Chapter 166

"In short, she'll probably be staying in Galar for a while, and I'll need your help taking care of her during that time."

"Where."

Marnie's gaze was fixed on Mei and Gloria in the Battle Court.

"It should be said that she took care of us."

Two short-haired girls of similar height were standing together, and they really did look like sisters.

You smiled?

Qiao Ran looked at Marnie's profile and couldn't help but ask a question.

"No, I didn't." Marnie denied it outright.

"I clearly saw it."

"Snort."

How could she possibly show such an expression at a time like this?

After settling Mei's affairs, the group stayed at Marnie's house for an Apocalyptic Style dinner. Of course, they mainly used ingredients that Qiao Ran had brought from the Wild Area, since food was still a very precious thing in Galar at this time.

Taking advantage of every opportunity to come here, Qiao Ran would also bring some things with him.

Although Qiao Ran had previously suggested that he try bringing more, Marnie ultimately rejected the idea.

Firstly, Qiao Ran himself was not wealthy, and bringing things from the outside world was a burden in itself. Secondly, and more importantly, Spikemuth did not have enough electricity to improve food storage capacity. Even if Qiao Ran brought a lot, it would only result in waste if it could not be digested within a certain period of time. Moreover, Spikemuth's main food source was gradually shifting towards raising animals and cultivating its own Rototiller, as Marnie had suggested.

"... Perhaps Spikemuth is even more prosperous now than when my Older Brother was still alive."

At the dining table,

Marnie blurted out this statement, which Marnie, although perhaps difficult to understand, was indeed true to some extent.

Spikemuth is an obscure town on the border of Galar, with a depleted population and dilapidated buildings. It's not that the geographical environment is bad, nor that it's unsuitable for human habitation; it's simply that there's no Gigantamax Energy here, so it can't be developed into an entertainment venue or tourist attraction.

The people of Galar are all flocking to the large cities with Gigantamax, and the surrounding small, deserted towns are gradually falling into disrepair.

It was precisely because of the strategy of "using Gigantamax as a selling point to attract investment" vigorously promoted by Chairman Rose of Galar that this series of consequences occurred.

Ironically, when Gigantamax became a kind of disaster, Spikemuth, devoid of energy, became a refuge for refugees, and many of the town's empty buildings are now filled with people.

That's probably why Marnie said that.

"Indeed, Spikemuth is much more Hustle now than before."

At the dinner table, Marnie's parents couldn't help but laugh when they heard this.

"Normally, we don't see so many young people like you. It's usually just Marnie and her brother who stay in town like this."

"However, this is the first time Marnie has brought a boy home for dinner like this..."

"Mom!"

Marnie, who was eating in silence, couldn't help but speak up, interrupting her parents' increasingly outrageous remarks.

"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore, I'll have some jam, have some jam." Marnie's mother laughed and let it all go.

Looking at this scene, Qiao Ran felt a strong sense of empathy.

So, even parents from Otherworld are like this?

Even the usually aloof Marnie couldn't withstand such an attack...

After returning from Galar, Qiao Ran and the others went back to their dormitory at the Pokémon Center.

"Is it still not awake?"

Not yet.

Looking at Nebby lying in Lillie's arms, Mei's eyes held a hint of worry. So much time had passed, why hadn't she woken up yet?

That's so strange.

Is it also Jirachi?

When they went to Galar, they always left Nebby in the Wild Area, where the ecology and environment were very suitable for Pokémon. Not only Nebby, but they also usually left other Pokémon in the Wild Area.

The Wild Area not only filled with naturally growing Berry, but also with many Legendary Pokémon you can learn from – it's truly Mew world.

"... But Lillie's Pokémon has increased quite a bit this time."

Qiao Ran couldn't help but sigh. Lillie already had two Nihilego, but after going to Alola, her mother forced her to have a Type: Null and a Cosmoem.

Wow, this team setup is amazing! All these Pokémon together are incredibly powerful.

--Two Ultra Beast, a baby Arceus, and a juvenile version of a top-tier Legendary Pokémon.

If the remaining two Pokémon are of this caliber, then Nihilego would actually be the one that drags the team down the most.

However, Lillie's two Nihilego are no ordinary beings. One once parasitized Mei, and the other parasitized Mei. If they could take on Humanoid Transformation... they might even be able to create a white-haired version.

"Although I have many more Pokémon now, I will train them diligently. And Nebby... our family owes it so much; it's still so young, yet it had to undergo those experiments."

I will nurture it well.

Lillie seemed very Vital Spirit. After all, she had two very skilled Pokémon Trainer by her side, so she could ask them immediately if any problems arose. Moreover, there were Legendary Pokémon in the Wild Area that could transform into human form, so she could ask them about Pokémon knowledge... She had nothing to be afraid of at all.

If you can't become a qualified Trainer under these circumstances... no, how could that be possible?

Lillie shook her head inwardly. Even if she didn't trust herself, she had to trust her companions, Qiao Ran, and Mei.

"Then get some rest tonight, Lillie, you too. Don't worry too much about Nebby. I asked Rotom about it earlier, and it's fine, just a little tired. It should be better by tomorrow."

During his free time, Qiao Ran also used Rotom's Pokédex ability to check out Nebby's information.

Name: Cosmoem

Level: 10

Although the level is slightly low, there are no special markings on it, meaning that the Nebby's state is not abnormal at all.

"Even so..."

Lillie was still a little worried.

"I'll still sleep with it tonight."

Looking at Lillie's face, you would never guess that not long ago, she was a girl who was afraid to interact with Pokémon.

She's really changed a lot these days...

Or

Perhaps this is why Lusamine entrusted Nebby to her.

"Alright." Qiao Ran smiled helplessly. He had actually known about Lillie's choice for a long time, after all, she had always been that kind girl.

It's impossible for her to abandon Nebby.

"However, we have to leave for the next town tomorrow, so you need to get some rest and not overwork yourself."

The next day, just as Qiao Ran had said, Nebby, who had been held by Lillie all night, had woken up.

When Qiao Ran up, the two girls were already gathered around, observing the magical Pokémon.

"So cute... her cheeks are still all red."

"Its body Illuminate inside, and it can even float in the air like a cloud."

"Mo..."

"Is there anything you'd like to eat? We have some candy here, would you like some?"

Surrounded by Lillie and Mei, Nebby smiled happily and swallowed the candy in one gulp.

Perhaps because it had been held by Lillie for a long time, it didn't seem afraid of people even though it was their first meeting. These legendary Pokémon are inherently very intelligent.

"Mo... Moko!"

"I can float in the air too, Rotom." Rotom, who was just wandering around with nothing to do, couldn't help but mutter to himself and went up to Nebby. However, Nebby, who had just been laughing, suddenly burst into tears as soon as she saw Rotom.

"Rotom!"

"... What... what's wrong Rotom?"

Seeing the unfriendly looks from the two girls beside him, Rotom broke out in a cold sweat and had no choice but to fly away.

Seeing Rotom leave, Nebby's emotions gradually calmed down, and she excitedly chewed on the candy in her mouth.

"Suddenly happy, then suddenly bursting into tears, this really is just like a child."

Mei had no experience raising Pokémon from a young age. Apart from the Starter Pokémon she selected at the research institute, all her Pokémon were encountered during her travels. She had absolutely no experience with hatching Pokémon and raising them from a young age.

"Hmm, it seems to really like candy, so let's prepare some later."

Lillie secretly noted this down; remembering each Pokémon's likes and dislikes is a fundamental skill for any trainer.

"... Wait, you just said its cheeks are red?"

Qiao Ran, who had just woken up, heard their discussion, but after hearing a certain sentence, he immediately perked up.

Something's not right.

"No, let me take a look."

Qiao Ran casually threw on a coat and moved closer to Nebby.

--Just as Lillie and the others had said, its cheeks were red.

When it was asleep, its cheeks didn't turn this color; they were the same blue as usual. Because of this, Qiao Ran didn't think much of it at the time.

However, in reality, a normal Cosmoem's cheeks should not be red, but rather blue. If they are red, there is only one possibility.

Like some of Qiao Ran's Pokémon, this Cosmoem is actually Flash Shiny.

It's just that the Shiny isn't as pronounced in juvenile cases.

"It turns out..."

"What's wrong?"

Seemingly noticing that something was wrong with Qiao Ran, who had been staring at the Nebby for a long time after waking up, Lillie couldn't help but ask a question.

Could it be... that there's something wrong with Nebby's body?

"No... it's nothing, I was just a little surprised."

Qiao Ran didn't explain anything in detail. Although he shared most things with them, he didn't know how to explain certain things related to memories. After all, to identify an individual as a Shiny individual, one must have seen more than one normal-colored individual.

How could a trainer possibly meet so many normal individuals of legendary Pokémon?

Therefore, this kind of thing is simply inexplicable.

"You guys play with it for a while, I'm going to wash up now."

Qiao Ran shook her head and walked towards the bathroom.

Welcome to [His Library].:7'4.:6:.0!94,0"7!6": Outer Group!,1!'0"9.0!'2,:5;!1.5,76 Nebby... Cosmoem.

This Legendary Pokémon has two evolutionary branches.

Perhaps because it is a kind of "Ultra Beast", it does not have innate power like most Legendary Pokémon, but rather needs to evolve to improve.

One possible evolutionary path is that of the Lion that devours the Sun, Solgaleo, the Sun Deity of Alola.

Another approach is to invite Lunala, the Bat of the moon and the Moon Deity of Alola.

What kind of creature will it evolve into then?

Qiao Ran felt a growing sense of anticipation.

Morning.

After packing up, Qiao Ran and his group set off.

We embarked on our Pokémon Journeys to Magic City.

However, the first thing Qiao Ran did was lead everyone to the bus station.