Chapter 189: Is Everything Within Your Plan?
Bypassing the journalists who were looking for the rare big scoop in a millennium, it’s easy.
Evading the Metropolitan Police Department forces preparing to negotiate and capture the terrorists who had hijacked an operating room arbitrarily, it’s easy.
Dodging the frightened patients and doctors, it’s simple.
Carrying two severely injured girls, enduring the different emotions from the people and the strange gaze of your own demon as you walk down the path…a bit difficult.
“What’s wrong? Looking at your expression, do you want to say I did a bad job?”
“No…” As he led the two people through a stealth move into the operating room and blocked the door with a steel bar from the inside, Ash shook his head, positioning the two girls side by side on the operating table. Ash’s hands moved swiftly, cutting up their torn clothes to prepare for surgery, turning on the necessary instruments one by one to maintain their lives.
“You really did some redundant things…but, well, it was actually done well.”
“Of course, or do you think I am whose demon?”
With only a tiny little demon as an assistant, it’s difficult to save their lives alone, taking them back from the Grim Reaper, whom he knew too well.
“But it’s not impossible for me. Who do you think taught me?”
Kayin, floating in the air, slipped a pair of medical gloves over his hands and raised his hands in front of him, vertical. Wearing a mask, Ash closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, he entered a state of serious work.
“Now, prepare for the repair surgery of the Pretty Cure and Dark Pretty Cure.”
I will fix you; I can fix anything.
“BEEP—BEEP—”
When Tsukikage Lily opened her eyes, she saw the bright surgical light overhead. Her first instinct was a subconscious “unfamiliar ceiling.”
When she tried to move her somewhat rigid hand, she felt a deep sense of loss and exhaustion come from within her body. She also noticed she was wearing a breathing mask that fogged up periodically with her breaths.
It seemed she was neither in heaven nor hell; she must have been rescued.
“Huh…”
Though the sound was faint, Lily caught the calm breaths beside her with keen ears. This smooth breathing likely meant that the person was dreaming peacefully.
The idea to turn over was dashed due to the pain in her abdomen. Lily struggled to turn her neck toward her companion, and her entire field of vision was filled with Dark Pretty Cure’s quiet sleeping face.
“Dark!”
Just as she was about to call out that name, she caught sight of Ash sitting by the wall, covered with dirty blood-stained medical coat and gloves. He did not seem to care about her; maintaining his forward-leaning posture on the ground, he kept his head low and hid his face from view.
As Tsukikage Lily considered whether to call out his name, the heavy snoring came from the corner.
Perched on Ash’s shoulder was Kuron…no, this should be the demon calling himself “Kayin.” He pointed his soft hand at his lips, signaling silence.
Lily swallowed the rest of her words back, lying beside her “sister” enemy, gazing upwards. With myriad thoughts and emotions swirling in her mind, she simply rested her head on Ash’s gradually calming snore and drifted off to sleep.
—-Police Raid in Progress—-
Except for occasionally causing chaos in the city, only Pretty Cure could fight against the Desert Apostles. Hoshizuki Market Town had always been a peaceful place.
But never would they have thought that such a town with such a long crime-free record would produce a streaker, and after the culprit managed to show his repentance, another terrible event of terrorists taking over the hospital occurred, leaving the police, who rarely had jobs other than helping elderly women find lost wallets, at a loss.
Nevertheless, capturing criminals must never be tolerated.
“Behave yourself! Raise your hands and surrender!”
When it reached 2 AM, finally, the police broke through the locked operating room door. Bulletproof-clad special agents stormed in, holding shields and revolvers, while armed assaulters wielding assault rifles surrounded the room completely.
“Lie on the ground!”
“Throw down your weapon!”
“Don’t move…wait, where is he?!”
When the police commander holding a gun rushed into the surgery room, all signs of any terrorist vanished. Although the window was open, this was from the 23rd floor! Could the criminal really have flown away?
If this was a misunderstanding…
Why was the entire surgery room empty? Including the surgical equipment!
Tsukikage Lily opened her eyes again, this time seeing no unfamiliar ceiling.
The color of the ceiling was familiar, with wooden beams decorated with patterns reminding her of Nasta Café…especially that grand chandelier overhead that her eyes were accustomed to. She recalled telling the manager when he insisted on buying such useless decorations back then that one shouldn’t squander money.
However, knowing Nasta Café had been ruined, where was she now?
“You’re awake,”
The familiar voice made her turn her head instantly. Sure enough, Ash sat beside her bed, in a position like he was ready to read her a night story.
Only regretfully, the man held a cup of thick coffee instead of a book, momentarily transporting her back to Nasta before the ruins reminded her of reality.
Looking closely, what was above was not her familiar ceiling but just the top of a ceiling.
“I thought there was nothing left here, but unexpectedly, there are still parts that provide shelter. Looks like Lei’s plant friends must’ve liked it here, so they’ve done something unnecessary.”
After taking a sip, Ash put down the coffee cup. A warm mist rose from it, dispelling the surrounding cold breeze slightly.
“So, I brought you here. I believe my considerate employee wouldn’t mind this simplicity, right? After all, where else would I bring you except to the Desert Apostles base?”
Gazing at Ash, who despite his undeniable fatigue, continued with playful remarks, Lily fell into silence for a moment. Fixing her eyes on him, she asked solemnly:
“Ash…Is everything within your plan as well?”
