Rustle, rustle, rustle!
Within a forest where autumn leaves drifted gently down, a lithe and powerful figure carried a small child upon its back, sprinting swiftly across the ground that was blanketed in layers of golden foliage.
The crisp leaves shattered beneath thick and sturdy paw pads, producing a continuous rustling sound that echoed softly through the woods.
Entei’s golden red eyes were fixed straight ahead.
The child’s parents had died in order to protect Pokémon.
As a member of Ho Oh’s guard, Entei believed it was only right that it take responsibility for their child.
The little one no longer had parents, and so from this day forward, it would become his father.
Now it was bringing the child back to Mount Tensei.
First, because that was the territory of Ho Oh’s guard.
Not only Entei lived there, but also Marshadow, Suicune, Raikou, and Lord Ho Oh himself.
Second, because the existence of this human child needed to be reported to Lord Ho Oh.
As Entei pondered these matters, it suddenly felt the small figure on its back tug gently at its fur.
Its thoughts instantly withdrew.
Entei gradually slowed its pace and finally came to a halt beside a towering ancient tree.
Turning its head, it looked at the human cub on its back.
In those eyes that were usually filled with solemn majesty, there now flickered a trace of gentleness.
“What is it?” Entei asked through telepathy.
Although the little one still could not speak, Entei felt certain that he could understand.
At this moment, Atlas felt completely numb.
From the instant he had been carried away from the human town in Entei’s jaws until now, his mind had not quite caught up with reality.
Had he just been kidnapped by Entei?
No.
That could not be right.
More importantly, he urgently needed to pee.
“Ee-yaa-yaa!”
Put me down!
Seeing the child’s anxious expression and hearing the sounds he made, Entei felt a rare moment of confusion.
What was wrong with the little one?
It was about to ask again when, in the next second, it felt a warm stream flowing down along its back.
The small body on its back stiffened completely, wearing an expression as though marching bravely toward death.
It’s over, Atlas thought.
Entei is definitely going to bite me to death now.
Entei’s pupils shrank.
Only then did it finally realize what had just happened.
At the same time, the system interface that had remained silent in Atlas’s vision for a long while suddenly reacted.
[The majesty of a Legendary Pokémon cannot be defiled. Your act of urinating on a Legendary Pokémon not only shocked it, but was also Entei’s first such experience.]
[How many “firsts” are there in life? Shock Points from Entei +5!]
“…”
Five minutes later, beside a clear and gently flowing forest stream, Entei had immersed its entire body in the water, leaving only its head exposed.
Its golden red eyes looked toward Atlas on the riverbank, and there was unmistakable helplessness within that gaze.
Atlas felt extremely guilty.
Fortunately, Entei had not bitten him to death.
Instead, it had simply leapt straight into the river to wash itself.
However, looking at Entei bathing in the water in such an awkward and almost comical manner, Atlas could not help but burst into laughter.
Entei was silent.
In the next moment, it rose from the river.
Its massive body made a light leap and landed precisely on the bank.
Shaking the water from its fur, Entei then summoned the power of flames within its body.
Almost instantly, the moisture trapped within its orange red fur was completely dried by the heat.
Afterward, Entei moved its sturdy limbs and walked slowly to Atlas’s side.
It lay down behind him, then extended its tongue and began to lick the cub as though grooming him.
Of course, this was not fur in the literal sense.
Rather, it was the instinctive grooming method used by feline Pokémon to clean themselves and maintain neatness.
Feeling Entei’s tongue sweep across his face, Atlas was utterly stunned.
Thinking back over Entei’s behavior during the past two days, an unbelievable thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Could it be that Entei had mistaken him for its own cub?
But how was that possible?
They had only known each other for a few days.
Or perhaps Entei had seen that he had lost both parents, judged him too pitiful to be left alone in a human town with no one to care for him, and therefore felt uneasy leaving him behind.
Out of sympathy, compassion, or perhaps a sense of duty as a member of Ho Oh’s guard, it had decided to adopt him itself.
Had only a few days of companionship been enough for Entei to treat caring for him as a responsibility?
Atlas was shocked.
If that were truly the case, then Entei’s behavior would finally make sense.
What did this even mean?
Though astonished, Atlas found that he was not unable to accept it.
After all, in the anime there had been several examples of humans being adopted and raised by Pokémon.
In the movie, Zarude had raised Koko.
In the anime, after a plane crash separated him from his parents, the kind Kangaskhan had adopted and raised a boy named Tommy.
‘Does this mean that from now on, I will live together with Entei?’
Atlas felt both shock and a quiet happiness.
He was shocked that a legendary Pokémon like Entei would actually adopt a human child as its own cub.
He was happy because it meant he would not have to part from Entei.
With the death of his parents in this life, he had no other relatives in this world.
Entei was the one existence he was most familiar with now.
More importantly, the incident from earlier had helped him discover how to use his system.
While Entei continued grooming him, Atlas focused his thoughts, and the panel automatically appeared before his eyes.
The shock value, which had previously been zero, had now become five.
That meant he could exchange it in the shop for a bottle of Moomoo Milk.
[Moomoo Milk: 100% nutritious milk produced by Miltank. Long-term consumption strengthens the body. Cost: 5 Shock Points.]
No.
I should save more first.
What if something unexpected happens later and I need it?
At that moment, Entei had already finished grooming him.
Seemingly aware that the child was still very young and that his body could not withstand a long journey, Entei chose not to continue traveling.
Instead, it lay down upon the golden leaves, allowing Atlas to use its large fluffy body as a cushion.
Atlas turned to look at Entei.
Sensing his gaze, Entei, who had been resting with its eyes closed, opened them and met his eyes.
What is it?
Entei asked silently.
The little one did not answer.
Instead, he clumsily turned around and gently reached out to touch Entei’s face.
Entei froze slightly but did not move away.
It had to be said that Entei was truly a handsome Pokémon.
In reality, Entei resembled a combination of a lion and a Tibetan Mastiff, appearing both majestic and domineering.
Atlas could not resist.
He leaned forward and gave Entei a quick kiss.
In the next second, he felt Entei’s body stiffen.
Immediately afterward, the system notification appeared once again.
[From the moment of its birth until now, Entei has always traveled alone and has never been so close to any human or Pokémon. Your affectionate gesture has greatly shocked Entei.]
[“Perhaps the little one already sees me as his father.” Shock points from Entei +5.]
(End of Chapter)