“Miss Sonia, you mentioned that Galar is holding a Star Tournament—what exactly is that?”
Seeing the atmosphere getting a bit awkward, Serena skillfully changed the subject.
Sonia had high emotional intelligence and immediately caught on, smoothly following the lead:
“Basically, it’s the same as the annual League Conferences held in other regions—a tournament where trainers who’ve earned eight badges compete against each other.”
“The difference, however, is that Galar’s Gym Leaders also participate in the tournament and challenge the strongest Champion.”
In other League Conferences—like Kanto’s Indigo Conference or Hoenn’s Ever Grande Conference—
Gym Leaders didn’t participate.
The winner of the League Conference earned the right to challenge the Elite Four or the Champion.
If they won, they could take their place.
The Galar Star Tournament, however, was a bit different.
The Gym Leaders participated, but ultimately one final winner was selected to battle the Champion, Leon.
This was because the Galar League had no Elite Four.
“I came to cheer for my bestie Nessa.
If you two don’t mind, I’d be happy to be your guide.”
Sonia said warmly.
And as a researcher, she was also very interested in the new Digimon Noah had discovered.
Her gaze occasionally drifted to Gatomon, perched on Noah’s shoulder.
That was precisely how she’d spotted them in the crowd in the first place—
By noticing Gatomon on Noah’s shoulder.
Yes, this female cat, like Ash’s Pikachu, didn’t really like staying inside a Poké Ball.
She preferred riding on Noah’s shoulder.
Noticing Sonia’s eager expression,
Noah, ignoring Gatomon’s protests,
Handed her over for the lady to pet.
He wondered to himself, ‘Had I just gained another tool for picking up girls?’
“Ahh~ So cute~ I just want to take you home with me~”
Sonia’s maternal instincts kicked in as she hugged Gatomon tightly,
Pressing her cheek against the cat’s and rubbing incessantly.
Gatomon couldn’t stand this female pervert anymore and raised her gloved paw, ready to slap her.
Fortunately, Noah intervened in time,
Grabbing the scruff of her neck and placing her back on his shoulder.
As the biggest annual event in the Galar region,
League Chairman Rose naturally provided resting rooms and training grounds for the participants.
The Gym Leaders participating in the tournament were no exception.
“Drednaw!
Use Crunch!
Golisopod!
Counter with Liquidation!”
At a public training ground, no sooner had Sonia led Noah and Serena there than they saw a young woman releasing two Pokémon and beginning to train.
Unlike Sonia’s alluring charm,
This tall woman had a figure that was neither too much nor too little—the perfect supermodel type.
Her coffee-colored skin didn’t diminish her appeal at all;
In fact, it only made her more captivating.
She was Sonia’s best friend and one of Galar’s Gym Leaders—Nessa.
“What do you think?”
Noah suddenly asked Serena.
“Hmm…
Gym Leader Nessa is…
very hardworking.”
Serena hesitated for a long time before choosing a diplomatic response.
It was exactly the same wording some of Noah’s previous life’s tiktokers used to praise their idols—
Aside from ‘hardworking’, there was no other compliment.
There was a difference, though: Nessa was genuinely hardworking, while those idols were just faking it.
Still, ‘hardworking’ was pretty much the only positive thing one could say.
Hearing the noise behind her, Nessa furrowed her brows slightly,
Turning her alluring face with a hint of displeasure.
“S-Sonia?”
Seeing her best friend, Nessa’s displeasure shifted to surprise.
“Long time no see, Nessa.
I’m here to cheer you on.”
Sonia trotted over, took her best friend’s hand, and introduced:
“Let me introduce you—Professor Noah from Alola, and little Serena from Kalos.”
“Sonia, Serena is now from Alola.”
Noah reminded her.
“Oh right—sorry, sorry, I forgot~”
Sonia stuck out her tongue playfully, looking utterly adorable.
“Noah?
The one who discovered Digimon…”
Nessa immediately remembered.
After all, Noah had been trending for days—it was hard not to know about him.
“Oh, it’s almost noon.
Let’s grab lunch and chat.”
Sonia clapped her hands, acting as a lubricant between the two.
Half an hour later, at the restaurant of the Budew Drop Inn, Nessa asked Noah:
“Professor Noah, are you here in Galar for research?”
To be honest, her initial impression of Noah and Serena wasn’t great.
After all, their first evaluation of her strength hadn’t been flattering.
It would be weird if she had a good attitude.
Noah didn’t bother explaining.
Because that was simply the truth.
If he had to sum up Nessa in one sentence, it would be:
Gorgeous as she is, weak as she is.
Yes, Nessa’s physical appearance was truly top-tier.
But her strength as a trainer…
was also truly hard to praise.