Chapter 5

"Alright, can we start with a proper introduction? I'm Kuna. As you can see, I'm a fire fox and I'm sixteen years old. I ran away from home and came to this city."

The girl with golden hair, fox ears, and a tail said this.

"Sure, a proper introduction it is. I'm Soji. I'm a human, the same age as you, and I came to this city to find gold, power... and a friend who will stay with me forever."

In this world, only nobles have surnames. So, neither Kuna nor I use them.

"Gold!? Power!? What a refreshingly honest statement of desire!? Well, I don't dislike people like that. ...What concerns me is what you said about being asked by an acquaintance, like the merchant. Did you come to take me back!? By someone like Father!?"

If that's the case, I'll fight too. With all my might! I won't go back for sure."

Kuna struck a cute fighting pose. I was surprised by how different she was from the Kuna I knew. The Kuna in my memory was a gloomy girl who seemed like a doll. ...And I liked the rare smiles she showed.

"That was a lie. It was just an excuse to help you."

When I replied, Kuna leaned in and peered into my eyes.

"It seems like the part about being asked by Father is a lie. But it still bothers me."

Kuna nodded, seemingly unconvinced.

"Because when you saw my face, you looked so nostalgic, and Soji, I think you like me, don't you?"

Kuna tilted her head, and her gesture looked incredibly cute.

"N-no, I don't like you."

I ended up speaking in a strange way. I realized that mental age correlates with physical age. Emotions pull you along. So, even after living for over a hundred years, I still react this way.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I meant the kind of 'like' as in a friend, not romantic love. Do you have that kind of affection for me?"

Kuna also waved her hands and blushed, seemingly embarrassed by her own words. Seeing her, I calmed down.

"Yeah, I like you. You remind me of a very dear friend. You don't seem like a stranger at all, and I wanted to help you."

And the guilt I felt for letting her die in the simulated reality.

"From the look on your face, it seems like what you said is true. If you're saying I look like her, she must have been very beautiful."

Kuna nodded with a smug look, crossing her arms and nodding.

"Yeah, she was very beautiful. Just like Kuna."

"Ugh, you're so smooth. You really mean it, don't you? This guy..."

Kuna likes to take the initiative, but she's weak when someone takes the initiative against her. She blushes immediately.

"Ahem, Soji doesn't seem like a bad person. I have a request. As an apology for hindering my entry into the city, can you help me earn money? I only have 30,000 bal left, and it's not good."

"If Kuna can sing, she can earn money. Fire fox songs are worth a lot."

Fire fox songs contain magic. They resonate with the soul and stir the heart. Kuna has a charming voice and sings well. Even without the magic of a fire fox, she can earn money. In the game era, she would sometimes sing for me when I asked.

"Alright, I'll earn money by singing. ...Ugh."

Kuna bit her lip, showing a tremendous internal struggle.

"First, let's do a practice run. Please give me your feedback. ...Father, Mother, please forgive Kuna for showing such an embarrassing sight for the sake of a few coins."

After relaxing her whole body, Kuna opened her eyes wide and began to sing with a very good smile.

"Yokkora fox kon kon kon♪"

Kuna sang in a cute, bright voice. She extended her hands forward, crouched, and shook her hips vigorously from side to side. Her large chest also jiggled.

"Tail wagging kon kon kon♪"

Next, she spun energetically, turned her back, placed her hands on her hips, and wagged her tail while shaking her hips. Her fluffy golden tail and well-endowed buttocks were very tempting.

"Only the tips of the ears are black♪"

She crouched and touched her fox ears, looking up.

"The tip of the tail is white♪"

She turned her body sideways, lifted her tail with her hand, and showed the tip.

"Yokkora fox kon kon kon♪"

The chorus was the same as the beginning.

"Soft and fluffy kon kon kon♪"

She turned her back and shook her tail and hips.

"Kon♪"

She ended by jumping up and shouting, looking thoroughly delighted. It was incredibly cute. So cute that my rationality almost flew away. After finishing her song, Kuna, blushing with embarrassment and teary-eyed, asked:

"How was it, Soji? Do you think I can earn money?"

"Yeah, I think you'll get a lot of tips. Definitely. Because it's so erotic."

"Y-Yeah, that's true. Waving my tail like that is really something. People will think I'm a naughty girl."

"No, that's just for fire foxes. Your chest and butt are erotic in a normal way. And you're super cute."

"Fa-"

She covered her chest and sat down, looking resentful.

"So, Kuna. I think you can definitely earn money, but can you perform that embarrassing song and dance in front of more than a hundred people?"

"Mm, I can't. Kuna. I'm going home."

She regressed to a childlike state from being pushed too far.

"If you want to go home, I recommend it."

"Ugh, you're mean. I definitely won't go back."

She quickly regained her composure and denied it. Knowing her future, I felt she would be safer not in the sealed city.

Even if, as the god said, the future is just a result of calculations and can change, I still feel that way because I knew her from the game era.

"If the song you just sang is embarrassing, is there a less embarrassing one?"

"There are many, but it's not as good without accompaniment. I'm not good at instruments."

"Then I'll play for you."

I recalled the magic I once created just for her, feeling nostalgic.

"【Silver Magic Refinement: Extra - Flute Performance】"

Since it was made just for Kuna, it doesn't have a number and is listed as extra. The mithril transformed into a shape similar to an ocarina.

Kuna's homeland, a green and fertile country where elves and fire foxes coexist, Elsie, has a traditional instrument.

"That instrument is from Elsie."

"Yeah, I once went there and learned to play. I can play a few Elsie songs, for example..."

I recalled the songs Kuna taught me. There was no sheet music; I learned by listening to her hum. I was scolded many times for getting it wrong, but I eventually learned.

I poured various emotions into the music. The song is called "Ku of the Morning Sun." It was a song Kuna's father gave to her mother. The warm melody conveys the affection in the song.

"Hey, this is Father's song. It's nostalgic."

Tears welled up in Ku's eyes. I remember she cried the first time I played it perfectly. The song was almost over, but Kuna seemed to want to hear more, so I looped it until she was satisfied.

◇

"Really, what did you make me listen to! I want to go back to my hometown!"

"Go, go."

"I won't go back!"

Kuna said, still wiping her red eyes.

"...I can't go back yet."

"Okay, I won't force you. Kuna, can you sing with this song?"

Kuna nodded and thrust her right hand forward, giving a thumbs up.

"Absolutely. I'll charm everyone here!!"

And she smiled brightly.

◇

There were several stalls around the city walls. People gathered there to enjoy food while waiting in line to enter the city. We stood in one corner.

We didn't try to attract customers. Once the song started, everyone would be drawn to us. We opened our bag to receive tips.

The culture of tipping exists in this world. I started playing the flute. At this point, no one paid attention. There were plenty of street performers and bards.

My flute playing was decent, but not enough to make people stop and listen. Then, Kuna started singing.

One, two, and more people stopped. People gathered from a distance.

Kuna's singing was overwhelming. The melancholic melody combined with Kuna's voice made everyone think of their hometown. Happy memories, lost kindness. Such feelings welled up.

Fire fox songs have the power to infect others with the singer's emotions. This nostalgia and kindness were probably Kuna's. I felt fortunate to be the closest to Kuna and to hear her sing. I felt a bit superior.

I thought about spending time with Kuna again, as in the game era. Before I knew it, the song was over. Applause erupted. Coins and crumpled bills were thrown into the open bag.

"A great success. Soji."

This was proof that the audience recognized the value of Kuna's song. Kuna blushed, and I smiled back at her.

"Yeah, it was a great song. Kuna."

I said it, pouring out all my feelings. I had always wanted to hear this song.