Honest Words - Pokemon:The Dragon of Another World

When Bai Chen's eyes flickered open, the first thing he saw was Lillie's face hovering above him—filled with worry.

"Mr. Bai, are you all right?"

Her voice trembled, half relief and half panic.

Bai Chen exhaled, shaking his head. "I'm fine… I think. How long was I out? What about Nergigante—and Bewear?"

He spoke quickly, eyes darting around the room.

Not far away, Lusamine let out a soft sigh and crossed her arms.

"Relax. You were only unconscious for an hour. Bewear and Nergigante both recovered with the help of Full Restores. They're outside in the courtyard—playing together, actually."

At that, the tension in Bai Chen's chest finally loosened.

He remembered vividly that other place—that strange, blood-red realm filled with thorns and a slumbering dragon's roar. He'd seen something terrifying in Nergigante's eyes… a savage glint, primal and cruel, like a beast who'd only just begun to wake.

The system really gave me something monstrous, he thought grimly. That power inside her—it's not something a normal Nergigante should possess.

Lusamine, still composed, watched him closely.

"Nergigante was newly born, wasn't she?"

Bai Chen nodded without hesitation. "Yes. Only recently."

"I thought so. The bond between you two isn't very deep yet."

He lowered his head. There was nothing to argue; she was right.

But Lusamine waved off his guilt with a gentle motion.

"Don't look so glum. I'm not scolding you. You've done well enough, considering. If there's anything I can help you with, don't hesitate to ask. I'd like to see how far you two can go."

"...Thank you." His voice came out quiet, flat with fatigue.

Lusamine turned to her daughter.

"Lillie, I think Mr. Bai needs something warm to eat. Could you ask the maids to prepare some extra dishes?"

"All right, I'll go now."

As soon as Lillie left, Lusamine's expression shifted. She smiled faintly—the kind of knowing, playful smile that always meant trouble.

"Now that she's gone, why don't we talk about something a little more… adult?"

Bai Chen blinked. "Adult?"

There was no trace of jest in her tone.

Lusamine leaned in slightly, her eyes gleaming.

"You're not from this world, are you?"

Her words landed like a spark in dry grass—sudden, quiet, and impossible to ignore.

Bai Chen didn't look surprised. In a world where Ultra Wormholes existed, where Ultra Beasts came and went, and time paradox Pokémon wandered Paldea, being "from another world" wasn't as absurd as it sounded.

But caution whispered in his mind. He couldn't afford to expose everything—not yet, not while his strength was still lacking. The wrong people would try to use him.

Even so, he nodded slowly.

"Yes. We are from another world."

Lusamine gasped, eyes wide, excitement blooming like a child's. She leaned closer—too close, in fact, her emerald eyes shining.

"Truly? You mean it? Another world entirely?"

Bai Chen sighed and pushed her gently back. "Too close. And didn't you already suspect that? Why act surprised?"

"I suspected, yes," she admitted, smiling. "But hearing it confirmed! Ah, you have no idea how thrilling this is. Tell me—what's it like there? What kind of creatures roam your world? Are all your people as strong as you?"

The barrage of questions hit him like shrapnel. He pressed a palm to his forehead, exhausted already.

"Three questions. I'll only answer three."

"Don't be stingy! Ten, at least?"

"Ow," he groaned, feigning pain. "Headache. Now it's two."

"Three!" she huffed. "And if you refuse, I'll never approve of you and Lillie."

Bai Chen stared at her, speechless. Forty-something years old, and still this playful.

"Three, then. No more."

"Deal! First question—what kind of monsters live in your world?"

Bai Chen exhaled.

"That's… too broad. It'd take three days to explain properly. But I'll simplify: our world has just as many monsters as your world has Pokémon—and far deadlier ones. Creatures that can erase kingdoms. Dragons whose breath can melt castles to slag, storms born from elder wyverns that swallow entire fleets."

He paused, tone darkening.

"And unlike your world, humans and monsters aren't friends. Not partners. Only hunters and prey. People like me—'knights,' if you will—are rare. Most humans are hunters, fighting to survive."

That drew a quiet frown from Lusamine. She'd expected hardship—but not that.

"Second question," she said softly. "Are all of your people as strong as you?"

Bai Chen shook his head.

"No. I'm considered… unusual, even back home. But because we fight monsters daily, most people in my world are physically stronger than the people here. Hunters, even civilians, often have some level of body reinforcement. Think of it like your ability system—but built into survival."

In other words, even the weakest of his kind could endure what would cripple a normal human here.

Lusamine went quiet, eyes thoughtful. He could almost see the calculations running behind her calm smile—the curiosity of a scientist meeting the unknown.

Bai Chen could guess what she was thinking. He sighed.

"Don't worry. Most hunters aren't hostile to outsiders. So long as no one shows ill intent, they won't pick fights. We live harshly, but not without honor."

Lusamine nodded slowly. "I see…"

Then, after a pause, she asked the question she truly wanted answered.

"Can you open a passage to your world?"

For a moment, silence filled the room.

Bai Chen hesitated—two seconds, maybe three—and then said quietly:

"I can't open a stable portal. But… I can travel between the two worlds."

There was no use hiding that much. When he returned to the Monster Hunter world and began upgrading his weapons, someone would notice anyway. Better to confide in a few trustworthy people now—people who could keep the secret safe.

And Lusamine, with her resources and intellect, was the perfect ally.

"But," he added sharply, "I can't control it at will. And more importantly—the space between worlds isn't something ordinary people can survive."

He reached for his iron blade, the weapon resting beside the bed, and drew it just enough to let the metal gleam.

"Passing through that rift ignores armor, ignores protection. It tears you apart, cell by cell. When I crossed over, it nearly killed me."

He let the blade sink back into its sheath with a quiet click.

"Without the body of a dragon-class creature—or something with regeneration on par with one—entering that passage would be suicide."

Lusamine didn't speak. For once, even she was struck silent.

Bai Chen leaned back, eyes drifting to the ceiling. He still felt the echo of that storm between worlds—the ripping, burning sensation that had chewed through flesh and bone alike.

"That's why," he murmured, "it's better this secret stays between us. For now."

Lusamine gave a small nod. There was curiosity in her gaze still, yes—but also respect. Whatever her intentions, she could see the truth in his words.

In the silence that followed, the faint laughter of Nergigante echoed from the courtyard outside—bright and innocent, as though none of the chaos earlier had ever happened.

And for the first time since waking, Bai Chen allowed himself a faint smile.

"So that's how it is," Lusamine whispered. "A traveler between worlds… a knight and his dragon. How fascinating."

He chuckled softly. "A dangerous combination, you mean."

Lusamine smiled, amused. "Perhaps both."

Outside, the sun climbed higher above the Aether estate, painting its white marble walls in gold.

Whatever came next—whether monster, mission, or mystery—one thing was certain: this world had already begun to change because of him.

Chapter 15 - Honest Words