Chapter 168: Water Curtain Cave
The video continued playing.
Miori stood where she was, staring directly at Zeraora as it stared back at her.
"Fine. You’re absolutely determined to make me come with you, aren’t you?"
Miori planted her hands on her hips.
Zeraora nodded.
"All right, then."
Miori tilted her head and thought for a moment.
"I wouldn’t know how to explain things if I simply went back now anyway. Besides, I’m curious about where you intend to take these Pokémon."
Miori and Zeraora returned to the trucks and released all the imprisoned Pokémon.
There were three Weavile, two Lairon, four Sandshrew, and one Zweilous.
"Everyone."
Miori clapped her hands.
"Congratulations. You’re free."
"However, to prevent you from being captured again..."
She raised one finger.
"It would be best for all of you to come with me. That big yellow cat up ahead will take us somewhere safe."
Zeraora released a low growl in the distance.
Zweilous’s left head had already regained consciousness, but it instinctively shrank back when it saw Miori.
"Don’t be afraid."
Miori smiled.
"As long as you behave, I won’t hit you again."
Both of Zweilous’s heads nodded frantically before obediently following her.
The remaining Pokémon exchanged glances and voluntarily fell into line behind Zweilous.
After traveling for approximately ten minutes, Zeraora led the group into a hidden valley.
A waterfall stood across the valley’s entrance, its thunderous roar echoing through the surroundings.
Zeraora walked directly toward the waterfall—
And passed straight through it.
Miori stood before the falling water, the corner of her mouth twitching.
"...A Water Curtain Cave?"
Emolga poked her cheek with one paw.
"Emolga?"
"I know we’re supposed to follow it inside."
Miori took a deep breath.
"But what about my hairstyle? And my clothes?"
Emolga rolled its eyes, jumped out of her arms, and flew into the waterfall first.
"Fine, fine. Since all of you have already gone inside..."
Resigning herself to her fate, Miori closed her eyes and plunged headfirst through the waterfall.
The icy mountain water instantly soaked her to the bone.
By the time she emerged on the other side, she looked like a drowned rat.
Miori wiped the water from her face and opened her eyes.
Behind the waterfall lay an enormous cavern.
Natural fissures stretched across the ceiling, allowing sunlight to pour through and illuminate the lake at the center of the cave.
Pokémon surrounded the lake.
More precisely—
They were all injured Pokémon.
An Arcanine’s left foreleg was wrapped in filthy bandages. The blood that had seeped through them had already turned dark red.
Three Petilil huddled together, obvious abrasions visible along the edges of their leaves.
There were also seven or eight Deerling, two Helioptile, and a group of Golbat with dull fur and tears across their wings.
When the Pokémon saw Zeraora return, they all raised their heads, their eyes lighting up.
Zeraora lifted one paw and pointed toward Miori.
Every Pokémon immediately turned to look at her in unison.
"So this is why you insisted on bringing me here."
Miori looked at Zeraora and rubbed her forehead.
"Fine. I can’t simply leave all these Pokémon untreated."
[VIP Chat Group]
[May]: So Zeraora brought Miori here because it wanted her to treat these Pokémon.
[Professor Juniper]: Treating so many Pokémon at once would require a very high level of medical knowledge and physical stamina from a Trainer.
[Nurse Joy]: I don’t believe her medical knowledge will be a problem. As a professional Pokémon doctor, I would say Miori’s treatment skills are superior to those of most trainee Nurse Joys.
[Professor Oak]: Her technique is indeed highly professional, and she also understands how to soothe a Pokémon’s emotions.
[Professor Birch]: Exactly. Once the other Pokémon see their companions being treated, their wariness toward Miori will naturally lessen as well.
[Gary]: So that must be another reason Zeraora brought her here. Miori possesses a certain quality that... makes Pokémon trust her.
[Lance]: I believe such a quality is more valuable than most special powers.
[Flint]: You’re all right, but I still think Miori is far too much of a wage slave. No matter where she goes, she can’t escape being worked to the bone.
[Volkner]: Is this the curse of possessing the ultimate wage-slave physique?
[Skyla]: This is all Elesa’s fault!
[Elesa]: Why are you blaming everything on me? Asher is involved too!
[Skyla]: Your husband is naturally yours to criticize. I still understand that much etiquette!
[Elesa]: ...He isn’t my husband!
[Diantha]: Take a screenshot! Once this episode ends, we’re going to see something entertaining!
[Skyla]: Got it! Sister, that technique of yours is incredibly effective. Do you have any more?
[Diantha]: Of course. I wrote a book titled One Thousand Ways to Tease Cynthia. I’ll send it to you privately later!
[Cynthia]: Diantha, are you at home or on the film set? I’ll bring you some dessert.
[Diantha]: Hehe, Cynthia, I’m not that foolish~
[Cynthia]: ...
The video continued playing.
Miori spent three full hours performing basic examinations on every Pokémon in the cavern.
After examining the final Sandshrew, she straightened her back and stretched her aching legs.
"To summarize..."
She took out a small notebook.
"Arcanine’s infected wound requires antibiotics. The tears along Petilil’s leaves require a specialized herbal dressing. The damaged frills on Helioptile need a regenerative spray, and the splits in Golbat’s wings need to be immobilized with splints."
She closed the notebook and looked toward Zeraora.
"The medicine I’m carrying can only provide emergency treatment. To ensure they recover completely, the best option would be to take them to a Pokémon Center. The treatment facilities there are far better than anything available here."
Zeraora’s ears twitched before it shook its head.
It pointed toward the cavern entrance, then toward the injured Pokémon, and finally toward itself.
Miori understood.
Zeraora had rescued every one of these Pokémon individually.
Every one of them had previously been captured and harmed by humans.
Zeraora didn’t trust humanity.
With one exception—
Miori.
Left with no other choice, Miori began organizing her backpack.
"Fine. You have your reasons."
"Let’s do this, then. I’ll go out and buy the necessary medicine. You stay here and protect them."
Zeraora looked toward the injured Pokémon nearby before nodding.
"I’ll be back soon. None of you wander off."
Miori waved before plunging headfirst through the waterfall.
Water sprayed everywhere.
Three seconds later, Miori’s anguished scream came from outside the cave:
"Aaah! My clothes are soaked again!!!"