Ethereal Paradise.
The Ethereum Foundation arranged for Natsuhiko a standalone villa in Ethereal Paradise, not too far from Lusamine's private residence.
And on the villa's lawn.
Natsuhiko sat on the ground, holding a book in his hands, silently reading.
In front of him, Little Vulpix and Little Eevee were playing joyfully.
"Buyi~~ Buyi~~"
"Awoo~~"
Laughter echoed continuously.
On the other side of Natsuhiko, across the grass from where Eevee and Vulpix were, stood a little girl.
Wearing a white dress and a wide-brimmed hat, holding a Clefairy doll, she looked longingly at the playing Vulpix and Eevee.
However.
Whenever she mustered the courage to step forward, her face always showed fear, not daring to approach.
Maintaining this state, neither Natsuhiko nor Lillie spoke, only the laughter of the two little ones continued.
Snap!
Having finished reading the last bit of information about the "Overlord Aura," Natsuhiko closed his notebook.
His impression of these tools like "Overlord Aura," "Ultimate Aura," and "Radiant Stone" became more concrete.
This helped him with the development and exploration of Beedrill's "Leader Aura."
Kapu-Muu used the "Radiant Stone" to further stimulate Beedrill's "Leader Aura," or rather, it activated a part of the "Leader Aura" similar to an "Overlord Aura."
This gave Natsuhiko some ideas.
Could it be possible to merge the "Leader Aura" and the "Overlord Aura" on Beedrill?
There was also the black crystal stone given to him by Kapu-Muu.
Natsuhiko still couldn't figure out what it was.
If possible, he hoped the Ethereum Foundation's data could provide some help.
Raising his head.
He smiled at the still hesitating Lillie, who wanted to approach but didn't dare.
"Are you afraid?" Natsuhiko's gentle voice, carrying a special allure, reached Lillie's ears.
Upon hearing Natsuhiko's words, Lillie was momentarily stunned, first shaking her head, then hesitantly nodding.
"Sit."
Natsuhiko patted the grass beside him.
Lillie looked at Natsuhiko, then at Vulpix and Eevee still playing.
After hesitating for a moment, she tiptoed around Vulpix and Eevee to Natsuhiko's side.
But she didn't sit down, she just silently watched Natsuhiko.
Lillie knew that this was someone Mother had found to help her, so she didn't go against Natsuhiko's words.
Yet, for a stranger, a not-too-familiar stranger, she wasn't going to sit directly next to Natsuhiko.
Natsuhiko didn't insist.
Smiling, he said, "Shall I tell you a story?"
"A story?"
"Would you like to try listening to one?"
"...Mm..." Lillie replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito.
"Once upon a time, there was a Pokémon named Ralts...."
Natsuhiko began to tell a common but unique story in the Pokemon Realm.
The kind of story you could swap names and still fit perfectly.
For adults, it's obviously childish, but for a little girl like Lillie, it's truly novel.
...
...
On the other side.
Lusamine's office.
"Are they still the same as before?" Lusamine asked.
Although Natsuhiko didn't allow surveillance, Lusamine was confident that with the Ethereum Foundation's technology, they could still monitor them without Natsuhiko's awareness.
Little did she know.
Everything they did was within Natsuhiko's perception, also watched by Dragapult.
But it didn't matter, Natsuhiko simply mentioned it, not fully trusting their words either.
"Miss Lillie is with Mr. Natsuka. We don't know what Mr. Natsuka said, but Miss Lillie seems very happy." Bico said.
"Very happy?"
Lusamine was a bit surprised.
Lillie hadn't smiled since being frightened that time.
It was good she wasn't scared to tears; a smile was unexpected.
This relieved Lusamine slightly.
At least her choice wasn't a desperate attempt to find help.
They breathed a sigh of relief.
ZaoBo, standing aside, didn't look as pleased.
If Lillie recovered, he might be the first to face consequences.
The Ultimate Cave previously opened was due to his eagerness, not some accident.
Although Lillie was frightened, it wasn't that severe.
ZaoBo had sealed parts of Lillie's memory to prevent Lusamine from finding out his recklessness endangered Lillie.
But ZaoBo wasn't proficient in that method; sealing Lillie's memory without providing a mental support, thus amplifying her inner fear.
It's somewhat similar to what Natsuhiko did with Joanna.
Only Natsuhiko used Aegislash's innate ability to control minds and combined it with Alakazam's superpower to amplify Joanna's support for Natsuhiko.
Thanks to Aegislash's power, it became more thorough.
This method couldn't fully control a person but could guide their thoughts.
Over time, it can form a habitual way of thinking.
Moreover.
It heavily depended on the manipulated person's will.
For someone like Joanna, Natsuhiko reached his limit, supplementing with actions and proofs to reinforce her impression.
But after all, Lillie was just a little girl who was unconscious; her consciousness wasn't large.
If it were Gladio, ZaoBo might have failed.
Moreover, ZaoBo only used Alakazam's superpower and Hypno's "Hypnosis."
In Natsuhiko's view, this was very crude.
With time, traces might fade.
Though it was only a few days, detecting it wasn't difficult for Natsuhiko the Superpower User.
It was Lusamine's guilt and Lillie's poor state that didn't let her go out much.
Otherwise, encountering a powerful superpower user, some issues would be perceptible.
Of course, maybe ZaoBo tampered in some way.
Hence, when Natsuhiko arrived, such a proud person as ZaoBo went to greet the plane with Bico.
He feared Natsuhiko might bring something unfavorable for him.
"Let's observe a bit more. Don't disturb them, and withdraw all surveillance." Lusamine decisively waved her hand.
...
...
"So Brother Natsuka, Princess Gardevoir lived happily with seven Munchlax?" Lillie blinked, seemingly sympathizing with Princess Gardevoir's experiences and yearning for it.
This was one of the stories Natsuhiko had told her.
The story of "Princess Gardevoir and the Seven Munchlax."
Along with other stories like "Gothitelle's Crystal Shoes," "Dark Rukia and the Red-Hatted Demon Fire Red Fox," "Prince Dazed Beast," and more.
This not only brought Natsuhiko and Lillie closer but also reduced her fear of Pokémon.
At least.
Without realizing it, Vulpix and Eevee cuddled into Natsuhiko's arms, listening attentively, without Lillie getting rigid or resistant.
To heal Lillie.
Her sealed memories were one part.
But her inner fear was the most significant.
Without Silvally, Natsuhiko chose this clever method temporarily.
Natsuhiko did have simpler methods.
But they were too simple and might be risky for Lillie.
No matter how the Ethereum Foundation behaved, no matter Lusamine's actions, this little girl was genuinely kind.
For kind people, Natsuhiko naturally uses kind methods.
After all, he's a... "good person."
"Brother Natsuka, tell one more, just one more." Lillie tugged on Natsuhiko's arm, gently shaking as she pleaded with one finger raised.
It's not the first time she's pleaded like this.
These novel stories were ones she truly hadn't heard.
Lillie's approval of Natsuhiko soared.
"Buyi! Buyi!!"
"Awoo!!"
The two little ones also pleaded.
See, now they were on the same side, with a shared topic!
Even Lillie didn't realize it herself.
Natsuhiko smiled helplessly.
"Alright."
——————
PS: Went to a banquet today, a bit late, apologies~~