Chapter 33
After sleeping peacefully until noon, Mike sat against the headboard in a daze.
"Gar?"
[What are you doing?]
Gengar floated to the bedside with Weedle in his arms and tilted his head curiously.
Mike came back to his senses, scratched his messy hair, and said, "Nothing. I slept too long, so my head’s still a little foggy. Can you bring me my phone?"
Gengar nodded, then lifted Weedle and pointed his head toward the phone charging nearby.
A strand of silk shot out as the phone and its charger were pulled over together.
"...Have you really become this lazy?"
"Gar—"
[I’m helping Weedle train his String Shot!]
"You always have an excuse. Go get ready! We’re heading out for lunch soon."
"Gar—"
[Okay—]
Gengar carried Weedle away while Mike turned on his phone and opened Pokétube to check how the video was doing.
Although he had spent the entire night recording the narration, he still wasn’t sure whether people in this world would enjoy that kind of video.
After opening the page, Mike immediately closed his eyes and covered the screen with his hand.
Then he slowly opened his eyes and carefully lowered his palm.
It felt like checking the results of an important exam.
More than four hundred thousand views!
Mike’s eyes widened.
"That many?"
The system only counted a view if someone watched the entire video without skipping ahead.
That was why Mike usually kept his videos short.
This was the first time he had uploaded one that lasted more than two hours.
More than four hundred thousand people had watched the whole thing without skipping?
Did that many people really enjoy it?
Curious, Mike opened the comments.
The first one he saw came from an account named Cynthia.
[Cynthia: Your understanding of Bug-type Pokémon is impressive, and the strategies are useful for beginner Trainers. I look forward to battling you.]
The fans had pushed the comment all the way to the top.
Mike’s mouth twitched.
’Me? Battle Cynthia? Seriously?’
He continued scrolling.
The second comment came from Bug Types Are the Coolest!
[Bug Types Are the Coolest: His understanding of Bug-type Pokémon is already better than mine. What he said at the end deeply moved me. I still remember why I first fell in love with Bug-type Pokémon. It began when...]
’Hey, who the hell are you? Who asked for your life story?’
Mike opened the profile.
The familiar sleeveless shirt, familiar hair, and familiar face immediately appeared.
’Oh, so it’s you.’
’Aaron, Sinnoh’s weakest Elite Four member.’
He kept scrolling and found a comment from someone named I Don’t Want Overtime.
[I Don’t Want Overtime: Mike has already explained the behavior of these Bug-type Pokémon very clearly. Please do not let your guard down if you encounter them in the wild! If you face danger, follow the methods shown in this video. Lastly, please take your own safety seriously while traveling. There are many roads in life, but safety comes first.]
’That username... and that way of speaking...’
’Could it be you?’
’The creator of that legendary scene?’
Mike opened the profile.
Sure enough, it was Lucian.
The rest were mostly comments from ordinary viewers.
Two groups were arguing especially fiercely.
One side believed Bug-type Pokémon were simply too weak, and investing resources in them early was no different from throwing money away.
The other side thought Mike made a lot of sense.
Bug types could help Trainers through the early stages of their journeys, and some of them were powerful in their own right.
Neither side was willing to back down.
Eventually, one viewer suggested that Mike demonstrate the team in Poké Battle, and the argument finally calmed down for the moment.
’Poké Battle?’
Mike remembered that it was an online Pokémon battle simulator created by Devon Corporation.
Many Trainers used it to test new team combinations.
He had planned to keep scrolling, but more and more people began tagging him.
In the end, he had no choice but to leave a comment.
[Gengar Stole My Drumstick: I don’t have the equipment or an account, and I’m currently traveling. I can’t use Poké Battle for now.]
Just as Mike was about to close PokéVid, he received a private message.
It was short and direct.
[Gholdengo Is Number One: Your current address, now.]
[Mike: ???]
’Are you living in the comments section?’
Mike believed free sponsorship should never be refused, so he sent over his current address.
[Gholdengo Is Number One: Wait there. It’ll arrive soon.]
After that, the account went offline.
’Is this how rich people do things?’
’They just buy something the moment they hear about it?’
Mike shook his head.
With Gengar urging him to hurry, he got out of bed, brushed his teeth, and took the two Pokémon out for lunch.
...
After lunch, Mike brought food to the Pokémon Center as usual.
On the way, he spotted a familiar boy.
Mike looked at his back, smiled, and walked over to pat him on the shoulder.
The boy turned around and stared curiously at Mike, Gengar, and the familiar bamboo staff in Gengar’s hand.
"It’s you!"
The Bug Catcher recognized them.
Mike nodded and teased him, "Why aren’t you catching bugs today? I’m still waiting for you to save up your allowance and challenge me again."
The boy looked at Weedle resting on Gengar’s head, then lowered his gaze.
"I’m not catching bugs anymore."
He paused.
"I never will again."
After saying that, the Bug Catcher turned and ran away.
Mike watched him leave, feeling confused.
’Is he in a bad mood?’
’Or did he lose another battle?’
Mike didn’t think much more about it. In his previous life, he had defeated so many Bug Catchers in the games that he couldn’t even remember the number.
He continued to the Pokémon Center.
After giving lunch to Nurse Joy and Chansey, he stood outside Glameow’s room for a while and watched her resting on the bed before returning to the front desk.
"How is Glameow’s leg?" Mike asked Nurse Joy. "It looked like she could stand for a short time now."
Nurse Joy opened the food container and replied, "Chansey and I are confused too."
"Her injury was so serious that even after recovering, she should have been left with some lasting damage. But over the past few days, we’ve found that not only is her leg healing without any problems, it’s recovering exceptionally well."
Nurse Joy took a bite of food, looking very satisfied.
Then she smiled at Mike.
"Perhaps all your care and concern helped her grow new flesh."
Mike grinned.
"That’s good, then."
He stood.
"I’ll be going now, Nurse Joy. I’ll come back at dinner. I need to visit Professor Rowan’s laboratory first."
"All right. Oh, and tonight, you only need to bring food for Chansey."
"Got it."
Mike walked down the road with Gengar and Weedle.
The sun was blazing, but with Gengar nearby, the heat wasn’t too uncomfortable.
"That’s really great, isn’t it, Gengar?"
"Gar?"
[What is?]
"Glameow will be able to run around freely again."
"Gar—"
[That’s great!]
...
On the way to Professor Rowan’s laboratory, Mike saw the Bug Catcher again.
The boy was standing in front of two other boys, arguing about something.
Unable to resist his curiosity, Mike walked closer.
"Well, look who it is," one of the boys said with his hands in his pockets and a mocking smile. "The guy who lost to me the day before yesterday."
"Where are your bugs? Why aren’t you running around challenging people today?"
The boy laughed.
"What’s wrong? Run out of allowance? Want me to lend you some? Hahaha!"
"You’re always saying Bug-type Pokémon are strong, but you couldn’t even beat me."
"Elite Four Aaron said Bug-type Pokémon are strong!" the Bug Catcher argued.
"And the creator of The Wide World of Pokémon said the same thing!"
"The Wide World of Pokémon?" the other boy scoffed. "You actually believe some video creator?"
"If Bug-type Pokémon were really that strong, why do so few Trainers use them?"
The Bug Catcher clenched his fists.
"Let me guess," the second boy said. "You haven’t won a single battle, have you?"
The Bug Catcher remained silent.
"Looks like you listened to me and sold those Bug-type Pokémon."
The first boy grinned.
"Isn’t that better? You can use the money to buy other Pokémon. Bug types are so weak that I wouldn’t take one even if someone gave it to me."
The Bug Catcher kept his head down, his shoulders trembling.
The two boys continued mocking him until he finally turned and ran away with his head lowered.
He had barely taken two steps when he crashed into someone.
"I’m sorry! I’m sorry!"
"It’s all right."
Hearing the familiar voice, the Bug Catcher looked up.
Through tear-filled eyes, he saw a gentle face.
It was Mike.
"You weren’t wrong," Mike said, reaching out to pat his head. "Bug-type Pokémon can be very strong."
"You don’t have to comfort me."
The boy lowered his gaze.
"I already know. Bug-type Pokémon are exactly like they said."
"Weak."
"Completely useless."
The boy in front of Mike was completely different from the one who had confidently declared that he would defeat him before.
’Are Bug-type Pokémon really weak?’
"Wee!"
Weedle jumped down from Gengar’s head and landed in front of the two boys.
His gaze was firm as he issued a challenge!
[Battle me, you bullies!]
Mike looked at Weedle’s determined expression, then at the two startled boys.
Finally, he turned back to the Bug Catcher and smiled.
"Watch carefully."
The boy stared at him in confusion.
Mike walked past him and stopped in front of the two boys.
"Want to battle?"
He pointed at the Bug Catcher.
"We’ll wager his allowance."
"If I win, you return his money and apologize to him."
"If I lose, I’ll pay you twice as much."
"You can only use Weedle," one of the boys said.
"Fine."
In the distance, Professor Rowan stopped with Snivy beside him.
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