Chapter 9: Simulation Management Module Unlocked!
At that moment, Asher had just finished dinner with Farfetch'd and was washing the dishes in the sink.
Washing dishes is such a headache.
He'd have to buy a dishwasher later, or maybe get a Pokémon that could help with chores.
He didn't bother checking on his video. In his estimation, even with the traffic boost, it would take at least one night—if not a full 24 hours—to see if the video had real viral potential.
"Hm?"
As Asher was scrubbing a plate, a line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Follower count has exceeded 10,000. Unlocking Simulation Management Module.]
[Module loading...]
Simulation Management?
Asher was stunned for a moment. Immediately, new text floated up.
[Business: Dojo (The Sword of the Land)]
[Prestige Level: 1]
[Employees: None]
[Evaluation: A brand-new dojo just setting sail. There is still a long way to go to reach the top. Aim to become the world's number one dojo!]
[Effects: Revenue +10%, Appeal +10%, Pokémon Growth Speed +10%]
[Next Stage Requirement: Follower Count (10,175 / 100,000)]
The activation of a new module surprised Asher.
The [Simulation Management] module focused on the dojo itself, which was completely different from [Survival Crafting]. They were two totally different aspects.
While [Survival Crafting] could raise the dojo's building level, [Simulation Management] was geared toward the dojo's development.
But what surprised Asher even more was his follower count.
He only had 7,000 followers before he posted. It had only been an hour or two... how did they grow so fast?
He immediately dropped the dish, wiped his hands, pulled out his phone, and unlocked the screen.
He hadn't known what to expect, but what he saw was a shock!
It had only been two hours, and the video's view count had already surpassed 300,000!
He skimmed the situation and realized it was because of Iono's stream and promotion.
Of course, it wasn't all Iono.
But her sharing the video on her feed had led other streamers to click on it. Many of [PokéTV]'s streamers had watched the video, which in turn attracted a massive number of fans.
That's why it had received so many shares and views right after being posted.
Without a doubt...
This was another million-view hit in the making!
Nice!
If the last video had just made most people marvel that a human could engage in such high-intensity sparring with a Pokémon—while also drawing skepticism that it was staged or just CGI—this time was different.
With a Fighting-type Gym Leader's name attached, many people now had a consensus and a baseline understanding of Asher's skill.
This guy is the real deal! He's got something!
If it were me, I'd get destroyed!
Furthermore, the "thousand-year-old ancient sword art" mentioned in both videos had piqued the interest of some archaeologists. To them, this kind of inherited technique had intrinsic value. If they could compare and analyze it against historical events, they might discover a lot of new answers.
Asher didn't really care about that.
He'd already planned to visit the Unova region eventually, but that was a problem for later. He didn't intend to get too chummy with these archaeologists; a simple contact would be enough.
He casually scanned the comments.
[Came here from Iono's stream! The adorable Iono also said the uploader is amazing!]
[Bea is so cool too! Too bad she was still no match for the uploader in the end.]
[Damn! Both of them could probably beat Pokémon with their bare hands, right?]
[Who needs Pokéballs to catch Pokémon? Pokéballs are such inconvenient things!]
[You gotta catch Pokémon, but you gotta train the Trainer too. That's what I call a healthy balance!]
[My long career as a Trainer has taught me that Pokémon have limits, but Trainers... do not. .jpg]
[PSA for the front row: Normal people should not imitate the uploader, or you will really get beaten up! And beaten up badly!]
[@ a-_bove, how do you know?]
[Don't ask.]
Most of the comments were friendly. Asher nodded. The people in the Pokémon world were just too sincere. Even their battles were mostly by the book.
If this were any other world...
Asher looked at the comments, summarizing his experience with editing these kinds of videos.
First, he had to cater to the viewer's perspective. He couldn't just show a dazzling flurry of combat. He needed to use slow-motion at exciting or critical moments to really stir their emotions. The camera angles couldn't be too chaotic, and he had to use narration to explain some of his actions.
Second, he needed a strong gimmick.
If he just fought Pokémon every time, most people would probably get bored, and it's not like he had that many Pokémon. He couldn't even scrounge up a hundred to fight.
So, he had to find a new way to expand his fanbase.
One hundred thousand followers.
That was no small number.
Even a popular streamer like Iono only had about a million followers, which showed just how difficult it was to accumulate fans.
"Looks like I should try streaming sometime, too. Now that I've built up some fans, if I reveal my 'psychic' identity, I'll definitely be able to attract even more attention."
Asher stroked his chin, musing.
He had no intention of hiding his abilities; he couldn't, especially not his crafting skills.
Worst-case scenario, he'd just blame it all on "psychic powers." Whether people believed him or not was their problem.
Was someone going to arrest him for it?
In the Pokémon world, he wasn't the only one who was "hacking."
That "Viridian Mind" especially... in a sense, that was the real hack!
All he did was add some stats, break some trees, build a house, and gain some followers. That had nothing to do with hacking.
He was just an ordinary dojo master.
"Still, I owe Iono for this. Without her help, these two videos wouldn't have blown up so fast."
"When I have money later, I'll buy her a top-tier subscription."
Asher continued to scroll.
He noticed that some people had actually tried to 1v1 Pokémon.
Of course, the end result was... they all had a very nice nap.
Seriously? Domesticated humans trying to challenge wild Pokémon? Interesting.
But they should at least learn some moves first!
Asher thought for a moment. What if something happened, and some Officer Jenny arrested him, saying he was inciting others to try dangerous things?
Thinking of this, Asher quickly posted a new, pinned comment.
"These are dangerous actions. Do not imitate. If any accidents occur, you are responsible for the consequences."
The second he posted it, he saw replies popping up underneath.
A lot of them, too, stacking up fast.
[Master Ball! GO!]
[You should have said so earlier! I already got put to sleep by a Pokémon!]
[Bro, how did you train your sword skills? Can you teach me? I want to be cool like you!]
[UP, UP, are you sure you're not a Ditto? Can humans really be this strong?]
[He's here! Is today another day of catching Pokémon without using your own Pokémon?]
[Hey, boss, look at me. Interested in a GG (sponsorship)?]
"..."
Asher looked at the flood of comments, thoughtful.
He chose not to reply. "The more one talks, the more one is likely to slip up" was the golden rule of the internet.
In his past life, countless people had lost everything just because they'd said one wrong thing online.
As for the sponsorship...
He was, admittedly, tempted.
The dojo was really strapped for cash right now. Equipment, items... it all cost money.
He had even spent more money just to buy a new camera so he could film better videos and attract more people.
"But no rush. Once I have more fans, the sponsorship price can go up."
Asher shook his head.
He put his phone down, finished washing the dishes, and went to tell Farfetch'd it was time for bed.
But he checked the whole house... and Farfetch'd was nowhere to be found.
Asher froze.
He walked around two more times.
Finally, at the entrance of the house, he saw the small figure of Farfetch'd leaving.
"It's so late. Where is Farfetch'd going?"
Asher was confused.
He didn't call out. Instead, he decided to follow its footprints and see for himself.