The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapter 41. Looking at it from near the bag. 2

It was the afternoon, where Aragaki left his residence. He walked to go to his acquaintance's place.

In the village, he met a lot of people who were happy because the leader came to see them. There are many things offered by all of them.

The ruler got to the place he was headed to was a clothing store.

“Excuse me, Jorogumo.”

“Yes. Ah, Aragaki-sama! Please login.”

In front of Aragaki, there was a beautiful woman with four hands. Aragaki walks into the clothing store and sits on a tatami. The demon lady gave tea to the ruler.

“Please drink, Aragaki-sama.”

“Thank you.”

The demon sat in front of him.

“It is rare to see you coming to this place again, Aragaki-sama. Is there any sudden business?”

“I want to visit Shuen. But, before that I want to go to your store to order something.”

“Something?”

“You remember the ribbon I once gave to the late Ryoko?”

“Oh! The ribbon Aragaki-sama ordered to celebrate Ryoko's wedding 300 years ago. I recall. That's the tape I made myself. What's wrong with that, Aragaki-sama?”

“I intend to order the tape back. I plan to visit Ryoko's grave in a few days.”

“So.” the face of the demon was bowed sadly, “I really miss that beautiful fox. She was so happy when she married her late husband and fought alone giving birth to Ryuunosuke not long after her husband died.”

“Who would have thought he would have such a fate. I can't believe it even though 200 years have passed. Hiks..”

Unknowingly, the female demon cried. Aragaki could only shut up without saying anything.

“Ma–forgive me, Aragaki-sama. I didn't mean to offend you!”

“No. I-i understand. You were one of the closest to Ryoko during her life. I understand how you feel.”

“How is Ryuunosuke doing? Is she okay, Aragaki-sama?”

“Good. He...” Aragaki is silent. He still remembered the face of Ryuunosuke who could smile widely when close to the village girl who was considered dirty by him

“Aragaki-sama?”

“I'm sorry. Ryuunosuke good. She looks cheerful lately.” Aragaki again made a smile on her lips

“Thank God. If it's not wrong, a week ago humans came to Higashi no Mori again. I'm sure it's a candidate for ‘bride’ Aragaki-sama. Is he still alive in your residence?”

What a bold question from the commoner to the ruler. Although a good friend, it was a little funny to ask such a thing.

But apparently, Aragaki did not bother about it.

“That dirty girl doesn't have any privileges. Like the others, he would only live for 3 months here. As much as anything that comes, there is nothing useful.”

“So, hearing directly from Aragaki-sama means that the news is true.”

“News?”

“True. The news that the human girl is also the same as the one who once tried to poison Aragaki-sama does not seem to be a lie.”

“...” now Aragaki himself is speechless

Despite not showing his surprised face, he was still shocked to hear Jorogumo's words. The woman continued her words again.

“In the market a lot of say. They say that the girl who came in the night a week ago was shabby. Some even say he is so smelly and has a sneaky intention on Aragaki-sama.”

“Have cunning intentions yes..” Aragaki had a thought after

He started to remember what kind of things the village girl had done with all the rejections she had done to him.

“Now I realize what he's doing. All this time, I never thought it existed. Cunning thing..it might just all be part of his plan.”

Aragaki began to have a little picture of the village girl in his residence. Either the good or bad picture that is now in his mind, but it does not seem to be easy to melt the hard heart of the ruler.

They talked about many other topics afterwards.

“Good. I'll take it the day after tomorrow. Excuse me first. Jorogumo.”

“Thank you very much, Aragaki-sama. Give my regards to the little fox yes.”

Once he was done with his affairs, he went to another place, another residence on the other side of the forest of Higurashi no Mori. It was the residence of his other friend, Shuen.

“Excuse.”

There was a rabbit-headed demon that was sweeping the leaves outside the entrance.

“Ah, Aragaki-sama. Welcome to.”

“Good afternoon, Yuichi. Is Shuen home?”

“Shuen-sama has not returned yet, Aragaki-sama. He was attending a banquet at Kita no Mori. Is Aragaki-sama not attending?”

“No, I'm not interested in such things. Then it seems I can come back another time.” he said with a smile

Not needing much pleasantries, Aragaki walked home to his house. Along the way, he was still thinking about what Jorogumo had said.

“I didn't expect any such news to spread. I don't blame them for spreading that rumor because not all of the content is wrong.”

“If I remember, they went to the market this morning. I'm sure the dirty girl also heard bad news about her.”

The sun began to sink and the sky began to change at night. Colorful lanterns and candles illuminate every street and house in Higashi no Mori.

Aragaki meets many other residents on the street. Although he had an offer to have dinner at the crowded tavern there, he turned it down.

[If it's pleasing, I hope Nushi-sama wants to have dinner at home so that little fox can cook for you]

[Are you unwilling to return early to taste Ryuunosuke's cuisine, Nushi-sama?]

That was the sentence from the village girl he remembered before leaving the residence.

“I did this not for the sake of the girl's words. I came home quickly because of my promise to my beloved little fox.”

When Aragaki came home, the light from the hinotama (fireball stealth) and fireflies in the Aragaki residential garden area looked beautiful shining as a welcome.

“It seems they have had dinner.” he muttered slowly with a smile

By the time Aragaki arrived, Reda had already gone home to her hut and let the others eat in the dining room.

Aragaki walked inside and walked towards the dining room.

In the dining room, the ears of both youko and Ryuunosuke move their sign of hearing the sound.

“It...voice Aragaki-sama!” Ryuunosuke was surprised to hear that

He panicked and wanted to quickly tidy up his food that had not yet run out. Nagi.

“Do not! Eat it here. Don't make trouble because we also have to explain the cuisine menu of the village girl!” whispered

“But..”.

“Do not worry, Ryuunosuke. We will defend you until Nushi-sama says something about all this. After all, Reda-sama has already separated the Nushi-sama section in the kitchen.”

“...” Ryuunosuke is back sitting with the others

The shoji door opens and Aragaki sees an unusual sight.

“Ryuunosuke? Apparently you eat here too.” The ruler smiled seeing his little fox eating in the dining room again. The five servants stood up and were about to greet him, but Aragaki held him back.

He approached the dining table and looked at the cooked menu. Rice with edamame beans and mushrooms, tamagoyaki, mushroom miso soup and there are other menus he has never seen.

The smell of the cooking tickled his nose and made him swallow his saliva a little.

“What is it? What is Ryuunosuke's new menu?”

Ryuunosuke tries not to panic and he gets support answers from the others.

First, Nagi confidently answered him. Even in the middle, he forgot.

“This is a menu made by a small fox, Aragaki-sama. After Aragaki-sama left, we went to the market to buy beef and chicken. It's his name..”

“Nikujaga. Nikujaga. Ryuunosuke once made it with meat, potatoes and carrots. This one plus edamame beans. And for this chicken it's called kaarage.” Ginko continued

“Nikujaga and..kaarage?”

“Ryuunosuke will take part Aragaki-sama! Wait here, yes!”

The little fox went into the kitchen. After returning to bring Aragaki's food, he sat down sweetly and saw what reaction he would show him.

“Aragaki-sama, let's taste.” said the little fox

The thing that caught his attention was the new cuisine that was in front of him.

“Scented aroma. That's it, it's still warm enough to eat. No doubt, it definitely tastes good.”

As soon as he tasted the potatoes, Aragaki's face looked so shocked. The taste is as usual, delicious and new to the taste of his tongue.

“This is delicious.”

Everyone smiled and asked him to eat another. There was no other word but delicious and a smile on his face. The ruler so enjoyed his dinner today.

Another thing that made her happy was that her little fox wanted to join her this time.

“I'm glad Ryuunosuke wants to eat with me again like he used to. One week of not eating with you makes me think it's been almost a month.” he said with a smiley face

“Ryuunosuke used to want to eat in the kitchen as usual, but Reda-sama said to eat with the others so that I am not lonely.”

“...” Aragaki is quite stunned to hear that

“Reda-sama said that the new menu should be eaten together with the others. If Aragaki-sama returns, Aragaki-sama will definitely be more happy to eat it. So..Ryuunosuke follow Reda-sama's advice and eat here.”

The ruler could only remain silent without any special expression. He was not angry, nor was he happy. Just listen carefully to the little fox talk.

“But, Reda-sama has gone home to the hut. Later, we will also help the little fox bring all these dishes.” added Kuroto

“So. Yes already. Continue eating it back.”

Aragaki ate back quietly. His eyes did look at his bowl, but his mind thought of something else.

When they eat, they spend a lot of time telling stories. Aragaki heard all of that without saying anything.

Only a smile was seen on his lips as the only sign for every story heard from his loyal servant.

After dinner, he decided to take a short walk to the park. Aragaki's attention is focused on the many cherry blossom trees that do grow in every corner of his residence.

The ruler saw the cherry blossoms swaying slowly and gently because of the night breeze.

“Dining today is so delicious. My little fox has grown to be great like you Ryoko.”

At that moment, he smelled a familiar scent.

“This aroma..”.

As soon as he looked, at a considerable distance he saw it. The village girl stood before him.

Hundreds of cherry blossom petals began raining down and spreading with the wind that night.

****