Chapter 2: Exposing Everything Right From the Start?
The countdown on the screen continued ticking away.
By now, everyone discussing the livestream had more or less figured out its rules.
Simply put, it was a quiz. Participants would answer questions based on the contents of the video. Correct answers earned rewards, while incorrect answers resulted in punishment.
The only things they did not know were what kind of rewards would be offered and how severe the punishments might be.
As the final second vanished from the countdown, the system’s notification rang out.
[Ding!]
[The first episode of the Parallel-World Celebrity Series will now begin.]
The text on the screen stabilized and transformed into a striking title.
[Parallel-World Celebrity Series—Episode One]
[Water-Type Pokémon Master]
[Featured Protagonist]: Raina
Beneath the title, a detailed information panel began to appear.
[Special Ability]: None
[Father]: Asher Winter
[Mother]: Misty
[Starter Pokémon]: Squirtle
[Ace Pokémon]: Gyarados, Milotic, Blastoise, Lapras, Dragonite, Vaporeon
[Legendary Pokémon]: Lugia, Suicune
[Travel Duration]: Three years
[Achievements]: Cerulean Gym Leader, Kanto Water-Type Elite Four Member, Water-Type Pokémon Master
"Pfffft—!"
Asher spat out all the coconut milk in his mouth and began coughing violently.
Raina? Misty?
This was bad. It seemed to be something he had experienced while completing one of his reincarnation missions.
Wait a minute.
If this livestream exposed everything that had happened during that life, wouldn’t the lazy retirement he had only just begun be completely ruined?
Realizing this, Asher hurriedly got up and began gathering his belongings. If the livestream showed his face and someone on the beach recognized him, he would be in serious trouble.
[Regular-Seat Chat Group]
"Whoa! The protagonist has appeared! Raina? That’s a pretty nice name."
"Her father is Asher Winter? Never heard of him."
"Her mother is... Misty?! Is that the Misty from Cerulean Gym?"
"I know Misty! She’s the Gym Leader of Cerulean City here in Kanto! Since when did she have a daughter?"
"The title says this person comes from a parallel world... Does that mean she doesn’t exist in our world? But her parents—or at least her mother—is someone we know?"
"Isn’t there something more important here?! Look at her achievements! She became a Water-type Elite Four member! And she has Lugia and Suicune! Those are Legendary Pokémon!"
...
Cerulean City, Kanto Region.
Inside Cerulean Gym, Misty had just finished a Gym battle and was directing Goldeen and Starmie back into the pool when her entire body froze as though she had been struck by lightning.
Her large, energetic eyes widened as she stared fixedly at the lines displayed on the screen, especially the one that read:
[Mother: Misty]
A blush spread visibly from her neck to the tips of her ears until her entire face became bright red.
"Wh-What kind of joke is thiiiiis?!"
Misty’s scream nearly tore the roof off the Gym. She thrust out a finger and pointed accusingly at the screen.
"Asher Winter? Who is that?! I don’t know anyone named Asher! Mother? Me? A daughter?! What kind of pervert made this livestream and started inventing nonsense about me?!"
"Gym Leader Misty... This..."
One of the staff members hesitated, unsure what to say.
"It’s fake! All of it is fake!"
Misty pointed furiously at the screen.
"This is slander! Defamation! I’m going to sue it! No, I’m going to blast it apart with Hydro Pump!"
Meanwhile, the VIP chat group had also erupted into lively discussion.
[VIP Chat Group]
[Daisy]: Oh? So this episode is about our adorable little sister? But who is this Asher?
[Ash]: It’s actually about Misty... Ahem. She isn’t going to blame me for watching this, is she?
[Brock]: Ash, I think this is one of those times when we should remain silent.
[Violet]: Well, well. Who would have thought Misty would be the first one exposed, and as a mother, no less? It’s such a shame we aren’t at the Gym right now. We could have teased her properly~
[Lily]: @Daisy @Violet, look! Her list of achievements includes becoming the Cerulean Gym Leader. Doesn’t that mean Misty’s daughter will inherit the Gym in the future? The three of us might finally be free from Gym work forever!
[Daisy]: That does sound wonderful, but none of us know this Asher person at all.
[Misty]: I don’t know him either! This is all about a parallel world! It’s fake! Completely fake! You three need to stop daydreaming! Also... If I remember correctly, your touring performance ended last week. Why haven’t you returned yet? Don’t tell me you’ve been hiding it from me so you can stay out there having fun!
[Lily]: Wh-Why would we do that, Misty? Even after the performance ends, there are still plenty of events and cleanup work to handle. We’re still at the venue right now~
[Misty]: Really?
[Violet]: Don’t overthink it, Misty. As soon as our work is finished, we’ll definitely come home immediately!
[Daisy]: More importantly, I wonder what our parallel-world brother-in-law is like. Is he handsome? What kind of family does he come from? Do we get to see a picture?
[Misty]: I already told you that I don’t know him! Stop making wild guesses!
[Gary]: The screen is changing!
Following Gary’s message, everyone saw a cover image appear on the screen.
At the center of the image stood a young woman dressed in neat, practical Trainer clothing. Her striking orange hair flowed freely in the wind.
Beside her stood Suicune, its blue body and deep-purple mane immediately recognizable.
Farther in the distance, the snow-white Legendary Pokémon Lugia soared through the sky.
[Misty]: ??? Who is this person supposed to be?!
[Lorelei]: A Water-type Elite Four member who has earned the recognition of both Lugia and Suicune... Those are truly remarkable achievements.
[Bruno]: Hahaha! Now I’m starting to get interested. I wonder whether that parallel world has even more powerful Trainers waiting to challenge veteran Elite Four members like us.
[Wallace]: Milotic, Lugia, and Suicune... What an enchanting scene. I wonder what Pokémon Contests are like in that world.
[Cynthia]: Achievements of that magnitude must have been greatly influenced by her parents and upbringing.
[Lance]: It is still too early to draw conclusions. Let us continue watching.
The image on the screen gradually faded, and the video began to play.
It showed what appeared to be a carefully decorated nursery, with sunlight streaming through pale-blue curtains.
The camera slowly moved across the room before finally settling on a small crib.
Inside lay a newborn baby girl with soft orange hair and rosy cheeks, sleeping peacefully with her eyes closed.
Her eyelashes were long, and the corners of her lips seemed to carry the faint trace of an unconscious smile. She looked healthy and adorable.
A simple caption appeared beside the image.
[Raina—First Day After Birth]
The scene then changed.
A noticeably older Misty, looking far more mature, gentle, and composed, carefully held the swaddled infant in her arms.
Her face glowed with joy, and her gaze was so tender that it seemed capable of melting water.
Standing beside Misty was a handsome young man with black hair and golden eyes. His gentle presence carried an underlying sense of steadiness and reliability.
He extended one finger and gently touched the baby’s tiny hand, his eyes filled with affection and love.
[VIP Chat Group]
[Misty]: ??????????
[Misty]: Who is that man?! I’m saying it again—I don’t know him at all!
[Misty]: And what is with that expression on the other me’s face?! There’s no way I would ever make an expression like that! That definitely isn’t the real me!
[Lily]: Oh my, Misty. Why are you getting so worked up? We haven’t even said anything~
[Violet]: Exactly. Although, honestly, this Asher guy is pretty handsome. He has a nice presence too.
[Daisy]: Mm-hmm. Black hair, golden eyes, handsome features, and he looks dependable. Misty has pretty good taste~
[Misty]: @Daisy @Violet @Lily, that’s enough from all three of you! That is a parallel world! It isn’t me! It has absolutely nothing to do with me!
[Ash]: Wow, so Misty is going to become like that in the future. She looks so... completely different from the Misty we know.
[Brock]: Ash... Were you about to say something and then swallow it?
[Ash]: No! I didn’t say anything! I just thought the scene looked really heartwarming!
[Misty]: Shut up, Ash! What do you mean she’s different from me? I’m usually gentle too, you know!
[Lorelei]: Hehe, how interesting. Personally, however, I am more curious about the father of this Water-type Pokémon Master.
[Lance]: Do not rush to conclusions. The video has only just begun. Besides... does no one else find this strange?
[Cynthia]: What are you referring to, Mr. Lance?
[Lance]: This man named Asher Winter is completely outside the scope of my intelligence network. No matter how thoroughly I search, I cannot find any record of someone by that name.
[Alder]: So no one in Kanto has ever heard of this Asher? Someone capable of raising a future Water-type Elite Four member should not be an unknown figure.
[Brock]: I thought carefully about it too, but I’ve definitely never heard that name before. Judging by his appearance, though, he’s probably a fairly capable Trainer.
[Professor Oak]: Hmm... Indeed. If the only differences between parallel worlds are caused by people making different choices, then this individual should also exist somewhere in our world. Unless...
[Cynthia]: Unless he is a variable unique to that parallel world—someone who does not exist in ours.
[Steven]: Interesting. But compared to that, I’m more curious about his daughter, Raina. She captured so many rare Water-type Pokémon. There must be many fascinating stories behind her journey.
[Wallace]: You finally said something sensible. I would also like to see what kind of family could raise a Water-type Elite Four member.