https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-248-Galar-May-Be-My-Home-But-I-ll-Never-Forget-Padia/12537300/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-250-The-Regal-Majesty-of-the-Crown-Shrine/12537302/
Chapter 249: The Adaptable Snowstorm Horse
Chapter 249: The Adaptable Snowstorm Horse
The village elder subconsciously dismissed the speculation in his mind.
After all, it was just a legend, and legends were often fictitious. Yet, he couldn't deny that these tourists were here in Frozen Village because of the Lei Guan Wang.
Regardless of whether the God of Bounty truly existed, the village owed its growing prosperity to the influx of curious visitors.
A smile appeared on the elder's face as he said, "Since you've traveled so far to our village for this matter, I'll certainly try my best to help you create the bridle."
Naoki's heart leaped with joy, and he handed over the Radiant Flower and the Snowstorm Horse's mane. "Thank you so much!"
The elder hesitated as he examined the materials. "I'm not sure if I can create a proper bridle like my great-great-grandfather and the others did, but it's time to bring back this village tradition!"
With a more attractive offering, Frozen Village would draw even more tourists!
With renewed determination, the elder dashed into the inner room and retrieved the needle and thread used for bridle sewing. He then sat upright on the sofa, focused his energy, and began sewing with lightning speed.
Naoki stood there, his eyes wide in astonishment.
This was a bit over the top, wasn't it?
After an indeterminate amount of time, the elder let out a loud shout, signaling the completion of a rather rough-looking bridle.
Naoki glanced at it and felt something was amiss. Tentatively, he asked, "Is it done?"
Shaking his head gravely, the elder replied, "I'm afraid not. My old eyes aren't what they used to be, and I can't manage the finer details. To finish this bridle, we'll need someone with more delicate craftsmanship."
"I see..."
Naoki recalled that in the game, it was Uncle Peony who completed this final step.
He stepped forward to inspect the unfinished bridle, pondering for a moment before suggesting, "Should I give it a try?"
The elder was taken aback. "You... You know how to sew clothes?"
"A little," Naoki replied. There had been numerous occasions while working on the ranch when his clothes were torn for one reason or another, and he had always mended them himself.
Hearing this, the elder immediately made room for Naoki to take over the bridle.
Naoki examined the bridle, his mind racing as he devised a plan. "Do this, then that, and finally that, and it should be done."
He began to sew.
The elder, sitting beside him, recalled the legends his grandfather had told him as a child. Softly, he murmured, "It seems that while sewing, one must also sing a song of gratitude... Only then can the bridle be truly completed."
Naoki paused, taken aback. "Singing?"
"I remember the lyrics..." The elder began to hum, "Round and round the flowers curl, their manes offering tribute to our king. It goes something like that."
"Do... Do I have to sing it?" Naoki asked, unsure.
"It's necessary," the elder insisted, shaking his head. His eyes shone with encouragement. "Go on, give it a try!"
Naoki suspected that the old man was pulling his leg, but then he remembered that Uncle Peony had indeed sung while sewing the bridle in the game...
This was as awkward as the embarrassing dance that accompanied the use of a Z-Move!
However, having come this far, he couldn't give up now.
At least there was no one else around to witness this.
Steeling himself, Naoki took a deep breath and began to sing stiffly.
"Round and round the flowers curl~"
"Their manes offering tribute to our king~"
"Yes, that's it!" The elder nodded vigorously. "Keep going!"
Naoki's face was numb, but this time, the song flowed more smoothly.
"Round and round the flowers curl, their manes offering tribute to our king."
With the final stitch, a snow-white bridle that shimmered in the light and exuded a faint chill was complete.
The elder was astonished by this miraculous sight. "It's done! This is the Bonding Bridle, and it's glowing! Could it be... Could the stories my great-grandfather told me when I was a child be true after all?!"
The elder was dumbfounded.
He turned to the tourist holding the Bonding Bridle and asked tentatively, "Are... Are you seeking the Lei Guan Wang?"
Naoki nodded. "Yes."
The elder's heart skipped a beat. "Have you... found it?"
Not knowing what Lei Guan Wang meant, Naoki thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Not yet."
The elder's heart sank with disappointment. He hesitated before speaking again. "If... I mean, if you really do find the God of Bounty, could you please let me know? I want to know if those legends are true."
Naoki nodded. "If I get to meet it."
In his heart, he added: If the Lei Guan Wang is willing.
After leaving the elder's house, Naoki spotted a guesthouse in the village and decided not to trouble Ryan's family further. Turning around, he led Goulerton and the Snowstorm Horse to the guesthouse and checked in for the night.
The Snowstorm Horse was tethered to the fence in the guesthouse's small courtyard.
The landlady enthusiastically served steaming hot dishes to the table.
The room was illuminated by warm, soft lighting.
Naoki released Motostoke from its Poke Ball, and together with Goulerton, they sat on the wooden tatami mats, enjoying their meal while admiring the beautiful snowfall just outside the house.
"Lei Guan Wang hasn't returned yet..." Naoki mused to himself, "Looks like it hasn't found the Spirit Ghost Horse yet."
According to the game's plot, both the Snowstorm Horse and the Spirit Ghost Horse resided in the Crown Shrine.
However, due to certain circumstances, Lei Guan Wang had been evading the area, which was why it didn't know the exact locations of the other two horses.
Nonetheless, Naoki wasn't worried.
Lei Guan Wang was a formidable Pokemon, and it would surely locate the Spirit Ghost Horse.
All he needed to do was patiently wait here.
After dinner, the snowfall outside lessened.
Looking at the courtyard filled with pristine white snow, the landlady smiled and suggested, "The temperature isn't too cold now. You can take your Pokemon out to build a snowman or have a snowball fight!"
Naoki was about to dismiss the idea as too childish, something only kids would enjoy, but then he turned and saw the eager looks on Goulerton and Motostoke's faces.
Naoki: "..."
Alright then!
He stood up, ready to take the two Pokemon out to play in the snow.
"Ah ga si!"
Goulerton excitedly shouted and rushed out.
Motostoke, on the other hand, tentatively stepped onto the snow with one foot, only to quickly retract it and shrink back, looking pitiful.
"Gaao..."
The effect of the Guazi Su that Lei Guan Wang Goulerton and the Snowstorm Horse had consumed had worn off, so Naoki couldn't understand what Motostoke was saying.
But from its tone and expression, it seemed that it was afraid of the cold.
Motostoke, being a hairless Pokemon with just a layer of skin, was indeed susceptible to the cold.
Naoki thought for a moment, then reassured Motostoke and asked Goulerton to wait, before approaching the landlady to borrow the inn's kitchen.
She readily agreed.
So, Naoki used the kitchen to prepare several bowls of clear soup noodles with a cold-resistant effect and distributed them to the Pokemon.
The Snowstorm Horse also received a share, but it didn't seem interested in this type of food, snorting and turning its head away.
Naoki didn't mind.
After consuming the warm soup, Motostoke's body gradually warmed up, and now it could finally play in the snow.
Motostoke happily dashed into the snow, leaving clear claw marks in its wake.
Goulerton, on the other hand, had already started rolling snowballs with its large claws, creating two crude snowmen, though who taught it this was a mystery.
When it noticed Naoki stepping out, Goulerton immediately turned and shouted, "Ah ga!"
"What is it?" Naoki walked over.
Goulerton pointed to the smaller snowman, then to itself, "Ah ga si!"
Then, it pointed to the larger snowman and gestured towards Naoki.
Naoki understood, and he raised an eyebrow, asking, "This is you, and this is me?"
"Ah ga si!" Goulerton happily nodded its large head. They would always be together!
Motostoke, drawn by the commotion, approached with a bewildered expression, staring at the snowmen.
After a moment, it also tried to roll a snowball with its claws, wanting to build a snowman too.
But Motostoke had never built a snowman before, and no matter how hard it tried, it couldn't roll a decent snowball.
"Gaao..." Motostoke looked dejected.
Seeing this, Naoki walked up helplessly and smiled, "You're not doing it right, watch me—."
He scooped up some snow and formed a small snowball, then placed it on the ground and started rolling it. Gradually, the snowball grew larger.
Motostoke watched with admiration.
Once it was big enough, Naoki stopped and asked, "Your turn now?"
Motostoke began its attempt.
It used its claws to form a round snowball, then placed it on the ground and started rolling.
Soon, a large snowball took shape in the snow.
Naoki walked over and rolled the two snowballs next to the snowmen Goulerton had made, then picked up the smaller one and placed it on top of the larger snowball.
And so, the third snowman was completed.
Naoki pointed to the snowman and said to Motostoke, "This is you."
"Gaao~"
Motostoke was delighted, now it could stay by Naoki's side just like Goulerton!
Goulerton looked on with a touched expression.
This time, it didn't feel jealous.
Because the scene before it was something it had personally experienced a long time ago.
Back then, Naoki had also taught it how to build a snowman...
"Alright, you guys continue playing!"
Naoki stood up from the snow and walked towards the Snowstorm Horse with the reins in his hand, but he didn't expect Goulerton to follow.
With that in mind, Naoki curiously placed the bridle on the Snowstorm Horse's neck.
Sensing the human's mischievous gaze, the Snowstorm Horse's heart skipped a beat.
Before it could react, it heard Naoki say, "Goulerton, hop on its back and give it a try!"
"Ah ga?"
Although Goulerton was a bit bewildered, he jumped onto the Snowstorm Horse's back.
The Snowstorm Horse's waist nearly buckled under the weight, and it exerted all its strength to keep from collapsing.
The Snowstorm Horse wanted to kick, but seeing the fierce Pokemon beside it, it knew it wasn't a match and could only endure the humiliation, letting out a labored whinny.
"Be a good boy, just endure it for a bit." Naoki felt a bit sorry for the horse as he patted its head. "I'm just doing a little experiment."
The Snowstorm Horse grunted and snorted, looking constipated.
Fearing that the Snowstorm Horse might collapse, Naoki quickly said to Goulerton, "Hold on tight to the bridle and try to infuse your power into its body!"
"Ah ga?! "
Goulerton's eyes widened in disbelief.
Its power? What power did it have?
Goulerton hesitated, then tried to release the Dragon-type energy within its body.
However, nothing happened.
"Doesn't work?" Naoki frowned slightly. "Looks like other Pokemon can't fuse with the Snowstorm Horse by transferring energy..."
Seeing that the Snowstorm Horse was struggling to hold on, Naoki quickly asked Goulerton to get down.
The Snowstorm Horse breathed heavily, exhausted.
Naoki apologized, "Sorry, buddy. I'll ask Lei Guan Wang to plant your favorite carrots for you tomorrow, I promise."
The Snowstorm Horse, with its violent and arrogant temperament, was already infuriated by the human's act of making a Pokemon ride on its back.
But upon hearing the mention of carrots, its attention was once again drawn to the tempting treat.
Noticing the change in the Snowstorm Horse's expression, Naoki held up his five fingers and said, "Five hundred carrots! You can eat to your heart's content!"
"Bing... Whinny!" The Snowstorm Horse raised its neck and neighed.
Hmph, that's more like it!
Since it couldn't beat the Pokemon next to it, Goulerton, it might as well submit to this human who offered it carrots, just like it had done with Lei Guan Wang many years ago.
Naoki: "..."
This Snowstorm Horse was indeed adaptable.
When faced with an opponent far superior to itself, it would submit and willingly become their mount.
However, if its opponent's strength weakened, it might just abandon its master and flee, just as they had done with Lei Guan Wang in the past.
Naoki was at a loss for words for a moment.
Ah well!
It was getting late, and after a busy day, Naoki felt tired. So, he headed back to the guesthouse for some rest.
The next morning, the sky lit up brightly.
Just after breakfast, Naoki spotted Lei Guan Wang appearing in a corner where no one else was around.
Lei Guan Wang glanced at him a few times before turning away and floating off.
Naoki understood Lei Guan Wang's intention—it wanted him to discuss matters outside again.
"Let's go!"
Naoki recalled Motostoke into its Poke Ball and, holding the Bonding Bridle, led Goulerton and the Snowstorm Horse to the cliff overlooking the village.
Lei Guan Wang was already waiting for them there. Naoki ate one of the translated Guazi Su, enabling him to understand Lei Guan Wang's language once more.
Then, he heard Lei Guan Wang speak solemnly, "I have finally discovered the whereabouts of my beloved steed!"
"So, the Spirit Ghost Horse has been using the Crown Shrine as its base!"
"That place holds fond memories for me, and because I didn't want to be reminded of the past, I deliberately avoided it. I never expected that the Spirit Ghost Horse would take advantage of my diminished power and claim that place as its own..."
Naoki listened quietly, and seeing Lei Guan Wang's furrowed brow, he spoke up, "Don't be angry. I finished making the Bonding Bridle last night. Do you want to give it a try now?"
"I am not angry..."
Seeing the bridle glowing softly, Lei Guan Wang expressed its gratitude once more, "Indeed, this is the Bonding Bridle! Once again, I must thank you for all you have done for me. From here on, leave everything to me!"
As it finished speaking, Lei Guan Wang used its psychic powers to take the bridle from Naoki's hand.
The bridle shimmered as it floated towards the Snowstorm Horse and wrapped itself around its neck.
Lei Guan Wang then swung the bridle, coiling it around the Snowstorm Horse's neck.
The next moment, the bridle seemed to come alive, conforming to the Snowstorm Horse's body, and a dazzling light radiated from both Lei Guan Wang and the Snowstorm Horse.
(End of Chapter)
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