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 embarrassing that I kinda cornered myself with them.
“I am glad you’re alive, Kuu”
Even though embarrassing, 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 impassible 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 crushing.
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 pawns 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 pawns 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…