–+–
Ogerpon’s level had increased.
Sera felt a flicker of curiosity.
Normally, Berries didn’t grant Pokémon experience, but after digging through the detailed reports provided by the Electronic Pokemon Raising System, she finally found the answer.
Ogerpon was originally supposed to be Level 20, but because it had been unable to harness the power of its masks, its level had dropped to 5.
Now that Ogerpon had developed a favorable impression of Sera, it had managed to regain a tiny bit of its mask’s power, nudging its rating up to Level 6.
A pleasant surprise.
Sera had only intended to take care of Ogerpon; she never expected that a simple act of feeding would actually help it grow stronger.
“Oger-pon…”
On the screen, Ogerpon was still nibbling on a Cheri Berry.
It ate with great care, clutching the ones it couldn’t finish just yet to its chest.
While stashing away the berries, it kept darting its eyes around, watching its surroundings.
“Pon!”
[Ogerpon is sensing your presence.]
A single Raising Point was enough to exchange for ten Cheri Berries.
Since berries were packed with nutrients, most Pokémon only needed two or three a day to sustain themselves.
Clearly, Ogerpon was planning to hoard the berries to make them last for the next few days.
The place where it lived was a desolate wasteland.
On those rocky cliffs where hardly a blade of grass could grow, there was little life to be found.
It had likely been a long time since Ogerpon had tasted food like this.
Ugh, this simulator…
why do you have to make it so sad?
Sera felt a pang of indignation in her heart.
The lifelike actions of the Pokémon in the simulator made it difficult for her to simply view Ogerpon as mere data.
Just watching the little creature treasure the berries stirred a sense of genuine affection within her.
It’s okay!
Now that it had her, Ogerpon would never have to live a solitary, hiding life ever again!
Sera reached out and tapped Ogerpon’s head on the screen.
The little one froze, dropping two of the Cheri Berries it was holding.
But this time, it didn’t run away in fear.
[Ogerpon feels a little happy.]
“Oger-pon!”
After interacting for a while, Sera saw the time icon shift to a crescent moon, and Ogerpon stood up.
[Ogerpon is preparing to head home.]
The time in the Raising Simulator was synchronized 1:1 with reality, but the time in Ogerpon’s world seemed to be two or three hours ahead of hers.
“Judging by the time zone, is this somewhere around Sinnoh?”
Sera did a quick mental calculation, then chuckled at her own thought.
How could Ogerpon be a Sinnoh Pokémon?
She was confident she knew every Pokémon in the Sinnoh region.
Unless Game Freak had pulled some crazy stunt after she transmigrated—though, given their laziness during the Sword and Shield era, that seemed unlikely.
The Dreaded Den was much quieter at night than during the day.
Ogerpon didn’t have far to go, and soon, it returned safely to its cave.
“Oger-pon, oger-pon…”
[Ogerpon begins to wipe down the Teal Mask.]
Sera noticed a detail she had overlooked before.
In the corner of the narrow stone cave known as the Dreaded Den, a mask was resting.
The young girl leaned in to examine it, and couldn’t help but marvel.
It was an exquisite piece.
It resembled the traditional Noh masks she knew, but this oni-like, teal-colored mask was nearly half the size of Ogerpon itself—roughly 50 to 60 centimeters.
On the pupils, forehead, and the spots where whiskers would be on the cheeks, there were dazzling crystals embedded that reflected a rainbow-like shimmer.
Because Ogerpon had been in the middle of fleeing earlier, this was the first time Sera had truly seen it.
She tentatively tapped on the Teal Mask, startling Ogerpon slightly, but gaining the info she needed.
[Teal Mask: A grass-type mask that contains mysterious power.]
Generally, the classification of a Pokémon is closely tied to its traits.
Since Ogerpon was classified as the Mask Pokémon, this Teal Mask was likely the source of its power.
“…Oger-pon?”
On the screen, Ogerpon was still puzzled by Sera’s behavior toward the mask.
After a moment of hesitation, it held the mask up.
[Ogerpon is showing you the Teal Mask.]
Is it showing this to me?
Seeing the little creature—its star-shaped eyes half-closed as it fought the urge to look away—Sera couldn’t help but smile.
She had already seen the information on the mask, so there was no need to touch it again.
You should treasure your precious things and keep them safe.
Instead, Sera reached out to pet Ogerpon’s head once more.
Although she could only feel the cold surface of the simulator screen, watching the little one’s reaction was enough to leave her feeling warm and satisfied.
“Sleep well.”
It was already late into the night in the real world, and Sera felt it was time for Ogerpon to rest.
She would call it a night.
With one final tap on Ogerpon’s head, she closed the simulator.
–+–
“…Oger-pon?”
Kitakami, Dreaded Den.
Ogerpon held the mask up, waiting for a reaction that never came.
“Oger-pon?!”
It tried hard to focus, but the presence that had lingered nearby all day had truly vanished.
Why did it disappear?
The little one couldn’t understand.
It didn’t even know who had suddenly approached it earlier, nor why they had played such a prank on it.
However, that presence had been so gentle.
When the person noticed it was hesitant to be touched, they stopped, and then quietly gave it so many berries.
Recalling the delicious flavor, Ogerpon couldn’t help but swallow.
The spicy kick of the Cheri Berry brought back memories from long ago.
Because it hadn’t tasted anything like it in ages, it had instinctively wanted to store the rest of the berries away.
…But could those have been a farewell gift?
Bad memories bubbled up in Ogerpon’s mind.
Even the most delicious food eventually runs out, and food couldn’t fill the loneliness in her heart.
Just the thought that the presence might have vanished and would never return…
“Oger-pon…”
The little creature curled into a ball, clutching the mask tightly to her chest.
She had no one to share her feelings with.
The world outside the Dreaded Den terrified Ogerpon, just as Ogerpon itself terrified the people around it.
Even in the Oni Mountain named after it, other Pokémon would instinctively flee when they saw it coming.
Perhaps today’s encounter had just been a wonderful dream.
If I fall asleep…
will I be able to feel that gentle presence again?
Ogerpon quickly closed her eyes, drifting into sleep, accompanied by its beloved mask.
–+–
Back in the real world, the screen of the device sitting by Sera’s pillow lit up.
[Ogerpon misses you very much.]
[Ogerpon is calling out to you…]
–+–