Upon returning to Ironvale City Pokémon University, everything was still that familiar environment.
In the principal's office, the principal personally received Ethan.
Looking at Ethan at that moment, the principal also felt deeply emotional.
No one had imagined that, in just two years, Ethan could go so far.
Youth champion of the World Championship: now it could be said without exaggeration that Ethan was the strongest trainer of the new generation.
"You came for this, right?"
"I've already prepared everything. You can take it now."
After exchanging a few courtesies, the principal pointed with a smile at the pile of books on the desk.
"Thank you very much, Principal."
Ethan glanced at them and showed an expression of joy.
With those books, the research on life energy could officially begin.
"In addition, I've also secured the exchange student spot for you."
Immediately afterward, the principal spoke again. This was also something he had already promised Ethan.
"Exchange student, huh?"
"Now that I think about it, up until now I haven't even truly experienced university life. This time, I'll finally be able to experience it properly."
Ethan smiled faintly and began to feel some anticipation.
Besides, he had heard that the students in the Medicine department, as if it were a nursing major, were almost all girls.
"By the way, there's something else I wanted to discuss with you."
After fulfilling the promise he had made to Ethan, the principal seemed to remember something and suddenly spoke.
Ethan nodded, showing that he was listening attentively.
"I want to talk to you about the university team. Right now, the summer season of the Pokémon University League is about to end."
"I hope you can represent the university in the playoffs of the summer tournament."
The principal smiled faintly. Although Ethan was only twenty years old, his strength was that of a genuine Quasi-Elite-level trainer.
Moreover, according to the available information, the strength of his Pokémon was even capable of defeating a legendary Pokémon. If he joined the team and cooperated with four other students of decent level, their total strength would not be inferior at all to that of the top university teams.
At that moment, the new main lineup of the university team, composed of Jason Brooks and the others, was still somewhat lacking, and it was very likely that Ironvale City Pokémon University's result would not be too brilliant this time.
But if Ethan participated in the summer playoffs, perhaps he could help the university achieve a good ranking in this competition between universities.
"The Pokémon University League, huh?"
"Of course there's no problem. After all, I was already a member of the reserve team. If the team needs me to compete, naturally I'll do my best."
Ethan nodded as he spoke. During the early stages of his growth, the university team of Ironvale City Pokémon University had given him a lot of help. Now the time had come to do something for the team.
Seeing his attitude, the principal nodded with great satisfaction, thinking to himself that he had not been wrong about Ethan and that admitting him exceptionally back then had not been in vain.
...
After saying goodbye to the principal, Ethan returned to the dormitory with the books related to the discipline of Medicine.
"Luucaarr!"
Lucario sat upright in front of Ethan.
At that moment, it was studying those books on Medicine together with him very seriously.
At present, the healing moves Lucario mastered were: Life Dew and Heal Pulse.
But even now, when Lucario's strength had already reached the Quasi-Elite level, the effects of the moves Life Dew and Heal Pulse were still not especially satisfactory.
And one of the reasons for all of this was that Lucario's mastery of both moves was still not sufficient; the other was that it had not yet learned the correct way to use healing-type moves.
According to what was recorded in the books, the use of healing moves varied greatly depending on the type of Pokémon and the kind of wound. In addition, there were also numerous application techniques. Overall, becoming a healer was absolutely no easier than becoming a trainer.
The techniques for executing healing moves were, at the same time, techniques for controlling life energy.
If it could successfully learn all those techniques, then Lucario's mastery over life energy would undoubtedly become much stronger.
In addition, Lucario's own physical defects might also be healed thanks to life energy. And during that process, perhaps Lucario could perceive life energy even more directly.
Of course, Lucario's study and understanding of healing-type moves was only one part of Ethan's research on life energy.
Apart from that, other paths for researching Mega Evolution were the study of Litwick's life flame, the study of Shuckle's life energy Pokéblocks, and the study of Cacturne's Growth move.
...
Two days later, Ethan arrived at Arcaia City riding on Charizard.
It was his first time visiting Arcaia City Pokémon University.
Following the principle of acting discreetly, Ethan contacted the principal of Arcaia City Pokémon University and asked him to help conceal his whereabouts.
Faced with this, the principal gladly agreed. He was very happy that Ethan had come to the university as an exchange student.
And furthermore, that shrewd principal even handed him a teacher card, thus granting him teaching authority within Arcaia City Pokémon University.
After all, Ethan was now a genuine Pokémon Professor, and moreover specialized in the field of Pokémon evolution, with a truly extraordinary status.
...
In this world where Pokémon exist, due to the presence of healing-type moves, the level of medicine had also undergone a huge advance.
Under Pokémon healing-type moves, ordinary superficial wounds were not even really considered injuries; a single healing-type move was enough to recover them completely in an instant.
Even injuries such as fractures or bone damage were no longer considered something so serious.
Therefore, within the disciplines related to Pokémon, the field of medicine was naturally a very important branch.
After saying goodbye to the principal of Arcaia City Pokémon University, Ethan headed directly to the large pavilion of the medicine department.
The entire interior and exterior of the medicine grounds presented an emerald-green tone, conveying a feeling of overflowing life.
In a certain sense, grass-type energy and life energy had some points in common.
For that reason, grass-type energy was also known as the energy closest to life energy, and within the medicine department, grass-type Pokémon were the most popular.
After learning a little, Ethan began to wonder whether he should capture some grass-type Pokémon to complement his research on life energy.
At that moment, the only grass-type Pokémon he had was Cacturne, but Cacturne only knew moves like Synthesis and Ingrain, and understood nothing about true healing-type moves.
Therefore, Ethan felt that capturing a grass-type Pokémon that mastered the Grassy Terrain move would be a very good option.
Now his identity was already different. With the abundant resources he had at his disposal, he could also raise more Pokémon.
In addition, as a Pokémon Professor, he already had the right to establish his own independent research institute, and those grass-type Pokémon could also become research Pokémon within the institute, so he would not have to personally take care of them too much.
As he thought about this, Ethan entered the lush medicine grounds and looked around. The whole place looked like a botanical garden, full of vegetation, with a fresh grassy scent coming toward him.
Following the forest path, he advanced until he reached a clearing, and there was precisely the classroom of the medicine department.
Due to the existence of Pokémon, most classes in Pokémon Universities were held in open outdoor spaces, and the classes of the medicine department were no exception.
When Ethan arrived, the place was full of people, and Pokémon could be seen accompanying the students on both sides.
Most of them were mainly grass-type and water-type Pokémon, as well as Chansey and other Pokémon capable of using healing-type moves.
Apart from their types, all those Pokémon had another characteristic in common: most of them were very adorable, just like their trainers, who also seemed very kind and gentle.
Taking his gaze away from the Pokémon, all he saw were young girls, full of vitality. At that moment, Ethan truly had the feeling that he had entered Eden... cough, cough... a kingdom of women: there were too many girls in the medicine department!
(End of chapter)