Chapter 35: The Nagatsuki Badge and Substitute

"Great job, Gurdurr!"

N praised Gurdurr with a beaming smile. The Trainer and Pokémon bumped fists, a signature gesture they used to celebrate their bond.

Now that Gurdurr had evolved, its strength was leagues beyond its previous state. With a base power level of Low Alpha, further augmented by its Ability, the Muscle Band, and N's precise tactical commands, it could likely go toe-to-toe with a High Alpha opponent.

"Holy crap, are you seeing this?! Ms. Misaki actually forfeited. That's a first since she took over as Gym Leader, right?!"

"Quiet, you idiot! What choice did she have? It was obvious the situation was irrecoverable. A heavily injured Ursaring trying to beat a Gurdurr that barely has a scratch on it? That's a tall order!"

"So that means... that kid is the very first Trainer to claim the Nagatsuki Badge?"

Exclamations rippled through the spectator stands. One moment they were enjoying the show, and the next, the cool, composed Gym Leader had been soundly defeated. What's more, he won a two-on-two match without losing a single Pokémon. From start to finish, the battle had felt completely one-sided.

As the subject of the crowd's chatter, Misaki couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. A Gym Leader forfeiting wasn't exactly a glorious look. However, she knew that conceding was the right choice to prevent Ursaring from sustaining unnecessary, long-term injuries.

"Your name is N, right? I won't forget it! I hope to see you in 'that seat' one day, that way, losing to you won't feel so bad for my reputation."

"You flatter me, Ms. Misaki. You didn't even use your main roster; I just got lucky."

Despite the high praise from a Gym Leader, the green-haired youth in the cap showed no sign of arrogance. He maintained a humble, gentle smile that made everyone marvel at how such immense talent could coexist with such a grounded personality.

"Don't forget, you're a rookie on your very first Gym challenge. If that was just 'luck,' then I'd look even worse, wouldn't I?"

Misaki pushed up her glasses and offered a small smile. She pulled a refined brown gift box from her pocket, opened it, and presented N with a bronze badge shaped like a bear's head.

"The reward for a successful challenge isn't just this badge. You also get to choose a Technical Machine. I have Substitute, Protect, and Mean Look. Pick whichever you like."

TMs were vital tools. With one, a Pokémon with decent aptitude could learn a powerful move in just a few days, providing a massive edge in battle. Consequently, TMs fetched astronomical prices on the open market, often enough to cover a Pokémon's food expenses for a month. The rarer the move, the more expensive it became, making them a luxury most average Trainers couldn't afford.

Yet, even at those prices, many Trainers were willing to skip meals just to ensure their Pokémon mastered a versatile utility move.

N looked at the three TMs with a hint of surprise. While he secretly wished he could pack all three and walk away, he knew better. He ultimately chose the most versatile one: Substitute.

Substitute could significantly raise a Pokémon's tactical ceiling. If used correctly, it was a game-changer. Since it was a move that was notoriously difficult for Pokémon to learn naturally, the TM was exceptionally valuable.

"By the way, I almost forgot to ask, is that Gurdurr your starter? How long has it been since you began your journey?"

Misaki asked suddenly, looking at the sturdy Gurdurr with admiration. Even she could see the creature possessed incredible potential; with proper training, it would undoubtedly become a powerhouse.

"No, he's my second Pokémon. I actually received my starter just the week before last."

"The... week before last?"

N answered with a smile and, not paying much mind to the stunned, frozen expression on Misaki's face, took his badge and TM and headed for the exit. Now that he had a badge, he could register as an official Trainer, and he was in a hurry to get it done.

Misaki's admiring expression turned deeply complex. She had assumed N was a rookie who had been on the road for at least a couple of months. Who would have guessed it had only been two weeks?!

In two weeks, he had raised an Alpha-level Pokémon! And that wasn't even his starter. Misaki shuddered to think what level of power his first Pokémon had reached by now.

"That's not a 'prodigy' trainer... that's a genuine monster."

…

"Registration complete! Mr. Natural Harmonia Gropius, you are now an official Trainer! Please keep working hard, collect more badges, and strive for the highest honors!"

"Thank you very much."

Though the Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center was inwardly reeling, she maintained her professional composure. she took a long look at the youth before her, who looked no older than seventeen or eighteen, and double-checked his file.

[Official Trainer]

When he had come into the center yesterday, he was just an unregistered commoner. Today, he had secured his first badge and became a League-recognized official Trainer!

What's more, the badge was from the Nagatsuki Gym.

Nurse Joy was close friends with Misaki, the new Leader, and she knew for a fact that until today, not a single Trainer had successfully claimed that badge. N was the very first.

Yesterday, Joy had only glanced at him because he was handsome. Today, she looked at him as if he were some fascinating, miraculous creature. She was even fighting the urge to ask for his contact information and invite him on a date!

Fortunately, N had no idea what was going through her head. If he did, he likely would have kept his distance. Even if they all shared the same kind face, every Nurse Joy had a unique personality, and this one was clearly the impulsive type.