Chapter 31: Nagatsuki Gym

The next morning.

Having fully recovered his energy, N finally set out with his Poké Balls toward the Nagatsuki City Gym. Located in the heart of the city, the building's architecture was modest and unpretentious; only the Poké Ball insignia emblazoned on the sign indicated its status as an official Gym.

Interestingly, the Gym was situated very close to the local Pokémon Center, perhaps to make it easier for challengers to seek immediate medical attention?

Upon entering, N immediately saw a battle in progress. A challenger was fielding a Poliwhirl against the Gym Leader's Furret.

Despite it being morning, the spectator stands were already filled with dozens of people. Citizens of this world were incredibly passionate about mainstream Pokémon battling, and many made special trips to Gyms daily just to watch the Leaders compete.

The Gym Leader was a young woman wearing a dress and glasses. Her expression remained calm as she commanded her Pokémon with calculated precision, launching a systematic offensive that left the opposing Poliwhirl with no room to counter.

It was clear the match was nearing its end.

"Furret! Use Agility, then follow up with Slam!!"

Following the Gym Leader's command, the cream-and-brown striped Furret exploded with speed that the naked eye could barely track. Shrouded in a piercing white light, its body whistled through the air! The fierce, heavy impact sent the opposing Poliwhirl flying.

It was the finishing blow.

Boom!

The wobbling Poliwhirl was blasted back by Furret's strike, tumbling across the ground through clouds of dust. It slid nearly five meters before finally coming to a halt. When the dust settled, its eyes were swirling, it was completely knocked out.

"Poliwhirl is unable to battle! Furret wins! The victory goes to the Nagatsuki Gym Leader, Ms. Misaki!!"

The referee's declaration triggered a wave of cheers from the audience. Such scenes were a daily occurrence at the Nagatsuki Gym; Misaki's victory seemed like a foregone conclusion.

Misaki, the newly appointed Leader of Nagatsuki City, was a seasoned Trainer who had competed in Kanto's Indigo Plateau Conference and Johto's Silver Conference, achieving respectable rankings in both.

Having participated in two major League Conferences meant she had collected at least sixteen Gym Badges. She was a true Elite Trainer.

"Your strength still needs improvement. I hope to see a different version of you when you return."

"Yes... thank you for the guidance, Ms. Misaki..."

Misaki adjusted her glasses with her index finger, her expression unchanging. She simply nodded at the challenger's thanks. The challenger likely felt a sting of frustration, but Misaki was known for her strictness. One had to legitimately defeat her in battle to earn a badge; "pity badges" did not exist in her Gym.

"Young man, are you here to watch the match too?"

"Hmm, I suppose so."

Blinked in surprise, N looked at the large man sitting next to him. The man had struck up a conversation with an air of practiced familiarity, giving N an "I knew it" look.

"Ms. Misaki is amazing, isn't she? She only took over as Gym Leader two months ago, but she's far stronger than her predecessor. She hasn't given out a single badge yet."

"Plus, she's quite a beauty. I come over to watch her often~"

Hearing the man's words, N suddenly understood the meaning behind that look and rolled his eyes internally. He shifted his focus back down to the battlefield.

"Now then, who is the next challenger?"

Misaki shrugged her shoulders slightly, her voice sounding a bit drained.

Because the previous Nagatsuki Gym Leader had been mediocre, many people heard it was an easy place to get a badge and flocked here. Most were rookie Trainers; some didn't even understand type advantages yet. Consequently, the burden of dealing with these unprepared challengers fell entirely on her as the new Leader.

"I'll go."

N raised his hand with a smile. The man sitting next to him was stunned. After all that, this guy wasn't here to look at a pretty face, he was an actual challenger?

"The Gym challenge rules are two-on-two. The match ends when one side's Pokémon are all unable to battle. How many badges do you currently have?"

Misaki squinted at N. His black-and-white cap shadowed his face, making it hard to see his features clearly, yet she felt a faint, inexplicable sense of pressure radiating from this young man.

She caught herself and shook her head slightly.

Pressure from such a young Trainer? Impossible.

"Apologies, this is the first Gym I've challenged. Does this Gym have a badge requirement to enter?"

"There is no requirement. However, if you are a rookie, I advise you to go train some more before coming back."

Misaki's brow twitched slightly, a hint of irritation rising. Too many rookies with zero badges had been showing up lately, thinking they could score an easy win against a "weak" Gym. This recurring trend was starting to fray her nerves.

"Since there's no restriction, I'll proceed with the challenge."

"Is that so?"

Misaki pushed her glasses up. It seemed this young man wouldn't learn until he was taught a lesson. As a Gym Leader, it was her responsibility to educate the newcomers.

"Your name?"

"N."

"N? Then let's begin."

Misaki gripped a Poké Ball, her serious expression making it clear she intended to show N the reality of a professional Gym.

N, for his part, felt a bit helpless. He just wanted a standard challenge; he hadn't intended to end up on the Leader's "to-be-disciplined" list.