"Pokémon battle, huh…"
Hearing the other party's request, Lumiere suddenly realized that in the more than two months since arriving in this world, he actually hadn't battled anyone at all.
That one time with the Pokémon hunters didn't count—it was basically auto-battle AFK. He hadn't given a single command himself.
Battles in this world weren't turn-based games with just four skills. They were real, full-on contests that tested both the trainer's judgment and the Pokémon's actual combat ability.
Lumiere was well aware that, as a complete newcomer with zero real combat experience, going up against this uncle—who clearly wasn't simple—would likely end with him getting crushed.
Of course, that was purely from the trainer side.
The difference between Pokémon was another matter entirely.
But battles required coordination. Fighting alone definitely wouldn't cut it.
"So, do you accept the battle?" the dean asked again.
The students nearby all looked excited, as if a good show was about to begin.
Instead of answering directly, Lumiere picked up Eevee and Rowlet, casually—and secretly—changing Rowlet into its Gyarados costume.
He gently tugged Rowlet's tail as a signal, put it back on the ground, and sighed helplessly.
"Look at what kind of team I'm running here. This is a baby team. And then look at yours—a boss team. Can I win? Obviously not."
"Winning or losing isn't important," the dean said calmly.
"What matters is whether you can properly demonstrate your battle philosophy."
The meaning was obvious: this battle was happening no matter what.
"But it's raining outside," Lumiere pointed out. "How are we supposed to battle?"
"We can battle right here in the classroom. The space is a bit small, but since you're running a baby team, it won't be a problem. Just fight. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility!"
With that, the dean snapped his fingers.
The students immediately understood and sprang into action, dragging desks and chairs to the sides and clearing out a space in the middle of the classroom to use as the battlefield.
"…Alright then."
The venue was already prepared—if he refused now, the students would definitely complain.
Lumiere stood near the podium holding Eevee, while the dean stood at the back of the classroom near the blackboard.
Battle rules: 1v1, stop at the first decisive result.
As the challenger, the dean sent out his Pokémon first—a red Eevee evolution with an imposing presence.
〔Pokémon: Flareon ♂〕
〔Type: Fire〕
〔Ability: Flash Fire
(Absorbs fire to boost Fire-type moves, but because it absorbs the flames, it does not thaw when frozen)〕
〔Moves: Quick Attack, Fire Fang, Fire Spin, Scary Face, Flare Blitz, Flame Charge, Dig, Protect, Superpower〕
〔Status: Normal〕
〔Affinity: 0 (Don't get friendly—we're not close)〕
"The so-called 'One True King,' huh? Raised pretty well,"
Lumiere nodded seriously.
Then he noticed the Eevee in his arms staring blankly at the opposing Flareon, its eyes filled with admiration.
He gently rubbed Eevee's head, then had Rowlet fly out from behind the podium and land in the center of the field.
Rowlet vs. Flareon!
No matter how you looked at it, this was a joke.
Cynthia stared at Lumiere in confusion.
She knew this Rowlet was unusual—just from how it helped heal Eevee before—but this was clearly the dean testing Lumiere's ability.
Starting with a type disadvantage like this?
Grass vs. Fire? Wouldn't it just get one-shot instantly?
"Grass type against Fire type?!"
The dean snorted coldly.
"Go memorize basic type matchups before trying again!"
Feeling almost provoked, he was about to wave his hand and have Flareon finish it instantly when—
BOOM—!
With a deafening crash, the battle ended in an instant.
Flareon fainted.
Rowlet wins!
"???"
Everyone froze.
Flareon had been smashed straight into the back blackboard, leaving a massive crater, and now lay on the ground unconscious.
"What the hell?! It's over already?!"
"Flareon got one-shot by Rowlet? What kind of dream is this?!"
"Did anyone even see Rowlet move?!"
…
The dean stared at his Flareon, eyes spinning as it lay on its side. After a moment of blank shock, he turned sharply toward Lumiere.
"What did you do?!"
Lumiere replied helplessly,
"Sorry. The battle had already started for quite a while, but you never made a move, so I had no choice but to take the initiative. This is a battle—you can't be careless. I might've hit a bit too hard, though."
"You call that 'a bit too hard'?!"
The dean's eye twitched violently.
"And what skill did you even use?!"
"Just a Aqua Tail," Lumiere said casually.
"A pretty ordinary move."
"???"
The dean stared at him in disbelief and pointed at Rowlet.
"I seriously suspect your Rowlet is illegal!"
"My little princess is gifted and self-taught. What's it to you?!"
"How could this chubby little owl possibly learn Aqua Tail?! Are you messing with me?!"
"You don't get it," Lumiere said with a slight grin, then raised his voice so everyone could hear:
"Because Pokémon have no limits!
Every Pokémon has the potential to grow stronger!"
"For a true trainer, everything is inevitable!
Even skills a Pokémon shouldn't be able to learn can still be mastered!"
"As long as you believe in your Pokémon—believe it can do it!
Even teaching Dragon Dance to a Garchomp is no problem at all!"
At those words, a spark of fervor flashed across Cynthia's refined face. She immediately pulled out her notebook and stared forward.
Keep talking. I'm writing.
Lumiere paused, then shifted his gaze toward the dean, his tone turning cold.
"And you—an experienced, powerful trainer—still haven't understood something this basic."
"I suggest you go back to being ten years old and start over by memorizing type matchups."
Silence fell over the classroom.
All the students stared at Lumiere in stunned disbelief.
The dean had been one-shot in battle—and then verbally annihilated on top of it.
Teacher Lumiere… my hero.
Meanwhile, Lumiere had already turned and walked back toward the podium, Rowlet immediately flying back onto his shoulder.
With everyone's attention diverted, no one questioned how Rowlet had struck so instantly.
The truth was simple: before the battle even started, someone had tugged Rowlet's tail as a signal, telling it to hide under the podium and quietly "charge up" twice before entering the field.
So this wasn't a victory of strength—it was a victory of strategy!
Academy types trying to compete with wild-grown trainers in cunning?
Still far too green!
"Eevee~"
"Hm?"
Hearing the sound from his arms, Lumiere looked down at Eevee. He'd noticed it earlier.
Eevee seemed very interested in that Flareon—perhaps more accurately, in its strength.
Flareon was one of Eevee's evolutions. Admiring one's own evolution path was only natural.
But Eevee here couldn't evolve at all. That road was closed.
"Row!"
Rowlet flapped its wings, puffing itself up as if to say I'll protect you.
But Eevee lowered its head and let out a soft, dejected cry.
It wanted to become stronger too—
to protect its sister, instead of always being protected.
"Alright, alright. I'll think of a way."
Lumiere gently stroked Eevee's head, then turned to the class and smiled.
"Put the desks and chairs back. We'll continue the lesson."
"Okay!"
Moments later, everything was restored. The students sat upright and attentive again—everyone except the dean.
He stood there alone, out of place, staring at his unconscious Flareon, deep in existential contemplation.
Who am I?
Where am I?
Who one-shot me?
Who educated me?
Wait… grass types are supposed to counter fire types, right…?