Pokémon, but cultural invasion

"I'm very sorry, but the new semester has already started, and the college probably won't be sending any new student representatives."

"It's okay, the production team will find a way to handle the actors, so you don't need to worry about it affecting the subsequent filming."

"Thank you for your understanding. Although we have only worked together for a week, I have already deeply felt Tingxiang's professionalism and sincerity in guiding students' social practice."

"Hinoki City Academy looks forward to our next collaboration."

After expressing their deepest gratitude, the teacher leading the group left Kanto, and the movie had to continue.

Replacing an actor requires consideration not only of their ability but also of the feelings of the other lead actor.

"Change partners?"

Zi Yu learns that there may be a need to hold a talent search in the database to find a replacement for the role of the prince.

She would accept the production team's arrangements, but the thought that the princess in the play spends most of her time holding hands with the prince made her reluctant to do the same with a stranger.

If she had to choose a stranger, she would rather it be Izumi...

Ziyu shook her head. Why did Quanshu suddenly appear on the shortlist?

However, since we hugged on the day we went to the new island, holding hands afterwards isn't unacceptable.

She shook her head again; there was no reason for a director to personally film a scene.

Speaking of people I know, there seems to be another one in Golden City.

Zi Yu recalled the gray-haired girl after the screening that day; her fascination and amazement with the short film were palpable.

Fortunately, we swapped navigator accounts after the conversation; if it were her, she might have agreed.

...

"If Cai Dou agrees, I have no objection. The most important thing about this drama is the atmosphere; acting is secondary."

When faced with the arrival of Ziyu, Quanshu could understand her unease about having a new, unfamiliar partner.

"Thank you, Ms. Quanshu."

Ziyu breathed a sigh of relief. It would be wonderful if she could act with Caidou.

Having resolved a concern, she curiously examined the computer screen on Quanshu's seat.

A simple webpage was displayed, prominently displaying five large characters: 【Life Simulator】.

"Take 5 seconds to start a new life."

"what is this?"

Ziyu spends a considerable amount of time online every day, but she has never seen such a strange website before.

Quanshu said calmly, "Consider this a preliminary web version of the next game; it's still quite rudimentary at the moment."

Many features are in need of improvement, and the game content is only less than one-tenth complete, so it doesn't even qualify as a beta version.

"Life Simulator...what a strange name."

Zi Yu suppressed her curiosity, knowing that continuing to investigate trade secrets would only put the other party in a difficult position.

Want to try it out?

"Hey, shouldn't this be a confidential matter?"

Seeing her surprised look, Quanshu smiled and said, "After all, I've made it into a webpage, so of course I hope someone can participate."

He pointed to the button in the upper right corner of the webpage and said, "Do you see the green submit button?"

"One person's strength is limited. This website will collect all the players' ideas, and after I select them, I will design them into the next game."

"Even if you don't come, I will still post the webpage tonight."

"So, would you like to give it a try and be the first tester?"

Ziyu still didn't understand what "creativity" meant, but her intense curiosity became even more pronounced after Izumi got permission.

"Then... shall I give it a try?"

She sat down and clicked the only button on the page—[Restart Your Life].

Chapter 220 You Were Born in Pallet Town

"Zizi-"

Noise appears on the pure white page—[Please draw upon your talent].

The word "draw" is always associated with slot machines in arcades, Zi Yu thought, and followed the instructions to click "draw".

Six talents were pulled out from the bottom.

Fixed Talents:

[Newborn Calf: Slows down Pokémon training speed, slightly increases "Courage".]

Selectable talents:

[Unwavering devotion: You will never abandon your Pokémon, and the Pokémon you capture will be more willing to obey commands.]

[Born in the Countryside: Your physical abilities improve, Pokémon become more adept at battling in the wild, and your "Knowledge" stat decreases.]

[A handsome appearance significantly increases "charm" and the probability of dating someone of the opposite sex.]

[Love of Flowers and Plants: You are naturally skilled at caring for flowers and plants, doubling your plant harvest and increasing affinity with Grass-type Pokémon.]

[Eloquent and articulate: You always manage to gain the upper hand in conversations, subtly enhancing your "thoughtfulness."]

Zi Yu carefully read through the effects of each talent, and found that all of them, except for [Newborn Calf] and [Born in the Countryside], were positive benefits.

You can choose two talents and then enter the game with those fixed talents.

【Never Leave Me】was ruled out first by Ziyu. If even the captured Pokémon don't obey, then I shouldn't be a trainer.

Of the remaining three talents, she chose "Dignified Appearance" and "Cherishing Flowers and Grass." The former always comes with privileges, regardless of the game.

The latter approach of becoming a Grass-type Elite Four member should be quite good.

Click to generate, [Game Start].

All of a sudden.

A deep darkness descends, and an old-fashioned, quirky pixel animation begins to play on the screen, with text descriptions popping up at the bottom.

It looks like a game trailer.

You are a simple, honest boy born near Pallet Town.

"Puuuuuuu—"

In the pixelated animation, a group of mosquito coil tadpoles swim in a clear stream, occasionally using water guns to shoot down insects on the treetops along the riverbank.

A pixelated figure carrying a bug-catching net stands on a rock, watching the new trainer who has acquired the starter Pokémon drive away in a luxury car.

At the age of ten, you met your first companion, Oddish, on the outskirts of Pallet Town, and you embarked on your journey together.

The pixelated figure jumped off the rock, tripped over a walking grass that was half-buried in the ground, and knocked it unconscious.

The simple-minded boy looked around, and after confirming that no one was around, he threw out a small red ball, which sucked the Oddish into it.

"Wait a minute, this isn't right, is it?"

Ziyu stopped clicking the mouse. First of all, where is the simplicity in this boy? Secondly, where is Professor Oak who gave out the starter Pokémon?

People from Pallet Town should be able to get Bulbasaur.

Although the boy's path is beginning to align with her predetermined path to becoming the Grass-type Elite Four member, embarking on a journey with Oddish is bound to be very difficult!

[You are handsome and many girls came to see you off when you left Pallet Town, but you were too proud and determined to become the Kanto Champion, so you didn't even glance at them.]

A group of pixel-art girls, looking saddened, watched the boy leave with Oddish under the setting sun.

Zi Yu waved her little fist. That's more like it. A young man with ambitions for the world shouldn't be preoccupied with romantic love.

The novelty and epic feeling of starting a legendary story excited her greatly; setting off is always the most anticipated moment of a journey.

Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long, and Ziyu's prediction came true.

The scene changes.

The pixelated boy appears on a rocky battlefield, his opponent a tall, squinty-eyed man with bronze skin.

The squinty-eyed man with his arms crossed didn't give any orders, and the Onix just lashed out with its tail, knocking out the bouncing Oddish.

Although pixel art animation isn't very expressive, the sight of Oddish spinning like a top for dozens of rotations before finally getting dizzy was truly unbearable for Ziyu.

[You failed your first challenge at the Pewter City Gym, and darkness engulfed you, preventing you from obtaining your first badge.]

Even with its type advantage, Oddish couldn't beat Onix.

It's normal for a new trainer to fail their first gym battle. With diligent training, you'll show the gym leader your progress and can still earn badges...

Ziyu's thoughts came to an abrupt halt, because when the screen went black and then lit up again, the pixel boy was standing on the opposite platform of the Dark Grey Gym.

"Did this guy bring Oddish to challenge the Pewter Gym without doing any training?"

Her blood pressure spiked instantly.

As expected, Oddish was once again mercilessly crushed by Onix. Fortunately, it was a 2D pixel animation, so even though it was flattened, you couldn't really tell what happened.

You've failed again; darkness has descended upon you...

"Shouldn't I at least take a look at the trainer books and learn how to train Pokémon this time?"

Zi Yu sighed.

However, young and fearless, the pixelated boy once again challenged the Dark Grey Pavilion Master.

The third time...the fourth time...and the fifth time, Xiao Gang finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Gym Leader: Your throws are weak, your training is sloppy, you lack any cohesion, and your tactics are nonexistent! You think you can compete with other rookie trainers in Kanto? Keep dreaming!"

[You were reprimanded by the curator, and your mindset changed.]

A new pixelated scene emerges: a brightly lit bar counter, where scantily clad, alluring women surround a pixelated boy drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

"No, buddy~"

Ziyu thought that Xiaogang's scolding had woken him up and that he was going to work hard, but it turned out that he went to a bar to drown his sorrows?

[You are handsome and dashing, and you spend your days drowning your sorrows in alcohol in Dark Gray City, quickly attracting the attention of a large number of women.]

But you are single-mindedly devoted to the path of the Dao, determined not to give up until you reach the championship, and remain unmoved by the allure of beautiful women.

Finally, your persistence caught the attention of a trainer in the crowd, who taught you the training methods for Oddish.

Your "knowledge" has increased.

"So you've come to study."

Zi Yu was speechless, but the teaching effect was remarkable, and an attribute panel appeared in the lower left corner.

Current properties:

[Knowledge: Limited and Inexperienced]

Courage: Standing Alone

[Dexterous: Clumsy]

[Considerate: Not very concerned]

[Charm: Full of potential]

According to the game's hints, attributes affect the frequency of event triggers, the probability of success, and the effects of player choices.

[After much painful reflection, you decide to train Oddish, but you hesitate about whether to continue challenging the Pewter Gym.]

[Yes (Continue the challenge) / No (Go to Cerulean City)]

Ziyu, of course, couldn't let him continue to be whipped by Onix, so she decisively chose to head to Cerulean City.

The pixelated boy slung his backpack over his shoulder and left the place of heartbreak without looking back.

Passing by Mount Tsukimi, you see a group of mischievous kids worshipping the moon, increasing your "knowledge."

The attribute panel has also progressed from "lacking in knowledge" to "diligent and eager to learn".

Nighttime in the forest is when the walking grass is most active.