Great Fishing Festival

"Little Yamper!"

"Chewtle can't use Withdraw!"

"Ahhhhhhh!"*2

The two girls excitedly hugged each other, venting the joy of online friends finally meeting in person.

Meanwhile, the two boys in the cabin exchanged glances and silently sighed. They couldn't understand what was so exciting about it.

"My name is Leon, a rookie Trainer this year."

Leon took the initiative to extend his hand to Blake.

"You already introduced yourself once, but whatever. I'm Blake, sort of a Trainer, I guess. But today, I'm the priest of the Great Fishing Festival."

Dressed in a specially made ceremonial robe, Blake shook Leon's hand.

"It wasn't formal enough just now, so of course we had to do it properly. But you're a priest? That's amazing!"

Leon looked at Blake. Though the other boy was tall, he didn't seem to be much older than him.

"Can't be helped. My dad ran off to explore ruins, so I had to fill in. Ever since the Great Fishing Festival was brought to our family, we've been the ones presiding over it. Now that my dad's gone, it's up to me. Come to think of it, this is already my third year."

Blake stared with dead fish eyes, his face full of helplessness. He truly hated wearing this cumbersome ceremonial outfit, and he hated being watched by a crowd even more, not to mention reciting those ridiculously cringe chants.

"Really? I think that outfit looks awesome!"

Clearly, Leon and Blake had very different opinions. Leon genuinely thought the outfit was super cool! After all, he was the sort of person who could strike dramatic poses in a cape on the street, though according to the setting, Leon didn't actually like capes all that much.

"If you spent an hour putting this thing on, you wouldn't think so. Forget it, there's no point saying more. Just follow us later, and you'll be able to get close to the ceremonial platform. Honestly, there's nothing much to see, but there'll be plenty of good stuff at the festival afterward. You can take a look then."

Blake said.

"A festival? Then we definitely have to join in, right, Charmeleon?"

The moment Leon heard there was a festival, he perked up and called to his partner.

"Roar?"

Charmeleon put down his juice, turned around, and asked in confusion. He had been happily chatting with Haunter and hadn't heard what Leon said at all.

"Kekeke! Hehehehe!"

Haunter was happy too. At last, he had found someone else who liked spicy flavors! Cheri Berry juice was the best! (Cheri Berry: cures paralysis and is flavored spicy.)

"It looks like the Pokémon are having fun too. But a Haunter? Ghost-type Trainers are pretty rare in Galar."

Seeing Charmeleon's expression, Leon waved to show it wasn't anything important, then turned to Haunter.

"My family has used Ghost-type Pokémon as our main team for generations. Besides, aren't Gastly and its evolutions all really interesting?"

Blake said with a smile. He wasn't lying—who wouldn't like a little round purple chubby?

"That's true. Every Pokémon is a miracle. By the way, how about a battle!"

Leon could tell that Haunter had been raised well, and he immediately felt the urge to battle.

"A battle... sure, but tomorrow. Battles are forbidden today."

Blake hesitated for a moment, but when he saw the longing in Haunter's eyes, he ultimately nodded in agreement.

"Of course! Leader Haisewai told me about it. I'll definitely respect your traditions!"

Leon nodded. He loved battling, but he wasn't the kind of person who ignored everything else for a battle.

"All right, tomorrow it is. But for now, it's my turn to go on."

Bracing himself against the table with his right hand, Blake stood up. This ceremonial outfit wasn't just cumbersome, it was heavy too. It couldn't be helped—the countless decorations on it made it gorgeous, but truly unfriendly to whoever wore it!

"You two, come with me. I'll take you to the best viewing spot!"

Lulina smiled at Leon and Sonia.

"Then thank you very much."

Leon said politely.

"No problem, no problem. Before you challenge my teacher the day after tomorrow, you'll have to get past me first!"

Lulina looked at Leon. After all, if he couldn't even defeat the apprentice, there was no need for him to challenge the Gym Leader.

"I won't turn down any battle!"

Leon was equally excited. Ever since he had set out with his invitation letter, he hadn't missed a single battle, not even challenges from wild Pokémon.

"Stop talking and help me open the door."

Blake said helplessly. Before going onstage, he really didn't want to move any more than necessary, because the sleeves of this outfit were incredibly heavy too!

"Coming, coming!"

With Lulina's help, Blake trudged up the constructed ceremonial platform. Every step was heavy, and he was so exhausted he wanted to stop and rest, but he couldn't. Resting would only make him more tired, so he might as well endure it and reach the top in one go. Then came the long, incredibly boring chants that were repeated every year.

Only after he recited the final word did he toss the prepared talismans, along with the earlier chants, into the sea. With the Tailwind unleashed by the Flying-type Pokémon that had been prepared beforehand, the talismans and chants flew out over the ocean. Blake's part was over, and the whole town's celebration began. At last, Blake could take off this outfit.

"Phew—I'm exhausted. Could we install an elevator next time?"

Blake said helplessly as he removed the last accessory. Even someone with the physical capabilities of people in the Pokémon world found it unbearably heavy, which showed just how much the outfit weighed. In his original world, probably no one would have been able to wear it. With all those densely packed ornaments, it would probably stop bullets just fine.

"How could we? The ceremonial platform is built temporarily every year. Installing an elevator would be way too extravagant. Though once the tourist area opens and brings in funding, it might not be impossible."

After helping Blake sort and put away the last accessories, Lulina smiled.

"Let's hope so. I just wish I had a younger brother or sister. Then I could hand this job over to them in the future."

Blake rubbed his forehead helplessly. Fortunately, this year's Great Fishing Festival was finally over for him.

"Hasn't your family had only one child for four generations straight? Your uncle and aunt must be pretty worried."

Lulina said without much concern.

"Tell me about it. Come on, let's find Leon and Sonia. I promised to show them around."

Blake said as he slapped his thigh and stood up.

"You're not going to rest a little longer?"

Lulina found it strange. After finishing the ceremony in the previous two years, Blake would always collapse there and rest for a while.

"No. We can't keep the guests waiting. Besides, this year feels easier than the last two. I'm not that tired. Let's go, let's go. I don't want to stay here another minute."

Blake pushed Lulina out of the cabin, while the other people helping inside watched them leave with smiles.

"All right, pack everything up. We should hurry and join the festival too."

Hulbury's elderly mayor stroked his beard and spoke to everyone present.

"By the way, Mayor, it feels like this year's ceremonial outfit is getting a little small. Shouldn't we make a new one next year?"

"Hahaha, we'll talk about that next year. That kid Blake will probably grow even taller than his father, hahaha!"