Pokémon: Farm Story

A week after Natsume returned to the farm, the construction of the gym was slowly getting underway.

As expected, the necessary paperwork was approved at an exceptionally fast pace.

A lot of the tedious bureaucratic steps were completely bypassed—Natsume barely had to do anything, and the approval went through effortlessly.

Now, his priority was to establish the gym’s site, set up the basic facilities, and prepare for inspection.

Once it passed the inspection, the gym would be officially open for business.

For Natsume, this inspection was more of a formality than anything.

The strength assessment that made most rookie Gym Leaders nervous was something he didn’t even need to worry about.

What truly mattered were other aspects—

For example, whether the gym could properly guide its challengers and whether it could provide training and mentorship for rookie Trainers.

Then there was the ability to handle unexpected situations.

After all, Gym Leaders often had to cooperate with the League to deal with emergency incidents.

Enjoying the benefits of the position naturally came with responsibilities.

“Caw, caw!”

Corviknight, wearing a safety helmet that Natsume had placed on its head, was chattering away, enthusiastically sharing its thoughts on the farm.

Compared to the extravagant ideas others had—

Like Musharna’s vision of a massive grand stadium, the Shiny Furret’s hardboiled fight club arena, and Slowking’s elaborate puzzle labyrinth—

Corviknight’s request was fairly simple.

It wanted the gym to play music.

For instance, whenever a challenger lost, it wanted Hope Blooms to play in the background.

It thought that would be hilarious.

However, Natsume immediately rejected the idea.

New Trainers already had a hard enough time getting beaten down.

If he added insult to injury by playing a song that rubbed salt in the wound, their morale would completely shatter.

For the sake of their mental health—and the safety of any future gym apprentices—Natsume decisively shut it down.

This left Corviknight sulking for quite a while.

Damn it.

It had really wanted to beat up little kids while listening to some cute, cheerful music.

That would have been so fun.

However, Natsume didn’t have the time to entertain its antics right now.

The interior setup of the gym and the design of the gym badge were giving him a headache.

“Boss! All the materials are in place!”

A strong, energetic girl ran over and gave Natsume a quick update on the construction progress.

“As soon as you give the word, we can start working immediately!”

As the farm’s only designated construction team, she took this job very seriously.

She knew exactly why she kept getting contracts from the farm—

Because she was diligent and, more importantly, didn’t play any underhanded tricks.

While it was unfair to generalize, many construction crews were notorious for their shady practices.

If you didn’t keep a close watch, they’d find ways to cut corners and squeeze out extra money.

If you treated them too kindly, they’d just push their luck even further.

These are real problems.

Some workers would even—(redacted)—relieve themselves wherever they pleased.

Even Pokémon weren’t completely immune to the industry’s negative influences once they got involved.

If she weren’t such a stickler for cleanliness and discipline, constantly enforcing strict standards on her Pokémon—

The girl felt that she wouldn’t have been able to keep getting major contracts like this.

“Alright, got it.”

“Hold on for now. I need to double-check a few things.”

Nodding, Natsume waved over Slowking and Indeedee to make one final confirmation, ensuring nothing had been overlooked.

Standing off to the side, the strong, energetic girl gazed at the scenery, unable to stop herself from sighing inwardly.

Seriously, when she first saw the news of Natsume defeating a Legendary Pokémon on TV, she was utterly stunned.

She had only just managed to process that, and now he was becoming a Gym Leader?

You’re only nineteen, kid.

By comparison, she felt like she had wasted her years away like an old Arcanine.

A little bitter, maybe.

But that was fine!

At least she was doing well financially now.

A few more years of hard work, and she could finally go on that hiking trip to Mount Fuji!

Clenching her fists in silent determination, she reaffirmed her long-held dream.

Back in university, she had always wanted to go.

Since she wasn’t particularly gifted as a Trainer, she had enrolled in an average college.

For four years, she and her friends had simply enjoyed their youth, traveling whenever they could.

They had originally planned a trip to Mount Fuji together, but by the second half of their senior year, everyone was too busy job-hunting.

Before she knew it, they had all gone their separate ways.

Add financial struggles to the mix, and the dream had been shelved indefinitely.

But now? Now she had money!

And it was all thanks to Natsume’s trust.

She silently wished him a long, healthy life and hoped he’d continue to be a generous employer.

While the girl’s thoughts were starting to drift, Natsume had nearly finished his checks.

Well, technically, it was Slowking and Indeedee who confirmed everything was in order.

As for Natsume?

He was barely a step above a mascot. At least he could give orders.

But when it came to actual technical knowledge? Not completely clueless, but close enough.

“Yadon.”

Slowking nodded, signaling to Natsume that they were good to go.

Beside him, Indeedee stood in a formal butler’s posture—one hand in front, the other behind its back.

Indeedee were just like that.

Rather than excelling in battle, they were naturally inclined to serve humans.

Males took on the role of butlers, while females resembled maids.

And they weren’t just for show—every one of them was highly capable and attentive to detail.

No wonder they were the Pokémon of choice for the British Royal Family.

Even setting aside their skills as caretakers, Pokémon were often far more reliable than humans.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you all, then.”

Now that Slowking had given the green light, Natsume turned to the construction girl and spoke politely.

“Got it, Boss!”

Instantly energized, the girl promised to complete the job with the highest quality, working overtime if necessary.

To her, Natsume wasn’t just a client—he was practically divine.

No, even more important than a god.

After all, gods were only useful when you didn’t need them.

The moment you had a real need or desire, they vanished without a trace.

But Natsume?

He actually paid.

And he was generous.

A boss who paid well and didn’t cause trouble—what more could she ask for?

With his command, the Machamps and seasoned construction veterans waiting nearby sprang into action.

To them, the heavy building materials might as well have been cotton, effortlessly lifted and maneuvered into place.

Many tasks that would normally require machinery were handled purely with their physical strength.

And they enjoyed it.

For the Machamps, this was just another form of training.

In fact, you could find free labor from Machops at almost any construction site—

To them, it was nothing more than a free gym to build their muscles.

Leaving Indeedee behind to oversee the work, Natsume and Slowking headed for the farm’s entrance.

After learning about Natsume’s findings, Fu Gakuji had wasted no time reporting the existence of Pecharunt to the League.

Now, researchers were already en route.

On a small scale, this was just Natsume doing someone a favor.

On a larger scale, this was an invaluable contribution to Jadeleaf's understanding of legendary Pokémon.

Five legendary Pokémon, no less.

And ones that humans had previously known very little about.

Especially Pecharunt.

At least Okidogi, Munkidori, Fezandipiti, and Ting-Lu had some level of folklore surrounding them.

Even if there wasn’t much, scraps of information could be found online.

But Pecharunt?

There was nothing.

The discovery of a new legendary Pokémon had sent shockwaves through the research community.

For many researchers, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Even the smallest finding—basic data, a new behavior—

Could end up in textbooks.

What researcher could resist that temptation?

When the news first broke, a flood of researchers had personally offered to fund their own trips just to meet Natsume.

It had taken significant effort for the League to rein them in, ultimately deciding to send a single senior researcher instead.

“Hello, hello! You must be Mr. Natsume?”

At the farm’s entrance, an elderly man with a cheerful smile stepped out of a black government-issued vehicle.

His hair was streaked with white, but he still seemed in good health.

“I’m Sha Keisho.”

The kindly old man introduced himself briefly, though he didn’t say much about his background.

Just a passing mention that he worked at the research institute.

He left out any details about his position.

But even without an introduction, Natsume felt like he had seen this man before.

On a textbook cover?

Or maybe during an academic conference livestream?

Don’t ask why Natsume had watched academic conferences before.

There was a time when he had dreamed of writing groundbreaking research papers that would shake the academic world.

Now, in hindsight…

Well, he could shake people.

Just in a how-can-someone-write-this-terribly kind of way.

Whose student was this?!

“Professor Keisho, it’s an honor. I really appreciate you coming all this way.”

“No, no, it’s my pleasure. This is a rare opportunity for me as well.”

Sha Keisho waved a hand dismissively, his smile never fading.

To him, any chance to study legendary Pokémon was a privilege.

Even just gathering basic information was invaluable.

Most past research on legendaries was limited to things like ‘A feather from Articuno…’

But now?

He had a living, breathing legend right in front of him.

How could he not be excited?

After a bit of small talk, Sha Keisho got straight to the point.

“I read your report, Mr. Natsume. You mentioned five legendary Pokémon?”

“That’s right.”

Leading the professor inside, Natsume prepared to summon two Gogoats for him to ride.

After all, the man wasn’t young anymore.

Keisho didn’t refuse.

People often thought researchers were frail, bookish types.

But in reality, if you weren’t physically capable, you wouldn’t even be able to subdue your own research subjects.

For him, wrestling with mischievous Pokémon running amok in the lab was daily routine.

His exercise level probably surpassed most gym-goers.

Still, why turn down a kindness?

Besides, he was eager to meet the legendary Pokémon.

“Woomah! Woomah!”

In the distance, Ogerpon—wearing its signature furnace mask—came barreling toward them.

As it got closer, it took a few quick steps before leaping into Natsume’s arms.

“Ugh!”

With a grunt, Natsume instinctively caught it.

His ribs throbbed slightly from the impact, but he could only smile wryly as he patted the excited Pokémon.

"Ogerpon, you must never do that to anyone else."

That could kill someone.

Even with Natsume’s incredibly resilient Hisui-born body, he barely managed to withstand it.

For a brief moment just now, Natsume felt like his ribs were about to snap.

Ogerpon clearly had some misconceptions about its own strength.

"Uhma!"

I would never do that to anyone but Natsume.

Nestled in Natsume’s arms, Ogerpon lifted its head slightly, wearing a faintly haughty expression.

To Ogerpon, Natsume was special.

Other humans? They were all lumped into the same category—just "others."

Ogerpon had no intention of being affectionate with them.

"Alright, alright."

Natsume ruffled Ogerpon’s head, unable to suppress an amused smile at the masked Pokémon. The Furnace Mask made Ogerpon look far less cute than usual, but for some reason, that only made Natsume want to laugh.

Maybe it was the same kind of amusement that came from watching a kid he knew try to scare people with a Halloween mask.

"This... is Ogerpon?"

Standing nearby, Sha Keisho had been watching the scene in silence, carefully choosing his words before finally speaking.

When dealing with Legendary Pokémon, their intelligence was on par with humans.

And most of them were quite proud.

Sure, Ogerpon looked adorable in Natsume’s arms right now, but if it had been any other human standing here, it probably wouldn’t have even spared them a glance.

Keisho didn’t want to offend it over something as trivial as a form of address.

At the end of the day, it was just a title. No big deal.

Back when he had just graduated, he had to call his idiotic boss "Sir" out of politeness.

Showing a bit of respect to a Legendary now? That was nothing.

Besides, how many people would kill for the chance to even meet one?

"Uhma?"

Ogerpon tilted its head, looking at Sha Keisho with a puzzled expression.

Who’s this old man?

Never seen him before.

With the Furnace Mask on, Ogerpon didn’t look cute at all.

If anything, it looked far more fitting for the "ogre" part of its name.

"Yes, this is Ogerpon."

Still holding Ogerpon, Natsume gave a brief rundown of the situation, including how its masks had been stolen.

As for the fact that wearing different masks could change Ogerpon’s type, Natsume hesitated for a moment before deciding to be upfront about it.

Ogerpon’s ability to change types was bound to be discovered sooner or later.

Rather than trying to hide it and waiting for someone else to expose it, it was better to be straightforward from the start.

If Natsume and Ogerpon were weak, then maybe they would have to be more cautious—keeping secrets, navigating conflicts carefully, and finding ways to grow in the shadows.

But Natsume had no need for that now.

Whether it was Ogerpon’s unique ability or the Legendary Pokémon residing on the farm, there was nothing to hide.

Constantly suppressing oneself would only dull one's edge.

Endlessly yielding would only turn one into a cowardly pushover.

If you had the ability, why should you have to hide it and shrink yourself?

Natsume wasn’t at the level of rewriting the rules of the world.

But at the very least, he had the right to refuse to play by them.

"Ogerpon has four masks."

"The Wellspring Mask, the Hearthflame Mask, the Cornerstone Mask, and the Teal Mask."

"Wearing different masks allows it to change its type."

"The Teal Mask represents its base Grass type, while the others grant it an additional corresponding type."

Seated on his Gogoat, Natsume patted his Rotom Phone, signaling it to help locate Ting-Lu.

Normally, this kind of task would be left to Mew.

But early this morning, Mew had taken off on an adventure, saying it had found something interesting and wanted to check it out.

It might watch a show somewhere and come back late in the evening.

Before it left, Natsume reminded Mew to bring his phone in case he needed to contact it.

Mew obediently hung the phone around its neck and flew out through the window.

Flying Pokémon never used the front door.

With Gogoat picking up speed, Natsume and Sha Keisho soon arrived at the area where Ting-Lu usually stayed.

Or rather, where Ting-Lu and the Loyal Three lived now.

Compared to the lively center of the farm, this place was far quieter.

Looking around, the only things visible in the vast open space were Ting-Lu’s massive form and…

The Loyal Three, who were nearly passed out from exhaustion.

Ting-Lu had taken Natsume’s previous instruction—"Train these useless guys properly"—very seriously.

For the past few days, it had been putting them through a training regimen equivalent to what the Shiny Furret followed.

Worried that they might not survive the intensity, Ting-Lu had even invited Slowking and Mew to oversee their progress.

Both of them had more experience when it came to training Pokémon.

After reviewing the training schedule, Slowking had simply given its assessment:

"Yadon."

They won’t die from this.

Then it had leisurely walked away.

Mew had stayed behind, cheering them on.

"You can do it! I believe in you!"

That was the general sentiment.

Unlike with other Pokémon, Mew didn’t particularly dislike the Loyal Three.

It was simply watching them as if they were amusing new playthings.

Strictly speaking, Mew had a rather mischievous personality.

"Natsume, this is…"

Sha Keisho pointed at Okidogi, who was sprawled out on the ground like a panting dog, tongue hanging out, gasping for air.

A trace of doubt flickered across his face.

This is the ‘Legendary’ you told me about?

Doesn’t quite look the part…

"Okidogi, a Poison/Fighting-type Pokémon."

"It’s an aggressive brute that easily loses control."

"Just look at its build. It’s obviously a warrior."

Keeping his expression neutral, Natsume proceeded to introduce the rest of the group.

When Sha Keisho heard about Fezandipiti’s ability to secrete a toxin that could be used to craft hypnotic, mind-controlling syrup mochi, his eyes flickered.

Pois

on, mind control, delicious food.

Any person from Jadeleaf would instinctively be on alert hearing those words together.

But Sha Keisho didn’t say anything.

After all, many Pokémon possessed similar abilities.

Most Psychic-types, for instance, could use hypnosis.

There was no need to be overly wary.

As long as the Pokémon’s trainer wasn’t a criminal, that was what really mattered.

Adjusting his mindset, Sha Keisho swiftly got to work, beginning to record the data on the Pokémon.