Kanto Region, Aoki Town, near Pewter City.
---
"The first-class scholarship recipient, Keiko Linglan, Class 3, Grade [-].
The second-class scholarship recipient, Aoki Tianji, Class [-], Grade [-]."
A young female teacher stood at the podium of the Pokémon Academy, announcing this year's scholarship winners one by one.
"Students whose names were called, please come to the stage to receive your awards," she said loudly.
Several childish students—boys and girls around [-] years old—hurried out from their classes and rushed toward the podium.
However, one student was clearly left behind.
Scratches covered his face, and his school uniform was visibly worn. Compared to the gorgeously dressed students ahead of him, he looked completely out of place.
"Is that Aoki Tianji?"
"Were those injuries caused when Greenveil Town was destroyed by the Pokémon tide?"
"I heard he's going to become a civilian trainer after graduation."
"What civilian trainer? More like a wild trainer. He doesn't even have the money to register with the League as an official trainer, hahaha."
Whispers and ridicule spread through the nearby crowd.
"I bet he won't even make it out of Viridian Forest alive."
"He doesn't even own a Pokémon and still wants to graduate early as a trainer. Hahaha!"
"Then Greenveil Town really has no successors left, huh? Hahaha!"
A few students dressed flamboyantly laughed without restraint.
This time, Icarus, who had been pretending not to hear anything, slowly turned around. His indifferent gaze swept over them. The fading scars on his face only made him look more intimidating.
"Tch… what are you acting so tough for? You'll die in Viridian Forest sooner or later," one of them muttered, though his voice had clearly dropped.
Icarus went onstage and received his 500 Poké Dollar scholarship. As usual, he instinctively hid behind the well-dressed students in front of him.
After the group photo, he went to the Academic Affairs Office to collect his graduation certificate, returned to the classroom to pack his books, and left the school alone.
No one stopped him. No one saw him off.
---
Back in the run-down slums on the eastern edge of town, Icarus lay on his bed, recalling that it had been fifteen years since he came to this world.
Eight years had passed since Greenveil Town was destroyed and he arrived in Aoki Town. During that time, he realized he truly had no friends. His days were split between studying the harsh reality of the Pokémon world and working part-time at a butcher shop cutting meat.
Yes—Aoki Tianji, now known as Icarus, was not originally from this world.
In his previous life on Earth, he had been a business manager at a ruthless black company in the 21st century. Aside from watching one or two episodes of the Pokémon anime as a child, there had been nothing special about him.
Yet even someone like him could be reincarnated into a world filled with Pokémon… after being beaten to death.
Unfortunately, this world was nothing like the anime.
Here, Pokémon were the true rulers of the world.
The wilderness was full of danger—Rattata that could easily bite through metal armor, Ekans over three meters long lurking in the jungle, and even a Magikarp leaping out of a river could crush an adult's skull with its shocking impact.
And trainers in the wild were nothing like the helpful protagonists in the anime.
Most were bounty hunters who charged exorbitant fees.
If they sensed opportunity—and enough profit—they became reapers of lives.
After all, the laws of towns could not restrain the strong, and in the wild, strength was everything.
In this world, trainers were both protectors and executioners.
Anything related to trainers was painfully expensive. Icarus's year-long scholarship was only enough to buy the most basic Poké Ball.
A low-quality Magikarp sold for 5,000 Poké Dollars on the black market.
Why didn't the Pokémon League distribute Pokémon?
Heh.
That "starter tax" was something only upper-class families could barely afford. To legally raise even an ordinary starter Pokémon, families had to pay the League 20,000 Poké Dollars every year.
For ordinary families earning only 7,000–8,000 a month, it was impossible.
In a small town with tens of thousands of residents, there might be one—if any—such family each year.
Most families instead bought cheap Rattata or Oddish from the black market, hoping their child might someday become a trainer.
Of course, these were not official League trainers.
They could still use Pokémon Centers, but only at full price. Trainers with League-issued starter Pokémon enjoyed a 5% discount—and received a Pokédex.
---
After resting for a while, Icarus began rummaging through his savings from the past few years in the small shack assigned to orphans by the League.
"100… 50… 5… 20…"
Stacks of mismatched coins lay scattered across the battered table. The largest bill—500 Poké Dollars—was a tip he had once received from a passing trainer.
"A total of 8,565 Poké Dollars," he muttered bitterly.
"Damn it. That's only enough to buy a low-end Rattata for 8,000. What about Repels? A space backpack? Field gear? With this setup, I wouldn't survive three days in the wild."
Icarus slammed his fist onto the table.
"Is it really impossible… that I'll end up apprenticing in some backwater town, selling Pokémon meat for the rest of my life—like Takeji Roshan?"
Just thinking about that stingy, obese butcher shop owner made him shiver violently.
"But my fifteenth birthday is only two months away. Where am I supposed to get another five or six thousand?"
"The League's rules are clear—if you don't become a trainer by fifteen, you're stuck doing ordinary work forever."
"Stealing… robbing… collecting protection fees…"
A cold glint flashed through Icarus's eyes.
He wasn't a good person—but he wasn't stupid either. Back on Earth, he had seen blood and gunfights.
In the end, reason prevailed.
"No. If I get caught by Officer Jenny or other League police, I'm finished. They're all trainers with solid mid-to-high-level strength. And the Growlithe by their side aren't decorations."
"It looks like the only option left… is the black market."
"At worst, I'll gamble."
He sighed softly.
Icarus stuffed all the money into a small pouch, hid it inside his clothing, pulled on a hat, and stepped out the door.
---
Aoki Town was a town-level human settlement, guarded by Gym-level trainers and elite League personnel from various departments.
Though small, it had everything it needed—nothing like Greenveil Town, the lowest-tier settlement where Icarus had been born.
That village had only one elite trainer, who had been overwhelmed when the Pokémon tide arrived.
As Icarus walked toward the black market, he passed a Pokémon Center staffed by Nurse Joy, the police station run by Officer Jenny, and the League's administrative office.
Small, but complete.
Officially marked on the map, and far better protected than any village.
At the black market entrance, two masked guards demanded an entry fee.
"Two hundred Poké Dollars."
Icarus's heart bled. That was nearly ten days of part-time work.
"I really hope I can get something worthwhile," he thought silently.
"Otherwise… I'll really end up selling Pokémon meat."
With that, he stepped into the black market.
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(End of Chapter 1)
And chapter will be released every other hours until in reach chapter 6