Read up to 30 advanced chapters exclusively on my Patreon at - patreon.com/LoverrBoy
---------------------------------
Muramasa's invitation was accepted by Liam without much thought, and the moment Delia heard that Muramasa had his own Gym, she eagerly nodded in agreement.
She quickly packed up the picnic supplies and followed him, her face brimming with anticipation.
However, upon arriving at the location, Delia's expression instantly darkened. She spun around, pointed at the crowd in the courtyard, and shouted at Muramasa:
"Hey! Old man! This is the 'Gym' you were talking about?! Who are all those people training in the yard? This is clearly just a training ground, not a proper Gym! Can't you tell the difference between a Gym and a Gym?!"
Originally, Delia had assumed that Muramasa's so-called Gym was an official Pokémon Gym where you could earn Gym Badges. But after arriving, she realized it was merely a private facility—one that took in students and trained Pokémon, with absolutely no affiliation to the League whatsoever.
Having gotten her hopes up for nothing, Delia was visibly disappointed.
"That's enough, Delia. That was rude... I apologize, Mr. Muramasa. My fiancée misspoke—I sincerely apologize on her behalf."
Liam frowned slightly at Delia's outburst and gently lowered her raised hand. Ignoring her aggrieved expression, he turned and offered Muramasa a polite apology.
"Hahaha, it's fine, really! I'm not offended at all. Misunderstandings like this have happened plenty of times already. A lot of passing Trainers hear there's a 'Gym' here and make the journey thinking it's an official Gym. Once they realize it's privately run and there are no Badges to earn, their reactions are often way more dramatic than Miss Delia's. I'm used to it by now, hahaha~"
Just from a short time together, Liam could already tell that Mr. Muramasa was truly a good man—kind, strong, and a respectable elder with an admirable temperament.
Muramasa's laughter caught the attention of the people training nearby. A few of them, after hearing what he said, scratched their heads awkwardly and walked over. One of them, a bald young man accompanied by a Hitmonchan, blushed and said:
"Master, please stop bringing that up already! You really gave us a beatdown back then. I still get headaches just thinking about it..."
His words drew laughter from the surrounding students, showing just how lighthearted and harmonious the atmosphere of the Gym was.
...
By noon, Mr. Muramasa, along with his family and disciples, had prepared a rich and delicious lunch to warmly welcome Liam and Delia. The meal was so satisfying that Delia completely forgot her earlier frustration.
After lunch, Liam and Mr. Muramasa sat together on the wooden porch of the Gym/dojo, each holding a cup of tea and enjoying the peaceful post-meal moment.
As Liam sipped his tea and looked out at the training field—where Delia was sparring and practicing with some of the disciples—he couldn't help but sigh contentedly and say:
"This kind of peaceful moment really draws you in. Just sitting here makes me feel like I've aged a decade..."
Muramasa chuckled and nodded in agreement. He turned slightly to gently stroke the Scyther, 'Masamune,' who was lying beside him. With a nostalgic look in his eyes, he replied:
"It really is a bit too peaceful. Back when Masamune and I were traveling the world, things were a lot more intense and exciting. But I'm older now, and my heart's settled. My only wish these days is for my family and students to live safely... and for Masamune to grow stronger. Everything else? I don't have the energy to care anymore."
Liam greatly admired Muramasa's relaxed philosophy. Just as he was about to say something in response, he suddenly remembered the Metal Coat he had in his backpack.
Earlier at the Pokémon Center, he'd also learned that Pokémon transfer machines would soon be installed in centers all across the region. Once that happens, Pokémon requiring trade-based evolutions would finally be able to evolve.
Thinking of this, Liam silently reached into his bag and pulled out a cylindrical solid-metal item. He gently placed it next to Muramasa.
"Huh? What's this?"
Muramasa looked at the metal object in confusion and asked Liam.
"Heh... Mr. Muramasa, did you know? Scyther can actually evolve further."
Liam didn't answer directly. Instead, he shifted the topic to Masamune, the Scyther.
"What?! That's... that's impossible!"
Liam's words hit Muramasa like a bolt of lightning. He nearly jumped from the porch, his eyes wide with disbelief. Even the Scyther beside him looked confused and stared at Liam, as if trying to confirm the truth.
"It might sound hard to believe, but I'm not lying. Scyther really can evolve—into a Pokémon called Scizor. But because the evolution conditions are so unique, very few people actually know about it."
Liam wasn't surprised by Muramasa's shocked reaction—he'd already seen enough of those during his time with Professor Oak. Smiling, he nudged the Metal Coat a bit closer.
"This... does it have something to do with this metal? I know some Pokémon need special evolution stones—so Scyther needs this kind of metal to evolve?"
Muramasa was no amateur—he immediately made the connection.
"You're half right. This item is called a Metal Coat, made from several rare metals. Scyther can carry it to boost certain type-based moves—but just holding it won't trigger evolution."
"I'm sure you've heard of the Pokémon Transfer Machine invented by Silph Co. in Kanto, right? Soon enough, similar machines will appear in Johto's Pokémon Centers. And that machine... is the real key to Scyther's evolution."
Liam paused for a sip of tea before continuing, as Muramasa watched anxiously.
"The method is simple: have Scyther hold the Metal Coat, then send it through the Transfer Machine to another Trainer. During the transmission, Scyther will evolve into Scizor. The science behind it is a bit complex—something about special electrical currents during the transfer—but that's essentially how it works."
"I understand your desire to make Scyther stronger. Evolution is a solid path toward that goal. So this Metal Coat... consider it a gift from us to thank you for your generous hospitality."
After saying this, Liam didn't press further. He simply sipped his tea in silence, watching Delia laugh and train in the courtyard, his expression calm and content.
Beside him, Muramasa stared intensely at the Metal Coat, clearly torn. After a long pause, he clenched his fists with determination, stood up, and went into the house. A few moments later, he returned holding a small wooden box.
Muramasa sat down beside Liam, quietly picked up the Metal Coat, and then gently pushed the small box toward Liam with an embarrassed smile.
"Ahem... the truth is, this Metal Coat is just too tempting—I'll shamelessly accept it. And as a token of gratitude, here's something I found during my younger days of traveling. It's not anything rare or powerful, but I hope you'll accept it as a symbol of my appreciation."
As he spoke, Muramasa opened the box.
Inside lay a dazzling feather, roughly ten centimeters long, glowing with a shimmering rainbow sheen. It rested silently in the box, emanating a mysterious and beautiful light.