Chapter 0580: Summer Night in Sandgem Town

Thursday, May 13.

The summer night was cool, with tree shadows swaying as cicadas chirped like tiny monks.

Morning rain had left the soil damp—perfect for planting berries.

Returning home after so long, Natsume collapsed onto the soft bed, rolled over, then sat up.

"Still work to do," Natsume muttered. "Supplies are running low. Need to make more Pokéblocks."

The biggest harvest from Michina Town was Arceus's symbol of strength—The Power of One.

The Power of One deepened the bond between trainer and Pokémon, enabling telepathy.

This made Natsume's specialty—commanding—even more subtle.

Like how psychics like Caitlin could issue commands mentally.

Silent casting (?) prevented foolishly exposing strategic intentions...

Currently, Natsume was using The Power of One to communicate with Rotom:

"Little Rotom, activate Berry Blender Mode now!"

"Beep...System Overload! (⊙x⊙;)"

"No slacking. We need a truckload for Alamos Town."

"System Overload, Rotom~o(TヘTo)"

Little Rotom had two jewel fragments installed as plugins, boosting efficiency in both cooking and berry mixing.

The Time Fragment accelerated cooking; the Space Fragment increased capacity... truly legendary kitchenware.

The fresh berries came from that utterly forgettable System.

Whether rare berries or bulk common ones, they could always be exchanged.

If not for opening the studio and his passion for games,

Natsume suspected he'd make more money as a fruit tycoon than a game developer...

Entering the kitchen, Natsume tried using The Power of One, closing his eyes.

With himself as the radar's center, white light extended outward, faintly sensing Darkrai's impatience in Alamos Town.

Two white beams in the living room belonged to the underage internet-addicted Mew and Togepi;

Sylveon patrolled outside like a territory-marking sister;

In the garden, Arcanine dug while Larvitar ate soil...

"What a bizarre household," Natsume sighed, massaging his temples.

Beyond these, a faint connection stretched toward distant, foggy Kalos Region.

Three maps were already lit, but Kalos remained obscured.

That was the Fairy-type Plate Arceus had retrieved for Natsume.

"If we're assigning Plates, this one's for Sylveon."

Natsume pondered: "Togepi and Mew can stick to online classes..."

"Production progress at 85%, Rotom!" The Rotom-brand Berry Blender rumbled.

"That fast?"

"Beep... This is high-power mode, Rotom!"

Thinking of next month's electric bill, Natsume paled.

This was industrial-level consumption!

Fortunately, Pokémon's sales were stellar. Bills and food costs were manageable.

Once the company went public, Natsume's net worth would reach nine figures—enough for modest goals!

Rocket Delivery arrived to transport Pokéblocks to Alamos Town.

Natsume had Gengar grab several cans,

planning to visit Professor Rowan's backyard to check on training Blastoise and Delibird.

Before leaving, he glanced at the living room where two Pokémon played games.

One was Togepi. The other was also "Togepi."

"Togepi doo-ee~~"

The "Togepi" swayed with the racing game, turning it into a motion-controlled experience.

The real Togepi had absurd luck—stars, shells, items rained upon it.

"Togepi doo-ee~~ヾ"

Natsume chuckled. Mew rarely traveled far—tonight would be lively.

"Wait for me," Natsume called. "I'll bring midnight snacks!"

"Mew~~!" The "Togepi" reverted to pink Mew, grinning.

Outside, night enveloped everything.

Arcanine wagged its tail at Natsume: "Arcanine?"

"Larvitar" Larvitar bowed politely.

"Keep playing," Natsume smiled. "Just don't eat Blastoise's experimental crops."

Blastoise grew Revival Herbs and Energy Roots in the garden. With Aura acceleration, they matured rapidly.

But it constantly guarded against playful Arcanine and voracious Larvitar.

With Blastoise out training today, the crops were endangered!

"Larvitar~~" Larvitar nodded obediently. Gluttonous but well-behaved.

Recently, Natsume noticed Larvitar loved building sandcastles.

Whenever Sylveon bullied kids at the park, Larvitar quietly played in sand.

Weak. Pitiful. Always hungry.

"Wonder if Larvitar can eat Palossand..."

Natsume coughed. Maybe a beach trip for "play" (read: foraging) later.

"GengarGengar~~"

Gengar swam through shadows at Natsume's feet, using freestyle strokes.

Tired, it leaned against rippling shadow edges, sipping cola: "Gengar~"

Natsume: "..."

This is just too enviable!

As Gengar's mastery over Antimatter grew more skilled, several square kilometers could become its private swimming pool.

Though honestly, this ability is typically used for stealth and curses—like Agatha's Gengar.

Using it for swimming... truly fitting for Natsume's Gengar!

Under the night sky, Professor Rowan's research institute was now within sight.

The institute's windows glowed faintly. Spotting Natsume's figure, Professor Rowan stood and nodded.

Natsume reached the main entrance and greeted him.

Professor Rowan stroked his mustache and said gravely:

"Natsume, I heard about the incident in Michina Town."

"What about it?" Natsume was startled—news traveled fast.

Professor Rowan's gaze flickered: "They say you... defeated Arceus?!"

Beep—

Rotom Pokédex instantly blared:

"Arceus encounters: 1. Defeated: 1!"

For a moment, Natsume and Professor Rowan stood in silence.

The entire research institute heard the announcement, their movements slowing mid-task.

Crash—

A glass bottle shattered on the floor. "I—I'll clean it up!" a flustered intern stammered.

The institute resumed its work, though glances kept drifting over.

Professor Rowan clapped Natsume's shoulder and said solemnly:

"I don't understand Trainers' affairs as well as Samuel. But I’m certain research isn’t your path—you belong on a grander stage!"

"The Lily of the Valley Conference?" Natsume ventured.

Professor Rowan coughed violently. "The Lily of the Valley Conference?!"

"Cynthia mentioned," Natsume scratched his head, "that applying for it requires a recommendation form from a local Professor first."

"That way, I can skip the preliminaries and advance straight to the top 100..."

Professor Rowan fell into prolonged silence.

Studying Natsume's dead-serious expression, he felt conflicted.

Is this even logical?

A Trainer who defeated Arceus... now joining a league tournament full of rookies?

His chest tightened. Waving a hand, he muttered:

"It’s your choice... since you hold no Elite Four or Champion titles yet..."

Wait.

A realization struck Professor Rowan.

The reason this guy refuses Elite Four or Champion titles...

Is it because accepting them would disqualify him from league tournaments?!

"Thanks for the trouble." Natsume smiled warmly. "I’ll fill out the form at home and return it later..."

Professor Rowan gave a stiff nod, regaining his stern demeanor.

He studied Natsume’s determined, battle-ready face and hesitated.

If your opponents knew you’d just beaten Arceus before entering this competition... wouldn’t they weep?

"Professor Rowan!"

A ranger burst in urgently: "Come quick—the river in the backyard’s completely frozen!"

Professor Rowan shot Natsume a pointed look.

Natsume coughed. "I already warned Blastoise to hold back..."

Meanwhile...

Pryce’s Delibird stood on the frozen river, eyeing the sunglasses-wearing Blastoise with a twitching eyelid.

I hadn’t even taught you Ice Beam yet, and you’ve already frozen the river?!

So you knew Ice Beam all along and hid it until now?

"Blastoise." (You never asked.)

Blastoise stared back.

It wanted to seek advice on advanced Ice-type skills.

Besides, this was the restrained outcome.

Delibird blinked, utterly lost.

Who am I? Where am I? Is my job already done?

Natsume arrived at the frozen river and gasped at Delibird:

"You taught Blastoise already?!"

Delibird’s eye twitched, frustration boiling.

You’re just messing with me now!

I’m freeloading meals and lodging to recover from this psychological damage!

……

On the way home, Natsume-sensei followed the signal from The Power of One and found Sylveon swinging alone on a park bench.

“Sylveon!” Sylveon’s ribbons were tangled around the swing’s chains. Spotting Natsume from the corner of its eye, it froze in surprise.

Natsume sat on the swing beside Sylveon, tilting his head up to gaze at the starry sky.

“Blastoise.” Blastoise kept watch with its aura, scanning for any potential threats.

“Sylveon~” Sylveon, too, lifted its sapphire-blue eyes toward the glittering expanse above.

A few minutes of silence passed before Natsume stood with a chuckle. “Let’s head back.”

“We’ve got a Lily of the Valley Conference form to fill out… and then it’s Baby Cup time!”

“Gengar~!” Gengar emerged from the shadows, grinning wide.

A year ago, it had been Gastly—carefully tracing each stroke on the application screen with the tip of its fang.

Now, Natsume was a Champion who thrived in fan tournaments.

Though… judging by his enthusiasm for the Baby Cup, some things never changed.

Hands in his pockets, Natsume walked home under the gentle night sky, steps light.

“Sylveon~!” Sylveon extended a ribbon toward his arm, striding proudly on slender limbs, head held high.

“GengarGengar~”

Gengar croaked out a few raspy notes—mercifully not Perish Song.

Natsume laughed softly. As Sylveon’s delicate hum drifted into his ears, he found himself humming along.