–+–
“Ryugu.”
Sera gazed at the computer screen, whispering the name.
After two days, the commission she posted had accumulated a mountain of applications.
As Sera had anticipated, Trainers simply couldn’t resist the allure of Apricorn Poké Balls.
After filtering for those who possessed at least four Gym Badges, she still had more than ten candidates left on her list.
Sera scanned the remarks and details, promptly discarding eighty percent of them.
Male Trainers were the first to go.
This upcoming trip required venturing deep into the Nature Park, and Sera had absolutely no interest in spending time alone in the wilderness with a member of the opposite sex.
After another round of filtering, the only name left standing before her was the one she had just spoken.
Ryugu.
Hailing from Blackthorn City, she was a member of the renowned clan of Dragon Tamers.
Sera found this family deeply intriguing.
Unlike average Trainers, those from the Dragon Tamer clan predominantly excelled in using Dragon-type Pokémon.
Even the current Indigo League Champion, Lance, and the Blackthorn City Gym Leader, Clair, hailed from this lineage.
According to Sera’s understanding, Clair’s strength was in no way inferior to the Elite Four; she was at a level where she could trade wins and losses with them.
While the odds of losing might be higher, it still served as a testament to just how formidable the Dragon Tamer clan’s Trainers could be.
Ryugu held three Gym Badges.
Based on her gaming experience, Sera inferred that a Trainer at this stage would likely be around level 20 to 25.
Gym Leaders often adjusted their strategies based on a challenger’s number of badges, and while Sera was simply using levels as a habit to estimate strength, other Trainers likely had their own assessment strategies when facing opponents based on badge counts.
Regardless of all that, it was clear that this Ryugu didn’t seem particularly powerful.
She’ll do.
Sera finally made up her mind.
Whether a Trainer was truly exceptional or not didn’t really matter to her; she was more concerned with how much she could probe and learn from them.
As for whether Ryugu was up to the task…
well, the service provider was usually the one fretting over whether they could fulfill a commission.
Sera was the client, so why on earth should she worry about the contractor?
Confirmed!
Now, she just had to wait for Ryugu to send a message specifying which type of Apricorn Ball she wanted.
With that decided, Sera stood up and prepared to head out. Find the original chapter at g.com.
–+–
Azalea Town, the home of Kurt.
Inside the workshop, the familiar rhythmic clanging of iron on metal echoed as it always did.
Hearing those comforting sounds, a faint smile tugged at the corners of Sera’s lips.
As she pushed open the door and stepped inside, the sound instantly ceased.
The old craftsman set down his hammer, picked up a rag to wipe his hands, and stood up.
“Sera, you’re here.”
“Yes.”
Sera’s visit today was to bid Kurt farewell.
Even though they only exchanged brief greetings, both understood what was left unsaid.
Over these three years, the obedient and clever Sera had long since replaced the memory of the son who had failed to live up to his expectations, becoming the apprentice who made him proudest.
Kurt, a man of few words, couldn’t bring himself to say anything overly sentimental.
He gestured for Sera to sit while he walked toward the back of the house.
A few moments later, he returned, holding a wooden box.
“Take this.”
Kurt got straight to the point.
“Take these with you.
Once you’re out there, don’t forget to keep honing your craft.”
The wooden box felt surprisingly heavy as it settled into her hands.
Curiosity piqued within Sera.
Her master had never been one for romantic gestures; Kurt was exactly like his name—hard, unyielding, and as blunt as metal in his dealings with others.
Kurt’s son, who had taken a job at Silph Co., still drew harsh rebukes from the old man whenever his name was mentioned.
After all, Silph Co.
had pioneered the basic technology for modern mass-produced Poké Balls, and as an artisan who dedicated his life to traditional methods, Kurt’s resentment toward the company was understandable.
To think that even such a master would prepare a graduation gift for her?
The girl looked up.
Seeing Kurt’s calm expression, she stopped overthinking it and lifted the lid, gazing at the items tucked inside.
This is…
Seven exquisitely crafted, vibrant Apricorn Balls lay before her eyes.
Her years of experience handling handmade Poké Balls immediately told her that these were no ordinary creations.
The girl carefully supported the box with one hand, and under Kurt’s watchful gaze, she picked up a Moon Ball with the other.
The black-and-blue ball, adorned with crescent moon patterns, emitted a cool, polished luster.
To think an Apricorn could be polished to such an extent…
“These Apricorn Balls are the finest finished products I am capable of making.”
The old man clasped his hands behind his back.
His tone was flat, but Sera could hear the intense pride hidden beneath it.
“You aren’t capable of this level of craftsmanship yet.”
Sera nodded silently.
There was no reason to deny it.
If there were levels to being a Poké Ball artisan, the current Sera was, at best, just beginning to find her footing.
Kurt, however, was already a respected master.
Even when crafting the same type of Apricorn Ball, the only thing Sera could boast about was her speed; she still couldn’t reach the level of artistry that Kurt achieved.
The more exquisite the Apricorn Ball, the more astronomical its value became in the eyes of a Trainer, even if the actual catch rate difference was marginal.
If there’s any Apricorn Ball that could sell for hundreds of thousands, it would be the ones sitting in this box right now.
And yet, there were seven of them resting in her hands.
The old craftsman watched the silver-haired girl, a quiet sigh stirring in his heart.
Kurt had never been a stubborn old man who hoarded his secrets; long before Sera had lost her way and stumbled into Azalea Town, he had never been stingy about teaching his craft to others.
However, those who only wanted to learn because they thought they could get rich quick always ended up crushed by reality.
A beginner could sit at the workbench all day, working non-stop, and they would be lucky to turn out a single, mediocre red-and-white Poké Ball worth a few hundred bucks.
The young people of today were all far too impatient.
Even his own son had recoiled at the sheer monotony of crafting Poké Balls by hand, opting instead to use his technical knowledge to join Silph Co.
That was why Sera made Kurt so incredibly proud.
No other artisan had ever taught an apprentice who could craft their own Apricorn Ball before the age of twenty—but she had done it.
Yet, Kurt was far from satisfied.
Sera would reach his level one day, but was that enough?
The future Kurt envisioned was for Sera to become an unparalleled master artisan.
That was why he gave her the absolute best he could make.
It was a graduation gift, but also a test.
Only by seeing what a truly masterful Apricorn Ball looked like could she eventually surpass him and step into a higher realm.
“In this world, there are all sorts of strange and marvelous Poké Balls,” Kurt said, suppressing the surge of emotion in his chest.
“Beyond that, every region has its own traditional handicrafts.”
“If you truly wish to continue your training, then set out and seek them all.”
–+–