The rest bedrooms in the research facility were all aligned along a corridor. When Logan finished getting dressed and opened his door, he saw Professor Oak walking out of his own room, still wearing that eternally unchanged white lab coat. The look on his face was gloomy.

“Logan, you’re up too? Go back and get some sleep—I’ll go check it out.”

Professor Oak smiled as he saw Logan.

“I’m already awake, let’s go together, Professor.”

Logan shook his head, quickened his pace, and joined Professor Oak as they headed downstairs together.

The research facility was quite large, divided into several three-story buildings. As they walked, Logan listened to Professor Oak grumble about how the kids from Pallet Town always snuck into the lab at night, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Pokémon inside. The lab was world-famous, and to the people of Pallet Town, it was practically a landmark. After hearing that Professor Oak often gave starter Pokémon to new trainers, those mischievous kids dreamed of trying their luck—maybe they’d get a Pokémon too.

Each time the old man was rudely awakened from sleep, he would roar like a furious beast and scare the kids off. That’s how the rumor started that Professor Oak was a stubborn and eccentric old man.

Logan chuckled quietly at Oak’s complaints. After crossing into this world, his earliest experiences had shown him its darkest corners. Now, he thought, this kind of peaceful, mundane life was probably what this world was truly about.

Professor Oak roughly pulled open the lab’s front door. Before he could let out his usual bellow, he saw a young boy holding up a Bulbasaur, right in his face.

“Are you Professor Oak, the one who runs this research lab? Is this weird Pokémon yours?”

Red curiously peered into the lab, but saw nothing too exciting at the entrance. A look of disappointment crept across his face.

“Huh? You’re the guy I saw this afternoon… Logan, right? Sorry for disturbing your sleep!”

The fifteen-year-old boy was old enough to read the room. Seeing Logan without even a coat and looking drowsy, he realized his timing wasn’t the best and chuckled awkwardly.

“I thought it was you, Red. I recognized your voice just now. And yes, that Bulbasaur belongs to this lab…”

Logan smiled at Red, then shot a sideways glance at Professor Oak—this was all his fault, after all, for letting Bulbasaur escape.

The professor looked a bit embarrassed. He gave a nervous laugh and said, “Ah, so he’s your friend, Logan? You should’ve said so! And welcome home, Bulbasaur!”

“Bulba~!”

“Ow!”

Just as Professor Oak reached out to hug Bulbasaur, two vines shot from its back and gave him a couple of firm smacks. It opened its mouth and cried out at him, its expression clearly scolding him for letting it wander into such a dangerous place.

Knowing he was at fault, Oak didn’t say much and simply stepped aside. “Since you brought Bulbasaur back, come on in.”

“Thanks for having me!”

Red, ever the friendly one, didn’t hesitate for a second. Hugging Bulbasaur, he walked right in. Logan went straight to the fridge, grabbed some drinks, then brought out snacks and set them on the table for Red. He also brought out Bulbasaur’s favorite food, causing the Pokémon to nuzzle him affectionately.

Watching Logan, Professor Oak couldn’t help but sigh. Logan’s behavior was far too mature for someone his age. Kids like Red or his own grandson Blue

—that was how fifteen-year-olds were supposed to act. He assumed Logan’s maturity came from the painful past he had as a former test subject. It only deepened his sympathy.

But Professor Oak had no idea—Logan wasn’t a child at all. He was a 24-year-old man from another world. Of course he wouldn’t behave like some naive kid.

“Thanks!”

Red gratefully accepted the drink Logan handed him and immediately launched into an enthusiastic tale of his experience, speaking rapidly and with his usual cheerful energy.

“So it’s called Bulbasaur, huh? I found it on the grassy plains near Pallet Town. I’d never seen this kind of Pokémon before, so I tried to catch it, but when I couldn’t get it into a Poké Ball, I figured it must already have a trainer.”

“After that, I walked around Pallet Town asking if anyone had lost it. But no one had seen it before. Grandma Keiko told me it might’ve escaped from the lab, so I brought it here—didn’t want it to get homesick.”

Listening to Red’s simple explanation, Logan could already imagine everything he’d gone through. Red looked dusty and travel-worn, and Logan couldn’t help but feel impressed. Even though Red was more confident and capable than the “Red” he remembered from anime and games, his deep love for Pokémon hadn’t changed one bit.

Professor Oak was silent after hearing Red’s story. He looked at the affectionate Bulbasaur, then at the Poké Ball on Red’s belt.

“…Are you a trainer?” he asked.

Red’s eyes lit up, and he said proudly, “Yup! I’m Red from Pallet Town. I’m about to start my journey to become a real Pokémon Trainer! Look, this is my Poliwag. We’ve been together since it was a Poliwag tadpole!”

He held the Poké Ball like it was a precious gem.

“Wait here a moment…”

Professor Oak rushed off somewhere, seemingly to fetch something.

“Is Professor Oak always this energetic?” Red whispered, leaning toward Logan like he was sharing a secret.

“Maybe he’s moved by how much you care about Pokémon,” Logan said with a smile.

“Touched? But he doesn’t seem as cranky as people say.”

Red was puzzled.

“That’s just gossip. Professor Oak’s actually a really nice guy.”

Logan explained.

“Oh right—I forgot to ask. Logan, are you a researcher here? You look about my age, and you’re already working here? That’s awesome!”

Red beamed at him, visibly impressed.

“No, I’m not a researcher. I’m just staying here for now. Like you, I’m planning to become a Pokémon Trainer.”

Red’s excitement skyrocketed.

“Then we’re going to be rivals, huh? Watch out—I’m really strong!”

“Probably. Maybe we’ll face each other in the Quartz League someday.”

“Quartz League? What’s that?”

“I think… you need to brush up on your basic Pokémon knowledge.”

Logan facepalmed. Why do protagonists in anime and novels always seem to charge ahead with pure passion and no common sense?

“Ahaha…”

Red scratched his head and laughed awkwardly, realizing how silly his question had been.

“You two seem to be getting along. Here, Red—this is for you.”

Professor Oak returned, holding a red rectangular device.

“This is the Pokédex I developed. There are many Pokémon in this world, and countless ones still undiscovered. The general public might know some of them, but there’s no official reference. I want to compile them, region by region, into something like an encyclopedia. The Pokédex has many functions—read the manual to learn more.”

He paused and added, “Bulbasaur seems to really like you. Why not take it on your journey? I hope you won’t let it down.”

Red didn’t even glance at the Pokédex. He immediately hugged Bulbasaur and shouted, “Really, Professor?! You’re letting me raise it?!”

Bulbasaur let out a joyful cry, and even its mouth looked like it was smiling.

“I was worried it’d get attacked by a Beedrill for the sweet nectar in its seed. Now that it’s safe and sound, I can rest easy. You saved it, so I’ll entrust it to you.”

Still bitter about getting smacked earlier, Professor Oak mischievously revealed Bulbasaur’s secret about its back-seed. Bulbasaur, not fully understanding the words but picking up on the tone, curled up in embarrassment and fear.

At that moment, Oak glanced over at Logan again. Logan’s heart sank. He knew what that look meant. Now that Red had arrived, Professor Oak probably wouldn’t try to keep him here anymore.

It was time for his journey to begin.

Still, looking at Red holding Bulbasaur… and remembering the Poliwag he carried…

“Traveling with two frogs? Red… you’re really planning something big, huh?”

——————–

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep