Chapter Ninety-Six: Legendary...

Heath took the ingredient analyzer from his pocket. The scenery was lovely, but he still wanted to know whether the glowing water would have any effect on the body.

After all, this was the reservoir of Viridian City. If there was anything wrong with it, that would be a truly troublesome matter.

Starry Algae: nonpoisonous and edible. It only grows in places with exceptionally pure water, and it helps purify the water as well. After harvesting, simply blanch it once before eating. It is recommended to add seasonings to enrich the flavor.

With a satisfied smile, Heath put the analyzer away. It really was an excellent tool, and it could even purify water. No wonder Officer Jenny and the others had no objections to it.

At that thought, Heath let out Farfetch’d and Charmander. The two of them gasped in wonder when they saw the magnificent view, and then Charmander and Farfetch’d began happily playing around Heath.

“Hmph, boring. You only play such childish games. I would never join in.”

Zorua lifted its head haughtily, wearing a look of utter disdain.

Then Zorua joined Farfetch’d and the others in their games, leaving Heath speechless. This fellow really was the perfect example of one thing on the outside and another in the heart.

“Ah... what a view. I feel like I don’t even want to move anymore. Seems I brought this lantern for nothing.”

Sitting on the ground by the reservoir, Heath stretched and lay back comfortably in the grass, gazing up at the magnificent star-filled sky overhead.

A strange warmth surged through his heart. All at once, Heath understood why Sister Maple had never objected to his desire to travel, and why so many children in the world of Pokemon set out on journeys before they were even grown.

Just the ever-changing scenery of each place, and the people and Pokemon one met there, were treasures precious enough to last a lifetime.

Heath was filled with anticipation for his journey. Tomorrow would be the first exam, and at present he was still fairly confident. He only wondered whether the second exam, and the others after it, would bring any changes.

After playing for a while by the reservoir, Heath took the exhausted Pokemon back home. Returning to the warm and comfortable dormitory, he lay down on his bed and soon drifted off to sleep.

When Heath woke up the next morning, his body still felt somewhat weary, likely because of the mountain climb from the night before.

“Come on, Zorua. Time to get up and wash up.”

Heath pulled Zorua out of bed, while Farfetch’d followed behind him with a yawn. Charmander was the only one not in the bedroom.

Heath found nothing strange about that. Charmander got up especially early every day, perhaps because it was still young and full of energy. Heath himself had also been unable to sleep in as a child, though by college he had become the type who could sleep through anything.

When he entered the living room, Heath saw Charmander exercising. It was pumping dumbbells with loud, determined breaths, its movements perfectly standard. Heath felt that Charmander might one day make a fine fitness trainer. Thinking about it, that didn’t sound bad at all. After all, Heath had never been very interested in battling.

After calling Charmander over, Heath took the Pokemon to the bathroom to wash up, and while they were at it he waited for each of them to use the toilet in turn. Once the Pokemon had taken care of their personal hygiene, Heath brought them to the food truck, set the autopilot, and drove toward the market.

A Small Step for a Pokemon Chef: teach Farfetch’d how to select and identify ingredients, and you will receive a random reward.

Heath froze in the truck. He really had not expected a quest to trigger while riding in the food truck. Still, this task was pretty simple. Ingredient identification was not particularly difficult; the hard part was becoming truly skilled at it.

Fortunately, the quest did not say he had to master it completely, so Heath remained calm.

“Farfetch’d, how’s your training going?”

He looked at Farfetch’d, who was still practicing wok skills, and asked. Farfetch’d shook its head. It felt that its stamina was still a little weak.

Heath stroked his chin. That problem would be easy enough to solve. As long as he obtained a Silver Crown, and it happened to raise Farfetch’d’s stamina or physical attack, then Farfetch’d’s body ought to become much sturdier.

Unfortunately, aside from the two Silver Crowns he had obtained before, Heath had not come across any others. That was a little troublesome. If the reward for this quest happened to be a Silver Crown, that would be wonderful.

After reaching the market, Heath took Farfetch’d down from the truck and began selecting ingredients. As he chose them, he also taught Farfetch’d some of his own experience and insights. For example, when selecting meat, it was best to press it lightly with a finger and then smell it.

Of course, Farfetch’d’s way of learning ingredient selection also pained Heath a little. After all, Farfetch’d was a Pokemon, and any ingredient its wings touched would basically have to be bought by Heath. Otherwise, he would be offending people.

Still, with effort came reward. Under Heath’s guidance, Farfetch’d quickly mastered the basics of ingredient selection.

You have obtained a random legendary clue.

In the mountains west of Viridian City, it is said that a very unusual group of white Pokemon lives there.

Heath sat in the food truck, momentarily stunned. So completing the quest only yielded a clue? And a legendary clue, no less?

He still did not really understand what criteria his special ability used when judging clues. But since it was a legendary-level clue, it had to sound impressive. As for the western side of Viridian City...

“I think that’s the mountain range connecting to the Johto region...” Heath scratched his head. That area was also where the Indigo Plateau stood, the site of the Kanto League headquarters, the venue of the Indigo League, and where the Elite Four lived.

Past those mountains lay the Johto region. It was similar to Kanto, though the Pokemon there differed in many ways.

“I have a feeling I’m fated to run into anything white.”

Heath sighed. Last time, the clue about Zorua had also mentioned a white figure in Viridian Forest. Only later did Heath learn that the white color had been the dress of the little girl Zorua had transformed into.

He just did not know what sort of white Pokemon this time would be, and the fact that they were especially unusual white Pokemon made that location feel all the more intriguing.

“Once I get my license, I’ll go to the Indigo Plateau first.”

Heath made up his mind quickly.

Originally, he had planned to go to Pallet Town. Starting his journey there would have been quite interesting as well. But now Heath had a different idea. He wanted to see what kind of Pokemon could possibly deserve a legendary evaluation from his special ability.

It surely couldn’t be a whole flock of Lugia, could it?