The next morning.
Inside the plantation.
"The water’s flowing too fast—slow it down! Don’t wash away my land!"
"Water Gun is your most basic move in the early stages. If you can’t even get this right, how are you going to battle?"
Hayashi Kaede and Snivy were sitting under the shade of a peach tree. One of them was coaching Squirtle, while the other snapped a Vine Whip toward Squirtle’s feet.
Forced to dodge the whip, Squirtle had no choice but to keep adjusting the direction of its water stream, its face full of resentnt.
Early that morning, its trainer had told it that she’d found a great teacher.
Soone nearly on par with a sensei.
Curious, Squirtle agreed.
When it saw that the teacher was the sa human from the day before, it had actually felt happy.
But now?
Its resentnt toward Hayashi Kaede had hit a peak.
How is this training?
Isn’t this just having irrigate his land?
There’s no water left.
Not even a single drop...
After watering a whole field, Squirtle’s cheeks were visibly sunken.
"All right, co rest for a bit."
Hayashi Kaede, who had been monitoring Squirtle’s condition with the [Eye of Detection], finally called for a break.
Snivy also retracted its Vine Whip.
Squirtle stomped over, clearly still annoyed.
[Pokémon: Squirtle]
[Gender: Female]
[Ability: Torrent]
[Aptitude: Blue]
[Stats: HP (18), Attack (20), Special Attack (21), Defense (25), Special Defense (24), Speed (16)]
[Level: 6–8]
[Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Water Gun, Withdraw]
[Summary: She doesn’t want to work anymore!!]
[Bond: -20 (She thinks you’re even worse than her trainer.)]
[Happiness: -25 (A resentful early riser.)]
"Here, have an energy cube."
Hayashi Kaede handed her an energy cube he had made himself to restore stamina.
It was made from the fruits he bought yesterday.
[Grade-C Energy Cube – Made from polo fruit and crystal-clear spring water. Restores stamina quickly. Long-term use can gradually enhance a Pokémon’s endurance.
Cooking Effect: Enhances comprehension of moves.]
A short and simple description.
But energy cubes that could permanently raise stats were extrely rare in this world.
Even if you had money, you might not be able to buy them.
Of course, Hayashi Kaede didn’t tell Squirtle any of that.
Instead, he gently coaxed her: "Here, want a bite?"
"Squiiirt..."
With a grumble, the starving Squirtle took the cube and bit into it.
In an instant, a fresh, warm sensation blood in her mouth. Her eyes lit up. She devoured the rest in no ti, and a spark returned to her previously dull gaze.
"It’s okay. There’s plenty more where that ca from."
To the "employees" he recruited,
Hayashi Kaede wasn’t stingy.
As long as they could eat, he’d keep feeding them.
[Congratulations! Squirtle’s happiness increased from -20 to 30. Reward: 20 bags of Fertilizer, 3 Rare Candies, and a container of Clear Water (enhances purity and control of Water-type moves).]
Eventually...
Too full to eat another bite, Squirtle sprawled flat on the ground, her face radiating satisfaction.
Hayashi Kaede didn’t imdiately put her back to work. He simply smiled quietly as he watched her.
This scene looked very familiar.
Snivy, watching nearby, suddenly rembered sothing.
Wasn’t it also tricked here with an energy cube?
Thinking about it,
Snivy let out a small sigh.
Back when it was wandering around human towns,
It had heard from other Pokémon that being with a trainer helped you grow stronger quickly. They gave you food and shelter too...
So it had decided to find a trainer and grow together.
But—
Snivy had always been very picky.
It believed a good trainer needed to excel both in commanding and training.
And yet...
All it took for Hayashi Kaede to "catch" it was a few energy cubes.
Such is life for a snake.
"Squirt?"
It took Squirtle a mont to recover from her food coma.
This ti, however, her glare at Hayashi Kaede was a bit more complicated—less angry, more conflicted.
How did this guy manage to make her both hate and admire him?
"Brother Kaede! I’m here!"
Just then, Squirtle’s trainer—Takagi gumi—ca running into the plantation.
Sandshrew trotted in right behind her, looking much more excited than Squirtle had earlier.
He practically radiated enthusiasm.
"Please take good care of Sandshrew!"
Looking at such a diligent little "employee,"
Hayashi Kaede gave a satisfied smile. "There’s a lot of work today. Don’t worry if you can’t finish. I’ll make you so spicy noodles later."
"Shrew!"
The little mole nodded seriously, and even without being told, he began plowing the remaining land.
Hayashi Kaede stood off to the side, planning.
He wanted to turn half of the remaining plot into pasture—create a grassy area.
But it still seed too small.
It might be okay for raising a Miltank.
But if he planned to breed later, he’d also need room for a Tauros.
Those Pokémon were full of energy.
This area just wasn’t going to cut it.
So, Hayashi Kaede decided he would also plant so birch trees and raise a few Caterpie.
He could harvest the silk threads they produced and sell them.
That’s what his parents used to do.
Silk was in high demand—and valuable.
After all—
In the world of Pokémon,
If you’re not going to wear armor, then at least wear decent clothing.
Out in the wild, it’s easy to get hit by stray moves during a Pokémon battle and end up exposed...
It’s not a huge deal for n...
But for won...
Also,
Depending on the kind of leaves they ate, silk spun by Caterpie could have special effects.
For instance, the silk made from green Caterpie who ate birch leaves had a natural cooling property...
"It’s decided then! Snivy, let’s get to work."
"Oh, and you too, Takagi gumi—co on over!"
One seed, one hole...
Ti to fertilize and sow.
Snivy and Takagi gumi had no choice but to join Hayashi Kaede on his grand "pirate ship" of farming dreams—and start planting grass seeds.
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