The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapter 22. Effort and Feelings Reduced

In the forest, Reda with the little fox makes a dish that has never been made before to surprise Aragaki-sama.

They cut the meat small and then silenced it for a moment. Reda went to clean her body and changed her clothes first while waiting for the meat to be finished.

After that, the girl cut her flesh into small pieces and boiled it.

“Why boiled, Reda-sama?”

“Hmm..so it is soft and not hard. Nagi-sama said that the meat is alot, right? By boiling it can make it a little softer and remove the scent of his blood.”

“In this place there is no seasoning of any kind, Ryuunosuke. So it would be better if boiled here. Later when it is in place Nushi-sama, we will be together huh?”

Ryuunosuke seems to be so happy about it. He looked at the girl carefully.

“Andai Reda-sama is married to Aragaki-sama, he can definitely eat well and take care of well. Ryuunosuke sure of it!”

The murmur rang out to Reda's ears. Hearing him, Reda flushed and became a little panicked.

“Ryuunosuke talk what?! That..it's impossible! From the beginning Ryuunosuke knew that Nushi-sama hated me, right?”

“It's not impossible! Ryuunosuke believes that someday, Aragaki-sama will fall in love with Reda-sama! Does Reda-sama not like Aragaki-sama?”

The question is so innocent. Reda could not answer it correctly. The beautiful face of the village girl looks blushing.

“Reda-sama likes Aragaki-sama, right?”

Reda could only bow shyly and sit on a tatami. The little fox came up to him and hugged him with a swaying tail.

“Ryuunosuke will listen to Reda-sama. Let's answer Ryuunosuke's question. Reda-sama likes Aragaki-sama or not?”

“I..”

“Hmm?”

“If I say it, will Ryuunosuke keep it a secret?”

“Umm!” the little fox nodded.

Reda tried to take a long breath.

“While...the first time I came to this place, I gave up on my life.”

“...” Ryuunosuke starts making sad facial expressions

“When the villagers said that I should be a candidate for ‘bride’ for the Protective God, I already knew that I had been banished and would not live long.”

“But when I saw Nushi-sama for the first time, I. He was completely different from what the people in the village described.”

“He is so...indah. Her golden eyes are like a full moon and her charming smile, I cannot remove them from my memory.”

“I. It felt like just looking at him from afar had made me very happy. Even though he hates me and looks at me coldly, I still like him.”

“When thinking of Nushi-sama feeling happy, it feels like this heart has become so peaceful and warm. Reda..Reda really likes Nushi-sama.”

Reda's face looks so red and blushing. Ryuunosuke realizes that the girl is in love with her master.

Ryuunosuke looks happy to hear a sentence of praise for the sake of praise from the girl. Nothing of that pretty girl's sentence was cut off. All are well listened to.

“Maybe, this dirty me does not deserve to like such a beautiful and majestic God like Nushi-sama. But, you know Ryuunosuke? I'm sure someday, Nushi-sama will open her heart to another girl.”

“And when that time comes, I who am already in the sky will be the first to be happy. Therefore, we must fight for it to be realized.”

Ryuunosuke hugged the girl tightly.

“Ryuunosuke sure Reda-sama is the right girl for Aragaki-sama! During this time, the other ‘bride’ candidates never treated Ryuunosuke well! Only Reda-sama treats Ryuunosuke well.”

“Ryuunosuke will not agree if Aragaki-sama likes someone else! Reda-sama is the right girl for Ryuunosuke! Anyway, Ryuunosuke will try to get Aragaki-sama to like you too!”

Reda could only smile and hug the sweet little fox.

“Ryuunosuke, that person's feelings can't be forced. At least in this 3 months time, I will try to get Nushi-sama to open her heart. Even if I'm not going to be his wife, I'm sure Nushi-sama's wife will love you so much. Trust.”

The little fox was quite stubborn. He would not listen to Reda's words and stick to her stance.

“Just Reda-sama is worthy of Aragaki-sama! From the beginning my servant instincts say so! Mother, please help Ryuunosuke so that Reda-sama and Aragaki-sama can be together!”

Reda saw the meat stew. Once the meat is tender enough to be processed, they drain it. A portion of the unboiled meat was pierced into a tree branch that had been smoothed into a previous puncture.

Once finished, they returned to the Aragaki residence to give seasoning to all the vegetables and meat.

“Let's surprise Aragaki-sama with this rabbit meat dish~” said the little fox cheerfully

Reda just laughed. In his heart, there was another hint of hope created.

“I hope Nushi-sama wants to taste this cuisine even if only a little. I knew he would throw it back. But even if it's just a little, I really want him to eat it.”

“It's the third day and I haven't made any changes to communicate with Nushi-sama. I think I should..a little reckless.”

“I will try to talk to Nushi-sama even if it will be insulted and rejected again. This is all for the sake of being able to make him smile at humans.”

Once in the kitchen, Reda and Ryuunosuke immediately cultivate it.

Reda gave the skewered meat with the spices available there and then burned it. While wild vegetables that have been cut before are sauteed and fried into tempura.

The little fox was so happy to see it.

“Aragaki-sama will love this.” thought

While both of them were in the kitchen, Aragaki and the two youko behind her had just come out and wanted to sit in engawa enjoying the sakura. It was unexpected that he smelled a pretty delicious scent.

“What is this scent?” asked Nagi while sniffing

Aragaki was silent and did not give her answer. He only allowed his two servants to leave first.

As soon as they reached the kitchen, they saw Reda and Ryuunosuke lifting the meat and pouring the rabbit soup into the bowl.

“Reda-sama, what are you doing here? Isn't Reda-sama forbidden to cook by Nushi-sama?” Ginko asked with a surprised face

The girl immediately panicked. He didn't know that he was going to be picked up so quickly by them. But the little fox immediately defended and lied to the two.

“Nagi-sama, Ginko-sama, Reda-sama is here! Ryuunosuke asks her to help cultivate the rabbit meat. Look, there is a wild vegetable tempura brought by Reda-sama as well! Ryuunosuke is not lying! Reda-sama really just got in here and helped Ryuunosuke!”

Nagi and Ginko have a hard time believing in the little fox, however they know that little fox is the most obsessed with the new ‘bride’ candidate in that place.

“Little change, who would you like to lie–”

Before he finished talking, Reda immediately thrust a bowl of rabbit meat soup with wild vegetable tempura and a skewer of grilled rabbit meat into Nagi's presence.

“I–ini..this is indeed me who brought it. Ta–but this is all Ryuunosuke cuisine. There may be a slight aroma of my hand on the vegetable, but I dare guarantee it tastes good and does not alot.”

Nagi who tried to retreat could not avoid that delicious scent. It was only a while ago that they ate a good meal, he could already hear his stomach ringing again in less than two hours.

“This is bad! I didn't know rabbit meat could emit this kind of scent. What the fuck is this village girl?! He wants to be a cook at the Aragaki-sama residence?”

Ginko who smelled that scent couldn't help it either. He immediately tried to endure it by swallowing his own saliva, but it was impossible.

“Nagi..”.

“What?”

“If you don't want to take it, I'll taste it. Reda-sama, I will try it.”

“Hah?!”

Ginko took the pierced meat and when he ate it, he was about to cry.

“Why...can it be this good?”

Reda who heard it was so happy and smiled happily. Seeing Ginko eating the meat voraciously, Nagi also took the soup and tempura Reda made. As soon as it bit him, the first mouthful already made him almost scream.

“You must not be serious..”

“It..it was Ryuunosuke who made it. Reda-sama who plucked it in the forest and brought it here.”

It was a small lie from the two men. But, Reda had already decided to try her best. He wants to talk to Aragaki-sama and that is what he will do.

It was also in Ryuunosuke's mind.

“Ryuunosuke sure, chances are Aragaki-sama will resist as soon as smelling the scent of Reda-sama's hand on the wild vegetables and the meat. But, Ryuunosuke will try his best to show that Reda-sama is the right person for him!”

The two youko were so happy with the cuisine they thought was made by Ryuunosuke. No one knew that it was all pure Reda's work.

As soon as Aragaki reached the kitchen, she almost gave off a terrifying aura that could ravage the entire kitchen.

“What did that dirty girl do in this place? Who allowed you to log in?”

Nagi and Ginko almost vomited the food in his mouth. They were so surprised to see his master angry that afternoon.

Ryuunosuke approached his master and held his clothes.

“Aragaki-sama, Ryuunosuke who asked Reda-sama to help! Ryuunosuke..Ryuunosuke made this rabbit meat for you, Aragaki-sama.”.

Aragaki looked at her little fox with a cold look. He still saw the girl in front of him so despicable and dirty.

“Ryuunosuke, didn't I tell you that he shouldn't cook and touch my clothes? Why don't you listen to me?”

The little fox looked like it was about to cry, but the grip of his hand was not released.

“Aragaki-sama, Reda-sama just..just bring wild vegetables from the forest and stab the meat only! It really is Ryuunosuke who makes it and it is delicious! Ryuunosuke didn't lie to you!”

Aragaki was already too upset to just leave without pondering her little fox. Ryuunosuke fell down and started crying.

Seeing the poor fox cry, Reda immediately helped and hugged him.

“Hiks...hiks..”.

Nagi and Ginko don't know what to do. It was impossible to persuade his master who was in such bad feelings. Moreover, although they admit the food is delicious, but Aragaki is the most important.

Whatever the two youko like in the cuisine, it will not be able to affect the value of Aragaki's thinking.

Reda tried to comfort the little fox and said in her heart.

“I have to do something. If this 3 months is your last chance, then make every opportunity that exists does not end in vain.”

Reda takes the soup and runs after Aragaki.

“Nu–Nushi-sama!” yells

Of course Aragaki doesn't care about it. Reda did not give up and began to run through Aragaki. The ruler was surprised to see that the village girl was already in front of him.

Reda calmed down and gave the soup in her hand to Aragaki.

“Nushi-sama, I beg you.although it is only one mouthful, please taste this!”.

Reda tried to throw away her fear.

Gathering her courage, she tries to take steps to communicate with the man she admires and loves on her third day.

****