Chapter 3: The Old Man

It has been 3 hours since I started walking and I have not seen a single sign of civilization or humans so far for the past hours.

What is worse was I had no food or water...

Though it would have been great if the system had gifted me some basic supplies for survival but sadly it didn't.

So, here I am, walking with my Honedge while slightly parched and starving. As for my Honedge, he does not seem tired nor does he seem hungry at all.

In fact, he has been very energetic during the journey.

And now that I think about it, what does Honedge even eat?

I mean, from what I've observed, he has no mouth at all which wonders me whether they even need to eat or drink.

"Hmm..."

I guess, I don't have to worry about my expenses in the future.

- Shing?

"It's nothing"

Speaking about Honedge, we fought a few Pokemon on the way, and he has leveled up quite a bit, even learning two new moves.

Of course, the ones we fought were low-level and not high-level ones, those we avoided immediately.

I still remember how spooked I was after secretly checking the level of a wild Stantler that I met an hour ago.

And that Stantler was something else alright...

_____________________

[Name]: Honedge (Hisuian)

[Nickname]: None

[Species]: Sword Pokemon

[Gender]: Male

[Level]: 11

[Type]: Steel/Dark

[Abilities]: No Guard

[Status]:

- HP: 39

- Attack: 34

- Defense: 26

- Sp. Atk: 24

- Sp. Def: 22

- Speed: 32

[Moveset]:

- Shadow Sneak, Tackle, Slash, Fury Cutter, Block, Quick Attack, Autotomize

_____________________

Quick Attack and Autotomize...

Though, I didn't know Honedge could learn the move Quick Attack. I mean, from what I remember in the game, Honedge didn't have that in his original moveset.

Perhaps, it has something to do with Honedge being in Hisuian form that he could learn it... I think.

As for Autotomize, it seems to make Honedge faster or lighter by reducing its weight. In short, it's a move specifically used to raise the speed stat.

Overall, the 3-hour walk was not in vain as my Honedge has become stronger than it was in the beginning.

Although, I would still prefer to find some sort of community or village cause I am desperately in need of supplies.

- Shing!

Honedge who was exploring from god knows where, came back floating with what looked like excitement in his eyes... I think.

Well, It's hard to figure out Honedge's expression since I only have his eye to go by with.

- Shing! Shing!

"Hm? What's up?"

- Shing!

"Oh, is it another Pokemon?"

-Shing! Shing!

"No?"

I raised my right eyebrow at Honedge, feeling confused at what the hell he is trying to convey.

And as if my Honedge realize that, he moved behind my back and pushed me constantly toward a certain direction.

"Wait, wait! Honedge... hold up for a minute!"

I was about to stop Honedge but decided not to when I saw a lone traditional Japanese-style wooden shack of some sort in the far distance.

"...!"

So, that's what my Honedge was trying to convey.

And Honedge, seeing me finally discover the shack had stopped pushing and moved beside me, wiggling its entire body like a tail of a puppy when it's excited.

"Good job finding it, Honedge"

- Shing~ Shing~

I felt both excited and anxious at the chance of having finally talked to a human in this world. It doesn't matter even if the person who owned the shack was a dick or an asshole as long as it's a human being.

It would be even better if the person was a trainer, perhaps he/she could teach me a few things or so to survive in this place.

"Come on, Honedge"

...

[3rd POV]

Outside of a traditional Japanese-style wooden shack, an old man was sweeping the ground quietly with a peaceful expression on his face.

Sweep~ Sweep~

It was just like any other day, peaceful and quiet with no one to disturb him but sadly the world had other plans.

- Shing! Shing!

"...!!"

In an instant that the old man heard a Pokemon cry, he took a fighting stance with the wooden broom in his hand, substituting it for a katana.

"Who's there?!"

"Wait, wait, wait... I'm human!"

A young man walked out from behind the trees and accompanying him was a Hisuian form Honedge.

"What do you want, yer brat?!"

The young man scratched the back of his head and felt sheepish as he coughed to ease his emotion.

"Well, umm... I just thought that I'll say hi"

"..."

"Cough- it's a wonderful day, isn't it?"

"..."

Both the old man and the young man stared at each other for a full minute before the old man lowered his broom and sighed.

"Yer lost, aren't you?"

"That... I don't think I'm necessarily lost per se, it was just a series of unfortunate events that led up to this moment"

"..."

The young man looked away while whistling in the air, not feeling embarrassed at all at his statement.

"Hah... If you go northwest from here, then you'll arrive at Jubilife Village"

"Ah! Thanks, old man"

The young man beamed a wide smile and bowed at the old man in gratitude before turning around toward the northwest direction.

"Wait, yer brat!"

"Hm?"

The young man halted his steps and turned his head back to the old man with a question mark on his face.

"I don't recommend going right now"

As the old man said that, the sun started to set down and the moon slowly surface from the sky.

"It's about to be night time and the boatman wouldn't be able to get you there"

"Oh, thanks... wait, a boatman?"

"Yes, a boatman... don't cha know were yer at brat?"

"Uhhhh..."

The young man had nothing to answer as only an uncomfortable silence lingered in the air.

"Tch, if yer got nowhere to go then you can stay here for the night"

"Really!?"

"Hm"

"Haha! You're a nice dude, old man"

The young man had his eyes lit up and a smile appeared on his face with Honedge beside him, wiggling its entire body in celebration.

"But I got one condition..."

"Of course, it's your house after all"

"Put yer Pokemon back in its balls and don't let it out for the remainder of the night"

"What...?"

The young man's smile disappear from his face and a small frown replaced it.

"I don't want some stinking Pokemon stepping into my house"

"...I can't do that"

The young man closed his eyes for a few seconds and sighed before opening them. He then looked straight into the old man's eyes and gave him a bow.

"I'm really grateful for the offer but I can't abide by that condition"

"..."

"Honedge is my partner and friend, there is no way I will restrict him because of some dumb reason"

"..."

"It was nice to meet you, old man"

After that, the young man walked away with Honedge looking back and forth between the two before darting toward his trainer.

"Hmm..."

The old man stared at the fading young man's back before shaking his head and continuing back to sweep the ground in silence.

...

[Shiroe POV]

"Hah... well, that was something"

- Shing?

"Ah? Don't worry, I'm fine"

Although, I said that but I still feel a little bit down. If I had just swallowed my pride then maybe I could have a place to stay for tonight.

Not only that, I forgot to ask for some food and water.

And It'll be too embarrassing If I go back after saying all those things to the old man.

"Sigh..."

- Shing?

I'm sure the old man had his reason for hating Pokemons or he's just a dick either way.

Well, it doesn't matter anymore, what's done is done...

I guess, I'll just have to look for them myself then and maybe a cave of some sort to stay in cause there is no way I am camping in the wild where it is cold and dangerous.

I don't have the skills nor the expertise to be able to survive in the middle of the wilderness.

The only thing I can do is build a makeshift tent and light a fire but when it comes to other survival skills such as cooking proper food, determining whether it's poisonous or not, and other stuff, I am as clueless as a Magikarp.

Too bad, I'm not some jack-of-all-trades protagonist where I have every skill in the world.

I'm only human after all...

- Shing?

"Hm? It's nothing"

I stretched my arms up high in the air before breathing out a mouthful of air.

"Welp, let's go find a cave to stay in for tonight, Honedge"

- Shing! Shing!