Chapter 244:
[SSS+ Grade Ingredient – Made from crushed Articuno feathers, with more evenly distributed energy. Perhaps it can be turned into a dish Ice-type Pokémon would adore?]
Reading the description, Hayashi Kaede slipped on a pair of thin gloves and picked up the Bass Alolan Vulpix had caught, pondering what kind of dish to make.
The fish wasn't dead—just encased in a thin layer of ice that kept its vitality suppressed. After wiping away the frost and placing it in water, the Bass revived within moments, flicking its tail with vigor.
As he watched it swim, countless recipes crossed Hayashi Kaede's mind—
oil-blanched fish, fish soup, fish balls, grilled fish, braised fish, steamed fish, fish head with chopped peppers, sautéed fish slices…
But in the end, he rejected them all.
All those dishes required heat, and combining an Ice-type ingredient with a heated dish felt completely wrong. Besides, a mismatched recipe might waste such a rare ingredient—and he only had one Articuno feather. Losing it would be unbearable.
Then inspiration struck.
Fish jelly!
And cold-dressed fish skin!
And sashimi!
The first two required light heating but would eventually be chilled and condensed. Once that cooling stage came, he could add the crushed Articuno feather—perfect. One dish would be crisp and refreshing; the other tender and chewy.
Once the idea settled, Hayashi Kaede wasted no time. He bled, scaled, and gutted the fish.
It wasn't large—after removing the inedible parts, it weighed about three pounds.
Looking at the smooth, intact fish skin, he sliced it into bite-sized pieces—just the right size for Alolan Vulpix's mouth.
Then, he filled a pot with water and waited until it was warm before tossing in the fish skin slices.
The process was short; once the water turned hot and the skin was cooked through, he quickly scooped them out.
The key was to plunge the fish skin into ice water immediately afterward—crucial for that crisp texture.
Alolan Vulpix, who had been watching the kitchen since hearing about the special dish made just for it, finally saw its chance to help.
It exhaled a mouthful of icy mist over the pot, instantly chilling the fish skin.
Next came the dressing—seasonings, sauces, and finally, about one-third of the ice crystal powder. After mixing, the curled fish skin began to emit a faint blue glow, an icy chill wafting from it as if it had gained a mysterious power.
"Vulpix!?" (Can I eat it now? Can I eat it now!?)
The moment Hayashi Kaede stopped moving, Alolan Vulpix's eyes sparkled, tongue out, staring eagerly at the bowl.
Hayashi Kaede smiled and glanced at the dish.
[SSS+ Grade Dish – Icy Cold Dressed Fish Skin. Made from Bass and fine powder ground from Articuno feathers. During preparation, the chef's emotions were infused into the dish, increasing damage dealt to Dragon-type Pokémon. Exclusive to Alolan Vulpix.
Note: Best consumed after 2 hours.
Dish Effect 1: Ice – Climate Controller. After consumption, the Pokémon's control over snow weather is greatly enhanced. Effective only the first time.
Dish Effect 2: Emotional Infusion. After consumption, damage against Dragon-type Pokémon increases by 50%.
Dish Effect 3: Fish Skin Effect. After consumption, the Pokémon can breathe underwater.]
Three effects in total.
One enhanced Alolan Vulpix's control over weather, and another increased damage against Dragon-types—straightforward enough. The last two seemed like pleasant bonuses.
But that first effect—Climate Controller—sounded especially powerful.
Hayashi Kaede couldn't help but wonder just how far Alolan Vulpix's weather control might go after eating it.
For now, he simply said, "The flavor hasn't fully developed yet. You'll need to wait another two hours."
"Vulpix?"
Alolan Vulpix froze, licking its lips.
How could he tease it like that?!
Fine, fine. If I don't see it, I won't think about it. If I don't think about it, I won't crave it.
Determined, it turned tail and dashed out of the kitchen.
Hayashi Kaede chuckled and began preparing the rest of the fish.
Outside in the open yard, Pokémon battles were underway.
Since the yard was too small, everyone had moved the battles and challenges to a broader clearing behind the house.
With help from Trainers using Grass- and Ground-type Pokémon, the area had been cleared of weeds and leveled. Fighting-type Pokémon even moved over the stone benches from the yard.
Though still simple, everyone was satisfied.
On the field, a timid young boy was currently challenging the first-level Pidgeotto with his Rattata.
He had heard about a breeder from the Junior Cup who raised a Pokémon under one year old to the Top Tier, and it had left him awestruck—so he came to challenge.
The crowd didn't quite understand why he would use Rattata, but they still cheered for his courage.
"Go, Rattata!"
"Try to last ten seconds, Rattata!"
Even Takagi Megumi joined in, calling, "Go, Rattata!"
But as soon as she did, she blinked—wait, if Rattata won, wouldn't Kaede-nii have to give out a prize?
Still, she couldn't help rooting for the little one.
On the field, Rattata stared up at Pidgeotto in the sky and swallowed hard.
It had fought other Pidgeotto before, but never one this intimidating. This Pidgeotto looked almost as large as a Pidgeot!
Above, Pidgeotto gazed down at the trembling Rattata, idly wondering what to have for dinner tonight.
Nearby, under a large tree, Mew and the others crouched quietly, eyes locked on the battle.
Then, as the opposing trainer started the timer—
Pidgeotto blurred, leaving behind a white afterimage.
Quick Attack.
In less than two seconds, it was in front of Rattata.
The startled Rattata leapt, only for Pidgeotto to gently tap it with its wing.
Battle over.
Pidgeotto's task was done—it returned to the tree, joining the others.
Looking down at the chattering crowd and the stunned Rattata trainer, it turned to the other Pidgeotto resting nearby.
There were twelve of them now. The rest had already evolved into Pidgeot.
As it watched them, a quiet thought crossed its mind—When will it be my turn?
Trainers' passion for battling burned bright, and even though Rattata had lost almost instantly, another challenger soon stepped forward with a Spearow.
The group of Pidgeotto perked up instantly.
"Pidgeotto!" (Let me handle this one!)
"Pidgeotto!" (No, me!)
"Pidgeotto!" (I want a chance!)
"Pidgeotto…" (Let's ask the leader!)
The Spearow's trainer misread their chatter as excitement over his Pokémon's strength, puffing up with pride.
In the end, the strongest Pidgeotto stepped forward to take the challenge.
And time passed slowly amid the lively duels—
Until near noon.
In the garden, Hayashi Kaede stepped out of the kitchen carrying three dishes: a bowl of chilled fish skin, several bowls of shimmering jelly, and a plate of sashimi dusted with icy blue powder.
The translucent jelly glowed faintly, dotted with blue light like scattered stars.
It was made by simmering minced fish into broth, cooling it slightly, then mixing in the Articuno powder and refrigerating it for two hours—ready just as the cold-dressed fish skin had finished.
Their effects were similar, though slightly stronger—the dishes had reached Legendary grade.
Dish Effect 2 now read:
[Due to the emotional energy poured into its preparation, after consumption, the Pokémon will instinctively target the weak points of Legendary Dragon-type Pokémon.]
Meanwhile, the sashimi had:
[Dish Effect 1: Exclusive to Ice-type Pokémon. After consumption, when taking Dragon-type damage, there is a certain chance to reduce it by 50%.]
Reading these effects, Hayashi Kaede froze for a second, expression twisting.
Wow.
Including the earlier dish, all three effects specifically countered Rayquaza.
Sure, he had been thinking about Alolan Vulpix's dream of defeating Rayquaza while cooking—but still, wasn't that a bit much?
Could he really raise an Alolan Vulpix capable of dragon slaying one day?
The thought alone made him chuckle in excitement.
But others were even more thrilled.
"Blaziken!"
Blaziken sprinted over the moment it saw the food.
"Shoo, shoo…" Hayashi Kaede waved him off. "This is for Alolan Vulpix. Yours dinner for tonight is—grilled skewers."
"Blaz… Blaziken!"
Its face fell for a second, then brightened again—grilled skewers tonight!
Hayashi Kaede scanned the garden but didn't see Alolan Vulpix, so he turned to Blaziken. "Go call Vulpix for me."
"Blaziken~!"
Blaziken dashed off and soon returned, followed by Alolan Vulpix, Eevee, and Goodra.
"Vulpix!" (I'm here!)
Seeing the three dishes, Alolan Vulpix leapt onto the table, eyes sparkling.
Three dishes from one fish!
It tasted the fish meat first—its eyes lit up instantly. One bite led to another, then it devoured the jelly, then the fish skin.
Perhaps because the dishes were specially made for it, there seemed to be no limit to how much energy it could absorb.
In no time, the entire three-pound fish was gone.
Then—
Waves of icy air rippled from Alolan Vulpix's body. The temperature dropped sharply, frost creeping across the table.
The sky darkened as thick clouds gathered.
Snow began to fall.
It spread quickly—from the garden, to the house, to the town.
Snowflakes danced down onto rooftops and necks, startling the townsfolk.
"Snow again?" a farmer muttered, confused. "Didn't the forecast say sunny?"
Trainers preparing for air battles groaned—the challenge rules stated that battles only occurred under normal weather.
Now it was snowing.
They dispersed reluctantly.
The clouds thickened further, spreading outward from the town to Aogiri Town and beyond.
Back at the breeding house, Gardevoir sensed the anomaly and instantly Teleported to the garden.
It stared, stunned, at the small Alolan Vulpix beneath the swirling snow.
That power… was this really Vulpix's doing?
Alolan Vulpix felt it too—the surge of power in itself is unlike anything it had ever known.
Unprecedentedly strong.
It thought of the massive dragon that once frightened Hayashi Kaede.
And remembered what it had said back then—
"I'll help you."
Watching the scene, Hayashi Kaede could only sigh silently.
"…Oh no, I'll have to explain this to the Champion again."