Chapter Thirty-Seven: Ralts Wants to Give Me a Gift

The three skill books were quickly laid out before Tang Yi, arranged according to their publication years into several editions. The newer the edition, the higher the price—the cheapest was only a few dozen yuan, while the most expensive edition of Illusion Ray was nearly three hundred. Tang Yi flipped through them casually and could only sigh at how easy it was to make money as a Trainer—this was outright profiteering!

Initially, he thought the cheapest versions would suffice. Aside from Illusion Ray, which might pose some difficulty, Hypnosis and Teleport were considered fairly basic psychic skills. But then he turned and saw Ralts’s large red eyes blinking at him, and he couldn’t help but smile wryly. The merchants were clever indeed—vivid illustrations and various pictures, all these flashy additions were clearly designed to appeal to the young girls.

“Alright, I’ll take all three skill books from Dongjiang Publishing,” Tang Yi said, choosing a reasonably priced set—not the most expensive, but far from cheap. Altogether, the total came to over three hundred yuan.

“Would you like a bent spoon as well? All our spoons are specially bent by Master Wang Kexin’s Alakazam, imbued with greater psychic energy, and are even more effective at boosting mental strength,” the Trainer woman continued, her sales pitch practiced and smooth. To convince Tang Yi, she led them to the counter, where a screen was looping an advertisement.

“My name is Wang Kexin. I reached the top thirty-two in the last World Cup. This is my partner, Alakazam,” the screen shifted, showing a more mature girl. Compared to Kadabra, Alakazam’s forehead bore no markings, but her whiskers were longer and her ears more pointed. With a smile, she held up two spoons: “These two spoons have accompanied me for many years. They are my source of spiritual strength. With them, I believe you can succeed as well.”

Then came a demonstration. The Alakazam girl bent a spoon on the spot and unleashed a powerful psychic skill, with some post-production effects making the scene quite dazzling.

Bent spoons originally served to boost skill power in the games. They were usually crafted by Kadabra or Alakazam, and the strength of the Pokémon determined the level of enhancement.

“Doesn’t this look just like any ordinary spoon?” Tang Yi examined the bent spoon, feeling it, turning it over, almost tempted to taste it.

“To us humans, there’s no real difference. But you can let Ralts try it,” the woman suggested.

Ralts took the spoon, closed her eyes and felt it, speaking hesitantly, “I can sense the psychic energy—it does seem to boost my mental strength a little.” She wasn’t quite sure herself, as it was her first time encountering such an item.

At least it seemed effective, and Tang Yi was somewhat tempted. He checked his phone and confirmed that Wang Kexin was indeed a contestant in the twenty-seventh World Cup, and after the event had taken on many commercial endorsements—this skill book shop was likely one of them.

When he asked for the price, it was 998 yuan. Tang Yi nearly asked if the spoon was made of gold. After a few minutes of deliberation, he paid for everything without protest. The total cost was over a thousand yuan—a significant expense for him, though fortunately he had his scholarship to rely on.

Carrying a beautifully packaged bag, he left the skill book shop amid the warm smiles of the Trainer and the Alakazam girl. Ralts began to feel a pang of regret.

“Did I put you in a tough spot just now? You spent so much money today for me,” Ralts said with understanding. Though neither her parents nor Tang Yi had ever spoken about their family’s financial situation, she could roughly discern it from the home’s furnishings and little details.

Tang Yi, on the other hand, felt differently. Though he'd hesitated earlier, now that the purchases were made, he no longer dwelled on it. Smiling, he reassured her, “Don’t forget I just received a scholarship. The money was awarded to me, but winning the competition was largely thanks to you. So really, half of it belongs to you. It’s only right for you to spend your own money on yourself—don’t feel guilty.”

Ralts’s eyes lit up, “Really? I can have half of the scholarship? You—you’re not tricking me, are you?”

Tang Yi sensed something amiss, but faced with the girl’s eager and expectant gaze, he could never bring himself to say he was joking. “Why would I trick you? If you don’t believe me, I’ll withdraw the money right now and give you half.”

Ralts was delighted, her joy evident. Her Trainer truly was special.

In this world, the essence of Spirit Maidens didn’t quite fall under the category of humans. Especially those who partnered with Trainers—whether it was prize money won in competitions, earnings from acting, or income from advertisements, all the money rightfully went to the Trainer to allocate.

Of course, in most cases, money held little significance for Spirit Maidens.

“Is there something you’d like to buy?” Tang Yi guessed, then generously said, “If there’s anything you want, just tell me. I already said—today, since we’re here, it’s a day for spending.”

Ralts tilted her small head slightly, green hair falling aside to reveal her large, jewel-like red eyes, which shone with shyness and resolve. “You always buy things for me, so I—I want to buy something as a gift for you. If half the scholarship is mine, I can buy it myself.”

This unexpected answer caught Tang Yi off guard, filling his heart with warmth. If not for the crowded mall, he would have been tempted to gently hug this clever girl.

“Ralts, you’re really growing up—so thoughtful,” Tang Yi said, moved, and with a wave of his hand declared grandly, “I mean what I say. Eight thousand yuan in scholarship—four thousand is yours. Buy whatever you want, spend it all if you like!”

This time, he meant it. For Ralts’s desire to give him a gift, he wouldn’t feel any regret.

“But have you decided what kind of gift to get me?” Tang Yi asked with a curious smile.

“Yes, I’ve already made up my mind. Come with me,” Ralts replied.

She was already prepared, and Tang Yi grew more curious, following Ralts eagerly as she retraced their steps.

He wondered what it could be.

The second floor was filled with various stores selling books or materials for study and cultivation. Ralts stopped in front of a tutoring bookstore.

Tang Yi casually glanced at the store’s prominently displayed, best-selling books: “Three Years of Exams, Five Years of Practice,” “Gold Medal Question Bank of Basic Pokémon Knowledge,” “Real Simulation Test Papers for the College Entrance Exam.”

Was this the gift Ralts intended for him?

The smile of gratitude froze steadily on Tang Yi’s face.