Bug Catcher challenged you to a battle

Chen Yan recalled Weedle, who had eaten so many leaves that the carb overload had left the little Pokémon woozy, into the Poké Ball. Then he took Gengar to the supermarket to restock. The human and the ghost swaggered out under the cashier's gaze, which looked as though they had seen a ghost.

After dinner, Chen Yan returned to the inn with Gengar. Once he had showered, he lay down on the bed, took out his tablet, and logged into PokéVideo to read the comments on the video he had posted that afternoon.

Since he had gotten up early that morning, and the air-conditioning in the room was exceptionally sleep-inducing, Chen Yan drifted off as he read, accompanied by Gengar and Weedle's conversation.

Gengar was telling Weedle a story. Weedle nibbled on leaves while listening intently to Gengar's tale of the "Martial Arts Hero."

"Geng-"

And so Horned Beauty once again set out for the courtyard, to fulfill the promise made with Ximen Chui Gui three years ago-

As Gengar spoke, the ghost acted out the story for Weedle.

Noticing that Chen Yan had fallen asleep, Gengar stopped telling the story and gently floated over to his bedside. With a chubby little hand, Gengar picked up the blanket Chen Yan had kicked down to his feet, gently covered him with it, then went over to the wall and switched off the light.

"Geng-"

Good night, Chen Yan.

Once Gengar finished speaking, the room fell into darkness.

Only a pair of scarlet eyes remained, along with the rustling sound of leaves being nibbled.

Gengar returned to Weedle's side and quietly continued the story Chen Yan had told, though Gengar had already adapted it.

"Geng-"

The two Pokémon began to clash, and at once lightning flashed, thunder roared, and volcanoes erupted...

"Wee-"

Boss, but I don't think fights between Weedle and Gengar cause lightning, thunder, and volcanic eruptions...

"Geng!"

Are you telling the story, or am I? Why don't you tell it, then?

Weedle frantically shook that little head in the darkness.

"Geng."

Just listen. Wouldn't I know? I've heard this story...

Gengar secretly counted on those fingers.

I've heard it five times already.

"Wee."

You're amazing, boss.

"Geng-"

Picking up where we left off...

"Wee?"

Boss, why doesn't Ximen Chui Gui ever talk?

Gengar: Because Chen Yan said that true masters never speak when facing their enemies. It makes them look cooler and more intimidating, putting invisible pressure on their opponent so they can seize the chance to defeat them.

Weedle: Oh.

Weedle: Boss, is Horned Beauty's swordsmanship really that amazing?

Gengar: Of course! Horned Beauty wields two excellent swords. Even Ximen Chui Gui nearly lost several times.

Weedle: Oh.

Weedle: Boss, then can I...

The two Pokémon kept whispering in the darkness until one of them fell asleep.

At dawn, as the sky began to brighten, Chen Yan opened his eyes and sat up in bed.

Ever since arriving in this world, his sleep schedule had become unbelievably regular.

"Geng-"

Good morning, Chen Yan.

"Good morning, Gengar. You too, Weedle."

Chen Yan rolled his neck and greeted them.

It feels so strange not having Growlithe around. Without a fluffy Pokémon to cuddle while I sleep, it always feels like something's missing. I can't even sleep properly.

To guarantee a good night's sleep in the future, I'll have to catch a fluffy one.

As Chen Yan silently considered which Pokémon he should catch to cuddle at night, he turned his head and saw Gengar floating upside down in the air.

Beside Gengar was Weedle, who had also suspended that little body upside down using String Shot.

"What are you two... doing? Hanging yourselves because I cut back on your snacks?"

Chen Yan was speechless.

Thanks to Gengar's tireless daily pranks in the courtyard over the past few months, his tolerance had become rather high. Even seeing two unidentified creatures swaying in front of him first thing in the morning no longer felt out of place.

What could be scarier than Gengar suddenly pulling out those eyeballs?

"Geng."

We're training, working toward becoming great martial arts masters like Ximen Chui Gui and Horned Beauty.

"Oh." Chen Yan murmured his acknowledgment, then noticed something wrong and asked:

"Wait, what the heck are Ximen Chui Gui and Horned Beauty?"

"Don't tell me you replaced the characters' original names with your own?"

"Geng-"

Hehe.

Chen Yan got out of bed and stretched. Grabbing Weedle's tail, he gave it a firm push, sending Weedle swinging from the String Shot thread.

"Whatever. As long as you're happy."

Chen Yan picked up his toiletries and walked into the bathroom, saying without looking back:

"Once you've trained enough, come wash up. We still need to have breakfast and head to our next destination."

"Geng-"

Coming!

Gengar flipped over and went straight through the wall into the bathroom.

After washing up, Chen Yan came out of the bathroom and walked over to Weedle. He grabbed Weedle, pulled the little Pokémon off the String Shot thread, and cradled Weedle in his arms. Then he gently laid a towel over Weedle's face and rubbed vigorously.

Weedle was unexpectedly quiet that day.

"Check that we've packed everything. If there aren't any problems, we'll head out."

"Geng!"

All good!

"Great. Let's go check out."

With Weedle perched on his head, Chen Yan took Gengar to check out. Afterward, the human, ghost, and bug went to enjoy a lovely breakfast.

Officer Jenny came looking for him during breakfast. After Chen Yan repeatedly invited her, she bashfully sat down to join them.

After breakfast, Officer Jenny walked out of Twinleaf Town with Chen Yan. Gazing down the road that stretched beyond sight, Chen Yan stopped and turned to her.

Officer Jenny nodded at him, then said, "Don't worry about Grandmother. I'll visit her whenever I have time."

"Okay. Thanks, Yi."

"You're welcome." Officer Jenny patted Chen Yan on the shoulder and said with feeling:

"When I saw you two months ago, you looked half-dead. Now you're full of life. It's good. Let the past stay in the past. The road ahead is beneath your feet, right here and now."

Officer Jenny had always thought Chen Yan had come from the east to travel, only to suffer an accident along the way that left him the sole survivor. That was why she usually took special care of him.

"I look forward to seeing you at the Lily of the Valley Conference."

Chen Yan smiled, lifted the camera hanging around his neck, and showed it to her. "Then you might be disappointed. My main goal on this trip is to take more Pokémon photos and videos and send them back for Grandmother to see."

Officer Jenny paused, then said, "That works too. Remember to send me a copy."

"Definitely."

Officer Jenny nodded, then took her hand off Chen Yan's shoulder.

But she seemed to remember something and suddenly asked, "When you stayed by the roadside the night before last, did you see any ghosts?"

"Yes."

Chen Yan nodded earnestly.

"Huh? Could it really not have been a Pokémon?"

Officer Jenny frowned as she spoke.

"What happened?" Chen Yan's mouth fell open. There couldn't really be ghosts, could there?

He had only meant to make a joke. Gengar was a ghost too, after all.

"Someone came to me today and said he encountered a ghost by the roadside the night before last. It was surrounded by blue-purple flames, had scarlet eyes, and there was also a sound of something chewing." Officer Jenny briefly explained, then said:

"Don't worry. I'll go investigate in a bit."

"Um... Yi..."

"Yes?"

"Unless I'm mistaken... you probably don't need to investigate."

"Why?" Officer Jenny looked at Chen Yan in confusion.

Chen Yan took a deep breath and turned to Gengar beside him. "What did you use to light the campfire the night before last?"

Gengar held out a chubby little hand. With a pop, a ball of blue-purple flame hovered above the palm.

"I knew it..."

Chen Yan covered his forehead as he spoke.

No wonder her description sounded more and more familiar...

"Is that... Will-O-Wisp?"

Chen Yan nodded.

"Scarlet eyes... so..."

Chen Yan nodded again.

"The chewing sounds..."

Chen Yan took Weedle off his head, held the little Pokémon up, and said, "Eating leaves..."

"And when you said you saw a ghost..."

"Gengar's a ghost too..."

Officer Jenny didn't know whether to laugh or cry...

"All right, I understand. I'll explain it to him."

"Thanks for the trouble."

Chen Yan looked utterly embarrassed.

Officer Jenny smiled, shook her head, and raised a hand to wave.

"Off you go, Chen Yan. See you next time."

"See you next time."

Chen Yan nodded gently, then turned and left without hesitation.

Gengar followed beside him, wearing a backpack and holding that long, slender piece of bamboo.

"Then may you... find fortune in battle."

Officer Jenny's voice was very quiet.

Chen Yan's steps faltered for a moment. He didn't look back, but continued onward.

Chen Yan was an optimistic person, and he took farewells in stride.

It wasn't as though they would never meet again.

It wasn't as though he would never return.

The corners of Chen Yan's lips lifted slightly.

"Thank you."

Then, just like the many trainers and breeders from other regions who set out from Twinleaf Town, he headed toward the next place.

Chen Yan and Gengar's journey began in Twinleaf Town.

"You're a trainer, right? Come battle my Bug-type army!"

A little boy wearing shorts and a baseball cap, with a bug-catching net slung over his shoulder, blocked Chen Yan's path.

Looking at the boy's utterly classic outfit, Chen Yan had no idea why background music automatically began playing in his head.

Dun-dun-dun-dun... Bug Catcher Naoki challenged you to a battle!

"Sorry, we're in a hurry..."

"Let's wager all our pocket money!"

"Then let's have an all-out battle!"

Chen Yan clenched his fist. "Gengar, I choose you!"

Gengar: Huh?!