When Cochran followed his gaze, he saw that Sirona was sleeping with Kem as a pillow, and Kem was sleeping while he was done. Other port mammals also sleep in their respective positions.

When Cochran saw them, he smiled, covered them with blankets, turned off the lights, and left the room.

"A good dream"

Night fell.

*

Two days later

After a short flight from the base of Sasawami Town, we arrived in the city of Seka in the western part of the Ichishu region.

"It's a long way from the town of Zoha."

Iris got off Bowmanda's back and stretched out widely. Sirona followed Alice off Bomanda's back.

"Sorry to let you know."

Sirona said as she stroked Alice's Bowmanda.

Alice, however, didn't seem particularly concerned and replied happily.

"I, no, no! I want to see Kojijing. “

"Yes. You like your grandfather. ”

"yes. Thanks to Mr. Kojii, I got here. “

Just then, Mukhhawk landed beside Bowmanda.

Keim got off Mukhhawk's back and took off his goggles.

"That's fast."

"I fly a lot, so I know which way the wind is blowing here."

"Do you know the flow of the wind?"

"So, let's go. The little prince seems to have arrived. “

Alice walked happily, and at the end of the path, there was a tower with the top hidden behind the clouds.

"That's the Longpu Immortal Tower."

"It's amazing, you know it's a special place when you look at it."

"The Yongpo line is spiral-shaped, so the inside is also spiral-shaped?"

"You'll find out when you go there."

"That's right"

The two follow Alice to the Yongpu Immortal Pagoda.

Leaving the city of Seca, after a short walk, through a road overgrown with trees, the lake unfolded right in front of me, and in the middle of the lake there was a tower.

The tower was facing a bridge pier in front of which stood a man of sturdy physique.

"Grandpa!"

When Alice raised her voice, the man turned around.

He is a man with sharp eyes and a distinctive beard. Judging from his white hair and the wrinkles on his face, he should already be middle-aged and elderly, but his physique and sharp eyes give people an ambition that does not look old.

"Oh, Alice. Are you there? ”

"Since the last tournament!"

"You look good. These two people are "

"That's right! Miss Sirona and Miss Kaimon! They want to go and see Yongpo Immortal Pagoda! “

"Really"

The man, Shaga, stood in front of them and held out his hand.

"Alice owes me.

"I'm Sirona. I am a scholar in the Sinnoh region. ”

Sirona took Shagar's hand and shook hands with him.

"I heard you're a champion.

"It's not something I'm doing alone. This is the result of the support of Pokémon and many others. ”

"It's not just your own power. It's a good idea. And you"

Shaga turned to Keim beside Sirona.

"I'm Kem. I'm Sirona's assistant. “

"I heard that Alice is a fitness instructor."

"Yes. Trainer of the Torihari Dokan. “

Saga stroked his beard and looked at Kem.

“… Not.

"Not yet."

"Huhu, I see. We are all relatives of Kem.

"Yes"

Kem shook hands with ShaGa as well, and Shaga looked up at the Tower of Dragon Lassen.

"You two want to enter the Longpu Immortal Tower."

"Yes, I can't fully investigate, but as a scholar, I'd like to take a good look at it."

"I see. Of course, the tower will be attractive to both archaeologists. It's not locked. Feel free to look around. ”

"I'm sorry to ask you that, but is it really possible?"

No matter how champion Shirona is, she is an outsider after all. Shirona wondered if it would be a good idea to easily fit it into the tower, which is a historical heritage of the Ichishu region.

"It doesn't matter, occasionally scholars from other regions come to visit and study, so it's not unusual. And those who have enough champion character find some malice. ”

"I'm grateful for that, so if you can tell me, I'll take your word for it."

"Say it, but some of the parts inside are already easily shattered, be careful."

"Thank you. Let's go, Kem. ”

"Ahh

The two of them walked towards the Longpu Immortal Tower.

Saga clasped his hands to his chest and looked at the backs of the two.

"Alice, did you fight Miss Sirona?"

"yes, but I'm not going to do that until it's settled."

"How's it going?"

"It's very complicated. Pokémon's movements and Mr. Shira's instructions. “

"Yes, it's been more than ten years since she became the champion of the Sinnoh region, and she is about the same age as you now, and since then, she has constantly defended her champion status, and everything she has built is unimaginable."

"Yes.

"Okay"

With a gentle smile, Saga stroked Alice's head.

"Where's Kem-kun?"

"Mr. Kem is also very strong, as strong as the director of the gym."

"The young man saw something like hesitation."

"Yes, but Mr. Keim can overcome it!"

There is no basis. However, Natsuga felt that Alice's words were somewhat convincing, so he closed his mouth and watched the two enter the Longpu Immortal Tower.

ーー

The interior of the Longpu Immortal Pagoda is already somewhat dilapidated.

However, as long as people improve, there is no problem with progress. The scaffolding is not bad, it can be seen that Saga is well managed.

"It's almost empty inside, isn't it?"

Sirona said as she walked down the road.

The lake was just below the path they were taking. If you look closely, you can also see some wild Pokémon.

"The sound also resonates very well, and there may be a spiral layer within the cylinder of this tower."

"Compared to the ruins I've seen so far, it's quite difficult to build, just like the ruins under the sea, and I don't know if it involves ancient technology."

"I wonder what this has to do with the underwater ruins?

"The existence of the 'king' of the underwater ruins, as well as the existence of the 'hero' of the Longpu Immortal Pagoda, the existence of the hero is widely known even in the Ichishu region."

"I don't know why there are so few kings, but it's easy to understand why there are so many heroes."

"Why?"

"Whether the legendary Pokémon Zekrom and Leshiram are involved."

"It makes sense to think that way. Originally, I didn't know if the underwater ruins and the Longpo Immortal Pagoda were products of the same era. ”

The age of the Yongpo Immortal Pagoda is known to some extent, but the age of the underwater remains is unknown. Therefore, whether they are involved or not will have to wait for progress in the investigation of underwater relics to be determined.

"Let's go, there's a lot to see here, but there's still a long way to go."

"Ahh

The group continued on their way to a spacious hall.

The hall was lined with pillars, most of which had been broken. Next to the base of the pillar was the remains of the pillar, and Sirona decided in her heart that this was what Shaga had said was destroyed.

"It's like a spearhead."

"Sort of, isn't it?

"Sure enough, there was no contact."

When I entered the hall and tried to walk inside, I felt a presence.

When I looked in the direction of the comer, I saw a figure of a man on the wreckage of the pillar. The figure glanced at them and stood up.

"Hi. It's nice to see you again. ”

"You...!"

The figure standing up is none other than the mysterious young man who had spoken to Kem on the beach in Saoha Town the other day.

"Nice to see you again"

Young N said with a strange smile.

A green-haired youth, N said with a gentle smile.

"Nice to see you again"

"Why are you?"

I didn't tell the young people that I was coming to Longpo Immortal Pagoda. Originally, this place was managed by Xia Ga, and you shouldn't be able to enter it without Xia Ga's permission.

But the young man remained calm. It was calm, like in your own home.

"My friend told me that if I came here, I would be able to see you."

“？”

"I want to talk to you. This time, rightly so, as your friend. ”

"I don't understand"

Kem stuck his head out to the young man, who continued to speak at his own pace.

"Kem, he's"

"This is the guy we were chatting with on the beach in Sashiba before. Didn't I tell you he was weird? ”

"Yes."

I didn't feel bad, but from what I had just said, I had a strong impression that she was moving at her own pace.

"I don't know. Why don't you go to the inside of Longpu Immortal Pagoda together? “

"Why is that?"

"We're friends, isn't it weird that we're friends?"

"I don't care if I'm with you or not, and you don't look like a bad person."

Since Xiao Hei didn't warn him, this young man should have no ill intentions. Kem himself knows this, and it's clear that he values Pokémon above all else.

However, in order for a young man to become friends, Kem must know a few things.

"If you want to be friends with me, start with your name."

"Oh, by the way, I knew your name, so I forgot."

“A？”

Kem doesn't consider himself a young man. But he said he knew his name.

"Blackie told me."

"Blackie? Why do you tell strangers your name? ”

When I turned my gaze to Blackie at my feet, Blackie turned away.

"Damn. No way. What is your name? ”

"I am N"

"I see. You know, but I can only name it. I'm Kem. This is Shirona. ”

"Sirona. Nice to meet you, N. ”

I was going to be left behind, but thanks to Kem's introduction to Sirona, none of this happened.

Shirona stared at the young man, N. N has a bit of mystery on his body, but he also has a bit of a divine aura on him. It seems difficult to read his thoughts from his expression, but at the same time his character seems to be honest.

"Kem and Shirona yes, that sounds good. Thank you. ”

“Nn。 Nice to meet you, N. ”

When they finally know each other's names, Shirona interrupts.

"Then N. Is that possible? ”

Sirona's atmosphere was somewhat serious. And so it will be. Kem relaxed a little after talking to him, but Sirona was seeing him for the first time.

Also, if he was in front of the Longpu Immortal Pagoda, which was supposed to be something no one could enter, he judged that there must be some reason.

"Okay. If there is anything I can answer. ”

"Who are you?"

Sirona asks a question that hits the nail on the head.

As long as Saga can control it, it is impossible to invade the tower of Longpu Immortal. It seems that it is possible for a flying Pokémon to reach the top of the tower and invade from there, but the upper part of this tower is raging with strong winds, and ordinary Pokémon cannot reach it at all. Alice's bow Manda may be possible, but it's strong enough to have a Pokémon with that level, which is also the only possible.

It follows from this that N is not an ordinary person in any way.

"yes, let's talk to you properly."

N jumped down from the pillar and landed in front of them.

He looked up and began to speak.

"I used to be the king of an organization called Team Plasma."

"Team Plasma, I'm pretty sure this is the last Pokémon League"

"That's right. It is about an organization that is trying to attack the Pokémon Alliance and free Pokémon from the hands of humans. “

"Then again, I've heard something similar from Gardelia."

This tournament ended with Alice winning the championship, but before that, the league was in an unprecedented situation, and the tournament itself was about to be hijacked.

Before the finals, Team Plasma attacked, but the four Heavenly Kings, including Gardelia, were defeated by Team Plasma's king.

A boy confronts the king to prevent him from freeing the Pokémon he sued from humans. The two heard that the boy had been chosen as the legendary Pokémon and had defeated not only the king, but also the man behind the manipulation of the king, and the matter was settled.

And the king is missing, the mastermind is plotting to escape, and he is currently plotting something behind the scenes.

"Are you the king?"

“… Yes"

Judging by N's atmosphere, it doesn't look like he's lying.

"Really"

"Do you still think that Pokémon should be liberated from humans?"

"I don't know. But I know there's more than one way to think. Everyone has their own way of thinking. There are Pokémon who try to do this, and I travel because I want to see the world with my own eyes. ”

N was brainwashed by his parents, Gezis, since he was a child. Therefore, his way of thinking is immersed in the way of thinking of Gaizis, but after confronting the boy who stopped N, he gets rid of this way of thinking and now travels to the Ishu region to decide how to live.

Get rid of your past self and decide the path of the future. That's what Kem needs now.

“… Really"

With that, Kem left.

N was a little disappointed and gave up on himself because he had made a big mistake in the past. In fact, I made a mistake that I knew I would be ridiculed for revealing my true identity. Still, I was shocked because I thought I could be good friends with Kem.

"Do you despise me?"

"Don't do it"

However, Keim's words came as a surprise.

“？”

"Unless you say you're doing it to despise people, but you do think you're doing it for Pokémon, right?"

“… Ahh

"Then there is no reason to despise it.

"You are"

"Let's go, time is limited."

N was stunned, and Kem quickly walked away and began to investigate in his own way. Sirona stood next to N.

"Surprised?"

"That's right. He seems to enjoy spending time with Pokémon, so I think he will avoid the act of releasing Pokémon from trainers. “

"Yes. It is true that Kem loves Pokémon and has a lot of love for them, and Pokémon responds to this. But Kem didn't think he was right. "Everyone has their own environment and position. Yes, it depends on your situation. With a different position, your perception of things will change, and your values will change. So, there is nothing in this world that says it has to be done.