"Hiss—"
Looking at the entries, the system fell into a tangle.
The entries drawn this time couldn't be called bad. Whether in function or quality, they were all decent.
But…
Most of the higher-quality ones came with certain side effects.
Some would even provoke the hatred of other Pokémon.
If a powerful Pokémon were drawn to him, it might cut the simulation short before it even began.
So much so that the system had that look of wanting to speak yet holding back, unsure how to advise Elias.
But in the next moment, she thought again—and realized she probably didn't need to worry.
After all, every piece of advice she'd given before had basically been useless. If anything, they were distractions.
Choosing entries—better to let Elias handle it himself.
Without noticing, the system felt as if Elias was slowly "raising her into uselessness."
With a host like this, all she had to do was memorize the system manual, and she could rack up achievements lying down.
On the other side, Elias naturally didn't know what the system was thinking.
Looking at the six entries, his own thoughts gradually took shape.
The only one that really made him hesitate was [Ghost Trainer].
The advantage was obvious—he could bind to his destined Pokémon from the very start, which would help in building intimacy.
But the drawback was equally clear—if that Pokémon had a difficult personality, the simulation could be dragged out unbearably long.
After a long pause, Elias drew in a deep breath and finally said:
"I'll choose [Fairy Affinity], [Ghost Trainer], and [Xerneas's Blessing]."
Even with the flaws, he went with that combination.
Hearing this, the system only nodded without objection.
[Got it, Host!]
She had already learned the habit of not running her mouth too much.
"Oh, right, system."
As if recalling something, Elias suddenly spoke, stopping her before she moved on to the next step.
"Keep an eye on my real body. Don't let them… cause trouble."
Considering that this time, it wasn't just Gardevoir by his side, Elias made sure to remind her.
[Don't worry, Host.]
The system patted her chest in assurance.
She didn't really understand what counted as "causing trouble," but with her watching, Elias would surely be fine.
At that, Elias finally relaxed.
Watching a body… the system shouldn't be able to mess that up.
[Talents confirmed. Generating simulation environment, please wait…]
The familiar mechanical voice rang out. Elias's consciousness within the system space blurred.
Bit by bit, his vision dimmed, his hearing dulled as though covered by a thin film.
And then, at the edge of some unseen threshold, everything went black, and his awareness cut off.
[Environment generation complete.]
[Destined Pokémon selected—Rock/Fairy-type, Diancie.]
[Easter Egg successfully linked.]
...
[Age 0. Your vague consciousness is attached to a pink diamond deep within Kalos.]
[You are neither human nor Pokémon. Your existence goes unnoticed by any living thing.]
[Even you yourself only drift in a hazy half-awareness.]
[Faintly, you realize… you are in a mine under the jurisdiction of a local kingdom.]
Because he had chosen the entry [Ghost Trainer], Elias wasn't surprised by this kind of opening.
And this destined Pokémon—Diancie—left him genuinely expectant.
After all, in every sense, she was close to a "perfect" Pokémon.
But...
"Kingdom?"
Elias instantly caught on to the phrasing.
In the modern world, all regional powers had long since been replaced by Leagues.
Even in the rare cases where some old noble titles survived, they were little more than symbolic.
Actual kingdoms had long ceased to exist.
Yet here, in the simulation, a "kingdom" was still managing mines.
That clearly didn't add up.
A suspicion crept into Elias's mind.
"System. What era is this simulation set in?"
His face darkened as he asked.
Hearing the question, the system flailed through menus, then swallowed nervously and whispered:
"M-Maybe… a few hundred years ago?"
She wasn't entirely sure herself.
At her words, Elias's suspicion was confirmed.
"So Kalos too… at this time point."
He frowned.
Hisui being set hundreds of years in the past made sense—it was a special case.
But Kalos as well? That was harder to justify.
"It… it should be because of the benefit I fought for…"
The system answered slowly.
After all, the Easter Egg benefit was tied to the location where the simulation unfolded.
If it was linked to Hisui, then landing in a centuries-past timeline wasn't too strange.
Elias considered, and admitted it made some sense.
Still…
Luckily, two of the entries he'd chosen were ones that drastically extended his lifespan.
Otherwise, he'd have fallen right into another of the system's traps.
[Age 1. To you, a year passes in an instant. Time leaves no mark on your being.]
[You remain affixed to the diamond, as though waiting for someone to unearth you.]
[The good news: your awareness has grown sharper. Your thoughts are slowly becoming clearer.]
[Age 3. This year, you faintly learn that the mine has been abandoned.]
[Not because the ore ran dry—but because a Pokémon feared by humans slumbers within.]
[Age 5. This year, your dull existence seems to take a turn.]
...
"Princess—!"
"Princess—!"
In the depths of the mine, several small, round-bodied Pokémon covered in blue diamonds shuffled by.
They kept calling out "Princess," clearly searching for someone.
Behind a rock—
"Nngh…"
A Diancie, her whole body set with rose-pink diamonds and noticeably larger than the rest, crouched nervously.
Without a doubt, she was the "Princess" those Carbink were calling for.
As one of only two Diancie in the clan, and the one expected to inherit the position of leader someday, she was now reduced to hiding miserably.
Because if they dragged her back, it would only mean more scolding, then more of those dull, suffocating lessons.
She was still young. She just wanted to play.
Most of all...
Two days of failed diamond creation had already dealt her heavy blows.
She wanted to slip out, to clear her heart.
At the thought, Diancie's bright eyes dimmed faintly.
In the future… could she really take on the crown of queen?