According to his memories, Hikaru recalled that after returning, the previous owner had spent the next few days conducting limited field exploration and making a first visit to the village. Through conversations with the villagers, he had roughly mapped out the surrounding terrain and drawn a simple map.
Hikaru re-entered the house, took down the map, and once again surveyed the area to compare it with the drawn layout.
First, the main structure of the Shinto Ruins. It was actually the remains of an ancient temple, isolated from the village and hidden deep within the sacred peak. Access to the peak was only possible during summer.
Once autumn and winter arrived, the area was engulfed by relentless blizzards. This was why the location was merely marked as "?" in the upper right corner of the crude map.
Occasionally, ruin investigators and explorers from other regions would conduct research, but most found nothing of value.
That was expected. After all, the Pokémon world was filled with countless ruins and remnants of ancient civilizations. Without understanding its true history, people would simply assume that the Shinto Ruins were just another old temple ruin located north of Johto and the Indigo Plateau.
During winter, this place would be completely buried under heavy snow, cutting it off from access. Anyone wanting to reach the ruins would have to pass through a wall of ice and snow.
Being situated at the edge of the Indigo Plateau, the climate was frigid—snow in the mountain valleys rarely melted year-round. The village nestled in the mountain fold relied on the ancient peak for survival, maintaining a small patch of farmland for sustenance. Their planting season had just begun in June.
To the northwest lay an enormous forest, known as the Shinto Woods. Towering ancient trees filled the area, with some sections so dense that sunlight never reached the ground.
To the east was a continuous mountain range, mainly consisting of rocky peaks. These towering mountains formed deep, rugged valleys, with scattered wetlands in between. The Shinto Ruins' sacred peak was the tallest in the eastern mountains. Many rivers and streams originated from it, flowing through the village and forest.
To the south, the path led to Johto, mostly covered by the vast and towering Indigo Plateau. Even Mt. Moon and the Yūei Mountain Range were part of this plateau. Beyond the plateau lay Smokemore City in Johto.
To the west, another massive plateau and mountain range stretched endlessly. From Ecruteak City and the Battle Frontier's northern region, it extended all the way north, beyond the map's boundaries. Even the small visible portion on Johto's map already rivaled the Indigo Plateau in scale.
Hikaru shifted his gaze back from the distance and focused on the wasteland around the workshop.
Because of his work, as a jack-of-all-trades toolmaker, he often traveled through different regions, constantly relocating his workshop.
Now that he had gained a special ability for acquiring knowledge and craftsmanship, he would need to travel even more.
But his work in Shinto had just begun. It was time to restore the abandoned workshop.
At the very least, he would be staying here for quite a while. And one type of item required him to stay rooted in one place.
That was—medicine.
From ancient herbal remedies to modern Full Restores and Full Heals, the essence of medicine remained unchanged. Herbs in the Pokémon world possessed mystical healing properties. If applied correctly, even minor injuries healed instantly.
When processed into potions, their effects became even more powerful—a result of combining different medicinal properties. However, the brewing methods varied from region to region and for different medicines.
Mint, herbs, Revival Herb—these were common medicinal plants that had to be cultivated manually. Finding them in the wild was incredibly difficult, and some species only grew in specific regions.
This was why always carrying herb seeds and planting them wherever possible was essential.
Hikaru already had a small supply of seeds. Whenever he set up a new worksite, he planted some, leaving a portion behind for future use. If needed, he could purchase more from local herbalists—along with vegetable and plant seeds for emergencies.
Unlike fresh vegetables, seeds had an incredibly long shelf life when stored properly.
Although Hikaru wasn't an herbalist, he could still craft basic healing potions—a traditional skill among Sinnoh locals. The main ingredient? Heal Grass.
"I should visit the village to restock soon."
From the previous owner's memories, Hikaru knew that the village had both herbalists and craftsmen. The herbalist owned a medicinal garden, where he could buy seeds or transplant some herbs. It was also a good opportunity to look for rare plants.
For regular crop seeds, he could simply buy some from the villagers.
Truthfully, Hikaru figured he'd stay in this place for at least a few months—which meant securing a reliable food source was crucial.
Luckily, it was summer in Shinto. The plants were thriving, soaking in the warm air and growing rapidly.
Besides gathering seeds, Hikaru also needed to collect scrap cloth.
"Yo?"
Hikaru turned to see Honedge floating toward him.
Ghost-type Pokémon were still Pokémon. They weren't actual ghosts—they needed rest just like any other.
"Good morning, Honedge! Time to get to work!"
"Yo!"
Honedge seemed excited, though it had no idea what the task was.
Was it time to slice vegetables again?
"No, today we're cleaning up the house. In the afternoon, we'll visit the village."
The abandoned workshop had been unused for years. After the previous owner returned, he had only occupied the living room, workshop, and basement. Four other rooms remained untouched, filled with dust-covered antique chairs, some even toppled over.
Just opening the door sent a cloud of dust into the air, making him cough.
Honedge drifted inside, immediately enveloped by a chilling sensation—and it loved it!
"Why do you look so happy? Man, this place feels unsettling… The info wasn't wrong—this old house has definitely accumulated lingering spirits. It's practically a haunted site."
That was to be expected. Houses left empty for too long always developed an eerie atmosphere.
Hikaru inspected the first room. A rectangular table stood in the center, with dusty glass bottles scattered on top. A cabinet with three shelves and two large drawers sat beside it.
Some metallic tools and potion-making equipment were arranged on the shelves. Next to the cabinet was a small, narrow bookshelf, filled with ancient books, their spines crumbling.
"This looks like an alchemy lab."
Hikaru cautiously touched one of the books, but it nearly crumbled to dust.
"These books are ancient… Reading them properly might be impossible. Maybe if I learn book restoration techniques, I could fix them someday."
Once medicinal herbs were cultivated and harvested, this room could serve as a potion-making lab. It already had ready-to-use equipment.
Then, in the second room, Hikaru found an old forge.
"It's like a blacksmith's shop in a game."
As he explored further, he discovered something peculiar.
It was a clump of pale green clay, faintly glowing.
[Rare Material: Light Clay]
Effect: Pokémon holding this item will extend the duration of Light Screen and Reflect.
Crafting Method (1):
Unique Pottery Crafting (C-): Clay-based pottery retains the properties of its materials. Ground- and Rock-type Pokémon love these ceramics and receive slight attribute boosts.
In Sinnoh's Underground, Light Clay was exceptionally rare, only obtained through persistent digging.
"If I turn this into pottery, would it glow?"
Clay was a common pottery material. But if used to make ceramics…
"Would my plates automatically cast Light Screen?"
(End of Chapter)
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