Chapter 104:
The Combee were dazzled by the sight, and their joy increased even more when they spotted the two trees nearby emitting the sweet scent of Honey.
"So, are you satisfied?" Hayashi Kaede stood behind them, speaking softly.
"Combee..." (Flowers... so fragrant...)
One Combee turned to look at Hayashi Kaede first, then all the Combee shifted their gaze to him. Their eyes gradually changed from clear to serious, as if pledging loyalty. They flew a circle around him.
Then they looked at the flowers nearby, seemingly asking, "Can we start gathering honey now?"
"Huh?"
Hayashi Kaede nodded, a bit confused.
Then he watched as they flew into the flower beds and began gathering honey.
He sensed a feeling from the Combee: "So many flowers... if we don't gather honey quickly, we'll never finish."
"...So... hardworking?"
Watching the Combee work so diligently, Hayashi Kaede felt an inexplicable sense of shame.
His constant idea was to teach the Pokémon how to handle plantation tasks so he could do less work himself.
Compared to the diligent Combee, he was practically a slacker of a garden owner.
He looked back.
Sure enough, Gardevoir, with its psychic abilities, was already looking at him with a "strange" expression.
It was probably thinking, "How can there be such a lazy Trainer?"
But actually, Gardevoir's thought was, "Such diligent Combee should bring him quite a good income, right?"
"He looks quite happy..."
Because in its view, while Hayashi Kaede tried his best to develop the Breeding House better and better, he never neglected the feelings of the Pokémon.
For every Pokémon that joined here, he would find ways to fulfill their wishes and solve their "problems."
He also prepared delicious food for them.
Wasn't that already a very competent and hardworking Trainer?
So, this "strange" look was actually one of affection.
"..."
After a moment of silence, Hayashi Kaede laughed awkwardly. "Ahahaha... So useful... such diligent Combee..."
Gardevoir: "Gardevoir." (Yes, very diligent Combee.)
Seeing Gardevoir just nod, Hayashi Kaede felt even more awkward.
To dispel this embarrassment,
He could only keep himself busy by removing part of the windbreak curtain to make it easier for the Combee to come and go.
Then he went to the kitchen, steamed the Wild Grass Dumplings, called all the Pokémon out to feed them, and by the time he finished, it was almost 2 PM.
After feeding Milotic in the reservoir, Hayashi Kaede had Gardevoir Teleport them back to Budo Town.
...
Budo Town,
Central Square.
It was very spacious, a circular plaza. In the central area, there was a large arena made of hard marble. Rumor had it that the owner of the Grepa Berry Plantation, Inoue, specifically built this plaza for Pokémon battles.
But now, the central square was cordoned off. Only some Trainers participating in the challenge matches stood inside, accompanied by various Pokémon.
There were also specialized law enforcement officers maintaining order with their Arcanine.
The area outside the central square was already crowded with people.
In this world, Pokémon battles never lacked an audience.
It was the most exciting kind of competition.
But Hayashi Kaede's mood was calm, completely lacking the passion most Trainers had during battles.
Mainly because Gardevoir beside him gave him confidence.
In a match where the outcome was already certain...
All that remained was to enjoy the process.
Signing up for the challenge matches was simple: show your Professional Trainer license.
This was a certificate that could only be obtained during travels, requiring the challenger to have defeated four city-level Gyms.
Hayashi Kaede, of course, didn't have one. But he could still participate because there was another rule: having a Pokémon that had reached its final stage of a three-stage evolution.
Like Pidgey → Pidgeotto → Pidgeot.
A Pokémon that could evolve into Pidgeot could be the boss in most wild areas.
The person in charge of inspection was the plantation owner, Inoue. When she saw Hayashi Kaede and the Gardevoir beside him, she just smiled, said nothing, and let him into the square.
Entering the square, Hayashi Kaede began observing the other Trainers' Pokémon.
"Pidgeot... hmm... why does it feel less than half the size of my Pidgeot?"
"Arbok, Weezing? Did this Trainer come from Team Rocket?"
"Alakazam, wow, the quality is so high...."
Looking around, the Pokémon everyone had released were basically all in their final stages.
Hayashi Kaede couldn't help but sigh emotionally;
This scale was no weaker than some specially organized provincial leagues.
"Kid, you actually came!" The burly man who spoke with Hayashi Kaede at noon saw him enter and came over with a loud laugh, still accompanied by his Machamp.
Hayashi Kaede smiled back, but before he could speak, the man continued, "What did you think after hearing what I said at noon? Interested in raising a muscular Pokémon!"
As he spoke, he took a Poké Ball from his belt and clicked it.
A Pignite emerged.
Similar to the Machamp, the Pignite, which should have been somewhat round, now had bulging muscles on its arms, clearly defined, and even a hint of abs on its abdomen.
Hayashi Kaede's eyelid twitched.
It was clear he really loved muscular Pokémon.
Hayashi Kaede politely declined. "Ahem... I'll pass. I prefer fluffy Pokémon."
"What a pity," the man said regretfully, then laughed again. "Don't worry, kid. Once you and Gardevoir see Machamp's strength, you'll understand how domineering it is to have a body full of muscles."
Hayashi Kaede: "..."
Are you saying... a Level 41 Machamp fighting an Level 82 Gardevoir?
Or do you want to train Gardevoir into muscular like?
Although it was true that Gardevoir could learn Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch....
The man wanted to persuade Hayashi Kaede further, but just then, a sonic boom suddenly rang out in the sky above the square, making everyone instinctively look up.
They only saw a yellow streak cut through the sky and leave Budo Town, which made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
This yellow streak was clearly an extremely powerful Pokémon. If it had really landed in Budo Town, there would probably be no hope for today's challenge matches.
But Hayashi Kaede was stunned.
Because this aura was very familiar to him....
"Phew..." The man beside him also sighed in relief. "...Probably just a Trainer passing by... No one can be that unlucky. Last year there was an Elite Four, this year another one?"
Until the next second.
The sonic boom sounded again, and the figure flew straight down...