Chapter 18: The Pseudo-Legendary

"Damn it... you really didn't show me any! Mercy! At! All!"

Hilda puffed out her cheeks, her fair skin flushed, though whether from embarrassment or lingering competitive heat, it was hard to tell. She reached out and grabbed a corner of N's jacket, lightly drumming her pinky fists against his upper arm to vent her frustration.

The result of the battle had been decisive. Even though her Tepig had managed to trigger its Blaze ability at the very last second, it still wasn't enough to bring down N's Timburr. There was a visible gap between them, both in the raw power of their Pokémon and their tactical execution as Trainers; Hilda knew deep down that winning would have been the real miracle.

In truth, she wasn't actually angry. If anything, she was satisfied that N had gone all out against her. If he had held back out of pity or "chivalry," Hilda would have felt insulted, and that would have made her truly furious.

"So, do you have any thoughts?"

"Hmm? Thoughts about what?"

N blinked, looking at her with a hint of bewilderment. Hilda opened her mouth to speak, but the words seemed to catch in her throat. The air between them felt uncomfortably warm, and her cheeks deepened into a misty, bashful crimson. She began fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, her voice barely a whisper.

"You know... what I promised before. Since you won, I'll... I'll grant you any one request."

It took a moment for the realization to dawn on N. He hadn't given that promise a second thought during the heat of the match, but Hilda had clearly taken it to heart, and was now proactively bringing it up.

He hadn't actually considered what he would ask for. For the first time, N's characteristic "still water" composure flickered. A trace of genuine surprise crossed his face, and he quickly looked away to hide the slight fluster stirring in his own chest.

"Will the finalists please prepare for the closing match!"

"…It looks like it's time," N said, feeling a slight sense of relief at the interruption. "About that request... let's save it until I've decided what it should be."

Hilda didn't press him; she wasn't about to demand an answer right this second anyway.

"N, you better not lose! If you lose to Rosa, you're dead meat!"

She shook her small fist at him, her pouting expression turning dead serious. If N didn't lose to her but lost to that Rosa girl, wouldn't that indirectly mean Hilda was inferior to Rosa? That was unacceptable, in every sense of the word!

"…Understood, understood."

…

"And now, the moment we've all been waiting for, the Grand Finale of the Academy Exchange Tournament!!"

"Our finalists are N from Hakurei High and Rosa from Unova's Verdant Pokémon Academy! This is a clash between two prestigious institutions!"

The announcer's voice boomed through the stadium, met by a deafening roar from the crowd. This wasn't just a personal match anymore; it was a battle for school pride.

Up in the VIP stands, several influential figures watched with keen interest. Among them was Mr. Shawn, the Chairman of Verdant Academy. He watched Rosa with a smug, self-assured confidence, looking for all the world like he had already won.

"Little Rosa is our academy's star representative. She's only been active for a few months, yet her Pokémon are already nearing the Alpha level. Even Professor Juniper from our Unova region has nothing but praise for her. She's a future candidate for the Elite Four, maybe even the Champion!"

Seated beside him was Daisy, the Acting Chairwoman of Hakurei High. She maintained a gentle, serene smile, seemingly unbothered by the old man's boasting.

"My, she does sound impressive. However, I still believe N has the upper hand."

"Miss Daisy, I realize the lad is talented to have made it this far, and I know you want to bring glory to your school..." Shawn chuckled condescendingly. "But we both know that boy's Timburr is, at best, at the Mid Elite level, don't we?"

"Yes, I'm aware," Daisy replied, smoothing her silky brown hair. Her eyes crinkled into two warm crescents, the only expression Chairman Shawn had ever seen her wear.

He knew nothing of Daisy's true pedigree. To him, she was just a woman in her early twenties who had somehow landed the role of Acting Chairwoman. While she was technically the one in power, her family background remained a complete mystery to the general public.

Daisy had absolute faith in N. Even if his Pokémon's raw stats were lagging behind, she knew that as long as N was the one directing them, victory was always within reach. She had watched him grow up; she knew exactly how terrifying his talent truly was.

"Since you're so confident, Chairman, why don't we make this interesting? A wager, perhaps?"

"A wager?"

"A Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon Egg."

Pfft!!

Chairman Shawn, who had been leisurely sipping his tea, nearly sprayed a mouthful across the table. Who starts a bet with stakes like that?!

A Pseudo-Legendary Egg? It was an item of astronomical value. If raised correctly, the Pokémon hatched from such an egg could easily reach the Quasi-Elite Four level, and with enough talent, even break into the Elite Four or Champion tiers.

A single Pseudo-Legendary could define a Trainer's career. Cynthia of Sinnoh, Steven Stone of Hoenn, Lance of Johto, their strongest partners were all Pseudo-Legendaries. The rarity and power of such creatures made their eggs near-priceless.

To hear this young woman propose such a high-stakes gamble with such a casual tone was almost unbelievable. And yet... the sheer magnitude of the bet was enticing. He didn't know her background, but she carried herself like someone who could actually produce such a prize.

Shawn's fingers trembled slightly as he wrestled with the decision. Could I... actually say yes to this?