Chapter 39: Whole Roasted Horn Rabbit
Ren watched somewhat absentmindedly as the plate with the whole roasted horn rabbit was temporarily taken down and being cut into individual portions.
(The bones and such look hard, but they cut through so easily…)
“Ren, don’t tell me you’re planning to eat the whole roast?”
While watching how the horn rabbit was being carved, his younger brother Lewis spoke to him from the side.
“Huh…?”
Ren couldn’t quite understand what intention lay behind Lewis’ words. When he looked at Lewis, he was wearing a somewhat malicious smirk, the corners of his mouth turned up.
“That’s meat to celebrate Yuan and Yona gaining their skills. Yuan got ‘Swordsmanship,’ Yona got ‘Water Magic’… What’s your skill, Ren? Are you going to ride on Yuan and Yona’s celebration and eat the whole roasted horn rabbit?”
(…I don’t think it’s strange for me to eat the horn rabbit meat that I hunted. Besides…)
Ren glanced around the dining hall. Just then, a plate with meat was being placed before their father.
(…If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be strange for anyone other than Yuan and Yona—who are being celebrated—to eat it?)
Ren thought this to himself but didn’t say it aloud. He only had doubts about the content of Lewis’s argument; he didn’t want to deny that his father or other family members should eat the horn rabbit meat.
“Lewis, stop it…”
The second son, Royce, admonished Lewis.
“If you keep saying such things, everyone won’t be able to eat the meat. You too…”
“Wha—! My skill is much better than Ren’s!”
Because Lewis raised his voice, attention in the dining hall shifted to him.
“…Lewis, please be quiet during meals. Your manners are poor.”
Mother cautioned Lewis in a quiet tone.
“That’s right. Today is Yuan’s celebration. Don’t make a fuss and disturb the occasion.”
Father spoke in a low, heavy voice.
“Yes…”
Lewis hung his head and hunched his back. From Ren’s view, Lewis’s profile appeared bright red, as if he were clenching his back teeth.
A heavy atmosphere flowed.
Suddenly, Ren remembered Father’s words.
(…Yuan’s… celebration…?)
When he glanced at Yona, who was sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Yuan, she had her hands on her lap and was looking down.
“Well then! Let’s eat the meat! Amazing, today we have two whole roasted horn rabbits!”
As if cutting through the heavy atmosphere, the eldest son, Ryan, spoke in a loud voice.
“It’s two birds because it’s a celebration for two people! It looks delicious.”
The eldest daughter, Liese, said brightly, riding on Ryan’s words.
“Let’s eat before it gets cold!”
The second son, Royce, said cheerfully while looking around.
The peaceful meal resumed.
Ren silently drank his soup.
When a plate with horn rabbit meat was placed before him, Lewis, still looking down, threw a piece of meat into his mouth with a gesture that seemed almost desperate. He didn’t appear to be savoring it much.
Father, Mother, and Yuan continued their calm conversation.
Talk of swordsmanship, talk of becoming a knight in the future. His older brothers and sister smiling and making agreeable sounds while listening.
Yona silently cutting her meat without joining the conversation.
(…Somehow… the atmosphere feels strange… Even though it’s a celebration…)
Ren glanced at the whole roasted horn rabbit placed at the center of the table.
One bird had been carved, and another remained on the plate.
The horn rabbit Ren had hunted during the day. It had been a slightly larger specimen.
He brought a piece of meat from his plate to his mouth.
(Mm. It’s well cooked…)
The leg meat was muscular and slightly tough but elastic, and when chewed, meat juices spread through his mouth.
Ren thought that it had been good to hunt the horn rabbit.
His younger brother and sister’s “Blessing Ceremony.”
His youngest brother Yuan had obtained the “Swordsmanship” skill that their parents had wished for.
It was a joyful occasion.
The horn rabbit meat was delicious.
But…
The family conversation praising the glory of the “Swordsmanship” skill somehow sounded a little distant to Ren.