After cleaning up the workshop, Hikaru took Honedge along and set off toward the distant village.
When they arrived, the villagers were working in the fields.
A river flowed from the ancient mountains, passing through the village. Streams ford from lting snow rged with this river, nourishing the surrounding land.
Due to the cold climate of the Shinto Ruins, planting was only possible during sumr. However, in the Pokémon world, crops grew at an unnaturally fast rate. On fertile land, most crops could be harvested within a month, completely defying common sense.
Even more extre were berries, which—if following ga chanics—could fully mature in just 48 hours.
As Hikaru observed the fields, he noticed a large number of Diglett.
Diglett, the Mole Pokémon.
Its appearance was that of a brown, oval-shaped head with a red nose, with the rest of its body hidden underground. Wherever it dug tunnels, the soil was naturally tilled and aerated. Its waste enriched the soil, creating ideal farmland.
Their strange cries echoed through the fields as they worked, leaving behind small mounds of dirt. The villagers followed their paths, planting seeds in the freshly tilled soil.
Soon, Hikaru arrived at the village's herbal shop, run by an elderly bald man nad Guru. He perfectly fit the image of a classic dicine shop elder.
As soon as Hikaru stepped inside, the old man squinted and carefully examined him.
"Never thought soone would actually move here. I heard soone had taken up residence in that abandoned workshop… Turns out, that was you."
"The last ti you visited the village, I didn't get to et you. I heard you're from Sinnoh—are you here to investigate the ruins?"
Then, Guru's gaze shifted to Honedge.
"And that sword…"
Honedge waved its ribbon-like arm in greeting.
"Yo!"
"What a peculiar Pokémon… It truly looks like a weapon given life."
The old man studied Honedge for a while, clearly intrigued. It wasn't until Hikaru explained his reason for coming that Guru finally smiled warmly.
"Hohoho… So you're here to purchase herb seeds and vegetable seeds? No problem—take a look."
"Also, while it's quite far from here, if you're looking for strange rchandise, you should visit the Shinto Ruins."
"There's a traveling rchant who stays in a small house near the temple. Blond hair, blue jacket, always carrying a massive backpack. He's still young, been staying there since last year. Apparently, he's serving as a guide for an elderly mountain dweller, but he might also be an explorer himself."
A traveling rchant? A field supply vendor!
Hikaru's eyes lit up. Finding a rchant in a remote area was rare, and one stationed in the wild ant they likely carried rare materials.
Having gained useful intel, Hikaru quickly ward up to Guru.
The Shinto region wasn't just ho to descendants of the Shinto people—there were also descendants of ancient Johto settlers.
This was one of history's unanswered mysteries—why did Sinnoh's people migrate south across the sea? Why did Johto's people venture deep into the mountains? Even Guru couldn't say, as the legends had long since fragnted.
Guru carefully packed various herbs and their seeds for Hikaru. So were common dicinal plants, while others he had never seen before.
"This is Heal Grass—looks like a giant green onion, but it's a great base for dicine. Originally brought here from Sinnoh, but since the environnt is so similar, it's now growing wild."
"This is Vital Bloom, also known as Morning Dew Bud. It's an essential ingredient in traditional dicine."
"This is Bugweed—just a bitter wild herb used in herbal dicine. Once dried and ground into powder, it's taken as a redy."
"And this…" Guru pulled open a dicine drawer, retrieving a curled-up, vibrant green plant.
"This is Revival Herb. It's extrely bitter and spicy, but as a dicine, it's remarkably potent. Even a near-death Pokémon will recover rapidly after consuming it."
"If you cultivate it, the roots will grow large—that's Energy Root."
"Revival Herb is an invaluable dicinal plant. Use it wisely."
Hikaru examined the various herbs. So were familiar from the gas, while others resembled real-world dicinal plants—offering not just healing, but also calming effects, detoxification, and vitality restoration.
Guru smiled.
"dicinal plants grow quickly. Just water them regularly, and they'll sprout within days. In about a month, you'll have a full harvest."
Hikaru once again marveled at the absurd plant growth rates in the Pokémon world. But the benefits were undeniable.
"I saw Diglett in the village. Are they the villagers' Pokémon?"
Guru shook his head.
"No, no. The Diglett and we simply coexist. They till the land for us, and in return, we plant crops they enjoy as a reward."
Diglett naturally ate plant roots and chewed through vegetables. To prevent this, farrs grew special crops as an exchange—allowing Diglett to help with farming instead of becoming a problem.
Hikaru nodded thoughtfully.
It was interesting—while Diglett could till land, they couldn't learn the move 'Rototiller'. Only their evolved form, Dugtrio, could.
But that was just ga chanics.
In practice, any Ground-type Pokémon could plow land. Even Tauros could be used for traditional ox-plowing.
This thod was even docunted in Jubilife Village's farm records during the Hisui era.
After all, Rototiller was a niche move, while Ground-type Pokémon were everywhere—even Groudon could do the job.
"Thank you for the herbs. I'll cultivate them properly."
As Hikaru's thoughts began to stir, information surfaced again.
[Rare Herb: Revival Herb.]
Description: A very bitter dicinal herb. Fully restores the HP of a fainted Pokémon.
Crafting Knowledge Unlocked (1):
[Unique Herbal Crafting (C): The dicine you craft doubles its healing effect but becos even more bitter. However, Pokémon that enjoy bitter flavors will gain friendship instead of losing it.
New Craftable Items Unlocked: "Herbal dicine" and "Superior Herbal dicine."]
"And these are crop seeds. Take so as well."
Since Diglett helped with farming, Guru didn't just grow dicinal plants but also regular crops.
"Fresh vegetables aren't easy to co by when traveling, right? Don't worry about ti—this soil is highly fertile, and with sumr here, everything will grow rapidly after planting. The abandoned land near your workshop should be put to good use."
Guru continued:
"You probably know that food and dicine share origins. So vegetables can double as redies. When you're hungry, they're food; when you're sick, they're dicine."
"I'll even lend you so Diglett. Just give a few days—once our farm work is done, co back, and they'll help till your land."
Hikaru was surprised.
"You can lend Diglett? But I thought they weren't owned by the village?"
Guru chuckled, stroking his beard.
"They're easy to befriend—just feed them their favorite foods like vegetables and tree roots."
"Once they trust you, they'll help till your land. If you prepare the food, they'll clear your entire plot in a single day."
"If you feel guilty about taking their help, bring so rare herbs if you find any in the wild."
"Oh, and if you ever find Mago Berries, bring them to . They take a long ti to grow and are highly sought-after for dicine."
Hikaru was thrilled.
With Diglett's help, his soil would beco more fertile, his herbs would grow faster and healthier, and most importantly—he'd save a ton of ti and effort.
Plus, he had bought everything in one trip.
And as he received one last pack of seeds, new information surfaced again.
[Uncommon Crop Seed: Rolling Bean.]
Description: A large, firm bean. A favorite of Flying- and Water-type Pokémon. Can be used to lure them.
New Crafting Knowledge Unlocked (1).
"Rolling Beans from Hisui? They still exist?"
This trip to the village was well worth it.
"Oh, and one more thing—I'm also looking to buy scrap cloth."
(End of Chapter)
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