There's Something Off About My Pokémon [114]
"Lu Cheng, isn't it?"
Hearing the judge call his name, Lu Cheng straightened up, trying his best to appear humble and attentive. The elderly woman who'd spoken had a full head of silver hair, sharp, gold-rimmed glasses, and a straight posture. She wore a silver suit, and while time had etched its marks on her face, nothing could detract from her natural elegance and poise. Like a resilient kapok tree weathered by the years, her dignified presence seemed deeply ingrained.
Out of curiosity, Lu Cheng glanced at the nameplate on the table before her: Xiao Qing.
Xiao Qing looked at him with a gentle smile. "Your Vulpix is quite remarkable," she began. "The grooming is flawless, and the execution of its moves was impeccable. Frankly, with your current skill level, you could even compete in the intermediate Ribbon Contest."
Her praise left Lu Cheng feeling a bit embarrassed, especially since he sensed the inevitability of a "but" somewhere in her remarks.
"You must be wondering why I didn't give you a perfect score, right?"
All the other judges had given Lu Cheng tens, yet the one who'd been giving full marks to the previous contestants, Xiao Qing, had only awarded him a six. Xiao Qing's gentle smile deepened, and the crow's feet at her eyes crinkled as she observed him with an unexpectedly sharp gaze.
"Judging by your expression, I'd guess this is your first time competing in a Ribbon Contest, isn't it?"
Lu Cheng blinked, caught off guard by how easily she'd deduced this. Feeling a bit guilty, he nodded, knowing he'd practically entered on a whim.
"Yes, this is my first time trying a Ribbon Contest."
Xiao Qing nodded knowingly. "The reason I could tell is that your Vulpix's appeal focused more on beauty than on cuteness." She smiled gently. "If this were a Beauty Contest, I'd likely award you a high-level Ribbon. Unfortunately, today's theme is 'cuteness,' so I could only give a passing score."
Hearing this, the younger judge beside her, Cheri, was taken aback. She knew Xiao Qing's usual scoring had been generous as a way to encourage the participants, so it surprised her to see Xiao Qing holding Lu Cheng to a stricter standard. Xiao Qing's interest in Lu Cheng's Vulpix was clear, and she seemed eager to see it meet a higher standard.
Watching Xiao Qing's warm but authoritative expression, Cheri couldn't help but take note of Lu Cheng's name. She suspected he'd leave an impression on her for some time.
Lu Cheng scratched his cheek awkwardly. "I don't really know much about these competitions yet, so…"
"No worries." Xiao Qing's smile softened. "Just do your best in the next round."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Lu Cheng felt as though a heavy weight had lifted. Despite her kindly manner, Xiao Qing had a presence that reminded him of a childhood math teacher, one whose soft smiles carried an almost frightening authority.
"Guess I can't underestimate these Coordinators," Lu Cheng muttered wryly, any previous notions about the contest's simplicity dispelled.
But now, the next phase was his forte—the battle round! Even if I don't meet the 'cuteness' requirement, I just need to knock out my opponents and lower their scores!
Taking a deep breath, Lu Cheng resolved to give it his all as he headed backstage with Vulpix.
---
"Professor Xiao, it seems you're quite taken with that Vulpix," Cheri commented during the intermission.
Xiao Qing nodded, smiling as she replied, "Indeed. Judging by the sheen of its fur, its trainer has clearly put a lot of care into raising it."
She paused, her smile softening. "But, to me, the bond between a Pokémon and its Coordinator is far more important."
As she recalled the way that Vulpix had gazed at its trainer, a warm expression surfaced on her face. Cheri looked puzzled, and Xiao Qing chuckled. "For you, it's still too early to understand that fully. Just watch closely and learn."
Cheri nodded earnestly, fully aware of the weight her mentor carried in the world of Coordinators. To the average Coordinator, earning an advanced ribbon might be the ultimate goal, but Xiao Qing had long since reached the pinnacle of the profession. She was the highest mountain, admired from afar and revered by all.
For Cheri, being able to study under Xiao Qing was a fortune beyond measure.
"Will you watch the next round?" she asked with a respectful tone.
Today, Xiao Qing had come of her own accord, just to observe the younger generation of Coordinators. Normally, her status would place her far beyond the reach of a judge's seat at Milotic Hall, especially for an introductory competition. Cheri had worried that the primary-level contest might bore her, but thankfully, Lu Cheng's performance had been a pleasant surprise.
"No, I'll pass." Xiao Qing removed her gold-rimmed reading glasses, wiping away a light fog as she smiled. "I'd rather take my time watching that young man."
A sudden thought struck Cheri, and an idea took root in her mind. She wasn't certain yet, but she had a feeling she was on the right track.
---
To showcase Vulpix's cuteness, Lu Cheng had originally planned on having her use "Tail Whip" and "Growl." But with just one disdainful look from his partner, he realized he'd been vetoed. Honestly, he hadn't contributed much to the first round; Vulpix had done most of the work on her own. Who knew she had such a natural gift for coordinating?
"Fine, just do your thing out there," he said with a sigh.
"Vul!" With a flick of her head, Vulpix looked back at him as if to say, Leave it to me.
In the battle round that followed, Vulpix's impressive command over the stage became undeniable. She moved with elegance and power, sending out dazzling bursts of Flamethrower, crafting a swirling Fire Spin, and even wielding her tail for Foul Play while using Confuse Ray as an almost stage-lighting effect. She elevated the show's ambiance to another level.
For the other contestants, however, things didn't go quite as well. A Nidoran covered in mud with a disgruntled look, a Rattata emitting a distinct grilled odor, and a badly singed Butterfree—none of them ended up looking especially "cute."
In the end, Lu Cheng took home the Beginner's Cute Ribbon without surprise.
Ding—Task "Coordinator Initiation" completed!
Reward: Title "Beginner Coordinator," Skill "Dynamic Vision" LV1.
Beginner Coordinator (White) Title Effect: Expands move range by 5%.
The title's effect didn't seem that impactful, but "Dynamic Vision" was worth checking out later.
When Lu Cheng accepted the ribbon from Xiao Qing, he unconsciously straightened his posture. His grandmother had always taught him to "stand with dignity." The elderly woman before him had that same, unmistakable air of authority.
"Have you ever thought about pursuing the path of a Coordinator?" Xiao Qing asked, gently stroking Vulpix's silky fur. She smiled. "You and Vulpix show a lot of potential; I think you could achieve great things."
Lu Cheng was taken aback but quickly recovered. Bowing his head, he replied, "Thank you. I mainly came to get a feel for it, but my primary goal is still to become a Trainer."
"You're a Trainer as well?" Cheri beside him exclaimed in surprise, covering her mouth as soon as she realized her outburst.
"A Trainer, is it?" Xiao Qing nodded with a smile. As someone in her position, she couldn't outright ask Lu Cheng to become her student, but her admiration for his talent made her speak once more.
"No matter if you pursue the path of a Coordinator or Trainer, both require a commitment to continual learning," she said kindly.
"This card is for you." Lu Cheng accepted the card and examined it. The dark-gold card featured a gold-and-blue Milotic illustration on the front.
---
Translator's Note
Hi, besties! I'm so excited to bring you I Don't Want to Be a Heroic Spirit!—a wild and fun adventure where our MC gets to travel through different anime worlds while becoming a Heroic Spirit! With the help of Chaldea's MVPs (yes, Mash and Da Vinci are here to cheer us on), this story is full of iconic moments, unexpected twists, and all the anime goodness we love.
Oh, and guess what? I've got one more story to share after this, so stay tuned because the fun doesn't stop here! As always, thank you so much for reading and supporting—you're all amazing! Hope you enjoy every moment of this journey!
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
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