When Rika suddenly invited him to serve temporarily as a Gym Leader on Victory Road, Qingyu found himself feeling unexpectedly reflective.
Less than six months ago, he had still been just a Fumeveil Gym Leader. How had he already jumped two ranks and nearly become an Elite Four member?
Although it was only a temporary position, in the Kalos-no, Paldea Region, where an Elite Four seat had been vacant for so long, this invitation essentially amounted to Chairwoman Geeta's approval.
Still, being a member of Paldea's Elite Four wasn't necessarily a cushy job...
At that thought, Qingyu's expression grew a little conflicted.
Everyone knew Chairwoman Geeta was a Grind King. While overseeing every aspect of League business, she also squeezed every last drop of energy out of herself.
And although Geeta had never explicitly demanded it, the Elite Four serving beneath the Top Champion were clearly much busier than Gym Leaders and other League members.
Take Larry, who guarded the entrance to Area Zero while serving as both an Elite Four member and a Gym Leader. Qingyu wouldn't have been surprised if he learned the move Facade.
As for Rika and Hassel, they certainly didn't look as miserable as Larry, but their workloads were definitely substantial.
At any rate, they far exceeded his workload as a Gym Leader.
So...
Faced with the League's invitation, Qingyu, who had grown accustomed to the peaceful life at his Gym, hesitated.
After all, Larry had already provided a "shining example" of what being both an Elite Four member and a Gym Leader entailed. No matter how he looked at it, that was the life of a workhorse destined to die from overwork!
His gaze unconsciously drifted to the little girl behind Rika.
According to the game's storyline, the person who should have become the