"Cough, cough… isn't this Miss Mist? The weather's quite nice today, isn't it?"
Nathan gave two awkward coughs as he spoke.
But Heaven seemed unwilling to give him any face—two booming claps of thunder echoed in the sky right after his words.
Evelyn had heard that a new mystic realm had appeared here, and so she had come over to take a look.
After working busily the entire night, tying up all her tasks, she rushed over in a hurry.
And the very moment she arrived, she caught sight of Nathan—the very culprit responsible for keeping her so busy lately.
"Don't you think you're a terribly incompetent boss? For crying out loud, you're supposed to be the one in charge of the company. Can't you at least be useful once in a while?"
Evelyn spoke furiously.
She, a dignified young lady of noble birth, had practically been reduced to one of Nathan's office workers.
Day after day, all the big and small matters of the company ended up being handled by her.
Try looking for Nathan and he'd be nowhere to be found; look for Lily, and Lily would just side with Nathan.
Truly a conniving husband-and-wife pair.
"There is! How could there not be? Tell you what—today, I'll take you into the mystic realm first. Let's call it a reward for all the hard work you've done lately. How's that sound?"
Nathan's eyes flickered with a sly glint as he tugged Evelyn along while he spoke.
Other matters he might not be good at, but taking Evelyn into the mystic realm? That was still easy enough for him.
Evelyn, who had been ready to continue lashing out in anger, felt her fury settle somewhat at his words.
This was no ordinary place—it was an S-rank mystic realm, a location brimming with treasures.
If she could get inside ahead of everyone else, it would indeed be a great opportunity.
If she managed to harvest some valuable items inside, it would count as a proper compensation for all her exhausting work during this period. At least then her efforts wouldn't have been in vain.
"This time I'll let it slide. But once we get out of here, you must find someone to help you handle company affairs!"
Although her anger had subsided, she still needed to make things clear with Nathan beforehand.
Otherwise, once she left the mystic realm, she would surely end up drowning in endless work again.
She was a trainer, after all. If she didn't head into mystic realms to train her Pokémon and improve their strength, what was the point of wasting every day cooped up in an office?
"Fine. Don't worry—once we're out of the mystic realm, I'll immediately find someone!"
Nathan patted his chest in assurance.
Of course, whether he could actually follow through after leaving the mystic realm was another matter altogether. He could only promise to do his best.
As for when exactly that "someone" would appear… well, that would all depend on fate.
Nathan dragged Evelyn along and squeezed their way toward the entrance of the mystic realm.
"Can I bring someone in ahead of time?"
In the press of the crowd, Nathan grinned as he asked the guard.
The guard had already heard countless requests like this throughout the day.
His first instinct upon hearing Nathan's words was to refuse.
But then his eyes fell upon Nathan's face.
"Yes, you may. You can enter right away!"
The guard quickly turned and opened a path for him.
"Thanks."
Nathan thanked him casually and, pulling Evelyn along, stepped directly into the mystic realm.
The other people, upon seeing that someone had actually been allowed inside ahead of time, instantly broke into a commotion.
Some hot-tempered individuals even started cursing aloud.
As the voices around him grew harsher and harsher, the guard himself finally snapped.
After all, even a clay idol has three parts temper, not to mention he was a living, breathing man.
"If you can bring home a world championship, I'll personally get on my knees and escort you inside!"
His voice was so loud it instantly drowned out the noisy complaints of the crowd.
The moment those words left his lips, the surroundings fell into silence.
—A world champion…
Could it be that the person who had just gone in was actually Nathan Vesper!?
"Wow~ I can't believe it was Nathan Vesper! Once I get in, I've got to find him no matter what!"
"Nathan went in? Well then, I've got nothing to complain about. I fully support him!"
…
Those who had just been loudly cursing suddenly changed their tune, each one more flattering than the last. They were practically one step away from becoming fawning sycophants.
"What's so special about Nathan?"
Just as the atmosphere had shifted into one of collective cheer, a jarring voice rang out.
The moment it sounded, everyone nearby recoiled as though avoiding the plague, instantly putting several meters of distance between themselves and the speaker.
In this place, there was still someone who dared to look down on Nathan?
Was he courting death?
"Hmph~ he's nothing more than a world champion. And yet all of you are groveling like lackeys."
The man spoke with open disdain, sweeping a scornful gaze across the crowd.
As though praising Nathan were something utterly shameful.
"Oi, brat—just with that filthy mouth of yours, you think you're qualified to look down on Nathan?"
A rough, booming voice cut through the crowd.
Instantly, the surrounding people burst into laughter.
"Who said that? Step out right now! The mystic realm hasn't fully opened yet, so I've got plenty of time to teach you some manners!"
The man who had insulted Nathan spun about in rage, glaring at the crowd.
But far from silencing the laughter, his fury only made it louder.
"I said it. So what?"
A burly man shoved his way through the crowd, striding right up to him.
The onlookers froze when they saw the man's face.
And then, recognition struck.
"That's the Fighting-type Elite Guardian, Logan Gray!"
"Isn't that Elite Guardian Gray? He used to be one of the top Fighting specialists! But ever since Nathan's fame skyrocketed, we haven't heard much from him."
"No wonder he looked so familiar! So, it really is Elite Guardian Gray. After all this time, I bet his Pokémon are already at Champion level!"
"I never imagined I'd get to see Elite Guardian Gray here. He was once my idol."
…
As whispers rippled through the crowd, the man who had belittled Nathan finally realized who he was facing.
"Oh, so it's Elite Guardian Gray. Tell me, have your Pokémon broken through to the Champion level yet? An old man like you still dares to stick his neck out?"
Instead of backing down upon recognizing Elite Guardian Gray, he only grew more arrogant.
The onlookers, however, felt indignant on Elite Guardian Gray's behalf.
No matter what, Elite Guardian Gray had contributed greatly to the nation in the past. Even if his current strength couldn't keep pace with Nathan's, in many hearts he remained a hero.
"Kid, it's a good thing you're not my son. Otherwise, I'd beat you so badly your own mother wouldn't recognize you."
Elite Guardian Gray gave a cold snort, seized the man by his collar, and with one swift motion hurled him to the ground.
The move drew cheers from the crowd.
This fool dared to look down on Nathan?
"Elite Guardian Gray, huh? Fine then, I challenge you!"
The man, enraged after being thrown to the ground, shouted defiantly.
Scrambling up, he pulled out a Poké Ball, his face full of defiance.
Elite Guardian Gray had been ready to walk away, but upon hearing that this fool actually dared to challenge him, he stopped in place and slowly turned around.
"You're saying you want to challenge me?"
His voice was laced with contempt.
"That's right. I challenge you! Remember my name—it's Draco Lein! And today, I'll be the one to defeat you!"
Draco nodded firmly, puffing out his chest.
The surrounding people quickly scattered, leaving an open space.
It had been a long time since they'd seen Elite Guardian Gray in battle.
What kind of strength did this once-glorious Elite Guardian member possess now?
And what kind of Pokémon would this so-called Draco bring forth?
Curiosity burned in every pair of eyes.
Elite Guardian Gray took out a Poké Ball and released his partner.
A Champion-level Sawk appeared.
"Elite Guardian Gray's Pokémon has reached Champion level as well! Looks like we'll have to start calling him something greater than just 'Elite Guardian' now."
"So that's why he kept such a low profile all this time. He must've been focusing on training his Pokémon."
"That kid's doomed. Elite Guardian Gray's Fighting-types are among the strongest in the entire nation."
…
When the crowd saw the Champion-level Sawk, their chatter surged—but overwhelmingly in favor of Elite Guardian Gray.
"Shut your mouths! Today I'll show you all exactly how your so-called Elite Guardian Gray gets beaten to a pulp by me!"
Draco roared, hurling out his own Poké Ball.
The instant it struck the ground, the noisy crowd fell utterly silent.
The raucous atmosphere froze solid; you could've heard a pin drop.
And all of it was because of the Pokémon that Draco had summoned.
The moment it appeared, a suffocating aura surged outward, a presence like something crawling up from the depths of the abyss.
It didn't feel like a Pokémon at all. It felt like a demon.
"Elite Guardian Gray… please."
Draco's eyes locked on him, paying no mind to the stares of the surrounding spectators.
Elite Guardian Gray looked at Draco's Pokémon, and to his surprise, a trace of hesitation flickered in his heart.
But that fleeting thought vanished as quickly as it came, crushed beneath his rekindled fighting spirit.
"Sawk, use Brick Break!"
(End of Chapter)