Not Being a Trainer This Time

Chapter 12: Chapter 11: Caterpie Exclusive Enhancement

The ranch has a new facility, fish pond +1!

Looking at the Magikarp swimming in the lake, Naoki felt a sense of harvest joy in his heart.

The fishing plan was disrupted by Koraidon. Naoki glanced up at the sky, estimated the time in his heart, and decided to return to the cabin to check if the glutinous rice balls were steamed.

He picked up the iron bucket full of fish, just turned around, and saw Cyclizar running over, clutching a small yellow wildflower in its paw.

”For me?” Naoki asked in surprise.

”Gao~” Cyclizar nodded its head, showing an adorable and goofy smile on its face.

This little guy is just too cute, right? Naoki reached out to take the wildflower, looked at its petals, and thought: Maybe this is why so many people like Pokemon?

They are simple, innocent, and kind. Most Pokemon will accompany you for a lifetime as long as you treat them well, even willing to protect you with their life.

Feeling deeply moved, Naoki simultaneously reached out to touch Cyclizar’s head, then turned around to call Koraidon back.

But the Koraidon, which was here watching the fish just a moment ago, had already disappeared.

Looking up, Naoki saw Koraidon swiftly running through a vibrant clump of grass, where butterflies were startled and hurriedly fled into the distance.

About a few minutes later, Koraidon returned.

Its hand clutched a handful of colorful flowers, including Blue Roses, Tulips, and Hyacinths.

”...”

Naoki immediately guessed Koraidon’s thoughts, but honestly speaking, Koraidon should be considered the least elegant Legendary Beast, right?

During these two days of interaction, none of its speech or behavior resembles that of a Legendary Beast; instead, it acts like an innocently naive child.

Koraidon handed the flowers over: ”Gao ooh hiss!”

Naoki sighed inwardly and reluctantly reached out to take them.

He was just about to pick up the iron bucket when Koraidon nudged its head over again.

Naoki: ”...”

Indeed, just like a naive little kid.

He chuckled wryly and patted Koraidon’s head.

Koraidon was satisfied.

”Let’s go!” Naoki picked up the iron bucket, and Cyclizar and Koraidon followed him side by side back to the cabin.

Placing the iron bucket in the shade ensures that the fish are not sunburned to death and waits until Zack comes to collect the goods at five in the afternoon.

Entering the house, he checked the glutinous rice balls were not ready yet, so Naoki sat at the desk, took out the account book and pen bought earlier from the grocery store.

Recording daily expenditures and income in detail is something a qualified rancher must do.

This way, when the ranch gets bigger, you won’t be completely in the dark.

Picking up the pen, Naoki calculated and wrote on the ledger.

Spring 198, January 5.

Income: Black Truffle +33000

Expenditure: Seeds, Fishing Rod, Seasonings, Ingredients -4190

Remaining Funds: 28810

Spring 198, January 6.

Income: Fish +

Expenditure: 0

Since the fish hasn’t been sold yet, Naoki didn’t know its price, so he left space to finalize the calculation at night.

Besides this, Naoki also jotted down the funds needed to expand the house, repair the Pokemon House, and Chicken House.

This makes it convenient for him to refer while also providing motivation to strive for these goals.

After finishing the accounting, Naoki stood up to check the steamer.

This time, those glutinous rice balls were finally done.

In the swirling steam, they looked like plump, white babies.

As Naoki looked down, their information emerged.

[Glutinous Rice Ball (B): A spring delicacy made from glutinous rice and red bean paste, very popular among young people.

Cooking Effect: Bug-type Pokemon specific, Bug Silk Enhancement lv2, moderately increases the toughness and strength of Bug Silk. If ingredients with attributes are added, maybe the Pokemon eating them will undergo more changes...

Evaluation: Soft and chewy, sweet and delicate, fragrant and crispy, with a touch of red bean sweetness. It’s a pretty good dessert.]

Hmm?

Enhancement specific to Bug-type Pokemon?

Staring at the words above, Naoki suddenly became interested.

Each of those plump glutinous rice balls lying in the pot had the same enhancement effect, but with grade differences.

There were tier 1 enhancements, tier 2 enhancements, and the highest was tier 3 enhancements.

However, what sparked Naoki’s interest wasn’t the Bug-type exclusive description, but rather the phrase [ingredients with attributes].

If he remembered correctly, Pokemon World doesn’t seem to have such ingredients.

Yet in that trashy game, they do exist.

For instance, Ice Berry containing Ice-type power, Electric Lemon possessing an Electric characteristic, etc.

But, is it possible to cultivate them in this world?

Naoki instinctively thought it impossible but suddenly recalled a cooking effect in the game.

It was a recipe called ”Green Grass Cake,” which, when fed to player-grown characters, allowed them to help tend farm crops.

Crops cared for by the character would undergo slight mutations.

For example, ordinary mushrooms would become Armor Mushrooms, regular lemons would turn into Electric Lemons, normal apples would become glowing Apples.

Giving the apple to the character causes it to glow like a big lamp, equivalent to a free transformation.

So the question arises, if he successfully made ”Green Grass Cake” and fed it to Pokemon, could it also give Pokemon that kind of magical ability?

After pondering for a moment, Naoki concluded it was feasible.

But the key is that he, a tech personnel, doesn’t know the required ingredients and detailed recipe for the Green Grass Cake.

How do you make a cake out of grass?

This matter probably only Sheep Village residents, like Pleasant Goat, know...

When the time comes, adding Electric Lemon to glutinous rice balls might possibly create Bug Silk with added Electric-type enhancement.

Caterpie casting Electroweb is no longer a dream.

With these thoughts, Naoki couldn’t help feeling excited.

”Looks like I’ll need to try making the Green Grass Cake soon.”

But that’s not possible at the moment; the ranch is still in the early stage, every penny cannot be wasted.

Keeping this matter in mind, Naoki placed the glutinous rice balls onto a clean plate to cool.

Cyclizar curiously stared at the glutinous rice balls on the plate, whereas Koraidon’s interest seemed less intense compared to it.

Noticing Cyclizar’s gaze, Naoki advised: ”Right now, it’s hot; wait until it cools before eating.”

Cyclizar obediently listened; Naoki told it not to eat, and it stood still as he commanded.

Leaving most for Koraidon and Cyclizar, Naoki reserved a glutinous rice ball with lv3 Bug Silk Enhancement.

He remembered Caterpie on the back mountain.

He was eager to discover what kind of changes a small glutinous rice ball would bring to Caterpie, how much it could enhance Bug Silk.