Pokemon: My Trainer Simulator

The two worked together to carry their unconscious colleagues to safety, moving them one by one until they were a good distance from the jade mine. 

Only then did Kashiwagi learn from Naruhiko what had happened while he was away. 

"So that's how it went," Kashiwagi said. 

"These bastards got what they deserved! It would've been better if they'd just died in there!" Naruhiko growled while bandaging himself and applying medicinal powder. 

His eyes, red with fury, fixed on the three companions Aron had painstakingly rescued. 

"For now, let's put them aside. What's important is that we pass the trial. Our suffering shouldn't be in vain," Kashiwagi said, shaking his head. 

Revenge was essential, but so was the trial result. 

There had been eight participants from their group on the first day. 

Including himself, there were now five accounted for, but three were still missing. 

If they could all pass, Kashiwagi wouldn't fear even Shibata or his squad leader uncle. 

After all, the younger generation of official members in the Quicksand Squad wasn't particularly large. 

"Guu." 

The cry of Aron broke the silence. 

Kashiwagi turned to see it opening its mouth and spitting out several jade stones the size of fingers. 

"Thanks. You've worked hard," he said softly, crouching down to push a piece of iron toward it. 

"It's not much, but I hope you don't mind. If I get the chance, I'll find more for you." 

Aron glanced at him before lowering its head. 

With a few crisp crunches, the hard metal disappeared into its stomach like a cookie. 

Naruhiko watched curiously. "Kashiwagi, it seems like it really listens to you, huh?" 

"'Listen' isn't the word. It's mutual assistance," Kashiwagi replied, waving his hand dismissively. 

After some thought, he pulled out a Poké Ball. 

"By the way, do you have a Trainer—" 

Before he could finish, Aron backed away several steps, clearly alarmed. 

Its eyes fixed anxiously on the Poké Ball as if it had seen something unpleasant. 

It even let out a short, rapid cry. 

"Gudoo!" 

Kashiwagi froze awkwardly. 

"S-Sorry." 

He quickly put the Poké Ball away and was about to say something to make amends when Aron turned and bolted, vanishing from sight. 

"Ah, damn…" 

Kashiwagi sighed, utterly unprepared for such a strong reaction. 

It confirmed his suspicion: Aron must've been abandoned by a previous trainer. 

For Pokémon like this, there were often specific emotional triggers or "landmines" that one absolutely couldn't touch. 

He had been too hasty. 

Rubbing his face, Kashiwagi glanced at his three gravely injured comrades, who needed immediate evacuation. 

In his rush, he had forgotten to take a gradual approach with Aron. 

"It seems like you've been rejected, Kashiwagi," Naruhiko teased with a malicious grin, only to get a smack on the head in response. 

"Shut it." 

Kashiwagi picked up the jade stones and placed one in the hands of each unconscious companion. 

"Let's get them out of here." 

Staying put and waiting for rescue would mean forfeiting the trial. 

Otherwise, he would never have risked moving the injured. 

"Fair enough," Naruhiko nodded. 

Although he was also wounded and bleeding, he felt better after bandaging himself. 

Carrying one person was doable, albeit barely. 

Kashiwagi took responsibility for two, tying one to his back with a rope he had prepared in advance and cradling the other in his arms. 

For someone of his physical strength, this arrangement wasn't an unmanageable burden. 

"Let's go." 

Exhaling deeply, Kashiwagi led the way toward the exit, using his memory to navigate. 

"It'd be great if we could run into those other three along the way." 

"…Yeah," Naruhiko replied weakly, quickening his pace to follow. 

Not long after the two left, Aron reappeared stealthily, following behind them once again. 

Once Aron had gone, a Galarian Yamask emerged. 

As an observer, it diligently transmitted the footage it had recorded and intended to continue its surveillance. 

Suddenly— 

A sharp, angry screech echoed from the direction of the jade mine, causing the Yamask to stop in its tracks. 

It hesitated for a moment, then turned to fly toward the mine tunnel. 

Before it could get far, a violent explosion erupted from within! 

**Boom!** 

Screams were swallowed by the sound of the blast, though faint echoes could still be heard. 

The mine rumbled loudly as rocks began falling from the ceiling, as if the entire structure were on the verge of collapse. 

Numerous panicked Pokémon surged out, as if fleeing from some terrible danger. 

Two stragglers were snatched up by a massive black arm and dragged back into the darkness. 

Another roar and explosion followed! 

The Galarian Yamask, startled, quickly sought cover while its camera lens scanned the fleeing Pokémon. 

Among them was a Rhyhorn carrying a terrified young man on its back. 

The man was covered in blood, and one of his arms bent at an unnatural angle. 

--- 

**Inside the dark mine.** 

Kashiwagi turned to look at Naruhiko , who was panting and drenched in sweat. 

"Can you keep going?" 

"I'm fine! Just keep moving!" 

Naruhiko 's voice was a hoarse yell, not out of anger at Kashiwagi but because he was too exhausted to speak normally. 

If he weren't injured, this wouldn't have been so hard! 

Two hundred pounds? Normally, that would've been no big deal! 

Seeing Naruhiko's unsteady steps, Kashiwagi quickened his pace. 

Fortunately, his memory was sharp. 

Otherwise, navigating the terrain and avoiding traps while searching for a safe path would've wasted an untold amount of time. 

**Rumble!** 

The mine suddenly quaked. 

Kashiwagi didn't stop, guessing that the Pokémon near the jade mine had started fighting. 

Congregating Pokémon were much like animals in his past life, using sounds and movements to intimidate each other and waiting for the right moment to strike. 

It seemed that moment had finally come. 

"Ah! It hurts!" 

Naruhiko suddenly cried out in pain. 

Kashiwagi glanced up to see numerous rocks and debris raining down from above, accompanied by the sound of cracking stone. 

Damn it! 

It was collapsing! 

"Run! Don't look back, just run!" Kashiwagi shouted, eyes trembling as he sped up with his two burdens. 

Naruhiko's face turned pale. 

The rumbling and crashing behind him filled him with terror. 

Summoning all his strength, he sprinted forward. 

The two were swallowed by a cloud of dust as their headlamps disappeared in the dark cavern. 

Only the relentless vibrations and the sound of falling debris remained. 

But in the next moment, they burst out of the cloud, running for their lives without stopping for even a second. 

Only when the tremors gradually subsided did they slow their pace. 

Turning back, they saw that the path they had come from had completely collapsed. 

Rocks and dust sealed it shut, leaving no gap for even a mosquito to pass through. 

"I…" 

Naruhiko's legs shook uncontrollably. 

Running at the rear, he had been much closer to the collapse and had felt death brushing against him repeatedly. 

The fear of near-death left him trembling uncontrollably. 

Several times, he'd thought of abandoning the person on his back. 

But Kashiwagi's constant shouts had forced him to press on. 

After a moment— 

"Relax. We're safe… Lucky, in an unlucky way," Kashiwagi said, breathing deeply. 

Initially, he had considered making multiple trips to carry the injured out, which would've freed up his hands. 

But the risk of the Pokémon fighting and causing a cave-in had changed his mind. 

He had no choice but to take everyone at once. 

Now, he could only hope the Pokémon that had attacked the miners at the entrance wasn't there anymore and that the exit hadn't been blocked. 

"We're almost there. Hang in there," Kashiwagi said quietly, trying to encourage Naruhiko. 

"Once we're out, we'll be official members! Pokémon! Money! It's all waiting for us! Think of your parents—they're waiting for you!" 

"—Right!" 

Naruhiko gritted his teeth and nodded. 

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