Chapter 36: Dream Spirit, Become My Familiar!

“Mi Yao!”

The sudden shout shattered the silence, making Pachirisu, already quite frightened by Xia Chi’s ghost story, jump up.

He collided headlong with a dark shadow leaping out of the bushes.

“Pachirisu! (A ghost!)”

“Mi Yao! (A ghost!)”

Both Pokémon mistook each other for ghosts. After crashing together, they quickly separated like repelling magnets, each seeking shelter.

Pachirisu naturally ran to Xia Chi’s side.

The shadow had intended to dart back into the bushes, but recalling the story just told, it froze, then, as if compelled by some unseen force, nestled close to Xia Chi as well.

The newly evolved Leafeon was frightened too, but upon seeing one Pokémon on each side of the trainer, its jealousy overwhelmed its fear. Two vines extended from its neck, grasping both of them.

Bathed in the flickering light of the campfire, Xia Chi finally got a clear look at the shadow’s form.

Its body was a ghostly, delicate shade of deep grayish purple; a mane of purple hair floated atop its head like eerie ghost flames. Around its neck hung a string of red spirit beads that shimmered with an otherworldly glow. Its large yellow eyes were tightly shut in fear.

It was a Drowzee!

Though aware that the mischief-maker was a Ghost-type Pokémon, Xia Chi was still somewhat surprised.

If Ghost-type Pokémon were among the rarest, then Drowzee was undeniably one of the rarest species within that category.

These little creatures delighted in pranks, hiding in shadows to rest during the day and emerging at night to scare others.

This wasn’t merely for fun; they absorbed the fear generated by their victims, converting it into their own energy.

The jade pendant around its neck—no, the red spirit beads—were in fact containers for the fear Drowzee collected.

But... are you really a Drowzee who thrives on feeding off human fear, or just a timid little creature disguised in a Drowzee’s skin?

Xia Chi looked at the small Pokémon curled up tightly with closed eyes, clearly terrified, and couldn’t help but feel a bit speechless.

He prodded the Drowzee, bound by Leafeon’s vines, and asked, “Hey, are you the one who scares the Oddish every night?”

Though it might seem sly to question a suspect in a state of fear, Xia Chi felt no guilt.

If you can scare the Oddish, why can’t I scare you?

Right now, you’re just a coward who loves to play and got scared out of your wits all by yourself.

The Drowzee, knowing Xia Chi sided with the Oddish, rolled its eyes and unleashed a wave of psychic power at Leafeon’s vines.

The psychic energy was cleverly aimed not at Leafeon itself, but at the tips of the vines.

Under the impact of the Psychic-type energy, Leafeon instantly lost control of the vines.

As the vines loosened, the Drowzee nimbly slipped through the gap and escaped.

Before fleeing, it turned back, bared two tiny fangs in a mischievous grin, made a face at Xia Chi, and then vanished into the bushes.

“Meowfi! (You sneaky attack!)”

The indignant Leafeon was about to give chase when Xia Chi stopped it.

“No need to chase, Leafeon.”

Xia Chi raised a finger, wearing a mysterious smile. “Five, four, three...”

Before he even finished counting, the Drowzee darted swiftly out of the bushes.

Its face no longer bore the playful, mischievous grin but was filled with sheer terror.

Xia Chi couldn’t help but laugh.

He knew this timid fellow wouldn’t dare return to the bushes.

Sometimes, psychological wounds weigh heavier than physical ones.

“Mi Yao! (You’re still laughing!)”

The Drowzee was furious, grinding its tiny fangs at the carefree laughter of the instigator.

“Alright, since you’re not leaving, come eat something with us.”

Xia Chi tossed a jujube at the Drowzee, inviting it to join their midnight meal.

A pot of rich, creamy mushroom soup simmered over the campfire, filling the air with an enticing aroma.

He had learned this recipe in his elective Pokémon breeding class. Most Ghost-type Pokémon were fond of sweets, and this dish suited their tastes perfectly.

Of course, Xia Chi wasn’t the cook; the soup base was store-bought.

But food safety in this world was excellent; this soup was genuinely clean and hygienic.

The Drowzee sniffed the aroma and swallowed, but its pride made it hesitate, reluctant to accept charity.

It glanced toward the pitch-black depths of the forest, its expression uncertain.

Xia Chi didn’t press but said softly, “You wouldn’t want to run into a cursed doll on your way back, would you...?”

The Drowzee’s expression stiffened, completely breaking down its defenses, and obediently came to the campfire.

———

In truth, without its usual mischief, the previously eerie atmosphere turned calm and peaceful.

Drowzee didn’t actually change the environment; it altered the mindset of Xia Chi and the Pokémon.

Seeing that matters were settled, the Oddish emerged from the soil, lined up, basking in their beloved moonlight.

Xia Chi didn’t force the Drowzee to apologize to the Oddish.

Just as stealing survival resources is part of nature’s law, so too is the fear that Drowzee feeds on.

Drowzee frightening the Oddish to absorb their fear was a natural part of the wild Pokémon ecosystem.

Just like the earlier episode where a swarm of Beedrill bullied Pachirisu—without strength, everything is wrong.

Trying to reason with powerful Pokémon?

All you get are responses like “Sorry, I thought it was just a green caterpillar so I stepped on it,” “Go tell your mom,” or “We’re all just trying to survive.”

Xia Chi’s intervention wasn’t essentially different from their behavior; he simply sided with Pachirisu and the others.

Of course, catching the Drowzee didn’t completely resolve Pachirisu’s and the Oddish’s predicament.

One final step remained.

“Drowzee, become my Pokémon.”

Xia Chi’s sudden invitation unsettled the previously tranquil night meal.

Pachirisu looked at Xia Chi with a hint of grievance, as if to say, “I was here first...”

Leafeon turned its head away, suppressing its jealousy.

It knew Xia Chi had come to capture a new Pokémon.

But how was this sentence so familiar... couldn’t he say it another way?

Drowzee, held in telekinetic hands and sipping soup, stared blankly at Xia Chi.

“Mi Yao? (Huh?)”

Xia Chi earnestly explained, “First, if you come with me, you’ll get to hear more of these scary stories.”

Drowzee was exactly the kind of Pokémon who was timid yet playful; though frightened, it was genuinely excited during the story.

“Mi Yao...”

Drowzee’s crimson eyes rolled around, showing a flicker of interest.

Xia Chi went on, “Second, you’ll get to drink this delicious mushroom soup all the time.”

“Mi Yao... (gulp...)”

Drowzee swallowed again, growing even more tempted.

“Third, I’ll train you to be very strong, just like my Leafeon.”

Not only did trainers yearn to grow stronger, but wild Pokémon living in the law of the jungle did so even more.

Drowzee glanced sideways at Leafeon and muttered, “Mi Yao...”

“You’re not that strong yourself...”

Leafeon immediately bristled, “Meowfi! (You’ve been pushing me too long!)”

Seeing this, Xia Chi knew that unless he prevented a fight, neither would back down.

So he decisively declared, “Then let’s battle. If you lose, Drowzee, you become my Pokémon.”

Drowzee nodded confidently, “Mi Yao!”

Leafeon sneered, “Meowfi!”