Home Renovation

"Did you make this?"

As the question left his mouth, Raikou already knew the answer.

To this question, Dongshu had only one word.

"Home!"

He was concise.

Raikou instantly understood—in this human cub's eyes, this cave was a home shared with Fire Emperor.

So, he had used his innate, wondrous ability to create all of this, transforming what had been a rough, crude, cold, and hard cave into a livable "home."

Raikou was stunned.

Because as far as he knew, not all humans possessed such a miraculous power like this human cub did.

At that moment, a thought of Fire Emperor's words from before surfaced in Raikou's mind for no reason.

[Little One is different!]

The act of creating flooring on the spot seemed to surprise Raikou as well. Seeing the 20 Shock Points Raikou had provided again, Dongshu grinned and continued browsing the System Store.

The renovation wasn't finished yet.

1065 - 500 + 20 = 585

Next, should he buy a crib? Or a big door? Or maybe a set of dishes for eating?

Dongshu looked up at the cave ceiling.

Lighting was also very important.

As a human, he didn't have the night vision abilities of Fire Emperor, Raikou, or Marshadow. Once night fell, he was truly in the dark, unable to see anything clearly.

[Chandelier: A lighting fixture suspended indoors, requires a generator to use. Exchange cost: 500 Shock Points.]

[Generator: A device for supplying power, requires an Electric-type Pokémon to operate, can store up to one year's worth of electricity. Exchange cost: 1000 Shock Points.]

Dongshu: "..."

He simply couldn't afford it.

He continued scrolling down, and soon, another item caught his attention.

[Mushroom Night Light: A lighting fixture that can illuminate a 40-square-meter space. Rechargeable, requires charging by an Electric-type Pokémon before use. A full charge lasts three months. Exchange cost: 300 Shock Points.]

Dongshu's eyes lit up. What a great find!

He immediately chose to exchange it!

The next second, a night light shaped like a mushroom, about twenty centimeters in size, materialized in Dongshu's hand.

The shape of this night light reminded him of a Pokémon called Lamp Shade Night Mushroom.

"285 Shock Points left."

He couldn't afford a crib, but he could use a thick carpet to serve its purpose instead.

[Cashmere Carpet: A warm, soft, and comfortable cashmere carpet, made from the wool of Wooloo, a Pokémon from the Galar Region. Used for laying on the floor. Exchange cost: 200 Shock Points.]

Bought!

200 Shock Points were automatically deducted, and the next second, a cashmere carpet measuring about 4m x 4m appeared beneath Dongshu.

It was so thick, so soft, so warm. Sitting on it felt like sitting on the softest cloud in the world.

Worth it!

When Fire Emperor returned, he could sleep on this big, soft carpet with him!

But that Mushroom Night Light still needed an Electric-type Pokémon to charge it.

Speaking of Electric-type Pokémon, there happened to be one right in front of him.

Dongshu couldn't help but glance at Raikou, who was not far away.

Raikou had been silently watching his actions the entire time.

"Raikou~" Dongshu called out.

Raikou immediately lifted his head, shifting his gaze from the carpet to Dongshu.

To make his home more comfortable and pleasant, Dongshu shamelessly began to act cute and plead with Raikou.

Then, Raikou saw this human cub holding that strange mushroom-shaped thing, trotting over to him with a patter of footsteps, and asking in a childish, pleading voice:

"Help me out!"

Raikou: "...What is it?"

Dongshu raised the Mushroom Night Light in his hand. "This needs electricity!"

A small matter.

Raikou silently extended a claw and released a current into the mushroom.

The next second, something miraculous happened.

The originally unremarkable large mushroom suddenly hummed and lit up with a warm, cozy glow!

The light instantly filled the entire cave, draping everything in a soft veil, and in that single moment, the once cold cavern became warm.

At least it looked more like a home now.

"Thank you, Raikou!"

Raikou heard the human child say happily.

It watched as the child placed the mushroom beside the carpet, then pulled out a candy from the large leaf as a gift for it.

If it were any other time, Raikou thought it might have been pleased.

But remembering that these candies originally belonged to Fire Emperor, a vague irritation stirred in its heart.

Dongshu had no idea what was going through Raikou's mind.

Right now, he was looking at Raikou up close—at its sleek golden fur, its sturdy limbs, and its sharp fangs.

Unlike the dignified Fire Emperor, Raikou, who resembled a saber-toothed tiger, gave off an aura of aloofness, fierceness, and coldness.

But... seeing it this close, Raikou was just a big tiger!

If he were a real baby, what should he do now?

Dongshu thought for a moment, then stepped forward, hugged Raikou's big head, and planted a kiss on it—just like a cat owner who can't resist kissing their kitten's adorable head.

But faced with this sudden move from the human child, Raikou's pupils instantly quaked.

Before it could react, the human child sweetly said another "Thank you!"

"..."

Raikou's heart was a mess of emotions. Watching the human child run off to play with the big mushroom on his own, it understood clearly.

That gesture just now was a way humans showed affection to each other.

This... this human child had already grown so close to it so quickly!

Raikou's heart was far from calm.

It should have bristled its fur, raised its tail, and let out a crackling burst of terrifying electricity—enough to stir the weather itself.

Then, it should have leaped up, scolding and warning the child for its actions.

That was what it should have done.

But then, Raikou suddenly recalled that night when this human child found it injured and took the initiative to heal it.

In that moment, Raikou's heart was completely thrown into chaos.

Meanwhile, in Pallet Town.

Fire Emperor passed through this rural town, intending to continue on its journey, but its gaze was suddenly drawn to a mother and child in the distance.

The young mother was playing with her one-year-old child in the backyard.

She held a Pikachu plush toy and played with the human child.

The woman's face was full of tenderness, radiating a natural maternal glow. Her red lips moved slightly, as if she were saying something to the child.

Fire Emperor's hearing was sharp.

Even from far away, it could clearly make out her words.

"Ash, you have to grow up healthy and strong!"

But Fire Emperor's attention was fixed on the Pikachu plush in the child's hands.

"Maybe Little One would like a toy like that," Fire Emperor thought to itself.

Once this business was done, it would bring one back for Little One to play with.