Chapter 191: The Traveler Who Paints the World
[Ding! Intermission over. The livestream will now continue!]
The instant the screen lit up again, the number of people online in the chat skyrocketed at a visibly absurd rate.
[VIP Chat Group]
[Steven]: Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the betting floor for Part Four of "Asher’s Daughters"! I’m your favorite bookmaker—Steven! The odds have just been updated, so allow me to announce the latest standings!
[Steven]: At the moment, candidates are scattered across every region, including but certainly not limited to—Sabrina, Clair, Valerie, Jasmine, Erika...
[Sabrina]: ...
[Clair]: Wait, I’m actually on the list?!
[Valerie]: My, seeing something like this really does make one’s heart beat a little faster~
[Diantha]: Hahahahaha! Whoever it is this time, I’m ready to enjoy the show! Come on! Let the storm rage even harder!
[Cynthia]: You certainly seem excited. What if it turns out to be you?
[Diantha]: Me? Impossible. Asher and I barely even know each other.
[Elesa]: That’s what I thought at first too.
[Misty]: Same.
[Diantha]: ...You three really decided to form a united front at a time like this? Relax. I’ve always had excellent luck. There’s absolutely no way this comes back to bite me!
[Skyla]: Screenshot taken.
[Elesa]: Skyla, Diantha has completely corrupted you, hasn’t she?
[Diantha]: It’s fine, screenshot whatever you want. I’ll say it right here—if the protagonist of Part Four really is my daughter, I’ll immediately pack my bags and move into Asher’s house!
[Steven]: Excellent! Contestant Diantha has successfully raised a flag! Let us wait and see what happens!
As the countdown on the screen reached its final second, the System’s notification sounded precisely on time.
[Ding! Parallel-World Celebrity Series, Part Four will now begin.]
[The Traveler Who Paints the World]
[Protagonist]: Elaria
[Special Ability]: None
[Father]: Asher Winter
[Mother]: Diantha
[Starter Pokémon]: Shiny Ralts
[Ace Pokémon]: Shiny Gardevoir, Meowstic ♀, Mawile, Primarina, Froslass, Dragapult
[Mythical Pokémon]: Diancie, Hoopa
[Legendary Pokémon]: Xerneas
[Achievements]: World Hall-of-Fame Actress, World League Minister of Culture, Kalos Champion
[VIP Chat Group]
[Iris]: Σ(⊙▽⊙"a!!
[Dawn]: Σ(⊙▽⊙"a!!
[May]: Σ(⊙▽⊙"a!!
[Cynthia]: @Diantha, come out and say something.
[Diantha]: ...
[Flannery]: Hahahahahahaha! I’m dying! Does this livestream seriously choose its targets based on what people say?!
[Valerie]: @Diantha, you just said, "If she’s my daughter, I’ll immediately pack my bags and move into Asher’s house," didn’t you? So, what now?
[Diantha]: Did I say that? I don’t remember saying anything like that.
[Skyla]: [Screenshot of Diantha raising a flag]
[Diantha]: No... Wait... I... This...
[Cynthia]: Diantha, would you like to borrow one of my ancient texts to hide your face? This time I genuinely can lend you one.
[Diantha]: Cynthia, don’t suddenly start being kind at a time like this!!!
[Misty]: Welcome to the family, Miss Diantha. (Smile.)
[Elesa]: What goes around comes around, Diantha. Who was it that said, "Asher already has more than one anyway"? I’ll return those exact words to you now.
[Diantha]: ...
[Lorelei]: The boomerang Diantha threw has finally come back and struck her directly in the face.
[Iris]: Everyone, look! The cover image is out!!
In the image, a young girl sat quietly amid a dazzling sea of multicolored flowers.
Her smooth, dark-gray hair fell loosely around her shoulders, while a large white floppy sunhat sat at a slight angle atop her head.
She gently held Hoopa in both arms.
Behind her, Diancie stood silently among the flowers, quietly keeping the girl company.
[VIP Chat Group]
[Steven]: WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!!! Sorry, but we absolutely have to pause here!!!
[Wallace]: Steven, what are you freaking out about now?
[Steven]: No! Did none of you see the Pokémon standing behind Elaria?!
[Leon]: I saw it. What about it?
[Steven]: You don’t understand!! None of you understand!! That Pokémon’s body structure! I can tell even through the screen that those are absolutely not ordinary diamonds!!
[Steven]: They’re perfect!! One of nature’s greatest works of art across billions upon billions of years!!!
[Phoebe]: I thought something serious had happened. Turns out Steven’s rock obsession is acting up again. I recommend immediate quarantine and treatment.
[Professor Sycamore]: Speaking of which, the Pokémon Elaria is holding looks somewhat familiar.
[Iris]: I remember now! It’s that little Pokémon that could jump through space—the one we saw with Asher before!
[Gary]: @Asher, explain yourself. You know both of those Pokémon, don’t you?
[Steven]: Exactly, exactly!! Brother Asher, are you there?! Come say something!!
[Asher]: ...The one Elaria is holding is called Hoopa. The Pokémon behind her is Diancie.
[Steven]: Diancie! What an elegant name!!! To think such a perfect Pokémon exists in this world, yet I failed to recognize her at first sight! This is an unforgivable sin!!!!
[Wallace]: All right, all right. Steven, restrain yourself. There are a lot of people watching.
[Steven]: I understand.
[Wallace]: Good. As long as you understand—
[Steven]: Starting today, I am Diancie’s dog!!!!
[Wallace]: ???
[Steven]: Brother Asher! No! Daddy Asher! I’m begging you! Let me meet Diancie just once! Just once! I’ll give you anything! Shares in Devon Corporation! My mineral collection! My private vault! Whatever you want, it’s yours!
[Alder]: ...
[Leon]: ...
[Cynthia]: ...
[Lance]: The future of the League can officially be declared dead as of today.
[Flint]: Lance, you have to stay strong! If you fall too, there genuinely won’t be a single hardworking Champion left!
[Bruno]: It’s fine. Lance can die inside without affecting his ability to work.
[Lorelei]: Enough derailing the conversation. Judging from the information panel, the title "The Traveler Who Paints the World" doesn’t seem to carry the same overwhelming weight as Tiana’s and the others’.
[Lorelei]: Combined with her identities as an actress and Minister of Culture, Elaria’s path of growth will probably be completely different from theirs.
[Bianca]: Oh, you’re right... Ah! The video is starting!!
The image brightened.
Inside an extravagantly furnished private hospital room—
Diantha rested against the hospital bed, holding a newborn baby girl in her arms.
For once, her hair hadn’t been meticulously styled. It simply fell loosely around her shoulders.
Her complexion was somewhat pale, but her eyes were filled entirely with tenderness and joy.
"Darling."
Diantha’s voice was soft, carrying an almost dreamlike sense of unreality.
"She’s so tiny."
"Of course she is."
Asher gently touched the baby’s tiny fist with one finger.
"She was only just born. That’s perfectly normal."
"Her hair is dark gray."
Diantha gently brushed the sparse newborn hair on the baby’s head with her fingertip.
"Looks like our baby inherited that from me~"
"Not necessarily. Her eyes are definitely going to take after me."
"She hasn’t even opened them yet."
Diantha tilted her head.
"How could you possibly know her eyes will take after you?"
"Because these golden eyes are the most distinctive trait of the Asher family."
Asher blinked.
"It would be a terrible waste if she didn’t inherit them."
At that exact moment—
The baby girl’s eyes opened into the tiniest slit.
They really were golden.
And beneath the afternoon sunlight—
They shone exceptionally brightly.
...
TL: RAAAAAH DIANTHA MY BELOVED