After hearing from Hayashi just how rare Sabrina's newly acquired Hatenna was, Erina and Hisako exchanged bewildered glances.
Hisako murmured, "Is getting Pokémon in this world really that easy?"
Like, just find their habitat, and then you get one?
Hayashi glanced at Hisako, then pointed at Sabrina and said, "If you had a Pokémon at least at Elite-level strength, capable of Mega Evolution, plus your own psychic abilities at Elite-level that you can enhance your Pokémon with—then yeah, you could make it look this easy too."
Hisako caught Hayashi's implication—if translated to the Shokugeki world, it meant if you had a God's Tongue like Erina, learning cooking would be just as effortless.
She stuck out her tongue and said, "Alright, so it's a privilege for the super-talented."
"Now we only have Rookidee and Indeedee left, right?" Having caught the Pokémon she wanted—and such a rare shiny one at that—Sabrina was clearly in high spirits. "Where do Indeedee usually live?"
Looks like she's planning to go all out in one go?
Hayashi rubbed his temples, recalling, "Hmm, like Chansey and Blissey, Indeedee is another Pokémon rarely found in the wild—"
The difference was, Chansey and Blissey were monopolized by the Joy family, with fewer than a hundred left in the wild, while Indeedee naturally gravitated toward humans, making them nearly impossible to find in the wild.
Sabrina frowned. "So you're saying we have to find a Joy in the Galar region?"
Hayashi rubbed his head in frustration, crossing his arms as he tried to recall the spawn locations of Indeedee in the games. However, he knew this could only serve as a rough reference—after all, games were designed for players to catch Pokémon and complete their Pokédex. In the Crown Tundra, even Ho-Oh, Lugia, Groudon, and Kyogre could be found, but realistically, that was impossible.
'I guess it's the same as Hatterene's habitat—just a vague reference?' Hayashi pinched his chin thoughtfully.
In regions like Kanto and Johto, Hayashi could confidently determine Pokémon habitats, thanks to both the games and the data provided by Professor Oak. But the Galar region was currently rather isolated, leaving him with only the games as a reference. Fortunately, Hatterene's habitat seemed to match the games.
However, Indeedee was far rarer in reality compared to Hatterene, so whether it had been monopolized like Miltank was anyone's guess.
'Indeedee's habitat… I think it was… it was…'
Honestly, it wasn't Hayashi's fault he couldn't remember right away!
He remembered Tropius's location because Tropius was the ultimate HM slave in Emerald, and he always caught one to learn HM moves whenever he played Emerald (or its remakes)!
He remembered Hatterene's location because Hatterene was stunningly beautiful, and during his Sword and Shield playthrough, he had assembled an all-beauty team—Primarina, Shiny Gardevoir, Hatterene, Sylveon, Diancie, and Magearna.
But Indeedee…
He really hadn't paid much attention to it, so it was no surprise he couldn't recall immediately.
"Lili—"
Just as he was racking his brain, the Hatenna in Sabrina's arms let out an adorable, squeaky cry.
"Are you looking for an Indeedee? We have one right here!"
"Eh?" x4
Even Sabrina took a moment to process this.
"Lee!"
Right here, we have an Indeedee!
"Eh!?"
...
...
"There are wild Indeedee at Axew's Lake... Wait, seriously?"
Hayashi felt a bit odd as he opened his computer and searched the wiki, only to find that—holy crap—it was true. In Sword and Shield, Indeedee could spawn in Glimwood Tangle and Axew's Lake.
Well, that checks out.
Hisako crouched down and looked at the Hatenna in front of her, speaking softly, "Little one, could you take us to find an Indeedee?"
"Lee!"
Leave it to me!
Hatenna nodded vigorously, then began toddling forward on her short little legs, pattering step by step toward the depths of Axew's Lake—the habitat of the Indeedee clan.
But...
'Oh... oh no—'
The four of them watched Hatenna's painfully slow progress, their expressions twisting with secondhand embarrassment.
Sabrina wiped her brow and reached out to pick up Hatenna, saying, "I'll just carry you there!"
If left to Hatenna's own speed, a 10-minute walk might take 20 minutes—a tragic fate for those with stubby legs.
"Lee—"
Tears of sorrow welled up in Hatenna's eyes as she nodded and clenched her sideburns—I must train hard and evolve into a Hatterene as soon as possible! Then I'll have enviably long legs!
...
...
Guided by Hatenna, the group arrived at the Hatterene habitat and made their request to the clan's leader for an audience with an Indeedee.
Hisako bowed earnestly. "Please, grant us at least a chance to meet one!"
The Hatterene, exuding the gentle aura of a kind older sister, tilted her head slightly. Her eyes curved into crescents as she nodded softly. "Lee—"
Very well, follow me.
For the sake of my precious daughter, I'll take you to meet one.
Hisako's face lit up with joy. "Thank you so much!"
"Pika—"
Pikachu let out a relieved sigh. The tense atmosphere earlier had made her feel so uneasy that even the ketchup in her hands didn't taste as good.
Slurp.
"Don't worry, Pikachu," Erina said gently, stroking Pikachu's head with a smile. "Hisako will definitely succeed!"
Led by Hatterene, the four passed through the clan's territory and reached the deepest, most central part of Axew's Lake—a location bordering nearly all the major factions around the lake.
Hayashi raised an eyebrow. "As expected of a doctor—getting along everywhere, huh—"
Pokémon with healing abilities are already rare—after all, there are no convenient Technical Machines (TMs) in reality. Pokémon learn moves either through constant practice, being taught by others, or by unlocking the power within their bloodline.
This makes Pokémon with healing abilities exceptionally scarce, especially in the more competitive wild. So any Pokémon with half a brain wouldn't dare provoke a doctor.
After all, if the doctor refuses to heal you, you're really done for.
Sure enough, when Hatterene led them over, they saw a female Indeedee casting Heal Pulse, and the one being healed was a massive Pangoro.
"Hatt—"
Hatterene stopped, glanced in Indeedee's direction, then nodded at Hisako and the others before silently slipping away—just like the Black Lady.
'Come to think of it, Hatterene can learn Heal Pulse too…' Hayashi blinked as he watched Hatterene's retreating figure. 'Then again, Hatterene doesn't exactly seem gentle.'
Don't be fooled by Hatterene's delicate and charming appearance into thinking they're some kind of gentle, nurturing Pokémon! Hatterene are known as the "Silent Pokémon" precisely because they prefer quiet environments. If someone disrupts the silence or mindlessly makes a racket, they'll face Hatterene's merciless attacks.
With such tendencies, Hatterene naturally wouldn't go around healing Pokémon of other species like the kind-hearted Indeedee! They're probably the type to keep to themselves.
"I'm all good—"
Once the Heal Pulse ended, Pangoro climbed to his feet, stretched his shoulders, then happily raised his arms in a strongman pose.
"Thanks, doc—"
He cheerfully hugged the female Indeedee beside him, but before he could say anything else, the male Indeedee on the other side smacked him in the head with a Shadow Ball. Pangoro let out an exaggerated yelp and collapsed to the ground.
Still not satisfied, the male Indeedee charged up a Dazzling Gleam in his hands, baring his teeth as he snapped, "You brute, why are you hugging someone else's wife!? Drop dead!"
Oh crap, Fairy-type moves hit me for quadruple damage—can't take that!
Pangoro scrambled up, covered his head, and bolted away, shouting, "My bad! Next time I'll hug you instead!"
"Get lost!"
"Oww—"
Pangoro immediately dove forward, curled into a ball, and rolled away like a tumbleweed.
Damn, Pangoro just used "Rollout"—that's a biological miracle right there.
"Damn it—"
The male Indeedee was clearly hot-tempered. He glared at Pangoro's retreating figure and grumbled, "Next time we heal him, I'm slipping in a Dazzling Gleam for good measure!"
"Tehe—"
The female Indeedee covered her mouth with a light laugh. "That's just how he is. You know that, right?"
That's exactly why I'm pissed! How many times has that idiot done this!? Brainless brute!
The Indeedee bared its teeth and glared once more in the direction where the Pangoro had left, seemingly unsatisfied. It even threw a couple of fierce punches into the air toward that direction, saying, "Next time he comes, I'll make sure he tastes fists the size of sand pots, rawr!"
Yeah, right. With your base Attack stat of 65, you'd better stick to your Dazzling Gleam.
After venting its frustration, the Indeedee crossed its arms and turned around, eyeing Hayashi and the others with a strange look. "Why are humans here?" it asked.
Hisako took a deep breath. She understood that the help others could offer her had ended here. The path ahead...
She would have to walk it alone!
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