I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

Chapter 730: Team Competition! Re-ranking!

Currently, excluding Darkrai, there are five employees in the café.

Head chef and pastry chef, Alcremie;

Assistant cook and server, Steenee.

There's also the 'little butler' Indeedee, the 'waiter' Espathra, and the 'courier' Delibird.

The team is growing steadily, and Teacher Lu is very pleased.

After all, he can't always stay in Miare City.

During the time he challenges Victory Road, someone needs to look after the shop.

Steenee has an innocent personality and quickly gets along with the little ones, smiling sweetly with curved red eyes.

The shop is filled with a refreshing fruity fragrance. Lu Ye gently sniffed for a moment, slightly lost in thought.

According to the Pokédex description, Steenee is called the 'Fruit Pokémon'.

With this fragrance, no wonder Ash's Rowlet is always craving its body!

Lu Ye murmured: "In the future, besides cream flavor, I'll also add fruit flavor to the ice cream I make for Bamboo Lan..."

...

Approaching afternoon, pedestrians come and go on the streets of Miare City.

Under Alcremie's guidance, Steenee visits the kitchen and studies cooking techniques.

Teacher Lu prepares to head to Prism Tower to conduct the internal team ranking according to the prearranged schedule.

Cynthia originally wanted to come along, but Professor Mustardseed sent a video conference call asking about research work.

In the video call.

The stern-faced Professor Mustardseed rambles about something, her peripheral vision falling on a corner of the screen as she barks: "Stop right there!"

Lu Ye freezes, stops walking in confusion, glances at the helpless Cynthia, then points at himself.

"You," Professor Mustardseed says, "Why didn't you attend this year's Scientific Summit?"

I was looking forward to it for quite a while, thinking Lu Ye would have new achievements, and I could even taste his cooking!

Doctor... Lu Ye opens his mouth, then changes his words: "Grandma, I think preparing for Victory Road is more important... What do you think?"

Cynthia looks at Lu Ye in surprise, not expecting him to change his address so naturally and smoothly.

Surprisingly, Professor Mustardseed doesn't find it strange either and counters: "Donghua's Victory Road?"

Lu Ye nods.

"Hmm... That's a legitimate reason," Professor Mustardseed says vaguely. "But, can't you really find some time to come to Gongmen City?"

This year's Scientific Summit is being held in Galar's Gongmen City, with Gigantamax phenomenon as the main topic.

Lu Ye: "I can't go... but someone from my company's team will attend."

During the previous summer vacation, with Teacher Lu's recommendation, Olivia studied under Professor Mustardseed for a period.

Professor Mustardseed praised Olivia's talent profusely, calling her an unparalleled research talent in the 'Gigantamax' field.

Out of appreciation for her talent, Professor Mustardseed invited Olivia to research under her guidance, but Olivia refused.

For Olivia, this was a dream opportunity, absolutely unique.

But the gratitude she feels toward the Chairman for recognizing her talent cannot be so easily set aside.

Olivia chose to continue staying with the Pokémon Company, treating Gigantamax research as a personal interest.

For this Scientific Summit, Olivia will attend as a commercial representative, making up for her previous regret.

Hearing that Lu Ye can't come, Professor Mustardseed taps her cane repeatedly, saying: "What a pity, such a pity!"

"Grandma..." Cynthia says softly.

"Then Bamboo Lan doesn't need to come back either, you two work hard," Professor Mustardseed says.

"Grandma!" Cynthia's cheeks flush red beneath her golden hair, she turns her back to Lu Ye so he can't see.

"Work hard to write the research report properly, so I don't have to stay up all night checking materials in the library..." Professor Mustardseed yawns.

"...I, I understand," Cynthia says.

Professor Mustardseed looks at Lu Ye and says loudly: "Alright, you go attend to your business, goodbye!"

"Goodbye, Grandma... I can provide support with ancient text translation," Lu Ye smiles.

"Hmph, that's about all you're good for, kid!" Professor Mustardseed curls her lips.

...

Leaving the café.

Lu Ye rides his Rotom bicycle, following the navigation toward Prism Tower in Central Square.

Although Prism Tower is a landmark building.

Teacher Lu has gotten lost multiple times in Miare City, ended up in dead ends, and in frustration sent out Latias.

"Beep beep... Turn left at the intersection ahead, Rotom~"

"What intersection ahead?" Lu Ye looks around repeatedly.

Sweat drips from the Rotom bicycle's handlebars: "Beep beep... Si-signal is bad, actually it was turn left at the previous intersection!"

Lu Ye: "..."

"Now recommending a U-turn, Rotom!"

"...Yeah, we should turn around," Lu Ye says faintly.

"Beep beep... Cannot comprehend, Rotom! o(TヘTo)"

In the end, Teacher Lu only reached Prism Tower thanks to Haunter leading the way.

If you ask why Haunter knows the route so well...

It's because Teacher Lu's first Kalos badge, the Electric badge, was actually earned by Haunter himself through challenge.

Inside Prism Tower.

The acting Gym Leader, robot Clembot, seems to want to say something but holds back.

"Yo, long time no see!" Lu Ye greets: "Where's Clemont?"

"The Gym Leader is traveling with Ash," Clembot answers stiffly.

Lu Ye looks up at the sky.

According to the timeline, Ash should soon meet Karine and challenge her Gardevoir.

Karine's battle performance is somewhat strange - her ace Gardevoir even gets captured by the Trio in a cage.

If forced to explain, maybe Karine uses this to slack off and avoid her packed schedule.

Karine's Mega Gardevoir... among champions, can only bully the old man Alder...

She and Wallace both belong to the part-time champion category. One's main career is movie queen, the other's main career is coordinator.

Although the two have never battled, Teacher Lu thinks Wallace is slightly stronger.

Lu Ye falls into thought.

"With the power of the Fairy Plate, Sylveon can quickly reach Mega Gardevoir's level... maybe even surpass it."

Lu Ye walks toward the battlefield: "I'll borrow the venue, I'll handle any aftermath, Clembot!"

To avoid attracting suspicion like last time's 'Planetary Devastation' incident at the outdoor café.

Considering the internal team battle, Teacher Lu chooses to have Latias erect Light Screen and Reflect barriers inside Prism Tower's venue.

Unlike the previous exercise.

Once the Light Screen is raised, it means this will become an official ranking battle, determining family hierarchy!

Lu Ye throws out eight Poké Balls at once - the six main team members, plus the second team's Rotom and Pupitar.

This doesn't even include the support Pokémon Meloetta and Victini, or the flying partner Latias.

Red light blooms across the field.

Lu Ye looks around at the little ones, rubbing his chin: "Who wants to go first? Or should I demonstrate first?"

With the enhancement of 「Power of Transcendence」「Aura」, and martial arts skills, Teacher Lu has the confidence to brawl with Geodude!

"Bangii! (✪ω✪)"

Pupitar raises its claws high, casually tossing a diamond into its mouth and crunching it with a 'crack'.

Lu Ye's eyelid twitches, feeling heartache.

Calm down... how can you get stronger without spending money!

Although Teacher Lu always feels Ducklett crits with every strike, its actual level is only at Elite Four peak.

Since defeating Darkrai's Latios at the Lily of the Valley Conference, it hasn't done serious training.

Meanwhile, Pupitar, under the 'spending money training method', Vermilion Shards, and 《Essence of Earth》 cultivation, shows signs of catching up and gradually approaching champion level.

Lu Ye is curious whether Ducklett can defeat Mega Pupitar without holding back...

The first to step forward is Pupitar, slowly walking to the edge of the field, extending both claws, ready for action: "Bangii!"

The little ones look left and right, their memories still lingering on Larvitar's well-behaved appearance, but now it's grown into a big dinosaur.

Even the highly motivated Sylveon has no intention of fighting.

"Ka-may...ヾ(⌐■_■)" Blastoise silently adjusts its sunglasses, suddenly taking half a step back.

A gentleman hides his weapons and waits for the right moment to act!

Seeing this, Haunter giggles and also takes half a step back.

Togepi, seeing everyone moving in sync, imitates them curiously: "Doo-ee?"

Like this?

"Quack..." Sirfetch'd holds sword and shield, dozing off.

With so many mythical Pokémon, legendary Pokémon, and Big Sister around.

No way I'll be the first to fight, duck~

At the same time.

Teacher Lu's gaze falls on the team, and he nods with satisfaction.

Sirfetch'd's position appears particularly outstanding.

It seems Sirfetch'd and I are thinking the same - it also wants to test its own strength!

Lu Ye: "I choose you, Sirfetch'd!"

Sirfetch'd jolts awake.

Looking dazedly at the trainer, then glancing around, Sirfetch'd realizes it's been tricked.

"Quack! (´థ౪థ)σ"

Watching Sirfetch'd slowly walk onto the field, reluctant and unwilling.

Teacher Lu raises an eyebrow.

This is between Sirfetch'd and Pupitar—

A true·father-son match!

...