Seven o’clock in the evening.
After preparing dinner for Cyclizar, Alcremie, and Smoliv, Naoki told them he was going out for a while and rode Koraidon towards Casseroya Lake.
The moon was bright tonight, with a faint mist rising over Casseroya Lake, and the soft moonlight spilled onto the lake’s surface.
Whenever a Pokemon leaped out of the water, the silvery full moon would shimmer and break with the ripples.
"You finally made it!"
Yousuke, not returning to the watchtower, had simply set up a makeshift campsite by the lake, with a campfire burning brightly in front of the tent, clearly visible in the night.
Beside him stood a Pokemon bearing a shield in its left hand and a sword in its right, with a thick black eyebrow and a calm, composed demeanor.
The group of Nacli were dozing off beside the fire.
Naoki placed the food he had prepared in front of them, and the young Pokemon immediately opened their eyes, full of surprise and delight.
"It’s true, they like your dried fish more than my sandwich!" Yousuke scratched his head. "They haven’t eaten anything tonight."
His Secret Sandwich held no appeal for the Nacli.
Watching the Nacli begin to eat, Naoki smiled and said, "Considering they’re born from layers of rock salt underground, it’s no wonder their taste in food differs from humans."
Yousuke agreed, "True."
He glanced at the time and said, "It’s already half-past seven. When should we set off?"
Naoki replied, "We can go now."
"Great!" Yousuke seemed very excited. He stood up, took a picture book and a pen from his backpack, and said to the knight-like Pokemon, "Sirfetch’d, I’ll leave them in your care!"
"Quack!"
Sirfetch’d saluted, indicating it would surely protect the group of Nacli.
Naoki curiously observed Sirfetch’d and asked, "It evolved from Farfetch’d, didn’t it?"
"That’s right. Only the Galarian form of Farfetch’d can evolve into Sirfetch’d," Yousuke explained with a smile. "It’s a very brave and diligent Pokemon, and its stance in battle is quite like the valiant warriors in movies!"
Naoki nodded, his attention caught by Sirfetch’d’s hands holding a leek-like sword and a shield made of leek leaves.
The large leek is a very important item to them, used as a weapon, and is more valuable to Sirfetch’d than anything else.
Yet at the same time, the leek is an excellent culinary ingredient.
Feeling an unfriendly gaze on itself, Sirfetch’d quickly turned its head with a sharp look.
Following Naoki’s gaze, Yousuke chuckled and said, "The leek Sirfetch’d carries only grows in the Galar region. Want some? I have a few more in my backpack; I can give you one."
Naoki was also curious about the Galarian leek, knowing it was a delicious seasoning that could enhance the flavor of dishes.
"Then, thank you in advance," Naoki said, turning towards the distant Casseroya Lake, and spoke to Yousuke: "We should set off. Do you still remember where the Pokemon is?"
"Of course!"
"Then hop on!"
Naoki patted Koraidon, which obligingly bent down.
Naoki got on first, and when it was Yousuke’s turn, he seemed a bit overwhelmed: "Can I really ride this Pokemon too? It won’t get mad, right?"
Hearing this, Naoki looked at Koraidon.
In consideration of Naoki, Koraidon graciously shook its head, "Kreashh!"
Yousuke immediately became excited, "Thank you so much!"
He carefully climbed on.
Once he was settled, Koraidon flew up into the air, above the layer of faint mist.
Yousuke looked around, determined the direction, and then pointed westward, saying, "It’s on the west side of Casseroya Lake, near the Paldea Sea. We need to cross Casseroya Lake first."
"Okay," Naoki replied concisely.
Now nighttime, some Pokemon that are hard to find during the day began appearing in this area.
Naoki glanced down, spotting a few Murkrow perched on the branches and some sneaky Misdreavus up to unknown activities.
Suddenly, Yousuke exclaimed, "Oh my god! Slaking is standing up!"
Naoki, following his gaze, saw a Slaking pacing back and forth on a grass patch below.
It seemed to have sensed an unfamiliar presence, as the Slaking sharply raised its head and looked over.
"It’s noticed us!" Yousuke was somewhat shocked.
Everyone knows that Slaking is very lazy, lying on the ground motionless, living their life lying down, only eating grass that grows within reach.
Only when the surrounding grass is eaten up will it reluctantly move to another place—even Trainers causing trouble in front of it won’t get a reaction.
But now, the Slaking wasn’t lying down; instead, it was energetically pacing around, with a keen expression, constantly observing its surroundings.
That look didn’t match a Slaking at all.
Naoki recalled a line he had heard while playing games—when you encounter a wandering Slaking, it’s definitely not a Slaking, but a Ditto or a Zoroark transformed.