Chapter 170 You Are the One Ho-Oh Chose, Aren't You
Ecruteak City — called "the city where history breathes."
Located in northern Johto, it was a city of deep historical and cultural significance, an ancient capital wearing the marks of its long past.
Traditional Japanese-style architecture defined its character. The tallest structure in the city was the Bell Tower, ten stories tall.
As an ancient city steeped in history and culture, Ecruteak was well-known throughout the entire Kanto-Johto region.
The Ecruteak Dance Theater, especially, had an almost legendary reputation.
It was said that anyone who came to Ecruteak without watching one performance by the kimono girls at the Dance Theater would leave with the greatest regret of their visit.
After leaving Goldenrod, Mammon and the others had come to this ancient city.
The moment they entered, the Bell Tower was visible in the distance — a grand old structure looming above the rooflines.
"That tower's been burned to a crisp — why hasn't anyone torn it down?"
Kagura looked with curiosity at the ruined tower off to one side. Even from the outside it was obvious: it had been through a severe fire at some point.
Burn marks covered every surface. Charred through.
A structure in that condition could collapse at any time without warning. And yet no one had demolished it? What were the people of Ecruteak thinking?
"Because that tower is one of the most important testaments to this city's history."
Mammon couldn't help laughing. He looked at the charred ruin for a moment, then shrugged.
"How do you always know these things?" Kagura gave him a look. She'd genuinely noticed — Mammon seemed to know the hidden stories of every place they went.
"The Burned Tower. That's what people call it now. It was originally called the Brass Tower — it was struck by lightning approximately a hundred and fifty years ago and nearly burned to the ground."
Mammon looked toward the Bell Tower in the distance.
The Bell Tower and the Brass Tower — both had been built by the people of Ecruteak as symbols of friendship between humans and Pokémon. So profound was that friendship that Lugia and Ho-Oh had both chosen to roost there.
"The tragedy was this: when the Brass Tower burned, no one came to fight the fire. Three Pokémon died in the flames. And when Ho-Oh revived them, the people who saw those three reborn Pokémon were afraid — they actually attacked them."
Mammon's voice carried a thread of contempt.
That was why both Ho-Oh and Lugia had left Ecruteak.
The relationship between humans and Pokémon, as illustrated by that event — it hadn't been close at all.
"That's foolish." Caitlin's elegant brow furrowed. She had already guessed — those three reborn Pokémon must have been Suicune, Entei, and Raikou.
"It was foolish. But perhaps what it really expressed was disappointment. Seven hundred years ago, the people of this city built both towers and earned the trust of Ho-Oh and Lugia."
"A hundred and fifty years ago, a single fire drove both legendaries away. Whatever trust had been built — it had only lasted five hundred years."
Mammon said it with quiet reflection. That was how the world worked. Bonds were hard to form. Shattering them was easy.
"And now — I doubt the people of this city even remember that history."
He looked toward the Bell Tower. The Bell Tower itself had been preserved reasonably well.
But that didn't count for much. Ho-Oh had long since stopped expecting anything from Ecruteak — it had given up on this city the moment its people drove away and attacked the reborn Suicune and the others.
"Actually — we haven't forgotten. We still carry the lesson of that history very much with us."
A gentle, melodious female voice came from behind them.
Mammon raised an eyebrow and turned.
Standing before him was a beautiful woman in a kimono.
Her makeup was precise and elegant. She wore a yellow kimono, and her bearing had a warmth and grace to it — the very picture of a traditional Japanese beauty.
"My greetings to you all~ I am Satsuki — though most know me as Zuki." The kimono-clad young woman placed both hands in front of her and gave a gentle bow, her soft voice carrying an unmistakable theatrical quality.
"Zuki — the eldest of the Ecruteak Dance Theater's five sisters. What a coincidence."
Mammon regarded the kimono beauty with genuine interest.
The Ecruteak Dance Theater was arguably the most famous of its kind in all of Johto. Every dancer there was beautiful, graceful, and accomplished in both song and movement.
The five sisters who ran the theater had a reputation that went well beyond its walls.
And they weren't merely performers — they regularly staged operatic shows, presenting cultural legends and historical stories through song and dance for their audiences.
There were also accounts suggesting the five sisters were capable Trainers — their skills reportedly rivaling Gym Leaders. Whether that was true was harder to verify.
"I had no idea you knew of me, sir. I'm honored." Zuki gave another graceful bow, her eyes like still water as they rested on Mammon.
"Would it be my honor to invite all of you to join me inside? I know something of the tea ceremony."
She extended the invitation.
"We'd be delighted. Being personally invited by Zuki — I imagine there are many men who'd envy our luck." Mammon gave a light laugh. He had no reason to refuse.
"You flatter me." Zuki covered her smile with one hand.
"Then please, follow me."
She moved gracefully ahead, stepping with elegant precision, and guided them inside.
The Ecruteak Dance Theater was a landmark in this city. Even on days when the five sisters weren't performing, the clientele remained plentiful. The theater was large enough that other dancers and performers kept it busy.
Zuki brought them in through the rear entrance.
"Sister?"
A young woman in a black kimono embroidered with gold ring patterns appeared at the entrance to greet her, looking at Zuki with a mildly puzzled expression.
This was the third sister — Tamao.
"Tamao, please show these guests to the private room. See that they're well attended to. I'll join you shortly."
Zuki gave the instruction.
"Understood." Tamao nodded, slightly uncertain.
"My apologies to our guests — please allow my younger sister to attend to you while I retrieve something." Zuki turned to Mammon with a slight bow.
"Don't trouble yourself. Take your time."
Mammon smiled back — though what genuinely puzzled him was why Zuki had invited them here so suddenly.
He had his suspicions. He wasn't sure how accurate they were.
"Please, follow me."
Tamao gestured them forward. Where Zuki had a warmth and softness to her manner, Tamao was noticeably cooler in bearing.
Her face was striking rather than gentle — beautiful in a sharper way. Though the beauty of the sisters generally seemed to be something they all shared.
The genetics at work here were clearly something formidable.
The private room was furnished in precisely the way one would expect — classical Japanese aesthetic throughout, including a bamboo reclining chair.
Tamao settled them and began preparing tea.
"Tamao, I've heard that your sisters' dancing is unsurpassed in all of Johto. Would we be fortunate enough to see a performance?"
Mammon sat comfortably in his seat, glancing appreciatively over Tamao's graceful posture, his voice pleasant.
"To perform for honored guests would be Tamao's pleasure. However, the second and fourth sisters are currently away — a full performance would be difficult to arrange."
Tamao replied in the same flowing, unhurried tone.
"A shame." Mammon sounded genuinely regretful.
It was something he'd actually been curious about — leisurely entertainment of this caliber wasn't something he'd had much opportunity to experience.
"Tamao — would you happen to know the current Fairy-type Gym Leader in the Kalos region? Valerie?"
Mammon thought for a moment and asked with casual curiosity.
Valerie, Gym Leader of Laverre City in Kalos — a girl of almost fairy-like appearance.
Worth noting: Valerie's hometown was said to be Johto — specifically described as an "ancient kingdom" — which pointed strongly to Ecruteak. Her speech carried a Kyoto-inflected accent, and the trainers in her Gym all wore long-sleeved kimono, the favored garment of Ecruteak's traditional performers.
"Valerie? She studied here at our theater for a period." Tamao paused, then smiled slightly in memory.
"She was an exceptional girl. Knowing she's done so well — we're very glad for her."
So Valerie did have a connection to the Dance Theater. He'd been right.
Time passed in light conversation. Before long there was a knock, and Zuki entered, carrying a lacquered box.
"Forgive my delay, everyone."
She set the box aside and offered the group an apologetic bow.
"Please, don't be concerned. And now, Zuki — perhaps you could tell us why you invited us here?"
Mammon waved off the apology, his real curiosity being the reason they were here at all.
A dancer of Zuki's standing didn't invite strangers from the street to private rooms on a whim. This was clearly deliberate.
"You did see through it. Then I'll speak plainly." Zuki pressed her lips together briefly, but the urgency in her heart wouldn't be contained. She looked at Mammon with an expression of earnest anticipation. "Sir — have you ever had an encounter with Ho-Oh? Or with Lugia?"
Tamao, who had been quietly attending to the tea, blinked — and her eyes went bright with something she couldn't quite suppress.
"Oh? How did you know?"
Mammon looked at Zuki with genuine surprise. He knew the five sisters had an unusual connection to Ho-Oh and Lugia — but this felt rather too specific.
Had she actually smelled Ho-Oh on him?
"Because of this. A treasure passed down through our family."
Zuki lifted the box and opened it slowly.
Inside, resting on a cushion, were two ancient bells.
Mammon's eyes narrowed slightly. He recognized them at once.
The Clear Bell. And the Tidal Bell.
"When I was on my way back to the theater just now — I passed near you, sir, and the Clear Bell responded."
Zuki raised her pale hand delicately and lifted the Clear Bell, tilting it gently toward Mammon.
Ding~
A single, clear, sweet tone rang out.
"It is you! Sir — you are the one Ho-Oh has chosen!"
Zuki's composure had cracked entirely. The Clear Bell and the Tidal Bell — passed down from their ancestors by Ho-Oh and Lugia themselves — had never once sounded since the sisters had inherited them.
Not once.
Because only those recognized by Ho-Oh and Lugia could make these bells ring.
The five sisters had spent their lives searching for this person. And now — they had found them.
"I think there might be a misunderstanding—" Mammon's expression had gone somewhat peculiar.
Ho-Oh recognized him?
He had reasonable grounds to suspect the bell had responded because of the Rainbow Wing feather he was carrying — not because Ho-Oh had any particular fondness for him.
"No — there's no mistake! The Clear Bell rang for you! You are the one Ho-Oh has acknowledged!"
"Is there any possibility that I have in fact met Ho-Oh — but it doesn't actually like me very much?"
Mammon made an attempt to clarify the situation as accurately as possible.
"Sir! Please — please convey our message to Ho-Oh. Tell it that we have never forgotten. Tell it we ask for its forgiveness."
But Zuki clearly wasn't listening. She pressed both hands together and bowed to him deeply — a full, earnest, heartfelt bow.
"We'll do anything if you'll help us. Anything you ask."
Anything, hm.
Hearing Zuki and Tamao make that particular declaration, Mammon fell into a contemplative silence.
(End of chapter)
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