Because next, he needs to go to the Galar Region and doesn't know when he'll be back.
*
In the evening, Zack came to fetch the goods.
As soon as he saw Naoki, he cheerfully asked, "Hey Naoki, are you ready with the pumpkin cookies? Tomorrow's Thanksgiving, and there might be a lot of kids coming over to ask for cookies!"
"Of course." Naoki grinned, "I've been preparing for a month now, don't worry, there'll be plenty of cookies!"
"Then I won't worry. Oh, by the way, did Mayor Thomas come by to invite you to the festival?" Zack asked.
"Not yet." Naoki shook his head.
Zack: "Really? I just saw the mayor heading this way, he should arrive soon. Since that's the case, I won't say much more, the mayor will tell you about tomorrow's arrangements."
Naoki nodded, "Alright."
With that, Zack left with a load of goods.
Naoki waited on the ranch for a while, and sure enough, less than three minutes passed before Mayor Thomas arrived at the ranch.
The old mayor greeted him with a kind smile, "Good afternoon, Naoki!"
Naoki: "Good afternoon, Mayor Thomas!"
"Ho ho ho! You've heard, right? Tomorrow is Thanksgiving." Mayor Thomas said, "By then, local ranchers and townsfolk will gather at Festival Plaza to celebrate the day! You should come too!"
Naoki smiled, "Of course, I will definitely be there."
Mayor Thomas: "The time is tomorrow morning, and the event will last until noon. You can bring your Pokémon because the town will set up a large cooking pot in the square."
"By then, nearby ranchers, farmers, and townsfolk will bring their ingredients, and at noon, everyone will put them into the pot to stew and enjoy the delicious food together."
"If there are any ingredients you'd like to bring, feel free to share them with everyone!" Mayor Thomas said with a smile.
"?"
Naoki was taken aback for a moment, this setup seemed so familiar to him?
Thinking for a bit, he asked, "Can it be any ingredient?"
"Preferably crops harvested from fields." Mayor Thomas said a bit awkwardly, "Also ensure they're not poisonous or anything strange, because there was once an event where someone accidentally put poisonous mushrooms picked from the back mountain into the pot, causing indigestion for many people and Pokémon."
Naoki: "… I understand."
Mayor Thomas's expression relaxed, "Actually, in the past, we held this Thanksgiving to thank this land beneath us."
"But now, besides this land that nurtures us, we also need to thank Calyrex, The King of Bountiful Harvests. Everyone from the nearby ranches says the harvest has been great since they began to worship him!"
Naoki nodded in agreement, "Calyrex is a great Pokémon."
"Such a kind being, I really wish to see him with my own eyes!" Mayor Thomas murmured, "But such a Pokémon must be as elusive as in the legends, hard to meet, right?"
Naoki: Not necessarily.
Mayor Thomas sighed with emotion, then said, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Remember to come and celebrate with everyone tomorrow!"
Naoki nodded, "Yes, I will definitely go."
Mayor Thomas smiled kindly, then took his leave and turned away.
Naoki watched him walk away until he was out of sight, then turned his gaze to the Calyrex idol placed on the ranch.
It really was quite touching.
Back then, he only wanted the two horses of Calyrex, but he never imagined he would end up indirectly spreading Calyrex's name in the Paldea Region.
Realizing Calyrex might be able to sense the situation here.
Naoki thought for a while, then walked to the idol and began to offer a prayer:
"... Great King of Bountiful Harvests Calyrex, I will travel to the Galar Region next month, hoping to see you there."
Meanwhile, in the Galar Region, The Crown Tundra.
On the vast snowfield, Calyrex seemed to hear a familiar prayer, then opened his eyes from slumber.
"It's my little follower," Calyrex thought, "Let me see what he's up to now."
The next moment, a layer of blue light shimmered in Calyrex's eyes.
Within this light, his gaze traversed time and space, seeing a distant scene.
His little follower was standing in front of the idol, praying.
"... Great King of Bountiful Harvests, I will travel to the Galar Region next month, hoping to see you there."
Upon hearing this, any lingering drowsiness in Calyrex vanished instantly.
What?
His little follower was finally coming to visit him?
Just like back when he ruled the Galar Region, those who worshiped him came to pay pilgrimage?
At this moment, Calyrex's long-quiescent heart was filled with anticipation and joy.
Finally—he has waited long enough!
Thanks to this devoted follower, he has now regained part of his power after absorbing much of the Power of Faith, not as weak as before.
But it's still far from enough for him to tame those two horses; he still needs the help of his little follower.
After a brief moment of excitement, Calyrex regained his usual nobility and grace.
He looked at his devout follower, and like a king, he gently responded, "I will be here waiting for your arrival."
*
September 30th, on the day of Thanksgiving.
Naoki got up early and went to his cellar to fetch two large pumpkins, preparing to take them to Festival Plaza.
It's his first time participating in such an event, Naoki lacked experience, especially since this isn't Stardew Valley, but the real world.
He couldn't possibly do something as quirky as taking the mayor's purple shorts to the event and putting them in the pot, that would be too tasteless.
Therefore, after much contemplation, he decided to take two pumpkins to see the world.
Just like Larry's saying, simplicity is true.
At 9 AM, Naoki headed to Festival Plaza with his family.
Among them were Gogoat, Miltank, Pawmot, Alcremie, Glaceon... He brought almost all from the ranch that he could.
On the way, Naoki thought it might be inappropriate, so after some more thought, he returned to the ranch and had Koraidon carry two barrels of barley beer.
But when Naoki arrived at Festival Plaza, he found that he wasn't the only one bringing a crowd.
Although it was still early and the venue was still being set up, a large number of townspeople and Pokémon had already gathered, it was a lively scene.
In the center of Festival Plaza was a gigantic cooking pot, even larger than the one in Big Bad Wolf's home used for boiling sheep!
Staring at this scene, Naoki was completely stunned.
At that moment, Allen, who was on holiday, ran over to him.
Naoki looked at him, shocked, "This… this is too much!"
Allen, however, seemed used to it, "Hey, it's actually not that bad, with so many people, a bowl of soup each should be about right, it's like this every year, oh, I forgot, this is your first time here!"
Saying this, Allen looked behind Naoki, "Where's Cyclizar and the others? You didn't just bring Koraidon along, did you?"
Naoki patted his backpack, "Right here!"
It was already filled with Poke Balls to the brim.
But… really let everyone out?
Naoki was a bit hesitant, because there were so many people here, what if a Pokémon got lost, ran away, or was taken by someone with ill intentions?
Allen seemed to realize this too.
He thought for a moment and said, "Then don't let them out yet, later when the feast starts, you can let them out. The town specially prepared snacks and food for the Pokémon, and you can keep an eye on them."
"That's right." Naoki nodded.
"Hehe, enjoy yourself!" Allen smiled, "This is the liveliest day of the year in town!"