It was all so beautiful, so dreamlike, that it couldn't help but ask.
"Of course," Angie nodded. "As long as you work hard and get along well with everyone, you can live this kind of life forever."
The two Farfetch'd looked at each other, then solemnly nodded at Angie.
They were determined to work hard!
After selecting a place for them to live, Angie led the two Pokémon out and waved to Croconaw and Quilladin. "You two, come here."
Croconaw and Quilladin jogged over to Angie.
"Croconaw~"
What's up?
"Quilladin~"
What is it?
Although they were talking to Angie, their eyes kept drifting toward the Farfetch'd.
Angie said, "The Farfetch'd will also be living on the Nebel Plateau from now on. They're part of the group now. Take them around and help them get familiar with the environment."
Croconaw looked reluctant.
"Croconaw~"
But I need to go to the fishing grounds.
Quilladin also looked troubled.
"Quilladin~"
I need to chop wood.
Angie didn't need to guess what they were thinking and replied, "I'll give you both the day off. Just show the Farfetch'd around."
Hearing this, Croconaw and Quilladin immediately drooped their faces and replied reluctantly:
"Croconaw~"
Fine.
"Quilladin~"
Fine.
And so, Quilladin and Croconaw led the two Farfetch'd out of the secret fortress.
On the soft grassy plains, Quilladin and Croconaw swaggered ahead, occasionally greeting Pokémon they passed along the way.
Croconaw remained silent, while Quilladin hummed a little tune as it walked, completely ignoring the Farfetch'd trailing behind them.
The Farfetch'd could clearly feel that they were being ostracized.
They walked on and on, for who knows how long, until the male Farfetch'd finally lost his patience. In a flash, he spread his wings and blocked Quilladin and Croconaw's path.
"Farfetch'd~ Farfetch'd~"
Are you unwilling to show us around?!
The male Farfetch'd questioned them angrily.
Quilladin dropped its pretense.
"Quilladin~ Quilladin~"
That's right. You're thieves. I don't like you.
They adored Angie, but the Farfetch'd had ruined Angie's vegetable garden, and that was unforgivable!
Croconaw nodded in agreement.
"Croconaw~ Croconaw~"
Yes, thieves.
The female Farfetch'd angrily charged at Quilladin.
"Farfetch'd~ Farfetch'd~"
We are not thieves!
Would Quilladin just take the hit? Seeing the female Farfetch'd dare to attack, it immediately swung its fist at her.
The male Farfetch'd wouldn't stand for this. How dare you hit my girlfriend?!
It flapped its wings and used Night Slash on Quilladin.
Could Croconaw just watch as its buddy got hit? It quickly countered with Ice Fang, biting down on the male Farfetch'd.
In terms of raw strength and battle experience, Quilladin and Croconaw were no match for the two Farfetch'd. However, the Farfetch'd had lost their leek stalks—especially the fresh ones they had picked from the vegetable garden, which Angie had taken to the kitchen to make a dish earlier. With their power greatly diminished, the fight ended in a draw.
Boom!
Quilladin was sent flying by the female Farfetch'd using Night Slash, while the male Farfetch'd had its head bitten by Croconaw's Ice Fang.
Seeing this, the female Farfetch'd retaliated with Rock Smash, knocking Croconaw away. Croconaw rolled across the grass several times before finally steadying itself.
Seeing his buddy get hit, Quilladin turned into a ball and charged forward with Rollout. But the male Farfetch'd wasn't going to just stand by and watch his girlfriend get hit. He flapped his wings, which glowed green, and slammed them down onto the ground with Leaf Blade.
The ground split open into a trench. As Quilladin rolled near, he fell into the trench, breaking his Rollout momentum.
"Farfetch'd~ Farfetch'd~"
Haha, look how funny he looks!
"Farfetch'd~"
Yeah, so funny!
The two Farfetch'd laughed hysterically at Quilladin.
At that moment, Croconaw, wrapped in a jet of water, used Aqua Jet and rammed into the male Farfetch'd, abruptly ending their laughter.
"Farfetch'd~~"
The female Farfetch'd cried out in concern, but then Quilladin's Seed Bomb struck, sending her flying as well.
"Croconaw~ Croconaw~"
"Quilladin~ Quilladin~"
Now it was Croconaw and Quilladin's turn to point and laugh at the Farfetch'd couple.
"Farfetch'd~"
"Farfetch'd~"
The Farfetch'd pair got up, fuming, and rushed at Quilladin and Croconaw again.
They fought fiercely for an unknown length of time. By the time the sun had set, its soft orange glow bathed the verdant grassland, adding a touch of warmth to the Nebel Plateau.
All four Pokémon lay exhausted on the grass, bruised and battered. As they panted heavily, they still hurled threats at each other.
"Quilladin~ Quilladin~"
Today I was off my game. Normally, I could take down ten of you at once!
"Farfetch'd~ Farfetch'd~"
I didn't have my weapon today. With my leek, I could knock you all out with one swing!
"Croconaw~ Croconaw~"
Anyone can talk big! Look at how pathetic you guys are. It's embarrassing.
"Farfetch'd~ Farfetch'd~"
Who's talking big? You are!
…
Too exhausted to fight anymore, they ended up arguing until their throats were dry. Eventually, they just glared at each other.
The female Farfetch'd propped herself up and sat down slowly. Looking at the battered Croconaw and Quilladin, she suddenly patted her boyfriend and burst out laughing.
"Farfetch'd~ Farfetch'd~"
Look at how ridiculous they look!
Her laughter instantly broke the tense atmosphere.
The male Farfetch'd joined in, laughing along with his girlfriend.
Croconaw and Quilladin were initially upset, but when they sat up and saw the Farfetch'd pair's pitiful state, they couldn't help but laugh too.
"Croconaw~ Croconaw~"
They look so funny! Haha!
"Quilladin~ Quilladin~"
Exactly, so hilarious!
After laughing for a while, the four Pokémon exchanged glances, and a sense of relief flickered in their eyes.
"Croconaw~"
Croconaw extended a hand toward the Farfetch'd couple. The pair exchanged a look before each placing a wing in Croconaw's hand.
Seeing this, Croconaw nudged Quilladin, who awkwardly extended his hand to join the group.
In the orange glow of the setting sun, their shadows stretched long across the grass of the Nebel Plateau. Under the witness of the wind, grass, earth, and sky, they became friends and would go on to support each other for years to come.
"Croconaw~ Croconaw~"
I'm sorry for calling you thieves.
Croconaw was the first to apologize to the Farfetch'd.
"Quilladin~ Quilladin~"
Me too. I shouldn't have ignored you on purpose.
Quilladin added sheepishly.
Initially, the Farfetch'd didn't think of themselves as thieves, but seeing how sincerely Croconaw apologized, they suddenly felt embarrassed.
"Farfetch'd~ Farfetch'd~"
We were wrong too. We took so many leeks.
"Farfetch'd~ Farfetch'd~"
Yes, we're sorry.
"Croconaw~ Croconaw~"
So, we're friends now, right?
Croconaw asked.
"Farfetch'd~"
Of course!
"Farfetch'd~"
We're friends.
"Quilladin~ Quilladin~"
Me too! I'm a friend too!
"Croconaw~ Croconaw~"
We're all friends. But no more messing up Angie's vegetable garden!
Angie spent extra time at the riverside this afternoon. As of today, most of the trees there had been chopped down. After discussing with his Pokémon about planting fruit trees as a follow-up, he returned home a bit later than usual.
As he approached the house, he spotted Croconaw, Quilladin, and the two Farfetch'd laughing and chatting as they made their way back.
"Yo!" Angie waved at them. "Looks like you're all getting along pretty well."
Of course, he noticed the injuries on the four Pokémon but chose not to mention them. Pokémon naturally bump and scrape each other; it's no big deal as long as the wounds aren't serious.
The four Pokémon, embarrassed by Angie's teasing look, suddenly understood why he had arranged for them to go out together in the first place.
Angie led them into the house and asked Diancie to tend to their wounds, while he went to the kitchen to help Munchlax and the others prepare dinner.
The four Pokémon, after leaving Angie's house, headed straight back to the employee dorms. Quilladin eagerly dragged the two new Pokémon along to study battle techniques by watching DVDs.
Their initial clashes had sparked a strong interest in battling, and they delved into the subject with enthusiasm. Later, Aron and Drilbur joined their research group.
By the time the other Pokémon returned, the four were already engrossed in studying combat strategies. Pokémon like Aron and Drilbur eagerly joined in.
Before bedtime, Angie, as usual, logged in to claim his task rewards.
First up were the rewards for two daily tasks.
[ First Daily Task Reward ]
[ Congratulations, Master! You've received a reward: Eviolite x1. ]
Holding the teardrop-shaped purple stone in his hand, Angie was slightly stunned. A held item dropped as a reward? Today's luck was off the charts!
"I'll save this for Munchlax tomorrow," he thought.
Munchlax had previously gifted him a pillow made from Swablu and Altaria feathers. Angie felt it was about time to return the favor.
He placed the Eviolite on the bedside table and claimed the second daily task reward.
[ Second Daily Task Reward ]
[ Congratulations, Master! You've received a reward: 1 ton of fine, pure sand. ]
"Huh? Another held item?" Angie mistakenly assumed it was Soft Sand, but upon checking his system inventory, he realized it was just ordinary sand—albeit exceptionally fine and clean.
This was a favorite among Ground-type Pokémon, and with a full ton of it, he couldn't complain.
"Well, this isn't bad," he mused. "Hipopotas and Hippowdon should like it, along with Drilbur, Dugtrio, and Bunnelby."
Angie planned to distribute the sand to his Ground-type Pokémon tomorrow. It seemed ideal for building sand nests, ensuring a comfortable place for them to sleep.
"Good thing I didn't mistake it for Soft Sand and dump it directly into the room," he chuckled. "The place would've been flooded."
Finally, it was time to claim the reward for the Capture Mission.
Excited, Angie clicked to claim it.
[ Capture Mission Reward ]
[ Congratulations, Master, for completing the mission to capture the culprits damaging the vegetable garden. Punish them by replanting the uprooted leeks. ]
[ Reward: Constitution +1, Special Fertilizer Recipe (can rapidly grow berry trees and vegetables). ]
Angie's eyes lit up instantly. The Constitution boost wasn't surprising, but the fertilizer recipe? That was a game-changer!
Initially, he had assumed the berry trees wouldn't bear fruit in their first year. But with this fertilizer, would it be possible for them to bear fruit early?
If so, this reward was an absolute jackpot!
It should be doable, right? Otherwise, this recipe wouldn't be specifically given as a mission reward—especially considering that the system store sells standard fertilizer.
Angie took out the fertilizer recipe, but as soon as he read through it, his smile froze. The main ingredient... was Pokémon poop.
Well, strictly speaking, it wasn't unreasonable. Tomorrow, he'd head to the secret fortress to check on what they'd been doing with the Pokémon droppings. Honestly, he'd never paid attention to such matters before.
Before sleeping, he glanced at his personal stats.
...
[ Angie ]
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 16 (+500)
Constitution: 35
Intelligence: 17
Culinary Rating Skill: Just-passed Novice.
...
Not only had his Constitution increased, but the system's evaluation of his cooking had also changed—from a complete amateur to a fledgling novice. It seemed his daily practice was paying off.
This upgrade had appeared a few days ago.
Still, there wasn't a reward for the improvement. Stingy system!
With that thought, Angie snuggled into bed, hugging the pillow Munchlax had made for him, and drifted off to sleep.
...
The next morning, after getting up, Angie first visited the secret fortress to distribute the sand from last night to the Hipopotas and others. When he returned, he saw Munchlax coming downstairs and waved to it.
"Munchlax, come here! I've got a gift for you."
Munchlax, still a little groggy, perked up immediately at the mention of a gift. It eagerly rushed over to Angie in tiny, quick steps.
"Munchlax~!"
A gift! A gift!
Its face was filled with anticipation as it looked up at Angie.
Angie took out the Eviolite and handed it over. "Here, this is for you."
"Munchlax~!"
Seeing the purple, shimmering stone, Munchlax was overjoyed. It reached out to take it, then held it carefully, admiring it from every angle as if it could never get enough.
"Munchlax~!"
It's so beautiful.
Angie chuckled and patted Munchlax on the shoulder. "Alright, put it away for now. You can admire it later—we've got work to do."
"Munchlax~!"
Okay!
Munchlax nodded obediently, then carefully lifted its belly fur and tucked the Eviolite underneath.
Curious, Angie asked, "Won't it fall out if you put it there?"
"Munchlax~!"
Nope!
Munchlax confidently patted its belly.
"Alright then."
Angie took Munchlax and Drizzile to get started on their tasks when the two Farfetch'd showed up.
"Perfect timing!"
Angie stepped out of the kitchen and headed into the storage room. When he returned, he was holding two small metal shovels.
"Here, since you haven't found suitable leeks yet, use these as substitutes for now. Plus, they'll come in handy for planting the leeks."
The two Farfetch'd stared at Angie, utterly dumbfounded.
Are you serious? You want us to use these as substitutes?
"Hurry up and take them! What are you spacing out for?" Angie urged.
The Farfetch'd reluctantly took the shovels, staring at them in stunned silence before giving them a few experimental swings.
Surprisingly, they felt pretty good.
"Alright, stop standing around."
After shooing the Farfetch'd outside, Angie went back to his tasks.