3
With that, our work for that day once again came to a close.
There apparently weren’t any accidents while I was away and the stalls completely sold out, so we were able to return back home on schedule.
Once we made it back to the Fa house, I made sure to give Vina Ruu a proper farewell, then started the preparations for tomorrow and dinner. During that time, Li Sudra remained at my side so that I could teach her some cooking basics.
“Alright, then let’s start preparations. The women from the other houses should be arriving soon, so go ahead and use the stove first if you’d like.”
“Thank you. Um... Is it really alright to borrow your pot?”
“Yeah. It’d be a pain to have to run back to your house every time, right? So don’t worry about it.”
Ai Fa wasn’t around today. According to the schedule, she should have headed to the somewhat distant Ratsu and Gaaz settlements to teach them bloodletting and dissection techniques.
“Did a lot of clans end up asking the Fa to instruct them?”
“The only ones we’re teaching directly are the clans that are relatively nearby. But ultimately, 11 clans in total voiced their approval of the work we’re undertaking.”
And that was omitting those under the leading clans, too.
There were 37 clans at the forest’s edge, and of them only 17 had no blood ties to the leading clans. In other words, now that the Ruu, Sauti, and Zaza took over for the Suun, now more than half of the clans had ties to their leaders.
And of those 17 clans without ties, 11 of them voiced their approval of the Fa clan. So since the Ruu clan which had a hundred people to their name also more or less agreed with our actions, that meant roughly half of the people of the forest’s edge were on our side now.
On top of that, though the Sauti clan officially took a neutral stance, they also seemed like they had a favorable opinion of what we were doing. That just left the Zaza and related clan heads for us to strive to earn acknowledgment from by racking up results.
“How wonderful... The Fa have granted hope to all clans on the brink of destruction,” Li Sudra said as she looked straight at me. “Even among those clans, the Sudra have been particularly close to falling. It’s embarrassing to admit, but without the coins from today’s work, the vegetables in our pantry would have run out in just a few days... Of course, the men are out even now chasing giba in the forest so that won’t happen, though.”
“Ah, is that so? Well, I’m certainly glad to hear I’ve been of help to the Sudra clan,” I replied, right before a sudden knock on the door came. “Yes? Who is it?”
“We two are women of the Deen clan.”
That wasn’t a clan name that I recognized. Remembering names was a specialty of mine, but even I was getting overloaded by this point. And so, I just headed over towards the door while wondering if they were one of the nearby clans.
As I reached out, though, Li Sudra grabbed my arm.
“Asuta, the Deen are one of the clans under the Suun... Or the Zaza now, I should say.”
A clan under the Zaza, huh? In that case, they must have also been opposed to our business in the post town, too.
On top of that, I hadn’t yet had a chance to see just how such folks felt about the Fa clan, who brought about the Suun’s destruction. As we stood there silently, there was a serious look of caution about Li Sudra, and so I gave her a nod and then moved close to the door.
“What business did you come here for? I don’t recall having had any interaction with the Deen clan before.”
“We came here to learn how to prepare dinner. Will you teach us?”
“Cooking lessons, huh? Do you have permission from the Zaza clan, then?”
“Yes. They did not forbid learning such things.”
I see, so they had no intention of helping with business in the post town or the like, but they were interested in eating delicious meals, huh? I naturally welcomed that and saw no reason to refuse, though.
I still remained cautious, however, and only opened the door a crack after removing the bolt.
Just as they had said, there were two women standing there. One was an older-looking married woman, while the other was a young girl who was probably around ten years old.
A pot full of raw poitan was at their feet and there didn’t seem to be anyone else around, so I went ahead and opened the door the rest of the way.
“Thank you for accepting us despite our sudden arrival. I am Jas Deen, the elder sister of the Deen clan head, and this is Toor Deen, another member of our clan.”
“Toor Deen...?” I questioned, turning my gaze towards the young girl. Her dark brown hair wasn’t all that long yet and hung down on both sides of her neck. She wore a bit of a timid expression, with her big eyes calling to mind a puppy. And she looked to be thinking about something as she was staring right back at me. “Ah, you’re that girl from one of the Suun branch families! So you joined the Deen clan instead of staying at the Suun settlement, huh?”
“Yes. This girl’s mother was the younger sister of the clan head and myself. Our sister has passed away, and so this girl and her father became a part of our Deen clan,” the woman who called herself Jas Deen replied. She gave off a calm and composed impression, but I also sensed a strong will behind her intense gaze.
“I see. I’m glad to find you looking well. Sorry for not recognizing you right away even though it’s only been three days since the clan head meeting,” I called out, only for Toor Deen’s eyes to open wide. Then, those big eyes of hers started to tear up. “W-What’s wrong? Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”
Toor Deen quickly shook her head in response, though that made some tears fall to the ground.
“Asuta of the Fa clan, this girl has inherited the blood of the Suun clan, who tried to do you all harm. But now she has severed all ties with that clan and will live as a member of the Deen. Will you forgive her past crimes?”
“Crimes? I don’t remember Toor Deen doing anything to harm me, though.”
“But it is a fact that the blood of the sinful Suun clan runs through her veins. And the Fa of all clans surely has abundant reasons to hate the Suun clan.”
This was seriously reminding me of that conversation with Rau Lea and everyone from yesterday.
Jas Deen wore a solemn expression, but I replied, “No, the new leading clans decided the crimes of the branch families wouldn’t be called into question, and all of the clan heads agreed. And on top of that, I never felt any hatred towards the people of the branch houses to begin with. So I’ve got no reason to reject Toor Deen.”
“Is that so...?”
“Yeah. Plus, I spent a good bit of time with her in particular. Out of all those folks who had lost the will to live, I really felt like she was earnestly striving hard.” Hearing that, Toor Deen started to tear up again. Her expression was still just a bit stiff in a way that was unusual for a child so young, but the light had clearly returned to her eyes. That alone was enough to make me so happy I could feel a lump forming in my throat. “Toor Deen, you already made stew and baked poitan together with me, so I’d say you’ve got a head start. Learn as much as you can, then teach it to the other Deen women.”
“Thank you...” Toor Deen replied with a listless bow of her head, which Jas Deen then placed her hand atop. The older woman’s gaze remained intense, but that action clearly displayed her affection towards the young girl, who was like a memento left by her late sister.
“Well then, let’s get started. Ah, this is Li Sudra of the Sudra clan. And I believe the Fou and Ran women will be along shortly.” We had ended up talking away, but since we arrived back home on time today, I really needed to get started with preparations. And so, I invited the two women of the Deen clan inside and got to work. “For now, let’s review how to bake poitan. I’ll be working right here, so just speak up if there’s anything you don’t understand.”
“Right,” the pair with the pot replied, then they crossed in front of me. I saw the side of Toor Deen’s face as she passed by and went, “Ah,” without thinking. That caught her off guard, and she looked my way in surprise. “Oh, sorry about that. I just thought to myself that you don’t have a scar from when you were burned back then. That’s certainly good, isn’t it?” I said, shooting her a smile in the hopes of wiping that gloomy expression from her face.
Fortunately, she offered me a clumsy smile in turn.
“Thank you for what you did back then... Your concern and the kindness of that redheaded girl from the Ruu clan made me very happy.”
“Nah, I just splashed water over you in a panic. So save your thanks for Lala Ruu, alright?”
Those who remained at the Suun settlement and those who were taken in by other clans were all building new lives for themselves, bit by bit. It hadn’t even been three full days since the clan head meeting, but I really did feel that Donda Ruu’s judgment had been on the mark. I still had plenty of doubt regarding Diga and Doddo, but at least when it came to the branch family members who didn’t do anything but gather the fruits of the forest, there shouldn’t be any need at all for further punishment.
Could the people of the castle understand this state of affairs? Would they even try to begin with? That was the issue we had to focus on first.
As that thought ran through my head, I set about dicing up the aria atop my board.
◇
“So after that, Gazraan Rutim came back over along with Dari Sauti, to explain the arrangements they made with Kamyua,” I told Ai Fa as I was finishing up the last of my preparations. “Apparently they’ll enter the forest’s edge from the post town using the path the Ruu clan generally takes, then pass through the Sauti settlement to the south before finally entering the forest. Supposedly after half a day they’ll make it through and come out in a rocky area. It will still take a few days after that to reach the highway, but giba don’t appear anymore once you’ve gone that far, and it’s outside the territory of the people of the forest’s edge anyway. And so, the plan is for the Sauti clan to guide them on that first day until they’re free of the forest.”
“Right.”
“But even if the merchant caravan leaves first thing in the morning, they won’t make it through the forest until it’s evening. It would be dangerous to head back at night, so the escorts will need to spend the night together with the merchants in the rocky area, which seemed to frustrate Dari Sauti. ‘The Suun clan sure accepted one pain of a job’ were his exact words.”
“Right.”
“Apparently the Suun clan planned to dump the job on Tei Suun... er, Tei. But Dari Sauti lamented that it would take half a day of marching through the depths of the forest while avoiding giba, which would require at least four men. But since there are more than 20 full-grown adults in the merchant group, there probably isn’t much risk of giba attacking.”
“Right.”
“Ai Fa... If the conversation is tiring you out, then you can just come out and say so.”
“What are you saying? There’s not any particular issue with what we’re discussing,” Ai Fa replied, despite the fact that she was lying even more sloppily than last night. She was on her stomach with her hair hanging in front of her face, so I couldn’t really make out her expression. I gave a bit of a sigh as I added the chopped-up myamuu and aria to a leather bag along with some fruit wine.
“Anyway, their meeting with Kamyua wrapped up without incident. I was really curious about what Gazraan Rutim’s impression of him was, but at least for now all he would say is, ‘He’s a truly mysterious man.’ Dari Sauti added, ‘I really just don’t care for folks from around town,’ too.”
“Right.”
“So, the Sauti were ultimately tasked with the job two days from now. And the three leading clan heads will be heading back to their settlements to gather opinions from the heads of their subordinate clans regarding that demand from the castle. Six men will remain at the Suun settlement to keep an eye out, but this feels like it’ll probably bring things to a close.”
“Right.”
“That’s all I have to report. Thank you for listening to all that.”
“It was nothing. I just let the stuff that made my head hurt pass in one ear and out the other,” Ai Fa stated, then listlessly continued on with one cheek against the fur rug, “The leading clan heads can go and worry themselves silly with all that. I already have my hands full with my own work.”
“Um, you visited the Ratsu clan today, right?”
“Right. And the Gaaz men came too, since they fall under the Ratsu. It tired me out even more than yesterday...”
“I see. But they all gratefully welcomed you, didn’t they?”
“They may have been grateful, but I found it unpleasant,” Ai Fa replied in an annoyed tone. I couldn’t see because of the angle, but she was probably pouting. “On top of that, one of the Ratsu men suddenly offered to take me as his bride.”
“W-What?”
“Then one of the Gaaz men said the same thing, and they got into a ridiculous fight. The furious Ratsu clan head got in the middle and put a stop to it, but our bonds with the Ratsu and Gaaz were almost ruined.”
“T-That does sound rough. So did those two give up in the end?”
“They went and said if I get injured again and can no longer be a hunter, they would want me to give it another thought. I couldn’t help but yell at them for that, asking if they wanted me to get seriously injured. It really was an unpleasant day...”
I had finally finished my prep work, so I washed my hands with water from the jug and then hurried over to Ai Fa’s side.
“Did those men seem as nasty as Darmu Ruu? They aren’t going to keep bugging you, are they?”
“You would have to ask them personally. I wouldn’t know.”
“No, but—”
“You’re so noisy. If you’re done with your work, then lend me your hand.”
“Eh? My hand?”
I didn’t really get it, but I went ahead and pressed my palm gently up against Ai Fa’s temples like last night.
“Hmm...” Ai Fa muttered with satisfaction, proving that my judgment was correct. Somehow, it felt like stroking a peevish kitten’s throat or something. “Just talking to so many people is tiring. I’m amazed you’ve been able to keep on working like that in the post town... Well, no, the Ruu women have been doing the same, so perhaps it’s just down to my weakness.”
“Hey, it’s not like you to speak ill of yourself like that. Everybody has their strengths and weaknesses. Plus like I said last night, if you just give it time, you’ll get used to it.”
My words didn’t seem to satisfy her, though, as she gave a sigh that was rather unlike her.
“I want to get back to my work as a hunter as soon as possible...”
She seemed sort of pitiful, somehow. And so, I ended up gently stroking her hair.
Normally that would earn me a body blow in response, but now Ai Fa looked satisfied as she closed her eyes and showed no sign of trying to brush off my hand.
“At any rate, I just need to be patient for a few more days. Once my arm heals completely and I can head into the forest again, I’ll be able to spend less time with other clans.”
“That’s a real negative way of looking at things. Still, I’m pretty exhausted today, too. I guess we should both turn in early tonight.”
“Right.”
“Guess it’s bedtime, then.”
I stood up and put out the candle, then laid down just a bit further from Ai Fa than before. For some reason, though, she sidled up alongside me.
“Asuta, why are you trying to sleep so far away?”
“Huh? This is our usual distance, isn’t it?”
“My head’s started hurting a bit again...” she suddenly said, grabbing my left wrist and bringing my hand up to her forehead.
That twisted my elbow to its limit, causing me to yell, “Ow, ow, ow! Hold on! Joints aren’t supposed to bend that way!”
“Then just put yourself in a more comfortable position.”
The only comfortable position for the situation would be facing her from up close. I figured that wouldn’t be so bad because it was dark and hard to see, but that didn’t turn out to be the case when I actually tried it. We were close. Seriously close.
“Um, clan head...”
“Be quiet already. I’m feeling sleepy.”
Ai Fa then gently closed her eyes, my palm lying on the side of her face with her own on top.
The only light for my eyes to rely on was the moonlight streaming in through the window, but that was enough for me to see her beautiful face and the contours of her sleeping body just fine.
It really does feel like I got a cat all attached to me or something...
I was well aware that Ai Fa must not have meant anything by it, but it really did seem like we were getting closer and closer physically as the days went by.
That was proof that she saw me as family and didn’t feel reserved around me, which made me very happy in and of itself... But I wish she wouldn’t needlessly toy with my feelings like that.
She’s so beautiful, charming, and straightforward with her feelings, so of course plenty of folks would want to marry her, I thought to myself as she peacefully slept away. Now that I think of it, Ai Fa earned the Suun clan’s animosity right after turning 15, the age when she could get married. If not for that, she probably would have gotten such offers from the men around the neighborhood right away.
For whatever reason, I was having trouble calming myself down.
I said that it wouldn’t be right for someone with my background to marry a woman from this world, but if some guy showed up and won Ai Fa’s heart, just what would I do? The question had come to mind numerous times up until now, but I always just put it off.
I guess it would be an impossible wish, hoping things could just stay like this forever...
With that, I finally closed my eyes too, holding back the sigh welling up inside of me. With my vision blocked, I could sense the warmth on my palm and the scent coming off Ai Fa even more vividly.
Ai Fa hadn’t handled giba summoning fruit for quite a while now. So by this point she didn’t smell that differently than other women, with the scent of herbs and meat hanging about her... And yet, I could still tell it was her. Her warmth and scent made me feel relaxed. By this point, that had become an unshakeable truth.
As I was thinking such things, a powerful drowsiness fell over me.
I had heard that unpleasant news from Gazraan Rutim, carried out my first bit of work at the inn, taught the women cooking techniques, and worried about the future of the forest’s edge in between all that... I had to be pretty exhausted, too. And so, I swiftly drifted off to sleep.
And then... Just how much time had passed since then?
When I came to, I felt a soft sensation over my mouth.
Not sure if I was dreaming or not I drowsily opened my eyes, and found the blue pupils of a wildcat staring back at me.
Ai Fa had brought her face up to the tip of my nose. At some point, my palm must have fallen from her temples. As for her hand that should have been on top of mine, it was now covering my mouth.
“Don’t talk. And don’t move either, Asuta,” she whispered so quietly I could barely hear it, drawing even closer.
I was taken off-guard and tried to sit up, only for Ai Fa to grab my shoulder with her other hand and push me back down to the floor.
“I told you not to move. Will you not listen to my instructions, Asuta?” she whispered again.
My upper torso was being held down while Ai Fa leaned over me from the side. And her blue eyes looked more serious than ever as she stared into mine. On top of that, the parts of her body touching mine like her palms, arms, and chest felt unusually warm.
“Don’t worry... Just do what I say, Asuta.”
Then, she brought her entire body over mine.
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