Chapter 402

After finally escaping the crowds of enthusiastic admirers, Haruto and his companions found a restaurant where they could sit down and enjoy lunch.

While they were eating, Masayuki glanced toward Haruto with an expression of growing curiosity.

“By the way, Mr. Haruto, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“What’s that?”

“Where did you get your Rapidash, Alolan Ninetales, and Pikachu? Did you summon them using some kind of magic?”

Haruto swallowed the food in his mouth before answering quite openly.

“I’ve traveled to quite a few different worlds, and the Pokémon world happens to be one of them. Those Pokémon are companions I brought back from my travels there.”

“You’ve visited multiple worlds?!”

Masayuki stared at him in astonishment.

Then he remembered something.

Haruto had mentioned earlier that he’d only arrived in this world because he’d happened to encounter a summoning magic circle.

At the time, Masayuki hadn’t paid much attention to the implications of that statement.

Now, however, it suddenly made considerably more sense.

“That’s right.”

Haruto nodded and briefly described several of the worlds he’d previously visited.

Naturally, he didn’t reveal everything about his journeys, but even the few examples he provided were enough to leave Masayuki thoroughly amazed.

After Haruto finished speaking, Masayuki fell silent.

He seemed to be considering something important.

A short while later, he suddenly straightened his back and looked directly at Haruto with an unusually serious expression.

“Mr. Haruto, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

Haruto raised an eyebrow.

“Go ahead.”

Masayuki hesitated briefly before speaking.

“Do you know any way I could become stronger quickly?”

“I know it’s a rather presumptuous request, especially when we’ve only just met, but… I really want to get stronger.”

There was no trace of his usual easygoing manner.

His expression was completely earnest.

After another moment’s hesitation, Masayuki decided to explain his circumstances properly.

He admitted that he wasn’t actually particularly strong.

Despite being widely celebrated as the Lightspeed Hero, his personal combat abilities were relatively unimpressive.

His reputation had largely developed because of his Unique Skill, Chosen One.

Thanks to that ability and his extraordinary luck, he had somehow become a famous Hero admired by countless people.

Yet Masayuki himself understood that his achievements weren’t entirely the result of his own strength.

Whenever they encountered powerful enemies, it was usually Jinrai and the others who handled the fighting.

Although everyone believed Masayuki was an extraordinary warrior, the truth was that he relied heavily on his companions.

And he didn’t particularly enjoy that feeling.

Haruto listened quietly before considering the request.

‘Something that could quickly improve his combat abilities, huh…’

Gourmet Cells were obviously out of the question.

They weren’t something he could simply hand over to Masayuki, and even if he could, there was no guarantee that the young man would be compatible with them.

Various forms of magic weren’t particularly suitable either.

After considering the possibilities, Haruto eventually thought of something.

“If you want to become stronger relatively quickly, Nen might be your best option.”

He looked toward Masayuki.

“Would you like to try awakening it?”

“? Nen?”

Masayuki looked completely confused.

“What’s that?”

“Simply put, it’s a system for controlling life energy.”

Haruto set down his utensils and began explaining.

“Every living person possesses life energy, but most people can’t consciously perceive or manipulate it. Awakening Nen means learning to release and control that energy so you can use it deliberately.”

He paused briefly.

“If you’re successful, your combat abilities could improve dramatically. Your strength, speed, perception, and defenses would all become significantly better.”

“On top of that, you could eventually develop a Nen ability suited to your own characteristics.”

Haruto went on to explain the basic principles of Nen, including how practitioners used their aura to strengthen themselves and develop specialized abilities.

As Masayuki listened, his eyes grew increasingly bright.

“Seriously? It’s that powerful?”

He leaned forward eagerly.

“Then I want to learn!”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Haruto raised a hand to calm him down.

“There’s something you need to understand first. Forcibly awakening someone’s Nen can be dangerous.”

His expression became more serious.

“If something goes wrong, you could suffer severe injuries. In the worst case, you could even die.”

Masayuki froze for a moment.

However, he quickly recovered and nodded without hesitation.

“I’m not afraid. If it means I can become stronger, I’m willing to take that risk.”

His eyes were filled with determination.

He genuinely didn’t want to remain someone who could only depend on Jinrai and the others whenever danger appeared.

If possible, he wanted to acquire enough strength to protect himself and contribute directly when his companions needed help.

Of course, there was another reason Masayuki felt confident enough to accept the risk.

He was well aware of his own extraordinary luck.

Given how consistently things had worked out in his favor, he doubted that attempting to awaken Nen would actually cost him his life.

Haruto studied him for several seconds.

Eventually, he sighed.

“…All right, then.”

…

After lunch, Haruto and Masayuki returned to a room at the inn.

“Relax your body and clear your mind.”

Haruto stood behind Masayuki and explained what he intended to do.

“I’m going to inject some of my Nen into your body and use it to open your aura nodes. That should allow your own life energy to flow outward.”

“Got it!”

Masayuki nodded.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and attempted to relax.

Haruto raised his right hand, positioning his palm toward Masayuki’s back.

“Ready?”

“Ready!”

Haruto didn’t hesitate any longer.

He carefully directed a portion of his Nen into Masayuki’s body.

However, the moment his energy entered, something unexpected happened.

Haruto immediately encountered an intense repulsive force.

There was a very unusual energy residing within Masayuki’s body.

It radiated warmth and light, carrying an unmistakably sacred quality.

Yet beneath that seemingly gentle presence was an extraordinarily domineering force that refused to tolerate the intrusion of any foreign energy.

Haruto’s Nen had barely entered Masayuki before it was forcibly expelled.

“Hmm?”

Haruto frowned.

That wasn’t what he’d expected.

He increased the amount of Nen he was channeling, attempting to push through the resistance.

Unfortunately, the opposing energy immediately responded by becoming even more forceful.

The stronger Haruto’s aura became, the more violently that mysterious power rejected it.

It no longer felt as though he was helping someone awaken their Nen.

Instead, it was like trying to drive his aura straight through a solid wall.

No matter how much pressure he applied, the energy within Masayuki refused to give way.

Masayuki eventually sensed that something wasn’t right.

He opened his eyes and turned his head slightly.

“Mr. Haruto? How’s it going?”

Haruto withdrew his hand, his brows tightly furrowed.

“This is going to be difficult.”

He examined Masayuki thoughtfully before explaining.

“There’s an extremely unusual energy inside your body. It keeps repelling my Nen, preventing it from entering properly.”

“And if I can’t get my Nen inside, there’s no way for me to open your aura nodes using this method.”

“Huh? Unusual energy?”

Masayuki looked bewildered.

He had absolutely no idea what Haruto was talking about.

As far as he knew, he’d never possessed any special energy beyond the effects of his Unique Skill.

Haruto, however, had a suspicion.

‘Could it have something to do with Rudra?’

Masayuki was the reincarnation of the former Hero Rudra.

It wouldn’t be particularly surprising if some special power connected to his previous existence remained within his body.

Perhaps that energy was protecting Masayuki’s reincarnated self from outside interference.

Unfortunately, whether it was intended as protection or not, it had now become an obstacle to awakening Nen.

Of course, the problem wasn’t entirely insurmountable.

Haruto could still attempt to force the process.

For example, he could use a much more aggressive method, driving his Nen into Masayuki’s body with enough power to break through the resistance and forcibly open his aura nodes.

However, such an approach would be extremely painful.

It would also place an enormous strain on Masayuki’s body.

Haruto examined the young man’s physical condition.

‘His physique… Well, it’s pretty ordinary.’

Masayuki was somewhat stronger than a typical human, but the difference wasn’t particularly impressive.

His physical durability was nowhere near the level required to withstand the violent influx of aura that Haruto would need to overcome the mysterious energy.

If Haruto attempted to force the awakening, there was a very high chance that Masayuki’s body would suffer catastrophic damage.

That was obviously unacceptable.

He wasn’t about to kill someone simply because they wanted to learn Nen.

Having confirmed that the direct method wouldn’t work, Haruto shook his head.

Masayuki’s shoulders slumped.

“…Then what should I do?”

His disappointment was obvious.

For a moment, he’d genuinely believed he’d found a way to become stronger.

Now, after only one attempt, that hope seemed to have disappeared.

Haruto considered the matter before speaking again.

“Well, it’s not as though there are absolutely no alternatives.”

Masayuki immediately raised his head.

His eyes brightened once more.

“Really? What can I do?”

“I can teach you how to train your Nen naturally.”

Haruto explained his idea.

“Instead of having me forcibly open your aura nodes, you can learn to perceive your own life energy and gradually open them through practice.”

“It’ll be much slower, but it’s also considerably safer.”

He paused before continuing.

“More importantly, since the Nen would be awakened through your own efforts, I suspect it wouldn’t conflict with the energy already inside your body.”

After all, the mysterious power seemed primarily concerned with rejecting energy originating from outside Masayuki.

If Masayuki gradually developed the ability to control his own aura, the process might avoid triggering that protective reaction.

Of course, Haruto couldn’t guarantee success.

Although he was familiar with Nen and possessed considerable experience using it, his knowledge of traditional, gradual Nen awakening methods was somewhat limited.

He understood the basic principles and training procedures, but whether those methods would work for Masayuki remained uncertain.

Still, it was the safest option available.

Masayuki didn’t have much choice.

If he wanted to learn Nen without risking his life, he would have to accept the slower approach.

“All right. Please teach me!”

Haruto nodded.

He didn’t waste any more time and began explaining the fundamentals of training.

He described how Masayuki should develop an awareness of the life energy circulating within his body, gradually improve his perception, and work toward opening his aura nodes naturally.

He also explained the importance of patience and consistent practice.

Unlike a forced awakening, this process couldn’t simply be completed through a single injection of someone else’s Nen.

Masayuki would have to rely on his own efforts.

Haruto continued until he’d explained everything he knew about the method.

“…And that’s basically it.”

He picked up a cup of water and took a drink to soothe his throat.

“If you’re talented, you might be able to awaken Nen within a few weeks. If you aren’t particularly suited to it, though, there’s no telling how long it could take.”

Masayuki nodded vigorously.

“Got it! I’ll remember everything!”

Then he bowed his head gratefully.

“Thank you, Mr. Haruto! Seriously, I really appreciate this!”

“There’s no need to thank me.”

Haruto waved dismissively.

“Whether you actually succeed will depend on your own efforts.”

He wasn’t particularly optimistic about Masayuki’s chances.

The mysterious energy within the young man’s body was a considerable obstacle, and Haruto had no way of knowing whether natural Nen awakening would bypass it successfully.

Still, there was no harm in trying.

After all, people were capable of surprising things when they genuinely applied themselves.

‘Who knows? Maybe Masayuki has a talent for Nen.’

Once he’d finished teaching Masayuki, Haruto rejoined Kagura, Kanna, and Gardevoir.

The group spent the remainder of the day exploring the town, visiting its markets, and purchasing several interesting local ingredients.

…

Early the following morning, Haruto prepared to continue his journey.

However, before departing, he went to say goodbye to Masayuki and his three companions.

Just as they were about to part ways, Haruto suddenly took out a Poké Ball and handed it to Masayuki.

“Here. This is for you.”

Masayuki blinked.

“Wait… That’s a Poké Ball!”

He accepted it excitedly, holding the familiar red-and-white sphere in his hands.

Haruto smiled.

“Go ahead. Open it.”

Masayuki immediately pressed the button in the center.

A beam of red light shot out of the Poké Ball.

The light gathered on the ground before taking the form of a small yellow Pokémon.

“Pika, pika~!”

Pikachu gave two cheerful cries before tilting its head and looking curiously at Masayuki.

“WHOA! IT’S PIKACHU!”

Masayuki’s eyes practically shone.

He immediately crouched down in front of the little Pokémon.

He wanted to reach out and pet it, but he was so excited that he hesitated, almost afraid he might somehow ruin the moment.

Watching his reaction, Haruto chuckled.

“This Pikachu is yours now.”

Masayuki slowly turned toward him.

“Mine?”

“That’s right. From now on, you’re its Trainer.”

“W-Wait! Are you serious?!”

Masayuki stared at the Poké Ball in his hand.

“Isn’t this way too valuable? I can’t just accept something like this!”

Despite his protests, however, his grip on the Poké Ball unconsciously tightened.

He clearly had no desire to let it go.

Haruto didn’t seem particularly concerned.

“Don’t worry about how valuable it is.”

After all, he already had an entire group of Pikachu living inside the Gourmet Restaurant.

Giving one to Masayuki wasn’t a significant loss.

And after meeting him, Haruto had come to feel that the arrangement was rather appropriate.

“Besides, I think Pikachu suits the Lightspeed Hero pretty well.”

He smiled slightly.

“And having a Pokémon with you will provide another layer of protection whenever you encounter danger.”

This Pikachu was more than capable of dealing with ordinary monsters.

Of course, given Masayuki’s absurdly good luck and the strength of his companions, it was unlikely that he would encounter much genuine danger in the first place.

Nevertheless, having another reliable partner could only be beneficial.

And from Pikachu’s perspective, traveling with Masayuki offered plenty of opportunities for growth.

Haruto was quite satisfied with the decision.

Masayuki looked at Pikachu, then back toward Haruto.

He sniffled slightly before nodding with determination.

“Mr. Haruto… Thank you!”

His voice was filled with genuine emotion.

“I promise I’ll take really good care of it!”

Then he turned toward the little Pokémon and extended his right hand.

“Pikachu, let’s do our best together from now on!”

“Pika~!”

Pikachu gave a cheerful cry and reached out to touch Masayuki’s hand.

Then, with a light hop, it jumped onto his shoulder.

It rubbed its little cheek affectionately against his face.

Masayuki immediately broke into an enormous, rather foolish-looking grin.

He looked so delighted that he seemed to have forgotten everything else around him.

Haruto couldn’t help smiling at the sight.

“All right, I’d better get going. Hopefully we’ll meet again someday.”

With that, he climbed aboard the carriage.

Rapidash released a clear neigh before setting off, pulling the carriage swiftly toward the town gates.

“Take care, Mr. Haruto!”

Masayuki stood beside the road, waving enthusiastically as the carriage disappeared into the distance.

“Pika! Pika!”

Pikachu also raised one of its little paws and waved goodbye.

Before long, the carriage vanished beyond the far end of the road.

…

Once Haruto and his companions had left the town behind, they found a suitable location where they could travel without attracting attention.

Haruto summoned Charizard once again.

The enormous Flame Dragon King spread its magnificent wings as everyone climbed aboard.

Their journey toward the northern seas resumed.

Over the following days, Charizard carried them northward, crossing vast stretches of land as they gradually approached the coast.

And finally, one week later, Haruto and his companions arrived at the edge of the northern seas.