While Keri was constructing the Chicken House, Naoki wasn't idle either; he started to experiment with some special culinary techniques.
For example, the Green Grass Cake.
In the game, it's a special dish with the ability to change crop quality.
When players make this dish and feed it to the little people, the dishes cared for by them will undergo a magical mutation.
But… Can grass really be used to make a dish?
Naoki stood in the kitchen area, rolled up his sleeves, got the utensils ready, and glanced at the grass brought by Koraidon and Cyclizar, some washed stones, and a piece of metal block shining with metallic luster.
It's well known that the types of Pokémon in this world are diverse, and their foods vary as well.
Some eat meat, eggs, and vegetables like humans, while others consume grass, stones, metal, emotions, or even souls.
So, he decided to try something bold.
Although limited by cookware, he couldn't make the Green Grass Cake, but different cooking methods can be applied to the same ingredient.
The early spring grass was exceptionally tender and lush.
After washing them clean with fresh water, removing the dirt and root stems, he put them in a pot and started steaming them with water.
"If I were a Grass Type Pokémon, I should prefer fresher grass." During the waiting period, Naoki imagined himself as a Grass Type Pokémon.
So, the grass shouldn't be steamed too old or too dry; the moisture and natural juice must be retained as much as possible.
Naoki calculated the time in his mind, and once five minutes had passed, he put on gloves and took out the porcelain plate containing the grass.
The steamed grass lay damply on the plate.
Naoki looked down, and the information about the grass appeared in his mind.
[Steamed Green Grass (D-): Low-level dish, locking in the internal juice and moisture of the grass while enhancing its taste through steaming, it's more favored by some grass-eating Pokémon.
Cooking effect: After consumption, the chance for Grass Type Pokémon to comprehend Grass Type Moves is slightly increased.
Evaluation: Though inedible for humans, this dish is a rare delicacy for Pokémon. Your bold attempt will create an unprecedented path in the Pokémon world! Someday, your magical cuisine will spread to all Pokémon in this world, making them go crazy over it! Keep it up! Strive to create dishes that make Pokémon feel happy and blissful!]
Naoki: "..."
Moving his gaze from that lengthy nonsense, Naoki was shocked looking at the grass on the white porcelain plate before him.
Although he had anticipated it, seeing this scene now, he couldn't help but be astonished.
You can actually cook with grass! And it's not the lowest rank F- either!
So the question arises, can stones and metal blocks be used too?
Naoki had a bold idea.
He looked at the metal block that gleamed with metallic luster and decided to try a different cooking technique.
He heated the oil in a pan, placed the metal block in when it was hot, then added various seasonings centered around chili peppers. Once the metal block was enveloped in red chili oil, he immediately plated it.
Naoki looked down at it.
[Spicy Iron Block (D): Low-level dish, due to the hardness of the ingredient and its spicy taste, normal Pokémon can't eat it, but maybe a particular Pokémon might fancy it.
Cooking effect: After consumption, it slightly improves the control Pokémon have over Fire Type and Steel Type energy.
Additional effect: Feeding Heatran slightly increases its favorability.
Evaluation: @の#%&***!]
What the heck is this evaluation?
Naoki was a bit confused, but seeing the effect above made him feel "as expected."
Metal can be cooked just like grass.
Then, perhaps those ordinary rocks by the roadside can be used too.
After all, Pokémon like Onix and Graveler eat the rocks found in mountains.
However, what surprised Naoki the most was the additional effect of the "Spicy Iron Block."
Increase Heatran's favorability?
Speaking of Heatran, one has to mention the distant Sinnoh Region and the ancient myths circulating there.
According to legend, the Creator God Arceus created this world.
To provide this world with material and spiritual bases, he also created the Pokémon Dialga, who controls time, Palkia, who controls space, and the three lake spirits Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit, who provide emotion, wisdom, and knowledge.
And during this process, Heatran was born.
In ancient times, during the battle between Dialga and Palkia, many fragments fell, and those fragments on the ground became Heatran.
"But Heatran should be in the Sinnoh Region now, right?" Naoki pondered.
According to game settings, besides Sinnoh, there are Heatran in the Hoenn Region too.
But currently, he couldn't possibly go to either region, even if he did, he wouldn't know Heatran's exact location.
Thinking of this, Naoki looked a bit regretfully at the Spicy Iron Block before him.
He turned and saw Koraidon and Cyclizar eagerly waiting beside him, he teased them: "Do you want to eat?"
Koraidon and Cyclizar looked at the piece covered in red chili oil and showed difficult expressions, shaking their heads in unison, rare as it was for them to agree on something.
Naoki regretfully dumped the stones and grass into the trash can.
In the short term, these two special dishes couldn't be used.
However, when he gets the chance, he'll definitely visit the Sinnoh Region.
"Fire Steel" Heatran, that's a Legendary Beast!
Though considered a lower-tier Legendary Beast, it's still much rarer than Caterpie and other Pokémon.
As a former collector, Naoki felt a collection urge stirring within him.
To gather all the cute, fluffy, rare Pokémon in the world and raise them in a ranch, watching them while farming; what a wonderful life it would be!
Hehehe!
Suddenly, Naoki noticed there were two big fellows watching him.
He cleared his throat, reined in his smile, and turned to stroke the heads of Koraidon and Cyclizar, then walked out of the house to where Keri was building the Chicken House.
"Miss Keri, do you know where I can find Eevee, Vulpix, Pikachu, Skitty, Pachirisu, Espurr, those Pokémon?" Naoki looked at her with hopeful eyes.
While the crops haven't grown yet, things are leisurely at the moment, he could take Koraidon and Cyclizar to bring one back.
Though Koraidon and Cyclizar have gentle and adorable personalities, silly as they may be, their size is too large.
Besides them, Naoki wished to raise some small-sized, soft fluffy Pokémon that can fit in the bed and sleep with him.
Come the cold winter, with snow outside, while the fireplace is lit in the house, Koraidon and Cyclizar lie by the bedside, and little ones like Eevee, Vulpix, Skitty snuggle on his duvet, bed-ends, pillow edges, or in his arms.
This kind of life, even if offered an emperor's seat, wouldn't replace it!