Chapter 124: Field Course at Celadon University (Part Two)

Chen Ou and his group had not traveled far before they spotted a group of students, some squatting and others sitting, gathered in the distance.

Except for a few who looked visibly panicked, most of the students remained calm and composed, showing no signs of chaos or aimless wandering despite the teacher's absence.

Seeing this, Chen Ou nodded in approval. These students possessed a decent level of discipline. However, he mused, they were currently in a relatively safe environment. It was only when genuine danger loomed that their true character and mettle would be tested.

Chen Ou glanced at Erika, whose expression had visibly softened upon seeing her students, and kept his thoughts to himself. It was clear that Erika was not a radical educator; although she was an exceptionally strong trainer, she appeared quite cautious in her approach to teaching.

Of course, such a philosophy was not necessarily bad. Yet, Chen Ou’s own experiences had taught him that seeking stability alone could not truly temper a person. Why had he grown so rapidly? Beyond his own hidden advantages, the crises he had faced were the primary catalysts for his growth. In fact, when Professor Oak and Professor Juniper agreed to let Bianca train under Chen Ou, they were likely motivated by the desire for her to experience such crises firsthand. Only when one stands face-to-face with life and death can one truly engage in self-reflection.

Just a moment ago, in a sense, Bianca had faced such a situation. Although Chen Ou was nearby, he had remained hidden. Eventually, when he no longer had the time or energy to protect her, Bianca would finally witness the reality of this world. Pinsir? A mere minor character.

On the other side, as Chen Ou and Erika’s group drew closer, a stir rippled through the students.

"Look, the teacher is back!"
"Chiharu is with her!"
"Who is that next to them? Is he a wilderness trainer?"
"Why does that man look... so familiar to me?"

A girl wearing glasses squinted, staring at Chen Ou from afar with a puzzled expression.

"Oh? Has our class monitor finally started thinking about men? Hahaha!" Another girl, dressed stylishly and with a sweet face, patted her on the shoulder and leaned in to tease her.

"Go away!" the girl with glasses retorted indignantly. "I really do think he looks familiar."

"Come, let me see." The stylish girl stood on her tiptoes, shielding her eyes with her left hand while resting her right on her friend's shoulder. The bespectacled girl rolled her eyes at the theatrics but reached out to steady her.

"Hmm, he’s quite tall. Even if I can't see his face clearly from here, I’m sure he’s a handsome guy," the 'young lady' mused for a moment.

"How can you be so sure he's handsome when you can't even see his face?" the girl with glasses asked, annoyed.

The 'young lady' returned to her normal posture and said with a serious expression, "Eri, you have to trust a beautiful girl's intuition!" She then flashed to the side and struck a vibrant, energetic pose.

Eri sighed helplessly, holding her forehead. "Yuzuki... when will you ever grow up?"

Yuzuki crossed her arms, grinning cheekily. "Isn't this fine?"

*It is fine, actually...* Eri thought, though she didn't say it aloud. Everyone came from different backgrounds, naturally fostering different personalities. A thousand people, a thousand faces; no two leaves are exactly alike. True rapport is found more in complementarity than in similarity. Similar people do not necessarily get along well.

"Never mind that. We'll find out soon enough. Everyone, quiet down!" The final command was shouted.

Eri did not look particularly tall or old, but the authority in her shout was undeniable; at the very least, the surrounding chatter ceased.

Erika and her group did not keep them waiting long. Within moments, the four of them reached the students.

Eri stepped forward, bowed slightly to Erika, and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Teacher. No one has left the designated area. During this time, a few wild Pokémon approached. One Raticate attempted to attack, but it was repelled by Yue Wen."

In the crowd, a sturdy-looking boy scratched the back of his head, grinning bashfully as Erika cast an appreciative look his way.

Meanwhile, Chen Ou was observing the bespectacled girl with great interest. She was organized, possessed leadership skills, and held both charisma and management ability. A rare talent indeed. He wondered how she fared academically. If she were strong in research, she would have a bright future in the field. And if she lacked talent in research? Well, she would almost certainly excel in any other path she chose. That was simply the reality; truly outstanding individuals were always a minority, and one could never have too many specialized skills.

Erika's praise confirmed Chen Ou’s assessment.

"Eri, you truly are a responsible and capable class monitor. I am very grateful for your help while I was away."

The gratitude on Erika's face was sincere. As a powerful trainer, even someone as gentle as Erika knew that encountering danger in the wild required more than just keeping calm to ensure safety. Calmness was merely the first and most basic requirement; without it, one would have to pray for extraordinary luck. This girl, despite lacking great strength, had provided the calm command and coordination that were the fundamental requirements for the team to remain safe without their teacher. If not for Eri, Erika might not have been able to leave to find Chiharu with such peace of mind.

Chiharu, standing behind Erika, stepped forward, her face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Monitor. I've caused everyone trouble."

Eri smiled and shook her head. "As long as you're safe. This incident serves as a reminder to you, to me, and to everyone. Be careful in the future; let's make sure this doesn't happen again."

Chiharu nodded vigorously. Erika smiled at their interaction.

Within the student ranks, Yuzuki suddenly raised her hand. "Teacher! Are we still continuing with this field course?"

Yuzuki’s question echoed the curiosity of most of the students, as evidenced by the questioning glances they cast. This group, however, clearly did not include Eri, who was still staring at Chen Ou, lost in thought.

Erika shook her head and smiled. "I had indeed planned to cancel this field course. But you are all quite lucky. I have found an expert to guard us for the remainder of our lessons. He is..."

"You're Dr. Chen Ou!!!"

Eri’s exclamation, delivered in a state of shock, threw the entire scene into chaos.