Couldn't find the original of this story, but the guy literally says "Making mtls readable".
While this is on his patreon.
Redux_magister
Translating fanfics and novels
www.scribblehub.com
For sure it is, I'll get back to you if I find the original:
Yes, this passage is **very likely a machine translation (MTL)** or at least a poorly edited translation from Chinese. Here are the key signs:
---
### **1. Unnatural Phrasing & Grammar (Classic MTL Signs)**
- **"Lake City No. 1 Middle School, Senior Two (1) class"**
→ Native English would phrase this as *"Lake City First High School, Class 2-1"* or *"Grade 11, Class 1."*
- The "Senior Two (1)" structure is a direct Chinese translation (高二（1）班).
- **"The day after tomorrow will be a two-month summer vacation."**
→ Awkward phrasing. A native speaker would say: *"Summer vacation starts the day after tomorrow and lasts two months."*
- **"You've also been single for 17 years"**
→ This is a direct translation of a Chinese meme/roast (你单身17年了吧). In English, this would be phrased more naturally as *"You’ve been single your whole life!"*
---
### **2. Direct Translations of Chinese Terms**
- **"Trainer class" / "regular class"**
→ In Chinese web novels, this is a common trope (训练家班 vs. 普通班). A native English Pokémon fanfic would say *"Pokémon Trainer track"* or *"battle academy."*
- **"Elite-level Trainer," "Champion-level Trainer"**
→ These are direct translations of Chinese power tiers (精英级, 冠军级). In official Pokémon localizations, these would be *"Elite Four"* or *"Champion-rank."*
- **"Drakoria (T/n: Alternate world version of China)"**
→ The "(T/n)" (translator's note) is a dead giveaway. No native English writer would add this.
---
### **3. Awkward Word Choices**
- **"Pocket Monters"** → Misspelling of *"Pocket Monsters"* (common in MTL).
- **"A beast appeared on Pokémon's side to stop the nuclear bomb."**
→ Native English would say *"a Legendary Pokémon intervened."*
- **"The legendary beast's ability to destroy the sky and the earth"**
→ Direct translation of Chinese idioms (毁天灭地). A native speaker would say *"cataclysmic power."*
---
### **4. Inconsistent Pokémon Terminology**
- Mixes **"Pokémon"** and **"Pocket Monsters"** arbitrarily (official localizations stick to one term).
- **"Catterpie"** → Misspelling of *"Caterpie"* (common in MTL).
- **"Pseudo legendary like Dratini or Beldum"**
→ Dratini is not pseudo-legendary (Dragonite is); this error suggests the author relied on raw translations.
---
### **5. Cultural/Contextual Oddities**
- **"The country Julian lives in is called Drakoria."**
→ The "(T/n)" note is a huge red flag. No original English work explains worldbuilding like this.
- **"Trainer Association"** sounds like a direct lift from Chinese regulatory terms (e.g., 训练家协会).
---
### **Conclusion: This is Almost Certainly MTL**
- The text has **all the hallmarks of a Chinese web novel poorly translated via MTL**, with minimal editing.
- **Evidence for reporting:** Highlight the unnatural phrasing, direct translations of Chinese terms, and the "(T/n)" note.
#### **How to Verify Further:**
1. **Google unique phrases** (e.g., *"a beast appeared on Pokémon's side to stop the nuclear bomb"*). If it matches a Chinese novel, it’s stolen.
2. **Check NovelUpdates** for similar Pokémon fanfics—many Chinese works like this exist.
