Chapter 500

Chapter Eleven: The Infiltrated Pretty Cure Secret Base!

Through the gate of the book, the girl and the elf entered a world covered by huge lush plants. It was incredible that amongst these towering green flora, there were countless books, as if these were shelves arranged across the vast world itself. The fantastic and mysterious scenes in this world seemed like something only seen in fairytales.

“I’m here!”

The girl brimming with energy bounded across the grass towards the treehouse in front of her, completely unaware that a tiny red-glimmering speck had fallen from the crevice of her collar onto the ground as she moved.

This was the “Mysterious Library,” SmilePrecure’s secret base in another world, composed entirely of the concept of books from around the universe.

“Oh, Rihua, Akane, Naoko!”

Opening the wooden door of the central treehouse in the library, she naturally saw the others waving and waiting, as expected, inside the brightly painted house.

Usually, this secret base served as a place for tea parties or celebrations after defeating enemies, making it a spot closely tied to happy moments in their hearts.

However, no one could feel happiness at this very moment.

“Miyuki, how’s your head? Any problems?”

“It’s fine—I just feel a little pain. It’s nothing!” Replied Miyuki who, sweeping her gaze around, noticed the usual yellow figure was missing.

“Yayoi.” The gloomy expression on the girls’ faces made even the usually optimistic Miyuki unable to smile. “Has Yayoi not come?”

“Yayoi said she wouldn’t be coming this time.” Akane, with her Osaka accent, thought about how melancholic Yayoi looked when they parted ways, and shook her head out of genuine concern. “It seems like the result of the Kamen Rider doing something that greatly affected Yayoi.”

“Is that so…” Everyone fell silent upon hearing her answer. To them, Yayoi may have been somewhat fragile and prone to tears, but she had a strong inner heart. Part of this was due to her love for drawing manga and enjoying boyishly heroic works such as tokusatsu and robots.

She must have felt a great shock, being directly dismissed by the one she idolizes, right?

“Damn it, that guy…” Straightforward as ever, Akane flared up thinking about the swordsmen who always spoke in riddles.

“I’ve watched a few episodes of Kamen Rider with my younger brother too, but for such unreasonable people, how can they be heroes fit for children?”

Do you know how much Yayoi loved it, and how much she’s disappointed now?

Trying to empathize with Yayoi, Miyuki shivered imagining what it would feel like if her favorite fairytale protagonist Peter Pan refused to see her as the princess Cinderella again…

No, I don’t want that to happen!

“After returning and trying again, Naoko placed her smile compact on the table. Since Ash stabbed the Dark Echo with his sword, the originally dazzling transformation device now only showed dull plastic colors, even with visible patterns. No matter what they did, it seemed they couldn’t transform anymore, and the healing accessories couldn’t be used either.”

With their powers alone, it appeared impossible to change things. They might have to find him again.

“But he only sealed us, while leaving Rihua and Miyuki alone.”

Thinking about this, Green川 Naoko got increasingly irate. What was the point of excluding them? Did he wish only to burden them?

And what did he mean by saying “you’re not capable”? How can anyone be so unreasonable! What an embarrassment—he fooled me at first sight—my mother was right. Men get more charming because they’re all liars!

Decidedly, next time…next time, he will regret his view of me!

“Yes, it looks like you’ve encountered quite a problem.” A voice emerged within the wooden house.

After using a heal accessory connected to a cell phone, a small lion sprite with a serious expression materialized. This was Pop, Sugar’s brother staying in Fantasy Kingdom.

“Pop-niichan! That strange person hurt me and the Pretty Cure, speaking gibberish non-stop!” Approaching her brother, Sugar poured out her complaints to her distant relative.

“Sugar, you were sent to the human world by Her Majesty. I deeply miss you but cannot help directly. Now, all alone, you must learn to grow tough yourself!”

His gentle expression vanished as he fixed his stern gaze upon the other girls behind Sugar.

“I’ve heard about those occurrences from Sugar!” said Pop, having surveyed Fairy Kingdom himself. “Fairy Kingdom shines with various fairy tales full of joy and cuteness. Its residents are mostly small animal spirits. There could not be such humanoid residents nor dragons.”

“That means he must be the new enemy from Tragic Kingdom!”

“No, that’s not how I think.” Rihua shook her head, vividly recalling how Yashu’s sword had split the clown monster in half to protect them, showing his back to them as his cape fluttered in the wind.

“If he truly came from Tragic Kingdom, he would have defeated all of us at once. Taking the cure accessories afterward, we couldn’t stop tragedy from happening, thus achieving his goal.”

Her comprehension grew with each word. Indeed, there was no need to do more than that or talk at all.

So, understanding the implied meaning in his words is crucial…

Rihua shook her head, thoughtful. If it were a riddle, she could solve it, yet OOO’s actions didn’t seem to follow any particular pattern. Even diligent Rihua found this challenge hard.

“There is chance in coincidence, and destiny is inevitable. This sentence originates from a Chinese writer, but why say so?”

Was he implying fate controlled everything? But what did that matter? Could anyone foresee fate? And what does it mean?

“Do you yearn for the future answer revealing truth?”

“Hey, if you know…!” Responded Rihua reflexively, only to realize it was a man’s familiar and low voice speaking.

Why is he here?