Wise and Medhi had cleared it earlier and were napping in the hall with the boxes of cookies. Their eyes fluttered open. “……Mm? Is it finally over? That took way too long. Seriously, are you cursed or something?” “I kept count for the first twenty tries, but…what was the final number?” “Fifty-eight! I went so far beyond anger, I achieved enlightenment!” “Missing a one in six chance to that degree is downright miraculous,” marveled Wise. “I’m impressed!” “Anyway,” said Medhi, “all three of us cleared the game, which means…” “Exactly!” Masato, Wise, and Medhi turned and smiled. The three Heavenly Kings were permanently stuck one step from the exit and glared at them more balefully than any vengeful spirit. Veins throbbing. “This isn’t funny! The happier you look, the angrier I get!” “Arghhh… Unbelieeeevable! We were getting to know each other soooo well, only for you to betray us like thiiiis! Scuuum!” “Don’t blame us,” said Wise. “You just didn’t get lucky.” “Probably karma coming back to bite you,” said Medhi. “Say, sonny, I don’t suppose you could somehow pull me out with you…?” “Afraid not, Fratello. We’re enemies, after all. We can’t support your schemes. Sorry.” They turned to leave. “Masato Oosuki! Just so we know, what’s your goal here?” “Our goal? First…Porta. We need to find her, and talk.” “Then we’ll leave her to youuuu. She’s soooooo stubborn! We don’t stand a chaaaance. Buuut…” “We’ll take care of Porta’s mother, too. We’re not letting you go after her.” “’Fraid that’s where we draw the line. We’ll be outta this game soon enough.” “And then we’ll show up at the perfect mooooment! And get herrrr! Mwah-ha-haaah!” “And if you try and stop us, we’ll take you down with her. Be ready to get kicked out of the way!” “You’re hell bent on attacking her mother, huh? Jeez.” Masato glanced at the three of them, and grinned. “Wh-what?” “No big deal. Just…in that video you showed us, all three of you were trying to cheer Porta up. And defending her.” “Well, suuuure… We can’t agree with her desire to have a moooom…but she’s so earneeest. I meeean…” “As a man, I have a strong sense of duty. Something touches my heart, I’m gonna take action.” “Huh… I guess Hahako was right. Deep down, you aren’t bad people. Maybe given the right opportunity, you’ll all change.” “Don’t be ridiculous. Are you legitimately stupid? Idiot,” Amante snapped. “Yeah, just an idiot talking to himself. Forget I said anything.” Masato grinned, deflecting it easily. Masato, Wise, and Medhi glanced at each other, nodded gravely, and ran off, following the trail of stuffed animals in the halls to resume their pursuit of Porta. Meanwhile, at the Mom Shop in Catharn… Mamako, Mone, and Shiraaase were gathered around the table, frowning at a map of the world. “Well, Mamako? Think you can pull off the transport?” asked Mone. “Mm…I’m not so sure. I’ve never used a spell like that and have no idea how it feels. And I don’t even know where the place is…” Mamako was holding a jewel that served as a transport item. She was trying to send herself back to Deathmother Castle, but without much success. “Then perhaps you should ask Mother Earth for help? That might work somehow,” suggested Shiraaase. “Yes…I suppose I should.” She put the map of the world on the ground, hoping it would help. Then she held the Holy Sword of Mother Earth, Terra di Madre, aloft. “Mother Earth…I want to hurry back to my beloved son and his friends…if you know how that feels, lend me your power!” The note answered her call, showing their location on the map—the special child-locating mom skill, A Mother’s Fangs… …did nothing. Total silence. “Oh my! It seems I’ve failed.” “Usually, no matter how insane it sounds, you can easily pull it off…but if this won’t work, your opponent clearly has countermeasures in place.” “I wonder what kind of countermeasures?” said Mone. “Hmm…maybe, like, a barrier around the place they’re at? So you can’t locate it?” “That could be… It does feel a bit like that,” said Mamako. “But…hmm…” She cocked her head, staring at her feet. “It’s like the earth isn’t feeling well…and doesn’t really approve of me finding Ma-kun and running to him.” “It doesn’t approve? You mean, it doesn’t think you need to go?” asked Shiraaase. “Like it wants you to let them handle it?” said Mone. “Yes…maybe that’s it…” Mamako sheathed her sword, and slowly sat down. “I can let Ma-kun and the girls handle the rest… That much I feel is true. I mean, they’ve all grown so strong. Both in battle and their everyday lives. Even without me at their side and helping, I’m sure they can take care of themselves.” “R-really? I guess I wouldn’t know,” Mone said. “They certainly have become much more reliable, but…” “I know! So…as worried as I am, part of me thinks…maybe this is for the best.” As children grow, they stop needing your help. A parent’s role comes to an end. That’s a joyous thing, but also…very sad. Dealing with emotions all parents eventually experience, Mamako smiled weakly and stared out the window. Mone and Shiraaase glanced at each other, worried. “Personally, I want to have my mother spoil me all the time, and I never want to leave her side so…” “Yes, Mone, you were created to be a Dark God of Spoiling, so you would think that way. You may be working at the Mom Shop to overcome that need and be more independent, but changing what lies deep down is not so easily done.” “Blegh, you make it sound like I haven’t grown at all! That’s not fair.” “No, no, I didn’t mean that…but, well, generally speaking, I think Mamako is right. As children grow up, they become independent, and parents have to let them… Oh…!” “Mm? Ms. Shiraaase, what is it?” Shiraaase had jumped to her feet and run over to the counter. She picked up the documents on the children’s rapid growth, thinking quickly. “Children growing…they no longer need parents…mothers wrestling with those emotions, but pulling back…mom power responds, reducing its output…this is bad news.” “Oh? How so?” “That means everything is working out exactly as our enemy planned.” Her methods may be forceful, but children growing up and leaving their parents was a natural process Using that natural process to make mothers step back from the spotlight of their own volition…would mean the Libere Rebellion’s goal of eliminating mothers would easily come to pass. I can’t just let her have things her way…but… Mamako was their most effective measure against this sort of thing, but she was on the verge of deciding it was best to step back. And even the powers that mothers drew upon were giving up. What should I do? How did one overcome a disadvantage created by a logically sound argument? Shiraaase had to think of something… As she tried… They heard a horse whinny. A carriage had pulled up in front of the Mom Shop. A castle dignitary came rushing in, in full formal attire. “I apologize for the sudden intrusion! Forgive me, but the situation is dire! Is Mamako Oosuki’s party here?” “Ah, yes, I am, at least…” “Oh! So you are! I see the children aren’t with you but…p-please, come to the castle posthaste! The queen has an urgent request for you!” “The queen? Oh, my! What could it be?” Mamako, Shiraaase, and Mone looked at one another, baffled. Since there was no telling when more concerned mothers would arrive with reports of rapid child maturation, they couldn’t very well leave the Mom Shop unattended—so Mone remained behind. Mamako and Shiraaase accepted the invitation to the castle. The carriage swept them along at top speed. Once they’d arrived, they were invited not to a reception room, but to the queen’s private quarters, as friends. “Your Majesty, pardon the intrusion.” “Oh my! Mamako! Thank you for coming. And you must be…Ms. Shiraaase, from management, right? I believe we met at the prince’s courtship ball.” “I’m honored you remembered me. It is likewise an honor to meet Your Majesty in—in?” Mid formal greeting, Shiraaase froze—her eyes glued to the knife, fork, and lobster lodged in the queen’s hairdo. “Is this a test of my comedic timing?” “Er, um…I doubt that very much…” “Whatever is the matter? Is there something on my head? …Oh, right! I’ve just returned from a scouting mission and haven’t had time to freshen up. I must be rather disheveled! How embarrassing… Ladies?” The door to the side room opened, and several ladies-in-waiting filed in. They pretended to redo her hair, while surreptitiously removing the cutlery and lobster, then left—all without a trace of surprise ever crossing their faces. “Much better. A relief, yes?” “Yes.” “Absolutely.” Mamako and Shiraaase were much more relieved than the queen herself. Anyway. They were led to a nearby couch, and the queen sat down opposite them. “First, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for responding to my invitation on such short notice. I cannot thank you enough. However, I don’t see your children anywhere…?” “Ma-kun and the girls…they’re, um, on an adventure…” “An adventure? They went without you?” “Not quite, no… How should I put this…” “Mamako’s party was in the midst of solving one incident when an enemy scheme resulted in Mamako being sent back to Catharn.” “Oh my! How awful.” The queen gave Mamako a long, searching look. She seemed concerned about Mamako’s very un-Mamako-like hemming and hawing. “It sounds as if you’re very busy—I do hope my summons isn’t interrupting anything.” “N-no, don’t worry about that. I believe we can leave that matter in the children’s hands. Even without me by their side, they will undoubtedly solve everything themselves. I am so proud of them, you know.” Mamako smiled. She seemed to think this was a bright, cheery smile. It did not look like one to the queen’s eyes. Her frown deepened. “Ms. Shiraaase, do you know what’s happened to Mamako? She seems gloomy…almost depressed.” “I can infooorm you that your assessment is entirely correct.” Shiraaase showed the queen a number of reports she’d brought with her from the Mom Shop. The particular reports she’d selected were ones documenting not only the rapid growth of the children, but also the harrowing admissions from mothers who had started to accept their children’s independence. The queen soon caught on and let out a deep sigh. “That would explain it. Well, perhaps this is actually the perfect timing, then.” “Meaning?” “Mamako has shown me how a mother should be and saved both me and my child. I owe her a great debt. I believe this is my chance to communicate something critical to her—something every mother needs to know.” “Very well. I shall leave this in Your Majesty’s hands.” “Please do.” Shiraaase bowed her head with a smile. The queen turned to face Mamako. “Let’s get down to business,” she said. “Listen closely. Currently events are unfolding all over the world that may very well threaten its very existence. The situation is extremely grave.” “What? What’s happening?” “First, the earth and the sea are developing sudden depressions. I myself witnessed the development of one in the ocean’s surface not long ago. Similar phenomena have been reported on land, and when these happen in populated areas, the damage is immense.” “I have seen this phenomenon myself,” said Shiraaase. “A relatively small depression, roughly three meters in diameter, appeared in the middle of the Catharn capital. I nearly fell in. Twice.” “Oh dear…” “And we cannot ignore these sad reports of unnatural child development tearing families apart. The goal of this world is for parents and children to remain close forever, to live happy lives, hand in hand. That is the ultimate theme of the world, and should that be denied, the world itself would lose its reason to exist.” “Oh my! If that happens…what will become of it…?” “In plain terms, the game world will fail. Management will inform—no, infooorm—everyone that service is ending. Right, Ms. Shiraaase?” “It is an honor to have you humor my peccadilloes.” Shiraaase bowed her head. It seemed they shared a love of bad puns. But this was a serious conversation. “I believe these two phenomena are connected. Seeing you like this, Mamako, only confirms that.” “Me? Like this…?” “Mamako, the fact that your son has grown and is pulling away from you has left you feeling lonely and depressed. Depressed —like the depressions forming on the earth and ocean.” “…Huh?” Mamako looked surprised. The queen nodded. “Mother Earth and Mother Ocean grant power in response to a mother’s emotions. Yet they also sense the emotions of mothers and are influenced by them. Ms. Shiraaase, this is pure speculation on my part but…from an Admin standpoint, what is your take on the matter?” “I’m afraid I’m not that well-versed in the particulars of the game’s design. No, that’s not entirely true… Regardless of the design specifications, we have one individual bringing about all manner of extreme feats in the name of mothers everywhere. Someone right here with us.” “Ho-ho-ho! Indubitably. I personally saw her use a simple push on the back to break the laws between dimensions! I couldn’t believe my eyes.” “This individual even influenced the game’s main systems to create Hahako—just one example of the world moving in ways it was never intended to. And that daily connection to Mothers Earth and Ocean, to that incredible power—if she has shared that, consciously or not…” “Then other mothers receive those blessings, share their feelings, and affect the earth and ocean. It seems highly plausible…if no less mind-boggling.” “Certainly. Mind-boggling is the perfect word.” “Um…so who are we talking about again?” asked Mamako. The individual in question was staring blankly at Shiraaase and the queen. Total lack of self-awareness. Regardless: “Well, with that understood, the path is clear,” said the queen. “Only one thing for us to do. Right, Mamako?” “Er…um…” “Let me make this simple. The two phenomena we’re dealing with are connected. The earth and ocean’s depressions stem from depressed mothers. The mothers are depressed because of what the Libere Rebellion is doing. Which means…” “Which means… Oh, I see! If we can persuade Porta’s mother, the Rebellion leader, then that will put an end to everything!” “You’ve already identified the enemy leader? In that case…” “Yes! Let us hear a Mamako-like response!” “Very well! Then…” Mamako sprang to her feet, raising her fist in the air. Then an idea struck her, and she lowered her arm. “…I’m sure Ma-kun and the girls will handle that. I’m better off making a nice meal and waiting for them to come back. Yes, I think that’s best.” She sat down again listlessly. But… “That, too, is a motherly response. But Mamako—it isn’t how you do things.” The queen caught her gaze and held it. “Listen, Mamako. Because you lent us your power, my son, the prince, found his perfect match. They successfully married and are living happily ever after. But as a result…I grew depressed.” “What? Why…?” “We are royals, so family matters work differently than many—but my son now has a family of his own. They have started their own lives together. That means I can no longer expect him to remain at his mother’s side—especially if I have faith in him.” “That is true… There are times when you know it’s better for your children to pull away.” “Yes. So I had to allow him his independence. And I missed him terribly. But then a thought struck me.” “…What thought?” “I hit upon the perfect method. I can maintain a certain distance from him, yet still see his face, hear his voice, and spend as much time with him as before.” “Wh-what is this miraculous method?” Mamako leaned in, eager to hear more. The queen smiled proudly. “I go see him all the time.” Mamako’s jaw dropped. It took a moment for the meaning to sink in. Shiraaase got there first, clapping her hands once in recognition. The queen’s grin broadened. “It’s quite simple. Anytime I have any business to take care of, we meet, talk, and spend time together. That’s all! But this next part is key. Critically important. Listen carefully.” “Y-yes…go on.” “Things don’t always work out that way. When I don’t actually have business to take care of, I just…make some up.” “…Huh?” “This is a trick only a mother can pull off. I think it’s safe to call it a mom skill.” Imagine a mother who had just folded some laundry. By delivering it personally to a child’s room, she can catch a glimpse of what her child is up to. Imagine a child has moved into an apartment of their own, and their mother is on a sightseeing tour in the area, but she takes a break to pop in for a quick visit. This kind of mom action is an effect of the special mom skill, A Mother’s Visit. Must be. “I mean, I want to see my son! I want to see his face, talk to him, spend time with him. And the only way to make that happen is to invent a pretext to see him! Yes…like if I were you right now, Mamako…” “You could follow a different path from Masato’s party, pursing a different goal, but the result of it—you coincidentally meet up. Or is that pushing it?” “Oh my, Ms. Shiraaase! That might be pushing your luck, ho-ho-ho.” “It will likely have a huge effect on everyone she gets involved with and the world itself! How terrifyingly convenient. Heh-heh-heh.” Shiraaase and the queen shared a vaguely sinister laugh. Meanwhile, Mamako was thinking this over, taking it very seriously. “Mamako,” the queen said. “I think sometimes mothers should be a little foolish. You shouldn’t pretend to be wise and hide how you feel. You shouldn’t decide something is in the child’s best interests. It’s important to be honest with yourself as a mother. See?” “……Yes. I am a mother.” Mamako slowly raised her head. No trace of doubt remained in her mind. The queen nodded. “Looks like we have nothing to worry about.” “No, Your Majesty. I’m sorry to make you worry. I’m fine now. I just remembered some business I have to take care of, so if you’ll excuse me…” “Ho-ho-ho! Far be it from me to get between you and your business. As the queen, I shall see the hero’s mother off on her journey… Ah, right. One more thing I should mention…” “Oh? What’s that?” “Even for you, Mamako, adventuring alone is far too dangerous. You should gather a party at the guild and prepare for the upcoming journey—this is the core principle of any RPG.” The queen gave her a wink loaded with significance. “First, gather a party at the Adventurers Guild. I did that with Ma-kun when we first started this game! I remember it so well.” “Your show of strength caused considerable damage to the building and myself, but…good times. Let’s head there again.” Mamako and Shiraaase had left the castle and were headed toward the guild, dodging depressions in the road. There were a number of adventurers assembled outside the building. “…Hey, look!” “What? Seriously?!” The moment they spied Mamako, a stir ran through the crowd, looks of admiration turning toward her. “Oh my! We’ve already found some adventurers!” “Hold your horses. This is the start point for all adventures in Catharn. In other words, adventurers registered here all have their levels set quite low, so they can easily join the parties of new players.” “I see! That does make sense. I feel sorry for the adventurers here, but they don’t seem like they’d be very helpful.” “That is a problem… We’re about to head directly to the headquarters of the enemy. Taking beginners along would just slow us down.” “Oh dear. We don’t want that.” “I fear you operating on your own would get you to Masato faster than that partying with them…which means the queen’s suggestion must have some other merit.” At this point, they’d reached the guild doors and stepped inside. “Oh, there she is!” “I’m glad she arrived before I was forced to order a second cup of tea.” Two women were resting on a couch nearby. One wore a flashy evening gown covered in sequins. She had a deep tan and sported a pair of devil-like horns. The other wore holy robes lavishly decorated in nouveau riche chic. She had a haughty expression on her face. At the sight of them, Shiraaase’s eyes widened, and Mamako let out a cry of surprise. “Kazuno?! And Medhimama?!” “Mamako, Shiraaase, ’sup? We meet again. But you’re so late! I was about to die of boredom.” “That’s a lie. You’ve been having a grand old time sitting here gossiping about the adventurers’ muscles. I was ashamed to be seen with you.” “Spare me the kink shaming. It’s none of your business what I like.” They seemed to have broken the ice, at least… The two women rose from their seats and stepped forward. Wise’s mother, the Queen of the Night—Kazuno. Medhi’s mother, Medhimama. There was no mistaking them. “It really is you! I can’t believe it,” Mamako said. “I agree. I never imagined you were still alive…” “Hey! Shiraaase! What the heck? Why would you assume I died?” “Don’t pay that woman the slightest attention. She is a stealth goofball.”
Chapter 152
18 min read