Autumn Excursion (2)

Autumn Excursion (2)

Hoenn Region, Lavaridge Town.

One bus after another pulled up outside Lavaridge Town's Pokémon Center. Under the teachers' arrangements, the students gradually got off and carried their luggage into the Pokémon Center.

According to the school's arrangements,

the students would be staying at the Pokémon Center for the first night, two to a room. The teachers were no exception.

However, Class 1 of the Battle Department's first years had an odd number of students. At Steven Stone's request, Jing He, who should have shared a room with the counselor Du Fu, was assigned to room with Steven Stone instead.

To be honest, Jing He was somewhat resistant to sharing a room with another man. But it was the school's arrangement, and even Steven Stone, the Young Master of Devon Corporation, had not objected. As a teacher, Jing He naturally had to set an example.

Besides,

compared to Du Fu and his body full of bulging muscles, Steven Stone was certainly easier to accept.

And honestly, the age gap between Jing He and Du Fu was far greater than the gap between him and Steven Stone.

Once the accommodations had been arranged,

Du Fu announced that the afternoon and evening would be free time.

Quite a few students cheered at that.

Of course, the condition of their free time was that they could only stay within Lavaridge Town. If they wanted to leave town, they needed a teacher's approval.

As noon approached, the students left the Pokémon Center in twos and threes to find food. Jing He was doing the same when Steven Stone, Roxanne, and Flannery invited him.

"Teacher Jing He, want to grab something to eat with us?" Even on the autumn excursion, Roxanne still held a book in her arms.

Before Jing He could refuse, she continued, "Flannery knows a really good restaurant. I heard it's one of Lavaridge Town's specialties!"

Flannery was from Lavaridge Town. Her grandfather, once one of the Hoenn League's Elite Four, now served as the Lavaridge Town Gym Leader.

"Koujie?"

Gastly, still shrunk down several sizes and not yet recovered, poked its head out. It blinked eagerly.

In the end, faced with the slightly expectant gazes of the three students, Jing He agreed.

It was not that he was worried about his wallet. Well, all right, he was a little worried about his wallet.

After all, hinting at Steven Stone once was enough.

Even if these three students were theoretically all wealthier than him, as their teacher, it really was not right to let students pay for the meal.

At Jing He's answer, Flannery secretly winked at Roxanne and Steven Stone.

The moment they stepped out of the Pokémon Center,

a wave of scorching heat hit them head-on.

After walking a few more steps and turning back, they could see a massive mountain—the iconic Mt. Chimney of the Hoenn Region!

Mt. Chimney was a 1,500-meter volcano located in Hoenn's interior. Though it had not erupted for many years, the mountain constantly radiated intense heat. It was a dormant volcano.

From afar, black volcanic ash drifted slowly down like black snow.

Once it descended to a certain height, the black snow resembled enormous Murkrow feathers, circling and twisting before the mountain winds swept them northeast.

It was easy to imagine that if such thick volcanic ash blanketed the area, it would inevitably have a considerable impact on the surrounding environment.

However, while Lavaridge Town sat at the foot of Mt. Chimney, it was on the mountain's southern side. Carried by the mountain winds, only a small amount of ash occasionally fell near Lavaridge Town, so it did not cause much of an impact.

Instead, the intense heat of Mt. Chimney's dormant volcano had given Lavaridge Town its unique feature—volcanic hot springs—and attracted many visitors.

Won't Fly is sleeping inside Mt. Chimney, right?

Looking at the cloud-shrouded mountain before him, Jing He could not help but think.

If that guy appeared, then... But he immediately gave a self-deprecating smile.

How terrible would his luck have to be to run into Groudon the moment he came to Mt. Chimney? Besides, Groudon was still asleep. Without the Red Orb, it probably would not wake up even if someone danced on its head.

"Teacher?"

Steven Stone and the other two had already walked some distance toward the restaurant before they noticed Jing He standing there, staring blankly at Mt. Chimney.

Jing He came back to himself, pulled his clothes tighter around him, and slowly caught up.

He had to admit that in a place as scorching as Lavaridge Town, Gastly played a huge role—it lowered Jing He's perceived temperature by at least five degrees, keeping the heat from becoming unbearable.

"Koujie—"

Now you know how amazing I am, right? "Kou—jie—burp—"

In a relatively secluded restaurant in Lavaridge Town, Gastly lay comfortably on a cushion and let out a long, satisfied burp.

When Jing He returned after paying and saw it like that, the corner of his eye twitched.

It had eaten the most during this meal! Next was Flannery, who had insisted on coming here, followed by Steven Stone and Jing He. Roxanne had eaten the least.

Still, he had to admit that the food at this restaurant was indeed quite good.

Especially the rice mixed with hot spring eggs. Those were genuine hot spring eggs.

"Now that we're full, what should we do this afternoon?" Flannery sprawled casually in her seat, her gaze sweeping back and forth over Jing He and the other two as though she were a little bored.

Jing He knew perfectly well what she wanted to say, especially from the looks she kept giving Steven Stone and Roxanne—looks that seemed intended to be subtle but were actually completely obvious.

Steven Stone could not help rubbing his forehead, while Roxanne slowly turned her head away. "Why don't we go to Mt. Chimney?" Flannery did not notice anything unusual about her "accomplices." She slapped the table and continued her "performance."

"Koujie!"

Jing He had not reacted much, but the full and drowsy Gastly was startled.

It shot Flannery an "unfriendly" look.

She was the one who had fought it the hardest over food just now! "What do you think? I know a place on Mt. Chimney that's really fun, and there are plenty of wild Pokémon too." Flannery continued enthusiastically, fully playing up her advantage as a local.

Seeing Flannery work so hard, Steven Stone and Roxanne really could not bring themselves to leave her hanging any longer. Both looked toward Jing He.

Faced with the gazes of all three, Jing He remained unmoved and calmly took a sip of tea.

"The designated area for free activities is only Lavaridge Town. It does not include Mt. Chimney."

"We just need a teacher's approval, which is why we're asking you, Teacher Jing He." Flannery continued trying.

"No."

"I promise it won't be dangerous!"

"No."

"It's not far from Lavaridge Town. I used to go there all the time when I was little."

"No."

"..."

No matter how Flannery pleaded, Jing He's answer was always the same two calm words—no.

His complete refusal to budge gave Flannery a terrible headache.

"I'll introduce you to my best friend! She's really pretty!" Flannery unleashed her ultimate move.

"No—hm?"

Jing He froze. Even Steven Stone and Roxanne froze.

"Ahem. No." Jing He recovered and coughed lightly, still refusing.

"Do you even know who my best friend is? She's—" Flannery stamped her foot in frustration, glaring "fiercely" at Jing He. "I challenge you! If I win, you let us go up the mountain!"

Then she quickly added, "Teacher, don't tell me you're scared?"

Jing He smiled faintly. "Provocation won't work on me."

Flannery vigorously scratched her head.

Finally, with no other ideas left, she lifted her chin and pouted. "Fine, if you won't agree, forget it. Nobody knows this place better than I do anyway. When the time comes, we can sneak out, and no one will notice."

That actually did have some effect.

Jing He looked at Steven Stone. "Steven Stone, do you also want to go up the mountain?"

Under Jing He's gaze, Steven Stone opened his mouth, then finally explained with a trace of embarrassment, "I heard there's a kind of very special volcanic stone on Mt. Chimney..."

Jing He sighed, then looked at Flannery and said evenly, "All right, I accept your challenge. If you win, I'll let you go in. If you lose, you listen to me."

"But you know that I'm only an ordinary Pokémon psychology teacher, and Gastly was only caught not long ago. You wouldn't want to be branded as someone who bullies the weak with strength, would you?"

Hearing that, Roxanne and Steven Stone exchanged a glance, both thinking, This is going to go badly.

But before they could warn her, Flannery confidently patted her chest and answered, "No problem! I also have a Pokémon I only caught not long ago!"

Slap! Steven Stone and Roxanne both covered their foreheads.

Jing He had not fallen for Flannery's provocation. Instead, Flannery had fallen for Jing He's flattery.

"Kou, Koujie?"

Of course, the most confused one at that moment was Gastly.

How had the conversation somehow turned to it?

PS: Better late than never! Consider this my 520 gift for everyone—if you haven't slept, then the day isn't over yet. Tomorrow's update will remain the same, so this chapter is an extra update. If the pace is slow, I'll make up for it with more updates! Please vote with monthly tickets! Please keep reading! If circumstances allow, there might even be another extra update tomorrow!

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