C2

[Host Identity]

Name: Isaac

Age: 17

Status: Pokémon League Member

Background: Orphan, raised in Viridian City Orphanage

Owned Pokémon: None

Assets: One set of pajamas, one pair of ordinary cloth shoes

System Items: One Newbie Gift Pack

[Tasks]

Main Task 1: Become a registered trainer of the Pokémon League – Reward: Basic Breeding Knowledge

Main Task 2: Pass the Pokémon League's Basic Breeder Exam – Reward: Ownership of 500 square meters of land in any wilderness area of your choice

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Isaac curiously looked around. After calling up the system, he found himself in a strange space with a giant blue screen displaying various information.

"System, where is this place?"

[Ding!]

[This is the system space. The host can choose to display a retinal screen.]

"Retinal screen display? Let's try it."

As soon as he had the thought, Isaac left the system space and returned to the real world, where a smaller version of the screen appeared in front of him.

Exiting the system function, Isaac felt pretty good. Traveling through worlds and getting a cheat system was a nice deal.

However, now was not the time to think about that. Isaac still didn't know why Kirlia was here, and he needed to bury Caterpie's body.

"Um, do you need something from me? If not, could you please move aside?"

Isaac asked cautiously.

A regular Pidgeotto had been enough to knock him out; he didn't want to face a Psychic-type Kirlia's stronger attacks.

Kirlia didn't respond, just slightly sidestepping to let him pass.

Isaac walked over, picked up the Caterpie, and sighed.

He couldn't blame Pidgeotto. The law of the jungle applied in every world, including the Pokémon world. Pidgeotto hunting Caterpie was natural and couldn't be faulted.

Caterpie died because Isaac had placed it so conspicuously on his shoulder, exposing it to Pidgeotto without any means of resistance.

Finding a spot with soft soil, Isaac began digging with his fingers, feeling heavy-hearted.

Compared to Earth's insects, Caterpie possessed intelligence to understand human expressions, making its death weigh more heavily on Isaac than breaking a flower would.

After a long while, with his fingers bleeding and his nails filled with compacted dirt, Isaac finally dug a hole big enough for Caterpie.

He gently placed Caterpie inside, stroked its head in guilt, and slowly covered it with soil.

Crouching in front of the small mound, Isaac stayed in a daze for a long time before getting up and walking in a random direction.

Seeing Isaac move, Kirlia followed.

"Do you need something from me? Why are you following me?" Isaac asked, confused.

A cold female voice sounded in Isaac's mind.

"Celebi instructed me to find someone in green clothing who would be attacked by a Pidgeotto. That person is you."

"Celebi sensed the energy of Arceus on you, so I am to follow you and become your Pokémon."

Kirlia paused before continuing telepathically.

"However, I don't see what's special about you, except for absorbing the life force Celebi gave me."

Isaac detected a tone of resentment in Kirlia's words.

"I apologize for absorbing your life force; I'm not sure how it happened. But Arceus's power? That's impossible; I've never even seen it."

Isaac waved his hand.

"Celebi has confirmed the presence of Arceus's power in you. Do not question Celebi. Also, I will be your Pokémon, but you cannot order me to do anything I don't want to do."

Kirlia's attitude had turned sour after Isaac absorbed the life force.

"Alright, alright, you can follow if you want."

Isaac relented, then had a thought.

"Do you know where we are?"

"Viridian Forest," Kirlia replied briefly.

"Viridian Forest? The closest city is Pewter City, right?" Isaac pondered.

"Viridian City is far from here. The nearest city is Pewter City," Kirlia corrected.

The Viridian Forest was large, encompassing many towns, including Pewter City.

"Huh? Pewter City? Can you take me there? I don't know the way…"

Kirlia rolled her eyes. How could this idiot have so many questions?

"Follow me."

With that, Kirlia flew in the opposite direction Isaac had been going, and Isaac hurried to catch up.

Isaac didn't know if two legs could outrun four, but he knew he couldn't keep up with someone who didn't need legs to run.

Panting heavily as he struggled to follow Kirlia, Isaac was eventually picked up and carried by her psychic power, speeding up their journey considerably.

Finally, as the sun began to set, the city's silhouette appeared before Isaac.

Landing in the middle of a road, Kirlia released her psychic hold, causing Isaac to fall flat on his rear once again.

Rubbing his sore bottom, Isaac felt the absurdity of enduring this pain twice in one day.

"Grrr~~"

His stomach growled in protest, indicating his intense hunger.

Isaac stood on the outskirts of Pewter City, knowing he needed to walk another half-hour to find a decent meal, but Kirlia seemed unwilling to assist further.

Clutching his rumbling stomach, Isaac trudged along until he saw someone approaching, holding several skewers of grilled meat. More people followed, also carrying skewers.

Isaac hurried to stop a boy eating a skewer. "Excuse me, where did you buy that grilled meat?"

The boy took a big bite, chewed, making Isaac's mouth water. "Over there, at the famous Bell's BBQ. You're not from Pewter City, are you?"

Thanking the boy, Isaac followed the direction given, driven by newfound energy toward the BBQ shop.

Before he could collapse from exhaustion, Isaac spotted the crowded shop with a sign reading "Bell's BBQ."

Following a couple into the shop, Isaac grabbed already cooked skewers from the grill and found a seat.

Mimicking the other customers, Isaac grabbed a handful of skewers and devoured them ravenously.

By the time the shop was nearly empty, Isaac's hunger was finally sated.

"Buuurp~~~"

Isaac patted his belly contentedly and burped loudly.

A cute girl in work clothes approached Isaac and softly asked, "Are you done with your meal, sir?"

Isaac snapped out of his post-meal daze and nodded. "Yes, it was delicious!"

The girl covered her mouth, giggling. "Thank you for your feedback."

She began clearing the table.

"That'll be 2690 Pokemon Dollars. Will you be paying with cash?" she asked sweetly.

Isaac instinctively reached into his pocket.

Wait, something's not right. I'm wearing pajamas. Where would I have money???