I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer-Chapter 670: Alder: How Could I Possibly Be Evenly Matched With You!
“Caitlin?”
Cynthia also looked a little surprised.
Caitlin wore a pale pink robe with a faint shoulder veil, a white round hat on her head. Her long, curled golden hair spilled down to her calves. Caitlin tilted her head to look up at the clearly taller Bamboo Lan and Teacher Lu.
Then Caitlin ignored Lu Ye and walked straight to Cynthia’s side, leaning against her delicate, snow-white arm.
“Bamboo Lan, later—battle me,” Caitlin said.
Cynthia showed slight surprise, then a gentle smile appeared:
“Of course. I’ve already heard the exhibition match arrangements.”
Teacher Lu looked up at the sky.
Looks like I…came at the wrong time?
Because of the crowd, it would be improper to stay pressed together, so Teacher Lu let go of Bamboo Lan’s hand.
Caitlin stepped back half a pace as well;
her turquoise eyes watched Lu Ye with a trace of caution.
This move—this is Caitlin’s all-or-nothing one-for-one!
Cynthia lowered her head to look at Caitlin, folded her arms, and asked with a smile:
“Did you come to Lacunosa Town alone?”
Caitlin shook her head: “I’m with Shilan. We’re staying at the residence in Lacunosa Town.”
Shilan is Caitlin’s butler, responsible for handling this princess’s daily life.
“In that case, would you like to have afternoon tea together?” Cynthia’s eyes curved. “Right after the opening ceremony.”
“Afternoon tea…”
Caitlin pondered like a small animal for a moment.
At the same time, Cynthia looked up and gazed at Teacher Lu.
“I understand… I’ll prepare the desserts, right?”
Lu Ye fully understood the chef’s duty and sighed.
“I can help too,” Cynthia said.
“Don’t underestimate a chef’s primary duty!” Lu Ye said.
“Afternoon tea…is fine,” Caitlin whispered.
Cynthia lowered her head to meet Caitlin’s eyes;
upon seeing her emotional state stabilize, she smiled and reached out to stroke Caitlin’s forehead hair.
Caitlin gently closed her eyes and said, “Bamboo Lan, I’m looking forward to our match later.”
Cynthia’s gray pupils sharpened;
the chill of combat rose as she smiled, “Me too.”
So at the opening ceremony, Caitlin could have a demonstration match with Mengmengda.
And I only get to go head-to-head with old man Alder?
Lu Ye crossed his arms, glancing with his peripheral vision at a fruit tree on the lawn beside the brick path.
A plump Pecha Berry swayed as if about to fall, floating as if someone had picked it. Victini appeared and cradled the berry, burying its little face into it and taking huge bites: “Nimi~!”
Haunter stood under the tree shadow, mouth wide, tongue lolling;
a Bug-type Pokémon cowered in fright: “Gengarrr!”
Since it’s an exhibition match, Haunter could be sent out.
After all, guests usually send out their representative Pokémon—like Cynthia’s Garchomp.
In an exhibition match without move restrictions, Haunter, with its wide move set, could put on a flashier (and dirtier) performance.
Alder’s ace is Mothim;
how it compares to Haunter’s strength was unknown.
After all, Lu Ye wasn’t confident he could fully defeat Alder’s Mothim.
Even with Victini’s infinite energy aiding them, Haunter once broke through Arceus’s clone, and Lu Ye had various command techniques (dirty tricks).
But Alder is Unova’s long-standing champion, and Mothim is revered locally as a kind of deity.
Compared to Alder’s Mothim, Haunter’s win probability might only be thirty percent.
Me thirty, Alder seventy!
“You can’t underestimate any champion,” Lu Ye thought cautiously. “At worst, swap with a ‘shared fate’ switch.”
Caitlin was a proud young miss temperamentally, submissive only to Cynthia like a Siamese cat.
“So, you should listen to Shilan. Using psychic power to chase challengers away would be too rude.” Cynthia put one hand on her hip, helpless.
“Heh…understood.”
Caitlin put a small hand over her mouth and yawned, opening one eye to glance at Lu Ye.
There was still a strong wary look in her gaze.
I’ve heard of his heroic deeds of “reality meeting ideals”… he’s a trainer worthy of respect.
But some things are just unacceptable!
Lu Ye calmly ignored the howls from the vanquished.
That said…
Lu Ye touched his chin and looked at the two golden-haired beauties, one large and one small.
Am I going to be Mengmengda’s wing?
**
World Championships — Junior Cup — Registration Hall.
There were quite a few trainers in the venue, all there to register.
Most trainers released their Pokémon from Poké Balls to accompany them;
in Unova the Team Plasma idea of “liberating Poké Balls” was common.
Ash scanned the Pokédex back and forth, eyes wide with amazement, exclaiming:
“That’s the final form of Oshawott—Samurott! Those horns look so sharp!”
“And Infernape! Can Pignite really get that strong after evolving?”
“Ash, you’re such a child,” Alice spread her hands. “Those are relatively common starter evolutions in Unova.”
“But my Pignite and Oshawott haven’t evolved yet,” Ash scratched his head.
Alice was about to lecture Ash with a grown-up tone when her eyes lit up at the sight of a fierce Hydreigon:
“Hydreigon~ this one’s so cute!”
“You say that and I—” Ash blushed. “Hydreigon is not cute!”
The commotion drew attention. A gray-green-haired youth with one hand in his pocket walked over with a sneer.
“Yo, Ash. Didn’t expect you to enter this competition.”
“Trip…” Ash frowned.
“After losing to me last time, I didn’t expect you to still have the nerve to challenge Alder,” Trip shrugged. “And your unevolved buddies—hopeless.”
“Hey, who are you calling a brat? Don’t you know Ash is the battle area champion!” Alice’s hair flared as she bared her teeth.
“Well, a champion-trained new team only at this level?” Trip took half a step back and waved his hand. “I mean no offense—starting fresh in a new region tests a trainer’s true skill, right?”
Ash’s Unova team did underperform;
it seemed Unova’s Pokémon simply didn’t gel with him.
But Ash refused to use veteran team members in the league, which led to repeated losses to a strong rival like Trip.
“He’s not wrong.” Ash looked up and stared at Trip. “But…”
Betting on leaving the chat group, I won’t lose to you this time!
Ash intended to say that, but with his current team level he really had no room for such fierce words.
Alice glanced at the silently clenching Ash and sighed helplessly.
Really…this stubborn insistence on pride, refusing older team members—where did he learn that?
Suddenly an idea flashed in Alice’s head;
she slapped her palm, a lightbulb moment:
I get it—Ash must have learned that from Teacher Lu!
“Lost for words? Fine, then let’s look forward to the match later…”
With a bang, a passerby’s shoulder slammed into Trip hard;
Trip twisted in pain and turned:
“Hey, watch where you’re going, you…”
Trip saw a gray-haired youth with deadpan eyes and both hands in his pockets;
beside him was a muscular Electivire.
“Roar… (▼皿▼#)” Electivire glared with crimson eyes, its poles crackling with electricity.
Ash was suddenly stunned: “Paul?”
Paul glanced at Ash without changing his expression at all.
Trip swallowed the words at his lips: “You’re…also a participant?”
“A rookie from Unova, only this level?”
Paul spoke with that same cold indifference: “Yes. From champions’ strength you can see league gaps.”
“You—” Trip’s neck stiffened. “Don’t you dare denigrate Champion Alder!”
‘If Grandpa Alder knew he had such loyal fans, he’d be giggling under the covers,’ Alice thought, nodding to herself.
“Oh? So you really joined the Junior Cup just to battle Alder.”
Paul said, “You should visit Champion Cynthia and Teacher Lu;
they wouldn’t use battle slots as a trick to persuade rookies to enter.”
Alice nodded in agreement.
Teacher Lu wouldn’t do that—he’d compete directly!
“You…fine, see you at the match,” Trip said, his face stiffening.
‘Boys sulking and settling scores with Pokémon battles is so childish,’ Alice sighed inwardly.
Ash had been left standing to the side until Paul and Trip passed;
Paul glanced at Ash then:
“Ash.”
“Ah?”
“Losing to someone like this…”
Paul’s deadpan eyes said, “In a few days apart, you’ve gotten this bad?”
**
“Hello, I’d like to register for the competition, please.”
Nurse Joy looked at the counter where a slender green-haired boy shyly handed over his Pokédex.
“No problem,” Nurse Joy smiled slightly and registered him on the computer.
“Hoenn trainer, Manchong, right?”
“Yes, thank you very much!”
Manchong tightened his bag strap. After receiving the green-coated Pokédex, his eyes glittered as he stared at it.
After recovering from bronchitis treatments, he could now speak and command fully…
Although he still lagged behind Ruby and Sapphire…I am still Teacher Lu’s student.
“Winning the Junior Cup champion—should, should I be able to meet Teacher Lu…”
Manchong murmured self-doubtingly, “Will he still recognize me?”
“Forgetting me would be normal… Teacher Lu has so many students;
I’m just an incompetent one.”
But…
Manchong stared at the Pokédex.
This Pokédex was the one Teacher Lu got for him from Professor Oak…
That’s the reason I keep going!
Manchong tightened his strap, eyes flashing.
No matter what, I must show Teacher Lu and Gallade on the Junior Cup stage!
**
The cheers outside the corridor thundered;
Lu Ye could hear them even sitting in the backstage.
“What are you looking at?” Cynthia sat down gracefully nearby and cast a glance.
“The list of participants.” Lu Ye shook the printed paper in his hand and said:
“Didn’t expect Paul and Manchong to participate too.”
Cynthia smiled faintly: “Paul and Ash will spark new fireworks.”
“Judging from Ash’s Unova team, he probably can’t beat Paul.”
Lu Ye rubbed his chin. “But Paul and Alice were placed in the same group…they might not meet Ash.”
Alice is the strongest contestant in the Junior Cup.
After all, only Teacher Lu could enter a champion with that kind of talent into the Junior Cup.
As for Manchong.
Lu Ye’s gaze flickered, recalling that shy, strong-willed, sickly boy from Celadon University.
He didn’t come from an illustrious background like Ruby or Sapphire, but he had his own effort and perseverance—even handing over a special edition Pokédex without complaint.
Teacher Lu had no right to ask Professor Oak for another special Pokédex, but would keep supporting this student.
And beyond that, he sought to convey a trainer’s conviction to students with the posture of a champion.
“By the way, take a look at this outfit.”
“Which one?”
Lu Ye looked up to see Cynthia changed into a bright purple cloak;
he stared in stunned admiration for an instant.
“How is it?” Cynthia’s lips lifted. “The committee prepared it… they invited Unova’s top stylist.”
“Very beautiful,” Lu Ye nodded, then asked curiously, “And will you, like Dan Emperor tossing off his cloak, fling it off when you step out?”
“You must create a champion aura.” Cynthia rubbed her brow helplessly.
Under the bright purple cloak was Cynthia’s blue shirt she wore while vacationing in Unova;
Mengmengda was as carefree as ever.
“Hmm…indeed necessary.”
“I got one ready for you too~”
Cynthia rose and went toward the wardrobe, glancing back, “A black coat—how about it?”
Lu Ye looked at the black-and-gold champion outfit in Cynthia’s hand and raised an eyebrow.
Everyone knows: in the Pokémon world, coats and cloaks are standard for the big names!
This was a Chinese-style black-and-gold patterned coat with shoulder guards—meeting Teacher Lu’s standards for champion attire.
With this draft, he could ask Melisa to tweak some details later for formal events.
‘How did you know my size?’
Lu Ye had meant to ask that, but then realized he had measured Bamboo Lan earlier and relaxed.
“You’re up next.”
Cynthia looked toward the contestants’ corridor and smiled: “If it fits, you can take the stage now.”
“I’m actually a bit nervous…”
Lu Ye—whose win probability was only “thirty percent”—said.
Cynthia folded her arms with a helpless curl of her mouth: “The one who should be nervous is Alder…”
“Gengarrr~[]~(￣▽￣)”
Haunter ripped open a soda and gulped it down, face full of eager excitement.
“Nimi~” Victini flashed its small fangs;
the V marking on its forehead faintly glowed as it injected energy into Haunter.
Haunter’s eyes lit.
“Gengarrr~(✪ω✪)”
Feeling it, let’s go!
The cheers had already swelled. Lu Ye donned the coat and strode toward the roaring stadium.
“Next, let us welcome the special guest of this opening ceremony!!”
Tall, upright silhouette.
Teacher Lu — Champion Outfit, Limited Edition!
Chapter 670: Alder: How Could I Possibly Be Evenly Matched With You!
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