When Ange and the others came out of the training room, one hour had already passed outside.
One hour outside meant ten hours inside.
When they came out, Ange was utterly exhausted.
Who could endure kneading dough for ten hours straight? If his physical stats hadn't improved a few points before, he would have collapsed by now.
Compared to Ange, Munchlax's fatigue came mostly from the mind. It had been so strictly trained by Diancie that it didn't dare make a sound. Even after coming out, it still looked at Diancie with fear and avoidance in its eyes.
Still, thanks to Diancie's strictness, after ten hours of special training, Munchlax could now make mantou that actually looked decent.
Of course, the main reason was that Munchlax truly had a gift for cooking.
Cooking was one of those things that came naturally to those with talent. They could grasp the essence easily and make quick progress, while those without talent could be taught a thousand times and still only make disasters in the kitchen.
Dragging his tired body, Ange said to his three Pokémon, "Let's wash up and get some sleep, it's late."
"Good night," "Good night," said Diancie gently to Ange and Munchlax.
"Munnn~"
Even though Diancie's voice was soft, Munchlax still shivered instinctively. It had been traumatized.
Because he had worked so hard the previous night, Ange slept deeply and woke up much later than usual the next morning.
Out of consideration for how tired he was, Diancie deliberately came to wake him later than usual, and did the same for Munchlax.
Seeing that it was getting late and the shop couldn't open if they delayed any longer, Diancie gently knocked on Ange's door.
"Coming! Coming!"
Wearing his pajamas, Ange got out of bed rubbing his sleepy eyes. Then he walked to the balcony, stretched toward the morning sun, and yawned as the warm sunlight shone over him.
Huh? How come I feel lighter today, even after being so exhausted last night?
Without thinking much of it, Ange turned to wash up.
While taking out Ange's clothes for the day and laying them on the bed, Diancie asked, "Ange, there's a new mission. Do you want to accept it?"
"It's here already? Of course!" came Ange's voice from the bathroom.
Diancie explained, "This is your final mission for the beginner stage. Once you complete it, your beginner period will end."
"Huh??? Already?" Ange poked his head out of the bathroom, toothpaste foam still on his lips.
Diancie shrugged, "That's not up to me."
Ange pulled his head back in. "Looks like the easy days are over."
After washing up, Ange came out of the bathroom and accepted the last beginner mission. Immediately, a new line appeared on his mission list.
[Host 100 Pokémon within 30 days. (0/100)]
The time limit set by the system was still generous. Based on the previous mission, hosting 100 Pokémon in 30 days would be no challenge at all.
"Let's go, time to get to work!"
These days, Ange thought of cooking breakfast for Pokémon every morning as his daily job.
Passing Munchlax's room, he woke it up, and the pair headed for the kitchen together.
Today was Munchlax's first day of work, and it looked very excited.
Ange straightened its chef's uniform and fixed its crooked hat, then patted its shoulder. "Let's do our best together."
"Munn!"
Munchlax clenched its fists solemnly, as if marching to the battlefield.
"Hahaha~ Relax, relax." Ange rubbed its chubby cheeks with a smile.
Because Ange always woke up late in the morning, the Pokémon had already gotten used to waiting by the shop door early. With nothing else to do, they played on the grass outside, while the quieter ones stood by the flowerbeds, quietly observing the newly sprouted buds.
The green sprouts, though unidentifiable, radiated vibrant life.
Standing by the door, Diancie called, "Everyone, come in. Breakfast will be ready soon."
The Pokémon cheered and lined up neatly as they entered the shop.
As usual, they brought gifts for Diancie, and as usual, she accepted them graciously.
With Munchlax's help, Ange's efficiency increased a lot. Although Munchlax still couldn't work independently, it was already capable enough to assist him. Soon, the aroma of food filled the kitchen.
The rich fragrance tickled everyone's noses, filling the Pokémon with anticipation.
Eating a good meal here each morning had become their favorite part of the day.
After Diancie served the food to everyone, the Pokémon immediately started devouring it eagerly.
In the dining area, the Pokémon were happily eating. In the kitchen, Munchlax was also stuffing itself, shoving mantou after mantou into its mouth. The number of mantou in the bowl shrank rapidly.
Smiling, Ange asked, "How does it feel to eat something you made yourself?"
Munn~ So tasty~ I love it~
Munchlax's eyes curved into crescent moons.
"Eat slowly. If it's not enough, make more. There's plenty." Seeing Munchlax gobble like that, Ange gently patted its back. "Even the best food loses flavor if you eat too fast."
Munchlax obediently slowed down. It picked up a mantou, taking small, careful bites.
Munnnn~
As it chewed, the flavor spread in its mouth. The soft texture felt like countless tiny hands massaging its tongue. Munchlax closed its eyes, savoring the sensation.
"See? Tastes even better, right?" Ange said with a grin. He loved watching Munchlax enjoy food. To him, that joy was the essence of loving life.
Munn~ Munn~
Munchlax looked up at Ange with admiration. Its master truly knew everything.
"Flaaaame!"
Suddenly, a sharp cry came from outside, startling both Ange and Munchlax mid-meal.
"What's going on?"
Since Ange couldn't leave the kitchen, Diancie hurried outside to check. There, at the entrance, stood a Talonflame, a Victreebel, and an Altaria, all staring at Ange's small house with serious expressions. The aura radiating from their bodies made it clear they didn't come in peace.
Hearing the commotion, the Pokémon inside rushed out as well. Among them, a Fletchling, a Bellsprout, and a Swablu all cried out in surprise when they saw the three newcomers.
It turned out that those three were their parents.
"Flaaame!"
"Beee~eee~!"
"Swa~ Swa~"
Under the calls of their parents, the still-hungry Fletchling, Bellsprout, and Swablu reluctantly returned to their parents' sides.
It turned out that since those three Pokémon began coming to Ange's place for meals every day, their parents had clearly noticed their children growing stronger at a visible rate.
That should have been a good thing, but after observing for a while, the three parents realized their children came here daily, and they had even seen humans entering and leaving the small house with their own eyes.
Fearing their children might be harmed by humans, they came together today, both to protect them and to find out why a human was living here.
Being discovered by the Pokémon of the plateau was something Ange couldn't avoid. After all, he had never intended to hide his existence from them forever; that would be unrealistic.
"Flaaame! Flaaame!"
Talonflame was the first to question Diancie, demanding to know what she and the human living here were plotting.
Helpless, Diancie stepped forward and said, "Talonflame, Victreebel, Altaria, your children only come here to eat. We've never done anything bad to them."
Fletchling, Bellsprout, and Swablu chirped busily, trying to explain things to their parents as well.
"Swa~ Swa~" There's a human living here! Aren't you afraid to come every day? Altaria asked its child sternly.
Human?
Fletchling, Bellsprout, and Swablu froze and instinctively looked at Diancie, as if asking whether it was true.
Diancie sighed. "Altaria is right. The owner of this place is indeed a human. His name is Ange, and the food you've been eating these days was all made by him."
As soon as Diancie confirmed it, a wave of exclamations erupted among the Pokémon. Some were frightened, some panicked, some confused, but without exception, they all quickly backed away from Ange's small house. Fletchling, Bellsprout, and Swablu even hid trembling in their parents' arms.
The only ones still standing beside Diancie were Litwick, Gulpin, Litleo, Pancham, Skitty, Scrafty, Stunky, Spritzee, Zigzagoon, Helioptile, Minccino, the two Diglett, and Castform.
Fletchling had been introduced here by Spritzee. Seeing her friend still standing with Diancie, it called out anxiously, urging Spritzee to get away.
"Swiii~ Swiii~"
But Spritzee shook its head. Deep down, it felt that leaving now would be wrong.
Not only Spritzee, but Litwick, Gulpin, and the others felt the same way.
After spending these past days with Ange, they had seen many sides of him that were completely different from the humans they knew.
Seeing everyone back away the moment they learned Ange was human, Diancie felt indignant on his behalf. She stepped forward and said to Talonflame, "I know that everyone on the Nebel Plateau dislikes humans, but not all humans are bad, and Ange especially isn't. If Ange and I really wanted to harm anyone, we wouldn't have waited until now to act. Besides, what reason would we even have to do such a thing?"
Then she turned to Fletchling and the others. "Fletchling, Bellsprout, Swablu, and also Oddish, Espurr, Dedenne, Sudowoodo… when you were eating the mantou Ange made, did you really not feel his sincerity?"
The Pokémon she named instinctively lowered their heads.
"Swiii~ Swiii~"
"Zig~ Zig~"
Spritzee and Zigzagoon hurried forward, waving their little arms as they tried to explain that Ange wasn't a bad person.
Inside the kitchen, Ange knew the moment Talonflame and the others showed up that he could no longer keep hiding. When he came out with Munchlax, he happened to hear Diancie, Spritzee, and Zigzagoon speaking up for him, and his heart filled with warmth.
Seeing the flustered Spritzee and Zigzagoon, Ange thought to himself, All that food wasn't wasted after all!
When Ange appeared, several Pokémon who had never seen a human before cried out in alarm, and some who had been hurt by humans in the past immediately retreated even farther away.
"Hello, everyone," Ange greeted them openly and naturally.
"Flaaame!"
"Beee~eee~!"
"Swa~ Swa~"
As the elders, Talonflame, Victreebel, and Altaria instinctively shielded the younger Pokémon behind them.
Seeing how tense the three parents were, Ange quickly explained, "Diancie's right. I never had any intention of harming any of you. I moved to the Nebel Plateau to live here, and I'll be part of this place from now on. It's fine if you don't trust me yet. I believe that, over time, you'll come to understand me."
Talonflame, Victreebel, and Altaria glared sharply at Ange.
"Flaaame!"
"Beee~eee~!"
"Swa~ Swa~"
They demanded to know why a human had come to the Nebel Plateau in the first place.
The pressure radiating from the three was intense. Munchlax trembled in fear and clung tightly to Ange.
Gently patting Munchlax to calm it, Ange explained helplessly, "I really don't have any ill intent. Please, believe me."
But how could they trust the words of a human?
At that moment, Komala rolled forward, hugging its log as it tumbled into view, swaying back and forth in front of Talonflame, Altaria, and Victreebel. Their attention was immediately drawn to it.
That Komala…
"Flaaame!"
After staring at Komala for a long while, Talonflame cried out, flapped its wings, and flew into the sky. Fletchling followed right after, and before leaving, it turned to look one last time at its friend Spritzee, and at the human, Ange.
Once Talonflame left, Altaria and Victreebel also departed with Swablu and Bellsprout. The other Pokémon soon vanished as well, and the area around the small house fell silent.
Ange walked down the steps, picked up Komala, brushed the grass off its fur, and turned to Litwick and the others.
"All right, everyone, let's go back and finish breakfast."
"Meow~"
"Raa~ Raa~"
Skitty and Litleo ran to his feet, tilting their heads up with worried looks.
Ange crouched down and rubbed their heads. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I've still got all of you with me, don't I?"
Back inside the shop, the atmosphere was heavy. Pancham and the others stared blankly at their food, lost in thought.
"Come on, eat up! What are you all spacing out for? Once breakfast's over, get back to whatever you were doing!" Ange said with a cheerful smile.
"Ange…" Diancie approached, concern written all over her face.
Ange stroked Munchlax beside him, then took Diancie's hand and sighed helplessly. "I'm really fine. Am I that fragile in your eyes?" Then he turned to Litwick and the others. "Eat up, or it'll get cold."
At his words, everyone lowered their heads and began eating again, but the atmosphere never returned to what it had been before.