As a Legendary Pokémon, Entei did not need to replenish its strength through eating like ordinary Pokémon.
Looking at the berry that the human infant was holding out to it, Entei’s solemn and dignified face remained silent for a moment.
It did not accept it.
It was not that it disliked the offering.
It simply did not need it.
However, when it refused, the human infant in front of it immediately withdrew the berry with a crestfallen expression, looking as though he were deeply disappointed and saddened.
“…”
Entei fell silent.
Forget it, Entei thought to itself.
It extended a paw padded with soft cushions and dragged the berry toward itself.
Lowering its head, it bit into the berry and swallowed it in just a few mouthfuls.
Entei did not look again at the child’s expression.
Instead, it rose to its feet and cast its gaze toward the distance.
It could not remain here for long.
As a member of Ho Oh’s guard, there were still many responsibilities in this world waiting for it.
It had to send this human infant back to human territory.
Like a great feline, Entei circled behind Atlas and gently gripped the back of his clothing with its teeth, intending to carry him this way to a human town.
Yet before it could even take two steps forward, it heard a violent coughing sound from the infant’s throat.
The child’s tiny hands began flailing wildly.
“Cough—cough—!”
The fabric was tightening around his neck.
Atlas felt a sudden sense of suffocation and instinctively struggled.
Fortunately, the discomfort quickly vanished because Entei immediately set him down.
Atlas sat on the ground, gasping for air.
Entei stood nearby, watching him thoughtfully.
Very quickly, the intelligent Legendary Pokémon realized that a human infant was not a Pokémon.
If it carried him by the clothing for too long, it would cause him discomfort.
Then what about riding?
Entei’s gaze shifted to Atlas’s short arms and stubby legs.
Without hesitation, it picked him up again and placed him onto its back.
“Hold tight!” Entei rumbled in a deep voice.
Atlas’s body stiffened, and he instinctively wrapped his arms tightly around Entei’s fur.
Feeling that the child had secured his grip, Entei gradually increased its speed.
However, Atlas was not yet even one year old.
His strength was limited.
Before long, his small arms, which were clutching tightly at Entei’s fur, began to tremble and lose power.
His grip loosened, and his body started to slip.
Just as he was about to slide off Entei’s back, the running Entei seemed to sense something.
It deliberately slowed its pace and eventually came to a stop in a clearing.
Atlas slid down along Entei’s somewhat coarse fur and landed on the ground.
He looked up at Entei, attempting to communicate.
“Waa—waa!”
The sounds that left his mouth were only babbling cries.
Entei could not understand the meaning, but its gaze fell upon the infant’s trembling arms.
It quickly grasped the situation.
This little one was simply too young.
He did not have the strength to remain steady on its back.
“Hmm…”
Entei frowned.
Its already dignified face grew even more serious.
This was a problem.
If it were alone, it would take less than half a day to cross this forest and reach a human town.
But with a child, its speed was greatly reduced.
“…”
After a brief silence, Entei let out a quiet sigh in its heart.
So be it.
This child’s parents died protecting Pokémon.
As a Pokémon, I must care for their offspring
There was no other choice.
Entei could only proceed slowly.
Where was Entei planning to take him?
At first, Atlas did not know what Entei intended.
But observing its actions, he quickly realized something.
Entei seemed to be trying to send him back to a human town.
For a moment, Atlas felt overwhelming gratitude toward this great feline.
If only he could speak, he would have thanked Entei properly.
Unfortunately, his vocal cords were not yet fully developed, and all he could manage were meaningless sounds.
Human and Pokémon continued onward like this, walking and resting, weaving through the vast forest.
Without realizing it, two days passed.
During these two days, Entei and Atlas fell into a steady rhythm.
They traveled during the day and rested at night.
Whenever it was time to eat, Entei would settle Atlas somewhere safe before going out alone to search for berries.
While Atlas ate, Entei would lie nearby and silently watch him.
At night, Entei would once again gather the human infant into its embrace, using its body heat to keep him warm.
Just like now.
Entei quietly watched Atlas, its expression neither joyful nor sorrowful, making it impossible to discern what it was thinking.
Atlas did not mind.
After two days of being together, he was completely certain that this Entei would not harm him.
Because of that certainty, his courage grew.
He burrowed into Entei’s embrace and buried his face in the thick fur, unable to stop himself from sighing inwardly.
Entei’s body is so warm!
Especially the fur on its belly.
Unlike the slightly rough fur along its back, the fur on its abdomen was soft and fluffy.
If one breathed in closely, there was even a faint scent like sunshine, mixed with something that resembled the fragrance of popcorn.
Thinking this, Atlas wriggled even deeper into Entei’s embrace.
After all, this was the embrace of a Legendary Pokémon.
Sleeping in the arms of Entei was something he could brag about for a lifetime.
Atlas knew very well that once they reached human territory, he and Entei would part ways.
The world was vast, and who knew if they would ever meet again.
Even if they did, it would probably be more than a decade from now.
He might as well take advantage of this opportunity and enjoy petting Entei as much as possible.
Entei lay on its side upon the grass.
Turning its head, it looked at the human infant pressed against its abdomen and felt a trace of surprise.
This little one truly liked it.
He relied on it so much.
At that moment, a thought suddenly arose in Entei’s mind.
If the little one knew that it intended to leave him alone in human territory, never to see him again, he would surely be very sad.
Perhaps he would cry loudly, just as he had when they first met.
Ripples stirred within Entei’s heart.
The feeling unsettled its thoughts.
Entei closed its eyes, trying not to dwell on it, but its mind would not obey.
The little one’s parents were already gone.
From now on, he had neither father nor mother.
And as far as Entei knew, human infants of this age had no ability to live on their own.
They required care in order to grow up healthy.
The little one could not speak, could not walk, could not search for food.
He was even afraid of the cold while sleeping.
After returning to human territory, how would he survive?
Who would take care of him?
Who would find berries to fill his stomach?
(End of Chapter)