Forum[375]

At night, the moonlight streamed through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room.

Hovering near the ceiling, a "star" emitted a faint light, illuminating the dim space.

Naoki sat on his bed, observing the Minior with Pawmot at his side. This was his first encounter with a Pokémon like Minior.

Unlike other Pokémon that lived on land, Minior seemed completely detached from human interaction. When touched or called, it would gently rotate its spherical body in response. But Naoki couldn't tell if these movements were intentional or purely instinctual.

Because of this, deciding what to do with Minior became a challenging question.

As a gift from Rayquaza to Dragonite, keeping Minior on the ranch seemed impractical. Without its protective shell, it could only survive inside the safety of its Poké Ball. If left outside, its core would disintegrate into nothingness.

Naoki had heard stories about mysterious meteor showers where the Minior fell to Earth, only to vanish after a short time. Moreover, Minior's dietary needs were unique—unlike other Pokémon, it thrived by absorbing dust particles in the ozone layer. It was clear that Minior was not suited for life on land.

After contemplating the matter, Naoki turned to Pawmot and Koraidon. "We'll send Minior back to the sky tomorrow."

Koraidon hissed softly in agreement, its piercing gaze focused on the floating Minior.

Pawmot nodded earnestly, fully understanding the situation. It had listened as Naoki explained Minior's fragile nature and knew the importance of returning it to its natural habitat.

Early the next morning, Naoki approached Dragonite with the Poké Ball containing Minior. Handing it over, he said, "Dragonite, Minior can't survive here. I'm entrusting this to you and Pawmot. Please, take it back to the sky."

Dragonite's eyes sparkled with resolve. "Awoo!" (You can count on me!)

Pawmot raised a tiny paw in salute. "Pamo!" (Leave it to us!)

The two Pokémon took flight, soaring high into the sky as Naoki waved them off. Then, he turned to begin his daily chores—milking Gogoats, collecting rock salt from Garganacl, weeding the fields, harvesting honey, and feeding Snorlax.

It wasn't until around mid-morning that Dragonite and Pawmot returned, landing with gentle thuds.

Naoki approached them with a hint of apprehension. "How did it go?" he asked.

Dragonite and Pawmot nodded, their expressions bright. "Awoo! Pamo!" (Mission accomplished!)

Relief washed over Naoki. "That's good to hear," he said with a smile. "Thank you for your hard work. Go have some fun before lunch."

Dragonite and Pawmot chirped joyfully, about to dash off when Naoki suddenly remembered something.

"Wait, Dragonite!" he called out.

Dragonite paused mid-step and turned back. "Awoo?" (What is it?)

"Next time you see Rayquaza, make sure to tell it not to send Pokémon like Minior again, alright?"

Dragonite tilted its head in thought before nodding. "Awoo!" (Got it!)

Naoki patted its head affectionately. "Alright, you're free to go. I'm heading to town to stock up on supplies."

With that, he mounted a Gogoat, strapped two bags to its sides, and rode toward the bustling streets of Kosaji Town.

But Dragonite couldn't let the day pass without fulfilling its promise. As soon as Naoki was out of sight, it used the dragon scale to summon Rayquaza once again.

Before long, the massive, majestic figure of Rayquaza descended upon the ranch. Its arrival caused a stir as the Pokémon gathered around excitedly.

Dragonite wasted no time. "Awoo, awoo!" (Rayquaza-senpai, we need to talk!)

Rayquaza inclined its sleek head, curiosity evident in its glowing eyes.

Dragonite explained, "Awoo, awoo, awoo!" (Naoki said Minior isn't a star—it's a Pokémon! It can't live on land because it'll die. We sent it back to the sky where it belongs.)

Rayquaza's expression shifted slightly, and for a brief moment, it seemed almost… embarrassed.

The Sky High Pokémon had no ill intentions, but it was true that Minior often fled in panic when it appeared. This was likely due to Rayquaza's habit of consuming their protective shells, which contained concentrated energy similar to meteorites. Even though it didn't harm the Minior themselves, its presence alone was enough to terrify them.

Rayquaza felt conflicted. Sharing the truth with Dragonite and the others—that it occasionally ate Minior shells—didn't sit well. What if it shattered the image of a noble hero they held so dearly?

In the past, Rayquaza hadn't thought much about this. But now, with this group of Pokémon looking up to it as a great hero, it felt an unexpected weight of responsibility to maintain that image.

"Raayq," Rayquaza rumbled softly.

It listened as Dragonite and the others recounted the situation with Minior. After hearing their earnest words, Rayquaza nodded, solemnly promising not to pursue Minior again.

Inwardly, however, it found itself grappling with another dilemma: what should it bring next time as a gift for the Pokémon? The Minior clearly hadn't been the best choice.

After pondering this for a while and failing to come up with any brilliant ideas, Rayquaza decided it would venture into outer space to look for inspiration.

With a parting roar of farewell, Rayquaza turned and soared into the sky, leaving the gathered Pokémon waving excitedly below.

Meanwhile, Naoki was just returning from Kosaji Town, riding his trusty Gogoat. He was still some distance from the ranch when he glanced up and saw Rayquaza flying away.

???

A large question mark practically popped into his thoughts.

'What? Why is Rayquaza here again?'

Urging his Gogoat to move faster, Naoki reached the ranch and was greeted by the sight of Dragonite and several other Pokémon gazing up at the sky with delighted expressions.

Approaching them, he asked, "Did you call Rayquaza back here?"

Dragonite puffed out its chest proudly and nodded, its eyes sparkling with accomplishment. "Awoo!" (I told Senior Rayquaza everything you asked me to say! It promised not to bother the Minior anymore!)

Naoki blinked, utterly speechless. He looked at Dragonite, then turned his gaze skyward, still processing what had just transpired.

'Rayquaza… do you really have nothing better to do?'

After a moment of stunned silence, Naoki let out a resigned sigh.

"Well," he muttered, shaking his head, "this is Pokémon business. It's not my place to interfere."

With that, he headed to the kitchen to start preparing lunch, leaving Dragonite and the others basking in their success.

That afternoon, Naoki planned to hike into the mountains to gather mushrooms and hazelnuts. He also wanted to visit some of the wild Pokémon he had helped rescue in the past. However, his plans were interrupted by a phone call.

"Hello?" Naoki answered, noting the lack of video. Judging by the static-filled tone, it was likely an audio-only call from a landline.

"Is this Naoki?" a deep male voice inquired. "I'm the owner of the antique shop in town. We've just received a new batch of Gimmighoul coins. Are you interested?"

Naoki paused for a moment, slightly startled by the reminder. Then, he recalled the treasure chest Pokémon, Gimmighoul, which he had encountered in the tavern. It had a penchant for collecting coins.

"Yes, absolutely!" Naoki replied eagerly. "I'll head over right away!"

The antique shop owner chuckled warmly. "Alright, I'll see you at the shop."

After hanging up the phone, Naoki decided to enlist Dragonite for a quick trip to Kosaji Town.

Dragonite soared through the skies and landed gracefully in front of the antique shop. Naoki slid off its back, patting its shoulder in thanks before walking inside.

The antique shop owner greeted him warmly, immediately pulling out a small treasure chest. His grin was almost as radiant as the contents he revealed. "You're in luck! I managed to get my hands on 28 coins all at once. Quite the haul, wouldn't you say?"

Naoki peered into the chest, his eyes widening at the glittering pile of coins.

"28?!" Naoki exclaimed, astonished. "How did you manage to get so many?"

The shop owner chuckled, leaning in to speak in a low voice. "Let's just say these coins came from a professional treasure hunter. They were all looted from the same set of ruins."

Naoki blinked, processing this information. After a moment, he asked cautiously, "Isn't that… illegal?"

He wasn't entirely familiar with the legal system in the Pokémon world, particularly when it came to ancient artifacts.

The shop owner shrugged. "It's a bit of a gray area. Tomb raiding is considered unethical, yes, but there are countless ancient ruins scattered across the Paldea region. Some of these are abandoned castles or old structures from the Parthenon Kingdom's era. Those aren't as controversial."

Naoki nodded slowly, still unsure how to feel about it. "I see…"

"But don't worry!" the shop owner added quickly. "These coins were taken from castle ruins, not cemeteries or anything disrespectful. So there's nothing for you to fret over."

That explanation put Naoki at ease. "Alright then. I'll take all of them," he said decisively, pulling out his payment.

The coins were added to his collection, which already included three he had previously found. With these 28 new coins, his total rose to 31—a small but significant step toward his ultimate goal of gathering 1,000.

Even so, the progress felt painfully slow. Naoki found himself deep in thought, pondering how to speed things up.

After counting the coins to confirm their number, he carefully packed them back into the chest, securing it for transport.

Before leaving, he turned to the shop owner. "Logically, these coins were once a widely circulated currency in the Kingdom of Paldea. There must be a substantial number of them still out there, right?"

The shop owner nodded. "That's correct. According to explorers and treasure hunters, these coins are most commonly found in ruins and ancient tombs."

Naoki's curiosity deepened. "And what do people usually do with the coins after they find them? Do they sell all of them?"

"Not always," the shop owner replied thoughtfully. "Some treasure hunters collect them for their own private collections, while others sell them to antique enthusiasts who are willing to pay a premium. It depends on the person."

"I see…"

The shop owner eyed Naoki, his tone turning speculative. "You don't seem like someone who's short on cash. Let me recommend something: there's an online forum where people often trade or sell antiques. If you're willing to pay high prices, you might find quite a few sellers eager to do business."

"A forum?" Naoki repeated, slightly taken aback.

"You've never heard of it?" The shop owner raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I thought someone younger than me would know all about these things."

Naoki: "…"

The shop owner chuckled and said, "You're really behind the times! Forums are online spaces where people can post comments and discuss all sorts of topics. All you need to do is get yourself a computer, log onto the forum's website, and join the conversation. Isn't the Internet amazing? People from all over the world can connect and communicate through it!"

Naoki silently agreed that this sounded outdated.

The Internet in this world was clearly in its infancy.

"I see. I'll get a computer and take a look at it later," Naoki replied politely.

"Good luck with that," the shop owner said, scribbling the forum's URL on a piece of paper and handing it to him.

Naoki took the note, glancing briefly at the URL before slipping it into his pocket.

Exiting the antique shop, he and Dragonite strolled through the streets of Kosaji Town, taking in the bustling atmosphere and the shops lining the road.

As for buying a computer, Naoki had never considered it before—at least not until now.

The computers of this era were clunky, with large CRT monitors, outdated hardware, and limited functionality. Most people used them for sending emails or simple office tasks, and they offered little appeal for entertainment. There were no exciting games, just things like Spider Solitaire.

Naoki didn't have many people to email, nor was he particularly interested in basic games, so he had never felt the need to own one. But now, it seemed like he didn't have much of a choice.

With a sigh, he decided to visit the department store and purchase a computer.

The staff at the store helped install the monitor, CPU, and other equipment on-site. After connecting the system to the Internet, the setup was complete, providing the most basic online functionality.

Naoki had the computer placed in the study on the second floor of his ranch. He pressed the power button, booted it up, and tested its functions. Once he confirmed everything was working, he left it there for the time being.

Next, Naoki turned his attention to the treasure chest he had brought from the antique shop. Carrying it carefully, he headed to the Pokémon Tavern.

The treasure chest-shaped Pokémon, Gimmighoul, resembled an ordinary chest. It sat quietly on the beverage rack, blending in as part of the tavern's décor.

Naoki approached the chest, giving it a gentle knock. "Gimmighoul, I've brought some more coins. Want to come out and take a look?"

Inside the chest, Gimmighoul perked up at his words.

Its golden core trembled with excitement, and it cautiously pushed open the lid of the chest, peeking out to observe the surroundings.

When Naoki turned back, his gaze met Gimmighoul's wide, curious eyes.

In the past, the little Pokémon had been timid, hiding whenever it sensed Naoki's presence. But this time, it didn't retreat. Instead, it looked eager and expectant, its tiny form practically vibrating with enthusiasm.

Naoki smiled warmly and asked, "Are you not afraid of me anymore?"

Gimmighoul let out a soft, jingling sound, like the delicate clinking of gold coins. The sound was peculiar yet endearing.

During its time in the tavern, Gimmighoul had grown braver, listening to the lively chatter of Pokémon guests every evening. Slowly but surely, its courage had been tempered and strengthened.

More importantly, Naoki had shown it nothing but kindness. Not only did he never harm Gimmighoul, but he also actively helped it collect coins and even offered it food. Gratitude had gradually replaced fear, and now the little Pokémon no longer felt the urge to run or hide whenever Naoki approached.

"Alright, come take a look at these coins!" Naoki said, picking up the treasure chest-like Pokémon and placing it on the bar counter.

The moment Gimmighoul spotted the gleaming pile of coins, its eyes sparkled like tiny stars. It looked exactly like a small, overjoyed money-loving spirit.

"There are twenty-eight gold coins here," Naoki said, smiling. "Combined with the three you already have, that makes thirty-one in total."

He paused for a moment, doing a quick mental calculation, before adding, "That means you need only 969 more gold coins to evolve into your next form! It's a lot, but don't worry—I'll keep helping you collect them."

"Gimm~!" Gimmighoul chimed, its cheerful sound resonating with joy and gratitude.

Naoki chuckled and began carefully placing the coins into the treasure chest where Gimmighoul resided. Once all the gold coins were stored safely, he patted the little Pokémon gently.

"Well, I won't bother you anymore. See you later!" Naoki waved as Gimmighoul returned to its spot on the shelf, resuming its role as a decorative treasure chest in the tavern.

"Gimm~!" Gimmighoul responded, its tone bright and full of contentment.

...

Naoki climbed to the second floor, entered the study, and turned on the computer he had just set up. He typed in the URL given by the antique shop owner and waited for the page to load.

Soon, a forum titled "Secret Garden" appeared on the screen.

Despite its name, the forum had nothing to do with flowers. Instead, its posts were centered on treasure hunting, exploring ruins, and selling antiques. The content ranged from the curious to the downright absurd.

One post immediately caught Naoki's eye:

"The Crown of King Henry III of the Ancient Kingdom of Paldea! Now looking for a buyer!"

Intrigued, Naoki clicked on the post. However, what appeared on the screen was far from a regal crown. The image showed something that looked suspiciously like an old cooking pot.

Skimming through the comments, Naoki found that many users had already called out the poster for their mistake.

"What kind of crown is this supposed to be?" Naoki muttered to himself, stifling a laugh.

The image reminded him of Spectrier, who once wore a trophy on its head as though it were a crown, refusing to take it off no matter what.

After a brief browse, Naoki decided to register an account. He thought for a moment before choosing a username: "Gold King."

Once his account was set up, he crafted a short but direct post in the style of others on the forum:

"Gold King: Buying a large number of ancient coins at a high price. Serious sellers only!"

...

Bonus Chapter