Pokemon : I'm Just a Photographer!

Chapter 104: Chapter 104

The Stantler had been placed in a courtyard directly beside the Oreburgh Gym.

Technically, the land belonged to the Gym, but Cynthia had temporarily requisitioned it.

"Professor Rowan, Professor Oak, Champion Cynthia, Elite Four Lucian, Professor Kukui—hello."

A man wearing a red safety helmet hurried over and greeted everyone.

Mike examined him.

He had medium-length burgundy hair, wore miner’s work clothes, and carried himself with a calm, scholarly air.

Oreburgh Gym Leader Roark.

"Hello, Gym Leader Roark," Professor Rowan greeted him.

After Rowan briefly explained the situation, Roark led everyone into the courtyard.

Several Stantler were waiting inside.

Professor Rowan walked toward them.

At first, the Pokémon didn’t react strongly.

Three of them had been raised at Professor Rowan’s laboratory, so they were already familiar with his scent and remained relatively calm around him.

However, the atmosphere changed the moment Cynthia entered.

The Stantler detected the lingering scent of a Dragon-type Pokémon on her.

They immediately huddled together in fear.

Their antlers began releasing psychic energy.

Mike had only just stepped inside when his vision blurred.

A flash of red light appeared as Bronzong materialized in front of the group.

Its body trembled as a deep, steady bell tone spread through the courtyard.

The Stantler’s combined psychic energy shattered instantly.

The herd became even more frightened and squeezed themselves against the wall.

Seeing this, Mike walked toward them.

"Hello. My name is Mike."

The Stantler trembled but Mike smiled gently.

"Have you eaten yet?"

Gengar immediately floated over and took out several Berries.

He placed them in front of the Stantler.

Looking at Gengar’s cheerful grin and Mike’s gentle smile, one Stantler hesitated before lowering its head and picking up a Berry.

It began eating.

Mike took the opportunity to examine them with the system.

{Stantler}

{...}

{Description: A Stantler born at a research institute that has not yet lived in the wild. It instinctively gathered with the others after detecting the scent of Cynthia’s Garchomp. Currently hungry.}

Mike reached out and stroked one Stantler’s head.

Then he stood up and returned to the others.

"They’re frightened by the scent of Garchomp clinging to Cynthia."

"They’re also hungry."

"Give me a minute."

Mike immediately began building a simple cooking station with Gengar.

Snivy and the others prepared the ingredients they still had left.

"Gengar, light the fire."

"Gar—"

A beautiful blue-violet flame ignited.

Mike expertly heated the pot and poured in oil.

Professor Oak and the others stood nearby, watching him without saying anything.

As the aroma spread through the courtyard, Professor Oak looked surprised.

"I didn’t expect him to be such a good cook too."

"Hahaha! ’Good’ doesn’t begin to cover it," Professor Rowan laughed.

"He really is," Cynthia agreed with a nod.

After chatting briefly, they continued discussing the research plan.

Professor Rowan, Professor Kukui, and Lucian would be the main people overseeing the project going forward.

One specialized in Pokémon evolution.

One specialized in Pokémon moves.

And one was a master of Psychic-type Pokémon.

There was no better combination to supervise a project centered around learning Psychic-type moves and triggering evolution.

Mike asked whether they wanted lunch as well.

They declined, so he only prepared food for the Stantler.

Once it was ready, he placed the food in front of them.

"Go ahead and eat."

The Stantler looked toward Mike.

After realizing he meant no harm, they lowered their heads and began eating.

Food really was one of the easiest ways to calm a Pokémon.

Their wariness visibly faded.

Mike wrapped an arm around one of the Stantler.

"You’ll need to train hard from now on."

"Learn Psyshield Bash properly. The future of your entire species depends on you."

One Stantler looked at him in confusion.

Mike pinched its chubby cheek.

"Once you relearn your species’ signature move, you’ll be able to evolve into Wyrdeer again."

"Then your species won’t have to live in constant fear in the wild anymore."

Mike continued explaining Psyshield Bash to them until all five Stantler indicated that they understood.

Only then did he nod in satisfaction.

"Excellent."

"Don’t worry. While you’re training, I’ll come here every day and cook for you."

The Stantler immediately surrounded him and gently nudged him with their heads.

Mike glanced toward Gengar.

He found the ghost staring directly at the black beads on their antlers.

Mike immediately shot him a warning look.

’Don’t even think about it.’

That fat bastard had definitely started eyeing the Stantler’s beads again!

...

Once the Pokémon were settled, Mike returned to the others.

"All right. I’ve talked it over with them."

"I’ll come here every day to prepare their meals. Proper nutrition is important during intensive training."

"They’ve also agreed to train their psychic power and learn Psychic-type moves under Lucian."

"I didn’t realize you were this skilled at raising Pokémon too, Mike," Professor Oak remarked.

Then he smiled.

"How about coming to my laboratory to study for a while?"

"Samuel, I’m standing right here," Professor Rowan said.

"He’s still my research assistant."

"Hahaha! That doesn’t matter. He can be your assistant at your laboratory and mine at mine."

Everyone chatted for a while.

Then Cynthia looked toward Mike.

"Are you ready to challenge the Gym?"

Roark froze.

’What?’

’He’s challenging the Gym too?’

Mike had been casually discussing research with several famous Pokémon Professors, a Champion, and an Elite Four member.

Roark had assumed he was some kind of researcher or Pokémon Breeder.

He was a Trainer too?

"That’s true," Lucian said as he adjusted his glasses.

"Since Gym Leader Roark is already here, why not arrange a time and challenge the Gym?"

Mike had indeed planned to do so.

And Lucian had a point.

Since Roark was already standing right there, he might as well schedule the battle now.

The sooner he finished the Gym challenge, the sooner he could ask whether Roark would take him into the coal mine.

Maybe he would encounter other Pokémon or dig up something interesting.

"Gym Leader Roark, when would you be available? I’d like to challenge the Oreburgh Gym."

Roark looked at the people standing around Mike and nodded.

"I’m free this afternoon. How about we do it then?"

With League leadership standing right there, even if Roark wanted to refuse, he probably couldn’t.

Not that he had any reason to.

Accepting Trainer challenges was part of a Gym Leader’s responsibility.

"Sounds good."

Mike nodded.

"This afternoon?"

Cynthia spoke up.

"Perfect. I’ll watch Mike’s Gym challenge."

She had nothing else to do, and she certainly didn’t feel like returning to the League to handle paperwork.

"We’re only letting the Stantler adjust to their environment today. Their actual training won’t begin until tomorrow, so I’m free this afternoon too," Lucian said.

"I’ll come watch as well," Professor Kukui added.

And so, somehow...

Everyone ended up following Roark back toward the Oreburgh Gym to watch Mike’s Gym challenge.

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