Business was booming like always. We had all kinds of different people streaming in to buy food from us, including the members of the construction group currently staying in Genos. Since the information about the red savage our people had found was being kept under wraps, everything was nice and calm too. The only people we saw who even knew about what was going on were the bodyguards Kamyua Yoshu and Zasshuma.
“I certainly never expected a red savage to pop up in Genos. What a shock,” Kamyua Yoshu said with his usual aloof smile, while Zasshuma nodded along, looking impressed. Apparently, the two of them had heard the news from either Marstein or Polarth. “Still, I suppose you did run into a giant madarama snake before, Asuta. That means you just need to see a varb wolf, and then you’ll have had an encounter with all three of the great beasts of Morga.”
“Ah ha ha,” I laughed. “I was barely able to stop that snake from strangling me to death, you know.”
Tia had also strangled me yesterday, but at least for now, we were keeping that a secret.
“Well, I’m sure even a red savage wouldn’t be too much for the people of the forest’s edge to handle. But if it comes down to it, you really should just leave it at the border between the forest and the mountain. If it gets eaten by a varb or a madarama, it’ll be because that was the will of Morga,” Zasshuma remarked with a bright smile. He and Kamyua Yoshu hadn’t been born in Genos, so neither of them seemed to consider the matter very important.
However, Kamyua Yoshu did say something when they were going to leave. “It’s quite interesting to hear that the red savages revere a deity other than the four great gods. If possible, I’d like to speak with her before she’s dealt with.”
“I see. Well, she’s currently being held at the Ruu settlement.”
“Ah. I probably shouldn’t go butting in, since I’m an outsider. Still, I’d be very interested to hear what the leading clan heads ultimately decide to do.”
And with that, Kamyua Yoshu and Zasshuma walked off to take a seat in the restaurant space. They had both been invited to the friendship banquet that was going to be held at the Ruu settlement, since they were currently staying in Genos for a bit of rest and relaxation—a sign of how peaceful the town was now.
Then, shortly after the rush that we usually saw when the sun hit its peak, we had some more customers show up who we were expecting to join us at the upcoming banquet: two young chefs from the castle town, Roy and Shilly Rou.
“Hey. It’s been a while, huh? Has the date for the banquet still not been set?” Roy asked.
“Ah, sorry about that. We should be able to get it finalized soon. At the very least, it shouldn’t be any later than the tenth of the blue month.”
That was when the annual clan head meeting would be held. It had been decided that the friendship banquet would be before that.
“It would be best if you could make that decision as soon as possible. We do have our own jobs to worry about, after all,” Shilly Rou said in a displeased tone, her face hidden in the shadow of the hood of her cloak and partially covered by a scarf.
Roy glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, shrugged casually, and said, “We can’t slip out on days when there are reservations at The Silver Star. If at all possible, could you try to avoid scheduling it on any of those days?”
“Yes, of course. Just let me know which days would be inconvenient for you between the first and the tenth of the blue month.”
“That should be very helpful. You’ve been fretting about what you would do if the timing ended up being bad, haven’t you, Shilly Rou?”
“I-I wasn’t fretting!” Shilly Rou denied, the area around her eyes going all red.
Regardless of whether Roy had been speaking the truth, though, I was glad to have the chance to invite the two of them to the forest’s edge again.
“Um, so, from your group, it’s only gonna be you two and Bozl coming?”
“Yeah. Tatumai seemed like he was wavering back and forth for a while, but he finally decided not to come this time. As long as that guy gets to play around with herbs alongside Varkas, he’s happy.”
Apparently, it would be difficult for Varkas to visit the settlement at the forest’s edge due to his constitution. That was disappointing to me personally, but I was still overjoyed that we would have three people from the castle town in attendance.
“Anyway, we’ll see you later,” Roy said. “And we’ll be counting on you for that hoboi oil and shaska study session that’ll be happening soon.”
“Right. I’m looking forward to working with you then,” I replied.
Roy and Shilly Rou had brought along a wagon today, which they were going to use to transport the large amount of food that they were planning to buy. After the observers had left, a lot of different things that had been frozen in place had started to move again. So long as nothing major changed, we would finally be able to start making progress on deepening our bonds with the citizens of the west again.
A short while later, Sanjura showed up too. This was the first time he had come by the stalls since the day before our meeting with the observers. When he pulled back his hood, I saw that he was smiling apologetically at me.
“My apologies, for not coming, for so long. Lefreya’s situation, has shifted, so it has been, difficult to leave, her side.”
“Oh, yeah. They’re letting Lefreya participate in society again now, aren’t they? I figured that would mean you’d be pretty busy.”
“I am grateful, for the kindness, your people, have shown. And I wished, to express, my gratitude, as soon, as I could,” Sanjura said, deeply bowing his head.
The other customers lined up for the stalls were looking at him curiously, so I hurriedly said, “Please, raise your head. We people of the forest’s edge decided that we should reconcile with the house of Turan because we thought that was the best way forward for us. There’s no need to go that far to thank us.”
“But Lefreya’s crimes, were finally forgiven. I am, truly happy.”
“Yeah, I’m glad too. And I hope that you’ll keep assisting her in the future.”
When Sanjura glanced up, he had the brightest smile I had ever seen from him on his face. The Matua woman working beside me went wide-eyed in surprise. With how much he looked like a citizen of Sym, it was always a little surprising to see him express his emotions so overtly.
“Lefreya will, be able to, live a more proper, life than she ever was before. And I would, risk my life, to protect her.”
“I’m sure you would. And if that leads you to the right path too, Sanjura, then I’m sure we’ll be able to become true friends someday.”
“I shall try, my hardest. Um, is Raielfam Sudra, angry?”
“Huh? Why do you ask?”
“I broke my promise, to come by, your stalls everyday. For the, people of the forest’s edge, it is not acceptable, to go back on, your word, correct?”
Now that he mentioned it, I recalled hearing that after he was done with guard duty, Raielfam Sudra had been asking Yun Sudra pretty much daily if Sanjura had ever shown up at the stalls, so Sanjura’s concerns might not have been that far off the mark.
“Right. It probably would be a good idea for you to explain why you weren’t able to come. That girl with the ashen hair working in the restaurant space is Yun Sudra. She’s part of Raielfam Sudra’s family, so how about telling her?”
“Yun Sudra... I see. I was thinking, I would like, to visit your stalls, once every, few days. I am worried, about leaving, Lefreya’s side...but she very much, enjoys giba cooking.”
“I bet. And I appreciate hearing how Lefreya is doing too.”