Chapter 132: Five Is the Perfect Age to Start Working Hard (Membership Extra - )
The video continued playing.
Time passed.
Miori now appeared to be five years old. At that moment, she was running around Nimbasa Gym’s training grounds, chasing after a Shinx.
Shinx was the starter Pokémon she had chosen herself.
Three months earlier, Elesa had taken her to a Pokémon Day Care, intending to let her choose a gentle young Pokémon as her first partner.
Instead, Miori crouched beside the enclosure and watched the Pokémon inside for half an hour. Eventually, she pointed at a Shinx that was fighting with the other youngsters.
"I want that one."
"This Shinx has a rather bad temper," one of the Day Care workers kindly warned her.
"That’s okay."
Five-year-old Miori reached one hand through the fence.
Shinx immediately bit down on her finger, but she didn’t even flinch.
"It’s only trying to prove how strong it is, right?"
Shinx released her finger and tilted its head. Then it licked the spot it had just bitten.
Elesa watched the scene from behind before turning toward Asher.
"Your daughter is exactly like you."
"How are we alike?"
"Once she sets her sights on something, she has to obtain it no matter what."
Asher rubbed his nose.
"If I didn’t possess that kind of determination, how could I have won you over?"
Elesa’s face immediately turned red from the tips of her ears to the base of her neck.
"D-Don’t say things like that in front of Miori!"
[Regular-Seat Chat Group]
"No! My goddess Elesa!!!"
"Master Asher, please accept me as your disciple!"
"Calm down, person above. Asher managed to win over so many beautiful women because he possesses both strength and good looks. You could date three women at once too if you looked like him."
"I might not have his face, but I can learn his shamelessness!"
"That still wouldn’t help. You and I are mere mortals. Asher is already at the level of a legendary master of romance."
"Master of romance? Is that title even worthy of Asher? He’s the god of romance."
[VIP Chat Group]
[Steven]: That’s Brother Asher for you! His skills with women remain first-rate in every parallel world!
[Wallace]: Steven, you’re starting again.
[Brock]: So this is the power of the founding master? I’ve learned something valuable! (Frantically takes notes.)
[Max]: ...Brock, perhaps you should work on correcting your old habits first.
[Asher]: Just wait, Steven! You’ll find out what I’m going to do to you!
[Steven]: Brother Asher, look at you threatening me again. You were so gentle with Elesa in the video.
[Asher]: That’s because she’s my wife. Are you my wife?
[Steven]: ...
[Asher]: ???
[Misty]: @Steven, if you keep this up, I’ll go to Hoenn and throw away every stone you own.
[Cynthia]: I can help.
[Steven]: No, no, no! I was wrong! Please show mercy, Sisters-in-laws! I’ll be quiet! I’m going to stop talking right now!
[Wallace]: Steven has finally struck an iron wall.
[Volkner]: Come to think of it, this episode finally gives Electric-type Pokémon a chance to shine. It hasn’t been easy.
[Lt. Surge]: What does this have to do with Electric types as a whole?
[Volkner]: Do you never go online? Raina previously crushed an Electric-type Gym with Gyarados, and Tiana’s Garchomp was completely immune to electricity. Everyone has nearly mocked Electric into being a worthless type! Now that Miori is here, Electric types can finally redeem themselves!
The video continued playing.
At the edge of the training grounds, Elesa leaned against the railing with a folder in her hands.
"Mio, come over to Mommy."
Elesa beckoned to her.
Miori approached while carrying Shinx in her arms. Shinx rested against her and yawned.
"Starting today, you’ll officially begin studying the curriculum for Gym Trainers."
Elesa opened the folder.
"This is the five-year plan Mommy prepared for you."
Miori accepted the folder and opened it to the first page.
It was densely covered in writing:
Fundamental Knowledge of Electric-Type Pokémon, Type Matchup Charts, Rules and Responsibilities of Gym Trainers, Introduction to Battle Psychology, Fundamentals of Refereeing...
"Mommy."
Miori closed the folder.
"Do you know all of this?"
"Of course I do!"
"Then why don’t you manage everything yourself? Why do I have to learn it?"
"Your mother and I are trying to foster your abilities!"
Asher walked over as well, crouched down, and ruffled Miori’s hair.
"Five is the perfect age to start working hard. Your mother and I exhaust ourselves every day. How can you possibly sleep peacefully while we suffer?"
Miori looked at her mother, then at her father.
She tucked the folder beneath one arm.
"Fine. I’ll study it. But once I learn everything, Mommy has to pay me a salary."
Elesa froze.
"What do you need a salary for?"
"To buy Shinx the most delicious Pokémon food."
Miori lowered her gaze toward the Shinx in her arms.
"It’s still growing."
"Mew."
Elesa pressed a hand against her forehead, though her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
"You little rascal..."
[VIP Chat Group]
[Skyla]: Hahahahaha! "Five is the perfect age to start working hard!" Why does that sound so infuriating when Asher says it?!
[Roxie]: Wait, Miori is only five! Even if you want to train her as the Gym’s successor, isn’t this far too soon?
[Skyla]: Based on what I know about Elesa, she probably wants to start taking it easy.
[Elesa]: Skyla!
[Lenora]: Miori is remarkably mature for her age. She already understands that she should be paid.
[Jasmine]: Miori’s logic is simple: if Mommy wants to be lazy, the price of that laziness is giving Miori money.
[Dawn]: The important part is that she wants the money to buy food for Shinx! That’s so sweet!
[Alder]: Indeed. A heart that genuinely cherishes Pokémon is rare. Miori already possesses the disposition of a great Trainer!
The video continued playing.
Miori appeared slightly older now. Her black hair fell neatly on either side of her shoulders, her bangs were trimmed evenly, and her blue eyes sparkled brightly.
She sat in the front row of Nimbasa Gym’s spectator stands, holding Shinx in her arms while her legs swung over the edge of the seat.
On the battlefield, Elesa stood in the Gym Leader’s position, commanding an Emolga against a challenger’s Herdier.
"Emolga, use Thunder Shock!"
The electric sacs on Emolga’s cheeks crackled.
A golden current erupted from its body and struck Herdier with perfect accuracy.
Electricity coursed through Herdier, causing all its fur to stand on end. Its four legs gave way, and it collapsed onto the ground with spirals in its eyes.
The challenger recalled Herdier and bowed to Elesa.
"Thank you for the lesson, Gym Leader!"
Elesa nodded before recalling Emolga into its Poké Ball.
She turned around and waved toward the spectator stands.
Miori immediately jumped down from her seat. Carrying Shinx, she pattered down the steps toward her mother.
"Mommy’s Emolga is amazing!"
Miori’s eyes shone brightly.
"Shinx and I are going to become that strong too!"
Looking at her daughter’s earnest expression, Elesa couldn’t resist reaching out and pinching her still-chubby cheek.
"All right, all right. Mio will definitely become even stronger than Mommy someday. But don’t forget that you still need to learn how to manage the Gym."
Miori’s smile froze.
She immediately changed the subject.
"Mommy! When is Daddy coming home?"
"Him?"
Elesa rose and brushed nonexistent dust from her skirt.
"He should be back soon. He said he would return today."
The moment she finished speaking, the Gym’s doors opened.
Asher walked in from outside, wearing a sharply tailored black coat with a golden badge pinned to his collar.
"Daddy!"
Miori set Shinx down and immediately threw herself toward Asher.
Asher bent over and scooped her up, allowing her to sit on one of his arms.
"Did you miss Daddy?"
"I did!"
"How much?"
"More than I miss eating a doughnut this big!"
Miori stretched her arms wide, drawing an enormous circle in the air.
"All right. Daddy will take you out for doughnuts later."
Asher ruffled Miori’s hair before turning toward Elesa.
"Honey, I’m home."
Elesa approached and straightened his collar.
"Why were you gone for so long this time? Didn’t you say you were only making a trip to Dragonspiral Tower?"
"The situation over there was rather complicated."
Asher set Miori down.
"I’ll explain everything later."
Elesa studied his expression.
She didn’t press him further and merely nodded.
...
TL: Thanks, Lero, for the Tier 3 membership—no muah for you, hmph!... alright, alright, come here.