Johto Region, northeast of the Lake of Rage.

Near the ruins of the Relic City.

On the Pokémon world map, this area is described as "A land of ancient legends, a blizzard-stricken region blocked by walls of ice and snow."

June 6, Early Summer.

Event: Rainy weather occurring in some locations.

On a secluded hillside, far from any villages, stood an abandoned workshop.

The structure was a mix of brick and wood, but the outer wooden walls had long since decayed, covered in creeping moss. The land around the workshop was strewn with scattered rocks and overgrown with thick weeds.

Inside the house, an old-fashioned clock had stopped ticking, the brick stove lay cold, and a rough, hand-drawn map hung on the wall, marked with various locations. The annotations were recent.

Raindrops pattered against the window.

As the sound of rain echoed, Hikaru woke up, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.

His memories quickly organized themselves, piecing together the situation.

This is the Pokémon world.

Pokémon—mysterious creatures that possess incredible abilities—exist in every corner of this world. Alongside them, humans have developed various advanced technologies, creating a world filled with wonder.

As civilization advanced, the power of Pokémon attributes gradually became integrated into human life. In fact, this practice had existed since ancient times.

The flood of memories gave Hikaru a slight headache. He recalled that his predecessor had worked in the Sinnoh region, but due to family reasons, he had inherited a severe psychological illness from his mother. His mother had passed away from the disease years ago, and his father had been killed by a wild, ferocious Pokémon.

"Are Pokémon dangerous creatures?"

Because of these reasons, his predecessor had decided to stop working and returned to the place his father once called "hometown." The workshop he found was based on his father's notes, though by the time he arrived, it had been abandoned for years.

His predecessor was an Item Craftsman.

In the Pokémon world, Item Craftsmen have appeared in various game generations. For instance, the elderly man in the Shoal Cave of the Hoenn region was a Shell Craftsman, the Iron Master of Johto specialized in making Poké Balls, and the old man in North Shinobi crafted masks.

Typically, "items" refer to battle-related tools. However, if the definition is broadened, even everyday household objects and work tools fall under the category.

An Item Craftsman is someone who gathers materials and creates new tools. This includes Poké Ball artisans, artifact smiths, wood sculptors, stone carvers, glass artisans, and more. It also extends to item merchants and material suppliers.

Whether searching for natural items or gathering raw materials to craft man-made ones, such work required frequent outdoor exploration. However, the risks involved often outweighed the rewards. In modern times, the role of Item Craftsmen had nearly faded into history. Perhaps transitioning into a materials supplier was the only viable future.

With the rise of large corporations like Devon Corporation, Silph Co., and Aether Foundation, mass-produced items would soon make craftsmen obsolete.

After fully waking up, Hikaru felt a hunger pang.

"I'm a bit hungry… Well, for now, I should eat a Sitrus Berry."

Sitrus Berry—a bright yellow, pear-shaped fruit from the Pokémon world. Its effects differ when held versus when directly consumed. If eaten, it restores half of a Pokémon's max HP.

Moreover, Sitrus Berries are a key ingredient in crafting Full Restore.

Gazing at the still-open computer, Hikaru browsed through the digital legacy left behind by his predecessor. The online shop listed mostly antique-style crafts and sculptures.

Sculpting was a family trade passed down through generations. Because of this, his predecessor excelled at creating carved and polished items—most of which were decorative, such as stone statues found at Gym entrances.

As Hikaru explored the store page, he suddenly received a new email.

A client?

"The power of science is amazing!"

That's what people usually say in moments like this, right?

Even in such a remote location, he could still access the Pokémon world's network—an advancement made possible by the era's technology.

It was likely that the research teams occasionally visiting the ruins had set up a communication station here. After all, the Pokémon world's technology bordered on the realm of science fiction. Pokémon Rangers, for example, could communicate with headquarters even from the most isolated mountain ranges—sometimes across entire regions.

Hikaru clicked on the email. It was a consultation request.

"The client is looking for an item that enhances a Pokémon's durability. Recommended by the Iron Master… Wait, my father knew the Iron Master?"

Hikaru's memories surged.

The Iron Master of Johto was a renowned Poké Ball craftsman, a true master of the craft. It wasn't surprising that his parents had known him. The Iron Master had acquaintances all over the world—that's just how respected masters are.

Introducing clients to him was likely a favor, a way of supporting an old friend's child.

As an Item Craftsman, Hikaru's job was to create custom items for clients, appraise item quality, and repair damaged tools. The internet had greatly simplified these traditionally in-person transactions.

With business being slow, online consultations were a crucial part of the job.

"For durability, are we talking about an evolved Pokémon or an unevolved one?"

"If it's an unevolved Pokémon, I recommend using the Eviolite."

Hikaru quickly sent his reply, but the client's response was… unexpected.

"?"

"What is an Eviolite?"

Hikaru blinked in surprise. They didn't know about Eviolite?

He typed back: "It's a light-purple stone that significantly boosts the defensive stats of unevolved Pokémon."

"?"

"There's such a thing? I've never heard of it."

The client's ignorance puzzled Hikaru. He decided to ask about their background—whether they were a professional Trainer registered with the League. The answer shocked him.

"Ah, I didn't mention it outright in the email, but… I'm actually a Bug-type Gym Leader."

"Because Bug-types have many weaknesses, I wanted to find ways to make them stronger, so I started researching items."

A Bug-type Gym Leader?!

Across Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, only one Bug-type Gym Leader existed…

Bugsy, the youngest Gym Leader of Azalea Town!

"Wait, a Gym Leader doesn't know about Eviolite? What timeline is this…?"

Hikaru was stunned. Then, he recalled something—his predecessor had an Eviolite!

However, the original owner had mistaken it for a jade stone…

Diving into old memories, Hikaru described the Eviolite's effects to Bugsy, then asked them to wait.

He walked to the deepest part of the workshop, where a sturdy oak door led to a storage basement.

Since returning, the predecessor hadn't fully organized the space. Countless materials, stone slabs, and wood planks were stacked chaotically, along with discarded antiques and relics gathered from across the world.

Hikaru rummaged through the artifacts, finally spotting the target—a dull, pale-purple stone embedded in an ancient sword. A faded label read: "Ancient Sword with Inlaid Jade."

The gemstone's surface was rough.

As for the sword itself, time and dirt had fused with it. It had likely been buried underground for countless years. The blade was stuck in its sheath, possibly rusted shut, and its engravings had long since worn away.

Hikaru's memories surfaced—this sword was found in an ancient ruin near the northwestern area of Mt. Moon, close to the Indigo Plateau. That region once housed numerous small kingdoms, now reduced to ruins and dust—save for one surviving nation.

Reaching out, he grasped the sword, inspecting the gemstone closely.

At that moment, his mind exploded with foreign thoughts.

A chaotic flood of knowledge reshaped itself into something comprehensible—

[Rare Material Discovered: "Raw Natural Eviolite"!]

[New Knowledge Acquired: Treasure Hunting—Detecting rare minerals, fossils, and relics.]

[New Craft Acquired: Unique Polishing Technique (C-)]

[By refining materials, their quality and effectiveness will improve.]

[Through craftsmanship, the Eviolite can be properly processed.]

"Wait… Is this…?"

Hikaru froze.

This… is my cheat ability?!

Was his golden finger only unlocked after working?!

(End of Chapter)