74. Chit-Chat

74. Chit-Chat

“Sister~”

Knock, knock, knock, I knock on the wooden door.

But there’s no answer. I press my ear against the door, waiting for a response, and knock again.

“Oh, Sister~”

Is it possible Sister isn’t in her room?

It’s quite possible. After a moment of thought, I knock on the door again.

“Oh, Oh, Sister~”

As expected, there’s still no answer.

This was a pretty big deal. Because I had something urgent to tell Sister about Seol-gu.

Namely, that Seol-gu can write!

There were several reasons why I’m only now, days after catching the worm in the sea, trying to reveal this fact.

First, when I just regained consciousness, I was so disoriented that I forgot to mention it. Even afterwards, I was so worried by Dad and Mom that I didn’t even think about doing anything.

… Especially the time I was grabbed by Dad and rubbed all over his rough beard is something I’ll never forget.

Even after that, I thought several times that I should tell Sister, but something kept getting in the way, and I just couldn’t get the words out to her.

For example, Seol-gu would be blocking the path to Sister while sleeping, or a piece of Ice fruit would be sitting there, tempting me.

“Huk.”

Yes, just like now!

As a sweet scent wafted from somewhere, I turned my head and saw a nicely washed piece of Ice fruit sitting right in front of my room door!

Its glossy, beautifully shimmering outer shell. The subtly emanating aroma was sweet and sour enough to tempt all the creatures in the world.

Seeing the sky-blue, round fruit that captured the beauty of the Arctic, I drooled and wagged my tail.

But I know. I know it’s a trap.

The moment I approach to eat that Ice fruit, it will move as if it has legs and run away.

Then, naturally, I’ll chase after the Ice fruit.

It will probably be a long time before I can eat the Ice fruit. And then, lost in the taste of the Ice fruit, I’ll forget my purpose of going to find Sister.

I’ve already fallen for the same trick twice. But falling for the same trick three times is something only a foolish fox would do.

I won’t be fooled again!

“Seol-gu?”

As I struck a confident pose, tilting my chin towards the Ice fruit, Seol-gu appeared, trotting along.

Seol-gu walked towards the Ice fruit placed in front of the door, calmly took it in his mouth, and disappeared down the hallway. I remained frozen in place, dumbfounded.

“Huk…!”

Wh-what is this?

Wasn’t it a trap Ice fruit?

I thought it was an Ice fruit that would run away if someone approached, just like I was tricked before…!

Perhaps the Ice fruit didn’t run away because it was a fox approaching. Maybe that Ice fruit was afraid of wolves and liked foxes! Then I can understand why Seol-gu disappeared with the Ice fruit without any problem.

“Wait, just a moment!”

Now is not the time to be lost in thought. My Ice fruit disappeared in Seol-gu’s mouth!

I ran towards where Seol-gu had disappeared, shouting.

“I, I want to eat too! Seol-gu!”

Fortunately, I found Seol-gu not long after.

Seol-gu, with the Ice fruit in his mouth, was returning to me in Sister’s arms. I greeted Sister, who had brought Seol-gu, warmly.

“Sister!”

“Seol-ah?”

Just seeing Sister’s face makes my tail wag. A smile spreads across my face. Sister seemed to be the same, smiling softly at me.

However, Seol-gu looked much more flustered than Sister and I. I don’t know why. How could I possibly know what a fox is thinking?

Sister said.

“I saw Seol-gu on the way, so I brought him. I had something I wanted to ask.”

“Ah…! I had something to tell you too!”

Oh no, I almost forgot the important fact because I was distracted by the Ice fruit. I quickly relayed the information to Sister, and Seol-gu, who had been eavesdropping from Sister’s arms, looked even more flustered than before.

“Really? Then let’s talk in the room first.”

“Yeah!”

Sister patted my head and then took my hand, leading me to her room. Seol-gu made a “Kkii-ing” sound on the way, but the reason was still unknown.

Sister placed Seol-gu on the desk and then lifted me up, setting me on the bed. As she did, she opened her mouth.

“So, Seol-ah, what is it?”

“You see, Seol-gu…!”

At that moment, a “Kkang!” cry interrupted our conversation. Seol-gu put down the Ice fruit he was holding and barked at me.

“Seol-gu, why?”

“Kkang kkang, kkang.”

“You mean, you want me to eat it…?”

Then, the Ice fruit rolled towards me. I picked up the Ice fruit with sparkling eyes.

It looks delicious.

There’s a bit of Seol-gu’s saliva on it, but I can just wipe it off with the collar of my clothes. I wagged my tail vigorously and started eating the Ice fruit.

“Hehe….”

This taste is so good it even moves wolves! It’s the best.

I offered the Ice fruit to Sister, asking if she wanted to eat too, but Sister lightly declined, saying she was full just watching me eat. A moment later, I swallowed the Ice fruit whole.

“Did you finish it?”

“Yeah!”

Let’s see, so why did I come to Sister’s room? Was it to eat Ice fruit?

As I pondered with my chin on my hand, Seol-gu looked relieved for some reason. His face made me want to smack him on the head, but since he gave me Ice fruit, I decided to let it slide just this once.

Since I couldn’t remember my purpose, Sister said.

“So, what were you going to tell Sister earlier? You said something about Seol-gu.”

“Ah! That’s right!”

Seol-gu’s eyes widened. Seol-gu struggled, but it was just a fox’s strength. He was easily subdued by Sister’s grip.

“Kkae-ae-aeng!”

Sigh, why is he acting like this?

I understand the desire to play. Seol-gu is a fox, so he’ll want to play all the time.

But shouldn’t we consider the place and time? It’s inconvenient when he suddenly acts like this while Sister and I are having an important conversation.

“You know, when I fell into the sea last time….”

“Yeah.”

“At that time, Seol-gu…!”

Finally, I told Sister.

“He wrote letters!”

Whoosh, Sister’s eyes widened, and her face lit up. My reflection appeared in Sister’s blue eyes.

“Really?”

“Yeah! He wrote numbers at that time….”

Sister’s expression changed instantly as she looked at Seol-gu. It felt like she was boasting about her own child; I enthusiastically elaborated on Seol-gu’s talent to Sister.

“Kkii-ing….”

Heh heh, don’t worry, Seol-gu. Sister thinks you’re amazing.

To me, Seol-gu is just a sometimes smart and helpful honorary honorary wolf and a foolish fox, but to Sister, Seol-gu must seem like an incredible Arctic fox.

Come to think of it, Seol-gu has been recognized by both me and Sister, two wolves. Could there be any other fox this amazing!

I praised Seol-gu profusely. It’s not just because he gave me Ice fruit. Never.

“Seol-gu, straighten your back and be proud! Because you’ve been recognized by wolves! You’re the only fox recognized by two wolves! You’re the best Arctic fox among Arctic foxes!”

“Kkang.”

“Why? Being the best among foxes is good….”

Wait, just a moment.

There are no other Arctic foxes besides Seol-gu.

So, of course, Seol-gu would be the best Arctic fox. What’s the point of being happy about getting first place in a school where you’re the only student?

Rather, it might stir up loneliness. My tail stiffened with the thought that I might have hurt Seol-gu.

But the words were already out. To comfort Seol-gu, I frantically started talking nonsense.

“A-are you, are you okay? Want to touch my tail?”

Perhaps my big, fluffy, soft tail could cheer up the gloomy Seol-gu a little. I offered my tail to Seol-gu, and Seol-gu buried his face in my tail weakly.

It tickles.

“Um, Sister?”

“Yeah.”

Looking at Seol-gu buried in my tail, Sister suddenly started stroking my tail as if she had developed a competitive spirit.

She often does this, but it’s a bit awkward.

“Do you dislike it?”

“No, it’s not that….”

When my tail is stroked, I feel at ease. Moreover, if the person stroking it is none other than Sister, there’s no reason to dislike it.

With permission, Sister stroked my tail to her heart’s content and wore a peaceful expression.

Indeed, my tail is addictive. It just sheds a lot of fur.

By the way, with Seol-gu, a white furball, buried in my tail, my already large tail felt even bigger. It felt like a super-large tail became an even bigger super-large tail.

I prefer it this way. A big tail is better than a small one.

I smiled and stroked Seol-gu.

That day ended… ordinarily.

A few days later, Sister called me and said.

“Seol-ah.”

“Yeah!”

“We’re leaving for the Magi Republic tomorrow, so get ready in advance.”

Saying something completely unexpected.