Though Leo had a rough guess about how his "golden finger" worked, reality kept him from testing it.
First, he didn't have a Pokémon. Second, the original owner of this body was simply too broke.
At 3:00 AM, having barely filled his stomach, Leo began to take stock of his situation.
Being transported to this world was certainly something to celebrate, but no matter the world or the ambition, filling one's belly always came first.
He washed the dishes and then sat at the desk to organize the previous owner's belongings.
As a drifter, Naoki's backpack contained very little. Besides a few changes of clothes, there were only three packs of dried noodles and a pile of loose coins and bills.
Leo counted them. The total came to about 2,300 Pokédollars.
Forget traveling—this amount wouldn't even keep him from starving for a month.
Calculating the local cost of living in his head, Leo couldn't help but bury his face in his hands and sigh.
Ah, life is hard...
But then, remembering the cute and powerful Pokémon from the anime, he rallied his spirits.
"One step at a time!"
Perhaps it was the lack of rest before his transmigration, or maybe this body was just exhausted, but the moment his stomach was full, a wave of drowsiness crashed over him.
He didn't fight it. The thought of finally getting a good night's sleep—without worrying about being late for work or scrimping to pay the mortgage—was a relief. Tomorrow would be a new day.
Leo turned off the light, lay down on the wooden bed, and quickly fell into a deep slumber.
The next morning, he was awakened by knocking.
Leo's eyes snapped open. He sat up in a panic, scanning the room before reality hit him: he had really been transported.
He let out a breath of relief, but the knocking continued.
Puzzled, Leo ran a hand through his messy hair and got out of bed. He opened the door to find an elderly man standing there. He was slightly portly, wore a brown vest, and had a black gentleman's hat perched on his head.
The man looked to be between sixty and seventy years old. Seeing Leo, his face broke into a warm, kindly smile.
Standing beside the old man was a bipedal creature that looked like a lizard.
Its body was a vibrant green, so sleek it seemed to shine in the morning light. It had a tire-like structure on its throat, and a strong, thick dark-green tail swayed gently behind it, tipped with a translucent white.
It stared at Leo with large, curious eyes.
Leo was instantly captivated. He recognized the Pokémon immediately—Cyclizar.
And the old man before him was the Mayor of Verdanturf Town.
"I heard you say yesterday that you were staying to manage the ranch," the Mayor began. "I thought you might be unfamiliar with the work, and cleaning up alone is tiring, so I brought this little one along."
Leo paused, and a memory surfaced:
Yesterday morning, when the original Naoki returned to the ranch, he had run into the old Mayor. The Mayor had recognized him and, after some small talk, had said:
"This is the legacy your grandfather left for you. I knew you'd return someday, so I've been coming by to help clean up every now and then. It's been abandoned for years, but the house is still livable. You can stay here with peace of mind!"
The original Naoki had politely thanked him.
The Mayor had smiled. "I was friends with your grandfather when we were young. I even held you when you were a baby! This was his dying wish—that the ranch be handed over to you!"
The Mayor probably assumed the original Naoki had returned to run the ranch, Leo thought.
Leo understood the situation now, but looking at the Cyclizar, he was still a bit confused.
Looking at the tall, thin young man before him, the Mayor felt a pang of pity.
What a poor child, he thought. All his family gone, leaving him alone in this world.
After seeing Naoki yesterday, the Mayor had gone home and brought over the child of his own Cyclizar.
First, so the Cyclizar could keep him company. Second, so it could help him manage the ranch.
The Mayor sighed inwardly but asked gently, "Can you help me take care of him?"
Leo was silent.
As an adult, he immediately understood the Mayor's intention.
He looked at the Cyclizar.
The Cyclizar looked back, its big eyes full of innocence and curiosity.
Cyclizar, a Dragon and Normal-type Pokémon, had lived alongside households in the Paldea region since ancient times.
They had a gentle nature and a sensitivity to cold, which led them to let humans ride on their backs to share body warmth. Because of this, in the unique region of Paldea, Cyclizar also served as a common mode of transportation.
Leo couldn't think of a reason to refuse. He wanted a Pokémon of his own.
Getting a starter from a local professor like Ash in the anime seemed impossible now. He had no Poké Balls and certainly couldn't capture a wild Pokémon with his bare hands.
"Thank you," Leo said. "I'll take good care of him."
Hearing this, the Mayor relaxed and grinned. "Well then, I'll leave him to you. Oh, right—it's your first day. You probably aren't familiar with the work here, are you?"
In his past life, Leo was used to the 9-to-5 grind. All of this was indeed foreign to him.
"Yeah," Leo nodded. In that moment, the question he had pondered last night found its answer.
He had nowhere else to go, and his knowledge of this world came only from anime and games. Staying here was his best option—at least he had a roof over his head.
The Mayor smiled. "Then let me give you a tour! By the way, you left Paldea to live in Hoenn when you were ten, right?"
"Yes," Leo replied.
"Ten years have passed in a blink of an eye," the Mayor said wistfully. "Time truly flies."
The bustling scenes of the past were still vivid in his memory, but now, only an abandoned, dilapidated ranch remained.
Weeds and rocks had claimed the fields. The Pokémon barn had been eroded by time until only a skeleton remained, its original shape barely recognizable.
As the two walked through the ranch, the Cyclizar followed obediently, stealing glances at the human youth.
Leo didn't notice. Since he had decided to stay, he listened intently to every word the Mayor said.
Nostalgia filled the Mayor's eyes. At every stop, memories of the past surfaced.
"This land in front of us is the farmland. Long ago, all sorts of crops grew here. Come autumn, the harvest was bountiful."
"That house is the rancher's residence. The large box next to it is the shipping bin. You can put harvested crops or milk in there."
"There's a valley to the east of the ranch. Mostly gentle, small Pokémon live there. You can forage for wild goods and berries, then put whatever you don't need into the shipping bin."
"Every afternoon at 5:00 PM, someone from town will come to collect the items and tally the bill. The goods are taken to the Verdanturf Market for sale."
"Once you get established, special trucks will come for pick-ups! They'll transport the ranch's produce to every corner of Paldea."
Leo blinked.
Is this Harvest Moon?
Fortunately, he had played farming sims before, so he quickly grasped the concepts.
Then, Leo spotted a derelict building surrounded by large trees and tall grass.
"What's that?" he asked curiously.
The Mayor looked over and sighed with regret. "That's the Pokémon barn. Your grandfather used to keep over a dozen Miltank imported from Johto there."
He frowned and sighed again. "After he passed, your parents sold the Miltank, and the barn slowly fell into ruin."
"But don't worry. Once you get the hang of things, you can commission the carpenter's shop to expand your house and repair the barn."
"Oh, and I've left all the tools you'll need over there."
The Mayor pointed to a shed behind the house. "An axe for chopping wood, a hammer for breaking rocks, a hoe for tilling, a watering can, a sickle for cutting grass, and some seeds suitable for spring planting. In short, I leave this ranch to you!"
"I hope you can manage it well and restore it to its former glory. If that day comes, your grandfather will surely be happy!"
Leo was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I'll do my best."
The Mayor smiled at his answer. "Then I won't keep you. Please look after Cyclizar. He's strong, so he'll definitely be a big help around the ranch."
Hearing this, Cyclizar let out a happy cry. "Gaa-ow!"
The Mayor chuckled and turned to leave. But after a few steps, he turned back. "One more thing!"
"Yes?"
"You can keep the wood and stone you gather. Once you save enough money, you can take them to the carpenter's shop for the expansions and repairs. It'll save you a huge amount on material costs!"
Leo made a mental note of it.
The Mayor tipped his hat from a distance. "I live in Verdanturf Town. If you need anything, come find me. Cyclizar knows the way; just ride him and he'll take you straight there."
"Okay," Leo nodded.
With that, the Mayor left.
It was the spring of League Year 198. The weather in Paldea hadn't quite warmed up yet.
Leo and Cyclizar stood at the cabin door, watching the Mayor's figure recede into the distance.
Once he was gone, Leo turned to the sleek Cyclizar beside him.
Though he was a novice, he could tell from its appearance and demeanor that this Cyclizar was very healthy and well-raised.
Thinking of the magical nature of Pokémon, Leo couldn't help but ask, "Cyclizar?"
"Gaa-ow?" Cyclizar turned to look at him.
It knew its name.
"Can you understand me?" Leo asked. "If you can, nod your head."
"Gaa-ow~"
Cyclizar nodded obediently.
It was just like the anime—Pokémon could understand human speech!
Leo's heart was filled with wonder.
According to the lore, Pokémon were magical creatures with intelligence and emotions far surpassing ordinary animals. Some even rivaled humans.
Looking at Cyclizar's smooth skin, Leo reached out and touched it.
It felt different than he imagined—not rough or scary like a real lizard, but more like high-quality leather. Like a motorcycle seat.
Cyclizar didn't shy away from his touch. Instead, it narrowed its eyes comfortably, looking quite pleased.
Copying Ash from the anime, Leo said, "Cyclizar, I'm counting on you from now on!"
"Gaa-ow~"
After that, Leo didn't know what else to say.
He pulled his hand back, and suddenly, his stomach growled.
Cyclizar heard it and looked at Leo's stomach.
Embarrassed, Leo asked, "Have you eaten? I'm about to cook. Want to join me?"
"Gaa-ow~"
Although Cyclizar had already eaten breakfast, it seemed very happy about its new owner's invitation.
It nodded and followed Leo back into the wooden cabin.
Looking at the cabin, a different feeling welled up in Leo's chest.
He took a deep breath. This is my home now!
In his last life, he was a corporate slave. Being a leisurely farmer in this life didn't sound too bad.
Ranch life might be tiring, but at least he was working for himself.
A new life was beginning. Leo glanced at the Cyclizar beside him.
Speak of the devil—last night he was lamenting his lack of a Pokémon to test his golden finger, and this morning he was gifted one.
In that case, I choose you!
Leo fired up the stove—er, boiled the water—ready to cook a proper bowl of clear noodle soup. He needed to see what effect it would have, and if it would grant magical buffs to Pokémon just like in the game.