Chapter 103: Gringey City
"It's so dark here."
On the road, Misty was holding an umbrella.
"It's not even raining, why are you using an umbrella?" Ash tied himself and Pikachu together with his championship belt, the size fitting just right.
"Don't you realize the air here is awful? Hmph, forget it, you wouldn't understand." Misty turned her head away.
Hearing their bickering, Natsume looked up, his mind drifting from the Ultra Ball in his hand.
The ghostly blue glow slowly faded. Rubbing his sore eyes, Natsume let out a yawn, which quickly turned into violent coughing.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
"Mr. Natsume, are you alright?"
Giselle, who had been watching from the side, quickly snapped out of her daydream and handed Natsume a bottle of water.
"The air here is terrible. Don't you feel it?"
To her surprise, every breath Natsume took felt like a blade scraping down her throat.
After gulping down half the bottle, he felt a little better.
"Bad air? I guess it does feel that way." Ash, slow to notice, looked up at the sky.
Grayish-white smog blanketed the city. The sunset refracted through the murky air in a strange copper-red glow, and the birdless sky resembled a corroded metal dome.
"Hey, Natsume, you're not catching a cold, are you?" Misty seemed to notice something.
"Yes, Mr. Natsume looks cuter than usual—what I mean is, his face looks a little flushed."
Giselle quickly corrected herself.
"A cold?" Natsume touched his forehead.
*That shouldn't be the case.*
"Achoo!"
The thought had barely crossed his mind when he sneezed several times. The uncomfortable stuffiness in his nose followed right after.
"We've arrived. Up ahead is Gringey City." Brock's voice came from the front.
"Perfect timing! Natsume, let's head to the Pokémon Center to rest." Ash quickly added.
Everyone moved forward, but Brock, leading the way, suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong, Brock?" Misty asked curiously. She looked ahead and froze.
At Gringey City's port, a forest of steel loomed faintly through the haze. Factory after factory stretched endlessly.
Rusty pipes spewed dark red sewage, concrete drains poured continuously into the ocean, and the factories sprawled like iron beasts, belching columns of sulfur-colored smoke.
"Uh…" Ash was stunned.
"This city has the largest power plant in Kanto, along with many factories built around it." Brock checked the map and explained to the group.
"Doesn't the League care? This is way too damaging to the environment." Misty complained.
"Cough… the clothes we wear, Pokéballs, cars, all kinds of tools—these factories contribute to them." Natsume's low voice sounded.
"Everything has two sides… cough, cough, cough!" Before he could finish, another fit of coughing overtook him.
"Mr. Natsume, we should hurry to the Pokémon Center!"
Giselle's face showed clear worry. She reached out to steady Natsume.
*Pika…* Pikachu let out a weak sound from Ash's arms.
"Pikachu, what's wrong?"
Ash lowered his head, only then realizing something was wrong. Pikachu's nose twitched repeatedly, small arcs sparking around his electric pouches.
"I know this—it's a typical sign that Pikachu has a fever."
Giselle recalled the descriptions from the book Natsume had given her.
"Huh?" Ash was stunned.
"What do you mean *huh*? Now we've got two sick people in the team, of course we need to get to the Pokémon Center right away!"
Misty grabbed Ash by the ear and dragged him straight toward the Pokémon Center.
"Mr. Natsume, let's go too."
Giselle leaned against her, cool and close. For once, Natsume didn't push her away.
...
**At the entrance of the Gringey City Pokémon Center**
"We're practically at the city center, and you can still hear the factories roaring." Misty frowned.
"Yeah, and all along the way, we haven't seen a single person on the streets. This city feels like a ghost town."
Brock lifted his head and looked around.
"The League… cough… designated this place for heavy industry… cough, cough… the policies were relocated." Natsume explained weakly.
"Oh no, Mr. Natsume, you don't need to explain at a time like this." Half leaning against Giselle for support, Natsume saw her face flushed, unable to hide her excitement.
Giselle reached out and touched Natsume's forehead.
Her hand was icy cold. Natsume was now certain—he had a fever.
"Anyone here? Is anyone at the Pokémon Center?"
Ash knocked on the door.
"That's strange, Pokémon Centers are usually open all day."
Brock studied the Gringey City Pokémon Center in front of them. ITS doors were shut tight, not a single light inside.
"Who's there?"
The door cracked open, and a beam of light shot out at the group.
Nurse Joy stepped out with a flashlight, yawning.
"Don't disturb my sleep." She gave them a quick glance. After Ash showed his Trainer ID, she let them inside.
She didn't turn on the lights, just waved the flashlight around the lobby.
"Uh, why does this Nurse Joy feel… different from the others?" Misty whispered.
"Whatever medicine you need is in the vending machine over there. Don't bother me if it's nothing."
From behind the counter, Joy pulled out a lounge chair. It was big enough for a Chansey to lie on.
Joy hugged Chansey, yawned again, and closed her eyes.
"Hey, Nurse Joy, please check on my Pikachu!"
Ash rushed forward, lifting Pikachu up to her.
Joy opened her eyes, gave a glance, and said:
"It's a cold. Vending machine number two, third row, second column. Buy the medicine yourself. For reimbursement, slot your Pokédex into that terminal."
Then she pulled down her eye mask again.
Ash: "…"
"Tch…" Ash turned and went to get the medicine.
"Nurse Joy, I need medicine… cough, cough." Natsume's voice rang out.
"Huh?" From her lounge chair, Joy lifted her mask, suddenly sitting upright.
*Click!*
The next moment, the entire Pokémon Center lit up brightly.
"Ah!" Everyone shielded their eyes from the sudden glare.
"What's with this Nurse Joy…" Misty muttered.
"My sixth sense was right." Brock whispered.
"What sixth sense?" Misty froze, then realized—normally Brock would have been the first one to throw himself at Joy.
But this time, he was behaving unusually normal.
As everyone's eyes adjusted, they noticed this Joy wasn't in her nurse uniform—she wore only a camisole sleepwear.
"Mentor Natsume?" Joy was pulling on her coat as she walked toward Natsume.
"Mentor Natsume!?" Everyone gasped.
"Mentor Natsume?" Giselle clutched her arm tighter.
"You seem to have a fever." Joy touched her forehead, then pulled both Natsume and Giselle closer.
"Hey!" Giselle stomped her foot.
"Hehe, I'll prepare the medicine." Joy chuckled behind her hand, then walked into the back room.
...
**A short while later, in the dining area, at a certain table**
"Wow, this place is filthy!" Misty frowned, scrubbing the table and chairs with Brock.
"Since most people left, hardly any Trainers come here anymore." Joy walked over, carrying a bowl of medicine soup, and placed it on the table.
"Here, Pikachu, drink this and you'll feel better." Ash said, feeding Pikachu the liquid medicine.
"Here, Mentor Natsume, drink this and you'll feel better." Joy set down the bowl, but found it missing.
"Here, Mr. Natsume, drink this and you'll feel better." Giselle held up a bowl.
Natsume: "…"
"I'll drink it myself." He took the bowl and downed it in one go.
"Natsume, why did Nurse Joy call you professor?" Ash asked curiously after finishing giving Pikachu his medicine.
Giselle suddenly straightened up, leaning forward slightly, quietly tugging at the corner of Natsume's clothes.
You can read more (around 100+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https ://ravenarchives .com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.