Chapter 202: I Suggest You Rephrase That

Chapter 202: Chapter 202: I Suggest You Rephrase That

"You possess overwhelming ambition. You seek power, wealth, status, fame, and authority."

"You possess a heart broad enough to love—not just one, but everyone."

"You protect the weak, yet show absolutely no mercy toward those who act with malice."

"You will walk between black and white, becoming the gray that answers only to itself."

How should he put it?

Heh.

That was actually pretty accurate.

Sora had to admit the two wolves were impressive.

They had seen straight through to the core of who he was.

In fact, this was already the polished version of the truth.

Had they spoken more bluntly...

They would’ve simply said he was a scoundrel.

What "a heart broad enough to love everyone?"

Wasn’t that just a poetic way of saying he wanted a harem?

And "walking between black and white as gray?"

What a wonderfully elegant way to call him someone who walked the path of neither justice nor evil.

"...Are you serious?"

The corner of Cynthia’s mouth twitched.

She honestly wanted to point at Zacian and Zamazenta and tell them to stop talking nonsense.

Unfortunately...

Sora had remained silent.

Which meant...

They weren’t wrong.

"So... does that disappoint you?"

Sora had prepared himself for this outcome long ago.

Nor had he ever intended to hide who he really was from Cynthia.

He liked her.

But if he had to deceive her just to win her heart...

Then even the moonlight he held so dearly in his heart would be tarnished.

"Huh?"

Seeing Sora’s mood sink slightly, Cynthia hurriedly comforted him.

"Of course not!"

"It’s only that you weren’t chosen."

"You don’t have to take it to heart."

"Besides..."

"Weren’t they praising you the whole time?"

Could Cynthia understand the hidden meaning behind Zacian and Zamazenta’s words?

Of course she could.

She wasn’t stupid.

She simply...

Didn’t care.

She had her own judgment of what kind of person Sora truly was.

People in the Pokémon world were kindhearted.

Not na?ve.

Like a Pokémon itself, Cynthia possessed an almost instinctive ability to sense another person’s heart.

Otherwise...

She never would have grown so close to Sora in the first place.

In her eyes, Sora certainly possessed enormous ambition.

Otherwise he wouldn’t have devised plan after plan, traveling the world in search of Legendary Pokémon and their power.

But...

Had he ever forced a single Legendary Pokémon?

No.

Every one of them had willingly acknowledged him.

Just because he’d planned ahead didn’t make him a bad person.

That would be deeply unfair.

More importantly...

Cynthia could see that Sora genuinely loved this world.

He loved its people.

He loved its Pokémon.

He truly wished to protect both.

Wasn’t that enough?

"Being gray..."

"There’s nothing wrong with that."

Cynthia smiled softly.

"At least..."

"It makes me feel like you’ll need me."

"...Huh?"

Sora stared at her in astonishment.

That was a confession, wasn’t it?

That absolutely counts as a confession, right?

He stared fixedly at Cynthia.

Under his gaze, the usually cool and dignified Champion gradually flushed bright red, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Now that’s an unexpected bonus.

Well played, Sword Dogs.

Looks like I misunderstood you.

Just for that accidental assist...

I won’t have Ogerpon beat you up.

Yes.

Even though Zacian and Zamazenta had spoken the truth...

Sora had fully intended to let Ogerpon give them a good beating.

Not catching them was one thing.

Teaching two tactless dogs a lesson was another.

Did they really think Sora had no temper at all?

"Pon!"

Ogerpon had already been itching to attack.

They dared speak ill of Sora?

Unforgivable!

How dare they criticize the person she loved most in the entire world?

Blue mutt.

Red mutt.

Ogerpon:You have chosen death.

No one...

Absolutely no one...

Was allowed to question Sora in front of his most loyal guardian.

"Mana~~"

Magearna felt the same.

Victini did too.

Even Volcanion.

Though the giant Pokémon had remained silent all this time, as if agreeing with the wolves...

The truth was simply that he had been waiting for Sora’s command.

One word.

That was all it would take.

A Steam Eruption would immediately be fired straight into the wolves’ faces.

Sword?

Shield?

Mission?

He couldn’t understand any of that nonsense.

They’re just Pokémon.

If his Trainer wanted to catch them...

Wouldn’t it be easier to beat them into submission first?

"Hah..."

Volcanion recalled how Sora had treated him.

It’s because that woman is standing here.

He was certain of it.

Had Cynthia not been accompanying them...

Sora would’ve beaten the two wolves until they cried before threatening them.

If you ever dare choose some kid named Goh as your Hero...

I’ll beat you every single time I see you.

"Ahem."

As naturally as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world...

Sora reached out and held Cynthia’s hand.

The usually aloof Champion didn’t pull away.

Instead, she gently returned the grip.

She simply kept glancing off to the side, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

"So."

"I failed."

"That’s the conclusion, right?"

"Uh..."

Zacian desperately wanted to answer:

Yes.

You are indeed unqualified.

But...

Could someone please tell the green Pokémon beside him to lower her club?

And that tiny one over there...

Was she holding a cannon?

Wait.

Wait, wait!

Stop charging energy!

And that massive one in the back—

What exactly are you trying to do?!

Calm down!

Everyone calm down!!

"That’s enough."

Sora raised a hand, stopping his Pokémon before things escalated.

"A failure is a failure."

"I never expected much to begin with."

Among all the Legendary Pokémon in existence...

The Hero Duo had never been central to his plans.

They were much the same as Reshiram and Zekrom, or the Weather Trio.

If fate brought them together, great.

If not...

That was perfectly fine too.

Still...

This encounter had confirmed one thing.

The Zacian and Zamazenta of this world were very different from the ones he knew from the games and anime.

These two...

Actually had substance.

Another important difference was that, unlike in the games, their Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield had already decayed.

Without those relics, they could no longer transform into their crowned forms.

That alone completely overturned Sora’s previous understanding.

"Calyrex."

"What do you think?"

"I shall follow your wishes."

The King of Bountiful Harvest had remained silent all this time because he had been waiting for Sora’s decision.

If Sora truly wanted the Hero Duo...

Then Calyrex would personally step forward and persuade Zacian and Zamazenta.

Even I believe Sora is the Hero.

And you two don’t?

You trust those rusty old relics more than my judgment?

I admit you’re strong.

But when it comes to judging people...

Can two reckless warriors possibly compare with me?

"Zacian."

"Zamazenta."

"Y-Yes!"

"Present!"

They really couldn’t help it.

The Pokémon behind Sora were terrifying.

Especially that tiny flying mouse.

In just a brief moment, she’d somehow topped up everyone’s energy reserves.

Where had these monsters even come from?

Every single one looked like they were spoiling for a fight.

It scared the wolves half to death.

"Tell me."

"What matters most in a Hero?"

"Their heart?"

"Or what they actually do?"

Sora continued,

"I once heard someone say..."

"You don’t judge a person by what they say."

"You judge them by what they do."

"...!"

Cynthia looked at Sora with shining eyes.

She wholeheartedly agreed with those words.

After all...

Even if someone could truly see another person’s heart...

If their actions never matched it...

What would be the point?

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