Everyone Else Awakened, But I Just Opened a Pokémon Pet Shop

The moment it heard that familiar voice, Golduck instinctively launched its move.

Psychic energy surged from its forehead, forming a massive hammer of concentrated thought.

With the glowing Zen Headbutt charged, Golduck sprang into action—fast, fierce, and unstoppable!

Its target: the wild Golduck!

Of course, the voice that gave the command was none other than Murong Nan's.

The move Zen Headbutt had actually been in the move list for a long time now.

But because Psyduck had always struggled with headaches, Murong Nan had never dared to let it use it.

Now that it had evolved, it could finally unleash that power without holding back!

At this moment, the wild Golduck was still slumped on the ground, having burned through all its energy trying to resist Psyduck's earlier psychic explosion.

It was completely drained—its limbs like jelly.

With no strength left to counterattack, Golduck could only stare blankly as the incoming hammer of psychic power slammed into it.

THUD!

A muffled blow echoed as the pink-glowing headbutt connected squarely.

With no suspense whatsoever, the wild Golduck was sent flying—crashing into the river with a loud splash!

"Gah… Da?"

Murong Nan's Golduck wobbled to a stop, staring at its blue arms in confusion, still unfamiliar with its evolved form.

And in the next instant, Murong Nan rushed forward and hugged it tightly.

"You were amazing, Golduck!"

"Let's see them try trash-talking you now!"

"If they don't welcome you, then we don't want them either!"

Normally icy and composed like her Empoleon, Murong Nan couldn't tolerate anyone bullying her Pokémon.

Now that Golduck had fiercely struck back, she finally vented all that frustration—and her tone was unusually emotional!

"All's well that ends well~!"

Liu Yunlan giggled as she strolled over. Just moments ago, she'd been thinking of how to escape with Psyduck.

Yet in the blink of an eye, the situation had flipped entirely.

"Alright, we've wasted enough time. I wonder if this counts toward our exploration points…"

She tugged on Murong Nan's arm, eager to get back to their journey.

After all, Psyduck had evolved, the grudge had been settled—no reason to linger.

Yunlan was aiming for the top, after all!

"If it's exploration points you're asking about… it does count."

Su Bai glanced at the leaderboard and chuckled.

"But don't rush off just yet. Looks like that Golduck still has something to say."

At his words, Murong Nan and Liu Yunlan blinked and turned around.

Several wild Psyducks were helping their battered leader climb ashore.

Because they couldn't use their hands, their clumsy waddling made their swimming look especially goofy.

The sight had everyone at the Pokémon Center chuckling.

"What now? Still not giving up?"

Liu Yunlan teased, seeing the exhausted wild Golduck barely able to stand. "You're really the 'never surrender' type, huh?"

"Daa~da!"

The wild Golduck ignored her completely.

Instead, it turned to Murong Nan's Golduck—who had instinctively stepped in front of its Trainer—and let out a string of deliberate cries.

Murong Nan's Golduck stood still, stunned.

Inside the Pokémon Center, Diancie quickly translated, "It said: 'Don't leave. You're the new leader of the flock now.'"

"…Wow. At least it admits defeat honorably, even if it's got a foul mouth," Liu Yunlan said, shaking her head with a smile.

Pokémon really were pure creatures—no hidden agendas, no schemes.

Arrogant at first, sure. But once they lost, they accepted it from the heart.

"Da~da-da!"

Murong Nan's Golduck glanced at the wide-eyed wild Psyducks staring at it expectantly, then shuffled back closer to Murong Nan.

Even without Diancie translating, Murong Nan understood exactly what it meant.

It was refusing the offer to become the tribe's new leader!

A flock leader? That's nothing compared to being a Trainer's beloved Pokémon!

The wild Psyducks—and even the battered Golduck—panicked.

Suddenly, the air was filled with frantic, loud quacking—"Gah-gah-gah! Da-da-da!"—making everyone's ears ring.

"…Yup, ducks are loud no matter their form," Liu Yunlan sighed.

Murong Nan could only shake her head. She was about to ignore them and walk away when the wild Golduck—still leaning on its kin—suddenly raised its head and cried out:

"DA!"

"…I still have no idea what that means."

Murong Nan looked at it, expressionless. At this moment, she truly understood what "inter-species barrier" meant.

The Pokémon Center burst into laughter again.

These Golducks and Psyducks were just too much!

Diancie translated through giggles, "It says: 'Since you don't want to be our leader, I can't just lose for nothing. We want to give you our treasure!'"

"Treasure?" Murong Nan and Liu Yunlan exchanged a glance.

Liu Yunlan's eyes sparkled. "A Pokémon treasure? What could it be?!"

Hearing they'd stopped walking, the wild Golduck visibly relaxed.

Several Psyducks dove into the river, splashing down with comedic precision.

Moments later, they emerged—struggling to carry a large Poké Ball-shaped chest.

They carefully set it in front of the Trainers.

"Whoa! A treasure chest!"

Liu Yunlan's eyes lit up—but then caution crept in.

"…Wait, this isn't another Voltorb, right?"

She still hadn't forgotten the time Wang Tao got zapped to a crisp…

Beautiful girls don't fall for traps!

"Probably not… I doubt Psyducks would treat a Voltorb as a treasure," Murong Nan said dryly, giving her bestie a side-eye.

She stepped up without hesitation.

The object wasn't actually a Voltorb.

Though shaped like a giant Poké Ball, it was clearly smaller than a real Voltorb—more like the size of a large watermelon.

The markings and button in the center were just like any normal Poké Ball.

"Da~ Da-da~!"

Seeing Murong Nan approach, the wild Golduck began quacking again, eyes filled with urgency and anticipation.

Clearly, if she didn't accept this gift, it would see it as a deep insult.

The Psyduck clan was proud—they might lose a fight, but they wouldn't lose face!

Under the hopeful stares of the entire flock, Murong Nan gave a helpless smile—

And pressed the center of the Poké Ball.

With a flash of white light, the sphere shimmered and disappeared.

In its place was a necklace—with a single shimmering Mystic Water droplet dangling at its center.

The moment she saw it, Liu Yunlan shrieked—completely forgetting her ladylike image!

"OH MY GOD—it's a battle item! That's a Mystic Water!?"

"That thing goes for 3,000 training points at the Center!"

Liu Yunlan practically started drooling.

Three thousand points… that was enough to draw from the TM lottery six times!

And with the current TM market, even one lucky pull could fetch millions.

No wonder they called it a "treasure."

Turns out Psyducks are generous as heck!

Note:

My Summer class ended yesterday and I just arrived home and this is my last update for today because I'm tired.