Arthur felt the weight of judgmental stares from both humans and Pokémon, as if they viewed him as a madman. For a brief moment, he felt a pang of embarrassment, but he quickly gathered himself and stood tall. With newfound confidence, he declared, "It's a ceremonial speech to send off the new Pokémon Trainers! A sacred blessing to wish you all the best of luck on your journey with your Pokémon!"
"Hmp! You wouldn't understand!" he huffed, then, in a quieter moment of reflection, he thought, Perhaps the awe would be greater if I were older, wearing a lab coat... and, of course, let's not forget about Gary.
As he lingered in his own thoughts, Rosaria gently patted his shoulder and teased, her voice laced with amusement, "Should I ask Reden to check your brain?"
Arthur shivered at the thought, glancing over to where Reden stood, her grin wide and mischievous. He waved his hand frantically, "No, no, I'm fine! Really, don't worry about it!"
Rosaria either sensed Arthur's unease around Reden, or perhaps it was just Reden's notorious reputation, so she decided to weaponize it to tease him.
However, Arthur stood by his earlier speech, firm in his belief that he had done nothing wrong. But as the seconds stretched on and the judgmental stares didn't waver—especially from his own Pokémon, Ponyta, Butterfree and Beedrill—he finally sighed in exasperation. "Alright, alright, it was just a joke! Let me try again!" he muttered, a playful pout tugging at his lips as he pulled out another carefully prepared note.
"Ahem!" Clearing his throat with exaggerated professionalism, he stepped in front of the Pokémon eggs, spreading his arms wide in grand gesture.
"Today is an exciting day, one that marks the beginning of an incredible adventure for four of our newest Pokémon Trainers. As we gather here, it's not just a ceremony—it's the start of their journey in the world of Pokémon. And what better way to kick off this journey than with a special gift?
"Each of you will receive a Pokémon egg. These eggs are filled with the promise of new beginnings, and within each one lies the potential to bond with a Pokémon that will become your companion, your partner, and your friend! The moment you hatch these eggs, you'll embark on a journey filled with growth, challenge, and discovery!
"But remember, the bond between you and your Pokémon is one of trust and teamwork. As a Trainer, your role goes beyond just guiding your Pokémon in battle; you'll nurture them, care for them, and grow together. Every step of the way, you'll be there for each other, whether it's through victories or setbacks!
"So, with great excitement, I'm proud to present these eggs to you. Let the adventure begin!"
Four pairs of eyes, along with a pair of horse eyes and two insect eyes, stared at him in silence.
Just when the silence started to feel awkward, Lena came to the rescue, breaking the tension with a slow clap. Soon, Rosaria and the others joined in.
"Bro, how long did you spend writing that speech?" Lena teased, nudging him with her elbow.
"Shut it! It's a genuine speech, straight from the soul!" Arthur retorted quickly, hastily tucking the note into his hand.
Rosaria giggled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "It's a well-delivered speech, but for greater impact, you should memorize it next time rather than reading it from a script."
Arthur gave a wry smile and shook his head. "I'd love to memorize it, but my memory is terrible."
Lena, playing with the brim of her straw hat, shot him a sarcastic grin. "You're only twelve, yet you keep buying those Memora Potions to boost your memory. You're acting like an old man."
Rosaria raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Is your memory really that bad?"
Arthur nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes, but most of those potions were for my research, not to fix my memory," he explained, leaving it at that without going into further detail.
His attention then drifted to Wentia, who had been staring intently at the Pokémon Eggs. She was clearly eager to pick one, but her disciplined nature kept her from voicing any frustration about the delay.
"Alright, let's get to picking the eggs before Wentia loses her cool," Arthur teased, easing back into his chair with a sip of tea. "By the way, this tea tastes fantastic."
Wentia was about to glare at him, but she was caught off guard by the unexpected compliment about the tea, leaving her at a lost.
Eventually, the four girls gathered around the Pokémon Eggs once more, their eyes flicking between the eggs with curious anticipation.
Arthur set his tea cup down and stood, giving Rosaria a light pat on the shoulder. "Let our princess have the honor and choose first!"
"Huh?" Rosaria blinked, clearly confused by his remark.
"I mean, you choose your 'starter' egg first," he clarified with a grin.
"Eh?" Rosaria exclaimed, genuinely surprised. "Don't I already have Ponyta? I thought you summoned four eggs because you wanted to keep one for yourself."
Arthur shook his head, smiling. "No, I planned to give one egg to you. After all, if my own backer doesn't understand how Pokémon are born, wouldn't that reflect poorly on me?"
"Hmm, alright," Rosaria nodded, her eyes sparkling as she turned her attention to the eggs.
She had already felt a connection to one of the eggs, but because she assumed they weren't meant for her, she had convinced herself it was unfortunate.
Now, with no such restraint, she immediately bent down and picked up a light orange egg, its surface tinged with fiery red hues.
As a member of the Krosia Royal Family, who had a strong affinity for fire element, she had been fond of Ponyta. And now, another egg that would clearly hatch a Fire-type Pokémon was within her reach. Without hesitation, she claimed it.
Arthur noticed a flicker of regret in Wentia's eyes, but she quickly masked it, her expression returning to its usual calm.
Though Arthur could have let the others pick first, considering Rosaria already had Ponyta, it would be inappropriate for her, as the princess, to go last. So, it was inevitable that she would be the first to choose her Pokémon egg.
Rosaria cradled the egg carefully as she returned to her chair, gently caressing its surface.
"What will hatch from it?" she asked suddenly, her curiosity piqued.
Arthur paused for a moment, his smile widening. "A Fire-type!"
"I can see that!" Rosaria pouted, clearly not satisfied with his answer.
He chuckled. "Isn't it more fun to see for yourself when the egg hatches? Besides, I can guarantee that it's a good Pokémon. All of these eggs are excellent, but one of them is a little... special."
"Hmph! You're right, but I still really want to know!" Rosaria continued to pout as she asked, "How do you take care of the egg? Is there a special method to incubate it?"
"I'll explain later, once all the eggs are picked," Arthur replied, then realized the three girls were all staring at him.
Realizing why they were staring at him, he paused for a moment before speaking, "You can all pick at the same time. However, if two or three of you choose the same egg, you'll have to play rock-paper-scissors to decide who gets to keep it. The losers will have to pick a different one."
"What is rock-paper-scissors?" Rosaria asked with curious eyes.
"I'll explain!" Lena volunteered eagerly, grinning as she recalled how she and Arthur often played the game with her parents when they needed to settle a dispute.
After a brief explanation, the girls were ready to pick their eggs.
Lena, thinking the pale green egg might be a Bug-type, completely ignored it. Meanwhile, both Wentia and Reden seemed to gravitate toward the light brown egg. Unfortunately for them, Lena had set her sights on it as well.
The three girls glared at each other, their competitive spirits rising as they pulled back their hands.
Swish!
Wentia and Lena both chose rock, while Reden chose paper.
"It seems I'm fated with this little one~" Reden cooed, happily picking up the light brown egg and cradling it in her arms like a treasured possession.
Wentia and Lena shot each other looks that could have cut through steel—one with the cold, silent glare of a hidden dagger, the other with the bold, defiant stare of a challenger. Then, almost in sync, their gazes shifted, locking onto the same egg.
As he watched them make their choice, Arthur felt a pang of sympathy for the last Pokémon egg. Both Wentia and Lena had picked the light blue egg, leaving the pale green one abandoned in the corner.
Wentia, once again, chose rock, but this time, Lena picked paper.
Lena happily scooped up the light blue egg, patterned with dark red markings, a small victory that she celebrated by flashing Arthur a "V" sign with her hand and a radiant grin.
Arthur wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but though Wentia appeared calm on the surface, he could almost see a small dark cloud gathering above her, showering her with rain and making her look distinctly gloomy.
Without changing her expression, Wentia carefully picked up the pale green egg, its surface dotted with plant-like features, and hugged it gently.
Well, I guess it's fated that she lost every rock-paper-scissors round and ended up with the egg no one else wanted, Arthur thought, amused.
Personally, he would have picked the light brown one first, followed by the red, green, and blue eggs in that order.
He stood up and clapped his hands lightly to regain everyone's attention.
"If possible, it would be best if you wait until the eggs hatch in Rastor Village before heading back to the capital," Arthur said, though he knew the eggs were resilient enough, he couldn't help but worry about the bumpy carriage ride back.
Rosaria, sensing his concern, smiled and reassured him confidently, "Don't worry. My carriage is enchanted with multiple magic circles, one of which stabilizes it. Unless someone flips it over, the ride will be smooth all the way."
Arthur sighed in relief. "Then I'm relieved."
He then began explaining how to care for the eggs. Most of it was basic—keeping them warm, ensuring they were undisturbed, and so on.
"How long until they hatch?" Reden asked, her tone curious.
Arthur thought for a moment before replying, "It depends on the egg, but it could take anywhere from a week to a month."
For the Pokémon eggs that hatched quickly, most of them were Pokémon with multiple stages of evolution, while the ones that took the longest were those with no evolution.
The longer hatching times were necessary because these Pokémon needed more time to generate enough base stats. In contrast, Pokémon with multiple evolutions started with low base stats and gradually gained more as they evolved.
"After the Pokémon hatch, it's best to watch over them closely and feed them fresh milk from either cows or goats for a week," he added.
For now, there was no Moomoo Milk, so they'd have to use a substitute until he could establish a farm for Miltank.
"After that first week, you should..." he continued, doing his best to cover everything that needed attention.
After listening for a while, Rosaria thanked him and said, "Once they hatch, I'll find some free time and bring them to you," Arthur nodded in response.
He then handed Rosaria, Wentia, and Reden each a Poké Ball. "After they hatch, wait a week before trying to store them in the Poké Ball," he advised. This wasn't because the infant Pokémon couldn't enter it, but because he felt it would be too cruel to restrict their movements so soon. It was better to let them explore the world first.
Also, since these ones were merged with Harmonite, they probably wouldn't be able to enter the Poké Balls anyway. When the three Rookie Trainers realized that the Poké Balls failed to capture their Pokémon, they would undoubtedly come to consult him about it—and he'd get the research data he needed while trying to invent a new version of the Poké Ball.
As for why he didn't summon an egg for himself to observe, well, he already had Lena's Pokémon for that. Since Lena had a Pokémon, it meant he did too.
Also, while his Pokémon creations weren't as high-maintenance as real Pokémon, taking care of three at once had already stretched his budget thin. Not to mention, he needed to set aside savings for more research.
In fact, after seeing Caterpie and learning about Pokémon for the first time, Lena had happily shared her savings with him to help fund his research.
Yet, it was barely enough.
As for evolution, he didn't tell any of them how the Pokémon would evolve. He simply instructed them to contact him if they noticed anything unusual with their Pokémon. The truth was, he wasn't entirely sure if the evolution process would succeed or unfold as he intended.
After carefully securing the egg, both Arthur and Rosaria sat back down in their chairs, while Lena, Wentia, and Reden stood beside their respective seats.
"What is it that you need from me in this partnership?" Rosaria asked, her expression becoming serious as she sat up straight. Her presence shifted, radiating the authority of royalty—the Princess of Krosia Kingdom.
It was finally time for the main business.
Arthur leaned back in his chair, using his acting skills to appear calm, his face a neutral poker face.
To be honest, he didn't consider himself a good negotiator or a social person. Back on Earth, he had spent most of his time as an introvert, minding his own business.
But he couldn't let his past intimidate him. Since he was determined to introduce Pokémon into this world, he needed to do his best to secure favorable terms for himself and his Pokémon.
"First of all, I need you all to keep my identity a secret," he stated calmly.
Rosaria raised an eyebrow, sounding doubtful. "You do realize that the entire village, along with the Kros Knights, has witnessed and acknowledged you as the original owner of Ponyta, correct?"
Arthur nodded. "Yes, but that's just 'An ordinary farmer boy named Arthur who happened to find a fiery horse and became its owner through sheer luck.' It's not the Arthur who knows a Summoning spell and can summon Pokémon."
"Hmmm, that makes sense," Rosaria nodded thoughtfully before shaking her head. "However, within the palace, we have a Court Diviner who can divine the truth from falsehood. Even if I take precautions before being questioned by my father, they would still uncover the truth."
"Really?" Arthur asked, surprised. "What's the limit of this divination magic?" While he knew there were various kinds of magic in this world, he hadn't expected someone to master something as abstract as divination.
She shook her head. "It's not all-powerful. He can divine truth from the bits and pieces he gathers. For example, if he knew the keywords 'Arthur' and 'Pokémon,' and divined 'Pokémon was summoned by a 12-year-old boy named Arthur from Rastor Village,' the result would confirm it as the truth."
This is a little tricky. Arthur frowned as he pondered for a moment before having an idea. He asked, "What if I don't believe that I'm connected to Pokémon?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, a look of confusion crossing her face.
I did create them and summon them, but deep down, do I really believe they are real Pokémon? No. Although they are real living creatures and I call them Pokémon, my creations aren't genuine Pokémon... Arthur thought to himself, feeling a bit down.
Arthur secretly sighed and said calmly, "Let's just assume that I believe Pokémon have nothing to do with me."
"Are you planning to hypnotize yourself into believing that?" she asked, shaking her head. "That won't work...
"Furthermore, any form of brainwashing magic is strictly prohibited. Unless you're prepared to be hunted by the entire continent." She added with a stern expression.
"Don't worry, I don't plan to use any magic," he said, waving his hand dismissively at her speculation.
"Well? Will it work?" he asked again.
Rosaria went into deep thought. She didn't understand why Arthur had such a flawed plan. No matter how she looked at it, even if he hadn't discovered or created Pokémon, he was still the one who knew how to summon them, and it was impossible to hide that fact.
However, she answered truthfully, "If you are truly convinced that there is no connection between you and the Pokémon, then the divination will undoubtedly yield a negative result."
Chuckling, Arthur smiled in relief. "That's easy then. At best, they would only be able to divine that I own creatures called Butterfree and Beedrill. And if they divined that I own creatures called Pokémon, it would turn out negative, making them believe that the name 'Pokémon' is something I came up with myself, and the true name of this species is something else entirely."
The more they listened, the more puzzled they became.
"Are you sure you're okay, bro? Maybe I should really smack your head..." Lena remarked, eyeing him with a weird expression.
As for whether Arthur could disrupt the divination of the Court Diviner? That was impossible! If Arthur had that kind of power, why would he even need a cooperative partner like Princess Rosaria? Wouldn't it make more sense for him to be his own backer?
Perhaps he secretly had a very high-level Pokémon that could shield him from external influence? This idea made the most sense to them.
With a smile, Arthur interrupted their thoughts. "Even if I keep explaining it, you still won't understand it, so let's move on."
Seeing that Arthur had brushed off their questions without elaborating further, Rosaria stopped asking. She shifted the conversation to another relevant matter.
She glanced at her own Pokémon Egg briefly before turning back to Arthur. "Now that this matter has been addressed, we still need to consider the situation with these three eggs. While explaining Ponyta's presence will be straightforward, it would not be appropriate to simply tell them that we found these three eggs by chance.
"Even if the divination proves unsuccessful, they will still remain unconvinced. The trail will ultimately point to you, and that could place your life in danger..
"Although I hold some influence in the region around Rastor Village, it is insignificant compared to my father's authority. Should he choose to investigate, there will be little I can do to shield you."
Without hesitation, Arthur provided the solution. "Just tell them the one who gave you these Pokémon eggs is called Arceus..." He said with a meaningful smile.
That would likely cause the divination to fail. However, it would also send them down a new, confusing path. With no clear answers, their investigation would veer off in different directions, leading them to speculate wildly based on the divination results that followed.
"Using an alias?" Rosaria shook her head. "That won't work..."
But seeing Arthur's confident smile and his unwavering gaze, she chose not to argue.
Why was he so confidence about this?
None of them could fully understand his reasoning.
Unless... this Arceus was real, and Arthur was simply a spokeperson sent to introduce Pokémon into the world... But then, why would they expose their own name in the end? With Divination magic, they'd eventually be tracked down...
The more they thought about it, the more they realized just how little sense it made.