After hearing Shiko say that, Himeko's expression stalled slightly.
He was going to evolve?
Wouldn't that mean Shiko's level had already reached the mid-tier of the Elite rank?
That was a level close to 36.
Just two months.
From a Pokémon that had only just hatched from an Egg—
To training up to the mid-tier of the Elite rank.
That speed was basically like cheating and chugging drugs!
You had to know—
Lopunny and Kirlia,
even under her harsh training, had only barely reached the Professional rank during this same period.
And that was only because their talent was outstanding, far beyond ordinary Pokémon.
So what exactly did Shiko have,
that let him be a whole major tier higher than those two?
Himeko couldn't wrap her head around it.
And besides!
Shiko clearly didn't do any training or battling at all all day long.
Where was he getting so much experience to level up this fast?
Where did he get those advanced combat instincts and combat strength—
to the point that at the same level, he could handle a dozen or more Pokémon alone?
What exactly was he?
The more she thought about it, the scarier it got.
Himeko mulled it over, and her head got more and more tangled,
like her brain was about to short-circuit.
She even forgot the choice she was facing right in front of her.
"Well? Have you decided? Do you want me to help you make the decision?"
Akio noticed the slight change in Himeko's expression and began to press her.
"I'll participate in the finals, but I have three conditions."
Himeko sorted out her thoughts, stood up, and looked at Akio. She spoke slowly, word by word, her face serious.
"Say it."
Akio nodded.
He couldn't wait for Himeko to choose to enter the finals.
That way, beating her would count as fair and square,
and he could at least recover a bit of the face he'd already lost.
Off to the side, Joji's face also flashed with bright delight.
Great!
That way, in the finals, he could properly deal with her—
and pay her back for the humiliation she'd given him these past few days.
"The time of the finals will be postponed by three days. We'll hold it three days later."
Himeko stated her first condition.
"No problem!"
Akio blurted it out, agreeing without the slightest hesitation.
As long as Himeko agreed to participate,
any request was acceptable.
In Akio's view,
Himeko's three-day deadline was basically like trying to force three more breaths into a dying horse.
He figured Himeko
would use these three days to go outside the city to capture wild Pokémon,
then bring them back to compete as immediate combat power.
But how could those untrained, wild Pokémon possibly obey commands properly?
And the rapport between a Trainer and Pokémon—along with the transfer and instilling of battle experience—
wasn't something you could form in three days.
So those three Pokémon she might catch outside
definitely couldn't compare to the three he had prepared for Joji.
This foolish girl actually agreed in one bite.
Looks like this year's championship—
really was guaranteed to be his son's.
Akio narrowed his eyes into a smile, his expression full of smug satisfaction.
Joji's expression and reaction were exactly the same as his.
Truly a father and son.
On the other side,
after Himeko made her decision, she didn't stay in the venue any longer.
She turned and left.
Soon after, the audience at the scene also began to disperse in scattered waves.
As they walked,
they also kept cursing the Amano father and son with filthy mouths.
If this got out,
it wouldn't just be the Amano family's face that was lost—
it would be even more the face of the ordinary people of Wintergreen City.
On the way home,
Himeko couldn't help asking Shiko why he had said that at the critical moment, swaying her decision.
"Don't think too much."
"I just want this year's champion prize."
"When you win the championship, give me that Dragon-type gem. I have a use for it."
Shiko, curled up inside the Luxury Ball, gave her an explanation.
At the entrance of the venue,
he had accidentally seen a huge poster that was put up there.
It mentioned that among this year's winner's prizes
there happened to be something he needed right now.
That was what he said out loud.
But in truth, it wasn't only for that Dragon-type gem.
First, the Amano father and son's words and behavior were just too hateful.
Always playing dirty tricks like this—
it made him strongly disgusted.
And the way they treated Himeko
made Shiko feel even more uncomfortable.
Even putting everything else aside—
Himeko's cooking was so delicious; she basically counted as his nanny.
If the nanny got bullied by outsiders,
Shiko stepping out to back her up didn't seem like a problem.
Anyway, at the end of the day,
wasn't the Amano father and son just trying to win this championship?
The more they wanted it,
the less Shiko wanted to give it to them.
Even if it was 3 vs 6!
Shiko would still grind them into the ground!
"What are we going to do these next few days?"
"On the match day, are we really going to do 3 vs 6?"
"Then what else?"
"Are you going to go catch wild Pokémon right now?"
Shiko shot Himeko a look.
He lay down on the Mareep-wool woven rug in the bedroom.
A faint pricking, tingling sensation spread over his whole back in an instant.
…
At first, he really wasn't used to that feeling.
But after trying it again and again,
he had completely fallen in love with sleeping on this rug.
First, sleep until he was full.
Later, when he got up, he'd happily eat a big meal.
That would finish all the day's daily quests—
and he'd get thirty experience points in hand.
Then he could reach level 35.
At this pace,
three days later,
his experience should land right at level 36—the critical point for evolution.
Shiko had everything calculated to the exact margin.
After evolving,
at the same level, crushing three Pokémon at once wouldn't be effortless?
"Bring me a blanket to cover up. When it's time for dinner, remember to call me once."
Shiko looked at Himeko and gave an order.
Then,
with his head on the pillow,
he quickly fell asleep.
"You…"
Himeko had just raised a finger,
ready to scold Shiko properly.
Weren't you planning to evolve in these few days?
Then show some drive!
How could you come home and go straight to sleep?
But Himeko, who still had a pile of things she wanted to say and ask,
could only swallow them back down silently.
She tied on an apron
and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
As she deftly sliced berries,
the doorbell outside suddenly rang.
Himeko wiped her hands and went out to open the door.
She discovered that standing outside the door
were President Sun and Teacher Moo Inoshishe.
(End of Chapter)
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