Chapter 274:
November 14th
Mewtwo's return didn't stir up too many waves in the breeding house's peaceful routine.
It just couldn't help but ask about Mew and Jirachi's whereabouts.
Upon learning that Jirachi was asleep in its dream and Mew was out playing, it didn't inquire further.
And then... well.....
Right now, in the kitchen.
"The Psychic strength for kneading the dough can't be too strong; it needs to be gentle!"
"The dumpling wrappers need to be rolled rounder! Look at the one you pressed; it's all crooked and lopsided! Looks like a dog made it."
"When cooking dumplings, the key is..."
"They're done when you can pick them up easily with chopsticks."
Mewtwo looked at the dumplings swimming in the pot and couldn't help but smile.
Who knew how many "scoldings" it had received from Kaede over these few dumplings?
But seeing the final product, the corners of its mouth lifted involuntarily.
"Want to try one?" Kaede used chopsticks to pick up a dumpling and offered it to Mewtwo's mouth.
"I'll do it myself." Mewtwo refused Kaede's hand-feeding and, full of enthusiasm, picked up the chopsticks itself, grabbed a dumpling, and ate it.
Taking a bite, it could tell this dumpling wasn't as tasty as the ones Kaede made, but a unique feeling stirred within its heart.
"See? Food you make yourself tastes better, right?" Kaede added in a coaxing tone.
"Mhm!" Mewtwo nodded vigorously in agreement.
And at that moment, Kaede revealed his true purpose. "Great! Then making all the dumplings for everyone to eat on the Winter Solstice is up to you~"
"Okay!... Huh?" Mewtwo nodded without hesitation at first, paused for a moment, then reacted, looking at Kaede somewhat uncertainly. "You mean... all the dumplings for *all the Pokémon?"
"Otherwise? You've learned how now, haven't you? Just make a few more batches, and it'll be fine," Kaede said matter-of-factly.
Since you've learned it, why not put it to use?
Otherwise, wasn't learning it a waste?
"I... This..." Mewtwo was a bit incredulous.
But under Kaede's serious gaze, Mewtwo fell silent for a long time and finally nodded.
"OK, do your best! I'll teach you two more recipes this afternoon." Kaede nodded with satisfaction and patted Mewtwo's shoulder, expressing his high hopes for it.
After leaving the kitchen, he couldn't help but feel secretly pleased.
'As expected, Psychic-type Pokémon all have a talent for developing into chefs.'
That's right. Before Mewtwo officially becomes a Gym Leader, he planned to train Mewtwo into a qualified "Breeder" too!
Leaving the kitchen, Kaede went to the barn again to check the Grepa Berry Wine barrels.
After checking, his expression brightened.
The alcoholic chocolates that previously took three days to disappear... this time, vanished in just two days.
As before, not only the chocolates were gone, but a barrel of Grepa Berry Wine had also disappeared.
"It's drinking faster and faster." Muttering to himself, Kaede didn't overthink it and simply replenished the alcoholic chocolates as usual.
Of course, the amount was slightly less than last time.
After restocking, he headed back towards the breeding house as usual.
The barn was quiet, with only the occasional sound of Miltank chewing on Wild Grass Dumplings.
Just as he stepped into the plantation, Serperior glided over.
"Serperior~" (There are Mutated berries~)
"Huh? Mutated berries?" Kaede's eyes lit up.
"Serperior~" (Yes.)
Serperior nodded. Kaede immediately followed it through the vegetable patch to the so-called mutant berry location.
Arriving there, Kaede discovered it was a mutant Pecha Berry tree.
Normally, Pecha Berries shouldn't be producing at this season.
The nearby Pecha Berry trees were even starting to shed their leaves.
But this particular Pecha Berry tree was not only lush with foliage but also blooming with pink flowers, with five Pecha Berries emitting a white glow hanging from its branches.
[Size-Shifting Pecha Berry – A Pecha Berry that appeared based on the grower's thoughts. After consumption, the consumer can shrink or enlarge their size within a fivefold range according to their will.]
[Note: The change is relative. The larger one becomes, the greater the energy consumption.]
[The smaller one becomes, the lesser the energy consumption.]
"Huh?"
Seeing the Pecha Berry's effect, Kaede was momentarily stunned.
Size-shifting, and based on the consumer's thoughts?
Kaede instinctively glanced at Serperior, coincidentally meeting its expectant gaze directed at him.
However, upon noticing Kaede looking back, it immediately raised its head again.
"Goodness..." Kaede's eyes curved into a smile as he looked at Serperior. "Let me pat your head~"
"Serperior?" Serperior was taken aback, not understanding why Kaede suddenly made this request.
But it reluctantly lowered its head, allowing Kaede to place his hand on its head.
After just one pat, it quickly raised its head again.
Kaede also spoke up, "The effect of this berry is quite unique."
"Serperior?" (What effect?)
"After eating it, it allows a Pokémon to grow bigger or smaller according to its own wishes, and it seems to be permanent." Kaede didn't keep it a mystery. He plucked one Pecha Berry and stated its effect.
"Serperior?" (Bigger or smaller?) Serperior was stunned upon hearing this, then stared intently at the Pecha Berry in Kaede's hand, couldn't help but flick its tongue. "Serperior?" (How small can it get?)
"About five times smaller, I think? You'd probably be about one meter long then?"
"Serperior..."
Serperior's tail slowly began to move, encircling Kaede, placing him in the center of its coils. Its amber eyes couldn't help but reveal a hint of longing.
But now, Kaede let out a "hehe" laugh. "Goodness, looking at you like this, you really want to eat it, huh? So, do you want to get bigger or smaller?"
Serperior blurted out instinctively, "Serperior?" (Become...)
But the words caught in its throat as it saw Kaede's "mischievous smile," and it paused mid-sentence.
It seemed to hesitate for a good while, making Kaede think his joke had gone too far. He was about to wipe the smile off his face, apologize, and coax the serpent when, Serperior lowered its head and mumbled, "Serperior..." (I want to become smaller...)
Kaede was taken aback. "Huh?" He genuinely didn't catch what Serperior said.
But the next moment, Serperior raised its head, its gaze fixed firmly on Kaede.
"Serperior...." (If I become smaller... can you hold me like you used to?)