The journey began anew

Dian had just spread out the picnic cloth when he spotted a black shadow speeding back from the horizon. It was Misdreavus.

"Mis!"

Misdreavus gave a lively cry, then grabbed Dian's hair to let him know she was hungry.

Dian smiled wryly. Luckily, he had plenty of ways to make money, or he would never have been able to feed these big gluttons.

He clapped his hands, calling over Beedrill, who was training, and Hoppip, who was chasing butterflies, to eat.

A gentle breeze brushed across the lakeside, and the warm sunlight shone down, making it impossible not to feel at ease.

Soon, the relentless daily training began again.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

White afterimages flashed past, and the red flames atop seven Wooden Candles went out almost simultaneously.

The seven afterimages by the lake gradually converged, revealing a Beedrill radiating an icy menace.

At that moment, the tips of the Wooden Candles rapidly blackened with a sizzling sound.

"It worked!!"

Dian drew a deep breath and clenched his fist.

In the blink of an eye, another half month had passed.

By now, Beedrill had not only met Dian's requirements, but also learned Rage and Agility from the Beedrill leader.

Dian's exclusive venom-enhancement method had also begun to show remarkably powerful results.

The clearest change was Beedrill's venom. Never mind the veins of leaves—it could even eat through solid wood.

Beedrill's physical fitness had also improved considerably, so using Swords Dance was gradually becoming effortless.

However, they had also hit a bottleneck. The poison from Coelacanth Grass now did almost nothing to further strengthen Beedrill. Perhaps it still had some effect, but with Dian's current resources, he could no longer detect any progress.

"Is it time to leave?"

Dian looked around at the traces of his life here and suddenly felt a little melancholy, but he quickly composed himself.

As a Pokémon Trainer, the first thing he needed to learn was how to control his emotions. Sometimes, he even had to deceive himself if he wanted to fool an opponent with his tactics and secure victory.

This lake could no longer do anything for either of his two Pokémon.

Misdreavus had grown bored of playing with the Remoraid long before Beedrill finished training. Now, she had developed a keen interest in cooking.

Dian examined the red gems on her chest and found that they were still bright and lustrous. It seemed she would not need to replenish her fear energy anytime soon.

"Hop, hop~"

Hoppip ran around freely, occasionally becoming fascinated by something and looking this way and that. Hoppip's curiosity was even stronger than Misdreavus's.

Dian was a little speechless. "Doesn't the psychology of social creatures say that they usually become quieter after spending a long time away from their group? Why has the exact opposite happened? It's practically like hyperactivity."

This Hoppip's Ability, Leaf Guard, suited Dian perfectly. The next time that fat god shows up, I'm definitely going to let it get a taste of being put to sleep. Then I'll tie it up with Leech Seed and hang it from a tree. Heh heh!

Dian mused silently, and the satisfaction of his imaginary victory instantly sent his spirits soaring. Even Hoppip seemed cuter and livelier when he looked over again.

"What hyperactivity? This is clearly ambition, optimism, and a cheerful disposition—a model Hoppip with five outstanding qualities."

Dian took out his Poké Balls and recalled all three Pokémon, then began cleaning up the area.

"The last one..."

After putting the last piece of rubbish into the bag, Dian looked over the much cleaner campsite and smiled in satisfaction.

He was quite pleased with how green this world was. Judging by that, Celebi seemed fairly dedicated to the job.

"All right. Come on out, Misdreavus."

Dian released Misdreavus again.

"Mis?"

Misdreavus circled around in confusion, unsure why Dian had let her out.

Then she spotted the rubbish on the ground, and her adorable expression instantly turned terrifying. Her scarlet eyes fixed on Dian as though she would swallow him whole at the slightest provocation.

Heaven knew how many times she had taken out the rubbish lately. Honestly, taking it out was fine. Lady Misdreavus could just treat it as a walk.

But why the hell did he have to time her just for taking out the rubbish? He was simply the most unethical...

No, the greatest Trainer in history!!

Dian silently produced his winning weapon: Dian-brand candied hawthorn.

He made these candied skewers with Berries of various flavors and Beedrill's honey, and everyone loved them... Well, "everyone" was a rather small group, consisting only of him and his Pokémon.

Still, Dian believed it was only a matter of time before he became a master of candied hawthorn.

A shadow darted toward the candied skewer in Dian's hand.

"Delicious."

Dian quickly stepped back, then ate one piece with a blissful expression.

"Mis!!"

Misdreavus angrily pointed at the candied skewer in Dian's hand, then at the rubbish on the ground, indicating that it was payment for her labor.

"No, no."

Dian waved his left hand. "Since you don't want to take out the rubbish, Misdreavus, I won't force you. I've never been one to make people do things against their will."

Pop. Dian ate another piece.

"Mmm, this one's sweet and tangy. Wonderful!"

"Mis, mis!"

Misdreavus could no longer tear her eyes away from the candied skewer, and her little mouth hung open without her noticing.

Seeing another piece disappear from the skewer made her heart ache. What a waste! There's no artistry to it at all.

That's not how you eat candied hawthorn!!

You have to admire it first, then smell it. Only when you're craving it most should you lick it. Then, at the very, very end, when you can't hold back any longer, you swallow it in one bite. That's how you savor candied hawthorn at its most delicious!

Heresy!

Utter heresy!

Damn it, I want some so badly!

Just as Misdreavus was about to despair, a heavenly voice finally reached her.

"Actually, if you want some, that's fine. It's not like I won't let you have any."

She gazed excitedly at the great saint Dian before her, nodding her little head over and over, her anticipation plain as day.

"But! You have to eat candied hawthorn after working your hardest to appreciate the true essence of its flavor. As a candied hawthorn hunter, don't you understand that, Misdreavus?!"

Dian said with pained earnestness, "Why do you think I make you take out the rubbish at top speed? It's to help you understand the true flavor of candied hawthorn!!"

"Mis!!!!"

Misdreavus whimpered and quickly nodded.

Dian immediately put on a grim face and raised his hand to check the time. "Three minutes! Fail to make it back within three minutes, and there's no candied hawthorn. For every second you save, you might get more."

He waved the skewer, which still held five sugar-coated Berries. "The candied hawthorn is waiting for you!!"

Without another word, Misdreavus sped off into the distance, a large bag of rubbish held by a shadow trailing behind her.

She flew so fast that the wind made the rubbish bag rustle loudly.

Dian silently glanced at the candied skewer in his hand. "Sugar-coated bullets really are unstoppable. Tsk, tsk. Ah, nom... Mmm, this one's a little spicy, but it really is delicious!"