So it really was!
Himeko also recognized the examiner assigned to Battle Arena No. 10.
Moo Inoshishe!
She was a famously strict Pokémon Care class teacher at the academy—meticulous to the extreme, never letting even the smallest mistake slide.
She also served as an examiner for the Entry-level Trainer Exam. Over the past ten years, only three people had passed under her, for a pass rate of less than one percent.
And those three "lucky" candidates had only managed it during the first three years she served as an examiner.
This Teacher Moo had already set a record of seven consecutive years without giving a single "Qualified" rating.
Countless examinees had been driven to a complete breakdown by her during the exam.
Compared to other examiners—where simply reaching Entry-level was enough to pass—if you wanted to pass under Moo Inoshishe, you needed at least Entry-level peak strength.
To be safer?
You needed to be at Professional-level to pass reliably.
Raising a Starter Pokémon to Professional-level in just two months was basically the same as asking someone who had only studied elementary math to solve an advanced calculus problem.
In other words—
No ordinary person could do it, and even most "geniuses" couldn't, either.
There was only one real possibility:
Either you were from a major family and smashed resources into your Pokémon until its level was forcibly piled up to Professional-level…
Or you were a true super-genius who just happened to meet an exceptionally gifted Pokémon—and then trained like a lunatic—so you could charge to Professional-level within two months.
So if you drew Moo Inoshishe…
It was basically a declaration that your trainer career ended here.
This demoness didn't show mercy.
Unqualified meant unqualified.
Nobody's pleading mattered.
Still, there was one thing worth praising:
Those three candidates who had passed under her in the last ten years—
They were all geniuses among geniuses.
Every single one of them had become a pillar of the Great Axia Alliance.
One of them had even become an Elite Four-level Trainer.
It was that Dragon-type Elite Four who had recently become famous—the one called the Great Axia Alliance's number-one genius.
…
"All examinees, please proceed to your battle arenas and take your positions."
"Step onto the field in number order."
"The first match of the exam will begin in half an hour!"
The announcement rang out across the venue.
The examinees in the stands moved quickly.
Some wore bright smiles and walked with light steps.
Others had faces ashen as iron and trudged forward heavily.
People's joys and sorrows truly didn't connect.
Half an hour later, every examinee had come down into the lower area.
Each battle arena was packed with people around it.
On the platforms, the examiners each held a form in their hands.
It was used to record the candidates' results.
"The exam begins. First examinee, step onto the platform!"
As the electronic voice sounded, the first candidate at each arena stepped up almost simultaneously.
Himeko wasn't interested in the exams happening at the other arenas at all.
The only thing she cared about was her own situation.
Arena No. 10.
The first examinee to step up was a boy with glasses.
He looked a bit thin, very pale-skinned, and quite bookish.
He unhooked a Poké Ball from his waist and pressed the button.
A red beam shot out and slowly gathered into the shape of a canine Pokémon.
"Wooaah!!"
Poochyena let out a loud cry.
It wasn't very big, but it looked full of fighting spirit, alert and energetic.
Himeko paid close attention.
Its fur was a glossy gray and its build was solid—proof that it had been raised and trained pretty well.
Its level had also reached Level 12, Entry-level beginner tier.
With that level…
At other arenas, it would have been a guaranteed pass.
But here—
Himeko's thoughts shifted.
She turned her head to look at the examiner standing on the other side of the platform: Teacher Moo.
Teacher Moo's gaze paused on Poochyena for a moment.
Her expression didn't change at all.
With a blank face, she unclipped a Poké Ball from her waist.
A flash of red light—
And a round, earth-yellow Pokémon appeared before everyone.
"Chii-yaa!!"
Raticate stood upright and shrieked at Poochyena.
Its creamy-white whiskers trembled.
A fierce, brutal glint burst from its eyes.
And those two huge front teeth reflected a sharp, icy sheen under the lights!
Poochyena, which had looked so spirited just a moment ago—
Now instantly wilted.
It lowered its head, letting out a frightened, whimpering sound from its throat.
Himeko activated the Eye of Appraisal.
She checked Raticate's data.
And the moment she saw it—
Her eyebrows jumped.
Good grief!
Teacher Moo was being way too ruthless!
That Raticate was at Entry-level peak!
Level 19!
Just one step away from Professional-level!
(End of Chapter)
If I see that this fanfic has support, I will upload 20+ chapters to Patreon!!
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]