Chapter 321

Chapter Fifty-Two: What is a Hero?

“Doing… big things?”

“Yes, if you’re thinking about becoming a hero just to gain recognition and fame, then why not just do what’s simpler and more direct instead of pondering how to become one?”

Seeing the flicker in Eddie’s eyes, Ash started to probe him.

“For example, go back and burn SCSO to ashes, overthrow your old boss in one go or something,” Ash continued, barely suppressing a laugh seeing Eddie’s increasingly miserable expression. “If you say that you can charge into battle and risk your life to become a hero, wouldn’t you be even more famous than heroes if you could achieve these great things?”

“Do great things, Eddie! Do great things! GO!”

“You’re insulting me?!”

Eddie clenched his teeth and threw the coffee cup in front of him in fury. Seeing this guy dodge nonchalantly, Eddie was completely enraged.

I am the Magic Bullet Warrior of SCSO; the commander who bestowed me with this treasure is the greatest hero. How could I ever do such shameful things!

“I want to be someone unlike that!” Eddie’s shoulders trembled as his red eyes glared at Ash, ready to tear him apart a hundred times. “What do you mean? Are you actually part of that villainous group too?!”

“But didn’t you say it yourself?” Ash dodged the spittle flying towards his face, reining in his mocking smile, his expression chilling. “You said you wanted to become a hero to prove to everyone and gain their approval.”

Ash guessed the immense pressure the people around were putting on him, so he disregarded everything to cause a disturbance and prove himself.

Even as a child, he had been the same. He no longer cared about this so-called pressure after finding his protests futile.

“Listen here, kid. If you only aim for recognition and to look down on others by boasting your greatness, why become a hero at all?”

“Because heroes are remarkable individuals!” Eddie looked immensely excited; his eagerness to prove himself made him look like an angry bull. “You understand, right? I’ve seen living legends, and their accomplishments are just as remarkable as they seem! And haven’t you seen those films glorifying the heroic achievements?”

“Hahaha, you must be out of your mind from watching too much anime and reading too many manga!” Chuckling, Ash clutched his stomach as if holding back laughter. “You should read less of those delusional works that turn you into a Don Quixote! My lunatic scout.”

“Not all are delusions—I’m not Don Quixote—”

Ash lifted his finger, tapping lightly on the dragon sword in front of them. The man’s fingers tapped against the unconscious, soulless Magic Bullet Dragon.

“Right, Don Quixote believed he was charging knights against giants. At least he knew what a knight would do. You know nothing.”

“You’re just a clumsy person who sets unrealistic goals when you can’t handle pressure.”

“I’m not a kid, I’m seventeen!”

He still tried to argue, but his spirit was notably weaker than before.

“What if your reckless actions brought disaster upon the world, or if your opponent didn’t let you off and decided to kill you? Or are you saying the kind of commander you aspire to be is like that?”

“I…”

When the truth was laid bare and Ash used the very person he idolized as an example, Eddie couldn’t avoid facing his reckless consequences.

“Alright, let’s set aside this for now. Want to become a hero? I’ll ask you something simple.” Ash loosened up, returning to his casual pose on the sofa. “What do you think a hero is?”

“A hero is someone brave and strong, who can defeat bad guys and help others!”

Listening to this, Ash nodded. “You’re right, but not everyone believes themselves to be a hero despite doing those actions.”

“But if someone can achieve these,” Eddie rose to his feet again, passionate. “Isn’t it obvious that they deserve respect and admiration?”

“Should someone helping others receive trust and recognition? They should indeed, but that’s their fortune, not at all a given.”

“If you think it’s that simple, I can only tell you that heroes wouldn’t dare take it for granted, even if they truly earn people’s trust.” As he spoke, a seriousness previously unseen rose from behind Ash.

Because these lessons were lessons he learned firsthand.

Eddie wanted to refute, but part of him knew this to be true.

But isn’t refuting it acknowledging that everything I care about is wrong?!

Two conflicting thoughts clashed inside Eddie’s mind, bringing him to a worse predicament than running naked on the streets. Soon, unable to come up with an answer, he gathered the sword and key on the table and walked out silently from the cafe without a word.

Ash did not stop him and watched him leave before lazily pouring another cup of coffee for himself.

“Manager, was the long-winded speech about making him a hero like you did with Lei and Erika?”

Lily leaned against the back of Ash’s couch, deep in thought and worry. Even knowing the man was an exhibitionist, this didn’t justify his impulsive decision to risk his life in front of the Desert Apostles.

“Lily, if you think that’s my goal, you don’t know me well enough,” Ash said, sipping his coffee. “I’m not a guide to anyone’s life. I can’t lead anyone out of a maze, and even if I showed him the way forward, he’d have to understand it himself.”

“But, to us, you’ve done plenty.”

However, Lily wasn’t convinced of this alone. Despite her insistence on not involving herself in Pretty Cure’s responsibilities, she couldn’t stop thinking about the mysterious powerful “darkness” he mentioned.

If that’s true, the Pretty Cures won’t only be fighting the Desert Apostles; can they overcome these challenges?

The half of her purple Heart Seed, now shattered, lay calmly in her palm.

Even if they win, how much will they lose and suffer, just like me…

“Lily.”

Hearing her name called, Lily snapped out of her somber contemplations just as she met his squinted eyes, smiling.

“It’s fine. No matter what happens, I’ll sort it out for you.”

These words from the man often felt reassuring, despite their casual nature.

“Heh, don’t overpromise,” though her tone sounded unfriendly, her slight smile betrayed her current feelings.

“How about a walk outside?”

“As long as it’s not part of the job, okay.”