I have added this story to my Patreon. You can support me and read the 40 latest and advanced chapters there. It also fed and motivate me to write more chapters!
Link: Patreon.com/Pokeficlord
—------------------—
Roy nodded. "I will naturally challenge it."
"Can I follow along and learn a bit?" Joe asked excitedly.
Roy explained further, "But not today. We'll have to go tomorrow."
"Do you have something to do today?"
"Yeah." Roy smiled at Delia and Misty beside him. "Today I have to accompany them to go shopping for perfume."
Joe was stunned for a moment, then smiled as if he had realized something. "Oh, I see. Then you guys take your time shopping, Senior. I won't disturb you."
He thought for a moment and added enthusiastically, "Senior, if you're free after shopping, you can come to my house for dinner! My mom's cooking is delicious!"
"This..."
"Just think of it as thanks for your guidance!" Joe's face was full of sincerity. "Besides, with a strong member of the Training Faction like you, Brother Roy, my parents will feel more at ease."
Roy looked at Misty and Delia.
Both of them nodded, indicating they had no objections.
"Alright," Roy agreed with a smile. "Then we'll be imposing on you."
"Great!" Joe jumped for joy. "Then I'll go home and prepare first! I'll tell my mom to make more delicious food!"
He pointed in a direction for the three of them. "I don't know much about perfume, but there's the city's largest perfume shop over there. They should have what you're looking for."
Roy looked in that direction. "Okay. We'll go check it out and contact you later."
Joe nodded and ran off in a flash.
Misty looked at his back and remarked, "That kid is quite enthusiastic."
"He's a good boy," Delia said gently.
Roy nodded. "Let's go, let's keep shopping."
The three of them continued walking in the direction Joe had pointed.
Before they had gone far, a two-story building appeared before them.
The decoration was very exquisite, with a large storefront and transparent display windows filled with various beautiful perfume bottles.
"Wow, this shop is so big!" Misty's eyes lit up.
"Shall we go in and take a look?" Delia was also eager to try.
Roy naturally had no objections.
The three of them pushed open the glass door and walked in.
Just as they stepped into the shop.
A faint and elegant fragrance wafted toward them.
It wasn't a strong perfume scent, but a very comfortable, subtle fragrance.
The interior decoration was also very sophisticated.
Soft lighting, exquisite display cases, and staff members in uniform—all of them young women.
They were wearing sexy bodycon skirts.
The well-tailored dark bodycon skirts outlined their seductive body curves.
The hemlines were just above the knees, revealing a section of fair calves.
On top were white shirts with the top two buttons undone, faintly revealing a hint of cleavage.
On their feet were black high heels, making a crisp clicking sound as they walked.
Roy's gaze swept over them, and he silently gave a thumbs up in his heart.
This shop owner really knows how to do business.
Seeing customers enter, the staff immediately came forward to greet them.
Leading the way was a girl who looked to be in her early twenties, with long hair draped over her shoulders, wearing exquisite light makeup and a professional sweet smile on her face.
"Welcome!" Her voice was also very pleasant, soft and slightly sweet. "Are you three here to look at perfumes?"
Misty immediately nodded. "Yes, do you have any new arrivals? Something suitable for young girls?"
"Yes, we do." The girl stepped aside and made a welcoming gesture. "This way, please. Our shop just received several limited-edition perfumes, all of which are the most popular this season."
They followed her further inside.
The interior space was large, with rows of exquisite display cases neatly arranged.
Inside the glass cases, perfume bottles of various shapes sparkled under the lights—some like crystal balls, some like flowers, and some even shaped like Poké Balls.
Misty's eyes lit up. "Wow, so pretty!"
Delia also leaned in to look at the beautiful bottles through the glass, her face full of delight.
"These two are our bestsellers this season." The girl took two bottles of perfume from the display case and placed them gently on the counter.
One was a pink liquid with a bottle shaped like a flower.
The other was pale purple, with a long and elegant bottle.
"The pink one has top notes of cherry and strawberry, middle notes of rose and jasmine, and base notes of vanilla and musk. It's very suitable for girls with a sweet style." As she spoke, the girl gently opened the cap, sprayed it on a scent strip, and handed it to Misty.
Misty took it and brought it to her nose to sniff.
"Wow! It smells so good!" Her eyes lit up, and she handed the scent strip to Delia. "Sister Delia, smell this!"
Delia took it, sniffed it gently, and also nodded. "Yes, it's indeed very sweet, but not cloying. It's a very comfortable scent."
The girl opened the other bottle and sprayed it on a new scent strip. "This pale purple one has top notes of lemon and green apple, middle notes of lily of the valley and lily, and base notes of cedar and amber. It's fresher and more elegant, suitable for girls with a gentle temperament."
Delia took it and smelled it, her face showing a surprised expression. "This smells great! It's lighter than the previous one, it has a... well, a feeling of being in a forest?"
"You have a good eye, ma'am," the girl said with a smile. "This one is called 'Forest Dawn.' It was personally formulated by our shop manager."
Misty also leaned in to smell it and nodded. "It's indeed not bad. Sister Delia, this one suits you."
The two of them huddled together, chatting and discussing.
Top notes, middle notes, base notes, which one was suitable for which occasion—they spoke with great expertise.
Roy stood to the side, and as he listened, his mind began to wander.
Pikachu was perched on his shoulder. Its little nose twitched, and then it gave a small sneeze.
Pika-pika.
Roy laughed and rubbed its head. "Not used to the smell?"
Pikachu rubbed its nose and looked at him expectantly.
That look seemed to be saying: When do we eat?
"I'll buy some for you when we go out later," Roy whispered.
Only then did Pikachu nod with a grin.
At that moment, the long-haired girl came over again, holding a bottle of deep blue perfume.
"Sir, would you like to look at some men's perfumes as well?" she said with a smile. "Our shop also has perfumes specifically designed for men."
Roy was taken aback. "There's one for me too?"
"Of course." The girl stepped closer, her own fragrance wafting over. "Boys nowadays also pay a lot of attention to their image."
"This is our bestselling men's fragrance. The top notes are citrus and pomelo, the middle notes are lavender and rosemary, and the base notes are sandalwood and cedar. It's a very fresh scent, perfect for a young gentleman like you."
As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly.
The curves under her bodycon skirt became even more apparent.
Roy's gaze swept over her, thinking that the service in this shop was indeed impeccable.
Although he really didn't know much about perfume.
But he wouldn't say things like, "Isn't perfume just something women use to bewitch men? What else is it good for?"
Roy took the scent strip and smelled it politely.
Hmm...
To be honest, he couldn't tell any top or middle notes.
But it did smell quite good, with a fresh feeling that wasn't pungent.
"It's quite good." He nodded and said casually, "The smell makes one feel quite calm and relaxed."
The girl's eyes lit up slightly. "That's a wonderful description, sir! Most people just say it smells good or they like it, but what you said is very special."
Roy smiled and didn't take it to heart.
Over there, Misty and Delia had already started testing the sprays.
Misty sprayed the pink one on her wrist, brought it to her nose to smell, and then let Delia smell it.
"What do you think? What do you think?"
Delia smelled it seriously. "Hmm, it smells even better on you than on the scent strip. Mixed with your body's natural scent, it has an... indescribable feeling."
Misty also smelled Delia's wrist. "You too, Sister Delia! This Forest Dawn smells so good on you, such a gentle scent."
The two of them kept smelling each other, happy smiles on their faces.
Roy watched from the side, thinking that women were truly strange creatures.
A bottle of perfume could make them this happy.
Just as he was thinking this, a gentle female voice suddenly came from behind him.
"That was very well said, sir."
Roy turned around.
A woman wearing a kimono was standing behind him at some point.
She wore a blue kimono jacket embroidered with elegant patterns. Underneath was an orange inner layer with a slightly open collar, revealing a patch of snow-white skin.
Her hair was tied up in an exquisite bun, revealing her slender neck.
Her face was incredibly beautiful, with delicate features, fair skin, and a gentle, intellectual aura in her eyes.
Her figure was even more stunningly full.
Although the kimono was loose, one could still see her curvaceous figure. Especially her chest, which filled out the inner layer completely; even the kimono jacket couldn't hide those amazing curves.
She stood there with an elegant and composed air, clearly not an ordinary staff member.
Roy's gaze swept over her, and he already had a good idea who she was.
This outfit, this aura, this look...
If he wasn't mistaken, she should be the Gym Leader of the Celadon Gym—Erika.
Sure enough, when the nearby staff members saw the woman, they all bowed slightly. "Shop Manager."
Erika smiled and nodded, then looked at Roy. "I accidentally overheard what you said just now, sir, and I couldn't help but come over to say hello."
Roy nodded politely. "You're too kind, Shop Manager."
"It's not kindness." Erika took two steps closer. A faint fragrance emanated from her—not the scent of the perfumes in the shop, but a very natural, subtle fragrance.
"Most people who buy perfume talk about top, middle, and base notes, or whether it smells good or if they like it."
She looked at Roy with appreciation in her eyes. "Few people pay attention to the feeling of 'making one feel calm' or 'relaxed.' Being able to say such things, sir, shows that you are someone who truly knows how to appreciate perfume."
Roy was taken aback.
He had just said it casually.
Who would have thought the shop manager would personally come out to praise him?
"You overpraise me, Shop Manager." He smiled. "I was just talking nonsense; I actually know nothing about perfume."
"Nonsense can often be the truth." Erika smiled slightly. "Isn't perfume essentially something to make people happy and relaxed? Those technical terms only complicate the simplest feelings."
Roy raised an eyebrow.
This Gym Leader spoke with quite some depth.
At this time, Misty and Delia also noticed the situation here.
Seeing Erika, Misty's eyes lit up. "Wow, Shop Manager, you're so pretty!"
Delia also nodded and said softly, "She has such a great aura."
Erika looked at the two of them and smiled warmly. "Are you two picking out perfumes?"
"Yes!" Misty nodded. "Your shop's perfumes smell so good; we've been choosing for a long time and still can't decide."
"Then how about I make some recommendations for you?" Erika walked toward the counter.
"Really? That's great!" Misty immediately made room.
Erika went behind the counter, her gaze sweeping over the two of them, and then she took two perfumes from the display case.
One was light pink, with a round and cute bottle.
The other was light green, with a long and elegant bottle.
"This young lady is lively and cheerful, so this one is suitable." Erika handed the pink one to Misty. "The top notes are peach and raspberry, the middle notes are peony and freesia, and the base notes are white musk and amber. It's lively with a hint of sexiness, which fits your temperament perfectly."
Misty took it and smelled it, her eyes instantly lighting up. "Wow! This smells so good! It suits me much better than the one before!"
Erika then looked at Delia and handed over the light green one. "This lady is gentle and virtuous, so this one is more suitable for you. The top notes are grass and cucumber, the middle notes are water lily and jasmine, and the base notes are white wood and musk. It's fresh and natural, gentle yet resilient, fitting your inner self perfectly."
Delia took it and sniffed it gently.
Instantly, a look of surprise appeared on her face.
"This... this..." Delia could hardly believe it. "This suits me perfectly!"
Erika nodded with a smile. "I'm glad you like it."
Misty leaned in to smell Delia's, then smelled her own, nodding repeatedly. "Shop Manager, you're amazing! How did you know what suits us just by looking?"
Erika smiled gently. "When you've been in contact with them for a long time, you can naturally tell. Perfume and people complement each other; the right perfume can bring out a person's temperament even better."
The two of them looked at each other, both filled with admiration for the shop manager.
Misty immediately said, "We'll take both of these!"
Delia also nodded. "Yes, I want this one too."
Erika nodded with a smile and asked the staff to wrap up the two perfumes.
Then, she looked at the three of them and suddenly asked, "Are you three free in a little while?"
Misty was taken aback. "In a little while?"
"Yes." Erika nodded. "We occasionally hold perfume knowledge classes where we explain some basic knowledge of perfume and how to formulate perfume using Pokémon materials. If you three are interested, you're welcome to attend."
Misty's eyes instantly lit up. "A perfume class?! I'm interested, definitely interested! So interested!"
Delia also looked expectant. "Formulating perfume with Pokémon materials? Is that really possible?"
Erika nodded with a smile. "Yes, including Oddish, Gloom, as well as Budew, Vileplume, and so on. They can all secrete very fragrant substances, which are excellent materials for formulating perfume."
Delia's eyes sparkled as she listened.
She had been raising her Oddish for quite some time. If she could learn how to use it to formulate perfume...
"We'll go!" she immediately nodded.
Erika looked at Roy. "And you, sir? Are you interested?"
Roy smiled.
He really didn't have much interest in perfume.
But as for Erika herself...
He was quite interested.
Gym Leader of the Celadon Gym, Grass-type expert, perfume master, and one of the most beautiful Gym Leaders.
Now that he had a chance for close contact and could even see her Pokémon's living environment in the Gym beforehand to prepare for tomorrow's Gym challenge.
How could he miss such a good opportunity?
"Sure," he nodded. "I'd also like to learn a bit."
Erika smiled slightly. "Then it's settled. We can head over to prepare now."
Erika smiled, gave a few instructions to the staff, and then said to the three of them, "Wait for me for a moment, I'll go change my clothes."
With that, she turned and walked toward the back of the shop.
She had changed out of the kimono, but her silhouette from behind was still beautiful.
Especially her posture when walking—elegant and composed, with an indescribable charm.
Misty leaned closer to Roy and whispered, "This shop manager has such a great aura, and she's so pretty."
Roy nodded. "Indeed."
"What do you think her background is?" Misty asked curiously. "She doesn't feel like an ordinary shop manager."
Roy smiled and said nothing.
Wait a bit and you'll find out.
A few minutes later, Erika walked out from the back.
She had already changed out of that kimono.
Now she was wearing a light green dress with a hemline below the knees and a thin white belt tied around her waist, outlining her slender waistline.
The top had a V-neck design, revealing a small patch of snow-white skin and a hint of cleavage.
Her hair was still tied up, but a few loose strands fell by her ears, making her look gentle and casual.
She looked a bit younger and more lively than before, but still carried that intellectual and elegant aura.
Misty's eyes lit up. "Wow, Shop Manager, you're so pretty!"
Erika smiled slightly. "Thank you. Let's go."
The group walked out of the perfume shop.
Outside, a few young men and women were already standing there; from their attire, they were likely students coming to attend the perfume class.
When they saw Erika come out, they all greeted her, "Hello, Shop Manager!"
Erika nodded and said warmly, "Is everyone here? Then let's go."
The group walked in the direction of the Celadon Gym.