"Brother Icarus… how did I do this time?"
After finishing the cleanup, Airi walked up with the processed Weedle materials, her face still pale as she asked.
"Not bad, Airi," Icarus nodded. "You're already a real trainer now. I'm sure Mr. Takashima would be proud of you."
"Thank you!" Airi smiled brightly. "I'll keep working hard!"
Getting his approval clearly meant a lot to her. At least now… she wouldn't be abandoned.
"Next, I'll accompany you for two more battles," Icarus continued. "After that, you'll hunt on your own. I'll head into the inner zone to complete my mission.
We'll meet again near the forest entrance around evening."
"Ah? So soon?" Airi hesitated. "I… I don't know if I can handle it alone. And without Pidgeotto, I can't even find opponents…"
"Don't worry," Icarus adjusted the plan calmly.
"For the next two fights, you won't rely on Pidgeotto. Just pick a direction and explore. Whatever you encounter—you fight.
But don't go too far. A few hundred meters at most. One kilometer is the absolute limit."
"…Okay."
Airi nodded. By now, she was used to following his instructions.
---
After cleaning up the battlefield, Airi walked ahead with Poliwag, exploring on her own, while Icarus followed at a distance.
Over the next battles, she encountered three Weedle and two Rattata.
One thing became clear—
Poliwag's Bubble was extremely effective against Rattata.
With Airi's support, the two Rattata were defeated before they could even fully utilize their speed.
In fact, her performance was already better than Icarus's back when he was at the same stage.
Of course, it wasn't without mistakes.
During one fight, a misjudgment allowed a Rattata to use Focus Energy, and Poliwag ended up getting bitten.
Right now—
"Poliwag… this is my fault… does it still hurt?"
Airi carefully sprayed medicine onto the wound.
"Yo~ yo…"
Poliwag shook its head, enduring the pain and reassuring her.
"You've got a good partner," Icarus said as he walked over.
"Of course! Poliwag is the best!" Airi replied immediately.
After treating the injury, she looked up again.
"Brother Icarus… are you really going into the inner zone alone?"
"Yes," he nodded. "But it's almost noon. Let's eat first—I have a few things to tell you."
---
They moved to an open area with a clear line of sight.
"Take out the food I told you to prepare," Icarus said, pulling out a sealed meat ration.
Airi nodded and did the same.
"First," Icarus began,
"When resting in the wild, always choose open ground like this. And don't eat at the same time—have your Pokémon stay alert.
Also, only eat simple, low-smell food like this. Never bring anything with a strong scent."
"Got it!" Airi quickly swallowed a bite and started writing it down.
"Second—if you encounter other trainers while alone in the wild…"
His tone turned serious.
"Do not trust them. Avoid them whenever possible. If you can't avoid them—run toward the forest exit immediately.
Pokémon aren't the only danger out here. Other trainers can be even worse."
"I understand. I'll only listen to you, Brother Icarus."
"Good."
He stood up, brushing off the dust.
"That's all. I'm heading out. Remember—your safety comes first."
"Okay… Brother Icarus, be careful too!"
She watched him leave, her voice slightly unsteady.
After spending more than ten days together, she already understood—
Once he made a decision, he wouldn't change it.
This path… she had to walk herself.
---
"Icarus… thank you…"
She whispered softly as his figure disappeared into the distance.
---
Meanwhile—
Icarus didn't look back.
"Still just a simple tool," he thought, waving casually as he continued forward.
He had spent over half a month shaping her. Now that she was finally useful, it was time to focus on his own goals again.
If she died out here alone?
He'd regret it—but that was all.
He wasn't her caretaker.
A naturally gifted ability user raised under protection… was worthless to him.
---
"Today's target… Tauros."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Those rich people really know how to spend—paying that much for high-quality beef."
Nothing in this world mattered more than money.
---
Back on Airi's side—
She quickly finished eating, took a sip of water, and prepared Poliwag's meal.
"Poliwag, stop guarding—come eat. I'll take over."
She gripped the bloodstained dagger in her right hand.
Water flowed faintly around her left.
Her light-blue eyes scanned the surroundings sharply.
"Yo…?"
Poliwag froze for a moment.
This was the first time it had seen her like this.
No longer weak.
No longer hesitant.
"…Yo!"
It happily began eating.
My trainer… has finally grown.
---
(End of Chapter)
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