The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapter 28. An Awakened Curiosity
That morning, Reda went with the little fox to enter the forest.
“Reda-sama, are we going to pick wild vegetables again?” ask Ryuunosuke
“True. Didn't Nushi-sama like it? Tempura from wild vegetables? We'll find a good quality one for breakfast and lunch later. Others will also be happy.”
“How about Reda-sama?”
“I can only boil it since there is no oil or anything in the hut. But, it still tastes good even though it is only boiled. Don't worry, we'll make a good one this time for everything."
The fox's ears came down, indicating he was sad to hear it. Reda just smiled.
“Do not lower your cute ears like that, Ryuunosuke.”
“If Reda-sama is allowed to cook in the kitchen. I'm sure Aragaki-sama and everyone will love Reda-sama's cooking. Ryuunosuke also wants to eat breakfast made by you.”
Reda heard that with a pleased expression. He stopped walking for a while and knelt down.
“Let's create another new menu for everything yes.”
Ryuunosuke's ears went back up and moved with pleasure. Really like a child, she seemed so happy to hear Reda's words about her new food menu.
Inside the forest, the two seemed to be dispersing to look for something. Since the sun had not yet fully risen until it entered the deeper forest area, the morning dew still soaked the leaves in the forest and of course, it was still very dark until the vision of Reda was slightly disturbed.
Carefully, Reda stepped her feet and looked for wild vegetables that might otherwise grow around the place.
“Meet. Thank goodness there's still fuki here. Next kogomi and onion nobiru. Hm? What is this?”
It was like seeing something near the trees. There's something brown in there.
“Huwaa~Ryuunosuke, Ryuunosuke.”
The little fox heard Reda's call and went straight to her.
“What's up, Reda-sama?”
“See this, Ryuunosuke! Hiiratake Mushroom! There is a lot that grows. Let's take it and we wash it. I'm sure Nushi-sama will love it.”
“Unfortunately this mushroom is delicious?”
Reda was surprised to hear the fox ask that.
“Indeed Ryuunosuke has never tasted it?”
“Not yet. All along, no one had liked the mushrooms in the forest so no one had ever picked them. Aragaki-sama also only likes vegetables in her garden.”
“But, he likes his wild vegetables right?”
“True~he says good!” the little fox was immediately excited
“Then, he will like this too. My late father and mother used to bring mushrooms from other woods when they went hunting. I'm sure he and everyone will like it. I'll cook a new menu. I'm sure everyone will love it.”
“Hore~Ryuunosuke will pick a lot of mushrooms today.”
The two people immediately picked the wild mushrooms there. Ryuunosuke also looks for her back.
Behind the big tree behind Reda, there were four Aragaki servants who had gathered while talking seriously.
“You heard what the village girl said?” Nagi asked with a pale face
“Cooking new menu. What does that mean?” kuroto said who was also confused
Ginko and Hakuren seem to be able to guess something.
“This is just my guess but..maybe the one who made the meal during this week is Reda-sama?”
“Hah?!” Nagi was surprised
“I agree with Ginko. Ever since Ryuunosuke made so many foreign dishes that were so delicious, that was all that entered my mind as well.”
Hakuren looked confident when he said that. The other three demons started to look pale. They were so curious and it seemed they wanted to prove it themselves.
**
In his room, Aragaki was already wearing his clothes.
He had been up before sunrise for the past three days.
“I feel for the first time in 200 years, I made a mistake.”
Aragaki opened the door and walked towards the sakura tree growing in front of her room. He stood under the tree early in the morning and said something.
“Are you guys starting to be disappointed in me?”
The cherry blossoms continue to shed their petals, then grow back quickly. Like an eternal tree, there is not a single empty tree.
Aragaki who was standing looking at that so remembered many things in the past.
“If I remember, I've never been like this. Ever since that incident, I think I know that part of me has died and is coming with you.”
The wolf just lamented the past with an erratic feeling, until finally he said something to ‘soul who has become the cherry blossom bud’.
“You know, in this place. A very futile thing like before.”
“But, I realized that since his arrival.many things have changed. Starting from those who have served me to the state of this house itself.”
Aragaki recalled the incident after she allowed her little fox to help the village girl. The ruling wolf was always observing the things his little fox did.
Ever since he allowed her to be together with the girl, things were different.
The food, clothes as well as the garden and the residence itself began to feel a little warm.
He saw from then on, the little fox had always done a better job with the girl. In fact, the more he liked was that the little fox's homemade cooking the longer it got better.
That morning, Aragaki went around the residence and accidentally saw the little fox coming with a basket full of wild food with the girl.
“…!”
Something surprised Aragaki. Right, his appearance was different from before.
“She pinched her hair.”
From a distance, there was someone calling to him.
“Aragaki-sama.”
“Good morning, Aragaki-sama.”
“Nushi-sama, good morning.”
“Good morning, Aragaki-sama. Very rarely do we see you wake up this early.”
Aragaki gave her smile to her loyal servant.
“Good morning. I just feel like I should do it if I don't want to be woken up by that dirty girl.”
Hearing the master's reply, the four of them realized that the master still hated Reda so much.
“Where have you been and what have you done?”
A question that made them all surprised and confused to answer. In his fourth heart, they began to think.
“I don't want to be honest. I'm sure Aragaki-sama also already knows everything, but I feel like I don't want to be honest despite being asked!” nagi said in her heart
“How is this? The four of us should also look at what Reda-sama is doing to make sure that he is the one who is making good cuisine lately.” Hakuren thought
“It's really bad. Aragaki-sama would definitely be angry if we were dishonest, but.”.
“Nushi-sama, sorry. I didn't mean to say anything this time because I wanted to prove it myself.”
“You guys are okay? Why not answer?” Aragaki again asked his loyal servant because there was no response from them
“We...it's okay, Nushi-sama. Do you not want to see these cherry blossoms any longer before breakfast?” tanya Ginko switched the conversation
“I happen to want to try taking a short walk outside. I will probably be back when breakfast time comes. You guys take good care of the house and make sure the dirty girl doesn't do anything shitty in my place.”
“You want to go out?!”
“True. I think I've been a little weird lately, so I think I should calm my mind.”
“So. Have a great day, Aragaki-sama.” said Hakuren
Followed by greetings from the others, Aragaki walked towards the exit alone. Once out of the place, the four servants immediately ran towards the kitchen.
Before heading to the kitchen, the four of them agreed to eliminate the air of his existence so that the little fox was not aware of his presence.
“Finally we can see for ourselves what the village girl did in the kitchen!” whispered Nagi with a pleased expression
“I've been worried Nushi-sama will scold us who followed the two people into the forest, but it seems Nushi-sama doesn't care about that at all.”
“We see what–”
“Reda-sama!” a scream sounded from inside the kitchen
“...!!” the four Aragaki servants outside the kitchen were shocked to hear it
They immediately peered into the kitchen and saw a thick tail swaying about.
“Geh! The little fox!!”
The first sight they saw was quite funny. It was Ryuunosuke who saw Reda just finished washing all the wild vegetables she was carrying.
“Reda-sama, the mushrooms have been washed clean by Ryuunosuke!”
“Thank you very much, Ryuunosuke. Now help me cut it. I can't cut it myself so Nushi-sama doesn't smell my hand. Later let me saute and fry it.”
“Baik~”
Seeing what the two of them were doing, Nagi and the others were so shocked. Like knowing the secret behind the delicious menu made by ‘Ryuunosuke’, the four did not expect that now they know the reality.
They saw how painstaking the girl was making seasonings for their cooking.
The little fox approached Reda with a happy face.
“See this, Reda-sama, Ryuunosuke cut it neatly~”
“Huwaa~good once. Smart kid. Next, please wash the rice and put the seasoning on this plate and a little bit of this mushroom yes.”
“Hmm? Why?”
“We will make mushroom rice. It was good for Nushi-sama and the others for them to get more nutrients. Later the misonya soup will also be given a little mushroom chopped to make it more fragrant.”
“Really! Ryuunosuke just found out.”
“The late father and mother always cooked like this while still alive, so I learned a little. Added villagers also often make it for sale so I guess Nushi-sama and others will love it.”
The village girl smiled as she rubbed her little fox head. In spirit, the little fox did as Reda had instructed.
Outside the kitchen, no one stopped to see what was happening. As if he had fallen into the scene, Nagi and his friends could only stare from a distance.
The curiosity was finally answered. The change that occurred in three days made them realize that the village girl that their master hated had brought about many great changes within the first week.
****