M sunlight streamed through the window as Natsume groggily climbed out of bed. Sihe farm had gotten on the right track, he’d found himself sg off a bit tely.

  After all, with a group of highly capable partners around, it was hard not to get a little zy.

  Flopping back dowretched out on the bed, basking in the warm sunlight. He knew he should get up, but the fort of his bed was just too entig.

  The brave "Hero Natsume" had lost yet another battle against the “B Demon King,” remaining sealed in his bed fortress.

  ‘Furret must already be out training,’ he thought, running his hand over the cool, empty sheets beside him.

  Retly, the shiny Furret had developed a burning passion for training, bursting out of the house each m, raring to go.

  He’d even started yelling phrases like “My youth will never fade!”—reminding Natsume of a certain green, bowl-cut hero.

  Now, Furret was the self-procimed boss of the farm. From Sandssh to Cottonee, every Pokémon had tasted his wrath. Even the occasional Pooa passing by wouldn’t escape a sp before scurrying off with its tail between its legs.

  As for Persian? Furret had tried. Once. He romptly smacked ft to the ground with a single paw.

  Ially, Furret had also taken charge of a few Se from the surrounding area. Now, his infted size and presence suggested he was growing into a formidable alpha Pokémon.

  “If this keeps up, I might actually get my dream of sleeping on Furret like a giant pillow,” Natsume mused with a grin.

  The shiny Furret’s enthusiasm had clearly rubbed off on others. Many of the farm’s Pokémon—like Mudkip, Steenee, Yamper, and Zigzagoon—had joihe m training sessions.

  Though, to Natsume, Yamper and Zigzagoon seemed more like they were just there for fun.

  Yamper, initially determio bee an excellent herding dog, had quickly been swayed by Zigzagoon’s carefree antics. Soon, he was rag around the farm aimlessly, simply enjoying himself.

  “Why run?” Zigzagoon had taught him. “Because it’s fun!”

  By the sink, Natsume spshed water on his fad zily wiped it off with the towel Lopunny handed him.

  “Thanks, Lopunny,” he said.

  “Lop!” she replied happily, rubbing against him affeately before heading off to tidy his room.

  Normally, ing was Mino’s responsibility, but Lopunny often helped out. The two were inseparable—best friends siheir early days.

  Now, Lopunny could easily sino up like a doll and py with her.

  At breakfast, Natsume scrolled through his phoyping furiously.

  He had beeiating with the owner of a struggling farm that specialized in wool produ. The farm raised Wooloo, Mareep, and Skiddo, but poor ma and issues with iance had led to deing profits.

  To keep the farm afloat, they’d resorted to selling Pokémon offspring, much to the distent of the Pokémon there. The leaders, Ampharos and Gogoat, frequently voiced their protests.

  Because most Pokémon were as intelligent as seven ht-year-old children—and fully evolved Pokémon were parable to adults—there were strict regutions in pce for farm ma.

  If Pokémoed mistreatment, authorities would step in, two options: fix the problems or sell the farm.

  Natsume had been chosen as a suitable buyer: young, capable, with a track record of reviving an abandoned farm. His reputation as a “model youth” made him the ideal didate.

  “Am I... actually being an outstanding young man?” Natsume chuckled to himself.

  Currently, he was w with the farm owo finalize the trahey were going over details like dietary preferences and daily routines for the Pokémon groups.

  Natsume carefully recorded everything in a new memo.

  “Soon, we’ll have a lot of new residents on the farm,” Natsume said, looking at Lopunny with a smile. “I’ll need your help when they arrive.”

  “Lop!” she replied enthusiastically.

  Leave it to me, Natsume!

  Her determined expression made Natsume chuckle. It seemed Lopunny was just as ready as he was for the new arrivals.

  Gcell