Lucas's residence occupied the second floor of the building, which featured two bathrooms—one for himself and another specially designed for Diancie.
Lucas's bathroom was ordinary, just a common type of facility, while Diancie's was quite unique.
"Diancie, let me help you take a bath first," Lucas said as he escorted her to her bathroom.
"Okay, okay," Diancie happily settled into the bathtub, waiting for Lucas to attend to her.
Lucas placed Komala on a nearby chair. "Komala, wait a moment. We'll take a bath after Diancie is done."
Komala didn't seem to understand Lucas's words, hugging its log pillow and swaying back and forth on the chair, leisurely and carefree, as if without a worry in the world.
Lucas walked to the adjacent cabinet, opened it, and pulled out a large bag. He dragged it to the bathtub and opened it, allowing pink mineral gravel to pour into the tub with a rustling sound. The material gradually filled the bathtub, covering Diancie's body.
Being a Rock-type Pokémon, Diancie didn't enjoy bathing in water. These special pink minerals served as her bathing medium.
Each grain was crystal clear, resembling small gems. As they flowed over Diancie's body, they removed impurities while making the diamonds on her body more lustrous and strengthening her rocky exterior.
This special mineral could be recycled and only needed replacement when it completely lost its luster.
This was another newbie benefit provided by the system. When the introductory period ended, if Lucas wanted to continue obtaining this resource, he would need to work for it himself. The system hadn't yet revealed exactly how he might acquire it in the future.
"So comfortable~" Diancie squinted her eyes and scooped up a handful of gravel, pouring it over her body. The minerals fell with a rustling sound, making crisp noises as they collided with each other.
Lucas also grabbed a handful and gently rubbed it across Diancie's body, carefully cleaning every part.
"Hee hee~" With Lucas's movements, Diancie couldn't help but let out a lighthearted laugh. "Lucas, be gentle, it tickles!"
"Okay, okay!" Lucas readily agreed, his hand movements becoming much gentler.
"That feels wonderful!"
Diancie lay flat in the bathtub, her face full of contentment, allowing the special gravel to flow across her body. After the bath, the pink diamonds on her body shone brightly, clearly reflecting Lucas's silhouette.
When they were nearly finished, Lucas stood up and said to Diancie, "Alright, please put the bath minerals back in the bag when you're done. Komala and I are going to take our bath now."
Diancie rolled over in the tub, squinted her eyes and rested on the edge, her expression lazy as she replied:
"Got it, I'll clean up later. I still want to soak for a while, you worrywart!"
Lucas poked her forehead with his finger in mock annoyance and said, "You have the nerve to call me a worrywart! You're the real little busybody!"
Diancie turned her head away from Lucas, burying her body deeper in the bath minerals.
Lucas shook his head, picked up Komala (who was still swaying on the chair), and left Diancie's bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Entering his own bathroom, Lucas filled the tub with warm water, cradled Komala, and settled into the bath with a satisfied sigh.
"Ahh~" Lucas looked up and took a deep breath. "Comfortable."
Komala hugged its log pillow and floated on the water, its little tail swaying back and forth as it drifted around the tub. Though its eyes remained closed as always, Lucas sensed it was enjoying itself.
After relaxing for a while and feeling the day's fatigue gradually dissipate, Lucas slowly sat up and reached for Komala, who had drifted to the far end of the tub. "Come here, let me wash you properly."
He squeezed out some shampoo and applied it to Komala's fur, working it in with the same skillful motions he used for kneading dough. Soon, a mass of bubbles enveloped the small Pokémon.
Though Komala was petite, less than half a meter tall, its fur was soft and dense. Without thorough washing, it would be difficult to clean properly.
Lucas also carefully washed Komala's cherished log pillow.
Perhaps because there were too many bubbles on its body, Komala shivered and suddenly sneezed, sending countless foam bubbles flying—many landing right on Lucas's face.
"You little rascal!"
Lucas was momentarily stunned, then wiped his face before playfully extending two fingers to tickle Komala's sensitive spots.
"Hee hee~"
Even in its perpetual slumber, Komala couldn't help but laugh aloud at the tickling sensation.
"Splash, splash~"
Its small limbs kicked and waved energetically, splashing water everywhere, while its log pillow bobbed up and down with the waves.
After being thoroughly tickled by Lucas, Komala floated on its back, seemingly spent, while Lucas hummed a little tune as he washed himself.
After playing with Komala for a while, the dejection he'd felt all day from being avoided by wild Pokémon gradually lifted.
Once they finished bathing, Lucas carried Komala out of the tub and used the shower to rinse away the bubbles from both their bodies.
Leaving the bathroom, Lucas changed into pajamas and wrapped Komala in a fluffy towel, gently drying the wet fur on its body.
Komala kept its eyes closed, appearing to sleep soundly as always, but the expression on its face was one of complete contentment.
Lucas took it to the living room on the second floor, found a hair dryer, and carefully dried its fur section by section.
The system had been impressively thorough—the house came equipped with all necessary household items, leaving Lucas with nothing to worry about.
"How's the temperature? Is it too hot?" Lucas asked while stroking Komala's fur.
"Mmm~"
Komala lay quietly on Lucas's lap without moving, its hindquarters slightly raised and its little tail quivering with apparent satisfaction.
Lucas smiled at this. "I guess the temperature is just right!"
After a while, Komala's fur was completely dry and fluffy, making it resemble a plush toy.
"Ahh~"
Lucas couldn't resist burying his face in Komala's soft belly fur and gently nuzzled it. "This is so comforting!"
It was deeply therapeutic—Lucas instantly felt that all the day's frustrations melted away.
Freshly bathed, Komala smelled of shampoo with hints of its natural grassy scent. As Lucas gently rubbed his face against its belly, a drowsy feeling overcame him.
Komala seemed slightly annoyed and pushed at Lucas's face with its paws, but Lucas didn't mind his tousled hair and continued to enjoy the softness of Komala's fur.
Komala: =(_)=
After a while, Lucas pulled his face away from Komala's belly with a satisfied expression. "Thank you, Komala, for this wonderful treatment!"
The Drowsing Pokémon responded by gently patting Lucas's face with its small paw, though Lucas felt no discomfort from the gesture.
Cradling Komala in his arms, Lucas carried it downstairs.
A miniature house hung on the wall outside Lucas's front door—Komala's preferred sleeping spot.
It wasn't that Lucas wouldn't allow Komala to live inside; rather, Komala itself preferred being close to nature. The outdoor setting helped it sleep better than the confines of the house.
Gently placing Komala into its mini-house and tucking it under a quilt, Lucas said softly, "Komala, good night."
Komala turned over, presenting the back of its head to Lucas, and soft snoring sounds soon followed.
Returning inside, Lucas gently closed the door and went upstairs. By this time, Diancie had finished her bath and emerged from the bathroom after tidying up.
"Lucas, good night."
"Diancie, good night."
Lucas gave Diancie a warm goodnight hug before they both retired to their respective rooms.
After the lights were turned off, the building fell silent.
"Hoot hoot~"
"Krick krick~"
The nocturnal Pokémon of the Nebel Plateau became active as darkness deepened.
In the middle of the night, a small figure stumbled and collapsed at the doorstep of Lucas's house.
"Gulpin~"
The figure called out weakly before losing consciousness.
Lucas had been sleeping soundly after his busy day when suddenly a loud bell rang, startling him upright. "What's wrong? What's happening?"
Diancie was awakened simultaneously.
They both opened their doors at the same moment, looked at each other and asked, "What's going on?"
"I think... it's the bell at the door," Diancie said after a moment's thought.
A bronze bell hung at Lucas's doorway, attached to the platform where Komala slept during daylight hours.
Lucas had wondered about the bell's purpose, but now he finally understood.
He and Diancie hurried downstairs, and when they opened the door, they saw Komala striking the bronze bell with its log pillow.
"Komala, what are you doing in the middle of the night?" Lucas asked, rubbing his throbbing head.
Seeing Lucas and Diancie emerge, Komala stopped ringing the bell, hugged its pillow, jumped back into its small house, wrapped itself in the quilt, and resumed sleeping—as if it hadn't been the one making the commotion.
Lucas: ...
Just then, Diancie appeared to notice something and pointed to a shadow at the bottom of the steps. "Lucas, what's that?"
Lucas followed Diancie's gesture and spotted a round form lying there, barely visible in the dim light.
A Pokémon?
He quickly ran over and finally saw the true identity of the small lump.
It was a Gulpin.
Observation Eye activated.
Gulpin
[Type] Poison
[Ability] Gluttony
[Gender] Female
[Level] 10
[Moves] Pound, Yawn, Poison Gas, Sludge, Acid Spray, Haze
[Individual Values]
HP: 15
Attack: 5
Defense: 17
Special Attack: 18
Special Defense: 19
Speed: 25
"It's injured!" Diancie exclaimed.
The Gulpin was covered in wounds, and there was no telling what hardships it had endured before collapsing here.
"Let's bring it inside first," Lucas said.
"Right," Diancie nodded, quickly bending down to pick up the Gulpin and carrying it swiftly into the house.
"I'll get some medicine to treat its wounds," Lucas said, rushing upstairs.
Soon he returned with a small first aid kit—another item the system had provided when summoning the building. It contained common medicines and medical supplies.
Diancie carefully placed the Gulpin on the table, and Lucas promptly opened the kit to clean, disinfect, medicate, and bandage the Pokémon's injuries.
Just as Lucas was finishing the treatment, the Gulpin slowly regained consciousness. Upon seeing Lucas, it immediately cried out in fear and scurried off the table.
"Gul-pin! Gul-pin!"
The Pokémon fled in panic until it found a corner to hide in, its body trembling uncontrollably.
Due to its sudden movements, the newly dressed wounds reopened, and traces of blood seeped through the bandages.
"Gulpin, don't be afraid. We just want to help you—we won't hurt you," Lucas said, stepping forward in an attempt to calm the frightened Pokémon.
However, as Lucas approached, Gulpin's trembling intensified. It instinctively opened its mouth and spat a stream of purple acid toward him.
Fortunately, Diancie was quick to react and jumped in front of Lucas, creating a Light Screen to block Gulpin's attack.
Realizing what it had done, Gulpin's face filled with regret and remorse. It hadn't truly meant to attack Lucas—it had simply been too terrified.
Lucas harbored no ill feelings toward the Pokémon.
"It's okay, don't be afraid. I won't come any closer—just try to calm down."
Understanding that his presence was frightening the Gulpin, Lucas slowly backed away step by step.
When Lucas had retreated to a sufficient distance, Gulpin finally calmed slightly. He asked in a gentle voice, "Would you let Diancie help treat your wound?"
Gulpin glanced cautiously at Diancie, then lowered its gaze and remained huddled in the corner without moving. Lucas noticed that its body still trembled slightly.
It seemed clear that Lucas, being human, was the source of its fear.
After allowing Diancie to tend to the reopened wound, Lucas asked, "Gulpin, are you hungry? I can make you something to eat!"
Gulpin didn't respond verbally, but its stomach answered with an audible growl.
Lucas smiled gently and said, "Wait just a moment—it'll be ready soon."
With that, he quickly headed to the kitchen and lit the stove to prepare steamed buns. The ingredients were readily available, and the refrigerator still contained dough he hadn't used earlier in the day.
The refrigerator in Lucas's house was a special appliance provided by the system. Any food placed in its special compartment would remain in the same condition as when it was stored, with no risk of spoilage.
Before long, the delicious aroma of steamed buns wafted from the kitchen.
"Food's ready."
Lucas emerged from the kitchen carrying a basin of freshly steamed buns. Knowing that Gulpin, as a species, tended to have hearty appetites, he had prepared extra.
After handing the basin to Diancie, Lucas gave her a knowing wink. Diancie understood immediately and carried the steamed buns over to the Gulpin.
"Here you go, try one. They're delicious," she encouraged softly.