"This is… impressive."
Lucas raised an eyebrow at the sight of the Academy's front gate. It looked more like a private estate than a school.
A huge, black-painted iron gate blocked the way. Before Lucas could contact anyone, a blue glow surrounded the gate, which slowly opened under mysterious power. A floating Pokémon bowed slightly to him.
This Pokémon looked similar to the one that had come to his farm, but with different details—mostly white with some indigo.
It was a female Meowstic, though Lucas didn't know her relation to the male one.
She was even more elegant than the male, and wrote with psychic power in the air: "Welcome, Mr. Lucas. I'll be guiding your tour of the academy. Please observe the students and make your choice."
Lucas nodded. "Thank you for your guidance."
Geeta had explained the process: since Lucas had passed the academy's review, he could choose any butler Pokémon seeking employment—he'd never face a situation where a Pokémon he liked didn't want the job.
Meowstic gestured for Lucas to follow and turned to lead him inside.
As he glanced at the gate, she wrote in the air: "You must be wondering about my relation to the examiner who visited your farm. He's my brother."
Lucas was surprised—they were siblings.
Inside, a long stone path stretched inward, paved with pebbles and stones. It was comfortable to walk on.
On either side, lush green lawns were meticulously maintained.
After a while, Lucas saw a stunning garden, and finally, some Pokémon.
Beside neatly arranged, unknown plants, a vibrant, elegant pink Pokémon danced gracefully, its red scythe-arms trimming a wild purple-leaf plum into a perfect sphere without missing a beat—an incredible display of skill.
Nearby, by a decorative bridge, a gorgeous Comfey was carefully tending to blooming flowers.
"They're all outstanding students," Meowstic's psychic text explained. "Their skills as butlers are top-tier, and they all pursue their own interests. You can select according to their specialties—gardening, tea ceremony, chess, cooking, repairs, painting, woodworking, bartending, and more."
As they progressed, whenever Lucas looked at a Pokémon, Meowstic provided timely introductions.
Like the Lurantis and Comfey just now, there was a Gallade practicing woodworking, a Froslass elegantly mixing drinks, and a pair of Tsareena practicing massage on each other.
Watching them stomp on each other with their long legs, Lucas gulped—one stomp like that could probably break someone's back.
That's not massage—that's murder.
"Their massage skills are still basic, so they haven't mastered their strength," Meowstic's psychic text assured him.
Lucas nodded, curious. "Is writing human letters with psychic power your and your brother's specialty?"
She paused. "For a competent butler, literacy is basic. How else to communicate clearly or flawlessly complete tasks? All Pokémon who graduate here are among the smartest of their kind—especially us Psychic-types. We can't speak aloud, but after training, we can write letters like this. It's a school secret."
"I see," Lucas nodded, genuinely impressed.
He realized this Academy, which he'd never heard of, was truly top-notch. Every butler Pokémon here was elite.
In the Pokémon world, intelligent Pokémon should be like this—not just battling, but also taking part in every aspect of human life to make the world whole.
Chatting with Pokémon who could truly understand and respond to him was a unique joy. Lucas started sharing a story: "Actually, there are Pokémon who can speak human language."
Meowstic turned, curious. "Telepathy? That's a rare gift. My brother and I can't do it."
"No," Lucas shook his head. "This Pokémon can literally speak using its own voice, conversing fluently with humans."
"Oh? How? I'm very curious."
Meowstic looked amazed—she'd never heard of a Pokémon who could speak without telepathy.
Lucas recounted the tale of a wild Meowth who fell in love with a pet Meowth named Meowzie, concluding: "Since then, that Meowth became unique in the world. It can't use moves that should come naturally, and its battle skills are weak."