"The Jaw Fossil, huh? With this, I could revive a Tyrunt… shame the Breeding House doesn't have a Fossil Resurrection Machine." Charles carefully put the fossil away, planning to revive it someday when the opportunity arose.
There were a few fossil Pokémon living in the Nature Reserve, though those weren't revived specimens—they were bred through the Incubator. Even ancient, supposedly extinct Pokémon species still belonged to egg groups. Once their Pokédex entries were unlocked, the Breeding House could produce them through hatching.
Of course, their numbers were extremely limited.
At this point, Charles's personal status panel now read:
[Charles Gold]
[Level: 55]
[Abilities: Libero, Disguise, Technician, Shield Dust]
[Moves: Flamethrower, Cut, Calm Mind, Quick Attack, Protect, Dynamic Punch, Ancient Power, Overheat, Giga Drain, Swift]
[Items: Rainbow Wand (Magic Power Boost, Recovery Boost), Flame Orb, Pokéblock Case, Poké Balls, Dragon Fang, Berserk Gene, Jaw Fossil, Full Set of Fertilizer, Full Set of Evolution Stones, Z-Ring][Pokémon: Charizard Lv.52, Pikachu Lv.47, Venusaur Lv.46, Gengar Lv.49, Pidgeot Lv.48…]
[Pokémon Promotion Rate: 16% / Pokédex Unlock Progress: 291]
With the Pokédex's total count expanding, Charles once again received a reward for his progress—and this time, it was a Z-Ring.
With a Z-Ring and Z-Crystals, he could unleash Z-Moves. Unfortunately, Charles didn't have any Z-Crystals at the moment, so the ring was effectively just a decoration for now.
That weekend, Charles once again headed to the Muggle world. Starting a company wasn't exactly easy—just recruiting people was troublesome enough, not to mention game development.
Fortunately, Charles could personally provide all Pokémon illustrations, and the gameplay had already been decided.
It would still take some time before the game was finished, but producing animation or manga was much easier. In fact, Charles could handle the manga himself.
After all, artists in this era mostly relied on hand-drawing. With a little magic, Charles could make the brushes move on their own—dozens at once if he wanted.
That efficiency easily surpassed that of any ordinary mangaka.
In fact, the first chapter of Pokémon Adventures had already been published in a weekly manga magazine in a certain island nation. However, it hadn't gained much attention yet.
...
After the weekend, Harry and the others still came to Charles's office every day for "detention." But judging from their expressions, they were beginning to enjoy it.
Charles noticed that each of them had bonded with a particular Pokémon.
For example, the Pichu that had once shocked Ron had now completely attached itself to Hermione. Meanwhile, the Tangela had developed a fondness for playing its daily "binding games" with Neville—tying him up at least once a day.
Ron, on the other hand, had his heart set on a Rapidash, but such Pokémon weren't easy to approach. In the end, he befriended a Ponyta, though it took dozens of hoof-stomps each day to earn its trust.
Harry got along quite well with a Litleo. Perhaps because the Pyroar had been impressed by his courage during the first lesson, the lion allowed Harry to approach the pride without issue.
Still, he was a long way from actually capturing one.
On Thursday, Harry received a Nimbus 2000 from Professor McGonagall. To secure Gryffindor's victory in Quidditch—and in the House Cup—McGonagall had really gone all in. The newest Nimbus model wasn't cheap.
Compared to Muggle goods, it was about the price of a brand-new top-tier smartphone.
If it were Charles, he wouldn't have gone that far. After all, even if Gryffindor won the House Cup, Dumbledore wasn't going to give anyone a raise.
Perhaps this was simply the dignity of an old teacher.
Time passed quietly. Charles's days alternated between teaching classes, managing his company in the Muggle world, and occasionally dealing with other Hogwarts staff.
Since their last detention, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville had grown attached to Charles's office. They often came by to play with the Pokémon—and to freeload snacks and drinks.
Sometimes Harry would bring his Nimbus 2000 and take turns flying around the Nature Reserve with Ron.
After all, the Reserve was far larger than Hogwarts's Quidditch pitch, and even flying only across the grasslands was exhilarating. Hermione, meanwhile, treated Charles as a private tutor—seeking help with tricky Charms or Transfiguration exercises.
As for our dear Neville… he was the only one who genuinely wanted to help.
Charles, for his part, didn't play favorites—he even gave Neville a special lesson.
Not in spellcasting, but swordsmanship.
Every day after class, the chubby boy would grab his slightly worn wand and practice Cut under Charles's guidance.
For now, his movements were simple and lacked power, but once he wielded a fairy's sword in the future, even Voldemort would come to fear this boy.
Charles even planned to let Neville use a Technical Machine for Cut when the time was right—allowing him to learn the move properly as a true Pokémon technique.
Neville didn't quite understand Charles's reasoning, but he followed his teacher's guidance earnestly, swinging his wand alone in the corner. He had even attracted the attention of a Froakie, who now trained beside him.
Its evolved form, Greninja, was a master of the art of Cut.
Charles noticed Neville had a natural affinity with frog-type Pokémon—both a Bulbasaur and a Poliwag seemed fond of him.
If this boy didn't become a Sword Saint, he could certainly make a fine Druid.
Of course, Charles had no way to awaken the Power of Viridian in him—he could only teach swordsmanship.
"But Professor," Hermione asked curiously one day, "why are you teaching Neville swordsmanship? I mean, he's a wizard."
Neville's talent for magic wasn't great, but he could still manage spells like Incendio and Wingardium Leviosa. Surely those were more useful than swordplay?
Charles, of course, couldn't tell her the real reason—that Neville was destined to become a Sword Saint.
"Do you think wizards don't need physical training?" he replied calmly. "A true wizard must not only have powerful magic but also a strong body."
In the wizarding world, "magic power" existed, but it only affected a wizard's ability to cast spells—their strength and potency.
The actual stamina bar, however, was much closer to one's physical energy.
That was why dueling wizards or those skilled in magical combat all had surprisingly strong physiques.
So yes—even wizards needed to exercise.
Harry and Ron weren't a concern; Quidditch kept them fit. But Hermione, truth be told, could use some training alongside Neville.
(End of Chapter)