"I knew it—you definitely had something in mind. Go on, say it. As long as I can help, I'll do everything I can as your mentor."
Peter smiled slightly.
"It's like this… could you help me find a Slakoth that likes eating spinach? Talent doesn't matter."
"…Huh?"
On the other end of the line, Norman froze. "Spinach… you mean regular spinach? Like, the kind people eat?"
"Uh… yeah. Just normal spinach."
Peter didn't elaborate. Some of the system's functions were way too unhinged to explain—he'd probably be sent straight to a Pokémon Center psychiatric ward.
Norman frowned.
"You should be focusing on improving your strength right now. And spinach… it's cheap, sure, but it's not very nutritious. If you're really short on money—"
His voice suddenly dropped, conspiratorial.
"—worst case, I can take a little from my private savings and help you out. We can't let Pokémon suffer. But honestly, what kind of strong partner can you raise on spinach?"
Peter laughed helplessly.
"No, no, really, I'm fine. I'm not short on Poké Dollars. I just need one that likes spinach."
He knew Norman had misunderstood—thinking Peter planned to cheap out and raise Slakoth on vegetables alone.
"…Alright, alright. I'll keep an eye out for you."
Norman didn't push further. He assumed Peter's pride wouldn't let him admit hardship, and quietly decided to help him later anyway.
"Thanks, Norman-senpai~"
Peter hung up, satisfied.
With Buneary and Smoliv both entering stable training cycles, it was time to expand the team.
If his goal was to become a Normal-type Master, then Slaking was unavoidable.
Just like Buneary, Slaking required trait correction, which meant long-term planning and conditioning.
Peter spent 50,000 Poké Dollars in the training system to generate a specialized plan.
[Slakoth Trait Reset Plan]
1. Continuously stimulate the weakening Truant trait using interests and incentives such as food, entertainment, and combat. Specific methods depend on individual response.
2.Huge Power trait cultivation method:
① Watch the complete animated series Popeye the Sailor.
② Develop a diet of ten spinach meals per day.
③ Spinach must be grown using Power Elixir irrigation.
"Power creates miracles—skip one day and I feel weak all over!"
…
Peter's mouth twitched.
"…Power Elixir too now?"
The system was becoming more outrageous by the day.
But then he noticed something else at the bottom of the interface.
A bold, golden button, radiating temptation.
[Click to Instantly Obtain Power Spinach Cultivation Plan]
"…Wait. Don't tell me—"
He hesitated, then mentally tapped it.
[Error: Unable to deduct 1,000,000 Poké Dollars. Insufficient balance.]
"WHAT THE—"
Peter nearly jumped out of his skin.
"So it is a pay-to-win button?!"
He hurriedly checked his account balance.
No deduction.
"…Thank goodness I'm poor enough."
He exhaled deeply, then felt an inexplicable wave of emotional damage.
Poor—but alive.
…
In the end, Peter accepted the system's exploitation.
A bad method was still better than no method.
After all, expecting Slakoth to overcome its nature purely through training like Buneary was unrealistic.
Decision made, Peter began accumulating capital.
He took a quick trip through town, buying up nearly all the fresh Berries at a fruit stall—much to the vendor's tearful gratitude—then mounted his bike and headed east.
Since he planned to challenge the Gym tomorrow, reaching Oreburgh City today was essential.
But before he reached the eastern city gate, a man in a clown outfit jumped out and blocked his path.
"Hey there, young man! Want to play a game with me? If you win, you'll receive a Pokétch—something countless boys and girls dream of!"
"…Huh?"
"Great! I'll take that as a yes!" the clown said cheerfully.
"Wait, I—"
Too late.
A stack of flyers was shoved into Peter's arms.
"The rules are simple! Hand these out to passing pedestrians! All done and you win~ Fighting!"
Peter: ???
…
What kind of daylight robbery was this?!
I already got isekai'd and I still run into scams?!
Just as Peter was about to slam the flyers into the clown's face, a familiar figure ran over.
A beautiful girl with dark-blue hair.
"Mr. Clown, I'm done! Can I get the watch now?"
Peter froze.
"…Nessa?"
Nessa's eyes widened.
"It's you! You shameless guy!"
Peter: ????
The surrounding pedestrians started casting those looks.
Peter panicked.
People who knew thought he'd just played dirty in the arena.
People who didn't probably thought he'd emotionally betrayed her.
"I—I've got somewhere to be!"
He dumped the flyers back into the clown's hands and bolted.
"Hey, wait!"
Nessa chased after him around the corner.
Peter stopped helplessly. "What is it?"
"You're challenging the Sinnoh League too, right?"
"…Yeah."
"Good. So am I. Let's do a 3v3 next time."
She clenched her fists. Calm on the surface—but clearly still bothered by that loss.
Peter shrugged.
"I'm just a rookie trainer. Only two Pokémon so far. Maybe next time."
"…Eh?"
Nessa was stunned.
Peter turned and walked away.
"Then you're my rival now!" she called after him.
"Next time, I won't lose!"
"You'll have to work really hard then," Peter replied lazily, without turning back.
"Because the result will still be me winning."
Nessa ground her teeth.
Peter rode eastward, unfazed.
-----
Back on the road, Buneary and Smoliv had finished their dream-space "study sessions."
Peter released them and assigned new training tasks.
"Buneary! Alternate Quick Attack and Splash, leap between branches, and minimize sound!"
"Buneary!"
The rabbit flipped onto a roadside tree and began darting between branches like a phantom.
"Smoliv! Use Sunny Day, Sweet Scent, and Grassy Terrain along the road. If you're tired, recover with Synthesis!"
"Smoliv!"
The little one was fired up—environmental training was right up its alley.
Watching the two work hard, Peter smiled and rode forward through the fields with the wind at his back.
...
Oreburgh City lay east of Jubilife City, separated by mountains and plains.
To build Jubilife, part of Oreburgh's population had once carved a tunnel through the mountains—what was now the Oreburgh Gate.
The surrounding area was filled with forests and open fields, including dangerous places like the Eterna Forest-style maze zones.
Peter chose not to detour around the mountains.
He went straight through the cave.
After fending off a swarm of Zubat and knocking down a few overeager Campers, he emerged from the Oreburgh Gate into the open air once more.
The sun was already setting.
Seeing the remaining distance, Peter decided to camp.
Even with Miltank, night travel wasn't ideal.
"Looks like we're sleeping outdoors tonight," Peter said gently.
"Get some good rest—tomorrow's a tough battle."
He placed Pokéblocks and Moomoo Milk into their bowls, then patted their heads.
His thoughts, however, were fixed on one Pokémon.
Cranidos.
"Buneary!"
The rabbit tugged his hand and made a confident gesture with her ears.
Peter smiled. "It's okay. No need to worry."
He hugged both Pokémon and crawled into his sleeping bag.
Soon, steady breathing filled the tent.
-----
Under the moonlight, as the night wind whispered through the forest…
Two small figures quietly unzipped the tent and slipped outside.
"Grrrr—"
The forest at night was dangerous. Predators prowled, roars echoing in the dark.
"Buneary."
"Smoliv."
The two exchanged a look—then dashed toward the grass.
Moments later, faint sounds of combat echoed from the shadows.
Tonight…
They would grow stronger—together.
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