Descending from the third floor, he made his way to the kitchen on the first floor. His room was on the upper level, while Menchi was currently preparing breakfast downstairs. The opening ceremony for the food competition was scheduled for noon, and the two of them had already registered the day before.
Before he even reached the kitchen, a cheerful cry rang out—"Happii~ Happii~"
Larry stepped inside and saw Menchi gently patting the top of a Happiny with a smile on her face. "What's up? You look like you're in a good mood." He walked up to her, reaching out to pet the Happiny's head as well. He had to admit, its texture was incredibly pleasant to the touch.
Happiny looked like a big pink-and-white egg, leading many people to believe it had smooth, bare skin. However, in reality, its body was covered in a fine layer of soft fur. These tiny hairs acted as sensory receptors, allowing it to pick up on the emotions of both Pokémon and humans alike.
It turned out that when Menchi had been preparing breakfast, Happiny had eagerly volunteered to provide the egg it carried in its pouch. While Happiny cherished these eggs, it also loved sharing them with others, believing that bringing happiness to those around it was just as important as enjoying the eggs itself.
According to legend, the eggs laid by Happiny were filled with pure joy—anyone who ate one would instantly feel happiness welling up inside them. Seeing how excited it was, Menchi decided to take its offer and use the egg for breakfast.
Both she and Larry were curious about how it would taste. To preserve as much of its natural flavor as possible, Menchi opted for a simple boiling method—just like she had done with the Dream Egg during the Hunter Exam.
Not long after, breakfast was ready. The most eye-catching dish on the table was, without a doubt, the perfectly boiled egg.
Menchi picked up a spoon and tapped the shell, creating a small crack before carefully peeling it away. As soon as the shell came off, an incredibly rich aroma filled the air.
The moment she caught the scent, Menchi's eyes sharpened. This wasn't just any ordinary ingredient. At minimum, it had to be B-grade. But considering the fragrance alone, there was a strong possibility that it had reached A-grade!
For an ingredient of this caliber, she couldn't risk dulling its natural flavor with imprecise cuts. With a flick of her wrist, a sharp Aura-forged knife materialized in her hand, glowing with a silver-white light.
At the same time, she conjured a matching plate made entirely of Aura, placing it on the table. She quickly and skillfully sliced the egg, arranging the pieces neatly on the plate. The fragrance became even more intense, making both of them nearly salivate on the spot.
Larry wasted no time. He picked up a piece of the egg and placed it in his mouth. The moment it touched his tongue, his mind went blank.
The taste was beyond description—words simply failed him. No existing vocabulary could do justice to what he was experiencing. It wasn't just delicious; it was like a flood of pure bliss washing over his entire being.
All of his best memories—his happiest moments, his most comforting experiences—were somehow woven into that one bite. It was as if every positive emotion he had ever felt had been distilled into a single, overwhelming sensation.
If he had to describe it in a single word, there was only one that fit: happiness. And it wasn't just the taste. The egg had tangible effects as well.
The moment he swallowed, a warm energy surged through his body. His fatigue vanished, his muscles felt refreshed, and his mind cleared as if he had just woken from the most restful sleep of his life.
Even compared to the legendary White and Purple Pufferfish he had eaten before, this egg provided an even greater boost. His physical strength and Psychic Energy skyrocketed in an instant.
Menchi, too, had taken a bite, and though she was just as enraptured by the flavor, she consciously held back. She knew that the egg's effects would be far more beneficial to Larry than to herself. Even though she wanted to indulge, she willingly set her desires aside, making sure he got the majority of it.
In the span of just a few seconds, the entire breakfast was devoured.
"Happii~ Happii~" Happiny beamed with joy as it watched them enjoy its gift, satisfied that it had successfully brought happiness to those around it.
After taking a moment to fully process the boost he had just received, Larry turned to look at the grinning Happiny beside him. His heart swelled with joy—it felt like he had just won the lottery.
Who would've thought that the real treasure had been by his side all along?
Curious, he asked Happiny about the eggs, wanting to know more about their properties. That's when he learned an important detail: these eggs weren't something it could produce endlessly.
The small egg it carried in its pouch was actually a precursor to its Egg-Laying ability, essentially a different variation of the skill. While ordinary eggs still retained some of the healing effects of Egg-Laying, like how his fatigue had disappeared just now, their primary focus was on taste.
Meanwhile, the Egg-Laying skill itself prioritized healing properties over flavor. That meant, just like the standard Egg-Laying ability, Happiny could only produce a limited number of these small eggs each day.
"This is already amazing!" Larry said immediately when he noticed Happiny looking a little down, as if it was disappointed by its own limits. He reached out and patted its head, offering reassurance. "No need to feel bad about it."
Hearing that, Happiny quickly brightened up again, its usual cheerful expression returning.
Larry, however, secretly encouraged it in his mind to work harder and make more eggs in the future—especially for the main team.
Then, shifting his gaze, he looked toward Menchi. Over the past few days, he had gotten a clearer understanding of her. Maybe… it was about time for their relationship to move forward.
Just a little longer—after the food competition, perhaps. Noticing his smile, Menchi returned it, and for a moment, the two of them, along with Happiny, simply exchanged glances, as if the taste of happiness still lingered in the air.
After breakfast and a short rest, the two set off toward the competition venue.
Along the way, they spotted plenty of other people heading in the same direction, clearly fellow contestants. By the time they arrived, the area was already packed, and on stage stood the host, ready to go over the rules once again.