Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

Chapter 105 Getting Closer to the Ugly History

With a gasp tinged with a hint of confusion, the emerald-green juvenile beast raised its small face, hidden behind the ghost mask, and looked at the white-haired girl. It seemed puzzled by the current state of the person who had come at night, and also felt guilty for the near collision earlier.

"Bonnie~"

Waving its round little hands and retracting its slender legs, the little creature retreated step by step, not wanting to disturb the two's journey.

"Southern music..."

Perhaps the former did not harbor any malicious intent, but the emerald green ghost mask depicting a maniacal laugh was so eerie that Korni could not make a judgment for a moment, and could only hold tightly to her friend's waist, showing even more fear.

Logically, with the blessing of the demon mask, even if the other party is quite petite, one will notice the striking ferocity and the oppressive feeling when looking closely, thus ignoring their true appearance.

"It's alright. Aren't you even afraid of Gengar? Why be afraid of this adorable child? Making decisions without understanding her will only hurt her feelings~"

Patting the girl's trembling shoulder, Nan Yin raised the corners of her lips, revealing a faint smile.

She knew that being in a gloomy ghost mountain and encountering terrifying evil spirits was a scene from countless horror movies that would indeed make those who didn't know the truth uneasy and confused. But if you really looked at it more closely, you could see the cute side of that little beast.

Small feet in wooden clogs, a green coat fluttering in the wind, and a hint of a pointed horn peeking out from the top of her forehead...

Even without peeking at the true face beneath the mask, one can still sense the former's charm simply by observing their restrained and uneasy demeanor, as if afraid of intimidating them.

"......Hello?"

She bent down, lowered her eyes, and knelt so that her knees were level with the other person's eyes.

Without being overly close or deliberately distant, she maintained an appropriate distance, neither putting pressure on the other party nor disrupting the balance of the atmosphere—this was her consistent way of treating guests.

—Equal and self-aware.

"Boni-oh?"

A startled cry escaped, and the long-lost level gaze and gentleness seemed to ripple through the heart of the evil spirit, even the thought of seeking revenge on its companion that morning faded away briefly.

The trainer who was always with the trainer was discriminated against by the villagers because of his appearance. He was not allowed to set foot in the town and suffered condemnation from public opinion and the covetousness of others.

Misunderstood, ostracized, and tabooed by the villagers, he wandered the Ghost Mountain under the watchful eyes of disgust, spending his days in the lonely Ghost Tooth Cave. This has been going on for decades or even centuries.

People were terrified when they saw it, and I myself became accustomed to living alone in the mountains and forests, voluntarily withdrawing from the sight and attention of the villagers.

"Boni-oh!"

No longer as reserved and timid as before, the charming demons surrounded the smiling girl, admiring her peaceful smile and delicate features.

In a daze, it seemed to recall the scene when it first met that family member.

One side's thoughts were in turmoil, while the other side similarly refrained from delving deeper, simply maintaining the existing atmosphere.

As the situation became more peaceful and her fear gradually subsided, Corinne also calmed her mind and began to pay attention to the meaning behind the evil spirit's hidden sounds and actions.

This leads to a rejection of the preface.

“Nan Yin, you’re right. There are no evil spirits like in movies and TV shows. This child is clearly a petite Pokémon.”

"Ah."

She might not be certain at first glance that the other party was not an evil spirit, but when her senses discerned the truth and she felt the fluctuations of the mind, she was moved by that innocent thought.

Lacking any of the aura to intimidate the world, this little beast, though accustomed to avoiding others, still couldn't adapt to loneliness and couldn't forget the warmth and companionship of being with family.

"I'm sorry to have disturbed your rest."

Apologizing for her actions of climbing the mountain, she wiped the dust off the rocks beside her with her fingers, then gathered the hem of her lace skirt and sat down upright on top.

"If you'd like, could you tell me about your village and your story?"

Softening her tone, she didn't have much thought in mind. Now that she knew about the existence of the evil spirit, Nan Yin also wanted to understand the truth hidden beneath the villagers' oral traditions.

After all, seeing new and wondrous elves, learning local legends, and acquiring unique skills were all her goals. Since those arrogant people couldn't speak human language, she might as well ask this kind-hearted child.

The shared feelings are like a gentle stream; even without a common language, they can still soothe the soul.

No longer concealing its small face with a hideous ghost mask, hiding the truth as believed by the world, the elf in the famous work, Evil Phantom, also bent its little legs and sat down on the fallen tree trunk beside it, just like the others.

"Boni-oh".

Removing the delicate mask and answering the girl's question, the little guy felt that warmth once again, and his usual timidity and caution immediately disappeared.

Thus, her exquisite face was revealed to the two of them.

Her bright eyes sparkled with star-shaped patterns, and her lovely little mouth opened and closed slightly, revealing two small tiger teeth.

"Bonnie~"

As expected, contrary to the image of ghosts as evil and wicked, even including Diancie and other mythical beasts, this child ranks high in terms of cuteness.

The ghost, despised by the world, is not the chief evil spirit; it is charming and captivating. On the other hand, the treasure companion, revered by the world, is vile and hideous. The contrast between these two is a huge joke, as it subverts the truth.

"So cute!"

The girl rarely spoke, but Korni was easily moved by the little devil's appearance, lowering her gaze without any resistance and staring at him intently for a moment.

"Keep your distance, Korne. After all, this is the first time we've met her."

Gathering scattered stones from the surrounding area and piling them into a circle, Nanyin took out the prepared firewood, rubbed it against a flint and steel, and turned it into a warm and continuous campfire.

"Would this make you feel warmer?"

Nanyin had intended to address the other person as a ghost, but feeling the unfamiliarity and ambiguity of the term, she held back and simply asked softly.

Perhaps the girl's actions were unintentional, but this tiny flame illuminated the darkness of the past, bringing light and human companionship back to Ghost Mountain.

"Boni..."

For a moment, it was stunned, staring at the flickering flames. It seemed to recall the warm days and nights of the past, and the affection given to it by the deceased.

She lowered her head, her bright eyes dimming slightly. Sorrow remained, but more than that, there was joy in reliving that time.

Stealing a glance at the girl fiddling with the ingredients and arranging the pots and pans, and also smelling the lingering fragrance, the little devil twitched his nostrils and discerned the difference between the deceased and the former.

—The skill and attention to detail in cooking.

"Bonnie~"

Taking the initiative to speak and clear up the girl's previous silence, the little devil spontaneously revealed its name.

"So, your name is Egui Peng?"

Nodding and swinging her slender legs, Ergui Peng watched Nan Yin's deft movements with great focus, watching her crack the eggshell, stir the clear night, and summon many spirits to help her work together.

Although it lived with that family member on Ghost Mountain at that time, due to its lack of skills and harsh conditions, it mostly ate only unripe tree fruits or fish that came out only occasionally.

There was no way around it; the place it lived in could be described as a barren and desolate place, a rocky mountain where almost nothing grew and there was hardly any life. The decent green and the mature red were things that were rarely seen on ordinary days.

So, although there have been times when they cooked together, they were not common. Now, this glimpse has given it back a sense of nostalgia and anticipation.

"Li Gu?"

Similarly, even though they noticed the little devil's gaze, neither Eevee nor Magearna resisted excessively. They held the pot firmly and placed the sliced ​​tofu handed to them by the girl into the soup one by one.

After finishing her work, the mechanical doll finally looked up at the evil spirit, at the ghost who had lost her loved ones.

Having shared similar experiences and being given life by human intervention, Maya understood why the other person looked longing and nostalgic.

It walked up to the former without saying a word, and like a young girl, raised its hands, presenting a riot of colorful flowers, which also dyed half of the Ghost Mountain into a rich and vibrant tapestry of colors.

"Boni-oh!"

First, surprise was shown, and then the little demon's eyes widened. It knew that this was the other party's doing, but compared to the changes in Ghost Mountain, the bouquet of flowers given to it was the most straightforward expression of its plea.

Surprise, gratitude, and panic mingled together, leaving Egui Peng somewhat bewildered.

In its predicament, it had no gift to give back to the former, yet it was unwilling to accept it passively.

Holding the emerald mask, it hesitated for a while before making a decision.

Things are just things, but feelings are invaluable. I once attracted unwanted attention and lost loved ones because of those three masks, but now...

Without further hesitation, Egui Peng handed the Green Grass Mask to the mechanical doll as a token of his gratitude in return.

"Li Gu?"

However, Magiana could also see how much the little devil cherished the mask; its flowers bloomed freely, but things that hold memories are hard to come by.

Therefore, it refuses to return the gift, thus revealing its true intentions.

Perhaps the back-and-forth refusals were a bit long, but Nan Yin, who was observing from the sidelines, did not feel awkward.

There may be a barrier between humans and Pokémon, but two children with similar experiences can communicate and understand each other because of their innocence and purity.

Even without asking too many questions, she could see the painful memories in Ergui Peng. In those bright eyes, there was no alienation towards humans, but rather a longing for companionship and a desire for recognition.

Recalling the assessment given by the Palkia Encyclopedia, Nan Yin had to admit that the description of being afraid of loneliness was accurate.

Watching the two adorable creatures interact, she couldn't help but smile. She took out a seasoning energy cube from her bag, crushed it, and put it into the pot as a soup base. Then she poured in the finely chopped potatoes and mushrooms along with the little animals' creations.

It wasn't a deliberate act; my friend and I hadn't even had a proper dinner since witnessing the birth of our baby.

The reason is simple: the ready-made lunch boxes in Beishang Township are too expensive, and the taste is far inferior to what you can make yourself. In addition, there's the manager's statement. As for being controlled by others in terms of clothing, food, housing, and transportation, she naturally wouldn't agree. Since the former has made such a claim and has its own methods, Nan Yin will only firmly deny it with her actions.

If one were not in this region, who would respect Beishang Township's criticism of tourists?

Stirring the warm broth, as time goes by, the aroma from inside the pot overflows from the lid and slowly wafts outwards.

Even without the chance encounter with the little devil, she would have found a flat spot to set up camp and rest. Now that they had met by chance, she might as well provide the well-behaved child with an extra pair of chopsticks and a bowl.

"Come on, everyone, let's get started."

As if speaking softly in an old haunt, Nanyin summons small beasts, some playful, some engaged in conversation, to remind them of the upcoming dinner.

"Boni-oh?"

As he inhaled the rich aroma, Egui Peng revealed an incredulous expression.

What method is used to make those ingredients taste so delicious?

"Simple seasonings, plus a little bit of control over the heat."

With the aid of her mental powers and keen senses, coupled with thousands of years of ancient recipes, the girl's mastery of knife skills and heat control has reached near perfection, and she is quite confident in her culinary skills.

This is not only the foundation for raising children, but also a way to make your own food more convenient. Most importantly, cooking your own meals is also very economical.

After sweeping away some of the firewood to quell the raging fire, Nanyin poured the soup into a bowl, waited a moment until it cooled slightly, then gently blew on it twice before handing it to the little devil.

“This is for you, Egui Pong.”

"Boni!"

Surprised by the girl's act of sharing without expecting anything in return, and moved by her gentle and unrepulsive gaze, the little devil tremblingly took the bowl and spoon. Seeing the many elves eating peacefully, he then took a small sip.

As the warm soup enters its belly, the rich aroma lingers in its throat and tongue, and the little guy opens its star-shaped eyes wide, revealing its small canine teeth.

"If you think it's good, then eat it without worry. That's a form of recognition for me."

Since it raised the corner of its eye, curving into a pleasant arc, and received such affirmation, the eccentric still did not speak again, nor did it make any changes. It continued to drink very lightly and chew very carefully, as if cherishing this hard-won sweetness, or as if wanting to slow down its movements, so as to prolong this rare companionship.

Feeling a pang of pity, Nan Yin instinctively spread her fingers and gently touched its forehead.

It's a caress.

"Rest assured, Egui Peng. At least for now, we will still be with you on Ghost Mountain, if you wish."

Without showing the surprise it had shown earlier, the little devil paused briefly, even dropping the spoon back into the bowl, but it allowed the girl to gently and delicately caress it with her fingertips.

"Boni-oh".

Looking down and hugging her bent legs, and admiring Nan Yin's beautiful eyelashes, E Guipeng gradually lowered his guard, let go of his prejudices, and began to tell her and the others about their past.

Long, long ago, a man from a foreign land brought the Evil Spirit to a backward town. However, the villagers ostracized and isolated him because of his different appearance from the locals, and even refused to let him into the village.

So the man had no choice but to live with the little devil in the cave of Ghost Mountain for a long time.

The village was poor and lacked food and clothing. The mask craftsmen felt sorry for them and, with their last bit of kindness, made four masks for them.

The masks are inlaid with crystals brought from foreign lands by the other party. As long as they wear them, the man and Egui Peng can spend short periods of time with the villagers and sometimes even participate in the village's celebrations.

But the good times didn't last long. The gorgeous mask attracted three greedy Pokémon: Goenka, Wishbear, and Chinchilla. They sneaked into the caves of Ghost Mountain, attempting to steal the carefully preserved mask.

The man happened to be there and did everything he could to protect the mask, but he was powerless to do so. He sacrificed himself to save only the Green Grass mask.

When Egui Peng returned to the mountains and forests and came to his former cozy home, he only saw traces of a fight and the only remaining mask.

Perhaps to find its family, or perhaps to seek revenge, it put on a mask and went down the mountain to wipe out the thieves one by one. However, the unsuspecting villagers mistook it for a ghost attacking the village, and its three companions sacrificed themselves to save the town.

From then on, Egui Peng was immersed in a long period of grief and returned to Ghost Mountain alone, where he lived alone in the cave that still had the feeling of home.