Chapter 700: Radiant Bear's Shining Bear!

Chapter 700: Radiant Bear's Shining Bear! (Two-in-One, Requesting Monthly Votes!)

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Originally, Jinghe planned to head to another island and find another guardian after dealing with Radiant Bear. He aimed to retrieve the "Fairy Tablet" as quickly as possible.

However, he had taken on this task from his teacher, and Dr. Barnett needed some time to study the Hyper Muscle Mosquito.

So, despite it being summer, Jinghe found himself seriously attending classes at the Alola Pokémon School!

Teaching a group of kids under ten about "Pokémon Psychology" would likely make them fall asleep or be utterly confused. So, Jinghe chose the most basic and straightforward training knowledge.

"Teacher Jinghe!"

The energetic girl, Mao, raised her hand boldly. After getting Jinghe's nod, she stood up and asked:

"I understand why Bug-types are weak against Grass, since bugs eat grass, but why are they also weak against Psychic and Dark types?"

This, Jinghe realized, was one of the most fundamental topics he was covering: the type weaknesses between Pokémon.

It turns out that sometimes it's not just Ash who can't remember the type weaknesses; it's a common issue.

Mao continued:

"Aren't Psychic types capable of easily crushing bugs? And Dark types are so fierce, wouldn't they just swat bugs away?"

Indeed, Mao's question had a point, and Jinghe didn't have a definitive answer.

"And it's weird that Bug-types resist Ground and Fighting types so well."

Jinghe: "..."

In the Pokémon world, such questions can't be answered with conventional science.

"You asked a good question", Jinghe said, gesturing for Mao to sit down.

Hearing Jinghe's encouragement, Mao beamed.

"But don't ask it again next time."

Mao: "??"

"Just kidding", Jinghe laughed.

After a brief silence, the classroom erupted in laughter.

"Anyway, Mao, are you afraid of bugs?" Jinghe asked, adding, "Like cockroaches and spiders."

Mao nodded honestly.

"Yes, I am!"

It's normal for girls to be afraid of such small creatures. Even Jinghe, if he suddenly saw a bug, or if one fell on him while he was sleeping, would likely let out a high-pitched scream.

"So, why are you afraid of bugs when you're so much bigger? One stomp and they'd be crushed, right?"

Mao thought about it.

"Yeah, you're right~"

But even though she understood, she was still afraid.

"Don't think of Pokémon types too scientifically. Pokémon themselves are not a scientific phenomenon, and it's not necessary to force a scientific explanation for their type weaknesses."

"Ooh~"

The five kids nodded thoughtfully.

"Alright", Jinghe clapped his hands to regain their attention.

"That's all for the classroom. Today, I'm taking you to experience something a bit different."

Something different?

The five kids perked up with interest.

Jinghe smiled mysteriously.

"Get ready, and meet me at the school entrance in ten minutes."

The five kids, already prepared, looked at Jinghe, who was leisurely sipping coconut juice at the school entrance. Mao couldn't wait to ask:

"Teacher Jinghe, what are we going to do?"

"Of course, we're going to do what you most want to do", Jinghe smiled.

Kachi: "Battle?"

Mao: "Cook?"

Mamane: "Stargaze?"

Suiren: "Fishing?"

Lillie: "Umm..."

Jinghe facepalmed.

No wonder Pokémon trainers in this world are so good at finding side jobs.

"I'm taking you to meet more Pokémon."

Hearing this, all the kids except Lillie were immediately interested.

Honestly, as native-born trainers, who wouldn't want to explore the wild?

However, the forests are too dangerous. Even Dr. Kukui has never taken them to the real wild or dangerous forests.

"I... I..." Lillie lowered her head.

She also wanted to see more Pokémon and didn't want to dampen everyone's spirits, but... she was afraid of those Pokémon.

Jinghe gently patted Lillie's shoulder and gave her a warm smile when she looked up.

"Don't worry, I'll be with you."

"...Okay!"

"Let's go~!"

Jinghe, like a child king, kicked his flip-flops, wore a wide-brimmed hat, and waved his hand, leading the kids out of the school.

From a nearby classroom building, Dr. Barnett watched the cheerful Dr. Kukui and Principal Seya Oak and couldn't help but ask:

"Kukui, aren't you going with them?"

Seya Oak's expression changed.

"That's Jinghe, the Jinghe of Nidorina!"

Dr. Kukui, who had a deeper understanding of Jinghe, especially after yesterday's events, smiled and said:

"Look up."

Dr. Barnett followed his gaze and saw Regieleki and Regidrago flying on either side, serving as protectors.

With the Nine-Tails’ control over the aura, Gengar’s ease in the shadows, and the rest of the Pokémon—

“I’ll go study the Muscle Mosquito instead.”

Dr. Barnett realized he was worrying a bit too much.

“Be careful, that’s a Paras Spore. While it’s not lethal, touching it might cause you to get poisoned or paralyzed, and you’ll be the one suffering.”

“It’s a Paras, huh?” Kachi reluctantly retracted his hand, eyeing the red, mushroom-like object. He had thought it might be something tasty.

“Teacher Jinghe, what are you doing?”

Mao squatted beside Jinghe, watching him carefully dig up a plant with a small spade.

“The plants here are too dense. Even with Alola’s fertile soil and abundant sunlight, these overly crowded plants struggle to grow. Removing some will help them thrive better.”

Jinghe explained as he worked.

Undeveloped Alola was truly “bountiful.” While it didn’t match the vast plains by the Ball Lake, it was still incredibly resource-rich.

These weren’t Tree Berries, but a relatively rare type of tea plant. Digging some up to plant on his island would give him his very own tea garden!

Then he could pick, process, and brew his own tea.

Besides, if he didn’t dig them up, they wouldn’t grow much anyway.

“I see.” Mao and the others were enlightened.

“Let me show you how.” Jinghe demonstrated for the five young ones.

“Got it?”

“Got it!” x5

“Go to Forger and each get a small spade, then give it a try.” Jinghe smiled.

“Yay!”

Except for Mao, none of the others had tried this before. They were excited by the new activity and didn’t mind getting dirty or tired, just filled with curiosity.

Even Lillie, the young lady, worked with great enthusiasm.

In fact, Lillie’s enthusiasm was even greater than the other four.

With five extra pairs of hands, Jinghe felt quite pleased.

Teaching and working at the same time, Jinghe couldn’t help but think, "No wonder I'm so great."

The rustling forest was bathed in pleasant sunlight, with flowers blooming vibrantly. A group of Cuties buzzed around the flowers, lifting petals and spreading their sweet fragrance.

“Mamane, don’t go near there!”

Jinghe’s Waveguide allowed him to keep an eye on the five young ones while he worked.

“Huh?”

The little chubby one, sweating profusely with his small spade, looked at Jinghe with confusion.

“That’s not a plant; it’s a Grasshopper Bud.”

“A Grasshopper Bud?”

The little kids gathered around, their eyes filled with curiosity.

“Grasshopper Bud, the Scythe Grass Pokémon, a Grass-type Rotom!” The Rotom Pokédex displayed a photo of the Grasshopper Bud.

“Really!” Kachi compared the photo in the Pokédex with the flower-like cluster on the ground.

“Cute,” Siren said with a flat tone.

Lillie had already started to back away.

Jinghe smiled and placed a hand on Lillie’s shoulder, saying, “Grasshopper Buds rest in the sun during the day, using their leaf-like heads for photosynthesis. They really don’t like being disturbed while sleeping.”

Lillie pursed her lips and took out her notebook, diligently taking notes.

Jinghe continued, “Though they look cute, Grasshopper Buds are actually dangerous Grass-type Pokémon. After basking in the sun, they release a sweet, attractive scent from their heads to lure Bug Pokémon.”

He paused for a moment.

“Whether it’s a Grasshopper Bud or its evolved form, Mantis Flower, they are carnivorous hunters. They’re more like mantises, or flying mantises, than plants.”

Hearing this, the young ones all took a step back, especially Mamane, who looked fearful.

The Rotom Pokédex promptly displayed a photo of the Mantis Flower.

Sensing the tension, Jinghe smiled and said, “An interesting fact about Grasshopper Buds is that they sleep during the day and wake up at night to find a suitable spot for the next day’s nap.”

“So they’re either sleeping or on their way to sleep?” Lillie whispered.

“Exactly.” Jinghe gave Lillie a perfect score for her summary.

The initially tense young ones relaxed upon hearing this.

“The Mantis Flower is beautiful too.” Mao had a particular fondness for Grass-type Pokémon.

“Teacher, are these light purple mushrooms Paras too?”

Kachi made a new discovery, pointing to a few light purple mushrooms under a tree.

Jinghe glanced at them and said, “No, Mao, Kachi, collect these mushrooms.”

The two were puzzled but did as Jinghe instructed, placing the mushrooms in a small basket.

“Let’s see if there are more on the way. I’ll make a delicious mushroom soup for you tonight.”

Mao’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly offered, “Teacher Jinghe, let me help!”

Mao was very serious about cooking and becoming a chef.

“No problem.”

“So, Teacher Jinghe, what are these mushrooms?” Mamane picked up a mushroom with a magnifying glass.

“Sleeping Mushrooms.” Jinghe said without turning around.

“Huh?” Mamane dropped the mushroom in shock.

Would they be eating Pokémon?

“The mushrooms on top of the Sleeping Mushrooms are a very delicious ingredient.”

The Rotom Pokédex displayed a photo of the Sleeping Mushroom.

“So cute!” Mao immediately fell in love with its appearance.

“Sleeping Mushroom, the Glowing Pokémon, a Grass and Fairy-type Rotom!” the Rotom Pokédex explained.

Jinghe added, “Unlike the Grasshopper Bud, the Sleeping Mushroom is a rather gentle Pokémon. They also sleep during the day and become active at night. In the evening, the mushrooms on their heads emit a colorful glow.”

He straightened up and placed a freshly dug tea plant into Gengar’s shadow.

“To avoid over-absorbing nutrients from the same spot and causing the surrounding plants to wither, the Sleeping Mushrooms change their resting trees at night.”

He put the mushroom that Mamane had dropped back into the basket.

“Many Pokémon in the forest love to eat the mushrooms on top of the Sleeping Mushrooms' heads. Sometimes, when they move around, they accidentally bump into them and knock the mushrooms off. These are the ones they drop while moving.”

“Similar to the bananas of the Tyrantrum and the sunflower seeds of the Sunflora, these are all edible and don’t need to be worried about.”

The children’s faces lit up with understanding, and Lillie scribbled notes furiously.

Jinghe smiled, “If you have trouble sleeping at night, keeping a Sleeping Mushroom in your room can help you sleep soundly.”

Designed specifically for insomnia, the gentle glow and spores released by the Sleeping Mushrooms at night have a sleep-inducing effect.

His expression then turned more serious.

“Although the Sleeping Mushrooms are gentle and encountering them at night is no problem, if you come across their evolved form, the Nightshade Lantern, you should immediately move away.”

Gengar slowly poked his head out from the shadows behind the children.

Jinghe’s voice took on a more ominous tone.

“It’s said that someone once got lost in a forest where Nightshade Lanterns live, mesmerized by the glowing spores they release. They wandered for days without finding an exit. When they were finally found, they were skin and bones.”

“Gengar!”

Gengar suddenly jumped out.

“Ahh!!!”

The children were so frightened that their faces turned pale, and they all ran behind Jinghe.

“Gengar~()σ”

Gengar pointed at the children, laughing so hard he rolled on the ground.

“The spores of the Nightshade Lantern can drain the Life Force from their victims, but if someone or a Pokémon is truly in danger, they can also use the same method to give Life Force. Otherwise, how could someone survive for days?”

Jinghe wore a teasing smile.

“Teacher Jinghe!”

The children were indignant, realizing they had been fooled.

However, the sudden scare and the mix of emotions made the outdoor trip even more interesting.

Of course, this was also an opportunity for Jinghe to find some good things.

He dug up eight wild tea plants and two pineapple tree saplings.

Pineapple trees are relatively dense in Alola. Pineapples not only restore Pokémon’s energy but also stimulate their mental state, aiding their growth.

It’s said that Pokémon that regularly eat pineapples become smarter, though there’s no way to verify this claim.

One of the signature dishes at Eina’s restaurant, owned by Mao’s family, is a pineapple juice made with sweet honey. It has a different flavor from regular pineapple juice.

Apparently, Mao’s father learned the recipe from a Martial Bear Master living in the forest.

On the way back, the children chattered excitedly about their day’s experiences, or about their past adventures.

“Teacher Jinghe, you don’t know,” the energetic Mao said, “when I was little, I and Suiren got lost in the forest and were taken care of by an Ancient Dragon. We barely managed to get out.”

“Mm!” Suiren nodded in agreement.

Back then, when they were young, they got lost in the forest and ran into an Ancient Dragon. They were so scared that they ran in all directions and got separated. Mao even fell off a cliff.

Thanks to the Ancient Dragon’s help, they managed to survive.

“So, quick question,” Jinghe said, holding up the Rotom Dex and showing a picture of the Ancient Dragon.

“What is the Ancient Dragon called when it’s just born? And what is it called when it’s young?”

Kachi raised his hand first.

“When it’s just born, it’s called a Young Ancient Dragon, and when it’s young, it’s called a Small Ancient Dragon!”

“Wrong!”

Mamane, the chubby one, rubbed his chin thoughtfully, negating Kachi’s answer and giving his own.

“‘Ancient’ means old, so when it’s just born, it should be called a Young Hatchling Dragon, and when it’s young, it should be called a Small Hatchling Dragon!”

“Huh?”

Mao and Suiren looked at each other, unsure which answer was correct.

“Young Ancient Dragon!”

“Young Hatchling Dragon!”

Kachi and Mamane argued back and forth.

Jinghe chuckled and turned to Lillie, asking, “Lillie, what do you think?”

Lillie blinked her light blue eyes and looked up. “An Ancient Dragon, whether it’s just born or young, shouldn’t it always be called an Ancient Dragon?”

“Huh?!”

The other four children exclaimed in unison.

Jinghe snapped his fingers, “Correct! You can have a small wish granted.”

Lillie’s cheeks turned red.

A wish?

She thought about it.

Jinghe then said to the other four, “Don’t get caught up in word games. The Ancient Dragon doesn’t have an evolution, so no matter how old it is, it’s always called an Ancient Dragon.”

“Gengar~~”

Gengar mimicked a beard, pretending to be an Ancient Dragon, or rather, an Ancient Ghost.

Kachi and Mamane scratched their heads, looking sheepish.

Mao then said, “So, the Ancient Dragon... is a ‘elder’ from the moment it’s born?”

Siren chimed in, "It could save you decades of detours."

Jinghe couldn't help but chuckle.

So, not only were the Pokémon enthusiasts from another world curious about Pokémon, but the little ones in the Pokémon world were also just as curious.

But one thing was universal:

Their love for Pokémon.

Before they could leave the forest, Jinghe's phone suddenly rang.

The caller ID showed it was the trio!

Huh?

Those three troublemakers.

He pressed the answer button and heard:

"Jinghe, Jinghe-sensei, save us! Help us!"

The trio's voices were hushed.

"You guys—"

"It's a Bear! It's a Bear—"

Before they could finish, the call dropped.

Jinghe's expression was strange as he looked at his phone.

A Bear?

A bear in a costume?

The "One True God" of Alola?

In Alola, whether it's the Island Guardians or the Ultra Beasts, they all have to take a detour when faced with me, Kapu Bear, the Bear God!

Among the "Four True Gods" of the Pokémon world, the Pikachu God becomes stronger against the strong and weaker against the weak, the Duck God suppresses everything with a headache, the Oranguru God fears everything and bounces back, but the Bear God has no weaknesses at all!

In the Pokémon Sun and Moon anime series, the Costume Bear is one of the most memorable Pokémon, and it serves as the strongest and most solid shield for the Rocket Trio.

Even when the trio causes massive trouble, the Bear God protects them and cleans up their mess.

It can truly fly, dive into the earth, enter the sea, and ride the waves, doing anything and everything.

Flying? Just a powerful jump.

Swimming? Lightly gliding on the water's surface.

More impressively, this Costume Bear can match the strength of a Machamp, outpace a Scizor, and earn the recognition of an Oranguru—truly the pinnacle of Alola.

Most importantly, it is a kind-hearted and motherly Pokémon.

It might be the only Pokémon in Alola, aside from Necrozma and Solgaleo or Lunala, that surpasses the Champion level in strength.

It might even be one of the few wild Pokémon in the entire Pokémon world that surpasses the Champion level.

As for the "Bear God"—

While Jinghe thought the trio would be fine without his so-called "rescue", he was genuinely curious and wanted to meet this Pokémon, which even considered being called "Kapu Bear" as a step up for the Kapu clan.

"Is there an emergency, Jinghe-sensei?" Mao asked.

"Nothing serious."

Jinghe shook his head and put away his phone.

"Let's go. I'll take you back first."

Small classes have their advantages.

If there were too many students, leaving the school to enter the forest would become very complicated, and ordinary teachers might not have the strength to ensure the students' safety with 100% certainty.

The debate between the travel faction and the school faction in the League in recent years could be somewhat mitigated if they adopted this small-class model.

Of course, the real dangers encountered by the travel faction cannot be replaced, but the death rate of the travel faction can be reduced to a minimum.

After returning the five little ones to Dr. Kukui and promising Mao that he would come back to teach her mushroom soup before dinner, Jinghe turned and walked out of the school, heading back into the forest.

In a massive tree hollow in a forest on Melemele Island:

"Delicious! Oh, so delicious!" Musashi exclaimed, tears streaming down her face as she munched on tree fruit and honey.

"Though, but, yet—"

Hungry for a whole day, Kojiro was also feasting, mumbling indistinctly.

"Too happy, meow~"

"Slurp~ Nani~!"

They thought the Costume Bear was coming to "deal with" them, but instead, it returned with a pile of tree fruits and a jar of honey.

It even told them to eat without restraint.

The trio, who had been on edge all day, were overwhelmed with excitement.

"Roo~"

Seeing the trio happily eating, the Costume Bear gently patted each of their heads one by one.

"What did it say, meow?" Musashi asked.

"It said: don't be afraid, eat with peace of mind, meow!" Meowth translated the Costume Bear's words.

"It's a good guy!" Kojiro exclaimed.

"But, what if—"

Musashi's movements slowed, and she lowered her voice, "What if it's trying to fatten us up?"

Instantly, Kojiro, Meowth, and Oranguru stopped eating, their faces turning pale.

Gulp—

Kojiro swallowed hard.

"It's not impossible", Kojiro muttered.

"Roo~"

Sitting outside the tree hollow, the Costume Bear hugged its knees, and for the first time, a hint of loneliness appeared on its unchanging face.

Meowth, who had been scared, paused upon hearing the Costume Bear's words.

"What's wrong?"

"Is it going to eat us?"

Musashi and Kojiro became extremely tense, but Meowth's expression turned complex.

"It said: if my child were still here, they would be just as hungry as you, meow."

"Child?"

"It's a mother?!"

Musashi and Kojiro exchanged a glance.

They then recalled how the Costume Bear had held them, how they had slept together at night, and how it had gently patted their heads after feeding them.

Kojiro's expression turned sad.

Even Musashi, who was usually tough, had tears in her eyes and clenched her teeth.

"Damn it! Someone must have stolen the Costume Bear's child!"

Such a strong Pokémon, a regular Pokémon hunter couldn't possibly have taken its child right in front of it.

Kojiro clenched his fists.

"How could anyone make a mother lose her child?!"

"Let's help it, meow?" Meowth suggested.

"Slurp~ Nani!" Oranguru also showed a serious expression for the first time.

Just as the trio made up their minds, the Radiant Bear outside the tree hollow suddenly stood up.

"Roo!"

"It says: Someone's here, meow!" Meowth translated promptly.

Huh?

"Teacher Jinghe?!" Musashi and Kojiro shouted in unison.

Earlier, they had taken advantage of the Radiant Bear's distraction to call Jinghe.

They chose to call Jinghe instead of Satoshi for two reasons: first, Musashi didn't want to beg for mercy in front of Satoshi, and second, they had seen the Martial Bear Master at the "Full Moon Festival" in Lillie Town the day before, leading them to guess that Teacher Jinghe had arrived in Alola.

After all, the Martial Bear Master wasn't a common Pokémon.

The trio suddenly realized what was happening.

"Trouble! Teacher Jinghe might end up fighting the Radiant Bear."

Kojiro hurriedly tried to stand up.

However, the Radiant Bear had dropped so many fruits into the tree hollow that their feet were buried, and they couldn't get up.

Meanwhile, in the forest.

In the dim forest, the Nightshade Lanterns gradually emitted a faint light. The young hatchling dragons, sensing something, fluttered their wings and flew up into the sky.

Jinghe, walking through the forest guided by his navigation, suddenly felt an inexplicable pressure.

"Wow."

He guessed the Radiant Bear must be approaching. "This pressure is more intense than some Mythical Beasts."

"Gengar?"

Gengar also emerged from the shadows.

Even the usually playful purple little fat guy became serious and stern at this moment.

Snap—

A branch suddenly broke.

A furry figure appeared silently under a nearby tree, standing still and watching him.

Jinghe was inwardly startled.

When did it appear?

"Awooo!"

"Roo!"

The Glacial Nine-Tails and the Martial Bear Master stepped forward, standing in front of Jinghe and also sensing the immense pressure from the opposite side.

This kind of pressure was something they only felt when facing certain Mythical Beasts.

The Radiant Bear stood silently under the tree, not moving, but slowly raised its arms and smiled, waving at Jinghe and his Pokémon.

Suddenly, Jinghe broke out in a cold sweat.

Don't be fooled by the Radiant Bear's friendly appearance; this was actually a way for it to issue a warning.

If they moved forward now, the Radiant Bear would consider them "enemies."

Remember, even Satoshi, who is at the top of the Pokémon world's "power ceiling", had an expression that instantly changed from a child's to an adult's when facing the Radiant Bear.

"Truly a comedic character in the daily anime, yet a top-tier existence."

Even facing Groudon, Jinghe wasn't this nervous.

At least Groudon's hostility was visible, but the Radiant Bear's expression, as unchanged as a doll's, made it impossible to know when it might suddenly deliver a hook punch.

If that punch landed, it could splatter brains.

Jinghe tried his best to release good intentions with his Waveguide and signaled his Pokémon not to show any hostility.

However.

His Waveguide received no response.

Jinghe: "."

"Roo!"

The Radiant Bear smiled and waved its arms lightly.

Bang!!

A thick tree trunk snapped at the sound.

"Roo!"

Seeing this, the Martial Bear Master exhaled two streams of white vapor and lightly punched the nearby tree trunk.

Bang!!

The tree trunk also snapped.

"Roo! ^^"

The Radiant Bear's smile remained.

Jinghe: "."

He pulled the Glacial Nine-Tails, the Martial Bear Master, and Gengar back slowly and said, "Radiant Bear, don't misunderstand, we have no ill intentions."

However.

The Radiant Bear took a quick step forward, its figure suddenly disappearing.

"Roo!"

The Martial Bear Master tensed, breaking free from Jinghe's hold and standing firm, swinging its fist out!

Bang—

The two bear paws collided suddenly.

Boom!!

In an instant, the ground around them collapsed, and a terrifying gust of wind scattered, toppling nearby trees and shrubs.

"Roo?"

The Radiant Bear's smile slightly faded, showing a hint of surprise.

The Martial Bear Master's face was taut.

The next second.

The Radiant Bear exerted more force.

Bang—

The Martial Bear Master was sent flying, crashing heavily into a tree trunk.

It could take on even the Bursting Muscle Mosquito, but in a sudden burst of strength against the Radiant Bear, it didn't stand a chance?

"Roo!!"

The Martial Bear Master rose up, roaring to the sky, its fighting spirit high.

"Gengar?"

Gengar showed a look of interest, black fog spreading from its body.

The Glacial Nine-Tails exhaled lightly, and the surrounding temperature dropped sharply.

"Roo!"

The Radiant Bear stood still.

It waved its hand lightly at Jinghe and his Pokémon, as if to say, "Come here."

"Is this the Bear God?" Jinghe muttered.

Radiant Bear? (×)

Radiant Bear! (√)

Just as his Pokémon and the Radiant Bear were about to use their full strength, Jinghe suddenly shouted:

"I know where your child is!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end