Chapter 317: What Happened to Being an Ordinary Magician?

The scene shifted to the kindergarten entrance.

A banner reading SAFFRON CITY KINDERGARTEN PARENT-CHILD OPEN DAY stretched taut in the wind.

The entrance was already packed with parents.

Every kind of vehicle imaginable was parked outside the kindergarten, from compact family cars to luxurious hovercars.

There were even quite a few parents dressed formally, carrying themselves with an unmistakably distinguished air.

After all, this was the best private kindergarten in Saffron City.

Any child who could attend a school like this naturally came from a family with no ordinary background.

Just then—

A long black limousine slowly pulled up beside the road.

The moment the surrounding parents saw its license plate, they immediately moved aside and opened up a path.

The door opened.

Asher and Sabrina stepped out together.

The kindergarten principal was an elderly gentleman with graying hair.

The instant he saw Asher, he immediately hurried forward and extended his hand.

"Mr. Asher! Gym Leader Sabrina!"

"Welcome, welcome!"

"Thank you both for specially taking time out of your schedules to attend our parent-child event. I’m sure the children will be delighted when they find out!"

Sabrina gave a slight nod without saying anything.

"You’re too kind, Principal."

Asher smiled and shook his hand.

"Today is my two daughters’ birthday, so I’d like to leave them with an unforgettable memory too."

"If there’s anything during the performance that requires cooperation from your side, I’ll have to trouble you."

"Of course, of course!"

The principal nodded repeatedly.

"We’ve already prepared the magic-show stage according to your instructions."

"You can begin whenever you’re ready!"

"Thank you."

"No trouble at all!"

"For a world-famous magician like yourself to make time in such a busy schedule to perform for the children, the kindergarten is extremely grateful!"

Only after the principal left did Sabrina reach out and straighten Asher’s collar.

"Hubby, do Aurelia and Selene know you’re going onstage?"

"Of course not."

Asher smiled.

"They’ve been looking forward to their birthday presents since this morning."

"I’ll surprise them in a little while."

"All right."

"Then I’ll wait for you in the audience."

"Mm."

Asher leaned toward Sabrina’s ear and whispered something.

The instant she heard it, the corners of Sabrina’s lips curved upward.

The tips of her ears turned faintly red, and she stopped speaking.

[VIP Chat Group]

[Viola]: Asher is actually a magician in this world? Compared with the other parallel worlds, his identity in this lifetime is unexpectedly... ordinary?

[Caitlin]: A magician paired with a Psychic-type Gym Leader... That’s unexpectedly romantic.

[Flint]: After all these episodes, Asher has either been a Champion or a Chairman. We finally have one where he’s just an ordinary person.

[Volkner]: How could he possibly be ordinary? The moment he stepped out of the car, all the other parents automatically moved aside. And the kindergarten principal personally came out to greet him. There’s no way that qualifies as normal.

[Anabel]: Hmm... I think it’ll probably be like before. Asher likely has some hidden identity too.

[Steven]: That’s my Brother Asher! No matter the world, no matter his identity, he’ll always live as the center of attention!

[Wallace]: Here we go again. Asher in this world might not even know you, and you’re already praising him.

[Steven]: Impossible! No matter which parallel world it is, as long as Brother Asher and I meet, we’ll definitely become the best of brothers!

[Nessa]: Either way, at least this world’s Asher looks like an ordinary person on the surface. Compared with those ridiculous versions from previous worlds who went outside accompanied by Legendary Pokémon, this one is already pretty restrained.

[Raihan]: It’s still too early to judge. For all we know, he’s about to pull an Arceus out of his sleeve and use it as a magic prop.

[Bea]: That image is horrifying. I strongly recommend that it never become reality.

[Leon]: Given the usual style of this series, something is definitely going to happen onstage in a little while. Everyone should mentally prepare themselves.

The scene changed again.

A small magic theater had already been set up in the kindergarten’s open courtyard.

The audience area was packed with parents and children.

Aurelia and Selene sat directly in the center of the front row—the best seats in the entire venue.

"Ladies and gentlemen, parents and children!"

"Welcome to the Saffron City Kindergarten Parent-Child Special Program!"

"Next, Aurelia and Selene’s father—the famous magician Mr. Asher—will be presenting a performance for everyone!"

"Please give him a warm round of applause!"

The curtain at the center of the stage slowly opened.

A man dressed in a white suit stepped out from behind the side curtain.

A half-black, half-white magician’s mask covered his face.

He carried no props whatsoever.

Yet simply standing onstage gave him an air of mystery.

"Children."

"Parents."

"Welcome to my magic show."

Asher’s voice came through the microphone.

"Although I’m calling this a magic show, today’s performance is actually a birthday present I prepared especially for my two little princesses."

"The rest of you just happen to be getting a free show out of it."

"I hope nobody minds."

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Selene nearly bounced straight out of her chair in excitement.

"Big Sis, did you hear that?!"

"Dad said he’s celebrating our birthday!"

Aurelia’s eyes were also fixed firmly on Asher.

She nodded hard.

"Mm!"

Asher reached into the inside pocket of his suit and pulled out a white handkerchief.

He pinched it between two fingers and gave it a light flick.

The handkerchief instantly transformed into a bouquet of red roses.

Another flick and the roses scattered apart.

They transformed into dozens of Celebi glowing with green light, fluttering gracefully above the stage.

The Celebi circled the venue once.

Then they all flew toward Aurelia and Selene—placing beautiful birthday hats on both girls’ heads.

"WHOA——!!"

Every child in the audience shot to their feet.

Selene touched the birthday hat on her head.

Her eyes practically turned into stars.

"Amazing!"

"Dad is amazing!"

Aurelia also reached up and adjusted her birthday hat.

Her eyes had visibly brightened.

Asher stood onstage and smiled.

Then he snapped his fingers.

Every Celebi simultaneously dissolved into points of light.

The glowing particles gathered above the audience and formed four enormous words:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

"Next..."

"Comes the main event of today’s show."

Asher walked to the very front of the stage and extended one hand toward Aurelia and Selene below.

"Aurelia."

"Selene."

"Would you come up here and help Dad?"

Selene shot to her feet.

She immediately grabbed Aurelia by the wrist.

"Big Sis!"

"Dad called us!"

"Quick!"

"Let’s use psychic power and fly up there!"

"That’s the only entrance worthy of today’s occasion!"

Blue psychic light erupted from both sisters’ eyes.

Their bodies slowly floated upward from their seats.

Every child in the audience collectively gasped.

"They’re flying!"

"They’re really flying!"

"Is that magic too?! That’s so cool!"

"Dad, can you fly for me too?"

"Son, Dad doesn’t know magic."

"Mom, can I pick a new dad who has psychic powers?"

"???"

Amid the screams and envious cries of children throughout the venue—

Selene and Aurelia held hands and landed steadily at the center of the stage.

"Now that my two little princesses are up here..."

Asher smiled.

"Dad can finally start performing seriously."

He raised one hand above his head and lightly swept it through the air.

A trail made from countless tiny points of starlight immediately appeared overhead.

Floating within it was a golden sun.

And beside it a silver crescent moon.