After returning home, Ethan Black talked with his parents about the idea of going out to work.
Now that he was already a beginner-level trainer and had a Sandshrew, he thought that if he went to carry bricks on a construction site, surely they would fight to hire him!
"Go work at a construction site carrying bricks?" asked Victor Black with doubt. "There's no rush. You're still only eighteen. Your mother and I think it would be best if you continued studying for a couple more years."
"Study...?" Ethan Black pulled a frustrated face. "Dad, you know well how my grades are: a total disaster! If you had money to spare to pay me a University, you'd better find me a serious construction site job..."
He rolled his eyes. Going back to study was his worst nightmare!
"I don't mean regular universities, but a trainer university. There they teach knowledge related to Pokémon," clarified Victor Black.
"Pokémon knowledge?" Ethan Black's eyes lit up.
Although he knew quite a bit about Pokémon thanks to his memories, he had no idea how to properly raise them.
"Dad, could you really get me into a Pokémon University?" he asked full of expectation.
"I can't, but you could repeat the year. Now that you're already a beginner trainer, even if you don't manage to enter Ironvale City's Pokémon University, you could aim for a Pokémon technical school, don't you think?"
Victor Black looked at him with resignation.
These Pokémon technical schools were something relatively new. With the integration of Pokémon into society, many new professions had emerged: Pokémon security, Pokémon loading and unloading, etc.
"Repeat...?" Ethan Black sighed, disheartened.
He had already reviewed this year's Pokémon University entrance exams. If he had arrived in this world a little earlier, he was sure he would have managed to get in.
But fate had him reincarnate right after the exam, so no starring in an epic story of "failed student redeems himself and enters Pokémon University."
"Forget it, Dad. Repeating isn't for me. I can study on my own."
"Instead of wasting time repeating, I think it's more important to earn some money and train Sandshrew well. If I manage to develop him properly, that could also help me get into the University later, because they lower the requirements if you bring a good Pokémon."
Ethan Black recovered from the slump and explained his plan to his father. Learning about Pokémon raising was necessary, but he wasn't going to repeat school.
After all, what they teach in secondary school about Pokémon is very basic. The real learning begins at university.
He trusted that with self-study he could pass the entrance exam to a good University, and in the meantime, he preferred to use that time to work and earn money.
...
The next morning.
After his father and mother's constant sermons, Ethan Black boarded a bus bound for Ironvale City.
"Well, don't get anxious. When we arrive, I'll take you to the street of traditional foods. The grilled skewers there are famous throughout Ironvale City!" he said while holding Sandshrew's Pokéball.
Hearing this, Sandshrew inside the Pokéball seemed to calm down. That little glutton was surely already drooling just thinking about it.
After more than two hours of travel, the bus slowly entered Ironvale City. Ethan Black got off at the University Zone stop.
Although it was called the University Zone, it also housed many technical and vocational schools. Ethan Black had attended his secondary school there, so he knew the place well.
As soon as he arrived, he didn't release Sandshrew right away, but headed to the Pokémon Trainers' Guild to register his presence.
In the city, you can't release a Pokémon without proper authorization. Only in designated places is it allowed, and for that you must first register at the Pokémon Trainers' Guild.
Under the new Pokémon League system, three main institutions had authority:
Pokémon Trainers' Guild: manages all trainers and the Pokémon they capture.
Pokémon Hunters' Guild: in charge of urban security, exploration of mysterious zones, and fighting against wild Pokémon.
Pokémon Center: specializes in healing Pokémon. People must still go to normal hospitals.
Although, over time, many Pokémon with support-type moves have been incorporated into human hospitals, helping to instantly heal light wounds with moves like Heal Pulse.
For more complex things like fractures, doctors are still indispensable, but Pokémon assistance speeds up procedures greatly and improves results.
After the physical exam and some tests, Sandshrew was officially registered as fit to be released in the city under certain conditions. Now, with his official license, he could accompany Ethan Black in permitted places.
But in public areas, releasing Pokémon was still prohibited.
With the process finished, Ethan Black put away the Pokéball, and with Sandshrew stirring excitedly inside, he went straight to the famous food street.
"No restaurant allows Pokémon...?" muttered Ethan Black with a frown, seeing the multiple signs: No Pokémon Allowed Inside.
"Huh?"
"Do they allow Pokémon here?"
Suddenly, his eyes lit up. In the distance, he saw a big sign announcing that Pokémon were welcome. He hurried inside.
He had arrived at a gourmet food court, where many trainers enjoyed their meals alongside their Pokémon.
"Sir, if you'd like to release your Pokémon to eat together, please register here," said a waitress, very enthusiastic upon seeing he carried a Pokéball.
After all, Pokémon eat more than humans. Each one of them was an excellent customer.
And if someone showed up with a Snorlax or a Feraligatr with an insatiable appetite, it was a blessing for business!
Ethan Black showed Sandshrew's license and released him.
"You and your Sandshrew are now registered. Enjoy your meal!" said the waitress kindly.
Ethan Black thanked her and led Sandshrew—whose eyes were shining with excitement—to order food.
As a reward for his hard training, he told him to eat all he wanted. In the end, the bill came to almost 300 Pokédollars!
Ethan Black was crying inside as he clutched his wallet. Raising a Pokémon... was not cheap at all.
But seeing how happy and satisfied Sandshrew was, he soon relaxed. After all, money isn't saved, it's earned through effort.
He stored Sandshrew again and went out to explore Ironvale City, hoping to find a decent job.
However, after the whole day, he didn't find anything ideal, so he looked for a cheap place to spend the night.
To save money, he didn't go to any hotel, but went straight to an internet café he remembered from before.
In those places, for only 20 Pokédollars, you could spend the night: play if you wanted or sleep if you felt like it. The perfect option for a broke kid!
But when he arrived at the "Nightstar" internet café, he was completely stunned.
The sign now read Pokémon Nightstar Club, and in the windows there were large images of Pokémon battles, catching everyone's attention.
(End of chapter)