Chapter 74
"Thank you for your hard work."
Officer Jenny walked over and handed Mike a bottle of water.
"It’s fine. This is something I should be doing anyway."
Officer Jenny sat beside him and lifted Marill from his arms, letting her sit on her lap before saying, "Elite Four Lucian watched our livestream earlier and thought it worked very well. He even praised it."
Mike calmly nodded.
Praise wasn’t worth any money. Something more practical would be better.
"I took the opportunity to ask whether they could increase your payment, considering how hard you worked on today’s livestream."
Mike immediately looked at her, waiting to hear the result.
Officer Jenny smiled and gave him the answer he wanted most.
"Elite Four Lucian agreed. The payment should arrive within the next two days. Send me your bank details, and I’ll have it transferred directly into your account."
"You know, Lucian is really the Elite Four member I admire most!"
Mike grinned and skillfully typed out his bank details before sending them to Officer Jenny.
"Huh? Lucian is the one you admire most? I thought it would be Aaron."
Mike froze for a moment and asked in confusion, "Why would you think Aaron is the one I admire most?"
"Because you know so much about Bug-type Pokémon?"
"..."
Mike was speechless.
Did understanding Bug-type Pokémon automatically mean he admired Aaron?
Then once he released his upcoming video about Flying-type Pokémon, would that mean he also admired Flying-type specialist Lance?
Mike didn’t dwell on the subject.
Instead, he asked why so many Trainers seemed to have gathered in Jubilife City over the past two days.
"You’re wondering why so many Trainers have come here?"
Officer Jenny looked at him and explained, "Because the Jubilife City Pokémon Contest is tomorrow."
"A Pokémon Contest?"
Only then did Mike remember that Jubilife City really was one of the places that hosted Pokémon Contests.
It was also where Dawn participated in her first Contest.
Mike vaguely remembered Ash taking part that time as well.
"Are you interested in Pokémon Contests?" Officer Jenny asked curiously.
Then she glanced at Glameow, who was lying lazily nearby, and the beautiful Snivy before nodding.
"That makes sense. Your Pokémon have been raised so well that entering a Contest shouldn’t be a problem."
"Entering a Pokémon Contest..."
Mike was tempted.
Now that he had come to this world, he really didn’t want to miss experiences like this.
Even if he couldn’t win, taking part and experiencing the atmosphere would still be worthwhile.
"I really do want to enter."
"Then do it."
Officer Jenny patted his shoulder.
"Don’t hesitate. Just go for it."
Mike nodded, stood, and said, "Then I’ll go register for it."
With that, he immediately took off running.
"Wait, come back."
Officer Jenny called him to a stop.
Mike turned around curiously, and she shook her head.
"Get on. I’ll take you there."
Mike glanced at the motorcycle, let out an "Oh," and obediently climbed on.
...
Mike reached the Contest registration area and successfully signed up just before registration closed.
Afterward, he returned to Marill’s house and ate dinner.
Then he sat in the yard, wondering which Pokémon he should use in tomorrow’s Contest.
As Mike remembered, Pokémon Contests were generally divided into two stages.
The first stage was a solo performance in which a Pokémon displayed its moves onstage and received scores from the judges.
Those who advanced would then participate in Contest Battles.
The main goal was to fully showcase the Pokémon’s charm.
Mike looked over his Pokémon.
Gengar was clever and adorable, with a naturally mischievous charm.
Snivy’s beautiful appearance and personality made her perfectly suited for Pokémon Contests.
Glameow’s elegant temperament also fit well, but she didn’t like battling or crowded places.
As for Beedrill...
Mike snapped his fingers.
He knew who he would send out and what kind of performance they would do.
He could also use this Contest as preparation for their future movie performances!
After deciding who would participate, Mike took out the Ball Capsule and special Seals provided by the Contest organizers.
While he was still thinking about how best to use the Seals, Marill came pattering over and buried her face in his arms.
"What’s wrong?"
Mike looked curiously at Marill, whose face was hidden against him.
"Marill."
[Shh.]
Mike raised his head and saw Gengar leaning against a tree with both hands covering his eyes as he counted down.
’They’re playing hide-and-seek?’
Mike looked down at Marill, whose face was hidden in his arms while the rest of her body remained completely exposed, and couldn’t help but laugh.
What kind of hiding was that?
"You’ll be found immediately like that."
Mike smiled as he played with her ears, then flicked the ball at the end of her tail.
"Look at this tail. It gives you away instantly."
Marill raised her head and looked at him.
Mike pointed toward the blanket beside him and told her to crawl underneath.
Then he lay down as well and pulled the blanket over them.
"Gar—"
[I’m coming to find all of you~ Hehehehe~]
Gengar spotted Arcanine with its face buried in the bushes and floated over to grab its tail.
"Gar—"
[Found you!]
He soon found Beedrill, Snivy, and Glameow as well.
After searching the entire yard without finding Marill, Gengar floated over to Mike and pointed at the large bulge beneath the blanket.
"Gar?"
[What’s under there?]
Mike shook his head.
"Nothing."
Gengar’s face filled with suspicion.
"Gar—"
[I don’t believe you! Lift the blanket and let me see.]
"I refuse."
Gengar narrowed his eyes and reached out to pull away the blanket.
Mike held it down tightly and refused to let him lift it.
And... the human and Pokémon began struggling over the blanket!
Officer Jenny sat nearby, eating walnuts Gengar had shared with her while enjoying the show.
In the end, Marill couldn’t hold back any longer and crawled out.
"Marill."
[It was me under there. Hehe.]
Marill covered her mouth as she emerged, unable to stop laughing.
Gengar reached out and touched her, signaling that he had caught her. Then he turned toward Mike and demanded an explanation.
"Gar!"
[Didn’t you say there was nothing under there?!]
"Oh my, when did Marill crawl under my blanket? How strange."
Mike covered his mouth and acted surprised.
Gengar: "..."
...
At the same time, elsewhere in Jubilife City, the door of a taxi opened and a woman stepped out.
She opened the trunk, retrieved her suitcase, and began running down the street.
The hair tie holding her hair in place slipped loose when she accidentally bumped into a pedestrian.
She hurriedly bent down and apologized before grabbing her suitcase and continuing to run.
’Is she still there?’
’Is she still in that house?’
’Is she still waiting for me?’
With anxiety filling her heart, the woman rushed toward her home.
The closer she came, the more nervous she became.
Eventually, she stopped and leaned against a wall, covering her mouth as she found herself unable to go any farther.
She was afraid that after walking inside, she wouldn’t see the figure she had missed for so long.
"Marill."
A familiar cry suddenly came from the yard, filled with joyful laughter.
The woman covered her mouth and began quietly sobbing.
After a while, she stood, straightened her clothes, tied her hair again, and took a deep breath.
She walked to the iron gate, took out her key, and unlocked it.
Then she pushed it open.
Her eyes met Marill’s as Marill searched the yard for Gengar and the others.
Marill froze in place.
The woman gave her a gentle smile and softly said, "I’m home."
Hearing the words she had waited so long to hear, Marill could no longer hold back.
She rushed forward.
"MARILLLLL—!"
[Waaaaaaaaaaaaah—!]
Marill’s cries filled the entire yard.