The rescue operation lasted for a little over a week.
Originally, Heiduo had planned to visit Sootopolis City once the rescue work was over.
But after truly staying busy for more than a week, running himself nearly ragged, Heiduo realized he no longer had the strength or inclination.
When one side was in trouble, aid came from all directions—but providing that aid was no easy task.
"I feel like outsiders like us are even more exhausted than the Hoenn people."
Umbreon had been holding it in all day and had only managed to squeeze out that one sentence.
Lying on a floating cushion, washed over by Scald, she did not even want to move.
Heiduo, fully submerged in the bathtub, silently nodded in agreement. To be honest, Steven and the Elite Four on the front lines had it hard, but those like them who were saving people in the rear were no less exhausted.
He had once found the idea of Steven dying from overwork somewhat ridiculous, but now Heiduo felt that if his body had not been so strong, he would have dropped dead from overwork long ago as well.
Of course, he had brought this exhaustion upon himself. While rescuing people, he had not forgotten the wild Pokémon. When others agonized over whether people or Pokémon mattered more, Heiduo had chosen both.
The result of wanting both was that he had nearly worked himself to ruin.
While working, he had been rushing around nonstop, his feet never touching the ground, constantly wishing he had been born with two more pairs of hands.
"Puff puff puff puff puff..."
Beside him, Lugia, transformed into an Umbreon, silently blew bubbles.
During this rescue operation, Lugia had unquestionably been the MVP.
On the second day of the rescue, Lugia had gone into