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[Start of the chapter]
"What do you mean?"
Himeko asked in a low voice.
Inside the Luxury Ball, Shiko's face flashed with contempt.
Seriously… you've lived two lives, and you still can't see through something this cheap?
But thinking back on the past two months together, Shiko quickly understood.
Himeko really was an unbelievably straightforward girl.
No scheming. Whatever she liked or disliked was written plainly on her face.
Most of the time, she wore that icy, keep-your-distance look.
Only in front of her Pokémon did she show a genuine smile.
"He's setting you up for a fall," Shiko explained.
Someone as petty as Joji would never have good intentions.
With that in mind, his reason for praising Himeko so loudly in public became obvious.
He wanted to hype her up—
then watch her crash and embarrass herself,
so he could vent the resentment he'd been holding back.
"So that's what it is!"
Himeko gasped softly, dawning understanding on her face.
"How childish and petty."
Through the crowd, Himeko shot Joji a glance, her expression full of disdain.
She didn't care about his trap.
After watching the last battle, she already had a clear sense of things.
Whether she sent out Kirlia or Lopunny, she would win far more easily than Joji did.
As for letting Shiko battle?
Himeko had considered it.
She really wanted to see whether Shiko was the "monster-tier" Charmander that Moo Inoshishe-sensei had described— the one that shattered Raticate's teeth.
But Himeko also remembered the agreement she had with Shiko.
Their relationship was a fair, equal partnership.
Whether to step onto the field was Shiko's own decision.
Since Shiko hadn't said anything yet, Himeko could only choose between Lopunny and Kirlia.
"Exactly! Himeko-san really is the number one genius of our class!"
"Yeah! She's stronger than Joji-sama by a lot!"
"If Joji-sama can pass, then Himeko-san definitely can!"
"Right! I remember—Himeko-san took a Charmander from the breeding room!"
"Hahahaha! No way—could her Charmander be the one Moo-sensei was talking about?"
"Eh? It's possible!"
The lackeys clustered around Joji, after catching the signal in his eyes, immediately understood what he wanted.
So they loudly joined in, piling on the flattery.
In a blink, they crowned Himeko with the title of "top genius of this year."
Even other onlookers who didn't know the situation started whispering among themselves.
They were filled with curiosity and anticipation for Himeko, who was about to take the field.
And once they heard Himeko had a Charmander, the excitement only grew.
No way… they're hyping her this much?
Could that Charmander really be the one that smashed Raticate's fangs?
Feeling the atmosphere and public opinion heating up, Joji and his pack of lackeys wore smug, knowing smiles.
That was exactly the effect they wanted.
Build up everyone's appetite and expectations—
and then, when Himeko got crushed, she'd lose face in the most spectacular way.
As for whether Himeko's Charmander was actually the one Moo Inoshishe-sensei had mentioned…
Joji wasn't worried at all.
He'd already sent people to investigate and keep watch.
The conclusion they brought back was simple:
Himeko's Charmander was just a lazy glutton.
No effort. No seriousness. Not a trace of diligence.
How could a Charmander like that possibly be the gifted monster Moo Inoshishe-sensei described?
All that was left was to enjoy the show.
"All right. That's enough. The exam continues."
"Next candidate, come up."
Moo Inoshishe-sensei set the Raticate down from her arms.
"Squeee!"
Under Moo Inoshishe-sensei's care, Raticate's injuries had fully recovered.
It looked fierce and full of energy, baring its teeth like it couldn't wait to fight.
The hard-fought battle against Dragonair earlier had only boosted its fighting spirit.
Confidence gleamed in its eyes.
On the other side, under everyone's gaze, Himeko slowly stepped onto the battle arena.
"Good luck, Himeko-san!"
"Show us the style of our year's number one!"
"Win this cleanly!"
"If you lose, you'll be a joke!"
"Don't disappoint our expectations and support!"
Below the arena, Joji's lackeys waved flags and shouted.
On the surface, it sounded like encouragement.
In reality, each of them was dying to see Himeko get "taught a lesson" by Moo Inoshishe-sensei.
And of course, they all believed Himeko would never get past Moo Inoshishe-sensei.
Even Joji-sama barely won with that much effort.
You think she's stronger than him?
No chance.
Himeko ignored the clowns completely.
All her attention was on the yellow-furred big mouse on the arena.
"Your starter Pokémon is a Charmander?"
Moo Inoshishe-sensei looked at Himeko, a hint of surprise and curiosity showing in her expression.
"Bring it out. Let me see."
After Himeko nodded, Moo Inoshishe-sensei immediately followed up.
"Yes! Bring it out, Himeko-san!"
Joji's voice rang out from below.
In his narrow eyes, mocking amusement flickered.
If she really brought out that lazy-dog Charmander, wouldn't that be the same as giving up the exam?
A Charmander like that—
how could it possibly beat a Raticate this strong?
Joji could already see exactly how this was going to go.
The grin on his face wouldn't stop growing.
"No. I'll use a different Pokémon for the exam."
Himeko shook her head.
Her hand had already moved to Lopunny's Poké Ball.
Lopunny knew plenty of Fighting-type moves,
perfect for countering a Normal-type like Raticate.
With Lopunny, Himeko was absolutely confident she could pass with ease.
"Boooo—!"
The moment she said that, a wave of jeers rose from below.
Joji and his lackeys yelled the loudest.
Mixed into the booing were clear, sharp taunts like "coward" and "scared."
"Are you sure you don't want to?"
Moo Inoshishe-sensei asked again, her expression showing some regret.
Himeko nodded.
She was just about to unfasten Lopunny's Poké Ball at her waist—
"Let me."
Shiko's voice suddenly sounded in her mind.
"You…?"
Himeko was surprised.
Shiko was actually volunteering to battle?
Did the sun rise in the west today?
A Pokémon as lazy as him could really get fired up?
"Don't misunderstand. I just want to finish fast and go back to sleep."
Shiko seemed to guess what Himeko was thinking and answered with a single line.
Glancing at his task panel, Shiko realized he still had a pile of daily quests left for today.
He immediately felt regret.
If he'd known, he wouldn't have come over out of curiosity.
He'd wasted so much time.
Now he needed to deal with this Raticate quickly
and hurry back to lying flat and doing quests.
"Finish fast? How fast?"
Himeko replied via Telepathy.
Her hand slid from Lopunny's Poké Ball to Shiko's.
"Five seconds."
Shiko said the three words calmly.
At his current elite mid-tier level,
if he couldn't one-shot this "little Rattata" within five seconds after stepping out, he'd be too ashamed to show his face.
Even among elite-level Pokémon,
he wasn't like Dragonair—some phony boosted up by resources.
His combat power had been proven in real fights.
He was already far beyond the standards of his level—undeniably strong.
"I've changed my mind. Since everyone wants to see my Charmander…"
Himeko's lips curved into a faint smile.
She took Shiko's Poké Ball from her waist.
"Then I'll grant everyone their wish."
She pressed the button.
A beam of black light shot out.
In the blink of an eye, it condensed into a dinosaur-like Pokémon standing upright.
"Roar!!"
The next second, Shiko's figure appeared on the battle arena.
With a single furious roar, the entire noisy hall fell silent instantly.
(End of Chapter)
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