Vol 2 Chapter 2 (2/2)

After completing the soup, I hear the calls of the Firefoxes and turn around, and was surprised by the Firefoxes being closer than I thought.

Because of the delicious smell, everyone’s blazing eyes were staring at the state of the pot. It would only make sense. such a thing would be a way of changing what’s on someone’s mind, right?

“Everyone, umm, the soup is finished, so please form one line. Bring the cup you came with and I will be pouring it into that.”

When I say so, each person desperately searched and brought out their cups from their luggage and scrambled to get in line.

The order of the line was properly regulated thanks to Kuu.

“Yep, here you go.”

“Thank you, Elf-Oniichan!” [oniichan]

“Your welcome, it’s hot so please be careful, kay?”

Standing in front of the pot, one by one I pour soup for each person. Right now I am serving soup into a cup of a young Firefox girl and she accepts it.

I politely hand the cup over with an appropriate amount of soup in it.

I give a smile and the young Firefox girl returns a smile to me. those girl’s eyes, are mixed with a bit of little longing and wors.h.i.+p.

If I speak honestly, rather than doing it like I am now. I would say it would be faster if I poured 3 ladles of soup and then transfer it to the next person. But, I won’t do that.

Because this is the opportunity for me to be recognized as a good person.

Firefoxes came to the workshop , their whole bodies unclean, smeared in sweat and filth, coldness freezing them over, and starving.

Meanwhile, to receive the opportunity to wash their clothes and their bodies with hot water, a splendid place to live, and also me hand-delivering them a warm meal, I would look like a G.o.d now wouldn’t I?

If people are in a situation to the degree that they are being pursued, when they are saved the feeling of grat.i.tude will become large.

Surely, the Firefoxes together will not forget the taste of today’s soup.

If for this, general acts can be made to be endured.

A little while ago, the soup was given out to all the Firefoxes.

“Its delicious… it’s delicious!!”

“Yah, It’s Delicious, isn’t it”

“This… warm, Delicious meal, it’s really been a long time.”

“We are still alive, aren’t we. are still alive….”

Everyone wholeheartedly drinks the soup.

Although made with ingredients on hand, because the wild boar bone was cooked together in the pressure cooker it produced reliable soup stock, plenty of the best tasting meat around the bone was in there as well. and also, gelatin parts included were large, making it quite a feast.

I ate a little and the result was considerable.

I heard the shaky voices of the Firefoxes.

Tattered and worn-out they began to shed tears.

Now, thinking of their deceased village, the separation from their family and friends, as well as lovers.

Their body being made clean, eating warm food, it only makes sense that the tension would be released.

The girls, escaped from their village, went on a treacherous journey. Until now, they couldn’t afford to shed tears and grieve.

Finally coming here their strength returned.

Not being able to grieve is a truly agonizing time.

“Everyone, it’s ok now lets start a new life here, For us and for everyone who fought(and died) for us.”

Meanwhile, Kuu was going around encouraging all the Firefoxes.

Expressing a smile amid Everyone shedding tears, lending a chest, comforting and listening to their troubles. [lend chest]

Looking at it closely, that girl didn’t even touch her soup yet…. Moving for the sake of all the Firefoxes, it’s obvious there would be no time to desperately eat, right?

Even now, one girl, said「Kuu-ane-sama」dived in her chest, her head being stroked gently. [ane-sama]

Kuu’s expression, seen from around, is not quite sad, but like a holy mother, she gives a gentle smile.

I can’t look.

I prepared another soup by pouring it in a large dish that was in the workshop, I open my mouth slowly.

“Everyone, I just replaced it so there is still more soup, so please eat freely. it’s OK to empty this pot.”

While saying so, the Firefoxes with their empty cups came diving in with more momentum.

Of course, even the girl earlier who was crying on Kuu’s chest.

There is a lot of currency on hand but, it was such a thing. [no idea] [EZ3]

“Kuu, as the Firefox representative I have things I want to talk to you about. Would please come to the next door building for a little bit?”

“Certainly. Cyril-sama”

Kuu saying so, rose up empty handed.

Even though she should still be hungry, she did not show regret for the untouched soup.

Seeing Kuu like that, I made a bitter smile.

“Well, shall we go?”

I bring Kuu to the filled up workshop next door that had the empire soldiers equipment.

“Well, first please eat that soup for me.”

The Firefoxes get a second serving and I inform Kuu before I hand-deliver a prepared dish of soup.

“Huh? Cyril-sama, doing that… why?”

“If you don’t eat… Anyway, why don’t we talk right after.”

“But, my ration is properly….”

“Ahhh, well certainly Kuu’s portion, I served that one… Even so, even after all the effort to make such a delicious thing, and it went cold because a certain someone didn’t bother to even lay a hand on it. The cold soup which has its flavor lowered, cooking which I thought was my pride was hurt, that is why. Please eat this dish that is still warm, I want and request you to do so, is that bad?

When I asked that, Kuu shakes her head, and she didn’t whisper even while having an expression of smiling and crying, as she tasted the soup.

The first mouthful and her eyes changed color, then she started to scooped up more soup vigorously.

Unlike a cup, a bowl you can pour a considerable amount of soup into. Kuu drained two cupfuls in one go.

“Fuu, it was delicious. this is the first time since I was born drinking such a delicious soup. especially this meat being so soft, somehow, a I feel it’s been a long time tasting food.”

“Even saying that to me it was the result of my work. and, Kuu before you start talking as the representative, for just a little bit, I would like you to talk to me as friend.”

And then, at once those words cut off. Those words were a little embarra.s.sing that I kinda cornered myself with them.

“I am glad you’re alive, Kuu”

Even though embarra.s.sing, no matter what I needed to communicate that to her.

I let out a bottom of my heart feeling of relief voice, and express a smile of relief.

Serving the cup and the meaning of that smile I made was different, bring glad that my friend was OK from the bottom of my heart meaning.

“I think Kuu really had it hard, its sad that your father and the Firefox people died. but even so, I got to meet Kuu again, I am very happy for that.”

“Cy… Cyril-sama”

“Kuu, I am talking to you as a friend. and also, here there is only us. calling me in such a way, I don’t like it very much.”

“But, I… as the family head, Cyril-sama, is the Chief of the Elves…. of Elucie.”

Kuu’s voice was agitated as if to run away.

Surely that girl, until she was able to eat soup together with the Firefoxes, she couldn’t afford to grieve.

The pressure from the responsibility was big, it will take time for her composure to return. I want to save her.

“We’re friends aren’t we. now after watching Kuu doing the impossible I know it was painful. the Kuu I know is a more honest and nice girl, you know.”

“Cyril-sa, umm, Cyril-kun, such a thing, if I start talking lik…. I… can’t keep it up….”

“It’s ok you know. I already know Kuu is a crybaby. there is no need to keep up that appearance this late in the game. If you like, shall we put the frog on your back again? If we do that, your persistent stubbornness might disappear by a margin, right.” [frog back]

“Cyril-kun if you say such a thing, even I know I am a mischievous and cheeky girl,”

“Even I am mischievous and I like cheeky, you know”

Kuu hearing my words, from her tear crumbled face she expressed that smile I missed.

“Really, to say that point, I did not change. but, rather than the Cyril-kun I know, I was able to feel more of Cyril-kun’s gentle adult side.”

“Its growing after 5 years. Kuu also, became splendid. The crybaby Kuu I know, I think ran away long ago, you know. until now, you’ve been enduring haven’t you…. even saying so earlier, there are no other Firefoxes here. The only ones here are my friends. That is why, it’s ok to be relaxed, ya know.”

Kuu is still 14. even so, becoming the family head and leaving everyone here.

And coming here all at once, her sad face and grief face didn’t show at all. Even though she is still at an age where someone could be acting childish, having to shoulder the other Firefoxs’ grief and sadness, it was expected of her responsibility.

Until they arrived at Elucie, while encouraging her friends crossing over impa.s.sible roads it would be expected to would be tough. Even being yelled at by Roreu, they must have had fear running through their minds. Even during negotiations, the sense of responsibility would have been crus.h.i.+ng.

Even so, Kuu fought without rest.

That kind of Kuu I respect as a friend.

“Yes, I did my very best….”

Kuu pressed her brow onto my chest.

“Because I am the family head, everyone has complaints they didn’t say. even full of unease, it will be ok I would say, inside the forest, if we arrive at the elf village it will be ok, even though I was thinking uneasily no matter what I encouraged them, coming here, and at that time, that Roreu person was about to drive us away, rather from that Roreu person, the Firefoxes, everyone was scared. I brought them to this village, they didn’t think I was a lying to them. not knowing about the next place if it was OK, inside my head was messed up, if I said it, I didn’t know if I was giving enough hope to everyone.”

Surely, during the time of them coming from the Firefoxs’ village to here, it only makes sense their hearts would have been broken numerous times. even so, just enduring from just the hope of being told if you come to Elucie you will be saved….. Kuu gave them hope to continue to believe in.

“When I thought it was useless, Cyril-kun came, and covered for me, I was about to cry. at that time, I… Even for that moment, Cyril-kun took care of everything, I was about to give up. Instead of negotiating, it was just us pleading to be saved.”

“But Kuu didn’t, so it’s all good. if, that happened, I wouldn’t have been able to accept the Firefoxes, you know. because it’s important to demonstrate the Firefoxes worth, to be able to be in the village. at that place, the only one who did it was Kuu. thats why, its ok to boast.”

That was not a lie.

I think about Kuu as a friend. I know the Firefoxes existence is useful.

Even so one-sidedly requesting protection, and only accepting colleagues who only depend on us, is something Elucie cannot afford. for Elucie’s sake what are they able to do? I was thinking that before accepting the other party.

“This is strange. comforting a negotiating partner.”

“Its because we are doing it as friends right now. once you go back to being the family head, I will be strict.”

“So just like that, I can’t just simply change like that you know.”

“If it’s Kuu you can, you know. that is why I can be more at ease and more gentle.”

“Gentle is being strict, huh.”

As Kuu says, wiped her tears away.

“Thank you very much. I am okay now, talking as friends is over. from here on I will be talking as the family head, kay? Cyril-sama”

Kuu put emphasis on that -sama.

From then the distinction between the talk between the Elucie chief and the Firefox family head was made.

“Aaa, that’s right. there is something I want to ask you. The Firefoxes, why did Kuu and the others head out toward Elucie? Did you know that we escaped the empire’s control? Also the number of people and, why I don’t even see a single escort male, the Firefoxes here were sacrificial p.a.w.ns weren’t they? Why is the family head’s daughter Kuu, here?”

I dared to thrust those cruel words.

but, I need to ask it.

For the Firefox’s behavior to be that affected.

Because the elves only recently escaped the empire’s control, the Firefoxes thought that the elf village was still under empire control, so why did they come here?

About the girls escaping I understand. but, and why were there no males escorting them?

And also, why are there just too few people. the Firefox village with its rock salt trading accordingly should have a plentiful population of four hundred people. for just only fifty women to have escaped is just way too little.

Deriving from my conjecture, Firefoxes dispersed the risk.

Coming to Elucie, if by chance the favored option failed, the insurance would keep the their continued bloodline from expiring.

That is why, there are not even any escorts and not many people.

“Sacrificial p.a.w.ns huh… that is cruel isn’t it…. but even so… let’s get to the point now shall we, I will let you talk. The events at the Firefox village? Fill me in on that.”

Without denying my conjecture, Kuu gave out a deep sigh.

and then, Kuu slowly began to speak…

followed: kanji usage here indicates to shadow or stalk like follow.

abused authority: I am not sure why it is necessary to say it in this fas.h.i.+on author just says it this way.  He is the Chief and he is the only one using the equipment anyway.

…. author was probably going to add more details in there and left it open ended.  Sorry…

stew: the author called it stew(煮込み) then soup(スープ) through out, so take it as it is.

oniichan: Oniichan, big brother.

lend chest: j.a.panese lend a chest is like lending a shoulder.

ane-sama: older sister.

no idea: In complete idea?  Probably another open-ended thing the author was going to elaborate on but didn’t complete it.

frog back: tl&ed: we suspect the author was referencing the idiom “monkey on one’s back” but used frog instead.  Idiom was lost in translation maybe?

EZ1: How does one abuse their own technology on a creation…

EZ2: That is an expensive knife.

EZ3: All hail the currency of soup.

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