Pokémon: Farm Story

It's widely known that handcrafted items aren't necessarily the best, but they are almost always the most expensive. Their price often includes not just the intrinsic value but also the allure of being "handcrafted."

However, this rule doesn't apply in the Pokémon world.

Be it Pokéblocks or Poké Balls, countless items are crafted by skilled artisans. Take, for instance, the Pokéblocks that the boy wanted to buy just now.

Due to various factors, most Pokéblocks on the market are basic and unremarkable. Custom orders, on the other hand, come with a hefty price tag.

For an average family, this can be quite a financial burden. It's not that they don't want their kids to grow stronger—it's just that their wallets don't allow it.

"I don't mind," Natsume replied after a brief moment of thought.

He had already considered selling his surplus Pokéblocks and was planning to look for stable sales channels soon. His original idea was to approach gyms as potential distributors.

On that note, the gyms in Jadeleaf Region are divided into four levels: national, provincial, municipal, and county-level.

After all, with a population in the billions, fewer than 20 national-level gyms would hardly suffice. People would be waiting months just to book a single challenge.

"Thank you so much, Natsume!"

"By the way, Natsume, what's the name of your farm?" the boy asked curiously.

Although the farm was marked on the map, its name wasn't listed. He had initially thought it was an oversight, but upon arrival, he found that even the physical location lacked any signage or plaques.

"The farm's name?"

"It's Sunnyhill Farm. When I inherited it, some of the paperwork wasn't finalized yet," Natsume explained. "I submitted everything later, so the map should update in a day or two."

The farm had a different name before, but Natsume decided to rename it to mark a fresh start. Sunnyhill held no special meaning—it just sounded pleasant to him.

At first, he had toyed with quirky names like Stardew Valley or Pikapika Farm, but practicality won out in the end.

With his curiosity satisfied, the boy returned to discussing the details of buying Pokéblocks with Natsume. Soon, they agreed on a deal: enough Pokéblocks to last the boy's Pokémon for half a month, priced significantly higher than market rates.

Though it wasn't exorbitant—certainly not the "10,000 per block" kind of premium—Natsume was still making a tidy profit.

Money, however, had never been Natsume's primary motivation. Even in terms of personal lifestyle, he lived modestly.

It was only when the boy transferred payment that Natsume finally learned his name. Not that it mattered much.

"I have no interest in remembering the names of defeated opponents," Natsume thought smugly.

Watching the boy leave, surrounded by his classmates, with a bittersweet expression, Natsume scratched...

...his back.

Why did he come here again? To get beaten up and then hand me his money?

Before leaving, the boy did mention he'd promote Natsume's farm on online forums. He claimed it might attract more visitors.

"Should I set up a proper battle area?" Natsume pondered aloud.

He had designated part of the farm as a recreational zone but hadn't gotten around to developing it. Who has time for leisure when things are just starting to take off?

"Sand...slash."

"I think it's a good idea," Sandslash said, waving its claws in agreement.

For some reason, the Pokémon on the farm had recently become obsessed with growing stronger. From the shiny Furret to the Mightyena family, even Buneary had started secretly practicing moves at night.

The newly arrived black Zorua had also been sharing its expertise, teaching several Pokémon new skills. Furret, for example, had learned Ice Punch.

Had their laid-back life suddenly turned into a hot-blooded training arc?

Not that it affected Sandslash much—it still loved tilling the fields the most.

---

Soon enough, Sunnyhill Farm garnered a small wave of online attention.

Not because of the farm itself but due to the battle footage uploaded by the boy's companions.

The first half of the video was fairly ordinary. A well-trained Sandslash and a Butterfree with a surprisingly diverse move pool were noteworthy but not shocking. This world has no shortage of remarkable Pokémon—there's even a five-meter-tall Tyranitar trending online.

What truly captured viewers' attention was the shiny Furret.

Who could resist the charm of a pink-and-white, fluffy, oversized cuddle buddy?

Certainly not the internet.

The rules of online popularity are peculiar. Show off technical skills, and self-proclaimed experts will critique you relentlessly. But post something cute, quirky, or outlandish, and you're golden.

Unsurprisingly, the shiny Furret gained a modest burst of fame.

Some forum users even commented that they lived near Sunnyhill Farm and would visit soon. Others claimed they were already on their way.

For now, though, none of this concerned Natsume.

"Piii!"

As he approached the house, he heard Togepi's spirited cries.

The tiny Pokémon, its eggshell stained with dirt, darted out from behind the house, its stubby legs moving surprisingly fast.

"Bun!"

Behind it was Buneary, towel in hand, looking utterly flustered. Taking care of Togepi was clearly proving to be a challenging task.

Upon spotting Natsume, Buneary immediately tossed the towel aside and leaped into his arms, lamenting Togepi's mischief.

Togepi, on the other hand, feigned ignorance with an innocent expression.

"I see," Natsume said, glancing at the darkening sky. After a moment's thought, he smiled and said:

"Let's all take a bath together tonight."

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