Chapter 35
For the next few days, Mike continued learning under Professor Rowan.
Professor Rowan truly deserved his reputation as one of the leading figures in Pokémon research.
Mike learned a great deal from him about Pokémon evolution.
One day, after Mike and Gengar delivered lunch to Glameow, Nurse Joy, and Chansey as usual, he found a photography shop and printed the pictures he had carefully selected.
He also bought a photo album and arranged the pictures inside in order.
There were 108 photographs in total.
Some showed Mike with Gengar, Weedle, and Kakuna.
There were even pictures of Glameow and Snivy, along with many wild Pokémon he had photographed during his journey.
Mike suddenly remembered that he had also promised Officer Jenny he would send back some of the Pokémon pictures he took, so he prepared another album especially for her.
Once the photographs were ready, Mike found a delivery company and mailed the albums back to Twinleaf Town.
Officer Jenny could bring Grandma’s album to her when it arrived.
After filling in the address and paying the delivery fee, Mike headed toward Professor Rowan’s laboratory with Gengar and Kakuna.
He had already stayed in Sandgem Town for quite a while.
Nurse Joy had said that Glameow could be discharged tomorrow.
Once he picked her up, it would be time for Mike and his Pokémon to leave Sandgem Town and continue their journey.
That was why he wanted to tell Professor Rowan today.
After all, the professor had taken good care of him during his stay.
...
When Mike arrived at the laboratory, he found Professor Rowan holding another livestream question-and-answer session.
Mike greeted the assistant standing nearby with a smile, then skillfully put on his white coat.
Ever since Mike helped Professor Rowan register an account two days ago, the professor had started livestreaming whenever he had free time to answer questions from Trainers.
Mike went to the laboratory’s backyard and observed the Pokémon there while recording footage of them playing with his camera.
It was worth mentioning that Demon King Gengar had needed only a few days to become someone every Pokémon in the laboratory feared.
Whenever Gengar appeared, there usually wasn’t another Pokémon anywhere nearby.
"See? I told you not to prank everyone all the time, but you wouldn’t listen. Now no one wants to play with you."
Mike looked at Gengar, who had Kakuna balanced on his head.
Gengar turned around and made a face at him before heading toward the forest alone with Kakuna on his head and the thin bamboo staff in his hand.
Professor Rowan’s laboratory grounds were not as enormous as Professor Oak’s, but compared to most Pokémon professors, they were still very large.
Almost everything within sight belonged to the laboratory’s backyard.
Gengar entered the forest and swung his bamboo staff at the wildflowers and grass along the path, cutting off their tops.
"Gar—"
[He was the one who gave me the idea, and now he’s blaming me for pranking everyone!]
Gengar grumbled while practicing his swordsmanship.
When he reached a large rock, he lifted Kakuna off his head and sat down.
He placed the bamboo staff beside him, swung his short legs back and forth, and stared blankly into space.
When he stopped paying attention, Kakuna slipped from his lap and fell to the ground.
Gengar snapped out of his daze and looked down.
Kakuna’s body was covered in a glossy shell that reflected the light.
"Gar?"
Gengar jumped down from the rock and tapped Kakuna’s shell.
Clang, clang.
His red eyes shifted from side to side before a smile appeared on his face.
He placed Kakuna upright on the rock and whispered a long explanation into his ear.
Kakuna blinked.
Then his gaze became firm as his body began to harden.
Seeing this, Gengar picked up the bamboo staff beside him.
Clang!
...
"Where’s Gengar? Why hasn’t he been bothering the other Pokémon today?"
Professor Rowan’s voice came from behind Mike.
He walked over and looked at the footage the drone was sending back to the tablet.
"Are you recording another video?"
"Yes. We’re planning to leave Sandgem Town tomorrow and head somewhere new."
Mike kept watching the screen.
"I came to say goodbye today and record a little more footage while I’m here."
"You’re leaving tomorrow?"
Professor Rowan sounded surprised.
Mike nodded.
"I’ve already been in Sandgem Town for a week. It’s about time I continued my journey."
"Has it really been that long?"
Professor Rowan stroked his mustache.
"All right, then."
He did not try to make Mike stay.
From the beginning, Mike had only remained as his temporary assistant.
"Professor, how about we all have dinner together tonight?" Mike suggested. "I’ll cook for everyone."
"You know how to cook?"
Professor Rowan looked curious.
"To be honest, I’m the reason Gengar got that build."
Professor Rowan recalled Gengar’s sturdy, round body and nodded.
"All right. I’ll look forward to it."
"Where should we eat? Would the laboratory backyard be fine?"
"Of course."
Mike nodded.
"I was planning to cook here anyway. That way, the other Pokémon can eat some too."
"Good. The laboratory will provide the ingredients, then. You can handle the cooking for everyone."
"No problem."
Mike glanced at the sky and recalled the drone.
"You’re done filming?"
"Yes. I need to find Gengar first and make him help me."
"Then let’s go together."
Mike and Professor Rowan entered the forest.
They soon spotted Gengar.
When they walked closer, both of them stopped.
Gengar was holding the bamboo staff and repeatedly striking Kakuna with it.
Each time Kakuna was hit, his body merely rocked back and forth before returning upright on the rock.
He looked like a wobbling toy!
"What are you two doing?" Mike asked.
Gengar turned around and saw Mike and Professor Rowan.
He floated over while grinning.
"Gar—"
[Kakuna and I are practicing swordsmanship.]
"Practicing swordsmanship? How?"
To satisfy Mike’s curiosity, Gengar floated back in front of Kakuna and swung the bamboo staff down at him.
Under the fierce strikes, Kakuna’s body rocked back and forth without falling.
"That’s... Harden," Professor Rowan said, recognizing the move.
Mike stared at Gengar.
"So your sword practice is making Kakuna use Harden while you hit him with a bamboo stick?"
"Gar—"
[Yeah! It’s fun. Do you want to try?]
Gengar generously offered Mike the bamboo staff.
Mike looked at it, then at Kakuna standing on the rock.
After hesitating for a moment, he accepted it and walked over.
"Kakuna, use Harden."
Kakuna blinked, and his shell became even harder.
Mike swung the bamboo staff with all his strength, the staff cut through the air with a sharp sound and Kakuna was sent flying and crashed into a tree!
Mike: "!!!"
Gengar: "Σ(゚∀゚ノ)ノ"
Kakuna rolled several times across the ground before stopping on his back and staring at the blue sky.
Kakuna: "???"
"GAR!"
[LIL BRO, DON’T DIE!]
Gengar immediately floated over, picked Kakuna up, and found him blinking back at him.
He sighed in relief.
’That scared me to death.’
Seeing that Kakuna was fine, Mike also relaxed.
Gengar placed Kakuna upright on the rock again and looked at Mike.
"Gar?"
[Do you want to keep playing?]
Mike shook his head and handed the bamboo staff back.
"No. That nearly scared me to death. Be careful okay."
"Gar—"
[Okay—]
"Actually, stop playing. Come help me. We’re making something delicious tonight."
"Gar!"
[Something delicious?! Let’s go! I’ll help right now!]
Gengar grabbed Mike’s hand and tried to drag him away.
When he couldn’t move Mike, he lay flat in the air and kicked both legs behind him, his round face turning red from the effort.
"Stop pulling me. I’m coming."
Mike followed Gengar out of the forest.
Kakuna remained standing alone on the rock.
Kakuna: "???"
...
"Wait."
Mike’s voice came from farther away.
"Gengar, where’s Kakuna? What about your little brother?"
"Gar?!"
Σ(゚∀゚ノ)ノ
[I forgot him!]
Gengar hurried back, picked Kakuna up, and chased after Mike.
Kakuna: "..."
’You’re bullying me because I can’t walk, talk, or even eat!’
’This is outrageous!’
(*`д´)