“…So that’s why we’ll gradually expand our rescue operations from this area.” “Understood. We’re already grateful that Lady Aeclys is alive, let alone taking command of the disaster relief efforts…” “I’m not in a position to act as a lord anymore. But that means I have more freedom to move around.”
I – that is, Aeclys – am currently discussing matters with the village chief of Uumira Village in a temporary evacuation facility. Since hunting is common in Uumira Village, they’ve created detailed maps of the surrounding geography. These will be helpful now. When Shuri and the others heard about the landslide disaster in Uumira Village while in Shukaha Village, we rushed over, but the situation was worse than expected. The terraced fields are almost completely destroyed, and the hunting grounds in the mountains have changed dramatically due to landslides. The worst part, though I don’t say it out loud, is that more than half of the kilns have been destroyed. At this rate, how many years will it take before they can produce porcelain and pottery like before… At least three years, I think. That’s just my estimate. I look at the map with an increasingly bitter expression.
“But… why did the landslide happen so suddenly? Did they cut down too many trees?” “No, trees are a precious resource, and we need them for the kilns. We need them in both summer and winter, so we’ve been extremely strict about logging limits, and everyone has been careful. We’ve had small landslides in the past due to excessive logging. …The only cause we can think of is that the recent heavy rains increased the groundwater and weakened the soil.”
Yeah, I nod with a troubled expression. I mean, what else could it be? This village is especially strict with wood management because they use it for porcelain and pottery production. There was even an accident in the past. I know how incredibly strict their management is. Besides, there were plenty of trees mixed in with the landslide debris. That’s partly why the damage was so extensive.
“Well, there’s no point in us speculating about the cause now. We can investigate while working, but for now, rescuing the victims takes priority. According to this plan…” “Cut the crap, you bastard!!”
That’s when we hear angry shouting from outside. Startled, I look toward the entrance. Though I can’t see what’s happening, I can hear more shouting. Something seems to be going on, though the yelling makes it hard to understand what.
“I’m going to check it out.” “Ah, Lady Aeclys!”
When I exit the temporary evacuation facility, a shocking scene unfolds before me.
Shuri has been punched and knocked to the ground by a man.
What are you doing, or… What happened, or… Various thoughts cross my mind, but now isn’t the time to dwell on them. I rush to help Shuri, who’s fallen and covered in mud, and help him up.
“Are you alright, Shuri!?” “Huh? Oh, Aeclys…” “Hey! Get out of the way!”
The man continues shouting and glares at us. However, I’m not timid enough to back down here. I’ve heard this kind of shouting countless times during my work. I glare back at the man, with anger in my eyes.
“’Get out of the way’? What are you talking about? Don’t be ridiculous. What’s your problem with him?” “Hah!? Just look! He’s using this disaster as an excuse to show off with his fancy cooking! He’s looking down on us with pity! Thinking he’ll feed us poor victims his fancy food!”
“Yeah, that’s right!” several other men chime in. Something feels off, but I ignore that feeling and stand up to look at Shuri’s cooking. I approach the pot and look inside – it’s just ordinary soup with meat and taro. I’ve seen similar ingredients being sold by merchants from Nouviche. While it might look fancy, I try a spoonful of the meat and taro. Ah, it’s delicious. I’m not sure what kind of dashi is used in the soup, but it has a gentle flavor with a unique saltiness. Both the meat and taro are well-simmered, maintaining a good texture while being tender. The meat falls apart when chewed but still has substance, and the taro has a pleasant, sticky texture and taste. I also try a spoonful of the soup itself, and yes. The umami from the ingredients harmonizes with whatever was used for the dashi, creating a gentle flavor that settles nicely in the stomach. I return the ladle to the pot.
“Yes, it’s certainly delicious. It might look fancy, but it’s actually quite simple. It’s made to fill the stomachs of disaster victims and give them energy to keep moving. If you think this is too fancy, how do you expect to do any work later?” “Shut up! Anyway, hey!”
At the man’s call, several men push me aside and grab the pot.
“Ah, what are you doing?!” “This fancy cooking pisses me off. We’ll take it to the mountains and dump it! Let’s go!” “Ah, wait!” “Ah, taking it away won’t do you any good.”
That’s when Kuuga arrives at the plaza. In both hands, he’s dragging a bearded man who appears to have been beaten up. His face is covered in blood – I wonder just how badly he was beaten. Kuuga throws the man into the plaza and says casually:
“Aeclys’s prediction was spot on. These guys and this one are part of a bandit group that’s been using these mountains as their base.”
Huh? At those words, both the men and I are confused. Everyone in the plaza lets out sounds of bewilderment. Then comes the final blow.
“Who are you people?”
Looking toward the voice, I see the village chief standing there. The village chief points at the men and says, trembling with anger:
“Who are you?! I remember the face of every single person in this village! We hunt and farm together! I’d never forget the faces of those I trust with my life! Especially the men! I’ve never seen your faces in the village! So, are you those bandits they say have been hiding in the mountains recently?!”
The men tremble at the village chief’s accusation. And I, feeling stupid, finally realize it too. These guys had asked “who are you?” when they saw me. I’ve visited the surrounding villages countless times. I’ve been to this village so many times to receive their porcelain and pottery deliveries that I couldn’t even count. That’s why so many people know my face. Yet these guys didn’t know who I was. That’s impossible. Given my position as the next lord, it’s inconceivable that they wouldn’t know someone who the village chief knows as a dignitary.
“And you guys aren’t just ordinary bandits.”
Kuuga continues.
“This guy finally spilled it after I beat him up good. You’re from Grand-Ende, aren’t you? Here to investigate the area?” “What did you say!?”
I look at the men’s faces in surprise. They look resigned. So these guys were spies!
“Kuuga, kill them immediately!” “Are you sure? Without investigating further?” “It doesn’t matter! If they’ve been hiding in the mountains, they might have been smuggling timber too! Even if we investigate and arrest them now, Grand-Ende is that kind of country! Rather than being attacked later with some ridiculous justification, we should-” “Please wait!”
Shuri’s voice rings out. Everyone – me, Kuuga, and everyone present – looks at Shuri. I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but he prepares several bowls and approaches the men.
“What are you doing, Shuri! They’re-!” “I know. They’re spies, right? Pretending to be bandits…” “Then-!” “Weren’t they also victims of the disaster while hiding in the mountains?”
Those words leave me speechless. Because it’s true, though I didn’t want to admit it. If they were hiding in the mountains and came all the way here, they must be desperate. The best strategy would have been for all of them to come out when our rescue team arrived, steal supplies, and escape. Getting away from the disaster area should have been their top priority. But only a few of them are here. The others haven’t shown up. It’s strange. They could easily loot from the exhausted villagers. Yet they’re only trying to take the food while pretending to be disaster victims…
“Are you also hungry and desperate? Or perhaps most of your supplies were lost in the mudflow?”
Shuri takes the ladle from the pot the men are holding and serves more soup. Then he offers it to one of the men.
“I won’t ask now about your intentions or what you were trying to do. But I have only one mission.”
Shuri smiles.
“To fill the stomachs of disaster victims. That’s all.”
Then Shuri presses the bowl against the man’s chest and continues.
“First, eat. Then, don’t do things like this anymore. Understand?” “…Tch.”
The men set down the pot and accept the bowls from Shuri.
“It’s hopeless anyway with that Kuuga around. You guys…” “Yeah, I know. Our plan’s ruined. We give up.” “Yeah, let’s.”
Seeing this, Shuri lifts the pot and returns it to the table. Then he begins serving soup into bowls.
“Come on, everyone! Please eat! First, fill your stomachs! Fill them so you can act! Let’s use all our strength to overcome this situation! I know we can do it together!”
And so, the commotion in the plaza settles down.
The soup is distributed to everyone, and work resumes. We’ve locked the spy men in an undamaged storehouse for now. We can’t let them escape… and after seeing Shuri’s interaction with them, I find myself unable to kill them.
“But don’t do anything that reckless again.” “Yes, I’m sorry.”
Shuri and I sit at the entrance of the temporary evacuation facility, watching everyone work. The meal break is over, and we can finally rest. I’ve made plans and finished discussions with the village chief. For now, I’ve written a letter to Gungrave about this year’s taxes. Since they won’t be able to pay, it would be better to start from next year. I’m not sure if he’ll accept it, but he’s not stupid. He’ll probably understand.
“But you really are particular about cooking. To think you’d even feed them.” “Well, it’s about pride and dedication to my role as a cook…”
Shuri says with a wry smile.
“Besides, I figured that in the end, Kuuga, Lill, and Aeclys would handle things somehow.” “Thanks for the trust. But you rely too much on others.” “I-I’m sorry.”
Really.
“You’re absolutely hopeless without me.”
I rest my head on Shuri’s shoulder as he sits next to me.
“I guess I’ll have to stay with you until the end.” “Thank you for that. With Aeclys and Lill’s help, we should be able to feed many people.” “That’s not what I… never mind.”
I give up and lift my head from Shuri’s shoulder. I’m used to his cluelessness by now. As Shuri and I talk, Lill sits down on Shuri’s other side.
“I’m exhausted~” “Good work, Lill.” “Lill is tired. Shuri, give me food.” “Yes, yes.”
Shuri stands up, approaches the pot, warms it up a bit, and gives the soup to Lill. It’s the same dish I tasted earlier. It smells good.
“Here you go.” “Thanks for the food.”
With that, Lill starts eating energetically. Almost too energetically.
“Ah, look, you’re spilling it.”
Shuri picks up a piece of burdock root from Lill’s cheek and eats it.
“Please eat more properly.” “Can’t! It’s too delicious!” “That’s no excuse.”
Shuri takes care of Lill attentively, though with exasperation. Ah well, it feels like they’ve completely forgotten about me.
Under the blue sky, I find myself feeling a bit jealous.
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Chapter 65
“…So that’s why we’ll gradually expand our rescue operations from this area.”
“Understood. We’re already grateful that Lady Aeclys is alive, let alone taking command of the disaster relief efforts…”
“I’m not in a position to act as a lord anymore. But that means I have more freedom to move around.”
I – that is, Aeclys – am currently discussing matters with the village chief of Uumira Village in a temporary evacuation facility. Since hunting is common in Uumira Village, they’ve created detailed maps of the surrounding geography. These will be helpful now.
When Shuri and the others heard about the landslide disaster in Uumira Village while in Shukaha Village, we rushed over, but the situation was worse than expected.
The terraced fields are almost completely destroyed, and the hunting grounds in the mountains have changed dramatically due to landslides.
The worst part, though I don’t say it out loud, is that more than half of the kilns have been destroyed.
At this rate, how many years will it take before they can produce porcelain and pottery like before… At least three years, I think. That’s just my estimate.
I look at the map with an increasingly bitter expression.
“But… why did the landslide happen so suddenly? Did they cut down too many trees?”
“No, trees are a precious resource, and we need them for the kilns. We need them in both summer and winter, so we’ve been extremely strict about logging limits, and everyone has been careful. We’ve had small landslides in the past due to excessive logging.
…The only cause we can think of is that the recent heavy rains increased the groundwater and weakened the soil.”
Yeah, I nod with a troubled expression.
I mean, what else could it be? This village is especially strict with wood management because they use it for porcelain and pottery production. There was even an accident in the past. I know how incredibly strict their management is.
Besides, there were plenty of trees mixed in with the landslide debris. That’s partly why the damage was so extensive.
“Well, there’s no point in us speculating about the cause now. We can investigate while working, but for now, rescuing the victims takes priority. According to this plan…”
“Cut the crap, you bastard!!”
That’s when we hear angry shouting from outside.
Startled, I look toward the entrance. Though I can’t see what’s happening, I can hear more shouting. Something seems to be going on, though the yelling makes it hard to understand what.
“I’m going to check it out.”
“Ah, Lady Aeclys!”
When I exit the temporary evacuation facility, a shocking scene unfolds before me.
Shuri has been punched and knocked to the ground by a man.
What are you doing, or…
What happened, or…
Various thoughts cross my mind, but now isn’t the time to dwell on them.
I rush to help Shuri, who’s fallen and covered in mud, and help him up.
“Are you alright, Shuri!?”
“Huh? Oh, Aeclys…”
“Hey! Get out of the way!”
The man continues shouting and glares at us.
However, I’m not timid enough to back down here. I’ve heard this kind of shouting countless times during my work.
I glare back at the man, with anger in my eyes.
“’Get out of the way’? What are you talking about? Don’t be ridiculous. What’s your problem with him?”
“Hah!? Just look! He’s using this disaster as an excuse to show off with his fancy cooking! He’s looking down on us with pity! Thinking he’ll feed us poor victims his fancy food!”
“Yeah, that’s right!” several other men chime in.
Something feels off, but I ignore that feeling and stand up to look at Shuri’s cooking.
I approach the pot and look inside – it’s just ordinary soup with meat and taro. I’ve seen similar ingredients being sold by merchants from Nouviche.
While it might look fancy, I try a spoonful of the meat and taro.
Ah, it’s delicious.
I’m not sure what kind of dashi is used in the soup, but it has a gentle flavor with a unique saltiness.
Both the meat and taro are well-simmered, maintaining a good texture while being tender.
The meat falls apart when chewed but still has substance, and the taro has a pleasant, sticky texture and taste.
I also try a spoonful of the soup itself, and yes.
The umami from the ingredients harmonizes with whatever was used for the dashi, creating a gentle flavor that settles nicely in the stomach.
I return the ladle to the pot.
“Yes, it’s certainly delicious. It might look fancy, but it’s actually quite simple.
It’s made to fill the stomachs of disaster victims and give them energy to keep moving. If you think this is too fancy, how do you expect to do any work later?”
“Shut up! Anyway, hey!”
At the man’s call, several men push me aside and grab the pot.
“Ah, what are you doing?!”
“This fancy cooking pisses me off. We’ll take it to the mountains and dump it! Let’s go!”
“Ah, wait!”
“Ah, taking it away won’t do you any good.”
That’s when Kuuga arrives at the plaza.
In both hands, he’s dragging a bearded man who appears to have been beaten up. His face is covered in blood – I wonder just how badly he was beaten.
Kuuga throws the man into the plaza and says casually:
“Aeclys’s prediction was spot on. These guys and this one are part of a bandit group that’s been using these mountains as their base.”
Huh? At those words, both the men and I are confused. Everyone in the plaza lets out sounds of bewilderment.
Then comes the final blow.
“Who are you people?”
Looking toward the voice, I see the village chief standing there.
The village chief points at the men and says, trembling with anger:
“Who are you?! I remember the face of every single person in this village! We hunt and farm together! I’d never forget the faces of those I trust with my life! Especially the men!
I’ve never seen your faces in the village! So, are you those bandits they say have been hiding in the mountains recently?!”
The men tremble at the village chief’s accusation. And I, feeling stupid, finally realize it too.
These guys had asked “who are you?” when they saw me.
I’ve visited the surrounding villages countless times. I’ve been to this village so many times to receive their porcelain and pottery deliveries that I couldn’t even count. That’s why so many people know my face.
Yet these guys didn’t know who I was.
That’s impossible.
Given my position as the next lord, it’s inconceivable that they wouldn’t know someone who the village chief knows as a dignitary.
“And you guys aren’t just ordinary bandits.”
Kuuga continues.
“This guy finally spilled it after I beat him up good.
You’re from Grand-Ende, aren’t you?
Here to investigate the area?”
“What did you say!?”
I look at the men’s faces in surprise. They look resigned.
So these guys were spies!
“Kuuga, kill them immediately!”
“Are you sure? Without investigating further?”
“It doesn’t matter! If they’ve been hiding in the mountains, they might have been smuggling timber too! Even if we investigate and arrest them now, Grand-Ende is that kind of country! Rather than being attacked later with some ridiculous justification, we should-”
“Please wait!”
Shuri’s voice rings out.
Everyone – me, Kuuga, and everyone present – looks at Shuri.
I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but he prepares several bowls and approaches the men.
“What are you doing, Shuri! They’re-!”
“I know. They’re spies, right? Pretending to be bandits…”
“Then-!”
“Weren’t they also victims of the disaster while hiding in the mountains?”
Those words leave me speechless.
Because it’s true, though I didn’t want to admit it.
If they were hiding in the mountains and came all the way here, they must be desperate.
The best strategy would have been for all of them to come out when our rescue team arrived, steal supplies, and escape. Getting away from the disaster area should have been their top priority.
But only a few of them are here. The others haven’t shown up.
It’s strange. They could easily loot from the exhausted villagers.
Yet they’re only trying to take the food while pretending to be disaster victims…
“Are you also hungry and desperate? Or perhaps most of your supplies were lost in the mudflow?”
Shuri takes the ladle from the pot the men are holding and serves more soup.
Then he offers it to one of the men.
“I won’t ask now about your intentions or what you were trying to do. But I have only one mission.”
Shuri smiles.
“To fill the stomachs of disaster victims. That’s all.”
Then Shuri presses the bowl against the man’s chest and continues.
“First, eat. Then, don’t do things like this anymore. Understand?”
“…Tch.”
The men set down the pot and accept the bowls from Shuri.
“It’s hopeless anyway with that Kuuga around. You guys…”
“Yeah, I know. Our plan’s ruined. We give up.”
“Yeah, let’s.”
Seeing this, Shuri lifts the pot and returns it to the table.
Then he begins serving soup into bowls.
“Come on, everyone! Please eat! First, fill your stomachs! Fill them so you can act! Let’s use all our strength to overcome this situation! I know we can do it together!”
And so, the commotion in the plaza settles down.
The soup is distributed to everyone, and work resumes.
We’ve locked the spy men in an undamaged storehouse for now. We can’t let them escape… and after seeing Shuri’s interaction with them, I find myself unable to kill them.
“But don’t do anything that reckless again.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
Shuri and I sit at the entrance of the temporary evacuation facility, watching everyone work.
The meal break is over, and we can finally rest.
I’ve made plans and finished discussions with the village chief. For now, I’ve written a letter to Gungrave about this year’s taxes. Since they won’t be able to pay, it would be better to start from next year.
I’m not sure if he’ll accept it, but he’s not stupid. He’ll probably understand.
“But you really are particular about cooking. To think you’d even feed them.”
“Well, it’s about pride and dedication to my role as a cook…”
Shuri says with a wry smile.
“Besides, I figured that in the end, Kuuga, Lill, and Aeclys would handle things somehow.”
“Thanks for the trust. But you rely too much on others.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
Really.
“You’re absolutely hopeless without me.”
I rest my head on Shuri’s shoulder as he sits next to me.
“I guess I’ll have to stay with you until the end.”
“Thank you for that. With Aeclys and Lill’s help, we should be able to feed many people.”
“That’s not what I… never mind.”
I give up and lift my head from Shuri’s shoulder. I’m used to his cluelessness by now.
As Shuri and I talk, Lill sits down on Shuri’s other side.
“I’m exhausted~”
“Good work, Lill.”
“Lill is tired. Shuri, give me food.”
“Yes, yes.”
Shuri stands up, approaches the pot, warms it up a bit, and gives the soup to Lill.
It’s the same dish I tasted earlier. It smells good.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks for the food.”
With that, Lill starts eating energetically. Almost too energetically.
“Ah, look, you’re spilling it.”
Shuri picks up a piece of burdock root from Lill’s cheek and eats it.
“Please eat more properly.”
“Can’t! It’s too delicious!”
“That’s no excuse.”
Shuri takes care of Lill attentively, though with exasperation.
Ah well, it feels like they’ve completely forgotten about me.
Under the blue sky, I find myself feeling a bit jealous.
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