Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

The arrival of outsiders is indeed something he strongly advocates, but at the very least, they cannot become the source of the villagers' resentment.

Not being an honest and upright elder, but rather meticulously examining the source of the conflict, the elderly person, naturally considering the benefits for themselves and the town as a means to attract tourists and develop resources.

Since he couldn't afford to offend the villagers who held the fundamental rights, why not make things difficult for the tourists who only stayed a few nights and then returned home? After all, no matter how much they protested, it wouldn't shake his position outside the village.

Anyone can kick a ball around.

"We arrange for a group of domesticated Pokémon to steal the berries collected by tourists during the Ghost Festival, and then claim that it was done by wild Pokémon. On the other hand, we can also give them instructions to stop them in advance, so that inexperienced tourists will be jolted and lose their balance and have difficulty sitting still."

"In addition to increasing the participation fee, and also to soothe their disappointment, we can set up a stall on the side to sell the original prizes and showcase the special sticky rice cakes."

As the words faded, applause erupted in succession. Everyone admired the administrator's planning, and even the Baoban statue standing to the side was moved by the wickedness of human nature.

With cracks appearing everywhere, the three unassuming Pokémon seemed poised to shed their lifelessness and regain their vitality.

P.S.: I'm not feeling well, so I'll stop here for today and add more later.

Chapter 104 First Encounter, A Twisted Fate.

Perhaps the evil in people's hearts happened to awaken the existence within the stone statue, or perhaps the stored tree fruits and sticky rice cakes aroused the former's greed.

At the center of that horizon, a shrine with a statue radiates a pinkish-purple glow.

Click, click...

Cracks spread rapidly across the surface of the stone statue, and even the ground beneath it trembled, foreshadowing an unusual event.

"What's going on?"

"Could it be an earthquake?"

The crowd present all changed color, looking flustered and at a loss. Even the words they uttered were unconsciously tinged with the dialect of Beishang Township.

However, the dazzling light and frequent tremors did not last long. Accompanied by the billowing smoke and dust, various cries arose from within.

The administrator looked up at the nearby shrine, while the surrounding villagers also looked toward the source of the noise.

In the area in sight, there are three Pokémon of different shapes and sizes: one is a large, muscular, black-and-blue striped dog; another is a small, hunched-over, and timid monkey; and the last is a pheasant with knotted ribbons and drooping wings.

Dog, monkey, rooster.

Almost at a glance, those familiar with the local lore recognized the identities of these three elves.

That is the hero in the legends of Beishang Township who defeated evil spirits and protected the village, and is now worshipped and praised as the Three Treasures Companion.

—The strong and powerful Gouzan dog, the intelligent Yuanzeng monkey, and the beautiful Jizhi pheasant.

That's enough!

The leader of the dogs, seeing the crowd gathered around and smelling the rich fruity aroma, grinned an ugly smile.

"May you squeak~"

"Hehehehe".

As if they were exchanging ideas, Yuan Zengyuan and Jizhiji kept echoing their sentiments.

Ignoring the various gazes of the crowd, the three huddled together and whispered loudly, their every move revealing no attempt to conceal or restrain themselves.

"These, these, aren't these the three treasure companions who protected the village?"

"Didn't they say they sacrificed their lives to drive away the evil spirits?"

"Resurrection! It must be that the three treasure companions felt the challenges from Kitakami Village and our sincerity. In order to make this Covered Face Festival more successful, they overcame death and reappeared before the people!"

With his silver tongue, the administrator immediately fabricated a plausible reason. Although he was surprised by the rebirth of his companions, he was more concerned about what benefits these three unassuming creatures could bring him.

Since the Covered Face Festival is about to be held and the number of tourists coming and going is increasing, isn't this the opportunity he has been waiting for?

By showcasing the legendary existence to the public and combining the boost from reality with the concrete manifestation of fantasy, Beishang Township has made a name for itself!

Not only the residents in the center of the north, but also the Nanyin people standing on the mountain road and the people living in the village could see the bright pillar of light and the three Pokémon that appeared afterward.

"Wow, sister, that's...that's...did I see the real Treasure Companion?"

The boy, who was lingering by the information board, subconsciously took a few steps back, but then mustered up a little courage to look at the hero who was said to protect the village.

"What's going on? Could it really be the so-called treasure companion?"

Just moments ago, she was introducing local customs and chatting about tourist attractions to her classmates, but when she witnessed this scene firsthand, not only was her expression on her face deeply moved, but Danyu's heart was also greatly shocked.

It wasn't joy; it was a rather complex mix of emotions, including surprise, panic, and disappointment.

You should know that the three treasure companions were once revered as heroes who protected the village, and were glorious and righteous figures. They all died heroically under the evil spirits' clubs and bowed down to the evil side.

The elders and folks used to say that worshipping the dog would make one gentle and improve interpersonal relationships; worshipping the monkey would enhance one's talents and accumulate wealth; and worshipping the pheasant would bring good luck and smooth sailing in all things.

But now, these Pokémon are standing right in front of the girl, looking like weasels and whispering amongst themselves.

Ugly, cowardly, and utterly lacking in heroic integrity and character, the former naturally would not acknowledge the name of a hero.

Upon first sight of those creatures, probably no one would consider them legendary Pokémon. This was true for the Danyu siblings, and Nanyin's initial expectations were similarly dashed.

Her repulsive appearance was secondary; it was the baseness and filth implied in her behavior that truly disgusted her.

They are completely incomparable to Diancie, Magearna, and Reshiram. It is difficult to see any liveliness in these elves, let alone the divinity and power that are legendary.

Mediocre and unremarkable, and even more so, rife with malice.

As the girl said, after being reborn, the three companions were surprised to be given a second chance at life. However, when they saw that people not only did not drive them away, but instead greeted and worshipped them with respect, and even several old people handed them the three masks placed inside the shrine, the dog, monkey and chicken all showed malicious smiles.

"Hehehe~"

They eat without tilling the land and wear clothes without weaving. They accept the offerings of the ignorant people without a second thought and burrow into the piles of fruit trees, seemingly oblivious to the villagers' worries about the meager harvest.

Having lost interest in observing, Nan Yin turned to browse the contents of the second notice board, summarizing the current situation.

"Legend has it that the monster has four glittering, magical masks. The power it wields varies depending on the mask it holds. The mask of green grass can bring withered plants back to life, the mask of the stove can ignite candles and make them burn brightly, the mask of the well can stop rivers and change the direction of streams, and the mask of the foundation stone can easily crush objects and split mountains and rocks."

"Fortunately, the three companions were incredibly brave and fought to the death, which finally led to their defeat."

The story is as described above. So why did these masks, which originally belonged to the ghosts, end up in the hands of the villagers, and eventually end up in Baoban's possession?

Is it the spoils of war obtained by defeating evil spirits, or is it something more purely about plunder?

Through the waveguide's perception, she could clearly perceive the different thoughts of the three spirits, and without exception, they all harbored the idea of ​​dominating others and enjoying reverence.

Beneath that thought, there seemed to be a lingering apprehension about the origin of this mask.

In addition, the names of Gouzan Dog, Yuanzeng Monkey, and Jichu Chicken sound very well-matched, and the combination of dog, monkey, and chicken also makes Nanyin music feel somewhat familiar.

With demons and treasure companions, plus Kitakami-go, a region full of Japanese customs, if we add a so-called Momotaro, wouldn't that be a folk legend that was very popular in Japan in the past?

Knowing that many regions and legends are rooted in the history of the previous life, and that they are used as a basis for writing and rewriting, although she was not very interested in the history of that narrow island nation, she still had some understanding of it for research purposes.

The resolute and brave Momotaro used rice dumplings to subdue a little white dog, a little monkey, and a little pheasant. He also defeated the evil spirits with his tireless efforts, ridding the people of a scourge. This is the prototype of the story mentioned above.

But upon witnessing the actions of the three companions, the girl overturned her previous conclusion: Are demons destined to be evil? Are the companions, revered by the world, truly heroes?

Without a thorough understanding of Beishang Township, it is naturally difficult to uncover the truth.

After all, these villagers, who have inherited ancient history, have embellished the stories and consolidated their knowledge through oral tradition and personal example. Even now, they still firmly believe in the heroes and the dedication of Baoban.

Therefore, finding opposing opinions among the majority is undoubtedly a difficult task.

Perhaps only by finding that evil spirit can we get to the root of the problem, correct the error, and deduce the truth.

If people are no longer trustworthy, then we can only rely on the advantages of location to delve deeper and gain a better understanding.

The "Six Selections in the North" refers to six natural landscapes that were carefully selected and named by local residents.

Converging riverbanks, wisteria ponds, the famous Fuqi Stone...

These attractions were all typical examples that we had previously investigated and found to be quite ordinary.

Take Teng Hua Chi, one of the six selected in Beishang Township, as an example. It is said that drinking a sip of the water in Teng Hua Chi will grant you eternal life.

The natural attractions in the countryside are often exaggerated, so no one takes them seriously. Even if the scenery is just average, people think, "Since I'm already here, I might as well experience everything." Almost all the attractions I visited in the six cities I chose in the north were like this, but there were a few places that were truly worth seeing.

Hell Valley and Crystal Pool, Ghost Tooth Cave inside Ghost Mountain—only by actually going to these places can one obtain more useful information.

Thoughts lingered, but there was no rush. Rather than being overly eager, Nanyin preferred to observe quietly and see which direction the former hero's hometown of Beishang would develop in.

While ordinary people cannot hear conversations from a hundred meters away, she could hear all the disgusting words spoken to tourists, even those meant to harm themselves.

Nan Yin wouldn't criticize someone for being two-faced; she would only deliver the most devastating blow when the other party affected her personally.

"Ugh, what a disappointment. The travel guide said that the three heroes are all very handsome, but they can't compare to Diancie and the others at all."

Muttering to herself, the days and nights spent together had left a deep impression on Korni. However, now that she had witnessed a similar elf, her anticipation and melancholy had turned into a listless and uninteresting gaze.

Of course, the villagers' expressions were different from their friend's indifference. They were no longer as aggressive as they had been earlier. They were all smiles and showed a joyful demeanor at Baoban's return, as if the earlier accusations and threats were all an illusion.

"That's all for now, administrator. See you later. There are still a few mouths to feed at home."

With waving goodbye, the residents left one after another, leaving behind Baoban, who still hasn't stopped chewing and swallowing, and the bald old man.

When all sights and sounds ceased, the administrator of Beishang Township immediately abandoned his gentle demeanor and ceased to maintain his respect for his companions. He looked around and, seeing that no one was around, muttered a curse under his breath.

"These fools are utterly ungrateful. Without me, what business opportunities would you idiots, who only know how to hold onto your small territory, have found?"

"They actually dare to confront me and argue with me! They're all ungrateful bastards!"

With a flick of his sleeve, the old man ignored the three Pokémon and strode towards the mountain path, where he also saw the white-haired girl who had stopped there.

“What are you two doing here so late at night? Baoban is a hero of our Beishang Township. If you want to see him, you have to pay the admission fee.”

Looking at Nan Yin's attire and recalling the famous figures from the outside world, the administrator denied the guess and then, with a heavy heart, questioned the two of them.

"Hey, that's not fair! Your ads didn't say you'd charge for going out at night!"

With a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes, Corinne immediately stood in front of the old man with her arms crossed. She detested those who used their power to make things difficult for others and those who used morality to coerce them.

The height of the roller skates perfectly compensated for the difference in height, and seemed to touch the heartstrings that the old man had been holding tight from beginning to end.

Enraged, he laughed; the administrator's voice was almost a low growl.

"The fee was just added today, I forgot to inform you. Please remember to go to the community center to pay the difference later."

"you!"

The blonde girl was about to step forward to argue again, but was gently stopped by her friend's slender hand, and saw that reassuring and pretty face.

"Cornee, communication is for those who can communicate, not for those who cannot speak. Let's go."

Unmoved by the old man's accusations, and unconcerned about the consequences of his sarcastic remark, Nan Yin's calm tone only served to highlight the former's loss of composure.

"You two girls, I'm the administrator of Beishang Township. You should know that I'm responsible for your lodging, food, and clothing..."

"Buyi!"

Before the next words could be heard, the pink and white beast impatiently retaliated with a shout, which shook the sand and stones and startled the wind.

It hates people who lack self-awareness, and it hates even more people who threaten young girls.

She pursed her lips and smiled at the little beast. Upon seeing this, Nan Yin also changed her expression, revealing a gentle look in her eyes.

It was precisely because of them that I, a novice trainer just starting out, was not afraid of being weak and powerless, and was able to calmly face the difficulties caused by the former who used their power and influence.

They have some nerve, daring to threaten her like that.

Her impression of him was further diminished. Now, Nan-in's interest in Bei-shang Township is probably limited to recording novel Pokémon and searching for the true form of the evil spirits.

As the noise faded, the graceful silhouettes stretched longer as the moonlight sank in, leaving only the stunned old man and the black-haired boy who happened to witness it.

"...So handsome."

Muttering softly, Wu Li, who had intended to observe the three treasures, was completely captivated by the girl, and a hint of longing was hidden within him.

The long night was accompanied by the chirping of insects, and on the dim cobblestone path, only the sound of heels hitting the ground could be heard.

"Nanyin, shall we go back to the hotel?"

"No, since the evil spirits in the legends only appear at night, let's take this opportunity to see for ourselves those evil and ugly ghosts that the villagers say are so wicked."

As they embarked on the road to Ghost Mountain, countless small beasts lined the way, their curious eyes scrutinizing each other. If any impure thoughts arose, the Eevee flanking the girl would open its small mouth, revealing its sharp teeth.

The threat posed by the boss is not something every Pokémon can withstand. However, a certain kind-hearted Pokémon paid no attention and hurriedly ran up the mountain, almost colliding with the girl.

"Boni-oh?"