The Villain Hidden in the Backstory

"Ah, it's nothing. You're too kind."

Pina scratched his head. Although he didn't recognize the Pokémon beside the new teacher, he could tell from its size alone that it had only recently hatched. There was no reason for him to take offense.

Taking a deep breath, Pina wore an excited expression as he slowly delivered the introduction he had practiced countless times at home over the break. "My name is Pina. I'm currently a student in Class 5-G, and starting this semester, I'll be serving as the academy's Student Council President. Chairwoman Geeta arranged for me to show you around, Teacher."

"Pina?"

Luo Mu blinked, doing his best to connect the boy before him, who looked every bit like an exemplary student, with the delinquent-looking leader of Team Star's Segin Squad from his memories, whose dream had been to become a DJ.

That was way too big a change!

And then there was the lively Arven he had met before, and Nemona, who didn't want to become a Trainer. Could growing up really change people that much?

Under Pina's puzzled gaze, Luo Mu put his adult ability to remain calm under pressure to use. A light cough was all it took for him to compose himself. "Did the Chairwoman tell you where to take me?"

"Ah! She did." Pina lightly nodded and quickly replied, "The Chairwoman was worried you might get lost on campus, so she arranged for me to guide you. She's waiting for you in the principal's office with Principal Mu Fei and Dean De Shu."

"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way."

"Okay!"

They opened the main doors and entered the academy. The first thing they saw was Naranja Academy's enormous main hall.

It connected to the school's vast, richly stocked library. The moment they entered, the dense scent of books and the weight of history washed over them.

Pina introduced it with pride. "This is Naranja Academy's pride and joy, its library. Its collection is among the best in the world, and this library, which covers knowledge from every profession and field, is what allows Naranja Academy to cultivate outstanding graduates in all areas."

Luo Mu looked around, thinking that he could come here sometime to cram up on farming knowledge. His current reserves of knowledge were still far too shallow.

Pina then brought Luo Mu to the spiral staircase on the other side, where several access-control machines stood, blocking entry to anyone unaffiliated with Naranja Academy.

Pina explained, "Further inside are the teaching area and the student dormitories. You need facial recognition to enter those places."

"However, since this is your first time at Naranja Academy, Teacher, I'll take you in."

As he spoke, Pina scanned his face at the access-control machines one after another. The gates opened with a swish, and Pina made a welcoming gesture.

Luo Mu lightly nodded and led Growlithe through the gates.

Pina followed closely behind, passing through the gates and continuing to lead the way ahead.

As though a question had suddenly occurred to him, Pina asked curiously, "Teacher, may I ask you something?"

Luo Mu readily agreed. "Go ahead."

Pina asked, "What subject will you be teaching? You look so young—could it be home economics or art?"

Luo Mu's expression turned a little strange. "No, I'm your Battle Studies teacher. Didn't the Chairwoman tell you?"

"Huh?" Pina glanced discreetly at Luo Mu, somewhat surprised. "The Chairwoman really didn't mention it. She only told me to meet a newly hired young teacher who would be landing outside the main gate on a Dragonite."

"Still, since you've raised such a powerful Pokémon as Dragonite, you must be an exceptionally capable Trainer, right?"

Luo Mu blinked. He wasn't surprised that Pina had asked that question.

After all, aside from challenging Gyms, he had spent the past year training in the wild. He hadn't been involved in many major incidents, so naturally, not many ordinary people knew of him.

In most Leagues, Elite Four challenges and Champion challenges were subject to extremely strict confidentiality. Even Iono's livestream had only been approved because of her authority as a Gym Leader.

Moreover, Iono had pitifully few fans at the time. The livestream itself had already been the limit, and since there had been no way to record it, that battle was even less widely known.

Other than those with access to certain channels, most residents of the Paldea Region didn't know that a new Champion-Level Trainer had emerged.

It was understandable that Pina had asked without knowing.

Thinking that, Luo Mu smiled. "Don't worry. When it comes to strength alone, I'm pretty strong."

Outside the principal's office.

After escorting Luo Mu here, Pina bowed and departed. Standing before the principal's office, Luo Mu knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Luo Mu pushed open the door. A bright, spacious principal's office came into view. The three people seated together on the sofa turned their gazes toward him.

One gaze was appraising, one was scrutinizing, and one was friendly.

The appraising gaze came from a middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses. Luo Mu had looked up information before and remembered that this man should be Naranja Academy's current principal—Mu Fei.

The scrutinizing gaze came from a stern middle-aged man with slicked-back hair fixed in place with gel. This was the dean Pina had mentioned—De Shu.

The third, friendly gaze naturally belonged to Geeta.

She offered a perfectly timed smile, waved to Luo Mu, and said, "Luo Mu, come over."

"Chairwoman, it's been a while." Luo Mu nodded and walked over with steady steps under the three people's gazes.

Growlithe also did him proud, holding its head high and chest out as it followed closely at Luo Mu's heels.

"So you're Luo Mu, the Battle Studies teacher the Chairwoman introduced? I've heard much about you!"

Mu Fei stood up and shook Luo Mu's hand with a kind smile.

"Hello, Principal Mu Fei." Luo Mu also smiled warmly. After exchanging pleasantries with Mu Fei, he looked toward De Shu, who remained seated on the sofa without saying a word. Blinking, he proactively extended his hand. "You must be the dean, then. Hello?"

De Shu was silent for a moment. Rather than responding, he looked at Geeta, his tone somewhat puzzled. "Chairwoman, are you certain you want to recommend this young man for the position of Battle Studies teacher, a role that requires extensive practical combat experience?"

Geeta folded her hands together and smiled. "Of course. He's a Trainer I think highly of."

De Shu stood and met Luo Mu's eyes. He then looked over the tiny Growlithe at Luo Mu's feet, a deeply concealed disdain on his face. "Forgive my bluntness, but a Battle Studies teacher must possess exceptional personal strength. It isn't a job just anyone can do."

Luo Mu understood. This dean was probably the type to judge people by appearances.

As a transmigrator who now had the capital to act as he pleased, Luo Mu had no intention of swallowing any grievance. He immediately planned to summon Dragonite and Ceruledge and properly prove his strength to this dean.

At that moment, Mu Fei, who had remained silent until then, spoke up. "De Shu, Teacher Luo Mu is a Champion-Level Trainer. Don't speculate about someone's strength based on their age."

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