I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

January 24th, Sunday, sunny.

Two days later, Indigo Plateau.

Dark gray stone steps climbed straight up the mountainside, and looking up, one could see the silver brazier blazing fiercely at the summit.

The Pokémon League’s Poké Ball insignia gleamed under the clear blue sky.

Lu Ye carried his shoulder bag with one hand behind his back, climbing the final step. Looking up at the azure sky, he saw a majestic Pidgeot spreading its wings and soaring past.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Brilliant fireworks exploded above the League.

Every Trainer’s face bore a unique expression.

“Mom, I finally made it to the Quartz Conference!” a Trainer wiped away tears on his sleeve, overwhelmed with joy.

A ten-year-old boy held a bug-catching net, full of heroic spirit.

“One day, I’ll take my Caterpie Army all the way to the League Championship!” In front of the solemn Pokémon League, countless Trainers fulfilled their childhood dreams.

Collect all eight Badges and enter the Quartz Conference.

“So many people here.”

Lu Ye looked around and sighed in amazement.

Gengar peeked out from Lu Ye’s shadow, half his body visible as he smugly spread his arms.

“Gengaarrr~︿(￣︶￣)︿” (Is this all~)

“Don’t let your guard down. Who knows, a Legendary Pokémon Trainer might pop out of nowhere.”

Lu Ye let Sylveon twine her ribbon around his arm as they stepped into the bustling celebration plaza.

“Brii~ o(´^｀)o”

Sylveon followed happily, her pink ears bobbing as she walked, clearly in a good mood.

Lu Ye handed his shoulder bag to Gengar and pulled out the Tournament Handbook, skimming through it.

“Hmm... we need to head to the Pokémon Center for check-in.”

Professor Oak had already completed the registration for Lu Ye. All that was left was the official check-in to participate.

The tournament venue was divided into four main areas: Main Arena, Battle Sub-Arenas, Contestant Village, and Celebration Plaza.

The Main Arena was where the opening ceremony and finals would be held—where the sacred flame was ignited.

The Battle Sub-Arenas included: Rock, Water, Ice, and Grass—four common battlefield types.

The Contestant Village featured the full-service Shuckle Inn chain, providing free lodging and meals for Trainers.

As for the Celebration Plaza, it was packed with various vendors—food, merch, entertainment, you name it.

“Jessie and James should be arriving in the next few days too.”

Lu Ye glanced toward the lively plaza, suddenly craving ice cream.

“Gengar, want one?” he asked, standing at an ice cream booth.

“Gengaa…” Gengar rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

“Togepi~” Togepi had both hands on the freezer glass, body leaning in—thankfully Lu Ye reacted quickly and scooped it up.

The vendor smiled at Lu Ye, then suddenly stammered:

“Y-You’re that…”

“Huh?”

“Teacher Lu!”

The vendor exclaimed and looked around before lowering his voice, “This one’s on the house…”

“My daughter loves watching your streams. Even I signed up for a fan card!” the vendor said cheerfully.

More fans showing up, huh…

Lu Ye felt conflicted but still paid honestly. He and Gengar licked their cones in sync: (￣～￣)

Togepi held her ice cream with both hands, nibbling away obediently as she followed behind.

Lu Ye wasn’t worried about losing track of Togepi.

Aura Power let him sense location and body temperature—practically a parenting cheat code.

Besides, in this preliminary venue, there were probably only a handful who could even beat Togepi...

“Isn’t that Teacher Lu?”

“He’s even more handsome in person than in the videos!”

“If I have to go up against Teacher Lu… wouldn’t that be a total wipeout?!”

With looks on par with Steven, Teacher Lu attracted plenty of attention.

But not many fans dared approach.

“Brii! (〝▼皿▼)”

“Gengaarrr! (ง°皿°)ง⁼³₌₃”

Lu Ye: “...Tone it down. People will think we’re here to stomp rookies!”

Can you call it stomping when it’s a viewer tournament?

Everyone here has eight badges.

I’m just… slightly stronger.

And my goal this time is to minimize injury to my team…

And bring smiles through battle—that’s Teacher Lu’s true purpose here.

The Pokémon Center at the Main Arena had long queues.

But check-in was the same at any location.

Lu Ye switched to the one at the Contestant Village, which was less crowded.

“Chansey~” Chansey greeted Teacher Lu warmly and led him to the front desk.

“Just hand me your Pokédex, Teacher Lu,” Nurse Joy said with a smile.

“You know me?” Lu Ye blinked.

“I’m Nurse Joy from Saffron City… we met just a few days ago,” she winked.

“Cough…”

How was I supposed to recognize that? Lu Ye quickly changed the subject.

“You got transferred here?”

“Yes,” Joy grinned. “During the League Tournament, a lot of police and medical staff are reassigned here to ensure smooth operations.”

After all, the League Tournament was the highest-level event in the entire region.

Come to think of it… with all these Joys and Jennys around…

Isn’t this a paradise for that perv Brock?!

Lu Ye stroked his chin.

Compared to the anime version, this Brock was more reserved…

Yet still had MAX Insight.

In a way, Brock’s the real man…

“Gengaarrr~” Gengar bounced forward and handed over the Special Pokédex.

A moment later, Nurse Joy returned it with both hands.

“Trainer information has been registered,” she said with a smile. “Here’s your Pokédex, please keep it safe.”

“Gengaarrr! ٩(๑`^´๑)۶”

Lu Ye glanced up at the overhead screen, surprised.

“The tournament starts this afternoon? That soon?”

“Yes, in just an hour—the opening ceremony at the Main Arena,” Joy explained. “President Damalanji and Champion Lance will be attending.”

Damalanji was the chairman of the Pokémon League Committee—a high-ranking official, a white-haired, long-bearded old man who loved to joke around.

As for Champion Lance...

The committee is full of my people?

That’s fine, then!

“Thanks~” Lu Ye nodded to Saffron Joy and prepared to check out the opening ceremony.

“Best of luck in the tournament!”

Just as they were about to leave the building, a shifty old man with thick glasses stopped them.

“Hello there, hehe…”

He cradled an Abra in his arms and spoke mysteriously. “If you want to withdraw from the tournament right now, just let me know. Abra can teleport you out.”

Lu Ye raised a brow.

There’s a service like this?

Too bad… I’ve already decided to crush this whole bracket.

Lu Ye said, “Blue, drop the act. We’re on the same side.”

The ‘old man’ froze for a while before the Ditto covering her slowly peeled away.

Revealing a young, fashionable girl in a black dress.

“Teacher Lu, how did you see through me?!”

Blue gasped. “Even Red couldn’t tell it was me!”

Because I’ve read the Special Manga...

Lu Ye thought, but coughed instead. “Gold mentioned it earlier. I put two and two together and guessed it was you.”

Blue, frustrated from having her disguise seen through, clenched her fists. “D*mn that Gold!”

Lu Ye looked up at the sky and silently cleared a debt from Gold’s record.

Next time, I won’t mute you!

Turns out Blue had come early to prep her merchant stall.

Hearing that Teacher Lu had arrived at the Pokémon Center, she disguised herself for a bit of fun.

She didn’t expect… to be spotted instantly. Ruined the whole game.

“What are you selling this time?” Lu Ye asked curiously.

“Trainer intel, plus custom merch!” Blue’s eyes sparkled. “What do you think? We’re gonna make bank, right?”

Lu Ye: “Good luck.”

“Eh?”

“Let’s head to the opening ceremony first.”

Lu Ye glanced at the group chat. “Anyone else coming to Indigo Plateau today?”

Since this was Kanto’s grand event, quite a few people planned to join in the fun.

Blue thought for a second. “Mr. Brock’s apparently handling security at one of the Sub-Arenas.”

“A bunch of folks from Johto came too—the bullet train goes straight to Indigo Plateau.”

Lu Ye blinked.

Red’s Snorlax once stopped that bullet train barehanded.

It’s been so many years since then.

That level 90+ Snorlax might even wrestle Groudon now...

Group Chat

Teacher Lu: “@Gold, you on the way?”

Gold: “I’m almost at Indigo Plateau!” (riding Typhlosion, goggles on)

Silver: “You just took the wrong turn.”

Gold looked around—Silver and Whitney were nowhere in sight.

“D*mn it!! Why didn’t you tell me?!”

Whitney, riding Miltank, grinned: “Heehee~”

“I-I’m at Indigo Plateau…”

Yellow, panting with a straw hat on, said, “Those stairs were exhausting…”

“Where’s Red?” Blue asked curiously.

“He said… he’ll show up for the finals to hand Teacher Lu his trophy,” Yellow said honestly.

Lu Ye blinked.

D*mn. Flag from the Battle Legend: +1!

Green said calmly, “I’m coming with him.”

Flag from the Kanto Champion: +2!

@Teacher Lu, which field are you picking for Round One?

Lance the Just asked, “Rock, Water, Grass, Ice… I can help set it up on my end.”

Lorelei: “Hey! That’s enough!”

“Hmph. The result’s the same either way.”

Lance smirked. “Honestly, I was thinking of giving him a bye round. Don’t want the other Trainers traumatized…”

Lu Ye blinked.

This is what a partner of justice is like?

You never fail to impress, Lance!

After Kanto and Johto merged, the Quartz Conference became a joint mega-event.

At the opening ceremony, top Trainers from every region gathered.

Strong and rare Pokémon filled the stadium—an unprecedented spectacle.

Lu Ye and Blue arrived together at the arena just as fireworks shot into the sky.

Whoosh!

With the lighting of the Moltres Sacred Flame,

The Kanto League’s Quartz Conference officially began!