Preparing to Open Odd Jobs

"Sure enough... the pinker it was... the harder it hit..."

Soaked from head to toe, Xingye limped into the shop under the shocked gazes of the customers.

Seeing that she had beaten him into such a state with one punch, Gengar hurried over, only to step into empty air and fall from the counter, where Cyclizar caught her with its tail.

"Geng... ar?"

Gengar slid onto Cyclizar's back, then was scooped up in its hands. Though she was a Pokémon, she was only the size of a plush doll and easy to hold.

"Cyclizar~"

Cyclizar held Gengar with a delighted expression. It was clear that it really liked this little sister. Their home finally had a new member.

Xingye sat back down at the counter, where Slowking looked at him with utter disdain. He suddenly said, "Boss Slowking, your pink purity is too low. Your last Mega Punch wasn't even as strong as Gengar's casual punch just now. Why not try dyeing yourself a little pinker?"

"Thanks, Slowking is pink enough already."

Slowking replied blandly. Then it glanced at Gengar, who was being held by Cyclizar, and said, "This little brat is pretty impressive, but she's still too small. You could treat her as a child who just hatched not long ago. Don't go teaching her any weird nonsense."

"Don't worry."

Xingye watched Gengar playing around with Cyclizar as though he were looking at his own child, even though he had never even been in a relationship...

But since Gengar had become his Pokémon, he naturally had to raise her well. So what if he had to start from scratch? That was the fun of raising one!

He had not decided on her training direction yet, but she would definitely go for close combat. That punch had been pretty powerful, and she even had an item to hold... She should be able to use a sword, right?

He did not know why this Gengar was Fairy type instead of Poison type, but what would happen if he got Zacian's Fairy King's Sword for her? It was such a beautiful piece of equipment. Put it on, and she would become the King of Swords.

(PS: After a reader suggested it in the previous chapter, I adjusted Gengar's typing to Ghost type + Fairy type. Pink really does go best with Fairy type...)

Thinking of this, Xingye looked at Gengar and asked with a smile, "Little one, do you like playing with swords?"

"Gengar?"

Seeing Gengar bite her hand with a confused expression, Xingye pointed at Ceruledge resting against the wall in the distance and explained, "Like that cool blade sister over there. Playing with swords is really cool!"

The moment he said that, before Gengar could respond, Ceruledge opened her eyes and looked over. Under her direct gaze, Gengar was startled again.

"Gengar..."

Gengar and Ceruledge silently stared at each other. Gengar recalled how Ceruledge had used spiritual power to help her adapt to her body earlier, and her gaze gradually turned grateful and admiring.

"Gengar!"

"You want to learn swordsmanship?"

"Gengar!"

Hearing their exchange, Slowking held a lollipop in its mouth, glanced over, and slowly said, "You've got quite the plan. Are you hoping Ceruledge will help raise your kid later? Dream on. Besides hating humans, she also hates little brats. If you don't want this little one cut in half, you'd better give up on that idea."

Hearing that, Xingye was full of question marks as he shot back, "I can raise my own kid!"

He was only letting Gengar see what a sword looked like. She still needed to practice punching, but she naturally needed a weapon too. No point wasting her talent.

If she could really train it up, then perhaps he could make a trip to Galar someday and get Zacian's Fairy King's Sword...

After dinner, they all returned upstairs. Xingye had repaired the second-floor door several times already, and when he opened it, there was now quite a bit of furniture inside.

Just past the entrance, several Substitute plush dolls sat atop the shoe cabinet. Further down the hall, the living room had a cheap sofa and coffee table.

A wooden desk and chair stood before the blinds, with several Substitute plush dolls on top as decorations. Above them, near the ceiling, hung a blank signboard. No one knew what was going to be written on it.

When he pulled open the sliding door, the bedroom was spotless. A cheaply bought double bed sat against the wall, its bedding folded neatly. A Rowlet plush doll and a Cyclizar Substitute doll rested on the bedside table.

On the floor against the other wall lay a blanket. Cyclizar especially liked sleeping sprawled out on it because it was nice and warm.

Whatever else could be said, Xingye always kept his home completely clean and tidy. When it came to the self-discipline of a kid living alone, he had it covered.

"This is our home. It isn't very big, and it isn't very lively, but no matter what, it's at least a home that can shelter us from the wind and rain."

"Gengar~"

Gengar sat on Cyclizar's head. With just one look around, she instantly fell in love with the place. It was far more comfortable than staying in a claw machine.

"Alright, don't step into the bedroom yet. Wash yourselves clean first, then come over. I'm mopping the floor last."

"Cyclizar~"

Cyclizar obediently ran to the bathroom. Since it spent every day running around outside, it was inevitable that it would get dirty. Pokémon could not all wear shoes, after all.

Staying in the living room was fine, but it absolutely could not enter the bedroom. If it left a footprint on the blanket, Xingye's heart and lungs would stop...

Xingye took Gengar into his arms. Though the little one could move now, she was still not familiar enough with her body. Despite having the Levitate Ability that made a certain someone jealous, she still could not fly freely for the time being.

While Cyclizar went to soak in a hot bath, Xingye held Gengar and sat in the office chair. This would be his workstation for Odd Jobs in the future. The preparations were nearly complete; all that remained was opening for business.

He carefully examined the dirty Gengar in his arms and muttered, "Even though she's a Ghost-type Pokémon, her plush-doll traits seem more obvious. She's similar to Bewear, but the debuff is still there..."

Xingye meant the trait of plush dolls absorbing water. It was like how Altaria would turn into a drowned chicken after soaking in water. A waterlogged plush doll would become heavier and have its mobility affected, and it would probably be weak to Electric-type moves too.

After hearing that, Gengar vigorously felt her still-damp body. It did not feel very nice, and it was quite uncomfortable too.

"I'll help you wash up later, then dry you with a hairdryer."

"Gengar~"

"But this skirt of yours probably can't be saved. Some kid tore a hole in it. I'll make you a new one later. And the bow on your ear needs washing too, while we're at it."

Xingye took off the skirt that was purely for decoration and looked at the bare Gengar... Gengar had always been bare!

"Come on, I'll help you take a hot bath."

When Xingye saw Cyclizar dash cheerfully out of the bathroom, leaving wet footprints all over the floor, he felt his blood pressure shoot up.

Cyclizar knew it was about to be scolded, so it hurriedly fled into the bedroom. It even slipped and fell while entering, leaving Xingye utterly helpless. Then, dragging his battered body along, he carried Gengar into the bathroom...

Another not-so-simple day passed. Though he had suffered some injuries, an adorable little one had joined their not-yet-large family. Overall, it had been quite fulfilling.

Xingye had originally planned to open Odd Jobs after winter break, but that very night, after the claw machine shop owner had apologized, he received another message informing him that he had been fired.

After the little brat who had stolen the plush doll was found by his parents, he immediately burst into tears and falsely accused Xingye instead. A nearby camera had happened to capture someone carrying the kid to the corner of an alley, and Officer Jenny, who had received the report, traced the matter to the shop that was about to close.

After all that back and forth, pressured by the kid's parents, the owner could only fire Xingye and Cyclizar. In an instant, he was unemployed again. Still, he did not care much. He was already used to riding the roller coaster.

"Trading one job for a Gengar finding a home means I'm the one who came out ahead. Since I still have one free day tomorrow with nothing to do, I won't look for a new job yet. I'll open Odd Jobs instead!"

There would be two more chapters later.