"What is the Elite Four? The Pokémon League's Elite Four? Or something else…?"
"The Elite Four are the Elite Four, it's quite easy to understand, isn't it? Humans are really stubborn. You'll know when you're lucky enough to see them alive."
"That's not what I meant!"
He had just barely started to understand, but now Hoshino didn't understand again. Why was it the Elite Four? What was certain was that these were definitely not humans!
But considering this was the Alola Region, the only things that could correspond to the number four were the four Island Guardian Deities. If it were these guys, protecting Kabukicho seemed plausible.
Thinking about this, Hoshino seemed to understand again. He always felt like an idiot when communicating with Pokémon, completely and utterly…
"By the way, Boss Slowking, is it really okay for you to tell me so many things? It seems I'm the only human in the entire Kabukicho…"
"That's why I told you to stay alive."
"???"
"In this place, encountering domesticated Pokémon is fine; they generally can't be bothered with you. But the most frequent visitors here are wild Pokémon without Trainers, especially those mercilessly abandoned by their Trainers and who have wandered here…"
Hoshino was listening intently to Boss Slowking explain the setting of Kabukicho when he suddenly felt a chill down his spine, as if something had appeared behind him.
But before he could turn around, he saw a flash of cold light, carrying a flame devoid of warmth, slash across his front, and a sharp blade instantly pressed against his neck!
"Hey!!!"
He glanced over and saw that it was a greatsword composed of fire and ghost energy. Out of the corner of his eye, Hoshino also saw the sword's owner.
It was a Pokémon clad in old purple armor permeated with grudges, and behind the knight's helmet it wore, there were blue-purple Will-O-Wisp decorations.
Although this Pokémon looked incredibly cool, like some kind of Mega Man, its emotionless gaze made it seem like it wanted to instantly kill him!
"Ceruledge!!!"
Hoshino was completely stunned, never expecting to encounter one here. It was well known that Ceruledge had a cunning and treacherous personality, willing to use sneaky tactics and ambushes to win battles, and it was extremely fast—a born killer, the kind that goes on a rampage.
Just as Ceruledge was about to slit his throat with a sword, a figure suddenly rushed in from outside the Izakaya and crashed into Ceruledge… actually, it was dodged by retreating.
Cyclizar missed and fell heavily onto the floor.
It woke up to find Hoshino gone, so it followed his scent and found him, then saw Ceruledge about to perform a beheading. So, it didn't hesitate to ram its head into it, but…
"Cycli…"
"Cyclizar!"
Hoshino immediately got up, but Ceruledge slashed its sword, leaving a trail in mid-air, then pointed the tip of its sword at his neck, about to thrust with Bitter Blade.
But just then, Slowking suddenly slammed the table and shouted, "Alright, everyone stop! The things in my shop are quite expensive."
"…"
Hearing him, the flames on Ceruledge's greatsword instantly diminished, turning into its normal short swords. Then, still without a word, it walked to the other side. The Machoke and others who were watching the commotion also stopped and continued drinking and chatting.
Then Slowking calmly introduced, "It's a waiter in my shop. It's usually very quiet and doesn't leave here. It just gets a little excited when it sees humans."
"Is this 'a little'? It almost took my life!"
"How could it take your life? After all, you still owe me so much money. At least pay it back first."
"Huh?"
Hoshino blinked in confusion, pulling Cyclizar up. But Slowking suddenly bit through its lollipop, spitting out the stick, and then said, "Don't you know? All the food your Cyclizar took today was on credit. I've already put it on the tab."
"???"
At this moment, Slowking suddenly pulled out another contract and placed it on the bar, saying, "Also, my second floor is rented out to it for an entire year. The contract has already been thumb-printed and is effective immediately."
"According to Alola laws and regulations, all actions of domesticated Pokémon are paid for by their Trainer, so you have to pay the rent, unless you completely sever ties with it. And don't forget the utility bills."
"…"
Hoshino trembled as he took the contract and glanced at it. Sure enough, there was Cyclizar's thumbprint on it, which must have been pressed when it followed him into the shop that afternoon…
Seeing this, he finally couldn't help but slam the contract onto the bar, shouting, "This is fraud! You're taking advantage of its stupidity, aren't you?!"
But Slowking remained unfazed, pulled out another lollipop, tore open the wrapper, and put it in its mouth. Then it waved its hand and said, "You, as a Trainer, are incapable of taking care of your Pokémon and come to a place like this to play survival. How can you say I'm committing fraud? You needed to bear the consequences from the moment you stepped onto this street."
"…"
"Business at the Izakaya hasn't been great lately. It's rare to wait for someone like you to stumble in. How can I let you go without fleecing you? If you really can't pay the rent, don't you still have your kidney? Just get it removed."
"…"
"But don't even think about escaping. I have the contract right here. Even if you run out of the Alola Region, I can still catch you and bring you back. So, just honestly pay the money, before you kick the bucket… Slowking~"
At this moment, Slowking was almost entirely a villain, incredibly shrewd, with none of its previous simple-mindedness, let alone kindness.
"…"
Hoshino didn't understand, he completely didn't understand. Was this still the Pokémon world he knew? Were these guys not humans in Pokémon skins?
The so-called dinner and free house were all traps; once you stepped in, there was basically no escaping.
However, besides paying the money, the other party had already offered a solution: not admitting he was Cyclizar's Trainer, just severing the relationship.
Although he couldn't really be considered Cyclizar's Trainer, as there was no capture involved, it just agreed casually, and they had only known each other for less than two days—a very cheap friendship.
Most people would probably not hesitate, but he was different. He had transmigrated alone to this familiar yet strange world.
When he was at a loss, he finally managed to find a Pokémon who shared his plight to accompany him, even if it had only been for less than two days…
But he had already completely considered the other party a companion. Since it recognized him as its Trainer, then he was its Trainer!
"Cycli!"
Cyclizar looked at Ceruledge standing against the wall, striking a pose as if it was about to pounce again, while also shielding Hoshino behind it.
"…"
Ceruledge didn't even look, then went to get drinks for the Machoke at the next table, as if it didn't even consider Cyclizar.
At this moment, Hoshino flung the contract he was holding back at Slowking, looking at the other party with a serious expression and shouting in a deep voice, "Even I have things I can absolutely not abandon!"
"Hmm?"
"I'm staying here for good. Not even Arceus can change that, I said so!"
Hoshino glanced at Ceruledge over there, meeting its gaze, then looked at Slowking, a slight smirk on his face, and continued, "I didn't just come to this street to find a place to live. Since there are many Pokémon here who are troubled by various things in life, then let me help them!"
After speaking, he directly took Cyclizar, who was still in an attacking stance, and left through the Izakaya door, leaving only Slowking, who was briefly surprised by his words, but quickly recovered.
Then it looked at the door and slowly said, "What a strange human. That Cyclizar hasn't even been captured. If he just said that, wouldn't he be able to leave safely…?"
"And helping those Pokémon on this street? What big talk… Forget it, as long as he can pay the rent, keeping one more human doesn't matter."
Slowking thought for a moment and didn't bother with it further. It picked up the contract and put it back, then went back to reading the newspaper.
Ceruledge got more drinks for other customers, and everything was still the same. The only change was a new human neighbor upstairs.
At this time, Slowpoke, the mascot lying on the bar, wagged its tail and let out a growl, as if it was sleepy, or perhaps thinking about something.
"Slowpoke~"
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