Chapter 2: The Clan Head Meeting

Chapter 2: The Clan Head Meeting

1

The sun finally started to set in the west, and at the same time, we finished all of our cooking.

There were a lot of little accidents along the way. But fortunately, we didn’t face any interference from the main house aside from Mida Suun barging in, so in a way I’d have to say things ultimately went pretty smooth.

However, it was important not to let our guards down. After all, even if they didn’t meddle with the cooking, it was still plenty possible they were plotting to spring something during or after the meal. At the very least, I wasn’t buying that they invited us out here just because Mida Suun was being noisy or out of a bit of curiosity.

Were they plotting to get ahold of me because they saw how much I was capable of earning? Or perhaps they found me a nuisance and wanted to get rid of me?

I had no idea what their intentions were. And yet, I was certain they were plotting something.

And so, I kept on guard even after we finished cooking and set about laying out the dinner.

◇

“Pardon us...”

As Vina Ruu and I entered the ritual hall carrying a pot of reheated giba soup, a number of piercing glares shot our way.

The sun would soon be setting and it was darker in the hall than outside, so a number of candles were already lit here and there. And the men illuminated by those orange flames were all fierce hunters of the forest’s edge, their eyes blazing like wild beasts’.

The clan head meeting should have come to a close for the time being. And yet, there was an almost palpable tension hanging in the air.

It was like we were pushing through that crackling air as Vina Ruu and I approached a stove alongside the wall.

Just as I had suspected from what I saw outside, the hall was constructed as a pit. The floor looked to be a whole meter lower than ground level. And thanks to that, the ceiling looked unusually high and wide.

The circular roof was supported by four pillars, rafters connecting them, and radially aligned rafters. And fortunately, the rot didn’t look as bad from in here as it did on the outside.

There were stoves installed alongside each of the four walls, so we placed the pot onto the one closest to the entrance. Even as we lit a flame in the stove, the men remained totally silent.

Present in this place were the leading Suun clan, the 36 clan heads, and the men accompanying each of them.

In total, there were over 70 people present, yet not even one of them had let out so much as a whisper. They all just sat there silently, watching as we worked away. Their blades must have been stored away elsewhere, but they all had on their hunting attire.

There were four entrances in total to the ritual hall, which the other women used to carry in pots, yet every single person present remained utterly mute, as if they had planned it in advance.

Figuring there was no need for the chefs to introduce themselves, though, I just got the stove lit and then hurried on out to take care of the next task.

But then, someone spoke up for the first time.

“Thank you for your hard work... Fa clan chef and women of the Ruu and Rutim.”

It was a strangely muffled voice, hard to make out.

I slowly turned to face the direction it had come from.

“Giba meat that the people of the post town will go so far as to pay coins to eat... And to think, we’ll have a chance to eat such a thing...”

There was a large man seated there, with men seated on his left and right.

The building was a circle, but that seat was undoubtedly at the head. There was a strangely-shaped altar of sorts behind him, and it was decorated with a massive giba skull at its peak.

So this is the head of the Suun clan, Zuuro Suun, huh...?

I was certain of it. The reason for that being that Diga and Doddo Suun were the ones seated on either side of him.

Diga Suun was shooting me a scornful grin. Doddo Suun, meanwhile, was looking at me with eyes like a starving dog. With his sons on either side of him, Zuuro Suun had a creepy smile on his face.

Hmm...

His face didn’t look quite as villainous as I had imagined. But still, there was a sort of bizarre aura about him.

He was a large man. In fact, I’d say he was a size bigger than even Diga Suun. However, he was rather plump, though admittedly not to the degree that Mida Suun was.

There wasn’t a single hair on his head, and his fatty cheeks and eyelids slovenly drooped down. Thanks to that, his mouth looked excessively wide, in total giving his face the impression of a bloated toad.

What he wore was the usual attire at the forest’s edge. However, he had jangling accessories like what women wore on his fatty limbs.

Plus, there was a necklace with a few more horns and tusks than usual dangling in front of his chest. For the people of the forest’s edge, such necklaces were supposed to be proof of a hunter’s pride. But at least when it came to this man in particular, it looked more like a symbol of his vanity to me.

I can’t imagine him being able to hunt with a physique like that...

Talking about physique alone, that monstrous Mida Suun at least looked like he was able to run, and his arms seemed like they must pack a serious punch. But as for Zuuro Suun, he was remarkably lacking in the sort of commanding presence you would expect of someone with such a large frame. His posture was terrible, and he was leaning a bit to the right as he sat cross-legged. There was a bit of a greasy shine to his little black eyes, but otherwise his expression seemed somehow listless. All in all, he didn’t seem even the tiniest bit fitting for his position as the leader of such honorable and hard-working hunters.

“What’s the matter, here...? I just applauded you for your good work, didn’t I...?” he said in that muffled voice, his large mouth breaking into a faint smile.

“Thanks,” I briefly replied. “However, this is a job that we accepted in exchange for payment, so there’s no need to worry about words of gratitude, right?” I answered in as calm of a tone as I could manage, only for Zuuro Suun’s smile to deepen.

“That’s certainly true. I went and said something foolish, there... You can keep working on your preparations for dinner.”

“Right. Well then, please excuse us.”

With that, we quietly got back to work.

The Suun clan women had all gone back to their houses, so that left just the Ruu and Rutim women to help prepare. Normally, they were all bright and cheerful, but now their expressions had all stiffened, like they had been hit by the oppressive feeling in the air.

“We have to eat in there too, don’t we...?” Vina Ruu muttered with a sigh as we were on our way back to the kitchen from the ritual hall.

“Yeah. That’s the custom here at the forest’s edge, after all.”

However, the Suun women still had to return home and prepare dinner for their own families. I figured that would mean that in order to fulfill the custom that those who make the food share in it in the same place, the branch families would all have to gather here too. But apparently it was alright to stretch the rules in cases like this.

Plus, Yamiru and Mida Suun didn’t seem like they’d be coming there either, so it sort of felt like a bit of an anticlimax.

“I still can’t exactly get excited about that... Our father and everyone will be there, so we shouldn’t be in any danger, but it still feels way too heavy being in there...”

Things were quite touchy between the Suun and the Ruu, as well as their affiliated clans, so it was unsurprising that it was like the air itself had frozen when they were all gathered together.

Still, just how had their battle of words gone during the clan head conference? Had Ai Fa carried out her task successfully in the midst of all that? And if so, just what sort of thoughts and feelings did the clan heads have in response?

The emotional burden we faced having to start dinner without knowing any of that was far from slight.

But even so, we had to carry out our duty.

After carrying in the soup, we brought in the myamuu giba accompanied with aria, thigh meat steak, and spare ribs, one dish after another. Then, we served up a bowl of soup to each person present, finishing the job.

“Asuta, over here,” Ai Fa beckoned once we were done, so Vina Ruu and I headed on over.

The Suun clan was seated at the head, but as I looked to the left I saw a ton of familiar faces gathered all together: Donda Ruu, Darmu Ruu, Dan Rutim, Rau Lea... All ten men of the Ruu and their subordinate clans who were present, and of course Ai Fa.

Mia Lea, Reina Ruu, and everyone else were already seated, and it seemed they had already laid out places for me and Vina Ruu, too.

“Right. I’m just glad we both made it through safely,” I whispered while sitting down next to Ai Fa.

She just had the same pout on her face as always, though.

“How did the clan head meeting go...?”

“I cannot say for certain. That Suun clan head just kept saying with a faint grin that it would all have to wait till after tonight’s dinner.”

So it ended up going that way because we were going to be presenting the food in question shortly, huh?

“What about everything else? There was a chance to complain about Doddo Suun running wild in the post town and that incident at the Rutim banquet, right?”

“That all went the same as always. The Suun clan head spoke evasively and bowed his head at the end, which more or less brought the matter to a close.”

Gazraan Rutim had told me in advance that that was their way of doing things. Apparently, whenever their wrongdoings came to light, the Suun clan head would use an apology as his trump card.

It was a method that completely threw all dignity aside.

Still... guys like that can be a real pain to deal with.

People who knew no shame were frightening. I had become painfully aware of that fact ever since I first ran afoul of Doddo Suun.

“Well then, shall we begin this meal...?” the chief of shamelessness himself stated in his muffled voice. “It was prepared by the Fa clan chef we discussed so greatly during the clan head meeting. I hope that you all pay it careful attention as you eat...”

Then, he broke into the familiar chant.

“We offer our gratitude to those of the Fa, Ruu, Suun, and related clans, who manned the flame and gave us our life for this night...”

The majority of the people present were men, so the overall chant had a deeper tone to it than usual.

With that, everyone started picking up their bowls.

Just what will they think about it...?

This was no mere dinner. In a way, it was like I was taking part in a cooking competition.

I was trying to bring about a revolution in terms of giba meat, through the processes of bloodletting and dissection. I wanted to steadily make it to a point where such meat could be exchanged for money... And to prepare for that, the Fa clan was currently running stalls in the post town with the assistance of the Ruu and Rutim. That was the information we were presenting alongside this meal.

It was going to be a battle, where the Suun, Ruu, and other smaller clans’ heads would fumble to voice their thoughts and feelings.

“Hey, Morun, why’d I only get one serving of ribs...? There’s no way that’ll be enough to fill me,” Dan Rutim grumbled in a lowered voice.

“We made 130 people’s worth of food today, you know. Just preparing one for each person was already a big undertaking, so don’t go complaining.”

“No, but...!”

“Ugh, alright already. I’ll give you mine, so stop throwing a fit... But I’ll be taking your myamuu meat in exchange, alright?”

What a harmonious back and forth. It really was heartening, seeing how boldly open they were being despite the situation.

Just when I was thinking of offering Dan Rutim my ribs too and turned to do so, though, a voice rang out.

“Man, I was wondering what it’d be like after you all went on and on about it, but this giba meat’s nothing special,” Diga Suun stated. Then, in his same sluggish tone as always, the Suun heir continued, “Did you really earn over a hundred white coins with this? I just can’t believe it.”

Hmm, I thought to myself.

I had figured the Suun clan were going to choose to either slander my cooking or give it high praise, but that was how they were starting their attack, huh?

“Eldest son of the Suun, Diga Suun, is that a question pointed at the Fa clan? Or were you simply talking to yourself? If it was a question, then I’m prepared to answer it.”

With that, his stagnant gaze locked firmly onto me.

My first time seeing Diga Suun was the very day Ai Fa picked me up deep in the forest, as he had been waiting near the Fa house. That made him the second person of the forest’s edge I had met. Less than a month later, we met again. This was during the Rutim banquet at the Ruu settlement, when he came charging in alongside his brothers. That made this our third meeting... But still, I didn’t feel any fear at seeing him. I just felt once again that he was an arrogant and devious man.

“Right... The Fa clan head only said that you had earned over 100 white coins over the course of ten days... I’d like to hear a bit more about that in detail...” his father replied.

“Alright,” I answered, putting down my wooden plate. “First off, in regards to the question of if that’s true or not, I can confirm that it is. Over ten days I managed to sell over 1000 meals for more than 200 white coins. After subtracting our expenses, I earned 123 white coins, or roughly 100 giba’s worth of horns and tusks.”

The clan heads had been eating in silence, but now there was just a bit of murmuring among them.

And so, I kept on giving my report, taking care to not sound like I was bragging.

“However, I didn’t prepare enough meals on the first several days, so I wasn’t able to sell as many as I could have. Lately, I’ve been selling around 150 meals a day on average, earning between 17 and 18 white coins in the process... On top of that, starting two days from now, I’m scheduled to start selling my cooking to an inn. Adding those profits, I expect to make over 20 white coins a day.”

“20 white coins in one day... Numbers like that certainly are hard to believe,” Zuuro Suun said with a chuckle. “However, that was because you’re a foreigner running this shop, isn’t it...? But would the people of Genos, with their hatred and fear of the people of the forest’s edge, really buy such giba meat from us...?”

“Naturally, it will take a long time to forge that sort of relationship. But still, I’ve been having the Ruu women help me man the stalls in the post town. I believe that by growing accustomed to the proper form of the people of the forest’s edge through them, any unfounded discrimination and fears will eventually be washed away,” I said, putting as much strength into my gaze as I could manage.

My intention was to solely mention what was unfounded in order to give the unspoken implication that the existence of people of the forest’s edge truly acting improperly would hurt their ability to gain a greater fortune.

However, Zuuro Suun’s faint smile didn’t shift in the least.

Well, if it were that easy to get them to reform their ways, then we wouldn’t have any problem at all. And so, I gave a stealthy sigh.

“Of course, I understand that some of you may not approve of the people of the forest’s edge becoming involved with the Genos townsfolk in such a manner. But at the very least, I hope you all can understand that the Fa clan isn’t doing such things solely to amass a fortune for ourselves.”

“Hmm... The matter of trying to bring greater prosperity to the forest’s edge, is it...?”

What was going on? I couldn’t read what this Zuuro Suun guy was thinking in the least.

That faint smile remained plastered on his toad-like face, and his voice sounded somehow ridiculing, but I couldn’t sense much ill will or even interest in general from him.

If he displayed a clear fixation on money like Tsuvai Suun, for example, he would be a whole lot easier to deal with. But since I didn’t know what he was plotting, I found it hard to know what I should strongly assert.

Seriously, just what did he summon me all the way to the Suun settlement for...?

Zuuro Suun just kept on faintly smiling away as he ate.

Diga Suun chuckled foolishly as he chewed into his meat.

And as for Doddo Suun... I actually hadn’t been keeping a close eye on him, but he seemed to be eating properly. Now he was just chugging down fruit wine, though.

“But still... Is fortune really something we need...?” Zuuro Suun eventually asked, his voice sounding like he had something stuck in his throat. “Fortune leads to corruption... As the leader of our people I occasionally have dealings with the residents of the city of stone, so I understand the truth of those words more clearly than anyone here... Too much fortune is like bad wine, and will lead a person to fall prey to depravity...”

I was astounded at the audacity of him saying such things. Still, I doubted I would get anywhere by getting angry at the Suun clan here and now. And so, I held my tongue, but there was one person who couldn’t stand staying silent: the Rutim clan head, Dan Rutim.

“If you understand all that then why do you keep the reward money from Genos all to yourselves, O leader of our people, Zuuro Suun? If too much fortune’s like rotten booze, then why not throw it back in their faces?”

He actually hadn’t raised his voice all that much, but it was readily apparent from his tone just how displeased he was. And then, he took a big bite into the ribs he was holding.

Apparently, Ama Min Rutim had given him a third serving.

“That’s a foolish question, Dan Rutim,” a young voice responded. However, it hadn’t come from a member of the Suun clan. No, it came from someone diagonally behind me: the Lea clan head, Rau Lea. “Can’t you understand our leader’s compassion? Since it’s bad wine, they’re drinking it all down themselves so it can’t hurt us. You should at least be able to figure out that much.”

“Oh, so that’s it,” Dan Rutim replied with a hearty laugh.

Instantly, a dark, overwhelming bloodlust filled the air, coming from the left of the Suun clan.

“Clan heads of the Lea and Rutim! You intend to slander our leading clan yet again, without any proof? How many times must it be explained to you that that money is being used to protect the Genos fields?!”

That had come from the large men wearing giba heads.

The brawniest looking of the group continued on in a voice so thick it’d be a match for Donda Ruu’s, “As you yourselves just said, we of the forest’s edge have no need for such a fortune, which is why our leaders have used it to hire townsfolk to gather wood and construct a wall to protect the Genos fields. There’s no logic to you slandering them for that!”

“Isn’t that claim the one that’s utterly unfounded, clan head of the Zaza? You ramble off that same excuse year after year, and I’ve gotten sick of hearing it,” Dan Rutim calmly replied while continuing to bite into his ribs. With that, that Zaza clan head only grew more enraged.

“I saw the wall being constructed with my own eyes! But such a wall requires dozens of men from Genos to build, and a massive amount of time and money!”

A wall to protect the fields...? Was such a thing seriously being built? In that case... then why was Dora the vegetable seller suffering so much?

“They’re talking about the fields to the north of the castle... Granny Jiba told me once that there are firm wooden walls there to protect the fields of those who live in the castle walls,” Ai Fa whispered to me.

Ah, so that was it. The townsfolk’s fields were to the south of the castle, but such walls weren’t built that far down, so the starving giba gathered there.

“So they insist the Suun clan is investing the reward money to build such walls... There’s no chance that’s true, is there?” I whispered back to her, as quietly as I could so no one around us would hear.

“There isn’t,” Ai Fa replied with a shake of her head. “The walls around the nobles’ fields have been completed for decades now according to Granny Jiba. Of course, when a starving giba manages to damage one, they still need to repair it, though.”

“Right...”

“Besides, Granny Jiba laughed at the idea, saying there was no way such splendid walls could be constructed with such meager reward money from the town.”

So in the end, the Zaza clan head had been fooled by the Suun clan, huh? I couldn’t help but sigh at the audacity of trying to trick someone as frightening as him.

Seriously, everyone here has faces every bit as scary as Donda Ruu’s...

Still, they really were representative of the people of the forest’s edge.

Their presence and vitality were like those of wild animals. An upright and hardworking clan of hunters... the Zaza, Dom, and Jeen may all fall under the Suun, but they seemed more than bold and daring enough to be worthy of being called hunters of the forest’s edge.

And yet, the Zaza clan head was currently glaring at Dan Rutim and Rau Lea with deep, burning anger in his eyes.

“Excess fortune leads to corruption! And so, we shouldn’t bring such unneeded wealth here to the forest’s edge, and instead use it up to protect the Genos fields! What sort of objection could you possibly have to our leader’s decision?!”

“I would have none at all, assuming those words were true. But I’ve been stretching out my neck like one of those totos birds from the post town all this time, wondering just how many years it will take for that supposed wall to be completed, clan head of the Zaza.”

Even when responding as such, Dan Rutim still didn’t look like he was getting all worked up. In fact, he looked like he might even yawn with boredom as he waited for a response.

There had surely been such exchanges repeated over and over throughout the clan head meeting. The Ruu affiliated clans would point out the leading clan’s faults, and the clans under the Suun would defend them. I couldn’t help but feel that the Suun clan’s control was quite tenuous, considering this delicate power balance.

Donda Ruu didn’t add to the unproductive back and forth, but there was a fierce blaze burning in his eyes as he chugged down fruit wine.

It really seems like a dangerous way of doing things...

If the Ruu and Suun were to fight, it could apparently turn into a war that split the forest’s edge down the middle. However, that was ultimately just down to the clans under them. If the Suun didn’t have the capable Zaza and Jeen and the like under them, I couldn’t imagine them ever possibly being a match for the Ruu.

But if the Suun clan was using lies to earn the trust of their subordinate clans, then weren’t they just building a house of cards?

The Suun’s method is full of holes. Couldn’t someone like me or Kamyua easily use just a bit of cunning to cause it all to come tumbling down? I couldn’t help but think.

Of course, it was a bad idea to get overly conceited. But still, the Suun clan was being way too sloppy in how they were doing things.

As that thought ran through my head, though, a sudden rebuke came my way.

“And so, I cannot see the Fa clan’s actions of trying to bring excess fortune to the forest’s edge as anything but an attempt to invite the downfall of our people!” I instantly looked up, and saw the Zaza clan head glaring at me and Ai Fa. “It’s one thing to invite a foreigner into your clan, and use his skills to earn coins. There are no laws on record against such things here at the forest’s edge... But if you intend to use that fortune to ruin us all, then I will take up my blade and strike you down myself!”

All of a sudden, the ball was in our court.

No, wait... That wasn’t it. They must have felt this way all this time, as they surely heard what Ai Fa had to say during the clan head meeting.

Excess fortune could lead the people of the forest’s edge down the path of corruption... That was exactly the fear I had before opening the shop in town.

The ones to smash that worry to smithereens were Gazraan Rutim and Ai Fa.

As for Ai Fa, she sat up straight and shot a commanding glare right back at the Zaza clan head.

“Excess fortune will corrupt the people of the forest’s edge... Is that what you think, clan head of the Zaza?”

“That’s right. If you want to earn coins with giba meat, then do that as much as you please. Just don’t spread that fortune throughout the forest’s edge! Well... If the Ruu and Rutim are going to come wagging their tails at you, though, it may be necessary to throw a few coins their way. I suppose we can overlook that much.”

“Oh...?” Dan Rutim questioned, his massive frame quaking. He had a big grin on his face, but the boiling rage was clearly building up in his goggle-eyes. “You certainly say some interesting things, clan head of the Zaza. Are you implying we solely formed a bond with the Fa out of a desire for money?”

“Are you saying I’m wrong? But what other reason could the Rutim have for doing so, when they have no blood ties to the Fa?”

“Because the Fa and Rutim are friends!” he loudly proclaimed in his rough voice, pounding his right fist into the floor. It was a dirt floor covered with a rug, yet the blow still clearly sunk into it. “Blood bonds hold more weight than anything else, but they aren’t everything! But I suppose since you just follow along under the Suun as good little underlings, you wouldn’t understand!”

“You bastard?! You dare insult our leading clan again?!”

The air in the room had ignited in an instant. The one to put it out wasn’t Donda Ruu or Zuuro Suun, though... It was Ai Fa.

“Clan heads of the Rutim and Zaza, I ask you to calm yourselves a bit. The key point is the idea of excess fortune, is it not?”

There was an intense light shining in Ai Fa’s eyes. And yet, her voice and expression remained perfectly calm.

Ai Fa gave a nod to silence the raging Dan Rutim, and turned to face the Zaza clan head. Then, she started speaking in a quiet tone.

2

“Excess fortune will bring about the downfall of the forest’s edge... I can certainly understand that line of thinking, but I most certainly didn’t start this with such a goal in mind,” Ai Fa stated, her voice faltering a bit. “I simply wished to bring prosperity here to the forest’s edge. If we bring those among us suffering in poverty better lives, will it not grant more strength to our people and allow us to carry out our duty as hunters better than ever before?”

The Zaza clan head replied, “Hmph! But is that really the case? If you can earn more coins than before for each giba, then it will become possible to keep on living without hunting many. That’s the corruption I’m talking about!”

“But they can’t do their job as hunters if they starve to death either, now can they? It’s one thing for large clans like the Zaza, Jeen, and Dom, but for weak and small families, they need a bit more than what they have.”

“If they lack strength, then they’ll simply meet their end in the forest... That is how we’ve cultivated our skills as hunters,” a low voice interjected. That had come from a large man who had been silently listening to what his compatriots had to say up till now. He wore a giba skill on his head, and belonged to the Dom clan. “Weak hunters aren’t fit to live. When only strong hunters survive, they pass on stronger blood. If unnecessary fortune allows the weak to pass on their blood as well, that may well bring about our destruction.”

“But what is unnecessary fortune? Why do we allow others to decide for us that the fortune from tusks, horns, and pelts is acceptable, but coins earned from meat are not?” There was a flickering blue light in Ai Fa’s eyes. “Horns, tusks, pelts, and meat all come to us from the giba. So can you explain what the difference between them may be, clan head of the Dom?”

“For 80 years now, we have exchanged horns, tusks, and pelts for coins... That is my answer.”

“But isn’t that simply because we had no means of exchanging meat for coins? I don’t believe it’s right to just throw away that fortune now that we do have such a means.” Ai Fa was giving off as much intensity as the intimidating Dom clan head, but she went ahead and softened her tone ever so slightly. “Clan head of the Dom, last night, I spoke with Jiba Ruu, the oldest of us living here at the forest’s edge.”

“And what of it, clan head of the Fa...?”

“I had a doubt. The townsfolk earn coins from both the meat and pelt of an animal called a karon. And yet, we people of the forest’s edge only sell giba pelts, while we throw the meat away in the forest. I wished to know why that was.”

This was my first time hearing of this. But thanks to that, we were now able to hear an unfamiliar tale from the past of the forest’s edge.

“In the past, Jiba Ruu and our other ancestors lived in the black forest of Jagar. The only animals that existed there were large man-eating black apes, as well as small snakes and lizards... However, there was a strong taboo against eating the ape’s meat, as it devoured our people, and so they survived by eating snakes, lizards, and bugs.”

“That much has been passed down in the Dom clan as well. But our ancestors kept on hunting the apes to protect their families, and became skilled hunters in the process, correct?”

“That’s right. And our ancestors peeled the pelts from those apes and wore them, as symbols of their pride... Thanks to that, they knew how to skin pelts, but not how to properly prepare and eat meat.”

Any murmuring that remained fell silent.

“Eventually, our ancestors were driven from the south here to the Morga forest’s edge, and began hunting giba instead of black apes... And though they began eating meat, they didn’t search for ways to properly prepare it. From what Jiba Ruu said, they were happy and fulfilled simply being able to eat the flesh of a beast.”

“What does all that matter? Doesn’t that mean simply eating meat should be plenty for us, too?”

“That’s wrong... Or at least, that’s what I believe.”

Ai Fa was surely remembering Jiba Ruu’s face from the night prior. Her gaze was always so mysterious, full of seemingly bottomless sadness, yet also a sliver of hope.

“Jiba Ruu said that may have simply been down to their complacency. They refused interaction with the townsfolk and didn’t try to figure out why they were unable to sell giba meat, and then 80 years went and passed... She looked like she deeply regretted that fact.”

“What reason should she have for regret? There’s no need for our ancestors to feel that way. We’re only here now because they showed us the way.”

“That’s why Jiba Ruu feels regret, for being unable to show us a better, more prosperous way. And for the fact that if they had, perhaps so many of our ancestors wouldn’t have lost their lives.”

When they moved here to the forest’s edge, there were over 1000 of them. And yet, half of them died in the very first year. That was thanks to both fighting the vicious giba and simple starvation. I had heard that from Jiba Ruu on the very first night that I met her.

“The townsfolk had likely known the proper way to eat meat from the very start. If our ancestors had formed proper bonds instead of avoiding them, we may well have been able to exchange giba meat for coins all along. Jiba Ruu said their crime was failing to put in that effort, inviting a situation where poverty and starvation are common here at the forest’s edge.”

I think I could’ve heard a pin drop after that.

“I cannot firmly declare that your assertion of excess fortune leading to corruption is mistaken, clan head of the Dom. But even so, I believe in the possibility that such fortune can give our weak brethren strength, and bring prosperity here to the forest’s edge.” With that, Ai Fa glanced over at me. “This all may sound unbelievable, but I believe it to be possible with Asuta’s strength... His cooking is delicious, isn’t it?”

No one answered.

Even so, there was a gentle look in Ai Fa’s eyes, and she even smiled ever so slightly.

“I feel that it’s incredibly tasty. And so, I wish to continue down the path I believe in... I would greatly appreciate it if you were to accompany me on that journey.”

A silence washed over the ritual hall.

At first I thought that was because most of the people present were still eating, but nobody even seemed to be moving.

The Suun, the Ruu, and the clans under them... Even the women who manned the stove and the heads of the small clans all seemed to be holding their breath...

And then, that silence was suddenly broken.

“The Fou clan stands in agreement with the clan head of the Fa.”

Everyone slowly turned that way.

There was a man standing in the corner of the ritual hall.

“The Fou clan is small. We don’t have many relatives, and we are unable to hunt a sufficient number of giba.”

His black hair was unkempt, and he had a beard of the same color. He was tall yet slender, and looked to be somewhere in his 40s.

“We have enough meat to eat, but we’re always lacking horns and tusks. We were blessed with a young child, and yet he has been on the verge of starvation. But if we had just a bit more to work with, my family surely wouldn’t have to suffer so.”

His blue eyes were blazing in the dim light. They were full of swirling, fierce emotions, brought on by his pride as a hunter and his feeling of helplessness.

“We don’t need charity from the city of stone. But if we can obtain coins for the giba caught by our hands, then I believe that’s fair and just. And I swear here and now that if we can gain more strength as a result, we will devote that to working even harder as hunters... And so, the Fou clan stands in agreement with the words of the clan head of the Fa.”

“The Ratsu clan does as well,” another man proclaimed while standing up, this time from the opposite direction. He looked like he wasn’t even 20 yet. “In this past year, we lost two of our affiliated clans, the Mei and Geem. And the clan head of the Mei was a particularly gallant hunter, but an ill wind blew upon a small wound and he fell ill, then died soon after... If we had even a bit to spare, we could have bought medicine to heal him from the post town.”

His gaze was filled with rage, and was intently fixated on the Dom clan head.

“Clan head of the Dom, according to what you said, then it’s only right that the Mei and Geem met with ruin. I cannot abide that, and instead stand in agreement with the words of the Fa’s clan head.”

“There’s no need to raise your voice so loudly. It’s not as if even the Dom clan head is saying he wishes for the smaller clans to all die out,” a hoarse voice chimed in as yet another person stood. He was a skinny old man, with white hair like Jiba Ruu’s. “All together, there are around 300 of us belonging to small clans with no ties to the Suun or Ruu. As if anyone could think it would be acceptable for all of us to simply die out. If that happened, it would never be possible to hunt down a satisfactory number of giba.”

“Elder of the Sauti... You’re not saying you also agree with the Fa clan, are you?” the Zaza clan head questioned, breaking his long stretch of silence. His eyes were positively ablaze as he glared at the old man.

“That’s a matter for the clan head to decide. However, to an old man like me, our elder’s words have a powerful sting to them. That is, the thought that because we chose our path poorly, you young folks have ended up on such a roundabout route...”

The man had a rather gentle look in his eyes for a person of the forest’s edge. And that calm gaze soon shifted from the Zaza clan head to me and Ai Fa.

“The townsfolk shunned us, and we did the same to them. That may have been an unavoidable fate, but I can’t honestly say that we put in the effort to fight against it... But I think that perhaps you of the Fa clan are trying to carve out that path in our place.”

“What can a foreigner like that do?!”

“He can form bonds with the people of the post town. And I’d have to say he’s the only one here at the forest’s edge now who can do such a thing.”

The old-timer remained perfectly calm, while the look on the Zaza clan head’s face was only growing more and more vicious.

“So now it’s not just the Ruu and their ilk. Even the Sauti are going to slander our leading clan? The Suun clan are the ones who tie together the city of stone and the forest’s edge!”

“It’s the castle that the Suun clan interact with though, isn’t it? The residents of the castle and the post town are entirely different... And it’s truly unfortunate, but the Suun clan has not had a proper relationship with the townsfolk. Or did the second son of the main house not just recently draw his blade in town?”

“That was because a man from town was slandering the people of the forest’s edge...!”

“There’s no law that states a blade is a fitting punishment for slander, is there, clan head of the Zaza?”

I was more than a little surprised to hear someone unrelated to the Ruu come out and so openly admonish the Suun clan.

The old-timer broke out in a gentle smile and looked back our way.

“An old bag of bones like me lacks the strength to decide the path the Sauti will take. But personally, I’m truly grateful to see folks like you, members of the Fa clan.”

“In that case, leave things to your clan head and stop talking, Elder Moga,” the youth by the oldtimer’s side chimed in, wearily standing up. He was incredibly large, and his appearance overall was a match for Jiza Ruu and Gazraan Rutim. “I am the clan head of the Sauti, Dari Sauti, and I have one question I’d like to ask. Ruu clan head Donda Ruu, what are your thoughts on this matter?”

Donda Ruu had remained firmly silent up to this point, but now he slowly turned his glare towards the youth.

“The clan head of the Rutim called the Fa friends. However, it’s the Ruu women who are lending their strength, isn’t it? Like the leader of the Rutim, do the Ruu also share the same will and see the Fa as friends?”

“I’ve got no particular intention of calling them my friends,” Donda Ruu grumbled in a low voice as he rose to his feet. “Why should I need to say that about a foolish woman who plays at being a hunter and some mysterious foreigner?”

“Then why did you loan them your women? Were you just after the coins?” Dari Sauti asked, his voice full of doubt as he tilted his head.

Glaring down at the simple expression on the youth’s face, Donda Ruu answered, “Giba meat being able to be exchanged for coins... That sounds like nothing but a fairy tale to me, and I can’t imagine the townsfolk having a change of heart anytime soon. I’m just loaning them the women in exchange for a fair price.”

“I see. In that case—”

“But if that fairy tale comes true, it’ll bring even greater strength to the people of the forest’s edge,” Donda Ruu stated in his heavy voice, his words cutting off the youth like a hatchet. His eyes started blazing fiercely, and his mouth shifted into a daring smile. “Excess fortune will cause the people of the forest’s edge to fall... As if something that ridiculous could ever happen. The fools who think that way are the true threats to our people.”

“What did you just say...?” the Zaza and Jeen clan heads chimed in, clearly getting worked up.

“If you Zaza and Jeen were given a hundred coins, would you just fool around and not hunt any giba till you used that all up?”

“Don’t mock us! Just how much do you intend on ridiculing our clans, clan head of the Ruu?!”

“If that pisses you off, then that’s your answer right there, isn’t it?” Donda Ruu said, grinning once again.

He had been frowning an awful lot of the time lately, but now that I thought about it, this was more his natural temperament. Like a raging inferno, he overwhelmed his opponents while wearing a grin on his face, forcing them into submission.

“I wasn’t ridiculing you. You’re the ones who were doing that to all of us, clan head of the Zaza. Excess fortune leads to corruption, you say? Anyone that happens to wasn’t a real hunter to begin with! Someone like that has no right to live here at the forest’s edge!”

“But...!”

“And if any do fall, then we’ve just got to drive them out of the forest’s edge. Then the order of this place will be maintained just fine.”

From the big grin he was wearing, it was clear that Donda Ruu was seriously enjoying himself.

And of course, what he was saying served as a scathing criticism of the Suun clan, as well as a declaration of war.

The Zaza clan head and his group were utterly ignorant of that as they listened to Donda Ruu’s words with stern expressions, though.

“The Ruu clan doesn’t need any more fortune than what we’ve got. It’s the same for the Rutim and Lea, too... But the Ririm and Muufa are still lacking in strength. If we don’t help out the clans under us, they could go the way of the Mei and Geem.”

The other clan heads were silent.

“The Ruu have gone and gained more fortune regardless through this chain of events. And thanks to loaning the women to the Fa, there aren’t enough around to skin pelts, so we’ve given them to the Ririn and Muufa... Isn’t that what prosperity means? Eh, clan head of the Zaza?”

Sure enough, the man had no answer.

“We haven’t gathered enough coins to cause the downfall of the people of the forest’s edge. But I’d say that concern should be put aside until there’s not a single person left starving to death, wouldn’t you say?”

“Then you really are saying you are in agreement with the Fa clan, Donda Ruu?” Dari Sauti interjected.

The smile like a wild beast disappeared from Donda Ruu’s face, and he just plain looked irritated.

“I already told you, right? I don’t believe in that fairy tale.”

“But—”

“But if that comes true, our people will be able to gain even greater power... In that case, it makes no sense to me to get in the way of that.”

“Good grief...” I heard someone mutter quietly from behind me. I stole a glance back that way, and found Mia Lea Ruu giving a strained smile. “Our clan head sure is stubborn, huh?” was written all over her face.

“Hmm... It truly is an intriguing matter,” a muffled voice chimed in, sounding rather out of tune. That had come from Zuuro Suun, of course.

Donda Ruu’s burning gaze pointed back that way.

“But still... It will take quite a bit of time before such a thing can be realized, won’t it? Selling not just cooking, but the meat itself is certainly no ordinary challenge... And so, why don’t we take things slowly and watch how everything develops for now...?”

It was a completely ridiculous statement. After all that passionate arguing, that was going to be the result?

It seemed like he wasn’t trying to settle anything. Not even a single issue.

“How ridiculous. I hadn’t ever figured anyone but the Ruu would fall for the Fa clan’s smooth talking,” Diga Suun added in his usual sluggish tone. “The Fou and the Ratsu... Seems like it’d be good to make sure we remember those names, huh?”

Those clan heads were still standing, and now their eyes were shooting daggers at Diga Suun.

It was then that I started to feel a rage rising inside me, but I didn’t get a chance to act on it. That was because someone with a lower boiling point than me yelled out, “Hey!” in a rough voice first. “What was that statement just now, eldest son of the Suun?! Is there some law here at the forest’s edge that states you mustn’t form bonds with the Fa?! You know, there’s such a thing as too much unjust resentment, you scum!” Dan Rutim exploded.

A thick vein was bulging on his bald head, and his goggle-eyes were alight with rage.

Yeah... The heads of small clans had likely avoided having any connection with the Fa so as not to catch the eyes of the Suun, but now after two years they were trying to overturn that decision.

There was no way this fire was going to be put out.

“Wh-What do you mean, ‘scum’? What right does someone like you have to call me that, clan head of the Rutim?” he asked with a foolish smile as his face started twitching. Perhaps the trauma of having a hundred kilo giba corpse thrown at him back at the Rutim banquet was coming back to him.

With that, I looked over everyone else. And unsurprisingly, Zuuro Suun and the clan heads who fell under him all had unpleasant looks on their faces. Zuuro Suun likely didn’t want any trouble, but the other clan heads couldn’t have been very interested in standing up for Diga Suun’s wrongdoings.

There was no doubt that like Donda Ruu, they found a female hunter like Ai Fa and a foreigner like me who had joined the Fa clan annoying at best. And thanks to their own principals and thoughts, they stood firmly opposed to the idea of gathering excess fortune.

But even if they held great trust in the leading clan, they had to see how outrageous it was that on the night Ai Fa lost her father, Diga Suun broke into her house without permission and assaulted her.

Diga Suun didn’t seem to understand that in the least, though. He was just throwing around his authority as a member of the leading clan, never stopping to think what that may or may not allow him to get away with.

That was what made him such a small fry.

I even thought, Maybe all we need to do is just wait for leadership of the clan to pass from Zuuro to Diga Suun?

If Diga Suun were to become the leader of the forest’s edge, it probably wouldn’t take him all that long to lose the trust of the Dom and Zaza. Then the Suun clan would collapse all on its own, without Donda Ruu needing to swing a blade or me needing to employ any cleverness.

It’s an incredibly passive plan, but then again, that may be the most peaceful way to resolve things...

As that thought ran through my head, the current clan head Zuuro Suun just said, “Now, now,” while looking towards Dan Rutim. “You don’t need to raise your voice so much, clan head of the Rutim... Are you talking about the rumors from two years ago? What point is there to bringing up such an old matter now...?”

“Then you better sew your bungling son’s mouth shut! Just hearing his voice alone is enough to disgust me!”

Dan Rutim thumped back down, and his right hand seemed to be fumbling around without him really thinking about it. Seeing that, I stealthily pushed over my plate, for Dan Rutim to somehow precisely grab the ribs while continuing to glare at the Suun clan the whole time. It was the least I could do for him, considering he spoke up in my stead.

“The Fou and Ratsu aren’t names worth memorizing... No, the name you should be paying attention to is the Sudra,” a gloomy sounding voice chimed in. It had come from a man who wasn’t all that large and was seated about as far away from the Suun clan as possible. “The Sudra clan also stands in agreement with the Fa... We’re in need of a bit more lately, too.”

Then, another man a bit removed also stood.

“The Gaaz clan stands with the Fa as well... At first I didn’t understand at all what you meant about giba meat tasting good or bad, but after eating this food, my feelings have changed... I certainly believe that this could be sold to the people of the town for coins.”

A number of others had stood, looking like they were going to join in, but Zuuro Suun hurriedly interjected, “Please wait, clan heads... I really don’t believe we should be trying to decide whether or not the Fa clan’s actions are justified here and now... After all, as I said before, it will still take some time to see if all that will bear fruit... And so, why don’t we take things slow and just watch what happens...?”

“In other words, as the leader of our people, you have no intention of objecting to the Fa clan’s actions at this time?” Dari Sauti interjected. “But what do you have to say about the fact that it’s the clan heads of those under you like the Zaza and the Dom who are complaining?”

“Naturally, I believe what they are saying is logical and proper, and personally I feel we cannot ignore the danger presented by excess fortune... But as the clan head of the Ruu stated, the idea of giba meat coming to hold such value sounds like nothing but a fairy tale... And so, I can’t see any point to us fighting amongst ourselves over something so trivial...” With that, Zuuro Suun’s greasy gaze turned towards the angry clan heads who fell under him. “Clan heads of the Zaza, Jeen, and Dom... Will you follow my request and lay down your blades...? We could very well throw the forest’s edge into chaos just by trying to determine if the Fa clan will bring about our downfall or our prosperity...”

“We will abide by your wishes,” the clan heads replied, holding back their emotions and sitting back down.

Upon seeing this, Donda Ruu also sat.

The Fou, Ratsu, Sudra, and Gaaz clan heads followed along, as did the Sauti clan head and elder, and the heated air seemed to chill.

“We should be able to see some sort of results by the next clan head meeting... Until then, you may go ahead and act according to your wishes, Fa clan head and chef...”

Ai Fa nodded back with a calm look on her face.

“Hey, what’s going on here...?” Vina Ruu whispered, grabbing the sleeve of my t-shirt. “At this rate, nothing’s going to be resolved, right...?”

“Hmm, I don’t know... In a way, you might actually be able to say that this settles everything.”

Now that I thought about it, the Suun clan head had pretty much gone ahead and told us, “Just do as you please for the time being.” Thanks to that, scary folks like the Zaza and Dom wouldn’t be able to complain any further. At least, as long as there was no clear proof of us bringing about corruption.

Honestly, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was alright for things to wrap up so soon.

Seriously, though... Is Zuuro Suun really such a complete and utter opportunist?

At the very least, I wish we could have taken a majority vote.

Four clans, including the Fou and Ratsu, had voiced their agreement, but there were 37 clan heads present, including the Suun. If we could figure out how many were opposed to our plan, it would be highly useful information to have. And yet, the conclusion was to wait a year. In that way, we seemed to have come up short.

Seriously, had anyone ever heard of someone so forcefully dodging a matter?

Donda Ruu kept on sipping his fruit wine, looking clearly displeased. Dan Rutim, meanwhile, looked almost bored as he gnawed on a white bone. From looking at them, you could tell that they were both firmly prepared for if it ever came to violence. I was certainly glad that it hadn’t, but that meant there was nothing for them to hit.

Maybe their request that I man the stove really was just to calm down Mida Suun... Is that actually possible?

Yamiru Suun was giving off some serious malice that made me think she had to be planning something, but I couldn’t sense anything at all from Zuuro Suun. He just seemed dim-witted, lazy, and utterly lethargic. It was like he irresponsibly just thought that if the current peace could be maintained, then nothing else mattered.

Was that Zuuro Suun’s true nature?

So was Yamiru Suun actually the one pulling all the strings...? No, if the clan head meeting ends like this, she won’t be able to make any real moves. And if Diga or Doddo Suun interfere with our business, they’d be going against their clan head’s decision... Seriously, just what’s going on here?

Zuuro Suun had a thin smile on his face, looking incredibly pleased.

Diga Suun was sulking a bit.

Doddo Suun was just silently drinking down booze.

Did we... or I guess I should say I, overestimate what we were up against?

When we opened the lid and peeked inside, did the Suun clan really turn out to just be nothing but a gathering of petty lowlives?

I didn’t know. I really didn’t, and yet... The dinner continued on without any real disturbances, and solemnly came to a close.

That also signaled the end of the clan head meeting, so the members of the Suun clan all headed back to their houses. As for the rest of us, we were all to sleep crammed together in here.

If we could just make it through the night, we would be able to return to our nostalgic old home.

Of course, it can’t just end like this... I thought to myself while cleaning up after the dinner.

Even if the Suun clan really were nothing but a gathering of petty lowlives, we couldn’t simply leave them be.

If Diga Suun were to take over, they were sure to destroy themselves, but who knows how many years of waiting that would require. No, this was already at the point where it wasn’t just the settlement at the forest’s edge’s problem.

The sight and words of folks like Milano Mas, Dora, and Yumi swirled around in my head. Even if they could trust me and the people around me, they still couldn’t forgive the people of the forest’s edge as a whole... That was a feeling they all shared. As long as there were people of the forest’s edge who had forgotten their honor and did as they pleased, it wouldn’t be possible for the people of Genos to truly reach an understanding with them.

Plus, we had met the women of the Suun branch families. They had eyes like rotten fish, and we surely couldn’t just leave them be. Even if this night ended smoothly, there were still a mountain of problems left to deal with.

Well, that’s all a matter for tomorrow... I thought to myself. It was rather carefree, but that was what was running through my head.

This is entirely in retrospect, but looking back, the real ordeal at the Suun settlement wouldn’t bare its fangs until the night fell.

3

“Well then, I leave the rest to you, Darmu,” Donda Ruu said before exiting the ritual hall, taking all the women but Ai Fa along with him.

Though the clan heads would all be sleeping in a huddle, it would be a bit much to make the women all join in, too. And so, they were assigned a vacant house to stay in.

There was also some concern about sending the women there all on their own, so Donda Ruu ended up accompanying them.

“Wouldn’t it be better to have you two come along with us as well...?” Mia Lea Ruu had insisted, worried about us until the very end, but we ultimately decided to stay here in the ritual hall.

It was true that a house where the door could be bolted seemed safer, but on the other hand, Diga and Doddo Suun could ignore what their clan head said and try something. With that in mind, it seemed a lot safer to stay here in the ritual hall, where the clan heads under the Suun would be watching.

Plus, all the fierce warriors aside from Donda Ruu would be staying here.

There were thirteen men here like Dan Rutim and Rau Lea, and a large number of neutral hunters of the forest’s edge around us. Even if the Suun clan was plotting something, it seemed physically impossible for them to break through this wall of muscle, no matter how shameless they may be.

On top of any questions of safety, there was also another reason for us to stay here: interacting with the other clans.

The clan heads who declared they were in agreement and those who were interested split off into a group, wanting to hear what we had to say.

The Sauti clan head Dari Sauti and elder Moga Sauti acted as their representatives.

“The Sauti live at the far south of the forest’s edge. Ours is a long bloodline that leads five clans so, well, you can think of us as the next biggest clan after the Suun and Ruu.” Dari Sauti’s square face had a definite rustic simplicity to it, and he wore a smile as he offered that introduction. “Therefore, we can’t go lightly giving the Suun or Ruu our backing. If we were to place ourselves under either side, the power balance between those two clans would shift significantly... In terms of position though, our settlement is closer to the Ruu, so the Suun clan is incredibly cautious about us.”

“I see...”

“We have no intention of causing the forest’s edge to fall into chaos. And so, we’ve been careful not to get involved with either the Suun or the Ruu... Plus, to be honest, we’re a little disappointed by how they quarrel with one another despite the fact that we are all people of the forest’s edge. My honest feelings are that I’d prefer they just shut up already and hunt giba.”

The clans under the Ruu were seated a bit further away and had started drinking and making merry. I could hear Dan Rutim giving a real hearty laugh.

“But even putting all that aside, we can’t simply ignore this matter of the Fa clan’s actions. And so, we’d like to hear what you have to say, Ai Fa and Asuta of the Fa clan.”

Gathered around Dari Sauti were the clan heads under him, as well as those of the small clans like the Fou and Ratsu.

Removing the Fa, the Ruu and the seven clans under them, and the Suun plus their eight subordinate clans, that left 21 smaller clans, and it looked like around 80% of them were gathered here. I’m sure not all of them would agree with us, but still, they must have wanted to hear the details.

“We heard that the Ruu and the clans under them had already learned this bloodletting technique from the Fa, but is it something that anyone can learn? And... if we do learn it, will all of our giba meat taste like what we ate today?”

“Yes. Of course, it’s not always successful, but it’s not all that tricky to do. The Ruu and Rutim only needed a few days to master it, and it’s not like I’ve even prepared all that many giba myself, to be honest... By the way, what did you think of the food’s taste?”

“It was delicious. Honestly, I was so surprised that I thought my heart was about to stop on me,” Dari Sauti stated, scratching his head with his thick fingers. “Anyway, even ignoring anything about selling it in the post town and the like, I’d like to learn that technique. However, the Sauti settlement is at the southern tip, so it’s far from all the other clans. The Maam and Min are the closest of the clans under the Ruu, but that distance still isn’t small enough to be traveled lightly. Would it still be possible for us to learn the technique, even so?”

“It would. I actually already discussed that matter with the eldest son of the Rutim, Gazraan Rutim. Even if your homes are too far, you could still exchange your men, right?”

“Exchange our men...?”

“That’s right. For example, let’s say the Rutim and Sauti each offer up two of their men. Your two men could learn the technique in a Rutim house, while the Rutim men who come your way could spread it as well. That way the number of men both clans have on hand wouldn’t change and you could carry out your hunts like normal, while still being able to acquire the technique.”

Dari Sauti’s eyes opened wide, while the other clan heads started muttering among themselves.

“That... is a truly novel idea... Even if it’s just for a few days, you’re saying we would have utterly unrelated men stay in one another’s homes?”

“Yes. It’s the type of idea that could never be pulled off if the two clans didn’t trust each other... But Gazraan Rutim says that now is the perfect time to rebuild such trust among the people of the forest’s edge. His thinking is that the houses are too far apart, and so the bonds among unrelated clans have been growing far too weak.”

“By Gazraan Rutim, you mean the Rutim clan head’s son who will act as his heir, correct...?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Interesting. That clan head is like a ball of flame, but his son is able to weave arguments like that? I really would like to meet him face to face and talk with him.”

Somehow, I got the feeling that Dari Sauti had a really similar air to Gazraan Rutim about him. That wasn’t just down to their large frames and honest appearances. No, they both also had personalities you wouldn’t expect from anyone so young, valuing composure and logic... Those were Gazraan Rutim’s strongest points, and this youth felt similar in that way.

If you added in Jiza Ruu, it would definitely make for one heck of a group. Surely Diga Suun would never be able to make a move with all of them around.

Of course, their principles and opinions were all completely different. Still, I thought it was better for such things to vary.

Jiza Ruu valued the order of the forest’s edge, Gazraan Rutim was a revolutionary, while Dari Sauti seemed to be conservative yet flexible in his thinking... I felt like there was meaning to having such great men’s opinions collide in order to carve out the best possible path forwards.

Or maybe I just think that way because I’m an outsider...?

I most definitely wasn’t prepared to take up a leadership role, personally. I just couldn’t help but feel it was best that I act merely as a springboard that they can use to find the best possible path.

However, I was a member of the Fa clan. My mistakes were the Fa clan’s failings, which meant they fell on Ai Fa, too. Thanks to that, I needed to firm up my resolve to walk side by side with them. I needed to hold my head up high, and firmly insist on what I thought was the right way to go.

And anyway...

If it were Ai Fa, could she stand shoulder to shoulder with them? I couldn’t help but think so as I saw her facing the Zaza and Dom clan heads straight on and asserting her opinion.

Rather than just clinging to what Gazraan Rutim had said, Ai Fa had used her own words when facing them. She had taken in Jiza Ruu’s comments, and then brought to life her own thoughts and feelings. I couldn’t imagine either Jiza Ruu or Gazraan Rutim managing that.

Right, and as for those clan heads under the Suun... I thought as my gaze stealthily drifted.

The clan heads in question were drinking fruit wine on the opposite side of the room from Dan Rutim’s group.

Mia Lea Ruu had said they were even more hardheaded than Donda Ruu, and somehow, their assertions seemed to overlap with what Jiza Ruu said. They were thoroughly conservative, with how they talked about valuing laws, customs, and order. Ai Fa and I must have seemed quite disagreeable from their point of view.

However, they definitely weren’t our enemies. In fact, I felt that they represented one of the truly proper ways for a person of the forest’s edge to be. And so, I figured we needed to satisfy them before change could truly be brought about.

So, the only disturbing element here really is the Suun clan, huh?

As I was thinking that, a new voice called out, “Clan head of the Fa.” It was the Fou clan head. “Up until now, the Fou clan has cut ties with the Fa. That was because as our clan head, I had decided that it would be dangerous to be involved with you when you had bad blood with the Suun.”

Ai Fa silently faced that way.

The Fou clan head had placed his right fist on the floor and was deeply bowing his head.

“I recognize here and now that that decision was mistaken... And so, I would like for our clan to form bonds with you once again.”

“I don’t believe that you made the wrong decision, clan head of the Fou... If you carelessly drew close to my clan, you may have had to deal with the reckless behavior of the Suun clan’s foolish sons,” Ai Fa stated, awkwardly placing her hand on the Fou clan head’s shoulder. “And so, I believe your decision protected your family. That’s nothing to feel shameful about.”

“But... You even took pity on us and gave us pelts, and yet—”

“That must be some kind of mistake,” Ai Fa interjected with a pout. “I believe the women of your house have already heard this, but I didn’t give anyone pelts... But still, since you said you agree with my words, we can certainly teach you bloodletting and dissection techniques. Asuta, you said you will need a great deal of giba meat in the near future, didn’t you?”

“Yeah. I’ve got to make a massive amount of jerky before the end of the blue month, and even before that, I’ll need more meat than before to make the dishes to sell to the inn. And we can’t keep relying on just the Ruu forever, right?”

The Fou clan head looked back and between us with a sincerity in his eyes.

I gave a nod, figuring all the while that this man must be the husband or father of that Saris Ran Fou woman who once visited the Fa house.

“It will still be some time before the meat itself can be sold in the post town, but currently, I’ve been concerned about having enough to use in my cooking. So if the Fou clan will also be preparing meat, then the Fa would be happy to buy it off of you.”

That was a proposal from the Ruu clan, too. They said if all the wealth was concentrated around them, that could earn the animosity of the various small clans, so they asked that we properly share the load.

The Fou clan head remained totally silent and bowed his head again.

It had been Dari Sauti’s turn to listen, and he now gave a big yawn.

“Now then, there’s still more to discuss, but it has gotten rather late. They seem to be done drinking and reveling over there, so I suppose it’ll soon be time to get to sleep.”

I glanced over and saw that at some point Dan Rutim’s group had moved to the center of the hall, and now he was waving a hand and calling out, “Hey! How long do you plan on chattering away? Come on over here, Asuta and Ai Fa!”

“Got it... Well then, we can discuss the details further tomorrow.”

“Right. We’ll have a lot to discuss on the way back. There are too many Suun-affiliated eyes keeping watch here.”

With that, the other clan heads dispersed to whatever open spaces they could find.

Then, Ai Fa and I headed over towards Dan Rutim’s group.

“Yeah, right over here! Sleep right next to me!” Dan Rutim called out, slapping the rug laid out across the floor.

It was the dead center of the ritual hall, and would leave us surrounded by the Ruu-affiliated clan heads.

“R-Right there? It feels like I’d have trouble relaxing, trying to sleep there.”

“Why’s that? If you sleep here, those Suun clan fools won’t be able to lay a hand on you, no matter what they’re plotting! If they try to climb over us, then I’ll bite off chunks of their legs!” Dan Rutim loudly declared with a hearty laugh, then he flopped down on the floor.

Darmu Ruu and Rau Lea and everyone also started to lay down, one after another.

It really was hard to imagine a firmer defensive wall than this. The ritual hall may have been vast, but with 70 people lying down in it, there was pretty much nowhere left to step. I simply couldn’t imagine it being possible to step over this carpet of flesh and make it all the way to us.

“Umm... Well then, should we go to sleep?”

“Yes,” Ai Fa replied, sitting down.

During last year’s clan head meeting, did Ai Fa also sleep all packed in and surrounded by men like this? The thought alone caused me to feel more than a little uneasy.

Well, I doubt anyone but the Suun clan would try anything, but still, that just sounds way too reckless.

And so, I tried to distance myself from Ai Fa as much as possible in the narrow bit of space allotted to me. However, my consideration there didn’t quite pan out. After all, as I laid there face up, Ai Fa sidled right up next to me.

“You fool. Stay close to me.”

Ai Fa was right up against me, and her fingers were grabbing hold of my chest.

“U-Um, Ai Fa...”

“Quiet, you. I’m tired. We can talk tomorrow,” she stated, pressing her forehead up against my right shoulder. “I really am exhausted. I feel like I talked enough for a whole year. And my head hurts a bit...”

“Right... Well, you really did give it your all tonight.”

I was a bit worried that Darmu Ruu’s eyes may be glaring this way, but I went ahead and gently patted Ai Fa on the head.

“Goodnight, Ai Fa. Take it easy and rest up.”

“Right...”

With that, Ai Fa seemed to drift off to sleep even more smoothly than usual, and before long she started peacefully snoring away.

Jiza Ruu questioned if the Fa clan’s head should be deciding the future of the forest’s edge when we lack any related clans, but I don’t think size has anything to do with it, I thought to myself as I looked down at her defenseless, childlike sleeping face. Plus, Ai Fa isn’t the only one shouldering that burden. It’s the people of the forest’s edge who will decide the future of their settlement. I’m certain she’s just trying to carry out her duty as one representative out of the many clan heads...

While the Suun were the leading clan, they had strayed from the norm of the forest’s edge. If something could just be done about them, the future of the forest’s edge was sure to open wide.

I can sort of see the direction it’ll take, too. The key point will be getting the Dom and Zaza and them to abandon the Suun clan... That shouldn’t be all that hard, using my cunning and the Ruu’s strength.

The clan head meeting had ended in an unbelievable dodging of the matter, but the logic was sound, so I just had to be satisfied with that.

Plus, we had managed to form bonds with the Sauti and Fou.

Now that it had come to this, the foremost problem was the matter of Mida Suun’s fixation on my cooking. But we had taken countermeasures even in regards to that issue. Starting tomorrow morning, we would set to work on a method we had devised to call on Mida Suun to personally visit the Ruu settlement.

In other words, we’d be saying, “If you want to eat delicious meat, then learn the technique yourself,” as well as, “If you don’t like that, then just give up on eating any.”

The plan was for us to raise this proposal to Zuuro Suun in front of the clan heads that fell under him.

Mida Suun was obsessed with my cooking. If he came to the post town on his own as a result, he may well cause some sort of incident. The idea was to take that threat from Yamiru Suun and turn it on its head, using it for our countermeasure instead.

It didn’t especially matter if it was Mida Suun coming personally, or members of the branch families. The key point was just getting the Suun clan to learn the bloodletting and dissection techniques.

And if the folks from the Zaza and Dom and them found it unthinkable to send the Suun to the Ruu settlement all on their own, and decided to accompany them as a result, then wouldn’t that be ideal?

When we brought the matter up after the dinner, Donda Ruu sat and silently thought for a while, then just said, “Do as you please.”

In all likelihood, I accurately got what I was thinking across. Which is to say, the idea that we shouldn’t be crossing blades with the Zaza and Dom. And that my plan was to have the Ruu deepen their connection with them in order to weaken the Suun.

In actuality, there was no reason at all for them to be enemies. It was just that the Ruu didn’t get along with the Suun, while they held trust in the leading clan. That was the one difference that caused them to clash.

It’s really amusing to think that our opening here came from Mida Suun’s appetite.

But in a way, that also represented the final hope for the Suun clan.

Mida Suun was like the living embodiment of the desire to eat delicious food, so if he took the initiative and started striving to hunt giba, maybe it would clear away the stagnant, gloomy air hanging about the Suun settlement at least a little.

The men hunt giba, and the women cook. In order to make a delicious meal, the whole family should work together in order to grab hold of greater prosperity... If they can reclaim the joy brought about by that, then maybe light could shine again in those eyes like rotten fish.

I mean, as long as what I’m imagining isn’t completely off base, they’re victims too. But anyway, if we can strip the main Suun house bare, then maybe we can tear the right to lead from them without shedding any blood, too.

It may take some time, but considering I was talking about reviving the Suun clan from decades of corruption and degeneration, of course it would require a fair bit of effort.

Well... All that’ll have to wait till tomorrow...

I looked once more through the darkness at Ai Fa’s adorable sleeping face, and then closed my eyes.

◇

Just how much time had passed since then?

I was assailed by some unknown sensation and sluggishly dragged back to reality.

What is that...?

I had no idea what was going on.

But, something felt off.

There was an alarm flashing in my head.

I was only half conscious, but I could tell that something was clearly wrong.

What... was that smell? It was strangely sweet... And why was it causing an odd prickling sensation in my nose?

I slowly, sluggishly opened my heavy eyelids. However, the world around me was pitch black.

The animal fat candles must have all burnt out.

My head felt heavy, and so did my body.

It was like just one portion of my brain was awake, like I was watching a dream.

Was this that sleep paralysis thing I’d heard of?

No...

If that was the case, then how would you explain this smell? It was somehow unpleasant...

My nose, throat, and lungs all felt like they were strongly protesting the scent creeping into my body.

Was this the source of that alarm and the feeling that something was wrong?

The crazy thought of, They couldn’t be trying to kill us all with poison gas or something, right...? suddenly sprung to mind.

Instantly, I was gripped by an overwhelming sense of unease and tried to move my body in a panic.

However, my body was unable to keep up with my thoughts.

My feelings were racing out of control, but my body couldn’t move any quicker than an extra-sluggish turtle.

I could feel a bit of weight on my chest.

It was Ai Fa. Or more specifically, her fingers. I lifted my right hand up, though my senses were so dulled that it felt like it belonged to someone else, and I placed my palm atop them.

I could slowly feel the warmth of Ai Fa’s body flowing my way.

She had completely fallen asleep, but she was still clinging to my chest.

I tried to call out, “Ai Fa.” However, my throat was so constricted that I couldn’t make the sound come out right.

Now that I noticed it, my throat felt completely parched. And for some reason, my eyes stung.

It was like someone had gone and dried out the inside of my body.

Could this be... smoke...?

Had the flame from a candle ignited this wooden structure? No, if that was the case, I should have also felt the heat of the blaze from somewhere.

And besides, someone else should have noticed the abnormality before me. I mean, I was currently surrounded by the most elite hunters of the forest’s edge.

Isn’t anyone else awake...?

There wasn’t even a single window in the ritual hall, so my whole world was an endless expanse of inky blackness. No matter how much I strained my eyes, I couldn’t see a thing.

It was then that I realized that it was nightmarishly silent.

I couldn’t even hear Dan Rutim snoring.

All I could grasp with my senses were that strange sweet smell and the warmth from Ai Fa’s fingers.

At any rate... Staying here is a bad idea...

I pulled out the towel I had tucked into my clothing near my chest, then used it to cover my nose and mouth. That alone was enough to help me breathe a bit easier.

I also got the feeling that the sweet smell had weakened a bit when I sat up. I still couldn’t identify it, but maybe it was heavier than air, like propane.

Alright...

I reached in the darkness for Ai Fa’s arms, then wrapped my left arm around her back. With that I tried to lift her up... but then they arrived.

“What the heck? That brat’s awake, isn’t he?”

It was a young male voice dripping with malice. It was deep but sluggish, and sounded real unpleasant.

In other words, it was Diga Suun.

“Why’s he the only one awake, eh? Do melemele leaves not have much of an effect on foreigners, Tei Suun?”

“I’m not sure... I know nothing about that, either,” another voice emotionlessly responded to Diga Suun.

At the same time, an orange light started shining from behind. I slowly, steadily turned to face it.

Diga, Tei, and even Doddo Suun were all gathered there.

Diga Suun was holding a lit candle, while the other two were empty handed. That didn’t mean there were no blades dangling from their hips, though.

And all three of them had cloth wrapped around their mouths.

“Well, whatever. There shouldn’t be any issue at all with such a weak little brat being awake. We should hurry up and carry them out, though, right?” Diga Suun said with a vile chuckle, and the other two drew close.

It was impossible to resist them. I could never have beaten them in terms of raw strength to begin with, and on top of that, my whole body still felt like it was made of lead.

“Sss-... Stop...” I forced out with all my strength. However, all that produced was a voice so pathetic it sounded like it had come from a sickly old person.

Doddo Suun grabbed me while Tei Suun lifted up Ai Fa, and Ai Fa’s fingers powerlessly separated from my chest.

What was going on? What in the world was happening?

It was like some unbelievably awful nightmare, and didn’t feel real in the least.

“There’s no point trying to resist, you know. Everyone but you is having a nice, deep sleep,” Diga Suun said with a vulgar laugh, then kicked the head of a man I wasn’t familiar with lying at his feet. Despite that, the man was like a corpse, not budging in the least in response.

“You see, we bought this herb called melemele or something from a Sym sorcerer and burned it. Still, this is so much fun that I wish I had found out about it sooner.”

An herb... So did it cause sleepiness like myrrh?

They had used something like that to throw these fierce hunters of the forest’s edge into a deep sleep?

“Apparently, as long as you keep smelling it, you won’t wake up even if your belly’s being slit wide open. And I mean, it took five whole white coins just to buy this much... Still, that’s a cheap price to pay to settle this long-held grudge.”

Diga Suun’s sluggish eyes drifted from me to Ai Fa. I reflexively lifted my fist, but Doddo Suun easily restrained me.

“Let’s stop with the pointless chattering and get out of here, already. If we keep hanging around, we may end up unable to move, too.”

With that, we were half dragged out of the ritual hall. As they went they kicked countless men out of their way, but sure enough, not one of them showed any signs of stirring.

This was the worst case scenario. As bad as things could get.

Seriously... Just how vile were these bastards?

It just didn’t seem real in the least.

“Do you seriously... think you’ll be able to get away with this?” I managed to squeeze out in a slightly more normal voice, as my breathing became a lot easier the second we were outside. However, it still didn’t feel like I was even close to managing a yell. “To do something like this, in a place where all the clan heads are gathered... Are you trying to make enemies of every last clan at the forest’s edge...?”

“Shut it. A foreigner like you shouldn’t go talking all high and mighty.” I was being held by Doddo Suun and carried along, but now Diga Suun’s grinning face was thrust right in front of me. “Plus, why should the Suun clan have to face any blame? We’re in a position to be given blessings, instead.”

“Blessings...?”

“Yeah, that’s right. After all, the eldest son and daughter of the main house are having their weddings firmed up at the same time. What could be more auspicious?”

A chill ran up my spine. A dark, intense feeling I had never felt before squirmed in my stomach.

“Ai Fa of the Fa clan will be married to Diga Suun, while Asuta of the Fa clan will become Yamiru Suun’s husband. You two are just waiting to fall to ruin, but now you get to join the Suun clan. You should be smiling instead of sobbing, you brat.”

“As if... Do you really think we would ever agree to something like that?”

Diga Suun pulled back as if from shock. But then, he broke out in a repulsive smile.

“E-Even if you make a face like that, there’s nothing left you can do! If you refuse, then we’ll throw the both of you down into the bottom of the valley! If we do that, the other clan heads will all think you abandoned the forest’s edge and ran off to some town, or something!”

“Stop yelling, Diga. The Ruu clan head was sleeping in a vacant house instead of the ritual hall,” Doddo Suun chimed in, his breath reeking of booze. Hearing that, Diga Suun’s large frame twitched and shrunk again.

“D-Don’t scare me like that, Doddo. Hey, you led the Ruu group to the southernmost house, didn’t you, Tei Suun?”

“Yes, just as you requested.”

“In that case, there’s nothing to worry about. Even if I go shouting as loud as I can, they won’t be able to hear it from that far away... And so you better give up already. The only choices left to you are becoming Yamiru’s husband or getting eaten by the mundt.”

Then, Diga Suun turned Tei Suun’s way. Tei Suun, who was holding the completely unconscious Ai Fa.

“Carry Ai Fa back to my house. She still shouldn’t wake up for a while, but go ahead and bind her arms and legs tight anyway. I’ll be on over soon after talking to Yamiru.”

“Right,” Tei Suun replied, then turned to leave.

“Stop,” I called out to his back. “If you do anything to Ai Fa... I’ll make sure you all pay.”

Diga Suun shrunk back again. The thin smile remained, but his face was clearly growing pale.

Tei Suun remained perfectly expressionless, though.

“You can’t even stand on your own two feet, so what exactly are you planning on doing to make us pay?” Doddo Suun questioned, and a sharp pain ran along my scalp. Doddo Suun was still holding me, but he had grabbed my hair with all his might. “I’m begging you, don’t go saying you’ll actually marry Yamiru, you damn foreigner. I’ve got no intention of welcoming you as one of us. I just want to chop off both your legs so you can’t run away and then throw you into a nest of mundt.”

“...Go ahead and try if you think you can manage it.”

I glared into Doddo Suun’s eyes, like those of a starving stray dog, from up close and personal.

He trembled at first, but then he seemed to get ashamed at his own cowardice and bared his yellow teeth.

“Oh, I’ll do it alright. I’m looking forward to seeing how long that look in your eyes will last... Let’s go, Diga. And you hurry up and get moving too, Tei Suun.”

“Right.”

With that, Ai Fa disappeared into the darkness.

I gritted my teeth so firmly it felt like they would crack while taking continuous big breaths. As the fresh oxygen entered my system, I could feel the strength returning to my limbs. I had actually recovered more than halfway while being held in Doddo Suun’s arms.

However, it wasn’t time yet. I still wasn’t strong enough to shake free of them and get away.

I just had to wait for a bit more of my strength to return, then run as fast as I could as soon as I saw an opening.

I couldn’t let them do anything to Ai Fa, no matter what.

They said Donda Ruu was in the southernmost vacant house, right?

They really were pathetic to have let that information slip so lightly.

I had become the treacherous Suun clan’s prisoner, and I could feel the flames of rage burning hot in my belly.