Chapter 118: Shalour Gym
"No wonder the Pokémon around this area avoid humans the moment they see them."
Sora found himself disliking those overbearing trainers even more.
It was people like them who had ruined the reputation of trainers among wild Pokémon.
And so, along the way, Sora encountered quite a few Pokémon.
Unfortunately, Carbink seemed rather rare in this area, so he never directly found any.
Still, a few Geodude did provide Victini with some information.
"They once saw four Pokémon that looked very similar to the Carbink we're searching for?"
A group of four Carbink immediately made Sora think of the Diamond Ministers.
So he quickly asked where they had gone.
Sadly, the Geodude didn't know.
That encounter had happened a very long time ago.
"I see…"
"Well, thanks anyway."
Sora took out some Pokéblocks favored by Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon and handed them to the Geodude.
The little Geodude hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise and happily narrowed their eyes, thanking Sora enthusiastically.
See?
Pokémon really were such simple and lovable creatures.
As long as you treated them kindly, they would sincerely come to like you.
And when danger came, they would risk their lives without hesitation to protect you.
That was why Sora genuinely couldn't understand how people could intentionally hurt Pokémon.
Anyone whom even Pokémon couldn't heal emotionally had no right to call themselves a trainer.
"Master, are you looking for Carbink?"
"Yeah."
Sora replied:
"I want to use them to find the legendary Diamond Domain."
"Huh?"
This was Korrina's first time hearing his true objective.
"The Diamond Domain really exists?"
The Kalos region did indeed have legends about the Diamond Domain.
According to the stories, the place was overflowing with priceless diamonds and gemstones.
Just bending down to pick up a few would guarantee a lifetime of wealth.
Because of this, countless adventurers and treasure hunters tirelessly searched for traces of the Diamond Domain.
"Master… are you short on money?"
"My goal isn't the gemstones."
Sora realized she'd misunderstood.
"I want to catch a certain Pokémon."
"I see…"
Korrina had originally wanted to say that if Sora needed money, he could simply ask her.
As a Gym Leader, her income was extremely high.
She was absolutely a rich girl.
But since Sora didn't elaborate further, Korrina wisely chose not to pry.
She understood very well that matters involving the Diamond Domain couldn't be discussed casually in public.
Even if she wanted to ask more, it should be done somewhere private.
"Whew…"
A cool night breeze brushed against their faces as Sora and Korrina finally emerged from the cave exit.
Standing atop a high slope, they gazed into the distance—
toward the vast plains and the coastal city beyond.
The colorful neon lights of the night blended with the starlit sky, weaving together a magnificent and dreamlike panorama that made Sora feel as though even his soul had been elevated.
"We're here! That's Shalour City!"
Korrina happily exclaimed.
"Let's stay at the Gym tonight and challenge Grandpa tomorrow!"
Now that they'd arrived in Shalour City, there was no way Korrina would let Sora stay at a hotel.
Her Gym was huge.
There were plenty of empty rooms.
Her master had finally come to visit—
how could she not provide the utmost hospitality?
I absolutely must treat Master with the highest level of care possible!
The more she thought about it, the more fired up she became.
Shalour City was surrounded by towering walls.
Its style blended classical architecture with modern aesthetics, carrying a distinct steampunk atmosphere.
Since they'd arrived at night, Sora didn't wander around the city and instead followed Korrina directly to Shalour Gym.
The Gym stood in the center of the city and was the tallest structure in all of Shalour.
Its appearance resembled a giant tower, layered with arena-like structures stacked one atop another.
It looked incredibly imposing.
"Welcome to Shalour Gym, Master!"
Korrina grabbed Sora's hand and excitedly dragged him inside.
The apprentices stationed within the Gym greeted her one after another when they saw her return.
"Everyone's still training this late at night?"
Besides accepting trainer challenges, Shalour Gym also functioned as a massive martial arts training hall.
Martial artists frequently trained and sparred there.
"A lot of the people here are Grandpa's disciples."
As for Korrina's father—many years ago, during a League operation, he encountered a dangerous group of poachers.
Although he ultimately succeeded in protecting the captured Pokémon, he suffered severe injuries from the hunters' weapons.
Oh, and her father was still alive.
However, due to his physical condition, he could no longer serve as the Gym's head.
So he entrusted the position to his daughter.
Meanwhile, he and Korrina's mother traveled together around the world, living a sweet married life.
"So this is one of the classic Pokémon world traditions?"
The parents are true love; the child is just an accident.
There were tons of child Gym Leaders in both the games and anime.
Mostly because the adults had run off traveling somewhere and dumped all responsibility onto the kids.
At least Korrina's family wasn't that bad.
She genuinely liked being a Gym Trainer and worked very hard.
Compared to Brock's father Flint—
who casually abandoned seven or eight children to go traveling by himself—this was already pretty responsible.
"Master, I'll take you to see Grandpa."
"Uh…"
Sora waved his hand.
"Isn't it a bit late for that?"
"Even if I'm challenging the Gym, tomorrow would be fine."
"…That's true."
Korrina hurriedly apologized.
She'd simply gotten too excited.
"And Elderly people should rest earlier, right? Disturbing him this late doesn't seem very polite."
"That's not true at all!"
Korrina proudly patted her flat chest.
"Grandpa's super energetic! He trains disciples late into the night every day!"
"Training?"
"He's guiding the disciples."
According to Korrina's description, Gurkinn was an incredibly strict old fossil who constantly scolded his students.
That was exactly why she was so eager to see Sora slap the old man in the face.
You really are his biological granddaughter.
What else could Sora say?
Since Gurkinn was still awake, then regardless of whether Sora planned to challenge him tonight, basic courtesy demanded that he at least go greet the old man.
Thus, under Korrina's guidance, Sora passed through the Gym's intricate interior structures.
The stone-built battlefields one after another gave Sora a clear understanding of just how deep-rooted and prestigious this Gym truly was.
And according to Korrina, over a hundred years ago, Shalour Gym had originally been the castle of a marquis family.
Only after extensive renovations had it become what it was today.
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