Chapter 323: Is It a Ghost?!
Chapter 323: Is It a Ghost?!
Naoki pocketed the Poke Ball containing the Lava Bug, intending to get to know it better once they descended from the mountain.
But when he turned around, he immediately noticed the astonished look on Herlian's face.
Naoki: "?"
Herlian couldn't help but ask, "Is this how trainers in the Padia region usually capture Pokemon? But will the captured Pokemon listen to your commands this way?"
"Not exactly," Naoki thought carefully before explaining. "I don't need to command this Pokemon in battle. I caught the Lava Bug because I like it and want to take it home, raise it, and bond with it slowly."
A collector trainer? Herlian understood. He had met trainers like this before.
They weren't particularly skilled in Pokemon battles, and their travels were more about capturing cute and rare Pokemon they hadn't seen before to send home and live with.
However, that method of capturing was a bit...
Herlian struggled to find the right words to describe his feelings.
Having Pokemon capture other Pokemon—that was certainly unprecedented.
Noticing his expression, Naoki smiled and said, "You can try this method sometime, too, if you like. Most Pokemon have simple and honest natures. Offer them food or show them love, and there's a good chance they'll choose you as their partner."
"Of course, this approach only works with small and gentle Pokemon like the Lava Bug or Eevee. If you're dealing with something like a fierce Land Shark Bangjira, it probably won't work. In those cases, you'd have to prove your strength to them."
Herlian listened intently, feeling as if something in his mind had clicked into place.
"I understand!" he exclaimed.
Naoki smiled faintly and turned to leave.
Having trained in Hell Valley for a month, Herlian also intended to go to the lush Green Town below the mountain to gather some supplies, so the two set off together.
As soon as they left the vicinity of Hell Valley, the temperature returned to normal.
Naoki breathed a sigh of relief and took out a bottle of water from his backpack to rehydrate.
Herlian also put his clothes back on.
As they passed by the spot where they had encountered the timid Pokemon earlier, Naoki's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked Herlian about it.
"By the way, Herlian, have you seen any unique Pokemon from the North Village around here?"
"Do you mean Simucha and its evolved form, a Cup of Strong Tea?"
A Cup of Strong Tea? The name sounded like an evolution of Sad Tea...
Naoki pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "Aside from those two?"
"I don't think there are any others," Herlian recalled carefully. "But this place does have a lot of Pokemon that aren't found in the Sinnoh region. I've seen an Impidimp, an Ancient Moon Bird, and a Little Crush Diamond... Wait, did you see some kind of strange Pokemon?"
Naoki nodded. "In that area up ahead, I saw a Pokemon I've never seen before."
Upon hearing this, Herlian followed the direction of Naoki's finger and was astonished by what he saw.
"What? You went in there?"
Naoki was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Herlian explained, "That's the famous Ghost Tooth Cave of the North Village! The terrain there is extremely treacherous, named after the protruding rocks that resemble a ghost's teeth. It's easy to stumble and fall into the cliffs inside."
"Because of this, the locals have designated it as an extremely dangerous area and forbidden others from entering."
Naoki was dumbfounded. "Is it that bad?"
"There's another very important reason," Herlian continued. "It's said that the ghost who killed Sanbao's companion hides somewhere in Ghost Tooth Cave. Anyone who encounters it will have their life taken away!"
Herlian shivered. "A masked ghost and all sorts of scary rural folklore... I can't handle this!"
Naoki: "..."
A masked ghost...
Naoki's mind flashed back to the scene he had witnessed earlier.
The green Pokemon also seemed to have a mask in its hand.
An incredible guess suddenly popped into Naoki's head—could it be the legendary ghost?!
But that didn't make sense. That Pokemon was clearly very timid. Far from taking his life, it had run away in fear at the sight of him.
Or was the ghost someone else entirely?
Just then, a gust of cold wind blew in from the direction of Ghost Tooth Cave, howling through the valley with a mournful sound, like the weeping of a wronged spirit.
Herlian's hair stood on end, and he felt a chill down his spine. "Let's get out of here!" he urged.
Naoki was speechless but led the two Pokemon down the mountain back to Green Town.
Before they knew it, it was already 4 p.m. in the evening.
Naoki bid Herlian farewell and returned to the Civic Center.
Far from being afraid of this stranger, the Lava Bug seemed delighted and happily munched on the treats, slowly savoring each bite.
If it weren't for the fact that Gluttony wasn't one of the Lava Bug's traits, Naoki would have suspected that was its hidden ability.
He had to admit, the Lava Bug was like a living, breathing space heater.
Soon after it was released, the temperature in the room began to rise, creating a cozy atmosphere.
"Interesting," Naoki mused, observing the interaction between Babbo and the Lava Bug, his mind already planning their next steps.
With the Lava Bug, they wouldn't need to worry about firewood for the fireplace anymore.
"Hmm, in addition to the fireplace, I should also install a special lava-based heating system connected to all the rooms in the house."
Just like in that manga, the Lava Bug could freely roam through the pipes, going wherever it pleased.
As it crawled through the pipes, its body heat would provide warmth to the entire house.
The Fire-type Lava Bug was incredibly convenient, a perfect companion for those chilly winter days!
Naoki sat in his chair, deep in thought, as he watched Babbo and the Lava Bug.
Before long, the Lava Bug had its fill.
Delighted by Babbo's friendly overtures and desire for friendship, the Lava Bug was overjoyed.
Its happiness manifested as little puffs of white smoke emanating from its bright red body.
"Puff! Puff! Puff!"
Suddenly, the room was filled with coughing as the smoke irritated everyone's throats. Naoki quickly opened the window to air out the room and turned to the Lava Bug, who looked back at him with a bewildered expression.
Naoki couldn't help but feel that this Lava Bug wasn't the brightest Pokemon around.
Realizing that it had caused a commotion, the Lava Bug, with its simple nature, looked a little flustered.
Fortunately, no one seemed to mind, and they smiled at it warmly.
"It's okay, Babbo," Naoki reassured, patting Babbo's head.
The Lava Bug blinked and soon regained its cheerful demeanor.
Then, the room was filled with the sound of little paws pattering across the floor.
Naoki: "..."
Indeed, not the sharpest tool in the shed...
Perhaps it was this very simplicity, this guileless nature, that made it so willing to befriend Babbo, much like a toddler taking their first steps into kindergarten.
The next morning, Naoki accompanied the village chief to the local apple orchard.
As he gazed upon the endless rows of apple trees, Naoki thought to himself, "No wonder this place is famous for its apples, Northbound Village!"
"We've arrived! This is Apple Hill!" the village chief introduced with a beaming smile. "This hill has an unobstructed view, allowing sunlight to reach every apple, ensuring they grow big and round."
Naoki looked up, and indeed, the apples on the trees were plump, shiny, and red, looking absolutely mouthwatering.
The village chief plucked a few apples and handed them to Naoki. "Try one! They're our specialty here in Northbound Village!"
Naoki took an apple and brought it close to Golleton, sharing a bite with his Pokemon.
As soon as he bit into it, sweet apple juice burst onto his tongue.
"Delicious!" Naoki nodded in appreciation.
"What do you think?" the village chief asked, his face filled with pride as he talked about his village's apples.
Naoki hummed in agreement, then looked into the distance, taking in the vibrant apple orchard. "What a fertile land!" he exclaimed.
Just like the rice fields he had seen before, the apple orchard was home to a variety of Pokemon.
There were Growlithe guarding the apple trees, keeping wild Pokemon at bay; there were Exeggcute scurrying around the orchard, their round bodies bouncing with each step; there were Bellsprout with their slender stems, and there were also Burmy resting on the branches.
It was clear that Northbound Village had seamlessly integrated Pokemon into their agricultural practices.
Following Naoki's gaze, the village chief also spotted the Pokemon and said proudly, "These Pokemon help us tend to the orchard!"
"Growlithe here keep watch over the orchard, preventing wild Pokemon from causing any damage, while Exeggcute patrol the area and alert the Growlithe of any intruders."
"Burmy offer a pest control service, ensuring the apples grow without any issues, and Bellsprout not only nurture the trees with their Grass-type energy but also help us pluck the apples with their vines."
"Do they also involve Pokemon in agricultural work in the Padia region?"
However, those Pokemon were merely wild Pokemon taken in by the kind-hearted Mr. Elief and weren't formally employed to tend to the trees and fields like they were in Northbound Village.
"I should suggest this method to Mayor Thomas when I get back," Naoki thought, replying, "Yes, I do."
"On my ranch, Flygon uses Rain Dance to help with irrigation, Diglett triplets help with plowing the fields, and my riding goat uses Grass Energy to aid in crop cultivation. Oh, and my Farfetch'd help me with fruit picking."
"That's right!" The village chief nodded vigorously. "Pokemon are truly amazing creatures! Life for humans has improved so much because of them!"
Naoki smiled and nodded in agreement.
The group wandered around Apple Hill.
Along the way, Naoki noticed several box trucks parked on the road.
Some farmers and Pokemon were busy packing freshly picked apples into cardboard boxes, which were then loaded onto the trucks.
Watching this scene, the village chief said with a beaming smile, "These apples will be shipped all over the world—to Kanto, Sinnoh, Padia, Unova, Kalos... Everyone will get to taste the apples of Northbound Village."
"That's amazing!" Naoki exclaimed.
It was impressive because the internet wasn't as developed yet, and commercial promotion relied mainly on newspapers. Yet, Northbound Village's apples were renowned worldwide, a testament to their exceptional quality.
At that moment, the village chief suddenly spoke up. "There are a lot of interesting things in the town as well. It's just a shame you didn't come at the right time. If you had visited during the summer, you could have participated in the town's Masked Festival!"
Naoki was taken aback by his words. "Masked Festival?"
The village chief explained, "Yes! It's an annual grand celebration to praise the bravery of the Three Companion Pokemon. It attracts not only people from the town but also many trainers from other regions!"
"During the festival, everyone wears masks and heads to the shrine in the center of Northbound Village, where they enjoy themselves to their heart's content."
Masks... more masks.
It seemed like masks were connected to everything in Northbound Village.
Naoki recalled the green Pokemon he had encountered the day before and the mask he had seen in its hand, his curiosity piqued. He asked, "By the way, Village Chief, are there any unique Pokemon native to Northbound Village?"
"Northbound Village's Pokemon?" The village chief was a little surprised but replied, "Of course! The most famous ones are the Three Companion Pokemon who sacrificed themselves to protect the village!"
Gouge Dog, Wish-Enhance Ape, and Lucky Chicken.
But that green Pokemon didn't resemble a dog, an ape, or a chicken at all.
After some thought, Naoki asked, "What about aside from those three Companion Pokemon?"
"What about the unknown Pokemon wearing a mask that I saw in the mountains earlier? Is it also native to Northbound Village?" Naoki was intrigued and wanted to know if the village chief had any information about that Pokemon.
However, he was surprised to see the elderly man's face turn pale upon hearing his question.
"A masked creature lurking in the mountains... Have you encountered the ghost?!”
Naoki was stunned.
What did he mean? Was that timid Pokemon the ghost from Northbound Village's legend that had killed the Three Companions? But how could that be?
It was so shy that it cowered in a corner and trembled at their approach, eventually running away in fear.
Could such a Pokemon be the ghost? Naoki's first instinct was to dismiss the idea. Either the legend circulating in Northbound Village was incorrect, or there was more to the story.
"That's a vicious ghost!" The village chief looked fearful. "I advise you not to go back to Ghost Cave. If you provoke the ghost, you'll be in grave danger!"
Naoki trusted his own eyes more than legends.
He couldn't bring himself to believe that the timid Pokemon he had seen was the brutal ghost.
He remained silent, but Golleton, by his side, suddenly let out a loud roar at the village chief.
Startled, the village chief took a few steps back. "What's wrong with this Pokemon? Why is it suddenly roaring and yelling at me?"
Noticing Golleton's reaction, Naoki sensed that something was amiss and immediately calmed the Pokemon down, stroking its head soothingly.
Golleton settled down after Naoki's reassurance.
The village chief breathed a sigh of relief and then looked toward the front of the hill, saying, "Whew... Companion Plaza is just ahead. That's where the villagers of Northbound Village buried their bodies. Do you want to take a look?"
(End of Chapter)
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