https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-268-Flash-Stables-and-Afternoon-Tea/12537335/
Chapter 267: Seize the Day
Chapter 267: Seize the Day
Following the gaze of King Lei Guan, in a vast open grassland, a fragile sapling stood tall between heaven and earth.
It had not lost its color to the harsh winter, nor had it been snapped in half by the raging winds and torrential rains.
[World Tree Sapling: A seedling that has absorbed an abundance of Grass Energy from the land. Affected by the presence of the Riding Goats, it underwent a metamorphosis during its growth, infusing it with a tremendous vitality that finally broke through the soil. Estimated time to maturity: 99,995.5 years.]
"That is the World Tree," Naoki answered.
"The World Tree?" King Lei Guan paused, then slowly shook his head. "I have never heard of such a thing."
The two approached the sapling, standing before it in awe.
Noticing Naoki, the three Riding Goats tending to the World Tree sapling with their Grass Energy looked up.
"Meeeh~" [The tree is growing well~] one of the Riding Goats said happily.
"You've worked hard!" Naoki reached out to pat its head affectionately before turning to King Lei Guan, ready to share the story of the World Tree.
"As far as I know, somewhere in this world, there exists a fully grown World Tree. To be precise, it is known as the World Origin Tree."
It was located in the Kanto region, where the tale of the hero Alan and his Lucario took place on that very tree.
"World Origin Tree..." King Lei Guan murmured, captivated by the name.
Naoki nodded. "Legend has it that the tree existed at the very beginning of the world, sharing a symbiotic relationship with a Mew. Countless ancient Pokemon made their homes in its branches, and they were all guarded by a legendary giant Pokemon."
"As for the origins of this particular tree... that's a more complicated story." Naoki paused, contemplating how to explain the history of this World Tree sapling to King Lei Guan.
King Lei Guan, with eyes filled with both authority and compassion, gazed upon the young sapling before him.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he used his ability to foresee the future of the little tree.
In an instant, his eyes were enveloped in a blue aura.
Through the distant reaches of time and space, King Lei Guan witnessed a vision of the future.
There, the sapling had grown into an immense, towering tree, its size surpassing that of the entire ranch.
It seemed as if the land could no longer contain its presence.
With a rumble that shook the earth, the tree ascended into the sky, carrying a piece of the land with it. Upon reaching a certain height, it miraculously hovered, defying gravity.
Through the hazy glow, King Lei Guan spotted numerous Pokemon drawn to the World Tree.
Among them was a mysterious bird Pokemon with feathers of golden red, like flaming flames. Its plumage shimmered with a radiance akin to a rainbow, and wherever it flew, a beautiful arc of colors appeared in its wake.
There was also a mysterious dragon Pokemon, its body shrouded in darkness and its stature immense. Its cold, cruel form glided through the skies like a swimming dragon before coiling itself at the very peak of the World Tree.
Additionally, King Lei Guan saw a humanoid Pokemon with an incredibly powerful spirit energy and a large tail. As it turned to survey its surroundings, he spotted a small pink cat-like Pokemon and a flying bear cub chasing each other, playfully darting past the humanoid Pokemon.
As the blue aura faded, the vision of the future ended, leaving King Lei Guan eager to learn more.
Meanwhile, Naoki had decided how he would explain the tree's origins to King Lei Guan.
To understand this phenomenon, one had to first comprehend the effects of the dessert he had created—the Grass Cake.
Naoki organized his thoughts and began to explain: "In the past, I used my ability to create a cake with a magical effect. This cake had the power to influence Grass-type Pokemon that consumed it. When they used their Grass Energy to nurture flowers and plants, there was a certain probability that something extraordinary would occur."
"Grass Cake?" King Lei Guan recalled the previous Grass Dumplings. "Is it also made from grass energy?"
"Yes," Naoki nodded. "I will make some for you to try this afternoon."
"I look forward to it," King Lei Guan said warmly.
Naoki continued, "This World Tree was originally three ordinary Miracle Seeds. Do you know what Miracle Seeds are?"
King Lei Guan shook his head, indicating he had not heard of them.
Naoki explained, "Miracle Seeds are seeds imbued with mystical power. When carried by a Pokemon, they enhance the power of Grass-type moves the Pokemon uses."
King Lei Guan was an intelligent Pokemon, and with this explanation, he quickly understood what had transpired.
He turned his gaze to the three Riding Goats. "Those three seeds were buried in the soil, and these goats, having eaten the Grass Cake, used their Grass Energy to nurture the seeds. This caused the seeds to break through the soil and transform into the World Tree."
"Have I guessed correctly?" King Lei Guan asked with a smile.
"Yes!" Naoki exclaimed, full of admiration.
As expected of a Pokemon who had once been a king, ruling over an entire region!
King Lei Guan's ability to foresee impending disasters and devise flawless counterstrategies spoke volumes of his wisdom and foresight, far surpassing that of ordinary human monarchs!
"I now understand the origins of this tree," King Lei Guan said. "However, I sense that it is still in its infancy and will require an extensive amount of time to reach maturity."
Suddenly, King Lei Guan's eyes sparkled with a brilliant light, and he said with a mix of anticipation and excitement:
"Since that is the case, let me aid its growth!"
With that, a powerful aura burst forth from King Lei Guan. The former king raised both his left and right hands simultaneously.
The intense energy stirred up a gust of wind that didn't harm humans but instead enveloped them in a pleasant, spring-like breeze.
Naoki turned to King Lei Guan, witnessing the energy he released transform into a green orb of light. With King Lei Guan's right hand moving within the center of the orb, it began to expand outward from him.
A warm spring breeze blew, and the withered grass of the season instantly transformed into a lush, verdant landscape.
Delicate, vibrant yellow flowers bloomed amidst the grass, filling the air with life.
The orb continued to expand until it enveloped the World Tree, and only then did it cease growing.
King Lei Guan then waved his left hand, and the dormant World Tree began to grow at a visible rate.
Tiny, tender green leaves sprouted on the slender branches, and the once fragile trunk grew sturdier and more resilient.
One minute... two minutes... three minutes...
Naoki's gaze remained fixed on the World Tree as the numbers above it rapidly decreased.
[World Tree Sapling: A seedling that has absorbed an abundance of Grass Energy. Affected by the presence of the Riding Goats, it underwent a metamorphosis, infusing it with a tremendous vitality that finally broke through the soil. Estimated time to maturity: 99,989 years.]
[99,970 years.]
[99,885 years.]
[99,600 years.]
...
[98,567 years.]
[97,995 years.]
Finally, the number froze at 97,995 years.
"It reduced the growth time by 2,000 years!" Naoki was astonished.
This meant that during his lifetime, he would truly be able to witness the World Tree in its full glory! King Lei Guan had helped him conquer time!
As the extraordinary phenomenon gradually faded, King Lei Guan lowered his hands, his face bearing a tired expression.
Naoki quickly asked, "How do you feel?"
King Lei Guan couldn't hide his exhaustion as he replied, "The life force of this World Tree far surpasses my understanding. With my power, I can only do so much. I need about a month to recover the energy I've expended."
Hearing this, Naoki felt a twinge of guilt. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had to exert yourself like this..."
However, King Lei Guan shook his head, his eyes shining with determination. "There's no need to feel sorry. This was my choice, and it is our honor to be a part of this."
"King Lei Guan..." Naoki was deeply touched.
He made up his mind to prepare a delicious meal for King Lei Guan later to help restore his energy.
The tired King Lei Guan wanted to rest for a while.
So, Naoki brought him to the glass greenhouse.
The greenhouse was comfortably warm, with blooming flowers of various vibrant colors adorning the shelves, filling the room with their fragrant scents.
Even before the arrival of winter, Naoki had prepared the facilities inside the glass greenhouse.
Along the wall on the left was a bookshelf filled with a variety of books.
Below the bookshelf was a lazy sofa and a wooden tea table, perfect for relaxation.
Further inside, at the center of the area surrounded by flower shelves, stood an iron art tea table.
King Lei Guan sat beside the tea table, and Naoki brought him a cup of hot tea and some small, tasty treats to replenish his energy and vitality.
King Lei Guan turned his head to look at the green vines and blooming flowers hanging nearby, and he couldn't help but exclaim,
"The wisdom of humans never ceases to amaze me. Who would have thought that even without my power, they could make flowers bloom in this season?"
Naoki sat beside the tea table, chatting with King Lei Guan. "Yes! The world is ever-changing. Who could have imagined that thousands of years later, humans and Pokemon would have evolved to have such a relationship?"
"Indeed!" King Lei Guan sipped his sweet tea.
Bathed in the warm atmosphere and surrounded by the fragrant flowers, he felt his body and mind relax.
The Hakutons followed Naoki into the greenhouse and curled up on the sofa, exposing their white bellies. They seemed to enjoy the cozy environment.
Naoki watched this scene, his mind calculating the time it would take for the World Tree to mature.
King Lei Guan could reduce its growth period by 2,000 years, but afterward, he would need to rest for a month.
One month for 2,000 years meant that 50 months would be needed for the full 100,000 years.
And with 12 months in a year, it meant that even with King Lei Guan's help, the World Tree would still need roughly four years to reach its full maturity.
Four years...
Naoki was content with this number.
After all, according to the original timeline, he wouldn't have lived to see the World Tree's growth.
Upon returning to the house, he checked the household supplies and found that some condiments and ingredients had run out during his absence.
Taking the opportunity, Naoki called out to Moto Lizard and rode it to Drench Town.
Due to the temperature drop, the people of Drench Town had already switched to winter clothing to keep warm. Though it hadn't snowed yet, those who felt the chill had wrapped scarves around their necks.
After restocking the necessary supplies from the stores, Naoki made his way to the town's seed shop.
The owner, Elro, greeted him with a beaming smile. "Hi, Naoki! It's been a long time since I last saw you!"
"I've been away for a while, taking care of some matters," Naoki replied with a smile.
"Oh, I see!" Elro exclaimed. "So, what kind of seeds are you looking for this time?"
"Carrot seeds, do you have any?" Naoki scanned the shelves, searching for his desired item.
Now that he had the Icy Snow Field and the Ghostly Field, he didn't have to worry about food for Snowstorm and Lingyou.
By planting ordinary carrot seeds in these fields, he could quickly grow their favorite ice carrots and black carrots.
Additionally, Naoki recalled King Lei Guan mentioning that He wanted to try carrots.
With plenty of regular fields on the ranch, he could plant some for King Lei Guan and then turn them into a delicious dish to see if they held any magical properties.
Upon hearing Naoki's request, Elro quickly replied, "Yes, we do!"
He stepped away from the counter to help fetch the item, expressing his gratitude as he did so. "Thanks to you, my daughter, Bell, is now brave enough to leave her room!"
Naoki was taken aback, but then he remembered the girl who had been afraid to go outside due to her fear of being harmed by others.
He recalled his suggestion to give Bell a harmless Eevee egg, so she could raise a Pokemon and overcome her fears.
"How is she doing now?" Naoki asked curiously.
Elro grinned and explained, "At first, Bell was still worried, but after her Eevee hatched, things gradually improved. Recently, Eevee accidentally ran outside, and Bell mustered the courage to go looking for it. You know, Eevee played a big part in helping her overcome her phobia!"
"That's great," Naoki smiled, as he could almost picture the scenario in his mind.
The girl who had been harmed by Pokemon and developed a phobia had ultimately found healing through the companionship of a Pokemon.
It was a perfect ending.
After paying for the seeds, Naoki bid farewell to Elro and headed towards Keri's cottage on the edge of the forest.
When he arrived, Keri was busy sketching house designs.
Hearing the noise behind her, she turned around, surprised to see Naoki. "What a rare visitor!"
Naoki: "..."
Keri smiled and asked, "What brings you here today? Is there something you'd like to buy?"
"Horse stables," Naoki replied concisely. "I want to build two spacious ones."
Upon hearing this, Keri was taken aback. "You've caught horse Pokemon? What kind? Mudsdale or Rapidash?"
Naoki smiled mysteriously. "Neither!"
Seeing his expression, Keri frowned. "Don't tell me it's a Slowbro. Oh, wait, Slowbro has been reclassified as Galarian Slowbro by the League."
"Slowbro can't be ridden!" Naoki exclaimed in exasperation. "As for the type of horse, you'll know when you get to the ranch."
"Alright," Keri said, deciding not to press further. She turned and retrieved the stable designs, asking, "Come and take a look. What kind of stable do you want to build?"
Naoki stepped forward to examine the designs.
There were two sets of blueprints.
The first one showed a connected stable with a large interior space that could accommodate several horse Pokemon.
The second design was for individual stables, resembling small houses or sheds suitable for a single horse.
Keri explained, "The first design is for those who run horse farms. You know, they usually have a lot of horse Pokemon to accommodate."
Hearing this, Naoki immediately dismissed the first design. "Let's forget about the first option."
Snowstorm and Lingyou didn't get along well, and one was calm while the other was volatile, so they definitely wouldn't suit living together.
"Then the second one it is," Keri continued. "This design offers more space inside, with a thick layer of hay on the floor, making it very comfortable for a single horse."
Naoki was pleased with the design, so he nodded. "Yes, I'll take two of these."
"Two? For a total of two horses?" Keri asked, surprised.
Naoki nodded in confirmation.
"Okay," Keri said, a little taken aback but not prying further. "In that case, I'll come by your ranch this afternoon to take a look."
"Sure," Naoki agreed.
The two arranged to meet in the afternoon, and then Naoki mounted his Moto Lizard and returned to the ranch.
(End of Chapter)
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