Running past Lei and Erika, Eddie was about to take back his Dragon Strike Sword when a beautiful silhouette stood in front of him.
"Miss, please get out of the way——"
Before Eddie could finish speaking, Yuri's hand had already grabbed his outstretched wrist, and pushed him to the ground with a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw.
Eddie, who called himself SCSO Interdimensional Traveler, was knocked down to the ground with a single move by the local "indigenous" Yuri.
"Store manager, what should I do with this guy?"
"Don't embarrass him too much, Yuri." Ash, who was holding a blue coat from the dressing room backstage, casually threw it over Eddie's face with his mouth open and eyes closed. "After all, he's just an amateur, hot-blooded idiot."
Ash found that his tolerance has really improved a lot compared to before. In the past, I would have to give this kind of people a few good beatings.
"Who is the hot-blooded idiot!"
"He who promises is the one who will."
After putting on the jacket and trousers kindly provided by Ash, Eddie, who finally looked a bit human, was sitting on the other side of the sofa, silently looking at Ash, who had sent the others away for the time being.
"Um... thank you."
"Didn't your mother tell you?" Ash crossed his legs. "Be sincere when thanking others."
"It's so noisy! I was born in an orphanage. I don't know what kind of person my mother is!"
"Let's talk about something else." Ash changed his posture and crossed his hands on his chin. "I can tell from what you said (including what you saw with another identity) that you were acting recklessly. I'm a little curious, why did you do this?"
"I want to be a hero!" After saying this, Eddie suddenly became excited. "I want to prove to everyone that I will become a hero like the Commander! Get everyone's absolute recognition!"
"Do you want to be a hero just to be famous?" Ash looked at Eddie, who was still excited, and narrowed his eyes.
"Eddie, then why don't you try to do something big?"
Chapter 52 What is a hero?
"Doing... doing something big?"
"By the way, if you want to be a hero just for recognition and fame, then instead of thinking about how to be a hero, why not make it simpler and more direct?"
Seeing the twinkling look in Eddie's eyes, Ash started his own test.
"For example, go back and burn SCSO to ashes, overthrow your old boss in one breath or something." Ash continued, and almost laughed out loud when he saw Eddie's increasingly worse expression. "You said that if you fight to become a hero, you are not even afraid of death. If you can do these great things even if you risk death, you will definitely become more famous than heroes, right?"
"Do big things, Eddie, do big things! GO!"
"Are you insulting me?!"
Gritting his teeth, Eddie grabbed the coffee cup in front of him and threw it away. Seeing the nonchalant look on the guy in front of him, Eddie was completely angry.
I am Madan Warrior of SCSO. The commander who gave me this treasure is the greatest hero. How could I do such a shameless thing!
"This is not the kind of person I want to be!" Eddie's shoulders were shaking with anger, and his red eyes seemed to want to tear Ash into pieces a hundred times. "What do you mean, are you actually a member of the evil party with that guy?!"
"But, is this what you said?" Ash avoided the spittle that was about to hit his face, suppressed his pretentious smile, and his expression turned cold. "You said you wanted to be a hero, to prove it to everyone, to gain recognition."
Ash could probably guess how much pressure the people around him put on him, so he started making a scene regardless of proving himself.
The same was true when he was a child, but the difference was that he no longer cared about the so-called bullshit pressure after his resistance was useless.
"Boy, listen up. If you just want recognition, to prevent yourself from being looked down upon by others and to show off your greatness, then why do you want to be a hero?"
"Because, because people who can be called heroes are great!" Eddie looked very excited. He was eager to prove himself and looked like an angry bull. "Do you understand, I have seen a living legend, and what he can do is as amazing as what he looks like! And haven't you seen video products like special photography films? These works all praise the things that heroes deserve to be praised!"
"Hahahaha, I think you got dizzy after watching too many cartoons and comics!" Ash laughed and covered his stomach, so that he looked more like a belly laugh. "You should read less of the fantasies that turn you into Don Quixote, my delusional boy scout."
"Those are not all works of fantasy, and I am not Don Quixote—"
Ash raised his fingers and tapped on the Dragon Strike Sword in front of them. The man's fingers tapped on the unconscious and spiritual Magibullet Dragon.
"Yes, Don Quixote thought he was Rider charging at the giant. He at least knew what Rider wanted to do, and you."
"You're so stupid that you don't know anything."
"You're just a guy who couldn't stand the pressure, so he set a naive goal for himself and went on a rampage."
"I'm not a brat, I'm already 17 years old!" He was still arrogant, but his momentum was much weaker than when he first wanted to tear Ash apart.
"Really? Have you ever thought about what your reckless behavior will bring to this world? Have you ever thought about what you would do if the other party did not let you go but planned to kill you?"
"Or do you think this is the kind of commander you want to be?"
"I..."
When the facts were before him, when Ash took the person he admired as an example, Eddie also had to face the consequences of his recklessness.
"Okay, let's not talk about this for now. If you want to be a hero, I'll ask you a simple question." Ash let go of his hand and returned to a person lying leisurely on the sofa. "What do you think a hero is?"
"It's someone who is brave enough to defeat bad guys, and can also help others!"
Hearing that this person finally said something decent, Ash nodded. "You are right, but everyone has a different definition of a hero. Even if they do what you say, there are many people who don't think they are heroes."
"But, if they can do this!" Eddie stood up excitedly again. "If you can do that, isn't it natural for you to be respected and admired by everyone?"
"A person who helps others, should he be trusted and recognized? He indeed should, but that is his luck, and it is never a matter of course."
"If you have always thought that, I can only tell you that heroes cannot and do not dare to hope for this, even if they do gain people's trust." When he said this, a serious momentum that had never been seen before came out from behind Ash.
Because he has seen these truths with his own eyes.
Eddie wanted to refute, but his own heart was vaguely telling him that what the other party said was the truth.
But if I don't refute it, doesn't it mean that everything I care about is wrong?!
Two completely different thoughts collided with each other in his heart. Eddie fell into a dilemma that was more difficult than running naked on the street. After a moment, unable to give his own answer, he packed up the sword and keys on the table and walked out of the coffee shop without saying a word.
Ash didn't stop him, he just watched the other person's leaving figure and took the time to serve himself another cup of coffee.
"Store manager, are the big principles you told him so that he can become a hero just like you did with Lei and Erika?"
With his hands on the back of Ash's sofa, Yuri was thinking and worried at the same time. Even if the other party was indeed an exhibitionist, this was not the reason for the other party to recklessly risk his life at the hands of Desert Apostles.
"Yuri, if you think this is how it goes, you don't know me well enough." He lifted the coffee to his lips and blew away the warm breath with a soft breath. Ash couldn't get enough of this delicious coffee. "I'm not a guide in life, I'm just a lost person who can't even lead myself. Even if I really point out Mirai's path to him, it can only be effective if he truly understands it."
"But for us, you've done enough."
But Yuri cared about more than that. Even though she said she didn't want to have anything to do with Pretty Cure's responsibility, she still couldn't help but think about it, imagining the mystery of the so-called more powerful "darkness" from the outside world in that man's words.
If these are true, now Pretty Cure will not only have to be enemies with Desert Apostles. In this case, can they survive the difficulties safely...
The remaining half of the purple Heart Seed that I shattered lay quietly in the palm of my hand.
Even if they can win, how much harm will they suffer and how much will they lose, just like me...
"Yuri."
Hearing the store manager's voice calling his name, Yuri escaped from some sad thoughts and happened to meet his eyes that narrowed like a smile.
"It's okay, no matter what happens, I will settle it for you."
The words coming from a man's mouth are always so reassuring when joking about something unexpected.
"Oh, don't exaggerate too much."
Even though the attitude in the sentence seemed unfriendly, the curve of the corners of his mouth still betrayed Yuri's mood at the moment.
"Want to go out for a walk?"
"If that's not part of the job, fine."
Chapter 53: "Hero" Disqualified
"Lei, are you still thinking about that person and what he said about Timons being dark things from other worlds?"
Erika was leaning on the railing, enjoying the cool river breeze, with a comfortable expression on his face, showing off his signature indifferent look.
"No matter what I say, Pretty Cure is beautiful and kind. God likes us so much, so he will never let us lose. Whether it's Desert Apostles or Timons, just bang~bang~ defeat them all!"
Looking at the leisurely water waves in the river, Lei shook her head. "No, I am thinking about us."
"Us?"
"That Mr. Eddie said he wanted to be a hero because he had an idol who admired a hero." Lei thought of what Yuri said to them before, and she still remembers it deeply even now. "So I'm thinking that we are actually the same as him, because we have seen Moonlight Angel in a dream, so we want to be recognized and proved by Yuri-nee..."
"Lei." After calling her friend's name, Erika pulled Lei's clothes gently and pulled him over, letting those cherry-pink eyes look into her own sea blue.
"Lei still remembers the first time he transformed into Pretty Cure and why he fought for the first time?"
"Because...Scorpina Lina of Desert Apostles is chasing Shiffre and the others." Lei nodded her chin, and her eyes hidden under the lenses began to recall. "Erika at that time was also taken away from Heart Flower and became Desertrian."
Lei remembered.
Although I was very scared and even ran away from the first battle... but I wanted to help Shiffre and Erika, so in the end I tried my best to purify Desertrian successfully.
Thinking about it now, even if I have become powerful, these are still as unreal as dreams.
"I was so confused at that time that I couldn't remember anything." Erika rarely put away his funny expression, and his gentle look made Lei unbelievable that the guy in front of her was actually Erika. "But I still remember that I was so scared at the time. When I was so scared that I wanted a hero to save me, Cure Blossom came and it was Lei who saved me!"
"For me, Lei is my hero! I will never waver, and Lei doesn't have to prove anything to anyone!"
Knowing that his friend's seemingly cowardly appearance just needed some encouragement, Erika showed his own cheerful smile, until Lei, who was blushing, shyly turned her eyes to the side.
"Erika, thank you."
It's great to be able to move to Hope Flower City from somewhere else and become friends with Erika!
But what Erika said is so embarrassing to be praised by others for being awesome...
Just as the girls were awkwardly raising their glasses and adjusting their mentality, they saw a familiar figure they had seen not long ago walking past them.
And that figure looked very decadent.
"Why..."
With his head lowered and his body bent like an old man in need of a cane, Eddie wandered aimlessly on the road without caring that his face would be recognized.
He thought that he was traveling on the road of justice. Even if he lacked talent and guidance, as long as he put in more efforts and courage, he could solve the evil and the problem together.
However, after Ash took off all his fig leaves, he realized how difficult the road of a hero is.
First of all, he couldn't beat that Timons. No matter in terms of strength, technique, or even his own character, he was completely defeated by the opponent.
Secondly, if we look at the facts, he is just imitating the people he admires.
If he doesn't become a hero, no one will recognize him. Not only that, if he steals authority without considering the consequences, everyone will blame it on his commander and foster father, which will bring shame to him.
If this arbitrary act ends in failure, the good woman who has always believed in him and whom he likes will definitely leave because of his uselessness!
After taking off all the pretense, he didn't want to admit that he was such a despicable guy.
But if he still had the last bit of self-respect as a SCSO member and the last bit of shame as a human being, he would have to admit it.
"I... can't be a hero."
As if he had lost all his power, Eddie sat on the lawn beside the river, and the Dragon Strike Sword, which had no power and no spirituality, was placed aside.
However, if I am not a hero, what can I do?
Nothing can be done, right?
"Oh Duo, I found a listless child~"
The playful female voice from behind broke Eddie's immersive self-world. Scorpina Lina standing behind could also see the depressed Heart Flower in the other person's heart.
Although it looks a little different, as long as the soul is withered, Desert Apostles can take advantage of it.
"D-what did you do!"
Eddie quickly grabbed the sword and reached for the key box on his waist, but it was still a step too late.
"Heart Flower, come out!"
"Quack!"
Magical Bullet Key fell on the grass, and Eddie overturned twice in one day.
The Eddie, which is sealed in the crystal ball and is trembling, is thrown away from the lower end of the crystal. The Heart Flower, which is sealed in the crystal and is about to wither, is the most suitable item to make Desertrian.
"Well, what is this?"
Seeing GekiRyu Ken lying at his feet, Scorpina Lina thought of what the other party seemed to be planning to do with this thing when he discovered him.