Saturo froze.
"…You wouldn't."
A/n : Watch me.
For a few terrifying seconds, silence descended upon the room.
Then—
"DELETE THAT CHAPTER NOW!"
Saturo lunged toward empty air with murderous intent, nearly tripping over the carpet as he wildly swung his arms around like he could physically grab the narrator himself.
A/n : The readers are enjoying your suffering too much.
"THEY DON'T COUNT!"
A/n : They absolutely do.
Saturo : they don't enjoy my suffering.
A/n : oh, you don't know the tropes do you?
Saturo slowly narrowed his eyes.
"…this isn't a romantic angst novel, is it?"
A/n : of course not.
Saturo visibly relaxed.
"…thank Arceus."
A/n : it's a slice of life.
Saturo blinked.
"…why did you pause like you were about to say something illegal?"
A/n : dramatic effect.
Saturo : you are NOT beating the villain allegations.
A/n : and yet the readers love me.
Saturo : Stockholm syndrome.
For a moment, the atmosphere returned to its usual chaotic rhythm.
Then Granny's attention shifted toward the bag Saturo had brought with him.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
Something about it felt… strange.
Too light . Too organized. Too prepared.
A dangerous combination when attached to any member of this family.
Internally, she sighed.
How exactly had every single one of them inherited that old fool's reckless nature?
Even Saturo somehow managed to disappear across regions, develop psychic powers, gather suspiciously powerful Pokémon, and return home acting like this was a completely normal life decision.
Pop's proudly pointed at himself.
"I was born talented."
Granny deadpanned.
"Ya got stuck in a tree for six hours because ya wanted free berries."
Pop's coughed.
"…strategy requires sacrifice."
A/n : truly the bloodline of all time.
Ignoring the nonsense around her, Granny carefully opened the bag.
Inside were two photo albums.
Her expression paused.
Those albums…
She recognized them instantly.
Because she owned the exact same copies.A small warmth flickered through her chest before her attention slowly returned toward the pendant hanging around Saturo's neck.
The four-leaf clover design gleamed softly under the room's lights.
"Sooo…" Granny dragged out suspiciously, "this person isn't your girlfriend or boyfriend?"
Saturo instantly stiffened.
"…correct."
"Then who exactly are they?"
Saturo's eyes shifted away.
Granny smiled.
That terrifying grandmother smile capable of destroying entire bloodlines emotionally.
"…lemme see."
Click. "WAIT—"
Saturo immediately jumped forward dramatically.
Unfortunately for him—
Granny casually sidestepped.
Saturo missed entirely and nearly crashed face-first into the couch.
A/n : incredible display of athletic failure.
Saturo : I slipped.
A/n : against air.
While Saturo continued arguing with a voice only he could hear, Granny quietly noted something important.
Yes, her grandson possessed enhanced physical abilities thanks to his psychic powers.
But there was a massive difference between being physically gifted and actually knowing how to fight.
For someone constantly attracting danger, his combat instincts were embarrassingly underdeveloped.
She would need to fix that later.
Much later.
She opened the first panel of the locket.
Inside was an older photograph.
Young Saturo sat between Granny and Pop's while aggressively pouting at the camera. Meanwhile Pop's proudly held up an oversized Magikarp with the confidence of a world champion.
Granny's expression softened instantly.
"…ya still kept this one."
Saturo looked away awkwardly.
"…obviously."
Pop's sniffed dramatically.
"My boy still loves us."
Saturo : calm down old man.
The second panel clicked open.
This time it showed James tightly hugging a much younger Saturo while Carnivine wrapped around both of them like an overgrown vine monster.
Young Saturo looked seconds away from suffocation.
Pop's burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHA LOOK AT YOUR FACE."
Saturo : I WAS FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE.
A/n : and losing.
Then Granny opened the third panel.
Silence filled the room.
Her jaw slowly dropped.
Two pseudo-legendaries raced across endless dunes while sand exploded behind them like waves.
Orriana.
Escanor.
Both moved with terrifying freedom as Metang floated proudly nearby, its metallic body shining brilliantly beneath the sunlight.
Granny's eyes snapped toward the real Metang floating quietly nearby.
Then back toward the photo.
Then toward Metang again.
"…waittttt."
Metang awkwardly froze midair.
"…don't tell me…"
Her voice became quieter.
"…that thing is shiny."
Metang proudly crossed its arms.
Saturo scratched his cheek nervously.
"…surprise?"
The room froze again.
Because amidst all the emotional chaos of finally reuniting with their grandson—
they had somehow completely ignored the fact that he casually walked into their home with a shiny pseudo-legendary beside him.
A/n : casual side quest behavior.
Saturo : when you say it like that it sounds insane.
A/n : because it IS insane.
Granny slowly narrowed her eyes toward Escanor in the picture.
Then toward the empty matching half of the pendant.
Then finally back toward Saturo.
"…so the other person must own THAT pseudo-legendary?"
Saturo immediately looked away.
Which was answer enough.
Gn homies I am feeling a little unwell today so sorry for not mention
DaoistIXyhOb thx for that power stone
Tomorrow bonus chapter you all broke the previous power stone record this novel had