https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-200-I-Like-Gurdurr-and-Everyone-Else-Too/12537231/
Chapter 201: Ginger Syrup Tea
Chapter 201: Ginger Syrup Tea
The mountains behind the ranch in the autumn looked vastly different from how they did in spring and summer.
The leaves on the trees were no longer a lush green, but were now tinged with a hint of yellow.
With the gentle breeze of autumn, the dense foliage overhead rustled, and the yellowing leaves slowly descended in a graceful spiral.
Several wild Ariados hung upside down on the treetops by their silken threads. As Naoki passed by the trees on his riding goat, these startled Pokemon quickly retreated into the underbrush, cautiously observing their surroundings.
Naoki, however, paid them little mind.
He hopped off his goat and approached a tall, ancient tree, scavenging through the withered branches and fallen leaves to gather a few mushrooms.
This was probably one of the perks of autumn.
During this harvest season, all manner of wild mushrooms sprouted in the mountains.
Whether dried and stored as mushroom jerky or used to brew a rich soup, they were an excellent resource.
In just an hour, Naoki had gathered a basket half-full of wild mushrooms.
He recognized some of them—beefsteak mushrooms, chicken-of-the-woods, coral mushrooms, morels, chanterelles, and oyster mushrooms, to name a few.
Of course, there were also some that he didn't recognize.
But thanks to his unique ability, he could still identify their names and properties.
Among them were some highly toxic varieties.
Naoki had intended to throw those mushrooms away to avoid any accidental poisoning.
However, when he read their information, he changed his mind.
[Red Mushroom: Special Ingredient—A highly toxic mushroom. Pokemon who eat it will be severely poisoned. May produce unexpected effects when used in cooking.]
"Huh?" Naoki was intrigued. "Special ingredient? Does that mean it's edible despite being toxic?"
This was the first time he had come across such an ingredient.
The description hinted at potential unexpected effects, piquing his curiosity.
What if... I take them back to try?
Even if they're toxic, we just won't eat them.
Based on his previous cooking experiences, he guessed that these toxic mushrooms might be useful for creating dishes that enhanced Poison-type Pokemon.
"Oh well, might as well give it a shot!"
Naoki carefully set the toxic mushrooms aside.
Then, he rode his goat further into the mountains and eventually found what he was looking for—a patch of ginger growing by a damp river.
The ginger had a pungent flavor that most Pokemon found unappealing, except for a select few.
As a result, this particular clump of ginger had remained largely untouched.
Naoki dug them all up and added them to his basket.
After he was done, he rode his goat back to the ranch.
Setting the wild mushrooms aside for now, he focused on preparing the ginger first.
He opened the cabinet to check their supplies and found some brown sugar left over from when he and Frost Fairy had made desserts together.
That saved him a trip to town.
With the chilly autumn wind blowing outside, Naoki and his Pokemon snuggled in the warmth of their home, preparing to make ginger syrup tea.
As he worked on the ingredients, a group of Pokemon played in the living room nearby.
All it took was a glance up, and Naoki could see them.
The sound of the television mixed with the Pokemon's playful cries, filling the house with a lively atmosphere.
Every now and then, a few Pokemon would look up and catch his eye.
Naoki would smile at them before lowering his head to continue his culinary tasks.
The process of making ginger syrup tea was fairly straightforward.
First, he peeled and sliced the ginger. Then, he poured water into a pot, brought it to a boil, added the brown sugar and two jujubes, reduced the heat, and let it simmer for twenty minutes. Finally, he added the sliced ginger and cooked it for another five minutes.
The resulting ginger syrup tea was translucent, and the sweet and spicy aroma wafted up with the rising steam.
He looked down, and information about this bowl of ginger syrup tea appeared in his vision.
[Ginger Syrup Tea (A)
: A beverage made by simmering brown sugar and ginger, infused with the maker's emotions, greatly enhancing its effects.
Dish Effects: Cozy Comfort lv3. Pokemon who drink this will be rid of the cold and feel warm in body and mind. Their technique training efficiency will increase for a duration of 12 hours.
Evaluation: A great helper for keeping warm during cold winters. Best choice for chilly days!]
Hmm? This is... the second dish I've made that's been influenced by my emotions?
Naoki was surprised. He recalled his emotions while making the ginger syrup tea.
The peaceful and relaxed atmosphere made him feel warm and calm deep down.
At this thought, Naoki smiled to himself.
After creating the Lucky Pudding that granted permanent luck to Teddiursa, he had tried to intentionally evoke emotions while cooking, but those attempts had all failed due to his forced attempts.
He realized that this state of mind couldn't be forced, so he decided to let it happen naturally, treating it as a pleasant surprise when it occurred and not getting discouraged when it didn't.
"It's ready! Come and get it!"
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Naoki poured the ginger syrup tea into bowls and placed them on the stove in front of him. He called out to the Pokemon in the living room.
Soon enough, a group of Pokemon lined up obediently to get their tea.
In their minds, everything Naoki cooked was delicious.
Without waiting for instructions, several Pokemon picked up their bowls and drank the tea in one go.
However, the next second, coughing sounds filled the living room.
Apparently, the spicy flavor had caught them off guard.
Naoki looked helpless: "You need to sip it slowly!"
Barboach's face turned red from the spiciness, and its eyes watered: "Barbo..."
The two Lillipups also had the same reaction, especially the older brother, whose brows furrowed tightly as he clearly disliked the taste.
The older Lillipup was about to say something when he suddenly felt his body warming up from within.
His eyes widened in surprise: "Lillip?"
The other Pokemon also felt the spiciness fading from their mouths, and their attention turned to the strange sensation in their bodies.
Watching this, Naoki smiled and asked, "Do you feel warmer now?"
"Croconaw!" The Croconaw nodded cutely.
Amidst the curious gazes of the Pokemon, Naoki explained, "This is ginger syrup tea. It helps dispel the cold from your bodies, prevents sickness, and promotes healthy growth."
The younger Lillipup suddenly recalled Naoki riding his goat into the mountains behind the ranch earlier.
It asked curiously, "Lillip?"
Naoki understood its question and nodded with a smile: "That's right. I used wild ginger from the mountains. That's why I went into the mountains with my riding goat earlier, to find this ginger."
Hearing this, the Pokemon in front of him looked touched.
The ginger syrup tea was infused with Naoki's emotions.
So, when they drank it, they could also sense the warmth and care within.
Gourmet suddenly felt like crying.
Even years later, when he recalled this moment, he would still clearly remember the day when he caught a cold, and Naoki went into the mountains with a bamboo basket to find wild ginger for him.
(End of Chapter)
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