My name was Hiraku. I served as the Village Head in the Village of the Great Tree.
Lately, I’d had a lot on my mind, so I decided to undergo some training to forge my spirit.
...
Training.
I wasn't entirely sure what that usually entailed, but I figured it probably involved standing under a waterfall. For the time being, I headed toward the river.
There was indeed a waterfall. The current was quite powerful, and fairly large chunks of ice were mixed in with the flowing water. Frozen icicles had likely broken off upstream and fallen in. Near the base of the falls, the ice was being smashed against the rocks, making sharp cracking sounds.
Well, it was winter, after all.
...
It was too dangerous, so I retreated. Besides, it was freezing.
"Ah, hey! You children of Kuro acting as my escorts—don't go charging into the waterfall!"
I told them we were withdrawing. If they went in, it would create a momentum that would inevitably force me to follow!
"Don't wait for me inside the waterfall! You've forgotten all about your guard duties because you're too busy trying to play with me!"
The fact that I wasn't sneezing despite the chill was likely thanks to my [Healthy Body]. Even so, cold was cold. I reconsidered my training plan.
...
The winter river was far too frigid, so I wouldn't go near it again. In that case... I arrived at the hot spring area.
Of course, I hadn't come here just to soak. This was for training. There were no waterfalls in the hot spring area, but if there wasn't one, I simply had to build it. I could handle a project of that scale on my own.
"Oops—Kuro's children, please get into the hot spring and warm yourselves up. Unlike me, you lot might actually catch a cold if you stay out here. Stay warm."
The Death Knights signaled that they would take over the escort duties. They danced with enthusiasm as if to say, "Leave it to us!"
Honestly, I was a little uneasy.
However, the Lion Family was also in the area, and I’d received reports that Yor had been test-firing weapons so frequently that monsters and magic beasts no longer dared to approach. Even with only the Death Knights as escorts, things should be fine.
I split the bamboo I’d brought along and began constructing a waterway. Since the spring source was located on high ground, the work wasn't particularly difficult. I chose a spot near a small cliff, and the setup was finished in no time.
...
The water volume was a bit too low to truly call it a waterfall. If I diverted too much, the water level in the other baths would drop, so it couldn't be helped.
Well, whatever. The important thing was the act of standing under the falling water; I shouldn't worry too much about the volume. To be honest, I didn't even know what the specific goal of waterfall training was supposed to be.
A more immediate problem was that the warm water was spraying out in a wide arc from a height of about three meters. It was essentially a cascading shower. Wouldn't this fail to qualify as training?
Right. If I guided the warm water so that it fell straight down instead of being tossed outward...
There, that felt right. This would surely serve as a proper substitute. I tried it out immediately.
...
This was just a waterfall bath.
I knew that. I’d realized it while I was building it. I was just pretending not to notice...
And that was the problem!
This was exactly what was wrong with me! This habit of not going against the flow—this was what I needed to fix!
The courage to decline! The resolve to say no! I must also possess the judgment to withdraw when necessary!
I had learned a valuable lesson.
...
Even a waterfall bath had a training effect, apparently. I think I'll stay under it a while longer. It felt wonderful against my shoulders.
"Are you Death Knights interested too? All right, take turns."
A few days later.
...
"Is it just my imagination, or are all the matters brought to my desk things that I can't possibly refuse?" I asked the Civil Official Girls.
"No, it is not your imagination. If a matter could be refused, Lady Tia or Lady Yoko would have sent it back long before it ever reached you, Village Head."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Those are the instructions from Lady Lu—to ensure we do not trouble the Village Head unless absolutely necessary."
"Which means... the matters that actually reach my hands are..."
"Crucial issues that we cannot take it upon ourselves to reject, and the type of requests that simply cannot be refused."
"I see."
...
Well, that was fine.
I decided I’d go "train" in the waterfall bath again today.