Chapter 148

Chapter 1 Things That I Believed Were Forever: Parents, Money, and…Porta? It happened suddenly. The hero’s party were exploring a grassy field, when… “Huh? …Mm?” …the Traveling Merchant, Porta, stopped in her tracks, staring at the sky to the north. Nothing but a small cloud drifted slowly along, yet her eyes stayed fixed to it. She remained like that for over a minute. Long enough that her friends began to get worried. “Um…what’s gotten into Porta?” Masato asked. “Beats me…,” Wise replied. “Doesn’t seem like she’s spotted any monsters…,” Medhi said. All three were at a loss. “Oh?” Mamako, the hero’s mother, said. It seemed she’d sensed something. “Hmm…yes…there is, well…” “Uh, Mom, what’s going on? Clue us in.” “Hmm…I’m not quite sure how to put this… It’s just a nebulous anxious feeling.” “Can you be more specific…?” “I wish I could, but it’s definitely upsetting. Like I have to do this to calm myself.” Mamako wrapped her arms around Masato’s head, pulling him in tight against her chest. “Oh, that’s much better.” “Leggo!” Stroking the head of her beloved son was such a relief! But it was definitely a destabilizing influence on his psyche, so he soon wriggled out from her embrace. “Anyway, if you’re sensing it, Mom, then there’s definitely something going on…” “Yeah…,” Wise agreed. “Oh, maybe it’s, like, a hidden threat to the world that’s emerged?” “You think she’s sensing the appearance of a demon lord?” wondered Medhi. “Wait, wait. If that’s true, then as the Hero, this is my field. Let me take a look.” Masato stared at the sky to the north, focusing his mind. Ten seconds passed. Thirty. “Well? Go on, fess up. The sooner you apologize, the better.” “Honesty will prove your salvation. We promise to send you off with warm smiles.” “Argh…!” Clearly neither girl expected anything from him. How demoralizing. But that only further motivated him to pick up something! …That said, this was looking more and more pointless by the minute— No, wait. …Mm? Is that…? It could be a trick of the light, or an eye floater. But he could see a very thin thread that appeared ready to snap at any moment. Just looking at it made him anxious. And it seemed to be reaching toward Porta… “Sorry!” Porta said suddenly. “I was kinda out of it for a moment there!” “Er…?” Masato’s concentration instantly dissipated. “W-well, uh, welcome back.” Porta came running to him, and he looked her over carefully, but saw no signs of anything stringlike. Maybe he’d been seeing things… “Masato? Is there something on me?” “Er, no…I dunno how to put this… It was like I saw a sort of nebulous anxiety…” “How can you see anxiety?!” “Masato, don’t strain yourself. We know better.” “That doesn’t sound like a compliment…but fair enough; I’m pretty confused about it myself.” “So what were you looking at, Porta?” asked Mamako. “I don’t know!” Porta replied. “I felt like my eyes were drawn to something, but I don’t know what!” She wasn’t the type to lie. “Right…we felt like we sensed something, but nobody’s clear what. It’s alarming, but…worrying about it isn’t gonna get us anywhere. So I guess we should just drop it?” Masato looked around the group. “Well, then, let’s do what we came for! Today’s goal is to try out the new combat style I thought up!” It was an indisputable fact that Mamako dominated all combat. The instant an encounter began, she would sweep the field clear of enemies. The time for mutiny was nigh. “We, the children, have nonetheless grown stronger by the day! Come, comrades! Let us demonstrate our power!” “Sure, sure, we’ll pretend to go along with it for now.” “The results are a foregone conclusion, but for the time being, we’ll grin and bear it.” “Ladies, a little enthusiasm, if you could?” “Um, Ma-kun, Mommy hasn’t heard any explanation for this new combat style…” “Mom, you just attack at will, like you always have. Our goal here is to see how we can fit in around your attacks.” “Okay, then. Mommy will just do her thing!” “Great. Now, to make this new combat style work, one member of our party’s actions will be extra critical. Namely…” The party’s item master and mental care expert. The twelve-year-old Traveling Merchant named… “Porta! We’re counting on you!” “Right! I’ll do my best!” The sincerity in her eyes gave them courage. Also, it was really cute. “Adorbs!” “Eep!” Masato’s fingers danced around her cheeks. It was time to begin. As always, the party set off across the field. Just walking around in circles… “Oh—whoops!” Porta found some monsters, but quickly clapped her hands over her mouth. Before announcing the enemies’ arrival, she quickly ran over to Mamako’s side. “Oh my, what is it?” “Mama! Come here!” Porta took a picnic blanket out of her shoulder bag and spread it out on the ground. Then she took out a tea set, and some sweets, and laid them out over top. By the time combat began, the tea party was under way! “Oh, that looks lovely. I suppose it’s time for a break!” “Yes! Mama, you have tea with me, while…!” The moment Mamako sat down, Porta shot the others a look. To the left, it said. They nodded and ran in the direction she’d indicated. “Right! All according to plan! Let us put our knowledge and hard work to the test! We’ll find these monsters before Mom does and… There they are!” They located the monster horde: a bunch of wolf- and spider-type monsters on the ground… …and several huge bird monsters in the sky. “Hell yes, flying enemies! Leave them to me! Here goes!” Masato went first. Savoring the delight of getting an attack off before Mamako, he swung the Holy Sword of the Heavens as hard as he could. “Enemies that fly are no match for…me!” A beam of light shot toward the screeching bird monsters. There were several of them, and only one beam…but the beam split, changing into four hawks, each tracking a different target. “Yes, there it is! I’m growing stronger! Go!” “Heh…even Masato has his moments. Right, then land enemies are up to the ultimate Sage, yours truly!” “…Spara la magia per mirare… Morte!” “Wha—Medhi! Leave some for me! …Spara la magia per mirare… Fiamma Cerchio! And! Fiamma Cerchio!” Medhi’s instant death spell went off while Wise was talking, but Wise quickly rushed through her chant, and chain cast two spells. Large magic circles appeared above and below the land monsters, spouting columns of flames. Meanwhile, a reaper sped between the fires, slashing monsters and removing their souls. “Nicely done, Wise, Medhi! Man, this is great! This new combat style is a massive success!” “Even if it just amounts to Porta distracting Mamako,” noted Wise. “I can’t help but feel we could just ask her nicely to let us go first…,” said Medhi.