CHAPTER 5

005: Open The Box! Give Ralts A Bath (For Flowers)

Leaving the bustling crowd behind, Ralts' nervousness gradually subsided.

She curiously observed Qin Yun, her newly bonded trainer. Even as a Pokemon, she found his presence reassuring. The gentle gaze in his eyes carried warmth, making her feel a sense of joy and security.

Ralts could sense Qin Yun's genuine affection for her, which made her begin to accept him as her trainer.

For Ralts, this was a significant decision once she recognized someone as her trainer, her loyalty would be unwavering.

"Ralts, you must be hungry. Here, have some energy cubes."

Qin Yun took out a transparent, solid-colored crystal block a mid-grade, attribute-neutral energy cube designed to provide balanced nutrition.

"Lalu!"

Ralts' eyes sparkled with excitement. Though humans found energy cubes unappetizing, to Pokemon, their pure energy was irresistibly enticing.

She fixed her gaze on the cube, filled with anticipation.

"Here, little one. This is for you."

Qin Yun gently patted Ralts' head. Her small body trembled slightly at the unfamiliar sensation, but she didn't pull away.

"In the future, you'll have as many energy cubes as you want."

A warm feeling blossomed in Ralts' heart. The eyes hidden under her bangs curved into crescent shapes, revealing the rare smile of a Pokémon that had found trust in its trainer.

At that moment, she made a silent vow she would always protect Qin Yun, stay by his side, and never leave him.

Holding onto that happiness, Ralts underwent the standard registration process. Under the envious gazes of the staff, Qin Yun successfully obtained his trainer's license.

The Trainer License was issued to all new trainers upon receiving their first Pokémon. However, it was merely a temporary permit, valid for one year.

If a trainer failed to pass the Rookie Trainer assessment within that timeframe, their license would be revoked, along with all privileges associated with being a Pokémon Trainer.

This policy ensured that only dedicated individuals could continue their journeys as trainers.

Becoming a Rookie Trainer was relatively simple it mainly tested the bond between trainer and Pokémon, as well as their ability to engage in basic battles.

However, to be recognized as a truly outstanding trainer, one had to at least reach the Elite level.

"Ralts, let's go home."

"Lalu!"

Rather than returning Ralts to her Poké Ball, Qin Yun carried her in his arms. Along the way, he introduced her to various sights and places.

Ralts, still unfamiliar with the world, was both curious and wary. If not for Qin Yun's gentle presence, she might have hesitated to take in her surroundings so boldly.

At that moment, she truly felt happy.

The Pokémon Center wasn't far from Qin Yun's home. Even at a relaxed pace, they arrived within half an hour.

"Ralts, we're home."

As they stepped inside, a sense of peace settled over Qin Yun.

"Lalu?"

Ralts tilted her head in confusion. Her trainer's home felt warm, but she didn't quite understand the concept.

Qin Yun chuckled at her adorably puzzled expression.

"Do you know what 'home' means?"

Ralts shook her head.

"Home is the place you think of first when you're tired. It's where you feel safe and warm."

Ralts nodded slowly, as if committing those words to memory. She peered at Qin Yun from beneath her bangs, feeling something indescribable stir within her.

With no one else home, Qin Yun took Ralts to his room and began planning their future training.

"Ralts will eventually evolve into Gardevoir, a Psychic/Fairy-type Pokémon. With her Fairy typing, she resists Dragon-type moves and counters Fighting-types effectively. However, she's vulnerable to Poison, Steel, and Ghost-type attacks."

"She has a base stat total of 518, with an impressive 125 in Special Attack. After Mega Evolution, her Special Attack skyrockets to 165, making her a formidable special attacker."

"With Teleport as a utility move, she can fit well into an offensive team composition."

Qin Yun had always favored aggressive playstyles whether it was weather teams, hyper-offense, or stall-breaking strategies, he preferred fast-paced battles with overwhelming force.

"While my luck is still strong, let's open the three random Technical Machines and held item boxes."

As soon as Qin Yun made his decision, six boxes appeared and began opening automatically.

[Technical Machine Box Opened You Received the Following TMs:]

Shadow Ball

Magical Leaf

Protect

[Held Item Box Opened You Received the Following Items:]

Twisted Spoon (Boosts Psychic-type moves)

Soothe Bell (Increases Pokémon friendship)

Charcoal (Boosts Fire-type moves)

Qin Yun's eyes gleamed with excitement as he examined the rewards.

"Shadow Ball and Magical Leaf are excellent moves for Gardevoir, and Twisted Spoon will enhance her Psychic-type attacks."

"Protect is also a solid defensive option."

"Soothe Bell will help speed up Ralts' friendship growth, which is crucial for evolution. Charcoal isn't useful for her, but I can save it for a future Fire-type Pokémon."

The combined value of these items was easily in the tens of millions of Pokémon Coins.

Held items were somewhat affordable, ranging from one to two million Pokémon Coins each, but TMs were a different story.

Unlike in the games, Pokémon in this world couldn't learn new moves just by leveling up.

Aside from their innate moves and those gained through evolution, most Pokémon had to be trained extensively or use TMs to learn new techniques.

Self-teaching was possible through battle experience, but it was an arduous and nearly impossible process for most Pokémon.

Thus, TMs were invaluable. Even the most basic ones cost millions, while powerful moves could reach tens of millions or become priceless collectibles.

Since Qin Yun had gotten these for free, his luck was undeniably incredible.

"Alright, Ralts, time for a bath."

Still thrilled from his gains, Qin Yun cheerfully made the announcement.

Ralts tilted her head before jumping into his arms with excitement.

"Haha, you're really clingy, huh?"

Since Ralts was small and lightweight, holding her didn't hinder Qin Yun as he prepared the bath.

However, when she saw the water, her face turned a deep shade of red, and she shyly looked away.

"Wait, are you actually embarrassed?"

Qin Yun laughed, shaking his head. Ralts was still just a child—there was nothing to be shy about. Besides, it wasn't like he'd be bathing a fully evolved Gardevoir…

Ahem. What was he even thinking?

Blushing, Ralts buried her face in Qin Yun's chest, refusing to look up.

"Ralts, is this temperature okay?"

"Lalu…"

Tentatively, she reached out to test the water before giving a small nod.

"Alright, let's get started."

After adjusting the temperature, Qin Yun placed Ralts into a large wash basin—since he didn't own a bathtub, he had bought one earlier just for her.

As soon as she entered the warm water, Ralts let out a soft, delighted "Lalu~" and visibly relaxed.

"Wow, you really like this, huh?"

"Lalu! Lalu!"

Ralts nodded enthusiastically, her happiness evident. She loved her trainer so much.

"Glad to hear it. I'll make sure to bathe you often, then."

Smiling, Qin Yun gently scrubbed Ralts clean.

Completely at ease, Ralts soon drifted into sleep, nestled safely in his hands.

Qin Yun dried her off, placed her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.

Looking at her peaceful sleeping face, he smiled in satisfaction.

"From now on, we'll be partners, little one."