Translator: Leonhart Editor: Arocks141 TLC: ShimizuA Proofreader: Arocks141
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Chapter 26: Aire Village’s Harvest Festival and Chijimi – 1st Half
Hello everyone, it’s Shuri.
Right now I’m making a final check on a carriage that has been prepared for a business trip.
It is currently morning. Early in the morning, in fact. The sun has just started to rise.
After being appointed to go on a business trip from Ganglabe, I handed over the leftover work to Gann and Adora, and therefore my preparations are complete.
Gann and Adora had already developed enough for me to leave my job as a chef for them. I mean, they have more leadership skills than I do, so they’re the right people for the job. *sob*.
With the preparation for the takeover, and then the 3 days it took to prepare the carriage, today is the 4th day of hard work. I am about to make the final confirmations before I depart.
“All right. Cooking utensils, money, ingredients, camping tools, and horse brushing tools are all set.”
As I finished confirming the items that were written on the preparation list, I felt relieved.
I planned to go with only one carriage. It looked as if someone else was going with me, but I hadn’t been told anything yet.
Ganglabe told me,
“I have my own preparations to make. Well, since the departure time is already decided, it’s ok to rendezvous at the departure point isn’t it?”
Just what is he thinking about, I wonder… There are things to talk about between people who are departing together, you know.
“Well then, it’s about time to go.”
When I looked around, I didn’t see the people who’re supposed to come with me. In the end, what should I do? As I am thinking about something like that, 2 people came out from the castle. They’re coming towards me, and they each had their own baggage, but…
“Eh? Riru and Cougar?”
“Yo, it’s me!” 1
“Yep, it’s Riru”
“What are you doing here?”
They both laughed when they saw me asking nervously. How strange. They both were supposed to be busy with their work, aren’t they?
“Why, you ask, I’m your escort. As for Ruri…”
“Ruri is, simply put, here to drive the carriage and maintenance. Since Shuri is bad at taking care of horses.”
“Well, that might be the case, but…”
True, I haven’t got used to horses yet. More than anything because if you’re hated by them they won’t hesitate to warn you when you get close. So I was sure that someone who could take care of horses would come with me, but…
“Are you sure you’re ok with this? What about your work?”
“This is my job, though.”
Cougar came closer towards me, and bumped his fist on my chest.
“It’s to protect you.”
My chest felt hot upon hearing his words. Even if he became a subordinate, that was how Cougar was after all. Riru nodded as well upon hearing it.
“Well then, please take care of me.”
I answered Cougar while bumping my fist on his chest.
“Of course! Leave it to me.”
“Riru as well.”
“Yes, Riru too!”
As soon as I said that, they both threw their luggage to the carriage.
“But, it’s like that, you know”
“That?”
“We look like a small mercenary corps this way, don’t you think?”
“Is that so?”
“It is, isn’t it?”
Cougar clapped his hands and said,
“From now on we three are going to go around doing the Lord’s work. Maybe we’ll hunt bandits, or listen to requests from the citizens of the territory. It’s not much different from our jobs in the mercenary corps. Truthfully, I was really happy when I was given this job. When we were still a mercenary corps, I often wondered if I could travel a bit more comfortably like this.”
That might probably be the case.
“Riru agrees too. To be honest, the lab in the castle was something Riru had always dreamed of, but there were no new ideas flashing into Riru’s head. If Riru goes outside and works there, Riru might think of new things.”
Riru said, agreeing with Cougar. But still, a mercenary company, huh? A mercenary company-ish job, huh? Well, in the end, no matter how far I try to spin it, I am a cook for a mercenary corps. For some reason I’m kind of happy.
“Ok. Well then, let’s depart!”
“Let’s go!”
“Yes~.”
And with this, even though it’s sudden, it was decided that this will be a three person trip. A mercenary group with only a few people. Although I wonder, I had a feeling like I shouldn’t forget my original intention.
And with that, we let Riru take the reins and departed, and the carriage kept moving for around half a day. We left the city, rode through the highway, and we’re now on the road, heading towards the next village. The weather was nice today. The grasslands painted the surroundings, and the bright blue sky is beautiful. The wind feels good as well. It was the best weather for travel.
“And so, where is our destination, Shuri?”
“Yeah, regarding that,”
All three of us were riding the carriage, but me and Riru were sitting inside while Cougar was lying around in the back storage area. So I took the documents out from a box in the storage area.
“According to Ganglabe’s investigation, It seems that there are 4 villages that harbor deep resentment.”
“Only four? That’s surprisingly few.”
“…Cougar, this Sounity territory, no…”
I revised what I said.
“There are quite a few villages in the Aprahda territory, but among all of them these 4 villages are organizing the surrounding villages with vigor.”
Ganglabe renamed the territory after he started ruling. There was some opposition in the castle, and even with Gingus and Ekress persuading them, some of them were still making a fuss. After all, along with a change of ruler, a change of the political system also occurred. Renaming was also natural among all this. And Ganglabe renamed the territory to Aprahda. I haven’t been told what the reason is though.
“Really, almost all of the villages are in rebellion.”
Cougar said amazedly.
“Well, those villages aside, I’m sure a lot of them will be accepting as well.”
“That might be true.”
“Riru also thinks so.”
Riru said while holding the reins.
“Old values are proven and stable. If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you can continue to live. Therefore people are not easy to accept a new ruler and a new system. Especially when it’s someone foreign and originally unrelated.”
“It’s a pain, huh…”
Riru nodded, showing her agreement. Will I be able to convince such people from now on? What should I do…
“Oh, that’s big.”
As Cougar lifted his body and pointed out, on the other end was a fairly wide wheat field spread around. The ripe wheat showed that it’s getting close to harvest time.
“I think so. That must be… the village of Aire.”
“Do you have any info on that village?”
“Hmm… According to Ganglabe, it’s a village centered on farming on the fields.”
“…I see.”
Cougar looked straight ahead with a serious face. Well then, this is my first job. I’ll definitely do it!
There was a time where I thought like that. As we pass through the surrounding wheat fields and enter the village, the villagers look at us with stern and unsatisfied faces. The men of the village then exited the village and pointed at us.
“What are you doing here, you invaders! Go home!”
“You ousted Ekress!”
They were very hostile and they’re surrounding the carriage. Without thinking I raised my hand, signaling that I have no intention to fight, but it seems like the surrounding people don’t understand what the gesture means. True, this doesn’t really convey my intentions. However, Riru disembarks from the carriage with a calm face, and starts patting the horse on its head. And then, Cougar starts to speak.
“Let me tell you something interesting. Right now, I’m being surrounded by you.”
Wait, why did he pull out his sword and take a fighting stance!?
“Cougar! You must not kill!”
“Can I leave them half-dead then?”
“No, you shall not!”
“Well, it’s a suppression then.”
“No, that’s also a bit… Oi wait!”
Without hearing what I have to say, Cougar then proceeded to advance towards the surrounding men. They clearly didn’t expect it to happen, and flinched for a moment.
“Let alone kill, I can’t even hurt them. What a pain…”
Cougar, who was now wielding his sword, took a swing at the sasumata. The sasumata was cut vertically from the middle, it shifted a little on its axle and was then cleanly cut into two. The man holding the sasumata, which has been severed for the most part, screamed with fear.
“Hi, Hieeee!!”
“Give me a break. I only broke the weapon.”
“You!”
Another person thrusts out another sasumata towards Cougar.
“Seriously, what a pain.”
However, without even looking at it Cougar twisted his body, and proceeded to grab and twist the hand holding the sasumata. As the man’s posture collapses, Cougar pulls him further and disarms him of his sasumata.
“See, whatever you do it’s useless, isn’t it? Stop throwing a fit already.”
“U, Uwaa!!”
The man retreated while screaming with audible fear. Well that’s obvious, isn’t it. When faced with someone you can’t defeat, anyone would want to run away. But this situation was the worst, isn’t it. They’re completely filled with fear. I wonder if I can even speak with them in this situation.
“Wait!”
It was at that time. I heard a familiar voice crying out from the carriage’s storage.
“I was not ousted! Don’t be fooled by the false rumors!”
Ekress came out from a box in the luggage bay. Eh? Since when was she here? However, this seemed to have an outstanding effect.
“L, Lord Ekress””
“It’s Lord Ekress!”
“Everyone, Lord Ekress is present!”
Immediately they changed their attitudes and started kneeling down with their head on the ground. Amazing, I’ve only ever seen this in period drama shows before.
“Is the village chief present? There is something that I wish to speak about.”
“Ye, yes, I am here!”
From the crowd of villagers, an elder came out and bowed, Ekress disembarked from the luggage bay, sat in front of the elder and put her hands on his shoulder.
“It has been a while. How are you?”
“More than anything, Lord Ekress’ safety is what matters.”
We stayed where we were while Ekress and the elder were chatting.
Well, I’m the only one who isn’t moving. Riru is taking care of the horse, while Cougar was throwing away the sasumata he got from disarming the man and leaning by the luggage bay.
“If I may ask, why is Lord Ekress here?”
“I came here to help explain things to you. Gingus and I were never ousted. I properly gave the power to the new lord of the territory. I know that everyone might be upset, but I want you to try and accept this.”
“But that’s… It was all thanks to Lord Ekress that these villages have grown so much. Do we really have to throw all our gratitude away and pledge our allegiance to invaders?”
“If you still feel gratitude towards me, then all the more reason to support them. I, too, am supporting them. What I and Gingus can’t do, they can.”
I wonder if Ekress managed to convince him, as the elder was now nodding while crying.
“Lord Ekress. If I may, I have one last question.”
“What is it?”
“Are you happy with how things are right now?”
“I am. Very much so.”
Ekress took no time in answering the village chief’s question. Upon hearing Ekress’ answer, the village chief stood and faced towards us. While Riru and Cougar were being vigilant, the village chief stood in front of me and bowed his head down.
“This Aire Village, since a long time ago, has held a deep sense of gratitude towards Lord Ekress. Flood control, development of the village, and various assistance… There are simply too many to count.”
“Village chief…”
“That is why we despised you. We thought you took Lord Ekress’ rightful place. But since we’ve heard the truth, this village will cease its hostilities towards you.”
And then, the village chief said in a tearful voice.
“Please, take care of Lord Ekress.”
“…Of course.”
After that, the village chief said that there’s something that he had to discuss with the village, and so he took some people and went somewhere. In the meantime, I took some ingredients out of the storage and began to prepare to cook.
“So? I’m also quite useful, aren’t I?
Ekress said while approaching me.
“Yes. I’m not sure I could have persuaded them as easily by myself. By the way, when exactly did you slip into the luggage bay?”
Certainly, thanks to Ekress the meaningless fight was… well, it was suppressed all right, but why are you here?
When she heard my question, Ekress answered it proudly.
“I snuck into the box yesterday! I heard you were going on a business trip!”
“Where the hell did you get that idea from…”
Sure, it’s amazing, but I’m scared more than I’m amazed. I mean, to slip into luggage…
“And so? Will Shuri be cooking after this?”
“Yes. I will be making Chijimi2.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, you can just take a look after this.”
I prepared the ingredients and utensils, and immediately started cooking. I’m really hungry, you know.
The ingredients are flour, eggs, carrots, leeks, pork, onions, soy sauce, and water.
I finally managed to make soy sauce. I asked Riru for equipment to make various seasonings with soy sauce being one of them.
As for the things I brought in the luggage, the seasonings I made thanks to Ruri’s cooperation and the ingredients were all scattered around in there.
To make it, first you lightly season the pork with some salt and pepper, and then chop some onions and leeks.
Then you put in all the ingredients in a bowl and mix them.
Once you’re done, put some oil in the pot and heat it, place the pork inside the pot and pour some dough, and then smoothen the surface.
Cover it, once it turns brown flip it over and cook the back side as well.
Once you’re done, serve it on a plate, and it’s finished!
“Well, then, Ekress, please have a taste.”
“Is it ok?”
“I’m cooking for everyone, so of course Ekress is included.”
“Is that so? In that case, I’m digging in.”
“Ah, before that,”
I took out some ingredients and bottled seasoning from the luggage, put them on a plate and mix them before sprinkling them on the Chijimi.
“What’s this liquid?”
“That’s a seasoning called ponzu and chilli oil. I also added a little bit of ginger and honey into it.”
This was also a seasoning I made in advance. Once I have a base, I can also easily make this kind of thing.
Ekress brought a piece of chijimi into her mouth with a fork.
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
Ekress seems pleased with the chijimi, and she ate more and more of it.
“Overall it has a chewy texture, but the scent of leek gives it a good accent. The onions and carrots also strengthen its texture, and the deliciousness of the pork is transferred into the dough, so overall this is very tasty. This sauce is also good. Overall it’s refreshing, and the taste of ginger in the sauce doesn’t fight with the taste of leek inside the chijimi. It’s really delicious.”
“Thank you very much. …Hm?”
When I looked around, some children were looking at me. They’re looking here enviously… I wonder if they also want some?
“Ah, that’s right.”
Ekress looks as if she just remembered something.
“It should be time for the Aire Village’s Harvest Festival soon.”
“Harvest Festival?”
“It’s a festival wishing for a good harvest for this year and the year after, but I guess it’s more accurate to call it a banquet. That’s why, Shuri.”
Ekress said as she looked happily towards me.
“With this chijimi, let’s try to get along with everyone.”
…… What?