Konbini Ossan Volume 12 Chapter 6 — A Father’s Regret
After finishing my conversation with Shirley, I first went to speak with Savan-dono.
It seemed he was doing some independent sword training behind the house, currently practicing swings on his own.
“Savan-dono.”
I called out to him.
At that, Savan-dono stopped his practice and turned toward me.
“What is it, Yūichi-dono?”
“Would you mind sparring with me for a bit?”
As I spoke, I picked up a pair of wooden practice swords lying nearby, choosing ones close in size to the karambit knives I normally used, and took my stance.
“Oh? So Yūichi-dono is a fighter as well?”
“Well, somewhat. I specialize more in ambush tactics using skills, so my swordsmanship itself is nothing exceptional.”
“You are too modest. Your stance is well-trained.”
Savan-dono seemed interested as well, raising the tip of his wooden sword into position.
“One bout, if you would.”
“Yes, likewise.”
And so, something like a sparring match between Savan-dono and myself began.
By heavily restricting my excessively high stats and also limiting the power of «Calculator», which I borrowed from Arisa, our match ended up either evenly matched or perhaps slightly in my favor.
Even with those restrictions, I considered myself capable of fighting on the level of an S-Rank adventurer, so Savan-dono was likely around the same level of skill.
It certainly explained why he held a position akin to leader of the village warriors.
Eventually, without either of us saying so, we lowered our swords and ended the match.
“Thank you very much, Yūichi-dono.”
“No, thank you as well. It was good exercise.”
“It seems my daughter was able to marry a fine warrior.”
Savan-dono spoke with what sounded like satisfaction, or perhaps relief.
Seeing that, I decided to ask him something.
“You care for Shirley very deeply, don’t you?”
“Yes. She is my precious only daughter. I want her to be happy.”
Hearing those words brought me relief.
As expected, Savan-dono truly loved Shirley.
“Then why not tell her directly?”
At my question, Savan-dono answered with a troubled expression.
“I failed to become a good father. At this point, I cannot suddenly start acting differently now.”
So there really was a misunderstanding between them.
“It may be presumptuous for someone as young as me to say this, but may I ask one thing?”
“Hm?”
Ignoring the frown on Savan-dono’s face, I continued.
“Did Shirley tell you that directly? That you were a bad father? Or that she didn’t want you to bother with her now?”
“No. However, the child seems to avoid conversations with me.”
“So you never actually asked her directly?”
Pressed further, Savan-dono reluctantly nodded in admission.
“I don’t think communication is something achieved simply by saying what you personally want to say. Shouldn’t you first try asking Shirley herself?”
“Ask her…?”
“What Shirley truly thinks and feels. There are many things you cannot understand through your own assumptions alone unless you hear them directly from her.”
Surely, the problem had simply been that too few words were exchanged. He had probably believed he had already conveyed what needed to be conveyed.
For example, earlier today.
“How is life outside?”
To Savan-dono, that question had likely been his way of expressing concern for his daughter. From his perspective, asking such a question at all already meant he cared.
“I see.”
That response too had probably been, in Savan-dono’s mind, the greatest possible respect he could show his daughter.
But whether those feelings were truly conveyed or not… that was something you could never know without listening to the other person.
“I think the best place for you to start, Savan-dono, is by properly listening to Shirley’s feelings and correcting the misunderstandings between you.”
Savan-dono gave no response to my words.
However, perhaps they had given him something to think about, because he did seem deep in thought afterward.
All I could do now was hope things would begin to change, even if only a little, in a better direction.
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E/N:
"I became a failure so I can't change now…” is such a crappy excuse to protect yourself and your ego. That attitude, especially as a parent, will only reflect in the children…
Remember, when you change, resist the tide, and overcome your problems, only then do you win… let it be in any aspect of your life. So what it is a slow process, focus on the goal and succeed!
Stay tuned! (4/6 chapter)
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