"This is the unity ter. Let's rest here for the night," Hideko said as she led Naoki to a modest two-story building. She smiled warmly and added, "Tomorrow, the mayor will e to take you on a tour of the rice fields and apple orchards here in Kitakami Township."

  "Alright." Naoki nodded, feeling a bit worn out after the day's travels.

  Hideko pushed open the door, and Naoki stepped into the unity ter. After showing his ID badge to the staff at the front desk, he heard the attendant say, "Wele to Kitakami Township. Your room is on the sed floor. If you're hungry, head to the restaurant on the right. The township has arranged a weling dinner for you."

  Naoki thahe staff, went upstairs, a his luggage in the room before returning to the lobby. Hideko guided him to the restaurant, where an older man with a bald head, a white beard, gsses, and a traditional kimono was waiting.

  As Naoki ehe man stood up with a broad smile aended his hand.

  "You must be Mr. Naoki, here from the Paldea region for the agricultural exge. I'm the mayor of Kitakami Township.

  Wele!"

  Naoki returhe handshake with a polite smile. "Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It's a pleasure to be here." After a brief introdu, they all sat down at the dining table.

  The dinner featured local specialties: apple pie, died apples, sticky rice cakes, mushroom soup, and sushi. While the meal wasn't overly extravagant, its variety showcased the region's distinctive ary traditions.

  As they ate, the mayor introduced the itinerary for the agricultural exge.

  "Tomorrow m, I'll apany you to visit the rice fields in Kitakami Township. By the way, does the Paldea region grow rice?"

  Naoki thought for a moment before replying, "The main crops in the Paldea region are wheat and . Rice isn't on there, at least not near Kosaji Town. I 't speak for other parts of the region, though."

  "Ah, I see!" The mayor houghtfully before smiling again. "Last year, Kosaji Town's agricultural output was incredible! It even made it into the World Agricultural News!"

  Naoki chuckled modestly. "The weather in Kosaji Town was excellent st year—ideal frowth. Plus, the people there hold deep reverence for Calyrex."

  "Calyrex?" The mayor's curiosity iqued.

  Naoki expined, "It's a legendary Pokémon said to bless the nd with fertility and ensure abundant harvests. The farmers believe that by showing their devotion, they enjoy favorable weather and prosperous yields throughout the year."

  "Fasating…" The mayor's face lit up with wonder.

  "To express their gratitude, the townsfolk built a shrine in its honor and hold annual festivals to celebrate its blessings," Naoki tinued.

  The mayor marveled at the tale. "Such devotion… It's no wonder Kosaji Town has been so prosperous. What do they call this Pokémon?"

  Naoki smiled. "It's known as Calyrex, though many simply call it the King of Bountiful Harvests."

  "Calyrex…" The mayor repeated, mulling over the name. "It's incredible how these legends shape our unities. Here in Kitakami Township, we have our own stories about legendary Pokémon."

  Naoki remembered the guidebook he'd read earlier and raised an eyebrow. "Are you referring to the legend of the Oni?"

  The mayor was surprised. "You've heard about it already?"

  "I read about it in a tourist guide on the way here," Naoki replied.

  "Ah, of course!" The mayor chuckled. "Yes, Kitakami Township is home to a well-known legend about the Oni and the three heroion that protected our town. We've even built statues in their honor. The story has drawn many trainers and tourists over the years."

  He paused, his tone being more reflective. "Thanks to the legend, our once-quiet farming vilge has gradually beore prosperous. Tourism has breathed new life into this pce."

  Naoki nodded, uanding how such legends could boost a region's ey and cultural identity.

  The mayor tinued, "The statues of the three Pokémon—Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti—stand in Loyalty Pza in the northwest part of the town. After we finish tomorrow's work, I reend visiting them."

  "I'll make sure to stop by," Naoki said with a smile.

  "That's settled, then." The mayor offered a kind smile. "Have a good rest at the unity ter tonight! If you 't sleep, feel free to take a stroll around town."

  After dihe mayor bid Naoki goodnight ahe unity ter to return home.

  With his stomach full and the day's journey catg up to him, Naoki retired to his room ao sleep.

  ...

  The M

  Naoki rose early, refreshed and ready for the day. After a hearty breakfast, he joihe mayor and several others to visit the rice fields just outside Mossui Town. There, he observed farmers tending to the fields, their hands deftly pnting young rice stalks into the waterlogged soil.

  Nearby, Wooper and Cwitzer could be seen assisting the farmers, standing on the raised ridges between the paddies and carefully monit the process. The sight of Pokémon seamlessly ied int life fasated Naoki.

  After watg for a while, Naoki decided to participate. Guiding Koraidon to a safe spot nearby, he stepped into the muddy fields to experience riting firsthand.

  "How's it going? Getting the hang of it?" the mayor asked with a curious smile.

  Naoki nodded fidently. "It's not too difficult, though it's a shame the ditions in Kosaji Tow suitable frowing rice."

  Kosaji Town's agriculture mainly revolved around animal husbandry and staple crops like wheat and . Transitioning to rice cultivation would require specially designed fields, which seemed impractical.

  The mayor nodded knowingly. "Each region has its own strengths. Rice is one of Kitakami Township's specialties, and we've embraced it wholeheartedly."

  "Oh, that reminds me," the mayor added. "You must try our sticky rice cakes before you leave! They're made with this very rid are a local delicacy."

  ...

  Naoki finally got to try the famed sticky rice cakes at lunchtime.

  After finishing his work in the rice fields, Naoki had inteo return to the unity ter for lunch. However, as he was leaving, a kind elderly proached him with ahusiastivitation to her home.

  "e, have lunch with me and try the sticky rice cakes I made!" she said with a warm smile.

  Naoki blinked in surprise, taken aback by her hospitality.

  'Was everyone in Kitakami Township this weling?'

  It wasn't long before he realized the reason behind her kindness: the plot of nd he and Koraidon had worked on that m beloo her.

  "Please, make yourself at home!" she said cheerfully, ushering Naoki inside before bustling off to the kit to prepare lunch.

  Naoki hesitated for only a moment before deg to accept her invitation. He found the simplicity and warmth of the people in Kitakami Township deeply endearing.

  In the Yard

  While waiting, Naoki released his Pokémon into the small but meticulously maintained yard to stretd rex.

  The elderly woman lived alone. Her husband had passed away years ago, and her son had moved away, only visiting during major holidays. The solitude of her life tugged at Naoki's heartstrings, making him refle the challenges faced by both people and Pokémon ier years.

  The yard itself was charming, with ly trimmed grass and a small fountain shaped like a Magikarp in one er.

  Dragonite and Cyclizar curiously examihe fountain, their eyes sparkling with fasation. Meanwhile, Flutter Mane lurked in the shadows uhe eaves, silently the surroundings.

  Koraidon and Naoki stood by the stoh, quietly watg their panions explore. Pawmot, ever the curious one, suddenly perked up a out aed cry.

  "Pawmot?" Naoki looked over, puzzled, and saw the Pokémon darting toward a nearby window.

  Ihe house, the elderly woman was busy i. She noticed Pawmot peeking through the gss and smiled warmly. Pushing the window open, she said, "Are you hungry? Lunch isn't ready yet, but here—have a cookie I just baked!"

  "Pawmo! Pawmot!"

  Pawmot chirped happily, eagerly reag out with its small paw to accept the treat.

  It turned around and zipped back to Naoki, its excitement evident as it gestured for him to follow.

  "What's going on?" Naoki asked, his curiosity piqued. He got up and followed Pawmot toward the window to see what had caught its attention.

  Soon, Naoki uood why Pawmot was so excited.

  I, there was a Slugma!

  The Slugma was led beh the stove, using its natural body heat to help the aunt cook.

  "Pawmot!"

  Pawmot chirped happily. It had been wanting to make friends with a Slugma for a long time!

  The aunt noticed Pawmot's enthusiasm and chuckled warmly. She g the Slugma, then back at Pawmot, and said with a smile, "Ah, so you spotted the Slugma?"

  Naoki was equally surprised. "Auntie, you find wild Slugma here in Kitakami Township?"

  "Of course!" she replied, just as the pot oove began to bubble, signaling that the food was ready.

  As she dished out the food and pced the sticky rice cakes onto ptes, she tinued, "You find Slugma up on Oni Mountain behind the town. They live in a pce called Hell Valley."

  "Hell Valley?" Naoki stepped forward to help the aunt carry the dishes to the table.

  The aunt nodded. "Yes, it's a geothermal area where volic gases rise from the ground, making the air extremely hot—almost like a se from hell itself. That's why the locals call it Hell Valley."

  Despite the ominous name, she expined, Hell Valley had been a popur training ground for trainers and travelers sint times. "Many trainers go there specifically to hoheir skills," she added.

  "I see…" Naoki houghtfully. With su enviro, there were bound to be many Fire-type Pokémon living in the area.

  It was decided—he would go explore Hell Valley ter iernoon!

  "Lunch is ready! e a!" the aunt called to everyoside.

  Within minutes, all of Naoki's Pokémon, including Koraidon, gathered around the table to enjoy the meal.

  The Slugma also emerged from uhe stove. The aunt ha a berry, and it happily began mung away.

  "I found this little Slugma on Oni Mountain," the aunt shared. "It had fallen from Hell Valley and iself on the mountain trail. I gave it a berry to help it recover, and ever si's been living here with me."

  "That's wonderful," Naoki said softly, genuinely moved.

  "Oh, by the way!" The aunt suddenly remembered something, her expression turning serious. "If you pn to visit Oni Mountain, be careful not to waoo far!"

  Naoki was slightly taken aback. "What do you mean?"

  The aunt expined, "There's an old legend about the Oni that the three panion Pokémon drove away. They say it still roams the mountain. If you enter it, it's said that the Oni will steal your life."

  A Oni…

  Naoki furrowed his brow. If his guess was correct, this "Oni" was likely a specifion. But what kind?

  Could it be some kind of legendary Pokémon with ghostly attributes? Hearing the warning, Naoki hesitated briefly.

  He turo look at the Pokémon apanying him. With them by his side, even if the oni was a legendary Pokémon, it wouldn't be too dangerous, right?

  The aunt murmured softly, her tone carrying a sense of foreboding:

  "There is a shadow that draws near at dusk, just outside the vilge—be vigint.

  Put on your mask quickly to hide your face.

  Whether the shadow is human or oni, just bow your head, and you'll be safe.

  If the shadow cks a mask, pray it's a human.

  Your shadorecious as your soul, must always be protected by a mask.

  If the oni sees your true face, tragedy will surely follow.

  Should the oni cim your soul, you'll never return to the vilge again."

  "This is a bald that's been passed down through the geions," the aunt said with a grave expression. "It's said that someone entered the oni on Oni Mountain long ago and never returned."

  Naoki houghtfully.

  It was clear that the people of Kitakami held a deep fear of this oni.

  Was it because this oni was responsible for the deaths of the three Loyal Pokémon?

  After lunaoki bid the kind aunt farewell.

  With the afternoon free, he decided to explore Oni Mountain and search for Hell Valley to see if he could enter any Slugma.

  Pawmot, enamored with Slugmas ever sig an animated short called The Slugma's Hearth, refused to stay in its Poké Ball. Instead, it eagerly flew alongside Naoki, determio befriend the Slugmas and ihem to visit the ranch.

  Oni Mountain was vast, and without a detailed map, Naoki wasn't sure of Hell Valley's exact location.

  To make the search easier, he had Koraidon take to the skies, sing the sprawling mountain range below.

  Pawmot also hovered above, its bright eyes sing the ndscape with curiosity.

  Before setting off, the aunt had mentiohat Hell Valley was located half the western side of Oni Mountain.

  Despite her dires, Naoki had no luck finding it after a long search. Frustrated, he directed Koraidon to nd randomly on the mountainside, hoping to identify Hell Valley based on the Pokémon in the area and ges in temperature.

  Looking around, he saw that most of the Pokémon nearby were Bronzor and Sinistea.

  The Sinistea were extremely timid, scattering in panic as soon as they noticed him.

  The Bronzor, however, were far less skittish. They floated serenely, their metallic bodies emitting soft, jingling sounds, seemingly unbothered by the arrival of Koraidon and Pawmot.

  "No Fire-types here, and the temperature is the same as at the base of the mountain…" Naoki muttered, sing the area thoughtfully. His eyes nded on a waterfall casg down a rocky cliff above. He turo Koraidon and said, "Let's check the top of that waterfall."

  "Ah, gah!"

  Koraidon responded enthusiastically. It crouched low, the upward with its powerful legs, nding steadily on the rocky cliff edge.

  The area was eerily quiet, devoid of any wild Pokémon.

  Naoki surveyed his surroundings, his brow furrowed in fusion.

  At that moment, Pawmot, floating nearby, suddenly let out a surprised cry: "Pawmot?"

  "What is it?" Naoki asked, following Pawmot's gaze.

  In the distance, a green figure eeking out from behind the cliff edge, watg them.

  As soon as it realized it had been spotted, the figure turned and ran, quickly vanishing into the craggy terrain.

  Naoki stood frozen, slightly stunned.

  'Was that… a local vilger?'