Piyo said selfishly, “I want to go on a journey together.”
I managed to get to Piyo’s old woman’s home. It seemed small, a two-story house, and not exactly spacious inside, but it was made of wood, giving it a warm feeling. Wooden furniture was adorned with many handmade-looking trinkets.
“Welcome, hero-san,” the old woman greeted me with a kind smile. As I blushed and said it wasn’t anything, she offered me cookies and tea.
“See? They’re delicious, aren’t they?” Piyo happily gobbled up her favorite treat. I took a bite too. The aroma of wheat and a faint sweetness, simple yet never tiring, it had a strangely nostalgic taste.
“Hey, Grandma, Piyo wants to go on an adventure with Hiro,” Piyo said. Piyo, who doesn’t listen to her older sister, might listen to Grandma.
“Is that so? The outside world is dangerous, you know?”
“I know, but I want to see various things in the outside world.”
The old woman listened to Piyo’s story in silence. She didn’t hastily stop her or scold her. Then, she slowly opened her mouth.
“Piyo, listen. People encounter big walls several times in their lives.” Piyo listened quietly. “What to do with those big walls is up to you.”
“If there’s a wall, you just have to overcome it!”
With a lively reply, the old woman slowly continued. “Overcoming the wall isn’t your only option. The scenery beyond the wall isn’t necessarily better than it is now, and you don’t know how far that wall extends. Perhaps the detour might lead to a better life.”
“In short, you have two options. One is to grow into a fine woman here in this village, working hard every day with your family and companions. The other is to go out into the world and become a warrior while fighting dangers daily. You can learn a lot, but you might lose your life tomorrow…”
Piyo approached the old woman and hugged her tightly. The old woman hugged her back without saying a word.
“Grandma, I’ll become a warrior,” Piyo whispered softly in her ear.
