Chapter 9: A Kitchen Knife? Come Back After Evolving One Stage

Vitality Shard? What’s that?

“Huh?” Σ（⊙）？

Dunsparce looked puzzled, but Guang Tai told it to wait, then quickly retrieved a box of pale gold rhombus-shaped “gems” from the living room cabinet.

“Vitality Shards all look the same, but some are minerals, others are artificially made—yet their effects are identical.”

“You can produce Vitality Shards by processing two plants: Vitality Bud and Healing Herb through a series of steps.”

Guang Tai handed the Vitality Shard to Dunsparce.

“Huh?”

Dunsparce gripped the pale gold “gem” with its blue palm—and its eyes instantly widened!

A powerful surge of life energy radiated from within!

A faint purple Ghost-type energy emanated from Dunsparce’s body, and soon the Vitality Shard held in its blue ribbon vanished.

“Absorbed already? No stamina loss, yet it still works—definitely different from the game world. The Vitality Shard itself carries strange life energy capable of restoring HP.”

“So it eats using that blue-ribboned palm.”

According to its lore, it wraps its blue cloth around the arm of whoever holds its hilt and drains life until they collapse.

It seems the creature only does this because it’s hungry.

That makes sense. In the Unova region’s underwater ruins, there’s an ancient saying: To eat is to gain all life.

Those with mouths eat with them; those without must find other ways.

But Vitality Shards cost about three times as much as Berries, averaging 1500 Poké Dollars—far pricier than regular food and vegetables, nearly approaching the cost of “large ingredients.” Eating them daily would be a heavy expense.

If feasible, to save costs, I should clear some land near the cabin and grow my own vegetables and Berries—I’ll be working here for a long time.

“Hmm, you’re full, but I’m not.”

It was already late. Guang Tai walked to the stove, staring at the stone chimney and the pile of firewood stacked in the kitchen—left behind by the previous owner during his outings.

Fortunately, the previous owner did some work before returning; otherwise, I’d have been left with no firewood at all.

Guang Tai then pulled out some ingredients from the storage box:

Chicken canned food. Pickled vegetable canned food.

Many onions. Many dried radishes.

Also butter, a small bag of flour, MooMoo Milk.

And some Berries, plus mushrooms picked not long ago and stored in a paper bag.

During long journeys, fresh food sources can’t be guaranteed; ordinary vegetables—aside from Berries—have short shelf lives. Among them, onions are unquestionably one of the longest-lasting at room temperature, lasting up to a month.

In contrast, Berries are truly strange natural foods—they don’t rot or spoil even after long storage, and each variety holds different nutrients.

Guang Tai decided to throw everything into one pot and make a stew. It’s a common cooking method: cheap, easily obtained ingredients simmered together. Of course, to enhance flavor, some ingredients are fried or stir-fried before stewing.

In the Pokémon world, besides common ingredients, Berries can also serve as stew ingredients.

In the distant Galar region, their curry is precisely made by simmering Berries.

The now “full and satisfied” Dunsparce, seeing Guang Tai preparing food, immediately zipped into the kitchen!

The new monarch is cooking personally!

How could a knight not lend a hand?

For chopping vegetables, using my blade is far faster—I’m incredibly “sharp,” after all!

“Huh!”

Dunsparce arrived at the cutting board, drew its blade with a sharp clang, its blue ribbon palm catching the falling scabbard, while the blade glowed faintly green with sharpness!

Dunsparce used the move “Rapid Spin!”

Extremely effective on cabbage!

Scritch-scratch-scratch-scratch-scratch-scratch-scratch—!

The once-round onion rapidly collapsed into fine strands, Dunsparce’s blade whirling into a blur!

Bug-type moves for chopping vegetables? So smooth and effortless—after all, vegetables are Grass-type!

“Oh! So ‘Rapid Spin’ can be used like this? I never thought of using an ancient sword to chop veggies—you’re not a kitchen knife.”

Guang Tai stared in astonishment. Dunsparce, thoroughly pleased with itself, widened its single eye and proudly raised its blade, completely ignoring the onion bits and water droplets clinging to it—Guang Tai quickly stepped back.

“Huh~ huh!”

Serving the monarch is a vassal’s duty. A few ingredients? If needed, I could chop them all—child’s play!

Guang Tai was surprised:

“Really? You’re skilled at this? Then I’ll leave the Berry-chopping to you next.”

Who knew Dunsparce had this talent? Guang Tai had assumed it was only ever used by ancient kings to grant knights—meant only for slashing enemies. Did “chopping vegetables” mean this?

But this makes things easier!

“Huh!”

Hearing Guang Tai’s praise, Dunsparce’s single eye seemed to ignite with battle spirit!

ㄟ()ㄏ!

O new monarch, see now! It’s not that I’m weak—it’s just that your power surpasses mine. But when it comes to chopping vegetables? Obviously, I’m far better suited!

As for those cheap kitchen knives? Come back after evolving a stage!

The next day, June 7.

Weather: Clear.

The summer’s first rain had ceased; the sun rose, and this ancient land officially entered its revival.

Guang Tai slept well—yesterday’s fatigue vanished. He tidied the bed and checked the time.

07:35.

It was a fine morning.

Dunsparce was not stored in a Poké Ball; it stood upright in the corner, its tip touching the floor and its hilt pressed into the wall’s crevice—just as ancient soldiers once leaned their weapons against corners for quick access. Dunsparce had retained this habit.

Guang Tai gazed at the closed-eyed ancient blade, thinking.

Should I build a weapon rack?

In the Pokémon world, there’s a specialized field studying Pokémon ecology. Professor Tadokoro and Professor Oldberry are leaders in this field.

Different types of Pokémon prefer different lifestyles. Though Dunsparce cited the example of the Sword in the Stone yesterday, surely no weapon truly enjoys being stuck into ruin bricks and enduring millennia of wind and sun.

Even the Sword King Calyrex’s item, the “Rusted Sword,” after three thousand years of erosion, rotted away—yet it was a true hero’s blade. If even that became this, what of ordinary ancient swords?

Today remains a busy day.

The house, storage, and work area all need organizing; the land outside does too.

Guang Tai first went to the storage room and pulled out a wooden board and a machine.

For outdoor activities, a portable solar power source is essential.

He carried the machine outside, opened it, and let it bask in sunlight to store sufficient power.

This place is somewhat distant from the village, but not far. Before the door lies a large stretch of land: unnamed weeds, stones of varying sizes, and branches blown here by the wind.

Yesterday’s rain obscured the distant view; today’s clarity let Guang Tai gaze around and recall the map on the wall.

Towering ancient spirit peaks and ruined temples, distant villages, and several natural dirt paths and gaps leading out of the valley.

(End of Chapter)