Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [558]

The Isle of Armor lay northeast of Galar.

From far above, you could see an uninhabited island where plains, wetlands, forests, and deserts all coexisted.

“Was this island really formed naturally?” Sabrina asked.

“There’s no record of human intervention in any documents, so it should be natural,” Blue replied, flipping through the notes in her hands.

At August’s signal, Rayquaza began descending.

As the dragon dove at full speed, the Zinnia clutched in its claws screamed like she was on a rollercoaster.

“AAAAAAHHHHH!”

Her voice trailed as Rayquaza landed smoothly by the sea—right in the middle of a herd of Galarian Slowpoke.

The Slowpoke, seeing the dragon descend from the sky, lifted their heads in confusion.

“…Slow?”

“It’s Slowpoke!” Blue jumped down from Rayquaza’s back, comparing these onlookers to August’s Slowpoke. “Looks like this is the Galarian form.”

Unlike the normal kind, these Slowpoke had been eating Galarica seeds for generations. The substances had built up in their heads and tails, dyeing those spots yellow.

And unlike Kanto Slowpoke, who sometimes at least lifted their tails, Galarian Slowpoke lay flat on the ground, tails included, like they’d given up on life altogether.

Even when a Cramorant nearby tried to eat them, they couldn’t be bothered to move.

“They look even lazier… but somehow familiar,” Sabrina remarked.

By now Zinnia had stumbled woozily out of Rayquaza’s claws.

Hearing Sabrina’s words, she blurted out, “They look just like Mew lying on August’s head.”

“Pfft… true enough.” Blue chuckled.

“No wonder it felt familiar,” Sabrina nodded.

Mew, who had been curiously inspecting the Slowpoke, froze.

“…?”

How could you compare such a cute Mew like that!

The more it thought, the angrier it got. With a huff, Mew zoomed over and began messing up Zinnia’s hair.

“Wait, no, I was just making an example—!” Zinnia tried in vain to fend it off.

August only cast a glance at the two of them, then ignored it.

Instead, he lifted his head toward the treeline. A shadowy figure was peeking at them from there.

The instant it noticed August looking, it bolted.

“What was that?” Sabrina asked, sharp as ever.

“A Pokémon drawn by the commotion when we landed…” August said casually.

Meanwhile, Mew had already caught Zinnia, leaving her hair a complete mess.

“Spare me, please!” she begged pitifully.

“Enough, Mew.” August intervened.

Having triumphed, Mew generously let her go.

Looking at her miserable state—

“…Tragic,” Sabrina said.

Blue nodded her agreement.

August returned Rayquaza’s Poké Ball, handing it to Zinnia to comfort her wounded spirit. “Come. We should greet the island’s host.”

Clutching the ball, Zinnia immediately forgot about having just been bullied by Mew.

“Are we going to meet Galar’s strongest Champion?”

“Strictly speaking, its former Champion.”

Though Lance had urged him to meet Master Mustard before making any move against Rose, August doubted a former Champion could do much against the sitting League Chairman.

But before going to see him…

August glanced at the Slowpoke at his feet. Tossing a Poké Ball, he captured the laziest one of the lot.

He intended to bring it back to form a “Slow Trio” with his Slowpoke and Psyduck.

It was so lazy that the Poké Ball didn’t even twitch before clicking shut.

The other Slowpoke merely glanced his way before flopping back down to sunbathe. Not even the slightest attempt to move.

“How do these guys even survive to this day…” Sabrina muttered.

Just then, Mew’s cry rang out.

“Mew!”

Looking over, August saw it holding a strange plant.

It seemed to be—

“Galarica seed?” Blue checked the entry on her phone. “Looks like a spice unique to Galar…”

She hadn’t finished when Mew, hearing “spice,” popped it into its mouth.

A second later—

“Meeeew!!”

Tears streaming from its eyes, Mew bolted to August for help.

“You can’t handle spice. Don’t just eat whatever you find…”

August sighed, handing it a bottle of water as Mew gulped it down.

...

Mustard’s Dojo.

Team Rocket’s trio were scrubbing the battle floor with mops and brooms.

“How much longer are we supposed to live like this?!” Jessie threw her broom to the ground.

It had been a full week now—an entire week of nothing but sweeping floors.

“Bear with it, just a little longer…” James muttered as he dragged his mop.

“Feels like we’ve been conned, nya~,” Meowth grumbled.

A week ago, they had flown in from Kalos. Their plan had been to cash in on the World Championships in Galar, selling souvenir trinkets for profit, raising funds for Team Rocket’s “reconstruction project.”

But upon arrival, they learned the Championships were still far off.

No tourists meant no customers, and their badges wouldn’t sell at all.

So they decided to take odd jobs in Galar.

Originally, they’d thought about joining the current craze: hunting for [Wishing Stars]. Plenty of people were collecting them across the region.

But then they saw an ad for Master Mustard’s dojo.

Supposedly, anyone who joined could learn the mighty [Dynamax] technique, even the legendary [Max Soup] that allowed Pokémon to [Gigantamax].

Tempted, the three bought tickets to the Isle of Armor, starting part-time work at the dojo.

“Once we’ve mastered [Dynamax], we’ll clobber that old man ourselves!” Jessie pumped her fist.

After venting, she obediently picked her broom back up.

At that moment, a knock came at the dojo door.

“Who is it, nya~?”

Grumbling, Meowth shuffled over with a rag. Surely just another sucker drawn in by the dojo’s ads.

But when he opened the door, he froze.

He saw the very last person he wanted to see.

Jessie and James, curious why Meowth wasn’t moving, came up—and froze solid too.

“Au… August!”

The trio’s faces went green. Who would’ve thought, after fleeing all the way to Galar, they’d still run into this bane of their existence!

Was this bad luck? Or just… bad luck?

August himself hadn’t expected to see them here either.

“Well, isn’t this a coincidence…”

The world really was too small.

“Ahahaha… yes, quite the coincidence…” Cold sweat ran down their backs, but they forced smiles anyway.

“Eh? Why are you sweating?” August asked curiously.

Why do you think?! The trio screamed inwardly.

Without waiting for an answer, August crouched and pinched Meowth’s cheeks.

The cat bore the abuse, teeth gritted.

Behind him, Sabrina’s fingers twitched—itching to try as well.

Just then, a voice came from behind the trio.

“You three—why are you blocking the doorway?”

Never had Mustard’s assistant Honey’s voice sounded so heavenly. James stammered: “S-some visitors to the dojo…”

And then the trio bolted.

Honey frowned after them.

Still, they worked hard for low pay, so she let it go.

Turning to the entrance, she spotted August, Sabrina, Blue, and Zinnia. Her eyes lit up, and she smiled warmly.

“Are you here to become disciples? Perfect timing—the dojo just happens to have a few open spots! Any later and we’d be full.”

“…Every cram school says that,” Sabrina deadpanned.

Honey choked, coughing to cover her embarrassment.

August stepped forward. “I am August. We’re not here to apprentice, but to meet Master Mustard.”

Her eyes widened. Looking closer—she finally recognized him.

“The World Championships Champion… August?”

“That’s me.” He smiled.

So it wasn’t a misunderstanding—of course the Champion wouldn’t be here to apprentice. “Please, come in…”

From backstage, peeking through the doorframe, the Rocket trio groaned.

Would all their effort these past days go to waste?

All this cleaning, all this drudgery, just to get the chance to learn [Dynamax]…

“No! We must learn it!” Jessie’s eyes blazed.

James and Meowth blanched. “Are you insane? That’s August—the terrifying August!”

They’d barely escaped him before. Staying here was suicide.

But Jessie’s eyes glinted with sudden cunning. “Don’t you see? He didn’t arrest us just now. That means…”

“…That he doesn’t care about us anymore?” James supplied, realization dawning.

Meowth slapped his paw. “And we can even say we’ve quit Team Rocket! Then August has no reason to catch us, nya~!”

Their gloom vanished at once. The future suddenly looked bright again.

“Sonansu~!” Wobbuffet popped out of its ball to cheer.

The trio instantly clamped hands over its mouth.

Sipping the tea Honey brewed, August learned that he’d come for nothing: Master Mustard had been called away to a League meeting.

“When will he return?” August asked.

“Tomorrow, most likely… if you’re not in a hurry, you could stay at the dojo.”

Since they’d come all this way, leaving now would be pointless. After a moment, August nodded—he’d stay one night.

Seeing his agreement, Honey smiled brightly. “Do explore the Isle. It has many unique sights and Pokémon!”

August returned the smile. “Actually, there’s one more thing I hoped to ask…”

“Please, go ahead!”

“I heard Mustard’s dojo has the recipe for [Max Soup]—the one that lets Pokémon [Gigantamax].”

Before he could finish, Honey gasped. “How did you know I developed [Max Soup]?”

Her face betrayed barely contained pride.

August: “……”

Was that bragging?

It was the same feeling he’d had when he first perfected his secret Pokéblock recipe.

Sabrina and Blue both saw right through Honey’s boast. Zinnia, though, only gaped in awe.

“[Max Soup] was created by you, Lady Honey!?”

Honey covered her smile with a hand. “It was really just chance. I happened to discover it while making mushroom soup…”

“If you’re seeking [Max Soup], you’ve come to the right place! However, we’re out of mushrooms at the dojo…”

Of course. This was the part where the quest gets handed out.

August cut her off before she could circle around: “We’ll gather the mushrooms. But brewing the soup—I’ll trouble you with that, Lady Honey.”

“Eh? I’d been planning to send those three part-timers, but if you’re willing, that’s even better.”

August: “…”

Then why build it up like that?

Still—it was only an errand. It wouldn’t take long.

“I’ll have Jessie and James guide you,” Honey called. “Jessie, James!”

And out came the Rocket trio, practically glowing with “we’ve turned over a new leaf” written on their faces.

“You’ll lead August to the mushroom site. When you return, I’ll teach you [Dynamax]!”

“Same old promise again,” the trio grumbled silently.

Every day Honey said the same thing to rope them into chores.

But outwardly, their smiles stayed fixed. After all, they were “reformed” now.

---

This is a fan translation of 我，宝可梦称号大师！ by 落唯 白良. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!