Chapter 54:
"Ah?"
Hearing Servine's slightly resentful voice, Hayashi Kaede froze for a moment, then said, "Isn't this a good thing? I've always wanted to capture a Psychic-type Pokémon. It'll make picking berries and vegetables much easier in the future."
"Servine." (I know.)
Servine pursed its lips. It was true, but it still let out a quiet sigh in its heart.
It kind of missed the days before it evolved.
Now that it had this new form… would it ever get to snuggle in its trainer's arms again?
"Alright, let's go!"
Hayashi Kaede didn't dwell on the thought. He called out to Takagi Megumi, who was tending the store, then quickly made his way toward Aogiri Forest with Servine in tow.
After passing the Bluestone Trail, they soon arrived at the river.
The river had no bridge, acting as a natural barrier that kept some Pokémon from the Wilderness Area from wandering into town.
Of course, for a trainer with even a bit of skill, this was barely an obstacle.
It was only when traveling in the wild that one truly understood how important a Flying-type Pokémon was.
Kaede followed the river until they were some distance from town. On the far side, an old wooden house came into view. He stopped there and released his Pidgeotto.
"Pidgeotto~!"
Recognizing the familiar place, Pidgeotto chirped excitedly.
Kaede glanced at Servine. "Servine, how about going into your Poké Ball for now?"
Pidgeotto's body wasn't particularly large — it could only carry Kaede alone. If he insisted on bringing Servine too, he would have to hold it against his body.
"Servine? Servine!" (You can hold me like before…)
Kaede blinked, then grinned. Ever since Servine had evolved, chances to carry it like this had become rare.
Since Servine had said so, there was no need to pretend to be reserved.
He scooped it up. Servine instinctively coiled part of its long, slender body against his chest and wrapped its leafy tail securely around his leg.
[Congratulations! Servine's happiness has increased from 40% to 80%.
Reward: 15 bags of fertilizer, 1 Medium Rare Candy, 1 special scale berry.]
"Hmm?"
The sudden system notification made Kaede glance down at the Pokémon in his arms.
"Servine?" (What's wrong?)
Servine's usually cool, smooth body felt warmer than usual.
"It's nothing~"
Kaede shook his head. "Alright, Pidgeotto — let's go."
With his free hand, he grasped Pidgeotto's talons, and the bird Pokémon lifted off, carrying them over the river.
Before long, they reached the wooden house. Besides the door, there was a small opening like a window. Through it, Kaede saw an elderly man — about sixty — seated on a simple wooden chair. He wore a turquoise robe and glasses, flipping through a yellowed book. Without looking up, he said:
"Another trainer looking for Gardevoir, eh? That Gardevoir is no easy catch…"
The tone carried a certain lack of faith in outsiders' ability to succeed.
"Yanagi-ojii-san, it's me," Kaede called.
The old man was the official ranger assigned to Aogiri Forest by the Pokémon League.
For as long as Kaede could remember, he had always been here.
Yanagi-ojii-san seldom visited town. On rare occasions, Kaede had seen him on the Bluestone Trail carrying daily necessities. As a child, Kaede had once caught a glimpse of his Pokémon — a gentle-looking Lucario.
Hearing the familiar voice, Yanagi-ojii-san finally stood. When his cloudy eyes landed on Kaede, a faint smile appeared.
"Kaede, it's you. I heard you didn't go to college, but reopened the breeding house and plantation at home?"
"Yeah." Kaede nodded and took out the turnips and spicy tomato berries he had prepared from his storage ball. "These are from the plantation. Give them a try — if you like them, you can come by anytime to pick your own."
Kaede respected Yanagi-ojii-san greatly — the man had once carried him in his arms as a child, and he had guarded this forest for decades, maintaining the balance between town and nature, keeping wild Pokémon from straying into Aogiri Town.
Such dedication deserved respect.
"Well then, I'll have to take a closer look."
Yanagi-ojii-san accepted the bag. When he saw the berries inside, surprise flickered briefly in his eyes before he hid it behind a calm expression. "Your farming skills are no less than your parents'."
His gaze shifted to Servine and Pidgeotto. "Here for Gardevoir too?"
Caught out, Kaede gave a sheepish smile. "I'm thinking about it, but catching a Pokémon like that is all about fate. If nothing else, I wouldn't mind catching a Caterpie."
Gardevoir was rare and hard to find — Caterpie, much less so.
If raised into a Butterfree, it could help pollinate the plantation and improve berry yields. That alone made it valuable.
"By the way, where's Lucario?" Kaede asked, scanning the empty surroundings. He had hoped to feed it some energy cubes — and maybe earn a reward.
"In the forest," Yanagi-ojii-san said with a chuckle. "Some of these visiting trainers aren't that strong, but they can cause plenty of trouble. Lucario keeps an eye on them. If you're looking for Gardevoir, you might want to try the east side of Aogiri Forest…"
"Oh?"
Kaede's eyes lit up. He might ignore rumors from others, but Yanagi-ojii-san's word carried weight.
After all — his Pokémon was Lucario.
"Thanks, Yanagi-ojii-san."
After confirming the direction, Kaede wasted no time heading east.
Eastern Aogiri Forest
A round, secluded lake mirrored the orange glow of the setting sun on its pale blue surface. Gentle ripples shimmered across the water.
At the lakeside stood a graceful, dark-blue figure in a flowing gown.
It gazed at its reflection, perhaps admiring its elegant silhouette… or perhaps pondering something only it knew.
After a moment, it shook its head.
"Gardevoir…" (Let's settle here for now. I should see if there are any berry trees nearby…)