Chapter 49: Pansear
The next day, several blacksmiths led by Morik began heading towards the Cranidos’ habitat to excavate clay and limestone.
The excavated clay was then transported back to the territory by two Explosion Head Water Buffalos pulling carts.
Meanwhile, the blacksmith Glow, taking advantage of his rest, began digging a brick kiln for firing clay bricks around the outskirts of the territory.
The long-dormant territory bustled with activity once more.
With the tireless efforts of the two Explosion Head Water Buffalos and everyone else, a continuous supply of clay and limestone was transported back to the territory from the mines.
Although the transportation method was very primitive, and the territory only had two Explosion Head Water Buffalos, causing slow progress, every bit added up.
Lei Wen stood by, watching the busy Explosion Head Water Buffalos, and felt a sense of relief.
With bricks and mortar, they could not only build sturdier houses but also begin paving roads.
“Elif, give the order to take good care of these two Explosion Head Water Buffalos,” Lei Wen said.
These two Explosion Head Water Buffalos, currently serving as transportation, were of great importance to the territory, and they could not afford to let anything happen to them.
“Yes, Your Highness!” Elif nodded.
With the clay and limestone issues resolved, the next thing they needed was Fire-type Pokémon.
“I wonder how Ryan’s progress is,” Lei Wen mused.
If that Pansear absolutely refused to be captured by humans, he would have to wait until next spring to see if he could find some Fire-type Pokémon in the forest.
＊
At the forest hot spring, Ryan, holding some candy, happily watched the Pansear bathing in the hot spring.
“Eat up, Pansear, I have more if you want!”
“Baku~”
The Pansear ate the sweet candy, a happy expression on its face.
Ryan sat on a nearby stone, smiling as he watched the scene.
After several days of interaction and getting to know each other, his relationship with the Pansear had improved significantly.
This Pansear would come here every day at a fixed time, waiting for him.
This feeling of having someone waiting for him gave Ryan, who had lived alone for over a decade, an unprecedented sensation.
“Pansear, can you understand what I’m saying?” Ryan couldn’t help but ask.
“Baku?” Hearing this, the Pansear turned to look at him, its expression seeming to ask why he would ask that.
Ryan simply found it very magical.
In the past, neither he nor the humans in the Royal City had ever considered communicating with monsters.
These creatures, although different from humans in appearance, possessed emotions just like humans, and even their intelligence reached the level of human children.
As a result, upon closer contact with many monsters, one could discover that their personalities were as innocent and simple as children’s.
Why hadn’t he realized before that monsters were such cute creatures? Ryan couldn’t help but think.
Prince Lei Wen was right.
“Pansear, are you really unwilling to come back to my camp with me?”
Ryan couldn’t help but invite the Pansear again.
“We live in an open area outside the forest. Prince Lei Wen has built many houses to shelter us from the wind and rain, so we won’t be afraid of Blizzards there. Plus, I have a lot of candy. If you’re willing to come, you can have candy anytime.”
Upon hearing this, the Pansear couldn’t help but show a hesitant expression.
“Baku…”
After spending this time together, it could feel the human’s heart.
Not only did he visit it every day, but he also brought it sweet candy.
But.
“Baku…” This is so troublesome…
The Pansear wore a troubled expression.
It pondered for a moment, then stood up from the hot spring and walked in a certain direction.
After walking a few steps, the Pansear suddenly stopped and looked back at Ryan: “Baku!”
Ryan blinked slightly: “Are you asking me to follow you?”
“Baku!” The Pansear nodded affirmatively.
Seeing this, Ryan, though unsure of the Pansear’s intentions, followed.
The human and the Pokémon walked through a patch of shrubs and wound their way through the forest before suddenly appearing in an open space where a cave emerged.
“Is this your home?” Ryan asked, looking at the cave.
“Baku~!” The Pansear nodded.
It walked into the cave, gesturing for Ryan to follow.
Ryan followed the Pansear into the cave.
The cave was not large, and the interior environment could be described as very simple. The ground inside was covered with a thick layer of yellowish-orange leaves, seemingly used as a sleeping area.
And on this “bed,” there were three smaller monsters.
One looked like a mushroom, another was a small pigeon monster Ryan had seen before, and the third stood upright, resembling a mouse-like monster.
“What is this…” Ryan froze on the spot.
Upon seeing the Pansear, two of the monsters immediately rushed over and hid behind it, warily eyeing Ryan, the outsider.
The mouse-like monster, however, lay on the pile of fallen leaves with a flushed face, seemingly asleep.
“Baku!”
The Pansear lowered its head and said something to them, and the two monsters became less tense.
“Are these monsters you’ve adopted?” Ryan asked, somewhat surprised, as he observed the scene and speculated.
“Baku!” The Pansear nodded.
“So you’re unwilling to come to our human territory to live because of them?” Ryan asked.
“Baku…” The Pansear nodded with great difficulty.
Although it had developed a good impression of this human and liked him very much, if it left, these three little ones would have no one to care for them.
The Pansear had found them in the forest over a month ago.
Winter had arrived, and the temperatures were cold. They were all injured to varying degrees and could no longer fly to warmer places to spend the winter.
The Pansear couldn’t bear it and brought them back to its cave one by one.
Monsters… would also actively rescue monsters of other species!
This scene stunned Ryan.
He finally understood why the Pansear had been refusing him.
But for humans, this was not a problem at all!
Ryan slapped his forehead, quickly coming up with a solution.
“In that case, why don’t you all come back with me! I live alone, and there’s plenty of space at my place!”
Living together, how lively that would be!
“Baku?!” The Pansear was startled, seemingly not quite processing it.
Ryan, meanwhile, cast his gaze towards the monster on the pile of fallen leaves.
Moreover…
Ryan stepped forward to check its condition and felt its temperature with his hand.
“It seems to have a fever,” Ryan said. “If it’s not treated promptly, its life could be in danger!”
Upon hearing this, the Pansear panicked.
“Baku!”
“Don’t worry, our territory has a dedicated physician. I can take you there.”
