"Let's go back to our respective homes now. I'm also going to pick up Mana and the others... Well, why is this thing not responding when pressed?"
"Pa-pa-pa~"
When the sound of applause sounded from behind, Ash, who reacted almost immediately, stuffed Puka into his arms and turned around to assume a fighting posture. At the same time, Itsuki, Zhi, Iona and others were also deft and alert and stood in front of him.
Familiar, such a sense of déjà vu is so familiar!
After all, people like this, who come out of the darkness while clapping when they defeat the opponent they thought was the final villain... are usually the more evil masterminds behind the scenes.
"So it's you who came here deliberately to do this, right? Wright, Kale!"
He is such an idiot for arrogantly showing off like this in front of everyone... No, is it just a projection of a three-dimensional image? What a coward!
"Well done, heroes. They are indeed mankind's last hope."
If such lines are spoken by an enemy, they are usually full of ridicule. But this time when it came from the mouth of Kale, who was still full of decadence and looked like a dead fish, no one could tell whether it was good or bad.
"Such a heroic battle performance is something that you will never tire of no matter how many times you watch it. I also want to express my gratitude to you."
"Thank you? Do you mean——!"
Similar things are no longer surprising to people present except Pretty Cure after actually thinking about it. After all, using the enemy's hands to clear away companions who get in the way... is a very common method for villains.
"Even if they are bad guys, they are their companions! But you treat them as abandoned children?"
And when Pretty Cure also reacted, their kind hearts made them extremely disdainful of this.
"I can't bear it anymore!"
If it weren't for the three-dimensional image, someone would probably have punched it by now.
"I'm sorry, Miss Hanasaki. Actually, they have never regarded us as their companions."
Kale even explained for her with a decadent look on his face. From this point of view, he was pretty good.
"We just responded with the same logic."
"What's more, these guys who only think about the simplest and most brutal way of destroying everything and dominating the world are not in line with our wishes at all."
To put it simply, in this era, we have long stopped following the tricks of these outdated old guys.
"So I packed it in advance and gave it to you, isn't it just right?"
From this point alone, I hope you can thank us.
"Then, what are you planning to do here?"
Could it be that he came here specifically to congratulate us on our victory?
"There is only one purpose."
Kaller's meaningless expression finally changed slightly as if he had been touched by something, and he pointed at Ash with his finger.
"Because of Him, for you, and all of you—"
"Oh Duo, this can't be done!"
Just when the pointed Ash was about to choke back, several tall figures stood in front of him at the same time. Even though they knew it was useless, they still pointed their overly huge weapons at the tiny projection below like a threat.
"Everyone?!"
Ash was a little stunned when he was suddenly protected like this. He also didn't expect that everyone would stand up for him like this.
"New Hundred Worlds Since part of it is coming at you, Ash!"
An excited voice came from Kyoryujin who put up a shield in front of him.
"That just shows that you are the core of the incident!"
In this case, it's not just your business, you won't let your opponent succeed easily!
What's more, given our relationship... do you really think we would be indifferent when our friends are bullied?!
"So, I won't let you put a finger on Ash and these girls!"
"That's really embarrassing. We didn't intend to fight him."
At least for now, that's not the plan.
"[Ash]"
"!"
Ash, who was still maintaining his confrontation with Baikai Kale with a dangerous smile, suddenly widened his eyes when he heard a voice that suddenly sounded from his chest.
This time it's no longer just a stereoscopic projection, through the effect of Dimensional Warp Field, two more people came over! After Wright walked out of it first, then the two cadres New Hundred Worlds bowed their heads and got out of the way in front of the last comer.
"This familiar feeling..."
Hui's heart beat suddenly. She subconsciously looked around and saw someone who seemed to have the same reaction as her.
"..."
When everyone saw the true appearance that made these two people bow their heads... their unspeakable eyes almost immediately turned to Ashu among them, who was also silent. There was no other reason. Apart from the fact that the new one was wearing HumaGear headphones on both sides and had his eyes closed all the time, no matter where his eyebrows were, the two of them looked so much alike.
"Yeah."
Even Ashu himself whispered silently when he saw her.
"Originally, you were me, and I was you, but now... are you finally determined to do it?"
"System...Histrum."
Originally, my first encounter with Him was when I was working on the Super AI alone and accidentally sucked Him into it from another dimension, so it was reasonable to call him by this name.
"You didn't disappear. Are you really still alive? By your own strength?"
In this way, when New Hundred Worlds stole the Rise Key, it turned out to be to prepare a new body for you that could bear it.
"[Yes, you gave me the name System, and I spent that time with you.]"
I know... I just knew it! As he spoke, the tone of hope became more and more exciting along with Ash's emotions.
"No problem, so many of my partners are with me now, we are here to rescue you!"
"[Many shining stars... Thanks to your shining, the whole world can be saved.]"
It's just that it's different from before. He did not respond to him immediately, but used his ethereal voice to convey it to everyone.
"[You have proven time and time again that your strength and soul are enough to save even the most desperate world and lead it to a new era of radiance.]"
Are we... being praised? It doesn't sound like a mockery at all, so are we just being praised?
"What exactly are you trying to convey?"
He put the Haohken he was waving in his hand into his sheath. Although he felt no hostility at all, Touma, as a novelist, realized something was wrong from the "story" that was currently developing.
"What's even stranger is, who are you?"
"..."
"Yes!"
In fact, most people who have had an in-depth understanding of Ash's "portable companion" have been curious and confused about its existence.
"Why on earth do you want to follow Ash and ask him to help you collect Dark Echo?"
In a sense, the system that always accompanies Ash can be regarded as the most familiar stranger to the heroes.
"If that wasn't the case, I wouldn't have misunderstood you at the beginning and wanted to—"
As Aino Megumi, who almost shot her to death with his own hands, he finally couldn't help but ask her.
"And why can you drive New Hundred Worlds..."
We thought you were the one who was kidnapped!
The "girl" who had the same face as Ashu, but her eyes were always closed, turned to Ash, who had the same confusion and expectation as everyone else, and slowly spoke.
"[I am...]"
Ash has always said that he doesn't care about His actual purpose, and that the two of them just help each other to satisfy each other. But when he had the opportunity later, he forgot that he could still ask her this question.
Therefore, this was the first time that the system told him the truth.
"[In the world of Mugen, all the victims who were harmed by evil forces are a collection of wills that long for peace.]"
That's right... I also know everyone present.
Ash is a little surprised, but it doesn't seem to be that surprising.
"[The will that gave birth to me makes me want to create a new world that can bring good rewards to all good people, and is enough to carry and protect this peace.]"
"That's it!"
Ash, who was easy to understand, immediately understood, and now he could get explanations for many things.
"So you chose me, who longs for and worships heroes the most, and constantly absorbs Dark Echo, just to prevent beings like you from appearing in the world in a negative form again!"
"[I have seen many beautiful things from you, bonds, love, courage and confidence enough to overcome countless powerful enemies, victory over countless sufferings, hope and Mirai to protect innocent lives. Yes, you are all the candidates I have always pursued and longed for.]"
Even Ash laughed, I knew it! You are indeed not a bad person, I believe you are not wrong!
"[And through all the battles so far, I am convinced that you have the strength and heart to make the world a better place."
However, most of the world is not willing to treat you with an equal response.
"That's it!"
Haruka became happy after hearing this.
"That is to say, you have been watching and asked Ash to help us, so you want to protect the earth with us? Great, you are indeed a good person!"
"[I am really happy to meet you like this. As a shield to protect the world and the weak and innocent, I sincerely thank you for all your efforts so far.]"
"You're welcome. This is your natural responsibility as King~"
"Shut up, you stupid tanuki!"
Yoma on the side suddenly shouted to stop Kirarai who was also happy.
"But there is the biggest problem in this! If you resurrect those villains, you want to wipe out all their resentment after rebirth."
"Then what is the purpose of connecting our world together!?"
The system did not answer this question, but continued to bow its head and express its gratitude.
"[After all your hard work so far, I will protect the world on your behalf from now on.]"
Wait?
What is substitution?
"It's not good!"
As time passed, several scientists present gradually realized that something was wrong around them.
"This dimension distortion field suddenly cannot be opened outward. In other words, it can only be entered but cannot be exited?"
"This is it?"
Looking at the crowd of tall, short, fat and thin people in the holster battle behind him, Ash seemed to realize something.
"Now, almost all the heroes I have ever met are here..."
Let good people be rewarded... Then it seems that almost all the people Ash knows who deserve better are here?
"And... you said protection, Histrum you?"
I've obviously never seen you take action once, huh?
"[Yes, I will be with them.]"
"No way~"
Next to Wright, who was silent and hugging his chest, Kaler said mockingly to himself.
"Who made us also 'Ash'? We were born to obey His orders."
"[Completely cut off the connection between this world and the multidimensional world.]"
"..."
Within a moment, stunned silence filled everyone.
"So, what about other worlds?"
What about the world we live in?