1180 The Daoist at the End of the West ① ~ Visit ~

The white moon is coming to an end, and the ash moon is coming to me for the third time.

For me, the moon of ashes is not so much a milestone moon. Why such an impression, after all, is it because there is a strong memory that the disturbances surrounding Cycléus and Syler have completely ended in the first ash moon?

In fact, it was the white month of the previous month that various events occurred. The fateful talks that were to be settled with Cycléus and others, and the fraternity dinner held by Marstein, the Duke of Genos, were also the events of the White Moon in Kinomi. So, it was at the beginning of the Ashes Moon that the bandits who were taking on the rough work of Sylwell's limbs were crushed, and we were able to start a new life with a clear mind.

Then, a year later -- in the second ash moon -- we were to be attacked by the "Typhoon Party" led by Siluel.

As a result, Siluel returned his soul by Gardel's hand, and he felt that all the scourges had been cut off, which may have reinforced the impression that the Ash Moon was a milestone month.

Regardless, the present-day Genos is peaceful.

Of course, the southern part of Dalaym is still in the middle of reconstruction, and although certain ingredients were difficult to obtain, the residents of the forest side and the camp town can live peacefully. This is probably because the nobles of the Genos have spared no effort in building a path of reconstruction. Recently, the opportunity to travel to the castle town has been diminished, but I never forgotten my gratitude.

So we have a new moon in our hearts.

At the same time, we met to welcome unexpected guests.

◇

It is the first day of the month of ashes.

Since the day before that was a closed day, we decided to resume the business of stalls from the beginning of the moon.

It was two days ago that we held a dinner party to see off Ray and Sutti's guests who were staying at Fa's house, and it was only yesterday morning that the guests returned. So Ai-Fa completed a new method of hunting gibbons, and we completed the treatment of gibbons that had not been drained of blood, making us feel even more like a change of heart.

In addition, Yumi, who was staying at the Run's house, returned to [Xifeng Pavilion] in the morning today. Lan's youngest sister will also go back to Lan's house and report back on her five days. So after putting aside the days for a while, we had to leave our family together again.

After that, Tuul-Din will take care of the tea ceremony on yesterday's holiday, and Reina-Ru is scheduled to take care of the dinner ceremony at the Count Satulas' house two days later. In addition, we were planning to hold a study party in the castle town on the next holiday, and it was time to schedule a stay at Dora's house. We had various schedules separating the change of the moon.

But it's totally irrelevant to the customers who visit the stalls.

Therefore, my enthusiasm for entering a new milestone moon also gently fell into my chest, and I was encouraging business as usual. However, it was Zashma, the [Guardian] who had been resting in Genos since the middle of the white moon, who appeared there as an envoy to tell the change.

"Hey, Asta, the station town is peaceful."

"Oh, thank you. Was there any commotion in the castle town?"

Zashma came from the north side of the road leading to the castle town, so I returned the words like that.

Zashma has a somewhat difficult face, and strokes her lower jaw, which is covered in "oh, well" and unrefined.

"As for me, I've been able to rest for more than half a month, and I've had my hands wiggling around without any trouble... well, Asta and Melfried have some kind of in-laws too, so I'm going to be ready to meet you here until the end."

"It's a very disturbing word, isn't it?" What the hell happened over there? "

"The diplomat's aide has finally returned from the capital." Well, that doesn't really matter... but it seems like there's an extra bonus attached to it. "

Extra bonus?

"The prodigal son of the Duke of Derm. He's a famous rootless man in King's Landing, but I can't believe he's traveling all the way to Genos. Well, I'm not really interested in politics, so I don't have to worry about that... but I'm sure Asta's going to have a lot more trouble than that."

The more you listen, the more disturbing it is. I was also more worried because I didn't know the direction of the disturbance well enough.

"I'm not sure. Why do we have to struggle?"

"This person is known for his artist's rash. He has the status of the duke's younger brother, but he is also known for his painting, music and sculpture. Well, I'm talking about having no eyes on gastronomy or beauty.... now, isn't this the most troublesome smell you've ever had?"

Having said that, Zashma laughed uninterestingly.

"For gastronomy, it's okay." If Asta had named the royalty in the south, she wouldn't have bought it. However, as for the women... honestly, it might be safer for the women around the forest to hide their faces in their coats and hoods for a while like the people in the east. "

"That's a bit... troublesome." Are you saying that this person has a higher status than Vermes or Aug? ”

"A diplomat is next to the Duke's house, and an aide is the last seat in the Baron's house, right?" If you're the duke's younger brother, then maybe you won't be able to put your hands and feet out. "

It was a troubling place.

Zashma inspired herself to say, "Okay!” he exclaims.

"Once I'm hungry, I'll sneak over to see how Genos Castle is doing." In any case, tell the chiefs of the forestside not to be short-sighted. I don't know how far the problem children of Derm, who are known for their openness, can impute their position and emotions to me.

When Zashma, who had bought some food, left the cafeteria, Marfila-Naham, who was working at the stall next door, came to her worried face.

"Well, well, another nobleman from the new King's City has arrived in Genos." Is that going to be a bit of a hassle? ”

"Hmm, I don't know. Well, maybe we should be as careful as possible.”

This is the third time we have welcomed the nobility of the capital. First with Inspector Dreg and Talon, and second with diplomats Vermes and Aug. They came to determine the state of affairs of Genos, including the forestside village, so of course it was a very troublesome visit for us too - this time the opponent had no idea what the purpose was, so it was difficult to make a decision.

(Well, as always, I can only welcome you with the utmost gratitude.)

Not only the nobility of the capital, but we were also to face the nobility of Gerd and the royalty of Jagal. But ultimately, it was possible to build a healthy relationship. This time, too, we will have to try our best to understand each other. First, we wanted to determine the purpose and personality of the opponent.

"Hey, Asta, it's been a long time."

... and then a new guest arrived at the stall.

Dells and Wads, the peddlers of Miso, greeted me with a smile as they provoked the warmth of their appearance for the first time in two months.

"I'm glad you two are safe." Was there anything dangerous on the road? "

"That's our line." It's not until we leave Genos, it's that fuss. Asta and the others are fine, and Dells was worried too? "

“Hmm. If Genos were to perish, I would lose my most important business partner.”

Dells laughs cheerfully at the sound of the cheerfully laughing waddles. They left Genos the day after the feast of praise, and two days later Genos was struck by the arrival of Hida.

"We're on our way home, see Hida fill the sky." I accidentally squeezed my cheek to see if I was having a bad dream.

"It was really like a nightmare." But you can also crush the faction of the evil god sect that was controlling Hida, and you can see the station town. ”

"However, it seems that the field in Dalaym has been badly damaged." The pedestrian who stopped at Cornelia lamented that it was not going to be a business at all in the castle town... is that true? "

With that, Dells stepped forward with a sharp look.

"Yes, the Silver Pot people also left for business in the castle town." However, it's just that there is a shortage of decorative items, and the scale of the business is growing as far as ingredients are concerned. ”

"Then you won't be able to thrust me back, will you?" Well, I'd like to believe that the nobility of Genos doesn't imitate such injustice. "

“Absolutely. Due to the damage caused by Dalaym, we may be able to count on additional orders, as the general households in the post town are more likely to try using outpatient ingredients.”

Hmph. If that's true, Hida-san.

Dells smiled back as he slapped on his hobby.

"Well then, if you're feeling hungry, let's deliver the miso to the castle town."... and what else has happened in Genos? "

Until yesterday, you said you didn't have anything in particular.

The Dells are about to get into the castle, so we should give them the information in advance. Then, when I told him what I had heard from Zashma, Dells looked disgusted from the bottom of his heart.

"The next royal family of Jagal is the nobility of the Western King's Capital." He's not gonna bring up any strange stories again, is he? "

We're worried about that too, but we're only getting better.

"Hmm. You look so familiar with the nobility." I'm telling you, when you look at the nobility sweetly, you see a pain in the eye. Not every aristocrat is as generous as the aristocrats of Genos. "

Delce, who had once seen Jagal's nobility in pain, stroked his big nose with his fingertips while saying so.

"Are we going to get out of here before it gets too much trouble?" All right, let's eat, let's get this business over with. "

"Huh? I've come to Genos, so let's take it easy." If anything, why don't you sell your proud mistletoe to the Western King's City as well? "

"Thanks to that nobleman named Vermes, we can get the Western King's City to buy a lot of miso." Since the business talks with the southern kingdom have just been put together, it's time to protect them rather than attack them. "

With those words, Dells disappeared into the Blue Sky Cafeteria.

The impression that millions of people will come is undeniable when the moon of ashes is celebrated. All that remained was to hope that this new encounter would settle down in a calm direction - and that it was all as the gods and the Mother Forest had thought.

◇

After that, we weren't hit particularly hard by the Happening, and we decided to return to the forestside village.

Today, at the beginning of the holiday, it is a study group at Fa's house. The project related to Giba meat that had not been drained of blood was closed, and from today on, it was finally possible to hold a normal study session.

“In the meantime, it seems that the Northern Clan and Vinn's blood family, who will be next in the fresh meat business, are going to keep their families with Ratz, Baem and Die. The relationship between Faye-Beam and Naham's house seems to have led to Baym and Dai's bloodline taking over Vin's bloodline... but it seems that the Rats, who were to take their turn in the northern clan, are quite tense.”

It was Ratz and Baem and their neighbor, Ray-Matua, who brought the information.

From today, the first day of the Ash Moon, Souti, Vera, Fou and Gaz are expected to take charge of the fresh meat business. So ten days later, the shift was switched, so the northern clan and Vin's blood family were in a hurry to learn how to handle Giba meat that had not been drained of blood.

"Well, the people of the Northern Clan seem to have their own unique power, even among the women... but they are by no means tyrannical!" The rats will soon stroke their chest. ”

And Rey-Matua moved the smiling tip of her face to Tuul-Din. Toole-Din, who is more intimate with the northern clans than anyone else, responds with a smile of “yes”.

"Besides, Sauthi's people are also planning to leave various clans and families together to share their new ways of hunting Giba... Is Ai-Fa doing her job today at Lan's hunting ground?" Somehow, the interaction with blood relatives is likely to deepen! After Gaz's family has finished their fresh meat duty, I'm going to leave my family with someone else, and I'm looking forward to it! ”

Yeah. It's like a lot of things started moving at once.

And I am also planning a study party in the castle town and a stay at the Dora's house, but I should first keep an eye on the trends of the nobility of the royal capital that I visited today. Based on previous patterns, I was more likely to be summoned to the castle town in the near future.

(If that's the kind of person who is interested in gastronomy, it's even more so. Well, if you're like Dakarmas or Princess Dell Share, you're still going to be saved.....)

By the way, Princess Dellshare is staying at Genos Castle. What kind of chemical changes would happen if gastronomers in the west and south met? I was also concerned about that.

However, since we have no choice but to wait for the opponent's way out, we will just spend time as usual first.

So when I was about to start the study group, the front Jilbe made a masculine voice twice.

This is a sign that some, other than the people of the forest, have come near.

Thinking that the messenger might have just arrived from the castle town, I decided to go out on my own.

Then Jilbe comes out and greets you with a neat face. Ram, who is also a watchdog, has a gentle expression as usual. Does this have its own temper? And the sachi, who was rounded at the entrance, also woke up in desperation.

In the meantime, Zashma, who had just exchanged greetings a few hours earlier, pulled Totos' reins and appeared towards the Kamado hut.

"Hey, it's cracky, so I almost went too far." Asta, I've got a lot of trouble ahead of me. "

"Thank you for taking the trouble to do so." What the hell is going on? "

"The aristocrat is heading this way." Even Lord Melfried couldn't send a messenger in time, so my turn came. "

In response to Zashma's bitter smile, I said, "Yes?" I was shocked.

"On the day you arrived in Genos, will you come to the edge of the forest?" I don't think there have been many people like that before. ”

"That's right. An ordinary aristocrat can spend a whole day relaxing the fatigue of his journey." It's just that you're not a normal opponent. "

Zashma said that while speaking somewhat early.

"In the first place, it seems that the nobleman came all the way because he heard the rumor of him when he met for a tasting in Genos."

Oh, the fact that His Highness Dakarmas and Princess Del Share came to visit us has of course been reported to the capital.

"That's right. If we run Totos without a wagon, we'll be ten days one way from Genos to the capital." Jagal's royal family came and attacked the Order of the Evil Gods, but when something like that happens, we will immediately run the messenger. So, it seems that the Doraku nobleman who was interested in Asta as the head of the Genos cook went to Genosu as a diplomat's aide, and it was the beginning of the matter. "

So Zashma sighed, and Zashma repeated her words even more.

"As I said earlier, this time the opponent is a Doraku nobleman who has no interest in politics." That's why we're looking for Asta's cooking and the women around the forest. I'm sure you won't settle for any of the woodland rituals, so don't get short-tempered and do it appropriately. "

"Yes. I think I'm fine... but I'm worried if the men around the forest will stay silent."

"Besides, Ei = Fa." Is Ai = Fa at work after all? "

“Yes, I'm going to the orchid hunting ground today.”

"Then maybe I should wait for Eifa at your house." Ai = Fa would also need to be prepared. "

Then a group of orchid ladies came out from the middle of the night.

"If so, I will guide you." That would put Ran's family at ease. ”

"Alright, I'll take care of it." Let's leave before the nobility arrives. "

"Ah, wait a minute!" Is he heading to the Pharaoh's house, not Lu? "

Zashma, who was trying to turn herself upside down as soon as possible, hurriedly nodded, “Oh.”

"After all, Asta was recognized as the best cook in Genos?" Then we'll go straight to Asta.... goodbye. Don't get short-tempered. "

And Zashma went away with the women of Lan.

Then the other women will come out to the front worryingly.

"Zashma seems to be worried a lot. Are these nobles not so sensible?”

"Hmm, I don't know.... maybe we should all go back to our own homes."

“Well, what do you say? You can't leave Asta alone and go home.”

Then Yun-Sudra raised her eyebrows. Yun-Sudra's angry expression, which she rarely showed, was adorable.

"But this time, you seem to be blind to a beautiful woman." Like Reina = Luu and Lee Heim before, it could be a bit of a hassle..... "

"However, I think it makes too much sense to run away and hide before we meet." There's no reason for anyone to bend this line of reasoning, is there? ”

The ladies, other than Yun-Sudra, nodded in a serious manner. Tulle-Din looked uneasy, and Marfila-Naham was alone, but she didn't want to leave anyway.

Besides, we didn't have time to run or hide.

At my feet, Jilbe screamed again.

"It looks like you're here." When this happens, let's all greet each other. "

The number of people gathered at Fa's house today is 10. Then, as we began to move, the sachi, who was resting on his flippers, also landed on Jilbe's back.

At this time, I remember the soldiers of the capital who came to Genos with the inspector. In the name of investigating the people on the edge of the forest, they came to the village of Lou without any warning and ransacked the house. That was nothing but harassment of Inspector Talon - but what was his intention this time around?

(Are you really just interested in me as a cook? Even people who don't have an interest in politics, Zashma was persistent enough to emphasize it... but since Vermes has nothing to do with politics, he has a personal interest in me)

However, even Vermes did not imitate it so forcefully.

I'm sure Mulstein and Melfried insisted that if they were to visit the forestside, they should inform the chief in advance. Ignoring that and stepping in force, it seemed that Zashma was in such a hurry to give me a heads-up.

Waiting with this tension, for a dozen or so seconds--

On the other side of the woodside, I saw the shadow of a Totos car driving along the forest road.

The number is four. Moreover, before and after that, I could see the cavalry that straddled Totos.

Just two days ago, the cavalry and Totos cars filled the square of Fa's house, which welcomed 60 guests.

First, one of the cavalrymen who descended from Totos rushed over to us.

"I'm sorry for the sudden visit." Lady Asta of the House of Fa. The Duke of Derm's house, Lord Tikatras, wants to see you, so could you please accept? ”

Then, Tuul-Din shouted, "Ah!" in amazement.

The person looks back toward Tour-din with a gentle smile.

"Lord Tour-din is here, too." I'm glad you're doing well. ”

That statement reminded me of him, too. He is a guardsman who reports to Melfried, and he once escorted me shopping in the castle town when Tour-Din came to visit Odifia. After that, I only met him once, somewhere.

"It's really sudden, and I'm surprised... but if I say no here, I'm sure it will cause a lot of trouble for the noble people of Genos?"

When I checked like that, the Guardian's young man nodded, "Yes."

"Moreover, even if Lord Asta refuses, Lord Tikatras will not give up visiting you." Would you please accept this for the sake of the peace and tranquility of Genos? ”

So this is only a formal exchange.

Rather than that, Melfried or someone is daring to get their prior approval to stand up for the people on the edge of the forest. Originally, there shouldn't have been any reason for the aristocratic side to come so far.

"Okay, I will meet that person." Take care of it as you please. ”

"Thank you," said the young man, returning to the Totos car.

Thirty soldiers emerged from the Totos car and surrounded the Fa's house in the square. When you invite noble people to the forest, it's a familiar sight.

However, I was able to feel somewhat at ease there.

Those people were all Genos soldiers. I learned from my past experience that the designs of the equipment were somewhat different among the soldiers in the capital.

Once the guard has been deployed, the last door of the Totos vehicle will be opened.

Porcelain was the first to show up, followed by Melfried, Vermes, and Gemdo - and even Princess Dellshare, which surprised me.

Princess Dellshare, clutched to her left and right by Jagal's soldiers, smiles at me from a distance.

And finally, the person showed up.

"Huh! This is a forest settlement!" This is definitely in the middle of the woods! What a floating heart! "

An uneasy, upside-down sound echoes.

In addition, the person was really dressed like a fanatic---and I and the women around the forest who greeted it all met to be dumbfounded.