Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Iron-Headed Boy

However, that possibility was far too slim, and besides, Zhao Fang hadn't even caught a glimpse of the gemstone yet. Otherwise, he might have speculated about what the reward could be. To think about it now would be as absurd as greeting a girl and immediately pondering what to name your future child.

Thanks to Gengar bringing him back, Zhao Fang had saved quite a bit of travel time, but dusk had already fallen. He decided to settle dinner for Magikarp and Dreepy first.

He rummaged through his backpack in the tent and took out some Pokémon food, then simply prepared two servings of stir-fried meat for Magikarp and Dreepy.

“A regular serving of stir-fried meat, increases base stat total by 0.2 after consumption.” Seeing the familiar notification, Zhao Fang pulled out his notebook and recorded today’s berry combinations in it.

His notebook already contained a number of recipes, the most effective of which used Mist Lotus Fruit—a fruit so expensive that just one could increase a base stat by a whole point. Zhao Fang was confident that, at this rate, Magikarp and Dreepy could easily break through the pseudo-legendary 600 base stat cap.

Of course, that was assuming his golden finger really could make such progress so effortless.

“Magikarp’s mood... seems a bit off.” Zhao Fang observed the Magikarp busily munching on Pokémon food, stroking his chin.

Previously, Magikarp would always wag its tail from side to side during meals, but tonight it kept thumping its tail up and down on the ground. Were it not for the tent, it might have stirred up a cloud of dust.

Zhao Fang cared deeply for his longtime partner, Magikarp. Even after acquiring Dreepy, he never considered abandoning Magikarp to focus solely on raising Dreepy. He was a person who valued bonds, and after some thought, Zhao Fang guessed Magikarp might be disheartened over the incident with Haunter.

To give it his all, time after time, yet fail to even scratch the opponent—that kind of blow was indeed harsh.

“Magikarp, are you troubled about what happened with Haunter?” Zhao Fang gently stroked Magikarp’s scales.

“...” Magikarp couldn’t speak, but its tail thudded the ground even harder.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep training you. When you become a formidable Magikarp, I’ll bring you back here and make sure we teach that Haunter a lesson.” Zhao Fang caressed Magikarp’s body with affection.

Even if Magikarp could never evolve into Gyarados, Zhao Fang would still train it with all his heart. Once Magikarp’s base stats reached 600, even without evolution, its Tackle and Splash alone would be unlike anything now.

“Dreepy?” Dreepy had already finished eating; it was always the first to finish its meals. Now it was coiled around Zhao Fang’s neck, curiously observing Magikarp.

Magikarp remained silent, its tail continuing to pound the ground with force.

Though Zhao Fang had camped out many times since he began his journey in this world, camping in the forest was a wholly different experience.

At night, Zhao Fang would light a lamp, and the glow would attract phototactic insects. Normally, these bugs were just a minor nuisance, but what troubled Zhao Fang was that the light also drew Pokémon.

“Isn’t that a Metapod?” Zhao Fang pinched the bridge of his nose, bemused by how a Pokémon that barely moved had made its way here.

Still, Metapod wasn’t anything to worry about. Even if it leaned against his tent to sleep, it would be fine. The moves it used most often were Harden, and more Harden, and occasionally some String Shot or Tackle from its Caterpie stage.

Perhaps because it was hidden inside its cocoon, Metapod didn’t seem affected by the special scent of the main trail, lying quietly at the edge of the light’s reach.

“Forget it, time to sleep.” Zhao Fang yawned.

Just as he was about to duck into his tent, he glimpsed a flash of orange outside, followed by a heavy “thud.”

Stunned, Zhao Fang turned to see Magikarp—who had been practicing Splash and Tackle inside earlier—had rammed straight into Metapod, sending it tumbling several times and eliciting an angry noise.

“Magikarp...” Zhao Fang frowned. He didn’t like Pokémon that disobeyed—disobedient Pokémon were a headache for any trainer.

But seeing Magikarp’s dazed eyes and the bruise on its forehead, Zhao Fang realized it had charged with all its might.

As Zhao Fang pondered, Metapod retaliated with a thread of silk from its mouth.

“Magikarp! Dodge with Splash, then use Tackle!” Even as he considered things, Zhao Fang reacted instantly and issued his command.

Magikarp slammed its tail on the ground, causing a muffled thud on the grassy earth, then leaped swiftly aside, dodging the String Shot. In midair, it deftly executed a Tackle, headbutting Metapod with a dull thump.

Zhao Fang covered his face—Magikarp really seemed to be developing into a headbutting specialist. It used to slam its body at opponents’ heads; now it went straight for head-on collisions.

He wondered if, after failing to hit Haunter in the mansion, Magikarp had decided to learn Iron Head on its own out of frustration.

Metapod’s toughness was not to be underestimated; its body was indeed hard. Ordinary physical attacks struggled to deal much damage. Zhao Fang noticed that after the first collision, Metapod curled up, and a gleam of defensive energy flashed over its body.

“Magikarp, keep Tackling! Don’t let it use Harden!” As Metapod tried to use Harden again, Zhao Fang hurriedly gave his order.

With a resounding “thud,” Magikarp launched itself once more with Splash, then slammed its head into Metapod’s shell.

Zhao Fang looked at the Metapod, now lying motionless on its back with eyes rolled upward, then at Magikarp, whose head scales were starting to look worse for wear. He was at a loss for words.

“You know, wouldn’t it be better to use your body instead of your head?” Zhao Fang chuckled wryly as he scooped Magikarp into his arms and reached for a potion from his backpack to tend to its wounds.

But before he could apply the medicine, a Kakuna rolled out from the forest nearby, and Magikarp perked up with excitement once again.

“All right then—Tackle!”