The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapters 19. Cooking for Aragaki-sama Silently

Reda who just finished eating in her old hut looks very happy.

“Thank God, my stomach is full. It tastes so good. Although a little unsalted, but this is better than just eating one apple.”

The beautiful girl looked so happy marked by her blushing smile. After cleaning the rest of the dirty dishes and washing them, Reda walked back to the forest. He even hummed a little because he was happy.

“I think the second day will probably feel very heavy like the first day, but it feels really good. Getting leftovers for breakfast and lunch as well as successfully finding wild vegetables in the forest, I hope all will be better.”

Although he thought so, but actually this situation is not too good. His relationship with Aragaki really did not change anything. Let alone change, communication is hardly the case.

Reda was aware of the condition, but she tried not to impose the situation.

The girl realizes that Aragaki's hatred of man is ingrained in her heart and in order to find it, Reda may have to sacrifice more than tears and lives.

“It's only the second day. I should be able to find a way to talk to Nushi-sama even if it is just a little. I hope, I can do it.” thought the girl

When he returns, he realizes that everyone must still be eating dinner. He walked quietly back and drew water to clean the floor.

The first cleaned floor is the outer engawa because it is most often traversed by Aragaki.

This is because Aragaki prefers to walk by seeing cherry trees in the park rather than outside.

Since no one has come out of the dining room so far, Reda spends her time mopping up the area.

After some time, Reda heard footsteps behind her and immediately stepped aside.

He didn't see who was coming and just squabbled while giving his respects.

“You're really still doing your job?”

Reda surprised. That voice was the voice of one of the tengu. He remembered his name was Hakuren. Ingestion

he spit a little, he saluted her.

“Se–good night, Hakuren-sama.”

Behind Hakuren, there was Kuroto and the two youko who were about to return to his room.

They all saw what the girl was doing.

“Ember full of dirty water and wipe for mopping and clothes that are wet with sweat. He really mopped this floor all.” Hakuren said inwardly

Nagi and Ginko stared at each other. Of course they were aware that Aragaki was aware of the incident this afternoon and since they had gotten a stern warning, the two could no longer intentionally give the rest food.

After all, the food today was too good that there was not the slightest intention of the two of them to tell the tale.

A bit of good attitude was shown by the two youko to her.

“You've gone to the forest to eat?” ask Nagi

“Already. I just finished eating and went straight to work on the remaining tasks.”

“Reda-sama found something in the forest?”

“Sanaflori. There are some that grow in the forest. Although it took time to look for it last day, but thanks to that I was able to eat dinner this.”

The girl's pretty smile looked so beautiful and sincere that it made the four Aragaki servants dazzled and blushed.

“Be–so. Thank goodness then, Reda-sama.” Ginko responded with a smile as well

“Iya. Thanks for the attention. Have a good rest, Nagi-sama, Ginko-sama, Kuroto-sama and Hakuren-sama. Thank you for your hard work today.”

Reda only kowtowed until the four servants left. There was no reply to his greeting and they talked to each other.

“You think he was honest when he said he had eaten?” ask Nagi

“He's honest.” Kuroto answered quickly and without hesitation

Ginko was a little curious about Kuroto's answer.

“How do you know, Kuroto? Is it from that smile? Reda-sama does always show that smile to cover everything, right?”

“Me and Hakuren saw him from above while patrolling around the forest this afternoon. He went inside a little and found a wild vegetable. As a result of collecting the vegetables, he missed his lunch.”

That explanation is connected to what happened after lunch. Back then, Nagi and Ginko agreed to give the rest of their lunch secretly with Ryuunosuke processing it.

Hakuren suddenly stopped his steps. The other three people walking nearby came to a stop.

“Why, Hakuren? Is there something?” ask Kuroto

“The three of you..if you ask me about my opinion regarding the village girl, I still do not trust her completely. But, seeing the struggle and his attitude during these two days.I feel that the girl might just be a really good person.”.

“Why suddenly say like that?”

Hakuren was silent for a moment. Then he looked towards the three people behind him.

“I just feel...during the 200 years since the tragedy, there has never been a ‘bride’ candidate willing to do his job properly. Almost all of them are foolish girls who do not understand her position.”

“But the girl.the girl could easily attract Ryuunosuke's attention until the little fox dared to fight Aragaki-sama. I noticed her treatment to the little fox was also very good.”

“Two days may be too fast a day to judge someone, but I feel that he is different. Am I the only one who thinks that?”

Hakuren was confused by his own words. He does not believe it, but he also does not consider Reda is a girl who has the nature of the candidates ‘bride’ so far.

No one answered it. They just look confused. Not wanting to magnify the matter, Hakuren flew away and left without hearing the answer from the others.

“What are you thinking, Hakuren? Last afternoon you also thought the same thing when you saw him cleaning wild vegetables. Am I too hopeful like the little fox?”

“I just hope, Aragaki-sama can become Aragaki-sama like before. I'm sure it's this feeling that the little fox feels. Did I think so wrong?”

That night, Hakuren couldn't determine anything. What is right and what is wrong to him is confusing.

In Engawa, Reda mopped everything back alone. When there was the sound of small footsteps coming, he looked forward.

“Reda-sama, Reda-sama!!” Ryuunosuke came and approached her while running

“Ryuunosuke? Did something happen?” Reda panicked to see the little fox running

Ryuunosuke pulled his hand and left the bucket of dirty water on the engawa. He brought the girl into the kitchen and whispered with a wagging tail.

“Reda-sama, the soup and the cooking were delicious! Aragaki-sama loves fried foods and stir-fries!”

Reda looked puzzled by what the little fox said.

“What stir-fry layur? What fry? I didn't make it for Nushi-sama because she didn't like my scent, right?”

“Sst! Reda-sama don't be hard!”

Ryuunosuke whispered to Reda.

“Ryuunosuke put the vegetable and fried stir-fry that Reda-sama made a little into his food menu and everyone loved it. Aragaki-sama even said that she wants to eat it once again. Therefore, Reda-sama should cook for Aragaki-sama.”

Reda was surprised to hear that. He whispered into the little fox's ear.

“That's impossible, Ryuunosuke. The scent of my hand will definitely stick to his cooking!

“But Aragaki-sama said there is no scent of Reda-sama! After all, this might be one of the ways that Reda-sama could steal Aragaki-sama's attention! Ryuunosuke sure of that! Ryuunsouke is very confident this will work!” whispered the little fox

Reda looks so doubtful, but she also wants to be able to get close and talk to the man she admires.

“I understand. I wish I could do it. Please help me yes, Ryuunosuke.”

Ryuunosuke hugged Reda with a swaying tail.

“Ryuunosuke will help Reda-sama! Ryuunosuke will help Reda-sama! We can definitely do something, Ryuunosuke sure!”

That night, after Reda returned to mopping engawa and finished with her task, she returned to her master's hut alone, lifting her sun, she cleaned her body and rested.

“Dad, mom, Reda happy today. Thank you for seeing me from the sky. Tomorrow, Reda will fight to cook for the sake of Nushi-sama. May Nushi-sama like Reda's cooking, may there be a chance for Reda to talk to Nushi-sama. Hopefully in the rest of the time Reda can do the best.”

The girl slept with a lot of hope in her prayers.

The next day, she accidentally wakes up earlier without breakfast in order to cook for Aragaki and the others.

Ryuunosuke who was also waiting directly helped Reda in the kitchen. With all sorts of efforts, Reda tried to cook without touching her groceries in the slightest.

The little fox helped him by cutting and grating all his vegetables and meat. Reda makes spices and flour to make its fry.

“This grated projection is to be applied, Reda-sama?”

“Later to be fried into kakiage. It tastes good and I'm sure Nushi-sama will love it.”

“Kakage?”

“True. His Tamagoyaki was given a little cut meat to make it even more delicious, Ryuunosuke. In addition, soup misanya can be added tofu and meat cut into small pieces also like this.”

The little fox that saw Reda cooking became very excited. He saw how Reda cooked and concocted the spices.

“Where did Reda-sama learn to cook? Didn't Reda-sama say never eat this food?”

“While in the village, many food stalls and I often noticed them. Although no one gave me the food, but I always wished I could make it too. So quietly while picking up leftovers, I always noticed they made it.”

Ryuunosuke was a little sad for making the girl say such an unpleasant thing, but Reda gave him a smile.

After everything was done, Ryuunosuke was so happy with the new menu. Ryuunosuke immediately arranged it into a dish.

Reda and Ryuunosuke wake up Aragaki who, as usual, has woken up first since she really did not want to be awakened by the village girl.

He and his four other servants were waiting for breakfast the next morning. As soon as it was presented, everything seemed completely shocked.

“This is you who made it, right?” asked Nagi in disbelief

Ryuunosuke simply nodded with a confident smile. At the first mouthful, Aragaki looks so surprised and smiles at Ryuunosuke.

“It's delicious. My little fox is really very smart at cooking.” Praise Aragaki

Outside the dining room, Reda who heard the compliment smiled happily.

“Thank God, Nushi-sama loves it.”

Every food served was eaten with gourmand and occasional praise for the sake of praise from others was heard. Ryuunosuke used the opportunity to make Reda hear him.

“Reda-sama heard that.Everyone loves the artificial cuisine Reda-sama. Ryuunosuke pleased.” said the little fox inwardly

Every compliment that comes makes Reda's face look blushing. Too happy, the girl was not aware that she was shedding tears.

****