“Serena.”
“Once we return to Vaniville Town, pack up your things.”
“We’re moving to the Alola region.”
The following morning, while the three of them were eating breakfast at the Pokémon Center, Grace—whose complexion looked noticeably more radiant than ever before—made the announcement to her daughter.
“Huh?!”
Serena froze in the middle of cutting her fried egg.
“Why are we suddenly moving?”
Noah immediately added,
“Alola is a wonderful place.”
“There are beautiful beaches, a vast ocean, endless grasslands…
you’ll definitely love it there.”
He wasn’t exaggerating.
Although Alola had not yet joined the Pokémon League—
It was already famous for one thing…
Its breathtaking scenery.
It consistently ranked among the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
“Well…”
“…okay.”
Serena scratched her light brown hair.
After thinking about it for a moment, she realized she had no real reason to object.
Aside from a few friends back in Vaniville Town—
She didn’t feel particularly attached to Kalos.
“Oh my!”
Just as this ‘family of three’ was peacefully enjoying breakfast together—
Excited cries suddenly echoed throughout the Pokémon Center.
The three of them instinctively turned toward the entrance.
Even Noah, despite being a Transmigrator, couldn’t help feeling surprised.
The newcomer was none other than the Champion of the Kalos League—
And one of the world’s most famous movie stars…
Diantha.
“Hello.”
“Are you Serena?”
After scanning the room, Diantha’s eyes settled upon Serena before she approached with a graceful smile.
“Y-Yes…”
“H-Hello, Champion Diantha…”
Serena became so nervous that she nearly stumbled over every word.
After all—
She was speaking to a Champion.
For the overwhelming majority of people in this world, Champions were figures they could only admire from afar for their entire lives.
“I watched your last three Gym battles.”
“You performed wonderfully.”
“I hope you’ll win this year’s Lumiose Conference.”
Diantha smiled warmly.
“Um…”
“But Champion Diantha…”
“We’re moving away.”
“So…
I probably won’t be entering the tournament.”
The smile on Diantha’s face instantly froze.
‘…What?’
She had finally discovered a promising young talent—
Only to find out the girl was about to leave?
…
Ten minutes later.
After listening to the entire explanation—
Diantha finally understood.
Serena and her family planned to relocate to Alola.
And the reason…
Was the man sitting in front of her.
Diantha slowly turned her gaze toward Noah.
Although she tried to conceal it—
There was unmistakable displeasure in her eyes.
‘You’re poaching talent from our region?’
“Alola may be a wonderful place…”
“But it hasn’t even joined the League yet.”
“I personally believe Kalos is a much better environment for Serena’s development.”
Diantha maintained a polite smile, though it looked noticeably forced.
‘Good grief…’
‘She even started calling Serena ‘little sister’.
‘She was obviously trying to win her over.’
“Alola will continue growing stronger.”
“It will eventually become the strongest region in the world.”
“It will even surpass Kanto.”
Noah answered calmly.
Diantha nearly choked on her own saliva.
‘Surpass Kanto?’
‘Was this guy dreaming in broad daylight?’
‘Even I, a reigning Champion, would never dare make such an outrageous claim.’
The Kanto League, home of League Headquarters, possessed an absolutely terrifying lineup.
Led by Lance—
All four Elite Four members had reached Champion-level strength.
Among the Gym Leaders—
Blaine, Sabrina, and Koga all possessed Elite Four-level power.
And then there was the mysterious Viridian Gym Leader—
The man known as [Giovanni of the Earth].
Very few people had ever witnessed him battle.
But rumors claimed—
He was at least at the peak of Elite Four level.
‘Facing a lineup like that—’
‘This tiny backwater region called Alola actually claimed it would surpass Kanto?’
Diantha honestly considered herself remarkably polite for managing not to laugh out loud.
Instead, she turned toward Grace.
“Mrs.
Grace.”
“I certainly don’t wish to interfere with your family’s decision to move.”
“However, Serena is an exceptionally gifted Trainer.”
“She shouldn’t waste her talent.”
“If you leave her with me…”
“I’ll personally train her.”
Being accepted as a Champion’s direct student was something countless Trainers could only dream about.
Even Grace, who was clearly more inclined to support Noah, found herself tempted.
Still—
She instinctively turned to look at Noah.
She wanted to know what ‘the child’s father’ thought.
“I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Champion Diantha isn’t really that strong.”
Noah answered matter-of-factly.
The moment those words left his mouth—
Diantha completely lost it.
She nearly failed to catch her breath.
Beneath her elegant white dress, her impressively endowed chest trembled noticeably with suppressed anger.
‘Who the hell are you?!’
‘What gives some random nobody the right to say I’M not that strong?!’
“Oh?”
“So it sounds like Mr.
Noah is quite confident in his own abilities.”
Diantha’s smile had become even more strained.
She was only one step away from exploding.
“I suppose so.”
Noah simply stated the truth.
Among all the League Champions—
Diantha really was near the bottom.
She was roughly on the same level as Wallace.
“Heh…
heh…”
“In that case…”
“I’d very much like to have a battle with you, Mr.
Noah.”
Diantha’s teeth were practically grinding together.
She could worry about Serena later.
Right now—
She wanted nothing more than to beat this unbearably arrogant man into the ground.
“Mm…”
“Sure.”
If he managed to defeat a Champion—
That should earn him an enormous amount of Prestige Points.
Noah was already considering which Digimon he should exchange for next.