Chapter 246: Rampardos

Simulation ended.

This session's rewards appeared before his eyes.

【Fixed Reward: Move Learner ×2 (attribute can be specified)】

【Fixed Reward: Perfume Lady's Perfume-Making Memories — Awakening & Dehumidifying Chapter (repeat viewing allowed)】

……

【Choice Reward One: Any Pokémon raised by two levels (below Lv. 70)】

【Choice Reward Two: A clue to an obtainable Pokémon (attribute can be specified)】

【Choice Reward Three: Move — Weather Ball (a Pokémon to learn it can be chosen)】

【Choice Reward Four: Carry over the 【Kind-Hearted】 talent to the next simulation】

The semifinal reward was pick two out of four.

Baimu chose one and three without hesitation — he already had more than enough clues, no need to add another.

But as for Weather Ball… looking at it now, not a single Pokémon on his team could learn it, so he'd have to shelve it for now and revisit it when he got his hands on other Pokémon.

For the remaining two levels, he thought it over and gave one to Aggron and one to Mawile.

Aggron had just hit level sixty-nine yesterday, so the boost would be at its most effective right now. And Mawile got one because even though one or two levels wouldn't cause a qualitative leap, an extra margin of certainty was still welcome.

Baimu's gaze finally settled on the perfume-making memory, and based on the Awakening & Dehumidifying effects it described, he looked it up online.

There were quite a few brands, but only one carried the Green Mark label—

Five thousand Pokédollars a box, with five incense sheets inside a box, each sheet burning for roughly eight hours.

It also specifically noted that the perfume content was only thirty percent.

He was stunned, never having imagined incense would be this expensive — and with only thirty percent perfume content inside. If he made perfume by hand, wouldn't he make a killing?

Wait, no.

There was no way perfume hadn't seen any breakthrough progress in decades. Whether cost or some other aspect, whether selling it or using it himself, he'd have to take it slow — at minimum verify the effects and production process, compare it with modern versions, and only then consider using it himself or selling it.

He didn't want to accidentally violate some taboo.

Besides, tomorrow he'd be stepping onto the Contest stage — clear his head and stop overthinking.

He yawned, quickly took care of his personal hygiene, climbed into bed, hugged the already fast-asleep Gible, and slowly closed his eyes.

——

The next day.

Contest venue.

Because registration closed at nine, and to avoid being unable to get in line with the crowds later, Baimu headed out early at seven.

But even so, by the time he arrived the venue hall was already packed to the rafters.

People of every hair color and outfit, with their Pokémon, occupied every inch of the hall — some contestants, some spectators — watching their surroundings with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

A line of over a dozen people had already formed at the front desk; judging by their attire, they were all participants.

"Good thing I came early — just how many people are competing?" Baimu clicked his tongue inwardly, while Mawile beside him couldn't help getting a little nervous from the crowd.

Just like its first battle with Aggron, the little thing was carrying a mental burden.

"Steady. With me here, nothing will go wrong."

He patted Mawile on the head, and it immediately covered its head and glared at him in protest.

Its hair had just been combed this morning — it couldn't be messed up!

With its attention diverted like that, Mawile's mood indeed calmed considerably, and its demeanor became natural again.

Besides, just as its Trainer said, with him here nothing would go wrong. They'd practiced successfully so many times — all for today.

Not long after.

Registration was complete.

Since the hall was so crowded it was hard to breathe, and the competition hadn't started yet, Baimu and Mawile stepped outside, away from the crowd, and found a relatively secluded spot.

"Honestly, I still think yellow petals suit you better."

He held Mawile's Luxury Ball, with a pink sticker on the release button.

This was a Poké Ball sticker that had spread from the Sinnoh region — when opened, it released various illusory effects, helping make a good first impression on the judges.

Baimu felt yellow petals, matching Mawile's body coloring, were better, but Mawile thought pink petals better fit the main theme of the Fairy Wind after the opening.

Of course.

The pink petals had already been decided — he just wanted to chat with Mawile for a bit so it wouldn't be too nervous.

"Chido!"

Mawile firmly rejected its Trainer's suggestion, then suddenly fixed its gaze on a patch of grass by the roadside and frowned.

Baimu also looked over, as if sensing something.

And when the grass began to shake violently, the two of them stepped aside in unison, and a ferocious Pokémon that looked like a cross between a shark and a dinosaur burst out.

"Ka-bu!"

It let out a low growl and charged toward Baimu.

"Chido!"

Mawile's face darkened as it prepared to act, but its Trainer stopped it with a hand, and the latter swiftly opened a Poké Ball.

Bang!

White light flashed.

Aggron charged ferociously at the Rampardos.

Boom!

The two slammed into each other viciously, both fixing each other with eyes full of malice, looking ready to throw down at the slightest provocation.

But just as Bouffalant was about to strike first, a pink-haired girl with twin ponytails burst out of the grass, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.

"Sharpedo, don't attack!"

She shouted, and the Sharpedo baring its teeth at Bouffalant finally restrained itself.

"Is this your Pokémon?"

All Baimu beckoned the great beast over to stand beside him, frowning as he looked at her.

Though she looked only twelve or thirteen, he spoke quite bluntly: "If it's a Pokémon you can't control, please don't release it in crowded places and cause trouble for others!"

"S-sorry!"

The pink-haired girl was startled by his stern tone and hurriedly apologized. "It doesn't usually act like this—I don't know why it suddenly ran toward you… Maybe it was attracted by food; it's pretty greedy."

"Kabu!"

Unable to advance under its trainer's restraint, Sharpedo's voice carried a hint of stubbornness.

"Don't come up with excuses like—hm?"

All Baimu paused, then felt around in his pocket and pulled out half a snack that his Gible hadn't finished eating; the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

He noticed Sharpedo still staring at the snack and had been about to toss it over, but thought better of it, in case she assumed he'd fed it something bad.

"Fine, be more careful next time."

All Baimu said casually, recalled Bouffalant, and headed off elsewhere with Mawile. "Other people won't be as easy to talk to as me."

Seeing he wasn't going to scold her further, the pink-haired girl also breathed a sigh of relief and called out to his retreating back: "Are you a contestant too? I'm Ulala!"

"All Baimu. See you at the competition."

He waved goodbye to her, and once he was out of her line of sight, his face took on a strange expression.

Ulala…

Although he hadn't recalled at first who she was, combining Sharpedo with her name—wasn't she one of Ash's rivals?

And a villainous one at that.

Every time they met, she either caused Ash trouble or, after losing, stubbornly refused to acknowledge any of his merits. Like Harley, May's rival in the Advanced Generation, she was a rather annoying buffoon.

Several years had passed, and not only had her Carvanha evolved into Sharpedo, but her temper had improved considerably too.

Been beaten down by reality? Or simply matured with age?

Perhaps both.

Still, with such a seasoned veteran Coordinator-trainer entering the competition, his debut battle was going to be a bit rough…

"My Healing Game"