"Is this Charmander powerful?"
Lily looked at the image of the small Fire-type Pokémon in the illustrated book, thought for a moment, then asked Ren.
To be honest, she didn't truly believe this little creature could really grow into a dragon one day. Still, the picture itself was undeniably cute.
But that wasn't what she cared about most.
"I mean—look," Lily continued, pointing at Squirtle, who was hugging Emma's calf on the floor. "Squirtle can spray water. Can this Charmander breathe fire?"
Her focus was… slightly off.
"Lily, what are you even saying?" Emma said helplessly. "There are animals in nature that can spray water, sure—but fire? How could a pet possibly breathe fire?"
Jason nodded in agreement.
Breathing fire? That was a bit too much imagination.
"Why not?" Lily replied stubbornly. "It's called Charmander."
At that moment, Ren smiled.
"This young lady is right. Why would it be impossible?"
The three of them froze.
"Charmander can, of course, breathe fire," Ren said calmly. "It's a Fire-type Pokémon. And not just Charmander."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the Vulpix in Jason's arms. The little fox looked sleepy, yawning adorably.
"Sir, may I borrow your Vulpix for a demonstration?"
"…Uh, okay."
Jason agreed subconsciously—though a bad feeling crept up his spine.
A demonstration? With Vulpix?
Jason gently set Vulpix down on the floor. The six-tailed fox looked up at him in confusion.
"You're now Vulpix's Trainer," Ren said, taking out a disposable paper cup filled with water and placing it in front of the fox. "Try having it use Ember."
"…."
Jason glanced at the curious looks from Emma and Lily, his face flushing slightly.
"V-Vulpix," he said softly, "use Ember."
The next moment—
Under the shocked gazes of all three of them, Vulpix opened its mouth. Small, glowing flames burst forth, washing over the paper cup.
The temperature was far from low.
Within seconds, the disposable cup softened, warped, and collapsed, hot water spilling onto the floor.
Silence.
"…Holy crap."
Jason muttered instinctively.
His six-tailed fox had just breathed fire.
Emma and Lily were completely speechless.
"Pokémon are extraordinary creatures," Ren said with a smile. "They possess different attributes and abilities, and they can naturally use techniques aligned with those attributes."
"You may find it hard to imagine now, since this is your first exposure—but unfamiliar things become normal with time."
Pokémon were never meant to be simple decorative pets.
Understanding their abilities was inevitable.
"That little fox is amazing…"
Lily stared at Vulpix in a daze.
Fire. Actual fire.
"Attributes… abilities…"
Emma was the first to regain her composure. Those words sounded familiar.
Suddenly, she remembered something and quickly pulled a pink device from her bag.
That's right—this!
Emma pointed the Pokédex at Vulpix.
A holographic image instantly appeared.
> Beep—
Vulpix, the Fox Pokémon.
Type: Fire
Ability: Flash Fire
Moves: Ember, Disable, Tail Whip
When it is born, it has only one snow-white tail. As it grows, the tail splits, increasing in number.
The electronic voice echoed through the shop.
"What's that?" Lily asked curiously.
"That's the Pokédex," Ren explained briefly. "Miss Emma bought it from me earlier. It helps Trainers understand Pokémon more clearly."
"You're still unfamiliar with Pokémon, so it's natural to have questions. You'll slowly come to understand."
He paused, then turned his attention back to Lily.
"But compared to that—do you like Charmander?"
Only then did Lily remember why she was here.
"Oh! Right—Charmander! Boss, I want Charmander!"
Her eyes lit up as she spoke. She'd seen it clearly now—Fire-types really could breathe fire.
"Please wait a moment."
Ren smiled, nodded politely, and walked toward the cubicle.
"…I feel like this place is full of secrets," Lily muttered softly. "Even that six-tailed fox can breathe fire…"
She had too many questions swirling in her head.
Pokémon? Attributes?
Was this really just a pet shop?
"This store has a proper business license," Jason said, lifting Vulpix back into his arms. "That's reassuring enough, isn't it?"
What mattered more to him was simple—
He really, really liked Vulpix.
And now that he knew it could use fire, he liked it even more.
"Torrent… when physical strength is low, Water-type moves become stronger?"
Emma tapped into Squirtle's profile, falling into deep thought as she read the detailed description.
"So that's what this Pokédex is for…"
Meanwhile, Lily fiddled with the store's illustrated book and pointed it at Diancie, who was quietly watching television.
> Beep—
Diancie, the Jewel Pokémon.
Type: Rock / Fairy
Ability: Clear Body
Moves: Diamond Storm, Moonblast, Rock Slide, Light Screen, Ancient Power, Power Gem
A rare diamond mutation Pokémon.
Its pink, gem-like body is praised as the most beautiful in the world.
Diancie can instantly create diamonds by compressing carbon in the air between its hands.
A mythical Pokémon of legend.
The mechanical voice rang out clearly.
The three of them slowly turned to look at Diancie, who glanced back after hearing the sound.
They didn't fully understand everything they'd just heard.
But one thing was certain—
This beautiful little Pokémon sitting there quietly…
Was anything but ordinary.