As for Roy, after leaving Viridian City, he followed the map toward the nearest city—Pewter City.
The Gym there happened to be a low-level Rock-type Gym. Roy planned to obtain his first badge, the grey badge, from there.
Stepping out of the city, the air in the suburbs became much fresher.
Misty had long since put the embarrassment at the Pokemon Center behind her. She skipped along at the front, humming a tune that was slightly out of key.
"La la la~ Ice cream~ Burgers~ The next city~"
Delia walked gently beside Roy, occasionally communicating with him through her eyes; everything was understood without words.
The three of them followed the road for a while until a vast, dense forest appeared before them.
Viridian Forest.
One of the largest forests in the Kanto region, it was also the mandatory path to Pewter City.
"Wow, what a huge forest!" Misty poked her head in to look. The light among the trees was somewhat dim, and various Bug Buzz and rustling sounds could be heard.
Her expression changed slightly, but she quickly puffed out her chest and muttered to herself.
"Th-there's nothing to be afraid of! I'm a future Water-type Master!"
Roy smiled, choosing not to expose her.
He tapped on the system map to confirm their direction.
"Once we pass through this forest, we'll reach Pewter City. Everyone stay close; there are many wild Pokemon in the forest."
"Got it!" Misty replied, but her footsteps quietly shuffled closer to Roy.
Delia covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
Just as the three were about to enter the forest, the system notification sound in Roy's mind rang on cue.
[Ding! Gym Challenge Mission—Pewter Gym: Defeat the Pewter Gym Leader, Brock, to obtain the grey badge.]
[Mission Reward: metal coat—When held by a Pokemon, the power of Steel-type moves increases by 20%. It is an evolution item for specific Pokemon.]
[Extra Optional Mission: When battling Gym Leader Brock, achieve victory using a Pokemon whose type is disadvantaged against Rock-type (Type Disadvantage).]
[Mission Reward: The quality of the metal coat will be upgraded to 'Exquisite'. Exquisite metal coat—The power boost for Steel-type moves is increased to 40%!]
Roy's footsteps paused slightly.
The rewards this time were good. The metal coat was not only powerful equipment but also a key item for evolving Onix and Scyther; he would need it sooner or later.
As for the optional mission... a victory with a Type Disadvantage would directly double the reward.
A 40% power increase was a quite considerable boost.
But a Type Disadvantage... Roy began to calculate in his mind.
Reality wasn't an anime; it wasn't something that could be accomplished just by saying a few words about not underestimating the bond between them.
Defeating a Gym Leader with a Type Disadvantage meant needing a massive advantage in level, tactics, or abilities.
Or utilizing the terrain, or perhaps using extra-boost items like a cheater.
But speaking of which, Roy really did have a method.
Pikachu's 'Movie Star' ability.
Once triggered, it ignored type advantages and forced a fifty-fifty match.
If he utilized this well, winning with a Type Disadvantage wasn't impossible.
However, there was still quite a distance to Pewter City. One must eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. He would pass through this forest first, grind some levels, and diversify his lineup before anything else.
He composed himself and led the two women as they officially stepped into Viridian Forest.
The interior of the forest looked even more profound than it did from the outside.
The trees were tall, their branches and leaves blotting out the sky, leaving only dappled light.
The air was thick with the scent of soil and vegetation, mixed with the faint sweetness of some Berries.
"There... seem to be a lot of bugs here?" Misty's voice was noticeably quieter. Her eyes darted around alertly, and her body was almost pressed against Roy's arm.
"Viridian Forest is a paradise for Bug-type and Flying-type Pokemon, so of course there are many bugs," Roy said calmly, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.
He was searching.
According to his memory, there should be a Metapod with quite good potential in this forest.
That Caterpie could demonstrate impressive combat intelligence even in the early stages, and it would be able to hold its own after evolving.
Bug-type Pokemon grew quickly and evolved early, making them an excellent choice for rapidly building up combat strength.
If he could capture it, it would be of great benefit for challenging the first Gym and even for fleshing out his early-game team.
"B-Bug... Bug-types..." Misty's face turned a bit pale, and she subconsciously grabbed the corner of Roy's clothes.
Seeing this, Delia naturally walked to Misty's other side and said gently, "Don't worry too much, Misty. Most Bug-type Pokemon are quite gentle, as long as you don't provoke them..."
She hadn't even finished her sentence.
The nearby bushes suddenly shook.
Immediately after, a bright green, chubby caterpillar wriggled its way out.
A Caterpie!
It raised its head, looking at these three uninvited guests with its curious little black eyes.
"Eek—!!!"
The next second, a piercing scream comparable to a soprano suddenly exploded, nearly piercing through the forest!
"Bug! Bug! A bug—!!!"
All of Misty's courage and pretense collapsed instantly.
Like a frightened rabbit, she jumped back violently, and then, without a second thought, she leaped directly!
Roy only felt a sudden weight on his back.
A warm, soft body that was trembling violently was now firmly latched onto his back.
Misty had jumped onto Roy's back, her hands death-gripping his neck, and her slender, white legs were wrapped tightly around his waist like an octopus.
Misty buried her face deeply into the crook of Roy's neck and shoulder, her voice carrying a hint of crying, her body shaking like a leaf in the wind.
Roy was stunned by this sudden "attack." His neck was being held a bit too tightly, but what was clearer was the startling elasticity and softness coming from his back.
Misty usually wore shorts and a small tank top, making her look lively and athletic. Now that they were pressed tightly together, Roy truly felt her beautiful figure, full of youthful vitality.
Especially those pert buttocks, which were currently pressing firmly against his palms and waist; through the thin layer of fabric, the sensation was incredibly clear.
Those legs were even more forcefully wrapped around his waist, the soft and elastic skin of her inner thighs pressed tightly against his sides.
"Cough, cough... Misty, give me some air, I'm being strangled to death." Roy patted her arms that were clamped around his neck.
"No! I won't! There's a bug!!" Instead, Misty hugged him even tighter, and her legs locked even more securely.
Roy was helpless; he could only first support the back of her knees to steady her body, lest they both fall over.
He looked down at those jade-white, beautiful legs that were tightly locked around his waist and slightly tensed from the effort. This posture... was truly standard and intimate.
Moreover, the tomboy who usually seemed full of energy and quite strong was actually light and soft when carried, not heavy at all.
Maybe he really could carry her around the whole house... cough cough... Roy pushed aside his stray thoughts and began to comfort her.
"Alright, alright, don't be afraid. It's just a Caterpie; it didn't attack us."
Delia was also startled by Misty's sudden, intense reaction.
She hadn't expected Misty's fear of bugs to reach such an extent.
However, seeing Misty hanging tightly onto Roy's back with their bodies pressed closely together, a flash of understanding and a smile crossed Delia's eyes.
Well, this was great; the assist wasn't even needed.
"Eevee, go on, gently ask it to leave, don't scare it," Delia instructed her Eevee.
"Bui~"
Eevee leaped over gracefully and swatted the Caterpie away with its tail.
"Alright, Misty, the bug is gone." Roy shook his shoulders, and the softness on his back swayed slightly along with the movement.
His hands naturally supported Misty's buttocks, his palms feeling the elastic curves. He even unconsciously gave a light squeeze to help her adjust her position, also carrying a hint of imperceptible teasing.
"Is... is it really gone?" Misty's voice was muffled and heavily nasal, but she finally dared to raise her head a little, opening her eyes a crack to cautiously peek behind her.
Confirming that the terrifying green creature had indeed disappeared, she finally let out a long, trembling sigh of relief.
But she still remained sprawled on Roy's back like she had no bones, her limbs weak, with no intention of coming down at all.
"Um... Roy..." Misty's voice became smaller, carrying an unprecedented fragility and embarrassment: "Will we... encounter more bugs later?"
Roy could almost imagine her flushed face at this moment.
He deliberately pondered for a moment before saying, "Definitely. This is Viridian Forest, a paradise for Bug-type Pokemon. Caterpie, Weedle, Metapod, Kakuna... maybe even Venonat, Paras, and things like that."
With every name he spoke, he felt the delicate body on his back stiffen and tremble a bit more.
"And," Roy added with a hint of mischief, "we have to cross the forest, which will probably take a few days. We've only just entered."
"Ugh..."
Misty let out a wail that sounded almost like despair.
Her face turned pale, then red, and then pale again. Finally, as if having made a monumental decision, she buried her burning cheeks back into the crook of Roy's neck and said in a voice as tiny as a mosquito's, yet loud enough for Roy and Delia beside him to hear clearly:
"My... my legs are weak... I... I can't walk..."
"Roy... can... can you carry me?"
Seeming to feel that this request was too much, she quickly added stammeringly, with a bit of a pleasing tone:
"Once... once we're out of the forest, I'll treat you to something delicious! A big meal! A double portion of ice cream! No, triple!"
Roy was nearly laughing his head off inside.
The usually boisterous, self-proclaimed tomboy Misty actually had such a soft, cute moment where she proactively asked for a hug (piggyback).
He could clearly feel her warm breath puffing against the back of his ear and neck as she spoke, which was ticklish.
The close contact on his back, the warmth, softness, and trembling of the young girl's body, along with that faint scent mixed with sweat and a hint of fragrance, continuously bombarded his senses.
It felt pretty good?
Moreover, carrying her while walking was in itself an excellent opportunity to grind favorability points.
After all, Misty still had a Psychic mission attached to her.
Whether for public or private reasons, this move was not a loss.
"Sigh, I really can't do anything about you." Roy deliberately let out a sigh, but his hands steadily supported her, and he gave her a little hoist to make their posture more comfortable.
"It's a deal then. Once we're out of the forest, three portions of ice cream, and I get to choose the flavors."
"Yes, yes, yes! You choose! As much as you want!" Misty agreed hurriedly. As long as she didn't have to get down and walk by herself while facing potential bugs, she would agree to any condition.
"Delia, then we'll walk a bit slower," Roy said to Delia beside him.
Delia had a gentle yet playful smile on her face and nodded. "Alright. Misty, just stay there with peace of mind. Eevee and I will keep an eye on the surroundings."
She specifically emphasized "stay there with peace of mind," which made Misty's ears turn even redder, but she was powerless to refute and could only bury her head deeper like an ostrich.
"Let's go."
Roy didn't delay any further. Carrying Misty, he strode forward into the deeper parts of Viridian Forest.
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