Chapter 110: Preparation
Chapter 110: Preparation
When it came to Pokemon companions, Naoki's dream choice, and one that was currently within his capabilities to catch, was a Rapidash.
There were two varieties of Rapidash: the standard fire type and the Galarian Rapidash, a vibrant rainbow-colored variant.
With fiery manes and flaming hooves, these Pokemon were both sleek and awe-inspiring when they ran.
If a trainer were to don a helmet and mount one, they could easily cosplay as a spectral rider.
However, Rapidash roamed the vast plains in small numbers, making them a challenging catch.
Hanging up the phone, Naoki turned towards the kitchen to continue preparing dinner for his Pokemon.
There was still much to be done on the ranch, especially with the approaching summer heat. He needed to set up trellises for the hops to grow, repair paths damaged by playful Pokemon, and tend to his Pokemon companions.
With all these tasks at hand, he couldn't afford to be away for long.
"Maybe some other time," Naoki thought to himself.
After all, this was just his first year in this new world, and he realized that he didn't need to rush into participating in horse races.
There would be other opportunities in the future, and the upcoming ten-day event was too short a notice. Even if he managed to catch a horse Pokemon, he wouldn't have sufficient time to train it.
Besides, he hadn't yet developed a dish that would enhance their speed.
Life on the ranch was to be savored day by day. If he missed this year's event, there was always next year.
Aside from the race, Naoki had another plan in mind.
He wanted to explore Frostpoint Ridge in search of compatible Ice-type Pokemon that he could bring back to the ranch.
Naoki heated up the pan, placing two fresh cuts of meat with tongs, filling the room with a sizzling aroma.
With practiced ease, he flipped the meat as it turned a golden brown, seasoning it with a dash of black pepper.
Soon enough, two juicy, oil-glistening fried steaks were ready.
The scent of the cooked meat filled the room, and Naoki served the steaks to Gorebyss and Machoke, letting them enjoy their meal.
Next up, he had to prepare meals for Dragonite, Bulbasaur, and Butterfree.
As dusk fell, Pokemon who had spent the day playing bid farewell to their companions and returned to their cozy nests.
After dinner, Naoki, as was his routine, took a flashlight and made his rounds on the ranch to ensure everything was in order.
Satisfied that Tauros, Lickitung, Gogoat, and Doduo were all doing well, he returned to the house to wash up and get ready for bed.
Just as he was about to turn in, Naoki noticed something amiss on the windowsill—something was missing.
He scanned the room and turned to Bulbasaur, asking, "Have you seen Minun?"
"Ba-mo," Bulbasaur replied with a shake of its head.
Naoki paused, then made his way to Gogoat's pen once more.
True enough, there on the grassy patch, he spotted Minun curled up and resting.
The soft padding of his footsteps had roused Minun from its slumber, and it opened its eyes, relaxing when it saw it was Naoki.
"Not heading back to sleep?" Naoki asked.
"Fu~" Minun shook its head gently, indicating that it was content right where it was.
"Alright then," Naoki said, a hint of resignation in his voice.
Though he felt a bit helpless, he didn't press the matter further. He always respected his Pokemon's wishes.
The next morning, after finishing his work on the ranch, Naoki rode his Motostoke to town.
The Frostpoint Ridge had very low temperatures and was covered in snow year-round, so one had to be well-prepared before venturing there.
Therefore, as soon as he arrived in town, Naoki went to the store and bought a set of cold-weather gear.
The set included four items: a parka, gloves, windproof goggles, and snow boots, all essentials for braving the Frostpoint Ridge.
Additionally, he also purchased some portable kerosene stoves for heating and cooking.
Once everything was prepared, Naoki didn't set off immediately. Instead, he paid a visit to Keri's log cabin to consult her about the ice cellar.
After listening to his inquiry, Keri looked surprised. She slowly said, "Well, usually when you're building a residence, you can choose to build an underground cellar. But if you were to turn that cellar into an ice cellar, it might affect the house above it. As you know, the cold air will seep through the ground and spread into the rooms."
Naoki thought about it carefully and realized she was right. So he continued to ask, "What if I dig an ice cellar somewhere else on the ranch?"
"I wouldn't recommend that," Keri replied.
After a moment of contemplation, she offered her suggestion: "Instead of digging a new hole on the ranch and turning it into an ice cellar, I suggest transforming the cave behind your house into an ice cave."
"If I remember correctly, you're using that cave to cultivate mushrooms, right?" Keri asked.
Naoki nodded. There were several mushroom culture dishes in that cave, and he could harvest some mushrooms every few days.
At first, he found it quite novel and would pick some mushrooms to make soup and cook meals.
But after a while, the initial novelty wore off, and he ended up throwing all the mushrooms into the shipping box for Zack to sell in town.
Now that he thought about it, there indeed wasn't a better place to have an ice cellar than that cave.
Moreover, it wouldn't require extensive work; he only needed to have an Ice-type Pokemon move in, and the cave would gradually transform into a natural ice cellar.
"I understand," Naoki expressed his gratitude to Keri.
Keri smiled faintly and took the opportunity to promote her furniture store's new products. "As it happens, I just got a batch of professional refrigeration equipment. Are you interested? The price is quite reasonable, only..."
Naoki interrupted, "I plan to catch an Ice-type Pokemon to help with the transformation."
Undeterred, Keri continued her sales pitch. "What about a power generation facility? It can absorb the electricity released by Pokemon and store it. If the Pokemon's energy is sufficient, it can meet the entire ranch's electricity needs!"
Hmm?
Naoki's interest was piqued by her words.
Noticing his expression, Keri's smile brightened. "The price is very affordable. It only costs 30,000 League Coins."
Thirty thousand...
That price was indeed reasonable.
If he had that power generation device, it would save him a significant amount on his electricity bills in the future.
Among the Electric-type Pokemon on the ranch, he had a Plusle.
He could also borrow some electricity from Electivire, which could use Electric-type moves.
With these thoughts in mind, Naoki immediately decided to buy one and have it installed.
That way, if the ranch ever lost power due to typhoons or other severe weather conditions, he could generate his own electricity.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
