Chapter 201: Cynthia: Sora, You Can Do It

Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Cynthia: Sora, You Can Do It

"I’m sorry, Cynthia."

"I should’ve told you about this beforehand."

Sora carefully explained the mission that Zacian and Zamazenta had carried for the past three thousand years.

"Huh?"

Cynthia blinked in surprise.

"So... I failed?"

"You possess every qualification required to become a Hero."

Zamazenta stepped forward, his deep voice echoing through the clearing.

"Whether it is your character, your resolve, or your strength—you perfectly satisfy every standard my sister and I have."

"You possess an unwavering heart, one capable of resisting every temptation without ever abandoning your convictions."

"You bear enough responsibility that, no matter what calamity appears before you, you would never retreat."

"You are kind."

"Compassionate."

"Broad-minded."

"You treat humans and Pokémon alike with the same sincerity."

One after another, the siblings listed her virtues as though they could see directly into her soul.

"It is truly remarkable."

"You are... pure to an astonishing degree."

The two exchanged a glance.

Each saw only regret in the other’s eyes.

Cynthia was exceptional.

So exceptional that, in their opinion, she would have been qualified to inherit both Sword and Shield simultaneously.

Had she lived in ancient times, she would have been fully worthy of becoming the queen who ruled an entire kingdom.

"...Unfortunately."

"What a terrible shame..."

Yet there wasn’t the slightest trace of mockery in their voices.

Their disappointment came from the bottom of their hearts.

"We cannot entrust our power to you... perfect human maiden."

"...Huh?"

Even Sora was confused.

Weren’t they praising Cynthia nonstop just moments ago?

Now they were saying that because she was too outstanding—too perfect—she couldn’t become the Hero?

The logic almost made Sora laugh.

Honestly, when he’d brought Cynthia here, he’d genuinely held some expectations.

If someone like Cynthia wasn’t qualified...

Then Sora would seriously have to question the standards Zacian and Zamazenta used to choose their Hero.

As for giving Cynthia the power of a Legendary Pokémon...

Sora knew his own limits.

Someone like him would never pass the twins’ test.

And he had no desire to force them into submission through strength.

If they were destined not to become his partners, then so be it.

He had already accepted that.

Instead, he’d hoped to give Cynthia another opportunity to grow even stronger.

But now...

What exactly was going on?

"Please do not misunderstand us, benefactor of our King."

Seeing Sora’s dissatisfaction, Zacian patiently explained.

"There is an ancient will dwelling within her."

"You may think of it... as something similar to our own mission."

"A mission?"

"Yes."

Zamazenta shook his head.

"She already bears one mission."

"She cannot shoulder another."

The power of Sword and Shield was never without a price.

Take Goh, for example.

They had never wanted to choose him.

But by then, the Darkest Day had already returned.

They had no other choice.

Even if they disliked it, they could only treat a dead horse as if it were still alive.

Besides, although Goh had technically obtained them, he had never truly drawn out their power.

He had merely completed a predetermined objective.

"This is the first time I’ve heard something like this."

Cynthia remained remarkably calm.

She truly didn’t mind.

Just as Zacian and Zamazenta had judged, she was almost the perfect master.

She viewed the world with kindness and goodwill.

Her only flaw...

...might be how indecisive she became whenever she had to choose an ice cream flavor.

"May I ask..."

"What exactly is this mission you see?"

"It is an entire region."

"A great will."

After sensing carefully for a moment, Zacian answered,

"You share an exceptionally deep bond with the land you call Sinnoh."

"You are its guardian."

"Its protector."

"Its pillar."

That explanation was still somewhat vague.

So Sora turned toward Calyrex.

Only then did the King of Bountiful Harvest seem to realize something.

He stared at Cynthia with open astonishment.

Come on...

Sora covered his face.

Can you be a little more reliable?

We’ve all been together this long, and you only notice now?

"My apologies, my beloved retainer."

Calyrex hurriedly stuffed an entire carrot into his mouth, chewing rapidly as if trying to calm himself.

"The young lady carries the blessings of several Great Gods."

"She truly cannot shoulder Galar’s destiny."

"Several Great Gods?"

Hearing that, Sora suddenly felt everything click into place.

The deities of time and space.

Giratina.

The Lake Guardians.

And above them all...

Arceus, the Creator.

If he were to borrow terminology from xianxia novels...

Then Cynthia carried the very fortune of the Sinnoh region itself.

She could not interfere with Galar’s fate.

If she forced herself to do so...

The consequences might become unimaginably severe.

"...That’s actually fascinating."

Not only was Cynthia not disappointed...

She was thrilled.

"The Great Gods you mentioned..."

"Who are they?"

"What are their names?"

"Are they the Great One of Sinnoh?"

"What does the legendary Great One of Sinnoh actually look like?"

Too many questions flooded her mind.

For Cynthia, this was exactly what she’d always wanted.

"Uh..."

Calyrex awkwardly looked away.

Sorry.

I’m an old king with a failing memory.

I know nothing.

Anything involving that Great Existence was beyond his authority to discuss.

Choosing survival over curiosity, Calyrex simply played dumb.

"...I see."

Cynthia sighed.

At that moment, her mindset resembled Luffy standing before Rayleigh.

Rather than being handed every answer directly...

She preferred uncovering the truth herself.

Otherwise...

Where would the fun be?

"Then what about Sora?"

She suddenly pushed Sora forward until he stood before Zacian and Zamazenta.

"If I can’t do it..."

"What about Sora?"

"He definitely can, right?"

For a moment...

The atmosphere turned extremely awkward.

"...Um."

"Why is everyone silent?"

Cynthia reacted even more strongly than when she’d learned she herself had failed.

"Don’t tell me Sora isn’t qualified either?"

What kind of joke was that?

No one understood Sora’s strength better than Cynthia.

If he truly fought seriously...

She wasn’t even confident that gathering Steven, Diantha, and the others together would be enough to defeat him.

A person like that...

Still wasn’t recognized?

At that point, Cynthia genuinely began wondering whether the problem wasn’t with them...

...but with Sword and Shield themselves.

"You owe us an explanation."

Her expression became completely serious.

Sora was the first male friend she had ever truly acknowledged in her life.

If they said she wasn’t qualified...

Fine.

She didn’t care.

But saying Sora wasn’t worthy...

Cynthia:What kind of garbage standards do Sword and Shield have?

"My lord..."

Zacian looked toward Sora.

"Do you truly wish for us to say it?"

"...Go ahead."

Sora slowly exhaled.

He knew exactly what kind of person he was.

He certainly wasn’t evil.

But to call himself a genuinely good person...

He honestly couldn’t bring himself to accept that title.

As for whether revealing his true nature would lower Cynthia’s opinion of him...

If it did...

Then perhaps they simply weren’t meant to be together.

Better to remain friends than force himself to become someone else merely to satisfy another person’s expectations.

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