The title 'Dr. Pepper' actually means 'Dr. Arven' (or 'Professor Arven', if following Pokemon style translation of 'Hakase'), as Arven's Japanese and Korean names are both 'Pepper'. I originally wrote this fic in Korean (Actually, the title in Korean was 'What Will This Child Be Like in Graduate School?', but this is Korean 'graduate school meme' that you may not understand), but I just couldn't abandon the pun! So here it is.
Recently I'm using chatGPT to correct my grammer, but there still can be errors!
"Well, if it's your request, I have no choice but to grant it."
Juliana gladly accepted Arven's request to accompany him in collecting Herba Mystica in the depths of Area Zero.
"In the first place, I also go there to see the cute Slither W— No, I mean, I often go there to conduct research for my Advanced Ecology final assignment." Juliana was about to say the name of a particular Paradox Pokemon that was very cute (by her standards), but quickly came up with another reason for her friend's sake.
"I think I just heard something strange..." Arven murmured.
"Anyway, no problem! I can handle the Ancient Pokemons on my own. You know my skills. Sometimes I go with Penny or Nemona."
"Why on earth are you going with those two?"
"Nemona just goes there to battle... and I don't really know what Penny does. She said she received some kind of secret order from La Primera, and she comes after looking through Zero Lab's computer for a while."
Arven couldn't help but feel absurd at this part. Even if something like that happened, is it still okay to steal other person's data like this? "Was there any specific reason?" He asked.
"I'm not sure, but I heard some companies claimed some kind of compensation. It's difficult to manage Area Zero directly, given the danger, so they're saying they'll secure the original technology or something instead... The League was also making a fuss about this not long ago. But they didn't say anything to you? Still, that data is your... um... let's drop this topic."
"I didn't hear anything about that. I don't really want to hear anything. Still, they left me out... Eh, I don't know. They will take care of it themselves." Arven shrugged. He really didn't want to talk about his mother's possessions anymore.
"But why Herba Mystica all of a sudden?" Juliana asked. "It's growing back little by little in the Titan's lair, and I sometimes pick it up in the Crystal Cavern. Are you going to start a serious business now?"
"Not exactly." Arven laughed nervously. "In fact..."
This story goes back to the interview in the principal's office a week ago. More specifically, it starts when Arven accidentally submitted his recipe notes instead of his assignment notes in Home Economics class. The problem is that the front pages of this tattered [Herba Mystica Sandwich Recipe Note] were filled with all sorts of trials and errors Arven made to cure Mabosstiff. While grading the assignment, Saguaro discovered that the contents of the note were unusual and reported it to Clavell (since he thought Clavell would be interested simply because he had a background as a researcher). The principal's eyes lit up and he immediately called Arven.
"I heard briefly about Mabosstiff, but I had no idea you were doing such an eventful study. I was so thrilled!" Clavell exclaimed as soon as Arven entered his office.
"...What?" Arven replied, dumbfounded.
"Moreover, look at your scientific methodology that is unconsciously embedded. Even though it is at a beginner level because you have never studied it formally, you can set up and revise hypotheses in a deductive manner in detail! After all, bloodline can't be faked!"
"...What?"
"Ahem... What I meant was, are you thinking about refining this research and submitting it as a paper?"
"...Me?"
"You don't have to think too hard. A lot of students write short papers, and [Basics of Experimental Design and Statistics I] is open to all departments every semester. So, if you take this course, even if you are not in a science class, you will learn from the basics..."
"I'm still not sure if I can do this..."
"In addition, this academy has a system that replaces credits by submitting a short thesis. In your case, if I consider the scale of the research and treat it like a bachelor's thesis rather than a small thesis... you could get twice as much credit."
Credit. Arven took the bait. Twice!
"...What lecture did you say I should take first?"
This is how he got to where he is today after falling for the sweet whisper that he would be recognized for his many credits. Arven continued to talk briefly about the research with Clavell. The problem was harvesting large quantities of Herba Mystica for experimentation, but the ones growing in Titan's lair still had a long way to go before reaching maturity, and supply through Tera Raids was very irregular.
"According to the Scarlet Book, you're sure it grows in Area Zero, but you don't know the exact location?" Clavell asked Arven.
"Yeah..."
"There may be some commonalities in the environments in which Herba Mystica grows above ground." Clavell was lost in thought as he flipped through Arven's recipe notes.
But it was Arven who broke the silence first. Because he actually went around a lot looking for Herba Mystica, he was able to come up with commonalities much more quickly. "A dark cave... and perhaps a place with crystals or high concentrations of Terastal dust...?" He remembered that the Herba Mystica growing in the Titan's lair was covered with a shiny film of some unknown kind. It may also be a type of crystal. And the Crystal Cavern is literally a space surrounded by crystals.
"Sure... Then, in Area Zero, such a place is..."
"It's a deep cave where... Zero Lab... is located." Arven breathed, barely audible.
Clavell quietly closed the notebook. "There is no need to force yourself into it if it is difficult. It's your research after all. It's okay to take your time, so try to find another way slowly..."
"No." Arven seemed determined. "I learned something from that guy, Koraidon. I can't overcome anything just by running away. So, I'm going. I went once, so there's no reason I wouldn't go twice. Since it's already unlocked, I can warp right from the Zero Gate, so it won't be as dangerous as the last time."
Looking into Arven's eyes as he said that, Clavell saw in him a vision of someone familiar. A person possessed by a strange desire and eerily similar to the student in front of him. Professor Clavell, there's something I'd like to do after this research is over. It may not have been possible, but it felt like the voice was coming from right next to him. He tried to shake off this feeling. This student is a completely different person. But he couldn't help but worry.
"If that's what you think, I won't stop you. It's still dangerous, so go with a strong person, such as a champion, like last time." In the end, he could only say these words.
Back to the present.
"Um... I see. In that case, of course I should help! When do you want to go?" When Arven told her the details, Juliana seemed even more enthusiastic than before. What a great friend, Arven thought. She helped me and Penny, and along the way, she hit the Gyms and even became a champion. Can I also... become a great friend worthy of her? Swallowing these questions in his head, he coordinated his schedule with Juliana. As it happened, a routine survey for Juliana's Ecology assignment was scheduled for a few days, so he decided to go along that day.
The cave of Area Zero they revisited was still beautiful, yet eerie. Especially when Arven thought about what happened here. He tried not to think about it. What's the use if I don't face it...
"There it is!"
Juliana's voice woke Arven from his thoughts. There was definitely a bunch of Herba Mystica growing where she pointed. It was much larger than those on the ground of outer Paldea. This would be enough to make 10 sandwiches.
"Wow. There are not just one or two groups like this, but endless ones. Why didn't I see it before? I guess I was only paying attention to the Glimmora that was plastered on the wall! Should I write this down in the report too? Plant populations are also part of the ecosystem..."
"Mr. Jacq might like it."
"Of course he would like it, I'm sure! At this level, A+ is definitely guaranteed, right? The Ancient Pokemons that have adapted to Area Zero's environment, a group of Glimmora that are rare on outside of the Crater, and a population of Herba Mystica... Oh, right. I'll help you gather! I took all the pictures."
Fortunately, there were no close calls like Clavell feared. There were, of course, the Ancient Pokemons that were occasionally snooping around, showing curiosity, but when Koraidon (Koraidon No. 2, who once acted like the leader of this cave) growled outside of its Poke Ball, they all got scared and ran away.
His research went smoothly, even though it was his first time doing it. The final exam was already over (Juliana boasted that she got an A+ in Ecology), the vacation was over, and the next semester arrived. Arven succeeded in writing a plausible thesis based on what he had learned in the Experimental Design class.
He gave his presentation a little nervously.
"Uh... Paying attention to the brief information in the Scarlet Book, I decided to divide Herba Mystica by type... uh, divide it into... sorry, wait a minute... to prove where the therapeutic effects actually come from..." Arven felt a growing sense of betrayal(?) toward Clavell. In the case of a short thesis, all he have to do is submit it, but for the bachelor's thesis, he had to present it at a conference. When Clavell said, We treat it like a bachelor's thesis, there was a reason. Clavell, who was sitting in the front row of the audience, smiled happily even as he watched Arven struggling to speak.
"...So, uh... Lastly, Spicy Herba Mystica has been proven in a laboratory setting to have ingredients that help expel toxins from the body. However, follow-up research is needed to determine whether it is because it is spicy and makes you sweat a lot, or if it is really because of the ingredients." He didn't even know how he finished his presentation. Amid the thunderous applause, Arven simply felt unreal. He just wanted to go home and stroke Mabosstiff's fur. He went through a hell of a series of questions and answers, but he couldn't even remember how he answered them. What is certain is that when he came to, he found himself in the principal's office again...
"I am also interested in your follow-up research." Clavell smiled widely at him.
"Never!"
"Hmm. But what if your research could provide hope for thousands of terminally ill Pokemons around the world?"
Arven looked down. "Like I did..."
"That's right. There are still many people who will do anything to save their one and only treasure."
"If I can be their hope..."
What do I want to do, he thought. He vaguely wanted to become a chef who could make Pokemon healthy. However, as the principal said, yes, continuing research did not seem like a bad choice if it could help more people. It didn't change much from the original purpose.
"I'll give it a try. Better this time," I will become a great person who can proudly say that I am a friend of the champion.
"Well thought out. So I guess I can take it as you enrolling in a master's degree program..." Clavell handed Arven a piece of paper. "Here is a list of lectures you need to take. You've ended up double majoring in science. I'll take care of the computer processing..."
Arven secretly sighed. The purpose hasn't changed, but somehow the process seems to have become more difficult. Just my imagination, right?
The End.