After cleaning up the workshop, Hikaru took Honedge along and set off toward the distant village.
When they arrived, the villagers were working in the fields.
A river flowed from the ancient mountains, passing through the village. Streams formed from melting snow merged with this river, nourishing the surrounding land.
Due to the cold climate of the Shinto Ruins, planting was only possible during summer. However, in the Pokémon world, crops grew at an unnaturally fast rate. On fertile land, most crops could be harvested within a month, completely defying common sense.
Even more extreme were berries, which—if following game mechanics—could fully mature in just 48 hours.
As Hikaru observed the fields, he noticed a large number of Diglett.
Diglett, the Mole Pokémon.
Its appearance was that of a brown, oval-shaped head with a red nose, with the rest of its body hidden underground. Wherever it dug tunnels, the soil was naturally tilled and aerated. Its waste enriched the soil, creating ideal farmland.
Their strange cries echoed through the fields as they worked, leaving behind small mounds of dirt. The villagers followed their paths, planting seeds in the freshly tilled soil.
Soon, Hikaru arrived at the village's herbal shop, run by an elderly bald man named Guru. He perfectly fit the image of a classic medicine shop elder.
As soon as Hikaru stepped inside, the old man squinted and carefully examined him.
"Never thought someone would actually move here. I heard someone had taken up residence in that abandoned workshop… Turns out, that was you."
"The last time you visited the village, I didn't get to meet you. I heard you're from Sinnoh—are you here to investigate the ruins?"
Then, Guru's gaze shifted to Honedge.
Honedge waved its ribbon-like arm in greeting.
"What a peculiar Pokémon… It truly looks like a weapon given life."
The old man studied Honedge for a while, clearly intrigued. It wasn't until Hikaru explained his reason for coming that Guru finally smiled warmly.
"Hohoho… So you're here to purchase herb seeds and vegetable seeds? No problem—take a look."
"Also, while it's quite far from here, if you're looking for strange merchandise, you should visit the Shinto Ruins."
"There's a traveling merchant who stays in a small house near the temple. Blond hair, blue jacket, always carrying a massive backpack. He's still young, been staying there since last year. Apparently, he's serving as a guide for an elderly mountain dweller, but he might also be an explorer himself."
A traveling merchant? A field supply vendor!
Hikaru's eyes lit up. Finding a merchant in a remote area was rare, and one stationed in the wild meant they likely carried rare materials.
Having gained useful intel, Hikaru quickly warmed up to Guru.
The Shinto region wasn't just home to descendants of the Shinto people—there were also descendants of ancient Johto settlers.
This was one of history's unanswered mysteries—why did Sinnoh's people migrate south across the sea? Why did Johto's people venture deep into the mountains? Even Guru couldn't say, as the legends had long since fragmented.
Guru carefully packed various herbs and their seeds for Hikaru. Some were common medicinal plants, while others he had never seen before.
"This is Heal Grass—looks like a giant green onion, but it's a great base for medicine. Originally brought here from Sinnoh, but since the environment is so similar, it's now growing wild."
"This is Vital Bloom, also known as Morning Dew Bud. It's an essential ingredient in traditional medicine."
"This is Bugweed—just a bitter wild herb used in herbal medicine. Once dried and ground into powder, it's taken as a remedy."
"And this…" Guru pulled open a medicine drawer, retrieving a curled-up, vibrant green plant.
"This is Revival Herb. It's extremely bitter and spicy, but as a medicine, it's remarkably potent. Even a near-death Pokémon will recover rapidly after consuming it."
"If you cultivate it, the roots will grow large—that's Energy Root."
"Revival Herb is an invaluable medicinal plant. Use it wisely."
Hikaru examined the various herbs. Some were familiar from the games, while others resembled real-world medicinal plants—offering not just healing, but also calming effects, detoxification, and vitality restoration.
"Medicinal plants grow quickly. Just water them regularly, and they'll sprout within days. In about a month, you'll have a full harvest."
Hikaru once again marveled at the absurd plant growth rates in the Pokémon world. But the benefits were undeniable.
"I saw Diglett in the village. Are they the villagers' Pokémon?"
"No, no. The Diglett and we simply coexist. They till the land for us, and in return, we plant crops they enjoy as a reward."
Diglett naturally ate plant roots and chewed through vegetables. To prevent this, farmers grew special crops as an exchange—allowing Diglett to help with farming instead of becoming a problem.
Hikaru nodded thoughtfully.
It was interesting—while Diglett could till land, they couldn't learn the move 'Rototiller'. Only their evolved form, Dugtrio, could.
But that was just game mechanics.
In practice, any Ground-type Pokémon could plow land. Even Tauros could be used for traditional ox-plowing.
This method was even documented in Jubilife Village's farm records during the Hisui era.
After all, Rototiller was a niche move, while Ground-type Pokémon were everywhere—even Groudon could do the job.
"Thank you for the herbs. I'll cultivate them properly."
As Hikaru's thoughts began to stir, information surfaced again.
[Rare Herb: Revival Herb.]
Description: A very bitter medicinal herb. Fully restores the HP of a fainted Pokémon.
Crafting Knowledge Unlocked (1):
[Unique Herbal Crafting (C): The medicine you craft doubles its healing effect but becomes even more bitter. However, Pokémon that enjoy bitter flavors will gain friendship instead of losing it.
New Craftable Items Unlocked: "Herbal Medicine" and "Superior Herbal Medicine."]
"And these are crop seeds. Take some as well."
Since Diglett helped with farming, Guru didn't just grow medicinal plants but also regular crops.
"Fresh vegetables aren't easy to come by when traveling, right? Don't worry about time—this soil is highly fertile, and with summer here, everything will grow rapidly after planting. The abandoned land near your workshop should be put to good use."
"You probably know that food and medicine share origins. Some vegetables can double as remedies. When you're hungry, they're food; when you're sick, they're medicine."
"I'll even lend you some Diglett. Just give me a few days—once our farm work is done, come back, and they'll help till your land."
Hikaru was surprised.
"You can lend me Diglett? But I thought they weren't owned by the village?"
Guru chuckled, stroking his beard.
"They're easy to befriend—just feed them their favorite foods like vegetables and tree roots."
"Once they trust you, they'll help till your land. If you prepare the food, they'll clear your entire plot in a single day."
"If you feel guilty about taking their help, bring me some rare herbs if you find any in the wild."
"Oh, and if you ever find Mago Berries, bring them to me. They take a long time to grow and are highly sought-after for medicine."
With Diglett's help, his soil would become more fertile, his herbs would grow faster and healthier, and most importantly—he'd save a ton of time and effort.
Plus, he had bought everything in one trip.
And as he received one last pack of seeds, new information surfaced again.
[Uncommon Crop Seed: Rolling Bean.]
Description: A large, firm bean. A favorite of Flying- and Water-type Pokémon. Can be used to lure them.
New Crafting Knowledge Unlocked (1).
"Rolling Beans from Hisui? They still exist?"
This trip to the village was well worth it.
"Oh, and one more thing—I'm also looking to buy scrap cloth."
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