Chapter Forty-Two: An Unknown Moment in Time, Masid’s Entrustment

Sitting in the bright dining room, enjoying a sumptuous feast in comfort without the slightest worry about lurking monsters—this was the perfect respite after a tense and thrilling adventure.

“Don’t rush, Aibo, there’s plenty more,” Su Yi said with a smile to Dewleaf.

“It’s so delicious, meow!” Dewleaf purred contentedly.

Caibean eyed the tempting stew, decisively cut off a chunk, and popped it into her mouth. The satisfying taste of the tender meat instantly swept away the exhaustion from their training.

“Mmm! If I keep eating like this, I’ll go way over my calorie limit,” Caibean said, gazing at the golden, cheese-baked potatoes. She yearned to indulge, but the thought of all those calories made her hesitate.

“Caibean, what’s wrong? Don’t you like it?” Su Yi asked, noticing her pause.

“No, the food is delicious. It’s just… so high in calories…”

“Oh, come on. After exercising and adventuring, how would we get by without some extra calories?” Su Yi replied, unconcerned, taking another hearty bite.

“You’re right!” Watching Su Yi and Dewleaf enjoy their food so heartily, Caibean swallowed hard, scooped up a piece of cheesy potato, and slowly savored it.

“Su Yi, do you have any plans for what comes next?” Caibean asked, glancing at the feast before them.

“Hm? Plans?” Su Yi paused.

“Well, I’ve actually wanted to challenge the League Tournament for a while now, but I didn’t have the proper identification for the League here,” he explained. “Later, Champion Dande promised he’d help me with that, so I think the time has come.”

“The League Tournament? Here in Galar, that’s the Gym Challenge. If you want to participate, you’ll need a letter of endorsement. If you’d like to join, I can give you one,” Caibean offered.

In the Galar region, the Gym Challenge was a grand competition and a major festival. Unlike the traditional tournaments of other regions, entry into Galar’s Gym Challenge required an endorsement letter, usually issued by a Gym Leader, the Champion Dande, Chairman Rose, or other League members.

Before the Gym Challenge began, there would even be an opening ceremony akin to the Olympics, where both challengers and Gym Leaders made their entrance, marking the official start of the event.

Each Gym Challenge took place in a massive arena, with countless spectators witnessing the Pokémon battles between challengers and Gym Leaders, just like Olympic matches.

Those who collected all eight Gym Badges within the required time would advance to the finals held in the grand stadium of Wyndon City, competing in elimination rounds.

The ultimate victor would earn the right to challenge for the title of Champion.

The entire Gym Challenge was like a grand festival, far more elaborate than tournaments in other regions. Of course, Su Yi was already aware of this.

“Thank you, then,” Su Yi said, naturally not refusing the endorsement.

“I’m sure you’ll achieve a great result,” Caibean said, handing him a letter.

“I’ll give it my all,” Su Yi replied solemnly, accepting the letter. An endorsement was not given lightly; to receive one meant the recommender truly believed in the person.

“By the way, how much time is left before the Gym Challenge starts?” Su Yi suddenly remembered, hoping he hadn’t missed his chance.

Caibean looked at him curiously. “The last Gym Challenge just ended, actually. The next one hasn’t even started yet.”

“Whew, so it hasn’t begun,” Su Yi breathed a sigh of relief, then suddenly looked startled. “Wait! If the last Gym Challenge ended, who’s the Champion now?!”

Su Yi was surprised—what time was it? Had Ash already become Champion?

“The Champion? No one has defeated Dande yet,” Caibean replied.

“I see,” Su Yi said, calming down. Ash’s victory came at the Masters Eight Tournament, but since Dande was still undefeated, that meant the Masters Eight hadn’t taken place yet.

“So, what point in time is this? Where is Ash now?”

Ash, you haven’t become Champion, and where are you?

Since arriving in this world, Su Yi hadn’t met that eternally ten-year-old protagonist.

Now, Su Yi was finally about to step into the world—the vast, true world was just beginning to unfold before him.

On land, in the sea, in the sky—how many Pokémon existed out there?

What sort of stories awaited him with those people he’d only ever seen on screen?

His once innocent dream of coming to the Pokémon world had come true, and now he was diving in with a team unlike any other.

“Adventure! Battles! My goal is to become a Pokémon Master!” Su Yi’s heart surged with excitement.

That curtain-raising feeling filled him with anticipation.

Caibean saw the flames in Su Yi’s eyes—fiery passion and unyielding determination.

...

After dinner, Su Yi was suddenly called outside by Master Mustard.

In the secluded mountain stream behind the dojo, Master Mustard strolled with Su Yi at a leisurely pace.

Hands clasped behind his back, Mustard sighed, “Su Yi, when I look at you now, I’m reminded of Dande in his younger days.”

“You truly love adventure, don’t you?” Though he posed it as a question, his tone was full of certainty.

Every time Su Yi returned, he was dusty from the road—this time, even bearing wounds—but always with a happy smile, never losing his anticipation for the next adventure.

“I used to drift through life like a walking corpse. Now, even when facing danger, I want to feel my heart beating. Besides, I’ve gradually gathered companions who trust me,” Su Yi said, patting the Poké Balls at his waist.

“How wonderful, to do what you love while you’re still young and capable,” Mustard said with a smile.

“Did you call me out here just to chat, Master?” Su Yi asked, puzzled.

“When you get old, you start thinking about passing things on—one must accept age, after all,” Mustard chuckled, then took out a Poké Ball and released the Pokémon inside.

“Karoo!” A sturdy, gray bear cub leapt out energetically.

“This is…” Su Yi was stunned by the Pokémon before him.

He recognized it—this was the pre-evolved form of Master Mustard’s signature Pokémon, the martial arts bear Kubfu.

“I’ll be direct. I hope you’ll take good care of this child—let it see the wide world beyond this island, instead of staying cooped up here with an old man like me,” Mustard said.

“But why…” Su Yi was baffled.

Only Mustard’s most outstanding disciples were ever entrusted with a Kubfu. He and Master Mustard weren’t even master and student—why suddenly entrust him with this cub?

Mustard smiled. “When you received the endorsement, I saw your longing for the world outside, and I felt your drive to move forward.”

“I realized I can’t always stick to the old rules. The dojo hasn’t recruited a new batch of students yet, and I don’t know if the next group will be worthy of the ‘Secret Armor.’ Rather than wait, I’d rather entrust it to someone destined to shine—like you.”

Su Yi was momentarily overwhelmed by the honor.