The Night of Blessing
Translator: Skythewood
Editor: Deus ex-Machina
Part 1
The group of men had an incredible aura about them.
They were the four men of the Wu clan.
Standing at the front was probably the clan head Donda Wu. Judging from both age and his demeanour, that should be him. He was above 180cm tall, and should be over 90kg.
He had a cape made from kiba fur, a sleeveless shirt and a piece of cloth tied around his waist. Around his neck was a necklace with a huge amount of tusks and horns. On his feet were shoes tied with strings, and he also had a large sabre and a knife — The four of them were dressed similarly.
But Donda Wu was exceptionally imposing.
Be it his arms, shoulders, thighs and calves, his muscles bulged like mountain ranges. His chest muscles were incredibly thick, and his waist looked powerful, just like a tree trunk.
His appearance was imposing too, his messy dark brown hair looked rough like a kiba, and a beard covered the lower half of his face. His eyes, mouth and nose were large, and the wrinkles on his face were as deep as cracks on boulders.
He was getting on in years, but his blue eyes were full of spirit. His large body that look as if it was carved from stone was brimming in life and give off a real sense of pressure to others.
If I had to describe him in one sentence — This large burly man was just like a kiba in human form.
In contrast...
The men behind him felt more like human.
Especially the one standing to Donda Wu’s right, he felt gentle and kind.
He wasn’t as bulky as his father, but his body was still solidly built. His arms was as thick as my calf, and he was carrying a 50kg young kiba with one arm easily.
That man had a similar face as his father, as hard as a boulder. But his brown hair was shaved really short, and his eyes were narrowed to a slit as if he was smiling. He had a very calm expression.
He might look gentle and kind, but his large body emitted an intangible prowess different from his father. I had a faint feeling that I must not anger this man.
He was a bit old too, while the other two men were younger.
One of them should be a few years older than me. He had a tall built and solid muscles, like a young wolf.
His face was a bit long and the bridge of his nose was high, with his mouth shut in a serious manner. He was handsome with black hair seldom seen in the settlement, and his long hair tied behind his neck.
However… his narrow eyes under his thin brows had a beast-like light about them, very similar to his father. In terms of the aura emitted, he resembled his father the most.
The last boy was younger than me. In my world, he would be in middle school.
Slightly shorter than me, he was slender when compared to the other men, but didn’t feel weak at all. He was carrying a kiba that weighs about 100kg with a krilee stick together with the younger man I mentioned earlier.
He had mid length yellowish brown hair, with eye colours that was lighter than his hair. If not for his delinquent-like rebellious expression, he could be considered cute. The red haired girl who received Ai Fa’s cape reluctantly resembles him a lot.
By the way, while carrying the kiba on one shoulder, he slung a bow and quiver on his other shoulder. This was the first time I see someone from this world carrying this weapon.
Anyway — This were the men of Wu clan.
Clan head Donda Wu and his three sons.
「Oh Rimee, what a considerate way of welcoming me.」
Rimee’s father picked up the fruit wine his daughter was carrying with his stout fingers.
「Ah, you can’t, that is for culinary use!」
「Hmmp! Culinary? Don’t use those smartass terms.」
Donda Wu had white and tough teeth, just like a kiba. He bit off the cork off the bottle, and swig the red fluid down his throat.
Fruit wine wasn’t as concentrated as red wine, but it still had a substantial amount of alcohol content. He emptied it in one go and tossed the bottle by his feet.
「Yo, the female hunter of House Fa. We haven’t met since your dad died two years ago. It’s been a long time, aren’t you even going to greet me?」
His glowing eyes stared at Ai Fa.
Ai Fa pushed me behind and walked to the front of that burly man.
「Head of the Wu clan Donda Wu, long time no see… On Rimee Wu’s bequest, my family member Asuta and I are here as temporary caretakers of the Wu clan’s hearth.」
「Hmmp, you’re an unlikable brat as usual. If your eyes didn’t look so sharp, you would be a beauty just like your mother.」
Donda Wu had a large face, looking just like a cross between a kiba and a lion. He leaned his face near Ai Fa’s nose.
「You are actually wearing the horns of a kiba like a man. But no matter how brave you are, you are still a weak girl, seems like you still can’t understand this, huh? Ai Fa of house Fa?」
「I will watch over my home as the head of house Fa. I already told you that two years ago.」
I was surprised by how unfazed Ai Fa was in the face of such a scary man.
I couldn’t see Ai Fa’s expression from the angle I was standing from. But a fire that could rival Donda Wu was probably burning in her eyes.
This was like a scene of a wild cat facing off against a horde of kiba.
「Hah! Darum, how about it? Why don’t you marry into the Fa house then? Then the Fa lineage will carry on. But you will need to be the hearth caretaker and raise the children then!」
The burly man leaned back and laughed thunderously.
The second youngest man who had eyes just like his father reacted.
His eyes that had a dangerous gleam turned towards Ai Fa, his gaze filled obviously with mockery.
「She has eyes like a beast, I don’t want to marry such a woman. No, that’s not a man or a woman, just a garbage.」
When I heard that, I wanted to step forward on reflex.
But Ai Fa who was standing diagonally before me, restraint me quickly.
「We still need to prepare dinner. We will talk after it’s done.」
「That’s right! We are about to start cooking! Don’t bother me!」
In the eyes of a daughter, this beast like giant was just a father. Rimee yelled as she waved the empty bottle around without any fear at all.
On the other hand, Leina Wu held the sieve with the aria as she looked troubledly at the men facing off with Ai Fa. After looking at his daughters, Donda Wu turned and left with a 「Hah!」
「All of you are really ridiculous. Delaying your other work in order to prepare dinner so early? It’s just eating the life of the kiba, there is no need for unnecessary work!」
「I already told you! We are cooking for the sake of grandma Jiba! Asuta’s food is soft and delicious!」
The next moment, Donda Wu turned his back to his furious youngest daughter and changed his tone a little.
「… If we can’t consume the meat of the kiba, only death awaits the denizens of Forest’s Edge. Even a Wu or the greatest grand elder can’t violate the law of the forest.」
His giant figure walked away slowly.
And then, something incredible happened.
Rimee Wu kicked her father’s back.
「Daddy Donda you dummy! Why did you say something so mean to grandma Jiba!? You also cherish her a lot!」
「That’s right! Grandma Jiba is the grand elder of the entire Forest’s Edge, not just the Wu clan. How can the Wu clan head say something so reckless?」
Even Leina Wu yelled at her father’s back with teary eyes.
「… Hmmp.」 Donda Wu grunted disinterestedly and disappeared into the depths of the building.
「Alright, let’s take care of the kiba meat.」
Someone said nonchalantly with a deep voice.
The dangerous atmosphere chilled down.
「Ah, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m the eldest son of the Wu clan, Jiza Wu. Ai Fa and Asuta of house Fa, I am very grateful to you two for making a trip here for grand elder Jiba Wu’s sake.」
And of course, the one who spoke was the tall man who looked kind with narrow eyes .
「… But the Wu clan handing over the caretaking of the hearth to an outsider is an important event, right on the level of us offering our blades to the western god selva. I beg your understanding that our clan head Donda Wu can’t just welcome you without any reservation.」
「Hmmp! Father always spoils that brat Rimee too much!」
The youngest boy with yellowish brown hair commented.
Rimee Wu glared at him immediately.
「What, you wanna fight? Bratty Ludo!?」
The boy and the girl glared at each other like two puppies.
Compared to that scene earlier, this was much more heartwarming.
「This shorter boy is my youngest brother, Ludo Wu. And this is the second son, Darum Wu. Jiba Wu’s condition hurts all of our hearts. If you can save Jiba Wu’s soul, we will show you our utmost gratitude and respect.」
He smiled slowly.
However, I couldn’t read his emotions because his eyes were narrowed to a slit.
「… But if you harm the Wu clan’s hearth or the lives of the Wu clan, we will have to cross swords. I hope you can keep that in mind. I will take my leave… Let’s go, Darum, Ludo.」
The three brothers went into the dismembering room with the two kiba.
I sighed in relief after their figures were completely gone.
「Ara… They sure are intimidating. This is the first time I have seen the men of Forest’s Edge from up close. Is everyone like them?」
「… The Wu clan is exceptionally powerful in the Forest’s Edge settlement. It is only natural that the men who supports the entire clan is extraordinary.」
It had been a while since Ai Fa looked at me straight in the eye like this.
「Asuta, you can’t back down now even if you’re scared.」
「Don’t worry, I live under the same roof with a scary mistress, so I’m used to it… that stings.」
She kicked my leg.
「That old man might be scary, but the most intimidating should be the eldest son. But what he said did stir up my fighting spirit.」
When I said that, the two close sisters looked my way at the same time.
「Asuta, you’re amazing!」
「Ehh?」
「Jiza-Nii is the most scary when he gets mad. If Jiza-Nii scolds me now, I will definitely cry like a child.」
「I-I see.」
「Also… When Rimee Wu wants to invite you and Ai Fa to our place, the one who objects most vehemently wasn’t father, but Jiza-Nii. Jiza adheres to rules strictly, he can’t accept outsiders caretaking the hearth in our house.」
「… Thank you for your valuable information. My fighting spirit is burning more intensely now.」
I felt like scratching my head, but I couldn’t do that with my hands full of aria.
「Well then… Rimee Wu, are there more fruit wine in the food store? To be honest, it will be bad if there isn’t any.」
「Don’t worry! There’re loads! Father will drink 3 or 4 every day. We need to trade for it in the post station frequently, it’s so tiring!」
Excellent, looks like I could safeguard my head.
No matter what, the things I needed to do remained the same. To use the ingredients I have to cook the best dish I could.
Not just grandma Jiba, I also need to make that father who is as large as a kiba, and that big brother who looks kind but is actually the hidden boss, speechless. Or else my life will be at peril...
With such a strong clan head and successor, I think the Wu clan’s future would be smooth sailing.
Ah, speaking of which...
This wasn’t the first time I met a man in Forest’s Edge.
That first night when I came into this different world, didn’t I encounter a burly man?
That burly man once visited Ai Fa who was depressed because of her father’s death with ulterior motives. He was beaten up badly and thrown by Ai Fa into the river.
… That’s the successor of the Tsun clan?
In that case, the match was already decided if war ever breaks out between the two clans, right?
I thought about these things and returned to the stove room with the other women and my mistress.
Part 2
「Ara… have you already finished dinner preparation…?」
When this person appeared, the dinner preparation was heading into its climax.
Right now — We have prepared the aria and kiba meat soup. The poitan for everyone had been grilled, and we were about to start grilling the hamburg steak and aria.
「Oh? What is it, Vena? It’s rare seeing you in the stove room when you’re not on duty.」
Ditto Min who was in the kitchen with everyone turned her head back.
The person standing at the entrance looking at us — was the eldest sister of the Wu clan, Vena. She twirled her long brown hair lazily and revealed a sexy smile.
「I didn’t have any task at hand right now, so I came to take a look… But seems like my help isn’t needed...」
As she could see, dinner preparation was almost complete even though there was still some time before sunset.
Rimee Wu, Leina Wu and grandma Ditto Min were more efficient than I expected, so work progressed this quickly.
This was a good miscalculation.
「After that, we just need to grill the kiba meat and we will be done, no problem…! Vena-Nee, you will burn it if I leave it to you, so no thanks.」
「Rimee, don’t say that… we have guests...」
Vena Wu squirmed her elegant body bashfully.
This big sister was one sexy girl.
「But, I’m a bit worried… Father Donda looked even more unhappier than yesterday…?」
「Ignore him! Ai Fa and Asuta only took this tedious job for the sake of grandma Jiba!」
Rimee Wu stood beside Ai Fa and said with her cheeks puffed out.
By the way, Leina Wu stood beside me.
Vena Wu’s crimson eyes looked between me and the second daughter of the Wu clan.
「That might be so, but if you incur the wrath of father Donda and Jiza-Nii, things will become complicated… What do you think, Leina…?」
「It will be fine. Asuta’s cooking is amazing! I think grandma Jiba will be happy to eat it!」
Leina Wu announced. Her eyes was filled with her confidence in me, which made me embarrassed.
「Hmm…」
Vena Wu muttered as she looked at her sister, then revealed a cheerful smile.
「Since Leina who is good at caretaking the hearth said that, I can be at ease… But what is that pile of thing over there...?」
「Ah, that’s poitan. After cooking the poitan, I dried it under the sun. After dissolving it in water and grilling it, it become like this.」
When she heard my answer, Vena’s droopy eyes opened wide.
「This is poitan…? The shape of these meat is also strange…」
「This is because we minced the kiba meat before kneading them into this round shape. The tough kiba meat will turn soft like this.」
Vena Wu muttered 「Hmm…」 again after hearing my reply, and fell into deep thought.
「I have never seen such strange dishes even in the Genos post station… You really are from a nation far far away...」
「Yes, this is a common way of cooking in the place where I was born.」
After I answered like that, I turned towards Leina Wu beside me.
「But it should be difficult to remember this cooking method in just one day. From tomorrow onwards, you can just mince the meat like this and toss them directly into the soup.」
「Tossing the minced meat into the soup?」
「Yes, if you do that, you don’t need to chew much. You can just drink the soup together with the meat. You can grill the meat before adding it into the soup, it will add more flavour and make the soup tastier.」
「After mincing the meat, grill it a little then add it into the soup? Do we need to cook it over a slow fire like today?」
「Yes. Add in the minced meat and aria at the very end, but add in the sliced meat at the beginning and cook with a slow fire. You can then get the essence release by two types of meat, making the stock more delicious.」
「I see. Thank you… Asuta, you are really knowledgeable, that surprises me.」
「Not at all, my family makes a living through cooking, so I would know a little about this.」
Her gaze filled with respect only made me feel embarrassed, and even a little painful. I was just a half assed apprentice chef.
However, since grandma Jiba who Ai Fa treasured so deeply had turned so frail, I have to work hard so she could find joy in eating again.
Eating is for the sake of survival — Ai Fa once told me that.
Even though this brave and simple tribe didn’t care about how food tastes, they would be able to derive joy from it if they just paid a little more attention from eating.
Ai Fa and Rimee Wu both complimented the food I made, saying it’s 「delicious」.
They acknowledged the value of tasty food, and experience it’s joy too.
In that case, even though I was raised in a completely different environment and had vastly different values would be of use too.
I didn’t know whether my arrival in this world was a prank by fate, but I want to live on here while maintaining my own way of doing things.
Culinary skills were the only thing I was proficient in. If my abilities could help a person Ai Fa treasures live a serene and fulfilled life, it would fill me with the utmost joy.
「Hmm…」
As I was thinking that — Vena Wu moaned at the same time and muttered:
「Asuta, you’re really an unfathomable man… I heard the chef profession only exists in cities surrounded by stone walls…」
「I’m not born in an incredibly prosperous city though. This is probably just the difference in culture between our worlds.」
What was Vena Wu’s objective?
The men led by Donda Wu showed clear hostility. I didn’t feel that from Vena, and she didn’t seem to be to guarded towards me. However — I have a feeling that she was observing me very calmly.
「But I don’t know anything about cooking… If grandma Jiba can feel the joy of living, I will be very glad… Please work hard then…?」
Vena Wu left after saying these words.
After the source of excessive pheromones left, I sighed in relief.
「The lady named Vena Wu is an incredible person.」
「That’s right, of the seven siblings, she is the most eccentric.」
Grandma Ditto Min’s tone became friendlier and answered me spryly.
「She isn’t a bad kid, but it’s hard to tell what she is thinking at times. Although she is already twenty, there’s still no sign of her marriage.」
「I see, that’s strange since she is a very charming woman.」
The instant I said that, everyone’s gaze gathered from all directions.
Well, there was just five people including me in the stove room, so all directions might be too much of an exaggeration.
「…Asuta, so you think Vena-Nee is very charming.」
One of the five people, Leina Wu looked at me with very sad eyes.
「Hmm? No, I’m not commenting subjective based on my perspective, I’m saying this from the view of normal people.」
「… Yes. Although she is my family, I think she is charming too.」
Then why did she looked at me with those eyes just now?
「But Vena-Nee is already twenty though. Asuta, you’re seventeen just like Ai Fa, right?」 Rimee Wu said.
Surprise was written all over her face.
「T-This has nothing to do with my age, right? By the way, why’re you paying so much attention to my words? I don’t understand.」
「… If you compliment a woman so openly, everyone will think you intend to take her as your wife.」
Even Ai Fa who had been quiet all this while said such things to me.
I couldn’t rebuke her icy tone and gaze, and changed my attitude immediately.
「So that’s what’s going on. That was rude of me. I still don’t know the etiquettes of Forest’s Edge well, please forgive me… I don’t mean anything else when I said that.」
「Don’t worry, of course we won’t mind hearing you compliment our family.」
Despite what grandma Ditto Min said, Leina Wu still showed a sorrowful face, while Rimee Wu stared at me incredulously. Ai Fa averted her face and seemed to be in a bad mood.
I really don’t mean it...
Considering my current circumstances, I didn’t have the mood for romance.
But this was a different world.
Their concept of love and marriage would probably be very different from my world, so I have to be more careful.
But no matter what—
Right now, Ai Fa was the only one in my heart.
What was this feeling then? The urge to repay my benefactor? A sense of closeness that develops naturally towards a housemate living under the same roof? Respect for her kind personality? I couldn’t figure it out myself.
However — I wanted to live a proper life in this world because Ai Fa was here.
There was no question about that.
「… Well then, let’s begin the last job.」
Following my announcement life returned to everyone’s faces as they snapped out of their pondering expression, and they looked dependable and cheerful.
We were from different families and circumstances, but we worked together towards the same goal.
For Jiba Wu — the grand elder of the whole Forest’s Edge to regain peace in her heart.
Part 3
It was finally time for the match.
Dusk, the time between day and night.
Inside the large hall within the Wu main house, candles were lit in all directions.
Accompanied by Leina Wu, the grand elder of the Wu clan Jiba Wu appeared with unsteady steps — And so, everyone was present.
This hall was about 20 tatami mats large, roughly twice the size of Ai Fa’s house.
The room setup was not much different from Ai Fa’s place, but many items adorned the walls in the hall. The men’s blade and bows, fur capes and a spear-like weapon with a short handle all hung on the hooks made from kiba bones.
The clan head sat in the seat of honour, with a monstrous kiba hide hung behind him, as well as an ominous looking skull.
This Kiba was gigantic, it should weigh several hundreds of kilogram when it was still alive.
As a chef, I wouldn’t be fazed even if I saw the hide or skeletons of animals. But that piece of hide was incredibly big it struck fear into my heart.
「Hmmp, everyone’s present.」
Donda Wu took generous swigs from his fruit wine bottle as he said haughtily.
Jiba Wu sat down carefully beside him.
She looked really small probably because the man beside her was too massive.
Aside from the long dress married women would wear, she had a something like a shawl draped over her shoulders. She also had decorative items on her that seemed to be related to witchcraft. Her body had shrivelled so much that she looked like a piece of dried fruit.
Her back was hunched, so I couldn’t tell her height, but she was definitely more petite than Leina Wu. Her head covered in silver hair was about the same size as Rimee Wu.
Jiba Wu’s hair that had lost its colour pigment was tied into two low pigtails, similar to Leina Wu beside her. Her face was just like a monkey with plenty of wrinkles. I couldn’t tell where her eyes were as she had too many wrinkles.
Her slim fingers extending out from her shawl was weak and boney like dried twigs. Her existence was as frail as a fog in the open plain. As if she would crumple if Leina Wu who was sitting down with her was to let go.
… Fortunately, she still have the strength to walk.
But letting an old lady eat meals centered around meat was asking for a bit too much.
But the die had been cast. We could only await the results.
Two longish stove was situated inside the hall, and the iron pot on the stove was making cute bobbling sound. These small stoves were not meant for cooking, but to keep the food warm.
Cooking wasn’t done in the hall, and the food store was situated in another building, so there wasn’t any smell of fats in the room. Hence, the fragrance of the food we cooked filled the room.
Fourteen people sat around the stove in an oval
At the top of the oval, which is the seat of honour, were Donda Wu and the grand elder Jiba.
Ai Fa and I were seated opposite the two of them some distance away, at the seat of least honour.
From my perspective, to my right were the three brothers, Jiza, Darum and Ludo.
Further in were the third sister Lala and youngest sister Rimee.
To my right was the wife of the previous clan head grandma Ditto Min, spouse of the clan head Mia Lei, wife of the eldest son, Sati Lei, and the eldest daughter Vena. To the left of Vena were Leina Wu’s utensils.
Leina Wu was the representative of the hearth caretaking group today, and needed to help Jiba Wu eat. She could only dine after her work was done. Not just today, someone needed to take on this task every day. The elderly Jiba Wu was too weak, and couldn’t eat by herself.
By the way, behind Sati Lei Wu was her baby, Kota Wu, who was sleeping soundly in a crib.
「… We offer thanks for the forest’s grace…」
Even though Donda Wu looked like a beast he still announced with a serious tone.
He placed the fingers on his left hand that was as thick as a baseball glove before his mouth that was covered by his beard.
「…We offer thanks to Sati Min, Leina, Rimee, Ai Fa and Asuta for tending the fire in the hearth, so our lives can be extended tonight…」
Everyone repeated what he said, and drew a horizontal line with their fingertips.
This action — was exactly the same as what Ai Fa did every night before dinner.
Ai Fa always said it softly, so I couldn’t hear what she said. So she was praying to god like this.
The thought that Ai Fa had been saying my name secretly every night made a weird feeling rose up in my heart.
And then—
After the short prayer ended, everyone started eating suddenly.
They didn’t even wait for me and Ai Fa to pick up our spoons. If we had poisoned the food, they would be dead now.
They believed that we wouldn’t do that — This was what 「tending the hearth」 meant.
That was why we couldn’t afford to fail.
Specifically, I couldn’t fail.
The five of us cooked this meal, but I was the one in charge. If there was any problem with dinner tonight, I would need to take full responsibility. Even if they spoke up for me, I was still prepared to take all responsibility for this.
I wouldn’t like anyone else be harmed, be it Rimee Wu, Leina Wu or Ditto Min Wu — And of course, Ai Fa too.
Please, Leina Wu. Help grandma Jiba.
I finally reached for the utensils as I cheered Leina Wu on in my heart. She was a few metres away from me, right next to grandma Jiba.
I made the same dish as last night as per Rimee Wu’s request.
The menu was 『Kiba hamburg steak with fruit wine sauce and a side of grilled aria』.
However, on top of the 『grilled poitan』, I also prepared 『kiba meat soup』.
As the soup wasn’t the main dish, I reduced the amount of meat and aria in them. This soup was meant to complement the main dish. Right now, the iron pot being heated up was filled with this soup.
After the pre meal prayers had been said, everyone started eating in silence. Grandma Ditto Min stood up immediately and poured soup into everyone’s bowl.
During this time, Leina Wu who was beside grandma Jiba remained still.
Everything was going according to my plan.
I used this chance to check how dinner was and observed everyone’s reaction — Simply put, everyone was just moving their spoons quietly.
Before dinner, when the five people in charge of cooking started filling the plates and serving them, everyone yelled loudly like Rimee Wu did yesterday. 「What is this?」「Is this kiba?」「What is this flat thing?」. But after my simple explanation about the dishes, I taught them how to eat these and what to look out for and they turned silent. The atmosphere was like a farewell party.
Some of them looked very unhappy, some were excited, some had sparkling eyes and those who decided to keep a straight face throughout. Their reaction all varied, but they were all very quiet as they waited for Jiba Wu to take her seat.
Then everyone turned quiet and concentrated on moving their spoons a little too anxiously.
Kiba hamburg steak, aria and kiba meat soup and grilled poitan. These three dishes was one set meal.
As the women had less appetite than men, I adjusted the portion when I was cooking. The hamburg steak for women used about 300g of minced meat, while the 700g was used for men. Ai Fa and I had normal 500g portions. Grandma Jiba had a smaller portion of about 200g.
Worth mentioning was that these weren’t mini hamburg steak, but normal sized ones.
As there were several stoves in the Wu clan, I could cook hamburg steak in a normal way. I started by grilling the surface of the steak with a strong fire, then cook it thoroughly with a small flame. The women had one piece of steak, while the men’s 700g steak was divided into two pieces. Every steak was thick and filling.
In the end, I still use fruit wine to steam them to add flavour. However, the decision to change the size of the steak made this product vastly different from yesterday. 「The hamburg steak not being thick enough」 was the only thing I was dissatisfied about yesterday, and I have finally overcome this.
This was the right call. The hamburg steak increased to about 3cm thick, and was juicier than the steak I made yesterday. As a bigger portion of it wasn’t grilled, it was more tender and juicy.
I was very satisfied by this dish.
As for the Wu clan — They remained silent as expected.
Some of them had a sour face like they did before the meal, some were smiling happily and some turned expressionless. There were all sorts of reactions, but no one expressed their views. Ai Fa was like this too, maybe they weren’t used to chatting during meals.
By the way, the representative of the sour faces was the clan head Donda Wu. The representative of the happy faces was the eldest daughter Vena Wu, and the representative of the expressionless group was the second son Darum. The others could probably be categorized under being expressionless.
And of course, Rimee Wu eating nonstop with a big smile, but her blue eyes would turn grandma Jiba’s way every now and then.
「Grandma Jiba, time for dinner. The dish today is very special. Our guests helped us cook a delicious meal.」
Leina Wu said as she moved her spoon towards grandma Jiba’s mouth.
In the spoon was kiba meat soup. Leina tore off a piece of poitan and soaked it into the soup.
This was a method I thought up.
「This meat is soft, grandma Jiba should be able to eat this!」 Even though Rimee Wu said this encouragingly, I was from another world, and thought that 「hamburg steak is too greasy for an eighty year old grandma」.
So I decided to take it step by step.
First, let her eat the poitan soaked in soup.
Then the aria in the soup.
When both were done, then move on to the 『kiba steak』.
But the hamburg steak has to be soaked in the soup. That way, the minced meat would dissolve in her mouth even without chewing.
When she had tried all of the above, and she could eat the normal hamburg steak, then just feed it to her.
I didn’t know how many teeth grandma Jiba had left. If she couldn’t eat it, I don’t think it’s necessary to feed her hamburg steak.
Hence, I prepared the 『kiba meat soup』.
I served this dish for grandma Jiba’s sake.
In terms of menu planning, it would be better to have a soup complement the meal, and I think the others would be able to enjoy this soup too.
However, this soup was still specially made for grandma Jiba.
I sliced the aria thinner than what I preferrred, and boiled it until it was so soft i couldn’t feel the texture. As I used a lot of kiba meat on the hamburg steak, I only used a little meat for the soup.
The purpose of the kiba meat soup was to soften the poitan and hamburg steak.
This was actually the dish I prepared specially for grandma Jiba.
「Ah…」 Rimee Wu gasped.
I noticed it too.
Grandma Jiba kept shaking her head unhappy no matter how Leina Wu coaxed her. But she seemed to have given up now, and started sipping the soup in the spoon.
「It’s tasty, right? There’s still plenty more.」
Leina Wu said happily as she tore another piece of poitan and tossed it into the bowl.
But grandma Jiba didn’t react.
It might be rude to say this, but she seemed to have ascended to the heavens after that mouthful — And didn’t move at all.
「What’s the matter? It’s tasty, right? This is made by Rimee, grandma Ditto Min and me.」
Leina Wu seemed a little anxious and moved the spoon a bit forcefully near the old lady’s mouth.
No, there’s no need to rush. Let her eat at her own pace. As I said that in my heart — Grandma Jiba’s mouth opened slightly.
Leina Wu seemed relieved as she pushed the spoon into the mouth that looked like a crack in the ground.
「Well then, how about some aria? It’s soft and delicious too.」
When we were cooking, Leina Wu tried all the dishes.
This was my suggestion. If we want to coax grandma Jiba who didn’t want to eat, it would be better for the one feeding her to know how it tastes.
「Asuta put in so much thought for the sake of grandma Jiba you have never met before…」 Although Leina Wu’s eyes had turned red, as a chef, I think this was only natural.
I was also doing this for the sake of Rimee Wu and Ai Fa who cares about grandma Jiba. And as a chef, I also hope everyone can enjoy the dish I prepared. If a chef didn’t consider all these, then he wasn’t fit to be a chef.
「It’s delicious right? How about some meat? The meat is also very soft.」
Leina Wu finally reached for the 『kiba steak』 with her spoon, and soaked about a half mouthful into the soup.
How would Jiba find it?
I cut the aria in the hamburg steak a little smaller than usual, but it was cooked in basically the same way.
I instructed Leina Wu to avoid the slightly charred surface, and feed grandma Jiba the tender meat inside the steak as much as possible. But if all her teeth had fallen off, she might choke on the minced meat and aria. I warned Leina Wu on the danger of this very clearly.
Leina Wu sent the meat and soup into grandma Jiba’s mouth.
Her wrinkled mouth moved slowly.
And then—
A clear liquid flowed from where her eyes should be.
「This meat is delicious… Is this really kiba meat...?」
Grandma jiba’s raspy voice reverberated inside the quiet hall.
Part 4
「Yes, this is kiba meat. It’s tasty, right? Please have some more.」
Leina Wu’s voice was choking a little.
Rimee Wu and the others held their plates and wept quietly.
And Ai Fa —
Stopped eating and lowered her head slightly with her eyes closed.
「Well then, let’s try eating just the meat. The red gravy is fruit wine essence, it’s very sweet and tasty.」