https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-185-The-Cognition-of-the-Gorilla-Tavern/12537216/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-187-Regigigas-Let-s-Move-Let-s-Move-Out-Now-/12537218/
Chapter 186: The Miraculous Seed of Change
Chapter 186: The Miraculous Seed of Change
In the quiet of the night, when all was still, a dim light glowed within the tavern.
Naoki leaned against the bar, his arms folded, gazing at Motorizard as it sipped juice in the soft candlelight, his expression softening.
The ticking of the old wall clock filled the silence as the hour quietly ticked over to 9:30 pm.
Naoki felt no hint of sleepiness. He polished a dusty glass while contemplating his next steps.
Today was June 28th, just two days shy of the end of summer.
Soon, the leaves would turn orange and yellow, signaling the arrival of autumn.
Seasonal changes usually brought a flurry of activity, from tilling and planting to watering and fertilizing.
Earlier in the evening, when Zack had come by to collect the goods, he had mentioned that the other ranch owners were swamped with work.
In comparison, Naoki had it relatively easy.
He had Diglett to help with tilling, Hydregion for watering, and Motorizard and Gulpin to assist with seed-sowing. Fertilizing was the only task that took up a bit of time.
Aside from that, he also had to tend to brewing.
Brewing was not as simple as tossing hops into an oak barrel; it was a complex and time-consuming process that couldn't be rushed.
Not to mention, he was a complete novice at the art of brewing and had much to learn.
Everything was difficult at the beginning, but it would get easier with time.
Perhaps once he got the hang of it, things would fall into place.
Mayor Thomas had given him a detailed ranch handbook that outlined the entire brewing process, from start to finish.
It included recipes for not only traditional barley beer but also an array of fruit wines.
These wines could be crafted from regular fruits or, interestingly, from Berries.
Speaking of Berries, Naoki's thoughts turned to the Berry orchard on his ranch.
Over the course of the summer, the saplings had grown into sturdy young trees, their growth accelerated by the ranch's unique environment.
At this rate, by mid-autumn, he expected to harvest a bountiful crop of Berries.
The fruit trees he had planted in the spring should also be bearing fruit soon.
However, Berries fetched a low price, and Naoki couldn't be bothered to sell them. Instead, he decided to keep them as treats for the Pokemon on the ranch.
Just then, several small silhouettes flitted through the door, catching Naoki's attention.
He looked up to see a group of Dratinis and Dragonairs entering the tavern.
"You're still up?" he asked, surprised.
"Mmm," the dragons murmured, blinking sleepily at each other.
They had been dozing off but had noticed the light from the tavern and, curious, had come to investigate.
"Well, since you're here, how about a drink?" Naoki suggested with a smile.
The three Dratinis and two Dragonairs gathered around the bar, perking up at the offer.
Naoki presented them with a range of options: "We have MooMoo Milk, freshly squeezed Berry juice, and a variety of fruit juice blends. Take your pick!"
The little dragons peered curiously at the array of juices on the bar, then used their tails to nudge their choices forward.
Naoki gestured to the nearby tables. "Feel free to sit and chat over your drinks."
The Dratinis and Dragonairs happily obliged, scurrying over to a small round table with their cups of juice, where they chattered away like little gossips.
Motorizard, having finished its drink, placed the empty cup back on the bar and stood by Naoki's side, its eyes shining with a pure, innocent light as it asked with its gaze if there was anything it could do to help.
"No, it's fine," Naoki reassured, patting its head gently. "It's just a soft opening; no need to be so tense."
Besides, even when they officially opened, they wouldn't have a flood of wild Pokemon patrons right away.
After all, their tavern was still relatively unknown.
For now, most of their customers were the Pokemon from the ranch, seeking a place to unwind.
With the Dratinis and Dragonairs drawn to the tavern and clearly enjoying themselves, Naoki lingered a while longer behind the bar.
But before long, Gulpin joined them as well.
Gulpin had woken up to find Naoki's room empty and, feeling a twinge of worry, had hurried out to look for him.
It had checked the living room, the study, the bathroom... to no avail.
Then, spotting the light on in the tavern, it had rushed over.
By the time it arrived, it saw Naoki chatting amicably with Motorizard, a gentle smile on his face.
Gulpin felt a twinge in its heart, as if something sour had bubbled up from within.
Not long after Gulpin's arrival, Budew and Froslass also appeared, having searched for Naoki as well.
Naoki played the part of the bartender, offering each Pokemon a drink of their choice, before directing them to take a seat and enjoy their beverages.
Naoki couldn't help but feel amused and exasperated at the same time.
"..." He shook his head, feeling like he had regressed to his childhood, playing make-believe with these childish Pokemon.
The next day, after finishing his work on the ranch, Naoki paid another visit to the town's seed shop to purchase corn seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.
These crops were suitable for summer and autumn planting and could be grown consecutively.
With the additional housing completed, Naoki still had plenty of projects to keep him busy.
He wanted to build a watermill before winter arrived, which would provide a new use for the corn harvest. The corn could be ground into corn flour, and also used to make chicken feed.
As for the sunflowers, the seeds could be roasted and turned into sunflower seeds, a popular snack that was always in demand.
Not to mention, with the approach of winter and the inability to grow crops, he needed to ensure they had enough supplies to last through the colder months.
Although he could build a greenhouse, it was a costly endeavor and not a current priority.
The sunflowers from the previous batch had already been harvested, and the seeds were turned into delicious and convenient sunflower seed snacks.
As for the pumpkins, they could be used for making refreshing drinks and were also excellent ingredients for soups and porridge.
Aiven had mentioned the upcoming Halloween celebration, where people carved pumpkins into lanterns, and wild Ghost-type Pokemon were known to join in the festivities.
In addition, Naoki had another idea up his sleeve.
He wanted to try growing more Enormous Sunflowers and see if he could produce pumpkins of varying sizes.
If successful, he planned to store the pumpkins and turn them into pumpkin pies for Budew during the winter, hoping to make it grow to over two meters tall, providing a cozy bed for him to snuggle into.
After leaving the seed shop, Naoki made his way to Keri's carpentry shop.
He had noticed that the floor of the old house was worn out and in need of replacement, so he sought out Keri's expertise.
Upon hearing his request, Keri assured him that she would head over shortly.
Naoki returned to the ranch, and before he could even settle in, Keri arrived with two Machamp in tow.
As they began replacing the floorboards, Keri noticed the signs of usage in the tavern and expressed her surprise.
"You've already started operating?" she asked.
"Yes," Naoki replied.
Keri's curiosity piqued, and she ventured a guess, "Is this tavern meant to accommodate traveling trainers?"
However, Naoki shook his head, offering a different explanation.
Noticing Keri's puzzled expression, Naoki smiled and clarified, "This tavern is exclusively for Pokemon."
Keri's eyes widened in surprise, "Exclusively for Pokemon?!
Naoki nodded, "Whether they are wild Pokemon dwelling in the mountains behind us, Pokemon from the ranch, or..."
He glanced at the Machamp standing beside Keri and continued, "...Pokemon who work and live alongside humans."
"For example," he added, "After a long day of work, Pokemon can come here to unwind, have a drink, chat with other Pokemon, and relax without any human interruptions."
Keri blinked, processing this unique concept, "I think I understand."
The two Machamp behind her also wore expressions of astonishment, seemingly intrigued by the idea.
Keri, ever respectful of their sentiments, smiled and suggested, "You two can also come here to relax whenever you want!"
The Machamp's eyes lit up at the prospect.
Keri inquired further, "What are the operating hours for the tavern?"
Naoki had already given it some thought, "From 7 pm to 10 pm, and we'll be closed on weekends."
Keri nodded, then her curiosity got the better of her again, "What about payment? Some wild Pokemon might not have the means to pay like humans do..."
"They can pay however they like, or not at all if they prefer," Naoki replied with a shrug, emphasizing the relaxed nature of the establishment.
Keri was taken aback, "Aren't you worried about making a loss?"
Naoki simply shrugged, "Don't forget my main business! Running this tavern is more of a hobby."
It was then that Keri recalled Naoki was the owner of a vast ranch, generating more than enough income to sustain a tavern, or even several, for that matter.
Not to mention the ranch's Tree Fruit Trees, Miltank, and the soon-to-be brewing business.
By "we," she meant her Pokemon partners, including the two Machamp and the carpenter back home.
Naoki smiled and nodded. "You're always welcome here."
And so, at 7 pm that evening, the tavern officially welcomed its first customers after the Nine-Tails—two Machamp.
As they entered the tavern for the first time, the Machamp felt a mix of apprehension and anticipation.
But along with the apprehension was a hint of excitement.
With these conflicting emotions, the two Machamp arrived at the ranch and stepped into the tavern together.
They instinctively looked around.
The cozy tavern wasn't very large. Upon entering, one could immediately spot the bar, behind which was a shelf displaying an assortment of drinks.
In front of the bar was a red square rug, and the walls were adorned with candle holders bearing lit candles, creating a vintage ambiance.
Further inside were neatly arranged tables and chairs.
At that moment, the tavern was bustling with activity.
A group of Pokemon, including Dratini, Gible, Miltank, Glaceon, and Froslass, were gathered, sipping on drinks and chatting cheerfully.
One of the Machamp whispered, "Huh?!" (It's so lively here! Are they all here for a drink?)
Having consumed over a dozen sunflower seed snacks, Naoki naturally understood the Machamp's words.
He glanced at the comic duo and, seeing the two Machamp approach the bar, asked with a smile, "What can I get for you?"
The Machamp pondered their choices, finally selecting a spicy Berry juice and a sweet-and-sour Berry juice each. They then sat down at an empty table.
Soon, Naoki overheard their conversation.
Machamp 1: "Huff... huff..." (Work has been exhausting! We hardly get any rest. It's nice to finally have a place to unwind.)
Machamp 2: "Huff..." (Yeah! Keri's been working hard too. Things have been hectic with the house construction, but it should get better in a few days.)
Machamp 1: "Huff... huff... huff..." (Yeah, Keri's great, and I enjoy working with her. She's a good person.)
After taking a sip of the spicy Berry juice, it exclaimed, "Wow!" (This is delicious! What a great place!)
The two Machamp chatted away as they finished their juices, then lingered for a while until the sun set, finally leaving satisfied.
Before departing, the Machamp left Naoki with two small wooden sculptures in the shape of Machamp arms.
Naoki was momentarily taken aback, but then realized these were their way of paying for the drinks.
A smile spread across his face.
He actually preferred these heartfelt tokens of appreciation over money.
Naoki placed the Machamp arm sculptures on the top shelf behind the bar.
With the Machamp gone, there probably wouldn't be any more customers for the day.
So, Naoki left Motorizard and Gulpin in charge of the tavern while he returned to the house to prepare dinner for everyone.
On the 29th of June, 198 AL, the ranch welcomed another brand new day.
That morning, as Naoki was milking the Mount Goats, he noticed that something seemed amiss with the three Mount Goats.
They appeared drained, listless, and weak, as if their energy had been sapped away.
Naoki furrowed his brows in concern. "What's wrong?"
There hadn't been any challengers for the Green Trial in the past few days, and the Mount Goats were usually careful not to overdo it when tending to the crops and trees. This situation was unusual.
In response to his question, the three Mount Goats bleated weakly, "Meeeh..."
They turned their heads to look at the cause of their exhaustion.
Initially puzzled, Naoki followed their gaze.
And then he noticed the small mound of dirt that the Mount Goats had dug up the day before. A tiny sprout was emerging from it.
[Mutant Seedling: A seedling that has absorbed an immense amount of Green Energy due to the Mount Goats. This process has caused it to mutate, and an overwhelming life force brews within. It will take another 100,000 years for it to fully mature.]
Naoki was left dumbfounded.
One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand...
What on earth was this thing that needed a hundred millennia to grow? Would he even live to see it mature?
(End of Chapter)
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