https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-286-Super-Sheep-Milk-Comparable-to-Sacred-Ash-/12537353/
Chapter 285: The Best Day
Chapter 285: The Best Day
"Happy New Year!"
"Cheers!"
Naoki raised his cup of tree fruit juice, as did his Pokemon, before tilting their heads back and guzzling down the refreshing drink.
Outside, snowflakes began to fall again, but inside, the fireplace roared with warmth, and the table was laden with delicious, steaming hot food.
Poppo, dressed up as Santa Claus by Naoki, happily hugged his bowl, shoveling mouthfuls of tree fruit and rice into his mouth.
Motox, with a scarf wrapped around its neck, held a sandwich in its claws and took a hearty bite, its mouth stretching wide.
Syrup, who had already indulged in several Pokeblocks before the meal, wasn't very hungry. It lay lazily on the sofa, its small hands rubbing its round belly contentedly.
"Buizzel~"
The Ice Eevee lowered its head to sniff at the creamy milkshake in front of it, then happily buried its face in the bowl, licking the delicious treat with its pink tongue.
Aerodactyl picked up a skewer of fried sea bass with its claw, not bothering about the oil as it took a bite.
The fish had been fried to perfection, its skin golden and crispy, while the flesh remained tender and juicy. Each bite offered a burst of exquisite flavors.
Tasting the deliciousness exploding in its mouth, Aerodactyl's eyes lit up.
"Waruuu!" It exclaimed in delight.
Olivenna quietly sat to the side, seemingly enjoying the lively atmosphere, a constant smile on its small face.
The small Pokemon, Mime Jr. and Teddiursa, sat directly on the table.
In front of them was a feast of honey-based dishes specially prepared by Naoki—honey pudding, honey bread, honey-glazed fish, honey milk, honey cookies, honey-glazed barbecue, and tree fruit salad with honey.
Teddiursa and Mime Jr. were surrounded by this honey feast, reveling in the feeling of being enveloped by happiness.
Compared to the other Pokemon who were devouring their food with gusto, the Waitress siblings ate with much more elegance and grace.
However, their expressions showed that they, too, were thoroughly enjoying the festive atmosphere.
In fact, before coming to the ranch, the Waitress siblings had worried about their future.
They didn't know what kind of family they would end up with or how their new owner would treat them.
With these uncertainties in mind, the siblings had diligently learned various manners and household chores from their parents.
It was only when they arrived at the ranch and met Naoki that they finally felt at ease.
The two Pokemon were delighted to have found an owner like Naoki, and they were more than willing to do everything they could for him.
What brought them even more joy was the atmosphere on the ranch.
Everyone got along splendidly, regardless of their strength or size, and there was no bullying or mistreatment.
Thinking of this, the older Waitress sibling, Waitress-M, turned his gaze to their owner.
Naoki, feeling warm from the cup of hot fruit juice he had just drunk, watched the unique eating habits of his Pokemon. Suddenly, he sensed a pair of eyes on him and turned his head to see Waitress-M looking at him.
"Yes?" Naoki asked.
Waitress-M quickly lowered his head and calmly replied, "Ay."
Without hesitation, his sister, Waitress-F, exposed her brother's feelings, "Ay!" (He's shy!)
Noticing that Waitress-F seemed to have something to say, Naoki popped a piece of translated melon seed cake into his mouth.
Then he heard Waitress-F say, "Ay~" (He's shy, that's why he's not saying it!)
Waitress-M quickly tried to stop her, "Ay!" (Don't tell him that!)
But it was too late.
Waitress-F took a few steps back, moving away from her brother, and said to Naoki, "Ay!" (He actually really likes you, but he's too shy to say it!)
"Ay!" Waitress-M lowered his head, having given up on arguing.
Although Naoki had his suspicions, hearing it straight from Waitress-F still moved him deeply.
"Is that so?" He looked at Waitress-M and smiled, saying, "I really like you guys too. Please continue to take care of me in the new year!"
Waitress-M paused, then looked at Naoki and nodded firmly, "Ay!"
"Now, eat up!" Naoki said.
Waitress-F giggled and returned to her brother's side. Waitress-M looked at his sister and sighed, like a little adult resigned to the antics of his sibling.
Watching the little antics of the Waitress siblings, a smile appeared on Naoki's face.
At that moment, he noticed Golurk next to him, also lost in thought.
Naoki turned his head in curiosity, "What's wrong? Aren't you hungry?"
The feathers on Golurk's head drooped, and its golden eyes shone with a gentle light. Its gaze was gentle, devoid of the ferocity and dominance attributed to the Wing King in the Purple and Purple Book.
Naoki tilted his head, looking at Golurk and patiently waiting for its answer.
"Ahga..." Golurk confessed straightforwardly and passionately, "Ahgas!" (I also really like Naoki!)
"I know," Naoki said, patting its head gently.
Golurk thought for a moment, feeling that it was different from the other Pokemon, and added, "Ahgas!" (I like Naoki the most!)
Hearing this, Aerodactyl, who was in the middle of eating the grilled sea bass, immediately joined in to express its feelings.
"Roar! (I'm the Pokemon who likes Naoki the most!)
" Aerodactyl exclaimed.
Poppo, attracted by the conversation, chimed in, "Poppo! (Me too!)
"
Syrup, who had been lying on the sofa, full and relaxed, sprang to its feet at Golurk's words and declared energetically,
"Mama! (Naoki's favorite Pokemon is me! He even built a Creamery for me!)
"
Aerodactyl argued, "Roar, roar! (It's me! Naoki put in so much effort to raise and train me, helping me become the strongest Aerodactyl!)
"
Upon hearing this, Poppo also joined the discussion, "Poppo! (Naoki gave me a cloak and a hammer!)
"
The Pokemon went back and forth, each insisting that they were Naoki's favorite, their debate showing no signs of ending.
Naoki: "..."
This didn't feel like a good question!
"You..." he began.
The Pokemon widened their eyes, all awaiting that answer.
Even Reigunwang turned to look.
Naoki: "You are all my favorite Pokemon."
The Pokemon's eyes sparkled.
"Ba Mo..."
"Woof..."
"Ga Ao..."
"Let's eat!" Naoki quickly changed the subject. "After dinner, I'll read you guys the letters the townspeople sent us!"
The Pokemon immediately became intrigued and went back to finishing their dinner.
Seeing this, Naoki quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he suddenly remembered the Coin Tosser hiding in the tavern.
With that in mind, Naoki got up, took some Pokeblocks and tree fruit, and placed them in the tavern, leaving the food in the darkness before turning to leave.
After an unknown amount of time, a tiny Pokemon cautiously emerged from the shadows.
It approached the fragrant Pokeblocks, glancing at the food before lifting its head to gaze in the direction the human had left, its heart filled with unspoken thoughts.
After dinner, the Pokemon played in the living room while the older Waitress-M cleaned up the table and the room. Naoki, along with his younger sister, Waitress-F, began washing the dishes.
By the time they finished all the chores, it was already 8 PM.
Naoki dried his hands and headed to his bedroom to retrieve a stack of letters that had been delivered by Aerodactyl.
These letters were from the townspeople and nearby farmers over the past two days.
He had opened and read two letters in the morning, finding them to be New Year's greetings, so he decided to save the rest to read with his Pokemon in the evening.
Holding these letters, Naoki sat in front of the fireplace and waved towards the living room.
Immediately, the Pokemon, who had been scattered about playing, rushed over and gathered around him.
The flames in the fireplace flickered gently, casting long shadows of the Pokemon and Naoki on the walls.
After confirming that everyone was present, Naoki opened the first letter.
"I'm going to start reading now!"
"Ahga!" Golurk nodded happily.
Naoki smiled and stroked the Poppo that was lying on his lap as he began to read the letter's contents.
"Hey, Naoki, Happy New Year! It's been a year since you came to this ranch, and I'm sure your grandfather would be very happy to see how well you've been running it. This year is coming to an end, so let's continue working hard next year! Finally, please give my regards to Motox—Mayor Thomas."
Naoki waved the letter in his hand and said to Motox, "Did you hear that? Mayor Thomas is wishing you a Happy New Year!"
"Ga Ao~"
Motox happily nodded his large head.
Naoki said, "Tomorrow, let's go together to give Mayor Thomas a New Year's gift."
Motox readily agreed.
Then, Naoki opened the second letter and began to read.
"Happy New Year, Naoki! This is Keri from Keri's Forest Workshop. You've worked hard this year! Please continue to guide me next year! Feel free to place furniture orders anytime—Keri."
"Perfect," Naoki shared his plans with the Pokemon. "After winter ends, I plan to build a greenhouse on the ranch so that we can enjoy fresh vegetables all year round, no matter the season."
The Pokemon listened intently, although they couldn't understand the words, they were happy to see Naoki excited.
"Now, let's see... This is a letter from Mr. Elif. Do you remember Mr. Elif? He has a cherry blossom orchard next door."
Golurk and Motox remembered, but Waitress-F and Ice Eevee looked puzzled.
"In the spring, Mr. Elif will hold a cherry blossom wine party. Many people and Pokemon will attend to taste fine wines and share delicious food." Naoki explained, "You guys hadn't arrived at the ranch the last time it was held, but after a while, I'll take you there to experience it."
"Ai Yi~"
Waitress-F readily agreed.
Naoki smiled and slowly read one letter after another. The Pokemon listened intently at first.
But as time went on, they all started to feel drowsy.
Their full bellies, the soft carpet, and the warm fireplace created the perfect environment for a cozy nap.
Noticing their sleepy state, Naoki paused and set the letters aside. He patted the Poppo by his side and said to the Pokemon,
"If you're tired, go to sleep! I'm feeling a bit sleepy too! I'll be heading to bed after a bath as well."
The drowsy Pokemon mumbled their agreement and obediently returned to their sleeping spots.
Naoki watched this scene unfold before bidding farewell to Reigunwang and sending it back to the glass greenhouse. "See you tomorrow, Reigunwang."
Reigunwang nodded slightly. "See you tomorrow, Naoki."
Naoki smiled gently, his heart feeling as clear and calm as a cloudless sky.
After bidding farewell to Reigunwang, he turned back.
On his way, Naoki suddenly remembered another Pokemon he had overlooked.
He slapped his forehead and quickly ran back inside to grab a few boxes of Pokeblocks before heading to the center of the ranch, where the lake was located.
The area within the Inverse World was just as vast as the real world.
As the ruler of the Inverse World, Giratina wouldn't usually stay in one area for too long.
Just like a photographer's Articuno, which roams the world, Giratina would wander around the Inverse World.
However, this behavior only lasted until recently.
After he altered the floating islands in the Inverse World, Giratina stopped moving around and stayed in this area all the time.
Whenever Naoki and Reigunwang went to develop the floating islands, Giratina would either sunbathe on the Flower Island or bite apples from the trees on Apple Island.
It was evident that this ferocious dragon had taken a liking to the transformed floating islands.
So, Naoki guessed that Giratina would still be there at this time.
Indeed, just as he had expected, not long after he arrived at the lake, a purple vortex appeared on the water's surface.
Without hesitation, Naoki jumped into the vortex, holding the Pokeblocks.
Previously, when he helped Giratina develop the floating islands, he had earned a significant amount of its favor, and now, Giratina was no longer the bad-tempered dragon that would unleash relentless attacks on him for hours.
The Inverse World had undergone a complete transformation due to their efforts.
In the area corresponding to the ranch, all the floating islands were covered in lush greenery, with the fragrance of flowers and fruits permeating the entire realm.
At that moment, Giratina was lazily lying in the sun amidst a flower field.
The vast flower field had been partially flattened by Giratina's massive body, crushing the flowers underneath.
Naoki: "..."
Giratina glanced at him and asked, "What are you doing here?" Its tone was that of a grumpy old dragon that had started its retirement life ahead of schedule.
Naoki "floated" to the flower-covered floating island, where Sunflora provided sunlight and warmth, filling the air with the scent of Dragon Tongue Flowers.
He sat cross-legged in front of Giratina, amidst the flowers it had crushed, and opened the boxes of Pokeblocks in front of it.
"I brought you some snacks to pass the time," Naoki said. "Today is the New Year for humans, and I wanted to come and see you, so here I am."
Giratina had no concept of time and usually didn't care about human festivals.
Therefore, it grumpily said, "I don't need to eat the food of the present-world Pokemon!"
As soon as it finished speaking, Giratina regretted its words.
It couldn't help but wish it could drink a cup of that special tea that reversed its personality.
However, Naoki didn't take Giratina's words to heart.
He was quite familiar with this bad-tempered, hypocritical old dragon.
Naoki smiled faintly, stood up, and prepared to leave. "Happy New Year, Giratina. I hope you'll continue to take care of me in the coming year!"
Without further ado, he turned and left the Inverse World, returning to the ranch through the vortex in the lake.
Giratina gazed at the boxes of Pokeblocks before it, its heart filled with mixed emotions.
Humans... those complex humans.
Humans were indeed complicated creatures! Giratina closed its eyes, and images of humans it had encountered flashed through its mind.
Their strong desires, their determination to conquer, their destructive emotions...
And now, it had encountered someone completely different.
He was so pure and sincere that even Giratina was moved by his sincerity.
After a moment of silence, Giratina lowered its massive head toward the boxes of Pokeblocks and opened its mouth, devouring some of the treats.
After leaving the Inverse World, Naoki went straight back to the living room. He took a quick shower and lay down on the bed.
Golurk slept by the bed, and Babo was curled up on his blanket.
The room was well-heated by the air conditioner, so there was no worry of catching a chill.
Naoki waited until his hair was dry before turning off the lights and settling in for the night.
By this time, everyone on the ranch should be asleep, right?
Regardless of the howling wind and snow outside, those adorable Pokemon would be snug in their warm little nests, dreaming peacefully through the snowy night.
Thinking of this, Naoki's heart softened.
"Golurk," Naoki suddenly called out.
Golurk immediately responded, "Ahga?"
Naoki smiled and said, "It's nothing. I just wanted to call your name."
Golurk: "..."
"Ba Mo?"
Babo hadn't fallen asleep yet either. Hearing Naoki's voice, it rubbed its sleepy eyes with its tiny paws.
Seeing this, Naoki picked it up and placed it in his arms, then said to Golurk, "Good night, Golurk."
Golurk lay down again, its eyes closing peacefully as it rested its head on its arm and replied, "Ahga."
[...] (End of Chapter)
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