Chapter 352: Cat-Rearing Manual

One of the big reasons Lei Gong agreed to travel together.

Perhaps it was because he had never once taken out a Poké Ball, attempting to catch it.

The Ho-Oh Guard has always been the target of pursuit by many trainers, and they often accept provocation from trainers, using actual combat power to shatter their delusions.

Leaving behind a fleeting figure before vanishing from sight.

Overall.

Absolutely no allowing it to crave the body.

Baimu watched Lei Gong, who always kept a certain distance from him as they slowly made their way through the fog-shrouded mountain forest, and felt that the other party was constantly radiating an aura of "don't take out the ball, or the ball-toting friend won't have a friend anymore."

He believed this was not his imagination; earlier when he took out a Poké Ball to recall Blissey, Lei Gong had stared fixedly, and anyone who didn't know better would think it wanted to go into the ball too.

"Didn't notice before, but you're actually this big?"

Baimu couldn't help but speak up to chat with Lei Gong, but the latter didn't answer, giving him an extremely aloof glance.

This guy's shoulder height plus head totaled a full one meter ninety, like a divine and swift steed, but its limbs and body were several times thicker than a horse's, with streamlined muscles and mottled tiger skin giving it quite an intimidating presence.

When it had been lying down earlier it was like a small hill, and standing up it was even more majestic.

"Walk carefully, don't get the bandages too wet, if they get dirty or come loose I'll have to re-dress them for you." He spoke again.

Lei Gong still didn't answer, even opening its mouth to yawn, aloof to the extreme.

It was exactly like the white-sleeved tabby cat Baimu had kept at home in his previous life — outside of mealtime, don't even think about it coming within a meter of you, and normally when passing by your side it wouldn't even glance at you.

Clearly not understanding its position as a pet, and that the person who provided food every day was the owner and not some sucker.

Baimu had recently grown accustomed to Pokémon that were either enthusiastic or tsundere, especially the Double-Headed Tyrant that stuck to people like a dog for 24 hours a day, so suddenly encountering such an aloof one he really wasn't quite used to it—

And found it thrilling.

No way around it, people can just be that masochistic sometimes.

All the way to the ranger's cabin.

The iron cages placed near the cabin were already empty, an unfamiliar ranger and a Lotad were cleaning up and dismantling things, four Drifblim hung under the eaves, eyes closed seemingly enjoying the moist fresh water vapor after the rain.

As wild Pokémon that usually only appeared in damp seasons, this stretch of post-rain clear weather was probably their favorite.

Suddenly.

One Drifblim looked toward the tree line, spotted Baimu and Porygon covered in dew emerging, "Fuu~!"

As soon as it called out, the other Drifblim opened their eyes one after another and happily flew over.

"Fuu~"

"Why are you still here? Were you waiting for me?"

Baimu looked at the Drifblim with pleasant surprise, gave their little heart-shaped hands a squeeze, then looked at the new ranger who had shifted his gaze over, "Uncle, are they also Pokémon that live here?"

When Officer Jenny dealt with wild Pokémon caught by poachers, she usually released on the spot those that could be, tried to find their place of origin for those that couldn't, and if they really couldn't be released she found trainers willing to adopt them.

If none could be found...

They could only be placed in designated Pokémon sanctuaries.

"No, they're not."

The ranger who had been rescued earlier walked out of the cabin, backpack on and smiling: "They insisted on saying goodbye to you before they'd leave."

"Eh? Are they flying back on their own?"

"Not exactly, I worked it out with Officer Jenny that I'd bring them back to Sinnoh." The ranger pointed at himself, proudly saying: "Don't look at uncle being old, which region didn't I go to when I was young? Just happens I'm going to Jubilife City to recuperate."

"Pfft!"

The newly arrived ranger uncle almost laughed himself into a coughing fit, "Give it a rest! All you do is brag!"

"Rarab!" Lotad laughed along.

The former's face flushed red, "How is that bragging?"

"Whether it's bragging or not, you know yourself."

The two started bickering, looking quite familiar with each other.

Baimu withdrew his gaze, patted the heads of the few Drifblim — although the time spent together was exceptionally brief, and they had initially fought because of his ill intentions, they had subsequently forged a friendship over a meal.

Wild Pokémon in the anime always seemed especially quick to take a liking to humans — maybe a meal, maybe a battle, saving and being saved, even helping someone fish out glasses that fell in the water and getting praised a couple of times.

This point was actually different from those wild Pokémon in *Pokémon Legends: Arceus* that fled or attacked on sight.

"Hope to see you again someday!"

He patted the Drifblim's heads one by one, pulling a few Pokéblocks from his pocket and handing them over.

Fortunately his food reserves were ample enough, and he could forage some wild vegetables, mushrooms, and berries and the like outdoors, otherwise feeding them like this would empty even the most generous of pockets.

"Fuu~"

The Drifblim ate up the Pokéblocks in high spirits.

After a short while.

The ranger took the Drifblim and departed by inflatable kayak down the stream, while Baimu stood among the trees, watching the kayak disappear at the edge of his vision.

"Travel is always accompanied by meeting and parting, over and over."

He couldn't help feeling a bit sentimental, looking at Porygon and Lei Gong, who was lurking in the trees and hadn't come out, "Don't you think so?"

"Prli~"

"... Roar."

Lei Gong, who had been silent all this time, actually gave a response.

Clearly during its long journey across many regions, it had also encountered one or two parting figures that left a very deep impression on its heart.

Seeing the Drifblim who had waited a long time just to say goodbye to Baimu, it refreshed its perception of this human, and inevitably felt something stir within.

Wonder how those people are doing now...

Lei Gong slowly rose and headed toward the lush mountain forest, its recognition of Baimu increasing by a few degrees — originally it had only been out of some special circumstance, combined with the hope that its injuries would heal soon, leading to this act of helplessness.

Now, however, he felt that agreeing had been the right choice.

Sure, this guy was strange, and a little annoying, but the food he made was delicious, and no matter which Pokémon he dealt with, he could be counted as kind.

Mm, the food was delicious.

Lei Gong believed this was the destiny and cultivation the Tower Master Ho-Oh had bestowed upon it — to walk the human world as Ho-Oh's envoy, punishing the wicked while keeping its distance from humans, yet never completely severing contact with them.

This was the way of the Ho-Oh Guard.

Its hind legs pushed off the ground, and it leapt onto a moss-covered rock like an agile big cat.

It hadn't expected All Baimu's voice to suddenly ring out.

"Uh, that, Kugane Town is behind you — you went the wrong way. And watch your bandages, they're about to fall off…"

Lei Gong's movements froze abruptly.

"Roar…"

It turned around, pretending nothing had happened, and leapt onto a large tree as if it had only gone that way to borrow the momentum.

Creak… groan…

The tree's branches groaned, as if protesting a weight this life could not bear.

An amused smile involuntarily rose on All Baimu's face. Just as he was about to say a couple of words, he caught sight of a pair of distinctly unfriendly eyes faintly gleaming through the treetops.

The wide, blood-red vertical pupils were rather terrifying.

He decisively shut his mouth.

—

Evening.

All Baimu set up camp on a stretch of riverbank mudflat.

Lei Gong had initially put on airs, choosing a patch of grass over ten meters away to lie down on, carefully maintaining a perfect distance to warn the other party that it was not his Pokémon and they shouldn't have any expectations.

But soon, it was forcibly dragged to a closer spot by Chansey, who constantly worried about the injured.

"Roar…"

"Happy!"

Chansey looked at it with extreme seriousness. It could normally yield on many things, but on matters of health, it would absolutely not give an inch!

Lei Gong had no choice. Before this fellow grabbed its fangs, it obediently lay down on a blanket Chansey had laid out for it — it was indeed a bit more comfortable than grass.

"Heh-woo!" "Heh-woo!"

Dodrio sidled up to Lei Gong, sniffed its scent, and a look of shock appeared on its face, half-hidden by feathers.

Normally.

It always judged strength by the aura on its enemies, and this method had never failed. Who would have thought it would fail today.

It couldn't smell whether this big guy was strong or weak.

How about… taking a bite to test?

If scent didn't work, maybe taste would.

"Heh…" "Heh…"

Just as Dodrio was about to open its mouth, it saw the bandages on Lei Gong. One head immediately turned toward Chansey, who was chopping vegetables not far away. The latter wore a kindly smile and rapidly chopped with the cleaver in her hand.

Rat-tat-tat-tat.

The vegetables quickly turned into shreds and slices.

Looking at those unfortunate vegetables, the head of Dodrio that hadn't turned slowly closed its mouth.

Curiosity comes at a price, and that price… Dodrio felt it might not be able to bear.

Everyone knew that although on the surface the most pampered one in the team was it, the truly pampered one was Chansey.

Whatever Chansey wanted, the trainer would unconditionally satisfy. No matter how big it got, there would always be a spot for Chansey on the bed, and when it "acted up," it always went to Chansey first.

It retreated in the face of difficulty.

Dodrio silently backed off and went to annoy the trainer instead.

"…"

Lei Gong watched this strange fellow, not really understanding what it was doing, but it had always had an extremely high tolerance for Pokémon, so it simply pretended it hadn't seen.

Shifting its gaze, it saw a silvery, all-spikes big guy dive into the water. It clearly had no fins or webbed feet, and looked like a Rock-type Pokémon, yet it swam so well — even its companion only stepped on the water's surface.

Accompanying it was a strange purple fish.

On the shore.

A somewhat cute-looking Pokémon spun on one foot, no one knew what it was doing; an unusually large Steelix, clearly a Ground-type Pokémon, flew about in the air;

Hm? Is that a rock? How can it fly too? Is it also a Pokémon?

Lei Gong's gaze pulled back from Galarian Corsola and finally settled on Porygon. It remembered this was the one that had shut down the crystal system… but it was also a being it had never seen before, and looked very strange.

Chansey… it really didn't want to say more.

Lei Gong folded its claws together, rested its huge head on them, and closed its eyes to rest.

As expected, a strange person should have a group of strange Pokémon companions. Seeing that it wasn't just that one fellow who was strange, it felt reassured.

Besides, since it had already boarded this pirate ship, it couldn't be bothered to fuss over it anymore.

Not long after.

A soul-stirring fragrance drifted around its nose.

"Food's ready!"

All Baimu's call made the ears hidden beneath its white fur twitch slightly. Immediately followed by countless cries, it slightly raised one eyelid and found a basin of food already placed in front of it.

"Your portion. If it's not enough, just tell me — you eat as much as you want."

Hm?

"What do you mean, no limit?"

Lei Gong raised its head and looked around, noticing that even Steelix, which were much bigger than it, didn't have as much food as it did. The two-headed Pokémon in front of it had two bowls, but the portions were halved.

"They have to control their food intake—small meals, more often. It helps them grow."

All Baimu took the initiative to answer its confusion. "Eat without worry."

"Roar…"

Lei Gong actually hadn't understood. Seeing the Pokémon in front of it clearly finish their portions yet still have an extremely strong appetite, yet not having the slightest intention of rushing over to the boiler to snatch the remaining food, it felt a little surprised inside.

One had to know that Pokémon were usually very faithful to their own desires, especially when it came to appetite.

Being able to make one's Pokémon hold back their desires was enough to prove that All Baimu was actually a particularly excellent Trainer—at the very least, outstanding when it came to raising Pokémon.

If that's the case.

Why hadn't he ever shown any intention of catching it?

It wasn't that Lei Gong was narcissistic; it had simply run into too many Trainers who wanted to catch it, both strong and weak.

Perhaps… it was out of consideration for its injuries?

Lei Gong looked at All Baimu, surrounded by Pokémon and smiling broadly, and a little curiosity about this strange human rose in its heart, planting itself like a seed.

After the meal.

Lei Gong, having finished off an entire large bucket of leftover food, lay down to rest. It really wasn't polite at all—eating however much there was, its belly like a bottomless pit that never bulged no matter how much it ate, which made the Double-Headed Tyrant and Steelix absolutely green with envy.

After washing the dishes, All Baimu didn't rush to start training, but sat down in front of Lei Gong to chat with it for a while.

"Hey, how come I never see you grooming your fur or licking your paws? Don't legendary Pokémon need to groom? Is that why your fur has no smell?"

"…"

Lei Gong slightly raised its eyelids, looking at the former with a very speechless gaze.

It was hard to explain its own issues to this curious child in front of it, and it didn't want to explain such boring things to him either.

All Baimu, not getting a response, wasn't anxious and continued: "Can I touch your head?"

"Roar~"

Lei Gong bared a mouth full of sharp fangs, with an attitude of "you dare try, I dare bite."

"What about your face? This layer on your face is fur, not a keratin layer—yikes!"

All Baimu quickly pulled his hand back. This guy really would bite the moment it said so, almost nipping him. It's a member of the Ho-Oh Guard Squad, punishing evil and promoting good every day—how can it be so petty?

"Hiss."

Lei Gong turned its head to the side with extreme disdain.

All Baimu inevitably felt a bit melancholy, and quietly circled around to touch its back.

Lei Gong: "…"

How is this person so annoying?

It really wanted to follow its wild nature and swipe a claw over, but reason ultimately prevailed—otherwise it wouldn't have, out of gratitude to Ho-Oh, formed the Ho-Oh Guard Squad with two other companions, running all over the world to uphold justice.

Forget it, let him touch if he wants to touch.

It's just a human child anyway.

Lei Gong thought this, and immediately felt much more at ease. Then a tingling sensation surged up its spine into its brain, making every joint in its paws spread open, claws fully exposed, its fur suddenly tighten, and its head jerk upward.

"Roar!?"

It suddenly opened its eyes wide, looking at All Baimu in disbelief and trying to stand up, only to find its legs weak and powerless.

"Don't get excited, standard technique, I'm a professional."

The latter smiled smugly and continued pressing and stroking several sensitive points along Lei Gong's spine.

If possible, he also wanted to touch its belly, but he was afraid of being electrocuted to death by an enraged Lei Gong, so he kept to the upper half of the spine and didn't dare go to the lower half.

He had just glanced at a certain area—

No eggs, not even a pouch.

In that case, the base of the tail was probably useless; he'd have to stick to the spine. He slightly increased the force in his hands. This big cat took more force than expected—even grabbing with a bit more strength wasn't much of a problem. Legendary Pokémon really were different.

"Roar…"

Lei Gong stretched out its claws in a mixture of humiliation and pleasure. Fortunately, no one was paying attention to this side, otherwise it would have truly gone mad.

Several hundred years had passed, and this was the first time it had enjoyed such treatment.

Novel yet a little embarrassing.

Not long after.

All Baimu, having touched his fill, pulled his hand back and sniffed his fingers… as expected, there was only the smell of dirt clinging to the fur, no musky stench. This guy really was amazing enough.

"I'm going to train the Pokémon now, I'll come attend to you again in a bit." He patted Lei Gong's forelimb.

The latter didn't want to talk and flicked its tail in annoyance.

A disgrace in its life as a cat—even when blown up by some human bomb thing, it hadn't frowned, yet after being touched a couple of times it couldn't even stand up.

Lei Gong was somewhat withdrawn.

It occasionally raised its eyelids to watch All Baimu, who was training Pokémon.

The more it observed, the more certain it became of All Baimu's excellence as a human Trainer—not only reflected in combat power, but also in his coordination with his Pokémon companions, which required neither too many words nor too many commands.

Even just a glance, a gesture, and those Pokémon could understand All Baimu's meaning and perfectly carry out his requirements.

From these things, one could fully see their accumulated efforts over time, as well as that seemingly telepathic performance.

Lei Gong yawned, like a lazy big cat.

In the distance.

All Baimu frequently glanced over in its direction, wanting to ask Lei Gong to help with training, but considering this guy had been put through enough during the day, he gave up.

Honestly, with a divine beast's healing ability, its injuries, though exaggerated, should recover in no time as long as it could obtain enough energy.

With the hot springs at Fuyan Town, recovery should be even faster.

He really had to take advantage of this window to pet it to his heart's content.

All Baimu thought to himself.

He had no grand hopes of taming Lei Gong, but he couldn't help wanting to get closer to this legendary Pokémon—after all, these creatures carried a special aura about them.

What Pokémon enthusiast doesn't love legendary and mythical beasts? He certainly did—every single one.

Practice over.

Chansey hurried over to the drowsy Lei Gong without stopping.

"Happy~"

"Roar?"

Ignoring Lei Gong's confusion, it began unwrapping the dirty, messy bandages on the latter's body. This big cat liked to take the road less traveled, and being so large, it inevitably scraped against branches and rocks—no matter how well bandaged in the morning, it was ruined by afternoon.

And the medicine needed changing too.

Unable to refuse the forceful Chansey before him, Lei Gong could only let it tend to his wounds.

What sin had he committed in a past life to end up with a pair like this? The key was being completely wrapped around their fingers, unable to summon even a shred of temper.

"Roar!"

It suddenly widened its eyes and roared at Chansey, which was trying to flip it onto its back.

Exposing its belly—absolutely not allowed!

This was the dignity of Ho-Oh's guardian!

It turned its head and saw All Baimu sneaking closer, and began baring its teeth. "Aow..."

"Just helping out, just helping out—don't get worked up."

All Baimu said with a grin.

He had planned to use the opportunity while Chansey changed Lei Gong's medicine to sneak in some petting under the pretense of helping, but the fellow had caught on immediately.

"Roar!"

Lei Gong firmly refused to let him get any closer—at least not today.

"Fine..."

All Baimu sighed regretfully, his gaze sweeping over Lei Gong's chin and forehead. Too bad those spots were off-limits—otherwise he could absolutely make this fellow roll around on the spot in bliss.

He had great confidence in his soothing-Pokémon technique, which he had developed from the ranch uncle's rearing methods.

Speaking of which, he wondered if he could pick some catnip or silver vine along the road—rub it on his hands and Lei Gong would surely drop its current reserve.

He refused to believe Lei Gong was an unbreakable boulder.

Before bed, All Baimu called out to the big cat with an invitation: "Want to come inside the tent? It's more comfortable in there!"

Lei Gong replied with a cold stare.

He'd have to be crazy to go in.

—

Dawn.

Lei Gong woke very early, rising before the sky was light, deliberately slipping into the woods to circle around, running to higher ground to roar a couple of times and stretch out its muscles and bones.

It felt its wounds were healing very quickly.

Was it the medicine Chansey had applied?

Lei Gong didn't know.

And when it returned to All Baimu's camp, it found the other already awake and breakfast prepared.

"Oh, you're back? Come eat breakfast—conditions are a bit rough since we don't have many ingredients left; we'll pick up some more on the road today." All Baimu beckoned to it.

"..."

Lei Gong paced back and forth, observing the now-bustling camp.

He'd assumed that after he returned, these guys would still be asleep—but unexpectedly, they were all up, and breakfast was already made.

"What are you waiting for, come eat! Once you're done we hit the road—at our pace it'll still take several more days to reach Fuyan Town!" All Baimu, seeing Lei Gong still dawdling, called out to urge it along.

Hearing this, the latter simply leaped over directly.

A distance of over ten meters, crossed just like that.

"Whoa! What jumping power!"

All Baimu watched in surprise, placing the food bowl in front of it. "Eat as much as you want—I made plenty today, definitely enough."

"..."

Lei Gong said nothing, just silently lowered its head and began eating.

The food was as delicious as always.

All Baimu's eyes were full of a smile, confident that continuing at this pace, Lei Gong would gradually be trained into the habit by him—just like the Galarian Corsola.

When the time came, petting wherever he wanted wouldn't be the easiest thing in the world?

Sure enough.

Just as he had thought.

Over the next few days of travel, Lei Gong went from initially resisting his touches to gradually not minding, even showing a hint of enjoyment and anticipation.

At the same time, it would show up on time for meals—and place orders.

That's right.

This dignified big cat had started picking out the things it liked to eat.

All Baimu watched Lei Gong, the corners of his mouth curling up unconsciously.

And finally.

After several days of crossing mountains and ridges, with occasional breezes carrying the scent of sulfur brushing their faces, they arrived at the largest volcano in the Hoenn region—

near Mt. Chimney.

The town of Lavaridge was also just ahead.