Pokémon Detective: Cynthia Forces Me to Adopt a Pokémon

Chapter 85 Azure Divine Chapter Deduction

The shock and disorientation did not last long.

Before she could even comfort the bewildered Eevee, the evidence she had discovered was already blurted out by Azure—

"It's language, isn't it?"

In the instant she inadvertently spoke to Eevee, Azure realized—the truth buried beneath the calm surface of everyday life…

Regarding Pokémon language, there are two known facts: First, Pokémon can communicate with each other; second, humans are clearly a different type of organism from Pokémon, and therefore cannot understand Pokémon language.

These are undeniable facts, proving that the myriad of Pokémon belong to a unique biological category, while humans fall outside of it. This is why humans cannot evolve, do not possess types, cannot use moves, and have no innate special abilities.

However, there is a strange and peculiar thing in the world. Because this strange thing is so ordinary and convenient, this crucial contradiction has somehow escaped the keen eyes of generation after generation of elf doctors throughout the long history of research.

Even today, this contradictory proposition remains a self-evident common sense that people habitually ignore.

The contradiction is that humans cannot understand Pokémon's language, but Pokémon can easily understand human language.

Yes, aside from a few special species that cannot communicate, all Pokémon can understand human speech.

From the newly hatched Caterpie to the Onix lurking deep underground, from the reclusive Politoed Kingcopter in the mountains to the slumbering Regice in the frozen Hoenn Temple… all these Pokémon can understand the commands given by humans.

This cannot be explained by mere coincidence.

Did they acquire these skills later in life? No, that's impossible. Even humans need at least two or three years to learn a language, yet elves can master both their own race's language and human language within months of birth. This is a task almost impossible to achieve through mere effort.

Do all Pokémon possess an organ similar to telepathy? Are Pokémon born with the talent to understand human body language? No, if you place a Pokémon in a soundproof, transparent room and give it commands through the glass, it will still be completely confused.

Of course, one could conduct an easier experiment: simply ask their spirits if they can understand human language. And if someone did this, they would undoubtedly receive a resounding "Of course!" from the spirits. They might even roll their eyes: "We've been together all this time, why are you still worrying about this?"

So how do we explain Pokémon's mastery of human language?

The similarity in language among Pokémon can perhaps be explained by the theory of shared genetic origins, but there is a biological chasm between humans and Pokémon. Even with today's advanced scientific advancements, scientists have not been able to fully unravel the linguistic principles behind Pokémon.

So, why are Pokémon able to understand human language so easily?

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"All we need to do is change our mindset!" Azure found herself so excited that her earlobes were burning.

Despite the fact that this was already academic knowledge that had been made public on a small scale, despite the fact that she was simply retracing the steps taken by those who came before her, and despite the fact that the detective in front of her clearly already knew the answer, she was still overjoyed to have discovered the truth herself by using her own brainpower.

"It's not that the Pokémon deciphered human language, but rather that human language itself originated from the language of Pokémon!"

Hugo nodded in satisfaction and praised, "An incredibly keen insight. Congratulations, Miss Azure, you have successfully arrived at the truth."

Why can Pokémon understand human speech, but humans cannot understand Pokémon calls? The answer to this question is incredibly simple—human language originated from the imitation of Pokémon calls.

Although humans and Pokémon are different creatures, human language logic followed certain rules of Pokémon language from the very beginning, which is why it can be recognized by Pokémon.

However, this language pattern is only subconsciously imitated by humans. Human genes and Pokémon genes are fundamentally different, so humans cannot rely solely on instinct to interpret this language pattern, which is why humans cannot understand Pokémon language.

In the primitive era before human civilization, the birth of language also required a process of going from nothing to something. So how did our ancestors create language?

In this world where Pokémon exist, the answer is self-evident: just listen to the calls of the Pokémon right next to you.

“Let’s examine this further.” The detective, seated in an armchair behind his desk, continued the conversation.

"Since humans can learn language from Pokémon, it means that humans began to have contact and communication with Pokémon in the early stages of civilization. Moreover, the fact that Pokémon can understand human everyday language suggests that this communication is far more in-depth than experts previously thought."

"Therefore, we can conclude that in the ancient times of human civilization, before human language had even taken shape, a dreamlike utopia where Pokémon and humans coexisted harmoniously already existed in the world," Azure continued.

The detective nodded: "It is precisely because of this history of peaceful coexistence that there are Pokémon like Chansey and Nearspeak that are close to humans. And it is precisely because of this that the authenticity of the first sentence of that Sinnoh fairy tale becomes beyond doubt—and everything makes sense."

Although Azure's primary job is as a Pokémon Trainer, she also undertakes research work to collect Pokédex entries for Professor Oak, making her essentially a professional graduate student. After several close encounters with legendary Pokémon, she couldn't help but become curious about the historical truth of this world.

At this moment, faced with Hugo's speech that used scientific evidence to interpret myths, Azure was completely overwhelmed with emotion.

Because the detective in the white coat in front of me is eloquently discussing the distant history of human civilization.

The shock and impact it brought was no less than her feelings when she first faced a legendary Pokémon in Kanto. In fact, because her mind was involved in the logical deduction throughout the process, the shock was even greater.

What kind of emotional bond will emerge between humans, who have just started from the starting line of civilization and are still learning to speak, and the Pokémon that treat them kindly?

Thinking of the lives of ancient humans who lived with Pokémon, Azure couldn't help but smile from the bottom of her heart.

The awkward emotions built up from the series of events—the little fire monkey crying, Hugo acting, and Ditto's intrusion—have long since vanished.

Hugo spread his hands, delivering his concluding remarks as the curtain fell on this academic evening—

"Therefore, gifts play an extremely important role in the history of communication between humans and Pokémon. By giving gifts, humans express their gratitude to Pokémon; similarly, by receiving gifts, Pokémon establish their first bond with humans."

The detective sighed as he spoke, "We really need to prepare some nice gifts for the Pokémon."

The girl retorted, "Hugo, you're the one who went too far. Even though it was acting, what you said before was still excessive. You just admitted to sending those children away, how could you say such sad lines?"

"Perhaps it's because I really do have that kind of inferiority complex," Hugo surprisingly admitted. "But I won't do that."

"What compelling reason could this be? Could it be because the original owners of those children were terrifying or something?" Azure stared at the detective with her bright eyes.

“No, it has nothing to do with that.” Hugo didn’t deny it directly. “Although I’m not a qualified trainer, I still believe in the concept of bonds.”

"Bonds?" Azure couldn't believe such a passionate word would come out of the mouth of the detective in the white coat.

"Is it strange? I actually think it's a good word. 'Bound' wasn't originally a positive word; in ancient times, it was used to refer to being restrained and restricted, meaning being entangled by things around you."

"Ah, that's true to some extent, but nowadays it's more often used to refer to connections like fate or destiny, right?"

"Aren't things like fate and destiny too ethereal and elusive? If you want to describe your relationship with the Pokémon, isn't 'bond' a more fitting term, a connection as strong as a chain? It's this kind of thing that draws your Ditto across the ocean to Unova."

Azure really couldn't refute it.

“That’s exactly why,” Hugo continued in a relaxed tone.

"Using the theory of 'this and that is for the good of Pokémon' to do excessive things is utterly foolish. Humans and Pokémon have been mutually hindering, dragging each other down, and dragging each other down since ancient times. Pokémon lose their freedom and become pets when they meet humans, and humans become lazy and weak and become the protected party when they meet Pokémon, but what does it matter? As long as everyone is happy."

For the first time ever, Azure saw a completely innocent smile on the detective's face.