Kamen Rider is playing the villain in Pretty Cure

"So, having lived your entire life in the normal world, it's only natural that when you encounter a situation where you're at your wit's end, you'd think that only a special ability like the Phantom Empire could help you."

"But do you know who is standing in front of you? Am I, Ash, a weakling who would be inferior to them?!"

I can do it, I can do it!

"Ash! I can't agree with what you're saying!"

The first person to protest was not Tsumugi, but Hui who had a grim expression on her face.

"If what you said is true, then heroes who help others and protect the world, even us Pretty Cure, have no reason to exist!"

I don't want Ash to become a results-oriented person. The result of having power should of course be to use it for everyone, so...

"Ah, I know, because I hate this statement too." Without waiting for Hui to finish, Ash stretched out his hand in front of her and denied the statement himself.

I don’t hate result-oriented thinking, but how can a story be interesting if it only has the ending?

"...?" The girl, palms crossed, clenched the broad hand. Kei, who had risen from the ground, looked puzzled. If you disagree, then why are you suddenly saying all this? Ah, are you trying to wake Tsumugi up?

"But Hui, what you said before was still too naive."

Sometimes, people just encounter things that they just can't do even if they try their best. Whether you give up or persevere, at that time, I just hope you can still maintain the same heart you have now.

"Innocent, what good advice do you have for Ash?"

"No, this truth is meaningless unless you understand it yourself."

Perhaps they couldn't stand the leisurely discussion between Ash and Hui anymore, so the evil beasts that had been piled up in a ball after being knocked down by Ash's punches were baring their fangs and grabbing at them again, wanting to pounce.

However, it was Ash's lecture time now and he had no intention of playing with them anymore. He didn't even raise his hands. With the double typhoon spinning at his waist, he used several tornado spin kicks to extinguish them all. Ash showed with his actions that he really didn't care about enemies of the so-called infinite resurrection level.

"But unlike you powerful ones, I am just an ordinary person. What can I do——"

On the other side, Tsumugi finally found an opportunity to express her dissatisfaction in the gap. After all, before that Black Fang found her, the girl who tried hard but couldn't get an answer was almost desperate. So what else could she do if she didn't believe it?

"Are we the only ones who are powerful?" The girl, sensing Yaxiu's amusement-filled gaze on her, felt unusually uncomfortable. "But it's true. After all, sometimes the thing we can't see clearly is ourselves."

If someone who can "create" the entire world is considered weak...ha, that's even funnier than saying that scientists don't have as much power as they do.

Understand...understand what?

"Actually, if you want to talk about methods that can help you stand up, there are so many." Ash's sudden change of tone almost made them lose their minds. He counted on his fingers and began to list them one by one. "Scientific, magical, science fiction, fantasy, and magical."

"Whether your problem is a simple internal or external injury, a neuroscience-related metaphysical issue, or even a problem involving special energy and the soul, there will always be a solution if you look for it."

"That--"

"But even if I could do that, why would I help you?"

The girl, feeling surprised, raised her hand as hope grew, but lowered it again at Ash's words.

"I have no obligation to help you, and the Pretty Cure and the others, Megumi, want to help you for no other reason."

“Just because they’re good people.”

Tsumugi was not a bad guy to begin with, but was blinded by desire for a moment. Now, before Ash's serious argument, her conscience was suddenly greatly pricked.

"So... the one who was wrong was actually me, who repaid kindness with resentment..."

I was the same before... Even though our friend Hui wanted to help me, I was only thinking about my own affairs and trampled on this friendship?

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Ash..." The knight felt his arm being tugged. It was Kei shaking her head at him after seeing Tsumugi looking disheartened. "Stop talking about Ash. Maybe what Tsumugi did was wrong..."

"But I also think she was just trying to get back on her feet, and she was just grabbing at that last straw."

I don't quite understand what Ash wants me to do, or what kind of person he wants me to be.

However, I think that wanting to help others, and this alone, is not wrong.

Chapter 167: Solutions to the Trolley Problem

"If others repay kindness with resentment, then you should repay resentment with virtue. Hui, do you want to become a saint?"

"I just feel that this kind of thing...can't be entirely blamed on her!"

Hui, who was originally still struggling, gradually regained her determination as she continued talking to herself.

"I just wanted to help her."

She said that if you can't do something, then don't say such cruel words as "leave it all to me"... I want to change her mind!

I wanted to prove to her that I could do something too! After all...didn't I do the same thing to Ash before?

If I give up halfway after being frustrated for the second time here, how can I continue on as a Pretty Cure?

"But, between the enemy to be defeated and Tsumugi...I have to choose between the two. Isn't there a better way?"

For example, what would be the best of both worlds?

"Keiko." Ash posed a serious question to the troubled girl. "A madman tied five innocent people to the tracks. An out-of-control train was heading towards them and was about to crush them."

"But you're right next to the track control lever, and you can direct the trolley to the other track. But the problem is, that madman has also tied someone to the other track."

"Mei, if it were you, would you pull the lever? Or would it be better to do nothing?"

"This is—too cruel?!" Hui, her eyes wide, reacted fiercely. "Comparing five lives to one is too much for them!"

They actually treated human lives as numbers to be quantified and compared. Just hearing about this, Hui felt a surge of anger in her heart. If such a thing happened in front of her, she would never forgive the mastermind behind this!

"Life should be equal—"

"That's not the question. The question is, if it were you, would you pull the lever?"

"this..."

Confused, puzzled, sad, and entangled, the girl walked lightly on the spot and finally shook her head at Ash in loss.

"I do not know."

I'm sorry Ash, I've disappointed you again.

"Mei, let me tell you!"

To the girl's surprise, this time Ash did not look disappointed in her as she had expected. He even touched her head casually with a serious look in his eyes.

"Speaking of this trolley problem, let me give you an analogy."

If it's Ultraman, he can pick up the train at will. If it's Super Sentai, the train can transform itself into a robot and step over the hostage.

"Do you know what Kamen Rider will choose?"

"How, how?" Hui couldn't help but hold her breath, wanting to get an answer from Ash, who was unusually gentle at the moment.

Can you finally guide me too?

"That was, of course, before the train came and anyone else flipped the switch."

He suddenly raised the card box gun and fired several shots at an open space behind the lost Tsumugi. Amidst the sound of shattering glass, a deep figure slowly emerged from the spot, looking a little embarrassed.

"First, take out the tram and the lunatic who planned the kidnapping and beat them up!"

"The puppeteer who manipulates the strings from behind the stage is more important than the one who controls everything from behind the scenes."

After turning the cartridge gun twice in his hand and putting it back to his waist, Ash waved to the unexpected figure, who was actually inviting him in.

"Why don't you come down and try joining the stage yourself and see if it feels different?"

"I promise it will be fun."

"Mr. Black Fang..." Tsumugi was surprised to find that the figure that suddenly appeared was none other than the Phantom Empire cadre, Black Fang, who had helped her. Had it been there the entire time? But if that was the case... why did it just watch and not take any action?

Isn't it... someone who is obviously a bad guy but still wants to help me?

"How could this be?" Hui opened his mouth wide and looked at the masked man in black. He had clearly fought there not long ago, so why didn't he notice it?

"Didn't I tell you, Hui? You have to identify the main contradiction." The triumphant knight let his fingers slide through the girl's pink hair, gently rubbing it, making a small sound. "So, you have to observe more."

You are right. At least before you fail completely, it is right to find a way to have the best of both worlds.

"Damn it..." Seeing the glaring bullet holes on his cloak, Black Fang, wearing a mask, grinned with gritted teeth from the only part of his exposed mouth. "How do you know about me?"

My concealment should be perfect!

"Hey, hey, why are you asking such an obvious question?"

Being able to use the problem of choice to force the Girl of Light into a mental dilemma, such a great scene will make people excited just thinking about it, right?

If it were me, I wouldn't miss it.

"Also, I can smell the bad smell of your bad guys from 200 meters away?"

Did you think I, having overheard your conversation, would let my guard down? What a joke!

"Hmph, you're getting carried away just because you have the upper hand..." Heiya, who had been suppressing his dissatisfaction in his heart, suddenly revealed a smug smile on his face after seeing Tsumugi kneeling on the ground.

"Tsumugi, they are just like I said, they are 'bad guys' who will harm you——Come to me quickly!"

As long as this little girl named "Orihara Tsumugi" is still with me, I can find as many ways as I want to make these heroes of justice afraid to act rashly!

Now that she looks so lost, it is convenient for me to control her better!

"But... I think this is wrong..."

The tearful girl's conflicted eyes kept flickering from side to side. If it were her previous self, she would probably choose to help Black Fang without hesitation, but after being refuted by Ash's argument and having her conscience deeply stung by Hui's kindness, she has now begun to hesitate.

This kind of thing is wrong!

Damn it! She was so easily manipulated and deceived before, but now she's hesitant? What kind of magic potion did this Kamen Rider give her?

"Tsumugi, compared to that world that tortured you, this is the only world where you can jump forever, right?"

I know you're actually a pretty selfish kid.

“I…I!”

Just as she was still torn between her desires and conscience, Ash's deliberate cough clearly interrupted her thoughts.

"You speak so righteously, are you really any good?"

Ash had no intention of beating around the bush with them.

Now he is going to "explode" everything!

Chapter 168: Opening a Box Simply

"Orihara Tsumugi was born in Hikarigaoka in 02. She attends Hikarigaoka School. Besides ballet, her biggest hobby is collecting all kinds of dolls and toys."

"Two years ago, I suddenly lost my legs for unknown reasons. Oh, don't look at me with such horror. I took the time to research it."

"?!"

If Orihara Tsumugi had started to waver in her heart after hearing what Hei Ya said, then when Ash disclosed all of her personal information like the back of his hand, she was filled with fear and terror.

"Why do you know this? Even if you've checked it out, why do you know it so clearly?!"

"The sudden death of a former ballet prodigy was all over the news. If we even know her name, wouldn't it be normal to find her?"

It's not like there are "super agents" patrolling the network intensively. Isn't it a simple matter to open a box in this ancient network where no one can stop my hacking skills?

"I know you have a lot to ask, but I want to tell you this first."

"Orihara Tsumugi, you suddenly fell into a coma of unknown cause at Hikarigaoka Central Hospital three months ago. Your father and mother are still worried and crying all day long."

"Do you remember this?"

"3 months ago... that was when I came into this world...?!" After hearing about this incident, especially the news about her parents, the girl no longer had the heart to feel fear. Her heart was filled with confusion and bewilderment.

I remember that day, I woke up from a dream and suddenly found myself in this puppet kingdom again. Then Mr. Black Fang appeared and told me that I could live freely in this world and not have to worry about anything else... Could it be that I wasn't awake at all that day?!

"I-Isn't this the world that I created for Mr. Black Fang to save me? Why—is it like this!?"

I always thought that I was free living in this world where I could dance freely with my puppet friends, but in fact, I was actually in a coma and made my family worry?

How come I didn't know about this?!

I know, that's not the case at all!

"From your appearance, you don't know about this matter. That can only mean one thing."