“Please calm down, Miss Cynthia.” Gray gently placed a hand on her wrist, his voice steady and composed.
It seemed that Cynthia had not been the Sinnoh Champion for very long after all.
Her experience was still…
lacking.
Looking at the Gastly floating ahead of them, laughing so hard that its entire body was shaking as if it were about to pass out from amusement, Gray could not help but let out a helpless sigh.
He completely ignored the powerful Ghost Pokémon surrounding them, ancient beings that radiated terrifying thousand year auras and watched them like predators eyeing prey.
Without the slightest hesitation, he walked straight through the frightening encirclement and stopped directly in front of Gastly.
He paused.
Then, under Cynthia’s utterly disbelieving gaze, he reached out and grabbed the elastic, squishy cheeks of the Ghost Pokémon without any courtesy whatsoever.
With a stern expression, he scolded it.
“Have you had enough fun?
Hurry up and apologize to Miss Cynthia.
Even pranks should have limits!” “Gaaas!
Gaaas!” (I know I was wrong!
Let go already!) The mischievous grin on Gastly’s face instantly collapsed.
Its large eyes became pitiful and resentful as it glared at Gray in protest.
The moment Gray loosened his grip, Gastly suddenly swung its head.
Smack!
A wet, sticky tongue shot forward and landed directly across Gray’s face.
Mission accomplished!
╭(◕▽◕)╯ Gray expressionlessly wiped away the disgusting ghost saliva covering his face.
The veins on his forehead twitched faintly.
Meanwhile, the triumphant Gastly floated proudly over to the still stunned Cynthia.
Under the cautious and thoroughly confused gaze of Garchomp, Gastly widened its watery eyes as much as possible and awkwardly bowed.
“Gaaas~” (Sorry~) “…It’s alright.” Only then did Cynthia finally recover from the dramatic turn of events.
Looking at Gastly’s earnest attempt to act cute, she could not help but laugh.
She reached out and gently rubbed the top of its gaseous head.
As her fingers passed through the ghostly body, the surrounding Ghost Pokémon that had been radiating horrifying pressure began to fade away one by one.
Banette.
Dusknoir.
Mismagius.
All of them vanished without a trace.
Only now did she realize the truth.
The gigantic ghost face.
The terrifying encirclement.
The overwhelming pressure.
Everything had been nothing more than an elaborate illusion created by this prank loving Gastly.
Her curiosity swelled even further.
Turning toward Gray, who was walking back while wiping ghost saliva from his face, she fixed her star-like eyes firmly upon him.
“How…
exactly did you see through it?” “This is one of Gastly’s favorite prank techniques…” Before Gray could finish his sentence, Gastly suddenly lunged forward.
Like a cannonball, it crashed directly into his chest and immediately began attacking his handsome face with a relentless barrage of licks.
“Stop!
Stop!
That’s enough!
It’s all saliva!
You’re filthy!” Gray flailed helplessly while trying to pry the enthusiastic ghost away.
“You’re the one who led us here, right?
Hurry up and send us back outside!” “Gaaas!
Gaaas~” (I know!
I know!
I was just too bored~) Cynthia found herself pushed aside by the one-man-and-one-ghost spectacle.
A prank…
So that was what it had been.
But still…
What exactly was going on with this man?
Why did he immediately know it was just a prank?
Why could he see through illusions that even Garchomp instinctively treated as dangerous?
Why could he communicate with Gastly so naturally, as though they spoke the same language?
At least explain it to me!
Although she had already suspected Gray was hiding secrets, the number of secrets surrounding him was simply ridiculous.
Seriously…
I want to know!
Cynthia puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
Yet when she saw Gray finally struggling free after being nearly drowned by Gastly’s excessive affection, she could not hold back any longer.
“Pfft!” A burst of laughter escaped her lips.
What a fascinating person.
At that moment, Gastly looked completely satisfied after its licking assault.
Gray had tucked it under his arm like a briefcase.
Instead of getting angry, Gastly wore an arrogant expression that practically screamed, “I am magnanimous.” It waved its giant tongue and grandly declared: “Gaaas!” (I hereby pardon your offense!
I shall now escort you out!) …
By the time they emerged from the First Emperor’s Mausoleum, the night had grown very late.
Cynthia still had reports to submit and official duties to complete.
With a graceful leap, she landed atop Garchomp’s broad back.
Her golden hair fluttered gently in the night wind as she waved goodbye.
“Well then, Mr.
Gray.
Until we meet again.” “Mm.
Until next time.” Gray nodded and watched as the Champion disappeared into the distance like a shooting star.
Just then, a system notification appeared.
[Assistant Arceus Reminder: The mission ‘Help a New Trainer Overcome Her Difficulties’ has been completed!] [Rewards: 100 BP Points and Moon Ball ×1 have been delivered to storage space.] Gray’s thoughts stirred.
A Poké Ball with a soft silver glow instantly appeared in his palm.
Moonlight flowed across its surface, making it appear even more mysterious.
Looking at the ball, he fell silent for a moment.
Then, a meaningful smile slowly appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Suddenly, he spoke toward an empty street corner illuminated only by dim yellow streetlights.
“So…
how long are you planning to hide there?” The moment the words left his mouth, a chill quietly crept through the air.
The yellow light cast by the streetlamps began to twist and stretch unnaturally.
A massive translucent purple ghost head slowly emerged from the shadows.
Its enormous mouth opened wide, revealing sharp fangs as it let out a low growl.
“GAAAAAS!” (I AM THE MANDATE OF HEAVEN ITSELF!) (＞д＜) Looking at the ghost that was trying desperately to appear intimidating while failing miserably due to its obvious playfulness, Gray laughed.
He reached out and curiously rubbed its oversized head.
The sensation was surprisingly unique.
Cold.
Soft.
Somewhere between a gas and a solid.
Unexpectedly pleasant to touch.
“You and those sleeping Ghost Pokémon in the alternate dimension…” Gray spoke gently.
“You’re all guardians of the First Emperor’s Mausoleum, aren’t you?” Gastly blinked.
“Gaaas?” (Guardians?) It tilted its huge head.
Its expression was completely blank.
Then it vigorously shook its head.
“Gaaas~” (I don’t know~) “Really?” Gray raised an eyebrow.
“What about that jade coffin?” He deliberately put on a stern expression.
One that clearly said, I’ve already seen through everything.
“You opened it, didn’t you?” “Ga…
Gaaas~” (N-No~) Gastly immediately looked guilty.
Its eyes drifted elsewhere.
Its mouth puffed up slightly.
“Gaaas!” (It really wasn’t me!) The smile in Gray’s eyes deepened.
Naturally, he already knew Gastly was telling the truth.
There was no way this little Gastly could have opened that jade coffin.
Its strength simply was not enough.
He had already noticed that this Gastly had only been born recently.
Compared to the ancient Ghost Pokémon sleeping inside the alternate dimension, monsters that had lived for centuries or even millennia, it was still far too young.
Far too weak.
Yet that very immaturity, combined with its inexplicable confidence and its uniquely shameless personality, made it extraordinarily entertaining.
What a confident little Gastly.
And somehow so outrageously cheeky.
Not to mention adorable.
Practically perfect.
Gray raised the Moon Ball in front of it.
“Well?” His voice carried a smile.
“Interested in becoming part of my family?” “I’ll provide food and lodging.” “Gaaas?” (Family?) Gastly froze.
It seemed to be trying very hard to process the concept.
After several moments, its eyes narrowed into happy crescents.
Its mouth stretched into an exaggerated grin.
Excitedly, it began floating up and down while spinning circles through the air.
“Gaaas?
Gaaas!
Gaaas!” (You want to become My Imperial Father’s father, don’t you?
Approved!
I hereby promote you to Imperial Father!) “Then from now on…” Gray chuckled as he looked at the self-important ghost.
“We’re family.” Suddenly, his expression became serious.
His arm swung forward with explosive force.
The Moon Ball flew through the air.
At the same time, he shouted dramatically: “By the decree of heaven and the laws of the universe!
Evil spirit, surrender immediately!” Gastly was completely caught off guard.
Startled by the sudden theatrics, it froze for a split second.
That moment was enough.
The Moon Ball struck it squarely.
Gastly transformed into a beam of light and was pulled inside.
The ball shook once in midair.
Then another time.
A third.
Ding!
Several sparkling stars appeared around it.
The Moon Ball dropped neatly back into Gray’s waiting hand.
A critical capture!
“Gastly, Caught ya!” The classic line slipped out of Gray’s mouth instinctively.
The moment he noticed the strange looks coming from a few nearby pedestrians, his expression froze.
Without another word, he immediately clipped the Moon Ball to his belt, lowered his head, and fled the scene of the crime at top speed.
(End of Chapter)