Cynthia put away the White Jade Flute, then gave Mai a small nod.
"Thank you, Miss Mai."
"We'll make good use of this flute."
Mai smiled.
"Then I'll be counting on you. If you really do go investigate the Kings later, Wyrdeer will definitely be a big help."
Ash once again ran his hand through Wyrdeer's smooth fur.
"We'll be relying on you then, Wyrdeer."
"Wuu~"
Wyrdeer let out a soft call, as if answering Ash.
Professor Laventon watched the harmonious scene, his feelings growing even more complicated.
"Ash, could you maybe ask Wyrdeer for me why it just won't let me pet it?"
Ash looked at Wyrdeer.
Wyrdeer also looked at Ash.
After a brief silence, Wyrdeer gently turned its head away and pretended not to have heard anything at all.
Ash: "…"
Cynthia couldn't help but chuckle again.
"Looks like it doesn't want to answer that question for now."
Professor Laventon took a second hit; his whole demeanor dimmed several shades.
Rei patted him on the shoulder. "Professor, at least it didn't kick you this time."
Professor Laventon grew even more dejected.
"How is that supposed to be comforting?!"
After that brief moment of levity, no one lingered any longer.
Mai needed to stay at Deertrack Heights to confirm the situation after the Kricketune Clan left, and to gather more information on the Kings while she was at it.
Ash and Cynthia, on the other hand, had to follow Professor Laventon back to Jubilife Village.
They needed to officially join Team Galactic and also meet the three captains who had returned to Jubilife Village at the same time.
Wyrdeer lowered its body so Ash and Cynthia could climb onto its back.
Professor Laventon had just started to move closer when Wyrdeer lifted its eyelids and gave him a single look.
The professor froze mid-step. "I'll just walk."
Rei nodded silently. "I'll walk with you."
Honestly, it wasn't like he had a choice; he seemed to be getting rejected by Wyrdeer too… Why though? Was it because he'd picked up the professor's "scent" and was being treated like the same kind of creature?
Ash felt a bit bad.
"Professor Laventon, are you sure you don't want us to wait for you?"
Professor Laventon waved his hand.
"No need, you go on ahead. Rei and I will walk back slowly; I've basically gotten used to this today anyway."
There was something a bit bittersweet in those words.
"Then we'll wait for you in Jubilife Village."
"Mm."
Mai waved to them.
"Be careful on the road."
Wyrdeer started forward, carrying Ash and Cynthia as it galloped toward Jubilife Village.
On the way, Ash's thoughts were all over the place. Pikachu sat up front, while Garchomp flew low in the air, following alongside them.
After all, Cynthia couldn't reveal her modern Pokeballs. If she did, they might be lumped together with whoever had fallen out of that space-time rift as coming from the same place.
They didn't have amnesia they could use as an excuse.
So Cynthia had already stowed her Pokeballs inside Ash's Space Backpack. Once they reached Team Galactic, they could borrow a few Ancient Pokeballs to use for the time being.
From here on out, what they'd be facing wasn't something as relatively simple as the Boss Kricketune, but the special Pokemon that the Hisui Region actually worshipped as Kings.
Ash's face was set in a constant look of contemplation as he wondered whether his Power of Viridian would have any effect on the Kings at all.
Cynthia seemed to pick up on what Ash was thinking.
She spoke softly. "No need to rush. Once we're back in Jubilife Village, let's first see what kind of attitude those three captains have."
"After we sort things out on that side, we can focus on figuring out what's going on with the Kings."
Ash nodded.
"Yeah."
"If the Power of Viridian really can help the Kings regain their senses, that would be amazing. But before that, we still have to confirm what state the Kings are in right now."
Cynthia looked ahead.
"And we have to find the source of that Golden Thunderbolt."
"If we don't solve the root cause, just Quelling Nobles one by one will only ease the problem temporarily."
Ash tightened his grip on the reins in his hands.
"Then let's investigate it all together—whether it's the Stone Tablets, or a way to get home, or those Kings who are suffering right now… we'll find the answers."
Wyrdeer let out a soft call, and its Speed picked up once again.
The white figure streaked across the fields, racing toward Jubilife Village.
Behind them, Mai stood on Deertrack Heights, looking off in the direction the two of them had gone.
A sudden premonition stirred in her heart.
Those two people from overseas might really change the current state of affairs in Hisui.
It didn't take long for Wyrdeer to carry Ash and Cynthia to the gate of Jubilife Village.
Ash hopped down from its back and reached up to stroke its smooth fur.
"Thanks, Wyrdeer."
"Wuu."
Wyrdeer let out a soft call and lowered its head, rubbing against Ash's palm.
Then it turned to Cynthia.
Cynthia also reached out, gently brushing her hand along the white fur at the side of its neck.
"We'll be relying on you again later."
Wyrdeer seemed to understand her, giving a small nod before turning and quickly heading off toward the Obsidian Fieldlands.
The white figure soon vanished into the evening-draped fields.
Ash watched Wyrdeer go, then turned and walked with Cynthia toward the main gate of Jubilife Village.
The gate guard was still the same one who had let them in and out before.
When he saw Ash and Cynthia, his expression clearly paused for a moment.
Of course he still remembered these two.
They were outsiders, after all; rumors about them had already spread through every street and alley of Jubilife Village in barely half a day.
But as a guard who took his duties seriously, he didn't just wave them through because he recognized them.
He took out the registration ledger and carefully asked for their names and the reason they'd gone out, then wrote down the time of their return.