Chapter 16: Petilil, a New Member of the Workshop?

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“Generally, long-distance logistics don’t include free shipping, but to attract new customers, I have to cover this cost... No, I must pay for this myself!”

“Free shipping it is, then. After all, she bought twenty talismans at once. Compared to that price, the shipping fee is negligible. I’m selling each talisman for 8,000!”

The talismans were instantly sold out, bringing in 160,000 yuan, though the money wouldn’t be transferred to the account until the goods reached the United Alliance through the platform.

Looks like I’ll have to work overtime to craft more talismans for new stock.

But buying twenty at once—is she planning a do-or-die battle with some vengeful spirit? Or using them as darts?

An archaeologist? Hah, maybe a grave robber.

Guang Tai muttered to himself as he put on his clothes, grabbed his large storage backpack, packed a combat shovel, a lighter, carving tools, instant food, and some tree fruits inside. The Lone Sword Scabbard Pokémon flew after him midair, and then Guang Tai pushed open the door.

Today, he planned to head to the Divine Capital Ruins to obtain relic stones, but before leaving, he wanted to check on the crops.

The seeds in the field had already sprouted. Generally, it takes 3 to 10 days for seeds to germinate, faster in warmer regions. During sowing, techniques like soaking seeds, nicking seed coats, or applying germination agents can accelerate growth, but the climate here in the Divine Capital was still somewhat cold—not the warm and humid Hoenn region—so sprouting would be slower than in warmer areas.

However, with his knowledge as a “Planter” and the soft soil, the sprouting speed was... remarkably fast.

The tiny seedlings greedily absorbed the air, waiting for the day to grow, and that day would come soon.

“Huh?”

Guang Tai noticed a large patch in the resurrection grass area—not just sprouts anymore, but almost fully grown leaves!

What’s going on? Others are still sprouting, but this one bypassed the sprouting stage and entered growth directly?

And wild grass was growing beside the resurrection grass.

“Wild grass growing next to resurrection grass?”

Guang Tai was taken aback; he hadn’t considered this before. As a planter, he could make crops, medicinal herbs, and fruit trees grow faster, but if wild grass seeds mixed in, would those wild grasses also count as cultivated?

Wild grass grows fast naturally, not to mention the bonus from knowledge!

“Resurrection grass is an important medicinal herb; nutrients can’t be stolen by wild grass.” Guang Tai shook his head and crouched down to pull out the weeds. But as he grabbed those three leaves, a strange noise came from beneath!

Weeds that make noises? What a ridiculous dream... No, he wasn’t dreaming!

“Skiploom?!”

An ominous feeling crept over Guang Tai. Although startled by the noise from the weed in his hand, he let go, but it was clear now that there was a Pokémon underneath.

This cannot be!

Skiploom is a Pokémon that looks like a small plant with a round blue bulb and tiny legs.

This Grass-type Pokémon is common in many places, burrowing underground during the day to avoid the sun, burying its root-like feet motionless in the soil.

At night, it walks around dispersing seeds and, if it finds fertile soil, buries itself there!

So if you mistake it for ordinary grass and try to pull it out, you’ll hear it cry out!

“Skiploom hinders medicinal herb growth by competing for soil nutrients.”

“Sorry, can you find a different place to rest?”

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Guang Tai took out his combat shovel, found the right angle, and dug up the patch of soil.

“Bai!”

A green bulbous object shook its leaves as Guang Tai lifted it from the soil, finally seeing its true form!

Hmm... not a Skiploom?

The expected herb killer did not appear!

Before Guang Tai stood a Pokémon with a round onion-like head, a white face lacking nose or mouth, only a pair of slender oval brown eyes. Its body resembled a small skirt, and on its head... the three usual oval leaves looked unusually small.

“Lileep!”

Lileep is not native to the Johto region but is found in the neighboring Sinnoh region and was widespread in Sinnoh during the Washii era.

This Pokémon migrates habitats and prefers moist, nutrient-rich soil, so crops grow vigorously where Lileep lives. If the environment becomes unsuitable, they migrate elsewhere.

As a social Pokémon, Lileep rarely appears alone.

“Bai~ (•́︵•́)”

Lileep, dug from the soil, jumped out of Guang Tai’s palm and bounced twice on the ground, turning to stare at him.

Though her little eyes showed no clear anger or fear, since she didn’t flee... it seemed she wasn’t afraid of him?

Guang Tai noticed strange scar-like marks on Lileep’s onion-shaped head.

With the leaves on her head appearing small, as if newly grown...

The three leaves on her head represent vitality; when strong, if lost, they grow back immediately. These leaves are special medicinal herbs—extremely bitter but capable of restoring energy with just one bite. Dried and brewed, they revive vitality instantly.

“A moving medicinal herb!”

Though somewhat impolite to say, that was the truth.

“I see...!” Guang Tai understood why this Lileep was here: because he was cultivating resurrection grass, the injured Lileep was drawn to the fertile land, especially where medicinal herbs grew!

She relied on symbiosis with the resurrection grass to gradually heal her wounds. The small leaves on her head might have been plucked by wild Pokémon, forcing regrowth—or maybe she plucked them herself.

This land also benefited from the “Planter” skill, which speeds up vitality recovery.

However, this Lileep’s personality seemed off.

Lileep is a rather weak Pokémon that usually flees danger and rarely fights humans directly. If one is fearless, it likely has the “Reckless” trait.

Pokémon with this trait don’t fall into confusion.

“Hmm, since it’s not a Skiploom, no need to worry. Lileep and Skiploom have opposite effects on soil; Lileep enriches the soil.”

Guang Tai muttered to himself while Lileep watched his actions, occasionally glancing at the resurrection grass.

“You want this? Not yet. This is my important medicinal herb. If it’s used, I won’t be able to grow more resurrection grass.”

“I need to help the resurrection grass grow quickly, thickening and extending its roots.”

Guang Tai explained, knowing these Pokémon could understand human speech.

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Lileep didn’t speak but looked wistfully at the resurrection grass.

“(｡︿｡).....”

Seeing her like this, Guang Tai told her to wait a moment, then went back inside to fetch a medicinal herb purchased from an apothecary.

“I chopped the stems of the healing herb into small pieces. It’s not as effective as resurrection grass but still works well for wounds.”

“And this—you seem injured.”

Guang Tai took out a wound ointment, a topical medicine almost as effective as a spray.

Lileep didn’t move but seemed to realize Guang Tai meant no harm—perhaps after confirming she wasn’t a Skiploom?

Hmm... this “human” seems genuinely concerned about competing for soil.

Lileep pondered, but as Guang Tai tried to apply the ointment, she took some from his hand and rubbed it onto herself.

“Oh, indeed, she knows best where she’s hurt. The worse the injury, the more ointment to apply.”

Guang Tai held out his hand until Lileep used up all the ointment, then she glanced once more at the resurrection grass, hopped in front of Guang Tai, and let out a grateful cry.

“Bai~ (•́◡•́)”

Then she stopped hopping. One of the leaves on her head suddenly grew larger and fell off.

Lileep placed the fallen leaf in Guang Tai’s hand, then took the broken stem of the healing herb and waddled off toward the distant forest without looking back.

“The leaf—Lileep’s leaf is a premium medicinal herb. Should I trade this for some potions?”

“A lone Lileep with serious injuries—did it fight wild Pokémon? But since it came out of the forest, it must have lost. Yet despite defeat, it wants to keep fighting.”

“Lost its habitat but refuses to leave... a stubborn Lileep?”

Guang Tai gazed thoughtfully at the deep, shadowy woods.

Perhaps this Lileep will return.

His mind buzzed with new knowledge:

[Rare Material: Lileep’s Leaf.]

[Lileep’s leaves are extremely bitter but restore vitality to the weary. The leaves open or close depending on Lileep’s mood—open when happy, closed when sad.]

[Knowledge Acquired: 1]

[Herbal Compatibility: Grass-type Pokémon experience a slight boost in herbal recovery effects.]

“Let’s go, Lone Sword Scabbard. It’s time to head to the Divine Capital Ruins!”

“Yo~!”