Chapter 329

Sixtieth Chapter – Ash: I’m not being modest…

“Let the manager—”

“Come to be…”

“Precure!?”

Erika and Lei, two young girls who couldn’t keep up with the conversation, had been wearing expressions of shock for quite some time now; their jaws, wide open and never retracting, were practically scraping the ground. Not only them, but even Lily, who was seemingly reading a book intently, had her eyes peek out from behind her glasses.

“That’s right! It is said!”

When Popuri, with big innocent eyes, met the increasingly absurd gaze of the man as she was pinched by the back of her neck, her blinking filled her eyes with an incredibly bright gleam.

‘Sure, I admit she has some unique skills that make her cute.’

‘Begone, brother. Shut up.’

“Cough cough!” To regain the attention of others, Ash amplified his coughing while bantering with Kayin.

“If you can, please explain everything from the very beginning.”

———A line dividing the cute antics of fairies———

“It seems because you all won back all the seeds through the competition.” A person who witnessed the scene heard the girl’s recount, pretending as if it was new while taking on the role of organizing their sequence. “With the heart seeds, the more light a person becomes inside, the more energy they generate to strengthen the heart tree. Hence.”

“Correct desu!” Popuri, standing on top of Erika’s head with a hand only as big as half of Ash’s, raised her chest proudly. “Thanks to the revived vitality of the heart tree, I was born!”

“Mm-hm. Then, during today’s critical moment when we fought against the Desert Apostle.” Lei kept describing to their store manager what happened in her absence, unaware that someone had been watching all along, just not until the end. “It was at that last second that Popuri showed up! Using her shield ability to help us turn the tide!”

“See this desu!” To prove the authenticity of Lei’s words, Popuri displayed a golden energy barrier from her hand. Ash gently poked this paper-thin thing which resembled the texture of a sunflower’s skin, confirming its hardness was at least as tough as the chest armor of Titan Transformation.

“However, although she could protect everyone, nearly the dark woman managed to shatter her defense desu…”

Hearing Popuri’s disappointed tone, Ash immediately guessed—other than Little Dark—who else could it be?

“With the enemy attacking, the heart tree has been rendered无形 (formless), and I can’t protect it myself… So, I wish to rely on the new Precure’s powers!”

Moreover, he needed to find that person quickly, or else the heart tree would be in danger!

“Heh, Popuri truly has such a kind heart…Ah, how cute!” Capturing Popuri again, Erika rubbed the latter’s face as if she wanted to mold her completely. “She’s so cute no matter how many times I see her!”

“Hmph, having a newcomer means forgetting old friends desu…”

“Alright, Caffrey is also cute. You’re both my wings!” Catching hold of the other fairy, who was sulking next to her due to jealousy, Erika thoroughly enjoyed rolling both of their faces together.

“However, there happens to be another Precure here already.” The person Ash was referring to naturally was Tsukikage Lily; would it be perfect if she were given this new power?

“No, I can’t do it,” Lily shook her head with a somewhat sorrowful expression. “I already have my own partner.”

“Lily, do you remember what happened one night?”

“I tried hard to forget…but even if I did, the pain would not disappear.”

Ash scratched his head. He felt like he had done almost everything possible already and had no idea how to comfort her now… Well, considering his own circumstances, he might be the least qualified to talk to her about it, and he was only managing not to go mad.

“Then this!” Struggling free from Erika’s “clutches,” Popuri pulled out a golden, shimmering circle from her always-carried mini bag. Holding it aloft confidently, she revealed it to be the heart seed.

Ash had seen this pattern on the heart seed before, identical to the seeds used by Lei and her to transform. The sole difference lay only in the color. This naturally could represent only one thing…

“This is Popuri’s treasure. With this item, Popuri can enable someone to become the third Precure!”

Then, with great effort, she tossed another golden bottle taller than herself towards Ash.

“And that’s how it is, Ash. Become the third Precure!”

“But me? You’re joking—”

“Really?”

Seeing [Shiny Perfume Bottle] and [Heart Seed] in his hands, Ash froze for a moment.

Feeling the intense power within him, he glanced at the system panel with a sidelong look and saw that his [Versatile Talent] was once again working wonders. In fact, he couldn’t remember a single time when it failed him.

Goodness, he would even dare fight Ultraman to the ground, given Precure’s power!

“But, talking so much, I am a male…”

“No problem desu!” It wasn’t Popuri this time, but Cifrey that jumped out. “It’s not about gender. With a kind heart, unshakable faith, and the courage to love, anyone can become a Precure regardless of age or gender!”

“Exactly!” Hearing Cifrey’s words, Lei also bravely clenched her fists, seemingly trying to encourage Ash. “Popuri must have seen these virtuous qualities in the manager, hence choosing her!”

No, no, no. My success is due to the power of [Versatile Talent], not these… But.

“My kindness, beliefs, love?”

Flipping through the seed in his hand, its soft glow reflected Ash’s serious face.

When flying with heroes, had I unconsciously picked up these traits?

In everyone’s wide-eyed expectation, Ash crossed the voice transformer and the seed in front of his chest and whispered softly.

“Precure, Open My——————”

“Stare——————”

“Indeed, it can’t be helped.”

Seeing the two items returned, Popuri seemed struck by lightning, clutching her deeply offended face.

“Why not—”

The disheartened fairy rested flat on the table. This was already the second rejection today, what was going on? Could it be possible that in today’s world, there would actually be someone unwilling to become a Precure?

“Popuri was dumped. Crying desu…”