Chapter 10: Light Clay

According to memory, the original owner, after returning, spent several days conducting limited outdoor activities and exploration, and made his first visit to the village, where conversations with villagers allowed him to roughly map out the surrounding terrain and draw this simple map.

Guang Tai returned to the house, took down the map, and once again gazed outward, comparing it with the landscape.

First was the main body of the Shinzu Ruins—it was in fact the remains of a temple, far from the village, hidden deep within the highest reaches of the ancient Spirit Peak. To enter the Spirit Peak, one could only do so in summer; come autumn or winter, blizzards would rage across the skies. Hence, the crude map marked it with a “?” in the upper right corner.

It was said that occasionally, investigators or explorers from other regions would come to survey the ruins, but most returned empty-handed.

This was only natural. In the Pokémon world, ruins were far too numerous. Without knowing its true nature, the Shinzu Ruins would merely be seen as the remains of a temple situated north of the Johto region and the Quin High Plateau.

During winter, snowstorms would block access, and the Shinzu Ruins buried deep in the mountains would be sealed under thick snow—entering required passing through the Wall of Ice.

Due to its location on the edge of the Quin High Plateau, the climate was cold; snow in the mountain valleys rarely melted year-round. The village nestled in a mountain hollow, sheltered by the ancient Spirit Peak, preserved a small patch of land for sustenance, and planting season did not even begin until June.

To the northwest lay a vast forest known as the Shinzu Forest, filled with towering, ancient trees, some areas so dense that sunlight never reached the ground.

To the east stretched an endless chain of nameless mountains, mostly rocky, their towering, continuous ridges forming deep gorges. Scattered, damp patches dotted the gorges, and the ancient Spirit Peak, upon which the Shinzu Ruins rested, was the highest peak of the eastern range. Numerous rivers and streams flowed from the Spirit Peak, passing through the village and the forest.

To the south lay the Johto region, mostly vast, towering Quin High Plateau—Mount Moon and the Yunying Mountains were part of it. Across the plateau stood the city of Blackthorn in Johto.

Directly west lay another vast, nameless plateau and mountain range. From the map, it was clear this plateau extended from the northern edge of Ecruteak City and the Battle Frontier all the way northward, beyond the map’s edge. Even this mere fraction visible on the Johto map rivaled the size of the Quin High Plateau.

His gaze returned from the distance, settling once more on the wasteland near the workshop.

Due to his work, as a tool craftsman who took on any job, he often traveled through the wilds of different regions, meaning his workplace changed frequently—he was destined never to stay long in one place.

Now that he had gained the special ability to acquire knowledge and craftsmanship, moving about even more became essential.

But his work at Shinzu had only just begun, and this abandoned workshop should be reopened.

At least he would remain here for a considerable time, and there was one type of tool that could not be separated from the land.

That was “potions.”

From ancient herbal remedies to modern Full Heal and Full Restore potions, their essence had not changed. Pokémon world herbs possessed miraculous effects; for ordinary injuries, simply applying the herb’s juice produced immediate results.

When processed into potions, the effects were even more astonishing—resulting from blending the properties of different herbs—but the preparation process varied by region and by potion type.

Mint, vanilla, Revival Herb—these were common herbs requiring cultivation. Finding them wild was extremely difficult, and certain herbs did not grow everywhere.

Thus, always carrying seeds of various herbs and planting them wherever one went was vital.

Guang Tai himself carried some herb seeds; upon arriving at a new location, he planted them, kept some in reserve, or bought them from local apothecaries, along with vegetable and plant seeds for emergencies.

Unlike fresh vegetables, seeds, if properly stored, had a very long lifespan.

Guang Tai was not a herbalist, but even non-experts could make basic healing potions—it was a local Sinnoh craft, using Healing Grass as the ingredient.

“I should replenish my stock at the village.”

According to the original owner’s memories, the village had an apothecary and a craftsman; the apothecary maintained herb gardens where one could buy seeds or transplant herbs, and perhaps discover rare ones.

As for ordinary crop seeds, he only needed to buy them from villagers. Honestly, Guang Tai expected to stay here for months, so securing food sources was crucial.

Fortunately, it was currently summer in Shinzu, and plants greedily absorbed the warm air, growing wildly.

Besides acquiring seeds, he also needed to collect rags.

“Huh?”

Guang Tai turned and saw Cloyster drifting toward him.

Ghost-type Pokémon were still Pokémon—they were not true spirits and needed rest too.

“Good morning, Cloyster! Let’s get to work!”

“Huh!”

Cloyster seemed excited, though it had no idea what to do, and simply asked:

Were they chopping vegetables again?

“No. Today we clean the house. In the afternoon, we’ll go to the village.”

The abandoned workshop had indeed been unused for a long time. After returning, the original owner had only used the living room, workshop, and basement. Four rooms remained untouched, their ancient wooden chairs overturned and coated in dust; opening the doors triggered violent coughing.

Cloyster drifted inside, enveloped by a faintly chilling sensation that felt comforting.

“Why so happy? This place feels unpleasant. Clearly, the information was right—the old house has bred resentment. This is truly a haunted site.”

Houses left unused too long were like this. Guang Tai examined the first room’s layout: a rectangular table held old glass bottles; beside it stood a cabinet with three shelves above and two large drawers below.

Metal tools and potion-making equipment sat on the shelves. Alongside the cabinet was a small, narrow bookshelf, its shelves filled with ancient, rotting books, their spines cracked or fallen off.

“Looks like an alchemy room.”

That was Guang Tai’s first impression—the bottles, metal tools, and decaying books fit the stereotype. But when he lightly touched the books, they seemed ready to turn to ash; the powdery texture made him abandon the idea of pulling one out.

These books had not been touched in years; any movement caused them to “crumble.” Reading them normally was impossible, but Guang Tai thought: book restoration was a craft too—though he didn’t know if he’d ever acquire that skill.

“After planting and harvesting herbs, I can make potions here—there are plenty of ready-made tools.”

The second room was spacious—clearly a smelting chamber. The walls were stone; at the far end stood a medium-sized furnace connected to a massive chimney, surrounded by old, rusted pipes, likely unusable.

On the opposite wall stood empty storage crates, still holding charred remnants of charcoal. The wall seemed to open—Guang Tai spotted a wooden peg lodged in what looked like a door panel.

Guang Tai saw Cloyster drift to a corner and pick up a large, rust-covered wrench.

“I can do small-scale forging here—it’s like a blacksmith’s shop in a game.”

The third room held hardened lumps of dirt and several discarded, poorly made clay pots. Guang Tai picked up one; the ancient treasure-hunter’s knowledge activated, revealing its appraisal.

【Artifact: Discarded Modern Clay Pot.】

【Description: A completely failed artifact. Even if sold cheaply, no one would buy it. Generally, it’s trash.】

Nothing happened. These were merely failed, ordinary clay pots.

“So this is the pottery room.”

Curious, Guang Tai went to the fourth room. The result disappointed him—it was empty, nothing inside. But empty rooms were easiest to clean.

The big cleanup began immediately. Guang Tai and Cloyster sorted and wiped everything left behind, spending the entire morning clearing all the dust. During this, Guang Tai found something strange.

Indeed, sometimes deliberately searching made good finds harder; yet unintentional cleaning could unearth odd treasures from hidden corners.

It was a lump of pale green clay, emitting a faint glow.

【Rare Material: Light Clay】

【Effect: When a Pokémon carrying it uses Light Screen or Reflect, the duration is longer than normal.】

【Acquired Craft: 1】

【Unique Pottery Firing Technique (C-): Pottery made from this retains the material’s properties. Ground- and Rock-type Pokémon greatly favor such pottery, slightly enhancing their type energy.】

In the game, Light Clay could be obtained in Sinnoh’s underground tunnels through repeated digging; its rarity was “Very Rare.”

“If I make pottery from this, will the pottery glow?” A strange thought suddenly struck Guang Tai.

Clay was the material for pottery. If I made pottery from Light Clay…

“My pottery is mature pottery—will it automatically cast Light Screen?”

(End of Chapter)