Not Being a Trainer This Time-Chapter 573 - 322: Second Encounter

"We’ve arrived. This is where the three Loyal Three Pokemon are buried."

The two walked along the path of Apple Hill, eventually reaching a wide, flat clearing.

The clearing was circular, surrounded by a wooden fence, with beautiful park benches placed along the edges where some townsfolk sat with children and Pokemon, resting.

At the innermost part of the plaza stood a small shrine, housing statues of three different Pokemon.

Naoki looked at them. Clearly, these were the Loyal Three Pokemon the village chief mentioned.

"Thanks to them, the town was saved from the hands of ghosts, rescuing everyone here," said the village chief, his tone filled with gratitude.

Naoki asked with interest, "Are their bodies buried underneath this?"

"Yes." The village chief nodded. He noticed a stain on the shrine and went up to clean it.

At that moment, a villager ran over from the back, shouting, "Administrator, something’s wrong! The truck transporting apples has fallen into a ditch!"

"What?" The village chief was taken aback, quickly saying to Naoki, "Let’s call it a day for our exchange activities. You can feel free to explore the area; I’ll go check out the situation."

"Do you need my help?" Naoki inquired.

The village chief thanked him, then smiled and shook his head, "Thank you very much, but the town has staff specifically for handling such matters, so no need to trouble you."

Seeing this, Naoki didn’t insist. He watched the village chief leave in a hurry and then turned his gaze back to the shrine honoring the Loyal Three.

Koraidon was also examining those peculiar statues within the shrine.

"Koraidon, did you notice something just now?" Naoki suddenly asked.

"Gash-ah?" Koraidon opened its mouth slightly, a bit troubled because it didn’t know how to convey its thoughts to Naoki.

Naoki watched Koraidon, sensing something seemed off.

Under his gaze, Koraidon gradually lowered its head and then said, "Gash-ah!"

Naoki couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

Judging by Koraidon’s demeanor, it had evidently noticed something and thus had shown a temper to the village chief earlier.

Naoki prided himself on understanding Koraidon well; his Koraidon would never arbitrarily lose its temper or show hostility to strangers without reason.

Seeing Naoki didn’t understand, Koraidon let out a sigh.

"Gash-ah..."

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind.

Naoki turned his head and saw Helian excitedly running over from outside: "Naoki? Are you here to see the graves of the Loyal Three too?"

"Huh?" Naoki was a bit surprised, "I thought you had already left Kitakami and returned to the Sinnoh Region."

"No rush, my training is finished for this trip, so I’m planning to wander around here and enjoy the pastoral scenery," Helian said.

"I see."

Naoki nodded, then looked at the shrine in front with Helian.

On the right side of the shrine stood a stone tablet, recording the heroic deeds of the Loyal Three.

"The ’Loyal Three Statue’—these were the brave Pokemon that defended Mossui Town a long time ago. To defeat the ghosts attacking the village, they fought fiercely and unfortunately perished.

Their remains were buried under the statues and are solemnly commemorated."

Helian recited it word for word.

Naoki listened and watched silently.

Koraidon next to him grew increasingly uneasy as Helian read aloud, eventually furrowing its brow with a furious expression.

Naoki keenly noticed Koraidon’s emotions.

In that moment, a spark of insight hit Naoki, and he asked Koraidon, "Did you get upset with the village chief because of the ghosts?"

"Gash-ah!" Koraidon nodded.

Naoki was even more surprised. What’s going on? Does Koraidon know ghosts?

But wasn’t Koraidon supposed to be from the ancient past of Paldea? How could it possibly know the ghosts of Kitakami?

Even if these ghosts had survived since that far-off era, Koraidon couldn’t possibly be acquainted with them.

Naoki had many questions in his heart, but with Helian around, he didn’t inquire on the spot.

Not until after visiting the Loyal Three Statue, when saying goodbye to Helian and returning on the road to Mossui Town, did he ask:

"Do you know the ghosts?"

"Gash-ah..." Koraidon’s expression was conflicted, unsure how to express itself, but finally, it firmly nodded: "Gash-ah!"

Naoki wondered if he would believe it...

"I knew it!" Seeing this, Naoki immediately had his answer, but yesterday when observing that Pokemon, it seemed not to recognize Koraidon.

Naoki’s thoughts were a jumble, and he voiced his thoughts directly, "But it doesn’t seem to recognize you."

Koraidon’s mood appeared low: "Gash-ah..."

Witnessing this, Naoki didn’t know what to say.

He finally sighed, reached out to pet Koraidon’s head, and said, "In any case, let’s go investigate the place from yesterday."

"Gash-ah!"

Upon hearing this, Koraidon immediately walked to Naoki’s side, letting him ride on its back.

Once Naoki was seated, Koraidon leapt up, its double wings suddenly spread out, flying towards the ghostly aura veiled Ghost Mountain.