The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapter 24. What Aragaki Wants

In the kitchen, Ryuunosuke who was already sitting on the floor just sobbed while hugging his thick tail. He was really sad to see his master do such a cruel thing to Reda.

“Hiks...hiks..ibu, Ryuunosuke is angry at Aragaki-sama. Hiks, it is evil to treat Reda-sama like that. Hiks...Ryuunosuke angry, Ryuunosuke angry.”

The little fox's cry came to the attention of the two confused youko there. They had not expected the impact on the little fox to be so great.

“I never heard Ryuunosuke say that he was angry at Nushi-sama. It's the first time he's come to that.” Ginko thought

“This little fox really already likes the village girl so much that she dares to say angry to Aragaki-sama. But, I can't blame this little fox. Of all the ‘bride’ candidates who came, only the village girl impressed me the most.” Nagi said in her heart

Ryuunosuke was unceasingly crying and tightly hugging his own hairy tail. It seemed that he really did not want to talk to that master anymore.

Nagi looked at the skewered meat and soup that had been available. He really thought it was the little fox's creation.

“Indeed there was the smell of the village girl's hand, but I didn't smell it too thick. Aragaki-sama has an overpowering sense of smell until a thin scent like this can be so concentrated for him.”

Nagi tries to talk to Ryuunosuke.

“Small change, this food menu.we have no problem eating this. We'll talk to Aragaki-sama to eat it. Stop crying.”

For the first time, Nagi who had a very sharp mouth tried to seduce the poor fox. Ginko also tries to comfort Ryuunosuke into letting go of his embrace from his own tail.

“Ryuunosuke, your tail will be tangled and wet with tears. Don't cry anymore. We will both persuade Nushi-sama to accept this cuisine made by you.”

“Hiks...hiks..Ryuunosuke does not want to meet Aragaki-sama. Ryuunsouke did not want to prepare lunch for Aragaki-sama. Ryuunosuke wants to be with Reda-sama!”

“Ryuunosuke!!”

The little fox ran out of the kitchen leaving the two youko.

Meanwhile, Reda was mopping up the wet floor due to a spillage of her rabbit meat soup. He picked up the broken bowl in the yard and cleaned up the remaining vegetables and meat scattered on the wooden floor.

Withholding her tears, Reda cleansed everything.

“I should have known that Nushi-sama would not eat it even though I said that it was Ryuunosuke's cooking. As long as there is the scent of my hand there, there will be no cooking I eat by Nushi-sama.”

From behind, the girl heard the sound of fast footsteps like running. As soon as he looked, there was a hug from the little fox that was crying again.

“Hiks, Reda-sama..”.

“Ryuuno...suke? Why is it here?!”

“Hiks...Ryuunosuke is angry at Aragaki-sama! Ryuunosuke won't cook for her! Aragaki-sama has already thrown away the food made by–”

“Sstt!”

Reda covered the fox's mouth with her hands. The girl immediately wiped away the poor fox's tears.

“Ryuunosuke, that's a secret right? Besides, I told you Ryuunosuke shouldn't say that. You must not hate and be angry at Nushi-sama.”

“No want! Ryuunosuke is angry at Aragaki-sama!”

“Ryuunosuke, it's only the third day. Its alright. Everything will improve, be patient. Never say Ryuunosuke hates Nushi-sama huh. He loves you very much. Who would love Nushi-sama if not Ryuunosuke and the others?”

“Hiks..Reda-sama who will love Aragaki-sama later if you are married.”

Hearing the fox's words, Reda could only smile and wipe away her tears.

“Iya yes, later if I am allowed to dream of being able to marry Nushi-sama huh. Now, go back to the kitchen and make food for Nushi-sama's snacks. I'll clean this up first.”

Ryuunosuke nodded and walked back to the kitchen.

Reda rubbed her eyes that were almost shedding tears while muttering in heart.

“What do you think, Reda? Don't try to imagine things that will never happen. Married to Nushi-sama.even after death you will not be able to imagine it.”.

Reda does not realize that what she did to Ryuunosuke was seen by the four loyal servants of Aragaki from different places.

They began to see who exactly the village girl who came as a candidate for the ‘bride’ master.

**

In his room, Aragaki looked at the ikebana that his servant was carrying. He remembered what his beloved little fox had said back then.

[Aragaki-sama, Ryuunosuke with Nagi-sama and Ginko-sama made decorations for your room. Lookie! Beautiful, right?]

Aragaki also remembered what the boy said in the kitchen.

*[Aragaki-sama, Ryuunosuke who asked Reda-sama to help! Ryuunosuke made this rabbit meat for you, Aragaki-sama*].

Given that, Aragaki's facial expression changed.

“My little fox must still be crying right now. After I thought back, these last three days his attitude was so full of rejection.”

Aragaki muttered to herself while smiling.

“Ryoko, your son really can fight his master. I wonder if you are still alive, will you defend your miserable master or defend your son?”

The Guardian God fell silent. He thought about a lot of things that happened during his life.

“200 years ago.If only I could be stronger to look after all of you, you would probably be here to accompany me. I don't need anyone but all of you. That way, I don't need to know how dirty humans and their descendants are.”

Aragaki had a chance to speak for himself to see the two ikebana decorations he had just obtained.

“Then, I believed too much in the sweet words of humans. After what they did to all of you, I swore to myself to hate them. I just want to be able to turn the clock around and be with all of you, my precious family.”

“I don't need humans, I don't need their compassion. Without them, I can live and all this time that's what happened.”

“Ryoko, I promise you I will take care of little Ryuunosuke and I will take care of him like my own son. I hope you are not disappointed in your pitiful master, Ryoko.”

The sound of footsteps came from inside the house and Aragaki was already aware of who was coming.

“Nagi, Ginko. What's up?”

Aragaki could immediately guess before the door opened. He saw two of his servants sitting in a row saluting.

“Aragaki-sama, we want to give this and talk to you.” Nagi said

Ginko gives a snack made by Ryuunosuke. But, Aragaki's eyes were fixed on two vegetable tempura and two skewered meat served by them.

As soon as he sniffed the scent, the ruler's eyes instantly turned cold.

“Nagi, Ginko...what does this mean?” he said cold

The two youko were trying to calm down. Nagi ventured to the monastery on Aragaki.

“Aragaki-sama, sorry to have been presumptuous of you. We just want the little fox not to get angry and cry all day.”

“...” Aragaki's face looks surprised

“The fox cried while tightly hugging his tail and said that he would not bring you this snack. Therefore, we brought it.” explained Nagi

Ginko tried to explain it to his master as well.

“We understand that Nushi-sama does not like the scent of Reda-sama. Reda-sama also admitted that this wild vegetable was carried by her. But, after all this is a dish made by Ryuunosuke.”

“Ryuunosuke just asked Reda-sama for help to bring another vegetable as this skewer meat friend and all Ryuunosuke made. He is so attentive to you, Nushi-sama. Can't it be just this once, Nushi-sama wants to make her happy?”

“You want to say I've made her sad, so?” Aragaki immediately asked the real thing he already knew the answer

Nagi gulped at the question, but she had promised the little fox to seduce her master to eat it.

“Aragaki-sama, we don't think so. But since the arrival of the village girl, the little fox often cried because of your attitude that rejected the presence of the village girl. The little fox even refused to eat with you again.”

“Perhaps with Aragaki-sama who ate this. Ryoko-san would also be happy if he found out from the sky.”

Aragaki tries to act like a good leader. He took a deep breath and exhaled.

“I understand. I will try it so that my beloved fox is no longer angry with me. But, I will only tolerate this one time.”

Nagi and Ginko smiled. They allowed their master to eat it.

As soon as the skewered meat was bitten by him, he was very surprised by the taste. It felt so foreign on his tongue yet so delicious. Rabbit meat that is usually processed raw since he is a demon, feels very different.

Aragaki also tasted tempura from wild vegetables brought by Reda from the forest. Although he hated the scent of the girl's hand, but he had already promised to only tolerate it once. He's nibbling.

A natural sweet and savory salty taste that he really likes. She was surprised that her little fox could cultivate all of that alone.

Ginko tries to make Aragaki believe.

“This is food from Ryuunosuke for you to feel happy, Nushi-sama. Don't you like it?”

Aragaki swallowed the food in her mouth and smiled.

“Tell my beloved little fox, if I want this food again.”

****