For the past two days, Natsume had paused Midchu's fifth-level *enhancement chair*.
Because Midchu needed to be strapped onto other machines.
"Nothing? Why is there nothing at all?!"
At the Pokémon Center, Natsume's eyes were ringed with dark circles.
Unwilling to give up, and with Nurse Joy's permission, he borrowed various machines and put Midchu through seven or eight rounds of full-body examinations.
Blood tests and internal scans aside, even cheek pouches, full-body resistance mapping, emotional discharge spectrums—all came back normal.
But Natsume knew very well that Midchu wasn't normal.
Because even when he threw Midchu into a pile of Thunder Stones, it showed no reaction and didn't evolve into Raichu.
That proved something must have happened to it.
But whatever had changed, Natsume couldn't detect it.
More accurately, with current human technology, it was almost impossible to detect.
Official research on Eternatus was far too scarce—practically nonexistent.
Perhaps in the hands of some folk experts, there might be answers.
"Wait a second—where are your… testicals?" Natsume suddenly blurted.
*Pika!?* The bubble at Midchu's nose popped, thinking it was some big discovery.
He lifted one hind leg and peeked beneath itself—completely empty.
*Really? Just that?*
Midchu yawned and flopped back down to sleep.
Finally spotting one abnormality, Natsume spent half the afternoon fussing over it.
Yet still, he found nothing—except confirming Midchu had lost his ability to reproduce.
*Pika… huuh…*
On the machine nearby, faint snores came from Midchu.
Natsume shook his head slightly, picked him up, and set him on the sixth-level Enhancement chair.
By now, Midchu's electrical training didn't even require restraints.
Nothing could keep him from dozing off—not even jolts of electricity.
"You really live the good life." Natsume stroked Midchu's head. Static jolted through his hand, making his hair stand on end.
He had already wasted two days. Any longer and he still wouldn't find anything.
Natsume reasoned that the shard of Eternatus must have completely fused with Midchu's body—and such fusion would take time.
He resolved to keep observing during daily training.
"Dragonite, come out!" Natsume tossed a Pokéball.
A massive Dragonite with uneven wings and a fierce expression appeared.
Natsume pointed at Midchu's chair. Dragonite understood, lifting the enhancement chair over her head. Her antennae touched the cables above, and electricity began to flow.
This was something Natsume had spent days teaching it. A normal Dragonite would've understood after a single command.
"Let's go." Natsume gestured, and Dragonite followed him out of the backyard.
At Porta Vista's Pokémon Center, countless workers and Machop and Machoke bustled about.
With Pokémon helping, efficiency was much higher.
The lobby that Midchu had wrecked—after only two or three days of reconstruction—was already taking shape.
"Ash, go pack up your things. We're heading out again!" Natsume called, spotting Ash in the theme park, still busy challenging random trainers.
Beside the battlefield stood Misty and Brock. Unexpectedly, Giselle was there too.
"You're not at the Pokémon Center writing your research report?" Natsume asked in surprise.
"I already submitted it!" Giselle beamed.
"That's great. In that case, this is where we part ways."
Natsume glanced around the theme park. With its pleasant scenery, it felt like the perfect place for farewells.
"Natsume, what are you talking about?" Ash asked, confused.
"Yeah! Giselle's such a good person, and you actually want her to leave?"
Misty wrapped her arm around Giselle's, clearly having bonded with her during their time together (mostly shopping).
"That's right, Natsume. Didn't you say if Giselle's research report was accepted by a first-tier journal, she could stay?" Brock added.
Natsume nodded. He had indeed said that.
But he knew better than anyone—her project, the one he gave her, could at most reach the level of a second-tier journal.
Giselle beamed as she shoved her phone in Natsume's face.
"Dear Researcher, congratulations! Your paper **The Influence of Evolutionary Willpower on Actual Evolutionary Level** has passed review by the first editorial board of the Viridian Biopharmaceutical Science Journal. If you agree to grant publishing rights, please contact our senior editor, Ethan."
Natsume's jaw dropped in disbelief. The Viridian Biopharmaceutical Science Journal was indeed a first-tier publication.
After a long pause, he realized this journal was basically run by a pharmaceutical company under Reginald, partnered with the Pokémon League's research division.
Giselle had sent the submission, and within seconds, received a reply several hundred words long.
"…They're not even pretending anymore."
Natsume was speechless. All he could say was—money really does make things easier.
"Natsume, please take care of me from now on!" Giselle said, moving in for a hug.
"Mm—" She ran straight into a soft belly.
"Huh—" She looked up. Dragonite was standing there, holding a chair above her head.
"My, what an adorable child! Don't worry, I'll share the responsibility of raising you together with Natsume!" Giselle said, happily rubbing Dragonite's belly.
She was so delighted now that everything looked beautiful in her eyes.
*Uhh…* Dragonite froze, her fierce expression stiffening as she stood blankly in place.
Her trainer had only told her to hold Midchu's chair and regulate the electricity.
This situation was way beyond what she could process.
A short distance away, Natsume yawned.
This Dragonite had serious problems—though honestly, physical issues were the least of them.
Not long ago, he'd realized Dragonite had very poor control over her moves.
That's why he was using Midchu's electric training as an opportunity to help Dragonite practice managing her strength.
...
**The next day**
"Alright, let's go to Saffron City and challenge the Psychic Gym!"
On the road, Ash was buzzing with excitement. He was about to earn his fourth badge—halfway to becoming a real contender.
"Ash, don't get too excited just yet. Saffron's Gym Leader, Sabrina, is a human with psychic powers. She can communicate with Pokémon directly through her mind," Giselle explained.
"Giselle, are you cosplaying as Natsume?" Ash asked, nodding as he pointed at her outfit.
"Your clothes look just like his."
"Ah—this…" Giselle's face flushed red as she stammered, "As his assistant, of course I need to learn everything about Natsume, even his style."
She had spent the past month studying Natsume's wardrobe and had custom-made female versions of each outfit.
Every day, whatever Natsume wore—she matched.
…She wondered what his taste in underwear was like.
Giselle tilted her head toward the sky, lost in thought.
Behind her, Natsume was fiddling with some Great Balls when he suddenly felt a chill down his back. He looked up blankly but saw nothing.
"Everyone! The nearby town is holding a Summer Festival!"
Misty came running back, looking thrilled.
"A Summer Festival! I've only ever seen those on TV!" Ash cried, his excitement overflowing.
"Natsume, let's go join in!" He turned eagerly toward him.
"Alright…" Natsume yawned.
After days of sleepless nights running tests on Midchu, he was drained.
A few days at a festival would be the perfect chance to rest.
You can read more (around 80+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https ://ravenarchives .com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.