In the year 225 of the Pokémon Era, Kael, Champion of the Sinnoh League, faced the greatest challenge of his reign yet: a blonde young woman and her Garchomp had reached the end of Victory Road.
The crowd seated on either side of the battlefield was sparse. There was Flint, the newly appointed member of the Elite Four, along with Lucian and Bertha, the other two members of the Four, as well as several high-ranking League officials.
The only ones absent were reporters from the press.
Ever since Kael had become Champion, he had never shown himself to the public, nor had he accepted a single interview.
All in all, he had carried the title in an understated, almost mysterious way.
Everyone in the stands held their breath, eyes fixed on the battle that would decide, once and for all, who would claim the Champion's seat.
On one side stood Sinnoh's undefeated legend, unbeaten for nearly two straight years. On the other was a once-in-a-century prodigy of the Sinnoh region, a young woman of extraordinary achievement in both Pokémon battling and historical research.
"Dragon Rush!"
"Dragon Rush!"
The boy and the girl shouted at the same time, their voices overlapping.
Clearly, both had decided to stake everything on this final blow.
High above the field, Salamence and Garchomp wheeled like twin meteors, dazzling and fierce, then crashed into each other at the center of the arena under an overwhelming surge of power.
Boom!!!
The clash between the two Dragon-type Pokémon triggered a violent explosion that tore across the field, and thick smoke swallowed everyone's view.
Almost no one dared breathe. Lucian frowned faintly, staring into the center of the arena as if trying to see through the smoke itself. Flint clenched his fists so tightly that he had already leapt to his feet.
As the smoke slowly cleared, Garchomp's staggering figure emerged before everyone's eyes.
Across from it, Salamence had already dropped out of its Mega Evolution and lay collapsed in a massive crater strewn with broken stone.
"...Salamence is unable to battle. The winner is Miss Cynthia!"
The referee's voice rang out with unusual force, but the arena remained silent. Everyone was still trying to process the long, punishing battle they had just witnessed.
Their match had begun at ten in the morning and lasted all the way until four in the afternoon. It had been a full six-on-six singles battle, and just watching it had left everyone drained.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
A crisp round of applause shattered the silence, and it came from Kael.
This former Champion of Sinnoh did not look ruined or bitter in the slightest. On the contrary, a bright smile rested on his face... one that looked almost like relief.
Then the rest of the crowd began to clap as well, until thunderous applause rolled through the arena, announcing one thing to all of Sinnoh:
From this day forward, the Champion of the Sinnoh region would be this young woman with long golden hair.
...
"So it's finally over..."
One week after stepping down as Champion of the Sinnoh League, Kael felt lighter than he had in years.
The truth was, his soul did not belong to this world.
Ten years earlier, he had crossed over from Earth. With his knowledge of Pokémon from his previous life, and through his own relentless effort, he had climbed step by step until he reached the position of Sinnoh Champion.
And in those ten years, the two he spent as Champion had been the most exhausting of all. Every waking moment, he had hoped someone would defeat him and take his place as the next Champion of Sinnoh.
Now, at last, that day had come.
...
One week after relinquishing the title.
A seaside villa in Sunyshore City. The second-floor balcony.
Lucian glanced at Kael, who was sitting in a wicker chair and staring blankly into space, then slowly asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Two years ago, Kael had become Champion of the Sinnoh League, while Lucian had taken his place among the Elite Four.
They had entered the League in the same year, and since they spent a fair amount of time together, their friendship had naturally grown deeper than most.
"Hm?" Kael came back to himself and smiled. "I'm thinking about what I should do next."
"I heard there was once a Champion in Paldea who got defeated, then spent another two years walking the Champion's path all over again before taking the title back." Lucian smiled. "Why not give that a try?"
"Heh..." Kael let out a quiet laugh and shook his head.
His fingers drifted through Espeon's silky fur, and the Pokémon turned over comfortably in his lap.
"Then what do you want to do?" Lucian asked instead. "Elite Four, Gym Leader, League enforcement officer... with your strength, you could handle any of them easily."
"Now that I've stepped down as League Champion, I'd like to do something easy for a change."
For ten straight years, he had done nothing but keep moving forward. It was time to slow down.
"I'm thinking of going back to Floaroma Town, opening a coffee shop, and enjoying retirement."
"...What?"
Lucian pressed a hand to his forehead. "Sometimes I really can't keep up with how your mind works. You're only twenty, aren't you? That's practically a Trainer's prime, and you're talking about retiring?"
As he spoke, he let out a sigh and looked toward the mountain of paperwork stacked on the table.
As the most level-headed member of the Elite Four, he had to deal with an endless stream of League business every day.
"I used to think you were lazy enough," Lucian grumbled, "but compared to you, our newly crowned Champion is even more of a hands-off boss."
Kael lounged deeper into the wicker chair, soaking in the sunlight and the salty breeze coming off the sea. He was just about to say, The more capable people should shoulder more of the work, when he closed his mouth again.
A familiar figure had entered his line of sight, walking toward the villa.
Tall, poised, and with long golden hair that made her unmistakable at a glance.
It was Cynthia, the newly crowned Champion of Sinnoh.
Kael poked Lucian in the side.
"Your 'hands-off boss' is here. Aren't you going to go greet her?"
...
First floor of the villa.
Cynthia and Lucian sat upright on opposite sides of a polished wooden tea table, while Kael, with a total lack of grace, sprawled across a single armchair with a purple-covered book in his hands.
"Well, well, well. Would you look at that... they actually write stuff like this here..."
The book he was reading was titled My Fiancée Turned Out to Be the Champion, a light novel about a protagonist whose childhood fiancée unexpectedly becomes the local League Champion, followed by a string of ridiculous and comedic events.
It was the first light novel Kael had ever picked up in this world.
He was reading with obvious delight, completely absorbed, letting out the occasional baffling little laugh.
Cynthia glanced at him awkwardly...
She had not expected the former Champion Kael to be this kind of person in private.
Lucian, on the other hand, looked like he was used to it. He ignored Kael outright and turned to Cynthia.
"What brings you here this time, Champion Cynthia?"
Cynthia drew back her gaze, straightened her posture, and said seriously, "Actually, I came to see Mr. Kael..."
You don't need to be so formal. He doesn't act like some respected veteran, anyway...
Lucian thought to himself, shooting Kael a look of pure disdain.
Kael, meanwhile, was still lost in his novel, utterly oblivious to the conversation happening around him.
"Heh heh..."
The story had reached the part where the protagonist was about to challenge the Champion's path, and Kael was eagerly waiting to see the hero's reaction when he discovered his fiancée at the very end.
"Hey. Champion Cynthia came here to see you." Lucian gave Kael's shin a light kick.
"What?" Kael snapped awake, set the light novel aside, and frowned at Lucian in annoyance.
The story had been just about to reach the climax, and anyone would be irritated at getting interrupted there.
Then he turned to Cynthia.
"Good morning, Champion. What can I do for you?"