The time she spent in the Battle Castle still lingered in Caitlin's heart. In truth, she'd thought there was no way she could pass this trial.

Unexpectedly, those tools worked wonders. Once she stopped fixating on past pain, a power she'd never imagined burst forth.

Over these months of tempering, she had already shaken off that old instability.

Mind, will, emotions—feelings she'd never known before surged up from her heart.

It made Caitlin feel like she'd finally become a normal girl.

She no longer needed to suppress her emotions to control her psychic power.

In the past, she longed for passionate battles and felt happy and exhilarated when she fought.

But the moment a battle went badly, her mind would slip out of control. So she had to smother her own feelings just to rein in that overwhelming power.

The side-effect was that her emotions began to fade. Nothing could stir her interest.

Unless the opponent was a truly formidable challenger—yet that in turn carried the risk of losing control.

That was the root of her pain.

"Even having no psychic power at all would be better than having power I can't control. I used to curl up like a hedgehog every time I hit a setback."

"But because of the tools you made, I've stepped onto a bright path where I don't have to suppress my emotions."

"This gratitude is from the bottom of my heart—just like the gratitude I feel toward Shilan."

Guiding Hikaru through her villa, Caitlin spoke about her past. As she unburdened herself, her mood calmed, and a faint smile played at the corners of her lips.

Hikaru already knew these things.

Yet hearing it from the person herself, the pain and sorrow came through far more strongly. Even her steady description carried a breathless weight.

"Resolving to change yourself is hard. When I was lost, Cynthia-san enlightened me—that's why I admire her so much."

"Strong and beautiful—Cynthia is exactly how I wish to be. I want to become like her."

Hikaru couldn't help but chuckle.

Wasn't this the perfect time to drop that "famous line"?

"Admiration is the emotion farthest from understanding."

Caitlin blinked at Hikaru's remark, puzzled. "What's wrong with admiration?"

Hikaru spread his hands. "When you idolize someone, you idealize them—and that keeps you from grasping who they really are. There's a gulf between admiration and understanding."

"Still, Cynthia doesn't hide any abyssal secrets. Compared with a certain person I know, Miss Cynthia is actually quite emotional and… simple."

Caitlin grew thoughtful. "So there are times I overlook Cynthia's thoughts, aren't there?"

She shut her eyes. After a long moment, a trace of dejection showed.

"Right… I kept wishing Cynthia would visit, but she's always delayed by ruin research. I only thought about my own joy, never that she's busy too."

"In that case—as a substitute—Tenchou, you can take Cynthia's place."

Hikaru began, "Actually, I came here because of—"

"The underwater ruins," Caitlin hummed lightly.

"Since you're a guardian of ruins, of course you came after hearing about the Unovan ones. You wander around investigating ruins everywhere."

"Ah, I didn't stalk you! Your psychic power is especially strong now; I can't see anything."

Hikaru sighed. "But you definitely peeked, didn't you?"

"I was only waiting for you to visit me, hmph." Caitlin turned her head aside.

Clearly, she still hadn't shed all of that ojou-sama air. Then again, even after becoming Elite Four, her young-lady temper never really changed.

"You're thinking something rude, aren't you?" Caitlin said, displeased.

Hikaru rubbed his head. "You can't read minds… and if you did tail me the whole way, isn't a little inner grumbling normal?"

Caitlin bristled. "I told you, this is all because you didn't come to Undella Town first."

"Ahem!" She coughed softly. "Anyway, I did foresee some suspicious, dangerous people—but! If you asked me to help you deal with them… that wouldn't be out of the question!"

She lifted her chin, a confident smile returning, as if awaiting someone's "summons." The look said, "I'm very strong, you know."

A golden swan arched its noble neck, awaiting praise and a call.

But Hikaru mulled it over.

The Unova Elite Four had seen plenty of these cryptic organizations. Until Team Plasma pulled something grand, most of them would at best issue a public scolding. Aside from Marshal—whose justice is off the charts and might go find two of the Sages for some real-life Mortal Kombat—the other three probably wouldn't care much.

At least Shauntal showed no intention of investigating. Perhaps she saw Team Plasma as a flash-in-the-pan oddity—good material for a novel, nothing more.

As for the last member, Dark-type Elite Four "Grimsley," that one's practically a rogue outside the law—though in the specials he shows a decent sense of justice. Hikaru just hadn't run into him yet.

"…Why aren't you saying anything?"

Caitlin waited a while, then noticed Hikaru spacing out again. Mildly miffed, she nudged, "Hey! Is this something you need to ponder that long?"

"I'm one of the Elite Four! You should be deciding on the spot."

For once, she wanted to show off in front of someone she knew!

Plus, because they were both of the Celestic/Sinnoh line, Hikaru would definitely run into Cynthia again later. If he could "spread the word" to her, wouldn't Caitlin's impression points skyrocket?

And then her reputation would reach Shilan, too!

To put on a performance before the people she was most grateful to… Caitlin admitted there was a little girl's urge to brag in her heart—but don't adults feel that way sometimes too?

She was still a righteous maiden!

Hikaru said, "I just didn't expect our ojou-sama to bring up helping on her own. Those mystery organizations don't really pose a threat to you, do they?"

"Enough chatter. I want to," Caitlin said simply.

Then she muttered, "Just answer yes or no. There's no need to overthink it. I'm very strong now."

Caitlin turned slightly—and caught a pair of electronic eyes staring at her. In them flickered curiosity, surprise, joy, amusement… and yes, a glint of jealousy and wariness?

It helped that those pixel-eyes could reconfigure, and an emotional current, tinged with psychic force, pulsed from their owner's "heart."

"Huh—a Pokémon?!"

She started.

[Sample, it is love! You love him!]

Iron Valiant chirped in electronic tones of happiness. Ordinary people wouldn't understand her, but thankfully Caitlin wasn't ordinary.

Through her psychic senses, she could decipher Iron Valiant's signals—though only for Pokémon with psychic-like waves.

Caitlin froze, then flushed, flustered and a little angry.

"W-What are you saying?"

"Sorry—don't mind her." Hikaru quickly patted Iron Valiant and eased this "mechanical girl" behind him.

"She's one of my Pokémon. For complicated reasons, she's fascinated by intense emotions, and she's in pursuit of the meaning of 'love.'"

Iron Valiant blinked her pixel-eyes and stood by Hikaru's side, staring blankly while spinning up a systems storm.

Wasn't that feeling just now also love?

Vague yet sharply directional—it was more than simple concern, wasn't it? Very "invested"!

And Iron Valiant herself wasn't sure what the new emotion welling up inside her was.

Feeling uneasy and displeased at her Trainer interacting with another female—what emotion is that?

Fascinating. Log it. Ask Lilligant-san about it later.

"Searching for 'love'…"

"What kind of Pokémon is she?" Caitlin's initial embarrassment gave way to curiosity. It was her first time seeing a Pokémon so "like and yet unlike" the natural kind. Her interest was piqued, and while Iron Valiant processed her thoughts, Caitlin had already stepped closer of her own accord.

"Cold… steel—so a Steel-type? A regional form of Gardevoir? No, this looks artificial!"

"She's so much like Unova's Klinklang! At first glance neither of you seem like natural creatures—and you're far more technological!"

"Hmm? You're wary of me? Why? Ah… I get it."

Caitlin seemed to realize something. Looking between Iron Valiant and Hikaru, her eyes turned impish—not like the languid girl she used to be, but lively and teasing.

"Anyway," Hikaru coughed, remembering the serious reason he was here, "Ojou-sama, I want to ask your guidance on training psychic power."

"Guidance on psychic power—from me?" Caitlin was taken aback. Then the smile at her lips could barely be contained.

There was a hint of suppressed laughter in it.

After all, she used to be the one who couldn't control her powers—and now someone was coming to learn from her?

Thinking that way made it feel like all her effort over this period was being recognized. A strange joy welled up in Caitlin's heart.

Years of hard work, finally blooming—that's exactly what she wanted to hear!

"Pardon me…" Caitlin lightly covered her mouth. It took great effort to compose herself back into an elegant lady's poise.

"I just never imagined such a day. I don't know how your psychic power got stronger, but it doesn't look like training did it."

"Maybe you've awakened your latent gift. I'm the same—my power grows constantly even without formal drills. Mm… since you finally asked, I'll share the training insights I've gathered these past months!"

"As my thank-you. But before that, I have a request."

"I want another bespoke art piece. And of course, you must keep your word about the previous one!"

"First—like the kind Elesa wears—that fashion you showcased in Mistralton City. I want a set too. As for the design… something fantastical, cute—hm, or uniquely wistful."

"Castles, night, stars."

Caitlin piled on her requests, lost in happy fantasy.

After finishing the tour of her collections, Hikaru set down his backpack.

"Sure. Then I'll make it for you now."

Cynthia-san's "Divine Raiment" would be crafted here as well.

Caitlin's Gothitelle appeared and brought out armfuls of materials from an inner room.

She greeted Hikaru warmly. Caitlin wasn't surprised; instead she whispered,

"I know your secret. About the Pokémon Dream World—Gothitelle told me."

Hikaru didn't mind. "The Dream World isn't that big a secret. If someone kind-hearted like you knows, it's fine."

"In fact, a lot of people already do. Devices related to the Dream World will soon be commonplace. But ordinary folks still can't enter—it's a Pokémon paradise."

"Hmm." Caitlin pouted a little—sure, call me "not ordinary," why don't you. Still, getting praised made her perk up again.

"Fine, in any case—thank you for the compliment. I am, after all, a kind-hearted lady."

She smiled with ladylike grace and began introducing the fabrics:

"Look at these swatches—ultra-premium imports from the Galar region. I've heard you used 'mythic dragon cloth' for that other outfit, though I don't know what that is. It must be precious. The one on Elesa was a replica, of course. These luxury bolts should serve as fine substitutes."

"[Sturdy Cloth]—woven by Bug-type Pokémon; it resists cutting."

"[Unbreaking Cloth]—a super cloth created by Dark-type Pokémon; you can't tear it."

"[Cute Cloth] and [Wondrous Cloth]—brand-new products made from Fairy-type materials; they boost charm."

"[Top-Tier Cloth]—crafted from rare materials taken from Normal-type Pokémon; top of the line in every aspect."

"[Mystic Cloth]—woven from Dragon-type scales, lauded as 'legendary fabric.' See how those scales shimmer? Gorgeous."

"[Psychic Cloth]—a mind-bending psychic weave. This is my favorite. If you want to delve into psychic arts, you can't do without it."

"[Endless Space Cloth]—usable in outer space, a crystallized gift of Flying-type Pokémon. You won't find it on the market."

Hikaru smacked his forehead.

No wonder—rich ojou-sama things. Every one of these was high-grade at minimum according to his appraisal, some even marked "top-tier"!

Against his own dreamlike attribute fabrics, these were no worse, some nearly on par.

The Galar region was the main supplier of haute textiles, and Macro Cosmos under Chairman Rose had clearly gone all-in on the luxury market.

"Heh-heh~"

For Caitlin, a single "hmph" meant displeased; two "hmphs" meant very pleased.

"Tempted? These are rare for you, aren't they? And it's not just cloth!"

With supreme confidence, Caitlin shook her head.

"I can buy whatever's rare. So, Tenchou—I have a proposal."

Her smile turned crafty, the way one looks when a baited spot finally lures in a big catch. She leaned in slightly.

"I'm short one butler in Unova. How about becoming my personal butler? With every material at your fingertips."

Hikaru was taken aback.

Using these to headhunt an officer-tier artisan?

Did she think he'd fold so easily?

He was the seasoned emissary of Sinnoh's great patron!

He was about to deliver a stylish "I refuse," when Caitlin snapped her fingers.

"I have a complete set of Abyssal Ruins research notes—copied out of Team Plasma's hands using precognition. Want to see them?"

"…"

"Don't worry," Caitlin rested her chin in her palm, tilting her head with a languid, gentle smile. "I won't keep you long. Just a few days."

"And I'll pay very generous compensation."

Hikaru seemed to put a few things together, then said suddenly:

"A few days? I get it. Ojou-sama, you want to investigate the Abyssal Ruins too, don't you? Then send a report to Cynthia-san and earn her praise?"

Ahh, Cynthia—what a sinful woman. Truly the "queen of all hearts."

"But you're not exactly specialized in ruinology. Looking to build shared topics, hm? Oh, right—if so, I'll also need some books—hmm?"

Caitlin's smile froze; then she grew a bit flustered and annoyed.

Her hair began to billow and lengthen—sign she was brimming with emotion.

"Tenchou, you really…!"

"Let's have a psychic duel—no Pokémon! I'll let you experience for yourself what a strongest-class psychic is!"

(End of Chapter)

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