"Grandma! Grandma!"
Inside the Bell Tower, hurried footsteps pounded up the wooden stairs, followed by a girl's panicked cry.
The shrine elder paused in the middle of burning incense, her expression stern. "Suzune, why are you rushing about like this? This is Lord Ho-Oh's sacred ground. Shouting like that is disrespectful!"
"N-no!" Suzune shook her head frantically, words tumbling over each other as she shouted to everyone present. "Lord Ho-Oh, it's Lord Ho-Oh. It's back!"
"You—" The elder was just about to scold her for making light of such a thing.
Before she could finish, a clear, melodious ringing suddenly echoed around the Bell Tower.
Every monk present stiffened, eyes widening.
Everyone here knew what that sound meant.
When the bells that carried Lord Ho-Oh's will rang out, it meant only one thing.
Ho-Oh had returned to Ecruteak City.
"Grandma, I really wasn't lying this time!" Suzune cried, shaking her head hard. "Lord Ho-Oh is right at the top of the tower!"
At those words, the monks stopped praying. They exchanged glances, then surged toward the staircase, rushing up to the tower's peak.
When they saw the sacred figure circling above them, tears streamed down their faces.
The shrine elder, an old woman who had followed Ho-Oh since birth and devoted her entire life to its worship, was so overwhelmed she nearly fainted.
Leaning heavily on her staff, her trembling voice overflowed with emotion.
"Lord Ho-Oh. It truly is Lord Ho-Oh. It must have heard our heartfelt prayers and returned to Ecruteak City."
"…"
At the same time, all across Ecruteak City, countless residents and passing Trainers looked up at the sky, staring at the sudden rainbow stretching overhead.
At its end, a Pokemon with golden-red feathers circled gracefully through the air, its entire body radiating a brilliant, rainbow-like glow.
"Mom, look! Such a pretty rainbow!" a child said happily, tugging on his mother's hand and pointing upward.
"No… that's not an ordinary rainbow."
The woman had lived in this ancient city for generations. The moment she saw that Pokemon, she recognized it.
"That's Ho-Oh. The Legendary Pokemon that lived atop the Bell Tower hundreds of years ago. My goodness, it's come back!"
Legendary Pokemon?
Some newly arrived Trainers froze when they heard that, shock spreading across their faces.
A Legendary Pokemon had appeared.
Powerful. Rare. The ultimate dream of countless Trainers.
And now, one had appeared right here in Ecruteak City.
"Um, excuse me," a Trainer stepped up beside the woman. "Could you tell me what's going on with that Pokemon?"
"You're not from around here, are you?" She kept her eyes on Ho-Oh as she slowly began to recount its legend.
Seven hundred years ago, Ho-Oh came to Ecruteak City, formed bonds with humans, and lived in the Bell Tower they built, bringing them happiness and protection.
Centuries later, wars among humans filled Ho-Oh with disappointment. It left the city and never returned.
Then, one hundred and fifty years ago, a tower was consumed by flames. Three Pokemon were burned alive inside. Ho-Oh appeared and revived them…
"There's a Pokemon like that in this world?" someone muttered.
After hearing the story, the surrounding Trainers couldn't hide their amazement.
Overwhelming power, and the ability to bring the dead back to life.
Some wore expressions of pure curiosity toward the unknown.
Others looked openly thrilled.
If they could capture this Legendary Pokemon…
Just then, the boy beside the woman let out a small gasp.
He pointed at the approaching Ho-Oh. "Mom, look! There's someone on that Pokemon!"
"What?" She froze, then followed his finger, peering behind Ho-Oh.
There, clinging tightly to its neck, was a small figure, nervously looking down.
There really was a person. The woman couldn't help but cry out.
At the top of the Bell Tower.
"Grandma, there's someone on Lord Ho-Oh!" Suzune shouted, pointing skyward.
The shrine elder and the monks stared in stunned confusion.
How could that be? Who was that?
A thought surfaced unbidden in the elder's mind.
Could it be that Lord Ho-Oh had already been captured by someone, and that was why it never returned to Ecruteak City?
High above, Fuyuki looked down at the two tall towers rising from the city and immediately guessed where they were.
This was Ecruteak City in Johto, the place where Ho-Oh had once lingered long ago.
"This is where humans live now."
Ho-Oh gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar scenery below, its noble, elegant voice echoing in Fuyuki's mind through telepathy.
"It's beautiful," Fuyuki said sincerely. The city's ancient charm washed over him, its buildings full of character.
Especially the path leading to the Bell Tower, the Bellchime Trail. Golden trees lined both sides, their leaves said to stay autumn-bright all year long.
At the trail's end stood a solemn, timeworn tower, bells hanging from its eaves. It had clearly been rebuilt by the people of Ecruteak City for Ho-Oh.
Right now, on the tower's peak, in the streets, along the roads, figures stood still.
All of them looked up at the sky.
[Suzune is extremely shocked by Lord Ho-Oh's return to Ecruteak City. Shock Points from Suzune +80!]
[The shrine elder is utterly shocked by you riding on Lord Ho-Oh. Shock Points from the shrine elder +100!]
[Monk Matsushita is deeply shocked by your actions. Shock Points from Monk Matsushita +70!]
[Mini Skirt Koharu is experiencing unprecedented shock at a Trainer capturing Ho-Oh, a Legendary Pokemon. Shock Points from Mini Skirt Koharu +120!]
[Trainer Keita is greatly shaken by the sight of you riding on Ho-Oh's back. Shock Points from Trainer Keita +100!]
[…]
System notifications kept refreshing, like a beautiful symphony playing in Fuyuki's ears.
Ho-Oh circled above Ecruteak City. After their initial shock, the city's residents began spreading the news.
More and more people noticed Ho-Oh's arrival, and the young figure riding on its back.
Fuyuki opened the panel. The balance displayed there was skyrocketing at an absurd rate.
His heart started pounding.
Yes. This was it. This was it.
He was rich. Truly rich.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
You can read up to chapter 74 and more soon on patreon.com/NiaXD.