Shinto, the Traveler’s Workshop.

After Hikaru finished a few test matches, he saw his account suddenly gained several new followers. He nodded to himself.

Bullying people really does net you followers fast.

Fortunately, no one had managed to track him down for a rant, thanks to the software having no stranger message function.

Gaining attention is a victory in itself—that’s the start of marketing!

After that, Hikaru went back to his usual work.

Using the lumber Doublade chopped and the stones Regirock carried, Hikaru and his Pokémon started constructing a small shed near the workshop.

This small shed was built behind the forging area, as a temporary expansion. Hikaru plans to convert it into a greenhouse later, for growing some rare crops.

After all, winters in Shinto can be harsh. While he might leave in autumn and winter, there’s still a lot of cultivated stuff that can’t be abandoned. He can hire the forest Pokémon to help care for it.

For now, the shed’s main function is to give Regirock some shelter. You can’t just let your client sleep outside all the time.

Later, he could add more rooms or standalone buildings… Hikaru weighed his options.

While Hikaru hammered the shed together, Lilligant helped, Regirock carried materials, and Doublade and Turtwig handled the cutting of wood.

Doublade was teaching Turtwig how to use Razor Leaf precisely for woodworking.

Unown, meanwhile, couldn’t really help and just stayed stuck to Regirock, adding extra burden.

Once the wooden structure took shape, Regirock raised both arms in delight, clearly pleased.

Its emotional range now matched Brandon’s Regirock from the anime.

Even these ancient Pokémon have feelings; it’s just that normal Pokémon can’t understand them. In the Tree of Beginning, the three Regis definitely showed emotions.

What did Regigigas feel when creating them? Why give them life in the first place?

After finishing up work, Hikaru did routine maintenance and repairs on Regirock. He also transplanted some special “Light Moss” onto its body.

The Light Moss grants a boost in Sp. Def when the wearer is hit by Water moves, helping them handle rain. A good outer layer for a Rock-type.

Hikaru observed the moss-clad Regirock.

It now looks a bit like a miniature Regigigas.

With no new consults popping up, he returned to working on crafting Rare Candies.

“Lilligant, can you carve some stone for me?”

“Lilli?” Lilligant gestured at herself with a leaf.

You want me to carve? Great! Lilligant was excited. She stopped Regirock from carrying the stones away.

Originally, she’d wanted to sculpt a human figure for her Trainer, but she botched it last time and was too embarrassed. This time, she wanted to try sculpting Regirock instead.

Making Pokémon statues is simpler than sculpting humans.

Recalling Hikaru’s masterful carving, the way he can replicate humans so vividly, Lilligant couldn’t help but admire him.

“Lilli!”

Regirock willingly agreed to stand still.

Turtwig had nothing else to do, so it watched curiously from the side.

Doublade floated around Lilligant, letting out a “Yo~oo” sound.

This time, I’ll teach you how to carve.

“Lilli!” Lilligant was thrilled, nodding before settling into a serious posture.

She activated Leaf Blade with her arms.

Grass-type Leaf Blade is super effective on “stone!”

“Yo—oop!!”

Doublade suddenly called out, stopping her from swinging. Its ribbons tapped a point on the rock.

No, no. Don’t carve with that much force.

“Yooop—”

Look carefully at Regirock’s face before cutting.

“Lilli?”

Lilligant turned to Regirock’s face. The big “H” on that flat face didn’t show any expression at all.

“Lilli~?”

Isn’t it basically one slash for a flat surface?

Doublade, like a proper teacher, hovered to Regirock, waving its ribbons in front of Regirock’s “face.”

“Yoo~oo—Yoop!”

Pay attention! Regirock’s eyes are lit up, right? The “H” shape is brighter than usual!

“Yo~oo.”

Plus, the face isn’t totally flat. If you look closely, there’s a ridge in the middle, giving the sides a slope. The rocky texture too—if you just carve out a stone shape, that’s not a statue, it’s just leftover rock.

Doublade explained while grabbing Unown off Regirock’s body and pressing it to Regirock’s face!

“Lilli!”

Lilligant was startled to see that the sides of Regirock’s face did have a slight incline!

“Anown…” Unown sighed, floating off Regirock to find a comfy spot on the half-built shed.

Lilligant jogged back to examine Regirock’s face up close, nodding here and there. After observing thoroughly, she returned to the stone block and carefully resumed Leaf Blade.

This time, she eased up. The green glow around her leaves was just a faint outline as she carved. Doublade stood by, watching carefully. If she pushed too hard, Doublade would step in to guide her.

Precision and elegance—that’s the essence of stone carving! You must carve with a steady hand.

Doublade had ample experience shaping rock. Acting like a stone-carving instructor, it directed Lilligant. In a short time, they’d produced a decent half-bust of Regirock.

“Nah?!”

Turtwig blinked in surprise.

It’s way better than her last attempt!

“Yo—oo!” Doublade, quite proud, boasted that with a master like itself guiding the process, of course there’d be immediate results!

“Re-gi.” Regirock examined the statue, the H glowing repeatedly.

Contemplating…That’s my face…

“Re-gi!”

Suddenly, Regirock raised both arms, which meant it approved of Lilligant’s sculpture.

Maybe we can put that in the temple.

“Lilli!”

Lilligant squealed with joy.

Yes! If it can be placed in the temple, that’s the ultimate recognition!

One of a sculptor’s greatest achievements is to have their work displayed in a temple. And Regirock’s the temple guardian—earning its approval meant success!

“Yo—oo.”

However, Doublade poured a little cold water on her excitement, letting out a sound like “Not so fast.”

You’ve only been approved by Regirock. Without my pointers, you’d have messed up countless times. You have to thoroughly learn all the carving techniques, know when to cut precisely, and control your power. Only then are you truly qualified as a sculptor!

Lilligant carves partly to help out, partly because she enjoys it, and partly for the same reason her Trainer values it: to offset the drawbacks of her “Chlorophyll” or “Hustle”-like ability, improving accuracy and precision.

So this skill level isn’t enough yet. There’s a long way to go!

Still, Lilligant didn’t give up. She warmly hugged Regirock, then Doublade, and even lifted Turtwig up high, proclaiming she’d work even harder! Thank you, Doublade-senpai!

“Yo~oo.” Doublade had zero resistance to her hugs. Whatever scolding it planned to do melted away.

It remembered back when Lilligant was just a Petilil—she put in great effort, training and working for her goals.

What Doublade admires, what it looks up to, what it loves, what it recognizes, is exactly that side of Lilligant.

That hardworking spirit is so beautiful!

“Yo—oo!”

Indeed—keep it up. One day you’ll be a magnificent Pokémon!

Doublade encouraged her. Turtwig and Regirock cheered along.

Yes! In our new kingdom, I appoint you Minister of the Garden. Turtwig is still too young, so it can stay as a potted plant for now.

As for the watery illusions from dreams, they’ll be the perfect rides or something…

Doublade crossed its ribbon-arms, as if folding them, and the eyes on both blades closed—lost in daydreams.

Hearing Doublade’s talk about “kingdom,” Lilligant shook her leaves in exasperation: “Lilli~!”

Doublade-senpai, you’re daydreaming again!

“Yo~oo…”

Doublade responded sulkily: daydreaming? That’s called having a dream.

A Trainer needs ambition, and so do Pokémon. Even though I’ve been let down a few times, I’ll never give up on building my ideal realm!

“Nah?”

Turtwig uttered an enthusiastic cry. Its dream is to gather loads of rare plants and grow them on its shell, collecting every exotic flora until it’s as big as the Torterra that Hikaru once mentioned!

It wants to grow huge!

Watching the two ancient Pokémon excitedly chat, Lilligant waved a leaf in resignation.

Then again, if she can always stay with her Trainer and everyone else… even building a kingdom like that wouldn’t be so bad. Including the ones who left, like Celebi…

If a place like that truly existed…

She began to imagine it, but soon refocused on the unfinished lower half of the statue. Her leaves once again glowed with that sharp green edge.

Time to keep carving.

Sculpture is a way to express feelings and memories.

Leaving everyone’s statues in this land, so that far in the future, we’ll still be together…

Lilligant stared at the half-finished statue, her leaves glowing with renewed vigor.

Meanwhile…

Hikaru, busy working on Rare Candy, felt a sudden feedback from Lilligant’s progress.

[“Hisuian Lilligant gained repeated experience from her task and grew.”]

[“Move learned: Close Combat!”]

[“Lilligant gained +1 Knowledge.”]

[“Precision Blade: +10% to Accuracy and Move Power, +25% to carving accuracy!”]

Crack!

A noise of stone shattering echoed from outside?

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/zaelum][+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter][Thank You For Your Support!]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep