By the roadside, light smoke rose as the three took a break.
"Teacher, why is the ratio for the Steel Solution made with magnetite powder and Oran Berry extract?"
"I don't know. Go read a book."
"Teacher, what's the purpose of 0.3 carats of Thunder Stone fragments per dose?"
"How should I know?"
"Teacher, then what's this energy carrier?"
"I already told you, check my books."
"Seriously, how can Natsume treat such an eager student like this?" Misty covered her face, embarrassed while tending the soup.
Not far away, Natsume rubbed his temples and looked at Giselle.
"The task I gave you is about the influence of a Pokémon's willingness to evolve on its actual level of evolution."
"Haven't I written most of today's portion already?"
Giselle was clutching a massive book with no cover, frantically flipping through its pages.
Natsume was beginning to regret allowing her this internship.
Her learning ability was far beyond his expectations.
Even so, he didn't want a completely inexperienced assistant. Too troublesome.
For the past few days she had haunted him like a ghost, bombarding him with questions, leaving him no time to study his Great Ball circuitry.
Annoyed, Natsume had simply bundled together years of his research routes, critical notes, and important records, then dumped them all onto her.
Forget it—this arrangement would last at most a month.
The research topic he'd given her could never make it into a first-rate journal; the ceiling was set.
Within a month, he'd have a proper excuse to drive her off.
"Teacher, you're amazing!" Giselle's fiery gaze landed on him.
In just three days, she realized the books Natsume had given her were nothing less than true encyclopedias.
And the most shocking part—they weren't just one book. He had given her nine!
Even more incredible, Natsume had written them all himself.
Besides the General Pokémon Knowledge volume she held, the others seemed to contain his years of research directions, insights, and countless classic experiment records he had collected.
Some of the proposed research topics within were so ingenious they left her breathless.
Particularly the ones that seemed incomprehensible at first—his explanations laid them out with brilliant clarity.
As someone who valued theory above all else, she felt as if she were looking upon a god of theory through these books.
She would become Natsume's most devoted believer!
Sensing his intern's unsettling stare, Natsume expressionlessly pressed her head down toward her book.
"Don't call me teacher. You're just an intern assistant."
Natsume found it strange for someone only a year younger to call him *teacher*.
Even as Professor Oak's assistant, their relationship had never been one of teacher and student.
In research, mentorship was more like mutual support—*I teach you things, you help me with work.*
"Alright, Mr. Natsume. I'll do my best."
Hearing him acknowledge her as an assistant thrilled her. Steam almost rose from her head.
Why are you blushing like a *Sinistea kettle*?
Natsume noticed how her attitude toward him had shifted these past two days.
It was a typical starstruck infatuation, common among teenagers, even though she was old enough to graduate.
Still, Natsume suspected her sheltered life in the academy had left her with the mindset of someone much younger, still stuck in adolescence.
It was an important stage—mental growth accelerated, requiring proper guidance and a healthy foundation.
So, Natsume decided he'd take plenty of photos now. When she matured, he'd send them to her as blackmail material from her *cringe* past.
"Dinner's ready!"
Misty carried over a pot of stew.
"Thanks, Misty. By the way, aren't Brock and Ash back yet?"
"No idea what they're up to. That Ash, honestly…"
Misty shook her head in frustration as they continued along the road to Vermilion City.
On the way, Ash came across a Bulbasaur.
Shouting that Bulbasaur was one of his dream Pokémon, he immediately chased after it. Brock, worried, followed him, and neither had returned yet.
"Oh—Pikachu's back!"
Misty spotted Pikachu rushing toward them from afar.
*Pika pika!*
Pikachu patted his chest, as if assuring them Ash and Brock were fine.
"You three should feel lucky—being able to taste my cooking is a rare treat!"
Misty said proudly, ladling out bowls of meat stew for the two and Pikachu.
Natsume accepted his without looking and took a sip.
*Bang!*
Natsume collapsed to the ground.
"Ah—Mr. Natsume, do you need mouth-to-mouth? I just saw a lesson on it!"
Suddenly, Natsume shot back upright.
Hiss—just now his poison resistance seemed to have increased by **0.1 Ash** points.
This was definitely something valuable.
His eyes burned as he stared at the bubbling, unidentified purple stew.
*Pika—*
After dinner, Midchu casually walked up to Natsume, turned around, and lifted his backside.
*Coach, time for the dose!*
"Mr. Natsume, can I do it this time? Please!" Giselle rushed over, hugging his arm in pleading.
"Stop clinging to me."
Natsume brushed her off, handing her a syringe and the *medicine*.
"You said it yourself. From now on, all injections are your responsibility."
"Okay, no problem!" she answered, ignoring the glint in his eyes.
"Mr. Natsume, why inject the Steel Solution at the second caudal vertebra?"
She asked while carefully preparing the procedure.
"Because after the third vertebra, the current pathways get blocked," Natsume replied seriously this time.
After all, even if the injection wasn't difficult, done improperly, it still had painful side effects.
"Then why not use the first vertebra? Isn't the current pathway larger there?"
Instead of nodding blindly, she offered her own perspective.
"You've already finished reading **The Comprehensive Guide to Pikachu**?" Natsume glanced at her in surprise.
She really lived up to her name.
"You could try the first vertebra. That way Midchu would end up with a steel butt."
The moment he said it, Midchu, tail held by Giselle, clutched his rear defensively, glaring at her.
*Pika pi!*
Midchu protested loudly, demanding Natsume do the injection.
"Relax, Midchu. True, she doesn't have much experience," Natsume said with a smile, stroking his ears.
"But then again, neither did I at the start."
*Pika!?*
"Alright, listen, Giselle—if you want the Steel Solution to be harmless, you need to divide it into 24 injections, one every hour."
Natsume yawned as he gave the instructions.
"That's so much work…" She looked down at the syringe, deep in thought.
"If you think it's too much, then you're not cut out for this field."
Natsume used *Sharp Look*.
Glancing at the sky, he figured Ash and Brock were probably spending the night outside, and Midchu had only returned to reassure them.
Best to sleep and regroup tomorrow.
If he remembered right, this was about when Ash would capture Bulbasaur.
That Bulbasaur shouldn't be anything special.
But what about that abandoned Charmander…?
Natsume pulled out his inflatable tent, crawled inside, and stretched out comfortably, ready to sleep.
Natsume had just lain down when Giselle's voice came from outside:
"Mr. Natsume, I want to sleep in a tent too. That way, even if I don't sleep well, I can still recover my energy."
Outside, Giselle poked her head into Natsume's tent.
After a moment, she pulled back out with a blank expression.
Forget it. In a place like this, she didn't even dare close her eyes.
You can read more (around 50+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https ://ravenarchives .com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.