Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 19 - Chapter 2.1

Chapter 2: Invitation to the Forest’s Edge

1

“Whoa, we’re really in the middle of the forest!” Tara cheered excitedly.

We were on the path from the post town to the settlement at the forest’s edge. Similarly staring out from the back of the wagon, Dora added, “It sure is something,” clearly impressed.

It was currently the tenth of the violet month. We had finished our work in the post town, and it was a little past the lower second hour.

This was the day that Tara and Dora finally set foot in the settlement at the forest’s edge.

◇

It all started two days prior on the day after the tea party in the castle town, when we stopped by to purchase vegetables from Dora in the morning just like always.

When I mentioned we would be inviting Mikel and Myme, who lived in the Turan lands, to the forest’s edge in two days, Dora started pondering, “Hmm...” while holding the aria I had ordered. “The sun god’s revival festival is coming up soon, so we’re terribly busy taking care of our harvesting before the day comes. We’re hiring more people than usual in order to pick all the vegetables in time. See, from the middle of the violet month until the start of the silver month, you can sell as much produce as you put on sale.”

“Yeah, it definitely sounds like a huge event. We’re also preparing to expand our business in advance.”

“Of course. So, things will be real hectic until the violet month is over... Naturally, Tara and I don’t really have time to be fooling around.”

“It sounds like you all have it rough.”

“That’s why right around now is just about the only time when we’ll have any leeway to move around,” Dora stated, a resolute look on his face as he handed over the bag of aria. “Hey Asuta, do you still want to invite Tara to the settlement at the forest’s edge even now?”

“Yeah, of course.”

As I expectantly leaned forward, Dora nodded back. “I see. In that case, I’ll do everything I can to convince my wife and the old ladies back home so that we can slip away from work for half a day to head there.”

“Really?!” I loudly asked back.

“Yeah,” Dora replied with a smile. “You all came out to the Daleim lands, after all. So everyone already got to know what sort of folks you are and shouldn’t have any strong objections. And I want to go see your place every bit as much as Tara does!”

“Thank you! I’d love it if it could really happen!”

“I’ll make sure it does! However, there’s just one thing I want to ask of you...”

“What is it? I’ll do anything I can to help!”

“It’s nothing all that serious. I’d just like to invite another enthusiastic girl along with me and Tara.”

It turned out he was talking about Yumi.

Despite the age difference, apparently she and Tara had really hit it off when the young girl had talked passionately about the settlement at the forest’s edge.

Dora continued, “Her dad is supposedly pretty hard-headed, but since he’s started selling giba cooking he’s probably changed his thinking about the people of the forest’s edge at least a bit, so I’m sure Yumi will be able to convince him.”

His predication certainly hit the mark, as on our way back for the day we got the good news from Yumi.

Now that it had come to this point, I figured it wouldn’t be fair to keep this a secret from the rest of my business contacts, so I let the other inn owners know.

Naudis of The Great Southern Tree replied with a smile, “Sounds like an enjoyable get-together.” However, he didn’t seem to consider coming along himself at all.

Nail from The Sledgehammer happily narrowed his eyes and said, “I believe that will be a very meaningful venture.” He had been praying that the prejudice against the people of the forest’s edge would fade away. However, he didn’t seem to arrive at the idea of closing up shop to participate either. And since I didn’t want the number of guests to increase out of control, I didn’t try to invite them myself.

However, out of the ones I told, Milano Mas of The Kimyuus’s Tail said, “Hold on... If you’re going to be inviting five people from town to the settlement at the forest’s edge, then would you mind adding one more?”

“Huh? You want to come along too, Milano Mas?”

I was seriously caught off guard, but I’d naturally be happy to have him. However, he shook his head and answered, “No. There wouldn’t be any point to a guy like me coming along. And it’s not like I’ve got that much free time on my hands either.”

“Then who were you thinking?”

“My daughter, Telia.”

For a moment, I was left at a loss for words. “T-Telia Mas? But she’s still afraid of hunters from the forest’s edge, isn’t she?”

“That’s exactly why. Hunters rarely ever visit the post town, so she’ll never run across them if she doesn’t head there herself, right?”

I, of course, had no way of knowing, but would it really be right to go ahead with such a drastic method of treatment? Milano Mas’s only daughter, Telia Mas, was a very polite and kind girl, but she also seemed very frail and had trouble handling things when they got rough.

Personally, I had already sensed great progress on her end just from how she had opened up to me, Reina Ruu, and Sheera Ruu despite how afraid she had been of the people of the forest’s edge. I had figured that given time, she would eventually become fully desensitized on her own.

However, there was a more serious look than I’d ever seen in Milano Mas’s eyes.

“She’s afraid of you people of the forest’s edge because I raised her that way. It’s not like I’ve got that long left in me, but she still has her whole life ahead of her... So as long as I’m still breathing, I want to try to deal with my screw-up.”

“You don’t have to put it like that...”

Milano Mas’s best friend and his wife’s older brother—Telia Mas’s uncle—had died as a result of the Suun clan’s villainous deeds. Then the innkeeper’s wife grew sick from heartache and followed after them. Due to Cyclaeus pulling the strings, the Suun hadn’t been judged for those crimes. With all that in mind, it was no surprise that Milano Mas ended up taking issue with the people of the forest’s edge. He couldn’t really be faulted for that. However, his expression remained deadly serious.

After being summoned by her father, Telia Mas said with a deathly pale face, “Please allow me to accompany you.”

Now that it had come to this point, I couldn’t exactly turn her down. I had to trust that seeing how we lived with her own eyes wouldn’t end up having a negative effect.

Adding her to the list, we were now dealing with a group of six.

I had already gotten permission from the leading clan head Donda Ruu. When Dari Sauti and even Gulaf Zaza were informed of the number we’d be bringing, all they had to say was, “There’s no big difference between two people and six.”

It had already been proven that Mikel and Myme had a positive influence on the chefs of the forest’s edge. Still, Telia Mas with her difficult feelings was one thing, but Tara, Dora, and Yumi were pretty much going on a tourist visit.

Even so, the leading clan heads of the forest’s edge had all given their approval. Perhaps my explanation that we and the townsfolk needed to keep working to understand one another had gotten through to them, or maybe it was just down to their lack of interest in having anything to do with outsiders. I had no way of knowing, but at any rate, the leading clan heads didn’t turn down the request.

I went ahead with the plan, hoping we could satisfy Tara and Yumi’s earnest excitement while also strengthening the bonds between town and the forest’s edge.

◇

On the tenth of the violet month, our wagons were heading toward the Ruu settlement.

We had come to the post town with two wagons, but since we had eight workers and our luggage on the way back, we couldn’t have all of our guests ride together.

The wagon that had been bought to help the clans under the Ruu do their shopping had been pulled into town by the reddish-plumed totos Jidura. The one holding the reins was the Ruu clan’s guest Bartha.

“Sorry for the wait. Go ahead and hop on in.”

Myme had gotten along well with Bartha during the trip to Dabagg, so she and Mikel rode in that wagon. Tara and Telia Mas, meanwhile, seemed more comfortable in my wagon, so I took in the four remaining guests. Of our workers, only Yamiru Lea stayed with me, since she wasn’t timid in the least, while Toor Deen and Yun Sudra rode in Bartha’s wagon.

Inside the wagon, Telia Mas unsurprisingly seemed quite tense. Her dark-brown hair was pulled together behind her head, and not only was this girl—who was around my age—anxious around strangers to begin with, but I was also the only person she knew in the wagon. The only other people of the forest’s edge she could talk openly with were Reina and Sheera Ruu, as we all gave her cooking lessons back at The Kimyuus’s Tail. And she hadn’t had any interaction with Tara and Dora whatsoever before now.

Ultimately, the one to help the timid Telia Mas loosen up turned out to be Yumi.

“Hey, do you remember me? We’ve met several times at inn gatherings before.”

“Y-Yes. You’re the daughter of The Westerly Wind’s owners, aren’t you? That’s what my father said.”

“What, so you don’t remember me after all? My name’s Yumi. And your name was Telia Mas, wasn’t it?”

“Th-That’s right. I’m honored that you remembered it.”

“You don’t need to be so afraid, you know. I’m not nearly as mean as I look!”

Really, she didn’t look mean at all, but Yumi was still considered a bad girl around the post town. She was dressed in a showy top and fluttery skirt, as well as a number of jangling accessories. That was certainly quite the contrast compared to Telia Mas, who wore a simple top and long skirt with little exposed skin. Though they were both daughters of inn owners, their personalities and appearances were so different that it was kinda amazing.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the settlement at the forest’s edge! I’m sure Asuta will make us some incredibly delicious stuff!”

“That’s true... My cooking skills are still quite inadequate, so hopefully I can pick up at least a little.”

“Hmm? You came to learn how to cook? I don’t have any interest in that, myself.”

“N-No, I just came to observe, of course. But since I’m taking time off work, I have to at least gain something from the experience...”

“So serious! I only ever think about how to skip out on work.”

This pair who both had ties with me were now in the process of forming a new bond of their own. I really loved stuff like that.

Before I noticed it, Tara and Dora had also joined in the conversation, and it got quite lively in the wagon. Meanwhile, Yamiru Lea had remained beside the driver’s seat the whole time and stared at the scenery passing by. She might not have been timid, but she also didn’t have any interest in interacting with outsiders.

“Sorry for the wait. We’ll arrive at the Ruu settlement momentarily.”

Having overcome the heavily sloping path in just a little over ten minutes, I stopped the wagon a little bit before reaching the Ruu settlement. Normally I would slow down and take the wagon all the way to the main house’s kitchen, but for today I was giving a tour of the forest’s edge, so I wanted to walk the rest of the way on foot.

I got down from the driver’s seat first, then handed Gilulu’s reins to Yamiru Lea and circled around to the rear of the wagon.

“Come on, Tara.”

Tara’s cheeks were flushed with excitement and anticipation, and when I held my hand out she accepted it and got down. Dora came next, followed by Yumi and Telia Mas holding hands, at which point we started walking down the trodden yellow path through the forest’s edge.

The second wagon then parked, and its riders soon appeared too. It seemed the women of the forest’s edge over there were also going to accompany the guests on a walk.

“Wow... The trees really grow up that high?” Tara said while tugging on her father’s arm and bending so far backward that it looked like she would fall over.

As Dora replied, “Y-Yeah,” his gaze was darting about restlessly.

When Yumi noticed what he was doing, she flashed him the whites of her teeth. “What’s the matter, old timer? Scared of the forest?”

“I-I mean, I’ve been warned since I was a kid not to go near the forest of Morga. Even if I know there’s no need to be afraid, my body just won’t listen to me.”

“Hmm, I guess that’s how things are when you live in the Daleim lands. I was only ever told to avoid the people of the forest’s edge,” Yumi said, and then she turned and shot me a bright smile. “But, well, thanks to the fact that I ignored that advice, I ended up getting close to all of you. So I figure it’s okay to ignore that stuff every now and again.”

It was around then that Vina Ruu approached with Myme and Mikel from behind us. “Sorry for the wait... Since we’ll be entering the Ruu settlement, allow me to guide you as the eldest daughter of the main Ruu house...”

“Hmm? Do you actually hold some kind of position here at the forest’s edge?” Yumi asked.

“It’s nothing of note... I just happened to be born sooner than my other siblings...”

Surprisingly, Yumi seemed to have taken a shine to Vina Ruu. Perhaps she sympathized with how the eldest Ruu daughter needed to keep on brushing off ruffians with a sweet smile.

Meanwhile, the familiar face of Reina Ruu approached an even more nervous-looking Telia Mas.

“Now then, let’s get going. The Ruu clan welcomes you.”

And so we formed a line and headed toward the Ruu settlement.

Before long, the forest opened up on the left, and the settlement spread out before our eyes. It consisted of eight houses all situated around a wide plaza. The plaza was large enough to hold the hundred people under the clan, and the wooden houses were plain and unadorned. One of them was the house that Mida had worked so hard to build. Various members of the Ruu clan could be seen all over the place, working hard just the same as always.

Some were chopping firewood off to the side of their house.

Others were tanning hides atop cloths that were stretched out wide.

Children ran around playing tag near several baskets full of drying pico leaves.

Giba fat was probably being boiled on a stove somewhere in order to make candles and lard. I could smell the strong scent of fat wafting through the air, which some people had issues with.

And then there was the aroma of herbs, just as strong as the fat, which lingered around the house closest to us.

That was the house Ai Fa and I had stayed at in the past, where Jeeda and Bartha were currently living. I had heard that one of the rooms was remodeled into a smoking room, so they must have been making jerky. Or perhaps they were boiling bones in order to practice making giba bone soup.

At any rate, the sight of the Ruu settlement had long since become a part of my everyday life.

It was a peaceful sight of people working away in that circular space cleared out from the surrounding deep forest. Everything felt tranquil, between the clearly delineated blue sky, dark green forest, and yellow ground. It made for such an idyllic sight that it was hard to imagine that dangers such as giba, mundt, and poisonous insects lurked out in the neighboring forest.

What did our four guests who were visiting for the first time think of it all? I didn’t feel like rushing to ask them as we slowly strolled around the plaza, only for a small figure to come rushing out from behind the house in front of us with incredible speed.

“Hey there! Welcome to the Ruu settlement!” It was Rimee Ruu, bounding over like a little bunny right toward Tara. The young girl from town had been in a bit of a trance, but now she once again wore a bright smile.

“You really came! It’s like I’m dreaming!”

Rimee Ruu was hugging Tara tightly with all her strength. Though she was a child, she was still a person of the forest’s edge, so Tara looked rather uncomfortable, but she didn’t complain at all, instead giving a full force hug of her own back.

“I’ll show you around from here! And if you’ve got any steel, I’ll take it for you!”

“Nobody has any blades. I checked in advance, so no worries,” I said.

“Got it. Well then, first up is the kitchen!”

Dora and the others had said they wanted to see our everyday lives, and so the plan was to prepare for business again today and then have a study session like always.

After that, we would move to the Fa house for dinner. Then, once we finished eating, everyone would be escorted back by wagon. Rimee and Ludo Ruu would also participate in the dinner, and we had arranged for them to see everyone off.

“Ah, before that, would it be possible to greet the head of the Ruu clan?” Dora chimed in.

Rimee Ruu had started walking along in high spirits while holding Tara’s hand, but now she turned to look his way. “Do you mean Papa Donda? He’s resting in the house because of his injuries.”

“Then would us going to see him be a hassle? And would it be rude to ask for an audience with one of the leading clan heads to begin with?”

“Hmm? He’s been saying he’s so bored it could kill him, so it shouldn’t be any kind of hassle. But he can be really scary for anyone outside of our family.”

“Ah, I’ve met him a number of times before, so that shouldn’t be an issue. But I don’t know about everyone else.”

Yumi looked straight at Dora, faltering a bit.

“The leading clan heads of the forest’s edge are those men who took the criminals into the castle town, right? So one of them is your old man?”

“If you’re scared, you can just wait outside.”

“I’m not scared!” Yumi shouted, though she then whispered into my ear, “But he wouldn’t be one of those guys who wear giba skulls and pelts over their heads, right? I just can’t imagine someone like that having such adorable daughters.”

“Ah, those are the hunters of the Zaza and Dom clans. Still, I’d say Donda Ruu looks just as fearsome as any of them.”

“Got it... Then I’ll go ahead and steel my resolve,” Yumi replied, closing her eyes and doing some deep breathing.

Meanwhile, I turned to Telia Mas. Though her face was pale, when she saw me looking she quietly said, “I’ll go.”

“Now that you mention it, we’ve never greeted the Ruu clan head before, have we? Let’s go too, dad,” Myme earnestly chimed in.

Mikel just shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “Do as you please.”

And so, we ended up heading for the main Ruu house.

Vina Ruu slipped past Rimee Ruu and Tara, opened the door, and called inside, after which Mia Lea Ruu suddenly appeared. After a brief whispered explanation of the situation from her daughter, Mia Lea Ruu looked over the group of six with a bright smile.

“Welcome to the Ruu house, our guests from town. So you wish to greet our clan head? We naturally welcome you to do so.”

After disappearing for a moment, Mia Lea Ruu welcomed the guests in. Since it wouldn’t do to pack too many people inside, only Rimee Ruu and I accompanied them from among the workers.

“Clan head, these are our guests visiting from town.”

Donda Ruu was seated cross-legged with one knee up in the air as always.

Sitting beside him was Darmu Ruu.

Donda Ruu had bandages around his right shoulder and his right arm was in a sling. Darmu Ruu’s left shoulder had seemingly already recovered, so he just had his right hand bandaged. Their injuries were honorable ones earned facing off against the lord of the forest. Still, both of them were giving off enough pressure that it was hard to tell they weren’t at one-hundred percent. Actually, it might have been that they felt even more dangerous than usual, like wounded beasts.

On the wall behind them was an unbelievably massive giba pelt along with the horn from the lord of the forest they had received from Dari Sauti just the other day. The only other things that caught the eye were the spare blades and bows in the room, which only served to make the two hunters stand out all the more intensely.

Yumi gulped.

Tara clung tightly to Rimee Ruu’s arm.

And by this point, Telia Mas had gone as pale as a corpse.

“Now then, please have a seat, dear guests. Don’t worry, they don’t bite,” Mia Lea Ruu said, kneeling down on Donda Ruu’s other side, opposite Darmu Ruu. I took the initiative to sit off to the right and nodded at everyone still standing.

Dora came back to his senses and sat next to me, and then Tara, Yumi, Mikel, Myme, and Telia Mas did the same in order. Rimee Ruu alone remained standing, placing her hands on Tara’s shoulders to lend her strength.

“I’m the head of the main Ruu house, Donda Ruu. This is my second son Darmu Ruu and my wife Mia Lea Ruu,” the Ruu clan head grumbled.

After wiping away the sweat from his brow, Dora replied, “I’m Dora, a resident of the Daleim lands and a vegetable seller in the post town. We’ve talked before in the past, Donda Ruu, but do you remember me?”

“I do... I’m also glad that we were able to regain our peaceful lives without needing to cross blades with the rulers of Genos.”

Dora had stood in front of Donda Ruu and the others back when they were heading to confront Cyclaeus and said he wanted to keep on doing business with us in the future.

With a large nod, Dora broke out in a cheerful smile. “I feel the same. And I’m also very grateful that you invited us here to the forest’s edge today. We’ll take care so as not to cause your people any hassle. I’m looking forward to the experience.”

Donda Ruu gave him a nod so slight it was like only his eyes moved, and then looked over the rest of the group.

“Asuta of the Fa clan informed me of who would be coming, but I’d like to know who is who. If possible, could you introduce yourselves?”

“I-I’m Tara! Rimee and Lala Ruu have always been really good friends to me! And Reina and Vina Ruu are really nice too!”

“Tara is Dora’s daughter. I’m always talking about her, right?” Rimee Ruu chimed in with an incredibly bright smile, wrapping her arms around her friend’s neck.

Tara had completely frozen up before, but now she was finally able to giggle a bit.

“I-I’m Yumi of The Westerly Wind. I only know your family from when I’m buying a giba meal at the stalls or giba meat for my family’s inn, but I’d say I get along with everyone from the Ruu clan fairly well.”

“I’m Mikel of Turan... You really helped out with the wagon and guards for the trip to Dabagg. I know it’s late to be saying this, but I want to offer you my thanks.”

“I’m Mikel’s daughter, Myme. I plan to start running a stall selling giba meat cooking in the near future. It’s great to meet you.”

“I’m Telia Mas, the daughter of The Kimyuus’s Tail’s owner Milano Mas...”

Donda Ruu had remained silent, but in that instant his eyes flashed. “I’ve heard about you from Asuta... So, your mother’s older brother was among those attacked by the Suun clan ten years ago?”

“Yes...” Telia Mas nodded, her face still pale.

“I see...” Donda Ruu replied, his large frame swaying. “The criminals have already been judged. Not a single person of the forest’s edge is left who would commit such lawless deeds... However, all of us share responsibility for leaving the Suun clan to act freely.”

“Yes, I’ve heard all that from my father and Asuta...”

“As a leading clan head of the forest’s edge, you have my gratitude for trying to forge bonds with us despite the harm done to your precious family. Allow me to offer my apologies for the deep sadness we’ve caused you through our failure.”

Donda Ruu pressed his left fist against the floor and hung his maned head just a bit.

This was the first time I had ever seen the man bow his head to anyone.

“We believe that the only way for us to atone is for all of us at the forest’s edge to live proper lives. Please, continue watching over us to see if we’re worthy of your forgiveness.”

“Okay,” Telia Mas replied, deeply hanging her head.

I couldn’t be sure of her expression, as I was seated some distance away, but I could still make out the clear droplets falling onto the fur rug.