Chapter Nine: A Kitchen Knife? Evolve a Bit More Before Heading to the Kitchen

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Vitality shards? What are those?

“Hmm?” The Loneblade Sheath expressed confusion, while Glowing Moss told it to wait. Soon, it retrieved a box of pale golden, diamond-shaped “gems” from a cabinet in the living room.

“Vitality shards—though they all look the same, some are mineral, while others are artificially made, but their effects are identical.”

“By using two plants, Vitality Buds and Healing Herbs, and undergoing a series of processing steps, one can produce vitality shards.”

Glowing Moss handed a vitality shard to the Loneblade Sheath.

“Hmm?”

The Loneblade Sheath grasped the pale golden “gem” with its blue hand, and its eyes immediately widened!

A powerful life force radiated from within!

A faint purple, ghostly energy emanated from the Loneblade Sheath’s body, and the vitality shard held in its blue ribbon-like hand soon vanished.

“Absorbed? No stamina loss and still usable—this really is different from the game world. Vitality shards that restore HP themselves contain a strange life energy.”

“So it really uses that blue ribbon-like hand to ‘feed.’”

According to its lore, it wraps the arm of the sword wielder with the blue cloth and drains life until the person collapses.

It seemed that it only does this when hungry.

That makes sense. In the underwater ruins of the Unova region, there’s an ancient saying: to eat is to gain all life.

Those with mouths eat with mouths; those without must find other means.

However, vitality shards cost about three times as much as tree fruits, averaging around 1500 Pokédollars. This is considerably pricier than regular food or vegetables, almost approaching the cost of “large-scale ingredients.” Consuming vitality shards daily would be quite an expense.

If feasible, to save money, it would be wise to cultivate some land near the cabin, planting vegetables and tree fruits, especially since a long period of work lies ahead here.

“Hmph, you’re full, but I’m not yet.”

It was already quite late. Glowing Moss approached the stove, eyeing the stone chimney and the stack of firewood inside the kitchen—wood the previous owner had gathered during outings.

Thankfully, the previous owner had done some work; otherwise, there’d be no firewood left.

Glowing Moss then took out some ingredients from the storage chest:

Canned chicken. Canned pickled vegetables.

Many onions. Many dried radishes.

Also butter, a small bag of flour, fresh milk.

Along with some tree fruits and mushrooms recently picked and stored in a paper bag.

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During long journeys, fresh food sources cannot be guaranteed. Apart from tree fruits, most ordinary vegetables have limited shelf lives. Excluding onions, which undoubtedly have one of the longest room-temperature shelf lives, lasting up to a month.

In contrast, tree fruits are truly peculiar natural foods; they can be stored for long periods without spoiling, and different varieties contain different nutrients.

Glowing Moss decided to stew everything together—a common cooking method using inexpensive and easily accessible ingredients, simmered in a pot. To enhance flavor and texture, some ingredients are lightly fried or sautéed before stewing.

In the Pokémon world, besides common ingredients, tree fruits can also be used as stew ingredients.

In the distant Galar region, their curry is made by stewing tree fruits.

The Loneblade Sheath, now “full and satisfied,” flew swiftly into the kitchen as Glowing Moss began preparing the ingredients to cook!

A new king cooks personally!

How could a knight not lend a hand?

When it comes to chopping vegetables, of course, using its blade is much faster, as it’s extremely “sharp”!

“Hmm...!”

The Loneblade Sheath approached the cutting board, drawing its true form from the sheath with a clang. The blue ribbon hand caught the falling sheath, and the blade glimmered with a faint green sharp light!

It used the move “Fury Cutter”!

Perfect against the cabbage!

Shing-shing-shing-shing—

A whole, round onion quickly collapsed into thin strips, while the blade seemed to create phantom images in swift motion!

Bug-type moves for chopping vegetables—it’s just so smooth and satisfying, after all, vegetables belong to the Grass type!

“Oh! ‘Fury Cutter’ can be used like this? I’d never thought of using an ancient sword to cut vegetables... after all, you’re not a kitchen knife.”

Glowing Moss was stunned, while the Loneblade Sheath was quite pleased with its performance, proudly raising its blade despite the bits of onion and droplets still clinging to it. Glowing Moss quickly stepped back.

“Hmm~ hmm!”

To share the burden for the sovereign is a vassal’s duty; these are just some ingredients—if needed, slicing them all is a piece of cake!

Glowing Moss was surprised:

“Really? You’re quite skilled at this. Then I’ll entrust you with cutting the tree fruits next.”

It hadn’t expected the Loneblade Sheath to have such talents. Glowing Moss thought it would only be good for slashing enemies after being bestowed upon the knight by the ancient king... slicing melons and chopping vegetables, is that how it works?

Well, that would make things easier!

“Hmm!”

Upon hearing Glowing Moss’s praise, a fiery spirit seemed to ignite in the Loneblade Sheath’s single eye!

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✧ㄟ(⦿)ㄏ✧!

New king, behold! It’s not that I’m not powerful, but your strength surpasses mine. However, when it comes to chopping vegetables, naturally, I’m the better choice!

As for cheap kitchen knives... evolve a bit before you step into the kitchen!

..........

The next day, June 7th.

Weather: clear.

The first summer rain had ceased, the sun rose, and this ancient land officially awakened once more.

After a restful sleep, yesterday’s fatigue vanished. Glowing Moss tidied the bedding and glanced at the time.

07:35.

A beautiful morning.

The Loneblade Sheath was not stored in a Poké Ball; it stood leaning in a corner, its sword tip touching the floor, and the hilt resting against the wall’s crevice. Just like soldiers of old would lean their weapons in corners for easy access, the Loneblade Sheath seemed to maintain this habit.

Glowing Moss looked at the ancient sword with closed eyes and pondered.

Should I make a weapon rack?

In the Pokémon world, there is a discipline studying Pokémon ecology; Dr. Oden and Dr. Old Yew are leaders in this field.

Different Pokémon types prefer different lifestyles. Although the Loneblade Sheath used the example of the Sword in the Stone yesterday, surely no weapon truly enjoys being stuck into relic bricks and enduring millennia of wind and sun.

Even the “Rotten Sword” of the Sword King Zacian, after 3,000 years, had decayed. That was a true hero’s sword, and yet it ended like that—let alone ordinary ancient swords.

Today would be another busy day.

Inside the house, the storeroom, and the workspace all needed organizing, as did the land outside.

Glowing Moss first went to the storeroom and retrieved a plank and a device.

When exploring outdoors, one essential item is a portable solar power supply.

Outside the workshop, the device was turned on, basking in sunlight to store sufficient electricity.

The village was some distance away but not too far. In front of the door stretched a large plot of land, overgrown with nameless weeds, scattered stones of varying sizes, and some branches blown in by the wind from unknown places.

Yesterday’s rain had obscured the view, but today’s clear weather allowed Glowing Moss to survey the surroundings and recall the map hanging on the wall.

Tall ancient spiritual peaks and relic temples, distant villages, and several natural dirt roads and gaps leading out of the valley.