Three days later—Rastor Village
Arthur stood outside the newly constructed building with his family, Rosaria's group, and today's star—Anna Joy. The structure stood out sharply against the rustic backdrop of wood and stone typical of the medieval village.
A Pokémon Center.
Thanks to magic, constructing something as unique as a Pokémon Center in such a short time was no challenge.
Its location was thoughtfully chosen—right between three important landmarks: Arthur's home, Rastor's Safari Zone, and the village chief's residence—to accommodate everyone's needs.
It was close to Arthur's house because, in many ways, his home functioned like a Pokémon Research Lab. People came and went constantly, asking questions, seeking help, or just passing through.
That likely wouldn't change in the near future as long as Arthur lived there.
Rosaria or Virelyra often dropped by with Pokémon-related inquiries. Well, Rosaria more often came without any real reason—she just liked lounging around like a salted fish on his couch. But even that showed how frequently his house was visited.
The Safari Zone needed no explanation. As a hub for Rookie Trainers preparing to begin their journeys, it made perfect sense for the Pokémon Center to be nearby.
Then there was the village chief's house. That placement had been at Village Chief Joey's own request. He claimed he was getting old and his bones couldn't handle long walks anymore, so he wanted the healing facility nearby.
…who would believe that!?
Arthur hadn't said anything, but he suspected the request had more to do with security than convenience. If anything ever happened at the Pokémon Center, the village chief could be notified immediately and respond without delay.
A quiet kind of protection.
Of course, that was just Arthur's speculation.
Maybe the truth was exactly as he said—the village chief really was just old, tired, and didn't want to walk too far.
But that didn't make much sense—he did seem capable of teleporting when he felt like it…
Well, overthinking it wouldn't help. The village chief hadn't offered an explanation, and Arthur wasn't about to ask. Better to just let it go.
Standing before the Pokémon Center, Arthur smiled with delight and thanked the boss of the construction company, Dreamlit Company, whom he'd hired from the nearby city. "Thank you, Boss Pascal. You recreated it exactly as I imagined."
The middle-aged man, his face framed by a full beard, rubbed his hands together proudly. "Hehe… that's because your blueprint was so detailed. I'm honored to work on such a unique building! But… about the payment…"
"You know me, Boss," Arthur replied with a polite smile. Inwardly, though, he scolded him: Rushing money from a 13-year-old kid? Have you no shame? Your construction skills are good, but your eyes always see dollar signs!
Of course, there was no dollar currency here in Ocasia, but every time Arthur met Pascal, the man's eyes seemed to scream "money".
Still, his work was always on time, and the quality was solid—nothing to complain about. It was just that Pascal kept pressing for payment every time they met, even when the job wasn't half finished yet, which really grated on Arthur's nerves.
After handing over the payment and sending Pascal on his way—eager to return to the city and count the earnings with his crew—Arthur turned to admire the Pokémon Center.
The building was iconic, instantly recognizable to any Pokémon fan, designed to stand out in any environment.
Its smooth, rounded architecture featured a bold red domed roof that gleamed under the sunlight. At the very top, a large Poké Ball emblem clearly marked it as a hub for Pokémon. The walls were crisp white trimmed with vibrant red, adding a warm and welcoming touch. Expansive glass windows lent the building a modern, airy feel, while magic-powered automatic sliding doors, framed with decorative lights, marked the entrance. A small paved path led up to the doors, flanked by flower beds, benches, and a bulletin board with community notices.
Nestled in a quiet, cozy village like Rastor, a Pokémon Center would always project warmth, safety, and care—both now and in the future.
"Did you design this building based on a Poké Ball?" Rosaria asked, admiring the resemblance. "Honestly, my past self might've found it strange—maybe even weird—but after using Poké Balls for a while, this Pokémon Center really suits my aesthetic."
However, when she glanced around at the other village buildings, she quickly snapped her head back.
She couldn't decide whether the Pokémon Center ruined the village or the village buildings ruined the Pokémon Center—the jarring contrast between them was too much, and she didn't want to look any closer to compare.
Rosaria's question made Arthur ponder a deeper mystery: which came first, the Poké Ball or the Pokémon Center?
"Arthur, who are they?" Anna Joy asked, glancing at Rosaria, Wentia, and Reden, who were still in their disguise, faces hidden.
Her question snapped Arthur out of his thoughts. "Oh, a spoiled brat, a genius researcher, and a cold knight beauty," he replied casually. Reden laughed, Wentia glanced at him with a slight blush, and Rosaria shot him a glare.
"Why am I the spoiled brat while they're being praised!? That's not fair!" Rosaria pouted, launching a flurry of playful punches at him.
"Sorry! I misspoke earlier—I meant styled bright!" Arthur quickly backpedaled.
"That's more like it!" Rosaria smiled happily but then frowned, sensing Arthur was being sarcastic and mocking her.
While Rosaria wrestled with a whirlpool of question marks, Arthur circled the Pokémon Center, inspecting it carefully.
"This glass looks so transparent and clear, but why can't I see inside?" Lena asked, leaning against the window and peering in vain.
"It's called one-way glass," Arthur explained simply. "Only people inside can see out; we can't see in. I made it with a magic circle." He didn't want to fry his brain trying to explain another complicated concept—like how pure water blocks electricity or how sound travels through rain—so it was easier just to say magic circle!
Of course, he wasn't lying. It really was made possible by magic circles, and he wasn't the first to come up with the idea.
Magic had made technological progress in this world a bit messy. Take teleportation circles, for example. Even his homeworld, modern-day Earth, hadn't figured out such technology yet. But comparing magic to technology was a bit nonsensical anyway.
As for why he added the one-way glass? Anna Joy had mentioned feeling nervous and shy about working in such a high-class building. Arthur had casually suggested one-way glass in passing—but to his surprise, her eyes lit up with excitement.
She even asked him to install it in her bedroom as well.
It wasn't much trouble, so he agreed. Besides, it could help reduce stress for Pokémon during treatment—once they realized people outside couldn't see them. So, why not?
Rosaria quietly ordered Reden to memorize every detail—they'd be building their own Pokémon Center eventually.
Of course, with her financial backing and royal background, there was no real need to copy Arthur's design for a healing facility. But she decided to copy it anyway. The Krosia Royal Family always had a fondness for the color red and a tendency to indulge creative whims, and beyond that—she had already secretly staked her future on the rise of Pokémon.
So if she was going to bet, she'd bet all the way—even on Pokémon-related architecture.
Meanwhile, Arthur approached the bulletin board, which—for now—only displayed a basic explanation of the Pokémon Center's functions. He glanced it over, then walked toward the entrance.
The magic-powered automatic sliding doors opened with a soft ding, welcoming them inside.
The moment he stepped in, he felt the air cool noticeably—thanks to the magical air conditioning—as he took in the interior.
"Welcome, Arthuros and his faithful companions, to this revered sanctuary of healing—a haven for the wounded, the weary, and the wise... the legendary Pokémon Center!"
"Dra~"
"Blu~"
A Nurse Joy stood at the entrance, greeting them cheerfully. Beside her were two familiar Pokémon—Dratini and Swablu, the classic mascots of any Pokémon Cente—
Wait… that's not right!
"Virelyra? What are you doing?" Rosaria asked, blinking as she and the others stared in confusion at the half-dragon woman bowing respectfully and elegantly at the entrance. On her right was a blushing Dratini, clearly embarrassed. On her left, a cheerful Swablu fluttered in circles, happily dancing in the air.
Seeing Virelyra's growing awkwardness, Arthur decided to play along.
With a grin, he walked up beside her and gently patted her shoulder. "Let me introduce you to our official nurse of the Pokémon Center—Nurse Joy!"
"???"
Now it was Virelyra's turn to be confused.
"Nurse Joy…?" Anna Joy repeated quietly, a hint of dejection in her voice at hearing someone else called "Joy."
Crap! I stepped on a landmine! Arthur panicked as he coughed awkwardly, trying to smooth things over.
"It's a joke, just a joke!" he said quickly. "Since today is the official opening of the Pokémon Center, I invited a dancer to perform in honor of our very own Nurse Anna Joy.
"Please welcome Virelyra, the tempest dancer!"
Then, he commanded with a grin, "Virelyra, use Dragon Dance!"
"???"
Why are you treating me like a Pokémon? Virelyra wondered silently.
Still, she started dancing with her Pokémon, matching their rhythm with graceful movements. She kept her mana suppressed, so her aura didn't turn oppressive like before. It was proof her control over Dragon Dance had improved significantly—perhaps thanks to that symbolic 'Father and Mother' moment, or whatever that had been.
"Is she a Pokémon too? She looks almost human," Anna Joy asked, completely distracted as she admired Virelyra's graceful dance—hips swaying, arms swirling—convinced she was some kind of humanoid Pokémon.
The others exchanged glances but wisely chose not to correct her.
The Dragon Race was notorious for its power and destructiveness. To common folk, the word "dragon" was practically a synonym for disaster. While Anna Joy might not care about such rumors, it was better if no one knew Virelyra was a real dragon—it could cause unnecessary panic.
Virelyra didn't correct Anna either. Instead, she seemed pleased by the comparison, sending a playful telepathic message to Arthur:
"Being a Pokémon sounds fun! Hey, Arthuros, how about you try to capture me with your Poké Ball and be my Trainer?"
Arthur smirked and replied quietly in his mind, "Heh, wait until I invent the Master Ball and trap you inside it forever."
"Master Ball? Weak! You'd need at least a God Ball to imprison this mighty dragon forever!" she shot back proudly.
Arthur rolled his eyes, already plotting to spam Poké Balls at her later.
After explaining to Anna Joy that Virelyra was just a human who liked dressing up as a Pokémon, Arthur asked Virelyra why she was here.
"It's nothing complicated," Virelyra replied. "Rosaria told me about the Pokémon Center, so I decided to join in—waiting inside to surprise everyone."
"Let's explore the interior together, shall we?" Arthur invited. Virelyra nodded eagerly and bounced inside alongside her Pokémon, eyes sparkling with keen interest.
The interior of the Pokémon Center was crafted to feel authentic and welcoming.
Bright, clean, and thoughtfully designed, the space aimed to provide comfort and efficiency for both Trainers and their Pokémon.
Upon entering, visitors were greeted by a spacious lobby bathed in soft ambient lighting, with a warm color palette of reds, gentle whites, and cool blues.
At the center stood a semi-circular front desk, where—sometime in the future—Nurse Anna Joy and her assistant Pokémon—two Miltanks and a Happiny, which hopefully would evolve into a Chansey by then—would be ready to receive and heal injured Pokémon. Behind them, a sleek, glowing healing machine hummed quietly, featuring six Poké Ball slots where Trainers could place their Pokémon.
Of course, the healing machine here didn't actually heal Pokémon; instead, it scanned their data to perform check-ups, powered by a magic circle Arthur had invented. Actual healing duties were left to potions or Nurse Anna Joy's Pokémon. For now, Arthur figured he'd need to stock plenty of potions, since her Pokémon hadn't fully matured yet.
Along the side of the lobby were rows of cushioned seats where Trainers could rest, situated near magical screens displaying Pokémon tips—and, in the future, might feature event announcements as well.
Against another wall stood a PC terminal—more a decorative prop for now, without any real function. Nearby were magical vending machines, currently empty of drinks, and small counters resembling bars that would eventually offer refreshments, snacks, and basic supplies.
The air was cool and lightly scented, the atmosphere calm and orderly—a perfect retreat from the rigors of travel and battle.
In short, the Pokémon Center's interior struck a careful balance between futuristic technology and a warm, homely sense of care.
Most—if not all—of the systems in the Pokémon Center were powered by magic circles, supported by Porygon, the same one currently overseeing Rastor's Safari Dome after Arthur linked both locations through the Magic Grid.
Worried that Porygon might get bored, Arthur had expanded its living space to include the Pokémon Center.
As long as no one managed to crack his magic circle codes, they'd never detect the "fish"—Porygon—swimming silently through the Magic Grid.
Yet, as he took in the sleek, futuristic aesthetic of the place, a flicker of concern crossed his mind. It might look too high-tech… and attract unwanted attention.
Attracting attention to encourage people to interact with Pokémon was part of the goal. But attracting too much attention? That was never a good thing.
Even the research lab inside his house wasn't this eye-catching—it still looked mostly like a traditional medieval workspace.
Well, it was too late for regrets now.
Besides, many of the props here were just empty shells—installed purely to make the Pokémon Center look authentic, but with no real functionality. Anyone with a hidden agenda might show interest at first, but once they realized the equipment was just for show, their curiosity would likely fade.
And if someone did come snooping around with intentions as shady as a Team Rocket wannabe? Well, Arthur had two powerful aces up his sleeve: Rosaria, a Royal Princess, and Virelyra, a proud member of the Dragon Race.
Anyone thinking of poking around would have to think twice… no, thrice!
"I'll be working here in the future…" Anna Joy said softly, standing behind the semi-circular front desk like a proper receptionist. She looked around the space with wide, curious eyes, already imagining herself in the role.
She had also expressed interest in continuing her work at the Miltank farm alongside this new job—but Arthur had firmly talked her out of it. There might not be many Pokémon Trainers now, but he knew that Ocasia's Nurse Joy would eventually be swamped with responsibilities.
Expecting her to manage both jobs was unrealistic.
For now, there was no need for a nurse uniform either. Maybe in the future, when there were more Nurse Joys across the kingdom. But not yet.
As for the Poké Mart, Arthur had considered adding it inside the Pokémon Center—but ultimately decided against it.
He'd already left the task of mass-producing items to Rosaria. Potions were no issue; the locals had their own versions, even more effective than his. But Poké Balls and Pokédexes? Mass production for them was still far from ready, so any Poké Mart now would be little more than a barebones stall.
Better to wait.
Looking around the completed Pokémon Center, Arthur felt genuinely satisfied.
Pascal had done an excellent job—though his intense obsession with money still made Arthur want to roll his eyes.