Not Being a Trainer This Time-Chapter 564 - 318: Infernal Pass, Slugma, Ghost

If we want to switch to growing rice, we’ll need to specially create rice paddies, which is too troublesome.

"That’s right!" The village chief, familiar with the situation in Porto Marinada Town, agreed: "But every place has crops suited to it, and rice is our specialty in Kitakami, right?"

"Oh, by the way, we also have a local delicacy in Kitakami made from this rice, it’s called sticky cake. You should try it sometime!"

*

Naoki tried this Kitakami specialty at noon.

He was planning to return to the community hall for lunch, but just as he left the rice field, a warm-hearted lady invited him to her home, offering to let him taste her homemade sticky cake at lunch.

Naoki was puzzled, wondering if everyone here was this hospitable.

But soon, he realized why.

Because the field he planted today with Koraidon belonged to this lady!

"Come in and eat here!" The lady welcomed Naoki into the house and then busied herself in the kitchen.

Seeing this, Naoki didn’t refuse, thinking that the people of Kitakami were quite simple and kind.

He went into the courtyard and released all his Pokémon.

The lady, who lived alone for years since her husband passed away and her son settled in another region, rarely had her family come back except during holidays.

So aside from the lady, no one else lived in the house.

Naoki couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional, realizing that even in the Pokémon World, there were left-behind children and elderly.

The courtyard was meticulously cleaned, with a Magikarp Fountain situated in a corner.

Dragonite and Cyclizar were very curious about the Magikarp statue, and both went close to observe it.

Flutter Mane lurked silently in the shadows under the eaves, quietly watching the surroundings.

Koraidon and Naoki stood on the pavement, observing the Pokémon around them.

Pawmo looked around in wonder.

Suddenly, Naoki heard an excited growl from Pawmo.

He looked up and saw Pawmo had flown to the window, excitedly gazing at something inside.

The lady, who was cooking, saw Pawmo and opened the window with a smile: "Hungry, aren’t you? Lunch will take a little longer, why not have some of the cookies I made for now!"

"Pawmo... Pawmo!" Pawmo extended its paw to take a cookie, happily growling twice, then turned around and flew to Naoki, signaling for him to take a look.

"What’s going on?" Naoki, although surprised, stood up and went to check with Pawmo.

Soon, he understood Pawmo’s intention.

Because in the kitchen, there was a Slugma!

The Slugma was hiding under the stove, using its body heat to help the lady cook!

"Pawmo!" Pawmo was overjoyed, as it had long wanted to make friends with a Slugma!

The lady noticed Pawmo’s curiosity and, looking at the Slugma and then back at Pawmo, said with a smile:

"So you saw the Slugma?"

Naoki was also delighted: "Ma’am, can you catch Slugma here in Kitakami?"

"Yes!" The lady replied with a smile, just as the pot was gurgling, indicating the food was ready.

She placed the food and sticky cake into dishes, saying, "You can find Slugma on Ghost Mountain behind the town, they live in a place called Infernal Pass."

"Infernal Pass?" Naoki moved forward to help the lady set the table.

The lady nodded: "Yes, it’s where the ground releases terrifying volcanic gases, making the surrounding temperature extremely hot, like hell, hence the name Infernal Pass."

"Although it sounds scary, Infernal Pass has been a famous training ground since ancient times. Many Trainers and travelers intentionally go there to train."

"I see..." Naoki nodded, thinking that in such an environment, there must be many Fire Type Pokémon.

He decided, in the afternoon, he would go take a look!

"Lunch is ready! Come and eat!" The lady called out to the outside.

Three minutes later, Koraidon and the other Pokémon rushed over, gathering around the table to enjoy lunch.

The Slugma also came out, and the lady handed it a Berry, which it happily gobbled up.

"I met this Slugma on Ghost Mountain, it had fallen from Infernal Pass and got injured on the mountain path. I fed it a Berry, and since then, it started living with me." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"That’s wonderful," Naoki said softly.

"By the way!" The lady suddenly remembered something, her expression turning serious: "If you’re going to Ghost Mountain, don’t wander around there carelessly!"

Naoki was slightly taken aback: "What do you mean?"

The lady explained: "It’s said that the ghost driven away by the Loyal Three Pokémon is still lurking there, and if you encounter it, it will take your life!"

Ghost...

If he’s not mistaken, that ghost should also be a Pokémon, right?

Perhaps it’s some kind of Ghost Type Legendary Pokémon?

Upon hearing this, Naoki hesitated slightly.

He looked at the Pokémon beside him, thinking that with them, even if the ghost was a Legendary Pokémon, they would be safe.