Chapter 709: Repaying a Favor
"Hey! You little one over there..."
Volcanion felt somewhat displeased seeing the little sister who idolized Him so much about to cry.
However.
Kazuya raised his hand and suppressed Him.
That meant for Volcanion not to speak.
What Diancie and Sachima were discussing right now belonged to their own family affairs.
As the saying goes, even an upright official finds it hard to settle family quarrels, let alone outsiders like them who had just met for the first time.
If Volcanion spoke rudely to Sachima, not only might it fail to win Diancie's favor, it might even make the latter uncomfortable.
So Kazuya interrupted His casting.
At a time like this.
Changing the subject is a better solution.
It could silently break the increasingly awkward situation before them.
"Your name is Sachima? Right?"
Kazuya used Confusion to let his skirt flutter naturally and walked in front of the Carbink.
"...Me-shii."
Sachima glanced at Kazuya's skirt, shivered all over, an inexplicable great fear rising in its heart, and then nodded.
"Let's go to our side first, it's safer. You can also let the other Carbink go back first, so they don't run around the forest late at night, it's very dangerous."
Kazuya reached out and patted this little rabbit's head.
Sachima silently considered it.
Seeing Diancie clutching Kazuya's skirt and refusing to let go, it chose to nod.
Deciding to stay.
Kazuya and the three Pokémon headed towards the plateau.
After memorizing the location of the Nebel Plateau, Sachima left first, saying it would come again tomorrow.
It was going to notify the other Carbink to return to the Underground Ore Kingdom.
At the same time, this allowed Diancie, who rarely came out, to stay on the surface for another half a day.
"By the way, that guy really trusts us, huh? Just leaving the princess here like this?"
Volcanion watched Sachima leave briskly, feeling it was somewhat unbelievable.
"In the Pokémon world, there aren't that many twists and turns. Moreover, this group of Carbink has always stayed in the underground world, and they have even less exposure to intrigue and scheming."
Kazuya felt it was very normal.
Even an emperor of a nation like AZ could safely leave his precious darling Floette on the plateau.
What did Sachima have to worry about?
When Kazuya didn't hurt or deceive it right from the start, they had already gained Sachima's trust.
Pokémon's trust is just this simple.
Perhaps giving trust too easily might lead to getting hurt.
But similarly, this also saves a lot of mental exhaustion, not having to always be suspicious of everything.
"Are we sending that little one back tomorrow?"
Volcanion turned His head.
Glancing at Diancie, who was strolling around with Amaura in the distance.
"Reluctant to part?"
"What do I have to be reluctant about? How long have we even known each other?"
Volcanion casually turned His head away.
This time it wasn't being tsundere.
Although curious about Diancie, saying He was reluctant to part was way off the mark.
Their relationship wasn't that deep yet.
It was just that Diancie's first impression on Volcanion was indeed very good.
It aroused a bit of Volcanion's protective desire.
"I plan to let Diancie stay on the plateau for a while. If it's convenient, you can take her around."
Kazuya pursed his lips slightly, telling Volcanion his plan.
"Oh."
Volcanion nodded, not saying anything else.
He simply thought Kazuya was planning to recruit Diancie to join them.
Just like recruiting Snorlax.
Kazuya "heard" Volcanion's inner thoughts and didn't explain.
Volcanion guessed completely wrong.
He wanted Diancie to stay purely because in his fifth life, he owed this princess a favor.
Although it was a memory from over a hundred years ago.
Kazuya hadn't forgotten.
The Lucarionite and Key Stone in his fifth life were extracted from the Sacred Diamond left behind by Princess Diancie.
Therefore.
Since this little princess wanted to play on the surface for a while.
He would help her argue her case with Sachima.
Consider it repaying the favor.
Just right.
Kazuya also believed Diancie's personality needed to change.
Sachima's methods were absolutely not okay.
As the saying goes, when things reach an extreme, they turn in the opposite direction.
Sachima's overly harsh coercion not only failed to make Diancie's heart stronger, but instead oppressed her to the point of breathlessness.
Over time.
Diancie might be crushed under the pressure.
Let alone shoulder the heavy responsibility of the entire Underground Ore Kingdom.
Kazuya believed he could take this opportunity to intervene and use other methods to toughen Diancie's heart.
"What do you plan to do? I think that guy's attitude is quite firm."
"The mountain hermit has his own clever plan. I understand Sachima's thoughts. Just letting it see the results will be enough."
Kazuya casually waved his hand.
It had to be mentioned.
Although Telepathy occasionally caused trouble for Kazuya.
It also helped out quite a bit.
He already understood Sachima's thoughts and attitude.
In Kazuya's view, Sachima was much easier to handle than Dace.
Time arrived at noon the next day.
The sun was already hanging high above the Pokémon.
But Diancie was still lying asleep by Kazuya's legs, drooling onto the grass.
Her first time on the surface.
Diancie was as excited as a crazy girl.
Last night, she fooled around with a Murkrow on the plateau all night, and only managed to fall asleep when the sky was turning bright.
When Kazuya and Volcanion saw Sachima arrive alone.
And Diancie was still sleeping soundly.
They knew this girl was doomed to suffer a catastrophe today.
"Me-shii——!!"
When Sachima's furious voice echoed over the plateau.
"Waaaah——!! Sachima, don't hit me!"
Following immediately were Diancie's endless wails.
The two little ones ran around the plateau.
One scurrying ahead covering her head, the other pursuing relentlessly behind.
This scene actually felt quite familiar to Kazuya. It seemed Dace used to chase Diancie like this too.
It's just that Dace couldn't bear to hit the small Diancie, while Sachima would beat the big Diancie with full force.
After Kazuya and Volcanion finished their lunch.
This farce finally came to an end.
Diancie ultimately couldn't withstand Sachima's beating and chose to lift Kazuya's skirt and hide underneath.
The number three contestant, following Floatzel and Druddigon, had appeared.
These three mighty figures were all experts at diving under Kazuya's rear.
Sachima stood beside Kazuya.
Hesitant to act for fear of hitting the wrong target.
Firstly, physically, it instinctively didn't want to get close to Kazuya's long dress.
Secondly, mentally, Sachima couldn't bring itself to perform such a rude action.
Helpless.
"Me-shii!"
Sachima stood outside Kazuya's skirt, shouting abuse at Diancie inside.
"I didn't forget, I just... I just... was too tired yesterday."
Diancie responded guiltily.
"...Hey, hey, you two..."
Kazuya looked at these two Pokémon arguing through his skirt, his cheeks twitching.
He reached for the skirt.
Yanked Diancie out, and then tossed her to Volcanion nearby.
Then he stepped forward and picked up Sachima.
"Me-shii?"
Sachima tilted its head in confusion, not understanding Kazuya's intention.
"You won't be able to make that child grow up like this. How about I give you a tip, you try it. If I succeed, you let Diancie stay and learn from me for a while, how about it?"
Kazuya smiled amiably at Sachima.
"...Me-shii."
Sachima hesitated slightly, but chose to believe him.
Since it hadn't been able to achieve results for so long, it might as well let the person in front of it give it a try.
The other party possessed the true aura of a princess.
If Her Highness Diancie could stay by their side and learn for a while, perhaps she could also acquire this humble yet elegant temperament?
To put it bluntly.
Sachima was still influenced by Kazuya's physical appearance.
Otherwise.
If Volcanion had said the same thing.
Sachima would definitely have considered it carefully for several days, and then rejected Him.
After all, besides being strong, Volcanion actually had nothing else to show for Himself at present.
And regarding strength.
Not to mention Sachima hadn't seen Volcanion's full power.
Even if it did.
It wouldn't care much.
After all, this was the aspect Sachima cared least about. The princess of their Underground Ore Kingdom was innately powerful; she didn't lack combat power.
"Thank you for your trust. Then next, I'll have to trouble you to put on a play with Volcanion."
Kazuya raised his hand and stroked Sachima's head.
"I'm involved too?"
Volcanion stretched His neck over like a turtle, an interested expression in His eyes.
Having nothing to do all day was quite boring.
If Kazuya could find something for Him to do.
Volcanion was also quite willing inside.
Mainly.
This feeling of being able to help Kazuya.
Made Him feel a secret thrill inside.
Of course.
He didn't forget to toss Diancie aside, preventing this little princess from coming over to eavesdrop.
Diancie was also happy to oblige.
Taking this opportunity, she turned and slipped away, running off to play with Amaura.
"Listen to me..."
After all the arrangements were made.
A play specially prepared for Diancie commenced.
Diancie was having fun playing.
Suddenly she heard Sachima's scream from not far away.
Hearing this kind of sound from Sachima for the first time, Diancie panicked and hurriedly ran towards Sachima's location.
When she got close, she found.
Volcanion was beating Sachima!
"Please stop! Big Brother Volcanion! Please don't do this!"
Seeing this scene, Diancie shed her usual timidity and fear, directly rushing forward to block in front of Sachima.
"Oh? Little squirt, are you planning to fight me?"
An "evil" smile appeared on Volcanion's face.
He was actually quite suited to playing the villain.
"I don't want to fight you! But I won't just stand by and watch you hurt Sachima! If you insist on hitting it... please strike me down first!"
Diancie stretched out her arms, trembling, tears falling from both of her pink eyes.
But even so.
Diancie didn't move her feet half a millimeter.
This scene directly shocked Sachima behind her.
It also made Kazuya, who was watching from the side, slightly stunned.
Things seemed to be going smoother than he imagined.
Originally, Kazuya planned to use the psychology of "protection" to strengthen the power of Diancie's heart.
He originally thought Diancie would have to endure a period of torment and suffering before stepping forward to stand in front of Sachima.
He didn't expect her to jump out all at once.
Looking at it now.
He had underestimated Diancie's feelings for Sachima.
No.
Not just him.
Looking at Sachima, who suddenly burst into tears, Kazuya couldn't help but grin.
Presumably.
Even Sachima didn't expect this.
It treated Diancie so strictly usually, but in a moment of danger, Diancie would still protect it behind her.
Obviously, the one who should be protected is the princess.
"Looks like the matter is settled."
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