"However, kid—since you said you come from an ordinary family and not some great clan… why do you already have your own Pokémon before the age of ten?"
The old craftsman asked curiously.
Seeing that the old man seemed completely cut off from the outside world, Ash patiently explained:
"The Pokémon League holds a Pokémon Summer Camp every year."
"During the camp's evaluation activities, participants who place in the top three, or those who perform exceptionally well, are granted special permission by the League to obtain their own Pokémon early."
"About a month ago, during the League's Summer Camp, I was lucky enough to take first place with full marks, so I was allowed to receive my own Pokémon ahead of schedule."
Ash replied calmly.
…
"So you're saying…"
"You've only had your Pokémon for a little over a month?"
"And in just over a month, you've trained it to nearly Elite level?!"
Caldor didn't react much to the phrase "first place with full marks."
Instead, he had caught the true key point in Ash's words.
His face filled with shock.
If that was true—
Then this young Trainer from a civilian background must possess an absolutely monstrous talent.
Even the heirs of prestigious families would probably be left far behind.
…
"That's right!"
Gary suddenly chimed in proudly from the sidelines.
After the battle ended, he had been standing outside the field watching everything.
"Ash only got his starter Pokémon a little over a month ago."
"Surprised?"
"In the outside world, Ash is known as the 'Light of Kanto' and the future Champion of the Indigo League!"
"The League is cultivating him as their number one seed Trainer talent!"
…
"'Light of Kanto… future Champion of the Indigo League'?!"
Hearing Gary's words, Caldor's eyes widened with shock as he looked at Ash again.
Previously, after learning that the whole situation was a misunderstanding, he had thought Ash was simply a hidden civilian genius who hadn't been discovered yet.
He had even been on the verge of offering to take Ash as his apprentice.
But now he realized—
The boy he had mistaken for an ordinary child already possessed an enormous reputation outside.
Instead, it seemed he himself had been the frog at the bottom of the well.
Still—
Looking at the extraordinary talent before him, Caldor was reluctant to give up.
…
"Ash," Caldor said slowly.
"Your talent is something I have never seen in my entire life."
"Would you be interested in learning Pokémon item forging from me?"
"If you're willing, I'm prepared to pass on everything I've learned in my lifetime."
"…Uh…"
Ash froze for a moment.
Originally, he had only come here to craft a Divine Ring that would hold Pidgeot's Mega Evolution Stone and Key Stone.
Yet now he had not only encountered a hidden master—
After passing the test, the man had offered to craft an item for him for free…
And was now even proposing to take him as a disciple.
Facing the old craftsman's burning gaze, Ash felt momentarily overwhelmed.
But he quickly regained his composure.
The inheritance of Pokémon item forging was indeed extremely valuable.
However—
A person's energy was limited.
Since he had chosen the path of a Pokémon Trainer, and since his goal was to climb to the very peak of the Trainer profession, he would inevitably have to give up certain things.
He needed to devote himself entirely to improving as a Trainer.
Furthermore—
Although Pokémon items were precious, they could still be purchased with money.
With his current wealth, buying a few items wasn't difficult at all.
So Ash wasn't particularly tempted by the inheritance of item forging.
…
"Thank you for your kindness, Senior."
Ash bowed politely.
"My dream is to become the strongest Pokémon Trainer."
"My strength lies in training Pokémon."
"In the field of Pokémon item forging, I may not possess the same level of talent."
"I'm aware of that myself."
"So… I can only apologize for declining your generous offer."
…
Caldor nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
"You have unparalleled talent as a Trainer, but that doesn't necessarily mean you'd have the same talent in forging."
"My sudden proposal to take you as a disciple was indeed a bit abrupt."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Alright, let's drop that topic."
"Let's talk about the item you came here for."
"You said earlier that you came to make jewelry, and that you already drew the design blueprint."
"Is the jewelry meant for a Pokémon or for a human?"
"Is it a gift, or is it for yourself?"
"Let me see the blueprint."
"Then I can decide whether to craft a separate item, or turn your jewelry directly into a Pokémon item."
…
"Of course."
Ash took out the design drawings and handed them over.
While doing so, he explained:
"This design is called the Divine Catalyst Ring."
"The larger one is meant for my Pokémon."
"The smaller one is for me."
"My mentor gave me a set of Pidgeot Mega Evolution stones—a Mega Stone and a Key Stone."
"I plan to embed these two gems into the rings."
As he spoke, Ash took out a black velvet box.
Inside lay the Pidgeot Mega Stone and the Key Stone.
He opened the box and showed the two perfectly round gems to Caldor.
"Gasp—!"
Caldor's pupils shrank violently.
"Pidgeot Mega Stone… and a Key Stone…"
"Your mentor gave these to you?!"
As a hidden master craftsman, Caldor immediately recognized the treasures before him.
And precisely because he knew their value—
He was even more shocked.
The fact that these priceless items had been given to Ash by his mentor made Caldor shake his head inwardly.
Just moments ago he had been thinking about accepting Ash as his disciple.
Now he realized—
That thought had been somewhat presumptuous.
Ash was a once-in-a-generation Trainer genius.
At just six years old, he had trained a Pokémon in a little over a month to defeat Caldor's ace Heatmor head-on.
From the perspective of a Trainer—
Caldor wasn't qualified to accept him as a disciple.
And from the perspective of a Pokémon item craftsman—
He also wasn't qualified.
After all, he certainly couldn't offer something as valuable as a Mega Stone as a welcoming gift.
"Alright."
"I understand now."
Caldor nodded slowly.
"For Mega Evolution, the only essential components are the Mega Stone and the Key Stone."
"The jewelry used to hold them doesn't actually possess any special function on its own."
"Since these items are meant for you and your Pokémon…"
Caldor looked thoughtfully at the blueprint.
"Then instead of merely crafting the Divine Catalyst Rings as jewelry…"
"I'll directly forge them into Pokémon items."
…
Ash's eyes widened.
"Senior… you mean you can turn the Divine Catalyst Rings into items with special effects?"
He was genuinely shocked.
During his recent studies, Ash had learned that some Pokémon items could indeed be artificially crafted.
But the ones he knew about were things like:
Exp. ShareScope LensMetal CoatBlack Glasses
He had never heard of bracelets or anklets being turned into Pokémon items.
Yet from Caldor's tone—
It seemed that not only could he create bracelet and anklet items, but he could craft many other forms as well.
In fact—
It sounded as if he could transform almost any object or accessory into a Pokémon item.
At that moment, Ash couldn't help but feel that Caldor wasn't merely a blacksmith.
He felt more like—An enchanter.
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T/N:
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