"What the heck!" John exclaimed, then scrutinized the new item that had appeared on his phone.
"This is… Pokémon Black Dark Rising?"
After a few seconds, John recognized what it was.
"Isn't this a game I used to play? I haven't downloaded a simulator recently, so how did it end up on my phone?"
Although he recognized the app, John was still completely puzzled by its appearance.
"It's been a long time since I played this game, how did it suddenly… Wait, the arrival of Pokémon, a game related to Pokémon…"
"So, putting these clues together…"
A glint suddenly flashed in John's eyes.
"There's only one truth: my golden finger has arrived."
Though he couldn't be entirely sure yet, the thought that this might be his golden finger made John eagerly open the app… John was just a freshly graduated university student. Even though he had some understanding of Pokémon due to his fondness for Pokémon games in his previous life, it wouldn't be of much help to his development in this world. After all, Pokémon had been present in this world for over 100 years. In John's memory, except for legendary Pokémon, humans in this world had already researched almost everything there was to know about Pokémon.
But relying solely on himself, John wasn't very confident about what kind of development he could achieve in this world.
Although John was already at the pinnacle of his life… who wouldn't like a golden finger?
…Ding ding ding ding, ding ding ding ding, ding leng leng ding ding… Opening animation… Professor Birch introduces Pokémon… Professor Birch: "Ah, it's John."
"Ah, that's right, you're John, who just moved to Littleroot Town, I know."
"…Is it that smart? You know my name without even asking? Alright, this must really be a golden finger. Isn't it normal for a golden finger to be awesome? Continue."
…"Alright, are you ready? An exciting adventure is about to begin."
"Gather your courage and step into the world of Pokémon."
"Dreams are born there, it's full of excitement, and you'll meet new friends!"
"Of course, I have high expectations for you. Come and see me at my Pokémon Lab."
…It was still the familiar dialogue, but this time John was uncontrollably excited.
"A golden finger! This is the legendary golden finger."
As John fantasized about ruling with an alpaca in his left hand and a cameraman in his right, the game began… The screen flashed, and a square space appeared in the center: a small game character, surrounded by several neatly stacked wooden boxes, with a rectangular white exit on the far right.
"Why is the dialogue before the game gone? Did it just start directly?"
John felt that the game's flow seemed to have changed, but immersed in the excitement of getting a golden finger, he didn't pay attention to these small differences. Instead, he continued to control the game character, skillfully stepping out of the car.
Talking to mom, getting the Potion, adjusting the time, and watching dad's news with mom.
Going out and walking straight to the right, to May's house to talk to May… John controlled the game character, skillfully progressing through the story. He muttered to himself, "Snivy, Snivy…"
Although he already had a starter Pokémon receive card, for someone who loves Pokémon like John, how could he complain about having too many Pokémon? Especially when he was about to get his favorite Snivy.
Arriving at the village entrance, he saw Professor Birch being chased by a Zigzagoon.
"Snivy… Professor, I'm here to save you."
John controlled the game character and rushed straight to the backpack on the ground.
However, when John opened the backpack to choose a Pokémon, a dialogue box popped up:
"No Pokémon detected. The game cannot proceed. Please carry at least one Pokémon to continue the game."
???
"No way…"
John tapped the phone screen unwillingly, but the dialogue box didn't give John any face and stubbornly remained on the screen.
A minute later, looking at the stubbornly persistent dialogue box on the screen, John finally gave up.
"Alright, you win. I'll go get my starter Pokémon now. Wuwuwu~ My Snivy…"
Suddenly, John seemed to remember something and sat up abruptly from the bed.
"I remember that Pokémon receive card allows me to choose any Pokémon at the breeding base. Maybe there will be a Snivy, thank goodness."
Thinking that there was still a chance to get a Snivy, John's heart finally calmed down temporarily.
"The ups and downs of this day feel like more than my entire previous life combined. Oh, my poor little heart."
…"Dong dong dong dong dong dong dong dong dong…"
Suddenly, a rapid knocking sound came, bringing John's attention back.
"Seriously, is this ever going to end?"
John glanced at his phone again; it wasn't even eleven yet.
"I've only been here for less than an hour in total, and you guys are coming in waves like this, singing 'Sad Pacific'!"
Feeling an unknown fire burning fiercely in his heart, John quickly walked to the door.
"I'm coming, I'm coming, stop rushing me!"
He said, forcefully opening the door, and looked at the "person" knocking outside with an annoyed expression.
"Mii!? QAQ"
The creature outside the door seemed to be startled by John's expression. The bags and packages it was carrying all fell to the ground, and it looked so wronged that tears were almost flowing out.
And after clearly seeing the yellow creature outside the door, a memory instantly surfaced in John's mind, causing his expression to transform from bitter resentment to amiable at light speed. In fact, because the expression change was too rapid, he seemed even more terrifying.
"I'm sorry, Lumi, I wasn't yelling at you. I thought it was that door-to-door salesman from earlier. I really didn't mean to, Lumi, please don't cry."
John rushed forward to comfort her, but looking at John's distorted expression, the creature named "Lumi" seemed even more frightened, and the tears welling in her eyes immediately gushed out.
"Mii°(°ˊДˋ°)°"
Looking at the scattered items on the ground and the crying Ampharos, John suddenly had a splitting headache.
—That's right, this yellow creature was an Ampharos—
John quickly rubbed his face vigorously with both hands, trying to compose his expression before comforting the Ampharos.
It was a lucky coincidence; perhaps during the face-rubbing, some expression hit the Ampharos' funny bone, and it suddenly burst into laughter, tears still in its eyes.
"Mii mii (σ≧▽≦)σ."
This change, however, left John, who was anxiously trying to comfort the Ampharos, completely baffled.
"Alright, whatever, as long as Lumi isn't crying anymore," John thought helplessly.
"Alright, Lumi, let's bring these things inside first."
John reached out to pick up the scattered bags and packages on the ground, speaking to the Ampharos.
"Mii O(∩_∩)O."
The Ampharos, whose mood had already improved, immediately put aside the previous unpleasantness and helped John carry the things into the room.
"Pokémon's minds are truly simple, they forget things so quickly," John thought, closing the door and looking at the Ampharos, whose mood had visibly improved.
However, once the Ampharos entered the room, it seemed to discover something, sniffing the air vigorously a few times with its small nose. Then it suddenly pointed at John, as if he had committed some unforgivable sin.
"Mii (▼dish▼#)!"