Chapter 167

The Sixty-First Race Begins

“A魄力 is being shown here…”

Dragon Tooth’s transformation box quietly lay on the table, its matte black surface concealing the dragon powers hidden in the mirror, but the Pretty Cures, who clearly knew its actual capabilities, could only stare in disbelief at Ash’s actions.

From the start, they felt that Regina’s game was likely a trap, but they never expected Ash to use his transformation tool as a bet.

In contrast, Ash showed no sign of regret, with a self-assured smile curling at the corners of his lips, as if this was something trivial to him.

Bringing the others together, the girls started a small battle strategy meeting.

“This is definitely a trap!”

“Of course, it’s suspicious from any angle — but—”

Even Rikka, known for her冷静思考, couldn’t help but glance back at the card box Ash placed on the table.

“Mr. Ash is a man who keeps his promises.”

Arisu’s words drew everyone’s attention, and seeing their gaze awaiting an answer, the girl nodded slowly but firmly.

“This is something he told me himself.”

And what I confirmed through my actions.

“So, let’s trust him!”

Without hesitation, love believed in this statement not just for her companion, but also out of a desire to give Ash the benefit of the doubt.

“Really, as straightforward as usual, but if this is true.” Even Rikka admitted she had hope for this. “If he gets this, Mr. Ash won’t do us more harm.”

Then there will be no reason to stay in the Selfish Organization anymore!

After swiftly discussing, the girls stood in a row, ready for action, making a unanimous decision.

“Alright, then Regina, let’s go!”

“Hehe, just waiting for you to say that!”

Regina snapped her fingers, summoning a selfish beast with an alternate space inside, bringing them all to a more suitable place for the race.

Ira and Mama, both officers, took turns taking to the field. Of course, the process turned out as suspected, with the Selfish Organization employing all sorts of underhanded methods to win the first round. But blatant cheating soon received its retribution; transforming into Pretty Cures, they used their own power to forcibly break the cheating monopoly, successfully winning the second round.

The race came down to a decisive third match based on a best-of-three rule. Ash walked onto the field even at this critical point, unperturbed.

“Ash, set up the event for the third match, it’s all up to you!”

Seeing Regina waving from off the field cheering for him, alongside two others who were less willing but forced to cheer, Ash slightly nodded as acknowledgment.

Regina naturally felt confident about the race’s outcome – no need to say anything, the location, participants, and judges were all her people. As long as they avoid the issues of last round and Ash plays well, it would be a done deal.

But Ash stated he was really uncomfortable with all these sports competitions. Unlike gentle competition, he prefers straightforward fighting.

Why not settle it with a lighter?

“Ash, what should we do in the third match?” Extracting a stack of playing cards from his sleeve, Ash curled his finger and pulled the cards tautly towards the nervous girls, proposing a suggestion.

“Why not play a grown-up game such as poker, which matches your style?”

“No thank you!”

The girls unanimously rejected without hesitation; firstly, due to lack of experience, and secondly, they could tell Ash was adept at this.

Also,

“We are still middle school students, how can we gamble?”

“Ugh, boring good kids,” Ash said dismissively, putting away the poker deck and suddenly producing a large fan-shaped platform and fastening it over his wrist.

“If you don’t like gambling, how about this, DUEL!”

As Ash said “duel,” the sections on both sides of his wrist spread out and merged, forming a card placement area at the side.

This is the Duel Disk, not to say that Ash ever played YGO in some other world, he simply mentioned this game to a boss of a card company, who apparently made one, by the way, a genius player M liked playing this game a lot.

“Duel… does it refer to Yu-Gi-Oh?”

“Not sure what else could it be, Mana, what’s your deck?”

After searching her body, Love managed to pull out a stack of cards, with the topmost card, Junk Synchron, shining brilliantly.

“These are cards I made while watching the animated series on TV, the Junk deck, right? If Mr. Ash comes, can I use this?”

Checking his Perfect Twelve Beasts deck, Ash silently put the Duel Disk away.

“Let’s postpone it to next time.”

“Why?”

“Because there is no reason.”

He almost forgot that age gap limits them, is this supposed to be a hint?

While he thought about what to do next, seeing Ash in confusion, Aida suggested:

“Mr. Ash, why don’t we have a cooking competition?”

“Cooking?”

“Correct, we’ll make the same dish, and let everyone score it!”

Just as Aida gave her proposal, Regina eagerly answered for Ash.

“Okay! Mana, let’s give it a go if you suggest this!”

She didn’t expect Aida’s suggestion would involve scoring each other’s dishes; in Regina’s eyes, it was like handing them victory. Regardless of what Ash’s dish turns out to be, they just needed to give Aida’s dish the lowest score for them to secure the win.

“Mana, I only like instant noodles at home because I’m lazy, I can cook.”

Ash lifted the hand he uses to cover his face, revealing his dark eyes under the guise of a man staring at the girl.

“However, you’ll be wrong thinking I don’t know how to cook.”

My cooking, I learned it from Talent Tendō Soujiro and Sparda, who claims to be the best chef in the universe.

“I didn’t think so,” the only one aware of this Rikka didn’t gossip with the others about it, thus Love originally wasn’t aware either.

“I merely want to properly test my culinary skills against Mr. Ash. After all, I’m Ai Aida, daughter of the owner of the most famous pork-tailed tavern restaurant in Daibei city!”

Seeing the confident yet honest look in the young girl’s eyes, Ash couldn’t help smiling.

“Alright, let’s have the competition then.”

“Begin!”

With a snap of Regina’s fingers, their location instantly changed from a stadium to a fully equipped kitchen with meat, vegetables, eggs, and everything else they needed.

Glancing around at the pots, pans, gas stove, they both grabbed aprons and put them on.

“Ash-san.”

Ash turned around to face Ai, who, in her Cure Heart state, had an apron over her battle attire—an odd sight indeed. Her confident smile had her radiate a unique charm of a housewife.

“I will look forward to your cooking!”

“I shall do the same!”