Chapter 0730: Intra-Team Battle! Reranking!

At present, apart from Darkrai, there were five employees in the café.

Head chef and pastry chef, Alcremie;

Sous chef and server, Steenee.

There was also the “little butler” Indeedee, the “attendant” Meowstic, and the “delivery guy” Delibird.

With the team growing ever stronger, Natsume-sensei was deeply satisfied.

After all, it was impossible for him to stay in Lumiose City all the time.

During his Victory Road challenge, someone would need to take care of the shop.

Steenee’s innocent nature quickly made her friends with all the little ones, her red eyes curving in a cheerful smile.

A fruity fragrance filled the shop, and Natsume paused a moment to savor it, a bit lost in thought.

The Pokédex described Steenee as the “fruit Pokémon.”

With such a scent, it was no wonder Ash’s Rowlet was always so hungry for her company!

Natsume murmured, “From now on, when I make ice cream for Cynthia, I’ll have to include fruit flavors as well as the original cream flavor…”

……

At present, apart from Darkrai, there were five employees in the café.

Head chef and pastry chef, Alcremie;

Sous chef and server, Steenee.

There was also the “little butler” Indeedee, the “attendant” Meowstic, and the “delivery guy” Delibird.

With the team growing ever stronger, Natsume was deeply satisfied.

After all, it was impossible for him to stay in Lumiose City all the time.

During his Victory Road challenge, someone would need to take care of the shop.

Steenee’s innocent nature quickly made her friends with all the little ones, her red eyes curving in a cheerful smile.

A fruity fragrance filled the shop, and Natsume paused a moment to savor it, a bit lost in thought.

The Pokédex described Steenee as the “fruit Pokémon.”

With such a scent, it was no wonder Ash’s Rowlet was always so hungry for her company!

Natsume murmured, “From now on, when I make ice cream for Cynthia, I’ll have to include fruit flavors as well as the original cream flavor…”

……

By afternoon, the streets of Lumiose City were bustling with people.

Steenee, under Alcremie’s guidance, toured the kitchen and studied cooking.

Natsume was preparing to head to Prism Tower, where, as planned, he would reorganize and rerank the team.

Cynthia intended to go with him, but Carolina called with a video conference, asking about her research work.

On the video call—

Carolina, looking severe, was saying something as her gaze shifted to the corner of the screen. She barked, “Stop right there!”

Natsume paused, confused, glancing at the helpless Cynthia, then pointing to himself.

“You. This year’s research conference, why aren’t you going?”

I was looking forward to it for ages, hoping Natsume would bring some new results—and that I might get to taste his cooking!

Professor… Natsume opened his mouth, then switched, “Grandmother, I think preparing for Victory Road is more important… don’t you agree?”

Cynthia looked at Natsume in surprise, not expecting him to change his address so naturally.

Carolina didn’t find it strange at all, and asked, “Touran’s Victory Road?”

Natsume nodded.

“Hmm… that is a decent excuse,” Carolina muttered. “Still, you really can’t make time for Wyndon?”

This year’s research conference was being held in Wyndon, Galar, with the Super Dynamax phenomenon as its main topic.

Natsume: “I won’t be able to go… but a member of my team from the company will attend.”

During the previous summer vacation, with Natsume’s recommendation, Oleana spent some time training with Professor Magnolia.

Professor Magnolia praised Oleana’s talent, calling her a one-of-a-kind researcher in the field of Gigantamax phenomena.

Out of appreciation, Professor Magnolia invited Oleana to do further research as part of her team—but Oleana declined.

For Oleana, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, a dream come true.

But she could hardly walk away from the boss’s kindness so easily.

Oleana chose to remain with the Pokémon Company, keeping Gigantamax research as her passion.

For this research conference, Oleana would attend as a corporate representative, making up for her previous regret.

When she heard Natsume couldn’t attend, Carolina tapped her cane repeatedly. “What a pity, such a pity!”

“Grandmother…” Cynthia whispered softly.

“Then Cynthia doesn’t need to come back either, you two keep working hard,” Carolina said.

“Grandmother!” Cynthia’s cheeks reddened beneath her golden hair—she turned her back to Natsume so he wouldn’t see.

“Just finish the report on your project, so I won’t have to stay up all night in the library doing research…” Carolina yawned.

“…Understood,” Cynthia replied.

Carolina looked over at Natsume, raising her voice: “All right, get back to work! Goodbye!”

“Goodbye, grandmother… I can help with the translation of ancient texts if you need,” Natsume said with a smile.

“Hmph, guess that’s all you’re good for!” Carolina smirked.

……

Leaving the café.

Natsume mounted his Rotom Bike and, following the navigation, set course for Prism Tower in the central plaza.

Even though Prism Tower was a landmark building,

Natsume had gotten lost in Lumiose City many times, ending up in a dead end, finally summoning Latias in frustration.

“Beep…Turn left at the upcoming intersection, Rotom~”

“What intersection?” Natsume looked around.

A bead of cold sweat fell down Rotom’s headlight. “Beep…Poor, poor signal. Actually, it was the previous intersection where you had to turn left!”

Natsume: “……”

“Now, I recommend turning around, Rotom!”

“…Yeah, time to turn around,” Natsume replied with a sigh.

“Beep…System Overload, Rotom! o(TヘTo)”

In the end, it was Gengar leading the way that brought Natsume to Prism Tower.

And why is Gengar so familiar with the area…?

Because Natsume’s very first Kalos Badge, the Electric-type Badge, was actually won by Gengar itself.

Inside Prism Tower.

Acting Leader, the robot Clembot, hesitated at first.

“Hey, long time no see!” Natsume greeted. “Where’s Clemont?”

“Leader, together with Ash, is traveling.” Clembot answered stiffly.

Natsume looked up.

By the current pace, Ash would soon be meeting Diantha, challenging her Gardevoir.

Diantha’s combat performance was a bit odd, her ace Gardevoir even got trapped by the Trio in a cage.

If you wanted to explain it, perhaps Diantha just used that moment to slack off and dodge her packed schedule.

Diantha’s Mega Gardevoir… even among Champions, she only bullies the old man Alder’s team…

She and Wallace are side-hustle Champions—one is an actress as her main career, the other a Coordinator.

Though the two haven’t battled, Natsume-sensei felt that Wallace is still a bit stronger.

Natsume drifted into thought.

“With the power of the Pixie Plate, Sylveon could quickly reach Mega Gardevoir’s level… maybe even beyond.”

Natsume headed for the battle arena. “Let me borrow the field, I’ll take care of the cleanup, Clembot!”

To avoid the outdoor café scene drawing suspicion like that ‘Chibaku Tensei’ commotion last time,

Natsume opted to hold the intra-team match in Prism Tower, commanding Latias to set up Light Screen and Reflect.

Unlike last time’s mock battle,

As soon as Light Screen is up, this becomes an official ranking match—the true decision of family hierarchy!

Natsume tossed out eight Poké Balls at once: his starting six, plus backup Rotom and Tyranitar.

That didn’t even include support like Meloetta, Victini, or his flying partner Latias.

Red lights blossomed on the field.

Natsume surveyed his little ones, rubbing his chin. “So which of you wants to go first? Or should I demonstrate?”

With the Power of One and the Aura of Ripple buffing his fighting skills, Natsume seriously had the confidence to wrestle a Geodude!

“Tyranitar! ”

Tyranitar raised its claws high, tossing a diamond chunk into its mouth—crunch!

Natsume’s eyelid twitched, his heart aching.

Be calm… You can’t get stronger without some “Krypton Gold” grinding!

Even though Natsume always felt Sirfetch’d landed criticals with every strike, in terms of level, it was only Elite Four peak.

Since the Lily of the Valley Conference and Victory over Tobias’s Latios, it hadn’t trained much at all.

Whereas Tyranitar, after “Krypton Gold training,” Crimson Fragments, and breeding using “Giovanni’s techniques,” was now overtaking the others, inching toward the Champion tier.

Natsume was curious—if Sirfetch’d didn’t hold back, could it defeat Mega Tyranitar…?

First out was Tyranitar, lumbering toward the edge of the arena, spreading its claws, ready and waiting: “Tyranitar!”

The little ones glanced around, memories still picturing the obedient little Larvitar—now suddenly a towering dinosaur.

Even the always-spirited Sylveon had no intention of stepping up to fight.

“Blastoise…ヾ(■_■)” Blastoise calmly adjusted his sunglasses, then stepped back a pace.

A wise man keeps his tools sheathed until the right time!

Gengar noticed and grinned, also quietly moving a step back.

Togepi saw the teamwork and mimicked them, tilting its head in curiosity: “Togepi?”

Is that how it’s done?

“Sirfetch’d…” Sirfetch’d, leek and shield in hand, was dozing off.

So many legendary and mythical Pokémon—not to mention Sylveon-sister and friends.

There’s no way I’m up for first round, right…?

At the same moment—

Natsume’s gaze swept the team, nodding in satisfaction.

Sirfetch’d’s spot stood out more than usual.

It seems Sirfetch’d, just like me, wanted to test its own strength!

Natsume: “I choose you, Sirfetch’d!”

Sirfetch’d jerked awake.

Rubbing its drowsy eyes, looking at its trainer, glancing at everyone else—Sirfetch’d realized it had been fooled.

“Sirfetch’d! (′︿‵)”

It reluctantly dragged itself to the field.

Natsume raised an eyebrow.

This would be a real “father and son” match—Sirfetch’d versus Tyranitar!