Yes—but this road ends here.
There are still many rare soils in this world. If they all get swallowed up by Tera crystals, then that would be completely different from the final goal.
Hikaru said, "Even if you plant things in Terastalized soil, you'll still have spring sowing and autumn harvesting, birth and aging, sickness and death."
"But if we can create the legendary Phantasmal Soil…"
Raifort was thoroughly puzzled. "Ever since a moment ago, you've been saying things I can't understand. What is 'Phantasmal Soil'?"
Hikaru smiled. "They say that if you plant a seed in it, it will never wither—even if you don't tend it at all. No one knows who obtained it or where. It's dreamlike in its value."
"If you can obtain that kind of soil, then not even the power of time can leave any trace upon the land."
"Next, I'm going to train here for about three to five days. Hm, thinking about it, that brings us almost straight to the end of the month—then we can go to Cortondo Town to take part in the bullfighting event."
"Do you want to train with me, or go check out somewhere else?"
Hikaru's hint was extremely obvious: grave-robbing really was unethical, but you could do it somewhere that wasn't right under his nose.
However, Raifort fell into thought instead.
Having a chance to slip away wasn't bad, sure—but in truth, Hikaru and she were acquaintances. He'd only warned her verbally, and hadn't actually done anything.
So why should she be afraid?
Raifort blinked, then answered with keen interest, "Aren't you going to catch the last of the Treasures of Ruin?"
"I'm also very interested in Ting-Lu. I really want to see what it looks like!"
"Grave—cough, I mean, 'ruins exploration' can be done anytime. Anyway, in this Paldea, other than me, nobody is interested in those ruins at all."
Raifort waved her hand. "In short, ruins are things that represent history. They're there, unmoving."
"And besides, compared to the Treasures of Ruin…" A sharp gleam lit her eyes. "You are far more interesting to me."
"Just how much history and how many legends do you know? If I perform well, could you tell me some? Just as tea-time conversation."
"I like old things. And it's the same with old people who have known the past. Meeting you this time might be very lucky. From the very beginning, fate made us meet each other."
Hikaru recalled, "…Hm. When you put it that way, someone once called me 'the one who knows everything.'"
"But I think that's only because I happen to know a little more than other people don't."
Seeing the shock on Raifort's face, Hikaru's expression also turned a bit strange.
"Don't mind it! By the way, you said you'd 'perform well'—the way you said that makes it sound like you're some kind of student."
"Still, didn't you say earlier you wanted to do honest work? Have you ever considered going to the academy in Mesagoza and becoming a history teacher?"
Raifort immediately laughed. "Elite Four-sama, are you recommending me? That's recognition of my abilities—I should be happy. But… I'm a bad person, you know? Is it really okay to recommend someone like me? Some people might not like it, and would be very vigilant."
"Let me stay by your side and observe a bit more. With the name of a newly appointed Elite Four behind you, my activities in Paldea will become much easier."
Hikaru shook his head, speechless.
"Oh right—do you know Director Clavell?"
Raifort said, "Oh, you know that old man too? He's quite a stubborn researcher, and he also has… insight into history. A meddlesome old man, though."
"But I don't dislike that old-fossil way of thinking. Of course, I can't see him right now, which is also a good thing for me."
——————
Far beyond the distant sea, in the Alola region that remains tropical all year round.
Melemele Island.
One of Alola's largest islands, and also the starting island. Its guardian deity is the war god Tapu Koko.
As for the island king—Hala, who possessed superb craftsmanship and had mastered Alola's unique grand sumo technique—he was also an expert of Fighting-type Pokémon.
Among the four islands, as one of the island kings, Hala held the highest status.
Whenever someone from the other islands was chosen to become an island king or island queen, or was favored by a guardian deity and granted a Sparkling Stone, it was Hala who would process that Sparkling Stone and craft it into a Z-Ring—a miraculous bracelet that fused a Trainer's spirit and physical strength with a Pokémon's conviction, releasing Z-Power.
Of course, the other island kings and island queens could also process stones and grant bracelets to people they acknowledged. But the first bracelet of an island king or island queen would, without exception, be made by Hala, the one with the highest standing.
At the same time, Hala would also bestow an "Island Challenge Amulet" upon young people who had reached the age of eleven.
"The Island Challenge…"
Hala stayed inside his home, staring solemnly at a Sparkling Stone that had been placed before his workbench.
This was something Tapu Fini had handed to him, along with golden wood and minerals.
The colors of an island king's Z-Ring differed. Gold—and even wood—this represented the colors of Pony Island's island king.
"How could there be such a thing… for me to craft a Z-Ring and take it to Pony Island…"
"And yet I never witnessed a recognition ceremony."
"The island king of Pony Island has actually been chosen?"
Ever since the previous king of Pony Island passed away…
A new ruler had not been selected for a very long time.
It wasn't as if Pony Island lacked suitable candidates.
The chief of Seafolk Village was an extremely fitting candidate for an island king. Strength? He had strength. Looks? He had strength. Status? He had strength.
In short—he was very strong.
When he was young, that chief had traveled the world. And in order to cure a gravely ill girl, he had not hesitated to spend many years of his life. One could say that aside from strength, his character was impeccable as well.
He often sailed across the world in a boat shaped like a Magikarp, helping those in need. People would be startled by the chief's looks at first, but they would soon understand he was a good man with a fearsome face.
Hala had also spoken with that chief before, but unfortunately, the man believed he was meant to be free, and should not be bound to an island. Roaming the seas and helping those who needed it was his dream.
Because it was what he liked, he kept running all over the place.
And so, the seat of island king remained vacant. All this time, it had been the island king next door—Nanu—who took responsibility for the Grand Trial.
Of course, if the candidate pool were not restricted to the islands themselves, then excellent young people like Professor Kukui and Molayne would also have had a strong chance… but the guardian deities were unwilling to choose them, and they had no desire to become island kings.
"Hapu has been training and cultivating herself tirelessly for her late grandfather. I've also been looking forward to the day she can become the island queen."
"But the timing isn't right. She herself isn't mature—she's only a little girl. And in terms of strength… she can't shoulder the role."
"Is it because of that, that Tapu Fini selected a new island king?"
"But if this chosen island king hasn't come to Melemele Island… then it means he isn't in the Alola region."
"This is an unprecedented major event!"
"It's not as though outsiders becoming island kings has no precedent. However—being appointed when the person isn't even here—this is the first time!"
"If it's remote, isn't that the same as not having one at all? Or will he come soon to take up the post?"
Hala was extremely curious: what sort of powerhouse could make Tapu Fini personally come forward to recruit him—so much so that it even brought the Sparkling Stone over itself?
Normally, that stone would be thrown in front of the island king or island queen, and then they would come wearing it to ask Hala to process it.
Olivia and Nanu had both taken office that way. And Hala would also teach them how to craft Z-Rings, so that they could make bracelets themselves and distribute them to the Trial Captains they designated, completing the Island Challenge's process.
"What message are the guardian deities trying to convey?"
"Pony Island has an important ancient altar. Because of that, it must select someone who can protect the Altar of the Sunne, and also soothe the dead…"
With a heart full of confusion, Hala began processing the Sparkling Stone.
At the same time, he informed the other island king and island queen—Olivia and Nanu—about the matter.
Especially Nanu: since Pony Island had no island king, it was he who served as the examiner of the Grand Trial there. And with that lazy, careless manner of his—though he could be reliable at times—he was also extremely free-spirited.
Sure enough, when Hala delivered the news to the other two—
Olivia, the island queen, reacted first.
"Alola~! Hala-san."
Olivia said, "Even though I want to greet you happily, this news is simply too shocking!"
"The island king of Pony Island… isn't Hapu? Um! Even I think her strength still isn't enough… but…"
"Not even being in Alola, and still becoming the island king directly—this is even more astonishing than when Nanu-san became island king, isn't it?"
Nanu said, "Alola… hey. Don't say it like that about this old man."
"The Island Challenge is an important matter. Having no island king for a long time isn't acceptable either," Hala replied. "The guardian deities must have their own ideas."
"But I'm thinking Hapu will probably feel unwilling to accept it, right? After all, she failed to inherit her grandfather's identity."
"I don't know what this new island king is like… Nanu, you must tell Hapu this news, so she can be prepared."
Nanu sounded somewhat speechless. "Ugh, leaving this kind of thing to me… Hapu—eh, I can already imagine her crying her eyes out, feeling wronged. After all, this year she's only…"
"Whatever. It's the guardian deity's choice—nothing we can do. But the fact it didn't come to find me, and instead went straight to you, Hala-san, means this is an extremely formal appointment. If the new island king comes, then I won't need to keep doing this stand-in job anymore, right?"
"Running back and forth between two islands every day—I'm tired too."
"Recently, isn't there someone preparing to take part in the Island Challenge trials? That Flying-type golf girl—her momentum is fierce. She might become this Island Challenge's champion. If a new island king comes, then this old man can relax a bit."
Hala said, "Don't worry. The Island Challenge hasn't been fully decided yet; the people taking part still aren't ready. Before that, we still have to hold the full-power festival offered to the Tapu."
"And we should also celebrate the birth of the new island king. So I will go and communicate with the guardian deities."
(End of Chapter)
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