"It's delicious, it's dry, but it's easy to drink."

"Isn't it? However, it is very alcoholic, so it is better not to drink too much because it is easy to drink, so I almost broke down. ”

\"Oh, yes. Daigo-kun, are you an alcoholic? \"

\"I'm not weak. I can drink some, but not as much as Kazuki-san. \"

"Mr. Kazuki is one of the four heavenly kings of the Hoenn region."

Kagetsu is one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Hoenn region and a trainer specializing in evil. Since he is good at evil type combat, I was impressed that he was able to perform tricky but powerful fights.

"Yes. In fact, this kind of wine was taught to me by Kazuki-san. Some time ago, when I was drinking with the Four Heavenly Kings. ”

"Oh, the Four Heavenly Kings drinking together? That's great. ”

"I have a lot to do with the Four Heavenly Kings. The Imperial Kitchen may also be joined. ”

"Miss Chef is here too. This is not a lavish reception. \"

Needless to say, the Four Heavenly Kings were not only the best in the competition, but also the leaders of the Gym. It's too extravagant to meet such a face.

\"I usually drink at Miss Hanazuki or Minori's house, so it's no different from now. What is the relationship between Miss Bai Ming and the Four Heavenly Kings? \"

\"Me? Ryokun is still underage, so we've never had a drinking party, but we've gone out to eat many times. \"

Bai Nai has a good relationship with the four heavenly kings of Ryo, Kikuno, Oba, and Gaoyang. I've matched the cards many times, and I've almost always won against someone else every time I play Pokémon League. Although it was rare to win in last year's Pokémon League, it can be said that the relationship with the Four Heavenly Kings is still good.

In particular, Goyo's goal is to surpass Sirona. As a result, he has challenged Sirona the most times among the Four Heavenly Kings. Of course, since their opponents are the Four Heavenly Kings, it doesn't mean that Bai Luo has won them all, but their current record is victorious.

"Mr. Kikuno is the oldest of the Four Heavenly Kings and has taken care of me since I became a champion."

"Kikuno-san, it's ground-based, right? Presumably you have been one of the Four Heavenly Kings for a while. ”

"I'm sure Mr. Genji has been there for a long time."

"Yes, before I became the champion, that person was also a member of the Four Heavenly Kings."

"I see, people who are long are very good."

That's why Kikuno and Genji have been serving as the Four Heavenly Kings until Shirona and Daigo became champions. Shirona remembered that Kikuko and others in the Kanto region had also served as the Four Heavenly Kings for a long time.

Now that I think about it, what is the relationship between Kikuno-san and Kikuko-s.?

The two are very similar in appearance and figure. They don't look similar, but their names are similar, so they may have some kind of connection.

With that in mind, Cam and Lucario brought over the prepared food.

"Agedashi tofu, yakitori, with edamame and large rolled eggs"

"Oh, thank you, General."

"Who is the general?"

"Okay, Mom."

"I'm going to stop."

Contrary to Daigo, who had a lot of fun, Kaimeng was expressionless. However, her voice sounded a little happy, and I am afraid it was not just what I imagined.

"Yes, Kem's glass."

"Thank you."

"Kem is weak, don't drink too much."

"I know"

Kem took the cup and drank a little of its contents. The refreshing taste and the heat of the alcohol flowing into my throat made me inhale gently.

"It's not like yesterday."

"Anyway, while Miss Bai Nai is there, I want to make a good drink. \"

"How many bottles did you bring?"

"There's another item in my locker when I'm working."

"Drunkard."

We hadn't seen each other much since we grew up, and Gogokaim didn't expect him to be so fond of drinking. Although it was a bit of a surprise, since I had already been in contact with it, there was nothing strange about it.

"Anyway, Kem's cooking is still delicious."

Daigo said as he shoved fried tofu into his face. For some reason, Bai Nai appeared proud of her reaction to this sentence.

"Really? The food cooked by Kem was delicious. ”

"I think every time I bring up this topic, Shirona is always proud."

"Oh, aren't you happy?"

"I'm the one who gets praised."

"It's nice to be praised for something you love, isn't it?"

Daigo tilted his glass in front of the two who were interacting as usual. Dry sake runs down the throat and neutralizes the sugar in your mouth.

I'm glad I stayed dry

If I drink a sweet drink, too much sweetness can cause my blood sugar levels to spike.

If it was Kem alone, he would definitely cause trouble, but Daigo didn't have the courage to mess with Hakuna. In fact, Daigo didn't mess around, because if he messed up, it could end up creating an unnecessary sweet space, so he continued to talk about the topic.

"The food you cook is always delicious. When we traveled together, it was Keim who cooked most of the time. ”

"Blackie is very picky about his own taste."

Ever since he was Ibrahimovic, Blakey has been very picky about food. It's not that I'm a picky eater, but if I don't like the taste, it will immediately show up on my face. I won't leave it there, but Kem, who really cares about Pokémon, can't let him go if he makes that expression. In the past, he studied hard during the trip, just to be able to make meals that satisfied Xiao Hei.

"You've always helped your mom before, right?"

"Yes, my sister didn't do it, so I did. In the process, I can do the most basic household chores, and when I cook, I can also make decent meals that Xiao Hei can do. "It was a lot of fun on the trip."

"When I met him, he was still an Ibrahimovic, but at the time Heiki did show it on his face."

There doesn't seem to be much flavor that I don't like, but when the quality of the taste is poor, it shows up on my face. His expression was so easy to understand that even Daigo could easily recognize him.

"Bashamo is happy to eat anything."

"Yes, as long as it's not bitter, he eats everything, he especially likes spicy food, and his expression is really great when I make super spicy mapo tofu."

"What do you mean it's amazing?"

"His face was a mixture of happiness and pain because of its spiciness. I made a special spicy mapo tofu for him and he somehow liked it. By the way, I can't eat it. ”

"Is it so spicy?"

"I'll go down in one bite."

"I created something horrible, dramatic."

"Yes..."

I'm a little worried that it's too spicy, but Sirona's tolerance to spicy isn't that extreme. If anything, Bai Nai, who loves sweets, thinks it's better not to try, so she puts a large roll of eggs in her mouth and doesn't eat it again.

Just then, Blakey came to Cam's feet and tugged at the hem of Cam's clothes.

"What? What's wrong? ”

Kem is pulled by Black Key to follow Black Key. He then walked over to the Pokémon who were eating out, including Daigo's Pokémon.

Daigo looked at his back and muttered to himself.

"You've gotten stronger."

Shirona reacted to Daigo's whispers.

"Is it very different from before?"

"Yes. We've been friends for a long time, but we didn't see each other much after Kem's journey. Especially after graduating from high school, we went to Kanto. We did meet. "Sometimes, though, I've given up fighting."

He's probably not just getting stronger in battle. This may also mean that he has become stronger physically and mentally. For Daigo, who has always been relatively strong, Kem's growth is a bit unexpected, but at the same time he is also happy and feels that he is getting closer and closer to him.

"I don't think I can get him to that level."

Looking at Kem, who was entangled and massaged by Pokémon, Daigo muttered. Daigo and Kem fit well as people, but they don't fit well as teachers and students. As a result, Mae-Daigo was unable to make Kem stronger, and as a result, he withdrew from the fight at one point.

Shirona responded to Daigo's words.

"Maybe. But I thought about it after watching today's fight. If I were Kem's opponent, I'm sure he wouldn't be that excited. ”

For Kem, Sirona is someone he supports and wants to walk side by side, not someone he wants to fight against. If anyone thought so, Kem probably wouldn't be as excited as he was in the fight with Daigo.

The ultimate level of concentration allowed Kem to immerse himself in the water for a moment. Sirona can't get this out there.

"As Daigo-kun said, Daigo-kun may not be able to train Kaim. However, I am afraid that the only person who can give full play to his abilities through practice is you. \"

“… I see."

Hearing Sirona's words, Daigo smiled a little happily and looked at the transparent liquid.

"If that's the case, I'll be happy."

Daigo looked at Kem, who was still rubbed by Pokémon, and whispered. Although Shirona looked depressed, she smiled kindly as she watched her beloved happily play with Pokémon.

ーーーー

When Kem came out of the bathroom and walked into the living room with Mashamo, Daigo was sitting on the wooden deck drinking a glass of wine, just like yesterday. The only difference is that five generations are on the side.

"Do you still drink?"

Hearing Cam's words, Daigo turned around.

"No, it's water, and I really won't drink it anymore."

Kem sat down next to Daigo, who was smiling wryly, and Basha Mo lay down, with Kem's back to him. Then he turned his attention to Uredore, who was beside him.

"It's a Pokémon Fossil"

"Yes. This is the result of my reconstruction of the fossils I found. ”

"We can rebuild Pokémon from fossils, it's not the same as before."

Fossil remediation techniques have been established over the past few years. So, it's not time for Daigo to travel with Kem. We can also feel the passage of time through the advancement of technology.

"A long time ago,? You've changed a lot, haven't you? ”

"It hasn't changed, but the facial muscles still don't work."

"Haha! This may never change. I'm not talking about that. ”

"And what are you talking about?"

"It's your heart, the previous you are different from the current you, in essence, like you said, we haven't changed that much, but you have changed, you have become stronger in many ways."

"What does this mean?"

"It means a lot of things."

It's about fighting, it's about physical strength, it's about mental health. Since meeting Sirona, Kem has grown up quickly. As a friend, I was happy to see this, but at the same time, today I realized that there were other emotions rising inside Daigo.

Then Daigo held out his hand to Kem. In his hands, he held a huge stone.

"The Boulder"

"I approve of you, don't you agree too? Although you have a disability, it is enough to accompany me to this point. ”

If you can compete with a champion to this extent even if you have a handicap, then you are good enough as a trainer. Kem knew that, and the fight made him realize he could get to that level.

"You're not going to say you're not there yet, are you?"

In response to Daigo's provocative words, Kaimu smiled bitterly and stretched out his hand. Then Daigo dropped the giant stone in his hand.

There is a cool feeling in the hand. I slowly grabbed the boulder and looked at Bashamo. Umiki turned his attention from Mashamo back to Daigo, and Daigo said, Daigo looked at the boulder, his gaze sharpened, revealing a look of interest.

"Thank you, let me use it."

"yes, you can use it now."

"I definitely couldn't do it before."

I didn't mean it sarcastically, but the modest Kem replied jokingly. But in reality, the old Kem certainly could not master.

Hearing this, Daigo covered his throat with water. Then, he said as he gently stroked the nearby Urador.

"When I was a kid, I always thought I was better than you."

Kem turned to Daigo with a confused look at the sudden words.

"I'm older than you, so that's it."

"No, I think even though we're the same age, we think the same thing."

"I see."

"Are you angry?"

Kem was a little surprised by his sudden appearance, which he had always looked down on, but he immediately shook his head and stroked Xiao Hei, who had unknowingly come to his side.

"Not really. That's what I thought, too. ”

"What?"

"I'm no match for Daigo."

Daigo was always able to do things he couldn't do on his own. Not to mention fighting, studying, training, and everything else.

That's why Kem always follows Daigo. His two older sisters, Isana Isana and Daigo Daigo, are close targets of Kemkaim. I wish I could do something like this and live my life according to my heart

"So? Why do you say that all of a sudden? Aren't you drunk yet? ”

"Maybe. If you weren't drunk, you probably wouldn't say that. I just remembered. ”

"What are you doing?"

Daigo continues to walk towards Kaiwu, who seems surprised.

"It was so much fun to fight with you today. The fight with Miss Sirona is also the best, but the fight with you is the best in different ways. That's why I remembered. \"

"I don't know why, this is the second time I've fought you."

"Yes, it starts as soon as you've collected all the gym badges."

Before today's battle, Daigo and Keim's first and last battle was when Kaim collected all the gym badges. They fought because they had collected all the gym badges, but Daigo won by a landslide. Since then, he has not fought with Daigo again, or rather, Kem has begun to avoid fighting in his place.

And then it happened. What caused Kem to give up fighting?

"From that moment on, you start to give up fighting. Because you feel a little bit responsible. ”

"That's really one of the reasons. But the main reason is time. ”

Most trainers will complete collecting gym badges within two years at the latest. However, although Kem took a detour, ?? It also took about four years. These years were enough to make Kem give up fighting.

"I see"

"It's not your fault. Just keep that in mind. ”

"Yes"

A moment of silence. Then, Daigo spoke again.

"But I'm jealous of you."

"Teeth?"

"I envy you for such an upright, indestructible heart."

Four years broke Kem's heart, but in other words, Kem still continued to train without heartbreak. Daigo did not have the enthusiasm and mental strength to continue working towards his goals. For Daigo, who is expected to be Devonshire's successor, Kem's way of doing things looks pretty cool.

"A straightforward heart and enthusiasm that I didn't have at the time. It looked so cool to see him push straight forward. ”

"I've had a lot of trouble with that as well."

"Worried? For example? ”

"I want to be like Daigo and others."

The most familiar thing since my trip is my goal. Kem admires Daigo, who is talented and moves forward without hesitation.

"I see"

Hearing this, Daigo opened his mouth and continued.

"If you could be me, there would definitely be something great about it. But something you can never do. ”

"To be a champion? To be honest, there are a lot of things I don't understand. ”

"I don't think it's impossible to be a champion, it depends on the time and the situation, but for you, it's definitely impossible right now."

"Really? What's that, exactly? What can't I do? ”

"I can be your friend."

Hearing Daigo's words, Kem was suddenly stunned. Then he scratched his head bitterly.

"You can't say such embarrassing things so calmly."

"Hahaha! Probably because I'm drunk. But that's what I really mean. I fought with you today and touched my heart with your Pokémon, and I remembered it again. ”

“… Let's get to work. ”

Cam sighed angrily as he spoke, using Cam's knee as a pillow, stroking the purring Blackie, and patting Bashamo's head.

"Well, in that case, I'll just be myself."

"These are things you wouldn't have said in the past."

"Maybe. But I'm happy to be myself. I can do things you would never be able to do. ”

The light in the room slightly illuminated the side of Kem's face, which was as expressionless as usual. However, I saw the corners of his mouth rise slightly.

Daigo smiled when he saw this, and so did Kem. Their laughter echoed in the night sky.

We've been friends for over a decade, but after that day, I feel like we've become true friends.

Bai Nai and Lucario looked at the two of them with a gentle smile on their faces.

An isolated island north of the city of Mio.

There, a man was sweating profusely.

The man's name was Togan. As the former director of the Mai Ao City Gym, he is currently training as a frontier brain in the new Combat Frontier facility.

"Ugh"

The steel island is both a workplace and a training ground for Togan. By placing yourself in the mines, you can train on rock, ground, and steel-based Pokémon. Fighting the Puppet's specialty, the Steel Department, is a bit like fighting yourself. It is much more difficult to defeat yourself than to defeat others, so in that sense, Kotetsu Island is a perfect place.

After finishing his work and training, Togan took a breath and wiped his sweat. I feel like I've improved my abilities lately, but not enough to be a cutting-edge brain. In order to get to this point, he had to participate in the Frontier Brain selection training at the end of the year, but sure enough, he was too old to be as reckless as he used to be.

Around March, I somehow found what I missed in a battle with my successor, Kem. However, since the syllabus has not yet been decided, it is not yet known how far his training will go.

Simply put, sluggishness. With training alone, you're almost at the limit of your ability to improve. In that case, I'd like to train somewhere with the others, but Kem is busy writing as a scholar and serving as a gym director, and I can't bear to let other gym elders come all the way. I occasionally go to that area myself, but now I don't need to fight on my own, I understand that, but I can't do anything about it myself.

Just as I was wondering what was wrong, I heard footsteps behind me. When I turned around, there was a man wearing a hat with an unusual shape.

"Higashiyan-san, you're so energetic. \"

"Oh, it's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"It's been a long time."

The man smiled and lowered his head slightly. Togan smiled and patted the man on the shoulder.

"Long time no see! I haven't seen each other in over a year and I'm worried! ”

"We've always been in touch, haven't we?"

"Even so! It's great that you're doing well, are you done with your outside business? ”

"It's not really an errand, though. I'm just going to visit a place that I have a connection to. ”

"I'm sure of Alderland Castle, right? There must be some kind of connection there. ”

Alderan Castle. It is a castle that exists in Rota, a remote area in the Can Tho region, and has been around for quite some time, so it is said that it is a land that is connected to humans.

"Yes. I guess I should say there too. It was a pleasant trip. ”

"Like. Looks good. ”

"It seems that Mr. Toiwa has also encountered something very pleasant? \"

Hearing the man's words, Torgen smiled fearlessly. The man knew that Togan had taken over as the head of the gym. Thogen himself doesn't tell us about it, but the answer can be found in the Pokémon League's notice. The man remembers Togan very well, because his name is Togan.

"Yes, if I hadn't met him, I would have recommended you to be the head of the gym a long time ago."

"You've said no many times, and you've done it too."

"yes, I thought you were fit to see a lot of things."

"That's not my purpose. I don't want to take advantage of something that is just a side effect to get ahead of everyone else. That's not for me. ”

Facing the man's wry smile, Torgan laughed heartily.

"Hahaha! You're still as humble as ever, General. ”

"Haha, that's not true. Mr. Even. ”

The man smiled happily and pointed the monster ball in his hand at Torgan.

"By the way, how? Long time no see, want to fight? ”

"Oh, that's great! I just have something I want to put into practice! ”

Torgan accepted the previous invitation and placed his hand in his monster ball.

*

night

Keim is writing in front of a computer monitor with Dr. Platanu.

"It took a while, but I was able to decipher some of the Braille in the material I showed you earlier."

"Oh! Isn't it amazing! ”

"Braille is very different from ours, but the basics are the same, so it doesn't matter. There are parts that I still can't decipher, but I guess it will work out somehow. ”

In addition to his day-to-day duties as the director of the gym, his time was shortened by the Darkrai incident, but he managed to decipher some of the text. While there are some things that I haven't fully deciphered, it's safe to say that I've made good use of most of the material that Daigo sent me.

"I have included the deciphered text and the deciphered sentence in the materials I sent you, please check."

[At first, Gillans, and at the end, it roars, and everything opens up]. What does that mean? ”

"I don't know much about it. However, the names of the definite Pokémon named "Gillans" and "Whale-O" appeared. There may be some connection between cashier Pokémon and these two, but why do these two appear at the same time? "Many mysteries arise from this, such as whether it is an animal or not, or what the beginning and end mean. It is necessary to decipher not only the letters, but also the meaning of the letters. ”

"I agree. What does this word mean? We still don't understand it. Let's put aside the meaning of this sentence for a moment. ”

Dr. Platanu put aside many questions and continued to read the letter that Kem had deciphered.

''[We used to live in this hole]. [It's all thanks to Pokemon.] [But have we been able to decipher that Pokémon so far?] 】

"Yes. The rest of that sentence has not been excavated"

"Enough. \"Great progress! It turned out that the people who built this stone chamber were able to survive thanks to Pokémon. That is, cashier Pokémon used to have a lot to do with people. This is a hypothesis in itself, but with the interpretation of the characters, it can be said that the relationship has been determined. ”

Reggie Pokémon is a Pokémon found all over the world. In addition to Registier, Regis, and Regisloc, there are also types such as Registie and Reggie Drago found in the Galel region. Moreover, in most places where cashier Pokémon exist, there are remnants left by creatures called "ancient people", and it is said that there may be some kind of close relationship between cashier Pokémon and "ancient people".

But so far, no conclusive evidence has been found. Therefore, this is only a hypothesis, but it can be said that by deciphering the text in the Ofre Stone Chamber, the relationship between the Cashier Pokémon and the ancients has been determined.

"Okay! If you knew what was going on, it would be a better book! ”

"That's true, but Ofrey's stone chamber isn't an easy place to visit. \"

"Oh, I see. In addition, the location is also in the Hoenn area. Are you having trouble walking? ”

The Ofrey Stone Room is believed to be a ruin related to Reggie Pokémon, but few other details are known. In addition, the place where the stone chamber is located is also a very special place to dive. Therefore, in addition to the fact that it is not possible to dig easily, it is also difficult to get there.

I don't like Daigo going to this kind of place on purpose, but I can't get Daigo to check on me more than once.

"Besides, the director of the gym is also busy, right? I don't write very fast. ”

In addition, Keim currently serves as the head of the gym. There is no problem with the gym owner being absent for a long time, as long as there is a substitute. In fact, Kem had previously succeeded Somo as the director of the torihari dokan.

In that case, if Kem can appoint a representative, he will have time to go to the Hoenn region to investigate.

But Kem wouldn't do that. The reason was that I was still new to the position and wondered if I could appoint a replacement and leave Keim in a few months. The gym instructors also know that Kaim is Sirona's assistant and is doing archaeological research. He would happily accept anyone who makes a request. But even though Kem knew this, he didn't try to do it.

"No, since I have Dr. Platanu's time, I want to do something good quickly. For this, I don't want to slow down. \"

''Yes, I'm also excited to be able to write and discuss with someone as promising as you. What's more, she was also an assistant to my sister's apprentice. I also want to do something better. But there is no need to panic. I also had to meet with publishers. It's not something we can do alone. So don't waste time, but don't rush either. Let's think about it. ”

"That's right, sorry. \"

''Hehe, it's easy and helpful to communicate. Well, anyway, I guess you should see this stone chamber for yourself at least once. By actually observing, you may realize something you won't notice just by looking at the material. ”

What Dr. Platanu said, he also said to Sirona. This stone chamber is closely related to Kem's research subject, Regi pokemon. Kem wondered why he had never seen a relic closely related to the subject of his research, and Sirona had said the same.

\"yes, yes. That's what I thought, too. \"

"I'm sure you understand. But now that I'm the head of the gym, can't I take a long vacation so easily? ”

The Gym Master is a Pokémon Alliance certified trainer and the highest figure in the Pokémon Gym. We need to play against challengers who come every day. You can't easily leave for a long time.

Of course, if a substitute is appointed as in the previous sumo wrestling, then there will be no problem. Keim understands this, but his overly serious personality keeps him from taking risks.

"Is it okay to appoint someone who has been appointed for a few months, and suddenly appoint a deputy?"

“… Yes? Maybe you're worried about this? ”

"yes, that"

"Hahaha! It seems that you are serious. But aren't the people in your gym all the people who make a bad impression on you? ”

"It does, but"

That's the best reason, but there's an even bigger reason.

Who should I represent?

Who will be your representative? That's the biggest problem. The level of trainer organization at Miao Gym is quite high, but on the other hand, it can also be said that there are no good trainers. Therefore, there is no one to replace Kem.

"Looks like you have something else on your mind?"

"Yes, but there's not much more to say here, so let's stop here for now, I'll discuss it with my ex before deciding what to do."

"yes, that's good. So let's get back to the previous topic. ”

As I tried to start writing again, Dr. Platanu added one last thing.

"Shouldn't the black guy who has been sticking to Kem-kun's head for so long be stuffed in?" \"”

Dr. Platanu mentions Blakey, who has been glued to Kem's head since the beginning of the meeting. The black man had been wandering in his mind since the meeting began, and Kem had been ignoring it in order to continue the conversation without worry, but Dr. Sycamore finally confronted him. It was so natural that for a moment, I thought something was wrong with me, but no matter how I looked at it, it wasn't normal. In fact, Dr. Platan would love to compliment himself for being able to have such a serious conversation without any complaints.

"No, you can skip it."

Since the Darkrai incident, Blackie has often been in this position. I'm not at the gym, but it's where I usually sit when I'm at home. So, Kem doesn't think he's worth complaining about at this time.

But Blackie didn't seem to be the same, he picked up Kem's head and hit him with his front legs.

"However, Xiao Hei seems to want you to care?"

"This guy has always been very careful."

I did it and did it.

"Hahaha! I've said before that I'm a spoiled kid, but not to that extent! This is proof that Pokémon loves you. ”

"That's fine, but I hope you don't hold this position anymore because it makes your neck feel heavy."

"But aren't you going to lower it?"

"It's heavy, but I don't hate it. \"

Dr. Platanu couldn't help but smile at Cam when he said this in a strange way, and looked away. I've heard my sister Sirona say before that she can't tell the truth, and that's true. Serious and a little irritable. Dr. Platan thought to himself that, contrary to his appearance, he also had a friendly side.

"Then let's have a meeting with Blackie."

"Even if Xiao Hei is here, there is nothing I can do."

I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this

"Hey, Blackie? Can you stop covering your eyes with your paws? I can't see anything. ”

Blackie is not satisfied with Cam's words and taps Cam's head with his paws, covering his eyes. Seeing their friendly looks, Dr. Platan laughed.

"Ahaha! Isn't that a good combination? ”

"Ah, I'm sorry."

"Hehe, Xiao Hei, let's work together."

Dr. Platanu's words caused Blackie to scream with delight and wagging his tail. Looking at such a little black, Kem sighed slightly and smiled bitterly.

"Well, according to the policy of the future."

"Thank you"

"If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. It will help you. ”

"It's very helpful"

After the meeting, Kem abandoned the calling app. Then he tore off the black coat that was still attached to his head and put it on his lap.

"So be it, hold on to the end."

In the end, he gets confused with Blackie, who remains trapped in his mind until the end. When I turned it over and rubbed Blackie's belly, Blackie suddenly laughed. Seeing such a little black, Kem let out a rare laugh.

Then, there was a knock on the door of the room. Shirona appeared from there.

"It looks like the meeting is over."

"Oh, somehow."

"What policy will we adopt in the future?"

Kaim answered Sirona's question after a brief pause.

"Right now, what we're doing is good, but we haven't seen it with our own eyes, and it's backfired. We just can't seem to get things done. ”

"Oh, it's really hard. It's important to see the real thing and the focus of attention, and most importantly, you won't be able to use your number one strength, 'perspective'. ”

Finally, this became important when I was writing this book. Thanks to Daigo for the material, the writing went well, but I sometimes needed to go there in person. In addition to writing about the stone chamber of the big house, I also received news of the progress of the excavation work. I can't keep asking Daigo, and even if I could, I would never do it because I would feel terrible.

"I need to go somewhere, but that means I'm going to be out of the gym for a while."

"Then you're going to need a replacement."

The Gym is an organization under the jurisdiction of the Pokémon Alliance. Therefore, I can't leave for a long time.

However, there are also many people who are also the head of the gym. Therefore, if a representative is appointed as a remedy, there is no problem even if the representative is absent. Previously, sumo wrestling had also represented Kem in the Galel region to study abroad.

"It's okay to go, but there's a problem with representation."

"What's the problem?"

Shouldn't I choose from gym trainers? Shirona thought to herself, but it's not that simple. If that solves the problem, Kem won't let it be a problem.

"No, uh, there's no one to replace me."

“？ What do you mean? ”

"No, or rather, no one can say second like the previous Torizhang Gym. \"

Every gym trainer possesses impeccable abilities. There are also experienced trainers, and even if they are made to be the gym director, there is no doubt that they will be able to handle the gym challenge.

However, the problem is not the challenge of the gym, but the trainer who comes to test his skills. Sure enough, I won't lose to a trainer who has a lot of gym badges, but I can't help but feel a little overwhelmed in the face of a trainer who has a decent amount of training. No way, they're not dedicated trainers, and I don't mean to criticize the way they work, but I can understand why Togan went to such lengths to inspect Keim.

"That's right, it does take a certain amount of skill to become the head of the gym, so there's no way around it."

"Those people weren't meant to be gym instructors. I'm well aware that there are a lot of ways to do that, and I think it's a good thing that they're able to balance the two. But it's a little weird when it comes to making gyms and leading their underplacements. ”

"I see, if that's the case, wouldn't it be difficult to choose a replacement? \"

"I'm going to ask Mr. Togan what I'm going to do next. \"

I heard that the previous generation of Togan also sent a substitute for some reason. Apparently this hasn't happened in the past year or more, but it has occasionally happened before that. If you can ask them what they were doing, you'll find clues to the problem.

While he was having a serious conversation with Sirona, Heiki, perhaps unhappy that Kem's stroking hand had stopped, roughly hugged Kem's hand and took a sweet bite. Seeing this, Kem smiled bitterly.

"Ato, we're talking about something serious."

"Hey, that's cute."

"That's right."

Although she smiled bitterly because she couldn't read the atmosphere, she was a little happy with the sincere trust and affection she had shown, and stroked Black with Sirona.

*

The next day

Kem was working on his lunch break when his smartphone vibrate.

"Yes?"

When I put down my chopsticks and looked at the screen, I saw that the word "puppet stem" was written on it. Kem was a little surprised that the call came without warning, but he picked it up anyway.

"Yes, I'm Kem."

\"Oh, Kem-kun! Are you okay now?

"No problem. What's wrong? ”

"Actually, I want you to know someone."

Kem didn't quite understand what the couple meant, so he asked again.

"Do you have someone you'd like to meet?"

``！ He's my friend. ''

"Why me, that man?"

"You're a scholar by profession, right? I'm currently working on a book. I think at some point I'm going to have to leave the gym to go for an interview. ”

Kem couldn't help but choke up when he learned that he had just spoken to Sirona yesterday. I was going to talk to Torgen about it. Kem continued to speak, wondering how timely this was.

"Actually, I wanted to ask Mr. Toyan. I want to go to the gym somewhere. \"

"That's what I thought too. I want you to meet my friends there.

Friends and representatives you want to meet. Kem predicts that the friend he wants to see might act as a proxy for Myokem.

"You're saying that person will act as my broker?"

"To put it simply, that's it. However, since I will appoint a representative to you, it is better to meet in advance. ”

"yes, I think it's better."

''That's it. I hope you come to Steel Island on your next vacation. That's where I'm training at the moment. ”

Steel Island is an island located north of the city of Mai Ao and was once a coal mine. Now that Togan has retired from his position as a gym leader, he is training on Steel Island to become a cutting-edge brain. Togan said he wanted her to go there.

"I don't mind, but there's no way I can get there"

"No problem. I'm going to ask a friend of mine. ”

"Oh, okay then."

"Also, I want Miss Sirona too. \"Since you're a Sinnoh champion, I think my friends are interested too. ”

Keim didn't expect Sirona's name to appear here, and opened his eyes unusually.

"Sirona? I'll ask just in case, but it depends on Sirona's schedule. \"

"Well, if possible. Let me talk. Well, I guess we can get to the details later. ”

"Yes, it doesn't matter. Thank you. ”

``！ Good bye! ”

Togan hung up the phone.

I didn't expect the topic of the deputy mentioned yesterday to appear, and I didn't expect the name of Shirona to appear. Kem ate the rest of his lunch, wondering what kind of Togan's friend really was.

After that, it was decided that he would go to the Iron Island with Shirona for the next vacation.

*

Feeling the sea breeze, Sirona and Kem land on the Iron Island.

"This is the Iron Island."

"Ah, this used to be a whole coal mine, but now it's a training ground for trainers, now managed by the people who used to work here, led by Mr. Tugan. Moreover, there is only coal here, and apparently, underground resources and so on. "Because the blue beads can still be harvested. Many people, including mining enthusiasts, will still come.

"Your ability to gather information remains the same."

Steel Island is not only rich in underground resources, but it is also an excellent training ground for trainers. It is a perfect place to train because of its moderate slope and the appearance of powerful wild Pokémon. Although there are trainers who train on the Platinum Mountain, which is even more rugged than that, I am afraid that only the red ones can do this.

At a cursory glance, there are only a few coal-mine period huts and some other facilities from the coal mine period remaining. Although there are signs of people coming and going, it gives people a sense of desertion.

\"So? What about Mr. Toyan? \"

"He said he was coming to pick me up but he arrived earlier than I expected, so he probably hasn't come yet."

It was planned to arrive in about ten minutes. However, the waves were low and the weather was calm, so we arrived earlier than planned. As a result, Togan, who was supposed to pick him up, was nowhere to be found.

"I told you I'd be there early, so I'll tell you some rumors later."

Before I could finish his sentence, I saw Togan running towards me.

"Sorry! I didn't expect it so early. ”

"It's okay, it's a little too early."

"No, no, I called you, sorry to keep you waiting."

Togan said with a wry smile, but Kem was as expressionless as usual. However, Sirona felt that the atmosphere had somehow softened.

The doll turns to Sirona, who is standing next to Kemu.

\"It's been a while since Miss Sirona last saw you. Kem-kun's approval exam has passed. \"

"It's been a long time, it seems that your skills have improved again." "Hehe, I've been cultivating for a while! If my technology doesn't improve, I'm in trouble! ”

Torgan laughed and tried to wave to the two.

"Let's go, we're not going to stand here talking, I'll let you meet the friends you want to meet."

"Please"

With that, I followed Torgan to the only indoor cabin on Steel Island. However, as I got closer, I found that it was much bigger than I had imagined. It is structured more like a dormitory than a cabin.

"This is a dormitory that has existed since the days of coal mining. Everything you need for sleeping. About four years ago, the owners of Steel Island rebuilt it, and now it is used as a resting place for training trainers. ”

"Are there a lot of trainers here?"

"That's it, about 70% of the fitness instructors at Miao Gym have trained here."

In fact, even after Kem came to the gym, gym instructors often talked about Steel Island. So, I expected a certain number of trainers, but I didn't expect there to be so many trainers here.

I followed Togan into the dormitory. The interior is in good condition as it was rebuilt four years ago.

The hall was empty, but I could hear the voices of a few people in the cafeteria behind. Apparently there are also trainers who have been training on this steel island.

As I followed Togan into the restaurant, I saw several sneakers and a man wearing a strange hat in the back. Togan greeted the trainer briefly, then walked over to the man in the back. As if noticing my presence, the man turned around and greeted me with a gentle smile.

"Mr. Puppet. Are these the two people you just said? ”

\"！ Let me introduce you to my successor, Kem-kun, and Sinnoh's Regional Champion, Miss Sirona! \"

"Ah, nice to meet you. I'm Kem. ”

"I'm Sirona. Nice to meet you. ”

"Thank you for being so polite. Now I would like to introduce myself as well. ”

The man adjusted his hat and turned to face them.

"I'm a general, one of the trainers trained on this steel island."

Mangan said with a soft smile. The previous one exudes a somewhat mysterious aura, but it's not bad either. However, I'm curious about this former . What kind of mysterious aura is overflowing from his body?

"Gen is a friend of mine who has been to many places, but recently returned to the Sinnoh region."

"You're a travel trainer, aren't you?"

"Yes"

"If I'm not mistaken, you recently went to the Kanto region."

"Yes. I'm from Sinnoh, but it's a place that has some connection to me. ”

Gen seems to be from the Sinnoh region, but he doesn't seem to have been connected to the Kanto region until recently. Some, like Kemu, were originally from the Hoenn region but have now moved to the Sinnoh region. Perhaps this is not uncommon.

"Okay, since I've already said hello to Dongyan-san, why did you let me go and meet them? \"

Bai Nai and the others came to Steel Island this time because of Togan's call. Presumably the previous one had the same reason.

The previous one then looked at the dodge, who folded his arms and nodded.

\"。 General, I want you to represent Kem-kun. \"

"I see, is that what you mean? \"

As expected, Kem thought to himself. This time, Kem consulted with Togan about serving as the leader of the gym, was told to come here, and was then introduced to the previous one. If this happens, it is natural to expect the previous one to be his successor.

"Hehe, you're a substitute, that's good, when was the last time you were substituted?"

"It was almost two years ago, and I've done it before, so it should be fine, right?"

"Yes, you asked me to do that."

"Have you represented the previous ones before?"

Gen nodded and answered Sirona's question.

"Mr. East Eye and I have been friends for a long time. After he became the director of the gym, I replaced him many times. \"

"So is Mr. Gen an Alliance Certified Trainer?" \"

"Yes, I don't belong to the gym, but I also have an official ID."

As he spoke, he showed the two his ID with the official Pokémon League seal. It does have an official certification mark written on it, proving that the previous one is indeed an official trainer.

"With this, of course I can represent you."

"I have also proposed to you many times to replace my position, and I have proposed to you to replace me as the head of the Gym, but I have all refused."

"Even if it's temporary, it's hard to do it for a long time. I don't think I'm fit for this either. ”

"I don't think so."

Obviously, the person who planned to replace the owner of the gym was the general. I don't know why he refused to become the Gym Master, although he would serve as a substitute, but since he not only got the substitute position, but also became the successor, the previous ability reached the level of the Gym Master, that is, he had the same or even higher abilities as Kem.

"So, that's it, I'm no longer an official trainer of the alliance for the time being, so I can't represent you. Coalition and Frontier are different organizations. ”

"Ah, it's different now."

“。 This is the only way to become the Frontier Brain, and it is also the measure to prevent him from serving as both the Four Heavenly Kings and the Brain. ”

"I see"

"So, what do you think of the previous ones? Can you do it? ”

Hearing Togan's words, he put his hand on his chin and made a thoughtful gesture. After a while, the former looked between Sirona and Kaim.

I wonder what you're looking at

It was obvious that he was looking at me, but it looked like he was looking at something else. Although there was no unpleasant atmosphere, Shirona and Kaim looked at Gen with strange eyes, not knowing what they were looking at.

After a moment, Jayne folded his arms and looked at Cam.

"Well, I won't be able to do it for a long time, but I'll be the director of the gym for a while."

"Ah, thank you"

"There's one condition, though."

The previous one raised Kem's finger.

"Condition..."

"yes. I don't know you yet. I know you have enough character and ability, as Mr. Higashiam admitted. However, I haven't seen it with my own eyes. So I don't know you. I want the power you show me

"That makes sense."

No matter how much Togan knew Kem, Gen didn't know Kem. Even if Cam accepts the role of a substitute gym captain, he will have to figure out if Cam is the right person for the role.

"You speak very quickly, which is very helpful. Now, can I talk to you? ”

"It's okay, as long as you ask, I will do my best to meet your request."

\"Do Miss East Eye and Miss Shirona mind?" \"

"I don't care!"

"I'm fine too. It was Keim's decision. ”

"So, let's get started."

Looking at Kem before, Kem also nodded in response. Kem followed his previous path and left the dormitory.

Looking at the backs of the two, Togan put his hand on his chin, as if thinking about something. Seeing this, Shirona asks what happened to Torgan.

"What's wrong? Mr. Tugan. ”

"Oh no, he was also a trainer before, so he also fights, but he rarely tests people with such battles. It's the first time I've seen him fight so hard? "That's so because he has a high level of insight."

"Maybe there's something on Cam's mind."

\"。 Maybe Kem-kun found something shiny. \"

Keim studied hard and aspired to become a gym leader. It's really better than a normal trainer, but Sirona doesn't know if she can see through it in a split second. Sirona initially examines Kem because he sees his potential from an academic perspective, but from a combat perspective, his potential can only be described as mediocre. It was probably thanks to Sirona's skill and Kem's perseverance that he was able to train it to this point.

Maybe Mr. Gen can see things that we can't see?

I don't know why the previous ones started fighting. However, in order to find out the truth, Bai Nai and Togan chase after Kam and the others to witness the battle between the two.

Steel Island Internal Field

The two stood in a field that had been converted into a former coal mine square.

"I said there would be a fight, but is it okay to fight seriously?"

"No, there's only one. That explains everything. ”

I could feel the spirit in the previous tone, making it hard to believe he was joking. It seems that he seriously intends to find out what is going on with Kem himself.

Just like Sirona, Kem doesn't know what he saw in him before. However, since I made the request, I have no intention of refusing.

"Okay. Now, let's do our best. ”

"That would help. Let's at least get a Pokémon out of here. ”

As he spoke, he brought out Lucario. Since Shirona and Kem have Pokémon on hand, we can predict to some extent what they can do.

"Lucario mirrors are fine, but that's you. Please, Bashamo. \"

Facing off against Lucario was Bashamo. Hanging from his neck is something that resembles a pendant.

"Bashamo? Good waveguide"

Waveguide?

Kem thought about it when he heard the unfamiliar words, but quickly changed his mind and gave instructions to Bashamo.

"Bashamo, Flame Kick"

"Lucario, dodge. \"

Lucario dodged Bashamo's high-speed attacks while minimizing damage. He has a high pre-reading ability, but Keim's Lucario is also okay at this level.

As Basamo continued to attack, Lucario saw through the gaps between the attacks and hit Basamo with a counter-elbow that made Basamomo tremble. Lucario took advantage of the opportunity to distance himself and condense the energy into his hands.

"Hadodan"

"Break it"

Bashamo's feet were covered in flames and destroyed Lucario's "Hadodan".

Flash Drive

"What about Mizuno?"

Lucario uses the "Wave of Water" to intercept Mashamo who is spewing intense flames all over his body. Although the power of "Solar Flare Drive" has been weakened, it is still able to attack Lucario.

However, the losses were lower than expected. Although the power has been weakened by 'Mizuno Hata', it is hard to imagine that such a powerful power can suppress an extremely effective fire technique. If it's a special attack, it might be a "Shock Vest", but this time it's a physical attack. I doubt he has some kind of tool to suppress physical damage, but nothing is indicated.

"I don't quite understand, but I'm still fighting."

"Take it, Lucario. \"

“？”