Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 2 - Chapter 4.2

2

A few hours passed, and we had finished the cooking with some time to spare.

Two of the four stoves had pots of giba stew simmering (in the giba soup style, as I’d come to call it), and there were piles of baked poitan atop plates. Now all that was left was to grill the meat and wait for the guests to arrive.

“Hey, Asuta... Is this really going to be alright...?” Vina Ruu asked in a worried voice. She was seated listlessly leaning up against the wall, cradling one of her knees.

My plan for this event placed a bit of a heavy load on her.

“This banquet is really important, right...? I’m not exactly confident...”

“You’ll be fine. At least for right now, there aren’t any problems.”

“But after this...”

“We’ll just have to pray everything goes according to plan.”

As she hugged her knee tight, Vina Ruu shot me a very reproachful sidelong glance.

Just having this thought was probably enough for my character to be called into question, but her large breasts were being smooshed by her knee, and I could clearly see them squishing even through her clothing, which made for quite the erotic sight.

“Asuta, could it be... That you hate hearing complaints, so you’re trying to offer me up as some sort of sacrifice...?”

“What the heck? What reason would I have for doing something like that?”

“I mean... I’m nothing but a pest to you, right?”

The rest of the women were out front getting some fresh air. That must have been why she felt willing to raise the topic, but I still panicked a bit when I saw that the door was left wide open.

“T-That’s not true. I feel just like I told you before. I just seriously want you to stop thinking such crazy things.”

“But... Even if I can change my way of thinking, I can’t change how I feel, right?” Her smooth cheeks got just a little redder. “Do you really believe I did all that just as part of some sort of plan? Do you honestly think a woman who held onto her virginity till she was 20 could go and do something like that...?”

“N-No, you see...”

“Ugh... That heir to the Rutim clan who’s coming today is one of the guys who I turned down,” she said, hiding her face behind her knees. “If I make a big mistake at the celebration before his wedding, the head of the Rutim clan will really give me hell again... Agh, I just want to drop dead already...”

“I-I’m telling you, it’s alright! Even if you screw up, all the responsibility will still fall on me! It was all my doing, right?! But if you succeed, you’ll get the glory for it!”

Vina Ruu shot me a sidelong glance from behind her knees.

“You say that now, but you plan on betraying me at the last moment, don’t you...?”

“I’d never do that! I swear on this knife!”

With that, her slightly droopy brown eyes started to tear up in a somehow coquettish manner.

“That’s just not fair... How am I supposed to change how I feel...? I feel like you’re just teasing me, sometimes being cold to me and then going and acting all kind...”

Then what exactly do you want me to do?!

And then, a voice called out coldly from behind, “What are you getting all worked up about?”

Apparently I’d been the only one raising my voice. I felt a chill run down my spine thanks to my own carelessness.

Ai Fa was standing in the entrance to the kitchen, looking back and forth between me and Vina Ruu with a piercing gaze.

“It seems the Rutim have arrived. Wouldn’t this be a good time?”

That statement instantly caused me to change gears. I gave a nod, then turned back towards Vina Ruu.

“Alright! Well then, let’s get started! Vina Ruu, I’m counting on you to do it as we planned!”

◇

“Hmm! So you’re the outsider staying at the Fa house, huh?!” a loud voice suddenly called out as I was carrying in the giba soup pots along with Mia Lea Ruu.

A large man I didn’t recognize was there in the seat of honor. He was so big that even having Donda Ruu seated next to him didn’t make him look any smaller. Naturally, I was talking about his height, but his breadth and thickness were impressive, too. He was wearing a vest just like me, but that only really covered his shoulders, leaving his potbelly fully exposed. On top of that, he had a shiny bald head, thick eyebrows, a big nose, mouth, and eyes, and a broad chin with a dark brown beard. With that brown skin and the ethnic outfit, he really was the spitting image of an Arabian genie.

Right now he was giving a hearty smile, but I could certainly see his rage driving not just Vina Ruu but the world at large to despair.

I placed the pot down atop a stove to keep it warm, then got down on my knees and gave a bow.

“I’m Asuta of the Fa clan. I was allowed the honor of manning the stove for today, alongside the women of the Ruu clan.”

“Ooh, that’s right. I heard someone from another family was supposed to be preparing a different sort of exciting dinner for us. We’ll still end up with the same giba meat in our bellies, but I’m definitely interested to see what you have in store! I’m really looking forward to this, Asuta of the Fa clan!”

“I sincerely hope that it’s to your liking,” I replied, keeping things formal, as awkward as I may be at it, then stood up and said “Well then...” I mean, I cooked at an eatery. I wasn’t the chef for some french restaurant or the hostess at some fancy joint or anything. I generally didn’t greet customers with anything more than a “Hey there!”

As Mia Lea Ruu started having a pleasant chat with her guests, I moved towards the room’s exit. And as I passed on by, I took the chance to observe the other guests. Toward the head of the seating, there were a man and a woman I didn’t recognize off to the left and right. They must’ve been the heir to the Rutim and his fiancée.

If I recall correctly, the groom’s name was Gazraan Rutim. He was a large, honest looking man. In terms of physique, he probably wouldn’t fall short of the eldest son of the main Ruu house, Jiza Ruu... And speaking of which, Jiza Ruu himself was seated next to the man, giving off his usual intense pressure.

Their dads were both giants, but they possessed robust bodies to match those men, and they seemed to exude the sort of character and intensity you would expect from the heirs to their clans. I could firmly sense a sort of silent dignity about them.

Everything about Gazraan Rutim’s face was big, which he must have gotten from his father, but rather than being fat he had something of a square look about him, which I wouldn’t quite call all that handsome. His dark brown hair was cut nice and tidy though, and there was a gentle shine in his blue eyes that seemed both really masculine and sincere. I couldn’t help but think he’d probably make for a good husband.

On the other hand there was the bride, whose name was Ama Min, I think.

After the Ruu, Rutim, and Lea, the Min clan was a mainstay of the Ruu’s followers, and I heard Granny Tito Min was born to that family. In other words, when a woman married into a family, she added her old name to the new one, which told where she came from. So when Tito Min entered the Ruu clan she became Tito Min Ruu, and in seven days this woman would be Ama Min Rutim.

Hmm...

That my following thought was the ridiculous delusion of Ai Fa Tsurumi, huh? was a secret I would take to my grave.

And maybe it would be Asuta Fa... At any rate, it was nothing but a stupid thought that had no chance of coming true.

But anyway, the bride was Ama Min.

She was neither too thin nor too fat, and she was a perfect height. She looked like she was in good health, had great posture, and even seemed to have a great upbringing. Her blackish brown hair was done up in a sporty style and her pale blue eyes shone bright. She looked neat, tidy, and serious, but she didn’t appear timid in the least. She simply sat there silently as she waited for the banquet to begin.

Her age couldn’t have been all that far removed from mine. It was amazing seeing how calm she was before her own wedding. Honestly, she made the similarly aged Reina Ruu look pretty childish in comparison.

Well, at least in this blockheaded 17 year old’s opinion, an innocent and bright young girl was more appealing than a woman who was more calm and relaxed than you would expect from her age. And on top of that, a girl who’s usually cool but will occasionally be super open with her feelings and kicks you in the leg, and has eyes like a wildcat... No, no, I should drop that.

Anyway! The two really seemed to make a good pair.

I felt a little awkward somehow, getting their wedding’s celebration mixed up in this weird fight.

And just as his wife had mentioned, the very man who brought our fight here had quite a displeased look on his face. When I went to talk to the person next to him he looked off towards nothing at all and kept on chugging down the fruit wine like he had been doing for a while now.

I kept on walking while worrying that he may not be able to make out the taste if he drinks too much, only to find a tilted gaze fixed on me from below.

It was coming from the second son of the Ruu house, Darmu Ruu. He was the only one I didn’t meet when we visited three days ago. I guess that meant we were seeing each other for the first time in two weeks. As always, he had a stiff, vicious looking face that reminded me of a wild wolf, as well as that glint in his eyes that he got from his father.

If it weren’t for that predatory face and those eyes, he would probably be the most handsome of the Ruu men. But thanks to his history with Ai Fa, he was also the only one of them I absolutely couldn’t forgive.

And so, I put just a bit of strength in my gaze, only for him to suddenly and unnaturally avert his eyes. What was that about? Looking at his stiff face from the side, I saw that he was seriously frustrated and sulking.

After bowing to the youngest son who had his cheeks resting on his hands like he was about to collapse, the third daughter who was outright ignoring me, and the youngest daughter who was energetically waving my way, I went to exit the banquet hall. Before I could do so, though, I ran into Ai Fa, Vina Ruu, and Reina Ruu, who were carrying the last pot and the plates of poitan.

“Ooh?! What’s that? Is that seriously food?!” I heard Dan Rutim yell out in astonishment from behind me, and then I returned to the kitchen.

It was already getting dark out, but there were candles set between the banquet hall door and the separate building, so I didn’t have to worry about where I was stepping.

I made it back to the kitchen before long and waited for the women to return, feeling seriously nervous before the big showdown.

“Sorry, we got caught up talking with everyone. They were really surprised by the baked poitan.”

They ended up coming back with a rather energetic older woman in tow.

Well then, time for the initial skirmish.

“I’m sure they’ll have all sorts of things to say, so I’ll be the one to bring the plates to the seats of honor,” I said, grabbing wooden plates with the main dish, only for Mia Lea Ruu to call out to me.

“Hey, are you really going to be alright? Our clan head has a really displeased look on his face, and I just can’t help but worry...”

It was a little scary seeing her look so serious, considering she was always so bright and cheery.

I guess it was the gravity possessed by a woman who raised seven children while also managing all the housework.

While thinking how my mom would be about her age if she were still alive, I replied, “The only way to end things peacefully would be never involving ourselves with the Ruu clan ever again. I didn’t want that, so I had to get a little rough and pick a fight with the head of your clan.”

Mia Lea Ruu looked shocked and astounded... and then she smiled.

“Got it! I can’t quite side with my husband’s enemy, but I’ll be rooting for you to at least not get killed, so give him everything you’ve got!”

With that, she gave me a hearty slap on the back. It hurt like hell, but it also made me happy.

“Well then...” I said, holding a plate in both hands as I exited the kitchen.

And then, Ai Fa called out, “Hold on. Don’t go off on your own,” and hurriedly caught up to me, holding the same sort of plates that I was. “What did you intend to do if those large men flew into a rage? You don’t have the strength needed to protect yourself, so don’t go acting alone.”

“Hey, I might have said I was picking a fight, but I wasn’t exactly planning on a slugfest.”

“Are you saying it wouldn’t be a serious matter if one of their fists suddenly came flying your way?”

“...I’d probably die.”

“In that case,” Ai Fa said, drawing her face in close, “Don’t leave my side.”

Ai Fa’s face was like that of a gallant, brave prince, so much so that I couldn’t help but think it might be nice to be reborn as a princess in my next life, assuming such things existed.

Hey wait, isn’t this pretty much my ‘next life’ as is?

It wasn’t so bad of a second life, either.

I really was happy as that thought passed through my head.

“Thanks for waiting. These are the last dishes.”

I entered the banquet hall alongside Ai Fa.

Donda Ruu and Dan Rutim were in the seats of honor.

Off to the right were Gazraan Rutim, Jiza, Darmu, Ludo, Lala, and Rimee Ruu.

On the left was Ama Min, Tito Min Ruu, and Sati Lea Ruu. Oh, and there were empty seats for the three who helped cook.

Kota Ruu was babbling away in a cradle behind Sati Lea Ruu.

Setting aside the infant, those faces greeted me with brilliant expectations, displeasure, and complete emotionlessness.

With everyone’s eyes on us, Ai Fa and I approached the head of the group.

I offered the plates I was holding to the two clan heads, while Ai Fa did the same for their heirs.

The second they saw what was inside... a rage ignited in Donda Ruu’s eyes, and Dan Rutim yelled out, “What the hell is this?!”