Hero Gengar Stood Watch (Please Keep Reading!!!)

After ending the livestream, Chen Yan stretched and looked down at Glameow, who had fallen asleep in his arms at some point. He reached out and stroked Glameow's ears.

Glameow's ears twitched in sleep, and the spring-shaped tail naturally curled around Chen Yan's arm.

Chen Yan reached out to stroke the white fur at the tip of Glameow's spring-shaped tail. It felt rather nice.

Perhaps because he had been taking such good care of Glameow lately, the fur was no longer as stiff as when they first met.

Feline Pokémon were light sleepers to begin with, so Chen Yan's movements naturally woke Glameow, who stared curiously at him playing with the tip of that tail.

"Meow?"

"You're awake?" Chen Yan smiled, quietly withdrew his arm, and said softly:

"Go back to sleep. I'll put the equipment away first."

With that, Chen Yan stood up and packed away the Live Broadcast Equipment, dismantling each device, putting everything back into its box, then returning it to his backpack.

Once Chen Yan had packed everything away, he turned to look at Glameow and found the Pokémon sitting on the quilt in a loaf position, watching him.

Compared with ordinary cats, Glameow had a thinner neck and larger ears, but that loaf pose was ridiculously cute!

Chen Yan put away his backpack, walked over to Glameow, and picked the Pokémon up. Then he lifted the quilt and tucked Glameow underneath.

Ever since realizing he had a little money to spare, Chen Yan had ditched his ordinary sleeping bag and bought a blanket to sleep on and a quilt instead.

Gengar could help carry them anyway.

Glameow crawled out from beneath the quilt, ambled over to a corner of the blanket, curled up, and closed those eyes to slits.

Chen Yan let Glameow be. He simply dimmed the desk lamp, picked up a bag of snacks, and sat at the tent entrance.

It was dark outside, and the rain had stopped. The Pokémon deep in the forest were emerging from their shelters and heading straight for their nests.

The nocturnal Pokémon were beginning to stir.

Chen Yan sat at the tent entrance, eating the snacks he had bought for Gengar and listening to the whole forest come alive again, lost in thought.

"Gengar."

Chen Yan called out.

Gengar soon appeared in front of him, holding Kakuna.

"Gengar?"

"I ate a bag of your snacks." Chen Yan gestured with the bag in his hand.

Gengar nodded generously.

"Gengar-"

I've got plenty more. Help yourself!

Hearing Gengar's generous reply, Chen Yan reached out and tugged at those cheeks. "You got rained on. Go take a bath in the river so you don't catch a chill."

"Gengar?"

Gengar looked at Chen Yan in confusion.

Ghost types don't catch chills.

"Kakuna does."

"Gengar?"

Oh, is that how it works?

"Go take a bath. It's almost bedtime, and I'm getting sleepy."

Chen Yan yawned as he finished speaking.

Gengar nodded, handed the Thin Bamboo Cane to Chen Yan, then left the tent with a Towel draped over those shoulders, carrying body wash, shampoo, Kakuna, and a brush.

Although Chen Yan had no idea what Gengar needed shampoo for, he knew Gengar might have some other clever use for it.

Gengar soon returned from the bath. Kakuna had also been scrubbed squeaky clean with the brush and positively gleamed.

"Are you and Kakuna sleeping in the tent tonight or outside?"

Chen Yan handed the Thin Bamboo Cane back to Gengar as he asked.

Gengar took the Thin Bamboo Cane and pointed at the tree beside the tent.

"Gengar-"

A true swordsman stands watch at night!

"You've become a dependable swordsman and a real hero now, Gengar!"

At Chen Yan's praise, Gengar instantly put on a stern expression and unconsciously puffed out that chest.

"Gengar!"

[Serious face.jpg]

Kakuna blinked.

Chen Yan smiled at Kakuna. "Ever since your battle with Staravia, you've been a proper knight. I'm sure that once you evolve into Beedrill, you'll be a knight every bit as strong as Gengar!"

[Blinking.jpg]

"Then remember to light a campfire outside later."

Gengar nodded solemnly.

Looking at Gengar with the Thin Bamboo Cane in one hand and Kakuna tucked under the other arm, Chen Yan had a vague feeling that something was missing.

Chen Yan suddenly snapped his fingers.

"I've got it! Wait here a moment, Gengar."

Chen Yan turned and went back to where the quilts were kept, picking up one that was a meter long. It had originally been a little bedsheet Grandmother made for Growlithe, though he had no idea how it had ended up with Gengar.

Chen Yan brought the quilt over to Gengar and tied it around that neck... was that a neck? In any case, he fastened it around the neck-like area with a piece of string and tied a bow.

Just like that, Gengar had a simple cape draped down that back.

It flapped noisily in the wind.

Gengar: !

"Where's your Straw Hat? Take it out and put it on."

Gengar did exactly as instructed.

Chen Yan studied Gengar's outfit, thought for a moment, then said, "Go pick a stalk of green foxtail and hold it in your mouth."

Gengar left, then came back.

Now Gengar held a stalk of green foxtail between those lips, golden Kakuna in one hand, and the emerald-green Thin Bamboo Cane in the other. With a pale gray Straw Hat on that head and a light red quilt draped down that back, Gengar was the very picture of a heroic Pokémon wanderer.

"Wow! Hero Gengar, it's a pleasure to meet you. May I take your picture?"

Gengar flashed a mischievous grin, then nodded.

"Gengar!"

Since you've asked so sincerely, I suppose I can graciously oblige.

Chen Yan took out his camera, arranged the lighting with the desk lamp, found the perfect angle, and pressed the shutter.

In the desk lamp's faint golden glow, Gengar looked even more like a swordsman who roamed the land righting wrongs.

Chen Yan showed Gengar the picture he had taken.

Gengar: !!!

Gengar's breathing quickened. Pointing at the photo on the camera with the Thin Bamboo Cane, Gengar stared at Chen Yan.

"Don't worry. How could I possibly not print such a great photo? We'll get it printed when we reach the next city, then send a copy back to Grandmother and keep one as a souvenir."

Gengar nodded emphatically.

"All right, the photo's taken. Now, noble Hero Gengar and the incomparably brave Knight Kakuna, might you stand watch for feeble little me and Glameow tonight and keep us safe?"

(ᗜ˰ᗜ)

[Solemn face.jpg]

[Blinking.jpg]

"Thanks for your hard work, then. Want to take off the accessories?"

Gengar instantly shot out of the tent.

Chen Yan smiled helplessly. "All right, keep them on if you like them. Take them off yourself if they get uncomfortable."

Seeing how much Gengar treasured that quilt-made cape, Chen Yan remembered how, as a child, he had loved tying a quilt around his neck when he was home alone, imagining himself as a martial arts master who roamed the land righting wrongs.

Though he would get scolded for dirtying the quilt every time.

"Well then, good night, King Gengar and Knight Kakuna."

"Gengar-"

Good night, Chen Yan the weakling.

[Blinking]

Chen Yan: ???

Wait, what? Weakling?

Looking at Gengar, who had already turned to leave, Chen Yan sighed, zipped up the tent, then returned to the blanket and crawled under the quilt.

He had no idea how many people his livestream would astonish, or how deeply. All he knew was that it was very late and time for bed.

"Good night, Glameow."

"Meow~"

The desk lamp went out, plunging the tent into darkness.

Whoomph~

Blue-violet flames flared to life, driving away all the darkness above the tent.

Gengar sat in the tree holding Kakuna, recounting another day of new adventures in the world of wandering heroes that lived in that heart.

On the other side of the forest, a green figure was running tirelessly through the woods.

Sometimes the figure stopped to question a few Pokémon; at other times, the figure raced onward.