"Diancie, how can we turn this fur into a Move Tutor?" Ange asked, confused.
Diancie replied, "Check the System Store. There should be a device for making Move Tutors. You can buy it with Happiness Points and create it."
Hearing this, Ange quickly opened the System Store. After flipping through a couple of pages without finding it, he used the search function. Sure enough, a strange-looking machine appeared.
He looked at the price and nearly choked—50,000 Happiness Points! Even if he sold himself, he couldn't afford it.
Ange checked his balance: 600 points, with Gulpin contributing 100 and Munchlax 500.
Diancie glanced at the price. "Actually, this is already cheap. Since it's the newbie period, this is a discounted price. After the newbie period, it will only get more expensive."
Ange: ...
"Forget it. We'll deal with the Move Tutor later. We don't need it right now," Ange said as he stored Munchlax's fur in the System Backpack.
"Ange, I'll keep going out to attract customers. We still need eight more to complete the mission," Diancie said.
"Diancie, you've worked so hard," Ange said, touched.
Diancie hugged his arm. "Not at all. I'm very happy to help you."
Ange felt even more moved and couldn't resist giving Diancie a firm hug in return.
"Okay, I'm going out!"
Diancie shyly pushed Ange away and quickly ran out of the shop.
After Diancie left, Ange glanced at the Mission List.
[Welcome 10 Pokémon, deadline 3 days. (2/10)]
***
Without Ange getting in the way, the Pokémon on Nebel Plateau treated Diancie with friendliness and enthusiasm.
Soon, three more Pokémon were attracted to the shop: Vivillon, Skitty, and Spritzee. Each left the shop looking fully satisfied.
After Diancie sent off Spritzee, Ange finally dared to leave the kitchen. He glanced at his System interface.
[Welcome 10 Pokémon, deadline 3 days. (5/10)]
[Happiness Points: 900]
Vivillon, Skitty, and Spritzee each contributed 100 points. None had the overflowing happiness that Munchlax had when eating Ange's food.
It seemed Ange still needed to improve his cooking skills.
Making only Mantou limited his creativity. Unfortunately, the System only counted specified foods. Even if he made other dishes, Pokémon wouldn't contribute Happiness Points. He wished he could have more freedom.
He needed to work harder and unlock more foods in the System.
Ange felt motivated.
For the first sixteen years of his life, he had been weak and sick, barely able to do anything. Now that he was healthy, he swore to live well. Having something to strive for was precious to him.
"Diancie, let's keep going!" Ange raised his fist.
"Let's keep going!" Diancie, inspired by Ange's energy, bumped its fist against Ange's, feeling equally motivated.
"Then I'll go out now."
After cheering, Diancie waved at Ange and headed out the shop door.
Ange waved back.
Diancie had just left when Ange returned to the kitchen. He hadn't been there long before he heard Diancie's voice outside again.
So soon? Ange wondered and peeked out.
To his surprise, it was Gulpin.
Diancie had barely taken a few steps outside when Gulpin approached.
Gulpin seemed a little down, but when its eyes landed on the vase of flowers at the front desk, it froze slightly.
Those were the flowers it had picked this morning.
Although it feared humans, it wanted to thank Ange for helping it. Right now, with limited ability, this was the only way it could express gratitude.
It had expected its gesture to be ignored, but now it saw the flowers treated with so much care.
Gulpin had no training in flower arranging and suffered from a limited aesthetic sense. The bouquet was messy and not very beautiful, but it was natural and fresh.
Yet Ange found it pleasant to look at.
Gulpin didn't know how to describe its feelings.
Diancie picked up Gulpin and placed it on the table. "Did you eat breakfast? I'll get you something to eat."
"Cool~lingCool~ling"
Gulpin shook its head vigorously; it had already eaten.
Thinking about this morning, Gulpin felt moved. It had returned cautiously to this place for everyone.
"Cool~ling~Cool~ling~~"
Gulpin tried to explain why it had come.
After breakfast, Gulpin had noticed Scrafty and Skitty searching the grass for roots. At first, it didn't understand, but after watching, it realized they were looking for food.
Not just them; Pancham drank from the river until its stomach still rumbled, and Litwick tried to sleep in a cave but couldn't because it was hungry.
Everyone had been hungry to give food to Gulpin.
Gulpin felt deeply guilty. When it ate the food, it hadn't realized everyone had sacrificed so much.
Although the Nebel Plateau was lush and green, food was scarce. Most of the area was flat grassland with few berry trees.
The large number of Pokémon made obtaining food even harder.
Previously, fewer Pokémon lived there, but Pokémon displaced from the nearby Azoth Kingdom had gradually gathered here.
Though the surrounding mountains and forests had food, Pokémon raised in human areas feared these remote regions and only dared to stay on the Nebel Plateau.
Seeing its companions hungry, Gulpin felt sorrowful. It remembered Ange saying it could come for food if it got hungry.
"So you want to take some food back to your friends?" Diancie asked, noting the shop's rule that food couldn't be taken out.
"Cool~ling~Cool~ling~~~"
Gulpin pleaded. It didn't have the ability yet, but once it grew up, it would repay the favor.
At that moment, Ange peeked from the doorframe.
Seeing him, Gulpin calmed a bit, but Ange didn't approach to avoid startling it.
"Diancie, come here," Ange waved.
Gulpin was scared of humans, but thinking of its hungry friends, it bravely stood firm and met Ange's gaze.
Seeing Gulpin's water-glimmering eyes, Ange was stunned.
Since arriving at Nebel Plateau, this was the first Pokémon besides Diancie to look at him so directly (Komala sleeps 24/7, so it doesn't count).
Diancie entered the kitchen and relayed Gulpin's request.
Ange didn't hesitate and filled a bowl with Mantou. "Give this to it," he said, handing the bowl to Diancie.
Diancie hesitated. "But the shop rules..."
"I'm the shop owner, I decide the rules!" Ange said casually.
"Alright!" Diancie took the bowl, sighing. "You're so stuborn!"
"Hehe~~" Ange patted the diamond on Diancie's forehead.
Back in the hall, Diancie placed the Mantou in front of Gulpin. "The shop owner agreed. Normally, food can't be taken out, but he understands you care for your friends. He made an exception. He's human, but not like those who abandoned you."
After interacting with Pokémon on the plateau, Diancie knew why they feared Ange, but hadn't told him yet.
Thinking about how the Pokémon treated Ange, Diancie felt indignant. Ange was the best human in the world. Comparing him to those despicable ones was insulting!
Gulpin was touched by Diancie's words.
It glanced toward the kitchen. Seeing Ange smiling at it, it nervously looked away.
"You can't take all this food. I'll take you back," Diancie said, eager to meet Gulpin's friends, potential customers.
"Cool~ling~~"
Gulpin hesitated, then nodded and thanked Diancie.
"Ange, I'm heading out," Diancie called to the kitchen.
"Got it. Don't take too long," Ange replied.
Diancie picked up the Mantou and said, "Lead the way."
"Cool~ling~~~"
Gulpin jumped down and led the way, bouncing happily.
They arrived at the cave. Pancham had just returned, and Gulpin hurriedly called to it.
"Cool~ling~Cool~ling~~ I brought lots of food. Come eat!"
Pancham looked puzzled, glancing at the stranger Diancie and the fragrant Mantou. Its mouth watered.
Having drunk a lot of water, its belly gurgled.
"Yacha~Yacha~ Who are you? I've never seen you," Pancham asked.
Diancie explained first. "Like Gulpin, I'm new to Nebel Plateau. Gulpin said you were short on food, so I brought some."
Though still swallowing, Pancham asked, "What about you?"
Diancie gently patted its head. "Don't worry, I have enough food."
Having cared for Ange, Diancie sometimes radiated maternal warmth.
Pancham trusted Diancie and happily bounced.
"Really? Great!"
Pokémon often helped each other, so Pancham didn't refuse the gift, planning to return the favor when it could.
"Yacha~Yacha~~ I'll call everyone back."
Pancham ran off.
Soon, Litleo, Skitty, Scrafty, Stunky, Spritzee, Zigzagoon, Helioptile, Bunnelby, and Litwick gathered in the cave, staring at the full bowl of Mantou.
Diancie repeated what it had told Pancham, and all accepted the gift happily.
Pokémon were sincere and straightforward. They accepted help honestly and would repay it without reservation.
The Mantou was soon gone.
Ange watched his Happiness Points rise rapidly, grinning.
+100
+100
+100
…
The balance reached 1800, an increase of 900 points.
The Mission List updated:
[Welcome 10 Pokémon, deadline 3 days. (10/10) — Completed, reward pending.]
Pancham lay on its round belly, satisfied.
"Yacha~Yacha~~ It's been so long since I ate this full!"
Other Pokémon sprawled, burping happily.
"Litleo~~Litleo~~~ This is the best I've ever eaten," Litleo said.
"Mimi~Mimi~~" Spritzee teased. "You talk like you've eaten a lot of good food."
Litleo hugged Spritzee's fluffy tail and laughed foolishly, making everyone laugh.
Indeed, they hadn't eaten much good food before.
Litwick approached Diancie. "Thank you."
Diancie shook its head. "You're welcome. If you're hungry, come to my place anytime."
Litwick hesitated. "Isn't that bad?"
"Don't worry, it's fine," Diancie said boldly. "But only once per day." It winked playfully.
Diancie chatted with the Pokémon for a while, learning more about Nebel Plateau, then returned to the shop.
Entering, Ange ran toward it.