Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 13 - Chapter 1.3

3

“Firstly, allow me to begin by conveying the words of Duke Marstein Genos... He stated that there are two concerns that must be cleared up in today’s meeting,” Cyclaeus said, showing us the back of his hand and raising his index finger. “Firstly, we must lay out clearly just how heavy of a punishment the members of the Suun clan must face for the crime of pillaging the forest of Morga, according to the laws of Genos.”

The Suun group of seven all sat there perfectly still as they listened to Cyclaeus’s words. Zuuro Suun himself hung his head, Diga and Doddo looked perplexed at being in a noble’s manor for the first time, Yamiru Lea and Oura were expressionless, Tsuvai was pouting, and Mida... Mida wore the same absentminded look as always.

“And secondly...” Cyclaeus stated, now raising his middle finger. “The background and objective of Asuta of the Fa clan, this man from overseas who calls himself a person of the forest’s edge, must be made clear. The duke has stated that these two points cannot be overlooked.”

“Hmph. So you’re saying Duke Genos doesn’t care in the least about our concerns as to whether you yourself are guilty, Count Turan?” Dari Sauti asked, clearly displeased.

Cyclaeus just kept grinning away.

“Worry not, leading clan head of the forest’s edge. It is my belief that all of those matters are connected. When we stand up from these seats today, there shall be true understanding and empathy shared between us.”

“If such a time comes, we shall also give our unending thanks to our mother forest and the western god,” Dari Sauti replied with a shrug of his bulky shoulders.

Then, Cyclaeus’s gaze slowly shifted, going straight past Zuuro Suun’s group and fixating right on me.

“Well then, let us begin with the interrogation of this Asuta of the Fa clan...” At that, I sat up straight and looked right back at the wicked noble. “Asuta of the Fa clan, the other day my daughter committed a terrible act of misconduct... But by a twist of fate, that in turn brought your lineage to our attention. You are not a child of Amusehorn, the continent created by the four great gods, but rather a visitor from overseas... There is no mistake there, correct?”

“Right. I never put it quite that way myself, but it’s a fact that I wasn’t born on this continent.”

“Hmm... It is true that visitors from overseas do not call themselves as such. So shall we follow the customs of your people and instead refer to you as a man of the dragon god?”

“A... man of the dragon god?”

“You visitors from overseas revere the ruler of the seas, the dragon god... That is why you refer to yourselves as the people of the dragon god, is it not?”

This was my first time ever hearing that name.

Figuring I had no choice but to tell the truth at this point, I worked up my resolve while adjusting my posture atop the uncomfortable stool.

“I was born in an island nation outside of this continent, but I can’t say I’ve ever worshiped the dragon god or called myself one of its people. So in that way, I guess you could say I’m not one of those visitors from overseas you’re referring to.”

“You are not...a visitor from overseas?” Cyclaeus’s small eyes seemed to ignite.

And beside him, Ciluel shouted, “That’s ridiculous! The only ones who come from over the seas are people of the dragon god! Don’t go thinking you can deceive us with such drivel, you brat!”

“I’m really not trying to deceive anyone.”

“Hmph! I’ve heard tell that you visitors from overseas are the same as the people of Mahyudra at your core! Legends say that in ancient times, folks from Mahyudra abandoned the continent and became children of the dragon god! That is why they only try to do business with Mahyudra and Sym! If the blood of Mahyudra runs in your veins, that may as well make you our sworn enemy, no matter what you may call yourself!”

Since I didn’t know anything about all that, I held my tongue.

Still, this just made it all the more important that I prove my innocence.

Before I could raise an objection, though, Cyclaeus moved to restrain his raging younger brother.

“Yet that legend also says that most of those visitors from overseas have appearances similar to the citizens of Mahyudra... Massive brutes with golden hair, purple eyes, and skin that appears sunburned... That is the appearance of visitors from overseas I have heard spoken of.” Cyclaeus’s eerie gaze remained fixed right on me. “However, you have black hair and eyes like a citizen of Sym, and also the skin color of a westerner. In that case... Are you truly not a man of the dragon god...?”

“That’s right. I was born in an island nation called Japan, and I don’t think my people have ever been called children of the dragon god.”

“Japan...? And where exactly is this island nation of yours located...?”

“I don’t know myself. I’m not even sure how, and it wasn’t by my own choice, but I found myself here in the middle of the continent,” I replied. And I couldn’t help but be concerned with how Cyclaeus was acting all the while.

There was a strange light shining in both of his eyes, and he was leaning forward a bit like he was excited. It almost seemed like the innocent reaction of a young child finding some brand new toy, which only made it all the more eerie.

“There you go again, uttering more nonsense! This land of Genos is located in the interior of the continent, far removed from any ocean. Even ignoring any rumors about your bloodline, a visitor from overseas being in a place like this is enough to prove suspicious in and of itself! And then on top of that you say it wasn’t of your own choice, of all things... Just admit that you’ve been hiding some sort of wicked plot already, you little brat!” Ciluel just kept on shouting.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of how Diga and Doddo were before the Suun fell.

When people who couldn’t control their emotions got a hold of serious authority, they tended to get really inflated egos. He had the aura of a petty underling about him, except this petty underling was a more dangerous and troublesome opponent than Diga and Doddo had ever been.

“I don’t have any wicked plots or anything of the sort. Before I realized it, I found myself collapsed in the middle of the forest of Morga... and then I was taken in by the Fa clan head Ai Fa. It didn’t seem like I’d ever be able to find a way back to my old home, so I made up my mind to live as a person of the forest’s edge,” I replied as firmly as I could manage while trying not to agitate Ciluel further. “Is that some sort of crime? I was born overseas, but I want to live as a person of the forest’s edge. And if you say they’re children of the western god Selva, then I’ll gladly be reborn as one too.”

“You would discard your own god and become a child of Selva...?”

“Yes. I came here today with that much resolve.”

Cyclaeus fell back and leaned up against the back of his chair, his gaze shifting toward that old man, Zylus.

“What do you think, Sir Zylus...? Is it possible for a visitor from overseas to become a child of Selva...?”

“Hmm... There aren’t any past precedents of such matters, so it would require the opinions of the high priest and various religious officials,” the man emotionlessly replied.

Unlike Melfried, he seemed more like he was forcefully suppressing his emotions. He had to be feeling rather nervous, being faced with people of the forest’s edge, who normally had nothing whatsoever to do with folks from the castle town.

“In that case, I suppose we will simply have to wait until we can hear what they have to say on the matter... However, you are still suspected of something quite serious, Asuta of the Fa clan.”

“I’m suspected of something?”

“Indeed... It is believed that you may well have plotted together with that scoundrel Kamyua Yoshu in order to destroy the relationship between Genos and the people of the forest’s edge.”

“That’s ridiculous...” Ai Fa quietly muttered. There was a blazing inferno in her blue eyes, and it was clear she couldn’t hold it back any longer. “Count Turan, I have lived together with Asuta for these past several months. I know better than anyone that he holds no such wicked designs. I cannot take your words as anything but an insult to myself as well.”

“Is that so...? No matter how much time you may spend together, though, I don’t believe that you can truly know every last bit of another person’s heart and mind...”

“Asuta isn’t just some other person. He is a member of my house.” Though Ai Fa’s eyes kept blazing brightly, her voice remained quiet and calm. “Asuta will never betray me. If I did not believe that, I couldn’t have accepted a foreigner such as him... I ask that you take back your previous remark.”

“Allow me to say something too,” Gazraan Rutim calmly chimed in. “When Asuta came and consulted with us about the idea of doing business in the post town, the Ruu clan head Donda Ruu also expressed concern regarding the matter. And so, he added a condition. If Asuta were working with Kamyua Yoshu on some sort of suspicious plot, the Fa clan chef would offer up his right arm. As you can see, Asuta is still in possession of both arms, which serves as proof that he has earned Donda Ruu’s trust.”

“Hmm, his trust, is it...?”

“There are many at the forest’s edge who oppose Asuta’s business. But not a one of them suspects Asuta of conspiring with anyone from town. Your previous statement was an insult not just to Ai Fa and Asuta, but every last person of the forest’s edge.”

“I see... But unfortunately, I cannot find any basis for us to trust this man Asuta, young hunter of the forest’s edge,” Cyclaeus calmly stated. “Asuta of the Fa clan, I hear tell that you were first seen in the Genos post town on the fourteenth day of the green month... Is that correct?”

“Huh? I can’t say I remember the exact day, but it should have been around two months back.”

“There was a record left in the post town’s guard station. You and the Fa clan head caused a commotion along with the second son of the Suun there, only to be saved by Kamyua Yoshu, correct?”

Doddo’s shoulders trembled.

“Then less than half a month later you opened a stall in the post town and brought wealth to the Fa and Ruu clans... And a further half month after that, the Suun’s crimes were brought to light and they were stripped of the right to rule. Was it merely a coincidence that all of those unusual circumstances kept occurring?”

“A coincidence...? I think it would be more accurate to say it was a necessary follow-up. It’s true that Kamyua Yoshu was the one who suggested I start doing business in the post town, but that’s all. You should already know this, but he formed a plan along with Melfried to expose the Suun’s past crimes, and he wanted me to open a stall so that the bonds between the people of the forest’s edge and the post town wouldn’t break down completely.”

Cyclaeus broke out in an even eerier grin. It really was creepy enough that I could understand how Gazraan Rutim had compared it to the sort of expression you’d expect from a mundt.

“Kamyua Yoshu manipulated Lord Melfried, while you did the same with the people of the forest’s edge, all to bring about the downfall of the Suun clan... Is that not why you posed as a person of the forest’s edge to begin with...?”

“What do you mean, ‘posed as’?” Ai Fa questioned, her eyes burning even brighter.

“I cannot believe the look in this woman’s eyes!” Ciluel shouted.

And yet, Cyclaeus’s smile didn’t vanish in the least.

“Thinking as such simply makes more sense to me... Both Asuta of the Fa clan and Kamyua Yoshu appeared together in the post town, and less than half a month later, the Suun clan had fallen. And if both of them were involved, is it not unnatural to simply write that off as mere coincidence...?”

I furrowed my brow. “And you’re saying that was all a plot to cause trouble between Genos and the forest’s edge? But what would we even have to gain from something like that?”

“You are a visitor from overseas, while the blood of Mahyudra runs through Kamyua Yoshu’s veins... What greater reason could you have than to cause calamitous harm to the western kingdom?” Cyclaeus’s voice had become so viscous and foul, it almost seemed like it had taken on physical form. “And besides, I also use a great many people of Mahyudra as slaves throughout the Turan lands. So I could see how I could earn resentment from those with roots in that vile nation...”

“But as we just discussed, I’m not a man of the dragon god, and I’ve got no ties to Mahyudra whatsoever. I have no reason to cause trouble for the western kingdom.”

“Visitors from overseas are almost always people of the dragon god. It is certainly hard to imagine so with your appearance, but that alone isn’t enough to determine you are not one of their people.”

It really was a complete curveball for me, finding out that visitors from overseas had ties to Mahyudra.

Still, even when I had opened up and told them I wasn’t born on this continent, I hadn’t really faced any particular discrimination from the people of Genos. So it was probably nothing more than a single bit of folklore that people from overseas had blood ties with Mahyudra, and Cyclaeus’s words were just false accusations.

But how exactly could I refute what he was saying? Since I had gone and decided to fight alongside a reckless guy like Kamyua Yoshu, I figured it would be exceptionally difficult to prove my innocence.

“I hear tell that you are quite skilled as a chef... That allowed your business in the post town to succeed, which you used to bring great wealth to the Fa and Ruu clans and earn their trust. Isn’t that so, Asuta of the Fa clan...?”

“You’re wrong. I just wanted to bring greater prosperity to the settlement at the forest’s edge. I know it may be presumptuous of a foreigner like me to feel that way, but I talked to Ai Fa and Gazraan Rutim and everyone about it, and then finally made up my mind to go forward.”

Everything I was saying was how I truly felt.

And yet, that didn’t seem to have moved Cyclaeus or Ciluel in the slightest.

Still, that was perfectly natural. After all, they certainly never cared about the truth. Or rather, they weren’t likely to accept anything as true unless it benefited them in some way.

I couldn’t help but feel empty at the thought of how fruitless it must be to try to speak the truth to people who never wanted to understand one another from the start, but then I forced that down with all my might.

And as I searched for what to say next, someone else spoke up. “Sir Cyclaeus, exactly what purpose does gossiping about such matters serve?” It was Melfried, who had been silent all this time. “Even if you were to assume Asuta of the Fa clan here was Kamyua Yoshu’s compatriot, it would still have nothing to do with me, regardless of where their objective may lie. And whatever the case, it does not change the fact that the Suun clan committed criminal acts, nor the suspicion cast upon Sir Ciluel and yourself in turn.”

“There is a great meaning to all this... Or so I believe,” Cyclaeus stated, holding up a hand to stop Ciluel before he could shout something else. “It’s certainly true that the Suun clan committed crimes... However, the only matters clearly proven are that Zattsu and Tei Suun attacked your group when you acted as a merchant caravan, and I suppose that assault on the actual merchant caravan ten years prior, correct?”

“Hold on. There’s also the matter of the Suun clan pillaging Morga’s blessings. That is why Zuuro Suun is currently awaiting judgment,” Dari Sauti swiftly interjected.

Cyclaeus turned to face the leading clan head, and once more grinned.

“It is not as if we actually witnessed the members of the Suun clan committing that crime... It is simply that we had no choice but to trust your claim that they did so.”

“Are you trying to say that we made up some false accusation in order to bring down the Suun clan?” Dari Sauti questioned, his voice trembling with rage.

Normally he was a gentle, peaceful man, but it seemed that when faced with townsfolk, he could get more than a little hotblooded. But he was still very much the intellectual type compared to other men of the forest’s edge, so he was tasked with leading the discussion alongside Gazraan Rutim.

“It’s certainly difficult to imagine that every last one of you has been lying... However, we cannot disregard the possibility of you noble people of the forest’s edge having been deceived by townsfolk.”

“Yes, and the one who deceived the members of the Suun was—”

“Were you not fooled by Asuta of the Fa clan and Kamyua Yoshu, leading clan heads of the forest’s edge?” Cyclaeus asked, cutting Dari Sauti off. “It’s true that the Suun clan’s members may well have pillaged the forest of Morga... But who is it who revealed those crimes? Did you not inform me that it occurred at the advice of Asuta of the Fa clan on the day of the clan head meeting?”

“That’s right. Since Asuta was manning the stove, he was able to realize that fact before anyone else. There’s nothing strange about that.”

“And thanks to that, you all felt grateful to Asuta of the Fa clan, correct? After all, the Suun had continuously broken the laws of the forest for ten whole years...”

“What would it matter if we did?” Dari Sauti retorted, steadily losing his cool.

In response, Cyclaeus shot him a truly irritating smile.

“Was that not Asuta of the Fa clan’s strategy all along...? By exposing the Suun clan’s crimes, he and Kamyua Yoshu earned the trust of Lord Melfried and the people of the forest’s edge. And now they are plotting to thrust false crimes upon the Suun clan and ourselves, bringing further chaos to our land of Genos.”

“I see. So your assertion is that the Suun clan’s only crimes were pillaging the blessings of Morga and assaulting the merchant caravan, while everything else is false accusations invented by Kamyua Yoshu,” Gazraan Rutim replied in a perfectly calm tone. “The attack on the envoys from the town of Banarm, the murder of the militia’s leader, and the claim that you tried to pin all of those crimes on the bandit group known as the Red Beards... You say those are all groundless, made-up claims, Cyclaeus?”

“That is exactly the case, young hunter of the forest’s edge. By mixing in truth with his statements, Kamyua Yoshu plotted to lend his false claims credibility... What a truly unscrupulous method.” At that Cyclaeus crossed both arms in front of his emaciated stomach, then continued on in a truly pompous tone. “That man has mixed blood of Mahyudra and Selva... He could simply live in Sym or Jagar where no one would find issue with his background, but instead he specifically chose to live an ill-fated half-a-life here in Selva, and grew to hate our great nation... I cannot help but sympathize with you, Lord Melfried, and you people of the forest’s edge, getting caught up in such a man’s wicked ambitions.”

“So you insist on looking down on us as fools who cannot even tell right from wrong to the bitter end, do you, Cyclaeus...?” Gulaf Zaza grumbled, apparently unable to hold back any longer. “We never at any point thought of an outsider like Kamyua Yoshu as an ally. But we sensed truth in his words, and came here to talk to you in order to determine the facts of the matter, Cyclaeus.”

“And...? Do you truly believe it just and valid to believe only Kamyua Yoshu’s words as truth while doubting everything I say as a falsehood...?” Cyclaeus retorted, his gaze now turning to Zuuro Suun. “Zuuro Suun, O former leading clan head of the forest’s edge...”

Zuuro Suun’s hollow eyes looked up at Cyclaeus.

“It has been over twenty years now since I began mediating matters with the leading clan head of the forest’s edge. The first ten years were with Zattsu Suun, and for the following ten I formed a bond with you... As such, there are truths which only I am able to see.”

Zuuro Suun offered no response.

“Zattsu Suun was a man akin to ambition personified. And I had always feared his ambitious fangs might one day be bared at Genos... However, I never sensed your father’s wicked ambition from you, even once.”

Still nothing.

“It is certainly true that you may well have led the Suun down a poor path... However, that was simply the path laid out for you by Zattsu Suun, was it not? And so, I cannot help but find the idea of treating you alone as a criminal pitiable...”

“What do you mean, ‘pitiable’?” Gulaf Zaza interjected, his voice dripping with irritation. “We discussed this matter back at the forest’s edge too. But the crime for abandoning giba hunting and pillaging the fruits of the forest for ten whole years is a heavy one... And on top of that, many in the Suun settlement had their souls rotted away with despair.”

“Oh... And it is the judgment of the people of the forest’s edge that Zuuro Suun alone must bear responsibility for those crimes...?”

“Zuuro Suun was both the leading clan head and the head of the Suun. Since Zattsu Suun had already retired from the position, there is no one else who can answer for the crimes committed during those ten years,” Gulaf Zaza answered, his eyes now a fiery blaze.

As his people previously fell under the man, the Zaza clan head had the deepest ties with Zuuro Suun.

The Zaza and Suun had exchanged ties of blood for a long, long time. I couldn’t even fathom how Gulaf Zaza must have been feeling at the moment, having to denounce the former head of his parent clan.

And yet Cyclaeus just kept on sneering, caring nothing about such matters.

“Hmm... As you say, no matter how pitiable it may be, we have no choice but to have Zuuro Suun answer for these crimes. However... If you leading clan heads were deceived by an outsider, it would be a different matter entirely, would it not...?”

“So you’re going to keep on insisting Asuta of the Fa clan and Kamyua Yoshu tricked us?”

“Indeed... If you are not satisfied, then shall we hear the impartial opinion of Genos’s legal officer, Sir Zylus?” Cyclaeus asked, his eyes once again turning toward the old man in question.

And sitting there beside Melfried, Zylus shot him back an annoyed scowl.

“Sir Zylus... Is it necessary that Zuuro Suun face an impartial trial for misleading his people?”

“Yes, well... A man in the position of leading clan head and head of his own clan coercing others to break the law is a serious crime indeed.”

“Then is it also necessary to judge the man’s family...? From what I am told, the punishment for that family in question sitting here was having the Suun name taken from them and becoming members of other clans...”

“I cannot say that is in agreement with the laws of Genos,” Zylus stated, restraining his emotions. “I hear tell that it is the clan heads who lead their people at the forest’s edge. As such, even family would not be able to oppose them. If the crimes of the branch houses are to be wiped clean, then would those six not also be innocent of any crimes?”

“We have not said the crimes of the members of the branch houses have gone unquestioned. They have instead been given a path to atonement, by living properly as people of the forest’s edge,” Gazraan Rutim calmly interjected. “The same is also true for these six former members of the main Suun house. To some extent or another, they have all received Zattsu Suun’s wicked influence. And so we also judged them discarding the Suun name as important for the sake of freeing them from that curse as well.”

“Hmm... And then you stole the right to lead from the Suun, correct?” Cyclaeus asked with a grin and a suspicious light shining in his eyes. “That is one point I cannot accept... Even more so with the motives of outsiders interfering here and there in the background.”

“Those measures had nothing to do with Asuta. While it’s true that he was crucial in exposing the Suun’s crimes, it was the will of all the clan heads present at the meeting that determined what would happen after.”

“But it changes matters if the downfall of the Suun was part of a greater plot, does it not? In actuality, you were all deceived by Kamyua Yoshu’s sweet talk afterward and went so far as to slander me, after all. How far can we trust you when you were chosen as leading clan heads as the result of such a plot...? I have my doubts on that matter.”

For a while, the room went silent.

The hand Cyclaeus was playing to escape from answering for his crimes was coming more and more into view.

Part of it was unsurprising, yet some of it was completely unexpected too. And as the leading clan heads sat there wondering what point to strike at, their eyes quietly blazing away, there was suddenly a voice.

“So... What exactly do you intend to do if you can’t trust the current three leading clan heads? You couldn’t possibly be planning on reinstating the Suun clan to the post, could you?” Yamiru Lea questioned with a chilling chuckle, finally breaking the silence.