Chapter 54

An A-rank craft?

Hikaru found it hard to believe. When he looked up again, Dragonite had already soared far into the sky!

Dragonite had used Extreme Speed!

"This is truly incredible! Whether it's chasing down Charizard or helping me, this Dragonite has been a huge help!"

Weakness Policy and Blunder Policy were two peculiar items. A Pokémon holding Weakness Policy would have its Attack and Special Attack greatly boosted when hit by a super-effective move.

Blunder Policy, on the other hand, increased the holder's Speed significantly if a move missed due to accuracy.

Although Hikaru had obtained the crafting method, he also recalled something about Shining Leaves—they seemed to appear in HeartGold/SoulSilver when a Pokémon followed its Trainer through tall grass. If five Shining Leaves were collected, they could be woven into a Shining Crown, which would then be registered on the Trainer's certificate.

But that crown looked like it had far more than just five leaves!

And the Gold Leaf and Silver Leaf were rare items found in Let's Go, Pikachu!/Eevee! Hikaru hadn't expected them to be related to the Shining Leaves.

Though he had acquired an A-rank craft, there was no way to make use of it for now. As his excitement gradually faded, his computer chimed with a familiar beeping sound.

Petilil and Doublade instinctively turned toward the workshop's door!

"It's fine. I'm exhausted too. Let's all take a break first!"

Hikaru patted Petilil's head and then turned to Doublade. "How about I sharpen your blades later?"

"Yohwooo~"

"Yohoop~"

Both consciousnesses of Doublade were thrilled!

Sharpening its blades was a form of maintenance, which to Doublade was like relaxation!

Petilil had been feeling tired, but upon hearing about blade maintenance, she suddenly became excited again!

Wait… could Pokémon also be polished?

Maybe she could try it too!

"Let's rest for now!" Hikaru hurriedly urged Petilil, seeing her more energetic than even himself.

If she didn't rest, he—her Trainer—might collapse first!

She was supposed to have a Stubborn nature, but she was acting like she had Diligent instead!

As Hikaru prepared to return to the workshop, he suddenly spotted some large mushrooms growing in the corner.

Mushrooms grew quickly, and just one rainfall could make them flourish. In the old workshop—a structure of mixed wood and stone—they thrived even better.

[Rare Material: Mochi Mushrooms]

Effect: Large and mature mushrooms. A favorite food of Monster Egg-Type and Dragon-type Pokémon, capable of attracting them to wherever they are placed.

Knowledge Acquired: Mushrooms at Your Doorstep — Mushrooms grow more easily near your home.

Craftable: Mushroom Bait Bundle

"Huh? This is a unique mushroom from the Hisui region… and it's growing near my workshop?"

He had stumbled upon a treasure at his doorstep.

However, neither Doublade nor Petilil liked eating these mushrooms. Hikaru harvested them and, seeing there were still plenty left, decided to get some pots later to cultivate them properly.

Hopefully, it wouldn't turn out like the 'Research Lab Incident', where wild mushrooms thrived in the wild but failed when carefully cultivated.

Back inside, Hikaru used food-processing techniques to mix the mushrooms with other ingredients. After some thought, he added a bit of Soft Sand.

His Pokémon didn't use Monster Egg- or Dragon-type moves, but in bait food recipes, different materials could be mixed in freely—after all, Pokémon ate a wide variety of things, unlike humans.

On a whim, he also tossed in a Revival Herb leaf.

[Crafting Complete!]

[Crafted Food: Mushroom Bait Bundle]

Effect: A blend of special mushrooms, Soft Sand, Berries, Revival Herb leaves, and bait materials. Strongly attracts Ground-, Monster-, and Dragon-type Pokémon.

Additional Effect 1: Earthen Nourishment – Greatly boosts Ground-type energy for a limited time, aiding in their growth!

Additional Effect 2: Terra Essence – Ground and Monster-type Pokémon that eat this will enter a state of peak vitality. Their health improves, training becomes more effective, and they are more likely to learn new moves!

So, the more materials added, the better the effects?

Compared to last time's Verdant Nourishment, this Earthen Nourishment food even had an additional bonus effect.

Maybe adding Revival Herb had created some unexpected synergy?

Just as Hikaru finished the new recipe, his email notification rang.

"A new email? Another wild customer?"

The workshop was thriving, and more and more clients were placing orders.

Subject: Inquiry About the Purity Pendant

Hikaru raised an eyebrow at the sender's ID: Mythology Researcher.

Was this a ruins enthusiast?

"The craftsmanship of this pendant is very similar to a particular style I'm familiar with. May I ask about its crafting method…?"

"Sorry, that's a trade secret," Hikaru replied politely.

The sender didn't push further.

"I see. That was my mistake. However, I would still like to purchase this pendant. The effect—'Prevents stat reduction in battle'—sounds incredible, almost like the Clear Body ability some Pokémon have."

Hikaru began his pitch:

"The price is 500,000 Pokédollars. Since this is a special edition Purity Pendant, made with rare materials, it not only prevents stat reduction but also enhances mental focus and relieves accumulated fatigue."

The core material was Ancient Crystal—a rare relic from Rock Mountain Ruins. Until he found more, the stock was extremely limited.

"No problem. Can I buy more than one?"

Hikaru blinked in surprise before replying:

"Apologies, but due to material rarity, I can only sell two at most."

"That's fine. I'll take two."

Just like that, a one-million Pokédollar deal was sealed.

Hikaru hadn't expected such a wealthy customer. But considering the ID, the buyer was likely a ruins explorer, a profession known for deep pockets.

Definitely a ruins enthusiast.

His unique engraving style must have caught the buyer's attention.

"Do you need anything else? I also sell items related to Pokémon training and battle strategies."

"Hmm… There are many interesting items in your shop, but I have trouble choosing."

Hikaru offered a suggestion:

"If you're unsure about each item's effects, I can provide recommendations. Also, bulk purchases come with discounts. What Pokémon do you train?"

"Ghost, Steel, Water, Grass, Ground, Fairy..."

"That's quite a well-rounded team. For Ghost-types, I recommend Spell Tag and Spooky Cloth—the former boosts Ghost-type moves, while the latter enhances their energy.

For Grass-types, I suggest Verdant Nourishment, which greatly increases Grass-type energy for a period, aiding their growth.

For Ground-types, Soft Sand boosts their move power, and my new Earthen Nourishment food enhances their training efficiency and overall energy.

As for Steel, Water, and Fairy-types, I don't have specialized training items right now, but you might be interested in Ancient Wooden Carvings. These carvings can enhance a Pokémon's strengths or compensate for weaknesses—but be aware that each carving is single-use, so choose its enhancement wisely."

Masago Town – Professor Yamanashi's Lab

A tall woman in a black coat, with golden hair and black accessories, clicked the purchase button.

She was none other than Cynthia, the Champion of Sinnoh!

"Just as you said, this shop has many intriguing items," Cynthia remarked. "Though I still have my doubts… The descriptions sound incredibly powerful. If they are all accurate, then perhaps this craftsman possesses techniques passed down from ancient myths."

She glanced at Professor Rowan, who had previously purchased a certain sculpture. Although it hadn't arrived yet, Cynthia had rushed over upon hearing it might relate to mythology.

One glance at the shop's photos, and she immediately recognized something she had been searching for—

A Pokémon depicted in ancient myths!

"In the Solaceon Ruins murals, there is a massive light at the center. At three points surrounding this light are the representations of the three Lake Guardians."

Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf.

"But I have another interpretation."

Cynthia smiled slightly, gently brushing a strand of hair that had fallen over her face.

"The three points forming a triangle could actually represent Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina."

Professor Rowan was momentarily taken aback, still holding a cup of steaming tea.

"Giratina?"

"Yes. Based on my recent research, I have identified it as the third Legendary Pokémon corresponding to Dialga and Palkia. It governs the Distortion World. I have confirmed this from an ancient text."

"And at the center of the Solaceon Ruins mural, the enormous light represents the entity that created this world."

"Throughout Sinnoh, various stone tablets contain inscriptions. From these, we can infer that there exists a being even more powerful than Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina."

"We don't yet have detailed information on Giratina, but it seems that the chaos of the Distortion World is caused by the instability of time and space."

"The mural in the Solaceon Ruins appears to be conveying an important message. That is my interpretation as a researcher of mythology."

Professor Rowan glanced at the computer screen. The shop listing for the Arceus sculpture now showed that it was out of stock.

"You think this Pokémon is connected to Dialga and Palkia?"

"Yes. However, I will conduct further research once the item arrives."

Cynthia tilted her head slightly, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

"Finally... I feel like I have touched upon a true fragment of mythology. Rare individuals and fascinating discoveries—the stories passed down on this land must be witnessed firsthand."

"Oh, and that pendant is also worth investigating. I just sent details about it to my grandmother, and she mentioned that it closely resembles the traditional talismans of Celestic Town. That means it's an ancient charm."

"This craftsman must have deep connections to Celestic Town's history! Once the pendant arrives and I analyze it, I might consider inviting them for a discussion."

"Actually, that was my grandmother's suggestion."

"An artisan preserving ancient craftsmanship?" Professor Rowan mused. "That reminds me of something I came across during my research in Kanto."

"In the past, back when Sinnoh was still called Hisui, I found traces of a peculiar legend."

"Are you referring to the people of the Celestial Accord?" Cynthia immediately picked up on the reference.

"I've come across similar stories. A long time ago, many ancient Sinnoh people left this region and traveled to Johto. They settled in a place called Shinto, bringing Sinnoh's culture to Johto."

"A land where Sinnoh and Johto's ancient traditions merge… Very little information is available on that region. Could this craftsman be…?"

"It seems that soon, I may need to visit Johto myself!"

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]

[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]

[Thank You For Your Support!]