The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapters 17. Staring at him from Far with a Thousand Prayers

Nagi and Ginko who were watching Reda from behind the wall of the house started walking away from the place and into the house.

“You sure what we're doing is right, Ginko? I don't think badly of your plan but I can't believe we gave our leftovers to her.”

“Sst! Don't be noisy or anyone hears later!” Ginko warns Nagi

“I know, I know!” Nagi started to speak in a small voice

Nagi started to remember what she saw some time ago.

***

This happened when he saw Ryuunosuke giving the leftover rice cockerel he had made for the village girl's breakfast earlier.

At that moment, Nagi and Ginko looked slightly touched. They watched the girl eat voraciously all the leftovers made by Ryuunosuke.

“I remember the girl named Reda-sama who lived in the kennel of the villagers and ate the leftover food discarded by the residents.”

“I thought it was just a prank at first, but seeing him cry because the leftovers he ate made me feel like he wasn't lying.”

That's what Ginko had in mind. Just like Ginko, Nagi also felt that the girl might be different.

“He can treat the little fox well. Everyone in this place knows that Ryuunosuke is Aragaki-sama's favorite because he is the youngest among the five of us left.”

“Different from other ‘bride’ candidates who are so afraid and hate demons, he is so considerate of the little fox. Did I take it too lightly? Or maybe he was good to Ryuunosuke?”

After finishing eating, the two youko saw Ryuunosuke go to the kitchen again.

Nagi and Ginko look at Reda who instantly wipes away her tears to return to work with a smile. The two youko returned to engawa and discussed.

“Nagi, do you think we should feed him secretly from the rest of our food this afternoon?”

Nagi was speechless at Ginko's suggestion at the time. But he actually saw that the village girl he thought was dirty was hugging Ryuunosuke with a sense of haru.

After thinking so hard, Nagi could only sigh.

“I want to see how this development works. Although I am not interested in her, but considering that the little fox defended her, maybe I can see the true nature of that village girl.”Nagi thought inwardly

After a while, he answered Ginko's proposal.

“Actually I disagree with the idea because I still doubt its credibility. But looking at the little fox was pretty good to her until it was like that, I thought I would relinquish this time and see her progress.”

“So..”.

“I think we did your idea. But for now it's enough of you and me to know, Ginko. Don't get too flashy until Aragaki-sama gets suspicious.”

That was the reason why the two left half of the lunch side dishes they ate including the rice and chicken karaage.

Returning to the current time, Nagi and Ginko who stopped in front of Aragaki's room started kneeling in greeting.

“Aragaki-sama, Nagi and Ginko are here.”

“Log.”

The two opened the door of Aragaki's room and went inside. Aragaki was sitting in her room looking at the cherry blossoms in the courtyard.

“Nagi, Ginko, is there something?”

“We just want to accompany Nushi-sama.” said Ginko

“So. Then, sit inside and look at the cherry blossoms with me.”

Both of them entered after closing the door. They were silent for a while without speaking. The atmosphere was so quiet even though it did not last long.

“Nagi, Ginko..”.

“Ya?”

“I did not know that Ryuunosuke was so often touched by the dirty girl.”

The faces of the two began to get serious. Of course what is meant by a dirty girl is Reda and the intention of being touched in the sentence is the thing that is always done by both of them is to hug and rub the head of the little fox.

Aragaki spoke without seeing the two servants.

“I rubbed my little fox head a while ago and I could clearly smell the scent of that dirty girl. He had already given too much of his foul scent to the boy.”

“Aragaki-sama also knew that since the first ‘bride’ candidate came, the little fox who was so excited to welcome him. In addition, he can also defy Aragaki-sama and–” orders

- Deg

Nagi and Ginko look pale. None of them thought they would hear it from their master's mouth. Who would have thought that Aragaki could instantly silence the mouths of the two servants.

“You believe only Ryuunosuke tried to commit an offense and defend that dirty girl?” Aragaki asked again

This time, he looked towards the two with bland golden eyes.

“I know that this may sound impossible, but I hope no one helps that dirty girl again.”

“I understand Ryuunosuke who is obsessed with the so-called candidate ‘bride’ from the cursed village since the first time the term existed. But I will not forget what his ancestors have done to all my loyal servants.”

“Don't you think I don't know what everyone here is doing. The only thing I don't care about is the state of that dirty girl.”

“...” both fall silent

As they get a serious rebuke, they realize that Aragaki has known everything they did to the girl.

“Aragaki-sama realized that me and Ginko purposely gave the leftovers.”

“Then this means that we can no longer provide leftover food for Reda-sama. I knew from the beginning that it was almost impossible to make Nushi-sama unaware of what we were doing. I didn't expect to get caught this fast.”

The thoughts of the two seemed so clearly visible on his facial expression.

“I'm not accusing you guys because I know you can't do it, right?”

“Be–truly. That is indeed true, Nushi-sama.”

“The two of us will not do anything to benefit the girl.”

Aragaki fell silent after hearing Ginko's sentence. Nothing else was discussed by him.

In the afternoon, the work Reda initially piled up began to decrease a little. But still he hasn't finished it.

The outer endawa had not been entirely dipel, the clothesline that was sun dried by him had not been lifted and he had not helped Ryuunsouke prepare the dishes for dinner either.

“I had to do it quickly so I could cultivate the wild vegetables that were in the hut. At least I can have dinner with it still fresh.” thought

Reda was still trying to do all the work that was charged to her. When he had just finished lifting the clothesline and putting it in the basket, he saw Aragaki in the afternoon.

An unusual thing happened on his second day working as a waiter.

He realized that these two days, there had been no change in him whatsoever. All he did was do the work behind the house and the garden. Almost all of that work did not let him see Aragaki at all.

“I think Nushi-sama does not want to see me.” murmured in a soft voice

There was a breeze in the afternoon that made the petals of cherry blossoms he saw flying.

Like a beautiful painting, Reda saw the figure of the Protective God of his village was so handsome and amazing.

Red face cannot be hidden. He really admired Aragaki. His figure that Reda had seen from a distance looked very beautiful to her.

“Nushi-sama. If only one day he would smile at people again. How lucky is a man who will truly be his wife later.”

That's Reda's mind. It may not be the love that grows for the moment, but Reda's feelings for Aragaki are pure.

The village girl saw the most majestic figure from a distance. Her beautiful smile continued to see Aragaki, indicating she was so happy to be able to look at him even from a distance.

“God, I won't ask for more. I just wish Aragaki-sama would smile at me who is this human being. I wish I could make Aragaki-sama want to accept humans back.”

“Sometimes later, I want Aragaki-sama to meet her true love. If after I die later, Aragaki-sama can forgive a human who once hurt his heart.I beg you, O God.

“I want to see Aragaki-sama smile even once. I want to be able to bring those memories with me before I die. I want that sweet little fox to see his beloved master loving humans back.”

“I beg you, although maybe all that is almost impossible to happen. I wish I could see that time.”

Reda prayed while looking at Aragaki from a distance. His face grew red from being fascinated with the good looks of the Guardian God.

His heart felt extremely warm and with so much ease, all the pain felt by the innocent girl was gone.

As if he had never received a harsh sentence from Aragaki, there was nothing that filled his heart right now except the joy of being able to see his figure in the distance.

****