https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-17-Moto-Lizard-of-the-Past-Gurduron-of-the-Future/12536996/
Chapter 18: The Unfortunate Trainer
Chapter 18: The Unfortunate Trainer
At five in the evening, Zach arrived right on time to collect the day's catch.
However, Naoki had little to offer today.
Perhaps it was because Goldeen's fishing exploits over the past two days had drastically depleted the fish population in the nearby river, but he had only managed to catch three ordinary bass.
Zach, seemingly accustomed to such occurrences, offered words of comfort instead.
"These things happen. Fishing is all about luck, and you've had more than your fair share. Some people could sit by the river all day and not catch a single thing!"
Naoki: "..."
Air Force, huh?
Selling the three bass and accepting the six hundred Pokedollars from Zach, Naoki contemplated venturing out to the sea west of Rustboro City to try his luck there.
The river's fish population would likely take a while to recover from their relentless hunting.
With the crops on the ranch still growing, fishing was his only source of income aside from the meager offerings of his small garden.
Nevertheless, Naoki wasn't too worried. After all, his most pressing task was to finish constructing the chicken coop.
He washed himself and his Pokemon with the water hose, then returned to the cottage to prepare dinner.
With the rainbow trout depleted, he only had some smoked sausage and ham left, common deli meats available in Rustboro's market.
They were convenient for storage and didn't spoil easily at room temperature, making them ideal for a refrigerator-less home.
However, sandwiches made with smoked meat didn't have any special effect either.
Despite this, Goldeen and Machop still devoured their meal with enthusiasm.
This reminded Naoki of a saying from his previous life—a dog doesn't despise a poor owner.
In this world, Pokemon were like beloved pet dogs. Once they acknowledged you as their trainer, they wouldn't care about your wealth or poverty; they would remain by your side regardless.
Moreover, Pokemon accompanied humans in their daily lives, and with their capacity for emotion and intelligence, Naoki felt that referring to them as family seemed more appropriate.
As for Caterpie...
Naoki knew it had spent the entire day diligently practicing its moves, occasionally munching on fresh, green leaves from the trees when it needed a break.
After a full day of munching, it probably wasn't very hungry.
It hadn't even returned to the cottage and was instead found sleeping on a large tree within the ranch.
Apparently, Caterpie preferred the great outdoors to the confines of the cottage.
After dinner, Naoki, exhausted from the day's work, decided to turn in early.
Meanwhile, in the mountains behind the ranch...
A disheveled blonde boy of about ten years old crawled out of a ditch.
His uniform, bearing the emblem of the Orange League, was caked in mud and damp, decaying leaves.
The boy, named Carter, glared at his dirty clothes with a forlorn expression and sat dejectedly on a tree trunk.
Carter was a first-year student at the Orange League Academy. Two days ago, he had left the school to participate in an outdoor course but ended up losing his way.
He had hoped to keep going, thinking he might stumble upon a populated area, but then the rain started.
The downpour lasted an entire day, trapping him in a cave.
Finally, when the rain let up, he ventured out only to fall into a ditch, soiling his clothes and scraping his leg.
With no food left, Carter leaned against a tree, hungry and on the verge of tears.
"I wonder if Pidgey found a town. This is so annoying. I shouldn't have signed up for this extracurricular activity."
In the afternoon, Carter had released his only Pokemon, Pidgey, and asked it to search for human habitation from the air.
As the Pidgeotto landed in front of him, Carter eagerly asked, "Did you find a town nearby?"
"Pidgey!"
The Pidgeotto nodded and reached into the white cloth bag it carried, pulling out a blue berry and offering it to its trainer.
"Did you get this for me?" Carter held the berry, tears of gratitude welling up in his eyes. He immediately hugged the Pidgeotto close, "Thank you so much, Pidgeotto!"
"Pidgey!"
The Pidgeotto squirmed, a little breathless from the tight embrace.
Thankfully, Carter soon loosened his grip. He took a bite of the berry, feeling reinvigorated. "Alright! Let's keep going!"
"Pidgey!"
With the Pidgeotto leading the way, Carter followed closely behind.
After walking for about an hour, illuminated by the moonlight, a small, dark cabin came into view.
"That's... a cabin?" Carter frowned, a little disappointed. He had expected a bustling human town.
Additionally, he noticed the fields, indicating that this was likely a ranch.
"Pidgey!"
The Pidgeotto nodded, indicating that it had indeed spotted signs of human activity here earlier.
"This is good enough," Carter thought to himself. "It's better than continuing to wander lost in the mountains." As he approached the cabin, he knocked on the door and called out, "Hello, sorry to disturb you. Is anyone home?"
Soon, the sound of footsteps could be heard from within.
The lights in the cabin turned on, and the door opened to reveal a tall, slender young man.
Naoki looked at the dirty boy in front of him with a surprised expression. "Who are you?"
Carter quickly introduced himself, "My name is Carter! I'm a student at the Orange League Academy. I accidentally got lost in the mountains... May I ask how far the nearest town is from here?"
Naoki gave him a once-over and replied, "It's about a three-hour walk from here."
"Huh? That far?" Carter was taken aback, unsure of what to do next.
His energy was sapped, and he doubted he could make it that far.
Naoki noticed the emblem on Carter's uniform and raised an eyebrow. "Come in," he said. "You don't look like you're in any shape to walk that far. You can stay here for the night."
Carter expressed his gratitude, "Thank you so much! We won't stay for free. I'll pay for our stay!"
"Don't worry about it," Naoki waved off the offer. "It's no trouble. You don't have to pay."
From the original owner's memories, Naoki knew that accommodations in this world weren't expensive. The cheapest inns only cost about 200 Pokedollars per night.
With that, Naoki stepped aside to let Carter in.
Hearing this, Carter's gratitude only deepened.
What a kind person!
He stepped into the room, his Pidgeotto by his side.
The cabin didn't seem large from the outside, but the interior was surprisingly well-equipped.
There was a single bed, a desk, a cabinet used as a room divider, and a lit fireplace.
The wooden floor was spotless, and the entire cabin was clean and tidy.
"The owner of this place must be very neat," Carter thought to himself.
Concerned about dirtying the floor with his shoes, Carter had taken them off before entering, opting to walk on the wooden floor in just his long socks.
His eyes then fell on the two Pokemon resting by the bed.
There was a Motostoke Pokemon, and a strange, entirely crimson Pokemon that he had never seen before.
Although he didn't recognize it, his instincts as a trainer told him that this Pokemon was no ordinary creature!
(End of Chapter)
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