Chapter 19
Mike followed Professor Rowan into the laboratory and sat down in one of the chairs.
"Here."
Professor Rowan handed him a cup of hot tea.
"Thank you."
Mike took a few sips, and the warmth slowly spread through his tired body.
"Ahh... I finally feel alive again."
Professor Rowan poured himself a cup and sat nearby.
"Life in the wild was harder than you expected?"
"Yeah, it was pretty tiring." Mike smiled as he thought back over the last few days. "But it was also fun. I got to see all kinds of cute Pokémon, and sometimes they even joined us for games."
Professor Rowan nodded, then glanced at the briefcase.
"Wait here for a moment. I need to put these research papers back in order."
He stood and picked up the case.
"You’re also free to explore the laboratory with Gengar and Weedle. I shouldn’t take long."
Mike looked at Gengar, then turned back to the professor.
"Since you’re busy, how about we find a hotel first? We badly need a shower, a proper meal, and a good night’s sleep."
He scratched his messy hair.
"We can look around Sandgem Town and buy anything we’re missing. Then we’ll visit again tomorrow when you have more time."
"That’s fine." Professor Rowan nodded. "I’ll be at the laboratory all day tomorrow. Call me when you arrive."
He pulled out his phone.
"What’s your number? I’ll save it."
Mike quickly took out his Rotom Phone.
Professor Rowan stared at the device floating beside him.
"A Rotom Phone? Isn’t that a new model from Alola?"
"Is it?"
Mike looked at the phone in surprise.
"You didn’t know?" Professor Rowan asked. "They haven’t been on the market for long, and only a small number have been sold. They’re still extremely expensive. It may take several years before they become common."
Mike looked at the floating phone again.
’No wonder it cost so much.’
Apparently, Gholdengo Is Number One was ultra rich!
After exchanging numbers, Mike said goodbye to Professor Rowan and left the laboratory with Gengar and Weedle.
As they stepped onto the busy streets of Sandgem Town, Mike stretched and let out a long, happy groan.
"Ahhh~"
He scratched his head.
"First, we’ll find somewhere to stay and drop off our stuff. Then we’ll take a bath, eat until we’re full, and explore the town."
"Gar—"
[Sounds good.]
"Wee—"
[Okay.]
Mike found a comfortable-looking hotel and booked a room.
Since he might be staying in Sandgem Town for a while, he arranged to pay the full bill when he checked out.
The moment they entered the room, Mike rushed straight into the bathroom and sank into the bathtub.
The hot water felt amazing against his tired body.
Gengar stood under the shower nearby, scrubbing himself with a towel.
His whole body was covered in foam, turning the large purple ghost into an even larger white blob.
Soft chewing sounds came from the bedroom.
Mike and Gengar looked at each other.
They both knew exactly what was happening.
Gengar rinsed off the foam and floated out of the bathroom.
"Wee?"
[What are you doing?]
A few moments later, Gengar returned with Weedle in his arms and dropped him straight into Mike’s bathtub.
Splash!
Weedle immediately struggled to climb out, but Mike pushed him back down with one hand.
"Wee!"
[Bug Pokémon don’t need baths!]
"Other Bug Pokémon can do whatever they want. Mine are taking baths!"
Mike squeezed some soap onto Weedle and began scrubbing.
Once Weedle was covered in foam, Mike handed him to Gengar.
Weedle tried to escape over and over again, but every strand of silk he fired was quickly burned away by Gengar’s Will-O-Wisp.
There was no escape.
...
"Ahh... That was perfect."
Mike stepped out of the bathroom feeling like a new person.
"I haven’t had a bath that good in ages."
After drying his hair, he looked toward Gengar and Weedle, who were already lying on the bed.
"Stop resting. We’re going out to eat."
"Gar—"
[Coming.]
"Wee—"
[Coming.]
...
Mike and Gengar attacked dinner as though the restaurant had personally offended them.
By the time they finished, both of them were leaning back in their seats and rubbing their stomachs.
"I’m so full..."
"Gar—"
[Me too... Burp...]
"Let’s rest for a few minutes. Then I’ll pay, and we can walk around town to help digest all this."
The moment Mike mentioned paying, Gengar shot upright.
"Gar!"
[I’ll pay!]
Mike stared at him.
"You?"
Then he smiled.
"Sure. Here, take my phone."
Mike opened the payment code and held out the Rotom Phone.
Online payments were common in this world, so most stores could scan the code directly.
Gengar pushed the phone back with one chubby hand.
"Gar!"
[I don’t need your money. I have my own!]
He proudly pulled out the allowance Mike had given him and waved it in the air.
Mike could not help smiling.
The little guy still remembered what he had promised beside the lake.
He had said that when they reached Sandgem Town, he would buy Mike something good to eat.
Apparently afraid that Mike would stop him, Gengar hurried toward the counter before Mike could say anything.
Mike shook his head with a helpless smile.
Then he picked up Weedle, who was lying across the chair.
The moment Mike felt the weight in his arms, his eyes narrowed.
"Did you get even heavier?"
Weedle wriggled defensively.
"Wee."
[No.]
"Don’t lie. I can tell the second I pick you up."
"Wee—"
[The leaves are too good...]
"If they taste good, that’s fine. They’re good for you anyway."
Mike poked Weedle’s round belly.
"But stop eating when you’re full. I’m not letting you knock yourself out again."
Weedle closed his eyes and gave a serious nod.
A moment later, Gengar floated back with his head lowered.
Mike noticed his sad expression and frowned.
"What happened?"
Gengar held up the money in his hands.
"Gar..."
[They said I don’t have enough...]
"How much are you missing?"
"Gar..."
[I don’t know...]
"It’s okay. I’ll pay the rest."
Mike raised his hand, and a server quickly came over.
"Can we get the bill?"
The server nodded, returned to the counter, and brought back a payment scanner.
Mike let it scan the code on his Rotom Phone.
He stared at the total.
Over ₽800 for one meal.
No wonder Gengar’s money had not been enough.
...
After leaving the restaurant, Mike glanced at Gengar.
The Ghost-type was still floating beside him with his head down.
Mike blinked, then suddenly looked toward a nearby food stall.
"Oh? Candied Berry skewers?"
He placed a hand against his cheek and spoke loudly enough for Gengar to hear.
"I haven’t eaten one of those in ages. It sure would be nice if someone suddenly bought one for me."
Mike sighed dramatically.
"I’d probably be happy for the rest of the day. Too bad no one wants to—"
A candied Berry skewer suddenly appeared in front of his face.
Mike turned.
Gengar was smiling brightly at him.
"Gar—"
[Hehe. Here. I bought it for you.]
Mike happily accepted the skewer and took a deep breath before biting into the top Berry.
The sugar coating was painfully sweet.
Then it melted, revealing a sharp, sour taste beneath it.
Mike’s face nearly folded in half.
After spitting out the seed, he held the skewer toward Gengar.
"Here, Gengar. Try one."
Gengar quickly shook his head.
"Gar—"
[No. It’s for you. You eat it.]
Mike looked into Gengar’s hopeful eyes.
"Gengar, did you want to buy me something tasty?"
"Gar—"
[Yeah.]
"Then I want to share something tasty with you too."
Mike smiled softly.
"If you don’t eat one, I’ll be sad."
Gengar thought about it for a moment before accepting the skewer.
He bit off one of the Berries and slowly chewed it.
Mike watched his relaxed expression with confusion.
"Is it actually good?"
"Gar—"
[Yeah. It’s sweet and sour.]
Mike stared at him.
Gengar really did seem to like it.
"Then you can finish the rest."
"Gar—"
[But I bought it for you...]
Gengar held the skewer back toward him.
"You can buy me something else tonight."
Gengar paused, then nodded happily.
"Gar—"
[That works!]