That afternoon, Naoki went to the town and bought several big bags of sunflower seeds from the seed shop.
However, he didn't plant them right away; he planned to wait until the current crops all matured and were harvested before starting the planting.
Sunflowers are a crop that can be planted season after season, even in autumn, they can continue to be planted.
This way, before the cold winter arrives, he can accumulate a large batch of seeds, shell them, and when he wants to talk to the Pokemon, he can grab a handful and toss them into his mouth.
As for getting a sore throat from eating too much...
If he eats a bit more veggie berries to balance it out, it should be fine.
At five in the afternoon, Zack came to collect the goods.
Naoki moved a few ripe watermelons, Gogoat's goat milk, and Miltank's milk in front of him.
Looking at those crops that were about to mature in the field, Zack grinned and said, "It's another good harvest season! I heard other farms have also had good yields."
Naoki's heart stirred: "Has anyone's crops matured early?"
Zack shook his head: "No, not really."
He didn't know what he thought of, then turned to look at the Calyrex shrine placed not far away and said with a smile:
"Because of the huge watermelon you shared with everyone last time, people from nearby farms and the community started to believe in Calyrex, and they bought statues from Keri to worship at home. This harvest, everyone feels that the Calyrex might be secretly helping out; that Legendary Pokemon is really something!"
Naoki: "..."
He suddenly became a bit worried that the townspeople might overly rely on the power of Calyrex, thereby abandoning their previous hardworking nature, and couldn't help but subtly remind him.
"It's also a result of everyone's effort."
Zack heard his point and laughed heartily: "Don't worry! Everyone knows just like the stories say, if people become too lazy, they might get annoying to the Legendary Pokemon and lose its favor."
"So, while everyone is grateful to Calyrex, we also rely on our own strength to work hard in farming."
Hearing these words, Naoki was finally relieved.
Zack handed over today's money for shipments: "Here's today's money. I have to head off now, other places are waiting for me to collect goods! See you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow!"
Naoki bid farewell to Zack, then turned and headed to Glaceon's Ice House to bring out an ice-cold watermelon.
Thanks to the power of the Ice Stone, the watermelon's surface was already covered with a layer of delicate frost.
Naoki brought it and several other watermelons back to the house and began experimenting with making dishes using watermelon.
The first thing to be made was a refreshing and cooling ice-cold watermelon juice.
Naoki cut open the ice-cold watermelon, threw the flesh into a juicer, plugged it in, and the juicer started humming.
Soon, cups of icy red watermelon juice were ready.
Naoki looked down.
[Ice-cold Watermelon Juice (B): A summer drink made from ice-chilled watermelon.
Cooking Effect: Heat Resistance lv1, after consumption, can withstand hot weather, prevent heatstroke, duration 15 minutes.
Rating: Sweet and delicious watermelon juice, a perfect drink to tantalize taste buds, feeling the chill during the hot summer with just one cup.]
Heat resistance...
Naoki recalled he had made several dishes with similar effects before, like hot soup noodles, whose effect was cold resistance.
Overall, it was decent and within his expectations.
Next, Naoki also tried making shaved ice watermelon, fried watermelon rind, watermelon popsicles, watermelon jelly, and other delicacies.
However, the effects of these foods were not very ideal; they were either refreshing or restored stamina (small). The only slightly useful one was the watermelon jelly.
[Watermelon Jelly (C+): A jelly made from freshly picked watermelon.
Cooking Effect: Watermelon Knight, after being fed to Pokemon, if they wear a helmet made of watermelon, they can transform into Watermelon Knights, attracting the opponent's attention and lowering the opponent's attack and defense during battles.
Rating: Q-bouncy and smooth, soft and delicious, it's a snack suitable for all ages.]
Naoki: "..."
Though useful, the effect seemed somewhat trivial.
Looking at the pile of leftover watermelon rind in front of him, Naoki thought since he was idle now, he might as well give it a try and see the effect.
He cleaned one fairly intact watermelon rind, then cut away the excess parts with a knife, making it into a helmet styled after a motorcycle helmet.
He carried the watermelon rind outside and happened to see Dragonite lying on the grass, sleeping, so he called him up.
Dragonite heard the noise and sat up from the ground: "Roar?"
"Want something good to power up?" Naoki whispered mysteriously.
On hearing this, Dragonite's eyes lit up and it nodded repeatedly: "Roar!"
Naoki first tossed the watermelon jelly into Dragonite's mouth.
Watching Dragonite swallow the jelly whole and then take out the watermelon helmet he had hidden behind him, he placed it on Dragonite's head under his skeptical gaze.
With a muffled pop, Dragonite's horns pierced through the watermelon rind, fitting the watermelon helmet perfectly on Dragonite's head, making it look comical yet adorable.
Naoki couldn't hold back, let out a chuckle.
"Roar..."
Dragonite raised its eyes to look upward but couldn't see its appearance.