Pokémon: Trainers Returning from Monster Hunter

Oreki turned his head to look at the foot of the bed.

Xin Ye Miao took a step forward with great momentum, slamming her left front paw heavily onto the mattress.

Its angry expression seemed to say, "If you catch any other Pokémon, I'm ignoring you... This time it's for real!"

Oreki was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Horizon Zero Dawn was right; when a Pokémon like Newleafy gets jealous, it's terrifying.

He hasn't even caught any other Pokémon yet, and he's already jealous.

"Huh? Your Shin-chan seems a little unhappy."

Zhu Lan, always eager for excitement, immediately made the final decision.

"Then it's settled. Professor Yamanashi happens to have a very unique Pokémon that should suit your taste!"

After saying that, she didn't even give Oreki a chance to bargain and hung up the phone directly.

"New Leaf Cat, let me explain first."

"Meow!"

I won't listen!

"Since that's the case..."

Oreki Training Notes Part 1 is activated!

Oreki took out the iron box containing the Lava Dragon Gem from his system inventory.

"If you agree, how about I let you hold me while I sleep tonight?"

His wicked grin resembled that of a creepy uncle luring a naive young girl with a lollipop, trying to get her to come with him.

"Meow…"

Looking at the precious Baoyu she had been longing for, Xin Ye Miao subconsciously swallowed and hesitated.

The cat's outstretched paw was slowly retracted without the cat's notice.

"No pain, no gain, but sweetness now is guaranteed later. We'll worry about the future later. It's just one more Pokémon; it shouldn't threaten my position. I'm in for the trade!"

After finishing her brainstorming session, Xin Ye Miao squinted and raised her head.

(○` 3′○)

"Meow meow."

I really can't do anything with you. I'll agree this time, but this is the last time!

Wow, that's really putting what you've learned into practice!

Oreki's expression was strange.

But my answer was—next time, definitely!

Isn't the bottom line meant to be crossed?

Once you've done it the first time, why worry about not doing it a second or third time...?

And so, Shin-Ye-Nyan was won over by Lava Mountain Dragon Treasure's "one-night stand" and fell asleep contentedly.

...

...

The next day, Monday, the weather was still sunny.

Inside a room at Kanaz Higher School with a nameplate bearing the name "Oriki".

Oreki once again felt the financial power of Devon Corporation.

Does a young mentor like him deserve a private office?

In addition to desks, bookshelves, and a small reception area, there is even a water bar area—fully equipped with a refrigerator and coffee machine.

"Meow meow...meow!"

Shin-chan perched on Oreki's shoulder and gently tapped it with its left front paw.

As expected of my cat's trainer, the office is quite impressive! So... could I play with the jade a little longer?

"Hey, isn't your Hoenn map a bit too short?"

"Meow meow meow?"

Xin Ye Miao tilted her head, indicating her confusion.

What are you saying? Are you secretly cursing me?

"Stop fooling around, I need to prepare my lesson plan. I have a class this afternoon."

Oreki picked up Shin-chan.

Xin Ye Miao was also sensible and didn't bother her anymore. She gently jumped onto the windowsill to bask in the sun and took a nap.

however.

Just as Oreki sat down, there was a knock on the office door.

"Oreki, are you there?"

A familiar voice came from inside.

"Ah, I'm here, please come in."

Oreki got up early and headed to the water bar area.

The door was opened.

A middle-aged man with round-framed glasses and brown hair rushed in.

It is Solans Kaohsiung that focuses on the research of various rocks and meteorites.

"Oriki, do you have time?"

"have!"

Without hesitation, Oreki immediately answered and handed over the drinking water that had been brought to him.

He was still very grateful to the doctor who had been helping him all along.

So even though he had classes in the afternoon, he still chose to make time for them.

As for the lesson plan…

In the first class, let's get to know each other and introduce ourselves.

That sounds reasonable.

Back in my university days, teachers of easy courses all did this.

After taking a big gulp of water, Solans got straight to the point.

"Daigo just brought me two pieces of ore to identify, but I'm not sure what they are. I was thinking you might know a bit about archaeological excavation, so I'd like to ask you for help."

"Speaking of which, after completing the onboarding procedures that day, Daigo said he was going to dig for rocks. Did he just come back?" Oreki asked curiously.

Solans took another sip of water, shrugged helplessly, and said, "As you expected."

Good heavens, they've been digging for a whole day and two nights?

Even Oreki, a monster hunter, had to admire Daigo's stamina.

If this were in the New World, he'd be at least a top-tier hunter.

"Let's get going without delay."

"no problem."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Xin Ye Miao, who had been on the windowsill, quietly crept over.

Oreki had no choice but to take the clingy kitten with him when he went out.

After a while.

Two people and a cat appeared inside the mineral research institute.

This place is probably the most complete place for ore research equipment in the entire Hoenn region, apart from the Devon Corporation headquarters.

Next to a huge cylindrical instrument, Daigo is operating a robotic arm.

Hearing the noise, he stopped what he was doing and turned around.

"Good morning, Oreki-sensei and Shin-chan."

"Good morning, Daigo."

"Meow!"

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Oreki got straight to the point and took over the operation of the robotic arm.

Using these things had become muscle memory, so no accidents occurred.

He listened to Solans's analysis as he rotated and observed the ore held in place by the mechanical claw.

"I had already tested it with an energy detector before, and there was a faint amount of active energy in the ore, but I couldn't find a similar energy waveform in the database."

"Wait a moment."

Oreki interrupted, "Doctor, do you mean there might be some kind of undiscovered energy hidden here?"

Solans and Daigo exchanged a glance and nodded.

"At least that's the case in the Hoenn region's database."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Oreki felt a headache coming on.

Please, do you even know what my research is about?!

It's true that I'm good at archaeological excavation, but that's all based on existing mineral energy maps. I use instruments to detect the age of their existence, thus serving historical research.

This ore contains a brand new version... I mean, brand new energy. Where am I supposed to compare and study it?

"Is the same thing with the other ore?" Oreki asked.

If the other one is the same, then his task can end, because he doesn't understand either...

"No, that's not it."

This time it was Daigo who answered. He took a glass container from the side and placed a piece of ore slightly larger than a fist inside.

In comparison, the part being studied inside the instrument is much larger, and appears to be even larger than the New Leaf Cat.

Daigo continued, "The energy waveform of this ore is somewhat similar to the ∞ energy that the company is researching and developing, but it's even more... even more..."

"More refined."

Dr. Solans picked up the conversation.

"To draw an analogy, ∞ energy is like a rough-processed product, while the energy of this ore is like a refined product, with a much higher degree of completion."

∞ energy?

Isn't that something that appeared in the Ruby and Sapphire remake game?

Hmm...it seems to have appeared in the anime as well.

and many more!

If there is any energy that is more refined than ∞ energy…

hiss! !

Super Stone?!

……