Daily Life

Back in the kitchen, Luo Mu began planning what dishes to prepare today.

The dishes would revolve around the bountiful harvest from today: cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, cabbage, and strawberries. Though there was quite a variety, they were not really suitable as staple foods. In many dishes, they generally appeared as supporting roles.

Considering that among the dozen or so Pokémon, some ate meat while others were vegetarian, the dishes could not be too monotonous and needed to be diverse.

After a busy spell, Luo Mu served several dishes to the Pokémon that had returned from washing off the dirt and were eagerly awaiting their meal.

The crisp, tender, fragrant cucumbers harvested from the fields were made into smashed cucumber salad, and its sweet-and-sour taste was especially popular with the four Poliwag.

Since there was already smashed cucumber salad, making the eggplants into a cold dish would have made the flavors repetitive, so Luo Mu turned them into steaming hot Fish-Fragrant Eggplant.

There were also the classic tomato scrambled eggs and Braised Fish made with fish bought from the market.

For dessert, he made a vegetable and Fruit Salad mixed with yogurt and some of the harvested crops.

The table in the Small Western-Style House simply could not fit so many Pokémon around it. Left with no choice, Luo Mu could only move the battlefield outside for an open-air meal.

The sweet-and-sour crunch of the smashed cucumber salad, the savory-sweet Fish-Fragrant Eggplant, the ever-reliable tomato scrambled eggs, and the tender, richly colored Braised Fish—its flesh was oily without being greasy. One bite left a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth, with a hint of spice amid the aroma.

The salad served as an after-meal dessert seemed especially popular with the two Gossifleur. They planted one foot in the soil to steady themselves, buried half their faces in the salad bowls before them, and made blissful sounds as they ate.

Eldegoss looked at its two companions with helpless affection. Every so often, it lowered its head to take small bites of salad, savoring the strawberries it had grown itself and the sense of accomplishment they brought.

It had been some time since it settled down on the farm. There was no longer the novelty of drifting with the wind through the wilderness, making the world its home, but this simple yet fulfilling life had immersed it deeply.

Perhaps this was the feeling of "home" it had once heard other Pokémon speak of during its windborne travels.

After the pleasant lunchtime ended, the satisfied-looking Pokémon went off to nap if they wanted to nap, while those wishing to burn off excess energy played in the open space or sparred and trained.

Swampert's fists whistled through the air, while Ceruledge, its opponent, moved like a calm swordsman, slightly shifting its body to evade some attacks. When an attack could not be avoided, it raised the Flame Greatswords on its arms to block or counterattack.

Whenever Swampert's fists or Ceruledge's twin blades struck the ground instead, they often left behind huge pits or deep furrows. If an ordinary Pokémon took a hit like that, the outcome would probably be miserable.

Growlithe watched the battle intently under Moltres's careful supervision. Its dark, gleaming eyes hidden beneath its fur did not blink as they followed every movement with utmost seriousness.

At first, Moltres had not wanted to accept that this single legendary bird had suddenly gained a son—one who called it Mom and called Luo Mu, that human, Dad.

But this little fellow truly had enthusiasm and persistence in spades. Moltres, who had never had friends and had never experienced such sincere warmth from another living being, simply could not withstand it.

Perhaps the emotions formed while incubating the egg had also played a part. By now, Moltres was completely wrapped around Growlithe's paw. Even in its free time, its gaze would follow Growlithe's every movement, watching what it was doing.

Noticing this change in Moltres, Luo Mu smiled with great interest. This is going to make what happens next quite interesting.

Luo Mu watched with a smile as the interactions between the different Pokémon on the farm gave rise to one story after another.

Suddenly, a wave of drowsiness hit him. Luo Mu did not resist it and let out a yawn. Looking at the perfectly clear sunshine overhead, he murmured, "I've been busy all morning. The weather is so nice—might as well take a nap."

After thinking for a moment, Luo Mu's gaze drifted over the Pokémon still present.

Swampert and Ceruledge were fighting with great enthusiasm, so he should not disturb them. Besides, hard muscles and cold armor would not feel very comfortable to lean against.

Luo Mu did not think he knew Moltres well enough yet to use it as a little bed for a nap, while Eldegoss, the Gossifleur, and Mimikyu were all too small.

After considering it from every angle, his only choices were Luxray, who was lying on the ground dozing, and Dragonite, who floated in the sky.

Luo Mu asked himself whether he wanted to sleep on a fluffy "bed" or a soft, springy "bed" today, and quickly made his decision.

Today, he would nap with Dragonite!

Luo Mu immediately called out to the sky. Once Dragonite descended like a gust of wind, Luo Mu told it that he wanted to invite it to take a nap together, all while caught in its somewhat suffocating embrace.

Dragonite was more than willing. It immediately chose a spot with just the right amount of sunlight, lay on its back, and patted its round little belly, signaling for Luo Mu to sleep wherever he liked.

Luo Mu chuckled and chose what he thought was the most comfortable position, lying facedown on Dragonite's belly. Its soft, gently rising and falling paunch was no worse than any premium mattress.

Perhaps only a Snorlax, superior in size, could compete with Dragonite in that regard.

Though Luo Mu really wanted to catch a Snorlax to serve as his exclusive little bed for afternoon naps, once he considered that Pokémon's terrifying appetite, he felt that all the crops grown on his little farm might not even be enough to fill a Snorlax's stomach. He could only think about it.

Before he knew it, Luo Mu fell asleep beneath Dragonite's gentle gaze. Seeing this, Mimikyu, which had been entertaining itself in the shadows, darted into the house and returned with a thin blanket draped over its Shadow Claw.

Mimikyu carefully covered Luo Mu with the thin blanket. Being able to do just these things already made it deeply content.

Luo Mu was awakened by a burst of commotion and the wet sensation of licking against his cheek. He opened his slightly bleary eyes and found the Pokémon gathered around the two Gossifleur, though he had no idea what they were doing.

Growlithe realized it had finally licked Luo Mu awake and gave an excited bark, immediately drawing the attention of the Pokémon over there.

Eldegoss hurriedly bounced over to Luo Mu. Without hands, it could only anxiously use its movements to draw his attention.

"What's going on?"

All traces of drowsiness vanished from Luo Mu's face. Frowning, he followed behind Eldegoss and approached the Gossifleur, who were surrounded by the other Pokémon.

The two Gossifleur wore rather strange expressions as they curled up where they were, seemingly bearing some unknown burden.