Chapter 0670 Alder: How Dare I Claim Equal Footing!(Two-in-One)

"Caitlin?"

Cynthia seemed equally surprised.

Clad in a pale pink robe with translucent shoulder drapes and a white round hat, Caitlin's long, curled golden hair cascaded down to her calves. She tilted her head up to meet the taller Cynthia and Natsume's gazes.

Without acknowledging Natsume, Caitlin strode directly to Cynthia's side, looping her arm through the Champion's smooth, porcelain-like one.

"Cynthia, battle me later," Caitlin stated.

Cynthia blinked before softening into a smile.

"Of course. I've heard about the exhibition match arrangements."

Natsume stared skyward.

Guess my timing's off?

Considering the public setting, Natsume reluctantly released Cynthia's hand.

Caitlin also took half a step back, her turquoise eyes flashing with wariness as they locked onto Natsume.

This, folks, is Caitlin's ultimate one-for-one trade!

Cynthia glanced down at Caitlin, arms crossing as she smiled.

"Did you come to Lacunosa Town alone?"

Caitlin shook her head. "Darach is with me. We're staying at the town's mansion."

As Caitlin's butler, Darach handled the young noblewoman's daily affairs.

"Then how about joining us for tea?" Cynthia suggested, eyes curving. "After the opening ceremony."

"Tea party..."

Caitlin pondered like a cautious woodland creature.

Meanwhile, Cynthia leveled a look at Natsume.

"Let me guess—I'm handling desserts?"

Fully aware of his "chef" duties, Natsume sighed.

"I could help," Cynthia offered.

"Don't underestimate a chef's professional pride!"

"Tea... is acceptable," Caitlin murmured.

Cynthia studied Caitlin's now-calmer expression before gently brushing stray golden strands from the girl's forehead.

Caitlin's eyes fluttered shut. "Cynthia, I look forward to our battle."

A competitive glint sparked in Cynthia's gray eyes. "Likewise."

So Caitlin gets to battle Moe-Moe! during the ceremony...

While I'm stuck facing that old geezer Alder?

Natsume crossed his arms, side-eyeing a fruit tree beside the brick path.

A plump Pecha Berry trembled before levitating mid-air—Victini materialized, hugging the berry as it buried its face inside. "Victini~!"

Nearby, Gengar lurked under the shade, waggling its tongue at a terrified Sewaddle. "Gengar!"

Exhibition matches allow Gengar.

Guest commentators typically fielded signature Pokémon—like Cynthia's Garchomp.

With no move restrictions, Gengar's wide-area techniques could deliver spectacularly dirty battles.

Alder's ace is Volcarona... How would it stack up against Gengar?

Truthfully, Natsume harbored no delusions of easily overpowering Alder's Volcarona.

Despite Victini's infinite energy boost, Gengar's feat of breaching Arceus's avatar, and his bag of creative strategies...

Alder remained Unova's veteran Champion, and Volcarona was worshipped as a deity here.

At best, Gengar's odds were...

Three-to-seven.

Three for me, seven for Alder!

"Never underestimate any Champion," Natsume mused cautiously. "Destiny Bond" is always an option.

Caitlin, despite her haughty young mistress demeanor, turned docile as a Siamese cat around Cynthia.

"Listen to Darach. Using Psychic to eject challengers is rude," Cynthia chided, hands on hips.

"Yawn... Fine."

Caitlin covered her mouth daintily, one eye sliding toward Natsume.

Her gaze still radiated territorial hostility.

She's heard of his heroics during the Truth and Ideals incident—respects him as a Trainer...

But some lines cannot be crossed!

Natsume calmly ignored the defeated rival's whimpers.

Though honestly...

He rubbed his chin, observing the two golden-haired beauties.

Did I just become Moe-Moe!'s sidepiece?

……

World Tournament - Youth Tournament Registration Venue

The registration hall buzzed with Trainers signing up for the competition.

Many had their Pokémon out of their Poké Balls—a trend influenced by Team Plasma's "liberation" ideology still lingering in Unova.

Ash waved his Pokédex around like an excited child.

"Wow! A fully evolved Samurott! Those horn blades look razor-sharp!"

"And an Emboar! Will my Pignite get that buff after evolving?"

"Ash, you're such a kid," Iris sighed, hands on hips. "These are common starter evolutions in Unova."

"But my Pignite and Oshawott haven't evolved yet..." Ash scratched his head.

Just as Iris prepared to lecture him, she spotted a Hydreigon and immediately sparkled.

"Ahhh! A Hydreigon! So adorable~"

Ash sweatdropped. "How is that thing cute?!"

Their bickering attracted attention—including a smirking green-haired youth approaching hands in pockets.

"Yo, Ash. Didn't expect to see you here."

"Trip..." Ash frowned.

"Still chasing Champion Alder after losing to me? And with those unevolved 'mons?" Trip shrugged. "Hopeless."

"Hey twerp! Ash is a Battle Frontier Champion!" Iris bristled like an angry Purrloin.

"Oh? So the mighty Champion's new team is this pathetic?"

Trip raised his palms mockingly. "No offense—just saying starting fresh in a new region shows a Trainer's real skill."

Ash's Unova team underperformed, likely due to poor synergy. His stubborn refusal to use older Pokémon only compounded losses against rivals like Trip.

"He's not wrong," Ash admitted, meeting Trip's gaze. "But..."

I swore I'd quit the group chat if I lost again. I can't back down now!

Yet with his current team's limitations, bold declarations rang hollow.

Iris sighed at Ash's clenched fists.

Ugh... His stubborn pride about not using old teammates—who did he learn that from?!

Suddenly, a lightbulb lit above her head.

Oh. He learned it from Natsume-sensei!

"Speechless? Fine. We'll settle this in battle—"

THUD

A passing shoulder sent Trip stumbling. "Hey, do you have eyes, you..—"

His words died as he came face-to-face with a gray-haired young man whose deadfish eyes could freeze magma. The hulking Electivire at his side crackled with electricity.

"Electivire...(▼皿▼#)" Electivire's crimson glare made Trip's throat go dry.

Iris blinked. Who's this?

Ash gasped. "Paul?!"

Paul spared Ash a glance that might as well have been directed at a roadside pebble.

Trip swallowed hard. "Y-you're competing too?"

"Is this Unova's so-called 'new generation'?"

Paul's voice dripped with enough sarcasm to drown a Palpitoad. "Now I understand why this region's league standards are plummeting."

"How dare you insult Champion Alder!" Trip's neck veins bulged.

Iris imagined Alder giggling under his blankets knowing he had such a devoted fanboy.

"So you're just here to battle Alder?" Paul's smirk could cut glass. "Real Champions like Cynthia or Natsume-sensei don't use battle privileges as participation trophies."

Iris nodded sagely.

Natsume-sensei wouldn't do that—he'd just crash the tournament himself!

"You—! Fine! We'll settle this properly!" Trip spat through gritted teeth.

Iris sighed internally.

Boys resolving grudges through Pokémon battles... So primitive.

As Paul brushed past Ash, he finally acknowledged him with all the enthusiasm of a Slaking at naptime.

"Ash."

"Yeah?"

"Losing to rookies now?"

Paul's deadpan expression didn't flicker.

"How far the mighty have fallen."

……

"Hello, I'd like to register for the competition, please."

Nurse Joy looked up to see a petite green-haired young man nervously offering his Pokédex across the counter.

"Of course." She smiled warmly, typing into the computer.

"Wally from Hoenn, correct?"

"Yes! Thank you very much!"

Wally tightened his grip on his satchel strap as he accepted the green-coated Pokédex, his eyes shimmering as he stared at the device.

After recovering from his bronchitis treatments, he could finally hold full conversations and issue commands properly...

He might still lag behind Ruby and Sapphire, but he was still Natsume-sensei's student.

"If I win the Youth Tournament... maybe I'll get to see Natsume-sensei again..."

His voice dropped to an uncertain whisper. "Would he even remember me?"

"It's only natural if he forgot... Among all his students, I'm probably the least remarkable."

But still—

Wally's grip on the Pokédex tightened.

This very Pokédex... the one Natsume-sensei personally requested from Professor Oak for me...

This is why I keep fighting!

His knuckles whitened around the strap as determination flashed in his eyes.

No matter what, I'll show Natsume-sensei how far Gallade and I have come on that tournament stage!

……

The cheers from the tunnel shook the sky. Even backstage, Natsume could hear them clearly.

"What are you looking at?" Cynthia gracefully took a seat beside him, her gaze curious.

"The participant list for the tournament." Natsume shook the printed sheet in his hand.

"Didn’t expect Paul and Wally to join too."

Cynthia smiled faintly. "He and Ash… will spark something new."

"With Ash’s Unova team, he probably can’t beat Paul."

Natsume rubbed his chin. "But Paul and Iris are in the same group… so he might not even face Ash."

Iris was the strongest competitor in the Youth Tournament.

After all, using Champion-level talent in a Youth Tournament… only Natsume would do something like that.

As for Wally—

Natsume’s gaze flickered, recalling that shy but determined young man from Celadon School.

Unlike Ruby and Sapphire, he didn’t come from a prestigious family. But he had his own drive, his own perseverance—even willingly giving up a Special Edition Pokédex without complaint.

Natsume couldn’t ask Professor Oak to make another one. All he could do was keep supporting his student.

And, as Champion, instill in him the conviction of a true Trainer.

"By the way, take a look at this outfit."

"Which one?"

Natsume lifted his eyes to see Cynthia now wearing a bright purple cape. For a moment, he was stunned.

"Well?" Cynthia’s lips curved. "The Tournament Committee prepared it… They invited Unova’s top stylist."

"Very beautiful." Natsume nodded, then asked curiously, "And then you’ll toss it aside like Leon does with his cape when the battle starts?"

"Gotta maintain the Champion’s presence, you know." Cynthia sighed, exasperated.

Under the cape, she wore the same blue blouse from her Unova vacation. Moe-Moe! As carefree as ever.

"Hmm… I suppose it’s necessary."

"There’s one for you too~"

Cynthia stood and walked to the wardrobe, glancing back. "Black trench coat. How’s that?"

Natsume eyed the black-and-gold Champion attire in her hands and raised an eyebrow.

As everyone knew, in the PM world, trench coats and capes were the staples of true big shots!

Before him was a sleek black-and-gold patterned overcoat with epaulets—perfect for Natsume’s standards as Champion attire.

With this base design, he could ask Fantina to tweak the details later for formal events.

‘How did you know my measurements?’

Natsume almost asked, but then remembered—Ah, right. I’ve measured Cynthia’s too. He let it go.

"It’s your turn."

Cynthia glanced toward the contestant tunnel, smiling. "If it fits, you can debut it now."

"I’m actually a little nervous…"

Natsume, whose win rate was a mere "30%," admitted.

Cynthia crossed her arms, her smirk tinged with amusement. "Alder should be the nervous one…"

"Gengar~(￣▽￣)"

Gengar pshh-ed open an iced cola, chugged it, and pumped his fists eagerly.

"Victini~!" Victini bared its tiny fangs, the V-mark on its forehead glowing faintly as it channeled energy into Gengar.

Gengar’s eyes sparkled.

"Gengar~ (〃ω〃)"

Now we’re talking! Let’s go!

The cheers grew louder. Natsume draped the coat over his shoulders and stepped toward the roaring arena.

"Next, please welcome our special guest for this year’s opening ceremony!!"

Tall. Straight-backed.

Natsume—Champion Edition, limited outfit!