Chapter 115: Chapter 115
Elsewhere in the forest...
Mike was crouching with his backside sticking out of a dense bush.
Beside him lay a large purple-black chubby ghost.
Snivy and Glameow sat together on a tree branch overhead, staring down at Mike and Gengar.
They exchanged a glance.
Both of them saw the same unmistakable disgust in the other’s eyes.
"Gengar, are you sure this Stantler will work?" Mike whispered.
Beside the creek ahead, a Stantler had lowered its head to drink.
Its rounded tail was noticeably larger than those of the other Stantler nearby.
"Gar!"
[You can question how much I eat, but you can’t question my taste!]
Gengar’s voice was overflowing with confidence.
Mike: "..."
"Does your appetite really need questioning?"
He rolled his eyes.
"So we’re picking this one?"
Mike lowered his voice even further.
"We’ve already searched almost every nearby forest. If this one doesn’t work either, we’ll have no choice but to go all the way back to the Forest of Illusion."
Gengar hesitated briefly before nodding with absolute seriousness.
"Gar—"
[I think this one’s good.]
Mike raised his head and looked toward Snivy and Glameow.
Noticing his gaze, Snivy smiled gently and nodded.
Glameow, however, stared suspiciously at the Stantler’s unusually large tail and rather plump cheeks.
"Meow..."
[That Stantler...]
She clearly had doubts.
Still, following the principle that the minority should yield to the majority, Glameow eventually nodded under Mike’s expectant stare.
Mike then glanced toward Beedrill, who was hidden among the leaves.
A second later, he turned his head away again without asking.
Beedrill: "???????"
At that moment, the Stantler by the creek finished drinking.
Another Stantler immediately approached, and the two began affectionately rubbing their heads and necks together beside the water.
Mike raised a hand.
Then sharply brought it down!
Gengar burst out of the bushes.
He held his thin bamboo staff high in one hand while repeatedly patting his open mouth with the other, producing bizarre—
"Awuuuuuuuuuoooouuuuuoooo!" (Tarzan)
—war cries.
The nearby Stantler jumped in fright and immediately tried to flee.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Tough strands of silk shot through the air and wrapped around its body.
The Stantler collapsed onto the ground, unable to escape.
Gengar rushed over and began hopping around his captured target while continuing to make strange noises.
Mike walked over and kicked him squarely in the backside.
Splash!
Gengar flew directly into the creek.
"Where did you learn that this time?"
Mike stared irritably at Gengar’s head sticking out of the water.
Gengar pouted, floated back out of the creek, and returned to his side.
"Gar—"
[That’s how humans used to hunt on TV!]
Ever since returning from the Oreburgh Mining Museum, Gengar had become fascinated with ancient things.
"That was a caveman..."
Mike paused.
"No, in your case, I guess it would be a cave ghost..."
He paused again.
"That doesn’t sound right either. Whatever. Just stop learning weird things."
"Gar—"
[Okay—]
Gengar placed his bamboo staff across Stantler’s neck.
The captive Pokémon’s antlers suddenly began emitting psychic energy.
Before it could complete the attack, Gengar brought the bamboo staff down sharply against its head.
Bonk!
The psychic energy instantly dispersed.
Stantler tried again.
The moment its psychic power began gathering around its antlers—Bonk!
Another strike landed.
Tears welled up in Stantler’s eyes from the pain.
It stared at the human crouching in front of it, especially the suspicious smile on Mike’s face, and began trembling.
Mike reached out and felt along one of its legs.
"Not bad. The meat feels firm—"
He froze.
"Wait. I mean, the muscle definition is good!"
Stantler stared at him in horror.
The human continued touching it here and there while casually commenting on its body!
"This is the tail, right? Not bad. It’s much fuller than those of the other Stantler. I suppose that really does make you more attractive by Stantler standards."
Mike moved his attention toward its face.
"And these big chubby cheeks... They’re really swollen."
He tilted his head.
"Could it be that Stantler actually consider this beautiful? Is your species into the whole ’bigger is better’ thing?"
The longer Glameow watched, the stranger the situation felt.
She quietly walked over to Mike, ducked her head beneath his legs, and stared closely at a certain part of the Stantler’s body.
A moment later, she wore an expression that clearly said:
’I knew it.’
"All right, Stantler. Relax. We don’t mean you any harm."
Mike patted its head.
"I just need you to help us put on a little performance."
He smiled.
"What I need you to do is use your beauty to seduce a few male Stantler—"
Before Mike could finish, the Stantler bound in silk began struggling violently.
Its expression was one of someone who would rather die than submit, while tears streamed endlessly from its eyes.
It tried to cry out, but Beedrill had sealed its mouth with String Shot from the very beginning.
Mike stared at it in confusion.
"Why are you resisting this badly?"
He rubbed his chin.
"Could this Stantler be exceptionally faithful? Or maybe it already has someone it likes?"
"Meow..."
Glameow’s voice came from beside him.
[It’s a Male...]
Mike: "..."
Beedrill: "..."
Gengar: "..."
Mike slowly lowered his head toward Glameow.
"You’re sure?"
Glameow raised a paw and pointed toward Stantler’s backside.
Mike reached out and tried to spread the Stantler’s hind legs for a closer look.
Stantler immediately began struggling even harder!
"Stop moving! Keep fighting and I’m taking it off!"
Mike threatened it.
Beside him, Beedrill slowly rubbed his two long stingers together.
Scrape...
Scrape...
The sharpening sound made Stantler’s entire body stiffen.
After a moment of despair, it obediently raised one hind leg.
Mike: "..."
He slowly turned his head toward Gengar and his face became completely expressionless.
Gengar had already begun quietly backing away.
Mike reached out, grabbed Gengar by his little tail, and dragged him back.
Through clenched teeth, he spoke with terrifying gentleness.
"And where exactly do you think you’re going, my dear Gengar?"
Gengar turned around and gave him his widest grin.
Mike immediately tackled him.
He grabbed both sides of Gengar’s face and pulled as hard as he could.
"Didn’t you say your taste was incredible?!"
Pull.
"Didn’t you say there was absolutely no problem?!"
Pull.
"Didn’t you practically beat your chest and guarantee it?!"
Pull.
"Then explain to me why this beautiful female Stantler you picked is a damn MALE!"
Mike glared at him.
"And don’t you dare to tell me Stantler work differently down there!"
"Gar—!"
[I’ve been wronged! I swear I’ve been wronged!]
Nearby, Glameow covered her face with her paw.
’I knew something about that Stantler felt strange.’
...
A little while later, Mike stood up while covering his swollen left eye and glared at Gengar.
Gengar was holding his own swollen face, staring back at Mike with equal resentment.
"Sni?"
Snivy’s voice came from overhead.
[Why is your eye swollen?]
Mike looked up.
Snivy was sitting calmly on top of another Stantler’s head, staring curiously at his bruised left eye.
"It’s nothing. Gengar and I just had a fight."
Mike pointed toward him.
"I beat his face swollen too!"
Snivy looked at Gengar.
Gengar was indeed clutching both of his cheeks.
"..."
Two vines slowly emerged from Snivy’s neck.
Mike and Gengar reacted with perfect synchronization.
They both reached upward, grabbed Beedrill out of the air, and dragged him down in front of themselves like a shield.
Beedrill: "???"
"S-Snivy, this Stantler is...?"
Mike hurriedly changed the subject before Snivy could react.
"Sni."
[I found a suitable Stantler for you.]
Snivy calmly retracted her vines.
Mike’s eyes immediately brightened.
He carefully examined the Stantler beneath Snivy.
Its body was more slender than the others, and its antlers were somewhat smaller.
After what had just happened, however, Mike refused to trust appearances alone.
He immediately opened the system’s information panel.
{Stantler}
{Gender: Female}
{...}
Mike grinned and gave Snivy a thumbs-up!
"As expected of you, Snivy. You actually get things done properly, unlike a certain fat bastard we have here."
Gengar, who was sitting on the ground nearby, heard him and immediately made a face.
Snivy used Vine Whip to return to the tree.
Mike slowly approached the female Stantler and began gently stroking her body, calming her nervousness.
Once she had relaxed somewhat, Mike leaned closer and whispered beside her ear.
"Could I ask you to do me a favor?"
Stantler looked at him curiously.
Mike took a Berry from Gengar and placed it in her mouth.
Then he began explaining.
"I want you to help me..."
...
After Mike finished describing the plan, Stantler stared at him and tilted her head.
"If this succeeds, your species may eventually regain the ability to evolve into Wyrdeer."
Mike gently stroked her head.
"That would make Stantler much safer in the wild."
Under Mike’s patient persuasion, the female Stantler eventually nodded.
Mike immediately took advantage of her agreement and began whispering detailed instructions into her ear, teaching her exactly what she should say and how she should act when the time came.
Snivy and Glameow, who were listening nearby, gradually widened their eyes.
Both Pokémon stared at Mike in growing disbelief.
After enthusiastically explaining the entire script, Mike clapped his hands together in satisfaction.
Then he raised his head.
A pair of large, brilliant crystal-blue eyes were staring directly into his soul.
Glameow’s gaze was filled with accusation.
Above those catlike eyes, Snivy’s equally large and bright eyes were calmly scrutinizing him as well.
Mike froze.
’Oh no...’
’I forgot Snivy and Glameow were listening too.’
"Um..."
Mike swallowed.
"You two should probably let me explain—"
Glameow turned around and walked away.
Snivy did the same.
Mike: "..."
...
That evening, Mike rode the female Stantler back into the forest where the training was taking place.
Lucian immediately noticed them.
"Where did this Stantler come from?"
Mike remained seated on her back.
"Well... that’s a long story."
"Then give me the short version."
"The short version is that this Stantler might be the key to whether those five can successfully learn Psyshield Bash."
Lucian’s eyelid twitched.
"Don’t tell me you’re planning to..."
Mike gave him his brightest, most innocent smile and snapped his fingers.
"Bingo! You got it."
Lucian: "..."
"This Stantler?"
Professor Kukui approached curiously.
"This is the method you mentioned?"
He examined the newcomer.
"What exactly are you planning to do?"
Mike climbed off Stantler’s back and gently patted her side.
"Go on. Just do exactly what I taught you."
The female Stantler nodded.
Then she slowly walked toward the five Stantler undergoing training.
Her steps became slightly uneven.
As she approached the resting group, she suddenly twisted a leg.
Her entire body toppled onto the ground not far from them.
Female Stantler: [Kyahhhh... It hurts so much...]
Her voice was delicate, filled with sadness and pain.
Mike’s eyes widened.
He hadn’t expected her acting to be this good!
Several of the male Stantler immediately opened their eyes after hearing the commotion.
The moment they saw an unfamiliar female Stantler lying nearby with tears in her eyes, four of them jumped to their feet and hurried over to help her.
Within moments, all four had surrounded the female Stantler, fussing over her and asking whether she was all right.
Mike stared at them.
Then he looked toward the remaining Stantler.
The marked one.
It was still lying on the ground with its eyes closed, completely uninterested in what was happening.
The identifying mark Mike had made was still visible on its antler.
Mike stared at it.
’This guy...’
’Is he a sigma stag?’
Mike walked over and crouched beside the marked Stantler.
He gently stroked its body.
Then, in the softest and most tempting voice he could manage, he asked,
"Stantler..."
"Want a wife?"
The marked Stantler opened an eye and looked at Mike.
Then it closed its eye again.
Mike immediately felt half his hope disappear.
He looked toward the female Stantler, who was already surrounded by the other four males, and gave her a meaningful look.
The female Stantler immediately understood.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Then the tears began pouring down her face in streams.
Mike stared at the sheer volume.
For a moment, he felt as though the Stantler species had somehow produced its very own tragic heroine.
’Just look at her.’
’That crying could break any stag’s heart...’
---------
Read 30 Chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter