9 ③ Hometown Morning

"... Pico leaves grow by the waters in the woods. The most suitable for collection is around the river called Rant, but upstream is the territory of the Sung family and their itchy families, so we head downstream"

Copy that, Captain.

Follow the opposite path we took last night, and we'll head into the woods.

I made a fuss about something and left late, but the other houses in the settlement etc were quiet. No one tries to come out onto the street, although the occasional shadow can be questioned.

"Hmm. No one will be in the mood to go into the woods to wake up. I suppose you're on those chores in the morning, getting rid of fur and breaking firewood."

"Yet, is the Captain heading to the woods in the early morning?

"... because of the sudden increase in residence, I don't feel comfortable stockpiling firewood. I don't usually go into the woods from this morning."

"Was it because of the dwarf! Seriously, it's all over my sweaty face!

"... if you don't stop talking that way right now, I'll cut your tongue off"

"Okay. I'm sorry."

I decided to focus on walking for a while too because I was still feeling a little out of the mood.

In front of you, the first morning scene of this world you see unfolds.

It was dark yesterday and I didn't know, but it is quite stunning.

Mountains of Morga thrived in the haunted sky. So much.

As much as I want to admire whether it was a big mountain, the peak is left-right.

Ahead of your aim, deep woods.

If you glance at this area cut open to create a settlement, everything is covered in abundant greenery.

Nature as far as I can see.

The air is clear and clear, and it doesn't smell like exhaust gas.

In the sky, there are birds dancing.

I guess the temperature hasn't risen that much yet either. Just enough to wear long-sleeved cooking clothes.

If you keep your gaze close, morning dew shines in the bushes growing around you.

If this was a camp or something, I would have felt full too.

"Hey. Speaking of which, what the hell is a Pico leaf?

I was just on the edge of the woods. When I asked, Ai-Fa said annoyingly, "I was glad you were weeping earlier, that's it".

"Huh? Is that about that spice? That's a pretty name."

"... Pico leaves lose their potency in roughly a month, so we need to make sure we have enough reserves by then. Without Pico leaves, they rot without waiting two days for meat or something. If you don't want rotten meat, work hard."

"Copy that.... Is that vegetable you got last night harvesting naturally?

"Aria and Poitan actually trade for this guy in the lodging town"

While stepping into the woods bushes, Ai-Fa jiggles the neckline.

"With the horns of Giva and one head of fangs, you can get ten days' worth of aria and poitan. If you two want to eat together, five days' worth.... which means that if you don't finish Giva at least once every five days, you won't get anything else to eat besides Giva's meat. I can afford to do this now."

"Hmm? But there's such a fine mountain that you can source as much food from here as you want?

"... it is forbidden to take grace from the mountains of Morga"

"Huh?"

"If we raze the grace of the mountains of Morga, the hungry Giva will begin to strike the fields of the territory of Genos. Forestside people are only allowed to harvest some grass leaves that are not edible for Gibba, such as vanilla such as Pico and Leelo and highly toxic grigi fruit"

"Who says you're not allowed? Mountains and forests aren't supposed to belong to anyone, are they?

"The mountains and forests of Morga are all prints of Selva, the kingdom of the west. Our forestside people fled the scourge of war about eighty years ago and moved their homeland from the prints of Jagal, the southern kingdom, to this forestside. … and the people of the woods were allowed by the kingdom of the west to live in the land under the covenant not to vandalize the mountains and even hunt Gibba"

"What is it, then? Either way, it's such a big pile of idiots that you can't starve Giva to say that you've been a little blessed."

"That's not true. Gibba is a species that can only live at the foot of the mountain. Deep in the mountains, Gibba's scary madalama serpents and Valve wolves, as well as vicious wildlings, also nest. It is only by this forest at the foot of the mountain that we, the people of the woods, and Gibba, can live."

"Hmmm..."

I could understand, but I'm not convinced.

As a result of the survival competition, Gibba was driven to the foothills. That's all there is to it, but to protect someone else's fields, people by the woods are only allowed to hunt Gibba, is that... kind of a huge poverty lottery?

Yesterday's saying that the people of the woodland are despised as' giva eaters' is also strongly caught in the heart.

"... because the people of the woods are only exotic bloodlines flowing from the southern kingdom. He gave his soul and sword to Selva, the god of the west, abandoning Jagal, the southern god. Still, for the inhabitants of the Stone Capital, we are nothing but compatriots."

As if you prepended my feelings, I-Fa snapped with an emotionless voice.

"You've been living on this land for, like, 80 years now, haven't you? I don't think you're gonna hit a bee if you claim your rights any more."

"... just as I have not sought refuge in the Sung family or the Luu family, the people by the woods have not sought refuge in the kingdom or anything else. We're better suited to hunting Gibba than plowing the fields."

"Right. Well, I guess I'm more of a" leftover "than the people by the woods."

The way I said it touched my eclampsia, Ey-Fa creeping at me.

"No, I'm not denying your lives. I just thought I might not feel very comfortable with the Stone Capital residents, either."

"... Hmm. A white man like you deserves a stone capital better than a forest."

I find myself caught in some thoughts whilst I tease back the face of Ey-Fa, who says mean things to me.

"Wait a minute. Earlier, you said you needed a giva for a horn or fangs to get ten meals of food for one human, right? That means if it's a family of ten, you have to hunt Giva one at a time each day - come on, so if the people by the woods are a group of 500 people in total, does that mean you need to hunt 50 Giva a day?

What's wrong with that, so Ey-Fa tilts his neck.

What's wrong with that, I don't know, dude.

"Are the people of the woods hunting as many as fifty gibbons every day for eighty years? How come Giva hasn't been extinct yet when you're making such a mess?

"Is it something that makes Giva extinct? I hear that number has rather increased over the past few years, as has the damage done to the fields. The number of givahs is so small that we can hunt it all down, and the forest is so vast."

"Ha... that's another big story."

Even more so, I can feel the kingdom and way of doing things that are pushing such a great job only on the people by the woods. Also, the system of not getting other food if you have to hunt Gibba is somehow offensive.

I'm not allowed to harvest the grace of the forest, nor to plow the fields, just to hunt Gibba, - I mean, I guess that's the story.

Behind that, if you despise the people of the woods as "gibberish eaters," why don't we talk about it already?

"... so vandalizing the grace of the forest is forbidden to anyone. Break the contraindication and they will skin your head off. Just slap it on your head."

"... Okay, I get it"

Ai-Fa's leg stops perfectly, and that fingertip grabs my chest.

"Hey. What's that attitude since just now? If you're complaining, let me get this straight."

"So I'm not mad at you guys! I don't like the way people talk about kingdom or capital.

Eye-Fa's eyes, which were simmering like a Guira and Giva pan, softly cooled.

"What's that? Why would you be angry at something like that, even if you're not from the woods?

"Why, if you think objectively, you're angry about what's going on. Besides, I'm taking care of Ai-Fa, the people by the woods, so isn't it normal to get emotional on that side?

"... you're a funny man, you are"

Let go of my hand from under my chest, and when I poke again, I step on the grass leaves and start walking.

"Besides, what you're saying is out of line. We are not following a promise threatened with a sword. The people in the capital don't care, but they have the pride and admiration that we're the ones keeping them safe. If we leave this land, someone else will have to abandon their work and fight Gibba. … We, who gave our sword to Selva, the god of the west, are responsible for the prosperity of the kingdom by hunting for Giva"

"Yeah... well, I'm not sure what it feels like to be born by the woods."

"We live by the woods with pride. This fang and horn is also food for life and a symbol of its pride. So remember, vandalizing the grace of the forest and consequently harming the kingdom is a shameless act trampling the pride of the people by the forest"

"Okay. I don't know how convenient the kingdom is, but if it's for the pride of the people by the woods, I feel comfortable keeping my promises."

Half-forced. But so far, I've decided to be so convinced.

Eye-Fa flickers his gaze as he spreads his branches and advances to foot speed.

"... you really are a strange man, Asta"

Strangely enough, I felt the grumpy appearance from the morning had disappeared beautifully from the eyes of Ey-Fa crushing like that.

◇

We walked there for about a few dozen minutes and when the sun showed up completely, we arrived at our primary destination.

By the river in Rant, where the leaves of Pico live.

The river width is about five meters. It doesn't seem to flow that fast just because it's downstream, but the depth seems cool. It is a truly majestic view with clear water reflecting the leaking day.

But the area continued to be steep rocky against the river, and no grassy grass or anything else had grown.

Looking back at Ey-Fa wondering if she would move further from here, your daughter was somehow starting to take off the fur cloak that was weaving her feathers off her shoulders.

"… water before looking for Pico leaves"

"What? Go to water?

"What? It's uncomfortable to sweat all over Gibba's fat."

Looks like you're in a good mood, but it's originally an eye-fa that doesn't stick around by default. Such an eye-fa rarely poked at me. In what tone he said so, he handed me the cape he had taken off.

Ooh, this is pretty heavy. If you look closely, the lining has a number of small pockets stitched together, pressed against it by a bunch of unidentified nuts, iron needles, and leather strings. The total weight, maybe, is about two or three kilos.

"... and then I'll keep this too," Ai-Fa said, removing even the fangs and horn necklaces and giving them to me.

But you servants have your hands blocked with a leather cape, princess.

"Keep your head down," he kicked me in the leg.

You don't have to kick anything else to lower it, and if you bend your hips a little, the eye-fa with his hands spreading the necklace approaches in front of you.

Oh, that's close. Excluding an early morning case that's not in my memory, it's the best close range I've ever had.... or something extra, I didn't like it, but my gaze moved on the other person's neck.

On the left side of the sleek neck, a blue-purple tooth shape remains firmly in place.

Oh, what an unmitigated assault, I am.

Or, Princess, your scent is fragrant to death after all. And my face is close. Your skin is beautiful. Cherry lips are sexy.

... Is this a novice punishment game or something?

Without realizing such an idiotic thought, Ai-Fa put a necklace around my neck and quickly pulled herself away.

"Okay.... Gibba is still sleeping, but some of the variants wander around in the morning. If you feel any sign of Gibba from the woods, speak up immediately."

"Copy that. Should I keep an eye on the woods?

I was going to pretend to be normal minded, but I-Fa has been twisting my face with some very cold eyes.

"... just in case, it's forbidden to see unmarried women naked"

"Huh. Will a married woman be forgiven?

"... only husband is allowed to see his wife naked"

Oh, I wish I hadn't said something nice. I feel Ey-Fa's eyes have added about 20% more chill.

"... keep an eye out"

"… Copy that."

I decided to look for the biggest rock possible and bring my back there to monitor the forest.

But, well, it must be a great honor to entrust me with a necklace that has just been described as a living food and a pride itself for the people of the woods, or to trust that it will not extend to the act of a teething turtle.

But what would it be? I still can't grasp the behavior of this daughter named Ai-Fa.

If I thought I was more alert than a crowd, I'd trust people like me. Shortly after I was impressed that I'd take a lot of care of him, he'd even let me go cold.

Basically, I think you have a good, gentle temper, but I also can't deny the fact that you're bigoted and have a lot of emotional amplitude.

(But anyway, you're a trustworthy opponent)

That's how, when I think about it.

"Ahhh!" The scream of Ey-Fa, who lost restraint, shattered the silence by the river.