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"Little one, why are you here by yourself?"
Mammon walked towards Ogerpon with a gentle smile.
Seeing the human approach, Ogerpon instinctively shrank back behind the tree.
"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you."
A warm and peaceful golden light shimmered, and the comforting aura for Pokémon made Ogerpon pause.
So warm... Gusion's Arceus Power perfectly inherited the natural affinity of Viridian Power. Unless a Pokémon was completely senseless, they would generally not feel hostility towards Mammon.
Nor would they be afraid of Mammon.
"Boni?"
Ogerpon blinked her big eyes, looking at Mammon curiously.
"Why do I glow? Emm... maybe because I'm not an ordinary person."
Mammon was amused by Ogerpon's innocent question; this little one actually asked him why he glowed.
How could she be so cute?
"What's your name?"
Mammon approached Ogerpon, bent down, and asked softly.
"Boni~"
"Ogerpon? You're very cute. I've heard people mention you."
"Boni..."
Ogerpon's head shrank back at the words. She thought it was those villagers who disliked her.
"They are a pair of siblings who really like you."
"Boni~?"
Ogerpon's eyes instantly lit up. Are there still people in this village who like her?! Is this true?
"It's true. They also really want to get to know you, Ogerpon."
"Boni Boni~!"
Ogerpon's cry was very clear and joyful. She was very happy.
Looking at the happy Ogerpon, Mammon couldn't help but smile. This little one was truly too easily satisfied.
That's right, Ogerpon actually longed for friends.
But ever since the incident hundreds of years ago, all the residents of Kitakami had disliked and feared Ogerpon.
Every time they discovered Ogerpon, they would drive her away, curse her, and threaten her. This caused Ogerpon to instinctively avoid and flee whenever she was discovered, a very serious psychological trauma.
In the game, when the protagonist brought Ogerpon back to Mossui Town, Ogerpon even trembled in fear upon seeing the villagers.
This was an instinctive reaction developed over the years.
But in reality, Ogerpon's power is very strong. She always had the ability to resist, but she never did, which shows Ogerpon's kindness.
Yet, despite being so disliked by the villagers, Ogerpon still yearned for good friends, so she often snuck into the village wearing a mask.
Hiding in corners, she secretly observed the humans. She was truly... very lonely.
Because it had been hundreds of years. Ever since the man who accompanied her died, she had been alone in the Dreaded Den until now.
So, learning from Mammon that there were still people in this village who liked her, she was very, very happy.
"So cute," Mammon chuckled.
"Boni Boni Boni"
Hearing Mammon's praise, Ogerpon blushed a little and shrank back behind the tree, covering her face with her hands.
She was even shy.
Mammon smiled knowingly.
"Ogerpon, shall I take you to play? Look how lively it is over there."
After thinking for a moment, Mammon pointed to the lively Mask Festival gathering not far away and said with a smile.
"Boni..."
Ogerpon was hopeful yet scared, hesitating.
She really wanted to join in, but... she would be driven out.
"Don't worry. I know that you were not at fault for what happened back then. Those villagers were the ones who were wrong."
"If they hurt you, I'll help you teach them a lesson, okay? I'll protect you."
Mammon said earnestly to Ogerpon, his tone very solemn.
"Boni..."
Ogerpon stared blankly at Mammon. The long-lost kindness and sincerity even brought tears to Ogerpon's big eyes.
Pokémon are very easily satisfied and pure creatures, and Ogerpon is no exception.
In fact, Ogerpon is very intelligent, but she truly craves companions and friends.
So even after being driven away by the people here again and again, she would still secretly come to the village. She truly loves humans.
And now, after hundreds of years, finally another human showed her unadulterated kindness and gentleness.
"Boni~ Bo..."
Instinctively, Ogerpon cautiously approached the young man in front of her, but still seemed to be hesitating about something.
But the next second, Mammon gently placed his hand on Ogerpon's head. The warm feeling made Ogerpon close her eyes in pure enjoyment.
"Come with me. Trust me, I will always protect you."
Mammon's gentle words echoed in her ears.
Ogerpon opened her eyes, looked at the human in front of her, and nodded vigorously.
"Boni~!"
..."Huh? Mammon, where did you go just now? Want some of this? It's candied hawthorn! Eh? Where did you bring this child from?"
Looking at Mammon approaching, Iono's attention quickly fell on the child beside Mammon.
Because Ogerpon was wearing the Teal Mask at this moment, from her appearance alone, she could easily be mistaken for a human child.
Caitlin and Platinum were also quite curious.
"Boni..."
Seeing Iono and the others notice her, Ogerpon instinctively tried to hide behind Mammon.
"Don't be scared. They are my companions, and they like you very much too."
Mammon held Ogerpon's hand and said with a warm smile, then introduced her to the three women.
"This is Ogerpon, I just met her."
"Eh?!"
Caitlin and the other two women were stunned. Ogerpon?
"Is it really Ogerpon? Wow! I love you so much!"
"This mask is so exquisite. Can I see your face?"
"Super cute!!"
Iono immediately rushed to Ogerpon, performing a spontaneous outburst of excitement.
Because of her excessive enthusiasm, Ogerpon fearfully hugged Mammon's leg.
Although she did long for human friends, this one was perhaps a bit too enthusiastic.
"Don't scare the child. Be normal."
Mammon rubbed Ogerpon's head and glared at Iono in annoyance.
Iono immediately pouted. What did he mean by 'be normal'? I'm perfectly normal!
Besides... Ogerpon is hundreds of years old, a child??
"I'm sorry, Ogerpon, I was too eager, but I really like you."
But Iono understood Mammon's meaning, and her voice softened considerably as she gave Ogerpon a big smile.
"Boni~"
Ogerpon looked up, her big eyes sparkling, and tentatively made a sound to Iono.
"Mhm mhm~! I super like you. Shall we be friends?"
Iono nodded repeatedly. For some reason, she understood Ogerpon's meaning.
"Boni!" Ogerpon immediately beamed, her big eyes narrowing into slits, exceptionally cute.
"Yay! You're really cute. How about I call you Ponpon? Ponpon, let me hug you"
"Boni! Boni Boni!"
Ogerpon pushed at Iono's face, who had suddenly pounced on her, and let out cries for help. Although she felt Iono's affection, hitting her forehead really hurt!
And this woman's hug was so tight!
Watching Iono and Ogerpon play, Mammon couldn't help but laugh. How amusing.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
"I wonder where I can find Ogerpon."
Lacey walked with her hands behind her back, really wanting to see the legendary Ogerpon.
"Who knows? Although Kieran and I have lived here since we were young, we've never seen Ogerpon," Carmine said helplessly.
Actually, she originally had no particular feelings about Ogerpon, but after hearing her grandfather's story, she developed sympathy and pity for Ogerpon.
"Drayton, what are you eating? It smells so good." Kieran twitched his nose, looking curiously at Drayton.
"Pecha Berries! But seriously, this Pecha Berry tastes really sweet. Do you want to try some?"
Drayton showed the three of them the Pecha Berry in his hand and opened his backpack, taking out a few more Pecha Berries.
Pecha Berries are fruit similar to peaches, a type of Berry that can cure Poison or Toxic status conditions.
Humans can also eat them, and they are very sweet, similar to nectarines.
However, the Pecha Berry Drayton was eating at this moment was unusually vibrant and plump, feeling unlike a normal Pecha Berry.
What the four of them didn't notice was that at a nearby stall, a purple peach-shaped ornament, much like a decoration, shimmered with an eerie purple light.
Time came to the next day.
Mammon sat up and stretched, having slept quite comfortably, because Iono had given him a full body massage before bed last night.
"Boni Boni~"
Seeing Mammon wake up, Ogerpon immediately scurried over.
That's right, Mammon had naturally taken Ogerpon home last night, and Ogerpon, having found new friends, naturally didn't refuse.
She had been lonely for hundreds of years and didn't want to lose her friends again.
"Morning, Ponpon~"
Mammon greeted Ogerpon with a smile.
Ogerpon's eyes narrowed, clearly very happy.
After getting up and washing, when Mammon arrived in the living room, he found Caitlin and the other two women there, all with very strange expressions.
"Mammon, you're awake."
"Yes. What's wrong with you all? Why the strange expressions?"
Mammon looked at the three women curiously.
"Emmm... something big happened outside, Handsome. Come look at this."
Iono quickly pushed her phone in front of Mammon, where a video was playing.
The video showed the owners of the guesthouse where Mammon and his companions were staying, a middle-aged couple.
And at this moment, in the video, both of them had eerie pale purple lights flickering in their eyes, looking very dark and ominous.
But that wasn't the main point. The main point was that both of them were holding their hands out, their bodies stiffly twisting, hopping and jumping.
"Chibei Chibei~"
Emotionless sounds came from their mouths, exceptionally abstract.
"They are...?"
Mammon raised an eyebrow.
"I suspect they're possessed! Handsome, this village might have monsters!" Iono said with a serious expression.
"It's not just the owners. I just went out to look, and many other people are also possessed like this, walking and dancing in groups outside. It's too scary."
"Tsk~ A bit interesting."
Looking at the owners twisting their arms and dancing in the video, he couldn't help but laugh.
Possessed? This is Pecharunt awakening.
However, coincidentally, Mammon had planned to go look for Pecharunt today anyway. Ogerpon and Pecharunt had to meet again, right?
"Can you still contact Lacey and the others?"
Mammon looked at Platinum.
"Lacey has already contacted me. She said Kieran, Drayton, and Carmine have also lost their minds, and she's currently being chased by the three of them," Platinum replied.
"Mammon, what do you think this is?"
"This must be the work of a Pokémon. As for what Pokémon..."
Mammon looked at Ogerpon, who was holding a phone nearby, seemingly looking at something.
"?"
Ogerpon looked up, showing a blankly adorable expression.