Summary
The Hero Who Grits His Teeth
Once upon a time, there was a young man named Takeru who lived in a peaceful village. He had a brave heart and was respected by the villagers. However, one day, a terrifying dragon appeared around the village, and the villagers were engulfed in fear. Takeru resolved, "I will defeat this dragon!" but in truth, he had never seen a dragon up close.
Following an old legend, Takeru began to search for the dragon's lair. However, along the way, he faced various difficulties. He got stuck in a swamp, encountered a storm, and lost his way on mountain paths—trials awaited him one after another. He was exhausted and wanted to turn back, but he vowed in his heart, "I will never give up in order to protect the village." He gritted his teeth and continued to move forward.
After a long journey, Takeru finally reached the dragon's lair. But what he saw there was a dragon far larger and more terrifying than he had imagined. Though Takeru trembled in fear, he steeled himself, thinking, "If it is for the villagers..." And he gathered his courage to confront the dragon. A fierce battle ensued for a while, and Takeru found himself on the verge of collapse many times, but in his heart, he carried the thoughts of the village.
At last, Takeru struck down the dragon and was able to return to the village. When he reported his victory, the villagers rejoiced and celebrated grandly. "You are truly a hero!" voices of admiration echoed. Despite his tired face, Takeru smiled and said, "It was because I gritted my teeth and pressed on without giving up that I was able to win." Since then, Takeru learned the most important lesson and never forgot the courage to face difficulties.
