A Frog in a Well
As expected, Grandfather, Brother Gene, and Young Master Eric, all suffering from hangovers, seemed to have the shijimi soup deeply seep into their tired bodies. Grandma, who watched with an exasperated expression, looked to me, from my memory, like she was drinking even more than anyone else. Ah… she’s a real glutton for alcohol.
After morning tea, I changed into my training clothes and headed to the training grounds with Belle. Today, for the first time in a while, we’d train under Grandma’s guidance.
“Please, take care of us.”
““““““Thank you!”””””
“Alright, first, 15 laps around the training ground. Begin!”
At Lindsay’s shout, everyone took off running. The Phantasmo training grounds were a bit smaller than our family’s. However, every five laps, we were forced into full sprints. Alternating between aerobic and anaerobic exercise made normal running feel easy. By the end, everyone was on all fours, gasping for air.
“Next is sword swings. Okay, stand up quickly! … Ready, go!!”
Barely catching their breath, the next instructions came flying.
“Joan, your sword technique is wobbling again. Belle, you too! There! Gene, Eric, don’t swing the sword with brute force! Focus on your shoulder joints and muscles! Don’t put unnecessary strength into it!”
““““Yes!!””””
Afterwards, we avoided [Fire Arrows] Lindsay fired at us, training our reflexes, and without rest, switched partners for five-minute bouts each. The training continued rigorously for three hours until lunch.
＊＊＊＊＊
Clang, clang, clang.
From a shop on the outskirts of town came a regular, rhythmic sound. Entering the shop, I immediately spotted Ijok at work.
“Hello~”
“Hm? Oh, Missy. What brings you here? You haven’t started on swords or knives yet?”
“I brought a gift. Have you finished lunch already?”
“No… already that time? When I start working, I lose track of time.”
It seemed that when Ijok concentrated, he became oblivious to his surroundings.
Once we were led to the living space in the back, I said,
“Then it’s perfect timing. Um… salt rice balls, rolled omelet, salted grilled fish, and shijimi soup.”
Pulling the items from storage onto the table, a delicious aroma filled the air.
“This looks tasty. Can I eat all of this?”
“Of course.”
“Well, without hesitation… but wait, I should serve tea first. Hold on. Um… tea, tea… where did I put it?”
“Ah, if you like, I can serve tea?”
Saying so, I took iced tea for three and milk for Pearl from storage. Rosso, meanwhile, waited outside because it was hot.
“Wow, I feel bad about all this. Not many guests would even bother to serve tea.”
Scratching his head, Ijok sat on the sofa.
“Do you live here alone?”
“Hm? Ah… I left the village early and traveled while working as a blacksmith. Well, I found that Phantasmo’s town and people suited me, so I was allowed to build a house and live here.”
“Do many dwarves go traveling?”
“Well, some stay in the village, but I thought if I stayed, I’d learn nothing and my blacksmith skills wouldn’t improve.”
“Ah~ that’s admirable. Choosing not to become a frog in a well.”
“‘Frog in a well’?”
Huh? Maybe they don’t say that in another world?
“Um… the full phrase is ‘A frog in a well does not know the ocean.’ A frog in a well doesn’t know about the sea. It’s a metaphor for someone limited by narrow knowledge or experience, unaware there’s a wider world.”
“I see. That makes sense.”
“Yeah, if you stay only in your own domain, you won’t know other things.”
“Right. But there’s a continuation: ‘A frog in a well does not know the ocean, yet knows the depth of the sky.’ It means that by mastering your narrow world, you can reach its deeper understanding.”
“Hmm~ Indeed, having a broad perspective helps you realize your smallness and foolishness, but even in a narrow world, if you pursue it steadily, you can grasp its depths as well.”
“Well, personally, I’d want to leave the well to achieve my goals.”
“Ahaha, that sounds like Joan.”
“Life is only once. I want to see and do many things.”
“By the way, do you know a dwarf named Gandarl?”
After finishing all the food and sipping tea, I asked Ijok.
“Hm? Gandarl? Know him? He’s my younger brother.”
“Eh? Really? … Now that you mention it, maybe they look alike?”
“How do you know Gandarl?”
“Ah, actually…”
I told Ijok how I met Gandarl. How I rescued him after he drank too much and got captured by goblins, and that now he’s searching for veins in the town of General.
“I see… he left the village too.”
“Yeah. He said he’d settle if there was a good vein in General… but that was about ten days ago, so I don’t know now. Ah… I could send a letter to ask. Wait a moment.”
Maybe Father would know too? This would also be a good chance to explain about Pegasus Letters—two birds with one stone.
“Your letter uses a Pegasus?”
“Yes. It’s my first familiar, after all.”
“Huh? You have a Pegasus as a familiar?”
“Yes, two. And also Pearl here. Pearl is my second familiar.”
“Ha—!? That’s… not a dog… a wolf? No… could it be…”
(It’s that very ‘could it be’.)
“Y-You… spoke!?”
“Ah, my familiars can speak. And this is Fenrir, Pearl.”
“No way… to think I could see a Fenrir alive in my lifetime…”
What do you think about this chapter?
