I was originally six three after I got my improved body v1 ability awhile ago but had grown an extra inch since then , likely because this height was better than my previous one. May blushed as she couldn't help looking over the grooves of my muscles since they were right in front of her. Her mouth opened and closed like she wanted to retort to my teasing but her mind simply couldn't form the words. "You know I'm still here right?" Birch spoke up questioningly. I chuckled as I walked back over to him "You heard her , I'm a savage man. So why not play the part?" I asked rhetorically.-

He shrugged "I admit she brought that on herself but don't go getting any funny ideas about her , I'm too young to be a grandpa." he said half jokingly half seriously. I smiled "I'll keep that in mind but in the end the matter rest in her hands but I can promise not to make the first move." I said honestly. I didn't like to take the initiative in such matters even before I came here since if I failed it made things awkward.-

Instead I simply waited for the women themselves to show an interest before playing the game. More than a few times the women were simply looking for a one night stand and I as a healthy straight man was more than happy to oblige. In this particular case though I honestly thought I'd never hook up with May since she was clearly both gorgeous and responsible and as such could easily find a decent boyfriend rather than a loose individual like me. Birch nodded happily at my promise but May stomped her foot angrily. I could understand why too , see women were usually vain creatures that wanted to feel desired and I had basically just said I didn't care either way.-

I may as well have insulted her in her mind , pun intended. 'Feel as mad as you want , you started it when you called me a savage.' I thought with a smirk as I went back to chatting with Birch and totally ignored her presence. Vulcan and Gaia found it amusing how May kept trying to show off as we continued our journey but I brushed off her attempts easily. She was clearly a prideful and organized individual so she was stuck on my indifference much to her father's dismay.-

"That reminds me for whatever reason but do either of you even have a trained pokemon? I mean actually trained not the one you only use as a deterrent?" I asked after seeing the frankly terrible level of the pokemon May had brought that Birch had forgotten behind at the lab. It was a level twelve Zigzagoon that clearly had no actual training since it trembled in fear the moment Birch released it for me to see. No decently trained pokemon would have such a reaction at merely being released.-

Both of them looked awkward when I asked that "I am merely a researcher so I never needed one and May here is waiting for the me to get a Treecko for her so she can start her own journey to help me by filling the pokedex." Birch said while scratching the back of his head awkwardly. I rubbed my forehead in exasperation "Her I can understand but as a researcher you DEFINITELY need a competent pokemon to protect you if you go out into the field." I say sternly and he doesn't argue because he obviously knows I'm right.-

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"How about I stick around for a couple of weeks since you'll need a while to get me all set up with the league. During that time I'll train that Zigzagoon into a decent protector as payment for your help. Sound good?" I offer helpfully. Both May and her father were surprised to hear the offer but gained a similar gleam in their eyes that told me they would definitely agree. Even before Birch spoke to confirm that however the system preempted him entirely by issuing a new quest. "So long as you let us watch you train it you have a deal!" Birch said excitedly and May nodded in eager agreement with her father.-

[Quest conditions established!

Description: You have noticed the horrible power of Professor Birches guardian pokemon and offered to whip it into shape! So put your money where your mouth is!

Objectives: Train the Zigzagoon to an acceptable power(Timeframe:2 weeks) , have it reach level 25(optional) , get it to evolve(optional)

Rewards: 5x random item ticket , 3x exp ticket(optional) , 1x pokemon ticket

Failure penalty: 5000 poke , 3x random items ]

I read the details of the quest and was surprised to see the fact that this particular quest had a penalty attached to it should I fail to complete the main objective. This didn't put off the quest in my mind but rather made me even more eager to do it as the system was giving me an incentive to do my best. "Deal!" I say with a wide smile and held out my hand to shake on it and Birch takes it without hesitation and then remembers the first handshake he got from me. I was much more gentle this time however so he relaxed once he sees I'm not going to crush his hand.-

As if on cue we step out of the underbrush at that moment and onto a well traveled dirt road that goes straight to a small village in the distance. "Ah home sweet home~ You can see my village just up ahead Alex." Birch says with a happy look. From what I can see the buildings were a strange mix of traditional and high tech as most of them looked to be made with wood and stone yet had wires and antennas along their sides while they also had machines I couldn't recognize attached to them.-

There was about twelve buildings in total in the entire village with all of them save two looking roughly the same. One of those buildings that was different however was a two story tall and extra wide rectangular building with much more wires attached to it as well as more machines. To the side of that building there was an overgrown area of a few acres that was fenced in with a sign on the fence that read {Professor Birches pokemon pasture}. I pointed it out "I take it that must be your lab." I said casually and Birch nodded.-

"The league wanted to build me a whole new building that was top of the line like those gyms but I told them 'I don't need a new building , I need new equipment!' So that's what they gave me instead." the man said with a proud smile. "It was a good choice since I think one of those metal buildings would totally ruin the pleasant rural look the village has." I said honestly. "Finally someone else gets it! I keep trying to explain that to my colleagues but they just laugh it off!" Birch complained without dropping his smile. The second building was a slightly different than normal building that had a sign hanging outside the door labeled {Littleroot general store} and a big warehouse connected to it's backside.