"Gen~"
Gengar rubbed its now bright-red cheeks. Its white body, paired with the slightly rosy cheeks, made the chubby Gengar look unexpectedly delicate and almost… cute.
Looking at the shiny Gengar, the host suddenly asked, "Champion Julian, has Gengar always interacted with you in this way?"
"You mean the Lick?"
The host nodded.
Julian thought back for a moment—when Gengar was still a Gastly, it already liked licking him.
"Yeah. I’ve lectured this guy about it countless times, but it just can’t change the habit."
As he spoke, Julian pulled Gengar closer and pinched its chubby cheeks. The plump Gengar had a surprisingly pleasant texture—soft and bouncy.
"Champion Julian, you must have quite the resilient constitution. Most people wouldn’t be able to handle paralysis like that," the host said with a smile.
For a normal human, paralysis might not be fatal, but even moving a finger would be difficult. Yet Julian had still been able to reach into his pocket and pull out a Cheri Berry.
Then again, what normal person carries a Cheri Berry in their pocket?
The host suddenly felt a little sorry for Julian.
"Get paralyzed a hundred or two hundred times a year, and you’ll develop a body like mine," Julian said nonchalantly.
Host: 'Why does this sound like humblebragging?'
"Champion Julian, could you tell us a bit about your Metagross?"
As she spoke, the host glanced at the silver Metagross napping on the couch beside Julian.
This was the first time she had ever been this close to a Champion-level Pokémon.
And it was a silver Metagross—a Pokémon famous throughout Drakoria.
Generations of Walker family predecessors had built the family’s prestige step by step with the help of their silver Metagross.
Hearing the host mention it, Metagross slightly opened its eyes.
"Metagross? What’s there to say? It’s my starter Pokémon."
Just those two words—"starter Pokémon"—were enough to prove the bond between Julian and Metagross.
For most trainers, their starter Pokémon held a special place in their hearts. Even if that Pokémon could no longer grow stronger due to injuries or limited potential, its position in the trainer’s heart would remain at the top.
Of course, there were also some heartless trainers who abandoned their starter Pokémon.
"Meta~"
Metagross: "That’s it?"
Clearly, Metagross was dissatisfied that Julian only mentioned it being his starter Pokémon without saying anything else.
"I have so many good qualities—why didn’t you mention them?"
'Many good qualities?'
Julian hesitated—he couldn’t immediately think of what Metagross’s good qualities were.
And when he tried to think of one, the very first thing that popped into his head was that Metagross was the "jealous king."
Luckily, he didn’t say that out loud—otherwise Metagross would probably sulk for days.
The host sensed the subtle tension between Julian and Metagross and wondered if her question had put him in a tough spot.
Julian: 'It definitely did.'
"Champion Julian, now that you’re already a Champion, what are your plans going forward?"
"Naturally, to train more of my Pokémon to become Champions," Julian replied.
Metagross becoming a Champion was just the beginning. His other main Pokémon would also reach the Champion tier one by one, and he would also complete his main quest.
Getting stronger and reaping rewards—wasn’t that perfect?
The host had expected Julian to say something inspiring, like "become the strongest Champion" or "surpass Duke." But his answer wasn’t wrong either.
The interview lasted a full three hours.
It wasn’t just the host on set; there were also some live audience members.
During the final hour, Julian interacted with them, letting them ask questions directly.
The audience consisted mostly of contemporary youth.
And young people were all about rebellion.
So the questions they asked Julian got weirder and weirder:
For example:
"Senior Walker, I’m a sophomore trainer at Imperial University. I want to know how can I make the school belle chase after me?"
"Rumors are still circulating about how two school belles pursued you back in the day."
Julian: "Just become an Elite during your freshman year."
Questioner: 'Damn, so boastful.'
"Champion Julian, what are your requirements for a partner?"
Julian: "Beautiful, sexy, young, treats me well, and is sensible."
"Champion Julian, are you really that shallow?"
Julian: "I am indeed that shallow."
"Then would you like someone like me?"
Julian: "Next question."
Questioner: "...."
"Champion Julian, what’s your opinion on simps?"
Julian: "Simping for one girl makes you a simp. But if you simp for five, six, or even ten at the same time, then you’re a player."
Questioner: 'I’ve been enlightened.'
Host: 'What the hell are these questions?'
The questions were sharp and rebellious.
Yet Julian’s answers were simple, direct, and relatable, making the audience laugh while feeling that this lofty Champion wasn’t so distant after all.
After three hours, the interview finally ended.
Julian even took a group photo with the host and the live audience.
He declined the national TV station director’s dinner invitation and left the studio, heading straight to Imperial University.
Thanks to Julian, Imperial University had completely surpassed Shu University to become the true top institution in the nation.
This year, the number of students applying to Imperial University had nearly doubled compared to previous years.
Of course, Imperial University couldn't accept all applicants. After admitting the most outstanding students, the remaining ones had to settle for Shu University.
Imperial University: "Shu is now just picking up the scraps we left behind."
These days, Shu University was even jokingly referred to as the "home for Imperial University's rejects."
As for the Special Recruitment Class, it was even more competitive. The thirty students in the special class were either provincial high school league Champions, national Champions in their respective Pokémon Type competitions, or direct descendants of major families.
The quality of students was the highest in years, but surpassing the graduation achievements of Julian's Special Recruitment Class—four Elites and one Champion—was absolutely impossible.
Four Elites might be conceivable, but a Champion? Unless that person had cheats, that wasn’t happening.
When Julian returned to Imperial University, he was quickly recognized by the students. They excitedly took out their phones to snap photos and post on social media, but no one rushed to disturb him.
"Senior Julian!"
A surprised voice suddenly called out.
Julian turned to see a handsome, energetic young man who looked somewhat familiar.
As the guy approached, Julian smiled and said, "Oh, it's you, Ryan."
Ryan was one of the students Julian had recruited during his part-time stint as an admissions officer.
This guy was a talent—the kind who dared to turn an award acceptance speech into an advertisement. A money-making genius.
Julian had even told him back then that if he ever needed help, he could come to him. He truly admired this kind of talent.
Ryan was highly gifted and optimistic. The only thing holding him back was his commoner background, but precisely because of his origins, Julian admired him even more.
Since Julian had personally recruited him, they had exchanged contact information and occasionally chatted.
Especially after Julian became a Champion, Ryan had actually sent him nearly a hundred voice messages, each one at least thirty seconds long.
Julian, of course, hadn’t listened to a single one of them. He just replied with a simple, "Mm."
*****
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