Lucas was awakened by the bright morning sunlight.
It wasn’t the thin sliver of light that usually slipped through the cracks in the curtains.
Instead, golden sunlight flooded the entire room, bathing everything in its warm glow.
He rolled over and pulled the blanket over his face for a few seconds before turning back and squinting toward the window.
The sun was already high in the sky—so high that, even lying flat in bed, he could see it sitting squarely in the middle of the window frame.
Instinctively, he reached toward the other side of the pillow.
It was empty.
Kirlia had already gotten up.
He glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table.
11:40 AM.
Lucas stared at the clock for several seconds.
He mentally reviewed today’s schedule.
What day is it?
Did I forget anything?
Does the orchard need watering?
After running through everything several times, he finally came to one conclusion.
For the first time since arriving in this world…
He had slept peacefully until almost noon.
Ever since his transmigration, whether he had been stranded on the beach, wandering through the forest, or struggling to rebuild Fujiyama’s farm, he had always woken before sunrise.
It wasn’t because he disliked sleeping.
It was because the constant pressure weighing on his mind never truly disappeared.
Even while asleep, he remained tense.
Today…
That invisible burden had finally loosened.
After enjoying the comfort of his bed for another few minutes, Lucas climbed out.
His bare feet touched the cool wooden floor, instantly driving away the last traces of sleepiness.
He changed into a clean T-shirt, slipped on his sandals, and headed downstairs.
The farmhouse was unusually quiet.
The Mareep were probably grazing in the pasture.
That was their usual morning routine.
Makuhita’s little sleeping corner was empty.
Its blanket had been tossed aside, still showing the imprint where it had slept, though it had long since gone cold.
On the kitchen stove sat a bowl of porridge covered with plastic wrap.
Lucas smiled.
Kirlia had apparently learned how to cook porridge.
Carrying the bowl to the doorway, he leaned against the frame while slowly eating and watching the peaceful farm outside.
The eleven Mareep were scattered throughout the pasture.
Fresh silver-gray wool had already begun growing back over their bodies.
After a few days, they no longer looked as awkward as they had immediately after being sheared.
They grazed peacefully, occasionally lifting their heads to bleat before returning to the grass.
On the far side of the pasture…
Breloom stood beneath a large tree, practicing Mach Punch against the air.
Its fists moved so quickly they became nothing but blurs.
The only evidence of each punch was the sharp sound of air being torn apart.
Kirlia occasionally glanced toward Breloom but made no attempt to interrupt.
Their morning sparring session had already ended.
Now they were each enjoying their own training.
Lucas finished the last spoonful of porridge, washed the bowl, and eventually found Makuhita wandering around the house.
He gently patted the Fighting-type Pokémon’s back.
“Come on.”
“Let’s head to the orchard.”
Lucas knew the route to the orchard by heart.
From the farmhouse…
Cross the gravel road beside the pasture.
Hop across the small stream flowing down from the mountain.
Then follow the ridge for another ten minutes.
Simple.
Today, however…
Before reaching the stream, Lucas heard something unusual.
It wasn’t the calm chirping of birds that normally echoed through the orchard.
Instead…
Sharp, urgent cries filled the air.
The sounds rose and fell rapidly, carrying unmistakable tension.
Lucas immediately quickened his pace.
Makuhita sensed the change and hurried after him.
The moment they reached the orchard…
Lucas saw the situation beneath the largest Sitrus Berry tree.
Ten Pidgey had formed a wide semicircle.
Their wings were slightly spread.
Bodies lowered.
Sharp beaks pointed toward the center of the formation.
They weren’t attacking.
Instead…
They patiently adjusted their positions, blocking every possible escape route.
Above them…
Perched upon the thickest branch…
Stood Pidgeotto.
Watching everything calmly like a commander overseeing the battlefield.
At the center of the encirclement…
Five Zigzagoon huddled tightly together.
Their brown-and-cream striped bodies formed a defensive circle.
Each Pokémon faced outward in a different direction.
Their black eyes darted nervously around.
Their pointed snouts remained slightly open, producing low warning growls.
Normally…
Zigzagoon were famously timid.
Their first instinct when facing danger was always to flee.
However…
When escape became impossible…
They formed tight defensive circles, protecting one another while searching desperately for any opening.
Unfortunately…
Against ten Pidgey and one experienced Pidgeotto…
There was no escape.
Lucas quietly observed the scene.
His mind raced.
It wasn’t that he had never considered catching Zigzagoon.
In fact…
Fujiyama’s notes specifically mentioned them.
“Zigzagoon can be trained to gather fallen berries.
Their efficiency greatly exceeds manual labor.
Highly recommended for orchard management.”
Unfortunately…
Zigzagoon weren’t permanent residents of the orchard.
They preferred roaming open grasslands.
Occasionally, they wandered through searching for food, but Lucas had never actively sought them out.
Now…
They had come to him.
Judging by the situation…
The Zigzagoon had probably smelled the scent of fallen berries and quietly sneaked into the orchard hoping to steal an easy meal.
Unfortunately for them…
The Pidgey patrols had become so efficient that they were discovered before reaching the fruit.
Lucas slowly walked toward the encirclement.
Recognizing him, the Pidgey parted slightly to allow him through while maintaining the defensive formation.
Pidgeotto flew down from its branch and landed nearby.
Tilting its head, it silently watched Lucas.
Lucas crouched before the five nervous Zigzagoon.
“Were you here to eat the fallen berries?”
They probably couldn’t understand his words.
But they could understand his tone.
Calm.
Gentle.
Without hostility.
The largest Zigzagoon—apparently the leader—lifted its head slightly.
The fear in its eyes eased ever so slightly.
Lucas purchased a Basic Pokéblock from the System Store.
He placed it gently on the ground before slowly pushing it toward them.
Its sweet aroma immediately filled the air.
A Zigzagoon’s nose was one of its greatest strengths.
Every one of them instinctively sniffed the air.
Several couldn’t stop themselves from glancing longingly toward the Pokéblock.
Even so…
None dared move.
The leader cautiously looked between Lucas and the food.
Lucas gently pushed it a little closer.
The Pokéblock stopped directly in front of the leader.
The Zigzagoon lowered its head.
Sniffed carefully.
Then cautiously licked it once.
A second later…
It snatched the entire Pokéblock into its mouth.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Swallow.
When it looked up again…
All fear had disappeared.
Only hunger remained.
Lucas smiled.
“There’s more.”
He pointed toward the orchard.
“You can eat all the fallen berries you want.”
“But…”
“You’ll have to help me work.”
As he spoke…
He gestured toward the ground.
Pretended to pick something up.
Then pointed toward every corner of the orchard before finally giving the Zigzagoon a thumbs-up.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
The Zigzagoon slowly relaxed.
Their tails rose slightly instead of remaining tucked beneath them.
Their defensive formation loosened.
One cautiously stepped out first.
The leader looked at Lucas.
Then turned toward the others.
It let out a short call.
Lucas couldn’t understand its language.
But the other four responded instantly.
Together…
They walked out of the circle.
Then quietly lined up in front of Lucas.
Five pairs of black eyes stared at him expectantly.
The sight reminded Lucas of the fifteen Shroomish from several days earlier.
At that moment…
He suddenly understood something.
Whether it was the Pidgey…
The Shroomish…
Breloom…
Or now these Zigzagoon…
None of them had chosen to stay because of some heroic bond with a Trainer.
They stayed because life here was simply easier.
Food was guaranteed.
Shelter was safe.
They no longer had to worry about predators.
Or storms.
Or starving.
They worked.
Lucas provided food and protection.
A perfectly fair exchange.
No one owed anyone anything.
Lucas activated the System Analyzer.
One by one…
He scanned the five Zigzagoon.
Four females.
One male.
Their current strength ranged between Normal Initial and Normal Intermediate.
The leader possessed Pseudo Gym-level Potential.
The remaining four all had Superior Potential.
What delighted Lucas most…
Was their abilities.
Every single one possessed Pickup.
Pokémon with the Pickup Ability instinctively collected useful items from the ground.
Fallen berries.
Tree fruit.
Even discarded objects.
For an orchard expected to produce millions of berries every year…
Five Pickup Zigzagoon would save an enormous amount of labor.
Lucas smiled.
“You can invite more friends.”
“As long as they’re willing to work…”
“They can eat as many fallen berries as they like.”
“And everyone gets Pokéblocks every day.”
The leader tilted its head thoughtfully.
After several seconds…
It gave a short cry.
That afternoon…
The leader kept its promise.
While Lucas was teaching Makuhita how to use Bullet Punch to crack open fallen berries…
The leader suddenly returned.
Behind it…
Five more Zigzagoon followed obediently.
Three adults.
Two youngsters.
Marching neatly in single file like a tiny train.
They stopped before Lucas.
Then lined up perfectly.
Clearly…
The leader had organized them before arriving.
Each newcomer wore the same expression.
Curiosity.
Expectation.
And complete focus on the food in Lucas’s hands.
Lucas laughed.
“You actually brought them back.”
The leader proudly cried out.
Its expression practically said,
“Of course.
I promised, didn’t I?”
Lucas scanned the newcomers.
Three possessed Pickup.
Two had Quick Feet.
At this point…
The specific abilities hardly mattered.
His Zigzagoon workforce had grown to ten members.
Eight with Pickup.
Two with Quick Feet.
They didn’t need to battle.
They didn’t require extraordinary potential.
Their only responsibility was simple.
Whenever berries fell from the trees…
Collect them immediately.
Sort them.
Pile them neatly.
Then wait for further processing.
It sounded like an easy job.
But in an orchard producing millions of berries every year…
It would save Lucas countless hours.
Without them…
He would spend every single day picking fruit from sunrise until sunset.
As evening approached…
Lucas stood quietly outside the farmhouse.
He looked over everything his farm had become.
The eleven Mareep had already returned to the pasture.
Huddled together beside the fence…
They were beginning to doze peacefully.
Kirlia stood atop one of the fence posts.
Having completed her final patrol of the day…
She gracefully jumped down.
Breloom stretched beneath the large tree before heading toward the orchard.
It was probably checking on the fifteen Shroomish.
Throughout the orchard…
The Pidgey returned one after another.
They gathered within the tallest Sitrus Berry tree, chirping excitedly as though discussing the day’s accomplishments.
Pidgeotto remained perched upon the highest branch.
Watching quietly.
Occasionally calling out to maintain order.
High above…
Pidgeot completed one final patrol around the orchard.
After confirming everything was safe…
It landed calmly in its usual place.
Near the Sweet Berry trees…
Breloom and the fifteen Shroomish had completely settled in.
The Shroomish had arranged themselves into three neat circles according to size.
The smallest formed the center.
The largest occupied the outer ring.
Their underground mycelium quietly spread through the soil…
Breaking down organic matter…
Returning nutrients to the earth…
And steadily improving the orchard’s fertility.
Meanwhile…
The Zigzagoon had already chosen a corner of the orchard as their new home.
Leaning against the farmhouse doorway…
Lucas looked over his steadily growing Pokémon family.
Then…
He silently began calculating his next plans.
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