Pokémon: Just won the championship, the newbie growth system is here!

After walking a few dozen steps, snowflakes gradually began to fall from the sky.

Ye Luo exhaled a puff of white breath and looked up at the sky; winter had arrived.

Winter came later than usual this year.

The Kanto region is located in the Northern Hemisphere, where winter typically begins in December.

With only three days left until the end of the year, light snowflakes are just beginning to fall from the sky.

A snowflake landed on MoonEevee's ear, and it instinctively shuddered, gazing absently at the fine snowflakes in the sky.

"Aww~".

"It's been a long time since we've seen snow."

Ye Luo put the [Friendship Bell] back into his bag, and Umbreon leaped onto his shoulder and gently licked the trainer's cheek.

Ye Luo also rubbed Umbreon's head, and it made an affectionate sound.

Meloeta floated beside her, watching the fine snowflakes dancing in the sky, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.

Snowy days are always a rarity on a journey. The joyful Meloetta flitted nimbly around the fallen leaves, like a fairy in winter.

There are many things to do on a snowy day, such as having a snowball fight or building a snowman.

If you're with a trainer, there are even more games to play; humans can always find new and exciting ways to play.

Winter-limited delicacies—just thinking about them makes Meloetta's mouth water.

[Leaves fall, let's make some winter delicacies~.]

"We've run out of ingredients, so we need to go to the city to buy more."

No matter what we wanted to eat, we had no ingredients. We had already used up most of the supplies we bought in Dark Grey City along the way.

In winter, the yield of wild tree fruits is even lower, so it is obviously unrealistic to expect to obtain nature's bounty by scavenging.

Winter is a test for travelers.

But so what? Ye Luo and the others have already come to the city, where they can escape the trials of nature.

"Give me two servings of fried rice cakes."

I bought fried rice cakes from a street vendor to satisfy my Pokémon's appetite first, and then I'll look for the next thing to do.

The first step for a new trainer arriving in a city is naturally to challenge the gym, but Ye Luo's goal is a little different.

"There's no need to challenge the gym, and I've discovered something."

Occasionally, passersby would cast curious glances at the trainer, noticing the rice cakes mysteriously disappearing from the trainer's bamboo skewer.

Is it a magic trick?

Ye Luo picked up another piece of rice cake for herself and chewed it.

"Based on the tests along the way, the items provided by the mission are good, but not much of a necessity."

The Friendship Bell is supposed to be a good thing, but Ye Luo found it to be quite ordinary after using it for a while.

Being able to chat with your own Pokémon and understand each other's thoughts is the most basic thing, isn't it? You don't need any magical items to help you.

The [Pilot's Crown] is also a good thing, as it increases the power of Pokémon's moves by a full 10%, but in reality, you can hardly see any noticeable feedback.

The principle of diminishing marginal utility applies; his Pokémon is already very strong, and if it increases by another 10%, neither the trainer nor the Pokémon itself will notice.

The only effect is to make it look nice and serve as a decoration.

"In summary, these are all non-essential items, more like decorative accessories."

Although some people believe that this thing is useless, they still feel they can't live without it, Ye Luo doesn't actually have obsessive-compulsive disorder.

"So my idea is to just let things take their course. I just wait for these text messages to come and follow the tasks. It's not very meaningful."

At first, Ye Luo thought it was nice to be given money and some props, but after traveling through two cities, what was the point of working so hard for such unworthy rewards?

A single mission only grants 2000 Alliance Coins, enough to cover a little travel expenses, and that's about it.

"Having a walkthrough in a game might make the journey easier, but it also takes away a lot of the fun."

Ye Luo felt that way at that moment.

After all, he wasn't a novice trainer who had just started out, so it wouldn't make sense for him to continue treating this as a journey for beginners.

This idea only came to him recently, inspired by seeing real rookie trainers going on adventures.

Leaving their hometowns to venture into the city, challenging gyms to earn badges, and participating in the Indigo League to strive to become Pokémon Master Trainers—both Xiaozhi and Xiaoxu are working hard towards this goal.

In contrast, Ye Luo himself just eats and drinks on the road. It's not that this is bad, but Ye Luo lacks a goal.

"Whether it's adventure or exploration, it all seems like a waste of time right now. I need to find something to do."

[Hmm? I think this is fine~.]

Meloeta happily ate the grilled rice cakes, not caring much about the boring trip.

There are plenty of boring days ahead of them. Meloetta is a Pokémon that has lived for a very long time. The lifespan of legendary Pokémon is unknown. It is very happy to have such a leisurely life now.

Singing songs with Ye Luo every day, occasionally being affectionate with her, and enjoying delicious food—this kind of life is wonderful.

Ye Luo lay back on the bench, watching the snowflakes drifting in the sky, and murmured.

"It's not that I think this kind of journey is bad, it's just a bit salty, right, Umbreon?"

"Huh~?"

I held Umbreon to my chest and rubbed its ears. Umbreon didn't resist and tilted its head in confusion.

Ye Luo pondered.

"There isn't a more meaningful goal or something more interesting for me to do."

Where exactly is this grand vision and aspiration?

Ring ring ring ring.

At that moment, Arceus's phone sent another text message, but Ye Luo hung up without even thinking about it.

At first, following the missions to complete the journey was a bit novel, but now I just don't find it very enjoyable.

Perhaps it was because it snowed today that the current league champions were a little melancholy.

[That's not true.]

Meloeta smiled and encouraged him, speaking telepathically.

[Ye Luo has always been this kind of person, ever since we met~.]

She thought a lot about things. When they first met, she was even more timid than she is now. Meloeta saw how hard he worked to become a champion.

Seeing her little trainer working so hard, nothing made Meloetta happier than that; she felt like she could eat two extra bowls of rice today.

[I've become a little lazy lately, but as long as I'm happy, it's fine~.]

It was rare for Meloeta to comfort people like this, and Ye Luo couldn't help but smile wryly and complain.

"Can I be lazier than Meloetta?"

All I do every day is eat, sleep, or sing.

If it weren't for having seven ancestors to serve at home, Ye Luo wouldn't have been able to be both elegant in the living room and skilled in the kitchen all the way through life.

[Hmph~♪, it's only right to pamper Loetta~.]

Meloetta makes no secret of the fact that trainers should pamper it; with a legendary Pokémon by its side, what more could it possibly want?

Meloetta knew she was rare, and her journey made her talkative.

[It's only right to provide them with good food and drink, after all, Meloetta is willing to travel with Ye Luo~.]

"Because I can cook delicious food?"

[Because I like it~.]

Umbreon opened its big red eyes and cried out, as if to say, "Me too."

When feeling inexplicably down, Pokémon can comfort you. Ye Luo patted Meloetta and Umbreon's heads and felt much better.

Arceus didn't check the messages on his phone; following the mission became unnecessary.

However, the message that Ye Luo ignored was the most interesting one along the way.

Objective: Arrive in Cerulean City (Completed).

That's right, a journey is about exploring the unknown and taking risks. Perhaps it shouldn't be issued through missions; the core of adventure is figuring things out for yourself.

But don't worry, you've arrived in Cerulean City, the beginner's guide has ended, and the "Beginner Trainer's Guide" will be updated.

The destination has been reached; all that's needed to begin the journey is an opportunity, and that opportunity will soon appear.

Please take note.