Pokemon: Raised by Legends, Chapter 41-42

Chapter 41 - Striking It Rich!

"Grandma! Grandma!"

Inside the Bell Tower, hurried footsteps pounded up the wooden stairs, followed by a girl’s panicked cry.

The shrine elder paused in the middle of burning incense, her expression stern. "Suzune, why are you rushing about like this? This is Lord Ho-Oh’s sacred ground. Shouting like that is disrespectful!"

"N-no!" Suzune shook her head frantically, words tumbling over each other as she shouted to everyone present. "Lord Ho-Oh, it’s Lord Ho-Oh. It’s back!"

"You—" The elder was just about to scold her for making light of such a thing.

Before she could finish, a clear, melodious ringing suddenly echoed around the Bell Tower.

Every monk present stiffened, eyes widening.

Everyone here knew what that sound meant.

When the bells that carried Lord Ho-Oh’s will rang out, it meant only one thing.

Ho-Oh had returned to Ecruteak City.

"Grandma, I really wasn’t lying this time!" Suzune cried, shaking her head hard. "Lord Ho-Oh is right at the top of the tower!"

At those words, the monks stopped praying. They exchanged glances, then surged toward the staircase, rushing up to the tower’s peak.

When they saw the sacred figure circling above them, tears streamed down their faces.

The shrine elder, an old woman who had followed Ho-Oh since birth and devoted her entire life to its worship, was so overwhelmed she nearly fainted.

Leaning heavily on her staff, her trembling voice overflowed with emotion.

"Lord Ho-Oh. It truly is Lord Ho-Oh. It must have heard our heartfelt prayers and returned to Ecruteak City."

"…"

At the same time, all across Ecruteak City, countless residents and passing Trainers looked up at the sky, staring at the sudden rainbow stretching overhead.

At its end, a Pokemon with golden-red feathers circled gracefully through the air, its entire body radiating a brilliant, rainbow-like glow.

"Mom, look! Such a pretty rainbow!" a child said happily, tugging on his mother’s hand and pointing upward.

"No… that’s not an ordinary rainbow."

The woman had lived in this ancient city for generations. The moment she saw that Pokemon, she recognized it.

"That’s Ho-Oh. The Legendary Pokemon that lived atop the Bell Tower hundreds of years ago. My goodness, it’s come back!"

Legendary Pokemon?

Some newly arrived Trainers froze when they heard that, shock spreading across their faces.

A Legendary Pokemon had appeared.

Powerful. Rare. The ultimate dream of countless Trainers.

And now, one had appeared right here in Ecruteak City.

"Um, excuse me," a Trainer stepped up beside the woman. "Could you tell me what’s going on with that Pokemon?"

"You’re not from around here, are you?" She kept her eyes on Ho-Oh as she slowly began to recount its legend.

Seven hundred years ago, Ho-Oh came to Ecruteak City, formed bonds with humans, and lived in the Bell Tower they built, bringing them happiness and protection.

Centuries later, wars among humans filled Ho-Oh with disappointment. It left the city and never returned.

Then, one hundred and fifty years ago, a tower was consumed by flames. Three Pokemon were burned alive inside. Ho-Oh appeared and revived them…

"There’s a Pokemon like that in this world?" someone muttered.

After hearing the story, the surrounding Trainers couldn’t hide their amazement.

Overwhelming power, and the ability to bring the dead back to life.

Some wore expressions of pure curiosity toward the unknown.

Others looked openly thrilled.

If they could capture this Legendary Pokemon…

Just then, the boy beside the woman let out a small gasp.

He pointed at the approaching Ho-Oh. "Mom, look! There’s someone on that Pokemon!"

"What?" She froze, then followed his finger, peering behind Ho-Oh.

There, clinging tightly to its neck, was a small figure, nervously looking down.

There really was a person. The woman couldn’t help but cry out.

At the top of the Bell Tower.

"Grandma, there’s someone on Lord Ho-Oh!" Suzune shouted, pointing skyward.

The shrine elder and the monks stared in stunned confusion.

How could that be? Who was that?

A thought surfaced unbidden in the elder’s mind.

Could it be that Lord Ho-Oh had already been captured by someone, and that was why it never returned to Ecruteak City?

High above, Fuyuki looked down at the two tall towers rising from the city and immediately guessed where they were.

This was Ecruteak City in Johto, the place where Ho-Oh had once lingered long ago.

"This is where humans live now."

Ho-Oh gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar scenery below, its noble, elegant voice echoing in Fuyuki’s mind through telepathy.

"It’s beautiful," Fuyuki said sincerely. The city’s ancient charm washed over him, its buildings full of character.

Especially the path leading to the Bell Tower, the Bellchime Trail. Golden trees lined both sides, their leaves said to stay autumn-bright all year long.

At the trail’s end stood a solemn, timeworn tower, bells hanging from its eaves. It had clearly been rebuilt by the people of Ecruteak City for Ho-Oh.

Right now, on the tower’s peak, in the streets, along the roads, figures stood still.

All of them looked up at the sky.

【Suzune is extremely shocked by Lord Ho-Oh’s return to Ecruteak City. Shock Points from Suzune +80!】

【The shrine elder is utterly shocked by you riding on Lord Ho-Oh. Shock Points from the shrine elder +100!】

【Monk Matsushita is deeply shocked by your actions. Shock Points from Monk Matsushita +70!】

【Mini Skirt Koharu is experiencing unprecedented shock at a Trainer capturing Ho-Oh, a Legendary Pokemon. Shock Points from Mini Skirt Koharu +120!】

【Trainer Keita is greatly shaken by the sight of you riding on Ho-Oh’s back. Shock Points from Trainer Keita +100!】

【…】

System notifications kept refreshing, like a beautiful symphony playing in Fuyuki’s ears.

Ho-Oh circled above Ecruteak City. After their initial shock, the city’s residents began spreading the news.

More and more people noticed Ho-Oh’s arrival, and the young figure riding on its back.

Fuyuki opened the panel. The balance displayed there was skyrocketing at an absurd rate.

His heart started pounding.

Yes. This was it. This was it.

He was rich. Truly rich.

Chapter 42 - Entei’s Direct-to-Lv100 Plan!

The appearance of the Legendary Pokemon Ho-Oh caused an enormous stir throughout Ecruteak City.

Locals who worshiped Ho-Oh, Trainers passing through on their journeys, tourists visiting the city, Bug Catchers from the forests, even the Ecruteak Gym Leader…

Countless people poured into the streets, faces flushed with excitement as they rushed toward the Bell Tower.

"Grandma, everyone’s gathering down there!"

At the top of the tower, Suzune stared at the sea of people filling the Bellchime Trail below and gasped.

"Mmm." The shrine elder wiped her tears away. "They never stopped believing in Lord Ho-Oh. It heard our prayers, all these years, and it has returned. This is how it answers us."

"Grandma!" Suzune’s voice suddenly tightened. "Lord Ho-Oh is coming!"

The shrine elder quickly looked up.

Ho-Oh descended from the sky and gently settled atop the Bell Tower, just as it had hundreds of years ago.

"Lord Ho-Oh…"

After a brief moment of stunned silence, the elder and the monks dropped to their knees, bowing deeply.

"Lord Ho-Oh, you’ve finally returned!" the elder cried, unable to contain her emotion.

Ho-Oh stood there, noble and aloof, its gaze sweeping over the humans below.

It was about to speak when it felt Fuyuki’s arms tighten around its neck. A small head peeked out from beside it, wide-eyed with curiosity as he looked at the crowd.

Suzune couldn’t help lifting her head slightly. In the next moment, her eyes met the child riding atop Lord Ho-Oh.

That was…

She froze.

Her mouth fell open, shock spreading across her face.

Not just because the boy wasn’t wearing any clothes, but because he looked barely two years old.

"Lord Ho-Oh… this child?" The shrine elder also turned her gaze to the boy who seemed so close to it.

Ho-Oh didn’t explain. It simply turned its head toward Fuyuki, its eyes softening at once.

"What is it, Fuyuki?"

"Are they humans?" he asked, pretending not to know.

"Yes. Just like you, they are human," Ho-Oh replied gently.

"They seem to really like you," Fuyuki said, glancing at the monks and shrine maidens.

Ho-Oh didn’t answer right away.

Its gaze rested on the shrine elder. It could feel it clearly, this woman had spent nearly her entire life presiding over worship within the Bell Tower.

To her, its existence was her lifelong faith.

Once, Ho-Oh had been deeply disappointed in humanity, but…

Perhaps it was because people like her still existed that it hadn’t completely lost hope.

"Your voices, I have heard," Ho-Oh cried, its call clear and sacred.

The shrine elder went still.

Tears streamed down her aged face as she looked at the Pokemon she had believed in all her life. Her voice broke as she called out, "Lord Ho-Oh… thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness. You haven’t abandoned us…"

Ho-Oh gave a small nod, then spread its wings, rainbow light blooming around it.

Above the ancient city of Ecruteak, a dazzling rainbow appeared in the sky.

Ho-Oh rose into the air, sparkling motes of light drifting down from its body and settling over the people below.

Moments later, cries of surprise rippled through the crowd.

"Huh? My Pokemon’s injuries are gone!"

"Hey, the wound on my leg healed too!"

"I feel so light all of a sudden!"

"It’s Lord Ho-Oh!"

"This is Ho-Oh’s power!"

As the legends said, Ho-Oh was a Pokemon that brought happiness to people.

"Lord Ho-Oh…" Feeling fresh vitality surge through her once-decaying body, the shrine elder froze, then looked toward the sky where it had departed, tears glimmering in her eyes.

"Ho-Oh, are we going back now?" High above, Fuyuki looked back at Ecruteak City, reluctant to leave. He had earned a ton of Shock Points, but there were so many things to spend them on, it still felt like it wouldn’t be enough.

Ho-Oh gave a slight nod. "It’s getting late."

In truth, it was worried that too much contact with humans might make Fuyuki want to return to them. That would be a tremendous loss to it.

So before anyone could react, Ho-Oh carried its Rainbow Hero away at full speed.

"Alright." Fuyuki nodded, staring at the balance that had already climbed past three million. Satisfaction swelled in his chest.

He really was rich now.

Still, it wasn’t quite enough to buy a pile of Rare Candy and feed Entei straight to Lv100.

The system had calculated it for him. With Entei’s current strength, maxing it out using Rare Candy would take over four million Shock Points.

For a newly hatched Pokemon, it would take more than five million Shock Points to jump straight to Lv100.

"No rush, no rush. There’ll be more chances to have Ho-Oh take me out to other cities later," Fuyuki thought to himself. Worst case, he’d just shamelessly act cute and coax Ho-Oh a bit.

He was only a little over two years old. Ten was still a long way off. Compared to leveling Entei, what mattered more right now was buying facilities and tools they actually needed to live.

Things like a toilet, a kitchen, a bathroom, a bathhouse, farmland, fish ponds…

And, most importantly, a Pokemon ecological park.

Fuyuki had already made up his mind. Once he turned ten, he’d travel with Entei. If they met any Pokemon he liked along the way, he’d bring them back to Mount Tensei to live together.

Before that, though, he needed to prepare places for them to stay.

With that thought, his gaze settled on an item in the system shop.

【Large-Scale Spatial Ecological Park: Developed using Palkia’s power over space. An independent space equipped with an artificial sun, climate simulation, terrain adjustment, seasonal changes, and more. Fully capable of meeting all Pokemon daily needs. Cost: 2,000,000 Shock Points.】

This was the one.

【Teleportation Device: A special device fused with the power of the spatial god Palkia. Once installed at a base, users can return there anytime using its paired teleportation bracelet. Safe and reliable. Cost: 100,000 Shock Points.】

With that teleportation device, they could return home anytime they wanted.

Perfect.

Fuyuki could barely wait to get back to Mount Tensei and start setting everything up.