As an ecology teacher, Albus did not have classes every day. On days without lessons, he would go to the library, borrow books related to Pokémon, and take them back to his dormitory to read.
While he was reading, Will Young stood beside him blankly, occasionally preening his feathers with his beak or simply staring into the air in a daze.
Albus wasn't sure what the daily routine of a wild Will Young was like. However, his own Will Young would always stay awake until late at night, watching him. Every night, just before closing his eyes, Albus would put down his book, and only then would Will Young also settle down.
It reminded Albus of owning a cat. In his previous life, when he was in school, he had a cat that used to snore on his papers at night while he was writing. Even after he started working, the cat never got rid of the habit—it would sit on his keyboard while he worked on the computer. Eventually, the cat passed away from old age. Albus had buried it, along with its favorite cat treats, under a tree. He had been heartbroken for a long time.
He scratched Will Young's chin, turned off the lamp, carried the little fool to bed, and went to the bathroom to wash up.
Will Young opened his eyes briefly, his gaze still dull, but after recognizing that it was just his trainer, he closed them again.
With Will Young by his side, Albus quickly adapted to the knowledge system of this world. Going from thirty years old to ten not only changed his appearance but also restored his memory to its peak.
When he had first arrived in this world, his priority had simply been to find a job that could fill his stomach. But now, his goal had changed—he wanted to witness the magnificence of the Pokémon world firsthand.
But before that, he needed to save up some money.
A School Trip to Amazon Forest
Early the next morning, Albus received a notice from the school. The teachers were to take the students on a field trip to Amazon Forest to observe the ecology of wild Pokémon.
As an ecology teacher, he was naturally assigned as one of the lead instructors.
"With so many classes, are there enough teachers?" Albus asked, momentarily surprised. He glanced at McGrath, who was already preparing for the trip.
Amazon Forest was full of wild Pokémon. Even though each class had only twenty students, ensuring their safety was still a huge responsibility. If anything happened, the school wouldn't be able to justify it to their parents.
McGrath grinned and reassured him, "Don't worry, not all the classes are going, only a few from the second grade."
Albus nodded. That made sense—fewer students meant more manageable supervision. Still, he felt the need to clarify, "I'm not a trainer. I don't have much battling ability."
McGrath thumped his chest confidently. "Don't worry! I participated in the Hoenn League Competition!"
That was the first time Albus had heard him mention it. Curious, he asked, "How'd you place?"
McGrath's smile froze. He forced a grin. "Oh, very well, of course! Who do you think I am?"
Albus stared at him, unimpressed.
"Pfft!" Elvina walked over, carrying a hiking bag, and laughed. "Don't listen to his nonsense. He was eliminated in the qualifying round."
McGrath clutched his chest dramatically. "You promised not to expose me!"
"Come on, the students are ready," Elvina said with a smile.
The three of them were assigned to the same class.
When Albus went downstairs, he immediately spotted a young girl named May in the crowd, carrying a backpack. Her face was filled with excitement and anticipation.
If he hadn't known this was the Pokémon world, he would have thought they were just going on an autumn outing. In some ways, the nature of the trip was quite similar.
Elvina stood in front of more than twenty children and asked loudly, "Is everyone ready?"
The boys and girls responded with energetic voices, "We're ready!"
"Then let's go!" McGrath declared.
Albus walked alongside the group, explaining important safety tips for the wild.
"For example, if you encounter a Beedrill, which tends to be aggressive toward humans, and you don't have any Pokémon to protect you, remember to run toward the river," he instructed.
A boy with a handsome face frowned slightly and asked, "Teacher, that sounds scary… Is it really that dangerous?"
Having spent time with them, Albus had already developed an understanding of his students. He could tell this boy had a kind and curious attitude toward the world.
He nodded seriously. "Yes, it's very serious. The Pokémon world is fascinating, but not all Pokémon are as friendly as Eevee or Skitty.
"Some Pokémon have a strong sense of territory. When humans trespass into their area, they see it as a threat and attack. Even if you mean no harm, their survival instincts will drive them to defend their home.
"So, when you set out on your journey at ten years old, the first thing you must remember is to protect yourself. Only then can you meet and befriend new Pokémon."
The boy listened attentively, his expression turning serious. This was the first time someone had explained things to him in such a way. He took the words to heart and said solemnly, "Thank you, Teacher. I'll remember it!"
Albus patted his head with a smile. He quite liked this group of children.
Another boy, a bit thick-headed, frowned in confusion. "Teacher, you're the same age as us, but you know so much. How?"
Albus responded seriously, "Because I've experienced it myself. Once, I accidentally wandered into a Beedrill nest. While escaping, I got stung by their poison needles. I was lucky—there was a river nearby, so I managed to get away safely."
The children leaned in, eager for more. "And then?"
Albus smiled. "Then, I met a kind-hearted Cinccino. It gave me a berry that counteracted the poison and helped me recover."
"Wow! That's amazing!" a young girl exclaimed happily.
An Unseen Observer
While chatting, the group arrived at Amazon Forest without even realizing it.
The number of wild Pokémon gradually increased—Caterpie, Shroomish, Weedle, and others scurried around.
By noon, they set up a picnic in a clearing.
Albus sat under a large tree, released Will Young from his Poké Ball, and unpacked the food he had prepared.
Just then, he felt an unusual gaze on him.
He paused, quickly turning his head—but saw nothing.
"Gah?" Will Young blinked up at the sky, clueless.
Albus assumed the bird was thinking about flying off to catch fish again. He immediately stopped him. "You can't run off today!"
He tore the food into small pieces. "Open your mouth—ah!"
Meanwhile, up in the tree, a small Ralts leaned against a branch, breathing a sigh of relief.
That was close! It had almost been discovered!
Holding onto the branch, it curiously observed the humans below, especially the delicious-looking food they were carrying.