I fell in love with Spring Goddess

I fell in love with the goddess of the spring, so I have no need for a golden axe or a silver axe.

Author: Shiitake

Illustration by Mitsuaki Ainan

The lumberjack had lost his only tool for work and was at a loss.

"Did you drop this golden axe? Or a silver axe? ...Or perhaps just a regular axe?"

Next, the lumberjack was left speechless. He couldn't find the words in front of the radiant goddess of the spring who had suddenly appeared, and his heart was captivated. Eventually, the lumberjack fled without answering the question.

Though he had lost his tool for work and was in distress, the memory of the spring goddess stayed with the lumberjack. He placed a single blooming flower he found by the road onto the surface of the spring.

"Did you drop this golden flower? Or a silver flower? ...Or maybe just a regular flower?"

Filled with joy at seeing her again, the lumberjack couldn't immediately respond, but he honestly answered, "Just a regular flower."

"You are an honest person. Let me offer you all these flowers."

The goddess's hand, holding all the flowers, was extended towards the lumberjack. As he touched the goddess's hand and received the flowers, she disappeared into the spring. That day, the lumberjack couldn't forget the warmth of the goddess's hand he had touched.

One day, the lumberjack floated a letter on the spring. It was a love letter he had written.

"Did you drop this golden stationery? Or silver stationery? ...Or maybe just regular stationery?"

The lumberjack simply replied, "It's a letter for you." Puzzled, the goddess opened the stationery and found the lumberjack's feelings of love written within.

After reading the letter, the goddess was slightly taken aback. Then, she said, "You are a mischievous one. This letter is confiscated..." and disappeared into the spring. As she vanished, her gaze, though somewhat sly, lingered on the lumberjack with an upward glance. Despite this, the lumberjack felt dejected as his feelings hadn't reached her, and he returned home.

One day, the lumberjack sank onions, carrots, and potatoes into the spring. They were fresh vegetables from his garden. The goddess didn't appear immediately but appeared quietly after a moment.

"Did you drop these golden vegetables? Or silver vegetables? ...Or perhaps a slightly failed curry?"

　The goddess extended a pot of curry with both hands. Inside was a delicious-looking curry that the goddess had put a lot of effort into making.

"...Is this... alright?"

Thinking he was giving her vegetables, the lumberjack was greatly puzzled by the goddess offering curry in return, but he was also overjoyed.

"Bon appétit!"

That day, the lumberjack happily savored the slightly burnt curry.

One day, the lumberjack floated a teddy bear plushie on the spring.

"Did you drop this golden teddy bear? Or a silver teddy bear? ...Or perhaps just a regular teddy bear?"

The lumberjack replied, "It's a present for you." The goddess noticed a letter attached to the plushie, which read, "The curry was delicious. Thank you."

"...You really are quite mischievous..."

With those words, the goddess held the teddy bear and sank into the spring. Her face was serene, much like a breeze heralding the arrival of spring.

One day, the lumberjack floated a single leaf onto the spring.

"Did you drop this golden leaf? Or a silver leaf? ...Or maybe just a regular leaf?"

When the goddess asked, the lumberjack sat on a nearby rock and took out a guitar.

"Today, I wanted to deliver a song to you... Would you listen?"

The lumberjack began to sing earnestly, playing the guitar he had practiced with. The goddess listened to his song in silence. After finishing the first verse, the lumberjack said, "With this leaf, you can make a beautiful sound," and he placed the same leaf to his lips, creating a lovely sound.

The goddess mimicked the lumberjack, placing the leaf to her lips, but she struggled to produce the beautiful sound he did. After persistently trying for a while, she finally managed to produce a sweet sound. The lumberjack began to sing the second verse, and the goddess accompanied him with a melody on her grass flute.

The two of them sang together until sunset that day.

On that day, the lumberjack sank a small ring into the spring.

"Did you drop this golden ring? Or a silver ring? ...Or perhaps just a regular ring?"

"...This is a ring for you. Will you marry me?"

"That's a very kind offer, but..."

"..."

"I can't leave this place..."

"My mother, who lives far away, is unwell. I have to go take care of her."

Tears welled up in the lumberjack's eyes. The goddess remained composed. She placed a gold ring on the lumberjack's hand.

"Please use this to buy medicine for your mother."

Tears flowed from the lumberjack's eyes. The goddess was still composed. She placed a silver ring on the lumberjack's hand.

"Would you consider living here with your mother?"

Tears continued to stream down the lumberjack's face. Yet, the goddess remained composed.

"...Me, you, and your mother..."

In response to the goddess's final smile, the lumberjack wiped his tears and nodded.

Author Note: 

Thank you for reading!

I'm looking forward to your feedback and thoughts!

(*´д｀*)