was supposedly very quiet. But even so, they still managed to hunt down nearly twenty giba in total.

“With so many giba cleared out, the lord of the forest should come back in high spirits. After all, the blessings of the forest are abundant in this area now,” Donda Ruu said.

The hunters had returned a bit early again today, and as for us chefs, thanks to the Sauti women getting accustomed to the job, we were able to finish dinner with time to spare.

Once all our work was done, we took a break while waiting for sunset, during which I finally got a chance to talk with Gazraan Rutim. We hadn’t seen each other in a while, and even up to this point we hadn’t really had a chance to catch up as friends.

“What is it? You look as if something’s worrying you, Asuta.”

I figured maybe the emotions from the incident with Yun Sudra last night were showing on my face, but I still shook my head. “No, I’m fine. Actually, I’m sure I should be worrying about it more.”

“If there’s ever anything I can do to help, please, don’t hesitate to ask,” Gazraan Rutim said with a warm smile.

We were standing off to the side of the plaza located in the center of the settlement. There was a faint purple veil cast over the world around us, and I could hear wild birds chirping. It was probably only around half an hour before dinner at this point.

“Are you doing okay, Gazraan Rutim? Even if you aren’t injured, you’ve been working much harder than usual these past few days, right?”

“That’s true. But I’m a hunter, so I feel a lot more self-fulfillment from this work than I do when having to deal with the nobles of Genos. Though I’m sure I’ll have to worry about that again too, eventually.”

“Do you mean if some noble is hatching another plot like Cyclaeus?”

“No. Just being involved with the nobles and townsfolk is an ordeal in and of itself for the people of the forest’s edge. Since we avoided one another for eighty whole years, that’s a difficult matter to work around,” Gazraan Rutim said, once again smiling. “Still, that doesn’t mean it will all be painful. And the same is true of this hunt for the lord of the forest. When you think about it, just living is an ordeal in and of itself, but joy and satisfaction are also a part of that, I’d say.”

Gazraan Rutim somehow seemed as if he had grown even more calm and composed after becoming the Rutim clan head. He had reminded me of a large tree with roots running deep into the ground to begin with, but now he was like the forest or the mountain itself.

“It seems the Ruu clan’s business is earning quite the reputation as well. That will surely tie the people of the forest’s edge and the townsfolk together even more strongly than before. And it’s all thanks to your strength, Asuta.”

“That’s not true at all. You people of the forest’s edge accepted someone like me, so I’m sure you’ll all be able to get along with the townsfolk and nobles just fine.”

It was then that two figures approached, both thin for hunters: Ludo Ruu and Rau Lea.

“What are you two talking about, looking so laid-back? If it’s something interesting, then let me join in too.” Though Rau Lea was injured on the first day, he had already regained his strength by the next. However, he did have a gray bandage wrapped around his blond-haired head. It was a deep enough laceration that it needed stitches.

“I don’t know if you’d find it interesting or not,” I said. “We were discussing the future of the forest’s edge. What do you think about it?”

“The future of the forest’s edge? We hunters just need to take down giba, while you chefs prepare us delicious meals. Who cares about the rest?”

“Yeah, that sounds about right for you, Rau Lea.”

“Hey! Don’t go talking all high and mighty when we’re the same age!” Rau Lea shot back as he angrily put me in a headlock.

As he watched us go, Ludo Ruu chimed in, “Come on... Rimee and Sheera Ruu were on duty today, right? Where did that runt get to?”

“If you’re looking for Rimee Ruu, she was in the kitchen chatting with Ai Fa. Those two don’t normally get that many chances to talk, after all.”

“Got it. Well, you don’t exactly see someone all that often if you don’t live in the same settlement,” Ludo Ruu said as he crossed his arms behind his head. “Granny Jiba’s been wanting to see you and Ai Fa too. You pass through the Ruu settlement every day, so you should at least stop in and say hi.”

“Ah, I figured if I went on my own it wouldn’t be fair to Ai Fa.”

“Not really. And anyway, Ai Fa should visit the Ruu settlement more too. Granny Jiba and that runt Rimee would love to talk to her more often.”

There was such a peaceful feel in the air that it was hard to imagine everyone was in the midst of the serious task of trying to take down the lord of the forest.

After finally letting go of my head, Rau Lea snorted, “Hmph! Now that I think about it, it’s pretty rare getting to see folks who aren’t even members of the same clan every single day. It’s been kinda fun, like every day is a banquet.”

“Ah, and we get to eat even better dinners than usual too. Honestly, I’ve been enjoying it, just a bit,” Ludo Ruu added.

“Yeah, and it’s been great hunting together with folks from the Ruu, Rutim, and Sauti clans all together for the first time too!” Rau Lea said, then he turned my way. “And Ai Fa! She’s seriously an amazing hunter! She should be in even more danger than we are because she’s using giba summoning fruit, but she hasn’t been injured at all!”

Ludo Ruu nodded. “She couldn’t hunt down giba all on her own every day if she wasn’t that skilled. She’s one heck of a hunter.”

“Yup! I’ll definitely have to beat her in the contest of strength at the next festival of the hunt! You guys will be there, right Asuta?”

“Huh? Ah, I haven’t heard anything yet so it’s still undecided.”

“No way! She can’t just quit while she’s ahead!”

Finding it amusing how worked up Rau Lea was getting, I started to smile. “In that case, go ahead and make a proposal to Donda Ruu. Watching the contest of strength would be tough on my nerves, but I’d love to participate in the festival.”

“Then that’s just what I’ll do! Where is Donda Ruu?!”

Gazraan Rutim offered an answer. “Donda Ruu was discussing something with my father Dan and Dari Sauti. Can you wait until after dinner to talk to him?”

“I see. I’ll have to make sure I remember to tell him... Hmm? What’s she doing on her own?” Rau Lea questioned, peering out into the twilight. When I turned to look too, I found Tsuvai slowly walking along in the center of the plaza.

Gazraan Rutim nodded and started walking that way, and we followed after. “Is everything all right, Tsuvai?”

When asked that, the young girl turned and shot Gazraan Rutim a harsh glare. “What? I can’t see any reason for someone like you to be worrying about me.”

“Is that really how you should be talking to your clan head?” Rau Lea questioned, his eyebrows rising.

“It’s fine,” Gazraan Rutim interjected, keeping him in check. “This task will surely end tomorrow or the day after. Please, keep giving your all until then, Tsuvai.”

“How can you say that...? Nobody knows when that huge lord of the forest will show up again, right?”

“Giving you a full answer would require a detailed explanation on the behavioral patterns of giba, but at any rate, I believe it will appear within the next few days. And when that time comes, we shall put everything we have into taking it down.”

“Hmph...” Tsuvai muttered, staring down at the ground. Though she wore the same sour expression as always, I couldn’t help but feel that she looked somehow dejected.

“Tsuvai’s worried about Oura, who was left back home,” Gazraan Rutim explained as he met my gaze. “Though Tsuvai and Oura are both in the care of the main Rutim house, right now everyone aside from Oura is away, so she’s currently staying with a branch house.”

“Ah, I see.”

Gazraan, Dan, and Raa Rutim all came here to the Sauti settlement as hunters, while Tsuvai and Ama Min Rutim did the same as chefs. And the youngest daughter, Morun Rutim, was still at the northern settlement, so everyone but Oura really was away from the main house, sure enough.

“Oura’s been fully recognized as a member of the Rutim clan, right? So there’s nothing to worry about.” However, Rau Lea then mercilessly added, “Besides, your bond as mother and daughter has been severed, right? If you keep on worrying about Oura like that, you’ll never be given the Rutim name.”

“Shut your mouth! I don’t want to hear anything from you, when you went and gave away your clan name the very day you welcomed someone in!”

“That was because Yamiru is a strong woman. She probably has the same deep feelings you do and thinks of her former family all the time, but she does an amazing job acting resolute and not letting it show. You should learn from her example and become strong too.”

Tsuvai remained silent as she continued hanging her head.

As he looked down at her, Gazraan Rutim gave a relaxed smile. “Tsuvai, we’re not telling you to cast aside your feelings for Oura. We simply want you to feel just as strongly that those of us in the Rutim clan are family too. When that time comes, as clan head I’ll grant you the Rutim name.”

Tsuvai didn’t say anything in response.

“You’re still young, so it may be difficult for you to think that way. But I believe that someday you will. And I want to show you and Oura as much affection as I do Morun and Ama Min too.”

At that, Tsuvai once again snorted “Hmph...” and left. As he watched her go, Rau Lea tilted his head.

“She seems to be especially stubborn, even for a former member of the main Suun house. Rather than trying to teach her through words, wouldn’t it be quicker to give her a smack on the rear?”

“I’m not so sure. But I want to guide my clan member using my own methods.”

“Right, since you’re the Rutim clan head! So go ahead and do as you please.”

As they were having that exchange, Sheera Ruu and Ama Min Rutim approached from the main Sauti house.

“Asuta, I was thinking it was about time to heat the soup back up. What do you say?”

“Ah, yeah. Well, I’ll see you all later.”

After saying farewell to those three dependable hunters, we headed over to the kitchen.

“Have you two been in the kitchen this whole time?”

Ama Min Rutim nodded. “Yes. I was talking with Mil Fei Sauti. You were in the main house, weren’t you, Sheera Ruu?”

“Ah, no, I was having a conversation off to the side of the house,” Sheera Ruu replied, bashfully casting her gaze downward. Neither Ama Min Rutim nor I were ill-mannered enough to ask just who exactly she was talking to. It seemed that everyone was spending this break in their own different ways.

On our way to the kitchen, we passed by Moga Sauti and Raa Rutim having a quiet conversation, and Yamiru Lea was talking to Mida as well. Then there were Ai Fa and Rimee Ruu, Toor Deen and Lem Dom, and Yun Sudra and the Sauti women, all deepening their relationships.

It might have been true that life was ultimately a series of ordeals. But if the moments between could be spent close to the people you held most dear, you could surely face up to any such challenge. And that seemed especially true for the people of the forest’s edge.

Even the deeply weakened Sauti clan would surely someday be able to regain their strength, which was a thought that brought me great joy.

And so with that in mind, I once again felt incredibly proud that the people of the forest’s edge had accepted me as one of their own.

◇

For that night’s dinner, we went with a spare rib teriyaki and cream stew, bacon and nanaar milk fat sauté, an attempt at making something similar to a Caesar salad, and a tarapa sauce pasta, which was making its debut.

“Whoa, it’s all wiggly!” the young children of the main Sauti house excitedly declared when trying out the unusually shaped spaghetti for the first time. Rimee Ruu, who had come to the settlement for the first time, was the one who taught them the proper way to eat this dish. Since she didn’t have many relatives close to her age back in her own settlement, she seemed to be really enjoying herself.

“This pasta dish certainly is strange. I still can’t believe it’s made from poitan,” Dari Sauti said, sounding impressed in spite of the fact that he had eaten this dish already in the castle town. Seeing him with his bandages was still a painful sight, but his face looked less emaciated now, and his facial hair was now cleanly shaven. His large frame looked to be as full of vitality as before too.

“To be precise, it’s a mix of poitan and fuwano. And I used kimyuus egg too.”

“Now that you mention it, you got some black fuwano from that noble who came from Banarm, didn’t you? You didn’t use that in this dish, did you?”

That question had come from the unexpectedly well-informed Ludo Ruu. He must have heard about it from Reina Ruu or something.

“I didn’t, but I think I could make something pretty interesting by mixing that stuff with poitan too. Anyway, Welhide should be staying in Genos for a while, so I’ll take my time tackling it.”

“We’ve just been relying on you and interfering with your work...” Dari Sauti said with an apologetic look.

“No,” I replied. “I think working to live up to the expectations of nobles is important too, but it’s nothing compared to lending aid to comrades in need. I believe I’ve placed everything in an appropriate order of priority, and I’m taking care of my tasks one by one.”

“Yeah, that’s right, you should be focusing on giving us delicious food instead of bothering with those nobles and townsfolk,” Ludo Ruu opined.

As more days passed by, the feeling in the air around dinner at the Sauti settlement only seemed to be growing more and more harmonious.

Out of everyone gathered here, Donda Ruu alone still wore a serious look on his face. It was hard to call him a gentle person to begin with, but there seemed to be an even more intense blaze burning in his eyes than usual. If Ludo and Rimee Ruu weren’t there, it was possible that he might have frightened the young children with his scowling.

I couldn’t help but feel concerned by that, so I ended up visiting him along with Ai Fa after dinner.

“What, are you trying to offer encouragement for those of us who are fighting on the front line or something?” Donda Ruu was allotted a room in the main Sauti house, which he shared with Darmu Ruu.

Faced with this father and son pair who looked so different and yet felt oddly similar, I nodded and said, “Yeah. You seem to be steeling yourself really well...but I’m sure you must be facing unbelievable pressure having to lead everyone, Donda Ruu.”

“You can refrain from any untoward comments. I haven’t fallen so low as to need someone like you worrying about me.”

“I’m not worried. I mean, I can’t imagine you falling to any giba, Donda Ruu,” I replied, figuring he’d at least let such trivial words slide. But honestly, I really was worried. As it was now, I was certain the community of the forest’s edge needed a leading clan head like Donda Ruu. I truly hoped he would make it back safely without suffering any serious injuries.

“I trust in your strength, Donda Ruu. I just hope that you can use that great strength to lead everyone and overcome this trial.”

“You don’t need to tell me that. And you should just keep those conceited words in your head rather than speaking them out loud.”

“I know, but I’m the kind of guy who doesn’t feel right if I don’t come out and say it. Sorry about that.”

“Hmph,” Donda Ruu snorted and took a swig of fruit wine. “This job will be done in another day or two. If not, the lord of the forest will move somewhere else. So go ahead and pray to the forest that it doesn’t trample its way into the fields of Genos tomorrow or whenever.”

“Right, got it.”

“The end of this trial is right in front of our eyes. So don’t you go slipping up either, Ai Fa.”

“Of course I won’t. I’ll put my life on the line to see this job through.”

At that, Donda Ruu let out an, “Aah... Looks like I’ve got to give you one more piece of advice. Being a hunter means living as long as you can, to keep on hunting even one giba more. If you die young out in the forest, you’ll be spoken of forever as a failure of a female hunter.” Instantly, Ai Fa’s mouth started trembling. She was probably trying as hard as she could to keep her lips from forming an adorable pout. “You’re twenty years too young to be talking about putting your life on the line. Instead, put your pride as a hunter on the line and see the job through without losing your life. Just keep in mind that living on is an important part of the job for someone as young as you.”

“Understood,” Ai Fa replied firmly. Darmu Ruu, meanwhile, just silently listened to their exchange.

After taking one more swig of fruit wine, Donda Ruu looked out the window up at the moon and broke out in a daring grin. “I wonder, just what does the lord of the forest taste like?”

And so our third day at the Sauti settlement came to a close.