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Because they were already acquaintances, Liam and Delia were invited to have lunch together at the Pokemon Center, where they got to taste Axu's cooking.
And honestly, it wasn't bad at all. Liam had to admit — it was no wonder Axu was so loved by his sisters!
After lunch, Axu's four older sisters left the Pokemon Center once again.
According to Axu, the four of them were actually quadruplets — and each one was an outstanding Nurse Joy.
In this city, those four Nurse Joys held two important identities. One, of course, was as the Joys who ran the Pokemon Center, providing aid to Pokémon and Trainers in need.
The other identity, surprisingly, was that of the shrine maidens of the Bell Tower. They often performed ritual dances there to honor Ho-Oh, praying for its protection over the region. The reason they had to leave that afternoon was to prepare for one of these blessing ceremonies.
Regardless of which role they were in, the four Joys were highly respected figures in this city, admired by everyone.
"Ah~ That was so good! I feel like I need to move around now! Liam, isn't there a Gym here? Let's go challenge it! I can't wait to earn my fourth badge!"
After eating and resting for a bit, Delia suddenly sat up from her chair, eyes sparkling with excitement as she grabbed Liam's hand eagerly.
"Huh? Fourth badge? Oh, so Miss Delia's doing the Gym Challenge this time? What about you, Senior? You're not—ah, right. You're already the Kanto Champion, so of course you don't need to challenge Gyms anymore."
Axu, who was tidying up the dishes, froze for a moment at Delia's words before realizing what she meant.
"That's right," Liam said with a small smile. "Delia's challenging the Johto League this time. I'm just accompanying her. Since you live here, you must know the city well, Axu. Can you tell us where the Ecruteak Gym is? We're planning to head there soon."
Of course, Liam could've simply opened his map to locate the Gym instantly, but surrounded by this warm, easy atmosphere, he didn't want to break it with technology.
"Of course I know where it is! I practically grew up there. Just wait a moment. Once I'm done cleaning up, I'll take you both there myself."
Hearing that Liam and Delia wanted to challenge the Gym, Axu's face lit up in excitement. His hands moved even faster as he finished cleaning, changed into fresh clothes, and led Liam and Delia out the Pokemon Center's door.
"Blissey, look after the place while we're gone. We'll be back soon."
"Bli~ssy~"
After saying goodbye to Blissey, the three of them made their way toward Ecruteak Gym.
The Ecruteak Gym was located in the western part of the city. It was an old, courtyard-style building, and right beside it stood the famous Burned Tower.
After passing through a small forest path, the group arrived before a large building perched atop a stone platform. The house's size and height made it one of the tallest structures in Ecruteak City.
As they climbed the stone steps, they noticed two young children sweeping at the entrance—likely Gym apprentices.
"Hey! Axu! What brings you here today? Huh? And who are these two?"
One of the kids, a blond boy about five or six years old wearing a purple scarf and headband, looked up in surprise and joy when he saw Axu. His eyes then shifted curiously toward Liam and Delia behind him.
"Haha, long time no see, Morty. How have you been lately?"
Axu grinned warmly, clearly on friendly terms with the boy.
"Morty… Oh, the future Ecruteak Gym Leader. Heh, he's kind of adorable at this age."
Hearing the boy's name, Liam immediately recognized him — this was the future Gym Leader of Ecruteak City, known for his "clairvoyant eyes," Morty.
Of course, at this age, Morty was still just a kid in training.
"Haha, Morty, let me introduce you. These two are my seniors. Senior Liam has taught me a lot, and this is Miss Delia, Senior Liam's fiancée. The reason we're here today is because Delia wants to challenge the Ecruteak Gym."
After greetings were exchanged, Axu turned toward the slightly older, brown-haired boy standing beside Morty. A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
"Oh, and by the way, both of them are from the Kanto region — your homeland too. So please, be kind to them, won't you, Gym Leader Eusine?"
Liam: "…"
Delia: "…"
Eusine: "Tch. Don't try to butter me up. I'm not going easy on anyone."
…
"Y-you're the Gym Leader of Ecruteak Gym?! How is that possible?! You're just a kid!"
Delia pointed at the brown-haired boy in front of her, completely stunned.
It was no wonder she reacted that way — Eusine really did look young. He was thin and small, his body frail-looking, hardly the image of a Gym Leader.
"Hey! What are you talking about, you ignorant woman?! Are you looking down on me?!"
Enraged by Delia's outburst, Eusine's forehead popped with anger marks. He threw his broom to the ground and glared fiercely at her.
"N-no, no! I'm really sorry! I was just surprised, that's all! I didn't mean to insult you, little brother!"
Delia quickly waved her hands, bowing slightly with an apologetic smile, trying to calm the fuming boy down.
"Who are you calling little brother?! Ugh, you really piss me off! Fine! You're the challenger, right? Then as the Gym Leader, I accept your challenge! And the battle starts right here, right now! You condescending woman — I'll show you exactly what I'm made of!"
Apparently, that one phrase — "little brother" — had completely set Eusine off. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he stomped back a few paces, grabbed a PokeBall from his belt, and declared the start of the Gym battle with a glare.
"…Fine. I do feel bad about this, but since it's an official Gym battle, I won't hold back either!"
Seeing how serious Eusine looked, Delia sighed softly and steeled herself, her expression turning equally firm.
"Hmph! Let me make the rules clear. It's a 3-on-3 battle. The match ends when all Pokémon on one side faint or surrender. I can't switch Pokémon mid-battle, but you can — don't say I'm being unfair. Morty! You're the referee."
After laying out the rules, Eusine seemed to calm down a bit. He turned to Morty and gave him a nod.
"Got it! I now declare — the Ecruteak Gym official challenge match begins!"
Morty put down his broom, raised both hands, and solemnly announced the start of the battle.
"Let's begin! As the Gym Leader, I'll go first! Go, Hypno!"
With that declaration, Eusine decisively threw out his PokeBall.
And honestly, it wasn't bad at all. Liam had to admit — it was no wonder Axu was so loved by his sisters!
After lunch, Axu's four older sisters left the Pokemon Center once again.
According to Axu, the four of them were actually quadruplets — and each one was an outstanding Nurse Joy.
In this city, those four Nurse Joys held two important identities. One, of course, was as the Joys who ran the Pokemon Center, providing aid to Pokémon and Trainers in need.
The other identity, surprisingly, was that of the shrine maidens of the Bell Tower. They often performed ritual dances there to honor Ho-Oh, praying for its protection over the region. The reason they had to leave that afternoon was to prepare for one of these blessing ceremonies.
Regardless of which role they were in, the four Joys were highly respected figures in this city, admired by everyone.
"Ah~ That was so good! I feel like I need to move around now! Liam, isn't there a Gym here? Let's go challenge it! I can't wait to earn my fourth badge!"
After eating and resting for a bit, Delia suddenly sat up from her chair, eyes sparkling with excitement as she grabbed Liam's hand eagerly.
"Huh? Fourth badge? Oh, so Miss Delia's doing the Gym Challenge this time? What about you, Senior? You're not—ah, right. You're already the Kanto Champion, so of course you don't need to challenge Gyms anymore."
Axu, who was tidying up the dishes, froze for a moment at Delia's words before realizing what she meant.
"That's right," Liam said with a small smile. "Delia's challenging the Johto League this time. I'm just accompanying her. Since you live here, you must know the city well, Axu. Can you tell us where the Ecruteak Gym is? We're planning to head there soon."
Of course, Liam could've simply opened his map to locate the Gym instantly, but surrounded by this warm, easy atmosphere, he didn't want to break it with technology.
"Of course I know where it is! I practically grew up there. Just wait a moment. Once I'm done cleaning up, I'll take you both there myself."
Hearing that Liam and Delia wanted to challenge the Gym, Axu's face lit up in excitement. His hands moved even faster as he finished cleaning, changed into fresh clothes, and led Liam and Delia out the Pokemon Center's door.
"Blissey, look after the place while we're gone. We'll be back soon."
"Bli~ssy~"
After saying goodbye to Blissey, the three of them made their way toward Ecruteak Gym.
The Ecruteak Gym was located in the western part of the city. It was an old, courtyard-style building, and right beside it stood the famous Burned Tower.
After passing through a small forest path, the group arrived before a large building perched atop a stone platform. The house's size and height made it one of the tallest structures in Ecruteak City.
As they climbed the stone steps, they noticed two young children sweeping at the entrance—likely Gym apprentices.
"Hey! Axu! What brings you here today? Huh? And who are these two?"
One of the kids, a blond boy about five or six years old wearing a purple scarf and headband, looked up in surprise and joy when he saw Axu. His eyes then shifted curiously toward Liam and Delia behind him.
"Haha, long time no see, Morty. How have you been lately?"
Axu grinned warmly, clearly on friendly terms with the boy.
"Morty… Oh, the future Ecruteak Gym Leader. Heh, he's kind of adorable at this age."
Hearing the boy's name, Liam immediately recognized him — this was the future Gym Leader of Ecruteak City, known for his "clairvoyant eyes," Morty.
Of course, at this age, Morty was still just a kid in training.
"Haha, Morty, let me introduce you. These two are my seniors. Senior Liam has taught me a lot, and this is Miss Delia, Senior Liam's fiancée. The reason we're here today is because Delia wants to challenge the Ecruteak Gym."
After greetings were exchanged, Axu turned toward the slightly older, brown-haired boy standing beside Morty. A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
"Oh, and by the way, both of them are from the Kanto region — your homeland too. So please, be kind to them, won't you, Gym Leader Eusine?"
Liam: "…"
Delia: "…"
Eusine: "Tch. Don't try to butter me up. I'm not going easy on anyone."
…
"Y-you're the Gym Leader of Ecruteak Gym?! How is that possible?! You're just a kid!"
Delia pointed at the brown-haired boy in front of her, completely stunned.
It was no wonder she reacted that way — Eusine really did look young. He was thin and small, his body frail-looking, hardly the image of a Gym Leader.
"Hey! What are you talking about, you ignorant woman?! Are you looking down on me?!"
Enraged by Delia's outburst, Eusine's forehead popped with anger marks. He threw his broom to the ground and glared fiercely at her.
"N-no, no! I'm really sorry! I was just surprised, that's all! I didn't mean to insult you, little brother!"
Delia quickly waved her hands, bowing slightly with an apologetic smile, trying to calm the fuming boy down.
"Who are you calling little brother?! Ugh, you really piss me off! Fine! You're the challenger, right? Then as the Gym Leader, I accept your challenge! And the battle starts right here, right now! You condescending woman — I'll show you exactly what I'm made of!"
Apparently, that one phrase — "little brother" — had completely set Eusine off. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he stomped back a few paces, grabbed a PokeBall from his belt, and declared the start of the Gym battle with a glare.
"…Fine. I do feel bad about this, but since it's an official Gym battle, I won't hold back either!"
Seeing how serious Eusine looked, Delia sighed softly and steeled herself, her expression turning equally firm.
"Hmph! Let me make the rules clear. It's a 3-on-3 battle. The match ends when all Pokémon on one side faint or surrender. I can't switch Pokémon mid-battle, but you can — don't say I'm being unfair. Morty! You're the referee."
After laying out the rules, Eusine seemed to calm down a bit. He turned to Morty and gave him a nod.
"Got it! I now declare — the Ecruteak Gym official challenge match begins!"
Morty put down his broom, raised both hands, and solemnly announced the start of the battle.
"Let's begin! As the Gym Leader, I'll go first! Go, Drowsee!"
With that declaration, Eusine decisively threw out his PokeBall.