Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 451: Just Call Me ‘Grain in the Field’ (BONUS)

The sun set beyond the western mountains.

Johan waited the entire afternoon, but the Iron Masked Marauder never showed up.

Did the timeline shift?

Or perhaps, for some other reason, the Marauder had not yet tracked down this era's Celebi?

If so, that was a good thing.

It saved them a lot of unnecessary trouble.

After all, the Iron Masked Marauder was not just one of Team Rocket's highest-ranking executives—

He was a truly evil man.

Team Rocket had people like Jessie, James, and Meowth, who pretended to be villains but in reality cared deeply for Pokémon.

And then—

There were people like the Iron Masked Marauder.

A man who embodied every negative trait of a villain:

Cruelty. Deception. Self-interest.

And above all—ambition.

Outwardly, he claimed to be seeking Celebi for Giovanni.

But in reality, he wanted to use Celebi to seize control of Team Rocket—

To overthrow Giovanni and conquer the world.

To achieve his goals, he would exploit and discard anything—

Even his own Pokémon.

Avoiding contact with him was undoubtedly the best course of action.

But Johan still had one lingering question.

—How did the Lake of Life become so polluted?

There was no clear answer.

All he could do now was help Celebi restore the lake.

The golden sunset bathed the vast forest in an orange glow.

In this warm twilight, Johan and his companions laid out a picnic blanket by the Lake of Life.

"Bii~ Bii~~"

Without the Lake of Life's power to aid its recovery, and after exhausting itself trying to purify the lake, Celebi had not yet fully regained its strength.

But thanks to Johan's painstaking generosity, constantly providing it with rare restoration items like Revival Herbs, Revive Shards, and Full Restores, Celebi's condition was far better than when it first arrived.

At this moment—

It was playing with Larvitar.

Larvitar was waving a carp streamer, wearing a little origami hat, and happily shaking the flag at the lake's edge.

It had received this flag from Mr. White back in the village.

While shaking it, Larvitar was also muttering something under its breath—

As if praying for the lake's restoration.

Celebi hovered midair, watching Larvitar's adorable actions, covering its mouth as it giggled.

That silver bell-like laughter seemed to make the surrounding air fresher.

Because Larvitar was still young, Johan didn't assign it any tasks.

It was simply keeping Celebi company.

The other Pokémon, however, were "working" under Johan's guidance—

Preparing dinner.

Since he hadn't planned to camp out in the wild, Johan hadn't packed much food.

His Pokémon's Pokéblock supply was well-stocked, but his own provisions were limited.

Still—

That wasn't a big problem.

In a forest this vast, finding food wasn't difficult.

For example—

Because it had rained earlier, Gengar had collected a bunch of mushrooms.

The only issue was—

Mushrooms could be poisonous.

For those unfamiliar, distinguishing edible from toxic mushrooms was nearly impossible.

So—

"Ka-kaah~ (っ)🎵"

Gengar, the 'Poison Tester,' stepped up.

It popped a mushroom into its mouth, chewing loudly.

After a few seconds—

"Ka-kaah!"

This one's safe!

These ones are poisonous!

Gengar used the most primitive and honest method possible—

Trial by eating.

In the end, all the poisonous mushrooms went straight into Gengar's mouth.

Leaving behind only a small pile of edible ones.

"Larvitar! Put down that Paras!"

"Yoji?"

Larvitar blinked innocently at Johan.

R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at free𝑤ebnovel.com Only.

Then it looked at Gengar.

Then at the large, bright red mushroom in its hands.

It swallowed twice.

Reluctantly, it put the mushroom down.

Paras: (⚆_⚆)

"Good boy. Here, eat some soft shale instead."

"Yoji!!"

Excited, Larvitar cheered, crunched into a rock, and then ran off to keep playing with Celebi.

"Garruu~!"

Urshifu returned from hunting—its face brimming with excitement.

A huge harvest!

Nature's bounty had arrived!

In its hand—

Was a bewildered-looking Farfetch'd.

"...The wild Pokémon population here is pretty abundant. Even Farfetch'd..." Johan mused.

Wait.

Johan's expression suddenly mirrored the Farfetch'd.

You caught a Farfetch'd?

"Goka!"

Charcadet rolled up its sleeves.

Time to start cooking!

🔥🔥🔥

A burst of flames erupted.

Farfetch'd: Σ(дlll)

—It finally realized what was happening.

It was on the menu.

Johan massaged his temples.

"Let it go."

"Garruu?"

Urshifu looked confused.

Such a plump duck...

Wasn't Farfetch'd considered a Johto specialty dish?

Johan rubbed his forehead.

He honestly didn't expect them to actually catch a Farfetch'd.

It was practically on the verge of extinction.

Even the Pokémon League had passed laws to protect it...

"...Release it."

"Garruu."

Fine.

Urshifu nodded and let go.

Farfetch'd breathed a sigh of relief.

It was safe.

"...But leave the leek behind."

"Gaaah!! ~(TロT)σ"

Nightfall

Beneath the brilliant night sky, young Samuel Oak lay in the grass, patting his full belly, looking utterly satisfied.

"...I didn't expect you to be such a good cook, Johan..."

Johan sipped coffee, leaning against Dragonite's soft belly, absentmindedly stroking Ninetales' fur.

Meanwhile, Urshifu, still full of energy, was practicing punches by the riverside.

"Ka-kaah!!"

Gengar played hide-and-seek with Tinkaton, Larvitar, and Celebi.

With an exaggerated jump-scare, it popped out, waving its giant red tongue.

The small Pokémon screamed and scattered.

Gengar cackled.

Larvitar panicked and leaped into Johan's arms.

Had Johan not trained his physical endurance recently, this "Rocket Headbutt" might have made him puke up dinner.

Unfortunately—

Larvitar's hiding skills were... terrible.

It buried its head in Johan's arms, but its little green tail still stuck out, twitching.

Celebi noticed.

Its eyes twinkled mischievously.

It dove behind Johan, clutching his back, peeking cautiously over his shoulder.

When it saw Gengar looking its way, it yelped and hid again.

Tinkaton, meanwhile, was rushing over with her massive hammer.

Johan's expression changed instantly.

"Tinkaton! Look, a shooting star!"

"Cha?"

Tinkaton paused, turning to the sky.

And—

A streak of light flashed across the heavens.

A real shooting star.

"Ka-kaah~~"

The Pokémon all looked up, mesmerized.

Johan also gazed at it, a certain mischievous, wish-granting Pokémon flashing through his mind.

"...Jirachi must be sleeping peacefully."

And so—

Under the starlit sky, Larvitar and Celebi curled up against Johan, and soon—

Fell asleep.

Johan smiled, pulling a blanket over them.

Oak, watching, suddenly spoke:

"...Johan."

"Hm?"

"If I said I could foresee the future... would you believe me?"

"...Huh?"

Johan smiled.

"In the future, when you grow old... you'll meet a boy named Ash."

"...Ash?"

Oak listened carefully.

"A boy with big dreams. And you... will guide him."

Samuel Oak listened carefully, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"Guide him?"

Johan nodded.

"He will be an important child. His greatest dream is to become a Pokémon Master."

Oak pondered for a moment before asking, "And how do I guide him?"

Johan smiled.

"When the time comes, he will come to you—to your lab in Pallet Town."

Oak tilted his head.

Pallet Town?

That place was just a tiny countryside village.

"His most important partner will be a Pikachu." Johan continued, "So no matter what happens, no matter how late he is, make sure to leave him that Pikachu."

Oak fell silent, processing the words carefully.

"...His most important partner?"

He lowered his head in thought.

Even though he did not yet know the details, Oak understood what Johan meant.

One day, he would meet a young boy with a Pikachu.

And he must ensure they meet.

After a long moment, Oak looked up—his gaze filled with determination.

"I understand."

Johan let out a soft sigh.

This butterfly effect... was getting out of control.

But at least he could try to correct or stabilize some things.

Although Oak still didn't know Johan's name,

This night—

He had seen many things.

He had learned about coexisting with Pokémon, respecting nature, and understanding the bond between trainers and their Pokémon.

To Oak, the young man before him didn't just seem like a fellow researcher.

He felt more like a mentor.

A teacher.

And Oak...

Respected him deeply.

After a long pause, Oak took a deep breath and stood up.

Then, he bowed slightly.

"Sir... I still don't know your name."

Johan hesitated.

Ah... finally, he's asking.

If he remained silent now, it would seem rude.

After a moment of thought, Johan answered,

"...Just call me 'Grain in the Field.'"

Oak blinked.

"...Grain in the Field?"

What kind of name is that?

Still, he engraved it into his memory.

Johan himself was a little surprised that he had blurted out those words.

Wait—

Wasn't 'Grain in the Field' the name that Professor Oak once used in a research paper?

Johan shook his head.

Best not to overthink time loops.

Thinking too much about causality and paradoxes would just give him a headache.

Instead, he smiled and changed the subject.

"Get some rest. We still have to restore the lake tomorrow."

Oak nodded and pulled out a simple blanket from his bag.

He lay down nearby, staring at the starry sky reflected in the lake.

A soft night breeze rippled across the water, carrying a peaceful silence.

Johan glanced at the two tiny creatures sleeping beside him.

Larvitar and Celebi had fallen asleep against each other, just like Pikachu and Celebi in the old Pokémon movie.

Chuckling, Johan gently draped a blanket over them.

Without the Lake of Life, Celebi's recovery would be much slower.

But maybe...

This would become a special experience for it.

"...Oowoo."

Ninetales curled up in Johan's lap, its fluffy tails spreading out like a blanket.

Gengar let out a long yawn, pulled out its Ghost Cloak, and floated midair before flopping down to sleep.

Behind them, Dragonite's breathing was deep and steady.

Tinkaton leaned against her massive hammer, already dozing off.

By the river, Urshifu continued training—practicing punches in the moonlight.

Meanwhile, Charcadet sat cross-legged in the center of camp, emitting a faint warm glow, keeping everyone cozy through the night.

Everything was calm.

The Next Morning

"Come on, drink it. It'll help you recover faster."

"...Bii."

Celebi eyed the cup of 'Revival Herb Tea' in Gengar's hands with pure dread.

It shook its head furiously.

No way. Absolutely not.

Johan sighed.

"Drink it, and I'll make you macarons later."

"Bii?!"

Celebi's eyes lit up instantly.

"...Really?"

"Of course."

Gengar handed over the cup of bitter tea, grinning.

Then, it clinked its cup against Celebi's.

'I'll drink first—you take your time.'

With that, Gengar chugged the entire cup.

"Ka-kaah!!"

Its body trembled violently.

POWER.

Celebi hesitated, then held its breath—

And downed the whole thing in one gulp.

"Bii!! (ಥ_ಥ)"

It was awful.

Before it could even process the bitterness, Johan immediately popped a sweet Pokéblock into its mouth.

"...Bii?"

Celebi blinked.

The sweetness quickly erased the bitterness.

Johan smiled, patting its head.

"See? Now it's not so bad."

Celebi chewed thoughtfully and realized—

He was right!

Excited, it zipped around Johan in circles.

"Bii~ Bii~!"

Back to Work

"Alright, everyone," Johan clapped his hands.

"Time to continue purifying the water."

"Bii~~!"

Celebi nodded enthusiastically.

"Got it!" Oak clenched his fist, full of determination.

Even the wild Pokémon had begun gathering again.

Unlike yesterday, today—

Everyone worked in perfect sync.

Celebi purified a portion of the lake.

Then, the Pokémon used barriers to keep the clean water separate from the polluted sections.

The progress was steady and smooth.

By afternoon, however—

Something strange happened.

"Ka-kaah!"

While swimming in the now-clear parts of the lake, Gengar seemed to discover something.

It dived underwater, and a moment later—

Resurfaced holding a metallic object.

It looked like a mechanical arm—

Half-buried beneath mud and algae.

"...What is this?" Oak frowned.

Johan narrowed his eyes.

Why was something like this buried in the Lake of Life?

"...Is this what polluted the water?"

"Keep searching," Johan ordered.

"See if there's more."

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar, Dragonite, and Urshifu dove into the water.

Soon—

More mechanical parts were pulled from the lakebed.

Johan turned to Rotom.

"Analyze them."

Rotom scanned the metallic debris.

"These appear to be... automated Pokémon-capturing devices! Roto!"

Johan's eyes darkened.

Capturing devices?

A horrifying possibility surfaced in his mind.

If these were hidden beneath the lake, then maybe—

Someone had been using the lake to trap Pokémon.

Wild Pokémon would come to drink water, only to be snatched by these machines.

And when they fought back, breaking the machines—

Toxic fuel and oil leaked into the water, polluting the lake.

Beep—Beep Beep—

Suddenly, one of the machines started flashing.

"It's still active! Roto!" Rotom exclaimed.

Johan's expression darkened.

If it was still transmitting data...

That meant whoever set these traps...

Knew they were being tampered with.

And then—

BOOM!

A loud rumbling echoed from deep in the forest.

Flocks of Pidgey and Pidgeotto took to the skies in panic.

Wild Pokémon fled in all directions.

Johan looked up—

A massive, spider-like machine emerged from the trees.

Atop the machine—

Stood a man wearing a golden mask.

His red vest covered the flaming red 'R' symbol on his chest.

Team Rocket's highest-ranking officer.

The Iron Masked Marauder.

And behind him—

A group of unknown individuals was approaching fast.

Johan sighed.

...So much for avoiding trouble.

"HAHAHAHAHA—"

The Marauder let out a wild, arrogant laugh.

"To think I'd find Celebi this easily!"

His burning gaze locked onto the tiny Pokémon behind Johan.

"Bii..."

He raised

a hand, grinning cruelly.

"Hand over Celebi."

"Do that, and maybe—just maybe— I'll let you live."

Johan squinted and took out his phone.

He pointed it at the Marauder.

"Say cheese."

Click!

"...Huh?"

The Marauder instinctively made a peace sign.

—Then immediately realized what he had done.

"You—!!"

Johan smirked and sent the photo to Matori.

Along with a message:

"I heard you've got connections in Johto. Can you take care of this problem for me?"

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance Chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates