Chapter 223: Baby Dragon Cuddles

"Ice Beam!"

"Meow-roar!"

The angry Delcatty let out a piercing howl, ice-blue lightning flickering in its mouth as it shot toward Gulpin.

But the latter had long been prepared, activating Electromagnetism to float upward and dodge.

"Chase it!"

Shunsuke's voice kept Delcatty adjusting the Ice Beam's direction; the ice-blue lightning struck the ground, then moved upward, yet it never managed to touch the nimble Gulpin, only forming a brilliant giant ice flower in vain.

"Use the ice flower as a stepping board! Ambush!"

Baimu waved his hand and shouted.

A stepping board?

Shunsuke froze for a moment, only to see Gulpin float to the front of the ice flower and stomp hard with its right foot!

Boom!

The ice flower suddenly shattered into countless ice shards, and Gulpin, borrowing the force, transformed into a pitch-black afterimage; the full-burst speed left Shunsuke and Delcatty completely unable to see where their opponent was.

"Hidden Power!"

He hurriedly shouted, and Delcatty pressed its body down as countless fist-sized light orbs circled around it.

But the next instant, Shunsuke felt a sudden blinding flash before his eyes, then a violent blur; the wind whistled sharply past his ears, and a thud of something falling came from behind him.

He turned his head to look, and saw at once that his Delcatty was sprawled not far away, covered in dust, struggling to stand up.

It had actually been knocked flying that easily.

What terrifying power!

Shunsuke couldn't help but look at Gulpin with a face full of wonder; the more minute the details, the more a Pokémon's strength showed.

"Meow!" Delcatty let out a low cry, ignoring the dust and the throbbing pain covering its body, and ran back into the field.

Although it had taken a direct hit from the ambush, it still barely had the ability to keep fighting.

However.

"That's enough."

Baimu across the way raised his hand and called a timely halt.

One of them was planning to go capture the boss Marill, the other was heading to Petalburg Woods toward the next city; wasting too much of their Pokémon's energy would not be good.

After all, this wasn't a game where you could just tap-tap at a Pokémon Center and restore their health.

"Alright."

Shunsuke saw that Delcatty's condition really wasn't great, and that in its Taunt state it had also lost its variation moves as its main method; winning against Gulpin would basically be very difficult, so he gave up.

The two trainers dropped their guard, and the two Pokémon, sensing the shift in atmosphere, relaxed along with them.

"Good work, Gulpin."

Baimu patted Gulpin's head; the latter turned its head to show its resistance, yet a smug smile appeared on its face.

"Gulpin!"

As expected, I'm the best!

"Go back to your Poké Ball and rest." He recalled Gulpin.

Not far away.

Delcatty spun its body like a top, scattering dust all over the place, making Shunsuke cough repeatedly. But even so, plenty of dirty dust still clung to its body.

This gave it, a relatively cleanliness-loving Pokémon, a terrible expression.

"The brush is in the car, I'll go get it." Shunsuke told Delcatty to wait, and Baimu stepped forward, saying: "I have one right here, I'll lend it to you."

As a not-so-professional Pokémon breeder, grooming tools like a bristle brush were naturally something he always kept on hand.

"Thanks!"

Shunsuke reached out and grabbed it, but the next second he glanced at Baimu, then at the bristle brush in his hand, and let go, saying: "How about... you do it?"

"I couldn't possibly impose."

The latter smiled, crouched down beside Delcatty, and facing its wary expression, waved the bristle brush. "Need me to help you?"

"... Meow?"

Delcatty glanced at the somewhat helpless-looking Shunsuke, and after receiving his nod of approval, gave a slight nod.

Baimu then began grooming its fur.

To become an excellent Pokémon breeder, one must come into contact with all kinds of Pokémon often.

This was the profound truth that Brock-sensei had taught Baimu.

So, as Brock's half-student, he never let any opportunity to interact with Pokémon slip by; as for petting a cat... that was just a bonus.

Really just a bonus.

The dust was gradually cleaned away, and glossy fur returned to Delcatty's body.

Baimu even applied a bit of leave-in essential oil for shine and smoothness; when a light breeze blew, Delcatty's fur rippled like waves.

Shunsuke was stunned.

"How are you so skilled at this!"

"It's a hobby. I hope to become a qualified Pokémon breeder myself." He smiled, feeling a not-too-light, not-too-heavy pressure on his thigh, looked down, and sure enough, Delcatty had comfortably started kneading.

A low purring sound also escaped its mouth uncontrollably.

"Furry creatures really are adorable regardless of sex."

Baimu thought to himself, and casually glanced toward Delcatty's rear.

There wasn't even a bell.

Truly worthy of being the miraculous creatures that are oviparous no matter the breed.

"Cat?"

Sensing a burning gaze circling around its rear, the Graceful Cat warily raised its head, found nothing, and resumed kneading.

——

Officially parted ways with Junshu.

The latter seemed to think he had a particular fondness for the Graceful Cat, and advised him he could start raising one from its regressed tail kitten stage.

But in reality, All Baimu was just satisfying a passing itch.

Left Orange Bloom City.

The next stop, Orange Bloom Forest, was right before his eyes.

"Today we're officially camping out in the wild — excited?"

He rubbed the Single-Headed Dragon's cheeks.

"Mo Nao~"

The Single-Headed Dragon replied with a tender cry; it regretted being unable to eat its trainer's hand while walking, but being able to stroll around together was also quite nice.

"You're too close — back off a little… forget it, let's try a vest and a leash?"

All Baimu wanted the Single-Headed Dragon to not stay so close to him, but as a "blind dragon," if it didn't press against its trainer to feel its presence, the Single-Headed Dragon would feel terribly lonely.

Its constant desire to eat his hand was also a way of keeping the trainer's scent in its heart at all times.

But without a doubt, this made it inconvenient to move together.

So All Baimu bought a vest-style leash, using a dog-walking method to help the Single-Headed Dragon move in coordination — the tugging motion also helped it sense his presence—

Good idea.

In practice, it was rather difficult.

The Single-Headed Dragon wasn't the type to lunge like a husky-dragon; at worst it just chewed through more wood while teething, and even with the leash on it still wanted to press against its trainer.

"…Nothing to be done, you're so stubborn."

All Baimu said helplessly. If the Single-Headed Dragon weren't so big, he'd actually prefer to carry it on his back like a Galarian Sun Coral.

But it's already 1.2 meters tall now! Too well-nourished, it shot up way too fast!

"Mo Nao~"

The Single-Headed Dragon nuzzled All Baimu's trouser leg, then suddenly let out a hoarse cry.

The latter tugged the leash, and it immediately fell silent.

Walked forward five minutes.

"Mo Nao!"

Tugged the leash.

Walked another five minutes.

"Mo Nao!"

"What sin did I commit in a past life?" All Baimu's mouth twitched, and he could only keep indulging this little fellow.

It's still young — needing its trainer's affection is perfectly normal.