Get Stronger by Pleasing Pokémon? Who Needs to Be a Trainer!

”The meaning of Pokémon’s existence…”

Lin Feng held the pen in his hand, thinking for a moment. Finally, he wrote a single sentence:

”Existence itself is a kind of meaning. No living being has the right to question or judge the reason for another’s existence. That includes you.”

He carefully placed the paper back into the envelope, sealed it, then pulled out a large bag of Stamina Energy Cubes from his storage ball. Under Dragonite’s bewildered gaze, he handed it over.

”It’s a long journey for you delivering these letters. Please pass along a message to whoever this letter’s really meant for. Think of it as… a conversation.”

Recalling the image of Mewtwo in his mind, Lin Feng spoke softly:

”When you’ve gone through so much pain and war, it’s easy to think the world is nothing but suffering and conflict.

But you should ask yourself: is what you’ve experienced really the whole world? The world is so big. If you have the chance, go out and see it. Live an ordinary life for a while. That’s how you’ll come to truly know what the world is all about.”

”Woo?”

Dragonite accepted the bag of Energy Cubes and, after hesitating, took one out and popped it into its mouth.

Its eyes instantly lit up.

[Congratulations to the host for raising Dragonite’s happiness from 40% to 60%. Reward: three bags of Premium Golden Fertilizer, one Premium Rare Candy, one Premium Draco Berry (consuming it significantly boosts a Pokémon’s Special Attack and Speed).]

”Hm?”

Hearing the system’s notification, Lin Feng raised his eyebrows.

The happiness boost this time wasn’t even that big.

But the rewards were surprisingly generous.

Could it be that the stronger the Pokémon whose happiness he increased, the better the rewards he’d receive?

Lin Feng felt like he’d uncovered yet another secret about his system.

”Woo~”

Scooping another handful of Energy Cubes into its mouth, Dragonite grinned broadly and nodded repeatedly. Then, clutching the envelope, it unfurled its wings and soared into the sky.

In just the blink of an eye, it had vanished without a trace.

Watching it disappear, Lin Feng couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy.

When would he finally manage to catch a Flying-type Pokémon of his own?

He wiped the sweat from his forehead.

”Whew… what a scare.”

He didn’t bother calling Servine back out, instead hurrying home under the cover of night.

Meanwhile…

In the Kanto League region.

On a small, lonely island.

Inside a castle-like structure.

A pink, humanoid Pokémon was staring down at a letter in its hands.

”The meaning of Pokémon’s existence?”

Battle? Companionship? Helping me become a powerful Trainer?

Of course it’s for battling. I just love the passion and excitement of Pokémon battles!

I simply love Pokémon, so I want them by my side.

Dragonite is so big! Can you make Dragonite my Pokémon?

Staring at the jumbled mix of replies, Mewtwo’s eyes gradually grew cold.

In all the letters it had received, the vast majority gave the same answer about the meaning of Pokémon’s existence:

Battle.

It wasn’t much different from the ideas it had learned in Team Rocket.

So…

War, conquest… was that truly the meaning of a Pokémon’s existence?

Or rather, was that what humans believed was a Pokémon’s value?

Rage simmered within Mewtwo’s chest.

A powerful surge of psychic energy exploded inside the castle, causing the entire island to tremble slightly. The sky outside turned as black as ink, waves crashing violently against the shore, radiating a palpable sense of fear.

”So I was created for war and conquest as well? Very well… then I shall—”

”Woo~!”

Just at that moment, a Dragonite flew in, messenger bag slung over its side, and clutching a plastic bag in one paw.

It was the bag of Energy Cubes Lin Feng had given it. Only one piece remained, and Dragonite hadn’t been able to bring itself to eat the last bite.

”Is this the new batch of letters?”

Mewtwo forcibly suppressed its rising fury, using its psychic power to take the messenger bag from Dragonite and begin sorting through the envelopes.

But as it did, it noticed Dragonite glancing longingly into its plastic bag.

”What’s that? Let me see.”

”Woo?”

Dragonite hurriedly tried to hide the bag behind its back, but with arms so short, it couldn’t conceal it at all.

”Hm?”

This suspicious behavior only deepened Mewtwo’s curiosity.

It seized the bag with psychic power, levitating it closer.

Dragonite: ”! Woo!”

Dragonite looked like it wanted to resist, but then recalled the scenes it had witnessed outside.

After some thought, it decided it wasn’t worth getting into a fight over a bite of food.

”One piece of an Energy Cube?”

Mewtwo frowned, peering inside the bag.

Why hide a single Energy Cube so carefully?

The cube floated into the air. Mewtwo, unfazed by any potential poison, took a cautious nibble.

The moment it bit down…

Its eyes lit up. ”Hm?”

Something inside Mewtwo shifted. Its rage faded.

Finishing the rest of the Energy Cube in one bite, Mewtwo spoke casually:

”Where did this Energy Cube come from?”

”Woo woo…”

Dragonite, burdened by a deep sense of resignation, pointed its claw at one particular envelope among the pile.

Mewtwo picked up the indicated letter.

At first glance, it was stunned. Then its expression grew solemn.

A single sentence filled the envelope. One look should have sufficed. Yet this letter held Mewtwo transfixed for several minutes. When it finally set the page down, a trace of satisfaction and relief appeared on its face.

With a quiet sigh, Mewtwo murmured, ”After all this time… at last, I’ve received an answer I can be satisfied with.”

Dragonite stared at it in surprise. It knew that this incredibly powerful Pokémon had long been searching for the answer to a single question. For that purpose, it had freed countless Pokémon once imprisoned by Team Rocket and brought them to this island, using them as messengers to deliver letters into the human world.

It had searched for so long, delivering letters to countless humans, but had never received an answer that satisfied it.

Now…

Had it finally found one?

Dragonite hesitated, then finally relayed Lin Feng’s words to Mewtwo.

Mewtwo fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. Then, slowly, the corners of its mouth began to curl upward, until it finally threw back its head and burst into laughter.

”Hahahaha… To live an ordinary life, and in that simplicity, experience the bond between humans and Pokémon?”

”Very well. I want to see for myself whether such a thing can truly let me understand the connection between humans and Pokémon!”

The following morning…

Lin Feng’s mind was suddenly filled with the voice of the system, announcing new rewards.

[Congratulations to the host for raising Mewtwo’s happiness from -40% to 40%. Reward: five bags of Supreme Golden Fertilizer, one Supreme Rare Candy, one Phoenix Down (able to revive a deceased creature so long as the body has not decayed), and one Individual Value Breakthrough Serum (a potion that allows a Pokémon to exceed its natural limits!).]

Yet clearly…

Lin Feng’s attention wasn’t on any of that.

Instead, his eyes were fixed firmly on Servine!

”Servi!”