Pokemon: Farm Story

A few days later, a large truck slowly drove into Natsume's farm.

It had been several days since the battle with Ting-Lu.

In that time, quite a few changes had taken place on the farm.

The most noticeable change was the expansion of its territory—it had grown considerably, practically extending its borders by a full circle. Even the cave where Ogerpon had been living was now within the farm's grounds.

On another note, Natsume had once again gone viral online.

After all, he was someone who had taken down a Legendary Pokémon head-on.

When Ting-Lu had been on the move, the emergency alerts practically leaped out of people's phones, desperate to slap them in the face with warnings.

There was an intense online discussion about this disaster-bringing Legendary Pokémon.

And just when the hype was picking up—when the internet's ever-resourceful netizens had finally pieced together the details of Ting-Lu's identity—bam.

It got defeated.

Cleanly.

Decisively.

Dude, come on. This is kind of awkward for everyone.

One second, the internet was debating the sheer power of the Treasures of Ruin and the devastation they could bring.

The next second, before Ting-Lu even got close to a town, it was already taken down.

What was this, "The emperor had barely begun his conquest before the treasury ran dry"?

Soon, the discussion shifted from Ting-Lu to the person who had defeated it.

And just yesterday, when the League officially released the battle details, everyone finally found out who was responsible.

They even included a short video clip from the latter part of the battle.

Though recorded from afar, the footage still conveyed Ting-Lu's overwhelming power.

Many online commenters were left in awe.

An eighteen-year-old—barely two or three months away from turning nineteen—had taken down a Legendary Pokémon to protect his farm, rallying his Pokémon companions to victory.

Was this the legendary hidden masters among common folk?

It was like winning a world championship in table tennis, only to return home and get utterly schooled by the elderly man at the neighborhood ping-pong table.

You never know what kind of hidden talents an ordinary-looking person might have.

In no time, Natsume had become the hottest topic on the internet.

Young, accomplished, wealthy, and handsome.

Honestly, this was the kind of thing that could make people jealous.

And that face of his—wasn't there supposed to be a rule that when God opens a window for you, He closes a door?

So what door got closed for him, exactly?

The door to hardship?

While simultaneously flinging open a massive window of success?

As mentioned before, in this world, whether you're a celebrity, an idol, or an internet personality, you still have to take a step back when standing before a truly powerful Pokémon Trainer.

If you're a strong Pokémon Trainer and good-looking, your popularity doesn't just add up—it multiplies.

Humans are visual creatures, after all. Attractive people always seem to get some extra perks.

It's like the classic wuxia trope of the hero saving the damsel in distress.

If the hero is handsome, the girl will usually say, "I have nothing to repay you with, so I can only offer myself to you."

But if the hero isn't exactly easy on the eyes, then she might say, "I have nothing to repay you with, so I will serve you in my next life—as an ox or a horse."

The same logic applies here.

It wasn't just Natsume himself who attracted attention. His Pokémon also became a hot topic.

Many people were eager to copy his homework—analyzing his team to build their own second or third squads.

After all, the Pokémon used by the Elite Four and Champions are always closely studied, influencing battle strategies for many Trainers.

Adjusting an already powerful Trainer's lineup to suit one's own needs was a common shortcut in the competitive world of Pokémon training.

After all, the Elite Four only needed to build their own teams once. But for those copying them? There was a lot more to consider.

Back to the main point.

When people looking to copy his team—or those with ulterior motives—opened the relevant data, they fell silent.

Persian—nothing special, a common Pokémon, often kept as a pet.

Corviknight—a flying taxi service Pokémon, plenty of those around.

Slowking—a bit rare, but not too uncommon.

Gardevoir—now that's a different story. A highly sought-after Psychic Queen.

Gallade—an even rarer dual-blade Psychic warrior.

And then… that green one.

What the hell was that?

A Legendary Pokémon?!

— "Sir, are you the Legendary Pokémon guy?"

— "He's younger, stronger, and better-looking than me. My existence is meaningless. Goodbye, world."

— "At eighteen, he took down a Legendary. At eighteen, I ignored the risks of staying in bed all day."

— "Hey, uh… I have a friend…"

— "I am that friend. Send it to me directly. (Serious)"

Seeing the online discussions, Natsume rubbed Ogerpon's head.

"Just wait a little longer. Soon, we'll clear your name."

"Umah?"

Ogerpon, gnawing on a berry larger than its own head, looked up in confusion.

Clear its name? What name?

Even now, Ogerpon still didn't quite understand why so many people used to hate it.

But at this point, it didn't really care anymore.

"Umah."

Nuzzling against Natsume's hand, Ogerpon continued its battle with the berry.

This particular berry was actually an experiment of Natsume's.

Since it was just a sapling, he had been nourishing it daily with the Viridian Force.

He wasn't forcing it to grow faster—just watering it with energy.

And somehow, the tree started developing in the direction of a mystical spirit tree.

Simply standing near it made one feel an incredible sense of relaxation.

Its berries were noticeably larger than normal.

Although they hadn't been officially tested, based on his Pokémon's reactions, their nutritional value and taste were top-tier—not any worse than the energy cubes on the market.

Incidentally, for some reason, when Natsume casually called it a "spirit tree," it seemed to awaken Corviknight's chuunibyou soul.

For the past few days, Corviknight had been staying near the tree, no matter whether it was eating or sleeping.

As if it were cosplaying as its guardian beast.

Well, sort of.

What kind of guardian beast watches over something while binge-watching dramas, completely ignoring the thing it's supposed to guard?

"Pi!"

In the distance, the cry of a Shiny Pidgeotto rang out.

Previously, Corviknight had been the one responsible for relaying messages around the farm.

But lately, since it had been enjoying its roleplaying sessions, it temporarily handed over the job to its "little bro."

Yes, all the birds on the farm were now Corviknight's little bros.

Just like how all the Sentret and Furret on the farm were under the rule of the Shiny Furret.

Corviknight figured that it deserved some followers, too.

After all, it had now officially been part of a battle that took down a Legendary Pokémon.

Sure, it wasn't the main fighter this time.

But someday, it would defeat a Legendary with its own strength.

Natsume had said so.

And Corviknight fully trusted Natsume's words.

To be fair, Natsume wasn't lying.

With its current strength, Corviknight could definitely beat something like a Cosmog or a Meltan.

Natsume never lied—he just withheld some details.

"Pi-Pi!"

Natsume boss! There's a big truck at the farm's entrance!

The Shiny Pidgeotto landed, looking at Natsume expectantly.

"Got it."

Seeing its eager gaze, Natsume reached into his pocket and pulled out a few pokéblocks, stuffing them into its beak.

As the flavors exploded on its tongue, the Shiny Pidgeotto's eyes narrowed in bliss.

As expected—Natsume always rewarded any Pokémon that helped out.

Brushing some crumbs off his hands, Natsume called out into the air.

"Gardevoir."

"Ogerpon."

In the next instant, Gardevoir appeared beside him.

Her eyes glowed as she teleported Natsume and Ogerpon to the farm entrance.

"Thanks."

For Natsume, it was just a blink of an eye before he arrived at the gate.

"Mr. Natsume."

A man in a suit stepped out from the truck's passenger seat, nodding slightly when he saw Natsume.

There was a hint of respect in his eyes.

Because, in the end, power was the ultimate truth.

Only fools would act arrogant in front of a true powerhouse.

Even so-called prodigies were nothing until they had grown strong enough to prove themselves.

High EQ: You have a bright future ahead.

Low EQ: Right now, you're nothing.

It might sound like something a villain would say, but in reality, only those who survive long enough can be called geniuses.

The ones who get crushed? Just unlucky.

"Hello."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Natsume turned his attention to the back of the truck.

Two Machamp, wearing yellow safety helmets, were unloading cargo.

There was a lot of stuff this time—large and small crates, all essential for the farm's development.

Some advanced machines were included, too.

The suited man lifted a briefcase and gestured towards Natsume.

"Here are the Pokémon and valuables you applied for."

As he spoke, he handed the case over.

Before doing so, he had already performed a series of verifications in front of Natsume.

This wasn't just a security measure—it was also a way of proving that the items inside hadn't been tampered with.

Essentially, it was a seal of authenticity.

"Got it. Thanks."

Taking the case, Natsume began the final unlocking process.

He had already received the necessary passcodes earlier.

Honestly, with how complicated this case was, it felt more like a safe than a briefcase.

As he looked at the sleek, black, undecorated box in his hands, he couldn't help but think that it might be useful in the future.

Ever since taking over the farm, Natsume had developed a habit of keeping anything that might come in handy later.

Because you never know.

"Umah…"

Ogerpon, still holding its half-eaten berry, glanced at the suited man, then at Natsume.

And ultimately decided—this berry was more important.

Click.

With a final unlock, the case's hydraulic arms opened automatically.

Inside, nestled in black velvet—

Five Poké Balls on the left.

Three shimmering stones on the right.

"The left side contains the Pokémon you requested," the suited man explained.

"The right side holds a Key Stone and Mega Stones—rewards for your efforts in sheltering the migrating Pokémon on your farm."

Natsume hadn't asked for Mega Evolution items.

Yet, here they were.

"I see."

Staring at the radiant Mega Stones for a few seconds, Natsume calmly closed the case.

Seeing his reaction, the suited man exhaled slightly in relief.

This was a very generous gesture.

Thinking about it carefully, having the strength to defeat a legendary Pokémon head-on and successfully capturing it…

Regardless of whether Natsume can make Ting-Lu submit in the future, the fact remains—he is a man with legendary-level combat power.

At the very least, dealing with the remaining three Treasures of Ruin shouldn't be an issue.

Even if he's at a disadvantage due to type matchups or battle styles, he should still be able to hold his ground for a while.

Young, powerful, and yet instead of joining the League, he chose to live as an independent farm owner.

Given these circumstances, it makes sense to offer him some goodwill now to facilitate future cooperation—even if it means going the extra mile.

Still… it's hard not to feel envious.

Casting an inconspicuous glance at the briefcase, the well-dressed man quickly adjusted his mindset.

Someone like him, with neither power nor influence, had climbed up the ranks step by step using his ability to read people and swiftly adapt.

"My name is Fu Gakuji. If you ever have any questions, Mr. Natsume, feel free to contact me."

With a warm smile, Fu Gakuji naturally exchanged contact information with Natsume.

Another connection secured.

Gakuji clenched his fist in his heart.

More friends, more opportunities. More powerful connections, even bigger opportunities.

This is one connection I'm definitely holding onto.

After all, who wouldn't want to stay close to someone like Natsume? Young, capable, and with a surprisingly good personality.

No one would let go of such a valuable connection—certainly not Fu Gakuji.

Right now, he was a secretary, but soon he would be assigned to a township post.

If he happened to be sent to Lianshan Town, then Natsume would become a person he must maintain a good relationship with.

"Heave-ho! Heave-ho!"

Two Machamp efficiently unloaded the cargo from the truck, arranging everything neatly before silently getting back on board.

The entire process was smooth—no unnecessary movements, no exaggerated poses.

For a species like Machamp, this was quite rare.

After all, even when they eat, they strike bodybuilding poses.

Flexing is practically ingrained in their very bones.

For them to restrain themselves like this—it's about as difficult as getting a Slaking to willingly do two push-ups.

"Well then, I won't disturb you any longer, Mr. Natsume."

After bidding Natsume farewell, Fu Gakuji took the passenger seat in the cargo truck and left.

It wasn't that the department lacked official vehicles.

He simply felt that this way, he could get closer to Natsume more naturally.

After all, many young people tend to keep their distance from government officials.

Fortunately, it seemed like his approach was working.

And their conversation had been smooth, without any hint of arrogance from Natsume.

Not an easy thing to find these days.

Fu Gakuji had a gut feeling—Natsume was going to go far.

His job wasn't to fawn over him but simply to do his work properly.

Switching his phone back from silent mode to vibrate, Fu Gakuji continued handling his tasks.

...

"Alright, everyone, come meet your new companions."

Back at home, Natsume gathered his Pokémon, as he always did whenever a new member joined the farm.

A small welcome ceremony helped new Pokémon integrate into the group more easily.

"Lopunny!"

"Emolga?"

Lopunny and Emolga reacted in stark contrast.

Lopunny was always full of warmth and kindness toward new arrivals.

Since the farm belonged to Natsume, Lopunny was naturally happy to see it grow and thrive.

Emolga, on the other hand, remained indifferent.

At most, it was mildly curious.

Lately, Emolga had been busy establishing its own Emolga fan club.

Not for some grand rebellion against Natsume or anything.

It was just that if that dumb Corviknight could have followers, then of course Emolga couldn't fall behind.

Putting aside battle prowess, Corviknight was basically at the bottom of the farm's social hierarchy.

Many Pokémon found its relentless preaching habits quite annoying.

Seriously, what kind of normal Pokémon actually listens to that stuff?!

By the way, sitting at the top of the farm's hierarchy was Slowking.

This guy had already reached the stage where he looked down on everyone's intelligence equally.

He always kept his shell filled with brain-boosting supplements—walnuts, memory enhancers, that kind of thing.

And whenever he encountered someone he deemed both stubborn and foolish, Slowking wouldn't bother arguing.

Instead, he'd silently hand them a bag of walnuts.

Some people just need a little extra help in the intelligence department.

Under the watchful eyes of the other Pokémon, Natsume tossed five Poké Balls into the air.

"Audino."

"Indeedee."

"Chansey~"

"You must be Natsume, Roto!"

As the white light faded, five unfamiliar Pokémon appeared before Natsume.

The previously calm and quiet living room instantly became lively.

Some Pokémon greeted the newcomers enthusiastically. Others whispered amongst themselves, sharing their thoughts.

"Alright, settle down, everyone."

Honestly, Natsume was starting to regret his decision.

Maybe he should have introduced them in a quieter environment.

Fortunately, the newcomers didn't seem to be overwhelmed, which reassured him a little.

He made a mental note—first impressions were important.

For a Trainer and a Pokémon, their first meeting was akin to a newborn seeing its caretaker for the first time.

"Hello, everyone."

Natsume stepped forward, greeting the five Pokémon who, despite the noise, remained composed.

As he spoke, he studied them carefully.

From left to right: two Indeedee, a male and a female.

The Indeedee species were the very definition of butler-type Pokémon—meticulous, efficient, and highly capable.

Rumor had it that even the daily operations of the British royal family were handled by a pair of Indeedee.

With two psychic-type Pokémon of this caliber, they could easily replace a whole team of maids.

If not for the need to maintain royal traditions, all the human staff might have been dismissed already.

Next were two pink cuties—Audino and Chansey.

Both were officially recognized Pokémon Center medical assistants.

They had excellent healing abilities, gentle temperaments…

And, well, they were surprisingly good fighters.

Chansey, in particular, was notorious.

The "Pink Demon."

With moves like Toxic, Substitute, Protect, Minimize, Soft-Boiled, and Charm, it had a well-earned reputation in both singles and doubles battles.

Most opponents ended up completely mentally shattered by the end of a fight.

Audino, as Chansey's successor, wasn't much better.

Toxic, Double Team, Thunder Wave, Substitute, Rest, Amnesia, Grass Knot…

Just looking at its movepool was enough to make a Trainer lose their composure.

These two would probably get along very well with Butterfree.

Finally, there was Rotom.

One of the most useful Pokémon in the modern era.

At least in terms of functionality, only Porygon could really compete with it.

Rotom could possess appliances and vehicles, changing its form and typing accordingly.

And once it inhabited a device, its performance would be greatly enhanced.

In short, with Rotom around, Natsume basically had a fully automated smart home.

Everything would work seamlessly with just a simple command.

Pretty convenient, honestly.

At the very least, he wouldn't have to worry about using any of the machines he had just stored away.

"Nice to meet you all. I'm Natsume, a farm owner."

"This first meeting may not be what you expected."

"But I hope we can get along well from now on."

He extended his hand and spoke softly.

The five Pokémon exchanged glances before taking turns giving him a high-five.

Truth be told, they already knew about Natsume and the farm before coming here.

And from what they'd heard, it seemed like a pretty good place.

After all, this was the kind of life they had been trained for.

Whether it was a Pokémon Center or a farm, it didn't really make much difference in the end.

If the farm owner was reliable, maybe life on the farm would actually be pretty comfortable?

"Alright, alright. If anyone has questions, feel free to ask."

"But one at a time, okay?"

"Don't scare our new friends."

Just as Natsume straightened up, he immediately felt curious gazes coming from all directions.

Faced with his group of inquisitive Pokémon, he could only step aside and let them have their moment.

The moment Natsume gave his approval, the Pokémon, led by Lopunny, eagerly swarmed forward.

They were all filled with curiosity about their new companions.

Lately, the farm had been in a relatively stable state.

The last time a bunch of new Pokémon arrived at once was when Gardevoir came.

"Right, Rotom, for now, you can use this phone."

"If I get the chance, I'll go to the Trainer Association and apply for a Pokédex."

As if remembering something, Natsume pulled out an old phone from the cabinet.

Since there were quite a few internet-addicted Pokémon at home, Natsume had stocked up on extra phones and computers.

Now, one of them was finally coming in handy.

But this was just a temporary solution.

"Got it, Roto!"

Grinning mischievously, Rotom transformed into a bolt of electricity and entered the phone.

In an instant, the phone underwent a visible transformation.

Its outer shell turned Rotom's signature orange, and even developed facial features.

"Looking forward to working with you, Natsume!"

"What should I do next?"

Rotom grinned, happily zipping around in the air.

In just this short time, it had already grasped the general layout of the farm.

The future looked promising—really promising.

And this time, it was a genuine compliment.

In Rotom's eyes, Natsume was definitely someone bound for great things.

And more importantly, the farm had an unlimited supply of customized Pokéblocks!

To those Rotom working for the League—do you guys get this kind of treatment?!

Do you?!

Well, now there was no choice but to work hard.

Forget about surpassing the veteran Pokémon—

At the very least, among the ones who arrived today, it had to be Natsume's favorite!

"Take your time and get familiar with the farm over the next few days."

"We can talk about work later."

Seeing Rotom so eager to start working, Natsume chuckled and gently put a hold on the idea.

It had just arrived—getting used to the place should come first.

This wasn't some exploitative sweatshop, after all.

Throwing Pokémon into hard labor the moment they arrived? Natsume couldn't do that.

(Meanwhile, Slowking, who had barely evolved before being put to work: "??")

"Suosuo."

Amidst the lively atmosphere, Zorua quietly approached Natsume and whispered something to him.

"I see… so that guy is acting up again."

As he listened to Zorua, the smile on Natsume's face gradually faded.

Just as expected, that guy was a huge headache.

"Persian, keep an eye on things here for me. I'll be back soon."

Grabbing a jacket from the couch, Natsume asked Cinccino to help brush off any loose fur before throwing it on and heading out.

"Lead the way, Zorua."

"Suosuo."

No problem. Just make sure to give me an extra meal when we get back.

Keeping that guy in check is exhausting, you know.

With an expression that didn't betray a single hint of guilt, Zorua casually made its demand.

****************************

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