Chapter 26: Caramel-Flavored Cream Fruit Cake

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Some Grass-type Pokémon are very special.

They don't need food; they can survive with just sunlight, soil, and clean water.

Minccino is one of them.

When it bathes in the sun, it converts the nutrients produced by photosynthesis into oil, which it stores in the fruit on its head, allowing it to go a week without eating or drinking.

Seeing Minccino's lazy demeanor, Naoki also sat down at his desk.

Turning back, he saw Gurdurr standing there, looking lively.

Perhaps tired from chasing butterflies, Goomy was lying on the wooden floor, yawning.

In the cupboard, Creamy was contentedly surveying her new home.

On the windowsill, Minccino was lazily basking in the sun and enjoying the breeze.

Under the eaves outside, the Metapod, evolved from a Caterpie, was growing steadily, waiting for the day to come.

In the newly built chicken coop, the Hens were walking around, clucking.

In the soft soil, crops that bring hope to people were growing robustly.

In the cave behind the house, the mushroom mycelium was sprouting, and it wouldn't be long before they grew into fresh, plump mushrooms.

Compared to when Naoki first arrived, the entire Ranch had undergone significant changes.

It was... getting busier and busier!

Naoki felt a sense of unprecedented satisfaction.

He took out his ledger and meticulously recorded the day's income and expenses.

Spring of 198, January 14.

Income:

Expenses: Chicken coop completion, wooden fence, purchase of 3 Hens, 1 Rooster, 1 Creamy, 1 Minccino, -30,600

Remaining funds: 5,900

Looking at the names of Creamy and Minccino in the ledger, Naoki suddenly realized something.

Actually, he didn't need to buy some Pokémon from the town's Ranch.

The Ranch owners are not Trainers and have no combat abilities.

Wild Pokémon like Halcyonite, Buzzwole, and Miltank are virtually impossible for ordinary Ranch owners to capture, and even if they did, they would need time to train them for Ranch work.

Compared to wild Pokémon, artificially bred Pokémon are generally very docile, do not attack humans, and will actively cooperate with Ranch owners.

Therefore, the most convenient thing for them is to buy directly from specialized Ranches.

But for Naoki, it was different.

He turned and looked at Gurdurr.

Gurdurr, being a legendary Pokémon, is known as the great winged king, and its combat power should far exceed that of ordinary Pokémon.

With Gurdurr, Naoki could do things that ordinary Ranch owners couldn't, such as capturing Pokémon directly from the wild and bringing them back to the Ranch.

Decided, he would go to Big Pot Lake tomorrow to investigate the Pokémon ecosystem there!

To see if there are any Pokémon suitable for the Ranch.

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The sky outside was already dark, and the entire Ranch was enveloped in twilight.

Naoki, along with Gurdurr and Goomy, was checking the crops in the fields.

After half a month, the turnips, which grow quickly, had already sprouted leaves, neatly arranged in the grid fields, looking very pleasing to the eye.

"Fortunately, only a few weeds have grown, no bugs."

Pulling out the weeds, Naoki looked up at the sky and, seeing that it was late, took Gurdurr and Goomy back to the house to start preparing dinner.

Creamy, seeing his movements, immediately jumped out of the cupboard and onto the stove, showing no fear of the fire.

Naoki raised an eyebrow and, seeing Creamy's actions, guessed, "Do you want to help me prepare dinner?"

"Mama!"

Creamy nodded happily.

Naoki looked at the ingredients in front of him: eggs, tree fruits, smoked sausages, toast slices, raw meat patties, and noodles. They could be used to make fried pork cutlets, steamed eggs, sandwiches, and clear soup noodles.

To celebrate the arrival of Creamy and Minccino, Naoki planned to make a few more dishes tonight.

Hearing Creamy's words, he began to think about what dishes he could make with cream.

As is well known, Creamy can generate whipped cream from its hands and will decorate tree fruits with fresh cream for the Trainers it trusts.

The happier Creamy is, the richer the taste of the cream it produces.

Because desserts decorated with this fresh cream are exceptionally delicious, becoming Creamy's partner is the dream of every pastry chef.

Cream...

Naoki looked at the toast slices and tree fruits in the packaging and suddenly had a good idea.

Cream fruit cake!

Although he didn't have an oven or a whisk, he could use the toast slices as a cake base. By spreading a layer of fresh cream on top and adding a few tree fruits, he could create a simple fruit cake.

"If so, let's do it together!"

Naoki stacked a few toast slices, used a knife to shape them into a circle, and placed them in front of Creamy.

"Use your cream to coat this cake base!" Naoki said.

The smart Creamy immediately understood his meaning.

It extended its hand, and a steady stream of fresh cream flowed out, coating the toast-made cake base.

When it was almost done, Naoki called out, used a knife to smooth the cream, and then cut the tree fruits into small pieces and placed them on top.

Thus, a caramel-flavored cream fruit cake was completed.

Naoki looked down, and the information about the cake appeared.

[Caramel Cream Fruit Cake (D-): A dish of average quality, a fruit cake made with Creamy's hand-whipped cream. If a proper cake base was used, its grade might be higher.

Cooking effect: Sweet Dream Lv1, when eaten by a Pokémon, it will temporarily forget worries and sadness, have a beautiful dream, and see the people and things they want to see in the dream.

Evaluation: A dessert that can bring happiness to humans and Pokémon.]

Huh?

An effect that makes Pokémon have beautiful dreams?

Naoki was a bit surprised; he had thought the effect would be to restore stamina.

But, having beautiful dreams seems to be the ability of the Cresselia, the deity of dreams?

Naoki pondered for a moment.

Successfully helping Naoki make the cake, Creamy looked very happy.

Naoki couldn't help but smile and said, "Wait a bit, I'll make a few more dishes."

"Mama?"

Hearing this, Creamy immediately raised its hand, asking if more cream was needed?

"Not for now," Naoki shook his head. "Let's make desserts together next time!"

"Mama~"

Creamy happily agreed.

Naoki then began preparing the remaining dishes.

Fried pork cutlets, clear soup noodles, steamed eggs, sandwiches, and finally, a few cups of tree fruit juice.

When making the first three dishes, Naoki specially added the Pure Rock Salt given to him by the elderly man from Happy Ranch.

As expected, when these dishes were completed, an additional effect [Stamina Recovery] appeared.

Naoki had made fried pork cutlets and clear soup noodles before, but the steamed eggs were the first time.

The steamed egg mixture had a slightly yellowish hue, dotted with green scallions, and a drop of sesame oil was poured on top, shining brightly under the light. When lifted, the steamed egg would gently sway in the bowl, like pudding.

[Steamed Eggs (B+): A dish of average quality, with the addition of Pure Rock Salt, it has an additional magical effect.

Cooking effect: Slippery Lv3, limited to hairless Pokémon. After consumption, the Pokémon's body will become smooth and shiny, making it easier to escape contact-based moves in battle, duration: 3 hours.

Additional effect: Stamina Recovery

Evaluation: Enjoy it with your Pokémon!]

(End of Chapter)