Ecology Class

Early the next morning, just after Hu Yang finished washing up, he heard a knock at the door.

When he opened it, he found the female teacher who had brought him to the dorm yesterday. Her name was Erika, and she looked only about eighteen, full of youthful energy.

Hu Yang invited her into the living room. Erika glanced at Cramorant, which was still sleeping, and asked, "Is that little guy your Pokémon?"

Hu Yang smiled and nodded. "Yes."

Erika leaned closer and looked it over curiously. "I've never seen a Pokémon like this before. But since you have a Pokémon, that makes things easier."

Erika had not come to chat. She placed several books she had brought on the table and explained why she said that:

"Because many of our teachers used to be Trainers who traveled outside. They had no teaching experience before joining the school, so before they begin teaching, we explain the things they need to pay attention to."

Trainers would not travel outside for their entire lives. After professional Trainers retired, they would pursue different careers according to their interests.

Hu Yang knew that much.

Erika pushed the books over. Hu Yang saw that one of them had the words "How to Become a Popular and Good Teacher" written on the cover.

Erika said, "These books are for you. Next, I'll introduce the main courses at our school."

"Thank you," Hu Yang said.

Erika introduced them with smiling eyes. "Besides basic literacy and mathematics classes, our school has four main Pokémon-related courses."

"The first is Pokémon Attribute Class. This course explains the type advantages and disadvantages between different Pokémon."

"The second is Pokémon Move Class. It introduces students to moves Pokémon can learn and the effects of those moves. This class includes move demonstrations. When teachers use their own Pokémon to demonstrate different moves for the students, it produces better results."

Hu Yang understood. She meant that he could have Cramorant demonstrate the moves it knew in front of the students.

Hu Yang could not help imagining Cramorant using Origin Pulse.

...He did not even dare imagine what would happen if it used that in front of the students, or how much of a stir it would cause.

Still, the Move Modification template on his cheat was perfectly intact. It seemed he would have to try modifying those four moves later.

"The third is Pokémon Ecology Class," Erika said. "In this course, we introduce students to the habits of certain Pokémon and their main habitats in the wild."

"And the fourth is Pokémon Ability Class. This class mainly teaches students about Pokémon Abilities and the effects of different Abilities."

"Which course will I mainly be responsible for?" Hu Yang asked. He felt that, aside from Ecology Class, he was fairly suited to any of the other three.

However, Erika did not play by the usual rules. She continued, "Our school currently lacks an Ecology Class teacher."

Hu Yang: "..."

"So, after discussion by the school committee, we decided to have you teach this course for the second-years." Erika asked, "Can you do it?"

Hu Yang hesitated. "I might not know much about Pokémon ecology."

There was no ecology to speak of in the games made by Game Freak, while the ecology in the anime was designed for children.

"That's easy. The other Ecology Class teachers don't know everything either." Erika's eyes were full of anticipation.

"After all, there are still many unknown things in the Pokémon world that have yet to be discovered. So we have prepared teaching materials. You can teach according to what's written in them."

Hearing that, Hu Yang relaxed. "That's good."

After explaining everything, Erika stood to leave. Hu Yang walked her to the door, and Erika turned back to say:

"There is still one day before the students start school. During that time, you can familiarize yourself with the campus."

Hu Yang nodded. Erika went out and walked a few steps before suddenly turning back again.

"Oh, right. Petalburg Woods is connected to the back of the school. There are many wild Pokémon there. The Pokémon around the outer edge are very friendly toward humans, so just don't go too deep inside."

Having only just made it out of Petalburg Woods, Hu Yang had no desire to immediately return to that heartbreaking place. Still, he appreciated Erika's kindness. "Thank you. I understand."

Erika left.

Only then did Hu Yang have time to check the clock.

8:37 am

Cramorant was still sleeping. Hu Yang took a look at it, then returned to the living room and began flipping through the books Erika had brought. He also started preparing lessons according to their contents, drawing on his experiences from school in his previous life.

8:50 am

Cramorant opened its eyes, flapped its wings, and flew out through the open window.

Hu Yang was already completely absorbed in the textbooks compiled by the Hoenn League.

They contained plenty of Pokémon ecology trivia he had not known, such as how Caterpie had a growth cycle of only around one month.

Its ease of capture and rapid growth made it one of the Pokémon recommended by the Pokémon League as the most suitable companions for Rookie Trainers.

For example, Swellow would leave its nest on pitch-black stormy nights and soar through thunderstorms.

According to some scholars, this might be a way for Swellow to train itself.

Hu Yang found these unknown private details about Pokémon fascinating, until a lively Magikarp was tossed right in front of him.

"Caw!" Cramorant held the Magikarp down with its beak, stopping it from struggling.

Hu Yang: "..."

Looking at the unfortunate Magikarp, he helplessly rescued it from Cramorant's clutches.

"It's all bones. You can't eat it." Hu Yang poked the Magikarp.

He remembered that, according to the setting, Magikarp was nothing but scales and bones and could not be eaten.

In the original anime, when Team Rocket's trio and Ash's group were adrift at sea, they became so hungry that they thought about eating a Magikarp.

But Meowth could not bite through it, so James angrily kicked the Magikarp back into the sea and released it. Then the Magikarp evolved into Gyarados in fury and took revenge on them.

"Caw?" Cramorant did not understand.

"Forget it." Seeing that, Hu Yang sighed helplessly. He picked up Cramorant and placed it on his shoulder, put the Magikarp into a plastic bucket filled halfway with water, and carried it outside to release it.

He remembered what Erika had said about demonstrating Pokémon moves, then used the Move Modification function of his cheat on Cramorant.

But the moment he opened the list of selectable moves, a message appeared in his mind: [Move locked, cannot be modified.]

Huh? It couldn't be changed?

Hu Yang froze for a moment.

Then could other Pokémon be modified?

He turned his gaze toward the Magikarp in the bucket.

[Species: Magikarp ♂]

Type: Water-type

Ability: Rattled

Base Stats: 200 (HP: 20, Attack: 10, Defense: 55, Special Attack: 15, Special Defense: 20, Speed: 80)

Known Move: Splash

Current Emotions: Anger (Low), Fear (High)

Physical Condition: Dehydration (Mild)

Friendship: -50 (It hates you and your Pokémon)

Hu Yang: "..."

The Move Modification section in Magikarp's information showed that it could be modified.

Then why couldn't Cramorant?