Not Being a Trainer This Time

Chapter 30: Chapter 25: The Gradually Lively Ranch

In the Chicken House, Naoki tossed feed into the feeding trough.

Smelling the aroma, three hens and a rooster swaggered to the trough and began to eat.

”It seems they have already adapted here!” The girl behind him watched the scene with a smile on her face. ”In that case, Mr. Naoki, I’ll take my leave now. If you need anything, you can call the store. Our phone number is 9573868.”

Naoki: ”...I haven’t had the chance to buy a phone yet.”

The girl was taken aback, seemingly not expecting this: ”Huh?”

Naoki asked with a smile, ”Is it okay if I inquire directly at the store?”

The girl nodded quickly: ”Of course!”

After explaining the necessary precautions, she put on a straw hat and left the ranch on her tricycle.

Naoki stood in the Chicken House, watching the chickens.

Although hens can lay eggs without a rooster, those are unfertilized eggs and cannot hatch.

Only eggs laid after mating with a rooster can hatch chicks.

This is why Naoki specifically bought a rooster.

The three hens are healthy, adult hens, already capable of laying eggs.

This means that starting tomorrow, he can expect at least three eggs a day.

”Well, a single egg doesn’t sell for much, so the best method is to use all three for hatching.” Naoki thought to himself.

This way, by the time the crops outside mature, the ranch will welcome three new little lives.

The newly built Chicken House appeared a bit cluttered. Naoki picked up the hayfork to move the hay stacked at the door to the corner.

After completing the task, Naoki couldn’t help but glance at his current attire.

Wearing brown overalls and carrying a hayfork on his shoulder, he looked just like a rustic farmer.

Putting down the hayfork, Naoki walked out of the Chicken House, making sure to close the door behind him to prevent the hens from running wild.

On the way back to the cabin, Naoki recalled the girl’s words and thought to himself, ”Besides Pokemon and crops, the basic facilities on the ranch need to be supplemented too.”

Things like a phone, TV, phonograph, and computer.

A phone would allow him to contact people in town.

A TV could keep him informed of news and information beyond the ranch.

The phonograph could be used for edification, to play a serenade on rainy days when work outside wasn’t possible, serving as a pleasant form of entertainment.

As for the computer...

It would help Naoki quickly look up necessary information and also allow him to communicate and exchange ideas with netizens as far away as Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Alola.

But from the original owner’s memory, it was clear these things weren’t cheap. Before building entertainment facilities, he urgently needed to resolve food issues for himself and his Pokemon.

In any case, onward to a better tomorrow!

Naoki was filled with determination.

In front of the cabin, Koraidon and Cyclizar had already returned.

Across from them, Alcremie and Smoliv were shivering with fear.

Seeing Naoki, the two little ones immediately hid behind him, clinging to his left and right legs, peeking out at Koraidon’s actions.

Naoki: ”...”

Koraidon had a puzzled look: ”Gaii?”

So they were afraid of him?

But what was so frightening about him?

Koraidon looked down at his own body, then glanced at the well-behaved Cyclizar by his side, thinking: It’s just a slight change in appearance...

Naoki crouched down and patted the heads of Alcremie and Smoliv, soothingly saying, ”Relax, it won’t hurt you.”

”Gaii!” Koraidon nodded vigorously, agreeing with this statement.

Hearing this, Alcremie and Smoliv cautiously looked over at Koraidon.

Koraidon stood there, letting them observe.

After a while, Alcremie and Smoliv exchanged glances.

”Mama...”

”Moo...”

It seems it really won’t eat them, huh?

Seeing this, Koraidon human-like patted his chest with his large paw.

”Gaii Gaii!”

See, see!

Alcremie and Smoliv’s fear faded, replaced by pure, innocent smiles.

”Mama~”

”Moo~”

Naoki didn’t understand what the Pokemon said.

But seeing Alcremie and Smoliv’s expression, they seemed less afraid of Koraidon, so he picked them up one by one and carried them into the cabin.

”From now on, this will be our home!” Naoki looked around and asked, ”Where do you want to live?”

He gave them the option to choose.

Understanding Naoki’s intention, Alcremie and Smoliv began looking around, observing their surroundings while selecting a suitable place to live.

Soon, Smoliv chose a spot first—the windowsill above Naoki’s desk.

There, it was bathed in sunlight, with a gentle breeze occasionally blowing in from outside—an ideal place for a Grass Type Pokemon that relies on Synthesis to maintain energy.

Naoki nodded, placing Smoliv on the windowsill, then turned to Alcremie.

”So, where do you want to be?”

Alcremie’s gaze turned toward the kitchen’s cupboard, eyes gleaming: ”Mmm!”

”The cupboard?” Naoki raised an eyebrow and led Alcremie forward, opening the cupboard to reveal the Berries and various spices stored inside.

Alcremie jumped in willingly, tucking itself into a small corner of the cupboard.

”Mmm!” This is it!

”Uh... alright.” Initially, Naoki thought it was too small for Alcremie to live there.

But on further thought, considering Alcremie’s ecology, he realized there might not be any place more suitable.

Perhaps out of concern that it might be eaten by sweet-tooth Pokemon, Alcremie naturally liked tight spaces where it felt secure.

”That’s not too bad.”

Naoki nodded. Smelling the faint sweet scent in the air, he thought the cream produced by this Alcremie might have a caramel flavor.

Naoki hadn’t had sweets for a long time. Now smelling this scent, he had a sudden, terrifying urge to lick Alcremie.

He quickly dispelled that thought and, after settling Alcremie, turned to look at Smoliv.

Staring at the somewhat empty windowsill, Naoki fell into thought.

It seemed something was missing there...

Besides sunlight, Grass Type Pokemon also need soil and water.

Oh right, a flowerpot!

Naoki remembered there was an empty flowerpot in the storage room behind the cabin!

He immediately headed to the storage room, retrieved the dusty flowerpot, rinsed it clean under the tap, and filled it with some loose soil from the field.

Naoki placed the flowerpot in front of Smoliv.

Smoliv looked delighted.

It jumped into the flowerpot, sinking its little feet into the soil, then lazily basked in the sun.

”You really know how to enjoy life.”

Naoki chuckled softly, placing the flowerpot on the windowsill, then opened the window to let in the gentle breeze from outside.