Sorry, I Forgot to Turn Off Auto-Pickup (Please Keep Reading!!!)

"Pokémon Hunters? I've already heard about that. Officer Jenny contacted me just now. You're not hurt, are you?"

Chen Yan shook his head, the Rotom Phone hovering discreetly beside him. "I'm fine. I set up an ambush beforehand and beat them down."

"Good. Cynthia called me earlier. She said the League would soon launch a joint operation to purge Pokémon Hunters throughout the Sinnoh Region. Things should be back to normal soon."

"Got it. Oh, Professor, Snivy came to warn us this time. That's how we managed to react in advance. But once it was over, Snivy left again."

"Snivy, huh... just let it go."

"All right, I understand."

"Where are you now?"

Chen Yan had Gengar bring over the tablet, checked his location, then said:

"We're near the spot you told us about, Professor."

"Good. I hope you find what you're looking for. Remember to take some pictures and send them to me."

"Sure, I will."

"Then I won't keep you. You, Gengar, and the others stay safe out there."

"Take care of yourself too, Professor."

The call ended. Chen Yan put away his phone, tilted his head to dodge a Spinarak descending on a strand of silk, and handed the tablet back to Gengar.

Chen Yan and Gengar walked through the dense forest. The thick canopy blocked the sunlight overhead, leaving only scattered patches of light filtering through.

After so many days living outdoors, Chen Yan had figured out the basics of wilderness survival.

First and foremost, never wander into the territory of a territorial Pokémon colony.

Beedrill, for instance.

This was something Chen Yan had only just learned.

Gengar kept hurling Shadow Balls at the Beedrill colony ahead, knocking the few leading the charge straight to the ground. Its scarlet eyes held no trace of warmth as it stared down the colony.

Standing behind Gengar, Chen Yan watched it. Though it usually acted like a little kid, it became exceptionally dependable when it really mattered.

Seeing that the Beedrill colony was still itching to attack, Gengar tossed the Kakuna in its arms high into the air, gathered terrifying dark energy in both hands, and fired it at the Beedrill ahead.

The Dark Pulse utterly shattered the Beedrill's formation.

Red light flickered in the lead Beedrill's ruby-like eyes, and its unusual mouthparts produced a strange buzzing sound.

"I didn't mean to enter your territory. If you'll let us, we'll leave right now."

Chen Yan stepped out from behind Gengar and addressed the Beedrill before him.

The Beedrill stared at Chen Yan beside Gengar, hesitated, then flew to either side, clearing a path for him.

"Thank you."

Gengar reached out to catch Kakuna as it fell, then floated beside Chen Yan as they passed through the Beedrill and left their territory.

The buzzing of the Beedrill's paper-thin wings filled his ears. Chen Yan would have been lying if he said he wasn't nervous.

Try having a swarm of Beedrill point those two long, razor-sharp lances at you and see if you don't panic.

But Chen Yan's face betrayed nothing. Only after leaving the Beedrill's territory did he stop and turn back to face them.

He pressed his palms together, then bowed.

"Sorry for disturbing you."

"Gengaar-"

Holding Kakuna, Gengar bowed as well.

Glameow lounged in the cat carrier and yawned.

None of its business. No need to get involved.

The lead Beedrill nodded, and only then did Chen Yan feel comfortable enough to continue.

While Chen Yan leaned against a nearby tree to steady his shaky legs, Gengar went off with Kakuna for a little while.

These rarely visited forests were far more dangerous than the little forest between Twinleaf Town and Sandgem Town.

By the time Gengar returned with Kakuna in its arms, Chen Yan had mostly recovered. He nodded to Gengar and continued onward, looking for somewhere suitable to pitch a tent.

Gengar floated ahead with Kakuna in its arms. Every so often, it used its Thin Bamboo Cane to knock down a Seedot hanging from a tree and absorbing nutrients, strip all the leaves off a dangling Burmy, or lash at the grass on an Oddish's head as though it were a weed, frightening the Oddish into scrambling out of the soil and fleeing.

While Gengar was having the time of its life, a Berry tumbled down along a tree trunk toward Chen Yan's head.

Glameow noticed first and meowed.

Gengar reacted right after it, swinging its arm.

Chen Yan heard only a "whoosh," and a powerful gust swept his hair upward.

He looked up to find Gengar had smacked a Berry with the Thin Bamboo Cane, sending it flying out of sight.

Chen Yan shaded his eyes with one hand and stared after the vanished Berry, exclaiming:

"A home run. Perfect score."

Gengar rested the Thin Bamboo Cane on Kakuna's head and gently blew on it.

Piece of cake~

As the human and ghost basked in their own brilliance, a heartbroken cry came from above their heads.

Chen Yan looked up and spotted a Pachirisu standing on a branch with an armful of Berries, looking down at him and Gengar.

It stood beside its tree hollow, its adorable eyes already brimming with tears.

Berries!

Gengar's eyes lit up at the armful of Berries Pachirisu was holding, and it started floating over with Kakuna.

Chen Yan hurriedly grabbed its ear and hauled it forward.

Gengar struggled desperately while Chen Yan dragged it along with all his strength.

How was this purple chonk so strong?!

After finally dragging it far enough away, Chen Yan let go and caught his breath.

"Those are someone else's Berries! We were already in the wrong for knocking one away, and now you want to steal the rest? That's not okay."

"Gengaar-"

I know I was wrong.

Chewing on a Berry in its hand, Gengar promptly admitted its mistake.

"Be more careful next time. Wait, where did you get that Berry?!" Chen Yan asked in confusion, staring at Gengar, which had already tucked the Thin Bamboo Cane into the backpack behind it and was holding Kakuna in one arm while munching on a Berry with the other.

"When did you steal its Berries?!"

Hearing the utterly miserable sobbing behind them, Chen Yan sternly reprimanded Gengar.

Gengar protested.

"Gengar!"

I didn't steal them! I picked them up! Picked them up!

Seeing Gengar's earnest expression, Chen Yan wondered whether he really had accused it unfairly.

"When did you pick them up?" Chen Yan asked, ready to apologize.

"Gengar."

There were loads under that tree, all piled up. So I picked some up.

Chen Yan: "..."

"Doesn't that mean someone put them there?" Chen Yan asked in exasperation.

"People put their houses beside the road too, don't they? Why don't you go pick one of those up?"

"Gengar?"

Can I?

"You... I... that's... of course you can't!" Chen Yan's face turned red with anger.

He really was red with anger.

Chen Yan took several deep breaths, then explained to Gengar what Pachirisu might have been collecting those Berries for.

Gengar was still a very obedient child. After hearing Chen Yan's explanation, it floated back to Pachirisu, looked at its tear-streaked face, then took out the Berries and set them in front of it.

It pointed at an Aipom nearby.

"Gengaar-"

You need to keep your Berries safe next time. I got these back from that one for you, but you can't just leave them lying around again.

Pachirisu looked at Gengar in confusion and stopped crying, then glanced at the nearby Aipom. The more it looked, the more Aipom seemed like a villain!

It wiped away its tears and nodded firmly to Gengar.

"Pachi, pachi!"

Got it! Thank you! Gengar, you're such a good Pokémon!

Pachirisu picked out two Berries and handed them to Gengar.

Here, these are for you.

Gengar grinned, accepted the Berries, and floated back to Chen Yan.

The Aipom came over to Pachirisu just then, about to say hello.

What greeted it was Pachirisu's Discharge.

Aipom: ???

Wait, what did I do?!

Why zap me the moment I get here?!

The culprit returned to Chen Yan's side and showed him the Berries in its hand.

"Gengaar-"

Hehe, it even thanked me.

Chen Yan tugged on its cheek. "Don't do that again, got it?"

Gengar nodded and handed the Berries to Chen Yan.

"Gengaar-"

It gave these to me. You can have them.

Chen Yan took a Berry, rubbed it against Kakuna, then brought it to his mouth and took a bite.

Sweet and juicy.

Kakuna: ???

You too?

"If you give them all to me, what will you eat?" Chen Yan fed one Berry to Glameow, then looked at Gengar and asked.

"Wait, where did that honey come from?"

Chen Yan stared at the honey in Gengar's hands and asked in surprise.

"Hold on..." Chen Yan's eyes widened as he watched Gengar happily eating the honey.

"You didn't..."

Before he could finish, buzzing sounded behind them.

The human and ghost exchanged a look.

Then they took off running.

"Bzzzz!"

You fat jerk! You rotten human! Give us back our honey!

We Beedrill swear we'll never let you get away with this!!!

I'm so mad!!