"Great! Since you agree, I knew I wasn't wrong about you, human," Solgaleo said.
As a First-class Legendary, its learning ability was top-notch. Taking a page from Julian's book, Solgaleo simply decided to follow suit and play the rogue.
"No, I said I refuse."
Julian frowned. Was this guy so old that its hearing was failing? Could it not hear him?
"Mm, I hear you—you agree," Solgaleo nodded.
Only then did Julian realize that the other party was planning to play shameless with him. He was slightly dumbfounded. As a First-class Legendary, how could it be so thick-skinned?
What about the dignity befitting a First-class Legendary? It had been utterly tossed aside.
"Isn't this kind of behavior a bit inappropriate?"
Julian looked at the serious-faced Solgaleo. 'Damn, are you going to force a deal like this? If you're going to play it this way, aren't you afraid of the Black and White Dragons by my side?
"You really don't want to?" Solgaleo, seeing Julian's firm refusal, sighed inwardly.
Julian shook his head. "Don't want to."
Why would he want to? It would just be a thankless task.
"Very well, I won't force you then," Solgaleo said, shifting its gaze to Tapu Koko and the others. "Since Julian doesn't want to, then the task of caring for Cosmog falls to you."
As it spoke, a beam of white light emerged from its forehead, followed by the appearance of a small, blue, nebula-like Pokémon before Tapu Koko and the others.
"Lunala's injuries were too severe to heal through slumber alone, so it could only metamorphose into Cosmog. You four must take good care of it. One day, Lunala will return."
When Tapu Koko and the others heard this, they were utterly shaken. This little creature before them was actually Lord Lunala? Meaning they were to become Lord Lunala's caretakers?
They felt immense joy, excitement, and pride.
Just as Tapu Koko, with slightly trembling hands, was about to receive the still-sleeping Cosmog, another pair of hands moved faster, snatching Cosmog away and holding it firmly.
Looking at the owner of those hands, Tapu Koko's face darkened slightly. "Didn't you just refuse?"
Julian replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "I changed my mind."
'Damn, if you had said earlier that the favor was taking care of Cosmog, I definitely wouldn't have refused! I thought you wanted me to risk my life for you.'
'Turns out it's just babysitting. Now that, I'm familiar with.'
"Look, many of my Pokémon have been raised from their initial stages. I have experience in this area."
"Your skin really is thick."
How could Tapu Koko not know what Julian was thinking? It couldn't help but look at him with contempt—this human truly had no shame.
"Thanks for the compliment."
Tapu Koko: (╬ಠ益ಠ)
It really wanted to hit Julian, but it couldn't beat him.
So it could only cast a pleading look toward Solgaleo.
Unfortunately, the supremely dignified being in its eyes completely ignored its gaze.
"You accept?" Solgaleo asked.
Julian nodded. "Accept, accept."
A First-class Legendary delivered right to his doorstep? Only a fool would refuse.
Cosmog in his arms sensed a change in its surroundings and slowly opened its eyes. The first thing it saw was Julian's face.
Under the Unown's Protection buff, Julian more easily gained the favor of First-class Legendaries.
Sure enough, Cosmog gave Julian a happy smile.
"From now on, I'll call you Nebby," Julian said.
Cosmog didn't sound as nice as Nebby. And when it evolved later, the name could be changed if needed.
Though, if it did evolve, it could only become Lunala at last.
Technically, Cosmoem evolved randomly into either Solgaleo or Lunala, but that was only if neither Solgaleo nor Lunala already existed in the world.
Since there was already a Solgaleo present, Cosmoem could only evolve into Lunala.
The world couldn't have two identical First-class Legendaries.
If there were, then one of them would inevitably perish.
This was also why First-class Legendaries were all genderless.
But judging by appearance alone, Solgaleo seemed more masculine, while Lunala leaned toward the feminine side.
Nebby just felt that this human spoke kindly, was good-looking, and inwardly decided it really liked him.
Celebi, looking at Nebby nestled in Julian's arms, gently nudged Jirachi and whispered, "Julian is a true scumbag—your spot in his arms might be gone for good."
"Don't talk nonsense," Julian obviously heard Celebi trying to sow discord between him and Jirachi.
"Jirachi, don't listen to this guy's nonsense. There's still room to squeeze in here."
Nebby was quite small, and Jirachi wasn't large either, so Julian could easily hold them both at once.
"Scumbag."
Celebi spat a metaphorical tui at Julian. Only this jerk could speak so shamelessly with a straight face.
"Jirachi, don't liste—"
Before it could finish, Celebi saw Jirachi had already flown back into Julian's arms.
It facepalmed. How could its friend be so naive? Hadn't it seen through this blockhead's true nature yet? In the future, wouldn't it be completely wrapped around his finger?
Julian checked for Nebby's exclusive Pokéblocks in the system shop, and the cost made his heart twinge slightly.
"Mmm?"
Nebby keenly sensed the slight change in Julian's emotions.
"It's nothing, nothing. Here, are you hungry?" Julian took out a box of Nebby's exclusive Pokéblocks and handed one to it.
---
[Ding!]
[Hidden Mission Completed: First-class Legendary Babysitter.]
[Reward: 100,000 points. Free exclusive Pokéblocks for Cosmog, Cosmoem, and Lunala.]
---
That notification instantly lifted Julian's spirits.
This meant that Nebby's future meals were covered by the system.
"System, how about covering the meals for Zekrom, Reshiram and Jirachi too?"
These three First-class Legendaries had the biggest daily expenses. Jirachi was okay since it also ate junk food with Celebi, but Zekrom and Reshiram only ate their exclusive Pokéblocks.
Unfortunately, the system completely ignored Julian.
"Fine, if that really won't work just cover for Zekrom and Reshiram. Forget about Jirachi."
Julian took a step back and settled for less.
But the system still made no sound.
While eating the exclusive Pokéblocks, Nebby's eyes squinted with pleasure, clearly loving the taste.
"Julian, it seems I was right to entrust cosmog to your care," Solgaleo said, watching the happily eating Nebby with surprise.
Although Nebby was no longer a First-class Legendary right now, it was still a future one. Its body was extremely sensitive to absorbing external energy.
Originally, Solgaleo had planned to tell Julian that there was no need to feed Nebby; it only needed to absorb the power of moonlight at night to gain energy.
But now, seeing the food that Julian had took out—not only was it being enjoyed by Nebby, but Solgaleo also keenly sensed that the energy within it was exceptionally pure, offering great benefits to Nebby.
*****
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