After that we head toward Ruu Family Main house
It was a good thing to decide it like that, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t make any problems.
I knew about it when Rimi Ruu appeared as promised in the morning next day.
Rimi Ruu who came while we do the work at the water source and sword maintenance, when I told "I will lend you my strength.", she gave a big smile while saying "Thank you!" that feels like it will become a blessing here.
And then, she said this.
"Then, come to the house before the evening okay! We will prepare the ingredients!"
I said "Hnn?" while tilting my head.
"What do you mean by ingredients?" I cook at this house, and intend to deliver it when I complete it though?"
"That is no good! You must eat the meals you made at that house!"
I don’t understand so when I heard the details, apparently it seems that it is a vow in Morihen.
To be more precise, it’s like this.
"The person that made the meal must eat the same thing at the same place as the person whom he served the meal."
In short, this is like a prohibition to keep me from making harmful meals.
"Hmm. I didn"t quite understand the explanation, but I guess that meant that I should go to Ruu House, make the meal there, and eat the same thing as your grandmother together right?
It"s a lot of pressure to be cooking at a place you go for the first time, well something trivial like that doesn"t make me discouraged.
However, the real challenge starts from now.
"Un. But it"s not only Jiba grandmother ok? My family is big so it will be tough, but Rimi Ruu will also help, so let"s do or best!"
"Eh? It"s not only for the grandmother, but I have to make it for the other family members too?"
"Un. To be entrusted with the kitchen stove means something like that right?"
"So it"s something like that huh?"
"That"s what it is! Asuta is a strange person."
Finally I have been recognized as an oddball from a 7 or 8 years old young girl.
Give me a break. I am still a student learning rule of Morihen after all.
"Okay. Anyway I guess I just have to make the food for the whole family right? It"s not like I don"t want to make it, it"s actually worthwhile to have more people eating it...So, how many family member does Ruu family have?"
"Uh umm..." Rimi Ruu counts one by one with her finger.
When both her small fingertips both folded, My heart retorted by "oi oi."
"....Un. Counting Rimi Ruu, there are 13 people!"
"Thir, Thirteen huh. That is quite a large household."
"Ah, but Kota Ruu is still only 1 year old and only drink milk, so preparation meal is fine for only 12 people right? Helping with kitchen stove duty is originally the duty of the girls!"
"For 12 people huh...Well, if it"s around that, I think I can manage it. Is it okay if the menu is that one yesterday for all of them?"
"Un! Of course! Even Rimi Ruu really really looking forward to it."
"Hmm...Well, thinking about it, even if I make your grandmother eat my meal tonight, it won"t be a permanent solution. If I can give lecture to women of Ruu family, will she be safe tomorrow...?"
"What is a rekucha?"
"Yeah. Because I can"t be the one doing Ruu family"s kitchen duty every day right? Then, from tomorrow on, you guys will be the one that will have to let grandmother eat something delicious."
"Ee! Will Rimi Ruu and the others be able to make a delicious meal like that?"
"Yesterday"s cooking was a little bit difficult though. Well....Ah, by the way, if there are 13 family members, there should be more than one pot right?"
"There are 4! Of course!
"I finally become a bit excited.
Using 4 pots, 12 portion of meals――no, with Ai Fa and mine"s portion it will add up to 14 portion.
The enemy is an elderly with only a few teeth left, and powerful people from the settlement that have antipathy toward me, an outsider.
Is it not a development that tickles a cook"s soul a bit?
"Okay. Then I will prepare the giba meat, so please ensure how many aria and poitan that need to be prepared okay? And then the rock salt and fruit wine too later."
"Eh? There are plenty of meat at the house though?"
"Meat is the important thing you know. If there is a chance, I would like to tell you the way to handle giba meat so it become more delicious."
The concept of cooking started spreading quickly in my mind.
Then, Rimi Ruu come tottering, and grasped the cuff of the clothes I was wearing discreetly.
"Asuta. Thank you very much. With this I hope Grandmother will also stop saying that she want to die I think...Thank you for accepting this kind of hardship."
"Don"t cry, stupid. It hasn"t been decided that I will do well until there right?"
"No! It"s okay! Asuta"s cooking is really delicious you know!"
And then Rimi Ruu looked back to Ai Fa that has been immersed in maintenance of the sword in the corner of the hall quietly from the start.
"Ai Fa also, thank you! After jiba grandmother gets well, let"s play together again!"
"Ah, the preparation takes time a little, so is it okay if I go earlier before evening?"
When I speak on behalf of Ai Fa, Rimi Ruu went out from the house with a big smile and said "Un! Okay!"
Good grief, that child is like a ma.s.s of eneergy in a different meaning from Ai Fa, my mouth smile broadly thinking that.
".....Why are you smiling by yourself. What a disgusting man, you are."
"Ohh! Finally I heard an honest word from you, Ai Fa! The contents of the word is rude, but I feel relieved a bit yeah."
"....You"re noisy."
I sat and lean to the wall, she grabbed a silver sharp knife without trying to see me. Her expression is sour more than usual.
Well, she showed me her weak side last night, it can"t be help if she regrets and really regrets it. I am aware of that in my mind.
"But really, I never thought that we will also dine together, you knew from the beginning right, Ai Fa?"
"It"s natural. To entrust the kitchen stove to another family, mean something like that."
Umu. I think it"s a very wonderful rule to be the one doing the kitchen stove duty.
"But then, we have to face Rimi Ruu"s father with all of our might huh....But, you will also come with me right, Ai Fa?"
"Are you stupid? How can I send a man like you who didn"t know about this world common sense alone to another family"s house!"
She tells me that like a howl, and then glare at my feet."
"...If you don"t have any intention of breaking your bond with me, that is natural."
"Yeah. Well, I am helped really. As expected going alone is discouraging."
I approach Ai Fa by several steps, to a distance that if I extend my arm, it can reach almost reach her.
Ai Fa"s line of sight remained the same, with one foot raised hitting her around breast area.
Then, when I put my hand on the floor and lower my face, It"s not her gaze but a tip of a small knife that come.
(TL: Asuta tried to see her face)
"Sorry, It"s a joke."
"A man like you...Can you really handle Ruu Family"s kitchen stove like that?"
The tip is retracted, this time her gaze sees me.
To tell you the truth, this the first time today, that my eyes met up with Ai Fa"s after getting up.
Though blood suddenly raised to her calm face, Ai Fa keep on talking with rude tone as it was.
"To be entrusted with a family"s kitchen stove means to be entrusted with that family"s life. If Ruu family"s member get sick from the meal you made, we won"t be getting off that easily you know? our ears will be cut off, all teeths broken off, or we will also be exiled from Morihen!"
"Hee. That important kitchen stove, did you just easily entrust it to me?
"Old customs like that doesn"t matter to me! However, there are many people of Morihen also still think like that!"
"Okay okay. I won"t ever cause a food poisoning. Who do you think I am?"
What am I, a 17 year old chef apprentice no chef license saying?...Although I want to say that stupid line, Ai Fa bit her pink lips tightly and stopped talking for a while.
Besides her face is still red, with an expression like a naughty child got caught.
However, it"s extremely Ai Fa-like.
Compared to her depressed state that is not Ai Fa-like at all last night, this is a whole different level of charm.
So, after quite a long silent session, Ai Fa said "I said, Don"t lose focus."
"I am the one that is most familiar with your skills. If it"s you, you should be able to save Rimi Ruu and Jiba Ruu. But if you"re careless, it"s still possible to save yourself."
"Uwaa..I am deeply moved."
If it"s possible I want to get closer and hold her arms, but from the the situation just now, I will control myself since I will most likely be killed.
"If you regard me that high, it"s okay now. I don"t even have to worry, betting my little to none honor, I will save Rimi Ruu and the others."
And now, I also add the reason "For Ai Fa."
To save Rimi Ruu and Jiba Ruu that is important to Ai Fa, I will wield my kitchen knife.
I am not supposed to be careless and too c.o.c.ky in this situation though.
While staring at Ai Fa that is always look like she is angry, I feel a hot figting spirit spreading around my whole body.
I, will absolutely fulfill my job.
For my important existence that I got for the first time in this different world.