"I'm not," Albus was taken aback by the question but quickly understood the meaning behind it.
In this world, many professions have emerged around Pokémon. Beyond trainers aiming for league competitions, there are coordination trainers, breeders, Pokémon doctors, researchers, and forest rangers, each playing a unique role.
A trainer's job is simple—train Pokémon and lead them into battle. However, breeding is much more complex.
As the name suggests, a breeder's main goal is to raise the best Pokémon. This involves more than just feeding them; it includes managing their daily lives, ensuring their health, and maximizing their potential.
Compared to trainers, breeders require extensive knowledge in multiple fields. As mentioned in the anime, breeding involves a wide range of disciplines.
For instance, making Pokémon food is just the basics. In the games, breeders can identify a Pokémon's natural talent and enhance it through specialized training. This is why the profession is highly respected.
However, behind the seemingly limitless abilities of breeders lies immense study. Their work includes expertise in nutrition, medicine, botany, and pharmacology.
For an ordinary person starting from scratch, simply earning the title of a beginner breeder is an achievement. Becoming an elite breeder—one capable of running a successful breeding center—is even more challenging.
That being said, breeders are not necessarily better than trainers. Since human abilities are limited, those who specialize in breeding might lack battle strategies, while trainers who focus solely on combat may not be as skilled in raising Pokémon.
Still, most top trainers excel in both battling and breeding.
After hearing Albus's response, the invigilator seemed disappointed. Had he overestimated him?
As the first applicant to complete the second assessment, Albus was the first to enter the final test room.
The last stage was an interview.
As he walked in, he saw three people seated at the front.
The man in the middle was an elderly gentleman with gray hair and glasses. Upon seeing that the first candidate was such a young boy, he looked visibly surprised.
A woman in business attire sitting next to him was also taken aback. "Little one, did you come to the wrong room?" she asked.
Albus was speechless. "...No, I didn't."
The female teacher hesitated, then turned to the old man. "Principal, what should we do?"
Hideki Kiriyama, the principal of this Pokémon elementary school, studied the boy and replied, "Proceed as usual."
The female teacher nodded and explained the interview process. "For this test, you'll draw a question from this box and express your thoughts on it. This will help us determine if you're suitable for a teaching position at our school."
This section tested logical thinking and quick responses.
Albus had no objections. He stepped forward, reached into the lottery box, and pulled out a red ball.
Inside was a slip of paper with a question:
What do you think about wild Braviary leaving their young Rufflet alone to train in the forest?
Albus paused for a moment.
He recalled a similar situation from the recent movie The Adventures of Pikachu and Coco.
In the film, a wounded Rufflet was found in the forest. Coco and Zarude helped it recover, only for the Braviary to scold them upon arriving.
The scene was meant to contrast Zarude's fatherly love for Coco with the Braviary's approach.
One type of love is gentle and protective, shielding children from harm.
The other is strict and distant, pushing the child to grow stronger and become independent.
After gathering his thoughts, Albus answered, "I believe this is a form of paternal love from the Braviary toward the Rufflet."
The female teacher listened attentively. "Go on."
Albus considered the ecology of Braviary in this world. He continued:
"For wild Pokémon, danger is ever-present in nature."
"If a young Rufflet encounters a threat when its parent isn't around, the consequences could be dire."
"That's why the Braviary trains the Rufflet in this way—so that it can endure hardships and grow stronger as quickly as possible."
"In nature, survival is based on natural selection. The weak perish, and only the fittest survive. This is why Braviary must take this approach."
The three interviewers reacted differently.
The female teacher frowned, the principal looked impressed, and the male teacher seemed deep in thought.
The female teacher was the first to speak. "Don't you think that's a bit cruel?"
Albus smiled slightly. "But they don't have another choice. Only by facing challenges will the Rufflet grow strong enough to soar higher in the future."
The female teacher couldn't refute his point.
Albus then added, "Of course, this is an adult's perspective. For children, this kind of explanation might seem harsh. That's why, in an educational setting, we should emphasize the parental love aspect of the story instead."
Everyone in the room understood what he meant.
The female teacher, still somewhat surprised, asked, "You seem very young."
Albus: "..."
He replied, "I just look young, but I'm actually twelve."
She hesitated. "Is that... any different?"
She wanted to ask more but decided against it.
At that moment, Principal Kiriyama repeated, "Natural selection and survival of the fittest." He then looked at Albus with an approving smile.
"That was an excellent answer. Congratulations, you've passed the assessment. If you passed the first two tests, you'll be hired."
The female teacher looked at him in shock. "Principal...?"
She wanted to argue that the boy was too young and that hiring him would break the rules. However, the principal cut her off before she could finish.
"Age and education don't matter," he stated firmly. "What matters is that he is capable and has a genuine desire to teach children. Based on those qualities alone, he's more qualified than many of the candidates outside."
He then turned to Albus. "May I ask why you chose our school?"
Albus hesitated. "Because... I need food?"
The female and male teachers: "???"
Principal Kiriyama's eyes darkened slightly as he examined the boy's simple clothing. Without touching the fabric, he could tell they were cheap, likely bought from a street vendor.
"Do you have family?" he asked.
Albus looked a little uncomfortable. "They passed away."
He repeated the same story he had told Miss Wednesday, adding a few extra details.
He explained that his parents had been Pokémon researchers and that he had learned about Pokémon from them before they passed.
The three interviewers sighed.
The female teacher frowned. "What irresponsible parents!"
Principal Kiriyama let out a quiet sigh, full of sympathy.