–+–
After chatting with Kurt a while longer, Sera picked up the wooden box and stepped out of the workshop.
The young girl pondered the old craftsman’s advice.
Collecting more Poké Ball recipes, learning other types of craftsmanship…
If the custom Poké Ball making that Sera had mastered were considered a life skill, there would be countless others just like it in the Pokémon world.
From what Sera understood, crafts centering around Pokémon included, but were not limited to, accessory making, grooming, apparel design, and so much more.
It wasn’t just Trainers; ordinary people were just as dedicated as the pros when it came to keeping their Pokémon happy.
That was exactly why there were so many industries dedicated to helping others raise their Pokémon well.
Thinking by analogy, it seemed like crafting held items could be a promising direction.
Sera considered this quite seriously.
She had, in truth, been reflecting on how lazy she had become lately.
Because the Electronic Pokémon Raising System had proven effective, Sera had become addicted to the game.
She hadn’t forgotten her original dream of becoming a Trainer, but it was a fact that she had neglected the refinement of her craftsmanship.
After seeing the masterpiece Kurt had produced, Sera realized that even in the craft of making Poké Balls, she was still a long way from the pinnacle.
She had only just taken her first step; how could she be so arrogant as to stop now?
She wanted to be a Pokémon Trainer, but she also wanted to be a craftsperson who could make someone like Kurt proud.
It was a bit greedy, perhaps, but Sera genuinely admitted to herself that she was that hungry and eager for the things right before her eyes.
Even though the system had described these digital Pokémon as nothing more than data from the very beginning, Sera was just as eager to reach out and touch Ogerpon.
Sera had embraced the mindset that since she had miraculously arrived in the Pokémon world, she had to see as much of the scenery as possible.
Trainers and craftsmen—she wanted it all!
Ding—
With her mind made up, Sera, while walking down the road, suddenly heard a notification chime from her phone.
She pulled it out and saw a push notification: there was an update on the escort commission.
The Trainer named Ryugu had readily sent over her requirements.
As for the Apricorn Ball she wanted…
“A Lure Ball?”
It was a type of ball rarely requested in daily life.
Aside from the consistent aesthetic value of Apricorn Balls, the unique effect of the Lure Ball itself was that it exerted a luring effect on Pokémon caught with a fishing rod, increasing the capture rate.
They weren’t guaranteed to actually hook a Pokémon.
The plight of an angler was roughly the same in any world; there were plenty of fishing enthusiasts, but true masters who could consistently haul in a catch were few and far between.
After all, the Lure Ball was a rare item.
If a Trainer couldn’t hook the Pokémon she wanted, the Lure Ball’s special effect was rendered useless.
If a Pokémon resisted fiercely during the capture process, the Poké Ball could be destroyed.
A regular Poké Ball was one thing, but an Apricorn Ball, which cost at least ten thousand at a base price, was a loss most Trainers couldn’t stomach.
However, when it came down to it, this didn’t have much to do with Sera.
Whether Ryugu wanted to use the Lure Ball to catch a hooked Pokémon or just force a capture on a common one was her business.
Sera just needed to provide the Lure Ball once the task was completed.
“I might as well buy some Blue Apricorns on the way home.”
Thinking this, the girl took a detour, taking an extra half-hour to get home.
By the time she reached her apartment, it was already lunchtime.
Sera didn’t immediately prepare a meal; instead, she pulled out her simulator.
“Poni!”
[Ogerpon has sensed your presence.]
[Ogerpon is stretching and waving to greet you.]
Lately, the atmosphere between her and Ogerpon had become increasingly domestic.
Sera and this little ogre were like family; every day they would greet each other first, play games, go out to exercise, and then wish each other goodnight before sleeping.
It was precisely because it felt so lifelike that Sera, who wouldn’t normally get addicted to games, spent so much time on Ogerpon.
If it were strictly for the sake of Effort Values, Sera could have logged off once Ogerpon’s stamina was depleted.
Yet, at Ogerpon’s request, the girl would still stay to play ball-tossing games that offered no rewards.
“Let me see…” Sera tapped on Ogerpon’s attribute panel.
–+–
[Ogerpon]
[Level: 13 (20)]
[Moves: Vine Whip (Mastered), Horn Leech, Ivy Cudgel] The source of this chapter is g.com.
[Affinity: 40]
[Status: Active]
–+–
Because Sera had poured almost all of her time over the last two days into the simulator, Ogerpon’s stats had improved significantly.
First off, she had leveled up three times, getting much closer to completing the mission regarding the ghost of Oni Mountain.
Sera used Floral Incense on Ogerpon every day.
Through the accumulated consumption of Raising Points, Ogerpon’s Vine Whip move had already reached mastery before Horn Leech and Ivy Cudgel.
By frequently using moves like Horn Leech and Ivy Cudgel that generated plant spikes, Ogerpon had now mastered the technique of using her Vine Whip to grow thorns through a charge-up attack.
Perhaps after a bit more training, Ogerpon might even be able to fuse Vine Whip with Horn Leech to achieve a special effect of continuous damage and HP absorption.
Because of Ogerpon’s significant progress in battle, Sera believed she would reach level 15 soon.
Level 15—it was already very close to the level Ogerpon should be at.
Although generally speaking, making a Pokémon stronger was the goal of raising them, the process within the Electronic Pokémon Raising System actually had milestones.
Sera had never touched an achievement system before, but Ogerpon’s level bar looked different from a normal Pokémon’s.
Once Ogerpon reached level 20, the Electronic Pokémon Raising System would likely provide a corresponding achievement reward.
—Maybe it will be a new slot.
From the very beginning, the system had only given Sera one empty slot for raising, which meant she had to give up and wait a one-year cooldown period if she drew a target she couldn’t raise.
Since drawing Ogerpon, Sera had gradually gotten on the right track.
Following the normal progression, she would eventually get a new slot.
“A second Pokémon to raise, huh…”
Sera prayed for a moment that she wouldn’t draw any more strange Pokémon.
Anything would do, as long as it was like Ogerpon—cute, but with combat capabilities that grew over time.
Being able to raise them normally was more important than anything else!
To absorb some good luck, the girl reached out and stroked Ogerpon’s head repeatedly.
“Pon?”
[Ogerpon looks a bit confused.]
“Keep it up, give it your all, and let’s reach level 20 as soon as possible!”
“Pon!!!”
[Ogerpon feels your encouragement and is suddenly brimming with motivation!]
–+–