Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 2 - Chapter 2.2

2

“You certainly went and did something troublesome...” a voice said with a deep sigh. We were in an empty space a moderate distance from the main Ruu house.

The man was over 180 centimeters tall, and had a large well-tempered body. His eyes were thin and he always looked like he was smiling, which made it hard to judge how he was feeling.

He was the eldest son of the Ruu family, Jiza Ruu.

His younger brother Ludo Ruu was next to him, staring off at the mountains and looking completely unconcerned, while Ai Fa and I stood across from him. It felt like we were being given guidance by a teacher or something, but honestly this was much more serious. It was a secret meeting between the Ruu and Fa clans, and its outcome could very well decide the fate of both families.

“There’s a strong taboo against laying eyes on an unwed woman’s naked body. Were you aware of that?”

“...Yes. Thoroughly.”

“The law states that those who do so must either offer up an eye in atonement, or accept the woman as his bride. But unfortunately, it would be quite difficult for someone of unknown lineage such as yourself to marry a woman of our Ruu clan.”

“...Right. I understand.”

“On top of that, Vina, Reina, Lala, and Rimee were all there. Marrying all four of them would be even less permitted.”

“Yes, I’m well aware.”

“With that said, you don’t exactly have four eyeballs to offer. Now then, what should we do...?”

“U-Um! I know I said this at the start, but...!” I yelled out loudly, despite this being a secret meeting. “I only saw Ai Fa’s naked body!” I was kicked in the leg. “Ai Fa was standing right in front of me, so her nude flesh was the only thing I could see!” Ah, there comes another kick. “I was totally fixated on her nude figure, so I didn’t see even a bit of anything around her! I didn’t see anything but Ai Fa’s naked body!” This time a barrage of kicks came my way, with a bam, bam, bam! But it’d be a real shame to have both my eyes and something else dug out of my body, so I was desperate here.

By the way, my left temple was still positively throbbing where Ai Fa’s full swing right hook had landed. I didn’t seem to be bleeding, but I was honestly getting pretty worried that she may have fractured my skull.

“Hey, don’t go falling for a woman from your own clan. You’re gonna ruin my whole plan, you know?” Ludo Ruu muttered, not sounding serious in the least. With that, Jiza Ruu slowly turned to face him.

“Ludo Ruu... Do you not understand the seriousness of what you’ve done?”

His thin eyes silently looked down upon his younger brother.

Ludo Ruu shrunk in fright for a second, only for his brows to suddenly furrow.

“What’s the big deal?! That’s just some dusty old law, right? There isn’t anyone uptight enough to actually enforce it here in the settlement!”

“That may be the case. But now that the leaders of our people, the Suun clan, have fallen to such depravity, our Ruu clan is the only one left to serve as a proper example for the forest’s edge. Even if it is an ancient custom, we can’t simply make light of it.”

There weren’t any noticeable shifts in Jiza Ruu’s expression. No matter how serious he was being, his face always just looked like he was gently smiling. But in spite of that, his brother who had just been howling away like a puppy grew more and more pale as he heard what Jiza Ruu had to say.

“A-Alright, I get it... I was wrong. I-I screwed up! So please don’t get so mad, big brother Jiza!”

“I’ll figure out your punishment later,” Jiza Ruu said, finishing matters with his pitiful younger brother and turning back towards us.

Suddenly, I felt some invisible pressure pushing down on me. Seriously, what was with the whole aura this guy gave off? It was sort of like what you’d feel being face to face with a martial arts expert.

“Ai Fa of the Fa clan. What are your thoughts on a member of your house breaking this taboo? I’ll make my decision after I hear what you have to say,” Jiza Ruu quietly stated. “There were sliding doors set up around the area to obstruct peoples’ vision. It is the custom that a sliding door signifies an entrance to a home, and you mustn’t step foot inside without the permission of one who lives there. With that in mind, Asuta of the Fa clan has broken two taboos. How would you deal with him?”

“This man named Asuta is a foreigner. I believe that as the head of the Fa clan, I am at fault for accepting him into my house and then allowing him to enter another’s home without properly teaching him the laws of our people,” Ai Fa said emotionlessly, then gave a silent bow. “If atonement must be paid for this crime, then take my eye in his place. I only ask that you not take both of them, as that will leave me unable to live on as a hunter of the forest’s edge. Will you please accept just one eye as apology...?”

“Hey, Ai Fa!” I yelled out, only for my benefactor to hold me back. Meanwhile, Jiza Ruu gave a “Hmm...” and placed a hand on his sturdy chin. “You seem to be operating under something of a false assumption there, Ai Fa of the Fa clan. It would not be possible to continue to make a living hunting giba after losing an eye. The forest is no mere playground for children, after all.”

“...If I die in the forest as a result, then I shall accept that fate.”

“I see,” Jiza Ruu replied with a single nod, then turned to me as I stood there fidgeting in the worst agitation. “Then allow me to ask one more time. Asuta of the Fa clan, did you lay eyes on the nude bodies of the women of our Ruu clan?”

“The only one I saw naked is Ai Fa!”

Naturally, that earned me another kick.

Jiza Ruu said, “I see,” with a sigh. “I shall believe you, Asuta. And if the only one you saw is indeed Ai Fa, then it becomes a matter for the Fa clan alone. It no longer involves our Ruu clan.”

“You’re offering him forgiveness?” Ai Fa asked.

“It’s not forgiveness, it’s trust,” Jiza Ruu replied. “You’re someone worthy of my trust, Ai Fa. And since you’re the head of his house, I shall believe in Asuta’s words... You said he didn’t step foot beyond the sliding doors, yes?”

“That’s right! After all, Ai Fa was standing buck naked right behind them!”

Another kick smacked into me. I was so filled with relief that I just didn’t care, though. I mean, if Ai Fa was going to offer up one of her eyes, then I would have preferred to just crush both of mine instead.

“Well then, there has been no harm to the Ruu clan, so this matter is settled. And regardless, if we shed another clan’s blood over something like this, then the other clans would all call us crafty, cruel plotters as a result.” With that, Jiza Ruu finally turned back to the now obedient-looking Ludo Ruu. “Do you understand, Ludo Ruu? Your actions invited disaster not just for the Fa clan, but for our Ruu clan as well. You’re no longer an ignorant child, so you must behave properly as a member of the Ruu clan.”

Ludo Ruu looked real pathetic, only able to offer a “...Right,” in response.

“U-Um, he’s not going to face a really heavy punishment, is he?”

“Hmm? Why are you concerned over such a matter, Asuta of the Fa clan?”

“Why...? I mean, even if it is just him reaping what he sows, it’d still leave a bad taste in my mouth, I guess. And if I had been even a little bit more alert, this whole mess never would have happened.”

“Hmm... Well, at any rate, I won’t be punishing him. If I did that, then the head of the clan would end up hearing of this.” The sun was already high in the sky, but the clan head, Donda Ruu, was still just lazing about. “If my father Donda Ruu becomes aware of this, then regardless of any laws or anything of the sort, he will never forgive you. He’s especially doting on his youngest daughter, Rimee Ruu, after all. He won’t just request your eyes, but your very heart.”

“...Oh, I see...”

“But if that happens, the Ruu clan will be looked down upon as having a tyrannical head who is starved for blood. I ask that you take care so that Donda Ruu and other members of the clan do not hear of this matter.”

All I could think was, Right back at you.

I mean, the honor of their clan was on the line, but so was my very life.

“Well then, we have come to an agreement. Our clan head still has not woken up, so I shall say your farewells in your place. Let us pray for our mutual good fortune.”

Now that you’re done here just leave, in other words? It sucked a bit not being able to say goodbye to Rimee Ruu and the rest, but there was no helping it considering the circumstances. We just silently bowed our heads, and then headed towards the Ruu house to retrieve our blades.

“Ah, that’s right. I have a message from our clan head, Donda Ruu. He asked it be conveyed precisely, so I’ll simply use his words,” Jiza Ruu called out, still looking like he was smiling. “‘Thanks for the awful tasting meal. Because of that, our elder was saved. You have my gratitude for the greatest medicine, which eats away at a hunter’s soul.’ That’s all.”