Chapter 234: Resting By The Lake Shore
Chapter 234: Resting By The Lake Shore
Row-san chose a beautiful lake and a lake shore surrounded by a lot of trees for our resting place.
Parking the carriage, we take another break in that place.
The numbness in her legs subsided, I got off the carriage and walk to the beautiful lake with Elna-kaasan.
Thanks to the thick leaves and the tall trees surrounding the place, there is a lot of shade near the lake shore. I guess it’s thanks to those reasons that the place is much cooler than the plains before.
We continue to walk while enjoying the sounds of water and the chirping of birds resounding around us.
As expected, it felt much bigger after arriving close to the lake, rather than seeing it from the distance.
Many trees are reflected on the water surface and each time the wind calms down, the ripples start to quickly spread on the water surface.
The water is so clear that you can even see the bottom at the shallow place. There were freshwater fishes swimming in there, it’s interesting just seeing it alone.
I can hear a sharp kiiーkiiー-like sound, perhaps there are also insects around here.
A large white bird perched on a fallen tree, suggesting that this was a place where a lot of animals gather.
「What an excellent place」
「Rightー」
I and Elna-kaasan didn’t talk that much, we only stand still, enjoying the nature around us.
We couldn’t spend our time comfortably since we were busy with training and preparing for lunch back when we took a break at the plains. So our break this time should be spent peacefully like this.
While Elna-kaasan is admiring the distant scenery, I crouch down near the surface of the water.
Small fishes are moving about in the shallow part of the water.
The sight of their bodies moving about, swimming elegantly with their fins in the water makes me feel fascinated just by looking at them.
As I stare at the small fishes without thinking anything for some time, there is a crayfish-like creature with a large shell on its back slowly crawling out from under a rock.
The crayfish-like creature has a sandy color as it assimilates itself to sand and stone. Judging from its appearance, it has a camouflage ability that makes even I didn’t notice it.
The crayfish-like creature is doing nothing at all, just loitering near the stone. However, only its tactile organs extending from its head are always facing the small fish's direction.
Its probably lying in wait for the darting, swimming fish
And the unaware fishes are moving around, then approaching the stone where the crayfish-like creature is located in curiosity.
「……at this rate, they’re going to get caught by the Sigurg (シグルグ)」
Before I know it, it seems that Elna-kaasan has already crouched down next to me as she shortly muttered.
It looks like this crayfish-like creature is called Sigurg. Even while I was thinking that it has quite a cool name, the small fish slowly swims to the stone.
Based on the leisurely swimming fish, I guess its’ completely unaware that there is its’ natural enemy nearby.
「What will happen I wonder?」
「Sure, the small fish haven’t noticed the Sigurg, but it might suddenly change its course smoothly, you know? 」
「Certainly, that’s possible. This fish eyes somehow feel like Al’s and I can not read its behavior」
「I don’t have that kind of foolish look eyes」
It’s upsetting being told that my eyes resemble this foolish-eyed fish.
「I vote that the fish will be caught by the Sigurg」
「Then, I vote for the fish to escape」
After Elna-kaasan and I had such an exchange, we stare at the small fish, watching over its fate.
The small fish that seems to not particularly notice the gaze of the Sigurg, Elna-kaasan, and I pass the side of the stone just like that――
「Kaasan! Let’s have a spar again!」
As the fish was about to pass the side of the stone, Eleonora-neesan loudly called out from behind us.
Eleonora-neesan’s voice passes through us and makes ripples on the water surface, then the small fish that was about to pass the side of the stone is startled by it and went away from there.
「「…………」」
Ooh, to think that the result will turn out like this.
I grin even while I stare at the fish in wonder.
「It’s my win」
「There is a third person intruding just now so it’s not counted. If it stays just like before then the small fish will get caught by the Sigurg」
「What do you mean ‘not counted’, that doesn’t make any sense. The result shows that the small fish escaped so my prediction is right」
「I demand a rematch! I can’t accept――」
「Kaasan! Spar!」
Eleonora-neesan calls out in a loud voice as if to interrupt my conversation with Elna-kaasan.
I guess Elna-kaasan felt that she can no longer ignore Eleonora-neesan after all since she turn around and answer as though it was troublesome.
「No. If you just keep on training each time we take a break, your body will not rest. Right, Al?」
「Indeed, mother」
I wholeheartedly agree with Elna-kaasan’s answer as she said it in a ‘good grief’ manner of answering.
Hearing Elna-kaasan - and my - reply, Eleonora-neesan swallowed her own words despite her expression twitching.
It’s break time now, not the time to do some physical activity.
You can take your time to rest your body and mind here, trying to have a change of pace, and survive the harsh carriage journey.
There is no point in showing off your stamina and spirit by having intense training during break time.
Perhaps Elna-kaasan also has the same thought as me since she doesn’t even show any sign of accepting her request in her attitude.
「Hey, just once is fine」
「No. It’s break time now, Eleonora should also take a break」
It’s rare for Eleonora-neesan to behave so modestly, but Elna-kaasan answers coldly to her, she returns her gaze back to the water’s surface.
While she was brimming with self-confidence Eleonora-neesan was defeated by Elna-kaasan in a manner that showed the qualitative difference between the both of them.
In addition, she had joint training with the Knight’s Order in the royal capital, while also improving her own ability.
Eleonora-neesan is a battle enthusiast who will not leave people alone if there is a strong person near her, besides Nord-tousan.
Her gaze seems to be far more respectful than usual.
「……hey」
「No」
「Spar」
「I said no so it’s a no」
「Mou! This is why Elna-kaasan and Al are not good!」
「What do you mean by ‘not good’」
「What’s ‘not good’」
Isn’t that rude? It’s one thing if you only call out Elna-kaasan, but please don’t lump me together so calmly like that.
Although I and Elna-kaasan are offended by it, we pull ourselves together and stare at the Sigurg that is loitering near the stone.
I wonder how do we look into that creature’s eyes? I’m curious about what kind of things this guy is thinking. Recently, I’ve been thinking that I want to try and listen to insects, animals, and monsters once in a while. But, if I can hear them then it’s going to be noisy.
As I was spacing out and thinking about that, I saw Eleonora-neesan with a serious look on her face.
It seems that she is thinking about how to get Elna-kaasan to have a spar with her.
I’m a bit curious about what Eleonora-neesan is going to say to try and make Elna-kaasan take action.
And when I was glancing and checking at what she’s going to do, Eleonora-neesan say - as if she came up with something -,
「I, I want to see a more cool kaasan!」
「Wait a minute, how did Eleonora think of me usually? I can’t overlook your ‘not good’ remark just now」
Elna-kaasan stand and said that with an unhappy expression on her face, perhaps she couldn’t overlooked Eleonora-neesan’s words before.
Oh? She acted so upfront considering it Elna-kaasan. Though I didn’t think Elna-kaasan will act because of Eleonora-neesan’s petty remark.
I guess, the dignity as a mother is important for Elna-kaasan, huh?
As I was wondering about it, Elna-kaasan say with a stiff expression,
「Let’s train together then」
「Okay! Then, let’s go over there――」
Then Eleonora-neesan pulled Elna-kaasan arm with a big smile on her face, but her expression stiffen after hearing kaasan’s next words.
「However, let’s train in magic」
「……ehh?」
「You just lit the firewood when we were preparing our lunch, do you know how long it takes you to do that? And you turned a lot of firewood to ashes…」
「Ka, kaasan? I want to train in swordsmanship though……」
「That’s why Eleonora is no good」
「’N, no good’, you say」
Elna-kaasan sigh deeply when she looks at Eleonora-neesan answering her with a baffled look on her face.
It could probably be seen how good her personality is since she uses the line Eleonora-neesan said before ironically.
「The careless Eleonora should shift your attention to your magic instead of your swordsmanship」
I wonder if it’s because the line turned into a lecture? Sensing the uncomfortable atmosphere, Eleonora-neesan tried to stealthily let go of her arm and escape from this place but, this time Elna-kaasan continue to hold on to neesan’s arm.
「Where are you going Eleonora?」
「I, I think I’m going to take a break over thereー!」
「What are you saying now, we’re going to train together, aren’t we? Come on, this place also has a lot of water, so you can freely use Fire magic here. Besides, my main job is a magician anyway. So, the moment when I use magic is my coolest time, don’t you think? Eleonora wanted to see Mother’s cool side, didn’t you?」
Due to Elna-kaasan’s passionate words and pressure, Eleonora-neesan can only nod to her.
That’s because you tried to rouse Elna-kaasan with such a thoughtless remark.
I saw Eleonora-neesan off as she was dragged by Elna-kaasan, not giving her any help whatsoever.
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