Chapter Fourteen Joker
In a parallel world beyond Earth, “Tragedy Kingdom,” there was a perpetual night sky filled with bats flying overhead. A dim, hazy moon hung above, obscured by thick dark fog. Under these multiple layers, the nearly invisible moonlight illuminated a sinister, oddly castle-like building on the cliff.
Surrounding the castle were lava flows that looked like boiling blood, and the ground that bore the castle seemed dead. Plants and creatures displayed an eerie yet absurd aura. Purple miasma enveloped everything around. If ordinary humans saw such a scene, they would likely be overwhelmed by fear and despair.
A blurry figure gradually solidified into sight, with Wolfrun staggering before the castle. Running on all fours, he dashed inside as if some terrifying thing was chasing him.
When the evil dragon knight cut the clown monster in half right in front of him, Wolfrun felt like he too was being severed, even though he only saw a glance from beneath the helmet.
Afterward, Wolfrun fled back to his base camp, “Tragedy Kingdom.”
“He actually called me a dog, damn it! I am a wolf, a proud one!”
“Wolfrun, why start using your hands—uh!” Without paying attention to the road ahead, Wolfrun did not notice the small figure ahead until Witch Lina shouted a warning and got knocked over by him.
“Hey—damn you, running so fast just for a headfirst collision with the pavement!”
The insults from his comrade, Witch Lina, were drowned out. It felt off, even in their tragedy kingdom’s base, seeing that evil dragon knight again still gave him creeps.
“What he claimed, engraving strength into us— who does he think he is? Damn it!”
The human, looking down on him like that—it’s infuriating! Damnit, damnit—
Wolfrun wanted to fuel his rage; at least it could motivate him to win next time.
Yet, the horrifying strike remained deeply imprinted in his memory. Thinking of the dragon’s eyes, he couldn’t muster anger, only fear.
Just a human, so scary!?
“Haha, Wolfrun, running so fast again? Scared of losing to the Pretty Cure?” a tall, scarlet figure blocked his way, forcing him to stop.
Wielding a massive club, dressed in tiger-skin armor, and adorned with pointed horns, covered in red skin, this standard evil ogre started laughing mockingly.
“Pathetic, Wolfrun, scared like this by the Pretty Cure? Next time, watch my heroic defeat of those girls.”
“No!”
Hearing the accusation, Wolfrun rebutted passionately. “It’s not like that at all! If not for someone randomly intervening, I would’ve beaten them for sure!”
“Hmm, humans? What nonsense.” Skeptical of Wolfrun’s story, the red ogre dismissed him. “Other than the Pretty Cure, all humans are losers who lose spirit at tragic endings. They wouldn’t cause problems; you must have made that up to avoid our ridicule.”
“Not at all, that person—”
“Aww, how intriguing.”
An overly sweet yet twisted voice echoed behind the two arguing figures, cold enough to sink into bones.
“Could you describe that person?”
From the shadows emerged a figure in purple-and-white striped attire, wearing a jester’s hat adorned with red, yellow, and blue, and a white mask revealing a deranged smile.
“Joker!”
Regardless of embarrassment or discomfort, Wolfrun and the red ogre visibly tensed.
While they were just bickering earlier with a colleague, facing this jester had them feeling like they were caught off guard by the inspection officer.
This jester was the trusted right-hand man of their boss, “Evil Emperor Pierrot”—Joker, disliked by everyone in Tragedy Kingdom due to his unsettling behavior.
Who knew what he would do to them, playing favorites?
“Which one?”
Disdainfully, Wolfrun wished to get rid of Joker quickly. “Said his name is… Curry—Wangjian, yes, Wangjian!”
“He can move freely in tragic endings like us, wielding a darkly powerful sword. He transformed into a dragonlike armored man who took down the clown monster with one blow!”
“A dragonlike armored man struck down the clown monster with one blow?” Joker reacted dramatically, smiling slyly while twisting cards in his hands.
“He sounds fake—perhaps new allies for the Pretty Cure?”
“No, no, for he sealed away three of their transformation devices after defeating all of them.”
“Their transformation devices are sealed?” Wolfrun and the others first showed shock; Joker’s cards dropped.
As they wondered if he was delusional, Joker burst into laughter.
“Ha-ha-ha-ha!”
His laughter echoed through the castle, scaring Witch Lina again onto the ground.
“Might be fun—maybe a friend,” Joker thought after hearing Wolfrun’s account.
I need to meet this guy—such an interesting person deserves serving our Evil Emperor.
“However.”
With a sneer, Joker reached out despite Wolfrun’s vigilant stance. In shock, he snatched something hidden under Wolfrun’s fur.
“Oh? So our friend isn’t friendly.”
Fingering a tiny tracker emitting red light, Joker narrowed his eyes. “Wolfrun dear, could you explain this?”
“I—don’t know!”
His answer elicited another exaggerated laugh, as if expected. Gazing at the blinking light, Joker continued.
“Hmm, perhaps we should welcome Wangjian. Maybe he’ll get along with us.”
He shook his head. “Rather not.”
Twirling the flickering light into a bright red rose, Joker said.
“Better invite this guest myself.”
