Ceruledge's Little Happiness

The Polliwag looked at the marks on Luo Mu's arm with curiosity.

"Ulu lulu?" (Was it caused by a Charcadet?)

Although Luo Mu couldn't understand the Polliwag's words, he could roughly guess its meaning based on experience. He sighed, "Yeah, that's a mark left behind when I was trying to capture Charcadet. It's a memento of our story. Back then, I couldn't afford high-grade burn medicine like I can now, so the scar remained."

"But you don't have to worry about getting a burn mark on your back from Growlithe's flames. After all, I can provide better conditions for you now."

"Ulu lulu!"

The Polliwag wanted to say that its worries weren't that superficial, but Luo Mu shook the small burn medicine bottle in his hand and patted the Polliwag's head. "Now, let's talk about problems! Do you know how much this bottle of burn medicine costs?"

"Ulu lulu?"

The Polliwag tilted its head. It was just a Poliwag, how could it possibly know?

"It's only 600 League currency. It's twice the price of regular burn medicine, but its effects are much better," Luo Mu said casually, spreading his hands. "And the four of you Poliwags don't even eat 100 League currency worth of food a day. Even if you ate for free and did nothing, I could still easily afford to keep you."

Of course, this was just the cost of normal meals needed to maintain their activity. If training began, they would need to spend a lot more on nutritional supplements.

The Poliwag's eyes glazed over. It realized that all its little thoughts seemed to have been completely seen through by Luo Mu.

"Of course, I took you in and brought you to the Farm because I need your abilities. Even if your current role is very small, I value long-term development more."

Seeing the Poliwag's expression and reaction, Luo Mu knew his guess was correct. He said softly, "Don't be so scared and anxious. I told you about Ceruledge's past experiences to let you know that I won't abandon the Pokémon I've captured for any messy reasons."

"Look, I haven't even kicked out Moltres, who eats the most and lives here for free."

Luo Mu pointed to a Moltres not far away, which was sleeping on its back like a roasted chicken, completely unguarded. He casually placed the sleeping Growlithe on its belly.

Polliwag: "."

The topic suddenly became very sharp.

However, a sense of sudden enlightenment enveloped the Poliwag. It suddenly felt that its worries were a bit ridiculous.

That's right, just like the Whimsicotts said, this was home.

Night.

It was a belated celebration for the Farm's first earnings. Luo Mu brought Dragonite from the market with plenty of ingredients, both meat and vegetables.

Under Ceruledge's command, they spent the afternoon happily making skewers.

The Poliwag's concerns were perfectly resolved by Luo Mu's heart-to-heart talk. It volunteered to help, but since it had no hands, it couldn't do such delicate work and could only follow the Luxray and the others to pick up firewood in the wild.

Looking at the two large plates of marinated meat and vegetable skewers, Ceruledge silently brought out its ancestral grill. It skillfully used its Flame Blade to start the fire, controlling the heat to begin the grilling process, which looked simple but actually required precise control over the optimal cooking time for each type of food.

Finally able to rest, Luo Mu sat on the ground without any pretense, playing and roughhousing with the Pokémon.

As his gaze swept over Ceruledge, Luo Mu seemed to remember something. He quickly got up and went into the house, finding a bright yellow apron.

Although the apron looked like it had been through many "battles," it was still neatly folded, showing that the user cherished it greatly.

Luo Mu smiled helplessly, holding the apron, and went to Ceruledge's side. He said with a hint of complaint, "Look, oil splashed on your armor again. It's so troublesome for me to maintain!"

Ceruledge paused its movements awkwardly, its purple pupils darting around with guilt.

Luo Mu carefully wiped the fresh oil stains from Ceruledge's armor and couldn't help but sigh that as a Trainer, he had to be both father and mother, constantly paying attention to his Pokémon's psychological well-being.

Luo Mu tied the small yellow duck apron in his hand around Ceruledge, feeling that the contrast between the cool swordsman and the cute apron was simply too captivating.

The previous few times Ceruledge grilled, he was busy with other things and couldn't observe. He didn't expect the latter's old habit to act up again.

This little yellow duck apron was a gift he gave Ceruledge on the day it evolved. Ceruledge would rather have its handsome armor stained than wear this apron.

The various marks on the apron were left when he forced Ceruledge to wear it.

Luo Mu felt that aprons were meant to be worn. Even though this apron had some commemorative significance, in the decades to come, Ceruledge would receive many more aprons from him.

Caring for it too much would go against the original intention of him giving the apron.

"Siro."

Unable to refuse Luo Mu's request, Ceruledge reluctantly put on the apron and continued grilling.

However, its movements were now a hundred times more careful.

Ceruledge had always regretted its actions when it was young. Even the burn scar on Luo Mu's arm was caused by it.

Yet, even so, Luo Mu had accepted it, this abandoned hedgehog covered in thorns.

It learned to cook as a way to make up for its mistakes as much as possible. However, its arms were naturally unsuited for such tasks, so only grilling was slightly easier to get the hang of.

Luo Mu didn't know what Ceruledge was thinking. Seeing it seriously flipping skewers and sprinkling seasoning, he couldn't help but sigh.

The once prickly and solitary Charcadet had grown so much. Although its emotions were still reserved, and it remained taciturn, even he couldn't fully understand it.

But now, Ceruledge had completely integrated into the group. For him, that was enough.

The Poliwag, which had returned after collecting firewood, saw the interaction between Luo Mu and Ceruledge, and a thoughtful glint flashed in its dark, bright eyes.

Late at night, Luo Mu and the Pokémon, full and satisfied, returned to their respective nests to rest. The battlefield had also been cleaned up by everyone.

Ceruledge, finding a spot to sit down, carefully held the apron, which had inevitably gotten a few oil stains on it, and sighed softly.

It seemed it would have to trouble Swampert to wash it carefully with Water Gun again.

The last time they washed it, they were sweating profusely, trying to control the water flow so as not to damage the apron, even though they were unfazed during battles against the Elite Four.

Just then, the Poliwag, which should have already returned to Thunderclap Lake, suddenly popped out from the side, smiling and greeting Ceruledge, "Ulu lulu!"