"Naoki, from now on, I'll be grateful for yuidance."

  Hearing this, Naoki was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond.

  Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, looked at him and tinued, "This is my answer. From this moment on, I am no lohe King of Gar."

  This was the decision that Calyrex had e to after much careful thought.

  The Gar region had undergoremendous ges over the years. It was no lohe Gar that Calyrex onew, and the title of "King of Gar" now beloo the past.

  In his mind, Calyrex envisiohe pce where Naoki lived—a nd with new people, new Pokémon, and the warmth of the sun. There were so many things in this world that Calyrex had yet to experience or uand.

  As these thoughts solidified in his mind, Calyrex's once wistful gaze became resolute.

  "Really?" Naoki finally grasped the gravity of what Calyrex was saying, his face lighting up with joy. "Are you serious?"

  Calyrex nodded gently, his expression sincere. "I do not lie, Naoki. Take me to the pce where you live. I wish to see it."

  Naoki smiled warmly, replying with equal siy, "Of course."

  At that moment, the smell of the stew wafted through the air. The potatoes a i had finished cooking, and the delicious aroma of the savory dish filled the room.

  Koraidon and Cyclizar's eyes sparkled with anticipation as they stared eagerly at the pot, hoping for a taste.

  Even Calyrex, who typically remained posed, was drawn in by the st. "I've never smelled anything like this before," he ented with mild curiosity.

  Naoki chuckled and offered, "Would you like to try some?"

  To his surprise, Calyrex shook his head gently. "No, thank you. It's not that I dislike it, but my steed and I do meat."

  Uanding immediately, Naoki smiled. "Ah, I see. You're both vegetarian Pokémon!"

  After thinking for a moment, Naoki rummaged through his bag and pulled out a piece of freshly baked bread. He ha to Calyrex. "How about this?"

  Calyrex accepted the bread, took a small bite, and chewed thoughtfully.

  "Well? How is it?" Naoki asked eagerly.

  Calyrex nodded approvingly. "While it's not as good as the y steed and I favor, it's quite enjoyable. I like it."

  "Gd to hear that," Naoki said with a grihen fed simir pieces of bread to Gstrier and Spectrier, both of whom nibbled at it tentedly.

  Naoki turned back to the stew, lifting the pot's lid to che the dish inside.

  The st intensified as the steam rose. He couldn't help but smile when he saw the rich, hearty meal inside. A message popped into his mind:

  [Meat and Potato Stew (B+): A high-quality dish made by stewing diced potatoes aogether in a rge pot h heat. The broth has perfectly absorbed into the soft potatoes, and the soup is rich, making it an ideal meal for cold weather.]

  Cooking Effect: Cold resistance recovery, Level 2. After eating, the body will warm up signifitly, and physical strength will be restored. Lasts 6 hours.

  ent: A dish that both fills the stomad warms the body. Perfect for humans and Pokémoive to the cold.

  'Dual effect?'

  'Keeping warm a physical strength?'

  Naoki chuckled to himself. 'Looks like hot soup noodles be retired for now,' he thought.

  sidering the time, it seemed the effects of the hot noodle soup they'd eaten earlier were starting to wear off. This hearty pot of potato a stew was the perfect way to replenish their energy and stay warm.

  Naoki served the stew to Cyclizar and Koraidon. The two Pokémon eagerly dove into their bowls, happily mung away without hesitation.

  While they ate, Calyrex g Naoki and asked thoughtfully, "When do you pn to return to Paldea?"

  Naoki paused, giving it some thought before replying, "Probably in a few days. I still have some things to finish up here, and ohat's done, I'll head back."

  One of Naoki's tasks was to visit other cities to buy steel feathers from Corviknight. He p them back to the ranch.

  Beyond that, there were a few other matters he o address on the Tundra.

  Gstrier and Spectrier, for example, both loved the id shade-root carrots uo this region. Sihe two steeds would be joining them at the ranaoki o figure out a way to keep them happy.

  The issue was that these special carrots could only grow on the snowy soil of the Tundra, making them a rare regional specialty.

  Back at the ranch, the two steeds wouldn't be able to eat their favorite carrots unless Naoki found a way to replicate the ditions o grow them.

  With that thought in mind, Naoki turo Calyrex. "I was thinking. If I figure out why the id shade-root carrots only grow here, maybe I create a special plot of nd at the rand grow them myself. That way, Gstrier and Spectrier still enjoy their favorite food."

  Hearing this, Calyrex nodded slowly, lost in thought. "Indeed, if we could cultivate those carrots at the ranch, it would make them very happy."

  Enced by Calyrex's approval, Naoki smiled. "After lunch, I pn to explore the Snowy Valley and the Old Cemetery. I want to pare the soil and see if there are enviroal factors that make those carrots grow here."

  Calyrex gave an approving nod. "I'll e with you."

  ...

  After finishing their meal, Naoki packed up his belongings and strapped on his backpack. He climbed onto Koraidon's back, ready to set off.

  Calyrex mounted Spectrier, with Gstrier trailing behind. The two horses moved in tandem with Koraidon, the three Pokémon walking side by side as they made their way out of the Shrine.

  As they reached the shrine's entrance, Calyrex paused and looked back at the aemple perched high on the snoed mountains.

  It would be a lie to say his heart didn't waver.

  After all, Calyrex had lived here for so long, and the snow-hardeones of the shrine had boro both his rise to power and his fall into obscurity. From once being revered as a king to being fotten by the world, the Shrine holds all the memories.

  At some point, snow began to fall again.

  Calyrex stood silently in the snowfall, gazing at the shrine, lost in thought. His expression reflected both sorrow and acceptanbsp;

  It wasn't until a soft sigh escaped into the quiet air that Calyrex finally turned away. With o look at the shrine, he spoke. "I… Never mind. I am no longer a king. Let's go!"

  Naoki gave him a nod, uanding the weight of the decision Calyrex had just made. He k must have taken a great deal of resolve for the once-King of Bountiful Harvests to let go of the past.

  They traveled quietly down the snowy path, the sound of their Pokémon's hooves g against the fresh snow filling the air. Midway through their journey, Calyrex broke the sileh a surprising question.

  "Naoki, what does it feel like to be a farmer?"

  Naoki blinked, caught off guard. After a moment of thought, he answered, "Maybe it feels like freedom? Everyone sees it differently. Some people enjoy a life full of excitement, traveling the world, while others prefer the peace of staying in one pce, enjoying a simple, quiet life."

  Calyrex houghtfully. "I see. In that case, I think I would like to learn how to bee a farmer too. Naoki, I'll be ting on yuidan the future!"

  Naoki: "Wait… what?"

  The puzzled expression on Naoki's face must have been too obvious, because Calyrex offered a patient expnation.

  "The world has ged. The days of kings are long gone, and I no longer wish to be one."

  "I've thought a lot about what I might do now that I've let go of being a king. And when I saw you and your ranch, I realized it's something I'm ied in. Maybe farming is the right path for me."

  Naoki: 'Seriously?'

  The thought of Calyrex, the once-revered Pokémon King, deg to bee a farmer was almost too absurd to process. Naoki could already imagine how ed Calyrex's old followers would be if they found out their mighty king had chosen such a humble life.

  But, if he thought about it, Calyrex would actually make a great farmer—with his trol over nature and his deep uanding of pnts, he was more than qualified.

  "Well… I'm looking forward to it," Naoki said with a grin.

  A soft smile appeared on Calyrex's face, his expression lighter and more hopeful than it had been iuries.

  They tiheir journey down the snow-covered path, riding Koraidon and Gstrier side by side. The snowstorm swirled around them, but her of them mihe cold. Snowfkes settled on their shoulders as they pressed onward, together.