“Finally…
I’ve made it.”
Rustboro Academy stood before Roy in all its grandeur.
The academy’s magnificent European-style architecture was even more breathtaking than the image printed on his admission letter.
Following the directions Professor Birch had given him, Roy arrived at the academy without any trouble.
Unlike in the games, Rustboro Academy was located on the outskirts of Rustboro City rather than in the city itself.
He had originally planned to explore the city first, but after a moment’s thought, decided he could always do that later.
As Roy wondered whether he should simply walk through the front gate…
…or just walk through the front gate…
He noticed a woman with fair skin pacing anxiously near the academy entrance.
She wore the official Rustboro Academy instructor’s uniform.
Her long black hair was tied into a high ponytail, and despite the formal attire, her mature elegance was impossible to hide.
Whoa…
that’s definitely a D cup…
definitely.
Roy silently prayed.
“Ma’am, please go out with me.”
Of course, that thought stayed safely inside his head.
She was probably one of the academy’s teachers.
Walking over politely, Roy greeted her.
“Excuse me.
Could you tell me where new students are supposed to register?”
His question snapped the woman out of her thoughts.
She looked at the cheerful young man standing before her.
If only he were one of my students…
I wouldn’t be standing here worrying.
“What class have you been assigned to?”
“I think…
the Beginner Class at Rustboro Academy.”
Roy handed her his admission letter.
After confirming it was genuine, she glanced at the name printed below.
“Roy…
After entering the academy, turn right and head toward the largest academic…”
She suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Wait…
Beginner Class 1…
isn’t that the class I’m temporarily supervising?
And wasn’t I waiting for a student named Roy?
Her eyes widened.
“…You’re Roy?”
Roy blinked.
Well…
yes?
My name is literally written on the admission letter…
You even said it yourself just now.
Lina immediately realized she’d asked an incredibly stupid question.
The problem was that the Roy standing before her looked nothing like the Roy she’d imagined.
She had met several Ghost-type trainers before.
Almost every one of them gave off a gloomy, unhealthy, unsettling aura.
But Roy…
He looked like an ordinary, cheerful young man.
When she’d first heard that a Ghost-type specialist would be joining her class, she’d protested fiercely.
Unfortunately, the academy board had ignored every objection and assigned Roy to her class anyway.
She’d had no choice but to accept it.
Now…
Her first impression had completely overturned her expectations.
“I’m sorry.”
She smiled apologetically before introducing herself.
“I’m your homeroom teacher from today onward.
My name is Lina.
You can simply call me Teacher Lina.”
Lina had the appearance of a newly married young woman.
Her fair skin almost seemed to glow beneath the sunlight, while her delicate features gave her an elegant and graceful charm.
So she’s my teacher…
Roy immediately greeted her respectfully.
“Teacher Lina, my name is Roy.
I’m from Mt.
Pyre.”
“I’ll be in your care from now on.”
As the academy’s very first Ghost-type trainer, Roy wanted to leave a good first impression.
Lina continued studying him before finally asking the question she’d been holding back.
“…Are you really a Ghost-type trainer?”
Roy shrugged.
The tiny flame atop his shoulder flickered.
Litwick slowly peeked out from behind him.
“…”
“…Well.”
“I guess that answers my question.”
The last traces of worry disappeared from Lina’s face.
Judging from his behavior, Roy seemed perfectly normal.
She only hoped he didn’t have…
any strange hobbies.
With that concern gone, Lina began giving Roy a tour of the academy.
Rustboro Academy was divided into several major districts:
Academic Building
Battle Plaza
Student Dormitories
Pokémon Breeding Research Center
Medical Center
Each facility supported a different Pokémon-related profession, including Trainers, Breeders, Coordinators, Rangers, and Researchers.
“As for Sommeliers…”
Lina paused.
“…Wait.”
“That’s just someone who serves wine at a restaurant, isn’t it?”
Apparently, Pokémon Sommeliers hadn’t become an established profession yet.
Roy stared at the enormous campus in amazement.
The academy was at least ten times larger than the biggest university he’d ever seen in his previous life.
The massive outdoor battle stadium in the center alone was nearly the size of two football fields.
It served as both a training ground and tournament venue. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Several official regional competitions had even been hosted there over the past few years.
…
As they walked through the campus, Lina explained the academy’s rules and grading system.
Rustboro Academy followed a three-year advancement program divided into three levels:
Beginner Class
Intermediate Class
Advanced Class
Promotion wasn’t automatic.
Students who failed to meet the yearly requirements would be eliminated.
If, after one year in Beginner Class, a student’s Pokémon had not reached Level 30, and they failed to obtain either a Junior Trainer License or a Breeder Certification…
They would be expelled.
The academy believed such students simply weren’t suited for Pokémon-related careers.
Upon entering Intermediate Class, students specialized according to their chosen profession.
There were separate classes for Trainers, Breeders, and Researchers.
Morning classes consisted of only three lessons.
The afternoons were reserved for independent study.
Students could freely attend battle courses, breeding workshops, coordinator clubs, research societies, and numerous other extracurricular activities.
Since Roy’s strongest Pokémon was only Level 28, he had naturally been placed into Beginner Class.
Graduating from the Advanced Class came with a major privilege.
Students could participate directly in official Pokémon League tournaments without first collecting Gym Badges.
Roy wasn’t worried in the slightest.
Both Litwick and Duskull only needed two more levels to reach Level 30.
Besides…
He still had the System.
Although he had no idea what kind of items the System Shop would unlock.
During the tour, Roy also met the academy’s Academic Director.
The man was a greasy, overweight administrator with a large bald spot covering the top of his head.
The director clearly wasn’t pleased to see Roy.
Yet he also seemed oddly restrained.
As though he feared someone behind the scenes.
Instead of openly criticizing Roy, he merely warned him.
“Keep your Ghost Pokémon under control.”
Deep down, the director disliked Ghost-types.
If it hadn’t been for an influential person’s direct request…
He would never have allowed someone like Roy, whom he considered an unstable element, into Rustboro Academy.
Just then, Roy felt someone watching him.
He turned toward the office window.
Outside…
A figure had been secretly peeking through the glass.
The instant Roy looked over…
The person panicked.
“Bang!”
A loud crash echoed outside as they stumbled backward and fell to the ground.
Ignoring the pain, the mysterious figure scrambled to their feet and fled.
The bald director seemed to recognize exactly who it was.
But he simply sighed.
“Teacher Lina.”
“Continue the tour.”
“Yes, Director.”
Without another word, Lina led Roy away from the office.