Not Being a Trainer This Time

Maybe it’s because tomorrow is the Rich Harvest Festival, Porto Marinada Town has been getting more and more lively over the past few days.

Naoki frequently saw a few trainers passing by the ranch with their Pokemon.

Without a doubt, their destination was the Abundant Shrine on the hillside.

Mayor Thomas and his team highly valued this year’s Rich Harvest Festival.

From early morning, he led the townspeople to the hillside to decorate the festival venue and kept busy until nightfall.

That evening, while Naoki was feeding the Pokemon in the ranch, he inadvertently glanced towards the hillside and saw twinkling lanterns, making it seem very lively.

It wasn’t just him; the Pokemon in the ranch also noticed the scene over there.

The Pokemon led by Ogerpon seemed to be full of anticipation.

Ogerpon asked, ”Boni?” (Naoki, can we go there and play tomorrow?)

”Of course.” Naoki nodded with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the Pokemon in front of him: ”Not just us, Calyrex also plans to have a look!”

Ogerpon had previously participated in local festivals in Kitakami.

Before the man passed away, during festival seasons, he and his Pokemon would wear masks and go down the mountain to celebrate with people in the town.

But after the man died, Ogerpon never officially attended a festival again; it would only wear a mask and watch the joyful people from a distance.

”Boni...” Ogerpon’s mask showed expectation; he wondered what the festival here would be like?

That question was quickly answered for Ogerpon.

On September 30, 199 AL, on the last night of autumn, Porto Marinada Town’s annual grand festival officially began.

A group led by Mayor Thomas passed through the lantern-lit mountain path, ascending the hillside to the Abundant Shrine to worship Calyrex.

That day, the hillside was exceptionally lively.

Trainers, having heard the news, came from all over, including several TV reporters and photographers, to report on the Legendary Pokemon Calyrex.

Stalls lined the foot of the mountain path.

Various excited pedestrians weaved through them, selecting items they liked.

There were stalls selling souvenirs, small Calyrex wood carvings, roasted corn, and even an uncle shouting about selling Magikarp.

”Magikarp, super top-notch Magikarp, extremely talented Magikarp! You won’t be disappointed if you buy one, just 3000 League Coins each! Buy more, get more!”

Naoki, adorned with Eevee, squinted at the voice he heard.

Why is there an uncle selling Magikarp here too?

Looking closely, Naoki recognized the person as an angler he had met by the sea earlier.

With tourists aplenty around, Naoki reminded the few Pokemon beside him, ”Stay close! Don’t get lost, Koraidon and Cyclizar, keep an eye on the Eevees and Alcremie for me!”

”Pawmot, could you watch Gholdengo for me, huh? Where’s Gholdengo?”

Naoki looked around and saw Gholdengo enthusiastically running to a stall selling roasted corn, handing over a few Gold Coins to the vendor, then taking a few ears of roasted corn amid the vendor’s surprised gaze.

Naoki: ”...”

The Eevee hanging on Naoki also looked eagerly at the nearby stalls selling delicious and fun things.

The most outgoing Flareon quickly leaped towards a stall selling barbecue, pointing at the sizzling meat and gesturing for Naoki to buy it for him.

During this time, pedestrians came and went, cutting off their line of vision.

Naoki instantly felt a headache; he went forward to buy a few skewers of barbecue, then picked up Flareon by the scruff and placed it on Koraidon’s back.

”Too many people, no running around!”

However, with a lively and adventure-loving nature, how could Eevee be scared off by just the number of people?

In an unguarded moment, Naoki lost track of two more little Eevees, separated from them by the bustling crowd.

”Paw!”

Pawmot spotted the two little Eevees in a corner, barked, then quickly went after them.

Naoki was overwhelmed with a headache; there were just too many people now; if this continued, the other Eevees might get lost too.

To prevent such occurrences, he could only take out the Poke Ball and recall all the Eevees back into it.

After quite a while, Pawmot returned with the two Eevees.

Naoki poked their heads, then took out the Poke Ball: ”Better get back into the Poke Ball for now!”

A flash of white light later, the Eevees were retrieved into the Poke Ball.

Naoki and the surrounding Pokemon finally breathed a sigh of relief.

”Let’s keep moving!”

After browsing around the stalls for a while, Naoki led the group of Pokemon up the mountain path to the Abundant Shrine to attend the festival.

Compared to below, there were fewer people on the mountain path.

The Abundant Shrine was built halfway up the hillside, a shrine not considered large.

At the center of the shrine stood a statue of Calyrex. In front of the statue were offerings presented by people, crops harvested from the fields.

When Naoki arrived here, Mayor Thomas and his group were worshiping at the shrine.

A lot of reporters surrounded them.

Some reporters, facing photographers, were broadcasting live.

”Good evening, everyone! Welcome to the Paldea Evening News Channel, I’m Chloe, reporting live from a lively Rich Harvest Festival.”

”According to Chloe’s understanding, this festival seems to be a traditional event here in Porto Marinada Town. Can you all see it? The statue in the shrine is of the Legendary Pokemon Calyrex.”