Chapter 0761: Natsume-sensei: Calamity Is Always One Step Ahead of Me!

November 11th, Thursday.

Touran League, administration building.

Champion Ryo returned to his own desk, stared at the potted plant, and mused deeply:

“I’m officially reinstated!”

I didn’t come back just to prove how impressive I am.

I simply want to prove that a Trainer without special talent can also become Champion!

After much turmoil, and even being dealt a shocking 6-0 shutout soon after taking office, Ryo still resumed the Champion position.

Rumors spread that Natsume- stepped down as Champion in order to pursue the Domain of ‘Battle Legends,’ entrusting the title to Ryo as a reliable successor.

Most people accepted this explanation.

After all, many Champions had made similar choices before Natsume.

And Ryo, being diligent, conscientious, and industrious, absolutely deserved to be Champion.

It was nearly year’s end, with Victory Road concluding, and preparations beginning for the next League Tournament.

The Champion’s responsibilities grew busier, but Ryo genuinely enjoyed the work.

Touran League faced neither evil organizations like Team Galactic, nor Groudon and Kyogre rising every other day to cause trouble.

With Champion Ryo’s peak strength, things remained manageable.

However, there was one assignment that President Masaru felt Ryo couldn't handle—and Ryo himself agreed it should be dealt with by the previous Champion.

That previous Champion—currently semi-retired—was none other than Natsume.

During an Elite Four meeting, Shiori inquired:

“President Masaru, what exactly is this assignment?”

“It concerns the desert city, the City of Wastes.”

President Masaru explained, “City of Wastes is home to the Ancient Overcome Clan and not under the jurisdiction of any league. The Trainers there are limited in level.”

“But recently, the imprisoning Odd Keystone in the City of Wastes has started to loosen...” President Masaru said. “As a result, the local priesthood sent a request for help, urging us to dispatch a Trainer of Champion-level strength to investigate the Odd Keystone’s status.”

In the Pokémon world, Odd Keystones almost always involve imprisonments. If an Odd Keystone loosens, the league must immediately reinforce the seal.

Yet, with the City of Wastes’ current capabilities, they are no longer able to reinforce the imprisonment themselves.

“What’s the origin of the Odd Keystone in City of Wastes?” Kurosawa asked.

If it truly requires a Champion to solve, this crisis must far surpass that of Volcanic Disaster Pokémon Heatran or even those gigantic ancient Pokémon monsters.

“It is said...” President Masaru paused, then continued, “It’s tied to Arceus.”

“Arceus?” Everyone was startled.

“That’s right.” President Masaru nodded gravely. “That imprisonment was personally set by Arceus. But as time passes—especially following the space-time turbulence in the Sinnoh Region—it’s become unstable.”

“If the seal breaks, the imprisoned demon will affect Touran, Kanto, Hoenn, and countless other regions... Indeed, the entire league itself.” President Masaru’s tone grew heavy.

Silence hung over the meeting, a sense of dread in the air.

This was a demon personally imprisoned by Arceus. No one had the confidence to face such an ancient and violent creature head-on.

Yet perhaps... there was one Champion, with experience enough to confront the coming disaster and lead the league safely through this crisis.

It was known, after all, that the Sinnoh league’s time-space turbulence had only been stabilized by his intervention!

And this disturbance in the seal was intimately connected to those same Sinnoh Region events.

For Natsume—

This was his exact field of expertise!

“I’ll wait for the appropriate timing to approach our previous Champion—uh, that is, Natsume.”

President Masaru glanced at Ryo, who met his gaze, then nodded before continuing:

“I’ll explain the seriousness and necessity of this case to Natsume, and seek his input and support... What does everyone think?”

The proposal was unanimously approved by those present.

After all, this was still just a preliminary request for comment; there was every reason to consult Natsume-sensei.

If he could assist in person, all the better.

President Masaru’s eyes flickered with concern.

If it were only a loosened seal, and all that was needed was to reinforce the imprisonment, it wouldn’t be so dire.

My worry is... that the super demon god of legend may truly break free—and even destroy the entire City of Wastes.

And if so, perhaps only former Champion Natsume can resolve it...

……

Lumiose City, café.

It had been two days since the Festival in Coumarine City.

According to the schedule... Ash should be encountering Hoopa soon.

“I’d better get moving!”

Natsume’s gaze sharpened, radiating a chilling aura.

With a ‘thunk’!

Natsume snapped his luggage case shut, nodding with satisfaction.

Hoopa’s about to awaken—run for your life~

Foggy Lumiose City was heading into winter, but Alola remained warm year-round—the perfect spot for a vacation.

The trip should last about two months. During that time, Indeedee would take care of the café.

If anything urgent came up, riding Latias back and forth would be easy enough.

Assuming, of course, that Natsume remembered to close his eyes—then Latias would fly even faster.

Inside the lobby, Delibird was studying the “Icy Wind” Technical Record that Natsume had gifted it.

“Delibird~!”

Delibird flapped its little wings, exhaling a swirl of frost into the air.

Indeedee and Steenee looked up at it in surprise.

Crystalline iceflakes drifted down, as beautiful as a winter’s snowfall.

Indeedee and Steenee couldn’t help but break into smiles.

“Delibird~” Delibird blushed, scratching its head.

Suddenly, in a flicker, Meowstic Teleported to Delibird’s side, calmly poking it.

“Delibird?” Delibird looked over.

Without a change of expression, Meowstic handed Delibird a mop, then pointed toward the delicate frost on the floor.

“Delibird...” Delibird obediently picked up the mop.

Natsume had already informed his little ones about his upcoming vacation. None of the employees were surprised.

After all, the boss often traveled back and forth across Unova, Hoenn, Touran—occasionally even bringing back strange souvenirs.

Like a DNA Splicer, a Pixie Plate, some Sacred Ash... apparently “small gifts” he’d picked up along the way.

This time, heading out for a vacation, Natsume brought along all these “souvenirs.”

After all, the Alola Region is home to real “legendary” Pokémon like Bewear—a little caution never hurts!

The plan was for Natsume to arrive in Alola Region first and pay a visit to Professor Kukui.

For this, Natsume specially asked Professor Oak for a recommendation letter—it would be far more tactful than barging in and flaunting his Champion status.

When Professor Oak heard about Natsume’s Alolan vacation, he inquired how long Natsume planned to stay.

“Around two months, why?” Natsume asked curiously.

“Oh, nothing...”

Professor Oak pondered briefly.

The Alola Trainer academy was in preparation and still short on staff. Natsume was, after all, a proven sensei.

If both parties agreed, I might even serve as a go-between.

Most important of all: finding the right words for Natsume.

After all, with Natsume’s Champion credentials, working at the Alola Trainer academy, he’d even be qualified to act as Principal...

Everything was ready.

Natsume waved goodbye to the employees, and with his little ones watching, cheerfully carried his suitcase out the door.

“Beep... New call incoming, Rotom~!” chimed Rotom’s Pokédex.

Natsume glanced at the screen in surprise and answered:

“President Masaru?”

“Natsume.”

President Masaru cleared his throat and spoke frankly: “Let me get to the point... This is about the seal in the City of Wastes..."

President Masaru summarized the situation: “The Ancient Overcome Clan is no longer able to reinforce the seal, and given that the legendary super demon god is involved, we need a powerful Trainer to examine the state of the imprisonment.”

“You were the first person I thought of.”

President Masaru continued seriously: “Your strength goes beyond just that of a league Champion... Natsume, you have experience and power uniquely suited for incidents like this!”

Natsume: ?

Natsume looked down at his suitcase and, holding his mobile phone, listened to President Masaru’s urgent, heartfelt appeal.

Truthfully... this sort of event really is my specialty...

And it’s just a matter of checking on the seal... Fine, I can’t tempt fate any further!

He let out a deep sigh, a chill running down his back, his voice trembling softly:

“...I’ll head to the City of Wastes and take a look.”

Disaster—always one step ahead of me!