However, in this world where Pokémon exist, no matter how wealthy a family is, they are merely affluent compared to ordinary people. Only by mastering the power of Pokémon can one truly stand at the pinnacle. Since Erika became the Gym Leader of Celadon City, her family has fully solidified its position as the de facto rulers of the city.
After walking with Erika for a short while, Ryuuske spotted a luxury car parked by the roadside. It seemed she had arrived by car. The two of them sat in the back seat, and after Erika gave a quiet instruction, the driver started the vehicle. Ryuuske had intended to chat with Erika a bit more to build rapport, but to his surprise, the moment she got into the car, she simply leaned back in her seat and dozed off.
Clearly, the driver was already accustomed to Erika's naps—he drove smoothly, and after about an hour, the car stopped in front of a grand mansion.
The mansion wasn't a Western-style villa but a traditional Japanese estate, sprawling across an enormous plot of land—essentially a massive garden. Though not located in the heart of Celadon City, it was still close to the downtown area. Owning such an expansive property in this location spoke volumes about the wealth of Erika's family.
This left Ryuuske sighing inwardly. Why is it that every girl I meet is some kind of noble young lady? Aside from Green, they all seem to come from ridiculously wealthy families. I mean, they're already rich, beautiful, and talented—do they really have to work so hard to become top-tier Trainers too? Can't they leave some room for us ordinary folks?
Just as Ryuuske was about to wake Erika, she opened her eyes as if her internal clock had rung. She let out a soft yawn and said apologetically, "...My apologies, that was quite rude of me. Though I don't have hay fever, spending too much time with Grass-type Pokémon has left me prone to drowsiness during the day."
"Are you photosynthesizing or something?" Ryuuske quipped.
"Ryuu-kun, you're quite the humorist. Now that you mention it, I suppose it does seem that way~"
Erika chuckled lightly.
A servant hurried over to open the car door, and after stepping out, Erika turned to Ryuuske with an inviting gesture. "...Please, Ryuu-kun. This is my humble abode. Your presence truly brings honor to this household."
"You flatter me too much, Miss Erika."
Ryuuske stepped out of the car. Honestly, facing such a refined and virtuous young lady from a prestigious family made him feel a bit out of his element. Under Erika's influence, even his speech had become more formal—he was practically turning into a literary youth.
"After you!"
Following his hostess's lead, Ryuuske entered the mansion. At the entrance, he removed his shoes, which were promptly taken by a servant. Erika walked ahead while Ryuuske trailed behind, his gaze unconsciously drawn to the sway of her slender legs clad in thigh-high socks.
The mansion was more like a sprawling garden, built around artificial hills and flowing water, with bamboo tubes clacking rhythmically—a scene steeped in classical elegance. Passing through the entrance, they arrived at a building surrounded by an array of beautiful flowers, arranged not as planted blooms but as if in the art of ikebana.
After walking through this greenhouse-like hall, they finally reached the guest room.
"Please wait here for a moment, Ryuu-kun. Allow me to change before properly entertaining you."
Guiding Ryuuske to sit on the tatami before the tea table, Erika smiled softly before taking her leave.
Once she was gone, servants brought tea and pastries. The household of this traditional Japanese young lady was purely old-fashioned—the servants knelt respectfully as they served, placing the tea and sweets neatly before bowing and withdrawing.
For a while, Ryuuske was left alone in the room.
He took a sip of the tea—its flavor was light and fragrant, likely cultivated with the help of Grass-type Pokémon. It was delicious, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly why. Eh, as long as it quenches thirst, it's fine. Snacking on the pastries, he glanced at the landscape paintings and calligraphy hanging around the spacious guest room and couldn't help but sigh. Life really isn't fair.
Here I am, traveling rough every day, living a tough and exhausting life, while these young ladies live in absolute luxury. Still, Ryuuske knew that before Erika became a Gym Leader, she must have endured her own share of hardships in training.
"Having someone take care of you feels pretty nice. Maybe I should find myself a maid to play with."
Ryuuske fell into deep thought. Having a maid tend to daily needs—cooking, cleaning, maybe even warming the bed at night—now that's the life.
But then again, he quickly reconsidered. If he gave up traveling and striving to grow stronger, he could probably settle in a big city and live comfortably with his skills. But he knew that kind of life would lead to stagnation, sapping his motivation to improve.
Still, out in the wilds, where would I find a perfect, graceful maid who could keep up with my pace? In those conditions, just taking care of yourself is hard enough—how could anyone manage to look after someone else?
"If it were a Pokémon, that might work… but what kind of Pokémon could turn into a maid and take care of people?"
Ryuuske found himself tangled in this dilemma. First of all, the idea of a Pokémon turning human was already fantastical—in this world, it was practically a fairy tale. And for one to not only take human form but also serve as a maid? That would probably require nothing less than a Legendary or Mythical Pokémon.
Lost in these profound musings about the future, Ryuuske remained kneeling for so long that his legs began to go numb before Erika finally returned.
The sound of the sliding door snapped him back to reality, and he immediately complained, "...I was starting to think you'd gone off to take a nap, Miss Erika."
"Normally, I would be napping at this time. But today, with such an outstanding guest like Ryuu-kun gracing my humble home, I'm simply too delighted to feel sleepy. In fact, I'm quite energized now. Still, making you wait so long was inexcusable—but you must blame this outfit. It's terribly troublesome to put on."
Hearing Erika's poised, melodious voice, any trace of frustration instantly melted away. She had a way with words that made it impossible to stay angry.
When Ryuuske finally looked up, his eyes brightened.
Erika had changed out of her sailor uniform and into a furisode—a long-sleeved kimono worn by unmarried women. The maple-colored garment draped elegantly over her figure, embroidered with delicate clouds and autumn leaves. A vibrant flower adorned her short hair, adding a touch of classic Yamato Nadeshiko charm to her serene grace.
With such a beautifully dressed young lady before him, Ryuuske decided to generously overlook the wait.
If a girl goes through the trouble of dressing up properly just to see you, it means she holds you in high regard.
To be continued…
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