The Paldea League moved with impressive speed.
Rika had mentioned they'd be coming to construct a shrine for Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests. That very morning, a truck pulled up the hillside.
Curious, Naoki followed Rika to see what was happening.
Several large men in blue work uniforms hopped out of the truck and immediately began setting up on the mountaintop. In no time, an ornate shrine had taken shape.
At its center stood a magnificent statue of Calyrex, portrayed with a gentle smile, radiating kindness and wisdom.
Naoki was taken aback.
"Isn't this… a bit much?"
Rika chuckled, and since they'd grown more comfortable talking, her tone was casual. "This is the efficiency of the Paldea League! Everyone is dedicated to their work!"
"And this is just the beginning!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Next, these workers will construct a staircase leading down the mountain and build an even grander temple!"
"Huh?" Naoki stared in surprise. "Isn't that a little over the top?"
He had initially thought they'd just put up a modest shrine, something small and peaceful.
Rika laughed, then spoke sincerely. "Compared to what Calyrex has done, this is a small gesture!"
The mountain's ecosystem had been severely damaged, and restoring it would have required extensive manpower and funding. Calyrex's incredible powers saved the Paldea League considerable time and resources.
"So, both outwardly and deep down, the League genuinely wants to show their gratitude to Calyrex and to you, Naoki."
"The Chief told me about how Calyrex, once a figure of great reverence, had become forgotten, wandering the vast snowfields alone. They say this legend is well-known in Kosaji Town."
Rika paused, then asked gently, "This way, we can help Calyrex regain his followers, right?"
Inspire belief in Him once more and restore His strength.
Naoki nodded. "That's right."
Calyrex's powers had already reached their peak, but increased faith could certainly speed up His energy recovery and even aid the growth of the World Tree. Though not essential, it would be beneficial.
Hearing Naoki's confirmation, Rika's eyes lit up. "That's wonderful!"
"If Calyrex knew, He'd be pleased," Naoki added, though Calyrex had stayed back at the ranch and wasn't there with them.
"Ah," Rika sighed, then suddenly remembered something. "Would you like the Paldea League to announce that Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, is here with you?"
Naoki had already considered this matter beforehand.
So, he shook his head and replied, "Let's keep it low-key."
He imagined that, over time, some trainers might hear legends about Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, and feel inspired to visit the shrine on the hillside near Kosaji Town. That way, they would simply pay their respects rather than rushing straight to the ranch, eager to challenge a legendary Pokémon.
After all, Calyrex, who had transitioned from being a king to enjoying the peaceful life of a rancher, would surely find such challenges quite bothersome.
Rika nodded in understanding. "Understood. After the forest fire incident, which attracted a lot of attention, many people sent supplies to help the surviving Pokémon."
She then added, "So, the Paldea League is planning to announce through the news that a kind-hearted legendary Pokémon couldn't bear to see the devastation and used its extraordinary powers to restore life to the mountainside and bring the forest back to its original state. How does that sound to you?"
Naoki nodded. "That sounds perfect."
This way, the legend of Calyrex's compassion would be remembered across the Paldea region. In this era of the League—far more advanced than the ancient kingdoms—and with newspapers and television to record such events, Calyrex's legacy would surely endure.
Even Geeta, the Champion of the League, would find it difficult to erase the memory of Calyrex under such circumstances. This ensured that wherever Calyrex went, He would never face the same fate as before, forgotten by the world and left to wander alone in snowy isolation.
This was the least he could do for Calyrex, Naoki thought.
At that moment, the construction crew had finished the shrine dedicated to the King of Bountiful Harvests. Naoki assumed they would soon pack up and leave, but to his surprise, they drove even deeper into the forest.
Watching them go, Naoki looked puzzled. "Where are they going?"
Rika sighed. "To honor the Pokémon that perished in the fire, the Paldea League has decided to establish a Pokémon cemetery deep in the forest, hoping those who lost their lives can find peace… It's still quite saddening."
Naoki recalled the Pokémon they had found when searching the forest last year. Back then, he had dug a resting place for them, buried them, and brought Pawmot along to offer a prayer for the fallen Pokémon.
Perhaps the Paldea League wanted to provide a proper remembrance as well.
The two followed the workers until they reached a clearing in the woods.
In the open space, workers in blue uniforms were carefully digging and placing tombstones inscribed with the names of the deceased Pokémon.
Watching the scene, Rika murmured, "I've heard that when Pokémon pass, they don't simply disappear. They transform into spirits, wandering this land, always searching for their way home."
Naoki stayed silent. He understood this topic better than Rika knew.
In the cycle of life, both humans and Pokémon would become spirits after passing, eventually returning to the spirit world and rejoining nature's flow. But if a spirit held onto an unfulfilled attachment, the gatekeeper of the spirit world—Dusknoir—would appear to lead it into the underworld.
"I wonder," Naoki thought to himself, "if a foreign soul like mine would be taken to the spirit world by Dusknoir when the time comes."
Seeing his pensive look, Rika offered some comfort. "Don't be too sad. Have you experienced the loss of a Pokémon before?"
Naoki assured her he wasn't sad, and shook his head at her question.
"Birth, aging, illness, and death are all natural in this world," Rika continued, gazing up at the cloudy sky. "Have you ever heard of a Pokémon called Greavard?"
Naoki blinked in surprise. "Greavard?"
"Yes!" Rika nodded with a gentle smile. "Greavard is said to be the reincarnation of deceased Pokémon."
"People say that if someone holds the memory of a lost Pokémon close to their heart, they might one day encounter a Greavard."
"A Pokémon, sensing its trainer's love and longing, may be reborn as a Greavard and find its way back to them."
"That's really…" Naoki trailed off, at a loss for words to describe it.
Rika chuckled softly, then added, "But as long as you keep your Pokémon healthy and strong, they'll stay by your side for a very long time."
"I once saw a Butterfree that lived for almost sixty years!" Rika shared. "Its trainer would exercise with it every day and feed it a variety of berries to keep it nourished. With all the care and attention, that Butterfree, which usually only lives thirty to forty years, lived over twenty years longer!"
Naoki blinked, surprised. "Is that even possible? You're not joking, are you?"
"Of course not!" Rika laughed, feigning offense. "Do I look like the type to joke about something like that? This is something I, Rika, have seen with my own eyes!"
Naoki was speechless for a moment. He had never thought of this approach.
It's settled! he thought. When he returned to the ranch, he would make a point to train all his Pokémon and provide them with all the nutrients they needed to live longer, healthier lives.
Glancing at Rika, who looked even younger than him, a thought occurred to Naoki. If he remembered correctly, the Elite Four of the Paldea region were quite unique. There was Rika, the master of Ground types, Hassel, the Dragon-type trainer, Larry, who specialized in Flying types, and the youngest of them all, Poppy, the Steel-type trainer, who was only about nine years old.
Curious, Naoki couldn't help but ask, "By the way, who are the Elite Four of the Paldea League?"
Naoki's question was so abrupt that Rika blinked in surprise, taking a moment to process it. Then she chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "The Elite Four? Did Geeta offer you a position as one of them? If so, that could be interesting!"
Naoki shook his head, smiling. "No, nothing like that. She only invited me to work within the League."
"Is that so?" Rika thought for a moment before answering, "Currently, there are only three members of the Paldea Elite Four: me, specializing in Ground-types; Hassel, the Dragon-type; and Larry, who was recruited by Geeta and works part-time as the Flying-type expert."
"As for the fourth spot, it's still vacant. Ever since the previous Steel-type specialist retired, no one has stepped in to fill the role, and it's stayed open."
Naoki asked, "What if a trainer wants to challenge all four Elite members?"
Rika grinned. "We'd just pull in one of the champion trainers to cover the role temporarily!"
Naoki was momentarily speechless.
The Paldea League really did have a unique approach. Holding multiple roles seemed pretty standard here. Larry, for instance, was primarily a Pokémon League staff member but was also asked to be both a gym leader. Not to mention Rika, who also worked as a League interviewer. Even Geeta wasn't exempt, balancing League management duties with gym inspections and scouting potential talents.
Compared to all that, life on the ranch felt leisurely and easygoing.
---
That afternoon, Rika hurriedly left the ranch after receiving a phone call.
Apparently, a trainer had just collected their eighth gym badge and was on their way to League Headquarters to challenge the Elite Four. As one of the League's interviewers, Rika needed to get back to work as soon as possible.
Naoki watched her figure disappear in the distance, amused.
Judging by the current pace, it was clear that building the Shrine of Plenty wouldn't be a quick project. Besides constructing the shrine itself, the workers also planned to build a staircase leading down the mountain.
According to Rika, the Paldea League and Mayor Thomas had discussed plans to create a full-fledged shrine and designate the day of Calyrex's miracle as the Festival of Harvest—a celebration of renewal and abundance.
Every year on this day, the town would hold a grand festival at the shrine to honor the remarkable deeds of Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests.
Naoki only had faint memories of seeing such festivals in anime—a young girl dressed in festival attire, sake being served, and an elderly man presiding over the ceremony. People would illuminate the entire mountain trail with torches, journeying from the base of the mountain to the shrine to pay their respects to the god enshrined there.
As dusk approached, the sky was painted with hues of the setting sun. From the ranch, the joyful sounds of Pokémon playing filled the air. They frolicked on the grassy fields, some gathering wildflowers from the nearby bushes.
When Naoki returned to the ranch, he was greeted by his Cyclizar, who presented him with a handful of vibrant yellow flowers. The sight instantly reminded him of last spring, when Cyclizar had given him flowers, sparking a little jealousy in Koraidon, who then went off to gather a bouquet of his own.
Naoki accepted the flowers from Cyclizar, planning to place them in a vase inside, and patted its head affectionately. "Thank you, Cyclizar! I love these flowers."
"Raao~" Cyclizar chirped happily, its tail wagging with excitement.
Curious about Koraidon's reaction this time, Naoki turned to find Koraidon, only to see it missing from its usual resting spot under the eaves. Moments later, he spotted it emerging from the dense flower field, holding a vibrant array of wildflowers it had picked.
Naoki couldn't help but smile. 'Some things never change!' He reached out to accept the flowers from Koraidon as well—he knew if he took only Cyclizar's flowers, Koraidon would be jealous.
"Alright! Go on, enjoy yourselves!" he said cheerfully.
But Koraidon lingered, having noticed Naoki patting Cyclizar's head. It leaned in expectantly, waiting for the same attention. With a chuckle, Naoki gave Koraidon a fond pat.
Naoki couldn't help but think, 'Koraidon's just like a playful schoolkid!'
He turned and headed inside to start dinner preparations, with both Cyclizar and Koraidon trailing him, one on each side.
As he took ingredients from the refrigerator, Naoki's thoughts drifted to what Geeta had shared earlier. She had mentioned that Alder had distanced himself from the League and was now likely wandering somewhere in the Unova region. Finding him would be no easy task.
Looking at the bottle of life-giving goat's milk on the counter, Naoki sighed, feeling a bit wistful. 'It's a shame,' he thought. He couldn't simply abandon everything here at the ranch to embark on a quest to track down Alder in Unova.
As evening settled, the Pokémon that had been playing outside gradually made their way back home.
Seeing them all, Naoki remembered what Rika had mentioned earlier that day.
'Raise your Pokémon to be healthy and strong, and they'll live long lives.'
Whether it was Teddiursa, Cyclizar, Glaceon, or Butterfree, Naoki was determined. 'No one would be left behind.' He'd make sure each Pokémon was well-cared for and had the longest, happiest life possible.