“…So, you’re also a Pokémon that escaped from the ghost world?” August asked.
Gastly nodded quickly.
“Then why didn’t you attack me like the other Pokémon did?”
“Gasly, gasly!”
“Oh? You mean those guys were just brainless fools?”
Gastly nodded again, looking utterly disdainful.
Wow. Even ghosts have a hierarchy of disdain? August couldn’t help but think.
Just as he was mentally mocking the situation, Gastly suddenly put on a fawning expression. “Gaaaas~ly?”
“Hmm? You want me to let you go…?”
Seeing Gastly’s hopeful look, August shook his head. “No can do.”
“You illegally crossed over from the ghost world. Even though Dusknoir didn’t take you back, as a member of the International Police responsible for maintaining Kanto’s security, I cannot let you go free. According to procedure, you should be deported—just like that ghost girl earlier.”
Hearing this, Gastly panicked and protested, “Gas! Gasly gasly!”
It didn’t want to go back! The ghost world was dark and dreary—nothing like the fun and lively human world!
August shrugged, unmoved. “Rules are rules.”
“Even Pokémon from other regions need a visa to enter Kanto. Do you have a visa?”
Standing to the side, Blue was secretly amused, watching August trick Gastly, who obviously had no clue about the League’s regulations. She kept a straight face but nodded in agreement.
Gastly, of course, had no visa.
Realizing August wouldn’t just let it go, Gastly hesitated for a moment before reluctantly spitting out a peculiar charm, holding it out as an offering.
It was a talisman inscribed with eerie crimson symbols, radiating an ominous aura.
“A [Spell Tag]?” August raised an eyebrow, surprised.
He hadn’t expected Gastly to be carrying something this valuable.
“Gasly gas~ly!” Gastly hoped August would accept it as a trade for its freedom.
August took the [Spell Tag] and studied Gastly with an amused expression. “Bribing a League officer? Do you know how serious a crime that is?”
Gastly’s eyes widened in shock. That’s a crime too?!
“But since this is your first offense, I’ll let it slide.”
Gastly was just about to sigh in relief—
Then August continued, “However, since the talisman is now evidence of bribery, I’ll have to confiscate it.”
Gastly opened its mouth, wanting to protest, but it didn’t dare say anything, afraid it might violate yet another of August’s so-called ‘rules.’
All it could do was watch helplessly as August tucked the talisman away.
Weak, pitiful, and helpless, Gastly looked up at August, waiting for its final judgment.
August pretended to think deeply before finally speaking:
“Normally, you should be deported. But since you haven’t attacked any humans and have behaved well, I’ll give you a chance.”
Hearing this, Gastly’s eyes lit up with hope.
“You’ll stay with me under a probation period. If I determine that you’re not a threat to the League, you’ll be allowed to stay here legally.”
As he spoke, August pulled a Luxury Ball from his backpack.
He smiled at Gastly, waiting for its response.
Gastly felt like something was off, but between being caught by a human and being sent back to the dull, lifeless ghost world, there was no contest.
It hesitated for only a second before headbutting the Luxury Ball’s button.
With a flash of red light, Gastly was absorbed into the Poké Ball. The ball barely wobbled before clicking shut.
Blue had watched the entire exchange with an expression of sheer disbelief.
Did August really just scam Gastly into willingly getting caught?
“…Was that really necessary?” she finally asked. “You could’ve just had Gardevoir subdue it and caught it normally.”
“I don’t believe in forcing Pokémon to obey,” August replied smoothly.
Blue: “….”
Well, technically, Gastly was willing…
“Alright, everything’s settled here. Time to leave.”
Retrieving Gyarados and Salamence, August took one last look at the seventh floor before leaving with Blue.
Not long after they departed, a pale, translucent hand silently emerged from the darkness—slowly beginning to clean up the scattered debris.
…
“…That’s pretty much what happened.”
August gave a brief rundown of the Pokémon Tower incident to Agatha.
The moment she heard that Dusknoir had been imprisoned, her brows furrowed deeply.
“Good work, August. If not for you, this could have turned into a disaster,” she said.
“It was nothing. Just a small issue,” August replied casually.
There had been plenty of opponents in Pokémon Tower, but none of them had been as troublesome as Lt. Surge.
Handing Gengar back to Agatha, he politely declined her invitation to stay at her estate and instead released Salamence, taking off into the night sky with Blue.
As she watched them disappear into the distance, Agatha leaned on her cane and dismissed the League agents stationed around Pokémon Tower. Then, with Gengar at her side, she slowly made her way home.
—
Lavender Town wasn’t far from Saffron City.
By the time August arrived back at his estate, he found Sabrina sitting with the two Indeedee, experimenting with making Pokéblocks.
“Huh? Didn’t you go to Lavender Town?” she asked, quickly hiding a failed Pokéblock behind her back. “Why are you back so soon?”
“The job’s done. Why would I want to stay in a creepy place like that?” August said matter-of-factly.
Sabrina nodded in agreement.
But before she could say anything else, August’s gaze landed on her hands.
“Wait… were you just making Pokéblocks?”
“You’re not trying to replicate the ones I gave you, are you?”
Sabrina immediately stiffened.
“W-What? Of course not!” she said, a little too quickly.
“They’re for Alakazam.”
To prove her point, she hurriedly released Alakazam and stuffed one of her failed Pokéblocks into its mouth.
Alakazam: “???”
With a miserable expression, Alakazam forced itself to swallow the questionably flavored Pokéblock.
“Ahem! Anyway, I need to check on the Gym. Bye!”
Without waiting for a response, she vanished using [Teleport].
August sighed.
“She’s overreacting. It’s not like making Pokéblocks is embarrassing or anything—my special recipe is a favorite of little Lugia’s too.”
Blue, who had been silent until now, rolled her eyes.
Do you seriously not realize what’s wrong with your Pokéblocks?
Sabrina’s reaction was completely understandable!
Still, the fact that she had even attempted to replicate August’s recipe was unexpected.
Blue was beginning to feel like she didn’t belong with these two weirdos.
I just hope Alakazam doesn’t get an upset stomach…
…
August, meanwhile, had already flopped onto the couch, stretching out comfortably as he waited for Indeedee to bring them a late-night snack.
At the same time, he finally turned his attention to his system notifications.
[You have resolved the anomaly at Pokémon Tower. After an effortless battle, you defeated the invading Ghost Pokémon and mercilessly deported the poor ghost girl and her Mismagius back to the ghost world. You have earned the title: ‘Ghost World Enforcer.’]
【Select your reward.】
[1. Reaper Cloth]
[2. Ghostium Z]
[3. Malicious Armor]
August sighed as he read the options.
System, you’ve changed. Where’s my [Spooky Plate]?
Did Arceus finally catch you stealing its Plates?
As he debated which reward to choose, Blue, who had been searching for something on her tablet, suddenly exclaimed—
“Found it!”
“Hmm? Found what?” August asked, momentarily setting aside the reward selection.
Blue quickly turned the tablet toward him.
On the screen was a proposal document.
The title read:
“Feasibility Study on Converting Lavender Town’s Pokémon Tower into Kanto Radio Tower.”
In short, the document proposed demolishing Pokémon Tower and replacing it with a Kanto Radio Tower.
However, at the end of the report, it noted that due to overwhelming public opposition, the plan had ultimately been abandoned.
Blue had recalled reading about this proposal in the past. When she heard the ghost girl talking about moving the entire Pokémon Tower into the ghost world, it reminded her of this old news story. After returning, she searched the International Police database and found the original document.
The whole Pokémon Tower incident seemed incredibly suspicious.
Agatha, a member of the Elite Four, was stationed in Lavender Town, yet she had allowed the situation to escalate for over two weeks without intervention.
If August and Blue hadn’t stepped in, the tower might have already been sucked into the ghost world.
Now, with this report in hand, it was hard not to make connections.
Blue hesitated before speaking. “August… do you think Agatha could be involved in this?”
But before she could continue, August raised a hand to stop her.
“There’s no evidence linking Agatha to any of this, is there?”
Blue hesitated before nodding.
“As International Police, we need evidence before making accusations. We can’t convict someone based on speculation alone.”
“Even if we assume, for argument’s sake, that Agatha did intentionally allow this to happen, she technically didn’t break any League regulations.”
“She protected civilians. She secured the area. As for protecting Pokémon Tower—that was never part of her duty. Even if the League Council questioned her, she wouldn’t be in the wrong.”
Blue fell silent.
Because… August was right.
Just then, Indeedee arrived with a tray of food.
“Enough overthinking,” August said, waving off the heavy conversation. “Everything’s resolved, so let’s just eat.”
He released all of his Pokémon. “Everyone, meet our new teammate—Gastly!”
“Gasly!”
Gastly was startled by the sheer number of Pokémon suddenly surrounding it, but remembering that it was now part of the team, it quickly settled down and cheerfully greeted everyone.
The Pokémon responded warmly—even Eevee, who had been nervous around Ghost-types after the Pokémon Tower incident, didn’t seem quite as scared anymore.
Blue watched this, deep in thought.
Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she put away her tablet.
Instead, she released her own Pokémon.
Now’s not the time for overanalyzing. If I don’t eat fast, Salamence is going to finish all the food!
—
T/N: poor gastly can’t pronounce t’s…
This is a fan translation of 人在实教，一之濑你会后悔的 by 作者：白良. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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