So… I transmigrated into a Pokémon world.
Why? No idea.
And why am I talking to myself?
Also no idea.
"Host, are you sure you are mentally well?"
Great. And on top of that, I got stuck with a trash system.
"I can hear your thoughts."
"Wow. Who would've guessed," I said. Honestly, I wasn't even surprised. I've watched enough Pokémon to know things only get weirder from here.
I looked around. A port stretched out in front of me—ships docked neatly, small buildings scattered around. Not exactly tiny, but not big either. Just… average.
All Pokémon towns look the same, I thought.
"Host, are you that dumb? You can tell which city this is by the sunlight. It's Vermilion City! How can you even call yourself a die-hard Pokémon fan?"
"Can you shut up for a second? I knew. I was just… not sure."
That lie was so bad even a child would've laughed.
The sunlight hit my face—warm, orange, low. Late evening. Around five or six.
Then it hit me.
"Wait—where the hell am I supposed to live?!"
I had nothing. No money, no plan. Just this system.
"I'm not staying long," it said casually. "Here, take this Lucario. Starter bonus: maximum bond, plus a special bond evolution. You'll be able to use its power yourself. Not canon, obviously."
"Hey, that's not fair. At least give me Mega Lucario permanently," I complained.
The way I said that… yeah, if I were someone else, I'd slap me.
"Fine. Choose one," the system replied. "Option one: Mega Lucario with all the benefits I mentioned. The catch? Because you're getting all this, you must find a partner."
"…What kind of partner?"
"A female partner. Not just any female. One I approve. You can only pursue those I designate."
No.
Absolutely not.
My face said everything.
"Too bad, host. You don't have a choice. I just gave you the illusion of one."
"…You're kidding."
"Time limit: twenty years. But I'm generous—I'll tell you which females are valid targets so you don't waste time."
Yeah.
This wasn't a blessing. It was anything but blessing.
And just like that, the voice disappeared.
A Poké Ball dropped onto the grass in front of me.
My hands trembled slightly.
How the hell am I supposed to get a partner…?
I couldn't even get one back in my own world. Not a single woman. Not even close. And now suddenly there's a time limit, conditions, and some psychotic system acting like a matchmaker from hell?
"That's not a system," I muttered under my breath. "That's straight-up Satan."
Maybe this was punishment. Maybe I'd been too good, and this was some twisted "reward."
Then I paused.
…No, that didn't sound right.
I remembered all the times I mocked God just to get reactions out of people.
"…Well. Fuck."
Yeah. That made more sense.
I stared at the Poké Ball again, still lying there like it owned me.
And then it hit me—
If that thing really controls who I can and can't pursue…
Then it's not going to make this easy.
Of course not.
I'm not getting normal options.
I'm getting the worst possible ones.
The kind that take effort. The kind that don't even look in your direction unless you've already built something real.
"Great," I muttered. "Hard mode. Of course it's hard mode."
"You know what? Screw you. And screw your god. I'll get a girl so far out of my league it'll make all of you look stupid."
The words came out fast. Too fast.
I already knew I'd just made things worse.
A faint voice echoed—soft, almost amused.
"Host… you dare mock god? I'll make sure you get the hardest possible option."
Playful on the surface.
Rotten underneath.
Not the kind of thing that kills you.
The kind that makes you live with it.
"…I'm an idiot."
I exhaled slowly, forcing my jaw to unclench.
This mouth of mine was going to get me buried.
I finally looked up.
People were staring.
Not casually.
Not curious.
They were looking at me like I'd lost it—like I was some unstable guy arguing with voices only he could hear.
Right.
Public place. Talking to myself. Swearing at the sky.
"Yeah," I muttered under my breath, lowering my head. "Great first impression."