That morning - when I woke up, the first thing I saw was Ey-Fa jumping first into my sight.
For some reason, I-Fa sat under my pillow, staring down at my sleeping face. As it turns out, I'm going to be a lot more disturbed in the morning.
"Ya, hey, good morning, Ai-Fa. What the hell are you doing?
"Hmm? I haven't done anything. I was just looking at your sleeping face because I was done with myself."
Ey-fa, who responded as such, was a pristine face as usual, but his blue eyes felt very soft light on them.
These days, I = fa often have these eyes. Recently meant the 24th of the Yellow Moon - after my birthday.
That night, we made one promise.
I promise I'll give you a wedding someday when that time comes.
I vowed to wait for Ai-Fa to be the one to be able to give me a wedding, and Ai-Fa vowed - Ai-Fa vowed to love me only beyond this.
I remember Ey-Fa's clear smile at that time, a glimmer of tears I passed on to my cheeks, the plumpness of those cheeks and pinky fingers, and I get confused by myself again.
Ey-fa made me laugh all the time, staring at my face like that.
"If I hadn't woken up a little longer, I'd have just been thinking about pulling even my hair. You didn't have to look at me in the morning, Asta."
"Oh well. This is a guide to the woods."
"Don't bring out your mother's woods so cheaply, you moron"
Even a scolding voice like that is gentle and warm.
I decided to get myself up on the bedding and stare at each other from the front with Ai-Fa.
I = fa and I are not very different in height, so whether we stand or sit, our gaze is always about the same.
Even today, Ai-Fa was beautiful, Rin, and charming.
Such an attractive being swore to love me alone. The joy and happiness seemed to clog my chest again.
"... three days ago..."
"Huh?"
"Three days ago, the red children at Sudra's house... you looked incredibly loving"
Three days ago, the sons that dwelt in the belly of Li-Sudra were finally born.
It gave birth more than half a month earlier than planned, and besides, it was a rare twin babies by the woods. Still, those babies were producing their voices well and the story was that they saw nothing wrong at this stage.
"I've never seen a newborn baby before. Is that what you've been through?
"No, it's my first time, too."
"Right. Well, this is the first time I've seen it, so I can't even compare it to a spare toddler... do we all love fresh-born babies as much as that?
Fresh-born babies are messed up in the face, hands, and eyes are not open. Her skin is unnaturally reddish, and she looks like she might be called an infant.
But still, the babies born in Sudra's house were desperate for love.
It's very small and very light, but when I hold it in this hand, it feels heavier than anything. Because we in the other house were so inspired, it was a little unimaginable how much joy was rejoicing in the breasts of Lyelfam-Sudra and Li-Sudra.
"I don't even know that. But if that was my own kid, I guess I'd feel cuter."
"Hmm. That's natural."
"... even at Fa's house, one day -"
I didn't think so, and that's what I almost said.
Then the fingertips of Ai-Fa came up in my mouth.
The pinched index finger stops in the position of touching or not touching my lips.
"It doesn't even start if you care about the end of the line that isn't fixed. I'm not going to put the knife down for the time being."
That said, Ai-Fa smiled lightly.
The cheeks are slightly red. Feeling Ey-Fa's body temperature on my lips, I was set to get furiously upset.
"... what are you turning red, you"
"Ah, even the eye-fa is turning red"
"That's not true. Falsehood is sin, you lying bastard."
Ey-Fa stood up refreshed when he played my nose perfectly with his fingertips on his lips.
"So it's time to get to work. You need to get yourself together."
"Oh, yeah, I got it, Lord Parent."
I get up too, rubbing my cheeks that are totally hot.
Thus, that day - the day of the green moon - was supposed to open its curtain in strangely sweet air.
◇
A year has finally passed since I lived in a settlement by the woods. Moreover, there was a moon this year, so about 400 days have passed as days. It was a long, short, dense year anyway.
However, such sentiments, as sentiments, have not resulted in significant changes in daily life. I mean, it's always been a day of change, so something hasn't moved a whole year across the border, and so on.
Since yesterday was a holiday, another five days of business will begin today. The number of dishes prepared is roughly 800 if combined with the Lew family stalls and 900 if also the mime. Selling out this number after just over three hours was the normal pace since the rainy season began.
It is more or less the size of a full meal, so the number of visitors would range from 300 to 450. The number of Sim and Jagal customers used to be remarkable, but now they are so disturbed that they can't tell the proportion anymore. In addition, the number of Guests of women and children living in Genos has increased, so they look exactly like young and old.
The impact of starting to sell giva meat in the market for meat is also not seen at all so far. The other day, at the request of my husband, who bought me Giva meat, I also tried to hold a study group called Giva Cooking, but he said he was still going to sell it in the dining room of the inn only for a while. When I put it up for sale in the street, it would be compared to our dishes, so it was unlikely that I would be able to fathom it very much.
(But if Giva meat gets popular at this rate, it could all be out of novelty and our stalls shrink in size)
But I didn't think that was okay.
Our original purpose was to sell Giva's meat. They were selling Giva dishes only to make the delicious taste of Giva meat widely known.
It's not uncommon to cook Giva. You can easily buy them at any stall or lodging. Creating such a situation was our primary purpose - me and I-Fa.
If the meat of Gibba can be given value as a commodity, the people by the woods can gain more richness than ever before. Without suffering poverty, we can encourage giva hunting jobs with stronger powers. When we were able to share that richness with all the families who lived by the woods, we could say that for the first time the sorrow of Fa's house had been fulfilled.
In polar terms, we can stop the business of selling food. If only the people of the town could cook their own delicious Giva dishes and crave Giva meat, that would serve their purpose. Rather, it was more ideal to think that Giva cuisine was not something special, but that anyone could finish it deliciously.
(Though, I don't even have this feeling about wanting to stop doing street business)
With that in mind, I was still working on the street business that day.
Even if the spread of Giva meat is fully achieved, we are connected to the people of the town through this business. Because it was supposed to be a necessary deed for the people by the woods.
That's how lucky I was to be allowed to reassert the joy of the job that day.
When Jomtien was greeted and he was in such a hurry to get to work, his face finally showed itself.
"Hey, this guy's kind of busy."
It was a foreseeable event for me.
But yes, that's why it wasn't something that could contain joy or surprise.
"Oh, Aldas! And you, too! As planned, you arrived in Genos!
"Oh. I left my tototos and my luggage at the inn and they let me drop by first. I've been listening to Naudis, but it seems a lot different."
That being said, the person - the auxiliary beam of Jagal's architect, Aldas, echoed a lavish laugh.
Behind it, nostalgic people stand idly by. It is very difficult to discern because all the people of Jagal grow shavers and beards, but it was nevertheless a face that I did see.
In it, Aldas is just a giant man over 180 centimeters each, so there's nothing more wrong with looking at it. Aldas was grinning brightly as I remembered, glowing green eyes.
"Whatever, you look fine and relieved, Asta. It's a real hiccup."
"Yes. It's been exactly eleven months since you had the moon. It looks like you haven't changed either. Most importantly.... so, uh, Balan's Oddie..."
And when I was about to say, in the shadow of Aldas, I said, "Hey!" There was a person who gave a whispering voice.
"What is it, this! Arrange five or six Giva stalls... now you don't even know which one to buy!
"Oh, man, thank you for hitting on me."
That was the architect's beamed balan.
Like a people of Jagal, he has a small, bony physique and, naturally, a rich mustache. The slight eyes, the big nose, and the grumpy look were still just the way I remember them.
"Your rumors had reached Jagal! More importantly, they ran into each other head-on with the nobles of Genos! I was able to survive with that because I was even lucky! Get a little bit of yourself, you idiot!
"Oh yes, the... thank you for your concern..."
"... well, this is how we kept doing business properly, so let's give it a compliment over there"
And after a little noise, the old man suddenly put his arms up and poked me in the chest.
"You look good, it's Asta. I asked the innkeeper if he seemed a lot better with wings."
"Yes, I am truly delighted to see you all again safely"
"Hmm! You knew we were coming on the green moon! I don't even have to take my word for it!
I really miss it, it was your whispering voice.
At the end of last year's Blue Moon, we were finally able to reunite with the old men who broke up with Schmiral on the same day. Whatever your father told me, I couldn't afford the joy of overflowing my chest.
"Damn, you're the same old man. That's all the twitching in the luggage truck, but if you put your face together, how dare you?"
And, Aldas laughs again.
"When I heard that Asta was in trouble with the nobility of Genos, that's what I was so anxious to do that I couldn't get the job. If I let it go, I'd be on my way to Genos alone."
"Don't let it get out of the way! You are the one who hastily hastened all along, no matter what!
"Then it would be natural to worry. But even the forest people were treated badly in Genos."
Aldas shined a very gentle light on his eyes.
"Whatever it is, you're safe, above all. We've all been looking forward to another day in Genos."
After that, other faces smiled and greeted me.
There are eight members of the architect, including the old men. Even if I don't know the name, it's the people who have been passing me by like every day for over a month. As I greeted those people, I was bound to bite my joy again and again.
"Nevertheless, I didn't know you were extending your business hand so far. Are those seats under the roof, too, from the Astas?
"Yes, on the occasion of the Easter of the Sun God, we are going to prepare the dining room. I really needed a seat because I wanted to sell dishes that used wood dishes such as juice."
"I see. Looks a lot different back then."
The facades of the architects are known to be about Vina-Lou and Raina-Lou and Lara-Lou and Sheila-Lou, as well as Li-Sudra. Only Sheila-Lou, whose hair was cut and changed, was working in commerce today.
The number of two stalls is increased to six, up to the roofed Blue Sky dining room. I only know how boring it was at the beginning of the store. It would have felt like a lot of transformation to them.
It was almost endless no matter how much we talked, but people lined up behind us there said, "Hey, do you still make me wait!?" I heard you say that.
"Whoa, you accidentally talked to me. Well, let me buy you a dish.... but he's right, I'm not sure what to buy."
"Then why don't I find the food? There are six kinds of dishes, so we'll divide them into small pieces for you to enjoy."
"Oh, that won't help! Let's leave it to Asta."
So the facade of the architect was to head to his seat with his bare hands.
Hand over the dishes to the customers who have kept me waiting, and then I'll think about the distribution. I used to be the one who asked the people of "A Seat of Gamleys" to allocate money like this.
"... that was the architect of Jagal."
And the Matua women, who were helping me, grinned.
"Asta and the people of the south looked really happy. They're important to Asta, just like Shmiral at Lilyn's house."
"Yeah, because they're the people who became regular people in the stalls first. You're going to be so thoughtful."
"I think it's a great thing. If you like, Asta will deliver the dish for you as I will take the job for a while."
I couldn't refuse that offer today.
So after ordering the required number for each stall, I pulled the basin replacement board out of my luggage and was supposed to serve it from hand to hand.
"Thank you for waiting. Please wait while we go back and forth a few times."
It is a good amount because it is an eight-member dish at any rate. Listening to the cheers of the architects, I worked hard on my payroll.
Today's daily menu was' Roast Giva 'made in stone kilns.
Serve by chopping together the steamed vegetables and the roasted potatoes. I had previously offered this contribution for sale, but the introduction of a stone kiln had allowed me to deliver something more authentic.
The two remaining varieties of Fa's house are 'Kerryaki' and 'Carbonara Pasta'. From the stalls of Lew's house, "Guiba Flavored Grilled" and "Guiba's Mothpot". And from Mim's stall, it's an immovable menu called "Braised Caron Milk".
In this, only 'Roast Giva' and 'Carbonara' and 'Giva's Mothpot' could be subdivided.
We decided to cut the rest of the dishes into equal portions of every Poitan dough and let them taste each in small amounts.
"Probably all of you, and I think this is going to be the eighth amount of belly. If you feel comfortable, please make your own additional orders."
"This guy's a luxury! Now, are you sure you're paying three red copper coins for one?
"Yes, we make each one smaller than before so you can enjoy a couple of dishes on your own."
"Oh. I'm sure if you put it in your belly, you'll still feel like this isn't enough"
We are all full of expectations, headed by Aldas.
Balan's old man was still on the top of the Buddha, but his eyes were shittier than anyone else's.
"All right, then, you can have it!
With Aldas' words as a signal, everyone hands up to the table.
After that, it was already a fuss like a fire.
"Oh, is this guy using Kerr's roots! I had no idea you could taste Kerr's roots in Genos!
"This guy over here, he's using Sim's vanilla.... um, yummy, but delicious"
"This juice tastes fantastic! They taste better than the ones I've had in my cabin before!
My work has been done, but what a comfort to walk away from.
Then Yun-Sudra, who worked in the dining room, smiled and approached us.
"Asta, this is just a paragraph in the job of washing wood dishes, so I'll help you with the stall. I'll call you if anything happens, so just rest here for a while."
"Oh, no, I'm just sorry about that."
"Isn't that good? We usually work more than twice as hard, so rely on us at times like this."
I couldn't wait for the day of this green moon, and I couldn't wait for everyone around me to think about it. Both Matua's daughter and Yun-Sudra seemed to take such account of my mood.
"Thank you. Well, let me sweeten your words."
"Yes, please take your time"
With a grin and a fragrant grin, Yun-Sudra ran over to the stall.
That's where Aldous looks back at me.
"Asta! I can't wait for this guy to taste good! That's a lot of arm you gave me!
"Yeah, I've been able to use a lot of different ingredients since then, so I've been able to broaden my dedication considerably. Half of it was made by someone else, not me."
"Oh, there's no way Asta can make this many alone. But whatever it is, it's delicious! I want to dream I can keep eating this delicious food for the next two months."
It is a people of Jagal who virtue candor. The words gave me a strong joy straight from the front.
"I like cooking with Kerr's roots over here the best! Is that tau oil juice, after all?
"... with so many kinds, I can't put them in order. In the meantime, it's hard to eat this dish."
Of course, it was the "Carbonara Pasta", which was the first experience for the ladies.
"Oh, here's the thing, wrap it around and eat it. The tip of the wooden spoon is broken into three pieces."
"Can you imitate me like that?"
The old man dragged the pasta into a small plate with one mouth.
And the flesh of Gibba, and the ariah, and the nanar, together. After carefully chewing and swallowing it, the old man exhaled satisfactorily, "Hmm."
"You're in the mood for some liquor. Should I have bought some fruit liquor?"
"Oh, won't you be working today?
"It's something that has been rocking on the carrier for half a month and suddenly climbs onto the roof or something from day one! Start work tomorrow!
"But this is a work meeting. Fruit liquor would be bad."
Saying so, Aldas also takes one dish after another.
In this momentum, the eighth dish was going to run out in no time either.
"Oh, that sounds like it's totally enough then. Whatever it is, it's going to eat the same amount."
"If you eat the same amount, it's six red copper coins. I can't grab that kind of copper coin at a lunch meal."
That's what he said, and he's been screwing me.
"But before, even two red copper coins were full there. The fact that Gibba's cooking has gone up was true."
"Ah, yes. With the arrival from Castle Town, we're going to raise the price to 1,5 times higher. Price as before, because the dishes of Karon and Kimmus will no longer sell, so..."
"Hmm! That's something I knew from the beginning. Now, for the same price as Caron's foot meat or Kimmus' skinless meat, the rest of them will be in business."
As usual, he was an old man who didn't try to smile, but his face was filled with satisfaction that he couldn't even hide.
Only then will I be more satisfied.
"One day at work, that's probably enough. That means one red copper coin for three, so it's definitely one and five times the price."
"But it's more than double the flavor! I don't even feel like I've lost this!
Young members raise their cheerful voices. Other faces were full of laughter, as they agreed.
"You don't mind if I'm full and I can't move today, do you? Then let's ask for extra!
"I want more meat from this wooden dish."
"I like the one with the caron milk!
"There's not enough juice for this either. Sure, there's another thing I'd love to eat the same amount."
I was kind of caught off guard, and it was going to spill tears.
Faces I haven't seen in almost a year are eating delicious delicious and giva dishes. Especially since the people of Jagal are affectionate, I was shaken all the time.
"In the meantime, do you want to send out another piece of copper coin? Asta tells me how much I can order."
And when Ardus tried to say so, a shitty twitch came from the round-trip.
The old man who looked you in the eye said, "What the hell?," he frowned.
Turning my gaze casually, I was left with a surprise that was not the case.
A huge number of armies have pushed from the north.
An army is not a metaphor. It was a flock of soldiers, all wrapped in silver armor, all spanning Tototos.
"Whoa, did it even start in the war?
Aldas, too, is crushing like a jerk.
The main street leading to the boarding town has a width of only ten meters, but its troops marched solemnly in five rows of columns, which seemed to continue its formation far beyond.
At least not a hundred people or the number that will fit in there. Even in the Easter parade, I never had a chance to see so many troops.
The army stops perfectly in the vicinity of the accommodation town area.
Then a good man of his own and an escort samurai jumped from the only luggage car that was at the head of it and rushed into the lodging town in a hurry.
At the same time, from the south comes the guards.
The people rushing in from the north and the guards rushing in from the south were just set to bump into each other right in front of the Blue Sky Dining Room.
A man of good stature is also whispering something in a sense of impatience, and the guards are listening to it with a blue face. And the people of the lodging town, who wrapped it away, stood still without knowing.
In the meantime, the troops spanning Totos don't even move.
It's like a robot or something. Yet they were apparently dressed in a finer armor than the guards of Genos.
"You've never seen an army like that in Genos. I wonder what the hell happened."
Aldas crushes low again.
Then there was a man who answered it from the direction of the unseen.
"That is the escort unit of the visiting delegation from the Wang capital. You're asking me to prepare a lodging for them."
I looked back at you with dismay.
A boy wearing a hooded cloak for his journey is standing there a little bit. The boy grinned and threw the hood over his back.
"You're hissing, Asta. Looking good, above all."
"Late! When the hell did you get back to Genos?!?
"It's just now. Oh, and I got blocked off the street, so I came around from behind the jungle."
It was the discipleship late boy of "Guardian" Camuer-Josh, who had no musings at all since leaving Genos a few months ago.
The boy, with his flax hair and tinted eyes, smiled still, saying:
"Camua entered the castle town with the main unit of the inspection team. Asta, I'll give you a message from Camus."
"So, message?
"Yes. Neither the Wang Du's inspection team nor the escort forces will ever cause boredom. I want you to be very careful and get through this ordeal with all your strength, Camus said."
"What the hell is this ordeal...?
With a twinkle, I look back at the army standing in the north direction.
If you look closely, the soldiers arrayed at the right end of the lead had a huge flag in their hands.
On scarlet fabric, the crest of a silver lion - from what I heard later, it was the sacred silver lion flag, which showed Alglad, king capital of Selva.