15 Chapter 15: The F Says?

>> Shin POV <<

"... Ducks say "quack" ~"

"And fish go "blub" 🎶"

"And the seal goes "ow ow ow" 🎵🎶"

"But there's one sound – "

"That no one knows… 🎶"

"What does the fox say?" 

I looked towards my right shoulder.

"Ning! Ning!" Syri sounded. 

It's almost been an hour since I started walking on this open road. 

When I came out of the forest, I saw a route going somewhere, so I followed this path.

Along the way, I have been jamming with Syri. She's such a fun fox to have. 

She's been dancing along as I sang. She's fervently shaking her head and booty. She's in the groove.

Her movements were similar to that particular 'bonk' dog from a dancing meme. 

I liked to listen to random kinds of music back on Earth on my phone. I don't care about the meaning of the lyrics. If I like the beat, then I'm down bad for it. 

Unfortunately though, since I didn't have my phone in me, It's impossible to enjoy 'those' music now.

"Ning?" Syri stopped dancing. She rubbed her nose on my cheeks and looked at me with query eyes.

"Hmm. It's nothing." I said and started singing once again. 

I can genuinely say that I have finally escaped that forest. 

Well, It was my idea to stay in that place for so long anyways. 

I've learned to survive. Now, whatever level of civilization in this world offers, I'll take it. 

I can't be picky anymore. 

Because I'd rather stay in the village even if its settlements are subpar compared to modern life. 

Ever since I've tried living primitively, my expectations for accommodations have been lowered. 

To give a comparison, If a 3-star hotel, was plain? But now, if I'd be given a chance to stay in that hotel room, a 3-star hotel or whatever, that would definitely, be heavenly.

But it's not that all a bad experience, I think.

If I didn't stay there, I wouldn't meet this fox.

Looking once again at the little creature sitting on my shoulders, a curt smile formed on my lips. I continued to sing as I walked on the road.

.

.

.

After an hour of walking, I can see an old from a distance. 

He was struggling, carrying something on his back. His legs were shaky. I think he was about to drop out.

I didn't let that happen as I flash-stepped and appeared near and caught him before he dropped to the ground. 

I removed the basket he carried on his back and put it down. Guiding his body, I let him sit on a large stone nearby.

Looking at his figure, I said,

"... Are you okay?" 

Of course, I know he wasn't. 

That was just a reflex embedded in my person. 

I don't know about others. It's how I do it. 

"...I-I'm okay. Young man. T-thank you."

He replied with a shaky, dried voice. He looked exhausted. Beads of sweat were pouring from his face. 

His face was wrinkled, hair was almost covered with whites, clearly defining his age. He is about 70 years, I guess.

"You don't look good at all. Here drink this." I offered some water from a bamboo container to the elder.

It is something that I crafted before when I was in the forest. The water inside was boiled and cooled down. Of course, it's clean.

*Gulp Gulp Gulp* The geezer made a gulping sound as he drank the water. 

'I'm glad that he wasn't suspicious about my offer. Because if I were in his position, I think I might be apprehensive about it, even if I'm thirsty as fuck.' 

'Maybe I've developed some kind of PTSD?' I thought as I remembered when I got sick after drinking the water directly from a spring. 

"Haaaaah" The old man expressed a relieved sigh after he was done with the drink. 

"That looks heavy. If it's okay with you, I'll carry that," I said as I pointed at the basket full of firewood.

He stood up.

"No, it's okay. I'm fine. I don't have any money to pay you." He said, as he slightly bowed his head in gratitude. 

'Keke ~ He is clearly troubled. Well…' 

"I'm good about it, old man. I won't ask for money. I'll do it. I'm not doing anything in particular anyways."

'If he was a rich man, I wouldn't shy about receiving some payment. But not for this…' 

I thought as I looked at his torn clothes with a few holes and patches. 

His body was weak and malnourished.

The old coot obviously was not a financially capable person.

"... Okay. Thank you." He humbled himself and once again gave a grateful bow.

"On it."

I nodded.

"I think you might need this old man."

I removed the bamboo hat draped on my back and offered it to him. He looks kind of close to having a heat stroke. His wrinkled face continued to be drenched in sweat. 

The hat I gave him was something I stole from that village living deep in the forest.

I'm guessing that it's currently about 12 to 1 noon. The heat from the sun was intensely shining down at us. 

We are on a soil road, with grassy areas around and no trees to give shade. If not for this cloth artifact, I would have felt so stuffy.

I carried the basket on my back.

"Where are you headed to?"

He nodded and said,

"To my home village, 'Your-Resting-Place'."

"...I see."

'That's a weird name for a village.'

We then started to move on the way. 

As we walked down the road, the old geezer spoke:

"... You're a kind young man." He said. His face was thoughtful.

"Nah. I just had a lot of free time on me." 

I denied.

He was right and wrong at the same time.

Because I am actually KINDa selfish person.

'Keh~'

A chuckle left my mouth at the lame joke I made internally.

It's been a month since I talked to people. Now, I wanted to converse. So, I initiated:

"Where did you start carrying this basket on you, old man?" 

He stopped. He was walking in front of me as I followed. 

"From that forest, Puthang-Inah-Moe." 

He pointed his finger towards the direction where I came from. 

'It was called Puthang-Inah-Mo, huh.' I thought as I cringed a little.

'Why is the naming sense so weird?'

"If I may ask… What is that creature on your shoulders?" He pointed at Syri. She was strangely keeping silent till now. 

"Oh, this little gu –" 

"Ning!" 

I was interrupted by Syri as she made an irritated sound.

"Keh ~ This little girl? She's a fox. Her name is Syri."

Apparently, she doesn't want to be called a guy.

"Ning! Ning!" Syri made a content noise as she nodded her tiny head and raised her paw towards the geezer.

'Cute' 

"A fox? What are you talking about, young man? It has nine tails. It couldn't be a fox!" He made a doubtful face as he pointed towards Syri's tails. 

'Oh, about that? How should I answer this question.' 

"She's a special fox, old man," I said as I patted Syri's head.

Yep. I'm technically not lying about it. 

She has ninetails

Smart enough to understand human speech

She's cute.

…