314 Sauti Family Distress (6) - Day 3

Even the next day, the Lord of the Woods never showed up.

The forest was very quiet, he said, because of the massive amount of giva hunted the day before. Still, the hunters say they hunted nearly twenty givahs in total.

"With all this little gibberish, the Lord of the Woods will return joyfully and courageously. There's still plenty of grace left around here."

Donda-Lou, that's what he said.

The hunters were still returning a little early today, and Kamadu's turn, and the ladies of Sauthi had become familiar with them, were able to finish preparing dinner with considerable relaxation.

After all the work and waiting for sunset, in such a moment of rest, I was finally able to exchange words with Gazran-Rutim.

We didn't get a chance to warm up our old relationship because we were able to face the crackle.

"What's up? What a troubled face, Asta?

Perhaps the emotions I gained in one incident with Yun-Sudra last night were on my face.

I shake my head saying "no."

"That's okay. I'm sure I should be more worried."

"... if there's anything I can do to help you, call me anytime"

With a very warm smile, Gazran-Rutim told me so.

It was a corner of the square in the middle of the settlement where we were hanging out.

The world has a pale purple vale, with wild birds ringing somewhere. We'll have about half an hour before we start dinner.

"Gazran-Rutim is the one whose body is better? Even if you haven't had a hand injury or anything, you've been squeezing more power than usual the last few days, haven't you?

"Yes, but I am also a hunter, so much so that my heart is filled more than it is with the nobles of Genos. I'm sure it's going to haunt your head again."

"There will come another nobleman who will conspire like Cycleus, does that mean?

"No. Being associated with a nobleman or a man in a town would be a test in itself for the people by the woods. I've been avoiding you for eighty years, so I think that's a hard road to avoid."

Saying, Gazran-Rutim smiles again.

"But trials are not just painful. The same thing is true for the crusade of the Lord of this forest. I think that the very act of living is a test for humans, and happiness and sufficiency are among them."

By worshipping Rutim's parents, it felt like Gazran-Rutim was home to so much style and calm.

For a long time now, he has been a character like a great tree rooted in the earth, but not least in a style reminiscent of the woods and mountains themselves.

"I hear the Lew family business is also building such a reputation. That will surely unite the people of the woods and the people of the town with a stronger force than ever before. And this is all because of Asta."

"That's not true. He's a forest folk who embraced being like me, so I'm sure he'll be able to do well with the people and nobles in town."

Then there, two figures approached.

It is a combination of Rudd-Lou and Rau-Ray, idle for hunters.

"What, what are you talking about with a strange face? If it's funny, I'd love to."

Rau-Ray, who suffered a hand injury on the first day, but had already regained strength the next day. However, the golden brown head is wrapped in a grey bandage. His lacerations were deep enough to sew ten needles.

"I don't know about it for Rau-Ray. I was talking about the end of the woodland."

"The end of the woodland? We hunters hunt Gibba, and you guys make a delicious meal. I don't care about anything else, though, do I?

"Yeah, I think Rau-Ray's right about that."

"Holy shit! You sound like a great mouth to me the same age!

Rau-Ray comes angry and sets up a headlock.

Looking at such a sight, Rud-Lew has raised his voice, "Nah."

"Today's duty was Limi and Sheila-Lou, wasn't it? Where did that little one go?

"Where would Limi-Lu have talked to Ai-Fa? They usually don't get to have much of a conversation."

"Oh well. If you don't live in a settlement, you don't have to look at each other."

That's what Rud-Lew said as he put his arms behind his head.

"The Ziva lady wanted to see Asta and Ai-Fa, too, right? Asta used to stop by Luu's settlement every day, so show him your face."

"Oh, I thought it would be bad for Eyfa if I just slipped out."

"There's nothing wrong with that. I mean, even I-Fa could use more faces in Luu's settlement. Ziva and Rimi are dying to meet you."

It was somewhat of a nasty atmosphere that seemed like the great task of crusading the Lord of the Woods.

Rau-Ray finally released my neck and said, "Hmm!," he snorts.

"Speaking of which, it's unusual to stick your face in this way every day with people who aren't even family members. It's kind of like a feast every day and I thought it was pretty funny."

"Uh, you can have a more sumptuous dinner than usual. I thought it'd be fun."

"Hmm. This is my first time hunting with a Luu or Rutim or Sauti person, so that's fun too!

With that said, Rau-Ray turns to me.

"And so is Ai-Fa! He's a real big hunter! You're supposed to be doing more dangerous work than we are because you're using Gibbs' fruit, but what do you mean you won't take one of your hand wounds!

"Well, if you don't have that much skill, you can't hunt one giva a day by yourself. He's a great hunter."

"Uhm! At the Harvest Festival, I'll definitely beat you by comparison of power!... Asta, I'm guessing you guys will show your faces at the next harvest festival too?

"Huh? No, they haven't said anything so far, so it's pending."

"Am I allowed to do that! I won't let you get away with it!

I laughed at Rau-Ray, who was going to peel.

"Then you can advise Donda-Lou. It's bad for the heart to watch the power comparison, but I want to attend the Lew festival."

"Let's advance! Where did Donda-Lu go?!?

"Donda-Lou seemed to be talking to his father, Dan and Dari-Sauti in some way. Wouldn't the story be okay after dinner?

"Right. Don't forget to tell her....... yeah? What's he doing alone?

and Rau-Ray sees watermarked across the darkness.

When I saw it, Zwei was walking alone in the middle of the square.

"Oh," nodded Gazran-Rutim, pointing his foot at you, so we follow each other.

"Zwei, are you okay?

Zwei looked back and glanced at Gazran-Rutim with a tight eye.

"What's okay, Sa? I'm not worried about you."

"You, you won't have that word against your parents."

"It's okay," Gazran-Rutim said, holding it back as Rau-Ray reversed his willow brow.

"This job will surely be done tomorrow or the day after. Until then, good luck to you, Zwei."

"... how can you say that, sa? Sho by no one knowing when a big giva like Lord of the Woods will show up?

"When asked why, we will have to give a deceptive explanation of Giva's habits, but I think the Lord of the Woods will show up in the near future anyway. … and it is only then that we will defeat the Lord of the Woods with all our dying power"

"... hun," Zwei got annoyed.

The expression is on the top of the Buddha as usual, but it doesn't even look soggy at all.

"Zwei is worried about the Aura he left at home."

Taking my gaze, Gazran-Rutim explained it to me that way.

"Zwei and Oura are kept at Rutim's main house, but now everyone but Oura is leaving the house. So Oura's supposed to be at the branch, too."

"Oh, I see"

Gazran-Rutim and Dan-Rutim and Ra-Rutim remain in this settlement of Sauti as hunters, Zwei and Ama Min-Rutim as Kamadu numbers. And since my youngest sister, Morn-Rutim, is still a settlement in the north, it is true that everyone, except Oura, will have left Rutim's main house.

"Is Oura properly recognized as Rutim's family? Then there's nothing to worry about."

But Rau-Ray says so relentlessly.

"And you and Oura are no longer cut off from each other, are you? So you're just concerned about Oura that way, so don't you have to be given Mr. Rutim forever?

"Shut up, sir! I don't want him to tell me about the day I welcomed him as a family. Yo!

"Yamil-Ray is a strong bunch of women. I'm sure they have the depth of their emotions, and they have strong feelings for their former families, but such a bare gesture is persevering without even showing it. You also apprentice Yamil-Ray, be strong."

Zwei leaned back and shut up.

Gazran-Rutim smiles loosely over there.

"Zwei. We are not asking you to abandon your feelings for Oura. I want you to think of Rutim as your family, feeling as strong as you feel about that Oura. Only then will I give you Mr. Rutim as my parent"

…………

"You're still young, so it can be hard to think that way. But I believe that one day the day will come. And I also hope to have mercy on you and Aura just like Morn and Ama Minh."

Zwei snorted "... hun" again and walked away.

Lauray-Ray is twisting his neck as he drops off that little back.

"That sounds particularly strong in the Sung family. Wouldn't it be quicker to pull even your ass off than to tell you in words?

"What do you think? I want to lead my family my way."

"Oh, Rutim's parents are you! Whatever you want."

Exchanging those words, Sheila-Lou and Ama Min-Lutim took her away and walked over from the Sauti main house.

"Asta, I think it's time to reheat the juice, how about that?

"Oh, right. I'll see you guys later."

Say goodbye to the three dependable hunters, and when will we turn our feet?

"How long have you two been here?

"Yes, I was exchanging words with Mill Fay-Sauti. Looks like Sheila-Lou was inside the main house, right?

"Oh, no, I was standing by the house"

Answering that way, Sheila-Lou shyly lays her eyes down.

Who were you talking to? - Me and Ama Min-Rutim never asked the wild question of, for example.

Everyone seemed to have had this moment in their thoughts.

On the way to Kama, we could see Moga-Souti and Ra-Rutim talking quietly.

Yamil-Ray seemed to be talking to Mida.

It looks like Ai-Fa was intimate with Limi-Luu, Tour-Din with Rem-Dom, and Yun-Sudra with the women of Sauti, respectively.

It is true that living may be a continuum of trials.

But in the meantime, if we can be compassionate with the people we're close to, we can stand any kind of test.

The people, especially by the woods, are equipped with such powers.

The deeply wounded clan of Sauti must all be able to regain their original power.

It was a very happy thing to believe that way.

And I could once again be proud that such a forest people recognized me as a compatriot.

◇

That evening we decided to unveil Spare Rib Teriyaki and Cream Stew, Bacon and Nanar Sautéed in Milk Fat, Raw Vegetable Salad for Caesar Salad, and Pasta with Tarapa Sauce.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" and the young children of the Sauti main house are completely obsessed with alien culinary pasta.

Rimi-Lou was the first person who came to this settlement to teach them how to eat pasta correctly like that. Rimi-Lou seemed to have a lot of fun too, as there are not very close blood clans in the settlement of Lou.

"That's a really weird dish called this pasta. I still can't believe this is happening in Poitan."

Dari-Sauti, who had already spoken of the dish in the castle town, said so in an impressive manner.

The bandage appearance was as painful as ever, but the flesh returned to the face it was on, and his beard shaved beautifully. Its large body also seemed to have revived its vitality, which had never been less colourful.

"To be precise, we mix Poitan with Fuwano, though. We also use Kimmus eggs."

"Speaking of which, you got a black fuwano from a nobleman in town called that banaam, right? You don't use that for cooking, do you?

Unexpectedly, the circumstantial Rudd-Lou speaks that way. I'm sure you're listening from around Raina-Lou.

"Yeah, that sounds like an interesting dish to make by mixing it with Poitan, too. Well, it looks like Wellhide's staying in Genos for a while, and we'll work on it."

"... we've just taken care of Asta's work."

And because Dari-Sautti looked sorry, I let him say no.

"It must also be important to meet the expectations of the nobility, but nothing compares to adding strength to the perils of our fellow countrymen. I want to prioritize and do every single job."

"So-so, you have to feed us something better than nobles and people in town."

As the days grew, it seemed that Sauti's table was becoming more soothing.

Among them, only Donda-Lou's expression is heavy.

He is originally a difficult person to say soothing, but his eyes feel more fierce flames swirling than usual. The toddlers might have been frightened if it weren't for Rudd-Lou or Limi-Lou.

Somehow I was concerned about the situation, so I decided to visit Donda-Lou with Ai-Fa after dinner.

"What, you don't care if you're in the middle of a fight?

It was a room in the main house of Sauti that was appreciated by Donda-Lou, the other side being Dalm-Lou.

Before parents and children with different looks but similar atmospheres, I nod yes.

"He seemed a lot more concerned... so Donda-Lou, who is in a position to lead everyone, must be carrying a tremendous amount of pressure"

"Don't be a jerk about the creeps. Why are you so worried about me?

"I'm not worried. Because I can't imagine Donda-Lou succumbing to Gibba."

I'll see if I can tolerate so much light-hearted talk.

The truth is, I'm worried. I'm sure it's the chiefs like Donda-Lu who need to be around the woods right now. I hope that you will never suffer any deep wounds and come back safely.

"I believe in the power of Donda-Lou. Please use your strength to lead us all to this trial."

"I don't even have to be told. It's enough to say those words in your heart."

"I'm going to know that, but I'm sorry because I have a restless personality if I don't put it in my mouth"

"Hmm," Donda-Lou said of the fruit liquor.

"This job, too, will be settled in a day or two. Otherwise, the Lord of the Woods would have moved the territory to a margin. Pray to the woods at best that the fields of Genos will not be trampled even tomorrow."

"Yes."

"The settlement is in front of us. Don't screw with me, too, Ai-Fa."

"Sure. Even in this case, I will do my job."

To the words, Donda-Lou rang his throat "Ha".

"One more thing's missing. The hunter's job is to survive a little longer and keep hunting Gibba. If you rot in the woods at such a young age, you will be told as a perpetual hunter of women."

The tingling and eye-fa's mouth trembles.

I'm sure he restrained himself with all his might to keep his lips cute.

"Even in this case, the word, etc. is twenty years early. Without compromising that life, you hang on to the hunter's pride and get the job done. It's one of your tasks to survive."

"... acknowledged," Ai-Fa replies with a strong voice.

Darum-Lou is silently asking such questions.

Donda-Lou opened another sip of fruit liquor before skipping his gaze outside the moon's floating window.

And I laugh so hard.

"I wonder what the meat of the Lord of the Woods tastes like"

That's how the third night in the settlement of Sauti ended quietly.