Chapter 462:

After resting for a day on the Tree of Beginning, Kaede didn’t linger any longer.

Early morning of the second day.

On the sea during the return journey.

Looking at Victini, Mew, and the miniaturized Lugia who were about to bid farewell, Kaede carefully considered his words. He took out a storage capsule and addressed Lugia, "These are Size Shifting Energy Cubes. Since we left in a hurry, I didn’t bring many. If you run out, you can have Mew bring you to the Breeding House."

Before Lugia could take the capsule, it was already in Mew’s hands. It stuck out its tongue playfully at Lugia, indicating that such a small capsule would be hard for Lugia to keep, so it might as well hold onto it.

This action made Kaede sweat a little.

Sometimes, Kaede really felt Mew shouldn’t be a feline Pokémon, but a rodent... or a squirrel-type Pokémon. The greedy Skwovet at home had a similar "hoarding" personality.

[I understand.]

Lugia wasn’t angry, or rather, it was already very familiar with this little cat’s nature.

Also, Kaede originally wanted to say that Mew would probably cause trouble everywhere outside and ask Lugia to look after it more.

But then he thought saying that would definitely upset Mew, so he held back halfway, deciding to let it go.

After all, if these three really ran into safety issues together, it would be no small matter.

In the end, he only said to Mew, "Off you go, then..."

"Mew...~"

The Pokémon vanished from the sea surface in an instant.

Kaede watched their retreating figures and shook his head.

In the past Pokémon world, it was just Mew wandering around alone. Now with Victini and Lugia added... and the solitary Mewtwo traveling on its own, who knew what unexpected things might happen.

But that was the future. Right now, he just wanted to go home.

"Let’s go, Dragonite, we’re heading back too!"

"Dragonite~"

....

May 6th, Noon.

Kaede returned just in time for lunch at the Breeding House with his Pokémon.

This made Gardevoir roll its eyes.

The lunch portions at the Breeding House were standardized daily. Since Kaede hadn’t been home for two days, it had only prepared enough food to avoid waste.

While Blaziken had a big appetite, even it couldn’t eat the combined amount meant for Dragonite, Serperior, Milotic... and the others.

So, when Kaede returned, there was simply no food prepared for them.

"Hehe..."

Kaede just grinned sheepishly and immediately led Gardevoir straight to the kitchen.

Roughly an hour later, a simple lunch was ready. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Steamed egg custard, made using the last few Blissey eggs brought from Rosalie’s home. Kaede used them all. To eat such eggs again, they’d have to wait until their own Happiny evolved into Chansey and then into Blissey.

But that was fine.

It would happen sooner or later.

There were also some seasonal vegetables, and of course, meat.

When the dishes came out, Dragonite, who had brought Kaede back, immediately brightened up.

Kaede patted its belly as a form of reassurance, then took out all the Poké Balls. "Come on out, everyone~!"

"Steenee~" (We’re home, home!)

"Ninetales~!" (So fragrant, so fragrant...)

"...eon~"

Some hungry Pokémon immediately ran to their spots and started digging in.

Some Pokémon, perhaps when outside, would mind their manners a lot more, like at Mallow’s home, showing some restraint or even a bit of awkwardness. But at home, that feeling completely vanished.

Kaede was pretty hungry too.

After sitting down and just about to pick up his chopsticks, Gardevoir, having taken off its apron, came to his side.

"Hm? Is there something special?" Kaede was curious.

Logically, he’d only been gone for two days. Two days shouldn’t have caused any significant impact on the Breeding House.

But Gardevoir shook its head, gently placing its hands on his shoulders. While giving a light massage, it softly asked, "Gardevoir..." (Was this trip tiring?)

With his shoulders relaxing and his heart soothed by Gardevoir’s presence, Kaede couldn’t help but smile. "Not at all. This trip was actually very easy. Plus, Serperior has some new changes. Look."

Kaede gestured for Gardevoir to look at Serperior, who obliged.

Serperior’s change was quite noticeable.

While its appearance and size hadn’t changed, perhaps because its energy level had risen so sharply, its external energy seemed almost overflowing.

More prominent was the change in aura. Before, Serperior, though seemingly aloof, would still draw spontaneous praise from strangers. Now, it was like a snow lotus in the center of a lake—something to be admired from afar but not approached. Kaede guessed ordinary Trainers and Pokémon would feel a sense of awe upon seeing it.

This reminded Kaede of an Ability, one innate to Legendary Pokémon — Pressure.

So, was Serperior now developing this Ability?

"Gardevoir~?" (What happened?)

Gardevoir was curious. From its perspective, it could naturally see how significant Serperior’s transformation was.

"Well, it’s just that..."

Kaede didn’t hide anything. While eating, enjoying Gardevoir’s massage, he recounted everything that happened on the Tree of Beginning.

Gardevoir listened with some surprise.

"Gardevoir..." (So, in the future, Serperior might grow to the level of a Legendary Pokémon?)

"Theoretically, yes, but I’m not sure."

Kaede nodded while eating.

"Gardevoir..." Gardevoir behind him fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Gardevoir?" (So, will it be your strongest Pokémon from now on?)

"Not sure. Because this time I also got some good stuff from Mew... Hm?" Kaede stopped mid-sentence, sensing something off. He turned to look at Gardevoir. It still wore a smiling expression.

This startled Kaede a bit.

He thought Gardevoir might be feeling jealous.

That would be quite a disaster.

But the tone just now did sound a bit unusual.

"Gardevoir?"

"Gardevoir?" (Hm?)

"...It’s really nice having you here..."

"Gardevoir..." (How strange...)