Theo smiled as he picked up a takoyaki ball and popped it into his mouth. The crispness of the outer layer, the softness inside, and the tender freshness of the octopus exploded all at once on his tongue. Immediately afterward, a faint numbing sensation spread from the tip of his tongue—not only did it fail to ruin the flavor, it instead heightened the natural umami of the seafood, creating layers of taste that were surprisingly rich and satisfying.
"It really is quite special," Theo nodded toward the camera as he spoke. "The numbing sensation is very light. What stands out more is the freshness. Definitely worth trying."
Beldum, listening from the side, grew impatient and nudged Theo's hand with its head, clearly wanting another bite. Theo chuckled helplessly, indulgence written all over his face, and fed it another takoyaki ball.
After leaving the food plaza, Theo took the livestream audience to one of Mauville City's most famous attractions—the Fun Mechanism House. This maze-like structure, built from gears, levers, and mirrors, was said to have been designed by Gym Leader Wattson together with engineer friends when he was younger. Every corner of the place was filled with clever ideas and a sense of playful ingenuity.
TN: I'm not sure if this was the Trick House, so I didn't change it.
Right at the entrance stood a continuously rotating gear wall. Massive metal gears meshed and turned, the gaps between their teeth growing larger and smaller in turn, like a gigantic mouth constantly opening and closing. To pass through, one had to accurately grasp the rhythm of the gears' rotation and slip through sideways at the exact moment when the gap was widest—hesitate even slightly, and you might get "bitten" by the gears.
Even better, the ground would occasionally spring up short stumps about half a foot tall. The tops were wrapped in soft rubber, so they wouldn't hurt anyone, but they tested a visitor's reaction speed. One moment you'd just dodged the gears, and the next you'd have to lift your foot to step over a suddenly emerging stump—thrilling and fun at the same time.
With Beldum by his side, Theo used psychic to predict where the stumps would pop up in advance, weaving lightly through the obstacles. The tourists behind him couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
The most entertaining part of the maze was undoubtedly the mirror room. The surrounding walls were entirely made of mirrors, and even the ceiling and floor were covered in reflective material. The moment someone stepped inside, their figure was refracted into countless copies, layered and interwoven, as though they had entered a dazzling kaleidoscope.
Beldum stared curiously at the innumerable versions of itself in the mirrors. Its red eyes widened, and its small head tilted slightly, as if wondering, "Why are there so many of me?" It cautiously floated closer and tapped the mirror, and all the countless Beldum reflections tapped back at the same time.
"Dum!"
Startled, Beldum abruptly pulled back, retreating several steps in a row. Its silver-white little body trembled faintly, and its confused yet wary expression sent the livestream audience into peals of laughter:
"Beldum: Why is the mirror full of me?! Did I just learn a clone technique?!"
"Hahaha, it looks so scared—this thing fights like a beast, but a mirror spooks it!"
"Beldum is way too cute! This gap moe is something I could watch a hundred times!"
Theo laughed as he rubbed its head gently. "Don't be scared, they're all fake."
Only then did Beldum hesitantly float back, cautiously tapping the mirror again. Seeing that the "selves" in the mirror didn't seem hostile, it gradually relaxed and even began to sway its body at its "companions" in the mirror, playing happily.
After leaving the mechanism house, Theo continued touring various spots with the audience. In the arcade, roulette machines and slot machines were surrounded by crowds. The machines were decorated with images of Electrode, Ampharos, and other Electric-type Pokémon, and when someone hit the jackpot, they played sound effects that mimicked Pokémon cries.
Nearby, the strength-testing shooting game was also extremely popular. The wall contained special energy patterns, and when Pokémon attacked it, the patterns would light up with corresponding Pokémon icons depending on the force used, ranging from Magnemite to Manectric. One young boy had his Pikachu use Thunderbolt on the target, instantly lighting up a Mareep icon on the wall, drawing cheers from everyone around.
Then there were the artistic benches in the old park, with bas-reliefs of Electric-type Pokémon carved into the backrests. Pikachu's tail, Voltorb's round body, and Electabuzz's fists were all rendered in vivid detail. Sitting on them, one could even feel a faint electric current—tingly, but not unpleasant.
In addition to that, the park also featured cast-iron Pokémon statues, including legendary Pokémon like Raikou and Zapdos, their details exquisitely crafted. Many visiting tourists stopped beneath them to take photos as souvenirs. Every corner radiated Mauville City's unique creativity and vitality.
As evening approached, Theo's final activity of the day began.
Riding atop Tyrantrum, he circled the square-shaped outer perimeter of Mauville City while introducing to the livestream audience the four major roads connecting the city. Upon reaching the suburban outskirts, Theo released Tyrantrum. As soon as it appeared, Tyrantrum obediently lowered itself, and Theo swung himself onto its broad back in one smooth motion.
With a low growl, Tyrantrum pushed off the ground and stood up steadily, stepping onto the outer road of Mauville City with a deep, resonant vibration beneath its feet.
The livestream camera rose along with Theo's viewpoint. Beneath the clear sky, the square-shaped outline of the city spread out clearly before them: at the center stood dense clusters of buildings and towering skyscrapers, while the outer ring was wrapped in a belt of greenery, like a green ribbon tied around the city. Roads extended outward like ribbons into the distance, leading respectively to Routes 110, 111, 117, and 118.
The chat was instantly flooded with comments:
"So cool! Tyrantrum can be ridden—this is insanely awesome!!"
"I want to ride a Tyrantrum too! The attention you'd get would be 100%!"
Tyrantrum strode forward steadily, and Beldum immediately flew up to settle into its exclusive "crown seat." Theo sat just behind Tyrantrum's neck, lightly resting both hands on the white mane there, feeling the power beneath him and enjoying an unobstructed, expansive view.
Along the way, Feebas was also released. It manipulated a light mass of water vapor to lift itself into the air, leisurely following alongside Tyrantrum, its round eyes curiously observing the scenery. When it noticed the camera focused on it, Feebas playfully flicked its tail, splashing a few sparkling droplets of water as if waving hello. The chat was instantly filled with the word "cute":
"Feebas is so lively! That little tail flick is adorable!"
"Tyrantrum is steady, Feebas is nimble, Beldum is adorably derpy—I love every single one of the streamer's Pokémon!"
At each of the four main roads stretching north, south, east, and west, Theo would point to the path beneath them and patiently explain to the viewers: "The Route 117 on the right leads to Verdanturf Town—it's full of flower fields, a paradise for flower lovers. The road above, where the vegetation gradually thins out, is Route 111, which stretches all the way to the desert. That's where I trained Tyrunt before…"
As the sun dipped lower, dyeing the sky a warm orange-red, Theo sat atop Tyrantrum's back and waved at the floating livestream camera. "That's it for today's Mauville City tour. Thanks so much for keeping me company. The next livestream will be the Pokémon Contest in three days—Feebas will be taking the stage then, so don't forget to come watch!"
The moment the livestream interface closed, farewell messages were still scrolling rapidly across the screen:
"This was such a feast for the eyes today! Mauville City is beautiful, I have to see it in person someday!"
"Every corner of Mauville City hits just right. I've already started looking up travel guides, going next month for sure!"
And so, this nearly eight-hour-long livestream came to a close amid the audience's enthusiastic goodbyes.
(End of Chapter)