Chapter 26: Observation Log of the Lily Root Doll

The workshop gained a new companion, but when Guang Tai brought out the Lily Root Doll again, she seemed bewildered by the work Guang Tai requested.

She tilted her head and made a sound.

“Bai?”

Is work constant fighting?

The Lily Root Doll did not understand what it meant, but Guang Tai’s offer to provide herbs in return moved her—she would help the herbs grow, and in exchange, Guang Tai would give her corresponding medicinal plants.

“Just like you exchange leaves for medicine—give something, receive something in return; what’s consumed is time. That’s work. You help me tend the herbs and crops, help them grow—that’s your work.”

“And helping me work is different from helping others—I’m a tool craftsman, skilled at making tools with special powers, gathering unique materials, and in this process, both you and I will gradually grow stronger, become better.”

“Bai?”

The Lily Root Doll still had many questions, but Guang Tai’s promise of herbs as payment won her over; seeing her gaze shift, Guang Tai nodded: “Revival Grass can also be payment.”

“So we must help it grow faster.”

“I’m worried that Bidoof came here because they’re afraid of seeding here—though they mean no harm, it negatively affects herb growth. Every Pokémon’s type differs, and even among Pokémon of the same type, their ecological traits, natural characteristics, and impacts on surrounding environments and objects are all different.”

Guang Tai explained to the Lily Root Doll that he hadn’t disliked her before—so he hadn’t driven her away from the herb field.

Singleblade also chimed in appropriately, adding that he’d heard from Guang Tai that on some distant land, there existed a powerful Grass-type Pokémon, but unlike all other Grass-types, whenever it appeared, forests withered and the land decayed—so Grass-type Pokémon entering the fields must be carefully identified and judged.

“Yao!”

Of course, that Pokémon which withers the land won’t appear here—but every Grass-type Pokémon has different habits and abilities, and their effects on the fields vary from beneficial to harmful.

The Lily Root Doll was instantly captivated and responded with astonishment:

“Bai~!”

There are Grass-type Pokémon like that?

If it’s a Grass-type, why would it destroy forests and soil?

“Exactly. Pokémon things are wondrous—you yourselves can’t fully understand them. For humans, learning how to coexist with Pokémon and maintain the balance is crucial.”

Guang Tai laughed. After thinking it over, the Lily Root Doll agreed to Guang Tai’s request.

This wasn’t capture—just assistance, like how Guang Tai asked Raticate and Rattata to help till the soil.

So the Lily Root Doll wandered with Guang Tai and Singleblade through the herb and crop fields, while Guang Tai explained the different planting zones for each herb, their approximate growth rates, and similarly for regular crops and fruit trees, along with cultivation methods and techniques available.

The Lily Root Doll’s eyes grew dizzy with circles.

She was a Grass-type Pokémon herself, yet she understood none of this!

Human knowledge is truly wondrous!

“Pokémon live by type and instinct—Grass lives in forests, Ground in deserts, Rock in caves, Water by water—but humans aren’t like that. We must master vast knowledge, use resources and materials wisely, to live well in every region.”

After walking her through the entire area, Guang Tai asked to see her moves and wanted to understand what kind of Pokémon she faced.

“Knowing an enemy’s type, ability, and moves lets you fight wisely and expand your chances of victory.”

The Lily Root Doll, once stubborn, now felt insecure—this human knew too much, leaving her flustered—but Singleblade’s assurance calmed her again.

“Bai~ bai~ wawa!”

“Yao-yao.”

The Lily Root Doll described the “enemy” in detail, and Singleblade continued translating:

They were round, ball-like Pokémon made of wood, about six of them, one much larger with a fierce gaze.

The smaller ones had wooden-colored lower halves and red upper halves, their eyes comical.

The large one had a wooden-colored upper half and a red lower half—the colors were reversed from the smaller ones.

They arrived at the Lily Root Dolls’ habitat at the end of spring. Though few in number, they sprayed electrified seeds everywhere, and those seeds exploded!

“Pikachu and Raichu? But based on color…” Guang Tai’s expression turned startled.

This color wasn’t normal Pikachu or Raichu—it was the Hisuian form!

Hisuian Pikachu and Raichu are said to have body compositions nearly identical to their berry components, with an Electric-Grass type and three abilities: Soundproof, Static, and Explosion.

But Hisuian Pikachu’s outward personality should be friendly—they often gather together laughing heartily, always cheerful, opposite to the normally angry Pikachu.

“Seizing habitat, body and berry composition similar, Hisuian forms vanished a hundred years ago… wait, could the Lily Root Dolls’ original habitat have grown vast quantities of berries?”

Berries also grow on fertile land—if habitats overlap, such events could occur. But since Hisuian Pikachu had vanished, and Lily Root Dolls were extremely rare in Sinnoh, almost nonexistent, this habitat conflict was an extremely low-probability event.

It was an internal war among Grass-type Pokémon for soil and berry land.

But if berries truly existed there, Guang Tai felt a surge of delight.

Those are vital materials for making Poké Balls and Glue Balls.

“So the Sinnoh climate has changed—Hisuian Pokémon are gradually dying out, but this forgotten ancient land of Shen Du still has a climate similar to Hisui, thus producing Hisuian Pokémon—or perhaps some Pokémon were brought here by ancient Sinnoh people and took root.”

“One Hisuian Pikachu evolved into Hisuian Raichu, seeking to expand its population, so it targeted the berry-rich land once inhabited by the Lily Root Dolls!”

Guang Tai realized why the Lily Root Doll always returned covered in wounds—she’d been fighting a group of self-detonating bombs.

“In short, by working here, you’ll grow stronger. Before that, let me see what skills you’ve mastered.”

Saying this, Guang Tai had Singleblade engage her in a one-on-one battle to demonstrate her moves.

This would also help her reveal more abilities.

During the demonstration, Guang Tai pulled out a notebook and began recording, observing the Lily Root Doll’s moves.

First, powder moves—Paralysis Powder and Sleep Powder—then Parasitic Seed. But because of the rain, the powders turned sticky as soon as released and never touched Singleblade.

Guang Tai saw Protect—the Lily Root Doll summoned a pale green barrier that blocked Singleblade’s casual attack!

But in the second round, she struggled to cope, using Magical Leaf and Giga Drain until, when pushed back, she used a strange move.

Nothing had been there before, yet it was as if an air punch had been thrown—faint, barely visible energy surged and struck Singleblade directly… but had no effect!

Ghost-type was immune to this move!

“Vacuum Wave?! Fighting-type can’t hit Ghost-type—no, the Lily Root Doll can’t learn this move.”

“No effect? A Normal-type move… could it be ‘Endure’?!”

This guess made sense—the Lily Root Doll could indeed learn Endure, and since she’d arrived twice already “enduring” her way to his residence, it was natural she knew it.

Normal-type moves can’t hit Ghost-type either, though physical impact still exists—after all, Singleblade is a physical Ghost-type.

But this ordinary impact damage was barely equivalent to a tackle, perhaps even less. So Singleblade paused briefly, then immediately resumed attack.

Did she learn this move during the battle to reclaim her habitat?

Then what might come next?

“Yao!”

Singleblade slashed with Psychic Fangs—but the Lily Root Doll didn’t fall. Instead, a aura-like effect appeared on her body, forming before Psychic Fangs even struck.

“Of course—it’s ‘Hold On’.”

Hold On, Protect, Endure.

Suddenly, this Lily Root Doll seemed far too hardworking.

Protect blocked one, Hold On blocked one—two self-detonating bombs remained.

Then the Lily Root Doll performed Photosynthesis, but because it was raining, the recovery was minimal, and she was quickly defeated.

[Learned moves: Paralysis Powder, Sleep Powder, Parasitic Seed, Magical Leaf, Giga Drain, Endure, Protect, Hold On.]

[Ability: Own Tempo.]

Guang Tai wrote down the record.

[Lily Root Doll, a Pokémon from Shen Du Forest.]

[Somewhat stubborn personality.]

[Met outside the workshop’s herb field.]

[Dislikes bitterness.]

[Resilient and unyielding.]

(End of chapter)