Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Escape from the Dense Forest”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang, previously a Pokémon seller who modified high-quality Pokémon data, suddenly transmigrates into the Pokémon world in his ten-year-old body.
• Rather than arriving in a city, he appears in a dangerous, uninhabited forest. After escaping a swarm of territorial Beedrill, he accidentally enters their territory and is pursued.
• Beedrill strikes him with Poison Sting, injuring and poisoning him. Hu Yang escapes by jumping into a river, where he encounters and briefly grabs a Magikarp while being swept downstream.
• After reaching shore, Hu Yang confirms that he is physically ten years old and realizes he must find a human settlement or a Pecha Berry to cure his poison.
• While resting, he discovers a Master Ball in his clothing. When he activates it, a Shiny Cramorant emerges.
• Hu Yang realizes that this is the first Pokémon he had modified before transmigrating. The Cramorant possesses extraordinarily high stats, unusual moves, perfect health, and maximum friendship toward him.
• Hu Yang also discovers that the Pokémon Modifier software has crossed over with him, though several functions—such as stat, IV, and ability modification—are currently unusable because their templates are missing.

Character Development

• Hu Yang: He moves from disbelief and excitement about entering the Pokémon world to fear and desperation as he faces genuine physical danger. His knowledge of Pokémon helps him understand the forest, poison, berries, and the significance of the Master Ball. Despite his panic, he remains practical, resourceful, and determined to survive.
• Cramorant: The Shiny Cramorant is introduced as Hu Yang’s first partner. It appears foolish and forgetful but has perfect loyalty toward Hu Yang. Its immense power establishes it as a major advantage in his struggle to survive.

Significant Themes

• Survival versus fantasy: Hu Yang’s dream of entering the Pokémon world becomes a harsh survival situation rather than an idealized adventure.
• Knowledge as power: His familiarity with Pokémon species, moves, berries, and game mechanics gives him crucial advantages.
• The consequences of modification: The overpowered Cramorant reflects Hu Yang’s former work as a Pokémon modifier, while the incomplete software limits how much control he has over his new abilities.
• Trust and companionship: Cramorant’s maximum friendship suggests that their bond will be central to Hu Yang’s future, contrasting with the dangerous and unpredictable wilderness.
• A different Pokémon world: The chapter establishes that ordinary animals coexist with Pokémon and that the setting may involve more realistic or unconventional social practices than the games.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang has hostile encounters with the territorial Beedrill, whose pursuit forces him into the river.
• He briefly interacts with a Magikarp while escaping through the rapids.
• His first meaningful Pokémon partnership begins when he releases the Shiny Cramorant. Although Cramorant behaves blankly and comically, the appraisal reveals that it deeply loves and trusts him.
• The chapter ends with Hu Yang no longer completely helpless: he remains poisoned and stranded, but now possesses an extraordinarily powerful companion and the Pokémon Modifier.

Chapter Summary: “Caught in the Act”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang discovers that his safety in this Pokémon world is temporarily secure, but he is still dealing with a worsening poisoned wound and a lack of food and water.
• He attempts to command Cramorant to use Spacial Rend, but Cramorant shows no response. Through testing, Hu Yang determines that Cramorant can hear sounds but apparently cannot understand human speech.
• Hu Yang recalls Cramorant into its Master Ball and follows a river, reasoning that it will lead him toward civilization and provide access to water.
• Along the way, he encounters several wild Pokémon—including Zigzagoon, Wurmple, Chewtle, Mawile, and Skwovet—which observe him but do not attack.
• As his hunger, thirst, and poisoning worsen, Hu Yang follows a Skwovet to its food cache and steals an Oran Berry.
• Skwovet catches him in the act, attacks him, and forces him to return the berry.
• After noticing Hu Yang’s poisoned wound, Skwovet gives him a Pecha Berry, despite its apparent reluctance to share its supplies.
• Hu Yang notices a pink bandage tied around Skwovet’s leg and realizes that it was likely once rescued or cared for by a human. This explains its unusual trust and kindness toward him.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang: Becomes more cautious and practical after his earlier encounter with Beedrill. His survival instincts lead him to steal from Skwovet, but he accepts responsibility when caught and honestly appeals for help. He also begins thinking more deeply about the nature of this world and its Pokémon.
• Cramorant: Appears familiar with Hu Yang and accepts his physical touch, but it does not respond to spoken commands. This raises questions about its intelligence, communication abilities, or the nature of Pokémon in this world.
• Skwovet: Initially appears territorial and aggressive when Hu Yang steals its food. However, it demonstrates empathy after seeing his poisoned wound and ultimately sacrifices one of its valuable Pecha Berries to save him.
• Wild Pokémon: Their behavior reinforces that Pokémon are living, emotionally complex creatures rather than merely game data.

Significant Themes

• Survival versus morality: Hu Yang’s hunger and poisoning push him to steal, but his guilt and willingness to return the berry show that survival has not erased his ethical standards.
• The reality of the Pokémon world: Hu Yang is amazed by the living ecosystem, the Pokémon’s natural behavior, and their emotional intelligence—things that games cannot fully reproduce.
• Communication and understanding: Cramorant’s inability to understand human speech contrasts with Skwovet’s clear comprehension, suggesting that communication varies between Pokémon.
• Kindness and reciprocity: Skwovet’s compassion may stem from having once been helped by a human, implying that past acts of kindness can influence relationships across species.
• Uncertainty and discovery: Hu Yang continues trying to determine where he is, noticing Pokémon from different regions and questioning how this world’s rules differ from those of the games.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang repeatedly tests whether Cramorant recognizes and understands him, but Cramorant responds only to environmental sounds.
• Hu Yang observes wild Pokémon from a distance, resisting the temptation to approach them.
• His encounter with Skwovet begins with theft and conflict but develops into an emotional exchange: Skwovet catches and attacks him, then changes its attitude after recognizing his poisoning and gives him a Pecha Berry.
• The bandage on Skwovet’s leg creates an implied connection between the Pokémon and an unknown human rescuer, deepening Hu Yang’s emotional response to the encounter.

Chapter Summary: “Finding Joy Amid Hardship”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After eating a Pecha Berry, Hu Yang’s poisoning fades quickly, reinforcing his suspicion that humans in the Pokémon world may possess traits similar to Pokémon. He wonders whether this connection explains abilities such as Viridian Force, psychic powers, and Aura.
• Hu Yang appraises a wild Skwovet, learning that it is injured and exhausted but friendly toward humans. Skwovet points him toward a human settlement before leaving.
• While traveling, Hu Yang studies other Pokémon and notices that most have readable emotional states, unlike Cramorant, whose mood appears as garbled text. He suspects that the modifications made to Cramorant may have affected its mind or ability to understand human speech.
• Hu Yang realizes that several functions of his transmigrated “cheat” ability—Ability Modification, Base Stat Modification, and Individual Value Modification—are unavailable. Because Pokémon are living beings rather than game data, he decides to use only Appraisal until he understands the consequences.
• Unable to reach a town before nightfall, Hu Yang shelters inside a hollow tree during heavy rain. He finds a berry tree nearby and shares the berries with Cramorant, using the Pokémon’s body heat to stay warm.
• The next morning, Cramorant briefly disappears but returns with a fish, apparently bringing food for Hu Yang. Though Cramorant still cannot communicate verbally, it follows Hu Yang voluntarily and perches on his shoulder.
• Soon afterward, Hu Yang hears human voices and discovers two uniformed men attempting to capture an injured Ralts. Their Mightyena surround the vulnerable Pokémon, and the men reveal their intention to sell it for profit.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang: Becomes more cautious and morally aware regarding his abilities. He recognizes that modifying Pokémon could harm their minds and chooses restraint. Despite hunger, exhaustion, and isolation, he remains compassionate and observant. His growing concern for Cramorant and Ralts shows his developing sense of responsibility.
• Cramorant: Although unable to communicate normally, it demonstrates loyalty and initiative by following Hu Yang and bringing him food. Their relationship deepens through silent cooperation.
• Skwovet: Acts as a brief but helpful guide. Its friendly attitude toward humans contrasts with the danger Hu Yang later encounters.
• Ralts: Introduced as severely injured, exhausted, frightened, and in pain. Its low friendship level indicates that it has no prior bond with Hu Yang, setting up a possible rescue and relationship-building arc.
• The two men: Revealed to be Pokémon traffickers or poachers. Their greed and willingness to exploit an injured Pokémon establish them as antagonists.

Significant Themes

• Finding small joys amid hardship: Hu Yang experiences hunger, rain, exhaustion, and uncertainty, yet finds comfort in shelter, food, companionship, and Cramorant’s actions.
• Humanity and Pokémon similarity: The chapter explores whether humans may share fundamental traits with Pokémon and questions what separates the two species.
• Ethical use of power: Hu Yang begins questioning the consequences of treating living Pokémon like customizable game data and resolves not to use his abilities recklessly.
• Communication beyond language: Although Cramorant cannot understand or respond to spoken commands clearly, its actions reveal trust and care.
• Vulnerability and exploitation: Ralts’s suffering contrasts with the poachers’ greed, highlighting the cruelty of treating Pokémon as commodities.

Character Interactions

• Skwovet helps Hu Yang locate the direction of human civilization, creating a brief but positive encounter.
• Hu Yang and Cramorant share berries, warmth, and eventually food, strengthening their bond despite their communication barrier.
• Cramorant’s independent decision to follow Hu Yang and bring him a fish suggests growing attachment.
• Hu Yang secretly observes the poachers confronting Ralts, placing him at a moral crossroads and strongly implying that he will intervene.

Chapter Summary: “Origin Pulse”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang approaches a group consisting of two men, two Mightyena, and a Ralts, intending only to ask for directions.
• The Mightyena detect him and immediately attack, with one striking him using Shadow Ball and pinning him to the ground.
• Cramorant reacts protectively. Its eyes glow, and it unleashes an extraordinarily powerful Origin Pulse, a move associated with Kyogre. The attack devastates the surrounding landscape and nearly kills both Mightyena.
• Terrified by Cramorant’s destructive power, the two men attempt to flee.
• Gardevoir appears and uses Confusion to slam both men into a tree, knocking them unconscious.
• Gardevoir then mistakes Hu Yang for an accomplice and prepares to attack him with Psycho Cut. Ralts intervenes, convincing Gardevoir to stop. The two teleport away.
• Hu Yang examines the injured Mightyena and discovers they are critically wounded, unconscious, and likely to die without treatment.
• He restrains and searches the two men, finding Poké Balls, medicine, a communication device, money, and a ferry ticket to Slateport City. This confirms that Hu Yang is in the Hoenn region.
• A woman contacts the men through the communication device, mentioning an auction house and demanding that they bring in Ralts. Hu Yang realizes the group intended to capture and sell Ralts.
• One of the men awakens, and Hu Yang threatens him with Cramorant’s dead fish projectile before demanding answers.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang: Initially confused and frustrated by the attack, he quickly adapts to the dangerous situation. He demonstrates resourcefulness by restraining, searching, and interrogating the criminals. He also gains a clearer understanding of Cramorant’s overwhelming abilities.
• Cramorant: Reveals an automatic protective response toward Hu Yang. Despite its normally vacant and foolish demeanor, it can unleash an immensely destructive Origin Pulse when Hu Yang is threatened. However, it cannot consciously explain or reliably reproduce the move when asked.
• Ralts: Shows concern for Hu Yang and courageously intervenes when Gardevoir is about to attack him. Its actions suggest it does not view him as an enemy.
• Gardevoir: Acts as a fiercely protective mother, attacking the men and nearly attacking Hu Yang after mistaking him for their accomplice. It obeys Ralts when the younger Pokémon stops the attack.
• The two men: Revealed to be criminals involved in capturing Ralts for an auction. They are quickly overwhelmed by the Pokémon and become frightened and vulnerable.

Significant Themes

• The danger of the Pokémon world: Hu Yang’s innocent attempt to ask for directions escalates into a life-threatening encounter, emphasizing that ordinary situations can become deadly.
• Protective instinct and trust: Cramorant protects Hu Yang automatically, while Ralts protects him from Gardevoir. These actions begin to establish bonds despite limited communication.
• Overwhelming power and responsibility: Cramorant’s Origin Pulse demonstrates the terrifying consequences of Hu Yang’s artificially enhanced Pokémon. Its power is so extreme that even Hu Yang is shocked by what he created.
• Misunderstanding and communication: Gardevoir attacks Hu Yang because it misidentifies him, while Cramorant’s inability to communicate leaves Hu Yang uncertain about its abilities and intentions.
• Exploitation of Pokémon: The criminals’ plan to auction Ralts highlights the abuse and trafficking of Pokémon for profit.

Character Interactions

• The Mightyena attack Hu Yang, prompting Cramorant’s defensive retaliation.
• Cramorant’s Origin Pulse shocks Hu Yang, the criminals, and the surrounding Pokémon with its extraordinary scale.
• Gardevoir defeats the two men, then nearly attacks Hu Yang before Ralts intervenes.
• Ralts and Gardevoir leave together after Ralts reassures its mother.
• Hu Yang examines the Mightyena, searches the unconscious men, intercepts their communication, and begins interrogating one of the criminals about the planned auction and Ralts’s capture.

Chapter Summary: “I Have a Friend...”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang interrogates Takehara, one of the men he defeated, and learns that he is in the Hoenn region, specifically Petalburg Woods near Petalburg City.
• Takehara reveals that he and his companion are Pokémon Hunters—criminals who capture rare Pokémon for profit. Hu Yang realizes they were responsible for capturing the Ralts mentioned during their communication.
• Hu Yang takes their wallets, ferry ticket, and Poké Balls, claiming them as compensation for injuries and emotional distress caused by their Mightyena.
• He leaves the defeated Hunters tied up or otherwise helpless in the forest, assuring them that someone will rescue them.
• While traveling through the forest, Hu Yang observes the local Pokémon and reflects on how difficult it is for young Trainers to survive in the wilderness.
• After roughly two hours, he reaches Petalburg City, overwhelmed by the sight of humans and Pokémon living together peacefully.
• Hu Yang reports the Pokémon Hunters to Officer Jenny. She quickly locates and arrests them.
• Expecting a reward, Hu Yang is disappointed when the police merely thank him.
• He then asks how to obtain identification, disguising his own situation by referring to “a friend” who grew up isolated in the forest and whose parents have died. Officer Jenny explains that such a person must personally register at the police station.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang becomes more confident in handling dangerous situations. Although unfamiliar with crime, he uses intimidation, observation, and improvisation to control the Pokémon Hunters.
• He also displays a practical and somewhat opportunistic side by taking the criminals’ belongings as “compensation.”
• His journey reinforces his awareness of how physically demanding and dangerous the Trainer lifestyle is.
• Hu Yang realizes that his lack of identity and official records may become a serious obstacle in this world, prompting him to investigate the registration system.
• Takehara is portrayed as a cowardly criminal who becomes helpless and frightened when placed in a vulnerable position, especially after witnessing Hu Yang’s strength.
• Officer Jenny is shown as efficient, professional, and compassionate, quickly responding to Hu Yang’s report and offering a realistic solution to the identity problem.

Significant Themes

• The harsh reality of the Pokémon world: Traveling through the wilderness is far more difficult than it appears, particularly for inexperienced children who leave home to become Trainers.
• Law and morality: Hu Yang encounters organized crime and chooses to leave punishment to the authorities rather than handling the criminals himself.
• Identity and belonging: His lack of documentation highlights his unusual status as a transmigrated outsider and raises questions about how he can legally establish himself in this society.
• The contrast between fantasy and reality: Although Pokémon society appears peaceful and idealized, it contains dangers such as poaching, financial inequality, and bureaucratic restrictions.
• Adaptability: Hu Yang survives by quickly learning local customs, exploiting misunderstandings, and adjusting his behavior to fit the world around him.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang intimidates Takehara into revealing the Hunters’ location and purpose, reversing the usual predator-and-prey relationship between the criminals and their victims.
• His sarcastic claim that the stolen belongings are payment for damages further humiliates Takehara.
• Hu Yang reports the criminals to Officer Jenny, establishing his first meaningful contact with the local authorities.
• Officer Jenny initially assumes Hu Yang is a normal Trainer and later accepts his indirect explanation about an undocumented “friend.”
• Their conversation gives Hu Yang crucial information about Pokédex holders, ordinary Trainers, Pokémon League registration, and how people without official records can obtain an identity.

Chapter Summary: “Looking for Work”

Plot and Key Events

• Hu Yang discovers that Poké Dollars have much greater purchasing power than he expected. After buying ramen, clothes, and bathing at a hot spring, he realizes his remaining 470 Poké Dollars will not last long and decides to find employment before pursuing life as a Pokémon Trainer.
• He returns to the police station to officially register his identity. Unfortunately, the Officer Jenny on duty recognizes him from his earlier attempt to pretend that an imaginary “friend” needed identification. Hu Yang abandons the lie and invents a tragic backstory about parents who distrusted human society.
• Officer Jenny registers him as a legal citizen of the Hoenn region and provides him with an identity card, resolving his immediate legal and social difficulties.
• Hu Yang surveys Petalburg City and briefly visits Petalburg Gym, though becoming a Gym challenger is still beyond his current means and priorities.
• While searching for work, he finds several job advertisements and chooses a position at Petalburg Pokémon Elementary School because it offers a good salary, staff housing, and free meals. The school is hiring teachers knowledgeable about Pokémon.
• Despite his extremely youthful appearance, Hu Yang convinces the school to let him take the entrance examination. He joins a large group of older applicants.
• A friendly freckled girl lends him a pen and treats him like a child, which embarrasses and frustrates him because he mentally considers himself an adult.
• The examination has three stages, including a written test and a practical assessment involving Pokémon injuries and medicinal Berries.
• Hu Yang easily completes the written portion due to his transmigration knowledge. During the practical test, he examines a Swellow and correctly identifies that it is both paralyzed and confused, rather than burned as the visible injury might suggest.
• Using his special identification ability, Hu Yang confirms the Swellow’s condition and selects a Cheri Berry for paralysis and a Persim Berry for confusion. He treats the Pokémon in under two minutes, astonishing the other applicants and the examiner.
• Impressed by his knowledge and skill, the examiner asks whether Hu Yang is a Pokémon Breeder, recognizing that hiring him could improve the school’s reputation.

Character Development

• Hu Yang: Becomes more practical and focused on survival. Rather than immediately pursuing his dream of being a Trainer, he prioritizes money, legal status, food, shelter, and employment. He also shows quick thinking by adapting his story when his identity deception is exposed. His knowledge of Pokémon care and his cheat ability reveal that he may possess skills far beyond what his appearance suggests.
• Officer Jenny: Initially suspicious of Hu Yang’s inconsistent story, but ultimately treats him fairly and helps him become a legal citizen.
• The freckled applicant: Introduced as a kind and encouraging person. Her offer of a pen helps Hu Yang avoid an embarrassing problem, though her treating him like a child highlights the contrast between his appearance and self-image.
• School examiner: Starts as part of a demanding selection process but becomes impressed by Hu Yang’s unusually fast and accurate diagnosis, recognizing his potential as a professional Breeder or teacher.

Major Themes

• Survival and adaptation: Hu Yang must adjust to the economic and social realities of a new world before pursuing larger ambitions.
• Identity and deception: His attempt to conceal the truth about himself creates awkward complications, forcing him to balance honesty with the need for a believable explanation.
• Appearance versus ability: Hu Yang looks like a young child, causing others to underestimate or patronize him, while his knowledge and competence are far beyond their expectations.
• Knowledge as power: His familiarity with Pokémon types, evolutions, injuries, and Berries gives him a major advantage in an unfamiliar society.
• Caring for Pokémon: The practical examination emphasizes that Pokémon expertise involves not only battling but also recognizing illness, treating injuries, and understanding Pokémon welfare.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang has an awkward but ultimately successful exchange with Officer Jenny while registering his identity.
• He observes Petalburg Gym from a distance but does not yet interact with its Gym Leader.
• The female school teacher doubts that Hu Yang is old enough to apply, but allows him to take the test after consulting the principal.
• The freckled applicant kindly lends him a pen and encourages him, while unintentionally making him feel childish by patting his head.
• During the practical test, Hu Yang interacts with the injured Swellow, accurately diagnosing and treating it, earning the examiner’s surprise and respect.

Chapter Summary: “Fly Higher”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang clarifies that he is not pursuing the profession of a Pokémon Breeder. The chapter explains the distinction between Trainers and Breeders: Breeders specialize in nutrition, medicine, care, and developing a Pokémon’s potential, while Trainers focus primarily on training and battling.
• Having completed the second assessment first, Hu Yang becomes the first applicant to enter the final test for a teaching position at an elementary Pokémon school.
• The final assessment is an interview in which applicants draw a question and explain their views. Hu Yang draws a question about why a wild Braviary forces its young Rufflet to train alone in the forest.
• Drawing on events from Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, Hu Yang argues that Braviary’s harsh training reflects a form of restrained fatherly love. Rufflet must become strong and independent because danger in the wild can arise at any moment.
• He explains that nature follows the principle of survival of the fittest, and that Braviary is preparing Rufflet to survive and eventually “fly higher and farther.”
• When questioned about whether this parenting is cruel, Hu Yang acknowledges that it may sound harsh to children but insists that educators should help them understand the love behind such actions.
• Principal Hideki Kiriyama is impressed by Hu Yang’s answer and immediately declares that he has passed the interview, despite his unusually young appearance and uncertain qualifications.
• When asked why he wants the job, Hu Yang bluntly answers, “To earn a living.”
• After noticing Hu Yang’s poor clothing, Kiriyama asks about his family. Hu Yang claims that his parents died and invents a story that they were knowledgeable Pokémon scholars who educated him from childhood.
• The examiners sympathize with him, and the female teacher angrily condemns his supposed parents as irresponsible.

2. Character Developments

• Hu Yang: Demonstrates mature reasoning, strong knowledge of Pokémon behavior, and an ability to tailor his answers to his audience. He presents himself as both logical and compassionate, while also showing his practical motivation for seeking employment. His fabricated backstory reveals his willingness to manipulate circumstances when necessary.
• Principal Kiriyama: Emerges as perceptive, open-minded, and willing to overlook conventional standards. He values Hu Yang’s competence and kindness toward children more than age or formal qualifications.
• Female Teacher: Initially doubts Hu Yang because of his age and becomes uncomfortable with his harsh interpretation of survival in the wild. Nevertheless, she is gradually persuaded by his explanation of Braviary’s love.
• Male Teacher: Remains mostly quiet but appears thoughtful and attentive to Hu Yang’s argument.
• Braviary and Rufflet: Though not directly present, they serve as examples of a parent preparing a child for the dangers of life.

3. Significant Themes

• Different forms of parental love: The chapter contrasts protective affection with strict training intended to build independence and resilience.
• Survival and adaptation: Wild Pokémon cannot always rely on parental protection; they must become strong enough to survive on their own.
• Education and perspective: Hu Yang recognizes that the same truth may need to be explained differently to adults and children. A teacher must communicate difficult ideas without stripping them of emotional meaning.
• Ability versus age and credentials: Kiriyama emphasizes that competence and kindness matter more than appearance, formal qualifications, or age.
• Pragmatism and survival: Hu Yang’s desire for the job is primarily economic, reflecting his vulnerable circumstances and practical approach to life.
• Truth and deception: Hu Yang’s invented family history helps him gain sympathy and credibility, showing how he uses deception as a survival tool.

4. Character Interactions

• Hu Yang explains the difference between Trainers and Breeders, establishing his knowledge and perspective.
• During the interview, the female teacher challenges Hu Yang’s interpretation of Braviary’s harsh parenting, while Hu Yang responds calmly and reframes it as necessary love.
• Principal Kiriyama strongly supports Hu Yang, overriding concerns about his age and lack of conventional qualifications.
• Kiriyama’s questions about Hu Yang’s family lead to the fabricated story about his deceased scholar parents, prompting sympathy from all three examiners.

Chapter Summary: “It Loved You More Than It Loved Itself”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang completes the school’s written, practical, and interview assessments, ranking first in every category.
• A teacher brings him to his faculty dormitory and gives him the school’s rules to study before his schedule is finalized.
• Hu Yang settles into the room, releases Cramorant, feeds it his remaining Berries, and reads about the Pokémon world’s education and Trainer system.
• The chapter explains that wealthy children commonly receive starter Pokémon from Professors, while ordinary citizens must find Pokémon by other means. Children also receive several years of basic schooling before choosing whether to become Trainers.
• Principal Kiriyama discovers that Hu Yang is only ten years old, despite claiming to be twelve. Impressed by Hu Yang’s intelligence and life experience, he decides to observe his teaching before making a final decision.
• A teacher named Nishida Gang invites Hu Yang to dinner, introduces him to the staff, and treats him warmly.
• Hu Yang returns to his dormitory with Pokémon food and briefly panics when Cramorant is missing. Cramorant soon returns carrying a fish, then gives the fish to Hu Yang while accepting the prepared food itself.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang: Demonstrates exceptional intelligence and competence, earning first place among all applicants. He remains cautious about revealing his true age and background, continuing to invent a story about his parents and Cramorant’s origins. Despite his calm and detached exterior, he is deeply concerned about Cramorant’s safety and finances, especially the possibility of its actions causing damage.
• Cramorant: Shows strong independence by leaving to catch fish, but also displays affection and loyalty toward Hu Yang. Its decision to give him its own catch suggests that it cares for him deeply, reinforcing the supernatural evaluation that it loves its Trainer more than itself.
• Principal Kiriyama: Initially surprised by Hu Yang’s age, but interprets his maturity and unusual upbringing sympathetically. He becomes interested in Hu Yang’s abilities and is willing to give him an opportunity.
• Nishida Gang: Introduced as friendly, outgoing, and protective. He quickly welcomes Hu Yang into the teaching staff and tries to encourage him after hearing about his supposed loss.

Significant Themes

• Exceptional maturity and hidden identity: Hu Yang’s abilities far exceed expectations for his age, while his lies reflect his fear of being rejected or underestimated.
• Social inequality: The chapter highlights the unequal access to starter Pokémon and Trainer opportunities between wealthy families and ordinary citizens.
• Belonging and a new home: The faculty dormitory and welcoming teachers give Hu Yang the beginnings of a stable life in human society.
• Unspoken love and loyalty: Cramorant cannot communicate verbally, but its actions—returning safely, catching food, and offering it to Hu Yang—express a powerful emotional bond.
• Practical anxiety beneath calmness: Hu Yang’s concerns about property damage and financial consequences add humor while showing how carefully he must manage life with a powerful, unpredictable Pokémon.

Character Interactions

• The teacher formally guides Hu Yang into his new dormitory and explains his temporary schedule.
• Hu Yang cares for Cramorant by feeding it and later obtaining proper food from the cafeteria.
• Principal Kiriyama and another teacher discuss whether Hu Yang’s young age makes him unsuitable, with Kiriyama defending him based on his remarkable performance.
• Nishida Gang comforts Hu Yang, introduces himself as “Brother Gang,” and welcomes him to the school. Hu Yang responds playfully by calling him “Little Gang.”
• The chapter ends with a tender exchange: Cramorant returns with a fish, offers it to Hu Yang, and silently demonstrates that its affection for him is genuine and selfless.

Chapter Summary: “Ecology Class”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The morning after arriving at the school, Hu Yang is visited by Erika, the young teacher who brought him to the dormitory.
• Erika gives him several teaching books and explains the school’s curriculum:
  • Basic literacy and mathematics
  • Pokémon Attribute Class
  • Pokémon Move Class
  • Pokémon Ecology Class
  • Pokémon Ability Class
• Because the school lacks an Ecology Class teacher, the committee assigns Hu Yang to teach ecology to second-year students.
• Hu Yang worries that he lacks sufficient knowledge, but Erika reassures him that teachers can rely on the school’s prepared textbooks, especially since much of Pokémon ecology remains unknown.
• Erika informs him that Petalburg Woods lies behind the school and contains many wild Pokémon, though she warns him not to venture too deeply.
• Hu Yang studies the textbooks and learns new ecological facts, including Caterpie’s rapid growth cycle and Swellow’s habit of flying through storms, possibly as training.
• Cramorant returns with a Magikarp clamped in its beak. Hu Yang rescues the Magikarp, places it in a bucket, and releases it rather than allowing Cramorant to eat it.
• Hu Yang attempts to use his cheat’s Move Modification function on Cramorant so it can demonstrate moves in class, but the system reports that Cramorant’s moves are locked.
• When he examines the Magikarp, he discovers that its moves can be modified, raising the question of why Cramorant is different.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang: Begins adapting to his new role as a teacher. Although initially uncertain about teaching ecology, he becomes interested in the subject while studying the textbooks. His responsible and compassionate nature is shown when he saves the Magikarp from Cramorant.
• Erika: Established as energetic, supportive, and practical. She helps Hu Yang prepare for teaching, explains the school system, and gives him useful advice about the nearby forest.
• Cramorant: Remains sleepy, instinct-driven, and prone to hunting. It brings Hu Yang a Magikarp as prey but also becomes the subject of Hu Yang’s investigation into move modification.
• Magikarp: Introduced as frightened, dehydrated, and hostile toward Hu Yang and Cramorant. Its information reveals that it possesses the Rattled Ability and unusually high potential despite its weak reputation.

Significant Themes

• Adapting to unfamiliar responsibilities: Hu Yang must transition from Trainer and traveler into a teacher despite lacking formal teaching experience.
• The unexplored nature of the Pokémon world: The ecology textbooks emphasize that Pokémon biology and behavior remain only partially understood.
• Compassion versus natural instinct: Cramorant treats Magikarp as prey, while Hu Yang intervenes out of concern for its safety.
• Hidden potential and mystery: The contrast between Cramorant’s locked moves and Magikarp’s modifiable move suggests deeper rules behind Hu Yang’s cheat and Pokémon abilities.

Character Interactions

• Erika and Hu Yang discuss the school’s courses, his teaching assignment, and how he can use Cramorant for move demonstrations.
• Hu Yang imagines the chaos Cramorant’s powerful moves could cause in front of students.
• Cramorant hunts the Magikarp, while Hu Yang reprimands it indirectly by rescuing and releasing the fish.
• Hu Yang’s examination of both Pokémon reveals a mysterious difference in how the Move Modification system affects them.

Chapter Summary: “Poor”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After throwing the Magikarp Cramorant brought home back into the river, Hu Yang takes Cramorant to the dormitory and tells it to stop bringing him food and Pokémon. Since he has found a teaching job, he believes they will no longer be desperate for food.
• Cramorant still cannot understand human speech, leaving Hu Yang puzzled. He wonders whether it lost something during their transmigration, just as he lost several of his cheat templates.
• Concerned that Cramorant may have an undiagnosed condition, Hu Yang spends 200 of his remaining 330 League Coins on a full examination at the Pokémon Center. Cramorant panics during the checkup and flees the treatment room, forcing Hu Yang to accompany it.
• Nurse Joy concludes that Cramorant is completely healthy. Its inability to understand human language remains unexplained.
• A week later, Pokémon Elementary School opens, and Hu Yang begins teaching. He discovers that the school is closer to a kindergarten than a traditional elementary school.
• His first classes go smoothly, and his engaging lessons on Pokémon ecology quickly make him popular with the students and staff.
• Hu Yang becomes close with fellow teachers Erika and Nishida Gang. Their friendly teasing escalates into playful wrestling, showing Hu Yang’s growing comfort in his new environment.
• The school staff, moved by Hu Yang’s tragic backstory of losing both parents, treat him with special kindness by leaving food and supplies at his desk. He is touched but feels embarrassed because he cannot yet repay them.
• Still struggling financially, Hu Yang asks May whether Pokémon battles provide money like they do in the games. He is disappointed to learn that losing trainers do not pay winners.
• Cramorant continues bringing home fish, Berries, Magikarp, and Feebas despite Hu Yang’s repeated instructions. Hu Yang considers raising a Feebas until it evolves into Milotic but cannot afford a fish tank.
• He debates catching another Pokémon, weighing the low upkeep of Grass-types against the future potential of Magikarp and Feebas.

Character Development

• Hu Yang: Becomes increasingly responsible and protective toward Cramorant, seeking medical help despite his poverty. He begins adapting to his role as a teacher and develops a warmer, more youthful personality through interaction with coworkers and children. His financial insecurity remains a major concern.
• Cramorant: Remains physically healthy but mentally incomprehensible to Hu Yang. Its repeated attempts to provide food reveal loyalty and affection, even though its behavior causes practical problems.
• May: Appears as one of Hu Yang’s students. She is cheerful, straightforward, and comfortable enough to openly question his strange ideas about Pokémon battles.
• Erika and Nishida Gang: Become Hu Yang’s friends and colleagues. Their teasing and playful behavior establish a relaxed, supportive relationship.
• School Staff: Initially uncertain of Hu Yang’s abilities, they come to respect him after seeing his teaching performance and begin treating him with affection and sympathy.

Significant Themes

• Poverty and survival: Hu Yang carefully manages his limited money, struggles to feed Cramorant, and cannot afford even basic supplies for a potential new Pokémon.
• Companionship and responsibility: Despite Cramorant’s odd behavior, Hu Yang sees it as a companion and refuses to ignore its possible problems.
• Belonging and kindness: Hu Yang gradually finds acceptance among the school’s teachers and staff, contrasting with his isolated and difficult circumstances.
• Adaptation to a new world: He continues comparing this Pokémon world with the games and anime he remembers, often discovering that reality works differently.
• Hidden identity and gratitude: Because he cannot reveal his origins, Hu Yang must silently remember the kindness of others and hopes to repay them once his situation improves.
• Potential and long-term planning: His consideration of Grass-types, Magikarp, and Feebas reflects his need to balance immediate costs with future strength and value.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang repeatedly tries to instruct Cramorant, but its inability to understand him creates both frustration and humorous misunderstandings.
• Hu Yang and Nurse Joy cooperate during Cramorant’s examination, with Hu Yang physically comforting it after it panics.
• Hu Yang bonds with Erika and Nishida Gang through teasing and mock wrestling.
• His interactions with May reveal her role as a student and highlight Hu Yang’s mistaken assumptions about game-like Pokémon economics.
• The school community’s daily gestures—sharing food, offering help, and showing concern—demonstrate their growing affection for him.

Chapter Summary: “The Teaching Job”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang spends his free days studying Pokémon-related books in the library, rapidly rebuilding his knowledge of the Pokémon world.
• His Cramorant accompanies him constantly, behaving much like a lazy, devoted house cat. This reminds Hu Yang of a cat he owned in his previous life, whose death still affects him.
• Although Hu Yang originally focused only on finding stable work, he now hopes to explore the Pokémon world himself. For the moment, however, he needs to save money.
• The school organizes a field trip to Petalburg Woods so several second-year classes can observe wild Pokémon. Hu Yang, Erika, and Nishida Gang are assigned to supervise one class.
• Nishida boasts that he competed successfully in the Hoenn League, but Erika reveals that he was eliminated during the qualifying rounds.
• During the walk, Hu Yang teaches the students about wilderness safety, particularly the danger posed by territorial Pokémon such as Beedrill. He emphasizes that aspiring young Trainers must protect themselves before seeking Pokémon companions.
• To make his warning memorable, Hu Yang invents—or at least embellishes—a story about escaping Beedrill and being helped by a Skwovet.
• The class reaches Petalburg Woods, where they encounter wild Pokémon such as Weedle, Caterpie, and Shroomish. At lunchtime, Hu Yang releases Cramorant and prepares its food.
• Unbeknownst to Hu Yang, a Ralts is hiding in a tree nearby, secretly observing him and his food. It nearly gets discovered but remains concealed.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang: Becomes more knowledgeable and confident as he adapts to his new life. His goals expand from mere survival to exploring the Pokémon world. He also demonstrates a responsible, caring side as a teacher and guardian, while his memories of his former life reveal lingering grief.
• Cramorant: Continues to act slow-witted and catlike but is strongly attached to Hu Yang. It stays near him while he studies and relies on him for care.
• Nishida Gang: Presents himself as an experienced Trainer, but his failed League attempt shows that his confidence is exaggerated. His willingness to supervise the children nevertheless suggests enthusiasm and courage.
• Erika: Is practical and teasing, exposing Nishida’s boast while helping keep the field trip organized.
• The Students: Treat the outing with excitement, but Hu Yang’s safety lesson introduces them to the harsher realities of the wild. Several children begin taking his advice seriously.
• Ralts: Is introduced as a curious, cautious observer. Its interest in Hu Yang and his food hints that it may soon interact with him.

Significant Themes

• Growth and adaptation: Hu Yang is rebuilding his life and identity after being transformed from an adult into a child.
• Responsibility and mentorship: He takes his role as a teacher seriously, preparing the children not only to enjoy Pokémon but also to survive encounters with them.
• The contrast between fantasy and danger: The Pokémon world is exciting and beautiful, but wild Pokémon can be territorial and dangerous.
• Companionship and grief: Cramorant’s dependence on Hu Yang evokes memories of his deceased cat, linking his past life with his present relationships.
• Curiosity and discovery: The field trip represents both the students’ first lessons in the wild and Hu Yang’s gradual movement toward his dream of exploring the world.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang cares for Cramorant affectionately, feeding it and treating it like a pet.
• He exchanges playful but revealing dialogue with Nishida and Erika, exposing Nishida’s inflated claims about his Trainer career.
• Hu Yang instructs and reassures the students, especially a gentle boy who is surprised by the danger of wild Pokémon.
• His fabricated adventure story captivates the children and strengthens their admiration for him.
• Ralts silently watches Hu Yang and Cramorant from above, establishing a hidden connection that may develop in the future.

Chapter Summary: “Ralts”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After completing an exhausting field study of wild Pokémon ecology, Hu Yang returns to his dormitory and falls asleep.
• Unnoticed by him, the Ralts he previously rescued emerges from his backpack and explores the room. It is fascinated by human objects, especially the desk lamp, but remains wary of Cramorant.
• During the night, Ralts’s father, a powerful male Gardevoir, appears and confronts it. Hu Yang identifies them through his ability and realizes that Ralts has apparently run away from home again.
• Gardevoir is angry and distrustful of humans, while Ralts remains fond of Hu Yang, viewing him as a heroic figure because he once saved it. Gardevoir eventually takes Ralts away.
• The next morning, Cramorant returns with a struggling Pikachu in its beak. Pikachu releases a powerful Thunderbolt, shocking Hu Yang and briefly paralyzing him, though Cramorant remains unharmed.
• Pikachu escapes through the window and is soon reclaimed by its trainer, one of Hu Yang’s students. Hu Yang apologizes for Cramorant’s behavior and realizes he must restrict the Pokémon’s time outside its Poké Ball.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang: Becomes increasingly aware of the complications caused by his Pokémon. He is curious about Ralts’s attachment to him but recognizes that capturing it would require overcoming its powerful father. His experience with Pikachu also reinforces his need to take greater responsibility for Cramorant.
• Ralts: Shows strong curiosity about the human world and clear affection for Hu Yang. Despite its bravery in secretly leaving home, it is still intimidated by its father and obediently returns with him.
• Gardevoir: Revealed to be Ralts’s father and an extremely powerful Pokémon. He is protective, stern, and hostile toward humans, though his anger appears motivated by concern for Ralts’s safety.
• Cramorant: Remains oblivious and unpredictable, repeatedly bringing unexpected Pokémon back to Hu Yang. Its unusual ability protects it from Pikachu’s Thunderbolt.
• Pikachu and its trainer: Their brief conflict with Cramorant creates the chapter’s main comedic incident and highlights Hu Yang’s role as a teacher responsible for resolving problems.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and consequences: Hu Yang must deal with the consequences of failing to monitor Cramorant, whose instinctive behavior repeatedly causes trouble.
• Trust between humans and Pokémon: Ralts’s affection for Hu Yang contrasts with Gardevoir’s distrust, suggesting that bonds must be earned rather than assumed.
• Family protection: Gardevoir’s strict treatment of Ralts reflects a parent’s concern, even though Ralts experiences it as unfair or oppressive.
• Comedy in everyday Pokémon life: Ordinary dormitory events become chaotic because Pokémon instincts and abilities do not always align with human expectations.
• Human-Pokémon similarities: Hu Yang humorously wonders whether humans are essentially another kind of Pokémon after surviving Pikachu’s electrical attack.

Character Interactions

• Ralts cautiously observes Cramorant before exploring Hu Yang’s belongings, creating a quiet contrast between its curiosity and Cramorant’s indifference.
• Gardevoir confronts Ralts while Hu Yang watches helplessly, and their telepathic exchange establishes the tension between parental authority and Ralts’s desire for independence.
• Cramorant’s attempt to carry Pikachu leads to Pikachu shocking both it and Hu Yang, forcing Hu Yang to intervene.
• Hu Yang apologizes to his student after Pikachu escapes, demonstrating his accountability despite Cramorant’s lack of malicious intent.
• The chapter ends with Hu Yang deciding to impose limits on Cramorant, marking a practical step toward better control and responsibility.

Chapter Summary: “Choosing a Starter Pokémon”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang continues balancing his teaching job with training and spending time outdoors with Cramorant. He jogs along the shore while Cramorant fishes nearby.
• Watching the sunset, Hu Yang seriously considers his future. He dreams of becoming a traveling Pokémon Trainer like Ash but recognizes that, as an undocumented transmigrator without family support or a Pokédex, he lacks the resources normally needed to begin.
• He considers three possible careers:
  • Trainer, earning money through battles and tournaments.
  • Pokémon Breeder, using specialized knowledge to design training and care plans.
  • Coordinator, pursuing fame through Pokémon Contests and endorsements.
• Hu Yang decides that before choosing a career, he needs a capable Pokémon who can battle. After receiving his salary, he begins searching Petalburg Woods for a suitable first partner.
• He considers Magikarp, Feebas, and various forest Pokémon, but rejects many options because of their weak early forms, difficult evolution requirements, or his personal fear of Caterpie and other soft-bodied creatures.
• Since Cramorant cannot initiate battles, Hu Yang cannot easily weaken wild Pokémon before catching them. This makes choosing a starter especially difficult.
• Ralts, a Pokémon Hu Yang previously encountered, unexpectedly appears and expresses a desire to follow him. Hu Yang is surprised and worried about angering Ralts’s powerful Gardevoir father.
• Hu Yang tries to explain that he did not actually rescue Ralts during their previous encounter. However, Ralts indicates that it sensed something positive from him and reaches toward his heart, suggesting that it chose him because of his genuine nature.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang becomes more determined to change his life. Although he is practical and aware of the obstacles ahead, he begins seriously planning a future as a Trainer, Breeder, or Coordinator rather than remaining a teacher indefinitely.
• He also shows caution and self-awareness. He refuses to exploit his mysterious appraisal ability recklessly after seeing how using it on Cramorant produced unexpected results.
• His interactions with wild Pokémon reveal a mixture of pragmatism, awkwardness, compassion, and insecurity. He does not pretend to be a heroic savior and honestly admits that he did not rescue Ralts intentionally.
• Cramorant remains Hu Yang’s companion during his daily activities but cannot battle independently, limiting Hu Yang’s ability to catch new Pokémon.
• Ralts develops a strong attachment to Hu Yang. It appears to trust him because it senses positive emotions from him, even though Hu Yang does not believe he deserves credit for saving it.

Significant Themes

• Building one’s own path: Hu Yang reflects on creating opportunities despite lacking status, money, family, or official recognition.
• Identity and belonging: As an undocumented outsider, he must construct a future without the advantages other Trainers take for granted.
• Practical ambition versus idealism: Hu Yang dreams of adventure but carefully considers the financial and institutional barriers involved.
• Trust and emotional connection: Ralts’s decision to approach Hu Yang suggests that Pokémon bonds are based less on heroic actions or formal selection ceremonies and more on emotional compatibility.
• The difference between game mechanics and reality: Feebas’s evolution, Trainer registration, and Pokémon-catching methods do not follow simple game rules, forcing Hu Yang to adapt to the real world.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang and Cramorant maintain a comfortable routine, exercising and spending time together despite Cramorant’s limitations.
• Hu Yang observes and attempts to approach several wild Pokémon, but most avoid him, creating humorous and awkward situations.
• His encounter with Ralts becomes the chapter’s central interaction. Ralts eagerly wants to join him, while Hu Yang hesitates because of concerns about its family and doubts about whether he truly earned its loyalty.
• Ralts’s touching Hu Yang’s chest implies that it recognizes a warmth or positive emotional quality in him that he himself does not fully acknowledge.

Chapter Summary: “Bib Baby”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gardevoir appears while Hu Yang and Ralts are together. Ralts immediately hides behind Hu Yang, frightened of Gardevoir’s stern presence.
• Through Telepathy, Gardevoir asks Hu Yang whether he truly intends to take Ralts away. Hu Yang honestly says yes, though he admits he currently lacks the strength to protect her.
• Gardevoir questions Ralts directly. Although clearly reluctant, sad, and worried, she ultimately allows Ralts to leave if that is what Ralts genuinely wants.
• Hu Yang recognizes Gardevoir’s deep parental love and understands why she struggles to let Ralts go. Rather than separating them selfishly, he encourages Ralts to spend more time with Gardevoir and tells her she can visit him whenever she wants.
• Ralts runs after Gardevoir and then uses Teleport, leaving Hu Yang behind.
• Later that night, Cramorant returns carrying a frightened Budew. Hu Yang initially wonders whether Budew might belong to another Trainer.
• He places Budew in a flowerpot with soil, waters her, and gently tries to gain her trust. Budew gradually relaxes, and her friendship with Hu Yang increases from zero to five.
• Hu Yang contacts Erika to check whether Budew has been reported missing. Erika confirms that no one at the school has lost her.
• With Budew apparently wild and unclaimed, Hu Yang declares that he wants to catch her and become a Pokémon Trainer.
• The chapter ends by noting that Budew had attacked Cramorant with Seed Bomb when captured, but Cramorant simply ate every attack.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang: Shows empathy and emotional maturity by refusing to force Ralts away from Gardevoir. He acknowledges his own weakness honestly and begins taking practical steps toward becoming a Trainer. His gentle care for Budew reveals his growing ability to bond with Pokémon.
• Ralts: Demonstrates strong attachment to both Gardevoir and Hu Yang. She is conflicted about leaving her parent but ultimately chooses to remain connected to Hu Yang while prioritizing Gardevoir’s feelings.
• Gardevoir: Reveals a deeply protective, parental side. Though suspicious of Hu Yang and aware that he cannot yet protect Ralts, she respects Ralts’s wishes and allows her to make her own choice.
• Budew: Starts out terrified and distrustful but slowly becomes calmer when Hu Yang treats her gently. Her friendship rating rises after he provides food, water, soil, and sunlight.
• Cramorant: Remains comically blank and difficult to command, but unexpectedly helps Hu Yang by bringing him a potential first Pokémon.

Significant Themes

• Parental love and letting go: Gardevoir’s reluctance to release Ralts contrasts with her eventual decision to respect Ralts’s independence.
• Trust and consent: Hu Yang does not force Ralts or Budew into his care. He tries to earn their trust and allows them to choose whether to stay with him.
• Responsibility before ambition: Hu Yang recognizes that wanting a powerful Pokémon is not enough; he must also become capable of protecting and caring for one.
• Found-family bonds: The chapter presents Pokémon-human relationships as emotional partnerships rather than simple ownership.
• Humor amid emotion: Hu Yang’s feeling that he resembles a kidnapper, Cramorant’s odd behavior, and Budew’s fearful “bib baby” appearance lighten the more serious family conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• Hu Yang and Gardevoir: Their tense exchange centers on whether Hu Yang is capable of caring for Ralts. Gardevoir challenges him directly, while Hu Yang responds honestly rather than defensively.
• Hu Yang and Ralts: Hu Yang comforts Ralts and prioritizes her relationship with Gardevoir, strengthening her trust in him.
• Gardevoir and Ralts: Gardevoir communicates her fear and sadness but ultimately gives Ralts permission to pursue her own wishes.
• Hu Yang and Budew: Their first interaction develops from fear and uncertainty into tentative trust as Hu Yang gently plants, waters, and cares for her.
• Hu Yang and Erika: Erika provides practical assistance by confirming that Budew has no known Trainer, enabling Hu Yang to consider catching her.
• Cramorant and Budew: Cramorant captures Budew despite her Seed Bomb attacks, which Cramorant humorously ignores by eating them.

Chapter Summary: “Capture!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang spends the night caring for the Budew he found in Petalburg Woods, watering it, feeding it, and helping it sunbathe.
• Budew’s affection toward him rises from 5 to 15, putting it in a happy mood and leaving it physically relaxed.
• Hu Yang explains that Pokémon can be captured in several ways:
  • By force after defeating them.
  • By earning their acknowledgment through battle.
  • By having them willingly follow a Trainer to become stronger.
  • Through mutual trust and kindness.
• He offers Budew a life with him, promising strength, eventual evolution into Roserade, daily access to sunlight and clean water, and plentiful food.
• Tempted especially by the promise of delicious meals, Budew agrees to become his Pokémon.
• Hu Yang captures Budew successfully with a Poké Ball, making it his first true starter Pokémon.
• Afterward, he discovers a new information panel containing Budew’s details, including its species, Original Trainer, personality description, capture date, preferences, and achievements.
• Hu Yang releases Budew from the Poké Ball, and it happily accepts its new home. Cramorant joins in the cheerful atmosphere.
• The author clarifies that Pokémon “natures” in this story describe personality only and do not alter stats. The story will eventually follow a traditional Pokémon adventure structure after the characters spend two years in school.

Character Development

• Hu Yang: Demonstrates patience, empathy, and an understanding that Pokémon should join him willingly rather than through coercion. He views caring for Pokémon as an ongoing responsibility and sincerely intends to fulfill his promises.
• Budew: Gradually moves from cautious friendliness to genuine trust and affection. Its shy, gentle, and food-loving personality becomes clear, and it willingly chooses Hu Yang as its Trainer.
• Cramorant: Though still comic and somewhat silly, it appears to share in the happiness of Budew’s successful capture.

Significant Themes

• Mutual choice and trust: The chapter presents voluntary partnership as the most harmonious form of Pokémon capture.
• Responsible companionship: Training is portrayed as more than gaining strength; providing food, comfort, cleanliness, and emotional well-being is equally important.
• Kindness over force: Hu Yang wins Budew through care and persuasion rather than battle.
• Beginning of a journey: Budew’s capture marks the formation of Hu Yang’s first real Pokémon team and the start of his development as a Trainer.
• Personality versus game mechanics: The chapter distinguishes the story’s Pokémon from game systems, treating traits such as “shy” as personality descriptions rather than stat modifiers.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang gently negotiates with Budew, explaining what becoming his Pokémon would mean and appealing to its hopes for safety, growth, comfort, and good food.
• Budew responds with visible hesitation before finally accepting his offer.
• Hu Yang and Budew establish a relationship based on affection and mutual benefit rather than domination.
• Cramorant reacts to the positive mood after the capture, reinforcing the sense that Budew has become part of the household.

Chapter Summary: “A Money-Burning Profession”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang examines Budew’s abilities and Base Stats, noting that Budew already knows Stun Spore, Absorb, and Seed Bomb and is a strong starting Pokémon compared with something like Magikarp.
• He reflects on the difference between Base Stats and actual battle strength. Base Stats establish a species’ potential and biological limits, but training, resources, and a Trainer’s commands determine battle performance.
• Hu Yang considers unusual cases in which Pokémon exceed their normal limits, such as Mega Evolution, ancient Pokémon, and extraordinarily large or powerful individuals.
• He realizes that although a pseudo-legendary Pokémon like Larvitar would seem impressive, he could not realistically afford to raise one. Larvitar’s need for mineral-rich rocks makes it far more expensive than raising Budew.
• Determined to raise Budew properly, Hu Yang researches Grass-type Pokémon nutrition and discovers the costs of monthly diets:
  • Standard quality: around 200 Poké Dollars or less
  • Medium quality: 200–500
  • High quality: around 1,000
  • Perfect quality: generally above 2,000
• He concludes that being a Trainer is an extremely expensive profession, especially for ordinary civilians who lack the wealth of noble Trainers.
• Hu Yang sets aside 3,000 Poké Dollars for Budew’s growth, keeps 1,000 for daily expenses, and saves the remainder.
• Since he has no classes, he takes Budew and Cramorant to the Petalburg City department store. He explores its floors, examines portable tents and Trainer equipment, and learns that useful items such as Poké Balls, Potions, Macho Braces, Soothe Bells, and Light Balls are also costly.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang becomes more serious and practical about his role as a Trainer. He recognizes that raising Pokémon requires long-term financial planning, not merely capturing strong species.
• His attitude toward Budew shows both affection and high expectations. He is willing to spend heavily on Budew’s development but privately hopes that Budew will justify the investment through hard work.
• Hu Yang also demonstrates a growing understanding of Pokémon biology, training limits, nutrition, and the economic differences between wealthy and ordinary Trainers.
• Budew remains relaxed and carefree, enjoying the sunlight while Hu Yang worries over its training and diet.
• Cramorant is similarly calm and content, spending time in the sunlight rather than causing trouble.

Significant Themes

• The cost of becoming a Trainer: Pokémon training requires continuous spending on food, equipment, medicine, and other resources.
• Nature versus nurture: Base Stats determine potential, but training quality and command ability are what shape actual combat performance.
• Economic inequality: Wealthy or noble Trainers have access to superior resources, while ordinary Trainers struggle to support even one Pokémon.
• Responsible growth: Hu Yang wants to give Budew the best possible foundation rather than relying on shortcuts or cheap substitutes.
• Limits and exceptional evolution: Mega Evolution, ancient Pokémon, and rare encounters suggest that Pokémon can sometimes surpass their normal biological boundaries.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang’s main interaction is with Budew, though it is mostly indirect: he studies its abilities, researches its dietary needs, and plans how to help it grow.
• His quiet internal exchange with Budew—hoping it will “make the investment worthwhile”—reveals a mixture of fondness, responsibility, and financial anxiety.
• Hu Yang travels with both Budew and Cramorant to the department store, where their peaceful behavior contrasts with his constant planning and concern over expenses.

Chapter Summary: The Mysterious Orb

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang shops at the department store, purchasing Pinap Berries, Bubble Rock, Big Root, and Golden Berries. He also observes that Evolution Stones are rare and expensive.
• He visits the mall’s free trading market, where trainers sell items gathered during their travels.
• A vendor attempts to sell him supposedly promising Magikarp, but Hu Yang refuses, knowing Cramorant can catch Magikarp freely.
• While browsing the stalls, Hu Yang discovers a dark-purple orb. His Appraisal ability identifies it as a Cursed Orb, an ancient item that strongly attracts Ghost-type Pokémon and may help one learn a powerful move.
• The seller initially asks for 2,000 Poké Dollars, but Hu Yang negotiates aggressively, suspecting the man is desperate to get rid of it. He eventually purchases the orb for only 200 Poké Dollars.
• The seller immediately packs up and flees, confirming that something about the orb makes him uneasy.
• Back at school, Hu Yang prepares a nutritious meal for Budew and creates a detailed training plan for it.
• That night, the orb releases dark-purple mist and manifests a round, mysterious figure. The room’s temperature drops, startling Budew but not disturbing the sleeping Cramorant.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang demonstrates caution, intelligence, and strong bargaining skills. He does not blindly trust vendors and uses Appraisal to recognize the orb’s true value.
• He continues taking a responsible, methodical approach to raising Budew, focusing on nutrition, exercise, and long-term development.
• Budew becomes increasingly dependent on Hu Yang, showing happiness over his cooking and instinctively seeking his warmth when frightened.
• Cramorant remains carefree and oblivious, sleeping soundly despite the supernatural presence.
• The young stall owner appears nervous and deceptive, suggesting he knows the orb is dangerous or abnormal.

Significant Themes

• Hidden value and appearances: The orb looks like an ordinary object but possesses rare and mysterious powers, while the seller’s rough appearance disguises his youth.
• Caution and discernment: Hu Yang’s willingness to investigate and negotiate prevents him from overpaying or being deceived.
• Responsible Pokémon care: The chapter emphasizes that proper nutrition must be combined with training to produce healthy growth.
• The supernatural and the unknown: The orb introduces a mysterious Ghost-related element and foreshadows future danger or discovery.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang rejects the Magikarp seller’s exaggerated claims, highlighting his practical knowledge.
• He negotiates with the orb’s owner, using the man’s eagerness to sell against him.
• His relationship with Budew grows through caregiving, cooking, and plans for training.
• The orb’s nighttime manifestation creates an ominous contrast between Budew’s fear, Cramorant’s indifference, and Hu Yang’s unawareness.

Chapter Summary: “Haunted!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang wakes from a horrifying nightmare involving a dark, damp place, headless corpses, and long-haired female ghosts. He feels unusually cold but initially attributes it to the approaching winter.
• On his way to breakfast, he encounters Nishida Gang teaching a lesson about Pokémon type advantages. Nishida challenges Hu Yang to a one-on-one battle to demonstrate that type disadvantages do not guarantee defeat.
• Hu Yang accepts, using his Grass-type Budew against Nishida’s newly caught Water-type Corphish.
• Corphish begins with Bubble and then attempts Vice Grip, but Hu Yang orders Budew to dodge and use Stun Spore. Corphish becomes paralyzed, allowing Budew to land two powerful Seed Bombs and win the battle.
• The students cheer for Hu Yang, and May serves as referee. Hu Yang explains that careful observation, prediction, trust, and good commands can overcome type disadvantages.
• After a full day of teaching, Hu Yang returns to his dorm with Budew and Cramorant. He discovers that the room is unnaturally cold and realizes the likely source is a dark purple “Cursed Orb” left on his desk.
• Suspecting the orb caused his nightmares, Hu Yang buries it outside before going to sleep. The next morning, however, it has mysteriously returned to his desk.
• Concluding that the orb is genuinely cursed, Hu Yang realizes that his dorm—or perhaps the entire place—is haunted.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang: Gains confidence as a Trainer through his first official Pokémon victory. He demonstrates calm battle judgment, quickly identifies Corphish’s vulnerabilities, and gives effective commands. He also reveals a practical, skeptical side before finally accepting the supernatural nature of the orb.
• Budew: Shows strong determination and enthusiasm in battle. Her victory is especially meaningful because it is her first win after repeatedly losing in the wild, strengthening her bond with Hu Yang.
• Nishida Gang: Acts as both a teacher and friendly rival. Although more experienced, he accepts defeat gracefully and acknowledges Hu Yang’s battle ability.
• May: Displays enthusiasm and fairness by acting as referee and defending Hu Yang from what she sees as an unfair matchup. She is impressed by Hu Yang’s battle explanation.
• Cramorant: Accompanies Hu Yang but has no major role in the chapter.

Significant Themes

• Strategy over type advantage: The battle emphasizes that Pokémon type matchups are important but not absolute. Trainer commands, timing, prediction, and knowledge of a Pokémon’s moves can determine the result.
• Trust between Trainer and Pokémon: Hu Yang and Budew succeed because they communicate effectively and trust one another.
• Growth through experience: Hu Yang’s first battle and Budew’s first victory mark an important step in their development.
• The supernatural and uncertainty: The return of the buried orb confirms that the strange nightmares and cold are not ordinary events, introducing a haunting mystery.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter balances frightening imagery with comic moments, particularly Nishida’s jealousy over the students cheering only for Hu Yang.

Important Character Interactions

• Hu Yang and Nishida Gang: Their friendly rivalry leads to the battle and lets Hu Yang demonstrate his tactical skill. Nishida jokingly suggests Hu Yang should teach battle classes, but Hu Yang prefers the less demanding ecology course.
• Hu Yang and Budew: Hu Yang guides Budew calmly during battle and warmly praises her afterward. Budew’s excitement shows their growing emotional bond.
• Hu Yang and the students: The students enthusiastically support him, and he teaches them that type disadvantages can be overcome through careful strategy.
• May and Nishida Gang: May openly argues that Nishida’s experience makes the battle unfair, embarrassing him while reinforcing the students’ support for Hu Yang.
• Hu Yang and the Cursed Orb: Hu Yang investigates the orb’s effects and attempts to dispose of it, only to discover that it can return on its own, escalating the haunting mystery.

Chapter Summary: “Grudge Gengar”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Yang investigates the mysterious Orb that repeatedly appears near him and suspects that a Ghost-type Pokémon is responsible for his recent nightmares.
• Concerned that the Pokémon might be dangerous—possibly Darkrai or Litwick—he researches Ghost-types in the library and learns that some can seriously harm or even kill humans.
• Hu Yang borrows a camera from Erika and sets it up beside his bed to identify the culprit.
• After he and Budew throw the Orb into the river, it mysteriously returns the next morning.
• Reviewing the footage, Hu Yang sees a dark purple Pokémon appear under the moonlight. The Pokémon turns toward the camera and reveals a frightening grin.
• Hu Yang identifies it as Gengar, which then surprises him by appearing behind him while disguised as Hu Yang’s own face.
• Gengar attempts to frighten him, but Hu Yang quickly recovers, disappointing Gengar because he does not react as dramatically as its previous victims.
• Gengar reveals that it can communicate through telepathy and offers Hu Yang a deal: complete three tasks, and Gengar will spare him and reveal the location of a hidden treasure.
• The Orb’s description changes after Gengar leaves, identifying it as an ancient object capable of sealing spirit bodies.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang: Demonstrates caution, intelligence, and composure. Rather than panicking, he investigates the supernatural events scientifically by researching Ghost-types and using a camera. He also recognizes that Gengar may be connected to the Orb and may possess unusual powers.
• Budew: Shares Hu Yang’s unease and becomes frightened when Gengar appears on the recording, showing a more cautious and vulnerable side.
• Cramorant: Remains comically calm and confused throughout the investigation, providing humorous contrast to Hu Yang and Budew’s fear.
• Gengar: Is revealed to be mischievous and theatrical rather than immediately violent. It enjoys frightening people, speaks through telepathy, and appears to have lingering motives connected to its death. Its unusually high Special Attack and special “Spirit Form” suggest that it is stronger and different from an ordinary Gengar.
• Erika: Indirectly assists Hu Yang by lending him a camera.

Significant Themes

• Fear versus reality: Ghost-types are widely regarded as terrifying and dangerous, but Gengar’s appearance is less frightening once Hu Yang understands its behavior.
• Investigation and rationality: Hu Yang responds to supernatural events through observation, research, and experimentation rather than blind panic.
• Death and lingering obsession: Gengar is not an ordinary living Pokémon but a spirit that died while holding onto an unresolved grudge or desire.
• The unknown limits of Pokémon: Gengar’s enhanced abilities suggest that certain Pokémon can exceed their normal species limits under unusual circumstances.
• Negotiation with danger: Instead of attacking Hu Yang, Gengar bargains with him, creating an uneasy relationship built on fear, curiosity, and possible mutual benefit.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang and Budew work together to dispose of the Orb and later watch the camera footage.
• Cramorant joins them while reviewing the recording but reacts with his usual blank confusion.
• Gengar toys with Hu Yang by disguising itself as him and trying to provoke a stronger reaction.
• Hu Yang deliberately pretends to be frightened, satisfying Gengar’s desire to feel intimidating.
• Gengar then proposes a deal involving three tasks and a hidden treasure, setting up the chapter’s future conflict.

Chapter Summary: Gengar’s Story

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gengar refuses to reveal the location of a hidden treasure until Hu Yang becomes stronger. When Hu Yang considers refusing to help, Gengar threatens to eat him and explains that the jewel has already bound them together.
• Hu Yang questions Gengar’s motives, asking whether it wants revenge or freedom from the jewel. Gengar reacts strangely when Hu Yang suggests smashing the jewel, hinting that its existence may depend on it.
• After leaving Gengar alone while he attends school, Hu Yang returns to find that Gengar has gone out. Gengar later makes its first request: it will reveal the treasure’s location in exchange for a sweet, cold food.
• Hu Yang correctly guesses that Gengar wants ice cream and buys some for Gengar, Budew, and Cramorant. However, the ice cream passes through Gengar’s hand, revealing that Gengar cannot physically interact with objects.
• Hu Yang realizes that Gengar may already be dead and confronts it about this. Gengar admits that it does not know its true condition, but remembers being imprisoned in the jewel and sensing that breaking it would cause it to disappear.
• Gengar explains that ancient humans accused it of spreading disease and bad luck. They sealed it inside the jewel and buried it underground.
• Its intense resentment allowed its soul to survive by merging with the jewel’s power. Gengar effectively became a self-aware jewel, gaining continued existence but losing its body, freedom, and ability to use moves.
• Its resentment also created a curse: humans who touched the jewel would suffer nightmares.
• Hu Yang reflects on the violent and ignorant history between humans and Pokémon, recognizing that Gengar’s tragedy was part of a much broader pattern.

Character Developments

• Hu Yang remains cautious and analytical. He refuses to blindly accept Gengar’s demands and carefully tests its claims, recognizing that the apparent power imbalance may not be what it seems.
• Hu Yang’s attitude toward Gengar changes from suspicion and self-protection to sympathy after learning that Gengar was unjustly persecuted and imprisoned.
• Gengar initially presents itself as powerful and threatening, but its vulnerability gradually becomes apparent. It is unable to touch objects, may be unaware that it is effectively dead, and depends on the jewel for its continued existence.
• Gengar’s hostility is revealed to stem from deep resentment toward humans rather than simple malice. Its threats may have been partly a bluff meant to conceal its weakness.
• Budew and Cramorant remain companions to Hu Yang, accompanying him outside and receiving ice cream alongside Gengar.

Significant Themes

• Appearances versus reality: Gengar’s intimidating behavior hides its helplessness and uncertainty, while Hu Yang’s careful questioning exposes the truth.
• Trauma and resentment: Gengar’s curse and hostility are consequences of persecution, imprisonment, and the loss of its physical form.
• Historical prejudice: The chapter examines how ancient humans misunderstood Pokémon, labeling them evil or dangerous and justifying violence against them.
• Dependency and entrapment: Gengar and the jewel have become inseparable; the jewel sustains Gengar but also imprisons it.
• Moral ambiguity: The chapter acknowledges that both humans and Pokémon have suffered through historical conflicts, avoiding a simple division between good and evil.

Character Interactions

• Hu Yang challenges Gengar’s threats and attempts to negotiate rather than becoming involved blindly.
• Gengar refuses to explain its past at first, insisting that Hu Yang only needs to perform his task.
• Their interaction over the ice cream becomes a turning point: Gengar’s inability to hold it exposes its ghostly condition, prompting a more serious and honest conversation.
• Hu Yang’s questioning encourages Gengar to reveal its history, while Gengar’s confession causes Hu Yang to reassess it with greater compassion.