Chapter 197: This Kid Was Clever From a Young Age

Chapter 197: Chapter 197: This Kid Was Clever From a Young Age

The nature reserve on the Nebel Plateau wasn’t somewhere Sora could stay forever.

He was destined to travel frequently—to Kalos and eventually all over the world, exploring new places.

When that happened...

The responsibility of looking after the reserve and all the Pokémon living there would fall to Emma.

Sora trusted her ability to manage it.

After all...

This girl had always been clever.

"Yes!"

Hearing that Sora had such high expectations of her, Emma felt deeply moved.

She walked over to Scorbunny and gently asked whether it would be willing to become her Pokémon and travel alongside her.

"Scor~!"

Scorbunny looked into Emma’s eyes.

The next moment, it happily threw itself into her arms.

It was obvious the little rabbit liked her very much.

"That’s wonderful, Scorbunny."

"I’ll take good care of you..."

"And raise you into an amazing Pokémon."

Emma released Espurr and Snover.

Then she hugged both Espurr and Scorbunny at once, holding them like two fluffy stuffed animals.

The sight immediately made Snover jealous.

It waved its little arms enthusiastically, wanting to join in as well.

Unfortunately...

There wasn’t enough room.

So Snover simply wrapped its arms around Emma from behind.

In an instant...

The girl and her three Pokémon tumbled into a giggling heap.

The whole scene was irresistibly adorable.

"Here’s Scorbunny’s Poké Ball."

Sonia handed it over to Emma.

After asking the girl’s age and learning that she was only nine years old...

She also gave her several empty Poké Balls.

Although Emma hadn’t yet reached the official age of ten...

Since she was travelling with Sora and the others, it wasn’t really an issue.

Sonia even wanted to give her a Pokédex.

However...

Both Sora and Cynthia immediately refused.

There was no helping it.

That was one thing she absolutely couldn’t accept.

Once Emma received a Pokédex...

She would have to register as a Trainer in Galar.

If they weren’t careful...

She could accidentally end up officially becoming a Galar League Trainer.

"You’re still as mischievous as ever."

Cynthia shot Sonia a helpless look, instantly seeing through her little scheme.

Trying to poach someone else’s disciple.

Really...

Only Sonia would think of something like that.

"Hehe, I was only joking."

Sonia said that...

But if Emma had genuinely agreed...

She wouldn’t have minded helping her complete all the paperwork.

Normally...

Changing a Trainer’s registration required League approval.

But Sonia was different.

The Magnolia Research Laboratory possessed the authority to register Trainers directly.

That was one of the privileges enjoyed by a Regional Professor of such prestige.

"We’re off."

"We’ll come visit again in a couple of days."

After saying goodbye to Sonia...

The group set off toward Wedgehurst.

This time...

Sora intended to visit the Slumbering Weald along the way.

The Slumbering Weald...

The secluded home of Zacian and Zamazenta.

The forest was permanently shrouded in thick mist, filled with strange illusions.

Even experienced Trainers would lose themselves after entering.

Before they realised it...

They’d somehow find themselves back outside the forest...

Having lost all memory of what had happened inside.

When Cynthia heard that Sora intended to enter the Slumbering Weald...

She couldn’t help feeling a little worried.

But after considering Sora’s strength...

She relaxed.

If even Sora couldn’t uncover the secrets hidden within those woods...

Then there probably wasn’t a second person alive capable of solving its mysteries.

Postwick wasn’t very far from Wedgehurst.

Travelling along Route 1...

The group reached the peaceful southern town in only half a day.

Wedgehurst wasn’t particularly large.

It remained an idyllic country town, untouched by industrialisation.

Its population wasn’t especially high either.

Only around five hundred people lived there.

Across every region...

Things were much the same.

Large cities gathered populations in the hundreds of thousands—or even millions.

Meanwhile...

The countless villages and small towns scattered across the wilderness remained sparsely populated.

Wedgehurst was exactly that sort of place.

"Are we heading into the Slumbering Weald now?"

Standing on a hillside...

Cynthia could already see the entrance to the forest.

Ancient trees filled the woods, their canopies blocking out nearly all sunlight.

The interior remained perpetually dim.

Only softly glowing moss and luminous mushrooms provided faint light for the Pokémon and wildlife living there.

A mysterious forest suspended between slumber and wakefulness.

That was exactly how the Slumbering Weald had earned its name.

"Let’s find somewhere to stay first."

This time...

Sora didn’t intend to bring Korrina or Emma with him.

Cynthia would accompany him instead.

He needed her as a witness.

Together...

They would learn the truth of three thousand years ago directly from Zacian and Zamazenta.

There was another reason as well.

Sora wanted to see...

Whether either of the two legendary heroes would acknowledge him.

In a sense...

Zacian and Zamazenta resembled Reshiram and Zekrom from Unova.

They couldn’t simply be captured by a Trainer.

They tested people.

Only those they truly acknowledged could inherit the power of the Sword and Shield.

Sora didn’t mind either outcome.

If they accepted him...

Wonderful.

If not...

Then so be it.

There was no point forcing fate.

If he wasn’t qualified to wield the Sword and Shield...

Then it simply meant they weren’t meant for one another.

Sora had never been the sort of person to chase after someone who rejected him.

He already possessed Calyrex’s strength.

And in the future...

He would surely meet many more Legendary Pokémon.

The same went for Cynthia.

Sora was genuinely curious whether she might be recognised as a new hero.

If I can’t...

Maybe Cynthia can.

Rather than letting someone unfamiliar—or people like Leon or Goh—obtain the power of Zacian and Zamazenta...

He’d much rather see someone close to him receive their blessing.

After all...

If he and Cynthia eventually became a couple...

Wouldn’t her strength also become his strength?

"Come on."

"Let’s find somewhere to stay."

Wedgehurst was rather remote.

There weren’t any inns.

Instead...

Visitors simply rented spare rooms in local homes.

The townsfolk were incredibly welcoming.

They were more than happy to let Sora and the others stay with them.

As for accommodation fees...

There was no need for anything so formal.

Simply sharing stories from the outside world was more than enough payment.

Because Leon came from Wedgehurst...

The townspeople greatly admired strong Trainers.

The children of the town all dreamed of becoming Pokémon Trainers themselves.

"Mister!"

"Are you Trainers?"

Just as Sora settled into the house where they would be staying...

A dark-skinned little boy, around seven or eight years old, ran over from the neighbouring house.

Following behind him...

A Wooloo slowly rolled its fluffy body towards them.

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