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Time spent together always leaves people nostalgic. After Ash left, Liam and Delia also set out again, heading toward their next Gym city—Goldenrod.
"Wait—something that unbelievable! So what you're saying is… Ash is really our son? So when he called me 'mom' from the very beginning, he wasn't wrong? Ahhh! How could something like this even happen! It's so embarrassing!!"
Walking through the dense Ilex Forest, Delia finally learned the truth about Ash's origins after Liam—still with several large bumps on his head—explained everything. Her face was full of disbelief, her eyes wide with shock.
"Hiss! That hurts! Delia, how could you hit me so hard?! Ugh… it hurts so much…"
Liam rubbed the swelling bumps on his head, his expression pained and pitiful.
"Serves you right! You kept it from me. Something this important, and you didn't tell me. You even hid it for days!"
Delia glared up at Liam angrily, cheeks puffed as she scolded him.
"How can you blame me? I was worried that if you knew the truth, you wouldn't be able to handle it…"
Liam looked helpless—he really had been thinking of her.
"Hmph… don't underestimate me. Sure, the news is shocking, but I can handle it. It's just… just suddenly having another son, that's all… not really such a big deal. Besides… besides… wasn't it bound to happen sooner or later anyway…"
At first, Delia tried to keep her tough front, but as she went on, her cheeks grew redder, her voice quieter, until in the end she couldn't even look Liam in the eye.
"Oh? Really? Hehehe Delia, why's your face so red? Are you thinking about something weird?"
Seeing her blushing, Liam grinned teasingly, leaning in with a mischievous smile.
"N-no! Not at all! Liam, you idiot!"
Her face turned even redder. She shoved him away with all her strength, then covered her face and bolted ahead, leaving Liam behind laughing uncontrollably.
But once Delia disappeared into the distance, Liam's laughter suddenly stopped. Looking at her running figure, he sighed softly.
Even though he'd revealed Ash's true origins under her "interrogation," he hadn't told her about the possibility of disappearing in the future. That was something better left unsaid—he didn't want her to worry.
Shaking his head, Liam forced those thoughts aside, then quickened his pace, running after Delia.
...…
After about half a day, Liam and Delia finally walked out of the wide Ilex Forest. What lay before them now was a long, endless, flat road.
"Ahhh! I can't walk anymore! I'm so hungry and tired~ Where's the Pokémon Center already?"
When she first realized they were leaving the forest, Delia had rushed out happily, thinking their days of camping in the wild were finally over. But faced with the endless road stretching ahead, she collapsed emotionally, slumping to the ground weakly.
The sky was already darkening. It was clearly impossible for them to reach Goldenrod City before nightfall. Knowing that, Liam sighed and gently pulled Delia back to her feet, speaking comfortingly.
"Alright, don't pout anymore. It's already getting late, so let's find a place to set up camp. Once the tent's up, I'll cook you something delicious."
Perhaps the mention of food worked—Delia only pouted and nodded slightly, saying nothing more.
And at that moment—
"Moo~"
"Hm? Are you travelers? Hehe, do you need any help?"
From the forest behind them came a sound like a cow's lowing. Liam and Delia turned to look and saw an elderly man with snow-white hair walking out, leading a Tauros. On the Tauros's back were bundles of neatly cut branches.
The old man had clearly spotted them first. After a moment of surprise, he smiled kindly.
"Hello. Yes, we're travelers—we just came out of Ilex Forest and were about to look for a place to camp. May I ask who you are?"
Liam replied politely.
"Haha, my name's not important—you can just call me the Breeder Elder. But camping here isn't the best idea. Plenty of Pokémon wander at night. If you don't mind, my Day Care is just up ahead. We've got spare rooms—you're welcome to stay the night."
Politeness pays off. The elder, seeing Liam's manners, nodded slightly and invited the two to his place.
"Day Care? That sounds familiar… what kind of place is it? Sounds fun! Liam~ I want to go! Let's go!"
Delia's eyes lit up instantly at the idea of sleeping indoors. She grabbed Liam's arm, shaking it excitedly.
"Uh… hehe, sorry to trouble you, sir. I didn't expect you to be running a Day Care. Honestly, I've only heard of such places before—I don't know what they're really like inside, so I'd love to see it. If it's not too much trouble, then we'd be grateful."
Truthfully, even if Delia hadn't insisted, Liam was curious. The "egg-hatching paradise" of the games—what would it look like in reality?
"Not trouble at all, haha. This area rarely gets visitors—it's just me and my wife running the Day Care. She'll be happy to have guests. Since it's getting dark, let's hurry along. You must be tired after walking all day. Once we get home, I'll have my wife cook you something delicious."
Happy that Liam agreed, the Breeder Elder led them onward with Tauros.
After about twenty minutes, with the elder guiding them, Liam and Delia arrived before nightfall at the long-anticipated Day Care.
It was a two-story wooden lodge. Old, yes—but carefully maintained, neat and quaint.
Attached to the lodge was a sizable fenced pasture. Inside, a few Tauros and Miltank grazed leisurely.
The elder first unloaded the branches from Tauros's back and let it into the pasture to rest. Then he pushed open the lodge's door and led Liam and Delia inside.
"Wife! Come out quickly, we've got guests! Make sure to cook plenty of good food tonight!"
The moment they stepped inside, the elder called cheerfully. Soon, the sound of shuffling footsteps came from within the house…