Chapter 312

Forty-Third Chapter – Invader from Another World

Eddie was also part of [SCSO], but that description wasn’t entirely accurate. His position could only be described as an intern here with special recruitment.

While he lacked actual experience on his side and it would be reasonable for such a job to not be assigned to him, he still unhesitatingly joined this organization where danger was often encountered.

To say why, he hoped desperately to gain approval from his idol and also…

“Hey, I noticed you always carry this box. What’s inside?”

One of them picked up the box, but before they could react, Eddie snatched it back.

“Give it back, it’s mine!”

He quietly opened the box revealing two differently colored energy cores shimmering as usual, and then promptly closed it in relief.

Eddie did not want the honor passed on to him to tarnish his hands.

The others didn’t show much reaction; they were used to seeing this rookie making ridiculous moves.

“Tell me quickly! Big Boss Infinite mentioned something about, what’s this ‘odd dark reaction’?”

“We’re going to do what we usually do, but this time it’s confirmed that the ‘abnormal dark reaction’ is indeed in this universe. We should….. Hey, where did you go?”

The person asking him stopped mid-sentence. When he turned around, Eddie was already gone.

Just as he started feeling puzzled, warning lights above started blaring loudly, filling the room with shrill alarms and red lights.

[Warning! Warning! Transmission program activated—target…]

“Damn, it shows Eddie just entered!”

“That’s impossible, he shouldn’t have had permission to do that!”

“He must have obtained higher clearance when we weren’t looking and found the optimal route… That guy really knows how to do things!”

Closing the iron door, Eddie stood in front of a large teleportation device and pondered over the detection results.

“It says a dark reaction was detected, but reactions in both worlds—why is that? If arranged by number, Reaction [NO·8] and Reaction [NO·5] both exist, which one should I choose? Whatever, I’ll pick one at random!”

After just three seconds of indecision, Eddie chose to close his eyes and pushed a number randomly.

[Identification NO·5, initiating teleportation to target world [HeartCatch Pretty Cure].]

“I won’t stop, I’ve made up my mind to go and I will! This is my responsibility!”

Ignoring the calls from outside, Eddie held the box and dived into the open portal.

“I’m the one who’ll catch the culprit and earn everyone’s acceptance! Then—”

a new hero capable of protecting everyone!

“This idiot—!”

Someone directly cursed upon seeing Eddie disappear into the portal.

“Even with no proper attire, doesn’t he know unverified items can’t be taken to another world!”

—————

It was scorching flames and tranquil ripples.

Lei saw human-shaped shadows hidden behind the glow approaching them, moving directly through her towards the giant spider she once feared.

“Huu… Huu!”

Awakening from her dream, Lei adjusted her breathing. As a Pretty Cure, she had visions, even future glimpses, in her dreams. This wasn’t her first time experiencing this.

Last time, Lei and Erika witnessed a near-devouring spider and then battled the formidable enemy, Timons.

What did this dream mean? Erika likely had the same dream, but—

Lei thought of Tsukikage Lily, who claimed she was no longer a Pretty Cure. Would she still experience such dreams?

“Please come in.”

The door opened, and Hanazaki Kuriko sitting on the balcony watching the moon saw her granddaughter in her pajamas, holding a sleepy Cifrey.

“Oh, Lei, having trouble sleeping?”

“Mmm…”

Lei, woken from her premonition dream, didn’t feel well.

She didn’t wish to burden her grandmother—who couldn’t transform anymore—with her foreboding thoughts, so she asked another question.

“Grandma, you were a Pretty Cure fighting the Desert Apostles, right?”

“And if you won back then, why did the Desert Apostles return later?”

At Lei’s words, Kuriko closed her eyes and reminisced.

“In our old history, Earth and its inhabitants faced threats from the Desert Apostles or other dark forces multiple times.”

“During those times, Pretty Cure would rise to protect the world. Back then, I was chosen to become a Pretty Cure.”

“Reflecting now, these were tough battles. I exhausted all my power to seal away the largest enemy in the universe and defeat the Desert Apostles.”

Opening her eyes, gazing at her beloved granddaughter and junior, a gentle look filled Kuriko’s eyes.

“As time passed, new Pretty Cures emerged.”

“That was CureMoonlight.”

Lei smoothly followed her grandmother’s words.

“She was very strong back then. I thought we could finally end the conflict with the Desert Apostles, but…..”

Shaking her head, the sadness spread subtly.

“The Dark Pretty Cure, Timons, was a foe I never encountered as a Pretty Cure. Who knows what disturbances might arise now.”

“But there’s good in it as well, for example, someone able to help outside of battles.”

“Grandma, what?”

Lei paused. She recalled the affectionate conversation between her grandma and Ash after shopping for snacks.

“Maybe I’m overthinking, I can’t fully trust him,” Kuriko shook her head again, shifting gears. “However, if Lei and Erika, and even little Lily have faith in him, believe in what you hold dear, and let him be your strength.”

“Grandma… Yes!”

Hearing her grandmother’s words, Lei felt warm inside. The resolve that lay beneath her soft exterior hardened.

I must protect my relatives, friends, and the world where Manager is!

“What will happen next… Hmm?”

Kuriko blinked and saw a streak of glowing light slicing through the night from the direction of the moon.

“It seems something else has arrived.”

At the center of the parking lot, a distorted sphere with electromagnetic interference appeared out of nowhere and grew bigger, dispersing debris with the energy emitted. A hero-like figure emerged from the dissipating orb, standing up from the half-moon shaped indentation in the ground.

“This must be Precure’s world. Yes, I am the best.”

Muttering a joke only he understood while hugging the box, Eddie turned around to survey his surroundings.

He needed to figure out where he was to locate the target.

Coincidentally, an elderly woman holding keys walked past him. He could ask her for directions.

“Excuse me, miss, may I ask—”

“YAAAAA!”

Her scream nearly ruptured Eddie’s eardrums. Thinking she misunderstood him, Eddie immediately explained:

“Miss, I’m not a bad person—”

“Pervert! Peeping Tom!!”

“What?”

Stunned, Eddie looked down and saw his flat chest, a cold wind causing a shiver.

“What—!?”

Eddie’s brain briefly went blank, emitting a high-pitched sound louder than the woman’s muffled scream, breaking the night’s calm.

“Officer, there’s a pervert here!”

“Wh-what!? Standing in the parking lot?” The night patrolling officer instantly froze. Before they could face each other, Eddie fled first, and the officer, delayed by a moment, chased after him with a baton.

“It’s all a misunderstanding!”

Holding the box, hearing sirens and flutes behind him, Eddie felt tears forming.

“Unfortunate!”

Eddie spent his first night in the new world being chased by the police.