Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 23 - Chapter 3.8

Intermezzo: Celebration at the Genos Castle

A celebration was being held in Genos Castle in the aftermath of the swordsmanship tournament...and Ludo Ruu was participating in it along with his father, the leading clan head Donda Ruu. It was impossible for him to describe how he felt about that. He had visited the castle town numerous times before this. However, the scale of the event was completely different this time around. The space where it was being held was as big as the Ruu settlement’s entire plaza, with members of the nobility constantly coming in and leaving. Currently, there were over a hundred people present.

The walls and ceiling were made of stone, and though night had fully fallen at this point, the large space was illuminated as brightly as midday. And in the middle of it all, the nobles were boisterously carrying on and enjoying the event. Trying to follow everything that was happening made Ludo Ruu feel as if he’d had way too much to drink.

Still, it seems that no one here is looking to harm us in any way, Ludo Ruu thought to himself, glancing over at the people beside him and spying Shin Ruu of the branch houses speaking to the young noble Leiriss. Actually, it might have been only Leiriss who was speaking. His eyes were shining passionately, and had been for a while now, as he took up all the air talking about how excellent of a swordsman Shin Ruu was, and how lacking he felt in comparison.

“I have personally beheld the exceptional strength you hunters of the forest’s edge possess. You even defeated Lord Melfried, so there can be no doubt that you are the true sword king of Genos, Sir Shin Ruu. I am so honored to have crossed blades with you.”

Shin Ruu maintained his usual relaxed expression as he listened, with Lala Ruu nestled right up against him, clad in the banquet attire of the forest’s edge and wearing a rather suspicious look.

“I also believe I can now understand why my father Geimalos feared you hunters of the forest’s edge so greatly. Of course, that doesn’t mean I forgive him for the crime he committed. I believe that rather than committing the same mistake he did, I should train and build up my strength so that one day I may defeat you fairly.”

“Do you intend to challenge Shin Ruu to another contest of strength, then?” Lala Ruu interjected without a moment’s hesitation.

“Yes.” Leiriss nodded to her. “If it’s possible, I would of course like to have you appear in next year’s swordsmanship tournament as well... Unless that would be inconvenient for you, Shin Ruu.”

“It wouldn’t, but I can’t make any promises. The leading clan heads decide such matters at the forest’s edge,” Shin Ruu replied, starting to smile faintly. “Still, I’m glad to have formed a proper bond with you, Leiriss. Actually, I should say that I’ve felt happy ever since facing off with you in that arena.”

“How do you mean?”

“I didn’t sense any anger or hatred behind your blade. When I clashed swords with you, it felt as if I was having a contest of strength at the forest’s edge.”

Leiriss started to tear up when he heard those words. “Thank you. Sir Shin Ruu...you are not just a splendid swordsman, but an individual of unimpeachable character as well.”

“I’m nothing special.”

“No, I am certain that you are.” Leiriss stared at Shin Ruu as if he was gazing at the object of his affection. It almost made him look like a different person from the one who had glared at Shin Ruu like a bitter enemy back at the reconciliation banquet the house of Saturas had put on.

Well, I guess it’s fine as long as everything’s good and settled, Ludo Ruu thought as some new figures approached: a large man and a woman in banquet attire. They were the youngest son of the main Zaza house, Geol Zaza, and his sister, Sufira Zaza.

“So this is where you were. I haven’t had a chance to greet you yet.” As the hunter didn’t have his cloak on, it was easy to notice that his face was red from drinking, with the scar above his right eye showing it especially clearly.

“Ah, Sir Geol Zaza... Your injuries aren’t still bothering you, are they?” Leiriss asked, causing the Zaza hunter to raise an eyebrow.

“A little scuffle like that wouldn’t leave any lasting damage. You must be feeling awfully good about having beaten me, though.”

“I didn’t intend to imply anything like that with my question, but if I gave you that mistaken impression, then allow me to apologize,” the noble stated with an elegant bow, only for Geol Zaza’s expression to grow even more threatening.

However, his sister then spoke up as if to hold him back. “As I am a woman, I know nothing of swordsmanship, but you seemed to be exceptionally skilled.”

“Thank you. Ah, you are...?”

“I’m Geol’s elder sister, Sufira Zaza.”

“Sufira Zaza... I’m honored to make your acquaintance. And let me just say, you are a remarkably beautiful woman.”

Sufira Zaza was clad in the banquet attire of the forest’s edge, and just as Ludo Ruu had expected, her eyes narrowed harshly as she shot back. “You don’t appear to have any ill intent, but the forest’s edge does not have a custom of praising the appearance of others lightly. If you wish to form proper bonds with our people, please keep that in mind.”

“Ah, my apologies. I, of course, have no desire to repeat Lord Leeheim’s mistakes,” Leiriss remarked with a soft smile. As Ludo Ruu recalled, this guy was the cousin of that other noble who had caused trouble with his sister, Reina Ruu.

“So, what exactly were you all talking about?” Geol Zaza said, and Leiriss turned toward him with the same expression still on his face.

“Well, I was asking Shin Ruu to please take part in next year’s swordsmanship tournament.”

“Huh? You were talking about stuff like that without me?” Geol Zaza asked, his eyes blazing bright at Shin Ruu and Leiriss. “I see. So you’ve got no use for me now that I’ve been beaten by nobles from Genos twice. If you’re really looking down on me that much...”

“Nobody said anything like that. Cool your head, already,” Ludo Ruu chimed in casually, but his words only made Geol Zaza round on him with incredible speed.

“Who are you? A member of the Ruu clan?”

“Yeah. I’m the youngest son of the main Ruu house, Ludo Ruu. I think this is the first time we’ve properly met.”

“Hmph! What’s a kid like you doing in a place like this? Shouldn’t a strong hunter be the one to accompany the clan head?”

“It’s because my older brother, Darmu, is really unsociable, so our clan head figured I was a better fit for bringing along to the castle town.”

Shin Ruu, who had been listening silently up until now, then added, “Indeed. And Ludo Ruu is more than strong enough to accompany our clan head as well. He’s made it into the top eight of a contest of strength held among the clans under the Ruu before.”

“What? This little brat?”

“He may be little, but he’s only one year younger than us. And I still haven’t ever beaten him in a contest of strength.”

Geol Zaza and Leiriss both looked really surprised when they heard that.

Then Sufira Zaza calmly remarked, “Ah, I just remembered. You were indeed in the final eight at the festival of the hunt held in the violet month... Actually, you made it to the final four.”

“Oh yeah, you were staying at the Ruu settlement as a guest back then, weren’t you? I did end up losing to Gazraan Rutim after that, though.”

“I see!” Geol Zaza said, clapping his hands together. “I just remembered as well! I heard that both the clan head, Donda Ruu, and the old Rutim clan head who’s supposed to be just as strong as him were seriously injured at the time. That explains how a kid like you could have gotten that far.”

“No, that’s wrong. Ludo Ruu also made it into the final eight at the previous festival of the hunt. He was able to prove his strength even with Donda Ruu and Dan Rutim participating,” Shin Ruu shot back, growing rather irritated. “If nothing else, there’s no doubt that he’s a stronger hunter than I am. And since it is my goal to catch up to him, I find it extremely unpleasant to hear you making light of his abilities.”

“So you are skilled enough to serve as Sir Shin Ruu’s goal?” Leiriss questioned.

Ludo Ruu chuckled awkwardly. “I’m not that great. I’ve still never beaten my old man, Jiza, Darmu, Dan Rutim, or Gazraan Rutim. And you all are training so that you won’t lose to anyone either, right?”

His comment was met with silence.

“Anyway, it was Shin Ruu who won today’s contest of strength, so you should be celebrating him rather than me.”

“That is true... It looks like one of your people has made me see my shortcomings once again,” Leiriss said, sounding moved as he gave another bow, and when he lifted his face, it had a brilliant smile on it. “I’ve also seen what earnest spirits all of you from the forest’s edge possess. Though my father caused bad blood between us initially, I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to deepen our bonds.”

“The way you talk is so stiff, I swear. But I guess that’s just how nobles are,” Ludo Ruu said with a smile of his own.

It seemed that Leiriss’s personality was even more forthright than Ludo Ruu had thought. Watching the swarm of nobles coming and going had made him feel almost sickeningly drunk, but perhaps he could actually find something to like about them if he talked to them personally.

Still, it sure does feel strange to be here deepening our bonds with nobles when Asuta isn’t around... Even so, this was yet another path that the chef had carved out for them after he had appeared at the forest’s edge. He must have been having dinner with Ai Fa back at the Fa house around now.

Being stuck in this stone building still made Ludo Ruu feel constrained, but for some reason, he was still perfectly content to be there.