IS04

Weedle Tends to Poison Jab (Japanese: ビードルは毒づきがち) is the fourth entry of the Japanese Illust Story web series. It tells the story of from , illustrated by Sanosuke Sakuma. The story was first published on December 3, 2021 and is written by Saji Komori.
==Blurb==
<ab>If you say poisonous things, you are going to offend someone. For example, you shouldn't say something like "Isn't it obvious that a bigger guy would be stronger?" to a large Pokémon who boasts of his strength. The way to survive in the forest is by not saying that out loud even if you think it. However, Weedle ended up spitting poisonous words.
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===Japanese transcript===
<ab>毒のある物言いをすれば、角が立つ。例えば、“大きいやつの方が強いなんて、当たり前じゃない？”などと、力自慢の大きなポケモンに言うべきではない。そう思ったとしても口には出さないのが森で生きるすべだ。しかし、ビードルはついつい毒づいてしまうのだった。</ab>
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==Plot==
<ab>If you say poisonous things, you are going to offend someone. For example, you shouldn't say something like "Isn't it obvious that a bigger guy would be stronger?" to a large Pokémon who boasts of his strength. The way to survive in the forest is by not saying that out loud even if you think it. However, happened to do just that. After going to the trouble of collecting ripe, in-season leaves, those big guys used brute force to snatch them away. Sure enough, Weedle provoked their wrath, and got tackled.
All of a sudden, an outspoken voice came from above. "You're making a face, what happened?" It was the voice of a carefree . Training is its hobby, and it is among the strongest in the forest. 
"Since you understand the kind of face I'm making, it'd be nice if you backed off," Weedle answered, without even making eye contact. From the edge of its vision, it could see a wavering, flickering shadow. Weedle could tell that Heracross was training.
"It looks like you picked a fight and suffered damage from a vicious beating. You're a bit like me."
Weedle turned around to try and object that they aren't alike. There is nothing more empty than receiving self-serving sympathy. But, after thinking about it, Weedle swallowed its words. To put it simply, it was disoriented. As Heracross moved its body, the light shining directly from behind also moved: as if the sunlight itself was being manipulated. But in reality, it was just a Pokémon fit for battle, training. And yet, it was awfully dazzling.
Truthfully, Weedle couldn't help being disagreeable–it was just a smooth talker, without any goals, living in obscurity... secluded. Without thinking, Weedle asked a pleading question.
"Why are we alike? I don't have thick fore-wings like yours. I don't even have an impressive horn."
"Yeah you do. A poisonous one at that."
"Don't tease me!"
"Am I teasing? If you're angry, come and face me! Don't hold back: knock me over with a !" Weedle couldn't back down now, since Heracross said all that. Losing control of itself, it jabbed towards Heracross, and toppled over weakly from the recoil. How pathetic.
"Look! Don't you have one? –an impressive horn. Your horn is poisonous!" Heracross pointed at the mark left on its thick fore-wings. Weedle was left awestruck. That's right! Weedle couldn't see the poisonous barb on the top of its head. It only leaves a faint mark now, but it's said that if the poison barb is trained well, it will become a magnificent weapon that overwhelms the opponent in a single strike.
Heracross kept on that there is skill to it. It seems that Heracross was taught by an even stronger master. "Given that we have similar horns, we should be able to acquire the same skill. What do you want to do?"
Weedle immediately replied that it wanted to train. For the first time, from the bottom of its heart, it wanted to become strong. It has a useful poisonous horn, after all. Maybe someday, it will be able to land a poisonous single strike on a large Pokémon that boasts of its strength, all the while saying "did you think that a bigger guy would be stronger?"
"Until then, let's train together, senpai." As Weedle said that, Heracross pointed towards a branch that looked easy for Weedle to grasp, and quivered its fore-wings happily. "Well then, we'll start with sit-ups."
The afternoon light shone straight into the forest, illuminating the two of them.
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===Japanese transcript===
<ab>毒のある物言いをすれば、角が立つ。例えば、“大きいやつの方が強いなんて、当たり前じゃない？”などと、力自慢の大きなポケモンに言うべきではない。そう思ったとしても口には出さないのが森で生きるすべだ。しかし、ビードルは上の通りに言ってしまった。せっかく集めた食べ頃の葉っぱが、大きな奴らに力ずくで奪われたから。そして案の定、怒りを買って体当たりを食らったのだった。
“そんな顔してどうした？”
ふと頭上から無遠慮な声が降ってきた。この声は能天気なヘラクロスだろう。トレーニングが趣味で、森の中でも屈強な部類に入る。“どんな顔してるかまで分かったなら、ほっといてくれれば良いのに”
目も合わせずにビードルは答えた。視界の端でゆらゆら影が揺れる。その揺れ方で、ヘラクロスがトレーニングをしていると分かった。
“喧嘩売ってボコボコにやられたってとこか。ビードルって僕とちょっと似てるよね”、
似てない、と反論しようとして振り向いた。勝手な同情を寄せられるほど、虚しくなることはない。だが、振り返ったビードルは言葉を飲み込んでしまった。ひとことで言えば、目が眩んだ。ヘラクロスが体を動かすと、背後からまっすぐ射しこむ光も動き、まるで太陽の光を操っているかのように見えたのだ。実際はただ、バトルに向いたポケモンが鍛えている、それだけのこと。なのにひどくまぶしかった。本当は嫌でしょうがなかったんだ、口だけ達者で、なんの目標も持たず、ただ燻っているだけの自分が。思わず懇願するように尋ねる。
“どこが似てるの？　キミのような分厚い前翅も、ご立派な角もないのに”
“あるよ。いちいち毒がある”
“からかうなよ”
“からかうかよ。ムカついたなら僕に向かってこい。加減せず、「いちげき」で倒すつもりで”　そこまで言われたら引き下がれない。無我夢中でヘラクロスに突っ込み、その反動でビードルはぼてぼて転がった。ああ、情けない。“ほらね。あるじゃないか、立派な角が。キミの角には毒がある”
ヘラクロスは分厚い前翅に残る跡を指差した。ビードルはぽかんとしている。そう、ビードルには自分の頭の上に付いている毒針が見えていなかったのだ。今はかすった跡が残るくらいだが、この毒針は鍛えあげれば、いちげきで相手を圧倒する立派な武器になるという。
ヘラクロスは「かた」があると続けた。ヘラクロスよりもずっと強い師匠に教えてもらうものらしい。ツノが似ている僕らなら、同じ「かた」を習得できるはずだが、どうする、と。ビードルは即答で修行したいと答えた。心から強くなりたいと思ったのは初めてだった。
毒のある角ならば、役に立つ。いつか、“大きいやつの方が強いなんて思ってたの？” などと、力自慢の大きなポケモンにも、毒っ気たっぷりのいちげきをお見舞い出来るだろうか。
“それまで一緒に鍛えてよ、先輩！”ビードルがそう言うと、じゃあ腹筋からだな、とヘラクロスはビードルがつかまれそうな枝を指し、嬉しそうに前翅をふるわせた。森には午後の光がまっすぐ射し込んで、二匹を照らしている。</ab>
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==Trivia==
==External links==
*Official webpage
==References==
Category:Illust Story