Chapter 20: Building a Chicken Coop
Chapter 20: Building a Chicken Coop
Two days later, the ranch was cleared of all trees and debris, leaving only a patch of uneven wilderness.
Motoxizard played in the grass while Gorlton stood by Naoki's side.
During this time, the two maintained a mutual non-interference policy.
Unsure of how to face his past self, Gorlton kept his distance.
Motoxizard, confused by this behavior and the occasional sour looks he received from Gorlton, coupled with the terrifying aura the latter exuded, also hesitated to take the initiative to get closer.
Naoki, unaware of the dynamics between his Pokemon, had been busy immersing himself in ranch work these past few days.
At this moment, he stood under the eaves, gazing upon the ranch he had tirelessly tended to.
Without the obstruction of trees, the ranch now offered a more expansive view. From the wooden house, one could take in the entirety of the ranch.
It was finally time!
Naoki clicked his tongue in satisfaction. He turned around and went to the back of the house to check on the stock of lumber. Finding that there was enough, he prepared to head to Soothing Town to enlist the help of Cleary, the carpenter, to build the chicken coop.
Mounting Motoxizard, Naoki glanced at Gorlton by his side and said, "I'm counting on you to watch over the place while I'm gone!"
"Gaaw..."
Gorldton looked at him pitifully, his gaze sour as he eyed Motoxizard.
"..." Naoki responded with an awkward silence.
He reached out and patted Gorlton on the head, reassuring him, "Be a good boy, and I'll take you out with me next time!"
"Gaoro!"
Gorldton immediately perked up, his tail wagging as he licked Naoki's hand like an enthusiastic puppy.
Leaving Gorlton behind to guard the ranch, Naoki gently patted Motoxizard's shoulder, and they were off.
As the ranch and Gorlton gradually faded from view, Naoki finally averted his gaze, thinking to himself:
"Not having Poke Balls is indeed inconvenient. I can't keep my Pokemon by my side at all times."
Although it wasn't impossible to bring Gorlton along, it would certainly attract unwanted attention. Naoki preferred to keep a low profile.
Poke Balls weren't expensive, and he could buy a few spares during this trip to town. That way, Gorlton and the others could roam freely around the ranch most of the time.
If they needed to go out, he could conveniently store them in Poke Balls and take them along.
With that in mind, the first thing Naoki did upon arriving in Soothing Town was to visit a store specializing in trainer supplies and purchase several of the standard red and white Poke Balls.
Afterward, he made his way to the Soothing Market to stock up on ingredients for the upcoming days before finally heading to the carpentry shop.
From a distance, he spotted Cleary, the carpenter.
Today, she wore a khaki work jumpsuit with a pink shirt underneath. Her pink hair was tied up high, and her bangs were secured with a headband, exposing her smooth forehead.
Cleary had a classic oval-shaped face, and her sturdy build, likely a result of her profession, gave her an overall impression of straightforwardness and efficiency.
She was in the process of sawing a piece of wood on a log placed by the entrance.
Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned and immediately recognized the young ranch owner.
"It's you again. What a lovely day we're having. How's the work at the ranch coming along?" Cleary asked with a smile.
"It's almost done, Miss Cleary," Naoki replied, explaining his purpose for the visit. "I'd like to request your help in building a chicken coop."
A surprised expression crossed Cleary's face. "So soon? It hasn't even been a week since we last met, has it?"
Cleary glanced at Motoxizard and understood. "I see. Give me a moment, please!"
She put down her saw and went inside, soon returning with specialized measuring tools and an adult Motoxizard by her side.
"Let's go! Lead the way to your ranch. I need to survey the site and select a location for the chicken coop. Once you've confirmed the spot, I'll bring my construction team first thing tomorrow morning to get started."
"Alright."
Naoki nodded and mounted his Motoxizard, leading the way with Cleary following close behind. About half an hour later, they arrived at the ranch.
From a distance, Naoki spotted Gorlton waiting for him at the ranch entrance.
Gorlton, who had been lying bored in the grass, immediately jumped up excitedly upon seeing Naoki's figure.
Cleary also noticed the Pokemon, one she had never seen before.
"Is that your Pokemon, too?"
Cleary wasn't a trainer, and her knowledge of Pokemon was limited to those inhabiting the areas around Soothing Town and the occasional Pokemon she saw on television.
Thus, Gorlton was merely an unfamiliar Pokemon to her, and she didn't show too much surprise.
"Yes, thanks to his help, I was able to gather the materials so quickly," Naoki nodded with a smile.
Hearing this, Cleary didn't probe further.
They dismounted from their Motoxizards at the ranch entrance, and Naoki soothingly patted Gorlton's head before strolling through the ranch alongside Cleary.
The two Motoxizards followed leisurely behind them.
Looking at the scene before her, Cleary praised, "You've done a wonderful job managing this place!"
She paused, deep in thought. "When I was a child, I visited here once. My parents brought me to experience milking cows. The owner back then was a very kind old man; he welcomed us warmly."
"He was my grandfather," Naoki replied, drawing from the original owner's memories. "Due to a unique illness my parents had, they needed to reside in an environment with better conditions, so we moved to the Hoenn region when I was very young."
"I see, no wonder I didn't see you back then," Cleary nodded gently, then asked, "Have you decided on a location for the chicken coop?"
Naoki pointed to an empty space west of the farmland. "Over there."
That spot was close to the river. Once the chicken coop was built, they could enclose the area with a wooden fence, allowing the chickens to roam and exercise on sunny days.
Cleary considered the location from a carpenter's perspective and nodded in approval. "It's a great choice. Besides the chicken coop, we can also build a watermill by the river. We can use the wind and water power to grind wheat and corn, and the resulting flour and cornmeal can be used for your own consumption or as chicken feed."
Naoki's eyes lit up at the mention of a watermill. "A watermill? Is that included in the price?"
Cleary saw right through his thoughts and couldn't help but chuckle. "That would be an additional cost. When you have sufficient funds, I'll come by and help you build it."
Naoki: "..."
After finalizing the location, Cleary took measurements with her tools. Once she had collected all the necessary data, she toured the ranch with Naoki as her guide.
Considering their potential future collaborations, it was essential to survey the ranch beforehand, and it also provided an opportunity to offer advice on ranch planning.
(End of Chapter)
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