Chapter 48
After ending the livestream, Mike stretched and looked down at Glameow, who had fallen asleep in his arms without him noticing.
He reached out and gently touched one of her ears.
Glameow’s ear twitched in her sleep, and her spring-shaped tail naturally curled around Mike’s arm.
Mike touched the white fur at the tip of her tail. It felt pleasantly soft.
Perhaps because she had been well cared for lately, Glameow’s fur was no longer as stiff as it had been when they first met.
Cat Pokémon were naturally light sleepers, so Mike’s movements soon woke her.
Glameow looked curiously at him as he played with the tip of her tail.
"Meow?"
[What are you doing?]
"You’re awake?"
Mike smiled and quietly withdrew his hand.
"Go back to sleep. I’ll put the equipment away first."
He stood and began packing up the livestream equipment, taking apart each device before placing everything back into its case and returning it to the backpack.
When Mike finished, he turned toward Glameow.
She was sitting on the blanket with all four paws tucked beneath her body, watching him.
Compared to an ordinary cat, Glameow had a thinner neck and larger ears, but the loaf position made her almost unbearably cute.
Mike put down the backpack, walked over, picked her up, then lifted the blanket and stuffed her underneath.
Ever since realizing that he had a little extra money, Mike had stopped using an ordinary sleeping bag.
Instead, he bought a sleeping mat and a proper blanket.
Gengar could carry everything anyway.
Glameow crawled back out from beneath the blanket, walked unsteadily to the corner of the mat, curled into a ball, and closed her eyes.
Mike let her be.
He only dimmed the lamp, grabbed a bag of snacks, and sat at the entrance of the tent.
It was already dark outside, and the rain had stopped.
The Pokémon deep in the forest began emerging from their shelters and heading straight back to their nests.
Meanwhile, the nocturnal Pokémon were beginning their day.
Mike sat at the tent entrance, eating the snacks he had bought for Gengar while listening to the forest slowly come back to life.
He stared blankly into the darkness.
"Gengar."
Mike called out.
Gengar soon appeared in front of him with Kakuna in his arms.
"Gar?"
[What is it?]
"I ate one of your bags of snacks."
Mike raised the bag in his hand.
Gengar nodded generously.
"Gar—"
[I still have lots. You can eat it!]
Hearing that, Mike reached out and tugged on Gengar’s cheeks.
"You got caught in the rain. Go wash yourself in the river before you catch a cold."
"Gar?"
Gengar looked confused.
[Ghosts don’t catch colds!]
"Kakuna does."
"Gar?"
[Really?]
"Go take a bath. We’re getting ready for bed, and I’m already tired."
Mike yawned.
Gengar nodded, handed his bamboo staff to Mike, then draped a towel over himself.
With body wash, shampoo, Kakuna, and a brush in his arms, he left the campsite.
Mike didn’t know what use Gengar had for shampoo, but he assumed Gengar had found some strange purpose for it.
Gengar soon returned after finishing his bath.
Kakuna had also been thoroughly scrubbed with the brush, leaving his shell so clean that it practically shone.
"Are you and Kakuna sleeping inside the tent tonight, or outside?"
Mike returned the bamboo staff to Gengar.
Gengar accepted it and pointed toward the tree beside the tent.
"Gar—"
[A true swordsman must stand guard at night!]
"I see... Gengar has already become a reliable swordsman and wandering hero now."
The moment Mike praised him, Gengar’s chubby face became serious, and his chest puffed out without him realizing it.
"Gar!"
[Serious face.jpg]
Kakuna blinked.
Mike smiled at him.
"Ever since your battle with Staravia, you’ve been a proper knight too, Kakuna. I’m sure that once you evolve into Beedrill, you’ll become a knight every bit as impressive as Gengar."
Kakuna: [Jiiii~]
"Remember to light a campfire outside later."
Gengar nodded with a stern expression.
Looking at Gengar holding the bamboo staff with Kakuna tucked beneath one arm, Mike felt as though something was missing.
Then he snapped his fingers.
"I know! Gengar, wait here."
Mike turned and walked back to where the bedding was stored.
He picked up a blanket about a meter long.
Grandma had originally made it as a little bedsheet for Growlithe. Mike had no idea how it had ended up in Gengar’s possession.
He returned to Gengar and tied the blanket around his neck—or at least the part of his body that resembled a neck—with a cord, finishing it with a bow.
The simple cape hung down Gengar’s back.
When the wind blew, it fluttered noisily.
Gengar’s eyes widened.
"Where’s your straw hat? Put that on too."
Gengar obediently did as he was told.
Mike studied his outfit for a moment.
"Now go pull up a piece of grass and hold it in your mouth."
Gengar turned and left before soon returning.
He now held a stalk of grass between his teeth, a golden Kakuna beneath one arm, and the green bamboo staff in his other hand.
A pale gray straw hat rested on his head, while the light red blanket fluttered behind him like a cape.
He looked exactly like a wandering Pokémon swordsman!
"Wow! Great Hero Gengar, it’s an honor to meet you. May I take your photograph?"
Gengar gave him a mischievous grin and nodded.
"Gar!"
[Since you asked so sincerely, I suppose I allow it.]
Mike took out his camera, positioned the lamp to provide the right lighting, found the perfect angle, and pressed the shutter.
Under the weak golden light of the lamp, Gengar looked even more like a wandering swordsman who traveled the world helping those in need.
Mike showed him the photograph.
Gengar’s eyes widened.
His breathing grew faster as he pointed at the image with his bamboo staff and stared at Mike.
"Don’t worry. How could I not print such a good picture?"
"When we reach the next city, we’ll have it printed. We’ll send one copy to Grandma and keep another for ourselves."
Gengar nodded firmly.
"All right, the picture is finished."
Mike looked solemnly at him.
"Great Hero Gengar, defender of justice, and brave Sir Kakuna, would the two of you be willing to guard the night and protect the weak Glameow and me?"
Gengar: (ᗜ˰ᗜ)
[Serious face.jpg]
Kakuna: [Blinking.jpg]
"Thank you for your hard work. Do you want to take the costume off?"
Gengar instantly shot out of the tent.
Mike smiled helplessly.
"All right, you can keep it on if you like it. Take it off yourself if it gets uncomfortable."
Seeing how much Gengar treasured the blanket cape reminded Mike of his own childhood.
He used to tie blankets around his neck when he was alone at home and imagine himself as a wandering hero.
Of course, he was always scolded afterward for getting the blanket dirty!
"Well then, good night, Demon King Gengar and Sir Kakuna."
"Gar—"
[Good night, weakling Mike.]
Kakuna: [Jiiii~]
Mike: "???"
’Wait, what did you just call me?’
’Weakling?’
Gengar had already turned and walked away.
Mike sighed, zipped the tent closed, returned to the mat, and crawled beneath the blanket.
He had no idea how many people his livestream had shocked or inspired.
All he knew was that it was already late, and it was time to sleep.
"Good night, Glameow."
"Meow~"
[Good night~]
The lamp switched off, plunging the tent into darkness.
Whoosh~
Blue-purple flames sprang to life outside, driving away the darkness around the tent.
Gengar sat on a tree branch with Kakuna in his arms, telling him another new story about swordsman he imagined.
...
On the other side of the forest, a green figure continued running between the trees.
Sometimes she stopped to ask nearby Pokémon a question.
Then she would quickly set off again.