Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 24 - Chapter 2.6

6

The Ruu clan hunters steadily advanced into the center of the plaza. There were nearly twenty of them in total, not including their guest, Jeeda, and Shumiral with his six hunting dogs.

They had seven giba with them altogether. Mida was carrying one of them by himself, and when he noticed us, he turned to head in our direction.

“It’s been a while, Ai Fa. And I’m happy to see you again too, Asuta.”

“Indeed. It seems you are properly carrying out your work as a hunter,” Ai Fa said.

“Yeah... I wish I could talk to you more, but I’ve gotta deal with this giba,” Mida said, walking away before the other men could hurry him along. In his place, Jiza Ruu and Shumiral came over and stood before us.

“If the heads of the subordinate clans are gathered here, the matter must have been settled with the nobles from the castle town. I’ll go get my father, so you wait here, Shumiral,” Jiza Ruu instructed.

“Of course.”

With that, Jiza Ruu departed, leaving behind Shumiral and his hunting dogs. As our conversation continued, Dan Rutim and Rau Lea started playing with the animals, their eyes sparkling all the while.

“I’m glad to see you made it back okay, Shumiral. How was the hunt today?” I asked.

“I believe, I have grasped, giba hunting techniques, fairly well. Of course, I still have, a long way, to go. My strength, is still lacking. The Ruu hunters, are very skilled, at using, the hunting dogs.”

“Yeah, it’s hard to believe they’ve only been using them for five days now. They’ll be full-fledged dog handlers in no time at this rate.”

Someone else then approached us from the side. With his red hair and yellow eyes, it could only be the Ruu clan’s guest, Jeeda. “I’ve never used hunting dogs before either, but they sure are convenient. If the Ruu clan has the funds to spare, I think they should buy a whole lot more of them,” he said.

“I see.” In that case, it would probably be okay to get my hopes up. I was still pretty shaken up, but Shumiral looked as calm and composed as always.

Not long after that, Donda Ruu appeared from within the main house. He was followed by his three sons, Jiza, Darmu, and Ludo Ruu, as well as Mia Lea and Vina Ruu.

“I thank the heads of our subordinate clans for coming here today. This morning, I spoke directly to the nobles Melfried and Polarth, and I am now ready to announce the outcome of our discussions,” Donda Ruu started without any preamble, his voice resounding clearly. Even Dan Rutim and Rau Lea reluctantly stopped playing with the hunting dogs and rose to their feet. “After taking the events of the past several days into consideration, I’ve come to a conclusion. The other leading clan heads, Gulaf Zaza and Dari Sauti, have already granted their concurrence, as has the lord of Genos, so keep that in mind as you listen.”

“We’re not gonna have to say goodbye to these little guys, are we?” Dan Rutim questioned, but Donda Ruu ignored him.

“We will welcome the westerner Shumiral as a person of the forest’s edge.”

I felt as if I had been struck by lightning.

Then something warm touched my shoulder, so I turned my head to look, half dumbfounded, and saw Ai Fa’s pouting face right there.

“Do not lose your composure like that out of nowhere. I almost thought something was wrong.”

Apparently, I had started to collapse without realizing it, forcing Ai Fa to support me from the side. That was how hard the news had hit me.

“Sorry,” I replied, straightening up again, and then I turned my full focus back to Donda Ruu’s voice.

“However, whether or not he receives a clan name will be determined by his actions from here on out. And it goes without saying that anyone who does not have a clan name cannot ask to marry, just like with Mida there.”

At some point, Mida had moved to stand behind us, but I paid him no mind. Donda Ruu’s words were taking up all my attention. I listened to them intently, with my heart pounding in my chest.

“Mida has displayed abnormal ability as a hunter, both in the contests of strength during our festival of the hunt, and when actually hunting giba. However, his heart is still fixated on his former family, so I have not given him the Ruu name. It is the same for the Rutim clan’s Oura and Tsuvai, as well as the Dom clan’s Diga and Doddo. Yamiru Lea alone has already been granted a clan name, based on Rau Lea’s decision.”

Rau Lea shrugged indifferently. He had given Yamiru Lea the Lea name without any hesitation on the same day that he welcomed her into his clan.

“That reflects how serious it is for one without blood ties to be granted a clan name here at the forest’s edge. It cannot be done without acknowledging the recipient as equal to your own flesh and blood. Do you understand, Shumiral?”

“Yes. I want to do, all I can, to be acknowledged, as a true, clan member. And I feel, truly honored, to be welcomed as a, person of the forest’s edge, even with no clan name.”

Shumiral started to bring his fingers together, but then he stopped. That was the way of showing gratitude in Sym. Instead, he gave a little shake of his head, then bowed to Donda Ruu.

“So, what clan will he end up with? Are the Ruu going to take him in?” Dan Rutim asked.

“No,” Donda Ruu replied. “The Ruu are a leading clan here at the forest’s edge. We cannot welcome outsiders into our clan so lightly. That said, we can’t push the problem onto some other clan either, so one of our subordinate clans will have to take him.”

“Oh, so what about us?! The Rutim would gladly take charge of him! Oh, but I guess I shouldn’t just say that in our clan head’s place, though,” Dan Rutim said with a hearty chuckle, only for Donda Ruu’s gaze to look to a figure diagonally behind him instead.

“I would like to ask the Ririn clan to take on that role. Are you willing to accept my request, Giran Ririn?”

“Ah, my clan?” Giran Ririn asked, his eyes opening wide. He was a middle-aged man who was especially gentle and mild for a subordinate of the Ruu. However, he was also one of the strongest of their hunters. I thought I had a fairly decent relationship with him. “Naturally, I have no intention of opposing the will of our parent clan, but would you mind if I ask what your reasoning is?”

“I have determined that the Lea and Rutim are unsuitable. Both of their clan heads are eccentrics among our people, and it wouldn’t do for him to be given a clan name too easily.”

The clan head of the Rutim was Gazraan Rutim instead of his father Dan Rutim at this point. As a flexible and progressive thinker, it was true that the Rutim clan head often strayed from what was normal for a person of the forest’s edge. Something similar could also be said of Rau Lea, who had given Yamiru Lea a clan name at the drop of a hat.

“Out of the four remaining clans—the Min, Muufa, Maam, and Ririn—the Ririn have the smallest number of clan members. But you, Giran Ririn, often served as a guard during the revival festival, and were able to form bonds with some of the townsfolk and those traveling performers, so you are the most suited to judge someone like him fairly.”

“I’m honored. It’s true that I get along with townsfolk better than most of the other men.”

“Still, you won’t be permitted to give him a clan name as lightly as the Lea clan head did. I only gained the consent of the nobles of Genos after explaining the laws and customs of our people to them. They have put their trust in us by permitting us to welcome in an outsider as one of our own. You understand what that means, don’t you, Giran Ririn?”

“Indeed. I am not to give this Shumiral man our clan name until I cherish him as much as my own flesh and blood, and he sees us the same way, right? Understood,” Giran Ririn said, the smile lines under his eyes deepening. “I am the clan head of the Ririn, the only clan that has been permitted to become a subordinate during your generation, Donda Ruu. So what you’re asking is, will I grant him my acknowledgment in the same way that you did for me? I swear to the mother forest here and now that I won’t betray your trust.”

“Good,” Donda Ruu said with a nod. Then he turned to Shumiral. “That’s all I have to say. If you want to marry my daughter, start by living as a member of the Ririn. From now on, you’re a man of the forest’s edge, Shumiral of the Ririn clan.”

“A man of, the forest’s edge, Shumiral of, the Ririn clan,” Shumiral repeated, giving another deep bow. “I will always, conduct myself, in a way, that will not, not bring shame, to that name. Leading clan head, Donda Ruu, I thank you, for your kindness.”

“It’s no kindness. I am not a man who lets himself be moved by emotion,” Donda Ruu said in the same weighty tone before looking over everyone present. “As for the hunting dogs, the Ruu hunters have learned much about how to handle them. Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin conveying those techniques to our subordinate clans. And if it grants us strength...I will permit the purchase of additional dogs.”

“What?! So you can get ahold of these fellows even here in Genos?!” Dan Rutim asked.

“No, that is not currently possible. However, southerners are always visiting Genos, and they would no doubt be happy to transport some here for us if we reach out to them. That is something we will have to rely on Polarth for, though.”

It sounded like Donda Ruu had discussed a lot more with Polarth than I had expected. At this point, I had so many competing emotions tugging me around that it was all I could do to remain standing.

Shumiral, meanwhile, was completely calm, his gaze fixed on Vina Ruu. For her part, Vina Ruu was half hiding behind her mother, hanging her head like a young child. Perhaps noticing that, Donda Ruu snorted. “Hmph! Shumiral, I’m sure you need to discuss all of this with your comrades in town, so you should spend some time in town today and move in with the Ririn clan tomorrow.”

“Yes, understood.”

“The Ruu clan will allow you to stay here as our guest tonight. You can head back to the post town after sharing dinner with us,” Donda Ruu declared before turning around.

After watching her husband’s large back as he left, Mia Lea Ruu broke out in a smile. “You’re cooking tonight, aren’t you, Vina? There’s still time to add one more dish, isn’t there?”

“Huh...? But I...”

“No buts. Shumiral might have become a member of our subordinate clans, but that doesn’t mean we’ll be able to have dinner with him very often outside of banquets.”

The members of the main house and I were probably the only ones who understood what those words meant—that the reason Vina Ruu had been practicing making giba curry was for a day like today. She was fidgeting so badly that I felt bad just looking at her, and after one last glance in Shumiral’s direction, she took off running toward the kitchen without saying a word.

“All right! Regardless of everything else, you now fall under the Ruu clan, Shumiral! You’d better be sure to live a life that won’t bring any dishonor to that name!” Dan Rutim remarked with a hearty slap on Shumiral’s back, and with that, the six clan heads all started approaching to greet him. Ludo Ruu, meanwhile, started strolling over to us, watching them out of the corner of his eye.

“Hey there. Good thing everything wrapped up smoothly, right?”

“Yeah, that’s for sure. I was so nervous, I almost keeled over,” I said.

“Sounds pretty over the top. You should really leave all the worrying to the folks who are actually involved.” Ludo Ruu gave a carefree laugh, and then he looked between me and Ai Fa. “By the way, I’ve been wondering for a while now... Why haven’t you given Asuta the Fa clan name, Ai Fa?”

My clan head did not respond.

“It’s not like you haven’t acknowledged him, right? Is it so he can’t go and marry a woman from some other clan?”

“Of course not! My reasons are my own!”

“You don’t need to get so angry about it. Still, it’d be a pain to change how I talk to you now, so even if you do get the Fa clan name, I’ll still just call you Asuta.”

Having finished stirring things up with our clan, Ludo Ruu headed back over to the hunting dogs. At some point, Rimee Ruu and the other young children had gathered around the dogs and were now playing with them, along with Dan Rutim.

Mida was standing behind us, looking like he wanted to talk, and we still had to see Lili Ravitz back home too, so I decided it would be best to try to clear this up right away.

“So, having a clan name isn’t really a big deal to me, but what are your reasons for not giving me one, Ai Fa?” I whispered, only for my clan head to frown in a really unhappy way and keep her mouth firmly shut. “I’m not worried about it or anything. I mean, this is you we’re talking about. It’s not like you haven’t accepted me as family or anything, right?”

Even now, Ai Fa didn’t speak a word.

“H-Huh? Wait, have I still not fully earned your trust?”

“That’s not it at all!” Ai Fa started to loudly protest, but then she scratched her head. “Still, I have my reasons. If you had followed the customs of the forest’s edge, I would have done the same and given you the clan name.”

“The customs of the forest’s edge? Have I broken them somehow? I don’t have any idea what you mean... Or actually, it’s more like I’ve gone against them in so many ways, it’s hard to know what you’re talking about specifically.”

“Then there is no need to concern yourself with it. There’s no issue with things staying as they are, is there?” Ai Fa said, turning away in a huff, but that just made it all the more difficult for me to leave things be.

“Wh-What’s the matter? If I’m doing something wrong, shouldn’t I fix that?”

“If it isn’t causing any issues, there’s no need for that.”

“Uh, but if I’m doing something I shouldn’t without even knowing, that’s concerning to me. What in the world is it?”

“If you truly refuse to let this go, then just let me say...” Ai Fa said, lowering her voice further so those around us couldn’t hear. “If you became a proper member of my clan, it wouldn’t be fitting for you to call me by my full name, now would it?”

I was taken aback, but then it slowly dawned on me. Members of the same house only used one another’s full names when introducing someone to an outsider. It was different when you had a main branch and a side branch, of course—Ludo Ruu and his siblings called Shin Ruu by his full name, after all. But when they lived in the same house, they would say stuff like Papa Donda, Jiza, or Rimee instead. In other words, when I called her Ai Fa, I wasn’t following the customs of the forest’s edge because I included her clan name... I was supposed to call her by her first name alone.

I gulped. Then, I tried rolling the name “Ai” off my tongue, only to instantly feel flustered. “Gah, I can’t! I feel so embarrassed I could die! Sorry, I need more time!”

Everyone turned to look at me in surprise. At the same time, Ai Fa went beet red and kicked me in the leg.

“That’s why I said there’s no need to force yourself to change if it isn’t causing any issues! What in the world is going on with you?!”

“S-Sorry. I’m just embarrassed about how much I don’t know and don’t think about.”

“Asuta, Ai Fa, it’s bad to fight,” Mida chimed in.

“We’re not fighting! I’m simply disciplining a foolish member of my clan!”

This time, I didn’t even try to offer any excuse. Still, I couldn’t help but feel out of sorts.

As we dealt with that untimely disturbance, Shumiral approached us next by himself. “Asuta, I am sorry, for worrying you. My first desire, has been granted.”

“Yeah, congratulations. I really, truly mean that, Shumiral.”

“Thank you. It all began, when I met you, Asuta,” Shumiral replied with a calm smile. “I met you, at the end, of the green month. I did not know, back then, that my fate, was about to shift, so greatly. This fate, was brought into being, by multiple gods... The eastern god Sym, the western god Selva, and the forest of Morga.”

“Right. I definitely never would’ve guessed that someday I’d be able to call you a fellow person of the forest’s edge.” As I spoke, I felt a lump form in my throat. As of today, we were both people of the forest’s edge. We were also the only two foreigners living here without any blood ties. I doubted any of the others would be able to understand how happy this moment made us.

When we first met, we were just a stall owner and a customer. We had only known each other for about a month, and yet Shumiral had impacted my life tremendously. I had been drawn to him right from the start.

He had been expressionless, as was fitting for someone from Sym, but he had sometimes shown me an incredibly kind gaze and occasionally even a childish side, and I loved his awkward way of speaking in the western tongue. I liked pretty much everything about him.

“My next desire, is to be acknowledged, by the Ririn clan head,” Shumiral calmly stated. I went ahead and shot him a smile, feeling like I was about to cry.

“Giran Ririn’s a really nice guy. I’m sure the two of you will get along great.”

“Yes. I am glad, to have received, a new family. I will try my best, so that Giran Ririn and I, can come to see one another, as true family, just like, the two of you.”

Ai Fa was still looking rather displeased, but she made a point of restoring her solemn dignity as she turned toward Shumiral.

“I am certain you will work as hard as Asuta does. Giran Ririn is a fine clan head, so you would do well to follow his example of how to live as a person of the forest’s edge.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“So Shumiral’s under the Ruu clan now too? I’m happy to have new family,” Mida added.

“Right. I look forward, to working, alongside you, Mida of the Ruu clan.”

I couldn’t help but feel moved by even that casual interaction.

Before long, Shumiral would be wearing a hunter’s cloak and a necklace of tusks and horns. And after he had spent a year here at the forest’s edge, he would switch to a leather cloak and head out on a journey as a merchant. It was as remarkable a way of life as my own—going into town to work as a chef—if not more so. The leading clan heads and the nobles of Genos had accepted that lifestyle, and that was undoubtedly yet another major change the people of the forest’s edge had undergone.

He was a man of the forest’s edge, Shumiral of the Ririn clan.

If his clan head, Giran Ririn, acknowledged him, he would become Shumiral Ririn. And then, would he become Shumiral Ririn Ruu? Or, if he was permitted to have her marry into his clan, would she become Vina Ruu Ririn instead? There was no way to know yet.

Even so, Shumiral had been permitted to take a huge first step. For now, I hoped he would reflect on that joy as he tasted the giba curry Vina Ruu had been working hard on for the past few months.

Those were the thoughts that filled my head as the twenty-first day of the gold month steadily came to a close.