Chapter 12: Aura Sash and Magical Candy Craft

Soon, Guang Tai collected many worn pieces of cloth, and during this process, he made an unexpected discovery.

When Guang Tai touched and carefully examined one of the old fighting garments, thoughts gradually converged in his mind:

【Rare Material: Orange-red worn fighting garment.】

【Description: A garment once worn by a seasoned, powerful fighter, tempered by mountains and rivers, infused with Fighting-type energy. Though damaged, the wear from years of use has made the garment even more resilient.】

【Craft acquired: 1】

【Unique Powerful Weaving Craft (C+): A craft capable of processing extremely resilient and special fabrics. Through unique weaving techniques, it produces special cloth items with powerful effects. By combining Fighting-type Pokémon body materials with resilient fabric and sewing them together, powerful Aura-type items are created.】

【Resilient fabric can be carried by Fighting-type Pokémon, gradually acquiring Fighting-type properties and becoming Fighting Cloth.】

【Items that can be crafted: Aura Sash, Aura Headband.】

【Having Dokkora participate in crafting might yield something.】

Aura Sash!?

“This is…?” Guang Tai looked at the herbalist elder, who sighed: “Ah, that was my old fighting garment. I kept it as a memento, couldn’t bring myself to throw it away—but now I no longer need it.”

The herbalist elder confessed that he had once been a powerful fighter, ignoring his family’s advice to travel across the Pokémon world, winning several Fighting tournaments, until illness forced him to rest. Years of battle had worn his body down; by the time he returned home, his parents were already gone.

Later, he abandoned being a fighter and opened a herbal shop in this village.

Now, his own son had followed the same path—refusing to inherit the shop and traveling to distant regions, with no word on when he’d return.

Guang Tai listened, deeply moved.

After collecting the cloth, the elder gifted Guang Tai some thick, resilient fabric:

“I don’t know why you’re collecting those old rags, but as a craftsman, your work must have purpose. If you don’t mind, take these fabrics too.”

Hemp, silk, and cotton are the main fabric materials; in the Pokémon world, certain special plants can also be used—for example, the Radiant Petals once grown by the King of Abundance, which, when woven, are described as “fabric that glows under light.”

Similarly, among evolution items exists “Spirit World Cloth,” a fabric infused with astonishing spiritual energy. Ordinary cloth, after secondary processing, becomes various special fabrics.

Guang Tai himself had once purchased “Power Cloth,” which he used to make a Power Headband—it still sits in his warehouse.

By the way, in the anime world, “Aura Sash” never appeared.

Many items don’t exist in the anime world, and the world I’m in seems to be a fusion—one where trainers rarely use items in battle, and such battle items are scarce on the market.

Hard Stones, Silver Powder, Mystic Drops—common exchange items in the games—here are prized tournament rewards, proving their rarity.

Guang Tai prepared to leave the elder, but before he went, the herbalist elder added a warning:

“You’ve only just arrived here. There are things you must know.”

“If you plan to enter the Divine Capital Forest, be careful. Many powerful Pokémon divide the territory there. If you intrude and are spotted, you’ll be attacked. The trees grow extremely tall—some places never see sunlight. The ground is covered in moss and dense vegetation; you never know when you’ll be ambushed.”

“Recently, a Scyther escaped from inside and caused chaos in the surrounding woods before fleeing again.”

Powerful creatures claim mountains as their thrones, controlling vast areas as their personal domains—this happens among wild Pokémon too.

After a while, Guang Tai returned to the workshop.

Immediately, he eagerly began processing the fabric.

【Material: Resilient fabric.】

【Description: Thick, highly resilient fabric suitable for making high-quality clothing.】

The main hall of the workshop was where work was carried out; the abandoned workshop had no particular layout design.

“First, let these worn cloths be fully saturated by the workshop’s eerie environment, becoming Eerie Cloth.”

Guang Tai piled the rags in the fourth room of the workshop—a bare, dark space ideal for crafting eerie materials.

Basic spirit knowledge told him: dark, sunless places most easily gather ghost energy.

Eerie energy in such locations fades over time. From spirit knowledge, Guang Tai gradually learned that as abandoned buildings are repaired, cleaned, and inhabited by life, if no spirits remain, the eerie atmosphere dissipates, returning the place to normal.

The workshop is his home—so the eerie atmosphere will eventually vanish completely.

Then, Guang Tai began cutting and sewing the fighting garment, while retrieving Fighting-type Pokémon body materials from the warehouse.

Hair from Monferno, Infernape, and Chimchar.

Guang Tai also remembered the rare material note: if Dokkora participated in crafting, it might gain something.

Experience? New move? Stat boost?

Guang Tai pondered:

“Using Pokémon power to revive this workshop, and gradually becoming a world-renowned craftsman…”

“Heh, I’m thinking too far ahead. Right now, I need to make sellable goods first. Only by crafting high-quality items that satisfy customers will others commission more—and spread my workshop’s name!”

“Unique craft techniques and knowledge must be learned. So let me set a small goal: make my name known in the Johto region! Let every trainer in Johto use items I’ve made!”

“Yoh!”

()!

Dokkora’s eyes blazed with determination.

As a sword, it has no purpose unless it cuts—let me contribute to my new master’s dream!

“Yoh~ yoh~”

Dokkora suddenly shook its hilt, its blue ribbon swaying toward Guang Tai as it spoke in an overly dramatic tone:

Since this is such a sacred moment, could you do that thing? You know—the one!

Raise the sword with one hand, like a young monarch swearing his vow in ancient times!

“That’s way too cliché,” Guang Tai grumbled, but Dokkora stared at him with pleading eyes.

()~

“Fine, I’ll do it!”

Guang Tai reluctantly gripped the hilt and raised Dokkora toward the ceiling, the blade pointing at… the ceiling.

“Yoh!”

()!

So cool!

Dokkora was satisfied. Yes, this was the right feeling! If only an artist had painted that moment!

Finally, it began cutting the fabric seriously, while Guang Tai resewed it. Though he found Dokkora’s little request overly dramatic,

“It actually feels… good,” Guang Tai muttered under his breath.

After much labor, the first crafted item was finally completed!

『Completed a task, obtained “Aura Sash”!』

『Effect: A powerful sash crafted with Pokémon materials and special techniques. When worn, even if hit by a move that would otherwise reduce HP to 0, it survives with exactly 1 HP once.』

『Unique Effect: Bonded Persistence—When wearing the Aura Sash, even with only 1 HP left, you may sometimes endure thanks to your Trainer’s encouragement!』

『Acquired Knowledge: 1』

『Fabric Processing: Fabric Processing Efficiency +5%.』

The item’s details appeared—Guang Tai was stunned.

Did this fuse the effects of both the Aura Headband and Aura Sash?

Two functions in one—this is excellent! As a battle item, wouldn’t a Trainer with a Tenderness nature trigger Persistence constantly, forcing opponents to just give up?

Hmm, the bond between Pokémon and Trainer—now it’s truly a contest of who has the stronger bond!

Immediately after, new thoughts formed around Dokkora:

『Dokkora assisted you in completing a craft, gaining experience and growth!』

『Dokkora’s level increased! Learned move: Endure.』

『Dokkora gained Knowledge: 1.』

『Rapid Cutting: Precision and speed when cutting fabric improved.』

“Yoh~!?”

Dokkora suddenly sensed a change. Its blade paused, then began gathering energy—its entire form shimmered with a strange aura!

This was Endure!

“Ah, so this is what the description meant by ‘growth gained through assisting work,’” Guang Tai mused, watching Dokkora.

After completing a craft, a random new material clue would appear.

Thoughts converged in his mind.

【Rare Material: Oran Berry】

【A green berry called the “Miracle Fruit,” which accumulates beneficial components for Pokémon bodies and requires long maturation. When activated during status condition or confusion, it cures the condition. Combined with Honey and Pecha Berry, it can create incredible candies.】

【Obtain Location: Shaymin’s Shrine, Divine Capital Forest.】

【Corresponding Craft: Magical Candy Craft.】

“Magical Candy?!”

Guang Tai was utterly astonished!

This was a precious item capable of raising Pokémon levels! Though in this world, Pokémon levels barely existed and no such concept was recognized, it was undeniable that evolved Pokémon were stronger!

“Oran Berry, Shaymin’s Shrine—is there a Shaymin’s Shrine in the Divine Capital Forest? Right, Oran Berry was originally called the Miracle Fruit, carried only by Shaymin and Mew.”

“I have in my possession: Sitrus Berry, Pecha Berry, Persim Berry, Lum Berry, Figy Berry, Wiki Berry, Mago Berry, Aguav Berry.”

“The herbalist elder said if I found an Oran Berry, I should bring it to him. But now it seems difficult.”

Drip—

The computer beeped, perfectly timed, pulling Guang Tai’s thoughts back to reality.

He set down the Aura Sash and walked to the computer to check.

It was a new client email—the sender’s ID was: 【Dragon’s Messenger】.

“How can I prevent my Pokémon from being targeted by type weaknesses? I’m searching for such an item—do you have any?”

"That's what it says above."

A wild customer has appeared!

Guang Tai quickly replied and began asking:

"So what type of Pokémon is it? Judging by your ID, you should be—"

【Dragon's Messenger】: "It's Dragon, a sacred creature! But even powerful Dragon-type Pokémon are at a disadvantage against Ice-type moves, and Dragon Pokémon like Gyarados also fear Lightning."

Guang Tai: "Gyarados isn't a Dragon-type, is it?"

【Dragon's Messenger】: "You say Gyarados isn't a Dragon? Hah! Not all Dragon Pokémon are Dragon-type!"

Wait, is that statement...?!

Guang Tai suddenly guessed who this wild customer was!

So it's Agatha!

"Ah, I do have an item that can counter this— the Focus Sash. Have you heard of it?"

Guang Tai sent his reply, and the other side's response was nothing but question marks.

【Dragon's Messenger】: "Focus Sash? What does it do?"

Guang Tai: "It prevents a Pokémon from being knocked out by a one-hit KO move—it stays standing! And the Focus Sash I made, if the Pokémon and its Trainer share a strong bond, will keep it standing no matter how severe the damage!"

【Dragon's Messenger】: "???"

"What did you just say?!"

"There's no way such a thing exists! Focus Sash? It's probably just an ordinary sash with a fancy name!"

Guang Tai: "I can't prove it to you, but whether it works or not, you'll find out once you buy it."

Then Guang Tai sent Agatha a picture of the made-to-order Focus Sash!

"The price is 50,000 Poké Dollars!"

That's the price at the Paldea item shop—I didn't dare raise it a single cent!

(End of Chapter)