Natsuhiko went to the finance department to advance 40% of his basic salary.
With three thousand two hundred bucks in hand, he immediately felt like he came back to life.
Holding the number card, he went to the club employee's exclusive room.
The space was not large.
But inside, there was a bed, a desk, and even a private bathroom.
He couldn't help but marvel once again at Silver Company's wealth, being able to provide each sparring partner with their own exclusive room, and the salary for a sparring partner was quite substantial, definitely top-tier in the industry.
Weedle saw the bed, curiously hopped onto it, and was instantly conquered by its softness.
Bouncing happily on the bed, it had already forgotten the poor Rattata it had just battled.
Watching Weedle in its happy state, Natsuhiko smiled too, sitting on the chair by the desk.
He couldn't let go of his tense mindset just because he found a job.
Weedle's development cycle was extremely short. Once it evolved, Natsuhiko would have to face the risk of unemployment.
But he couldn't purposely limit Weedle's growth for the sake of work, which would go against why he sought the job in the first place.
His aim was to let Weedle grow better and unleash its maximum potential.
"So Weedle still needs to maintain its original growth speed and, before that, exploit its potential in the Weedle form as much as possible."
He took out a piece of paper.
Natsuhiko started writing down things that needed attention and preparation during this period on the paper.
1. Buy Pokémon food suitable for Weedle.
2. Purchase books on Insect-type Pokémon and Poison-type Pokémon, and learn nurturing knowledge.
3. Develop Weedle's toxin.
4. Formulate a detailed training plan.
5...
Listed one by one, the short-term plans and schemes.
After Weedle evolves, he can't capture another Pokémon; resources are already scarce, and nurturing Weedle is stretching them thin, let alone nurturing a second Pokémon.
Natsuhiko estimated that before Weedle evolved into Beedrill and had enough combat power, he wouldn't attempt to capture a second Pokémon.
"Now with the housing problem solved, a considerable fee can be saved."
Once again, he marveled at Silver Company's wealth.
"According to the club's rules, when not used by members, the training gear at the training grounds is free for employees to use, the benefits are really good."
Furthermore, the working hours are very humane; as long as no member specifically requests, it counts as rest time.
But if a member requests, even if sleeping, he must immediately get up.
Rested in the room for a while.
Suddenly.
The notifier on the wall made a sound.
"Employee number 0451, training ground number 9, be there in 3 minutes." It was clear it was Anai's voice.
"Okay." He pressed the reply button and said.
Natsuhiko quickly picked up Weedle, who was reluctant to leave the soft bed, and hurried towards training ground number 9.
The Silver Pokémon Battle Club was big.
Luckily, the sparring partners' room wasn't far from the training grounds.
Upon entering, he saw a chubby boy about thirteen or fourteen years old, with three or four Pokéballs, looking like "I'm very rich."
Seeing Natsuhiko running in with Weedle, he disdainfully sneered, "Hey, Weedle, right? I'll play with you first, then switch to someone else later."
It seemed like he wanted to find a sense of superiority over Weedle.
"Remember, my name is Kenji, and I'm going to be the future Kanto Region Champion! As my sparring partner at this moment, it'll be your greatest glory in this lifetime."
Natsuhiko: "..."
I think instead of Kenji, you should be called Chuunibyou... Natsuhiko couldn't help but mock inside, but kept a composed expression.
He placed Weedle on the ground and softly said, "Don't be nervous, listen to my command later."
"Woo!"
Weedle nodded.
After one battle, its confidence had clearly built up.
Chuunibyou Kenji hesitated on who to send first, after thinking, he casually tossed one of them out.
"Alright, you then!"
With a flash of red light from the Pokeball, an emerald green Pokémon appeared on the field.
Its skin was blue-green, covered with dark green patches, its appearance resembling a toad, with bright red eyes, and its most notable feature was the bulb-shaped seed on its back.
With this familiar image and appearance, one of the Kanto Region's Starter Trio Pokémon, Bulbasaur!
Affectionately nicknamed "Garlic King Bat."
No wonder the person could hold membership status at Silver Pokémon Battle Club; even the Pokémon is the precious Bulbasaur.
"Tada~~"
After Bulbasaur came out, it softly called out, its voice crisp and tender, seemingly not a professionally trained Pokémon.
Natsuhiko squinted his eyes.
As a Grass-type and Poison-type Pokémon, Bulbasaur's attributes are quite decent with a Species Value far ahead of Weedle.
But to defeat Weedle, it wasn't actually a suitable choice.
At the very least, Bulbasaur's Grass-type skills can only deal a quarter damage to Weedle, Poison-type skills only half, and in similarly matched strengths, Poison-type Pokémon are immune to negative effects of poisoning.
"Begin!" Kenji shouted, seemingly not realizing Bulbasaur's shortcomings against Weedle.
As the battle began, Natsuhiko put away all thoughts, focusing on the situation.
"Bulbasaur, Sunlight Beam!"
His words surprised everyone, Kenji shouted directly.
"Tada?" Bulbasaur looked back at its trainer, bewildered.
Sunlight Beam is one of the ultimate moves for Grass-type Pokémon, extremely destructive, its drawback being the need to charge up.
However, no matter what, for Bulbasaur, mastering Sunlight Beam was nearly impossible.
"Really? Not mastered yet? Then use Flying Leaf Swift Sword!"
"Ta...da..."
Natsuhiko: "..."
So, just captured Bulbasaur?
Without understanding basic techniques, coming here for confidence?
"This isn't exactly like what the teacher taught in class?" Kenji scratched his head.
He's a second-grade student at Goldenrod City Pokémon School; after a year of foundational theory learning, this is his first time commanding a Pokémon battle as a second-grader.
Thought he had already mastered the knowledge taught at school, he fantasized about scenes of punching the Elite Four Nanshan, kicking the North Sea Champion, and eventually reaching the peak as the Champion.
How remarkably similar to the original story, where holding Pikachu, the Wisdom God confidently battles Onix while shouting "I will become a Master."
But clearly.
Theoretical knowledge isn't equivalent to practical knowledge, having just received his initial Pokémon, he didn't realize it was Bulbasaur's first encounter with battle, too.
This scenario isn't uncommon in the club.
Because part of the club's business is to guide initial trainers on how to battle.
Even in Natsuhiko's employee handbook, it was written on how to deal with this.
As long as the payment is sufficient, a group of elite trainers can teach hand-to-hand.
"Your Bulbasaur should only have mastered basic Bash, Growl, Vine Whip, and other moves; as for inherited skills, you'll have to explore that yourself," Natsuhiko said.
"Is it?" Kenji looked up, puzzled.
"It should be. I'm a bit curious, what's your rank in your class?" Natsuhiko asked out of curiosity.
"Ahahaha—not that high, it's just 27th." Kenji wasn't as arrogant as earlier.
Perhaps he's just a bit Chuunibyou without malice.
"27? That's still considered average..."
"Yeah, I also think so, considering there is one person lower than me in the class."
"...So, your class, has a total of 28?" Natsuhiko was a bit speechless.
Realizing such a scene occurred isn't surprising at all.
"Theoretically yes, but after attending a month, he hasn't come back, for unknown reasons."
Natsuhiko: "..."
"Alright, let's not talk about this, begin the battle! Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip!"
"Tada!"
Finally having a usable move, Bulbasaur expressed it wasn't easy for itself.
Seeing from Bulbasaur's back where it connects to the seed-like root stem, two finger-thick green vines drew out, aiming to strike Weedle.
"Dodge it," Natsuhiko commanded.
For Weedle, such an attack speed wasn't fast.