Chapter 181:
Hayashi Kaede didn't concern himself with Salamence grudges and grievances—that was Salamence's business. His point was simply to direct this hatred appropriately and not affect the innocent.
Just like the story he had fabricated for Salamence before.
If grievances have no specific target and debts no end to collect, hatred would breed hatred and only perpetuately cause hatred endlessly.
"Salamence!" (So you mean, you'll let me go find those people?)
Salamence said with considerable excitement.
"Of course, I won't stop you from that."
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Putting himself in its place, if Hayashi Kaede were captured, subjected to daily blood draws and experiments, and then regained freedom and power, he probably wouldn't be much better off than Salamence.
Just like the "League Champion" in the story.
So, Hayashi Kaede wouldn't stop Salamence from such matters.
"Salamence!" (Good!)
Salamence's initial attitude toward Hayashi Kaede immediately became less resistant; in fact, it found him more and more agreeable.
This human was good.
Not only did he provide food every day, but now he wasn't even obstructing its revenge.
It spread its wings, about to soar into the sky, but Hayashi Kaede timely called out, "Wait... don't move recklessly! Hear me out first."
"Salamence?" Its wingbeats halted. Though excited, with Mewtwo still nearby, Salamence could only obediently pause.
"What do you want to do now?"
"Salamence!" (Get revenge!)
"Revenge?" Hayashi Kaede placed a hand on its wing. "Revenge? With what? They caught you once; they can catch you again. There are so many of them. Why do you think they'd fight you one by one?"
Salamence's mind blanked. It suddenly remembered that although its strength had recovered, it was at this same strength level when it was captured before.
If its strength hadn't changed, wouldn't it just get captured again if it went now?
"Seeing your expression, you understand what I'm saying. So, focus on getting stronger first before talking about revenge."
Watching Salamence's Happiness value rise and then fall again, Hayashi Kaede patted its head. "During this time, just stay well-behaved in the Berry Plantation...."
"Salamence...."
Salamence nodded seriously. Dragon-type Pokémon had long lives; it was only in its prime now. There was plenty of time to grow stronger and then seek revenge.
Moreover, it could feel that growing stronger here was faster.
Doing the math, it wouldn't take long at all—maybe it could soon get its revenge!
With a goal, Salamence's entire demeanor became spirited, as if reborn.
Seeing Salamence like this, Hayashi Kaede smiled contentedly. His recent period of "earnest teaching" hadn't been in vain.
....
After raising Salamence's friendship level again, Hayashi Kaede returned to the new kitchen in the garden.
He took out a bottle from his Storage Ball containing a black stone. The bottle was filled with quite a lot of liquid.
This was the Nether Stone Mew had brought him a couple of days ago.
Initially, he thought it was the one Darkrai had given to Kazephyr. But after Mew explained—saying it had taken the stone from that Darkrai itself—Hayashi Kaede breathed a sigh of relief.
But then, Mew immediately took out a Moltres feather and told him *this* was what it had taken from the Moltres under Kazephyr.
Hayashi Kaede's expression at that moment had utterly petrified.
Taking a stone from Darkrai, taking a feather from Moltres.
That was so like it...
Between surprise and amusement, he couldn't help but ask, "Did they know you were taking these things?"
Mew shook its head.
"That won't do. Taking things without asking is basically stealing. That's not a good habit!" Hayashi Kaede had promptly tapped its forehead.
Mew's reply at the time was: "Mew~" (But they have plenty! These are just consumables for them. Besides, I like collecting odd things.)
It said it very casually.
Like Moltres feathers—if it took some, they would grow back. If it didn't, they'd naturally molt during shedding season or they might even lose some feathers in battles with other Pokémon.
Hearing this, Hayashi Kaede immediately found it interesting. "So by that logic, my food is also a consumable. Speaking of which, when you first came here, you transformed into a Pidgeotto and secretly ate my food."
"Here, let me give you an example. See how you'd feel."
"Say, you guard the World Tree, right? The World Tree is your root. But there's something on the World Tree that is a great treasure for humans."
"This treasure, as you said, regenerates automatically—it's a consumable. Now, if a human secretly climbed the World Tree and without your permission, took this treasure, would you be happy?"
"Mew?"
This speech made Mew fall into deep thought immediately. The World Tree was its root.
If the World Tree disappeared, it would vanish too, and the entire world's ecosystem would be damaged.
Without its permission, it certainly wouldn't like anyone causing any harm to the World Tree.
Mew shook its head. "Mew." (Not happy. The World Tree is very important.)
"Right, the principle is the same. You also know that taking things without permission is behavior that makes others unhappy." Hayashi Kaede stroked its head. Seeing its thoughtful expression, he didn't say more.
Ultimately, for a Pokémon like Mew, who knew how many years it had lived in this world—when it came to principles, you could only guide it gradually and methodically, letting it realize things itself. Other methods wouldn't work.
...
Turning back to look at the bottle soaking the Nether Stone, Hayashi Kaede fell into thought.
After Mew brought it out, he discovered that this stone, whether soaked in water or not, would slowly emit its energy.
However, if not soaked in water, this Dark-type energy would gradually cover the town, potentially turning it into a ghost town again. However, if placed in water, the emitted energy would slowly dissolve into the water.
Since that was the case, it was better to let it dissolve in water.
[Water soaked with the Nether Stone: When applied in cooking, seems to produce a miraculous change. Food made with this water naturally becomes more attractive to Dark-type Pokémon.
Side effect: Might also summon nightmares, but can be counteracted with opposing energy.]