Although RULE#1 had originally been written by Edward as a mere script, the fact that the evil spirits from that story truly existed proved one thing beyond doubt—there really was such a world.
Just thinking about that made Edward feel an almost comical urge to send a consecrated statue into that realm—perhaps only then could those vengeful spirits receive the divine punishment they deserved.
With that faintly mischievous thought, Edward returned home, got some rest, and soon enough, dawn arrived—the last day before the New Year. He stretched lazily as he sat up in bed, letting out a long yawn. When he turned his head, he saw Q curled up beside him, fast asleep.
The sight made Edward smile. He reached out and gently patted the little Pokémon's head.
In its sleep, Q mumbled something incoherent, then rolled over and continued snoozing, completely oblivious. The adorable, sleepy way it acted made Edward want to laugh—it was just so clumsy and cute in its own way.
Beside him, Void floated over curiously, clearly having stayed awake the entire night. Edward looked at it and chuckled softly, picking up the notebook he had placed on his bedside table. He hadn't forgotten that he still needed to prepare New Year's gifts for his Pokémon. However, since there was still some time before the holiday officially arrived, he couldn't hand them out just yet.
"Good morning, Void," Edward greeted with a smile.
Void nodded slightly, a soft flicker in its eyes as if in response, then drifted toward the window. Through the glass, it gazed curiously at the people bustling about outside.
Edward joined it at the window for a look. The streets were already lively—colorful lanterns and decorations hung everywhere, filling the air with festive joy. The New Year atmosphere was unmistakable, and it stirred a bit of excitement in Edward's chest too.
He climbed out of bed, stretching once more, then headed downstairs with another yawn.
Downstairs, the family's old butler, Robert, was already setting the breakfast table.
"Young Master Edward, your breakfast is ready," the butler said warmly with a small bow.
"Thanks, Grandpa Robert," Edward replied, nodding as he hurried down the stairs.
"Slow down, will you?" his father, sitting on the sofa with a newspaper, chided him mildly. "You're not a child anymore."
Edward scratched his head sheepishly and slowed his pace before taking a seat at the table.
"Dad, you're not going to the company today?" he asked curiously between bites.
His father, Joseph, looked rather pleased with himself. "Of course not. I already gave everyone the day off yesterday—New Year's vacation. I've been wanting to take a proper break for ages. Maybe I'll go digging for rare stones or travel a bit."
Given how massive and busy the Devon Corporation was, Joseph rarely had such freedom. Now that he'd managed to schedule a holiday, even the workaholic Kuroda hadn't voiced any objections.
Edward nodded knowingly. He'd pulled that move himself plenty of times—when you wanted rest, you had to plan ahead.
He continued eating as the television played in the background. The Pokémon League's TV network was running a lineup of New Year-themed shows. There was no "Spring Festival Gala" equivalent in this world, which was honestly a relief to Edward—it spared him from having to make that annual dilemma of whether to watch it or not.
In his younger years, he used to enjoy those galas—skits, comedy sketches, song-and-dance numbers. But over time, they had grown dull and pretentious, every act trying too hard to force emotion or moral lessons. These days, Edward preferred to just scroll through his phone instead.
"Ugh, I'm so tired… Oh, hey, brother, you're up?"
The familiar, slightly exasperated voice came from the doorway. Steven walked in, stretching as he removed his coat. The sight surprised Edward—he hadn't expected his older brother to be home.
After all, being the Champion of the League wasn't just an honor—it was a heavy responsibility. Usually, Steven's New Year's schedule was packed with appearances, TV interviews, and holiday greetings.
"Yeah, I'm up. But what about you, bro? Don't you have stuff to do today?"
Steven shrugged and flopped onto the couch. "Not really. Thanks to you, things have finally calmed down."
Edward grinned. That much was true, ever since the remnants of Team Aqua and Team Magma had been completely wiped out, Steven's workload had lightened significantly.
Of course, it wasn't as if every dark organization in the world could be eradicated, but taking out the biggest two had been enough to strike fear into the rest.
Joseph looked over his newspaper at his eldest son, saying nothing, though he knew how much Steven had endured over the years. He also knew something else—that Steven had been quietly preparing to step down as Champion.
"Right," Steven suddenly said, sitting upright. "Dad, Edward, I've decided, after the New Year, I'm going to resign from the League."
Both father and son looked up, nodded casually, and then went back to what they were doing.
Steven blinked. "...Wait, that's it? No surprise? No questions?"
Joseph chuckled. "Why would we be surprised? You've earned your rest."
Edward just grinned. He had already guessed it long ago. After all, being Champion wasn't a lifetime sentence. Once you stepped down, you still kept all your benefits—enough to live comfortably forever. In the Pokémon world, becoming Champion was like securing the ultimate retirement plan.
"Bro, are you planning to recommend someone to take over? Wallace, maybe?" Edward asked.
Steven nodded. "That's right. Wallace is my first choice."
It made sense, Wallace was a top-tier trainer, stylish and elegant, already famous for winning numerous Pokémon Contests. His battle style was refined and dazzling, making him a perfect fit for Hoenn's public image.
Steven also knew that Wallace wanted to use the Champion title to promote Pokémon Contests even further. Though the idea might not have much commercial potential left, it was Wallace's dream, and Steven had no reason to stand in the way.
After breakfast, Edward left the house to run errands. He still had to buy several things—New Year's goods, gift sets, and presents for his staff and "special employees." He could've easily asked his subordinates to handle it, but giving gifts was all about sincerity, so he decided to do it himself.
"Grandpa Robert, let's head to the airport first," he said.
The butler nodded, started the car, and they set off.
Edward glanced at his phone—it was perfect timing. He was heading to pick up Fortune, his ghost-type assistant. Fortune had been working hard managing the Stone Comic studio and had grown a lot under Edward's mentorship. He could now handle administrative matters independently, which made Edward proud.
When Fortune arrived, Edward gave the little ghost a warm hug. "Fort, you've worked hard."
The Pokémon beamed, its golden form flickering with joy. Managing the company was exhausting, sure, but it had been fulfilling—it was living its dream.
Edward patted its head with a smile and then took Fortune shopping. Together, they visited a supermarket to buy New Year goods and then stopped by a mall to purchase holiday gifts for the evil spirits under his employ. By the time they were done, their car was loaded with bags.
Back home, Edward began sorting through the gifts one by one. The company's regular employee bonuses had already been handled by Zoroark. Edward understood that Pokémon well—Zoroark didn't care much for sentimental gifts. For it, nothing beat a fat year-end bonus.
After all, as Zoroark once complained, every game company during the holidays went insane with their "limited-time offers" and "special gacha events," squeezing players dry.
So, when it asked for extra pay instead of gifts, Edward happily obliged. It had worked hard this year, and he appreciated that.
He flipped through his notebook, checking the list of gifts for his supernatural staff.
Tomie's request: luxurious clothes and jewelry.
A bit extravagant, yes—but manageable. The only issue was that she wanted to receive them today.
Sighing with amusement, Edward decided to deliver them personally.
When he arrived at the Ghost Amusement Park, the place was packed—crowds everywhere, a sea of people bustling and laughing. Edward wasn't surprised. In this world, families typically stayed home only in the evening for dinner; the daytime was for going out and having fun.
But the sheer number of visitors waiting outside Tomie's haunted house made his stomach twist. Was she that popular? If Tomie ever unleashed her full charm, there would be chaos.
Even now, she kept her allure suppressed, yet she still drew crowds like a goddess of temptation. If she truly let loose, the consequences would be terrifying—obsession, madness, and probably several ghost-related "accidents."
"Tomie?" he called.
Before he could take another step, a soft hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside.
Tomie's eyes sparkled when she saw the shopping bags in his hands. "Boss! Are these… my gifts?" she asked excitedly, her voice sweet as honey.
Edward smiled and nodded. "Of course. They're all for you."
Tomie squealed softly in delight, eagerly checking through each bag like a child on Christmas morning. Her radiant joy made Edward chuckle. It was rare to see her like this—genuinely happy.
"Um… Edward," a voice called gently. It was Kayako, holding Toshio's hand. "Can I take Toshio to play for a bit?"
"Of course," Edward said, handing her a special all-access card. "This lets you skip every line. Tell anyone who asks that you're an amusement park evaluator."
Kayako bowed gratefully and left with her son, eyes filled with quiet warmth.
Edward glanced around. He rarely visited Tomie's haunted attraction, but now that he was here, he could see why it was so famous. The atmosphere was immersive, eerie yet beautiful.
Looking at the twisted trees outside, he suddenly remembered the scene—The Blood Jade Tree. It was based on a horror short about people growing branches from their necks, their blood turning into crimson fruit. The story was grotesque but fascinating.
After chatting with Tomie for a while, Edward returned home. That evening, he shared dinner with his family.
Later, as they all relaxed in the living room watching New Year's programs, a loud boom echoed outside.
Edward turned to the window and saw fireworks blooming brilliantly across the night sky.
He smiled softly. The year was ending.
And in just two more hours—
it would be New Year's Day.
"Happy New Year…" he murmured.
(End of Chapter)