“Hee-hee-hee, I see! You both became close to your children, cleared the game successfully, and returned to the real world ahead of us, right? So what brings you here?” Kazuno and Medhimama glanced at each other, and grimaced. “Where to begin…? You know, you’re better at this sort of thing, Memama. Take it away.” “I will never willingly allow you to call me that, but very well. You see…” Medhimama took a deep breath. Ready, set… “Kazuno and I were hired to capture the producer who fled into the game world. As for why we had been chosen, we were told the primary reason is that we have experience living in this world, but in truth, I assume the fact that we owe management was a big part of it. Neither of us was in a position to refuse, in other words. I’m afraid Kazuno and I were already acquainted with one another, having met several times during the investigations into the trouble we each caused. We contacted each other and met up here in the game world approximately one hour ago. Just as we were about to launch our investigation, we received a message from management telling us to remain on standby at the Adventurers Guild and rendezvous with Mamako. Which brings us here.” “That’s the gist of it, yeah.” A hurricane of words, yet so easily understood. “Oh, I see.” “Ah, yes, indeed.” Mamako and Shiraaase nodded, feeling up to speed. “That’s the official version anyway. Kazuno will explain our actual motivations. Take it away.” “Er, why? Who cares…?” “Now, now. You want to show how you’ve improved as a mother, don’t you? Don’t let shame get in your way.” “Y-you’re really making me do this…ugh…” Medhimama gave Kazuno a push, placing her in front. Mamako and Shiraaase watched expectantly. Kazuno’s gaze darted this way and that, but she finally opened her mouth. “Well, um…I guess…I’m more of a mother than I realized, so I started thinking…” “Thinking what?” “‘What’s she up to now? Like, is she doing all right?’ You know.” “Hmm…and who are you referring to?” “Well, obviously…that dumb daughter of mine.” “G-g-good Lord! What brought this about?! Kazuno?! The woman who called herself the Queen of the Night collected hunks from towns and villages and sprawled proudly back on a chair made from hotties?! And now you’re acting like a real mother and actually concerned about your daughter’s well-being?!” “Sh-Shiraaase! Don’t go digging that stuff up now!” “Kazuno, calm down. She’s messing with you again. That’s what Shiraaase does.” Even up against veteran mothers, Shiraaase was merciless. “I’ve discovered a rich new vein to mine.” “Perhaps you should rein it in a bit…” But even with Mamako’s warning, Shiraaase would continue to charge forward! Undaunted! Kazuno appeared ready to die of humiliation, but then she suddenly smiled. “Since my dumb daughter isn’t here, I can admit it—I thought this job would be the perfect excuse to check in on her. That’s why I accepted it.” Medhimama nodded in agreement. “We heard you talking as you entered. You’re headed to the enemy headquarters to meet up with the children? What’s going on?” “That’s right! We have urgent business there! And while we’re at it, we expect to bump into Ma-kun and the girls. That’s why I need to gather a party!” “I see. In that case…” “We have every reason to help.” Both mothers nodded. Kazuno produced an extravagantly decorated magic tome and gave everyone a bewitching smile. “I can use any spell in this world with a single word. As a Great Sage…as the Queen of the Night, nay, the Night Queen, will you allow me to join your journey?” Medhimama produced a staff studded with jewels and struck a dignified pose. “A single swing of my new staff can protect and heal anything. Will you accept the Cleric Medhimama into your party?” Both had top-class gear, and the ridiculous powers granted only to mothers. No party members could be better. Mamako had no reason to turn them down. She nodded, fighting to hold back the tears. “Kazuno, Medhimama, I’ll be counting on you both.” “Thank you.” “Uh, wait, Mamako…I changed my name when I reregistered, but…oh, never mind.” Mamako held out her hand, and Medhimama and Kazuno placed theirs on it. “Ms. Shiraaase, won’t you join us?” “If I won’t get in the way, I’d be glad to. I can provide support…and lead the pep squad.” “I feel like you might just rob us of pep instead…” “But the more the merrier!” With Shiraaase’s hand on theirs, the four mothers’ hearts were one! “It’s the dawn of a Mom RPG! Let’s get going.” “So I can meet all the hot slim-yet-ripped men! I’m kidding, of course.” “To complete the errand we’ve taken on, and while we’re at it…” “Run into our beloved children! Yay!” The opening fanfare echoed through all four hearts, and the mothers’ adventure began! There was only one problem. “So, what do we actually do? We haven’t actually settled on anything.” Mamako smiled. ““Er…we thought you had a plan.”” “Let’s begin by touring the world and dealing with problems occurring in each part of it. As we resolve those issues, we can gather clues, drawing us ever closer to the truth—and the enemy boss. Probably.” “Probably…I know that’s how games always work, but are we sure about this? It sounds like a lot of work, you know.” “Don’t worry. No matter what trouble lies in our path, we can overcome it! With such unparalleled mothers assembled, I’m sure of it! We’re a match for any challenge!” Medhimama was really emphasizing that notion. But then a carriage pulled up outside the guild. “Oh? It’s that gentleman from earlier.” The same official who’d come calling at the Mom Shop. “Pardon me! Is Mamako Oosuki… Ah, there you are! Is this your party?” “It is. What brings you here?” “The queen has sent a gift! One she hopes will assist you in your adventure. Please accept it!” Four servants came staggering in with a giant treasure chest. At once, the chest opened! A blinding light came from within, illuminating the four expectant faces! “Always pleased to receive financial sup—augh!” Shock! “Er…y-you’re kidding, right…?” …Tremble, shudder… “Oh-ho? Didn’t expect this!” Grin. “Oh my! How lovely!” Beam. There came a variety of reactions, but what lay within the chest…?! “…This…is a trap, huh?” Masato was sitting in front of a stuffed lizard they’d found lying on the side of a corridor. He’d lost track of how many stuffed animals this was. We figured if we followed the plushies, we’d find Porta, but… …That belief had just led to their racing around the maze of Deathmother Castle corridors ever since they’d escaped the board game. Bears, rabbits, cats, dogs…all kinds of stuffed animals, placed like they were marking the path… But the end results? No signs of Porta, no locations arrived at—and they were worn out from all that running. “I can’t… I’m exhausted… She’s nowhere to be found…” “And this is the enemy base, so the monsters here are pretty tough…” Wise and Medhi were both collapsed against the wall—and that wall was the only thing keeping them even vaguely upright. They clearly weren’t moving for a while. So they’d been forced to take a break. Masato had sat down, too, making sure not to crush the boxes of cookies. “Looks like she really doesn’t want us getting to her mother…” “Porta’s intentions are crystal clear. Definitely a ‘whatever it takes’ approach…” “Yet the way she’s still looking after us is really cute.” Medhi forced herself to her feet, moving over to the lizard. When she moved it aside, she found several HP and MP Potions behind it. “She loves her mother. But she clearly still cares about us, too. Isn’t she wonderful?” “Yeah… But that just makes me worry more,” said Masato. “As tired as we are, Porta must be running herself ragged.” “And you know she doesn’t really want to be doing this,” added Wise. “But it’s for her beloved mommy, so…” “She’s ignoring how she really feels, forcing herself to do it.” “And that’ll lead to darkness growing within. Like it used to inside Medhi.” Could this be the sudden emergence of Dark Porta, throwing poison items at her friends with an adorable smile?! “Holy crap! If Porta winds up like Medhi, it’ll be the end of everything!” “Masato? What exactly is that supposed to mean? I haven’t ended anything.” Medhi’s smile was not a smile, and she was grinding an HP recovery potion bottle into his stomach. “Sorry, please stop.” “No.” She was pushing him toward the vomit threshold. But anyway, that was enough joking around. Masato stood up and chugged the HP potion. “Right, let’s get back to it. We’ve gotta catch Porta…but…” ““But…?”” But how? Masato couldn’t think of a follow-up. …What should we do? He had to organize his thoughts. What did they want to do? Get Porta back in their party. Especially now that she’d joined the enemy side. But Porta’s mother was part of said enemy. To get Porta back, they would have to tear apart that family bond. “Masato?” “Masato?” “W-wait, I’m thinking. Um…” They were leaning in close, their eyes demanding that he say something now. That he prove his leadership skills. “Masato?” “Masatooo?” “Wait!” Their faces were really close. Focus. Think. If they just wanted to be together, that would be one thing, but… Porta’s mother was the Rebellion leader. Mastermind of all the cases they’d resolved. The root of all evil. And her treatment of her own daughter could hardly be called warm and doting. That was two major problems. We’ve got to do something about her mother, but… Porta was standing in their way, trying to prevent them from reaching her. Which meant they had to talk her into stopping. So they had to talk to Porta. But how? What’s our angle? What would get through to her? Having thought it all through under the watchful eyes of Wise and Medhi… Masato concluded…! “R-right, we’ve gotta find Porta, and we’ll figure out what to do once we do— Oh.” Just as he was punting the problem down the road, having found no solution…! His gaze had wandered, aimlessly looking down the hall toward the corner— “Wah! They saw me again!” —and Porta’s face was peering around it. Their eyes met! “Porta! Why are you here?! Coming to check on us is one thing, but you can’t let yourself be seen! You’ve gotta hide better!” “You shut up! Us finding her is a good thing!” “Hurry, chase after her! We can’t lose sight of her again!” “R-right…uh, but the teacher said not to run in the halls…” ““On your marks…get set…go!”” Leaving Masato in the wind, the girls raced off. “If you go that fast, I can see your panties!” “Then don’t look!” “Your own fault if you do!” Ignoring his pleas, they let their skirts flare all the way out! Today was blue and white, respectively! “Porta! Wait up!” “We won’t do anything violent, so let us catch you!” “No! I won’t be caught! If I get caught, I can’t protect my mommy!” “Man, Porta’s fast! There’s no way we’ll ever catch her! We should just give up and—” ““DASH!”” “Okay…” Porta raced through the halls, her natural quickness carrying her along. She drew ahead of them, then abruptly turned and entered a room on one side of the corridor. Masato and the girls caught up to find a door with the number IV on it. “This is a Heavenly King’s bedroom,” said Wise. “Like in the last hideout…” “She’s going to fight us in her room?” asked Medhi. “Then we’d better be careful. This is Porta’s domain! Who knows what sorts of traps she’s set…? Take it slow, take it easy, carefully plan a strategy…” ““CHARGE!”” Slam. “Yeah, I figured that would happen.” Wise slammed the door open without a trace of caution, and she and Medhi burst into the room. Masato was forced to follow them. This was definitely Porta’s bedroom. It looked exactly like the image Sorella had shown them. A vast room with nothing in it save a table and a bed. But there was no sign of Porta herself. “Think she’s hiding somewhere?” wondered Masato. “Probably. I’d wager the closet, personally.” “But perhaps she just wants us to think that and she’s actually used an item to disguise herself.” “And she had that Thou Dost Not Wish to Fight Water. An item to avoid enemy encounters could be used to keep us from noticing her.” Maybe she was only pretending to hide but was actually right next to them! If they started searching the room, Porta might be planning on slipping out behind them the second they stepped away from the door! Maybe even lock it behind them, trapping them here! “Right, then it’s time for my big bro sensor! Activating sensor…now!” Masato activated his big bro sensor. This allowed him to locate his adorable little sister no matter where she was! Because he was her big bro! Imagining where Porta’s face might be—“Here!”—he tickled her cheeks! “I gotcha, Porta! …Ha-ha, I guess it’s not gonna be that easy…” “Eeeep! That tickles!” “Whaa?! She’s actually here?!” Porta appeared, reeling from the cheek assault! “Nice, Masato! You’re amazing! That was only a little creepy!” “To summarize: incredibly creepy!” “Nobody asked for a summary! …Anyway, I caught her! I caught you, Porta!” “Eeeep! I-I’m not caught yet!” Porta slipped out of tickle hell and ran to the bed. “I guess I have to fight! Masato! Wise! Medhi! I’ll take you on!” “Fight… No, wait, Porta! You can’t mean that!” “Calm down a minute! Why would we ever fight you? That makes no sense!” “It does make sense! If I win, I’ll be able to protect my mommy! So…!” “Ah…Masato, Wise, careful!” Porta took a bottle of glittering liquid out of her shoulder bag and sprinkled it on the stuffed animals on her bed. They all sprang to life and began charging toward the party! “Yikes…seriously?! …I guess they are just stuffed animals, though.” “Hate to break it to you, but this is a futile gesture. Oh well! Guess I’ll just blow them all away with my magic!” The moment Wise pulled out her magic tome… Porta called out an order. “Cheetah! Go!” The stuffed cheetah ran very quickly, jumping on Wise’s face! “Wah! Hey, stop that! I can’t chant when you… Oh, but…your fur is really soft…” “Why are you grinning like an idiot?! Don’t go getting your magic sealed physically!” “There’s no saving her now… It falls to me to put these animals to rest.” Medhi raised her staff. Porta didn’t let that pass unnoticed. “Whoa! She’s casting a death spell! Alpaca, stop her!” The alpaca charged, leaping on Medhi’s face! “Mmph?! Hey, stop mphat! Now I can’t… Oh…but you are terrifyingly mmoft…” “Medhi’s trapped in a plush cage, too… Well done, Porta. But I won’t be so easily bested!” Masato hesitated for a moment but made up his mind and drew the Holy Sword Firmamento! He held it tightly in both hands, but… “Huh? This doesn’t feel like the way we do things, but… Oh well!” He was in the middle of a fight. He wasn’t about to point his sword at Porta, but he fixed his gaze on his real opponents. “Sorry, but I’ve never been a stuffed animal fan. I can slice them apart effortlessly.” “If you do that, I’ll feel so bad for the poor animals! Masato, you meanie! You’re making me sad!” “Argh…this is fatal…!” Porta’s voice was sapping Masato’s fighting spirit! A powerful debuff! Porta’s attacks were too powerful! “I don’t want to put you in any danger, but I have to protect Mommy! Stuffed animals, get him!” “Argh…well, if I use the flat of the blade, I won’t cut them!” A dozen stuffed animals hurled themselves at Masato. The first to reach him was a penguin. He knocked it aside with his blade. It was just a stuffed animal—extremely light. It flew all the way to the wall. “Piece of cake! Okay, next…!” But the moment his eyes turned to the other animals… The penguin ricocheted off the wall like a bouncy ball, rocketing toward the side of Masato’s head. A direct, fluffy hit! “Mmph! Yo, what…? That is really soft! Thanks!” It was a direct hit, but that felt more like a reward! When the penguin went flying off again, he accidentally thanked it. Masato saw a turtle approaching next and batted it away. Then came an elephant, a dolphin, and a cow, one after another. Each made soft little sounds as they ricocheted. “This is kinda fun!” Super fun. And the results… “Ha-ha-ha! Like I said, piece of cake! …Wait…huh?” The stuffed animals he knocked away were bouncing off the walls, the floor, and the ceiling, popping back at him. And it kinda seemed like they got faster every time they bounced. Like terrifyingly fast stuffed pinballs…attacking from all directions… “Oof?! Blegh…augh? H-hang on a second?!” “Wah! Mm! Ah-ha! This is…oh, such bliss!” “Eep! Hyah! Mmph! So fluffyyy!” “Hey, girls! I get it, but could you not wallow in it? They are actually starting to drain our HP here…damn it!” It was time to stop pitying them. Masato changed his grip on the sword and aimed the blade at the chicken coming toward him. But it didn’t cut like he expected—it simply bounced off. In the right circumstances, cotton’s extreme bounciness created so much friction, it was harder to cut than iron. “Sheesh, never figured stuffed animals would be such a threat…” “Stuffed animals are cute! Cute is powerful!” “That’s you in a nutshell, Porta! But if that’s what’s going on here…well, we can’t hold back anymore! You ready for this, Porta?” “Yes! I’m ready for anything! I have an ultimate attack ready! This will end things! Here goes!” “No, I’d prefer you keep holding back, actually.” Porta took the little doll off her shoulder bag—Piita. Then she took out a bottle of glittering liquid. “One Fight!” she said, and put the bottle to Piita’s lips, making it drink. The liquid seeped into Piita…and then with a thump, its body began pulsating. The palm-sized doll was getting larger and larger. Soon it was taller than Porta, then Masato, then… “…Yo…this can’t be happening…” “Wha…th-this is…” “That is far too big.” “This is Piita’s fighting form! Pretty Prodigious Piita!” The ceiling in the room was so high, you had to strain to see it, but even when the doll bumped its head on the ceiling, it kept growing. Leaning farther and farther forward, Pretty Prodigious Piita loomed over them…equally terrifying in both size and position. “Uh…uh, Porta? Hang on a sec, here.” “W-Wise is right… Let’s stop for a moment… This is really worrisome…” “Piita’s attack! Ultimate pile-on!” “Doesn’t sound like an ultimate move but holy craaaaaaap?! Stopppp!!” Piita’s massive body swayed…then toppled toward them. All three party members tried to scramble away. “Bff?!” “Hey!” “Mm!” But the stuffed animal pinball was ongoing and knocking them backward. Unable to escape, there was a soft fooomp and Piita landed on top of them. That ended the battle… “Y-yes! I won! …Huh?” Feeling like she’d done something very bad, Porta hung her head. Then Piita’s giant mass moved, slowly rising up. Masato and the girls had their hands raised, their legs planted, forcing it backward. “It ain’t over yet! Our battle is just beginning!” “But that phrasing’s definitely over! Hnggg!” “Wow! You’re all okay! Thank goodness… No, wait! I can’t believe you survived my ultimate attack! How are you all unharmed?!” “It’s thanks to you, Porta!” said Medhi. “Look!” The three of them were covered in stuffed animals—the same ones that had been tormenting them. When the massive Piita had fallen, the stuffed animals had merged together, and their bounciness had softened the blow. “I knew it all along, Porta!” said Masato. “You say you want to fight, but you didn’t want to hurt us, either!” “Th-that’s…true, but…” “Then let’s stop all of this! You don’t have to fight us.” “But…but if I don’t fight…if I don’t drive you off…I can’t not do that! I have to protect my mommy!” Porta broke into a run. Ignoring their cries, she headed straight for the door. Like she was running away. But then Piita stirred. “Whoa…!” One big hand blocked the door, not letting Porta pass. “Piita…why… Whoaaaa?!” Piita had stopped trying to pile on the party. It jumped up, reached out its other hand, and scooped Porta up, hugging her to its belly. “Ooooh…Piita caught me…” “I feel like something similar happened once before… Wasn’t there a giant girl?” asked Wise. “Porta’s so cute, anyone would want to hug her,” said Medhi. “Now…” “That’s enough. Porta, we need to talk.” They gathered around, eyes at her level. Porta reluctantly nodded. Masato himself wasn’t really sure what to do here. He had nothing in mind. So he just ran on impulse. “First, I want to clear something up. We aren’t here to defeat your mom, Porta.” “Huh? …Y-you aren’t?!” “Nope! We’re here for you,” said Wise. “We came to see you, Porta. We were worried.” “You just vanished without explaining anything! Of course we were worried sick,” said Medhi. “You were…worried about me? I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to worry you…” Still in Piita’s embrace, Porta bowed her head. Such a nice, honest girl. And that made Masato smile. “So we’re not your enemies, okay?” “Yes! I was all wrong. I didn’t need to fight you! I’m sorry.” “Mm, good. But I’ll be honest, we’re a little mad at your mom.” “Huh…?” It hurt to see her look so scared, but Masato wasn’t about to stop now. “We’ve been given a glimpse of what it’s like for you here. I dunno how it works, but Sorella was recording things… Uh, don’t worry, I didn’t see the part where you changed clothes.” “That’s okay! I don’t mind if you see me change, Masato!” “Gah! That’s a delightful thing to hear… But this isn’t a laughing matter. It was really sad to watch you eating all alone like that.” “Well…I was a little sad, too…” “And, like, when you tried to say, ‘Good morning’ and your mother wouldn’t let you…or even look at you. That was just mean. I got real ticked off.” “……!” “I just don’t think that’s right,” said Masato. “It’s all too sad. It’s just—!” “But it’s the truth,” Porta said, desperately trying to smile. “My mommy…hates me.” That definitely wasn’t a smile. “Back in the real world, she was always like that. She never said good morning. I’ve never had a conversation where she was looking at me. We never ate together.” “But why…?” “I don’t know. Maybe I did something to make her hate me and I just don’t remember. That’s all I can think of.” “No, wait, Porta… That can’t be true.” “There’s no way anyone could hate you, Porta!” “Yes. It doesn’t make sense. You’re so cute and thoughtful and you work so hard! What’s wrong with any of that?” “But—my mommy—hates me!!” Her voice came out in sobs, big tears gushing down her cheeks. “When we started this game, my mommy wouldn’t come with me! She just sent me an e-mail saying she would if I was good! But no matter how long I waited, she never came! Because she hates me!” “Wait, Porta. There’s gotta be a reason…” “I thought that! I thought she wasn’t coming because there was something she had to do that was more important than spending time with me! I thought she must like that other thing better!” “Porta, calm down! That’s so not true! I’m sure it isn’t!” “It is! I did everything I could to make her like me! I got Masato and Mama to let me join your party, then Wise and Medhi joined, and I worked so hard! But my mommy never came! Because she hates me!” “We all know how hard you try. And I promise you nobody could hate someone like that.” “But Mommy hates me! When I saw the wanted poster and called her, she came…but she was the same as always! So, I…I thought if I tried even harder, for her, where she could see me…then maybe…she wouldn’t…she…” After that, it stopped being words. The sobs just drowned everything else out. Wise and Medhi just hugged her as tight as they could, stroking her head, rubbing her back. Masato stared at the ceiling, feeling his eyes getting moist, and hoping the tears wouldn’t come. ……But what now? He had one idea. Something he’d felt while battling Porta. He knelt down in front of her, speaking softly. “Porta, hearing you talk like this…well, now I’ve got an even bigger problem with your mom.” “It’s not my mommy’s fault! She’s not a bad person! Please forgive her!” “I can’t. Look, everything she’s done with the Libere Rebellion? We can forget that. What I can’t get past is the way she treats you. I can’t do nothing while someone treats a member of my party like this.” “I’m fine! I can handle it! So—!” “You’re not fine, though.” The desperation on her face was painful to look at. He cupped her cheeks—“Hah!” “Mpphhh?!”—and gave them a good squeeze while he wiped her tears. He then gave her his best brotherly smile. “So we’re gonna do something. Your feelings will be our weapon.” “Huh? They will?” “Yep. If she won’t look at you, we’ll make her. We’ll just hit her with an emotional bomb.” “B-but…” “No buts. You’ve been on all our adventures, Porta. You know that’s how we’ve always solved this kind of problem. We turn sadness into joy. Like we did with Wise, and with Medhi. Right?” He shot them an impish smile. They both puffed up their chests proudly. “Yep! I hit my dumb mom with everything I had! I slammed her with a daughter’s feelings!” “As did I. Although I forget if it was a blow from my tail or the dragon breath that did the trick.” “Probably both. You landed a bunch of critical hits. But well, let’s forget about any mistakes that were made… Porta, I know a lot’s happened, and you panicked and maybe you forgot how we do things. But this is how we got where we are now. Remember?” “Y-yes! I remember! I remember now!” Porta was nodding. The sadness had faded, and her eyes were sparkling again. Masato took his hands away from her cheeks. “Okay, Porta. Ready to go hit your mom with all those emotions?” “My emotions… Mommy…” “What do you want to tell her?” She didn’t hesitate. “I want… I want my mommy to love me! I’ve never been able to tell her that, so I really want to lay it on her!” A typically Porta-like expression of utmost earnestness, words conveying distilled purity. It was like they finally had the old Porta back. “She’s gonna be fine.” “Seems like it.” Wise and Medhi finally released the supportive hugs. Even giant Piita seemed relieved. It let go of her and reverted to its original size. Porta put it back in her shoulder bag and nodded. “Masato! I’m ready to go! I want to go see Mommy right now! I want to hit her with my feelings!” “Oh, you’re all fired up! That’s great, Porta. So…I’d love to do that, but I also have some bad news.” “Wh-what bad news?” “All this time, we’ve overcome our problems with the full power of the party. The five of us, Mom included. It was all of us together that solved everything. But right now…it’s just the three of us.” “Oh, right. Three…” “Myself, Masato, Wise. Three of us.” “Whaaat? I-I’m not in the party? I’m…oh!” Porta finally noticed Masato’s meaningful stare. She was still wearing the Libere coat. “I’ll go change!” She dashed over to her closet and started undressing… “…Masato.” Glare. “…Masato.” Glare. “Porta said she doesn’t mind! …Er, yeah, I suppose that’s not the point. Okay.” Masato turned right and savored the sounds instead. That was stimulation enough, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself. No, wait… He was supposed to be steeling his nerves.
Chapter 153
24 min read