3
“What did you think of what that woodworker guy was saying, Ai Fa...?” I asked while walking down the road behind Ai Fa and holding Gilulu’s reins as he pulled the wagon.
We were currently traveling down the path from the post town back toward the settlement at the forest’s edge. Since the path was thin, sloped upwards, and had tall, dense vegetation to either side that hindered visibility, we were taking things slow and going on foot.
It was the same route that Kamyua Yoshu’s group pretending to be a merchant caravan once took, so it wasn’t like it was that poor of a road, but since I was still a beginner at riding a totos, I’d probably end up scraping the canvas roof with a ton of the branches jutting out here and there. And so, we were taking it incredibly slowly, just walking along as Ai Fa cleared those obstacles out of the way with her machete-like blade.
My clan head’s cloak fluttered as she turned and shot me a questioning look.
“What do you mean, what did I think? I didn’t notice anything strange in that westerner’s words.”
“Yeah, in fact, I’d actually say he had a pretty favorable attitude toward the people of the forest’s edge. Maybe he didn’t have much in the way of preconceptions because he didn’t really have much interaction at all with your people, like he said,” I replied while carefully holding onto Gilulu’s reins so that he didn’t pick up any speed. “But the folks who run the businesses on the main street have a harsher opinion of us, right? Even though the incident with Tei Suun helped a lot at bringing things out in the open, it’s not like the core issue’s been resolved.”
“And what is this ‘core issue’?”
“Huh? That’s—” I started to say, but then stumbled at having been asked so directly.
The townsfolk now knew that it wasn’t as if all the people of the forest’s edge were vicious criminals, and they had also learned of the harsh conditions they were forced to live under... And they had to be aware now that the unjust favorable treatment from the Genos elites had come to an end.
Of course, that information had come from the exchange between the people of the forest’s edge and Tei Suun rather than any sort of official report. I figured that was why everyone was now shooting us such probing gazes.
Are these really savages who don’t respect the law?
Has the way they’ve been treated honestly been that unjust? And if so, do they hate us for that?
Do the folks from the castle truly intend to judge them properly for their crimes from here on out?
Their gazes were all filled with such questions.
“I think that up till now, the townsfolk were stubborn about how they perceived things. Like, they saw the people of the forest’s edge as villains that were best avoided, especially since the folks from the castle were in cahoots with them anyway.”
“Hmph, with all the evils committed by the Suun clan, it’s only natural that they think that way.”
“Yeah. But that whole incident from before brought a lot of stuff out in the open, so I figure that’s probably changed how people think a bit. It’s sort of like a firmly shut door has now opened a little, and someone’s peering through the crack.”
“You’re making me think of Rimee Ruu...”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the image. However, this was still a serious matter.
“Still, I guess the people of the forest’s edge should just keep acting the same as always. I mean, if you all just keep doing so, eventually that’ll prove your innocence... But isn’t there anything else to be done?”
“I cannot say. Are you implying we should go parading about town shouting out that we won’t go around doing bad things like the members of the Suun clan?”
“Hmm... Yeah, that probably wouldn’t prove very persuasive... If the post town at least had a mayor, we could try setting up a meeting between him and the leading clan heads...”
However, Milano Mas already told me that no such official existed. It was the Genos castle that was ultimately in charge of the post town, and the closest thing to what I was looking for were the nobles who lived in the castle town.
“Asuta, aren’t you overthinking the matter? Donda Ruu and the other clan heads are the ones who should be worrying about such things. Your job is to make delicious food and improve relations with the townsfolk, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but Donda Ruu and them are pretty indifferent about the post town to begin with... And don’t you think that sort of indifference is another type of rejection? Even if it’s not as bad as the wrongdoings perpetrated by the Suun clan, I’d say it’s still one of the causes of the gap between the people of the forest’s edge and the townsfolk...”
“There’s no point to trying to tell someone to have an interest in something. And don’t you think people like Donda Ruu and Gulaf Zaza visiting town would just cause more terror?”
That was true, naturally.
To start with, it was generally the women who visited the post town for shopping, so men were rarely ever seen there. And so, the townsfolk hadn’t built up much of a resistance to seeing the brawny hunters of the forest’s edge, who were like wild beasts. Even setting aside Donda Ruu and focusing on gentler-looking hunters like Ai Fa and Ludo Ruu, they still had a totally different aura about them than the townsfolk. And so, it was no surprise that folks would feel overwhelmed seeing them walking about while carrying blades and wearing giba pelts.
“But Dora and Tara were able to deal with not just the women, but also guys like Ludo and Shin Ruu without being terrified. So I think as long as they interact, there will at least be a chance for them to open up. I mean, I wasn’t even born at the forest’s edge, but look how much I’ve been accepted.”
“That’s because you’re far too incapable of sensing when you’re in danger. I can’t imagine the townsfolk are anywhere near as carefree as you are.”
“But the people of the forest’s edge have a real strong desire to follow the laws, don’t they? So even someone as gruff as Donda Ruu wouldn’t ever do any of the townsfolk harm. That means that if we give it time, it should work out somehow, right?”
“Wouldn’t you say we’re in the middle of taking that time right now?” Ai Fa questioned, slowing her pace till I was walking beside her. Then, she shot me a serious glare. “Asuta, have you forgotten Kamyua Yoshu’s words? You’re surely the one who will serve as a bridge between the post town and the forest’s edge. You and the women of the Ruu clan... By coming to the post town day after day, you’ve been proving that the people of the forest’s edge aren’t all frightening villains. If it weren’t for that, we would never have reached the point that we have, even if the commotion with Tei Suun still played out the same. In fact, it likely would have caused them to fear us even more.”
“Yeah, I understand all that. But I mean, you were casually talking to that woodworker before too, right? At first he seemed pretty on edge, but he ended up opening up quite a bit, and I’d say that’s probably down to your personal charm.”
Ai Fa just glared at me rather than saying a word.
“Ah, wait, hear me out before you kick me! I swear that I’m not making fun of you! It’s just that I was thinking that the townsfolk weren’t exactly opposed to the nature of the people of the forest’s edge per se. For example, I’d imagine Gazraan Rutim or Dari Sauti would find it pretty easy to get someone to open up to them. And I certainly could see Dan Rutim happily drinking away with somebody.”
“Even so, I can’t ever imagine the men coming to town without any business they need to take care of.”
“Yeah, but doesn’t it seem like at this rate the townsfolk will never hear about important stuff like what sort of presence the Suun clan was at the forest’s edge, and how people felt about them, and how they reacted to their crimes? That thought sort of irritates me, to be honest.”
Even as I was saying that, I could clearly see that my words were rooted in my own personal doubts.
“At any rate, even when we’re talking about Genos, the post town and castle town are whole different matters. So for the people of the forest’s edge to form proper bonds, it’s necessary to have a good relationship with both of them.”
After listening silently to all that, Ai Fa finally gave a small sigh.
“Asuta, I’m sure what you’re saying is valid, but I still think that you’re worrying too much. The leading clan heads will soon be meeting with the folks from the castle. Until that’s dealt with, I don’t see a point to being concerned about such other matters.”
“Hmm? Yeah, I guess I’m overstepping my bounds by worrying about all that...”
“More than that, it feels... like you’re rushing ahead, somehow,” Ai Fa stated, bringing her face in close as we kept on walking. And once again, she was close enough that I could feel my heart pounding faster. “The people of the forest’s edge have been avoiding the townsfolk for 80 whole years now. In these past however many years, Zattsu Suun and his ilk only served to poison that relationship further. Even now that they’ve fallen, I certainly can’t imagine that would serve to solve everything.”
“Yeah, but I got the feeling that the explosive way that they fell made it a good chance to really turn things around with the townsfolk.”
“That’s what I meant about it feeling like you’re rushing ahead,” Ai Fa retorted, suddenly breaking out in a pout. That sudden surprise attack only caused my heart to pound all the faster. “Normally you seem more relaxed than anyone, but now and again you feel like you’re in a real hurry for some reason. I have to say, I’m not fond of that.”
“Y-You’re not?”
“Not in the least. It makes me think you’re trying to hurriedly clear up all the trouble before you disappear...” Ai Fa said in a sulky tone, tightly grabbing a hold of the fabric of my clothing. “Asuta, the Fa clan’s goal is supposed to be making it so that giba meat can be sold in the post town, bringing greater prosperity to the forest’s edge.”
“Y-Yeah, of course.”
“For that to happen, we’ll need a lot more townsfolk seeking out giba meat. Otherwise, that newfound prosperity won’t be able to spread throughout the whole of the forest’s edge.”
“Right, that’s definitely true.”
“It’s also important that a friendly relationship is forged between the people of the forest’s edge and the townsfolk of Genos. And so, it certainly isn’t improper for you to think hard on that matter. However... It will surely take quite some time before that can truly be accomplished,” Ai Fa stated, bringing her face in closer while still wearing a pout. “And so, you’ll have to remain as a member of the Fa clan working away in the post town until that long time passes. Don’t go thinking you can wrap up your work so quickly, you fool.”
“Ah, but if I could wrap things up quickly, that’d be a good thing, wouldn’t it?” I replied, only for Ai Fa to shoot me a displeased silent look.
For a second she reached out towards my shoulder, but her hand soon lowered.
Then, she glared up at me.
“Do you really think that’s what I wanted to hear from you...?”
“Ah, no, but—”
“Why must you keep trying to make me feel uneasy?”
Apparently despite my intentions, my words had gone and thrown Ai Fa out of sorts. And so, I hurriedly shook my head and replied, “That wasn’t what I was trying to do.”
It wasn’t like I was going and thinking something crazy like believing I could solve all of Genos and the forest’s edge’s problems before I disappeared. But it seemed like I was subconsciously rushing, thinking I at least wanted to see this matter in particular through before some ridiculous circumstances ripped me away from this world.
“Sorry. I was just hoping everything would play out in the best way possible. And so, I was straining the piddly bit of intelligence I’ve got to try to figure out what I should do to make that happen.”
Ai Fa didn’t say a word.
“It’s not like I think things with Genos can be settled that easily, and I know deep down that taking things slowly and carefully is the way to go. Right... It’s dangerous thinking, to believe everything could improve all at once, huh? I really didn’t think things through enough, and I’m sorry for that.”
She still was keeping silent.
“I told you how I felt last night, didn’t I...?”
That I want to stay by her side...
I had hugged Ai Fa tight as I said those words.
My heart was finally beating so fast that I thought for sure Ai Fa would notice it even without touching me... only for her to finally let go of my clothing and briskly walk back ahead.
“As long as you understand, then that’s fine...” Ai Fa whispered, her voice just barely making it to my ears.
I racked my brain to come up with a decent response, but unfortunately we ended up arriving at the settlement at the forest’s edge before I could think of anything clever. Though with that said, it wasn’t as if the scenery around us had changed all that much. It was just that the dirt trail had grown flat and gotten a bit wider.
The path we were traveling ended in a t-junction stretching far to the north and south. It would take just five minutes traveling south to reach the Ruu settlement from here, and an hour heading north to make it to the Fa house.
“Alright, let’s go ahead and finally give riding in the wagon a shot!” I exclaimed in the most cheerful tone I could manage, only to get back the usual “Right,” from Ai Fa.
While feeling mentally relieved, I climbed up into the driver’s seat. Ai Fa also got into the wagon, then leaned forward with her hands on the back of my seat.
“That looks pretty unstable. Are you going to be alright?”
“If I don’t do this, then I won’t be able to watch how you handle the reins,” Ai Fa retorted, sounding like her mood had recovered quite a bit.
She was probably feeling excited riding in a wagon for the first time. When I looked up at that slightly childish gentle expression, I just didn’t feel like worrying about such details anymore.
“Apparently there’s not all that big of a difference compared to riding directly on the totos. The reins work exactly the same, and the only real change is that you use the crop instead of kicking. And since you won’t get thrown from the driver’s seat unless you’re suddenly going real fast and then abruptly stop, it’s supposedly a bit easier than riding on the totos’s back... Or at least, that’s what Leito said.”
“Hmm... In that case, maybe even someone like you will be able to handle it as well as an average rider,” my clan head, who had learned to manipulate Gilulu as if he were one of her own limbs in just five days, stated with a smile.
As for me, I was still at the point where I could just barely manage to slowly creep along on birdback. And so it was a real question just how skillfully I’d be able to handle this wagon, but I certainly wanted to give the challenge a shot.
“Alright, I’m going to get moving. It’ll probably sway a fair bit, so take care not to fall, okay?” I said, raising the crop.
Instantly, Ai Fa called out, “Asuta... Make certain you don’t hurt Gilulu.”
“Got it,” I replied, then gave Gilulu a slap on the leg.
Just like always, the large bird started slowly walking along.
While still holding onto the crop, I also grabbed the reins with my right hand.
The plan was to start with a normal walking speed. However, totos walked a lot faster than humans, so that was still around 10 kilometers per hour.
As expected, we were getting a good bit of vibration even at this speed. It seemed like it’d probably be a good idea to have something to act as a cushion on the driver’s seat, since it felt like this would really wear out the skin on my butt if it went on for too long.
“Still, this sure does feel nice.”
It was good that I didn’t feel like I was at any risk of falling, even moving at 10 kilometers per hour. And since the driver’s seat was at the same height as Gilulu’s back, I was getting just as nice of a view as if I was riding on him directly.
However, it was then that Ai Fa’s displeased voice called out from above, “This isn’t fast enough to truly feel nice, though. Aren’t you taking it a little too slowly, Asuta?”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true. Normally I would have long since made it back to the house and started on work by now. So should I pick up the speed a bit, then...?”
I kept the reins at the same level of tautness with just one hand, then hit Gilulu again with the crop. That was the signal to change gears from a normal walk to a fast one. And I must have properly regulated how hard I hit him, as he soon picked up his speed by around 50%. Despite the fact that he was pulling a wagon with two people in it, his legs still seemed plenty strong enough to handle it.
“Looks like it’s not shaking much harder. Are you alright, Ai Fa?”
“This is nothing,” she replied, sounding like she was a bit closer than before. “More importantly, you’re pulling too much with your right arm again, aren’t you? The way you’re holding the reins seems a bit distorted.”
“Huh? Really?”
Ai Fa had pointed that out a number of times by now. Gilulu ran straight anyway in spite of that, but she still said, “That’s because the path is straight, so he keeps heading forwards but feels a bit confused.”
And that confusion was probably mentally tiring the totos out bit by bit, so I needed to learn to hold the reins properly. I had known Gilulu for just as long as Ai Fa had, but for some reason her words felt strangely persuasive.
“Your right arm is stronger, isn’t it? In that case, it just makes sense that you need to hold back a bit on that side for them to be equal.”
“Ah, but I thought I was using equal strength.”
“Your arms aren’t level either, to start with. Lower your right elbow a bit more,” Ai Fa said from even closer than before, her fingers gently grabbing hold of my wrist. And her hair was lightly brushing up against my right ear, too, causing my heart to skip a beat. “About this much should do it. Now, try relaxing your arm a bit further.”
By this point, her voice was coming from right beside me. Even though her face wasn’t touching mine, she was close enough that I could feel her warmth on the right side of my neck and shoulder.
“A-Alright, I’ve got it. Like this, right? That seems good, doesn’t it?”
“What are you acting so bewildered about...?”
“Ah, no, it’s just... I mean, don’t go making me explain it, you dummy.”
“Who are you calling ‘dummy’?” she questioned, grinding her head up against my temple. “And this is a necessary step, you know. Do you hate me touching you even at times like this?” Ai Fa asked, sounding more and more displeased as she talked. “From what you’ve said, you dislike touching skin even with members of your own house. I’m well aware of that fact. And I’ve tried to avoid making you feel uncomfortable over such matters, too.” The way she was phrasing that was more than a little off. After all, who would dislike having physical contact with someone like Ai Fa? “However, you yourself embraced me just last night, didn’t you?” It felt like she was trying to make me die of embarrassment. “It’s not like I wish to make things unpleasant for you, of course. However, this is a necessary step in showing you how to handle the reins. If even that is too much... Well, I can’t help but feel hurt.”
Ai Fa’s tone had shifted ever so slightly. Plus she had pulled back her head and fingers, though her voice and warmth remained right on top of me.
And so, as I managed the reins to guide Gilulu along a slight curve in the road, I gave a small sigh.
“Alright, let me go ahead and clear up the key misunderstanding going on here. Um, you see... I’m not shaken up by having you touch me because it’s unpleasant, but rather, er... Because I feel bashful.”
What a seriously idiotic discussion...
But still, we were born and raised in completely different worlds. With that in mind, it seemed logical that our common sense would differ, and I just had to do what I could to correct that.
“I don’t know what you mean by ‘bashful.’”
“You don’t? I mean, we belong to the same house, but it’s not like we’re related by blood...”
“So that’s why you dislike me touching you...? I find it unpleasant for someone outside of my house to touch me, too.”
Ah, so that was why Ai Fa was taking my reactions as cold, huh?
I hurriedly racked my brains in a panic.
“Umm, but you don’t have a problem with Rimee Ruu or Granny Jiba touching you, right?”
“Of course not. They’re... They’re my precious friends,” she replied, quietly whispering that last bit. I seriously felt bad about making her say something so embarrassing.
“Then what about if you became friends with a man? You wouldn’t like them hugging you like Rimee Ruu does, would you?”
“Of course not. But that’s because Rimee Ruu is a young child. If a boy her age did the same, I wouldn’t find it especially unpleasant.”
“Yeah, but you wouldn’t be upset about Rimee Ruu hugging you even if she was a full grown adult, right?”
“I can’t imagine an adult ever doing something so childish.”
“You think? I could see it if we were talking about Rimee Ruu.”
Silence.
Undoubtedly, she had to be thinking something like, “I can see it.”
“Then let me ask you a question. If you became friends with a young boy like Shin Ruu’s little brother, and he still wanted to hug you at the age of 17, what would you think? It would feel more embarrassing than unpleasant, wouldn’t it?”
“That... that may be so... But you’re a member of my house, not a friend.”
“Yeah, but back in the world where I came from, even when people were raised together as family, they didn’t go about touching one another lightly,” I said, feeling a sort of deja vu for some reason. And it didn’t take long for the source of that feeling to be stated into my right ear.
“I heard that excuse before. I believe it was prior to you starting work in the post town... When we were staying at the main Rutim house. You said something similar at that time, Asuta.”
“Man, how nostalgic. Still, I do sorta remember that discussion.”
“Yes, we had that debate while lying down to sleep.”
It had been over a month since then, so I was surprised to find she remembered it so clearly.
Just as I was feeling impressed by that fact, though, my neck was suddenly grabbed from the side. And since I couldn’t move my gaze from pointing straight ahead, that meant I was probably in a headlock.
“And back then, I believe I already told you that this isn’t your old home, but rather the forest’s edge. Now that you are a man of the forest’s edge, I believe it only proper for you to follow the customs of our people, Asuta.”
“Th-That may be so, but even families at the forest’s edge aren’t all over one another, right? I’ve certainly never seen that before, at least.”
“I can’t speak for other clans, as each house ultimately decides their own customs.”
That didn’t really sound like a logical argument, but maybe it was just me. At any rate, my neck and right shoulder felt unusually warm. And Ai Fa’s sweet scent that had been drifting away on the wind was instead now tickling my nose.
“T-That’s dangerous! I almost ran us into that tree!”
“Gilulu isn’t foolish enough to do such a thing,” she stated, her words accompanied by a warm sensation on my cheek. It was bad for my heart just imagining it, but that was probably Ai Fa’s cheek up against mine.
“You weren’t having unpleasant thoughts, were you, Asuta...?”
“Huh? Wh-What? Um, I really did almost have an accident just there!”
“I still don’t understand what you mean by ‘bashful’ in the least, but if I’m not causing you to feel displeased, then I’m glad.”
Suddenly, the pressure on my neck was tighter as her cheek pressed more up against mine. And she grabbed hold of my right wrist again, too.
“The amount of strength you’re using is off again. Don’t go getting all out of sorts, you novice,” Ai Fa stated with a chuckle.
Could anyone keep composed under these sorts of circumstances?! I wailed in my head.
And all the while, Gilulu just kept on firmly and swiftly walking down the path at the forest’s edge, knowing nothing of what was going on back in the wagon.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login