Chapter 5: At Last... At Last...

Andrew didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky. After the setbacks of the previous day and the rejection from Gulpin, he was feeling a bit low today.

The first thing he did upon waking was to check his system interface. His eyes widened in disbelief when he saw the taskbar.

Andrew's system interface is divided into three sections.

The middle section shows his basic information, and below it are several boxes. The first box is for the backpack, which allows him to store items. Since he had nothing to store, his backpack was empty.

The second box is for something called Happiness Points. It had always displayed 0, and Andrew didn't know what it was. When he asked Diancie, she didn't know either.

But today was different. The 0 in the Happiness Points box had turned into 100.

The third box is for the Mall, but its icon had always been gray, and Andrew didn't know how to unlock it.

On the left side of the system interface is a book labeled "Recipes." Andrew could flip through it at will, but it currently only had a recipe for "Steamed Bun."

On the right side is the taskbar. Before starting the first task, the taskbar was empty. After accepting the first task from Diancie, a line of text appeared.

"Serve 10 Pokémon, deadline 3 days. (1/10)"

Yesterday, the taskbar displayed: Serve 10 Pokémon, deadline 3 days. (0/10).

Andrew, having played games in his past life, knew what this change meant—he had completed one-tenth of the task! It was clear that the change was due to Gulpin from last night.

Thinking of this, Andrew quickly got out of bed and hurried downstairs in his slippers.

By this time, Diancie had already gotten up and was humming a tune while cleaning the tables and chairs with a cloth.

Andrew looked around the lobby but didn't see Gulpin, so he asked Diancie, "Diancie, where is Gulpin?"

Diancie stopped and replied, "I didn't see it when I got up early. It must have left."

"Really?" Andrew felt a bit disappointed. "It left already?"

At that moment, Diancie said, "Oh, by the way, Andrew, you've earned Happiness Points for the first time. Would you like to open the system mall?"

As a guide Pokémon, Diancie immediately knew the purpose of Happiness Points once Andrew received them.

Andrew was surprised and asked, "Explain what Happiness Points are and how they relate to the mall!"

Diancie nodded and explained.

"Happiness Points are rewards for feeding Pokémon and making them happy. For the system, they are operational energy, and for you, they are currency to use in the mall. That's why the mall opens when you earn Happiness Points for the first time."

Andrew understood and said, "I see. Open the mall now!" He was eager to see what he could buy with Happiness Points.

"Okay!" Diancie made an OK gesture, and Andrew's system interface popped up with a confirmation box in the center.

"Do you want to open the mall?"

"Yes"

"No"

Without hesitation, Andrew selected "Yes," and immediately, the mall icon under his personal information lit up.

Andrew quickly opened the mall, and his eyes were immediately filled with a dazzling array of goods—pots, bowls, clothes, shoes, vehicles, boats, and flying machines... almost everything you could imagine, including bathing sand for Diancie. As long as he had enough Happiness Points, he could buy these items.

"Wow! This is incredible!" Andrew exclaimed.

Seeing Andrew's excitement, Diancie came over and said, "Let me see too. Show me!"

Andrew bent down and showed Diancie the mall. Since Diancie was the system's guide Pokémon, she could see the system interface that others couldn't.

"Wow! So many things I've never seen before!" Diancie marveled.

Andrew and Diancie had lived 500 years ago before waking up, during a time when technology in the Pokémon world was not as advanced. Many things that exist now didn't exist back then.

As a traveler from the future, Andrew wasn't surprised by the mall's items, but for Diancie, it was all new.

Seeing Diancie's interest, Andrew wanted to say, "Pick what you like, and I'll buy it for you!"

But when he saw that his Happiness Points balance was only 100, he kept the words to himself.

With only 100 Happiness Points, he could only buy trivial items.

He decided to save up more!

After examining the mall, Andrew discovered that although the mall sold various seeds for crops, it didn't sell any ingredients or food. While Poké Balls were available, items like Pokéblocks, hold items, and berries were not.

With Poké Balls costing 500 Happiness Points each, he couldn't afford them.

But that was okay. He wasn't a trainer and didn't need Poké Balls to catch Pokémon. If he couldn't buy them, so be it!

After checking out the mall, Andrew went upstairs to freshen up and then planned to go out with Diancie, hoping to attract more customers.

Although failing the first task wasn't a big deal, failing the very first task would make him look bad! That couldn't happen.

However, as he and Diancie reached the door, he saw a bouquet of flowers on the doorstep.

"Where did these flowers come from?" Andrew wondered.

Diancie tilted her head and said, "Could it be from Gulpin?"

Gulpin was the only one who had been in contact with them on the Nebel Plateau.

"Maybe," Andrew said with a smile as he picked up the bouquet, smelled it, and said, "What a sweet little guy."

Andrew walked to Komala's small house, ready to ask it to help guard the house today as well. But Diancie shyly suggested, "Andrew, why don't you stay home today? I'll go out alone. It might attract more customers."

Andrew paused, then realized that this was indeed a good idea. After all, pokémons were intimidated and repelled by him. If only Diancie went out, things would likely improve.

After thinking for a few seconds, Andrew agreed, "Alright, I'll stay home and prepare breakfast, waiting for you to bring customers back."

Diancie clenched her fist and declared, "Leave it to me. I'll definitely bring customers back!"

With that, Andrew and Diancie went their separate ways.

Diancie went out to attract customers while Andrew stayed home to prepare food for the guests and for himself, Diancie, and Komala.

Before heading to the kitchen, he found a vase, filled it with water, and placed the bouquet he found in it.

He set the vase on the front desk in the lobby, admired it for a moment, and then went to the kitchen.

As expected, Diancie's plan worked. Without Andrew's interference, she quickly brought a customer back.

Andrew, hearing the commotion from the kitchen, was about to go out to check what was happening when he suddenly remembered that Pokémon didn't seem to like him. So, he stopped in his tracks and peeked out to observe.

He saw Diancie leading a plump, round Pokémon into the house. The Pokémon looked around the shop curiously as it walked in.

Andrew's eyes lit up upon seeing the Pokémon.

It was a Munchlax! Indeed, if it was this Pokémon, it would be the easiest to recruit.

Munchlax is known for its enormous appetite.

*Munchlax*

- Type: Normal

- Ability: Thick Fat

- Gender: Male

- Level: 18

- Moves: Tackle, Yawn, Growl, Rest, Crunch, Bite, Body Slam, Play Rough, Seed Bomb, Rock Slide, Recycle, Return

*Individual Values*

- HP: 29

- Attack: 16

- Defense: 20

- Special Attack: 6

- Special Defense: 10

- Speed: 31

Looking over Munchlax's stats, Andrew noticed that one of its individual values was maxed out, indicating that it's a surprisingly agile heavyweight.

Both Munchlax and its post-evolution are known for their slow speed, but this Munchlax's speed stat was exceptional.

"Come on, come on, sit here," Diancie warmly invited Munchlax.

Munchlax obediently followed Diancie and took a seat.

Munchlax asked uncertainly, "Is there food here?"

"Of course," Diancie assured. "Just wait a moment while I get your meal."

Munchlax nodded and waited patiently.

Diancie hurried into the kitchen and asked, "Andrew, are the buns ready?"

Andrew nodded and replied, "Just finished steaming. They're still warm." He lifted the lid from the steamer, and a cloud of steam billowed out as he retrieved the soft, white buns.

Given Munchlax's hearty appetite, Andrew filled the bowls to the brim.

In their restaurant, the bowls for Pokémon meals were at least as large as basins.

Handing the bowl to Diancie, Andrew said, "Go ahead and serve it. Don't make Munchlax wait."

"Got it," Diancie nodded and ran out with the bowl.

As Diancie emerged with the buns, Munchlax's eyes were closed in bliss, its nose twitching as it inhaled the aroma of the food.

Following Diancie's instructions, Munchlax remained seated, not moving an inch.

When Diancie placed the bowl of buns in front of Munchlax, its eyes lit up instantly, and a droplet of saliva appeared at the corner of its mouth.

Delicious! I want to eat!

Quietly swallowing its saliva, Munchlax's gaze was fixed on the bowl of buns in Diancie's hands.

"Here, eat up," Diancie said as she placed the bowl on the table.

Munchlax eagerly grabbed a bun and stuffed it into its mouth.

"Yum!!! So good!"

Unable to articulate its delight, Munchlax expressed its feelings through its actions.

Grabbing buns with both hands, Munchlax devoured them quickly, finishing half of the bowl in no time.

Diancie quickly said, "Slow down, slow down. The buns aren't going anywhere."

Munchlax, with its mouth full, held up a bun and asked, "Is this called a bun?"

"Yes, that's right," Diancie confirmed with a nod.

"It's so good," Munchlax said happily.

"Enjoy it and eat as much as you like," Diancie said with a loving smile.

Andrew was overjoyed.

He watched as the Happiness Points counter kept rising:

+100

+100

+100

...

In no time, Munchlax contributed 500 Happiness Points.

Andrew knew from Diancie that the number of Happiness Points given by different Pokémon varied based on their satisfaction. The higher the satisfaction, the more points were earned.

Clearly, Munchlax was extremely satisfied—just as expected!

Andrew leaned against the door frame, watching Munchlax eat contentedly, feeling a deep sense of accomplishment.

Soon, he found himself daydreaming about how soft and pleasant Munchlax's fur must be. How wonderful it would be to cuddle with it while sleeping...

Munchlax ate so quickly that it started choking and had to pound its chest. Diancie quickly brought over a large cup of water.

Munchlax drank eagerly and, after catching its breath, gave Diancie a silly grin.

Diancie couldn't help but laugh at its antics.

After finishing the bowl of buns, Munchlax let out a satisfied burp and asked eagerly, "Can I come back again?"

Diancie nodded, "Of course, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow."

Each Pokémon can only dine here once a day.

Although the restaurant is designed to benefit Pokémon and operates as a feeding system, it doesn't mean Pokémon can stay and eat endlessly. Each Pokémon can visit only once per day, as the meals are provided free of charge.

Despite this, Munchlax was very happy. It jumped off the chair, rummaged through its fur, and handed a tuft of hair to Diancie.

"Is this for the meal?" Diancie asked.

Munchlax nodded enthusiastically.

"Then I'll accept it," Diancie said, taking the tuft of hair.

Seeing Diancie accept its payment, Munchlax was thrilled and happily bounced out of the restaurant.

After Munchlax left, Andrew finally dared to emerge from the kitchen.

He felt a bit embarrassed about sneaking around and wished he could have petted Munchlax. Sigh...

Looking at the dark blue tuft of fur in Diancie's hand, Andrew saw a new entry in the system's analysis:

*Munchlax's Fur: Can be used to create a Move Tutor.*

Move Tutor?

(The End of This Chapter)