Not Being a Trainer This Time

[Lord Wing: Of course I can eat that much, but do you really have that much over there?]

[Ancient Investigator: I never lie! Plus, I have quite a reputation throughout the tomb raider realm.]

[Lord Wing: Never heard of it, when can we exchange? Tell me the time and place.]

Naoki waited for a while, but there was no immediate reply from the other side.

After a long while, a message finally came through.

[Ancient Investigator: Where are you?]

[Lord Wing: Paldea Region, Porto Marinada Town.]

[Ancient Investigator: Porto Marinada Town... I’m currently in Mesagoza City, and can’t leave at the moment. If you want it, you’ll have to come to Mesagoza City yourself.]

Mesagoza City...

Naoki was slightly taken aback.

That is the largest city in the Paldea Region, and Paldea Academy is located there.

He thought for a moment, then went downstairs to fetch a map of the Paldea Region to locate Mesagoza.

”Hmm, Mesagoza is right in the center of the Paldea Region. If Dragonite flies at full speed, it shouldn’t take more than an hour to get there,” Naoki murmured.

Since it wouldn’t take too long, he planned to go there after finishing work on the ranch tomorrow, and if he was quick, he could even return before noon.

Thinking of this, Naoki replied: [Alright, I have time tomorrow.]

The other side responded quickly.

[Ancient Investigator: Great, but make sure to bring enough money. As for the location... let’s meet at the Welcome Coffee House! At eleven in the morning.]

Naoki replied with an ”okay.”

Just when he thought the conversation was over, another private message came through from the other side.

[Ancient Investigator: Lord Wing? Have you also seen Heath’s adventure notes?]

Looking at the message on the screen, Naoki couldn’t help but be a little surprised.

Heath’s adventure notes... Lord Wing... This person knows a lot!

He thought for a moment and replied conservatively: [Yes.]

There were no further replies, so Naoki shut down the computer and went downstairs to eat.

The next morning, after finishing work on the ranch, Naoki informed his Pokémon that he was going out.

He initially planned to ride Dragonite, but surprisingly, Koraidon cuddled up to him.

Naoki looked at it, then at the nearby Cyclizar, and asked with a smile, ”Don’t want to stay on the ranch this time?”

He still remembered how Koraidon had thrown a tantrum and refused to go out to the Bug-Catching Contest because of a bath last time.

Koraidon drooped its head, looking quite aggrieved, ”Agh, geez...”

”Alright.” Naoki reached out to pet Koraidon’s head and couldn’t resist giving it a kiss on the forehead. ”Then let’s go together!”

Koraidon’s eyes lit up instantly, ”Agh, geez!”

Naoki mounted up and told the Pokémon on the ranch, ”I’m heading to Mesagoza, so I should be back around one in the afternoon.”

Saying that, Naoki turned to Sister Indeedee, saying, ”Sister, I’ll leave today’s lunch to you.”

Sister Indeedee nodded happily, ”Indeedee~”

”Alright, we’re off!”

With that, Naoki gently patted Koraidon’s neck and flew into the sky under the watchful eyes of the Pokémon on the ranch.

At 10:30 a.m., Koraidon arrived at Mesagoza.

After landing on the street, Naoki suddenly remembered something very important.

Oops, he forgot to ask what the other person looks like!

After leaving the computer, he had no way to contact the other person, so even if they met, they might not recognize each other.

What to do? Should he hold up a sign to find someone?

Naoki felt a bit awkward but had no choice but to muster up the courage to stop an older man wearing a Naranja Academy uniform on the street and ask for directions to the Welcome Coffee House.

The old man was over fifty, his hair almost completely white, and the Naranja Academy uniform gave a strange sense of discord.

”The Welcome Coffee House? Just keep heading straight along this road, and you’ll see a crossroads. Turn right, and the Welcome Coffee House is on that street.”

The old man replied while casting his eyes on Koraidon.

His eyes gleamed with excitement, ”Wow, a Pokémon I’ve never seen before! You’re a Trainer, right? How about a Pokémon battle with me?”

Naoki: ”...”

He immediately shook his head, ”No, no, I’m in a hurry, already have an appointment.”

The old man looked regretful, ”Then can you tell me the name of this Pokémon?”

”Of course.” Naoki nodded. ”It’s called Koraidon.”

*

”So, Naranja Academy really has no age limit for admission...”

Walking along the streets of Mesagoza, Naoki couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional.

It’s true what they say: live and learn. Even the old man could attend this ancient academy.

Following the directions given by the old man, Naoki found the Welcome Coffee House after crossing an intersection and turning left.

He entered with Koraidon.

It was already lunchtime, and there were quite a few customers inside the café.

Most of them were students from Paldea Academy, and they curiously eyed the unfamiliar Pokémon that had entered with Naoki.

Naoki found an empty seat and sat down, occasionally glancing at the entrance of the café, hoping to spot the netizen named Ancient Investigator this way.

But after waiting for what felt like ages, there was still no match.

Just as Naoki was contemplating finding a computer to log onto the forum for messages, he suddenly heard several voices greeting someone.

”Oh? Teacher Raifort, you’re dining here too?”

”Hello, Teacher Raifort!”

Hearing the voices, Naoki looked up and saw a purple-haired woman with brown-red skin, in a blue top, wearing yellow-framed glasses, walking in.

The woman wore a gentle expression, smiling and responding to the students one by one.

Her gaze swept around the café and finally settled on Naoki and Koraidon in the corner.

Next, Naoki watched as she walked over to him openly and asked, ”You’re Lord Wing, right? Nice to meet you, I’m Raifort, currently teaching history at Paldea Academy.”

Naoki: ”...”

He noticed Raifort’s eyes linger on Koraidon, a look of surprise crossing her face.

”Hello, Raifort, I’m... Naoki.” Naoki ultimately told her his real name.

Raifort smiled slightly and then said, ”Come on, let’s talk in a private room.”

Naoki nodded and followed with Koraidon, recalling some information about this woman.

Raifort, a history teacher at Paldea Academy, maintains a passionate curiosity about the legends passed down through history.

In the game storyline, she investigates the four ”Treasures of Ruin” and commissions players to help capture the Pokémon that once caused calamities in the Paldea Region.

Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, Ting-Lu, Chi-Yu.

Before becoming a history teacher at Paldea Academy, Raifort was involved in tomb raiding activities.

In layman’s terms, she’s a tomb raider or a dealer.

So, the gold coins Raifort mentioned on the forum were her spoils from tomb raiding?

...I should have guessed earlier.

Naoki suddenly didn’t know what to say.

He followed Raifort into a private room and sat down, asking curiously, ”How did you recognize me?”

Raifort adjusted her glasses and smiled, ”It’s simple. I’m very familiar with this café. During lunch, most of the customers here are my students; you’re the only exception.”

Naoki: ”...”

He conceded.

Raifort turned her attention to Koraidon beside her, asking, ”Lord Wing, is this your Pokémon? It looks very wild! It has a primitive beauty, just like those ancient mysteries and legends, prompting exploration.”

”...Yes.” Naoki introduced, ”It’s called Koraidon. Did you bring the gold coins?”

Raifort temporarily shifted her attention from Koraidon, tapping her bag. She opened the zipper, revealing piles of glittering ancient coins.

The space in the bag was packed tightly.

Naoki was startled, ”So many?!”

Raifort smiled, ”Of course.”

Naoki looked up, incredulous, ”Were they all looted from tombs?”

He was actually more curious about how a tomb raider like Raifort ended up as a history teacher—it seemed so... unconventional to him.

”Looted from tombs?” Raifort shook her head and corrected him, ”No, it’s all for necessary historical research!”