Chapter 331

The Sixty-Second Reencounter

Ash was not surprised at all.

Honestly speaking, he wasn’t surprised at all that Popuri had disappeared shortly after mentioning she was going out to find the third Pretty Cure.

Listening to the anxious voice of the girl on the other end of the phone, Ash stroked his smooth chin, void of any stubble.

“Could she have been caught by a passing-by Desert Apostle and roasted like a radish?”

Speaking of which, maybe I would look a bit more like a man if I had grown a bit of beard instead of looking like Honde.

“Manager—” The girl on the other end screamed in frustration. “Even now you’re talking nonsense!”

“Alright, alright.” Quickly moving the phone away from his ear due to its excessive noise, Ash promised. “Just calm down, I will go and look for her, okay?”

Placing the receiver down, Ash emerged from the phone booth only to change into different clothes within his inventory.

He would indeed search for her, but under another identity.

“Oh, Little Five Wood.”

Following the elf’s traces led him to the hospital. Just as Ash climbed over the wall, he encountered Mingtangyuan Wuki who was walking by with a lunchbox, their eyes locking onto each other.

“Oh, Master Timons!”

Seeing Ash arrive, Wuki hurriedly placed down her lunchbox and clasped her hands in reverence.

“Hold on.” Ash quickly stopped her before she could finish. “I am not your master, nor did I teach you any techniques, so there’s no need for such formalities.”

Though he had initially let her call him so on a whim, the moment Wuki started addressing him this way seriously, it became a headache for him.

“But you’ve given me something far more important than techniques—”

“Hold on, hold on!” Ash promptly gestured for her to stop. “I appreciate your kindness, but please don’t add such titles.”

Well, he felt embarrassed.

“Alright…”

Reluctantly, Wuki nodded to accept Ash’s words.

“I’m actually looking for something that looks like a doll,” Ash said, forming the shape of Popuri in midair with his fingers. “Tell me, haven’t you happened to see anything like it?”

“Not… not anymore.”

Watching Wuki vigorously shaking her head, Ash narrowed his eyes. It seemed like she had not been told that her lie had not fooled anyone.

However, Ash had no intention of pressing her further. Rather, this might be more interesting for him.

“Sit down.”

Sitting down on the long bench of the hospital’s outdoor terrace, Ash patted the space beside him. Wuki, following suit, sat next to him too.

“It’s so nostalgic…” Watching the doctors and patients bustling about the terrace, Ash could smell the familiar scent with just a twitch of his nose.

It was the scent of life overlapping with death, a scent he had experienced countless times firsthand.

“Nostalgia? Mr. Timons is…”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover. I used to be a doctor in every sense of the word.” Smiling warmly, Ash interlaced his fingers and clicked them softly towards Wuki who was now wide-eyed with surprise.

“Eh—Mr. Timons knows medicine?” Little did she know, the sight of Timons tending even to her towering monsters sent her imagination running wild.

“That’s a long story. I had two teachers. The first one was for understanding specialized skills and creating wonders that astounded the world. In fact, they praised my graduation work thoroughly.”

After all, once I helped Hongo increase our combat strength by 800%, the first enemy we defeated was Dr. Death himself. That surely isn’t a reason not to praise him?

“My second teacher was much younger. When we played games, I accidentally lost to him once. As compensation, I had to abandon the cruel experiments and turn to proper medical practices… It’s complicated; I don’t like thinking about it.” Sighing deeply, Ash rubbed his temple.

After all, neither Dr. Death nor Brave were easy people; one chased perfection in technique, the other responsibility in patient care. They say one should fear the heavens if they encourage someone to become a doctor, and it was not an exaggeration. The days filled with lack of sleep and endless effort, especially for someone as lazy as Ash, were memories he didn’t quite want to revisit.

“Alright, I’ve talked enough. It’s your turn.”

“But, not much interesting has happened to me lately…”

“Don’t mind so much, just tell the story.”

Upon hearing the man’s promise, Wuki cleared her throat and began retelling her own experiences.

“Grandpa and brother supported me. Recently, I have been learning… wearing cute dresses and all sorts of things…”

“Mmm.”

“I recently joined Ericha and her fashion club where I get to design clothes with everyone, and they say I have a lot of talent.”

“Mmm.”

“Also, the gardening club. Together with Lei and the rest, we helped the club leader set up flower stands during the heavy rain; though we got soaked, everyone was so happy!”

“Mmm.”

Wuki described these normal daily activities, which, compared to Ash’s often earth-shaking adventures, seemed mundane. However, Ash remained engrossed as he listened quietly, responding occasionally.

The emptiness of jumping between worlds had once driven him toward seeking stimulating thrills. Having such excitement satisfied in his last world, Ash sought alternatives. For example, he found contentment at Nasta’s cafe or with Xiao’an and Wuki—this was precisely why he was now quietly listening.

Back then, what seemed meaningless entertainment was now becoming moments of peace.

When did it start? Initially, the cafe and its folks were merely plot elements, but when did I become so absorbed in it?

My transformation, this outcome… Is it also one of the miracles I yearned for?

Such was Ash’s train of thought. But to Wuki, she was a very different story.

To this maiden who usually immersed herself in martial pursuits, Timons was an unexpected presence in her life, akin to a deep-sea fish suddenly illuminated by a deep-sea light.

As Timons, Ash did not completely push her aside after those whimsical meetings. Instead, he exhibited unprecedented patience, often making time to visit her whether at her dojo or school, naturally leading to sparring sessions where Ash usually came out victorious.

After some incidents involving seizing her meal, snacks, and toys, Ash would compensate her with delicious sweets, similar to Doraemon’s pocket tricks; as long as she didn’t drink the coffee, she didn’t feel cheated.