Because it was daytime, the Spectrier, whose vision had somewhat degenerated, could barely see its surroundings.
Fortunately, even with its sight diminished, its other senses were much sharper than those of ordinary Pokémon.
Even if it couldn't see, Spectrier could still accurately grasp the terrain and the positions of nearby creatures by relying on its other senses.
After all, this was an area famous for its agriculture. Although there weren't any wide highways, there was still a road leading to Kitakami Village.
Thanks to this, Lucas was able to have Spectrier gallop along the road, while he sat with Applin on his head, a Mimikyu on his shoulder, reading a tourist brochure about Kitakami Village he'd picked up at the airport.
There were actually quite a few vehicles traveling in and out of Kitakami Village along the road, and many drivers cast curious glances at Lucas riding the Spectrier, drawing a lot of attention.
Although Lucas had already done some research in advance, information on the internet wasn't always 100% accurate. On the other hand, these constantly updated tourist brochures at the airport were filled with the latest news.
After skimming through, he found most of the information matched what he remembered, with some details being more refined.
Kitakami Village couldn't truly be called a region; it was more like a corner of a region.
The town inside Kitakami Village was called Mossui Town, and Kitakami Village referred to the larger area radiating out from Mossui Town, made up of a variety of terrains.
Towering mountains surrounded Kitakami Village, their bases serving as places where people lived. Thanks to the area's abundant natural resources, this town deep in the mountains had managed to survive and thrive for generations.
Enjoying the rare breeze as Spectrier galloped, Applin noticed Lucas looking at something and cautiously poked half its body out of its apple, curiously staring at the brochure in Lucas's hand.
When Lucas turned the page to a photo of Apple Hill—the place where Kitakami Village's signature apples originated—Applin's eyes immediately lit up.
"Ka-ji!"
It knew that as soon as they arrived there, it could finally evolve.
Mimikyu, on Lucas's shoulder, looked a little envious of Applin and the others.
It seemed that, from the moment it was born, it was one of those Pokémon that couldn't evolve. Having witnessed so many companions evolve and heard them describe the feeling, it couldn't pretend not to envy them.
However...
Mimikyu looked down at its own cute decorations, its little face hidden under the doll's cloth blushing slightly.
Having these was enough.
The brochure was thin, only about a dozen pages. Besides a few pages introducing Kitakami Village's environment, most of it was devoted to stories and legends passed down by the villagers.
"It is said that long, long ago, a terrifying ghost haunted Kitakami Village.
The ghost dwelled on the mountain behind the village, often playing pranks or frightening those who ventured into the mountains for herbs or wild foods.
One day, the ghost flew into a rage, suddenly descending upon the village and throwing the people into panic.
At that moment, three Pokémon—Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti—just happened to be in the village. The three, seeing injustice, risked their lives to drive the ghost back to the mountains.
Ever since then, these three brave Pokémon were affectionately called the 'Loyal Three' by the villagers. Their remains were buried with honor, statues were built above them, and a plaza named after them was established."
This was the legendary tale of Kitakami Village's Loyal Three, passed down for generations.
Unfortunately, the brochure only mentioned the story; there were no pictures of the so-called Loyal Three or their statues, as if to deliberately pique tourists' curiosity.
After all, a little mystery is always more alluring than showing everything at once.
A ghost, plus Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti... Four Pokémon I've never heard of. And with Perrin mentioning "Bloodmoon," this Kitakami Village is getting interesting.
Could this really be DLC content I haven't played, or part of a new region? Is the so-called ghost some kind of Ghost-type Pokémon?
Three-on-one, yet the ghost reversed the situation and defeated three at once—it's just like a villain boss in a game, directly taking down the heroes. How strong could it have been? Was it perhaps a legendary Pokémon?
And with Bloodmoon and all the local specialties, Lucas admitted that his interest in Kitakami Village was growing.
Spectrier was fast, and before lunchtime, Lucas saw the outline of Mossui Town in Kitakami Village.
In the distance were rolling mountains, their peaks shrouded in clouds and mist, covered in lush vegetation.
Closer by, a clear stream flowed along the road into town, its gurgling sounds blending with the calls of unknown bird Pokémon from afar.
To give Lucas a better view, Spectrier stepped onto the soul-like mist and soared into the sky, as if walking on air.
Amid Applin and Mimikyu's cries of amazement, Lucas looked down at Mossui Town nestled at the foot of the mountains.
The entire town was styled like a classic Japanese village, full of rustic charm.
Looking further out, aside from the vast, mysterious forest, the hills near Mossui Town were covered in apple trees, their green leaves and red apples making for a beautiful sight.
There was also the "Kitakami Six Sights," listed in the brochure as similar to Paldea's "Top Ten Views," with places like Wisteria Flower Field and Wisteria Pond.
"Hmm?"
Lucas glanced at the distant mountain peak and couldn't help but let out a soft sound of surprise.
Was it his imagination, or was the mountaintop glowing?
A moment later, after taking in the scenery, Lucas had Spectrier descend.
After all, having spent a while up in the air, the townspeople out and about had all noticed Lucas and Spectrier, craning their necks to look up at the sky.
As a simple traveler, Lucas didn't want to be too high-profile—he hadn't even checked into his inn yet, and the whole town already knew about him.
He decided to forget about the glowing mountaintop for now, patted Spectrier's neck, and had it land.
After landing, Lucas returned Spectrier to its Pokéball, then, with Applin on his head and Mimikyu on his shoulder, calmly made his way into Mossui Town under the watchful eyes of many villagers.
He didn't notice that among the onlookers, two people kept their eyes fixed on his back until he disappeared.
…
Inside Mossui Town.
Even though it was rural, the streets were well marked, and with directions from Perrin, Lucas quickly found his lodgings for the next few days.
From the outside, it looked like an ordinary house. In fact, it was a homestay run by local residents in their spare time.
The architecture matched the town's overall style—nothing flashy, but not unattractive either.
Thanks to Perrin's strong recommendation, Lucas had chosen this unnamed homestay instead of the public guesthouse.
"I hope there's a private hot spring," Lucas muttered, ringing the doorbell.
Ding-dong~
A clear, melodious chime echoed. After a few seconds, an elderly voice replied from inside.
"Coming~"
With a swish, the slightly old-fashioned wooden door slid open, and a white-haired old man appeared.
At the sight of his exposed forehead and unusual, long, center-parted hairstyle, Lucas couldn't help but think of an old friend.
The old man had a bushy mustache and a tuft on his chin. Stroking his beard, he approached Lucas with a smile.
"Are you perhaps the guest checking in today?" he asked with a hint of doubt.
He didn't recognize Lucas, but deduced from his unfamiliar appearance and backpack that he must be an outsider.
"Hello, I'm Lucas. I think I have a reservation?"
As he spoke, Lucas glanced at the nameplate by the door to confirm he hadn't come to the wrong place.
"So it's you! Of course, the reservation's all set. That girl Perrin booked it for you several days ago," the old man nodded, stepping aside to let Lucas in.
Lucas followed him in, changing into disposable slippers at the entrance.
He had to admit, the house was thoroughly Japanese in style—from the structure of the entryway to the creaky wooden floors and coordinated decorations, it made Lucas feel as if he'd traveled to another world.
Then again, Kitakami Village was near Johto and Sinnoh; those regions' real-world inspirations were well known, so the cultural similarities made sense.
The old man led the way, introducing the house.
"This house is usually just me and my wife. The kids are all grown and settled elsewhere in town, and now we've got grandkids too, so the place was left empty.
Since it was so spacious, my wife and I decided to remodel the second floor into a homestay for travelers like you.
The second floor is a private space. My wife and I only go up at set times to clean. You and your Pokémon can stay as you like, but please keep Pokémon that are too big in their Pokéballs—heavy Pokémon can cause accidents."
"Understood," Lucas nodded, then asked, "So the previous guest was...?"
"Of course, it was Perrin herself! But she's been camping in the Timeless Woods for days to take photos."
The old man shook his head, as if he didn't get what young people were thinking these days.
He chuckled, "She already paid for your stay, and I've changed all the linens to new ones for you. Is that alright?"
Lucas smiled, "Of course."
He could guess the old man assumed he and Perrin had a close relationship.
"This is the dining room. We provide three meals a day. My wife and I usually eat light, but that doesn't mean our cooking isn't good. Meals are included in your stay, and we'll prepare local specialties for you.
There's also an open-air hot spring in the back. The guest and family areas are separated—please be sure to enjoy it. A soak in the hot spring washes all your fatigue away."
"And..."
The old man rambled on about many things. Compared to a hotel, this kind of homestay definitely had a more personal touch.
Lucas got a good sense of his living environment for the next few days and couldn't help but admire Perrin's taste—she really was a world-traveling photographer who could find the best places.
Once there was nothing left to explain, the old man suddenly realized he hadn't introduced himself.
"My name is Yukito, and my wife is Hideko. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
Yukito smiled kindly at Lucas.
"I'll be counting on you during my stay, Mr. Yukito," Lucas replied, getting ready to head upstairs.
Just then, Yukito noticed Applin on Lucas's head and was surprised, "Is this your Pokémon?"
"Yes. One of my reasons for coming to Kitakami Village is to help it find a chance to evolve," Lucas said, taking Applin down.
"There are many Applins at Apple Hill, but it's not easy to get a special apple there," Yukito stroked his beard, recalling, "My grandson recently caught one too. What a coincidence."
Then, as if struck by an idea, he said, "Lucas, do you need a guide? My grandchildren are home on holiday. Why not let them show you around for free?
They've been playing too much lately, and it's almost time for school to start—this will help them refocus.
They're both locals, so they know the area well—better than any paid tour guide.
Plus, they're trainers. As long as you don't go too deep into the wild, they can keep you safe."
Unable to refuse Yukito's enthusiasm, Lucas accepted the offer, planning to rest, have lunch, and then let Yukito's grandchildren show him around.
It was much better than wandering alone.
Before heading upstairs, Lucas nudged Mimikyu into view, since it was often overlooked unless it interacted with him.
"Mr. Yukito, I also have Mimikyu with me."
"Oh? So I do. My old eyes must be acting up again," Yukito said, staring at the "suddenly-appeared" Mimikyu for a while before smiling and praising, "She's a girl, isn't she? She looks even cuter with those decorations!"
…
PS: Support me and read advanced chapters at patreon.com/AbsoluteCode