Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [63]

[The next morning, as planned, you and Latias set off for home.]

[Though she showed reluctance to part with her brother, her determination to leave remained unwavering.]

[This left Latios looking even more dejected, though his attitude toward you had noticeably softened.]

[It seemed that, in the end, he had truly acknowledged you as family.]

"Elias."

Just as they were about to leave, Latios suddenly called out to him.

"Hm?" Elias turned, puzzled.

Before he could react, Latios—ignoring Latias' confused gaze—grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into the nearby forest.

"…Uncle, is there something else?"

Seeing Latios' overly serious expression, Elias grew even more confused.

If not for the shift in Latios' attitude today, he might have thought the guy was about to silence him for good.

Meeting Elias's gaze, Latios coughed lightly before finally revealing his true purpose.

"Elias, let me ask you something. By human standards, how would you rate Latias' appearance in human form?"

"…Her looks?" Elias blinked in surprise but still answered truthfully.

"She's beautiful. Even among humans, she'd be considered top-tier."

This wasn't an exaggeration.

Latias looked like a life-sized porcelain doll—fiery red hair, amber eyes, and exquisitely defined features. She was the kind of beauty that left a lasting impression at first glance.

To Elias, even the currently popular actress, Diantha, didn't necessarily have an edge over her.

Hearing this, Latios tilted his head proudly and scoffed.

"Of course. She is my sister, after all."

But after his moment of pride, his expression grew solemn.

Suddenly, he grabbed Elias by the shoulders, his voice low and filled with menace.

"Since you know Latias is beautiful, I'm giving you a mission."

"Do not let anyone—especially men—get near her. I don't need to read minds to know exactly what those lust-driven humans are thinking."

"If you ever run into someone you can't handle, call me. I'll make them disappear."

"In short, watch her closely. You wouldn't want to suddenly gain a new father, would you?"

By the end, Latios' tone had turned rather agitated.

Having one Elias was tolerable—after all, he was just the 'son.'

But a husband? That would absolutely drive him insane.

The mere thought of his sister being taken away by someone made his skin crawl.

This had to be prevented.

Elias looked at Latios strangely.

Seeing the twisted look on his face, he wisely swallowed back the words he was about to say and instead replied with a firm nod.

"Don't worry. I won't let any man other than me get close to Mom!"

His declaration was resolute.

Latios felt an odd sense of unease at his phrasing, but unable to pinpoint why, he simply nodded approvingly.

For a brief moment, he felt as if he had found a comrade in arms.

Yes—another member had joined the Protect Latias at All Costs alliance.

"You've got the right mindset. Now go, don't keep Latias waiting."

---

[After making your promise to Latios, you and Latias set off for home.]

"What did my brother say to you?"

During the flight, Latias, unable to contain her curiosity, asked the question that had been gnawing at her.

"Nothing much." Elias chuckled, waving his hand dismissively.

"He just told you to stick close to me and not get too close to strangers."

Summarizing it in his own words, he relayed Latios' message.

Hearing this, Latias pouted slightly.

"That's obvious. My brother really is an idiot."

After all… she and Elias were going to be together forever.

---

[Amidst laughter and conversation, you return home.]

[The island trip has left you feeling refreshed, and once back, you finally remember Latios' letter.]

[Upon reading it, you take away two key points.]

[1. Latias' unusual physiology will continue to evolve as she grows older. In other words, as time passes, more and more poachers will become aware of her existence.]

[Latios urges you to remain in Alto Mare as much as possible, to avoid drawing further attention.]

[2. Latios' health is in poor condition—he does not have many years left to live.]

[He asks that you never reveal this to Latias. If the day comes when he dies, he wants you to tell her that he has simply gone on a long journey.]

The joy Elias had felt upon returning home vanished instantly.

The first point, while concerning, didn't shake him too much.

He believed that as he continued to grow stronger, he would have the power to crush any poachers that dared to come after Latias.

He had absolute faith that he could protect her.

But the second point…

"…A terminal illness?"

Elias muttered, his thoughts growing chaotic.

His talent had always been exceptional. Aside from occasional exclusion from his peers, life had always been smooth sailing for him.

But now, faced with Latios' condition, he felt an unfamiliar sense of helplessness.

For a long moment, the room was silent.

Then, a heavy sigh echoed in the air.

---

[From this day forward, you realize that there are some things that cannot be changed—no matter how much one wills it.]

[Psychological Extremity: Up.]

[Life soon falls back into its usual patterns.]

[If there was one notable change, it would be that Latias has grown increasingly fond of using her 'mom' status to boss you around.]

[For example—demanding to bathe together.]

"Bathing together as a family is perfectly normal, Elias. You should get used to it."

Standing at the bathroom door, Latias, wrapped in a towel, spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Elias fell silent.

Did she think he didn't want this?

He had no objections to deepening family bonds through such means.

However…

He stole a glance at the Milotic beside him, baring its fangs.

Yeah. If he so much as nodded right now, this house was getting obliterated by [Hydro Pump].

"…Mom, I'm grown up now. It's not really appropriate anymore."

After carefully choosing his words, Elias coughed lightly and turned to Latias.

At the same time, he subtly gestured toward Milotic, hinting at the very real danger present.

Latias clenched her small fists.

That damn sea serpent again!

One day, she swore, she was putting it in a stew.

---

[In the end, this crisis was resolved with Latias grudgingly backing down.]

[For the next few days, she kept searching for an opportunity but found none—leaving her feeling slightly defeated.]

[However, amidst this, you received some good news—Steven had returned.]

---

T/N: now that im thinking about it... they might be in Rustboro City instead of Alto Mare...

...

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