Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 6 - Chapter 3.3

3

The dawn had broken at last on the chaotic night.

After crawling out of the ritual hall, I gave both my arms a big stretch while squinting my eyes from the brightness of the morning sun.

“That really was an unbelievable night...” Ai Fa muttered with a frown, coming up beside me.

“That’s for sure. It was so insane that it’s hard to believe it really happened. What in the world’s going to become of the forest’s edge now?”

“Who knows? But, well... I can’t imagine it getting worse than it’s been. We’ll be striving our hardest to make sure that it doesn’t,” Ai Fa stated as she put up her hair, her face brimming with strength now that she was completely free of the effects of the melemele leaves.

The other clan heads came on out in the meantime, so we made way for them to stagger by.

The emergency clan head meeting that had been running all night had come to a close.

◇

Thanks to the questioning carried out by the clan heads, the Suun clan’s crimes were thoroughly brought to light.

First off, the Suun clan had been gathering the blessings of the forest for over a decade. Apparently, Zuuro Suun became clan head ten years back, so the deed went back to the time of the previous head, Zattsu Suun.

They hunted giba just for the meat, and got all of their vegetables from the forest. They used the reward money along with what they got from horns and tusks to buy everyday goods, fruit wine, and salt. And the members of the main house splurged on their own amusement, too.

The members of the branch families, meanwhile, were coerced into keeping the secret. If it got out, all of the Suun would have to offer up their scalps. They were forced into being accomplices, and for over a decade had to suppress their pride and dignity as people of the forest’s edge.

Perhaps as a result of that, many in the Suun settlement lived short lives. They were supposed to be living lives of far more plenty and tranquility than any other clan, and yet there was no end to folks dying mysteriously of emaciation.

“That may have been because they couldn’t find meaning in living such overly peaceful lives...” Oura Suun had suggested.

Apparently, that trend was especially strong among those who married into the clan. Except for Oura Suun, all of Zuuro Suun’s wives had come from subordinate clans like the Zaza and Jeen.

Even when that wasn’t the case, those who weren’t well suited to such alien circumstances tended to die young. And thanks to that happening so often, they were chronically shorthanded, which caused them to firmly refuse sending any brides or grooms to the clans under them.

Of course, that made perfect sense. After all, throughout the Suun settlement everyone was under pressure to protect the secret. They could hardly let anyone who knew of what they had done go off on their own.

Still, that all just felt far too unnatural. At the forest’s edge, blood ties were valued above all else, after all. The clans under the Suun must have felt a great deal of resentment over the fact that they hadn’t been offered any brides or grooms for over a decade. That must have been one of the big reasons that Yamiru Suun had said, “It’s not possible to keep deceiving the clans under us.”

So why did the Suun clan try to take in the two of us from the Fa? It seemed the goal was to use the money we earned to buy aria and poitan, so they could stop laying hands on the blessings of the forest. If they could pull that off, then they could forever wipe away their unpleasant secret.

“What the heck?! That’s so stupid! In that case, all they needed to do was go out and properly hunt giba, right?!” Dan Rutim had stated, foremost among the great many enraged clan heads.

But having tasted depravity, the folks of the main house... or I should say the clan head Zuuro Suun, couldn’t even envision such a thing.

Plus, even if they wanted to hunt giba, the beasts hardly ever came anywhere near the Suun settlement. That was only logical, though. The giba lived off the fruits of the forest, so they naturally wouldn’t settle down where such things were lacking.

In other words, that was the cause of the increase in giba in recent years.

Thanks to the Suun clan shirking their duties as hunters the number of giba had grown, and by gathering food from the forest they had caused them to move elsewhere. As a result, a significantly greater burden was placed on the other clans.

At any rate, the situation had just been continually worsening. Even if someone from the branch families decided to ignore the main house and carry out their work as a hunter, they wouldn’t be able to get anything done without any giba around. On top of that, in the Suun settlement they were hunting the bare minimum of giba, to the point that they had more of a shortage of meat than vegetables.

On the other hand, while the number of giba was decreasing, small animals like lizards and snakes were thriving, so a good number of folks were apparently using meat from those to fend off starvation. But the members of the main house instead bought kimyuus and karon meat for the same purpose.

“Still, why go out of their way to intentionally go after the Fa on the day of the clan head meeting? Actually, if they were planning on a forceful kidnapping to start with, why not attack the Fa house directly rather than inviting anyone to the Suun settlement?”

The one to voice that question had been Dari Sauti.

Such a barbaric act surely would have been possible with a secret weapon like the melemele leaves. They would have been able to carry out their goal quite smoothly by just putting me and Ai Fa to sleep, then cutting through a window lattice using a saw or whatever.

The answer to that came from Yamiru Suun. According to her, with a building set half-underground like the ritual hall that also has completely sealable entrances, just lighting the melemele leaves with a candle and leaving it there is enough. But a normal house has windows with latices, which makes it rather difficult to get the smoke to settle inside.

Sure enough, I couldn’t imagine Ai Fa failing to notice if I was grilling a fish or something and fanning the smoke right outside the window.

“Still, I just can’t see it as anything but idiotic. Did you really think you would get away with wrongdoing when all the clan heads were gathered together in one place? I’m embarrassed to say I was fully asleep, but I still can’t imagine anyone sane coming up with such a plan.”

“That’s true... However, it still seemed wiser than attacking the Fa house directly. Considering how strong the Fa clan head supposedly is, Diga and Doddo couldn’t possibly defeat her,” Yamiru Suun replied in a detached tone.

Dari Sauti’s rage-filled gaze fixed on the woman.

“Let me confirm once again. Zuuro Suun came up with the idea of forcing the members of the Fa to join the Suun clan, while you, the eldest son, and the second son planned out the details, correct?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“The ones who actually committed crimes were your two brothers and Tei Suun, but you are no less at fault.”

“You don’t need to go and emphasize that point now.”

Yamiru Suun’s expression was so calm that it actually felt bizarre.

“Hold on, please,” I tried to interject.

However, Ai Fa grabbed my arm when I went to do so.

“Don’t do it. This isn’t the time or place for us to speak up.”

“No, but...”

The Suun clan’s way of doing things had been far too crude. And so, I couldn’t help but think that Yamiru Suun had wished for failure rather than success, and destruction for her clan rather than prosperity.

Thinking back on it, Yamiru Suun had been the one to invite us to the clan head meeting. Apparently, she had only gotten the clan head Zuuro Suun’s permission afterwards.

And no matter what she had to say on the matter, the downsides to attempting their scheme at such an event were far too great.

Plus, the greatest of their taboos lay in their pantry, so no matter how well bolted it may have been, it just seemed insane to let anyone from another clan get anywhere near it. Plus, Yamiru Suun had actually gone and said, “Or are you dim-witted enough to not have noticed, even after manning the Suun clan stove...?”

She may well have also wished to keep on living with her family. However, had she wanted to put an end to the corrupt history of the Suun clan even more than that?

“I’m at least capable of imagining what’s running through your head. But even so, don’t do it. In all likelihood, no matter what you say, you won’t be able to erase the eldest daughter’s crime. In fact, it might just result in even greater anger,” Ai Fa whispered in a low voice.

“Why?” I asked back just as quietly.

“Even if your thinking is correct, that doesn’t change the fact that she betrayed the people of the forest’s edge, and she may just be seen as guilty of tricking her blood relatives in addition... At the forest’s edge, betraying and attempting to harm one’s family is the greatest of taboos, Asuta.”

I had no response to that.

I mean, had Yamiru Suun really brought all of these outside powers in to lower the blade of judgment down on all the Suun clan’s necks, her own included?

As I agonized over the matter, the clan head meeting solemnly continued on.

At any rate, there was a topic that had to be settled as soon as possible. Naturally, that was how the Suun clan would be handled.

“The Suun clan is no longer worthy to lead our people!” Dari Sauti proclaimed.

Not a single person voiced an objection to his words.

But just how should they have to atone for their crimes, then?

Fortunately, at the very least no one seemed interested in punishing the branch families for their complicity. That included even clans like the Zaza and Jeen who valued the law especially highly.

But then, whose crimes should be judged?

That was where things got complicated.

“We should follow the law, so every last member of the main house should have their scalps peeled.”

“No, but then it doesn’t make sense to forgive the branch families.”

“Then what about just the clan head, Zuuro Suun...?”

“But he carried on that wicked policy from the previous clan head.”

“The former clan head Zattsu Suun is elderly and ill, though, so he can’t have long left...”

“No, but still—”

“Ugh, this is obnoxious! Is there never going to be an end to this?!” Dan Rutim exploded. Then, his goggle-eyes shifted my way. “Asuta, what do you think?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah. You’re the one who exposed the Suun clan’s wrongdoing, so it makes sense for you to run things now, doesn’t it?”

That was completely insane moon logic.

But still, I was glad to get the chance to make a statement. After all, I did have a few thoughts on the matter.

“I think... What’s most important is what happens from here on out.”

“Here on out?”

“Yes. Rather than giving in to anger and focusing on how to punish the Suun clan, instead figure out the correct path forward for the forest’s edge, and handle them according to that.”

“You’re getting all tricky with your words like Gazraan again. Can’t you make things a little easier to understand?”

“Ah, my apologies. To sum it up, I think before deciding on the Suun clan’s punishment, we should determine what sort of relationship the forest’s edge should have with Genos now that it’s lost its leading clan.”

Dan Rutim and the rest of the clan heads all looked clearly confused. Perhaps they had never expected to hear the name “Genos” come up in this place.

“I still don’t get it. Who cares about the city of stone? It’s not like we want the reward money or anything. In fact, it’d feel refreshing to use this chance to go ahead and sever our ties with the castle.”

“You can’t just do that though, can you? After all, the law that the blessings of the Morga forest must not be touched was something Genos decreed. In fact, wasn’t this act like trampling upon the bond and trust shared with the city of stone? And even more importantly, isn’t the rule that the people of the forest’s edge wouldn’t lay a hand on such things one of the terms of the agreement that allows your people to live here?”

With that, the clan heads started muttering amongst themselves.

“Of course, Genos needs the people of the forest’s edge, too. You were able to carve out an important role for yourselves over the course of these past 80 years. If you were to leave this land, Genos’s prosperity would take a significant hit. That’s why I think you should strive to form a better, more proper relationship with them from here on out.”

“Hmm... Well, now that you mention it, that may be so...”

Despite his words, Dan Rutim’s face made it appear that he still didn’t quite get it. Perhaps that just went to show how distant and unrelated the Genos castle had felt to everyone but the Suun clan.

I felt then that the worries growing inside me should be known, and so I threw out the bomb that I had been saving.

“I’m including my own speculation here, but I think... There’s a chance that the folks from the Genos castle were aware the Suun clan was breaking laws, and they simply turned a blind eye to it.”

“What?! What do you mean?!”

“Ai Fa and I have become acquainted with someone with ties to the lord of Genos. That man was troubled by the Suun clan’s corruption, and said he had offered advice to the lord on the matter more than once. Putting aside the issue of them plundering the blessings of the forest, the Genos lord must have already heard of the fact that the Suun clan was shirking their duty as hunters and living so lazily.”

The murmuring spread even further.

It felt like I was speaking ill of the dead or something, but even so, I still had to say it.

“Plus, I’ve seen with my very eyes a member of the Suun clan committing a crime in the post town only to have it overlooked. Thanks to that, it’s led to rumors that no matter what crimes the people of the forest’s edge commit, they won’t be punished. What led to the Suun clan’s corruption wasn’t just the reward money, but that unjustly favorable treatment by Genos, wouldn’t you say?”

With that, I glanced over the members of the main Suun house, who had been forced to sit the farthest from the head of the room. Aside from the former clan head Zattsu Suun, the full group of seven was gathered there.

Zuuro Suun had lost all his strength and looked like a corpse at this point.

Diga Suun’s body was constantly quaking with terror.

Doddo Suun had finally regained consciousness, and he hung his head in a way that made him look like a stray dog on the verge of death.

Mida Suun was nodding off, clearly not understanding what was going on in the least.

Yamiru Suun wore no expression whatsoever as she stared down at her feet.

Oura Suun was sitting up straight and staring vacantly at the ceiling with tears in her eyes.

Tsuvai Suun was sulking while clinging to her mother’s arm.

And the sole criminal of the branch families, Tei Suun, was seated lowest of them all and had firmly shut his eyes.

“I have no intention of covering for the Suun clan. But I believe the majority of the cause of their corruption comes from their ties to the lord of Genos, including the reward money. In other words, having the wrong sort of relationship with Genos can lead to the downfall of even the people of the forest’s edge.”

“Asuta, I can’t help but take that as an insult to our people,” Dari Sauti chimed in, his voice rather tense despite not sounding especially angry.

I turned his way and replied, “Really? But originally, the Suun clan must have been strong enough to lead the forest’s edge, right? Doesn’t it make sense that they took in that poison bit by bit over the course of 80 years, losing their way as they went? If that was because they took on a bond with the people of the castle on their own... Then as someone forming ties to the townsfolk while earning excess fortune, I can’t just treat that as someone else’s problem.”

“Hmm...”

“Excess fortune can be both poison and medicine. That’s just like we discussed at dinner. Who will lead the people of the forest’s edge in place of the Suun? What should be done with the reward money? What should the relationship with Genos be like from here on out? Aren’t those questions every bit as important as how the Suun clan should be punished?”

“That’s true, of course. But the only clan as strong as the Suun are the Ruu, and if even the Suun fell to corruption as such... Just what should be done, then?” Dari Sauti questioned, looking at Donda Ruu with a probing gaze.

Donda Ruu, meanwhile, shot back a bold grin.

“Do you all intend to keep on talking in circles forever, not sleeping a wink even though it’s this late at night? The strongest lead the forest’s edge, while weak clans don’t have the right to do so. You all understand that without having to think about it, don’t you?”

“Then you’re announcing the Ruu as the new leading clan after all?”

“Ha! I could clearly see that the Suun clan would fall someday. And so sooner or later, we were fated to end up heading down this path.” Donda Ruu slowly stood to his feet, then glanced around at all of the hunters present. “As the clan head of the Ruu, I offer this statement to all the clan heads of the forest’s edge. The Ruu have six clans to our name, and over 100 people. No other clan at the forest’s edge possesses such power... None of you have any objection to that claim, do you?”

Sure enough, nobody objected.

Donda Ruu’s grin grew even bolder.

“Meanwhile, the Suun had seven clans under them, and similarly around 100 people. But removing the Suun clan for their criminal acts, that leaves around 70... Will it be the Zaza who leads them? The Dom?”

“Such a matter won’t be decided here and now. For the time being, the Zaza, Jeen, and Dom will simply have to work together to guide our people,” the Zaza clan head replied in a low voice, a regretful light burning in his eyes.

“I see,” Donda Ruu answered, then he turned his gaze towards Dari Sauti. “The next strongest clan would be the Sauti, right? How great are your bonds of blood?”

“The Sauti leads five clans, and we number less than 60. We are far from reaching the strength of the Ruu.”

“Hmm. That number puts you around equal to the clans of the north now that they’ve lost the Suun,” Donda Ruu said in a satisfied tone, the light in his eyes burning even brighter. “In that case, I’ve got a proposal. Now that the forest’s edge has lost its leading clan, the ones to lead our people should be the Ruu, Sauti, and the folks from the north.”

“What?!” the Zaza clan head exclaimed. “The Ruu, Sauti, and us? What do you mean by that, clan head of the Ruu?!”

“I’d figure that should be obvious. No matter how big the Ruu clan may be, we don’t have a long enough reach to cover the ridiculously vast forest’s edge from end to end. And since there are already big clans in the north and south, why not put that strength to use?”

“But that’s...”

“Three clans leading the forest’s edge. By all three of them having bonds with Genos and accepting the reward money, we’ll make it medicine rather than a poison. If anyone has a better plan, then speak it. And I’m not just talking to clans like the Zaza and the Sauti. That applies to every last clan head here.”

Donda Ruu’s piercing gaze once more glanced around over the clan heads.

“If someday another clan rivaling the Ruu and Sauti appears, then they’ll also be acknowledged as being qualified to lead. After all, one leader isn’t enough for the forest’s edge. With just one, a single man’s corruption could sever the future of our people. The Suun clan showed us that through their actions.”

Zuuro Suun didn’t react in the least. The former leader of his people who had accepted this negative inheritance from the previous clan head and lived a life of laziness now wore the face of a dead man.

“Those of you who agree with my words, rise to your feet! Those of you who object, stay seated and speak your opinion!”

All the clans under the Ruu swiftly stood. The smaller clan heads also started rising one by one, including me and Ai Fa.

The ones who agonized over it till the end were unsurprisingly the clans of the north and south. Just how great must their surprise and bewilderment have been, having the responsibility of leading their people suddenly thrust upon them?

Even so, Dari Sauti eventually stood... and finally, the clan heads of the north joined him.

It was a unanimous decision.

Donda Ruu nodded, a serious expression on his face.

“Here and now, as clan head of the Ruu, I, Donda Ruu, swear to join together with the Sauti, the Zaza, and their groups, to lead our people down the proper path without ever losing our pride as people of the forest’s edge.”

“As clan head of the Sauti, I, Dari Sauti, also pledge my assistance to the forest’s edge.”

The clan heads formerly under the Suun stood there indignantly for a bit, but before long the Zaza clan head muttered in a low voice, “From here on out, we’ll decide who will lead our clans. But we swear that no matter who it is, they won’t bring shame to the people of the forest’s edge.”

“How sloppy. You all need to hurry up and do your work by deciding on a leader,” Donda Ruu said with a wicked grin, to which the Zaza Clan head just said, “Oh, shut it!”

“Well then, aside from the Sauti and let’s say the Zaza clan head for now, the rest of you can relax. But there are still some matters that need to be decided...”

We did as we were told and took a seat.

This was entirely Donda Ruu’s field now.

“So, how should we handle the members of the main Suun house? I think we should all decide on a path first, and then ask the other clan heads,” Donda Ruu stated, causing a tension to fill the air.

“I think... The ones who actually committed crimes that night should be punished, as well as the clan head Zuuro Suun,” Dari Sauti soon replied. “The eldest son Diga Suun, the second son Doddo Suun, the eldest daughter Yamiru Suun, and Tei Suun from the branch families. Adding in the clan head Zuuro Suun, I would say the crimes of these five are readily apparent.”

“Hmm. Then you’re saying the crime of pillaging the bounty of the forest should fall on Zuuro Suun alone? But the eldest daughter didn’t draw any blade, so how should she be punished?”

“That’s... a bit of a difficult question, but since she shared her knowledge with her brothers, I believe she should share in their punishment.”

Did that mean she would have her right arm cut off like Doddo and Tei Suun?

I could feel an incredibly bitter taste spreading through my mouth.

However, what the Zaza clan head said next was even harsher.

“I think all the members of the main house deserve to be punished. The crime of not only laying hands on the bounty of the forest but also compelling the branch houses to do the same is a heavy one. They should all have their scalps peeled.”

“Oh? But the women of the main house wouldn’t have the power to compel the members of the branch families, would they? Wouldn’t it be rather inconsistent to forgive the branch families but force the women of the main house to pay with their lives?”

“Hmm... I have of course thought on the matter, but still... Normally, the members of the branch houses would be punished equally. And so, there’s no choice but to have the members of the main house make up for that by shedding their blood.”

So he was saying to give even a girl as young as Tsuvai Suun the death penalty? Even if that was what occurred from earnestly following the harsh laws of the forest’s edge, I couldn’t accept that at all.

“May I say just one thing...?” Yamiru Suun suddenly chimed in. A number of glares full of bloodlust shot her way. “Since you all don’t seem to know, allow me to inform you... The corruption of the Suun clan came from the previous clan head, Zattsu Suun.” The raw bloodlust from the clan heads grew even thicker. However, the same frozen, hostile expression remained fixed on Yamiru Suun’s face as she indifferently continued on. “Zattsu Suun was a man who was like a bundle of poison. Anyone who spent a long period of time with him steadily had their soul rotted away. That man was the clan head until he collapsed with illness ten years ago, and he ate away at the souls of the main house all the while.”

“Ha! I was wondering what you were going to say, but I see you’re scheming to place all the responsibility on Zattsu Suun, who can’t even stand! You truly are despicable!” the Zaza clan head howled with anger.

Yamiru Suun’s expression still didn’t shift as she looked his way.

“I didn’t say that all responsibility falls on him. I simply wished to state that there are those who weren’t tainted by that man’s poison... Oura Suun married in 12 years back, Tsuvai Suun was born around that time, and Mida Suun was not yet fully aware... Those three did not have their souls rotted by Zattsu Suun, and did not commit any more crimes than the members of the branch families.”

Then, while remaining seated, Yamiru Suun bowed so deeply that her forehead touched the floor.

“And so, if you forgive the branch families, then please do the same for those three... We are the only ones who have had our souls rotted away.”

“What are you saying?! That doesn’t make any sense!” Tsuvai Suun wailed, leaping to her feet like a clockwork doll. She hadn’t been bound because she was so young.

Ludo Ruu had been assigned to watch her, and he hurriedly grabbed her by the nape of her neck.

“Hey, don’t be stupid! Stop moving, you runt!”

“Shut up! You were the one who worried most of all about the Suun clan’s future, right, Yamiru?! So why should you have to die?!”

“Because I was unable to think of any other path for us to find salvation,” Yamiru Suun replied, looking up and smiling ever so slightly. “I was born before Diga and Doddo. And in turn, I took in even more of Zattsu Suun’s poison. My soul has long since rotted beyond any hope of salvation.”

“When you were born doesn’t matter! I mean... We’re family, aren’t we?!” The tears steadily started falling from Tsuvai Suun’s big eyes. Then, still being held by the neck by Ludo Ruu, she glared at her father and brothers. “You’re the ones always doing such awful stuff! It’s because you’re such cowards that Yamiru ended up like this! What’s so scary about a bed-ridden old man?! When we got money, why didn’t you use it properly?!”

None of them responded. They just silently hung their heads, as if they still couldn’t process the disastrous circumstances they found themselves in.

The clan heads were all looking around at each other, clearly more than a little thrown out of sorts by the proceedings.

The one to finally speak up first was the Zaza clan head.

“It really is difficult to vary punishments based on the size of their crimes, isn’t it? In that case, I believe it best we follow the law and punish both the main house and the branch families, every last one of them.”

“That’s far too hasty. We shouldn’t treat the lives of 40 so lightly... What are your thoughts, Donda Ruu?” Dari Sauti asked, only for Donda Ruu to keep silent for a bit.

Then, after glancing over the members of the Suun, he rather slowly opened his mouth.

“For ten years now, I’ve continued to call into question the crimes of the Suun clan. Stretching back even further, my father has done the same since 20 years prior. The ones who failed to listen to that and kept protecting them were the clans under them, you Zaza and Jeen and the like... If you all hadn’t gotten in his way, I’m certain my father would have beheaded Zattsu Suun 20 years ago.”

The Zaza clan head bit his lip with regret.

“At this point, I have no response to that... But still, what does that matter?”

“The members of the Suun clan are a rather irredeemable bunch. That eldest and second son in particular are truly despicable scum. But who is it that let our leading clan grow corrupted? Those of you who protected the Suun clan, those of us who failed to bring them to justice, and those small clans who lacked the power to do anything... Would you not say we all share significant blame for that?” There was an unusually calm shine in Donda Ruu’s eyes. “I believe it would be alright to give all of the Suun but the previous and current clan heads, Zattsu and Zuuro Suun, one single chance.”

“A single chance?”

“Yeah. A final opportunity to live and die as people of the forest’s edge... Of course, that’s if the members of the main house have the resolve to accept it.”

◇

As we sat and watched the ritual hall from a distance, we sleepily talked to one another.

“I think I may have misjudged Donda Ruu. I thought he was a lot more hardheaded, like the Zaza clan head or something.”

The conclusion Donda Ruu had voiced was that clans with strength like the Ruu and Zaza would each take in members of the main Suun house. Of course, they weren’t simply having them marry in, though. No, they would have to abandon the Suun name, sever ties with their other family, and help around the house in the lowest position of all.

If they showed they had properly reformed in the process, they could be accepted as part of that clan. If not, they wouldn’t be given a chance to pass on their blood and would simply die off.

It was incredibly harsh, but also a path to salvation that was utterly unprecedented in the history of the forest’s edge.

It wasn’t just the Zaza and Sauti who were unable to hide their bewilderment at the idea, but all the clan heads. And yet, Donda Ruu’s proposal was still ultimately accepted.

“Donda Ruu isn’t the sort of man to value laws and customs so highly. In fact, if I had to say, he’s the sort who thinks a great deal on whether or not such things should take priority over his own thoughts and feelings,” Ai Fa replied, her eyes narrowing either because it was so bright, or perhaps because she was simply sleepy. “Still, in a way it certainly is a surprise that such a great commotion didn’t result in any blood being shed.”

“Yeah, that really was a relief.”

It still wasn’t determined where everyone would be sent, but as they were seen as dangerous, Diga and Doddo Suun were to enter the Dom clan. Apparently, the Dom were considered to be especially savage, courageous, and prideful even among the clans of the north, and they would be forced to work hard as hunters there.

“That may as well be a death sentence for those fools, though,” Ludo Ruu had quietly whispered to me, and I had nothing to say to that. Still, it had to be a lot better of a deal for them than getting their scalps peeled or having their right arms cut off. I may have been furious enough to kill them last night, but now that I knew Ai Fa was safe, I didn’t actually wish death on them.

However, I absolutely felt that I never wanted to see them again in my life.

“I wonder which clans will get Mida and Yamiru Suun? They’d need to really have their acts together to handle them.”

“Who knows? Perhaps they’ll enter into the Ruu clan?”

Hearing that I gave a dissatisfied, “Huh?” and turned to look, finding Ai Fa’s narrowed eyes shooting me an icy glare.

“Asuta... Just how many women must you see in the nude before you’ll be satisfied?”

“Eh? That’s what you were thinking?! Who would have an interest in that sort of horrifyingly blood-coated nude body?”

“So you would have enjoyed it if there was no blood?”

“That’s not what I meant! And hey, there’s a limit to how much scandalous stuff you can say about a guy! Plus, the only nude woman I’ve laid eyes on in this world is you, Ai Fa!”

An elbow came slamming into my temple. And at that very moment, a large figure approached.

“What are you two up to? I believe I heard something about nude women...?”

“Oww... Ah, no, it’s nothing. Did something happen, Dari Sauti?”

“No, I just wanted to get a bit of rest, too. There’s a whole mountain of issues that must be settled before I can return to the Sauti settlement, after all.”

Selecting where the members of the main house would end up. Determining what would happen with the branch families. How the blessings of the forest from the pantry would be dealt with. An investigation of the forest that had been pillaged. And also... what punishment Zattsu and Zuuro Suun would face.

“At any rate, we won’t be punishing them immediately. We need to question Zuuro Suun on what sort of exchanges he made with Genos, and as for Zattsu Suun... Well, it seems he won’t be living many more months regardless of how things play out.”

“I see...”

The Suun clan had their authority to lead stripped from them, to be handed over to three other clans in their place. Just how would Genos react to that fact? Unlike the Suun clan, would these prideful clan heads of the forest’s edge be able to forge proper bonds with those who held power?

They certainly had plenty of new trials laid out before them.

“I’ll be counting on you to do your best on that matter, if nothing else.”

“Yeah. The idea that the folks from the castle were bending the laws to cover for the people of the forest’s edge is utterly ridiculous. I’m repulsed by the thought that the townsfolk looked at us like that up until now.” With that, Dari Sauti punched his fist into his other palm. “Attacking travelers, kidnapping women, stealing crops... Did the Suun clan really commit such awful crimes?”

“I don’t know. But the members of the branch families lack the energy for such deeds. And so, now that the folks from the main house are no longer able to act freely, if we stop hearing about such things then I suppose that means it was them.”

“If that turns out to be true, then I feel we were too light in our punishment of the eldest and second sons... Though, I shouldn’t call joining the Dom an especially light punishment.”

Was the Dom clan seriously that stern? Well, they didn’t talk as much as the Zaza and Jeen, and they wore those giba skulls too, so they certainly were the most frightening of the group.

“Ah, and about that Tei Suun man from the branch families. I intend to propose he also be entrusted to the Dom.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yeah. Apparently, he had been living with the main house because his family members had died out. In that case, it seems fitting to treat him the same as them... Also, apparently he’s the father of the clan head’s wife, Oura Suun.”

I was at a loss for words.

That meant he was Zuuro Suun’s father-in-law and Tsuvai Suun’s grandfather, didn’t it? The members of the main house were seriously treating someone like that as a servant? There really was an unbelievable darkness to that clan, all the way to the bitter end.

“Still... I believe it would be a blessing for him to live out the last days of his life as a hunter. Unlike those older sons of the main house, who lacked any pride as hunters since birth, Tei Suun must have had a time when he hunted properly.”

I see. If he was in his fifties, then he must have strove to hunt giba like everyone else back when he was young. And then, he had his pride as a hunter snatched away from him... How cruel.

Just how must he have felt while following the orders of someone like Diga Suun? What sort of man lurked behind those rotting fish eyes?

As such thoughts raced through my head, I felt a sort of numb pain run through my chest.

“That may have been part of why Donda Ruu brought up the idea of giving them a final chance. It’s frustrating to admit, but it seems that the Zaza clan head and I don’t yet have the same strength as leaders that he possesses,” Dari Sauti stated, and then he turned his back to us. “We must lead our people down the proper path, so that such mistakes and tragedies are never repeated... Well then, I will see you again sometime, Asuta and Ai Fa of the Fa clan.”

“Yeah, see you later,” I replied, while Ai Fa remained silent.

Now that I thought about it, she had been quiet for a while now, and when I turned to look... her head flopped down on my right shoulder. Apparently she had fallen asleep while I was talking to Dari Sauti.

Well, we only got two or three hours of sleep last night at most, so that was no surprise. Then there was that whole commotion on top of things, so everyone was feeling exhausted.

Still... I guess we saw our task through, somehow...

Tomorrow, we would be open for business in the post town once again. And so today, after all this, I would have to make preparations.

If I didn’t let myself rest at least a little, I would never last. Thinking as such, I leaned up against Ai Fa too, and let my heavy eyelids close shut.