You are not allowed to be a Pokémon Trainer

Chapter 498

Chapter 498

It really is Nihilago Ito.

Xia Chi's heart stirred slightly, but she didn't interrupt and just listened quietly.

Lillie's brow furrowed slightly, clearly trying to dig something out of the depths of her memory.

"Transparent—floating in the air—with many tentacles like a jellyfish—"

Her breathing became rapid again, as if the mere memory was enough to make her uneasy.

"It seems like I was attacked by it a long time ago—I don't remember exactly, I'm sorry!"

As Lillie finished speaking, she covered her forehead with both hands, her fingers trembling slightly.

Her expression was pained and confused, as if a blurry image was appearing and disappearing in her mind, but whenever she tried to grasp it, it would vanish like smoke.

"It's okay."

Kanna reached out and hugged Lillie's arm again, pressing her face against her shoulder, her voice soft.

"You must not want to remember this painful memory, that's why you can't remember it. Don't think about it anymore, don't think about it."

As Kanna spoke, she gently patted Lillie's back.

Xia Chi seemed to be deep in thought.

In the anime's storyline, due to Zaobo's successful experiment opening the Ultimate Void, Lillie was attacked by the Ultra Beast Nihilego in the underground passage of Aether Paradise.

Her brother Gladion arrived shortly after, but was powerless against the powerful Ultra Beast.

The brother and sister were eventually rescued by the silver companion beast.

However, due to the severe fright she suffered, Lillie never dared to touch Pokémon again after that.

She herself also lost her memory of that period.

It's a self-protection mechanism; the brain seals away overly painful memories to protect the owner from further harm.

It seems that Lillie in this world has experienced the same thing.

Xia Chi's eyes flickered slightly.

In the anime, Lillie, although she captured a Vulpix named "White Rolling" at one point, still dared not approach any other Pokémon besides it.

It took her a long time to gradually overcome that obstacle.

In the end, it was only after defeating Zaobo, regaining her memories, and confronting the source of that fear that she truly emerged from the shadows.

Does the world have to be like this?

Xia Chi snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Lillie.

Her emotions had calmed down somewhat under Connor's comforting words; her hands had stopped trembling, and her breathing had gradually returned to normal.

She looked up at Xia Chi, her eyes filled with a cautious anticipation.

Xia Chi pondered for a moment.

He couldn't directly tell Lillie, "You were attacked by Nihilego, which is why you're afraid of Pokémon."

Because she has forgotten that memory.

Forcibly reviving that memory may not be a good thing, and could even backfire.

He needed to give Lillie a gentle, feasible suggestion that wouldn't put too much pressure on her.

After a few seconds of silence, Xia Chi spoke.

"I think—you should start by catching a Pokémon you like, or by trying to interact with a Pokémon first."

Lillie paused slightly.

"To capture—an elf?"

She wouldn't even dare to touch it, so how could she possibly subdue it?

"right."

Xia Chi nodded. "It's not about letting you touch it right away, but about getting used to being in the same space with it and maintaining a safe distance."

He paused, then continued, "Once you get used to its presence, try to shorten that distance. Take it one step at a time, no need to rush."

Kanna nodded vigorously, adding, "Yeah, yeah, just like when I first saw the little nebula in the snowfield, I didn't dare touch it either. It looked so strange, like a moving lump of jelly..."

She glanced down at the little nebula in her arms; the pale purple creature had just opened its eyes and was yawning.

"Later I found out it could only whimper and didn't even have teeth, so I dared to touch it!"

"Kanna said with a grin."

Xia Chi glanced at Kanna, somewhat speechless.

If the story were to unfold as it should, this little nebula should be in Lillie's arms. I don't know how you managed to snatch it away.

You're still showing off like this...

Lillie looked at the soft little Nebula in Kanna's arms, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

Then, her gaze fell on Bictini, who was squatting quietly at the other end of the coffee table.

Bictini was looking at her with its big blue eyes, its little paws resting neatly on its knees.

Lillie's heart skipped a beat.

"But--"

She hesitated for a moment, "I don't know what kind of spirit to capture."

Xia Chi smiled slightly.

"Then take your time looking. One day, you'll find the one."

The setting sun outside the window had completely sunk below the sea level, leaving only a tinge of orange-red afterglow on the horizon.

One by one, the lights in the athletes' village came on, enveloping the entire community in a warm glow.

In the kitchen, Latias came out carrying a plate of freshly baked macarons, neatly arranged on a white porcelain plate, emitting a sweet aroma.

She gently placed the plate on the coffee table, then stepped back and smiled at Lillie.

"Ooh-ee—"

"6

Lillie looked at the plate of exquisite macarons, then at Latias's gentle smiling face, and finally her gaze fell on Victini at the other end of the coffee table.

Bictini tilted her head and winked at her.

Lillie took a deep breath, and then slowly and carefully reached out her hand toward Bictini.

She didn't touch it.

She simply placed her hand in the middle of the coffee table, at a spot that was neither too close nor too far.

Victini looked down at the hand, then looked up at Lillie's face.

Then, it stretched out its little paws.

Two hands, about thirty centimeters apart, faced each other on the coffee table.

No one bumped into anyone.

But Lillie's lips curved into a small smile.

Xia Chi chuckled to himself.

For those who are obsessed with aesthetics, Victini is definitely the best Pokémon to alleviate their "Pokémon phobia".

The air in the living room suddenly became quiet.

Lillie's hand hovered above the coffee table, her fair fingers slightly spread apart, the tips of her fingers turning a faint pink from nervousness.

She still didn't dare touch the bictini, but simply placed her hand in the middle of the coffee table, at a position that was neither too close nor too far.

Victini tilted her head, her large, sky-blue eyes reflecting Lillie's pale face.

Then, it stretched out its little paws.

The two hands were about thirty centimeters apart on the coffee table, facing each other from a distance.

No one bumped into anyone.

Kanna sat next to Lillie, covering her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide open, barely daring to breathe.

The little Nebula in her arms was being held a little too tightly, making a soft "whimper," but Kanna didn't notice at all.

Her entire focus was on Lillie, who was about to overcome her psychological barriers and touch Bictini.

The blue cotton bird flew up from above Kanna's head and gently landed on the back of the sofa. It tilted its little head and stared at the scene with its black bean-like eyes.

Thirty centimeters.

For most people, it's just an arm's length away.

But for Lillie, those thirty centimeters were the first step she took after spending an entire night mustering the courage to do so.

Lillie's hands began to tremble.

It wasn't because of the cold, it was because of the tension.

She could feel her heart racing.

Bictini did not move.

It hovered in mid-air, its little paws outstretched, its blue eyes looking at Lillie.

It didn't fly forward, but waited for Lillie to cross those thirty centimeters by herself.

Kanna couldn't hold back any longer and whispered, "Lillie—"

"Shh"

Xia Chi gave a soft shushing sound and shook his head at Kanna.

Kanna immediately shut her mouth and covered it even tighter with both hands.

The living room fell silent again.

Lillie took a deep breath.

Finally, she reached out a finger and gently touched the tip of Bictini's claw.

Victini did not retract its claws; it kept Lillie's fingertips resting on its claws, motionless.

Those big blue eyes looked at Lillie's nervous face with tenderness.

"Tini"

It let out a soft cry.

Then, Bictini's body began to glow.

It transformed into concentric ripples, spreading outwards like waves—

Victory energy.

The unique ability of Victini.

A special power that can concretize the concept of "victory" and transform it into energy.

But now, Victini doesn't use it in battle; instead, she transfers this energy to Lillie.

Golden light emanated from Victini's claws, flowing along Lillie's fingertips and into her body.

Lillie could feel her heartbeat slowly calming down.

So she stretched out her other hand as well.

Together, they gently cradled Bictini's little paws.

Lillie lowered her head, her forehead gently resting on Victini's paw.

She whispered, "Thank you, Victini..."

After having dinner at Xia Chi's house, Lillie said goodbye and left.

Although it was only her first intimate encounter with Victini, it was already a significant step forward for Lillie.

Xia Chi thought Lillie's arrival was just a passing episode, but things took an unexpected turn much faster than he had imagined.

The following afternoon, another guest closely associated with Lillie arrived.

"Ding-dong"

The doorbell rang, and Latias got up to open the door.

A woman was standing outside the door.

She was in her early thirties.

No, saying I'm in my early thirties might even sound old.

She looked more like she was in her late twenties, with the same long blonde hair as Lillie, but much thicker.

The woman was tall and slender, wearing a well-tailored white suit jacket, and her overall demeanor was clean and sharp.

Lusamine.

Chairman of the Ethereum Foundation.

One of the most influential women in the Alora region.

Xia Chi stood up from the sofa.

He recognized Lusamine.

It wasn't because we'd met before, but because that face looked so much like Lillie's.

With that imposing presence and that grand entrance, it would be hard not to recognize him.

"Hello, I am Lusamine, Lillie's mother."

Lusamine's voice was low and gentle, "I apologize for the intrusion."

Xia Chi stepped forward and nodded politely: "Hello, please come in."

Lusamine walked into the living room, her eyes quickly scanning the room.

Her gaze lingered on Meowha for a moment, then glanced at Victini on the windowsill, before settling on Latias, who was pouring tea.

Without lingering for long, Lusamine sat down on the sofa.

Latias brought over two cups of black tea and a small dish of cookies, then quietly stepped aside.

Lusamine picked up her teacup, blew on it gently, and took a small sip.

After putting down her teacup, she got straight to the point: "I'm here specifically to express my gratitude to you."

Her grey-blue eyes looked at Xia Chi with a serious and sincere gaze.

"Thank you for helping my daughter overcome her fear of Pokémon."

Xia Chi picked up his teacup and took a sip.

He knew that Rosamund wasn't entirely lying.

She really should thank herself; Lillie's change was genuine.

But he knew even better that this was just an excuse to come and visit him.

I'm not bragging.

With both strength and reputation, Xia Chi's current status is enough to make the chairman of a behemoth like the Ether Foundation take the initiative to show goodwill.

From Hoenn to Unova, and then to Galar not long ago.

Xia Chi is no longer just a trainer; he is more like a symbol.

It's a symbol that "no matter what happens, there's always someone who will step up."

So Rosamune came.

It wasn't out of gratitude, or rather, not entirely.

It was to get to know Xia Chi, or at least establish some kind of connection with him.

Xia Chi was aware of all this, but he didn't say it outright.

Sometimes, that's how relationships between adults are: you know it, I know it, but no one says it out loud. Saying it out loud would only make things awkward.

He put down his teacup, his tone casual and natural.

"Lillie is Kanna's friend, I was just helping her out."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, the root of Lillie's obstacle hasn't been resolved yet."

Lusamine's fingers paused slightly.

She picked up her teacup and took another sip, as if using this action to conceal something.

"You're right."

She put down her teacup and looked at Xia Chi, her gaze deeper than before.

"Lillie's problem may be related to some kind of strange spirit."

Xia Chi's heart stirred.

Could it be that Lusamine knows about Lillie's injury because of Zaobo?

Xia Chi tapped her knees lightly with her fingers as her mind raced.

That makes sense.

How could this woman, who was able to establish such a large organization as the Aether Foundation and rise from an ordinary Pokémon researcher to the top of the power pyramid in the Alola region, be an ordinary person?

The kind of plot where you're deceived by Zaobo and kept in the dark until the very last moment, like in the animation, seems far too frivolous in this real and complex world.

She probably knew long ago that Zaobo was secretly researching the Ultimate Cave.

It's even possible that she's been secretly watching all along.

They just haven't exposed it yet.

Thinking this, Xia Chi picked up his teacup, took another sip, then put it down, looked into Rusamine's eyes, and bluntly asked, "Is it—an Ultimate Beast?"