https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-165-Dragonite-the-Watermelon-Knight-A-Summer-Exclusive/12537196/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-167-The-Glowing-Pineapple-and-the-Ever-changing-Pumpkin/12537198/
Chapter 166: Home of the Diglett
Chapter 166: Home of the Diglett
The day after, right after breakfast, Naoki called over Diglett, intending to clear a separate plot of land in the southeast corner of the ranch for planting sunflowers.
After devouring the sandwich Naoki gave it, Diglett felt energized and determined.
Once Naoki had outlined the area to be plowed, Diglett got to work, burrowing its head underground and moving swiftly beneath the soil.
Fascinated by Diglett's unique method of plowing, Naoki stood on the adjacent lawn, watching intently without moving.
As Diglett scurried along, mounds of earth rose from the once smooth ground, forming neat ridges akin to perfectly tilled furrows. The surrounding soil became soft and supple, ideal for planting.
Time passed, and after about forty minutes, the entire plot of land had been turned over.
Diglett, exhausted from its efforts, emerged from the soil, panting and sweating. Yet, its small face shone with excitement.
Done! What do you think? Pretty good, huh?
Diglett looked expectantly at its employer, hope shining in its eyes.
Seeing its eager expression, Naoki smiled and said, "Good job, Diglett. Here, have an Oran Berry. Eat this one, and I'll take care of the rest."
Delighted, Diglett accepted the berry and scampered to the side, munching on the treat while keeping an eye on Naoki's activities.
Planting sunflowers was different from planting wheat; each sunflower needed to be spaced further apart to allow them to absorb ample nutrients from the soil and grow strong and healthy.
With his growing experience in farming, Naoki had a good sense of the spacing required.
He visually judged the distance between each ridge, then dug into the soft soil with his palms to plant the sunflower seeds, repeating the process until he was done.
By the time he finished, it was already 10:30 in the morning.
The sun shone brightly, and the air grew hotter by the minute.
Under such scorching conditions, the crops in the field could easily dry out and wither.
Naoki summoned Pidgeot and asked it to summon a rain shower to nourish the field and ensure the sunflowers' healthy growth.
Pidgeot used Rain Dance.
Soon, a gentle drizzle fell from the sky, soaking the newly planted seeds.
Diglett, standing nearby, was transfixed by the sight.
It looked up at the sky, then back at the field, its furry little face filled with confusion.
Why is it raining? And only over that one spot?
Naoki stepped back to stand beside Diglett, watching as Pidgeot controlled the weather.
Noticing Diglett's bewildered expression, he explained, "That's a Water-type move called Rain Dance. It makes it rain in the area where it's used."
"Chi, chi," Diglett nodded slowly, absorbing this new information.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, it turned to Naoki and squeaked before turning around and leading the way forward.
"What's up?" Naoki asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise before following suit.
Soon, Diglett led him to a field of golden wheat, grown specifically for malting and brewing beer along with hops and other ingredients.
Naoki noticed that beside the wheat field was a small hole in the grass, and Diglett promptly scurried into it, poking its head out. "Chi, chi, chi!"
Understanding its message, Naoki immediately went back to the house and returned with a bag of sunflower seeds, which he began to crack and eat.
"Say that again," Naoki requested.
Confused but compliant, Diglett repeated, "Chi, chi, chi! (You can...call me from here...I can hear...and come out!)
"
Naoki understood that Diglett was telling him that he could call it from this spot, and it would hear and emerge from underground.
The weather was sweltering, and staying outdoors for too long would cause Diglett's body to weaken from the relentless sun.
"Then you should head back!" Naoki said, understandingly.
He then made his way to the storage room and crafted a small wooden sign using some leftover wood, nails, and a hammer. With a pen, he inscribed the words "Diglett's Home" on the sign and placed it next to the burrow's entrance.
Satisfied, Naoki dusted off his hands and admired his handiwork.
Most of the day's farm chores were done, and with the heat intensifying, he decided to retreat indoors to enjoy the cool air conditioning and watch some television.
The Pidgeot, Tauros, and Golems, among other Pokemon, were unfazed by the heat, continuing to romp and play in the grass, chasing each other with carefree abandon.
Ride and Olnyu, his trusty riding partners, remained in their fenced enclosure, content under the shade of the rain shelter.
The abundant sunshine, however, was a boon for the Grass-type Pokemon, providing them with ample energy through photosynthesis.
The Froslass, accompanied by the Salandits and an Eevee, had sought refuge in the cool underground caverns to escape the heat, ensuring they stayed comfortable.
Thus, Naoki found himself alone in the room, a rare moment of tranquility.
He lounged in his chair, relishing the cool air as he munched on a refreshing slice of watermelon and watched a Pokemon movie playing on television.
But this peaceful moment was short-lived.
Before long, Pidgeot rushed inside, holding a wilted piece of watermelon rind and looking utterly dejected.
Naoki was initially perplexed, but when he noticed the sorry state of the watermelon in Pidgeot's grasp, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy.
"I thought something terrible had happened. It's normal for these to spoil," he said gently.
Pidgeot's eyes widened as it exclaimed, "Pidgeot!"
Naoki settled back into his chair, reassuring his Pokemon, "Don't worry, I'll order a plastic watermelon helmet for you online later."
However, as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized that online shopping might not exist in this world.
With a sigh, he rubbed his forehead and said, "We'll take a trip to the toy store in town this evening and see if they have any watermelon helmets for sale."
Pidgeot's expression brightened at this suggestion, and it let out a pleased, "Pidgeot!"
Noting its enthusiasm, Naoki added, "However, I'm not sure if the plastic helmet will offer the same benefits as the one described in the recipe."
After all, the recipe had specifically mentioned a helmet made from a watermelon, not simply a watermelon-themed helmet, and there was a significant difference between the two.
"Pidgeot?" Pidgeot looked at him, confused and unsure of what to do.
It glanced down at the wilted rind in its claws, then back at Naoki, deep in thought. Finally, it spoke, "Pidgeot..."
Perhaps it was for the best, as Pidgeot spent most of its time on the ranch and didn't often engage in battles, so the helmet might not be as useful as it had hoped.
"You don't want it anymore?" Naoki asked, raising an eyebrow.
Pidgeot nodded earnestly and explained its reasoning to Naoki, conveying its thoughts with a series of earnest "Pidgeot" cries.
"Alright then," Naoki said, thinking of the plethora of unharvested crops in the fields, some of which might hold the potential to strengthen his Pokemon.
He continued, "But perhaps I'll find another way to help you become stronger very soon."
Naoki's words were initially meant to comfort Pidgeot, but little did he know that his words would prove prophetic. The very next morning, an unusual crop would appear in the fields, heralding a new opportunity for his Pokemon to grow stronger.
(End of Chapter)
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