After the preliminary rounds.
The calligrapher was greeted by the decisive championships, which were the focus.
Baimu thought that as long as competitors like Tobias, who relied on mythical and legendary Pokémon to bully young trainers, did not appear, her chances of achieving a good ranking were quite high.
Yet even knowing this.
He still felt somewhat nervous, pondering if he didn't win at the Alliance Tournament, perhaps he could get the top spot at the Calligraphy Academy exhibition?
How likely was it for the Double Blue Talent to result in victory at both competitions?
Could it be that success will come on one hand and disappointment on the other...?
He held his breath slightly, and beside him, the Deino sensed the tension in the trainer's muscles and curiously lifted its head.
"Morno?"
"It's nothing, nothing."
Baimu forced a smile at it and turned back to watch the calligrapher commanding on the field through the light screen, feeling more nervous than his own battle. Regardless, he hoped the calligrapher would have a good ending.
From the quarterfinals to the semifinals, from the semifinals to the final match.
He awaited with a heart full of anticipation for the dawn to arrive—
Finally.
The moment of decision arrived when the opponent brought out his last Pokémon, Rhyperior, and the calligrapher only had his ace Pokémon, Smeargle, left.
[Telepathy] as the calligrapher's Blue Talent had only shown some effect when the calligrapher wished to understand his own Pokémon previously, unlike [Affluent Background] which was more apparent.
Baimu always thought this talent was just for reconciliation between the calligrapher and his Pokémon.
But when the battle reached the most intense second.
[Telepathy] appeared.
The calligrapher abandoned verbal commands, his right hand slightly lifting as if holding an invisible pen, waving it continuously in the air.
At the same moment.
Smeargle's body shuddered, and its tail brush movements unexpectedly synchronized with the calligrapher.
The two hearts were tightly connected despite the distance, with the giant rocks being shot by Rhyperior continuously being blocked by waves, flames, and rising stone pillars, allowing Smeargle to approach freely.
Due to pixel limitations, Baimu couldn't fully witness this shocking scene; he only saw Smeargle run up to Rhyperior, ignoring its swinging arms, and gently touch its forehead with the brush.
It seemed to inscribe a shape or a letter.
Soon, a giant arm indistinguishable from Rhyperior's swung forth from the air, slamming Rhyperior harshly to the ground.
[Your Smeargle has gained a deeper understanding of sketching]
[You've achieved ultimate victory and become the new Lily Conference Champion]
Phew!
Baimu stood up abruptly, eyes fixed on the line of narration, clenching his fists tightly!
Champion! Success! The calligrapher won the Alliance Tournament!
He never expected that the simulator would reach its first championship so quickly, this was only the twelfth simulation!
Excited, Baimu hugged Deino tightly and dashed outside to embrace Aggron and others, roughly pinching their cheeks.
Then he continued watching under the puzzled gazes of the Pokémon.
The tournament victory shouldn't be the end.
Indeed.
As he expected, victory at the tournament was not the end. The calligrapher, who obtained the qualification to challenge the Champion Alliance, was eager to challenge the Four Heavenly Kings and even Sinnoh Champion Hilona.
Unfortunately, at this point, even without guessing, Baimu knew the calligrapher's challenge would likely end in vain.
Sure enough, the calligrapher couldn't surpass the fourth Celestial King—his fan, Wusong, making Baimu quite regretful.
The championship victory was indeed still a long way from a Celestial King, unless one is an abnormal trainer, possessing the level of a Celestial King during the Gym challenge.
[You were defeated by Wusong, and your journey of the Alliance challenge ends]
[You returned to Hearthome City, quietly awaiting the results of the Calligraphy Academy and Painting Academy exhibitions with Smeargle]
The screen hadn't finished yet.
Baimu calmed his mind and waited alongside them.
Not long after.
The calligrapher received two invitation letters that seemed like notifications, bringing Smeargle to participate in the calligraphy and painting exhibitions, and the results followed suit.
[Your "Observing the Mysterious Divine Land" achieved the fifth place]
[Your Smeargle achieved the sixth place]
—Huh?
Success in the Trainer Realm, disappointment in her actual profession?
Baimu was puzzled, logically the calligrapher having grown to this point shouldn't have such regressing results.
But he quickly understood the reason: the winter Calligraphy Academy exhibition differed from regular calligraphy competitions, with many globally renowned, respected veteran calligraphers participating.
These individuals are mostly in their fifties or sixties, and the oldest one even surpasses ninety, holding calligraphy expertise far beyond what a calligrapher traveling for a year could compare.
In calligraphy, the older the wiser.
In other words, achieving fifth place at the age of fifteen, the calligrapher could cause a minor sensation.
The opponent who once relied on templates to surpass her was unceremoniously pushed outside the top ten.
Smeargle, similarly, was competing for the first time and had a great deal of room for improvement in its art skills.
The industry's evaluation of the calligrapher shifted from [Imitation Monster], [Robot], [Award Monster] to [Young], [Promising], [Expressive Rising Star] and such.
[You realized that the journey of your calligraphy, and Smeargle's painting, still had a long path ahead]
The scene freezes with the calligrapher standing beside the curator, addressing everyone present at the exhibition.
[Simulation Ends]
Baimu exhaled deeply, picking up his phone to search for Sinnoh trainers who won championship with Smeargle.
Suddenly, an entry popped up on the Pokémon search.
『Nanyun, renowned female calligrapher from Sinnoh, winner of the ××th Lily Conference...』
He blinked, looked at the photo, and realized it was a beautiful woman with a gentle and elegant appearance, labeled as being only twenty years old, yet exuding a grace beyond her surface age.
Especially the photos of Nanyun holding a pen; truthfully, they were quite captivating.
Born into a prominent family, she possessed fame and talent, with qualities seemingly maxed out in every aspect.
"Really doesn't look like someone with a fiery temper, able to tear up works publicly..."
Baimu couldn't help but smile slightly.
At this moment.
The simulation rewards popped up.
[Fixed Reward: Move Tutor ×5 (Attribute selectable)]
[Fixed Reward: Ancient Language Memory of the Calligrapher—Sinnoh Region chapter (Revisitable)]
[Fixed Reward: Smeargle's Painting Memory—Sketching Chapter (Revisitable)]
...
[Option Reward One: Level up any Pokémon by 5 levels (below Lv70)]
[Option Reward Two: Species Value clue for designated Pokémon (excluding legendary Pokémon, mythical Pokémon, ultimate beasts)]
[Option Reward Three: Skill—Thunder (Selectable Pokémon to learn)]
[Option Reward Four: Retain [Unyielding] Talent for the next simulation round]
The rewards still had four choices, choosing three.
But at this moment, Baimu only wanted to utter a "Whoa."
"Whoa!"
He really shouted it.