【A note from the author: The pacing might be a bit slow at first, as the focus is mainly on daily life and Pokémon breeding.】
Now, onto the story.
Ethan’s Pokémon entrance exam results were a mixed bag—half good, half bad.
Just ten minutes ago, he had been facing one of the biggest decisions of his life:
Should he become a Breeder and take over his parents’ Pokémon Daycare, or give it all up and pursue the life of a Pokémon Trainer?
It was a tough question, one that weighed heavily on his mind.
But now, his indecision was gone.
【Ding! System detected: Host has lived in this world for 18 years. Anti-addiction protocol lifted. Pokémon Happiness System activated. Increase the happiness of Pokémon to receive corresponding rewards.】
【Rewarding host with: God-tier Viridian Force, God-tier Breeder Skills, and Master-level auxiliary profession skills!】
【Additionally compensating host with the skills: Insight Eye and True Newcomer Physique.】
- God-tier Viridian Force: Grants the power to sense, heal, and soothe the emotions of Pokémon.
- God-tier Breeder: Enables the transformation of the simplest materials into extraordinary creations. Food prepared with these skills provides beneficial effects akin to high-grade culinary dishes.
- Insight Eye: Reveals the true nature of anything, displaying its details in a data-like format visible to the host.
- True Newcomer Physique: Greatly enhances physical capabilities, reduces 99.99% of damage from Pokémon attacks, and shares part of its attributes with bonded Pokémon.
This was what had just happened to Ethan.
Having been reincarnated into this parallel Pokémon world for 18 years, Ethan had long since given up hope of ever activating a system.
He never expected it to merely be delayed…
In the small town of Wutong, a settlement under the jurisdiction of Wutong City, Ethan’s quiet life was about to change.
The soft morning sunlight filtered gently through the window, scattering delicate patterns of light and shadow across the room.
The house was a small cabin built entirely from wood, with bold, chiselled letters above the doorway that read “Neighbourhood Daycare.”
Ethan still remembered how those words were carved by his father’s Scyther, using its relentless Fury Cutter.
Now, however, the sign was covered in a thick layer of dust.
Ten years ago, his parents went missing while exploring a Pokémon nature reserve.
At just eight years old, Ethan had received the devastating news from the League: his parents were gone.
The League had originally intended to send him to an orphanage, but Ethan—being a soul who had lived another life before—adamantly refused. Instead, he immediately sold off the Pokémon eggs stored in the daycare, offering them at a fair price to the League. This gave him his first pot of money.
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That money had sustained him until he turned eighteen, and there was still a fair amount left—enough to choose a starter Pokémon and take his first step towards becoming a Trainer!
And yet…
If he truly became a Trainer, this daycare—his parents’ pride and joy—would lose its purpose.
Despite everything, Ethan found it hard to let go. After all, this daycare was a symbol of his parents’ dedication and love, even if he had spent years convincing himself otherwise.
Now that the system had finally arrived, there was no need to overthink things.
Becoming a Breeder was the obvious choice!
“Make Pokémon happy and get rewards?”
Ethan’s interest was piqued.
This method of earning rewards was perfect for running a daycare.
As he processed the god-tier breeding knowledge and the Insight Eye that had just appeared in his mind, Ethan couldn’t help but marvel at how powerful he had suddenly become.
“Well then, time to tidy up and reopen the daycare…”
Of course, "tidy up" really just meant giving the place a quick clean.
“And then… give this happiness thing a try?”
Ethan stood up and stepped outside.
The first thing that greeted his eyes was the wide cobblestone road stretching ahead. Following it for a short distance would lead to vibrant green paddy fields.
By the edge of the fields, an elderly man was working with a Sandslash to plough the land, seemingly planting something as they went.
This was Wutong Town—a small, self-sufficient community nestled near the city, where life moved at a slower, simpler pace.
“Has the True Newcomer Physique enhanced my vision as well?”
Even from hundreds of metres away, Ethan could clearly see the individual scales on the Sandslash’s body.
He walked towards the elderly man. “Up so early and already working, Mr. Turner?”
Mr. Turner was dressed in a yellow-and-white, slightly tattered vest, with a smear of dirt across his face from his labour. When he casually wiped it with his hand, the dirt spread further, leaving a noticeable mark on his weathered face.
“Ah, Ethan, it’s the season for planting, isn’t it? I’m getting ready to sow some Tamato Berries. You know how this little guy here loves anything spicy!”
The elderly man lightly nudged the Sandslash with his foot, his eyes shining with affection.
“Squeak, squeak…”
Sandslash responded with a hearty, honest smile.
“Is that so? Haha, Mr. Turner, I was wondering if I could ask you for a favour.”
“Of course, Ethan, what is it?”
“Well, I’d like to borrow Sandslash for a bit to help plough the land behind my house and clear out the stones there.”
Since Ethan had decided to inherit the family daycare, it was only natural to reopen the farmland behind it. He planned to grow essential berries and plants commonly used for Pokémon care.
Hearing this, Mr. Turner looked surprised. “Child, does this mean you’re not planning to go to university anymore?”
Ethan replied, “I don’t plan to go. Universities nowadays feel more like extended vacations.”
“Besides, I still don’t have a single Pokémon of my own. Going now would feel a bit too late.”
“I think I’ll just focus on becoming a Breeder. It’s perfect timing anyway—I received my Intermediate Breeder Certificate a few days ago!”
“I also believe giving Pokémon a place to relax and recover, outside of battles, is a pretty good idea.”
Hearing this, Mr. Turner nodded and smiled. “Every young person has their own path in life.”
“Still, you can’t keep the daycare confined to Wutong Town forever. Someday, you’ll need to expand—maybe to Wutong City, or even somewhere bigger. While you’re young, you should see the world. Don’t stay cooped up in this little town forever.”
“If you need this little fellow,” he gestured to Sandslash, “just swing by my place anytime.”
“Got it, thanks, Mr. Turner,” Ethan said with a grateful smile.
He then turned to Sandslash. “And you, little one, I’m counting on you. Once the work is done, I’ll treat you to some spicy ramen!”
Sandslash’s eyes lit up instantly, as if it was asking, Really?
(′?ω?｀): “Squeak squeak?”
“You glutton! Come on, let’s get to work,” Ethan chuckled.
The old man chuckled and gave Sandslash another playful nudge with his foot before heading off with it to continue ploughing the field.
Ethan smiled, but his grin quickly froze in place.
【Congratulations! The happiness level of Sandslash has increased from 50% to 60%. Rewards: Golden Fertiliser x5 (can accelerate the growth of ordinary crops by tenfold), Rare Candy x1 (enhances a Pokémon’s energy slightly), Earth Sand (consumed by Ground-type Pokémon to increase the hardness of their outer body).】
Staring at Sandslash’s squinted, contented eyes, Ethan was momentarily stunned.
Does this really count as making a Pokémon happy?
And… wasn’t this reward just a little too generous?