Chapter 128: Rumors Of The Man-eating Beast
Lei Wen rode the Explosion Head Water Buffalo, continuously advancing northeast.
When hungry, he would stop to eat food brought from his territory; when tired, he would stop to rest.
Along the way, they occasionally encountered wild Pokémon that attacked them.
But with Serperior and the others present, Lei Wen easily repelled these wild Pokémon and used them to train Dragonair and Larvesta.
Finally, on the third day after leaving Raven City, a small village appeared in the mountains ahead.
Just as Ai Wen had reported.
The village was small, with only a dozen households. A wooden palisade was built around the village’s perimeter, seemingly as a way for the villagers to defend against attacks from wild Pokémon.
It was afternoon, and some women, dressed in long robes paired with linen aprons, were washing clothes by the riverside. A few children held hands and played in the open space within the village.
Upon seeing the stranger Lei Wen approaching on the Explosion Head Water Buffalo, the expressions of these villagers immediately changed.
Among them were curiosity, and also fear of the monster, and they watched from afar, not daring to approach.
Lei Wen dismounted the buffalo and said kindly to everyone, “Hello, my name is Lei Wen. I am a traveler journeying around, and I seem to have gotten lost. May I ask where this place is?”
So, a traveler?
The villagers breathed a sigh of relief, but their gazes couldn’t help but fall upon the Explosion Head Water Buffalo and Victini.
“Don’t worry, these are my Pokémon, and they won’t harm you,” Lei Wen explained.
Upon hearing this, an old man with white hair, a beard, and the appearance of a village chief walked forward, leaning on his cane.
“This is Kagome Village, on the kingdom’s border. Judging by your appearance, you must have come from very far away, correct?”
Kagome Village… It seems I’m not lost, Lei Wen thought, relieved. He nodded and said, “Indeed. It’s getting late; are there any inns or similar places in the village where I can rest…”
“No need for an inn!” Seeing that he meant no harm and that his Pokémon showed no intention of attacking, the villagers breathed a collective sigh of relief and enthusiastically invited him, “It’s rare to have an outsider visit our village! If you don’t mind, please stay at my place tonight! And please tell us about the outside world!”
“Then thank you very much,” Lei Wen said with a smile.
It was already evening. The villagers who had been watching gradually dispersed, leaving only a few children gazing curiously and fearfully at the Explosion Head Water Buffalo beside Lei Wen.
As Lei Wen had predicted, the old man was indeed the village chief of Kagome Village.
He led the Explosion Head Water Buffalo to the side of a wooden house and then followed the old man to his home.
“Old woman, we have a guest!” the village chief shouted as soon as he entered the house. “Quickly bring out some good food to entertain our guest!”
“Huh?” An old woman emerged from inside.
The village chief quickly explained the situation to her.
After listening, the old woman smiled, “If that’s the case, then you should stay here for one night!”
The hospitable and simple old couple prepared a rather sumptuous dinner for Lei Wen.
Considering the fear humans had of Pokémon in this era, to avoid frightening them, Lei Wen did not release Dragonair and Serperior from their Poké Balls.
“Judging by your appearance, you must have come from very far away, correct?” the village chief asked.
“Yes, I came from Aindook Royal City,” Lei Wen nodded.
Upon hearing this answer, the old couple’s eyes widened, and they couldn’t help but exclaim:
“Aindook Royal City? That’s a very long journey from our village!”
“It must take several months to walk from there to here!” Lei Wen said with a smile.
“So far!” the old man couldn’t imagine.
Lei Wen looked around the surroundings and then asked, “Is it just the two of you living here?”
Speaking of this topic, a hint of sadness appeared on the old village chief’s face.
“We used to have a young son, but that child was taken and eaten by a monster from the mountain behind the village a few years ago…”
Lei Wen was taken aback and couldn’t help but ask, “Monster?”
“Alas!” the old man sighed. “Yes, that monster suddenly appeared decades ago. It lives in the Giant Cave in the mountains behind the village.”
Speaking of this, the old man seemed to suddenly recall something, and his expression turned serious as he reminded them:
“I almost forgot! When you sleep tonight, you absolutely must not leave the room. No matter what sounds you hear, do not go outside!”
“Why?” Lei Wen asked, feigning ignorance.
“Because that monster often comes into the village at night to snatch villagers and eat them!” the village chief said with a face full of fear. “My child was taken and eaten by that creature!”
As expected… just like the rumors.
Upon hearing this, Lei Wen fell silent.
At this moment, he doubted the truth of the rumors. Based on the locals’ reactions, could Kyurem really eat people?
Mentioning the son who was eaten, the old woman’s face showed sadness, and she couldn’t help but cover her face and sob.
They had thought about seeking revenge before, but that monster was simply too powerful…
“What is that monster’s name?” Lei Wen asked.
“Kyurem, we named it Kyurem!” the old village chief replied.
“Does it come to the village every night?” Lei Wen asked.
The old village chief shook his head. “…No, it only comes to the village when it’s hungry.”
“Have you personally seen it eat people?” Lei Wen couldn’t help but ask.
However, upon hearing this, the old village chief before him seemed to get angry, and an expression of fury appeared on his face.
Their children had been eaten; how could they possibly joke about such a thing?!
Seeing this, Lei Wen quickly explained, “I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant. To be honest, I am a Monster Tamer who travels around, and perhaps I can help you with this matter.”
Upon hearing this, the anger on the old village chief’s face gradually receded, replaced by an expression of shock.
“A M-Monster Tamer?!”
A person of legend, capable of commanding Pokémon and using their power to battle, a great figure?!
The couple exchanged glances and then looked at Victini beside Lei Wen. They belatedly realized the identity of the person before them.
The two elders looked at each other, then both rose and knelt, pleading:
“Mighty Monster Tamer, please save everyone in the village! Avenge us!”
Lei Wen was silent for a moment, then said, “Don’t worry, please get up first and tell me slowly.”
“Yes!”
Their tone became very respectful, and they slowly began to recount the story of Kyurem.
“That monster arrived in this area about forty years ago!”
“According to my father, on that day, a huge flaming stone fell from the sky, landing in the nearby mountains.”
“A terrible monster lived inside that stone. At first, it didn’t come to the village. Only after it had eaten all the food in the mountains did it come to the village to snatch villagers and eat them!”
“This situation has continued for many years. Mighty Monster Tamer, please help us!”
“That monster lives deep within the Giant Cave in the mountains behind the village!”
