Chapter 344

Judging from Kieran's later "Revival Blessing" punch that directly resurrected the Loyal Three, Ogerpon should have noticed the anomaly here long ago, right?

Kieran's punch naturally couldn't have any supernatural power, so...

It should be related to Pecharunt, who had never appeared in the legend but was the mastermind behind all the events, right?

Thinking of this, Qingyu felt a bit of heartache for the kind-hearted Ogerpon.

Even though it was so deeply misunderstood by the villagers, it still squatted and guarded against them at all times, sensing that the Loyal Three might be resurrected at any time.

Regardless of the crisis of being discovered, it still had to come to Loyalty Plaza to confirm the situation.

Ogerpon, you are so gentle...

"I always feel that this matter is very wrong."

Looking at Ogerpon, who was driven to the corner by the villagers, Cynthia frowned slightly.

As a bystander, she saw it even more clearly.

"Judging from its performance, it clearly has no malice toward the people in the village at all."

"But why do these villagers still call it a 'ghost' and even hold such obvious hostility toward it?"

"If it's just because of a vague legend, it's too much..."

Qingyu nodded.

"There are indeed many suspicious points, especially regarding the image of this ghost, which can be said to be completely opposite to what I have seen."

"So, I intend to help it."

While speaking, Qingyu had already taken the first step.

"If wearing a mask makes one a 'ghost,' then having one more ghost companion shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Cynthia was stunned after listening, then soon showed a knowing smile.

She didn't step forward, just silently took a Poké Ball from her pocket and placed it in her palm, quietly waiting for Qingyu's performance.

Although as the Sinnoh Champion, causing trouble in Kitakami Village might not have a good impact, but...

Grandma Bertha should forgive my willfulness this time, right?

"Poni?!"

Seeing that someone had actually approached it, Ogerpon was instantly panicked and was about to turn around and run back to the cave where it had been living to hide.

However, just then, it heard a gentle voice.

"Don't worry, Ogerpon, I am your friend."

"Poni?"

It didn't know how long it had been since someone mentioned this name; even Ogerpon itself was stunned, and the steps it had already taken also paused.

How could this human know its name?

And...

Friend?

Ogerpon turned its head and looked at the man who had already put on the Cornerstone Mask.

The gentle gaze passed through the mask and looked straight at it, soon making Ogerpon realize that he didn't seem to hold any inexplicable malice toward it like other humans.

As a sensitive and lonely little pitiful creature, living alone for hundreds of years made it almost forget the feeling of being trusted.

And after a hundred years, besides that man, another human stood firmly in front of it.

"Poni..."

For some reason, Ogerpon suddenly felt like crying, and inexplicably, it walked slowly toward the direction where Qingyu was.

One step, two steps.

"Hey, customer over there, come back quickly!"

"Don't be fooled by its appearance; that guy is a fierce ghost!"

"If you stay with a ghost, you will be contaminated with bad luck!"

The angry roars of the villagers came from behind.

Qingyu turned a deaf ear, his eyes still looking at Ogerpon gently.

"Poni!"

Ogerpon shook its head, its two short arms waving in front of it repeatedly.

Although he couldn't understand the Pokémon language, Qingyu soon guessed its meaning through its body movements.

You should leave quickly; if you get any closer, it will bring you misfortune too!

My silly Ogerpon...

After Qingyu sighed, he took the initiative to take two steps forward and, in Ogerpon's stunned eyes under the mask, came before it.

Ogerpon felt a warm, large hand touch its forehead, and the strange feeling brought by the rubbing soon spread throughout its body like an electric current, making its body begin to tremble slightly.

This feeling...

Only when it was young would the man who took it wandering everywhere make such a movement.

Ogerpon subconsciously raised its head, and after meeting the gentle gaze under the mask, its eyes suddenly felt sore.

The dark eyes under the Cornerstone Mask were full of gentleness and kindness, without any disgust, fear, or hypocritical emotions.

At that moment, his image seemed to overlap with the image of the man who put a mask on it every year and secretly participated in the festival.

"Poni..."

Looking at the large hand the man extended to it, Ogerpon inexplicably reached out its hand in response.

And after noticing that the masked man had actually grabbed the "ghost's" little hand, the surrounding villagers soon let out angry roars—

"Even if you are a guest, walking so close to a ghost is absolutely unforgivable!"

In the crowd, Nemona and Carmine looked at each other.

"I always feel like these residents of Kitakami Village are a bit too extreme..."

Carmine lowered her voice, observing the surroundings while whispering.

"Exactly, why hold such great malice toward a ghost!"

Nemona also didn't understand, especially after Teacher Qingyu stood in front of the "ghost," she had no good feelings for these residents at all.

"In Brother Qingyu's words..."

After Arven, who was beside them, organized his words, he spoke leisurely.

"These villagers in Kitakami Village seem a bit obsessed?"

"Exactly!"

Nemona nodded repeatedly, while looking at the figure in front who ignored countless angry gazes and still stood firmly beside the "ghost."

"Sure enough, Teacher Qingyu has too much sense of justice; he walked over without hesitation even at a time like this!"

Although he wore a mask, she could recognize at a glance that it was the face of their Naranja Academy, Teacher Qingyu!

Having to face so many villagers who were more terrifying than ghosts, even she couldn't help but feel fear in her heart.

But Teacher Qingyu could stand directly beside the ghost; it was just too cool!

Nemona's admiration for Teacher Qingyu in her heart exploded again.

"Indeed."

Carmine also smiled slightly, crossing her fingers and looking at Teacher Yu's figure with admiring eyes.

Although he was a bit unserious when live-streaming, daring to use those tactics that might be controversial was itself the best embodiment of Teacher Yu's personality.

Sure enough, Teacher Yu is just too positive, respecting every opponent absolutely, which is why he is always misunderstood as liking to torture his opponents, right?

If only their Blueberry Academy in the Unova region could have such a teacher who is a role model and upright and kind!

Because of Qingyu's appearance, the group of tourists who were influenced by the atmosphere and mistakenly thought this was also part of the festival activity soon reacted.

The number of the "Ghost-Beating Team" of Kitakami Village, which was originally aggressive and looked like it could rush up at any time, instantly decreased by more than half.

Although many villagers were still raging in vain, it was clear that they didn't have the courage to go up and fight the "ghost" head-on, so they could only output from a distance.

Just then, an old man who was somewhat bald and looked somewhat aged soon walked out of the crowd.

His identity was very clear to both locals and tourists—

The administrator of Mossui Town, or rather...

The Mayor?