Chapter 241: The Spice of Spicy Pepper

“Noivern~”

Just as Natsume and Dragonite flew back to the farm, they saw Noivern spewing fire as it flew out of the cabin, then dove straight into the farm’s stream.

The Lapras swimming in the water quickly scattered, making way for Noivern.

Glub, glub~

Noivern gulped down the river water in large mouthfuls.

“What’s going on?”

Natsume jumped off Dragonite’s back, looking puzzled at Noivern in the water.

“Noivern~”

Noivern stuck out its tongue, panting heavily.

Kiko and Mikoharu ran out of the room.

“Are you okay, Noivern?”

“Gym Leader Natsume, you’re back.”

Mikoharu, having spent some time on the farm, had become much more comfortable around Natsume.

“Yeah, just got home.”

Natsume pointed at Noivern. “Did it eat something?”

Mikoharu looked a bit embarrassed. “It ate some chili powder I brought.”

Gardevoir stepped forward to explain. “Noivern mixed the chili powder Mikoharu brought with some fruit.”

“Chili powder with fruit?”

Not long ago, in the farm cabin’s kitchen.

“Indeedee?”

Indeedee looked curiously at Mikoharu as she walked in.

Mikoharu tied on an apron and grinned. “You’ve all been taking such good care of me these days.”

“So I wanted to treat everyone to some local specialties.”

Mikoharu pulled out two bottles of chili powder. “This is chili powder made from the teeth of Scovillain and Spicy Pepper Pokémon.”

“They’re very important seasonings in our region.”

“By the way, can Natsume bro handle spicy food?”

Kiko, standing nearby, thought for a moment. “Probably, yeah.”

Mikoharu smiled. “Then it’s settled. Leave it to me.”

And so, Mikoharu became the head chef for the day’s meal.

Indeedee helped as her assistant.

The main ingredient, of course, was the giant claw Natsume had brought back.

The claw meat was prepared in a spicy boiling style.

Amidst the leaping flames and rolling steam, dishes like spicy stir-fried meat and chopped pepper omelets gradually made their way to the dining table.

Once the meal was ready, Natsume still hadn’t returned.

So Kiko cut up some more fruit.

“I heard that in Shikoku, many people like to eat fruit with chili powder. Have you tried it?”

Mikoharu nodded. “Yeah, I have.”

“Honestly, it’s pretty good—sour and spicy. But not everyone likes it.”

Kiko said, “I’ve never tried it. Can you make it?”

Mikoharu grinned. “Of course.”

“It’s just a matter of mixing the right seasoning.”

“Noivern~”

Mikoharu turned around just in time to see this.

“Wait, Noivern!”

Mikoharu panicked, “You’ve put way too much on there, and you can’t just eat it like that!”

“Noivern~”

But Noivern had already popped the chili powder-covered Berry into its mouth.

The moment it swallowed, a wave of heat surged through its body.

“Noivern!”

Noivern’s face instantly turned red.

In a panic, Noivern rushed outside.

Boom~

Flamethrower!

Flames shot into the sky.

Bam~

Noivern dove headfirst into a stream of water.

Natsume, after hearing Gardevoir’s account, looked at Noivern and laughed, “Learned your lesson, huh? You can’t just eat anything you find.”

“Noivern…”

Noivern sighed.

“Torkoal~”

Torkoal, lying nearby, happily puffed out white smoke.

Natsume said, “Come on, let me try some of that super spicy chili too.”

Local chefs almost always cultivate a Pokémon like this.

Natsume walked into the living room, took a seat at the dining table, and was greeted by a sea of red.

Today’s meal theme: Spicy!

“Gym Leader Natsume, give it a try~”

Mikoharu served Natsume a piece of spicy boiled shrimp, saying, “I made this using Clawitzer’s claw meat. The broth is made with that super spicy chili powder.”

“It’s a shame the farm doesn’t have any of those chilies. Otherwise, adding a touch of ‘Spicy Essence’ would’ve made it even better.”

Natsume looked at the chili oil dripping off the shrimp and said, “I think this is already more than enough.”

With that, Natsume popped the shrimp into his mouth.

The shrimp was tender.

As it melted in his mouth, the intense spiciness hit the deepest parts of his taste buds, sending a jolt through his nerves.

“Hiss~”

Natsume closed his eyes, and it was as if he could see flames dancing on ocean waves.

The shrimp’s juices and the chili exploded in his mouth, surging like a tide before fading away.

It was a fiery collision of flame and ocean!

Natsume opened his eyes and took another bite.

“How is it?”

Mikoharu looked at Natsume expectantly.

Natsume wiped the red oil from the corner of his mouth and praised, “One word: incredible!”

“Let me try too.”

Kiko took a bite, her lips moving slightly as she chewed.

“Hiss~”

Kiko gasped, fanning her mouth with her hand, “So spicy, so spicy~”

“But it’s so good.”

“Indeedee~” Indeedee brought Kiko a glass of cold water.

“Indeedee, you should try some too.”

Natsume served Indeedee a piece as well.

“Lopunny~”

The Lopunnies came running over.

They took a bite from the table, then immediately started hopping around.

The Lopunnies’ movements made it seem like the ground was burning their feet.

“Haha, take it easy, everyone.”

Natsume handed water to the Lopunnies, laughing, “It’s everyone’s first time trying something like this.”

“Manaphy~”

“Lugia~”

Outside, Manaphy and little Lugia walked in.

Natsume watched as the bouncing Manaphy and little Lugia approached and said, “Perfect timing, you two should try this too~”

“Manaphy~”

Mikoharu, watching Manaphy and little Lugia join the table, said happily, “Hehe, I’m going to write about today in my resume.”

“When I’m asked in future interviews if I have any work experience, I’ll say I once cooked for Ranger and the Temple of the Sea’s Manaphy and the sea god Lugia~”

“Ah, just thinking about it feels amazing~”

Natsume teased, “Then I guess I’m honored too, to have a legendary Pokémon’s personal chef preparing my meal.”

“Gym Leader Natsume, you’re just being mean now.”

“Haha, no way~”