Chapter 114:
September 1st
At Dusk
The glow of the setting sun enveloped the town like a painter's canvas.
Watching the scene before him, Hayashi Kaede felt a pang of sadness.
Takagi Megumi, carrying a spatial backpack, was already saying goodbye to him.
"Since you've already passed the Trainer certification exam, quickly finish the required academic subjects at school and then start your journey."
The Eastova region's rules for new Trainers, while not as lax as some other regions, weren't overly strict either.
After passing the Trainer certification exam, one could start their journey early as long as they completed the corresponding academic subjects at school.
That's why Hayashi Kaede offered this advice.
"Okay, Brother Kaede~"
The girl nodded with a grin, then turned to leave.
"Wait," Hayashi Kaede called out to her, then tossed a storage capsule her way. "Be careful and cautious once you start your journey. The outside world can be dangerous. Don't make your parents worry. Don't forget to send letters or call when you're away.... These are some Energy Cubes for Wartortle. Don't let it go hungry."
Flustered, she caught the storage capsule. Before she could even check it, Hayashi Kaede waved his hand, "Hurry up, don't miss the last bus."
Hearing this, she nodded, stored the capsule, her eyes shining brightly, and ran towards the town exit. When she reached the outskirts, she couldn't help but glance back.
From here, she could no longer see the breeding house, but if she looked into the distance, she could see the flowers planted deep within the town and the customers gradually preparing to leave.
'It's getting livelier here...'
That thought arose in her mind.
If all went well, she would start her journey immediately after passing her academic subjects, pursuing her dream...
A customer, roughly in his forties, seeing Takagi Megumi waiting for the bus with him, couldn't help but ask.
"Megumi? With that backpack, are you going to school or starting a journey?"
Without hesitation, she replied, "School, then a journey!"
"I see, school is good. Your brother's skills at making Energy Cubes are so impressive. If you become a Pokémon Master too, that would be wonderful," he said cheerfully.
"Hehe... how can I compare to brother Kaede... Ah, the bus is here..."
...
"Sigh," Hayashi Kaede sighed sadly as he watched Takagi Megumi leave, then closed the shop door.
From now on, he wouldn't have such a useful cashier.
Inside the storage capsule he gave Takagi Megumi, he had placed various types of Energy Cubes, which should be enough for Wartortle until it evolves.
As for after it evolves...
She would have to manage on her own.
No time to dwell on Takagi Megumi's departure anymore. Hayashi Kaede immediately turned his attention to Gardevoir. "Come on, Gardevoir, help me make some Berry wine~"
The Grepa Berries and oak barrels had both arrived today.
Twenty-five thousand pounds of Grepa Berries – if he had to process them all alone, it would take who knows how long.
So, he needed Gardevoir.
But even with Gardevoir, they probably couldn't finish tonight.
After all, Gardevoir could only stay until around midnight at the latest.
"Gardevoir~"
Gardevoir nodded and flew directly towards the plantation.
Seeing this, Hayashi Kaede, on a whim, also levitated his body towards the plantation using his psychic abilities.
Although not as skilled as Gardevoir, it still made him sigh inwardly.
Psychic powers are so convenient.
…
Arriving at the barn, Hayashi Kaede first took out all the oak barrels from the storage capsules, arranging them neatly in the various compartments within the barn. Filling them this way used up all the remaining space in the barn.
He then had Gardevoir call Popplio and Milotic over. He placed a large steel basin at the junction between the barn and the garden, and had Milotic and Popplio spray water into the basin.
This way, the water used for washing the Grepa Berries would flow into the garden instead of accumulating in the barn.
Meanwhile, he took out storage capsules, released Grepa Berries into the steel basin, added a little salt, and started washing.
Of course, he wouldn't wash them by hand.
His psychic powers and Gardevoir's could handle this task perfectly.
The washed berries could then be transported via psychic power into the oak barrels. There was actually another step involved – breaking the skin of the Grepa Berries and crushing them.
This reminded Hayashi Kaede of making wine in his previous life; the process was quite similar.
But for the final step, most people used their feet to stomp the grapes.
With over twenty thousand pounds of grapes, stomping them would take forever.
And he only had Pokémon; his Bounsweet hadn't evolved either...
Gardevoir's psychic powers were much more convenient. A gentle squeeze separated the pulp from the skin.
And so, "Popplio..."
In a somewhat tired voice, Popplio was the first to reach its limit. But it didn't speak up immediately, thinking it had finally found a way to be somewhat useful to its Trainer. It continued spraying water, battling exhaustion and energy depletion.
However, Hayashi Kaede noticed this quickly.
"If you're tired, rest for a while. Milotic can handle it."
"Popplio..."
Popplio felt it could still manage, but in reality, it stumbled, nearly falling. Gardevoir quickly caught it with its psychic powers.
"It's okay, you've already done great," Hayashi Kaede said, patting the little one's head.
"Popplio!!"
But Popplio's expression turned determined in that moment.
Ever since arriving here, all it could do daily was eat and drink. The other Pokémon in the plantation could all help out in some way.
Even the Torchic that came with it had now evolved into Combusken, occasionally accompanying the Trainer on runs and even helping with cooking.
And Bounsweet...
It could provide juice for the Trainer.
Already prone to feeling inferior, it had always held onto the hope that it could help the Trainer after evolving...
But now...
It couldn't even manage to help wash the berries...
This pent-up emotion made it even sadder.
It just wanted to help the Trainer a little more...
Intense white light began to flash over Popplio's body. Along with the light, Popplio's previously depleted energy was replenished in an instant, becoming even more abundant. Its form began to change. When the white light faded,
The Popplio that was there before had completely transformed into a different appearance...
Its once deep blue skin turned lighter blue, the ball on its nose became pinker, it had several small ball-like appendages on its head resembling pigtails, and its body now had wave-like decorations resembling a skirt.
Under the intense surge of emotional energy, it had evolved.
"Huh?"
"Brionne? Brionne!" (The evolved Brionne's cheerful cry)