Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 21 - Chapter 2.2

2

The following day, the twenty-sixth of the violet month, was the second holiday during the revival festival, the day of the sun’s peak.

Just like last time, we headed from Dora’s house to the post town first thing in the morning, where we set about preparing our whole roast giba. Depending on how Granny Jiba was feeling, we had been prepared to take her home at this point, but she didn’t seem worn out in the least, so now we had her watching us as we worked.

Naturally, the number of hunters we had acting as guards had increased. It had been decided in advance with Donda Ruu that if Granny Jiba didn’t return by this time, he would promptly send additional hunters to town.

The only chefs to come later were Sheera Ruu and Toor Deen. As for the hunters, six elites in total arrived to join us, including Darmu Ruu and Rau Lea, also bringing along a couple observers, Sufira Zaza and Mia Lea Ruu.

“It’s practically empty back at the main house now. I feel bad for Vina and the others, but I wanted to see how things were in the post town,” Mia Lea Ruu told me.

Now that I thought about it, though Mia Lea Ruu was in charge of the women in the Ruu clan, she hardly ever came to town for shopping. I actually suspected that this was the first time I had ever seen her here. Whether that was true or not, though, she looked really happy as she exited the wagon.

“Well then, I will be attending to the elder for now, but feel free to call for me at any time if you need an extra hand.”

“Right, thank you,” I said. However, six chefs was already more than enough for us to work with at this stage.

We quickly split into teams of two to set about preparing our whole roast giba at three separate stalls. Unfortunately, today we only had one proper whole roast to offer. Young giba were well protected by their mothers, so the hunters didn’t catch them all that often. As such, two of the stalls were instead preparing a dressed carcass that had been split in half.

We had removed the head and internal organs of a full-grown beast and divided the remainder into two parts with about thirty kilograms of meat each. I figured the giba must have been seventy to eighty kilos to begin with. Before long, the number of passersby on the road started to rise, and soon we were hearing even more sounds of wonder and admiration than last time.

“Full grown giba sure are big! Even if I had a ton of lives to spare, it would never be enough for me to be willing to deal with having something like that chase me.”

“Yeah, the little giba have pretty cute faces, but this one must’ve looked real vicious when it was alive.”

Even so, this giba was only a medium-sized one. It wasn’t uncommon at all to see giba over a hundred kilos at the forest’s edge, and the lord of the forest was so big it would have been hard to measure. How scary would these folks think a beast like that was?

I guess that’s why having a giba as a show animal would be just as interesting as a black ape or gaaje leopard... Still, I can’t imagine a live giba ever following orders and doing tricks.

Even back in my home world, carnivorous cats and apes were sometimes used in shows. I hadn’t ever heard of pigs or boars doing tricks, though. Considering we were talking about a whole other world with an ecosystem all its own, maybe a comparison like that wasn’t valid, but I still couldn’t picture a giba being obedient enough to be used in a performance.

Still, this is a world where they have huge lizards pulling wagons, so I guess a giba doing tricks wouldn’t be all that odd.

At any rate, I figured the relationship between the people of the forest’s edge and the Gamley Troupe was what mattered more. I’d had a pretty favorable impression of Pino and the others so far. I really didn’t want anything to happen that would lead to there being bad blood between them and the people of the forest’s edge.

If that Gamley guy were a bit less quirky, then I wouldn’t be quite so worried. But he’s got the same sort of feel about him as Kamyua Yoshu.

Knowing nothing of my thoughts, the Gamley Troupe’s tent stood silent across the road from us.

Shortly before the upper fifth hour, people started crowding around, waiting for whole roast kimyuus and fruit wine to be distributed. It looked to be an even larger crowd than the one we saw on the day of dawn.

When Yumi arrived a little while later, pushing her stall into place, she provided a bit of an explanation. “Well, of course. More people have arrived to visit Genos at this point, and I mean, it’s the day of the sun’s peak. That means there’s going to be an interesting show in the middle of the day.”

“A show? So someone is going to perform tricks?”

“If they did, maybe then I’d be willing to throw them a half coin or whatever. I can’t say it’s anything I’m particularly looking forward to.”

The meaning behind Yumi’s statement became clear minutes later. The nobles were putting on a parade alongside the distribution of the day’s meat and fruit wine.

Actually, it was more like a daimyo’s procession than a parade. In addition to the deliveries of food and drink, there was a stream of totos-drawn carriages proceeding down the street. Standing at the front of the procession was the head of the ducal guard, Melfried, and the vehicles behind him were being closely guarded by soldiers clad in white.

The soldiers were brandishing their spears in an exaggerated manner, and a number were pulling unhitched totos along with them. It certainly wasn’t every day you saw so many soldiers here in town. There were undoubtedly members of the nobility riding in those carriages.

The parade was marching onward with almost mechanical precision. The first of what looked to be around twenty or so carriages had already advanced a fair distance away, and I guessed that we had the middle of the line in front of us now.

As the crowd continued to make all kinds of noise, a tall figure emerged onto the roof of the lead totos carriage. Perhaps there was a staircase or something on the inside, but however it was done, the silhouette of a man had just suddenly appeared there. I couldn’t make out many details from this distance, but he looked to be clad in the same sort of pure-white armor that the ducal guards wore. A violet tassel flowed from the crown of the silver helmet on his head.

“Citizens of the Saturas lands! Guests from all around Selva, Jagar, and Sym visiting us here in Genos! It is now just five days until the fall and rebirth of the sun god!” the man’s clear voice resounded throughout the street. Though it was a bit muffled due to the helmet, it was undoubtedly the voice of Duke Marstein Genos. “Now, let us all partake in meat and wine to celebrate the ceremony of revival! To the sun god!”

A shout of “To the sun god!” that seemed to shake the very town itself erupted from the crowd. Only the people of the forest’s edge and a handful of others weren’t cheering along.

Several people had started distributing kimyuus meat and barrels of fruit wine from the rear wagon in the meantime. The crowd cheered even more at that, extolling the sun god and Duke Genos.

“That’s what I meant. You’re used to seeing nobles, so that probably wasn’t interesting to you at all, right?” Yumi called out as she passed by us, holding a wooden box packed with meat.

“Yeah. Still, I never expected the lord of the land himself to make an appearance, so that was a bit of a surprise.”

“Hmph. He only parades around the post town all pompously like that for the sun god’s revival festival and big important weddings, and with all that armor on, there’s no telling what kind of face he’s making when he looks at us, or even if that’s really the lord of the land himself in the first place.”

That must have been a precaution to guard against arrows. After all, someone as skilled as Ludo Ruu or Jeeda could easily hit him with a bow from the side of the road.

At any rate, though Yumi was wearing a bitter look on her face as a resident of the backstreets of the post town, everyone else was happily cheering away. Even if most of their good mood was thanks to the fruit wine, it would still be exceedingly rare for anyone to let their animosity toward the nobility show at a time like this.

“Rather than sharing joy with the residents of the land, it’s more like they’re making a display of their power while placating the hearts of the citizens with meat and wine,” Ai Fa remarked as she stood next to me, though it didn’t seem like she particularly cared. “Still, it isn’t as if it’s hurting anyone, and the townsfolk do appear to be happy. If we look at it as proof that the problems caused by Cyclaeus and his brother have finally been put to rest, then I suppose we should be glad as well.”

“Yeah, I guess that sounds about right.”

It was true that if Marstein had chosen to handle the situation differently back then, I might have seen things in a totally different light now. Kamyua Yoshu had once said that Marstein valued his reputation in the capital highly, but it seemed he also had to consider the popular opinion of his people with equal importance. If he had pardoned Cyclaeus and Ciluel’s crimes once they were revealed, failed to revise his handling of the people of the forest’s edge, or executed Bartha as a remnant of the Red Beards, he never would have been able to hold a parade like this.

The procession then resumed its march, leaving behind nothing but a wild commotion in its wake. The whole roast giba was already close to done, and there was smoke starting to rise here and there from the various stalls cooking kimyuus. The street was full of the sound of drinks being poured and cups clacking together as voices cheered, “To the sun god!”

“So this is a festival in Genos...” Granny Jiba commented as she approached us with Mia Lea Ruu and six hunters. Ai Fa turned their way, frowning and looking a bit worried.

“Granny Jiba, are you feeling all right? It’s been some time since you moved around this much, so don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I’m not pushing myself at all... But I’m sorry for doing nothing except making you all worry...”

“You have nothing to be sorry for! It’s only natural for us to want to fulfill the request of our beloved elder!” Dan Rutim, one of the guards, remarked with a hearty chuckle. “Still, you certainly seem to have gotten your energy back, Jiba Ruu! Your walking’s still unsteady because of your bad legs, but other than that, it’s like you’re a whole twenty years younger! I’m extremely glad to see you doing so well!”

“Thank you, Dan Rutim... By the way, won’t you be getting any fruit wine? You toasted together with some townsfolk last time, did you not?”

“Hmm? Did Gazraan tell you that?! Well, even if I won’t be chewed out for drinking wine, I’ve got to help protect you today! So I decided to exercise a bit of restraint!”

“Is that so? What a shame... I pushed to make my selfish request happen because I wanted to watch the people of the forest’s edge and the townsfolk getting along...”

“I see! Well then, why don’t I go grant your wish?!” Dan Rutim readily replied, leaving me dumbfounded. He turned to face Jiza Ruu with a wide grin. “That said, I can’t simply leave Jiba Ruu’s side, right?! Would having a wine barrel brought over here suffice?”

“As long as you carry out your guard duty, you can do as you please.”

It seemed even Jiza Ruu didn’t care to try to rein Dan Rutim in. The former Rutim clan head plunged into the crowd and returned with a huge wine barrel and a number of townsfolk.

“What, the meat isn’t roasted yet? The sun’s gonna hit its peak soon, isn’t it?”

“Ooh, that’s a delicious smell. I just can’t get enough of that dripping fat!”

Folks from the west and south were energetically calling out to us with comments like that, their faces flushed from drinking. Meanwhile, Jiza Ruu cautiously moved Granny Jiba a few steps farther away.

“You sure have a lot of men here today! Y’all should drink as much fruit wine as you want too! That’s how you celebrate the sun god, right?” one of the southerners shouted out, but after Jiza Ruu sent a glance at all the other hunters, only the friendly Giran Ririn said anything in response to their call. However, Granny Jiba was still watching them intently from where she was sitting on a cloth that Mia Lea Ruu had laid out.

Nearly an hour later, the whole roast giba was finally finished. Some sharp-eyed folks were already starting to gather around, even as we were still dealing with our braziers. It seemed we had earned quite a reputation after the last time, which had led to us getting this huge crowd.

“Hold on for just a moment! We’ll start cutting the meat soon!”

Toor Deen and I were handling the young giba, which was an actual proper whole roast. We cut the meat in the same way we had before, with people snatching it up so quickly that it never even got a chance to pile up on the plate.

Everyone was looking satisfied as they stuffed their cheeks with giba meat, with no real differences between those from the west, the south, or the east. Since most of them had been drinking, they really didn’t hold back, even compared to how things were during our usual business hours. I just hoped that their lack of reservation would serve to leave an even stronger impression on Granny Jiba.

That went for Jiza Ruu and Sufira Zaza as well. The two of them were staring even more intently at the sights around them than Granny Jiba. I had to wonder what they thought about all this, especially when it came to the question of whether our business here in the post town was a boon or a poison for the people of the forest’s edge.

“Hmm, perhaps I’ll try some of the ribs from over there today!” Dan Rutim said as he headed over to Reina Ruu’s stall and helped himself to some rib meat. Cuts from an adult giba like theirs probably felt more substantial than meat from a young one. Giran Ririn went over and received some meat of a similar cut as well, which he bit into with a smile.

After that, several members of Dora’s household arrived, and things got even more lively around our stalls. In no time at all, Dora and his sons were drinking alongside Dan Rutim, while Tara started hanging around Rimee Ruu’s stall.

“It seems like the meat will run out in a flash again today, doesn’t it?” Toor Deen quietly whispered to me as she continued helping to cut the meat.

“That’s true. Maybe next holiday we should go big and add two more stalls so we can sell five giba worth of meat.”

“Huh...? But the Fa and Ruu would need to pay for that meat, right?”

“Yeah, but this is a once-a-year event. Of course, it’s all going to depend on how Ai Fa and Donda Ruu feel about the matter.”

“Do you really think I would be opposed to the idea?” Ai Fa asked, cutting in between us. “It’s not like I have any way to spend all that money to begin with, so do as you please. As long as the people of the forest’s edge have enough to eat, I don’t care how much giba meat you use for other things.”

“Got it. In that case, let’s try coming up with a plan to that effect.”

Even as we had that conversation, the amount of giba meat was visibly decreasing. As I was thinking to myself that in ten minutes or so it would be a good idea to remove the brain and eyes, a familiar group approached the stall.

“Seems like we were a bit too casual about deciding when to come over. That giba looks like it’ll be nothing but bones pretty soon.”

“Ah, welcome. Yes, you really did make it just in time.”

Naturally, it was the members of the Gamley Troupe. Today, their number included the acrobat, Pino; the strongman, Doga; the flute player, Nachara; the beast tamer, Shantu; the vase man, Dilo; the minstrel, Neeya; and the twins, Arun and Amin.

“Ah, my beautiful lady. Would you at least allow me to know your name today?” Neeya asked Ai Fa incorrigibly with his instrument on his back. My clan head silently turned away, while Jiza Ruu adjusted his position to block Granny Jiba from their view.

“Hey, we came all this way, so you should all make sure to grab a slice. Don’t follow this blockhead’s example and just stand around chewing jerky.” At Pino’s urging, the twins timidly reached out their hands. After glancing at the two of them out of the corner of her eyes, Pino shot Neeya a look filled with contempt. “So, you only came to try to pick up a girl after all? There really is no cure for being such a playboy.”

“With my heart full to bursting, how could I possibly have room for meat? Still, I suppose someone as boorish as you will never understand such a thing,” Neeya remarked with a dejected shrug. “Besides, how many times must I say it? Whether it’s giba meat or whatever else, I have no intention of eating shoddy food prepared by the side of the road. I’m expected at a tea party in the castle town after this as well.”

“Hm. So even a mere traveling performer can become this pompous just from getting a pass, can he? You were living in a gutter before the troupe leader took you in, right?”

“I’ve long since forgotten that distant past! And it would be terrible to ruin my stomach with something like giba meat. Only poor folks incapable of buying enough karon would ever appreciate such a thing.”

“I’m amazed you would let words that foolish spew out of your mouth in front of this many hunters from the forest’s edge... I just hope they don’t start disliking me simply because I’m associated with you.” Pino was wearing an uncharacteristic look like she was about to click her tongue, and then she turned her gaze toward Jiza Ruu back behind the stall. “My sincerest apologies, Jiza Ruu. If you’re unable to suppress your anger, then please, go ahead and take it out on this blockhead any way you like. As long as you leave his mouth and fingers alone, he won’t have any trouble earning his keep.”

“That man is hardly the only one to speak to us in such a way... Up until a few months ago, no one in town would ever dare to try giba meat,” Jiza Ruu replied, though it was impossible to get a read on the tone of his voice. “But if he goes on to mock us people of the forest’s edge like that, I won’t be able to remain silent. Please be warned of that, if nothing else.”

Though Jiza Ruu was wearing his usual gentle expression, it was hard not to get chills when you knew the man’s true nature. Of course, Neeya knew nothing of that, so he didn’t seem intimidated in the least, judging from the grin that remained plastered on his face.

“It isn’t as if I’m ridiculing you people of the forest’s edge. I just feel sorry for you all, having to happily gulp down such foul-looking meat...”

“That’s why I was saying not to run your mouth. You really are an incurable blockhead... Perhaps you weren’t aware that Asuta here is a great chef who has been invited to the castle town multiple times,” Pino remarked, shooting Neeya a saucy yet chilly glare. “Asuta’s giba cooking has even earned the approval of the lord of Genos himself. Do you think even the lord of that huge castle is someone to feel sorry for, you foolish minstrel?”

“That certainly is quite the big talk. Just where did you hear such idle gossip?”

“You really have to ask? Kamyua was all excited about it last time we met, wasn’t he? But, well, you have trouble dealing with him, so you were probably curled up in a corner where his voice couldn’t reach you.”

“Hmph...” Neeya muttered, finally going silent. Then he looked me over for probably the first time ever. “That must have been one of those jokes Kamyua Yoshu is so skilled at telling. There’s no way such a seedy-looking fellow would ever be invited to the—”

“Hey,” a voice interjected, sharply cutting Neeya’s statement off. Of course, the identity of the speaker would be a surprise to nobody. “Did you not hear what Jiza Ruu said? As the head of the Fa clan, I won’t simply stay silent if you mock my clan member.”

After glancing restlessly around, Neeya’s gaze finally settled on Ai Fa.

“H-Huh? Was that you who spoke just now, oh lovely lady?”

“Shut that mouth of yours right now or leave this place immediately. If you do so, I’ll overlook your crime.” Ai Fa’s eyes were blazing bright and there were wrinkles forming around her nose. It was the look of a wildcat, no less fierce than a gaaje leopard or a silver lion.

“Wh-What has you so upset? Your clan member? Do you mean...?” Neeya questioned, then his eyes shot open wide in shock. “This young fellow couldn’t be your husband, could he?! That’s too ridiculous to believe!”

“That doesn’t matter in the least! If you do not shut your mouth this very moment—”

Ai Fa’s shouting was suddenly cut off by a loud smack. Pino had suddenly stretched up and smacked her palm right into Neeya’s face. Her straightforward strike caused Neeya to stumble backward with a sharp cry, while Pino went “Hmph” and wiped her hand on her clothing. “If I let a blockhead like you do as you please, this really will end in bloodshed. Doga...”

The large silent man then grabbed hold of the nape of Neeya’s neck and hoisted the minstrel’s slender body up over his shoulder.

“My deepest apologies. As you asked, we will go ahead and leave. He’ll be getting at least two or three more smacks, so I hope that you can forgive us for this.”

“Stop, you idiot! My instrument! You’ll damage my instrument!” Neeya wailed as Doga strode heavily back over toward the tent. Despite not knowing anything about what was going on, the passersby were cheering at the display.

With that, Pino and company disappeared, and Ludo Ruu commented in astonishment, “You know, I’m amazed that guy’s managed to live this long like that. It was like watching a giiz mouse wailing in front of a giant madarama snake with its mouth open wide.” It certainly was rare to see someone so bad at sensing the feelings of the people around him. Perhaps he was missing something crucial to being human. “Still, you were being a bit too short tempered there, Ai Fa. Was the phrase ‘seedy-looking’ really worth getting that angry about all on its own?”

“Would you be able to stay silent if Rimee Ruu was mocked in such a way, Ludo Ruu?”

“Why are you using Rimee as an example? Hmm, still, you’re right that it would be hard for me to say nothing if that happened...”

At that point, Jiza Ruu chimed in with narrowed eyes after having given the matter careful consideration. “That Pino girl seems to have a strong, earnest heart for someone from town. But there’s no guarantee the same is true of all her compatriots... You still intend to visit them even so, Ludo?”

“Hmm? I don’t really care either way, but Rimee and the others want to go see them.”

Yes, Rimee Ruu and several of the others had planned to head over to the Gamley Troupe’s tent again tonight. While he was reluctant to allow it, Donda Ruu seemed to have reached the conclusion that another bandit attack was highly unlikely, but naturally, Jiza Ruu hadn’t fully agreed.

“As long as Donda, the head of our clan, does not change his opinion on the matter, I will accompany you as well today.”

“Ah, sounds good. That black ape is one heck of a sight to see. I mean, Granny Jiba’s father and all the others from back then used to hunt them in the black forest, after all,” Ludo Ruu stated, and I heard Granny Jiba laugh from behind Jiza Ruu.

“Donda would never give his permission for this old bag of bones to walk around town at night or go anywhere near that dubious tent...but I get the feeling it would be good for you to see a black ape as the next clan head, and a leading clan head at that...”

“I see,” Jiza Ruu calmly replied. When I snuck a peak behind him, I found Granny Jiba wearing her usual gentle smile.

“Still, there really are all sorts of different folks here in town... Such an interesting place...”

“‘Interesting’ isn’t quite the word I would use,” Ai Fa muttered with a displeased look, but Granny Jiba just kept on smiling.

At any rate, there was only a little of the whole roast left, so the end of our morning work for the day of the sun’s peak was fast approaching.