The Burmy Nursery occupied a large stretch of the Black Coast Forest to the south of Fruitvale Village. When the area was first cleared, this forest had been deliberately preserved for cultivating Burmy.
Besides this forest, places like the stretch between the Safari Zone and Nidoking Valley and several unique lakes and groves were also being kept intact, to be integrated into future city construction—after all, a real city was more than just stone and steel.
Rustle~ Rustle~ Rustle~
In the wooded nursery, countless Burmy lived among the trees, their insectoid bodies wrapped snugly in leaves with only their tiny eyes peeking out.
Most of these Burmy originally came from the forest stretch between the Safari Zone and Nidoking Valley, later relocated here for dedicated cultivation.
Now, they lounged lazily on tree branches, nibbling at leaves from time to time—some from natural forest growth, others freshly placed there by workers.
Rustle~ Rustle~ Rustle~
The Burmy chewed leisurely when suddenly a farmer carrying a wooden box approached.
Upon seeing him, the Burmy began spitting out fine silk threads, which the farmer carefully gathered into the box.
Once done, the Burmy tightened their leafy coats and returned to munching peacefully.
This was the life of the nursery's Burmy—they exchanged their silk for food and safety, living in comfort and harmony.
"These silk threads are excellent quality. Looks like we can make a fine batch of winter coats this time," the farmer said with satisfaction.
He brought the silk down to the processing factory at the foot of the hill, where numerous women were already busy weaving and sewing coats from the silken material.
They had discovered that clothing made from Burmy silk provided far better insulation than cotton and was much lighter and more comfortable to wear.
"Everyone, let's keep it up! Winter's coming soon—we need to make sure more people have warm clothes!" the factory supervisor shouted encouragingly.
"Yes, ma'am!" the women responded energetically, their faces glowing with contentment. The thought that their work would keep others warm filled their hearts with joy.
They were deeply grateful to Lord Aven for granting them this opportunity. In the past, women like them could only stay home idle, but Aven's policies had given them meaningful work and purpose.
Most of these women had come from other lands, refugees who had fled famine with their families to the Pokémon Domain. Now, they were profoundly thankful for that decision—and had grown to truly love this place.
Outside the factory, Mike looked over the bustling scene, a satisfied smile on his face, before heading to inspect the Burmy living in the nearby forest.
Beside him walked a Gloom and a Bibarel—both Pokémon he had personally trained. The Bibarel, in particular, knew the move Rototiller, making it a perfect assistant for his role as Minister of Agriculture.
And as he climbed up the slope, he happened to spot several laughing children carrying bags of Pokémon food, happily making their way into the woods.
Although this place was called the Burmy Nursery, in truth, it wasn't exactly a typical Pokémon breeding house. The entire forest was open to the public, and as long as one registered upon entry, anyone was allowed to come and go freely.
Because of this, many people within the Pokémon Domain would come here, hoping to try their luck at capturing a Burmy as their very first partner Pokémon.
The Burmy that lived within this forest were, for the most part, gentle and friendly—making them perfect choices as starter Pokémon. Moreover, whether they evolved into Wormadam or Mothim, their combat strength was quite impressive.
In particular, Mothim was highly sought after, even among apprentice trainers. After all, Mothim possessed the ability to fly—a talent that many other Pokémon simply didn't have.
Having a Mothim was a tremendous advantage. Whether performing specialized work or exploring the wilderness, Mothim could demonstrate incredible utility. In team missions, too, having a flier was a major strategic benefit.
'At that time, I'll bring little Andy here as well and let him try to catch a Burmy,' Mike thought, smiling as his son came to mind.
Although his son was still quite young, the entire Pokémon Domain had already grown accustomed to letting children interact with Pokémon as early as possible—to nurture deep bonds between them from a young age.
These Pokémon didn't just serve as playmates for children. When the children grew up, these same Pokémon would become invaluable partners—helping them gain a strong head start in life.
From a distance, Mike followed the group of children climbing up the mountain. Before long, he saw them approach the Burmy they fancied, offering them Pokémon food with delighted expressions.
It was clear that these children and the Burmy had already grown familiar with each other. The little bug Pokémon rubbed affectionately against the children before joyfully nibbling at the food they were given, crunching loudly as they ate.
Even though this forest was full of edible leaves—many of which came from berry trees with high nutritional value—they still couldn't compare to the well-balanced nutrition provided by proper Pokémon food.
"It seems those kids are getting close to successfully befriending their Burmy," Mike said with a warm smile, nodding in satisfaction.
He continued his walk deeper into the woods, soon spotting several Wormadam and Mothim among the trees. These evolved Pokémon were the ones responsible for maintaining the safety of this area.
"Wormadam, Mothim, how have you been living lately?" Mike greeted them warmly with a smile.
Upon hearing his voice, a Mothim fluttered its wings and gracefully landed on Mike's shoulder. As the Minister of Agriculture, Mike was also the one in charge of overseeing this Burmy Nursery, so these Pokémon were already very familiar with him.
After carefully checking their condition and ensuring everything was well, Mike left behind some Pokémon food for the Wormadam and Mothim before departing the forest, accompanied by his Gloom and Bibarel.
Everything here was running smoothly. After adapting over time, the Burmy had completely settled into their new home. They exchanged their silk for food and protection, creating a harmonious balance between Pokémon and humans.
"Seems about time to go pick up little Andy from school," Mike murmured, stretching his arms lazily. The sun was already dipping toward the horizon—it was nearly sunset, and classes would be ending soon.
This was a schedule personally set by Aven himself: school began at sunrise and ended at sunset, with classes held five days a week. (TN: Damn, that's like 5:30 am to 5:30 pm)
Although the schools in the Pokémon Domain had only recently been established, the people had already adapted to this new system. As sunset approached each day, the area outside the school would be crowded with parents waiting to pick up their children.
Of course, the schools weren't limited to children. Adults who wished to study could also attend classes—though, for now, that was still relatively rare.
After all, most adults had to work during the day. Even though education was completely free, many simply couldn't afford to take time off from their jobs to attend classes.
However, for parents, being able to send their children to school under the supervision of trained teachers was a tremendous relief. They only needed to pick them up after school, which was especially convenient for working families who had little time to watch over their kids.
Additionally, to help those working adults, the territory had even established night schools, allowing them to attend classes in the evenings to learn at their own pace.
"Hey, do you think what Lord Aven said about the official examination system is true?" one commoner whispered as they waited for the school gates to open.
With the establishment of schools, Aven had also announced two major new systems: the Civil Service Examination System and the Official Trainer Qualification System. These had sparked lively discussions among the people.
The Trainer Qualification System needed no further explanation. Fairhaven Town had already built a dedicated Trainer Academy, but only apprentice trainers who had reached a certain level of strength were eligible to attend.
Moreover, besides strength, one had to possess basic literacy to even apply. This requirement had driven many apprentice trainers of humble origins to return to school to relearn reading and writing from scratch.
Still, only a small number aimed to become official trainers. For the majority of commoners and apprentices, the Civil Service Examination was what truly captured their attention.
The mere thought that passing an examination could allow a commoner to become an official of the territory allowing them to serve within the city's administration, was almost unbelievable to them.
After all, officials had always been positions reserved for nobles. Even though people like Minister Mike or Captain Peter were of common birth, their identities were already exceptional—they could no longer be compared to ordinary folk.
"What do you mean 'if it's true'? Are you doubting Lord Aven's words?" another commoner huffed in disapproval, frowning at the first speaker.
Startled, the man quickly waved his hands. "No, no, that's not what I meant. It's just… hard to believe. That as long as we pass an exam, even commoners can become officials?"
"Well… it is hard to believe," someone else admitted after a pause.
"But since Lord Aven himself was born a commoner, I suppose it makes sense that he'd want to create such an opportunity for others."
"Still, it won't be that easy. Just knowing how to read and write won't be enough to pass such an exam."
Another villager shook his head, gazing at the school building in the distance. "Maybe it's our children who'll have the real chance someday."
Hearing that, the others nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with quiet hope—that their children would study hard, pass the exam, and one day contribute to the growth of the Pokémon Domain.
"I actually think you all could give it a try," said a calm voice that suddenly sounded from behind them.
"The exam will be held next spring, so you still have the entire winter to prepare. Especially for those who plan to apply for positions in the Ministry of Agriculture—the test will mainly focus on knowledge of berry and crop cultivation."
"As long as you pass the reading and writing portion, and with the experience you already have in berry and crop farming, you might really stand a chance at passing this time."
Startled, the group turned toward the speaker—and then immediately froze before hurriedly bowing.
"Minister Mike!"
Indeed, it was Mike who had spoken, having arrived to pick up little Andy from school.
He greeted each of them kindly, smiling as usual. Despite being an official, Mike had never put on airs, maintaining a friendly relationship with the villagers.
(End of Chapter)