Chapter 164

Chapter 2 Dah (Translation: Weren’t the Libere Kings Enough? Why Me, Too?) At the base of a giant fir tree. Masato and the Libere Kings had vanished, leaving behind piles of gear—and four stunned babies. Familiar-looking babies. Mamako was the first to react. “Oh dear! We can’t let them lie on the snow; they’ll catch cold! Hahako, hurry! We need to cradle them!” “R-right! I can cradle a baby!” Mamako made a beeline for the baby lying in a heap of Masato’s clothing. Hahako used the white hands that spawned from all over her body to pluck all three babies out of the Kings’ clothing, holding them carefully. “I’ve got some baby clothing here. I know I have three, but we’ll need one more… Oh, good, I did make an extra. Have them wear these.” “Mommy! Let me help!” “I’m confused, but I can lend a hand. Let me dress one! Aw, these are so cute!” Dark-Mom Deathmother pulled four sets of baby clothes out of her shoulder bag. Porta and Mone stepped in to help Mamako and Hahako dress the babies. Mone seemed primarily interested in how cute the clothes were. Their swift actions ensured the babies’ safety. Now what? “Shiraaase, what did you do?” asked Wise. “If you confess willingly, the violence will be five percent less intense,” Medhi said with a grin. “So violence is assured either way, is it? What a terrifying girl.” Shiraaase put her hands up, surrendering. “Let me put it this way. Christmas means presents. Presents mean Santa Claus. Which children get presents from Santa?” “The nice ones, obviously.” “Naughty children don’t get anything.” “Exactly. Naughty children get no presents! Serves them right—and yet we feel sorry for them. Such is the nature of Christmas! A day of mercy and forgiveness. So this fir tree provides them with an opportunity.” “To start over as a baby and become a good child? That’s harsh!” “It’s not really forgiveness. More like a punishment…no, wait. For Hahako and the Kings, this is…” “Right you are, Medhi. You are a clever one. Yes, by making the Libere Kings babies and having Hahako raise them, we create family memories.” Once, at the Matriarchal Arts Tournament, Mamako had told Hahako that it was memories that made them mother and son. And this was her chance to create those. “Ohhh, so it lets the Kings gain actual experience in what having a mom is like.” “And that’s why you had them join this event. Makes sense. But why did you turn Masato into a baby?” “Personal vendetta.” “Figures.” “I’m kidding. I thought having a practical example to follow would help Hahako and her children. Don’t you agree, Mamako?” “I certainly do! I’m just so happy to be able to hold Ma-kun like this again! Tee-hee!” She started glowing. Mamako had Masato in a swaddle, tied to her front, and was smiling down at him. Her joy was so great, A Mother’s Light was at max brightness. “Mamako, we can’t see!” “Oh, sorry.” She gritted her teeth, reducing the brightness level from Sun God to Spotlight. Hahako took her sling and put baby Amante by her belly and babies Sorella and Fratello on her back. She did this gingerly, using the white hands to make sure she didn’t drop anyone. “Aren’t they heavy? I could hold one for you.” “Thank you, Mone. But I’m fine. The weight is no issue. This is the weight of happiness. Tee-hee.” “It is? Wow…” Dark-Mom Deathmother was putting on a sling herself— “I don’t need one—I’m too big!” said Porta. “R-right…” —but her plan was swiftly thwarted. The party regrouped. “Will they ever return to normal? That is a concern, but since the main theme of this event is to create fond memories for Hahako’s family, I will not address it.” “Wow, I kinda think that’s the main thing on their minds…” said Wise. “They’re not old enough to complain. Onward with the event, then. First, we have to decorate this fir tree. We’ll need ornaments, tinsel, and a star—so go forth, gather, and return here.” “Could you give us any hints on where we might find those?” asked Medhi. “Naturally. This game is by mothers and for mothers. Making them run around while carrying babies would be just plain cruel. Fir tree, they have small children with them.” Shiraaase knocked on the trunk a third time. The fir glowed gently. Three transport circles appeared at the base of the trunk. “Wow! This looks fun. I think I’ll tag along!” cried Mone. “Which one should I choose?” “Whichever you please. Off you go!” “You’re not coming, Shiraaase? Slacking off on the job? Well…it is you,” said Wise. “Mone, you clearly misunderstand me. I’m not slacking—I have other work to do. Frankly, much of this event was implemented under some serious crunch.” “And to ensure everything goes smoothly, we’ve got a lot of checks to run. I’ll be staying behind, too. And that means…” Dark-Mom Deathmother turned to Porta. “Daughter!” “Mommy!” They embraced. They would have to part but would soon meet again. Soon! This item collection quest would be handled by Mamako, Hahako, Wise, Medhi, Porta, Mone—and four babies. “Well, everyone, let’s do our best! Come on, Ma-kun! Hip, hip, hooray!” “Dah!” Mamako raised the baby’s little hand high in the air, and they were off! But before they could actually go anywhere, they had to check their gear and recovery items and make sure they were battle-ready. As Mamako and the others talked things over, a fierce battle was underway near her belly. Gah! What the hell! This is insaaaaane! Baby Masato was extremely displeased and doing his level best to struggle—but was unable to move his arms and legs as he pleased. He was left pinned, immobile, with his face between his mother’s breasts. It was warm, soft, and smelled good. He could hear the comfortable beating of her heart, and before he knew it… I can’t sleep nowwwww! Wake uuuuup! He tried to slap his own cheek and wake himself up. He couldn’t! This was hopeless. The only option left to baby Masato was to cry as loud as he could. Hey! Masato Oosuki! My ears hurt! Shut up! Wow, you’re pretty loud, too! Keep it down…wait… Amante’s voice was echoing in baby Masato’s head. His vision was blurry, but he was pretty sure that was Hahako in front of him. She had baby Amante in a sling in front of her, and baby Sorella and baby Fratello on her back. All of them were staring at Masato. What is this, some sort of telepathy? How? Don’t ask me! But at least we can communicate. Riiiiight. So we have a favor to aaaaask… Sonny, do something. Look, I’d love to! But what can I do?! Then… “Oh my. Ma-kun’s getting a little fussy! There, there.” “It’s important to comfort babies when they’re like this. Let me join you! There, there.” Mamako detected the problem at once and started rocking his body. Hahako joined her, rocking her body. This was the mom skill A Mother’s Cradle. A core technique that made you sleepier than anything else in the world. Crap! She’s gonna knock us out! Hang in there, you three! You’re all about fighting mothers, so don’t give in…! Zzzzz… They’re already under! Argh…I can’t hold out…zzz… Resistance was futile. Mamako and the others stepped into the transport circles quietly, so as not to wake the sleeping babies. Light poured out, and they were somewhere else. The first place they went sparkled even in daylight—a town filled with signs lit up by magic stones in all seven colors. At the entrance was an especially large sign reading CASINO. The paving stones even spelled out the word. There were casinos everywhere you looked. This was Yomamaburg, the city of Merchants, the Mecca of gamblers. Standing at the town’s entrance, Mone looked this way and that, already excited. She was jumping up and down. “Wow! This place is crazy! So many lights!” “I figured we’d wind up in a dungeon, but nope—a town. And this one.” “This place certainly opens some old wounds…” “I had fun wearing that cute bunny girl outfit!” Wise and Medhi would prefer to forget it. They’d poured all their money into a casino, lost a rigged match, been burdened with a crippling debt, and were forced to work for free in bunny girl outfits while serving as casino prizes. Sorella had orchestrated their suffering, but Mamako had saved the day. The casino town was back to its usual hustle and bustle. Now the shops all recommended gambling in pairs, parent and child, keeping an eye on each other and making sure nobody got too carried away. This had been Mamako’s idea. There were lots of grown children walking the streets with their parents. “I’m glad to see everyone is enjoying themselves safely!” said Mamako. “I thought gambling with your mom was dumb and would only lead to violence, but I guess I was wrong. And since we’re here anyway…heh-heh-heh…” This was her chance to settle the score, and rake in some money! Wise checked her wallet. It was empty. Sorella had already wiped her out back at the Mom Shop. She was “holding on to the money” for Wise. “Arghhh…” Wise groaned, crestfallen. “Wise, this is no time for playing games. We’re here to find items we can use to decorate the tree.” “I—I know that, Medhi! And these aren’t games…” “Then let’s get these items! But what should we go for? Where should we look?” asked Mone. “Could they be casino prizes?” wondered Porta. “It’s possible. In that case, let’s check each casino and see what prizes they’re offering.” “Yes—why don’t we start with that casino? It’s been so long, I’d love to say hello to—oh?” Mamako was looking down the road. At the end of the main street was the biggest casino in all of Yomamaburg. The brightly lit, multicolored façade had a hologram of coins falling—very eye-catching. This was where they’d met their fates. As Mamako spoke, an old man in a flawlessly tailored suit emerged. Not a face any of them would ever forget. “Oh my! Speak of the devil. It’s the manager!” “I imagined you would be arriving soon and came out to meet you. Mamako, everyone, how lovely to see you again. I’m glad to see you’re all looking well.” “You’re looking well yourself, Manager. Oh, you haven’t met everyone! Let me make some introductions…” “No, that won’t be necessary. If the two of you would just show me your hands…” The manager took Hahako and Mone’s hands. There was a ding. “Oh, the Casino God.” “Wow, there’s a lot going on here…got it!” They both nodded. “What did you do, Manager?” “Mone, like myself, is an NPC. And Hahako something comparable. I simply shared the necessary data with them. A transfer paints a thousand words, as they say.” “Huh…handy. So you haven’t changed much,” said Wise. “He never did care about preserving the immersion…otherwise he’d be the perfect gentleman,” added Medhi. “Ha-ha-ha, pardon me. Now then, I’m well aware of your business here! I suppose we can get right down to it.” He smiled and snapped his fingers. Everyone vanished… And found themselves on the stage at the center of an ancient stone arena. “…Oh?” “Wh-what’s going on…?” “It’s a special service we offer for those with very small children. We’ve teleported you down to our secret casino!” “A secret casino…but this is a combat arena, isn’t it? Eep!” Mone looked around her and saw some dirty stone chips floating by, wavering like ghosts. This was the ancient gambling grounds. Where money, goods, and lives had been wagered and lost. The destructive impulses of the ancients remained behind, wandering aimlessly… “The high concept is the nexus of treasure and grudges! The ghosts are merely for flair! Not frightening! Not at all! I’m totally not scared!” Mone was shaking like a leaf. “Whoa, calm down, Mone!” “Hey, don’t use Porta as a shield! And don’t use words like high concept and flair! …So, Manager? Why’d you bring us here?” asked Wise. “To gamble, of course!” The manager snapped his fingers. Beads of light appeared around the stage, expanding and transforming into a number of different objects. Treasure chests studded with jewels, gems gleaming with magical light, silver bells—countless objects often represented as Christmas tree decorations, but real and full-sized. “Allow me to explain the rules. These are the items you’re looking for—ornaments for the giant fir tree. However, each object has a grudge attached to it and can transform into a monster—so you’ll have to begin by defeating that.” “But if we attack, won’t they break?” “No worries there. These are all classified as important items, so from the game’s perspective, no matter what you do to them, they’ll never break.” “So we just beat up the ornament monsters? That’s it?” asked Medhi. “Of course not. You’ll defeat ornaments, gather them, and then gamble with them—and take them with you only if you win that bet. Who’ll be participating?” The manager stepped to the edge of the stage, waiting for them to prepare. “Obviously me and Medhi—Mamako, and Hahako, what do you think? I don’t see how you can fight with those babies.” “But we’re decorating a fir that’s giant, so we need a lot of ornaments. Which would be a good time to call in their two-hit multi-target attacks…” “That’s true. This is all to make the best possible Christmas tree! Don’t worry. I’ll join in. And I’ll keep Ma-kun perfectly safe.” “Don’t worry about me, either. It would be one thing if they were ordinary babies, but they’re the Heavenly Kings. Even at a time like this…see?” The three baby Kings and baby Masato were all sleeping soundly, despite the monsters swarming around them. It didn’t seem like they would be waking up anytime soon. “Maybe they’re safest while tied to the world’s strongest moms. Okay, fine.” “I’ll gather the ornaments! Good luck!” “I’ll help Porta! Retreating for now!” Mone was still using Porta as a human shield. They hopped off the stage together, hiding. The party was ready. The manager nodded and took a small bell from his pocket. “You have five minutes to gather ornaments. Please begin!” Ding-a-ling! He rang the bell, and the battle began. Wise leaped forward first. “This is a race against time! I’m going full power from the get-go! …Spara la magia per mirare… Luce Sparo! And! Luce Sparo!” She chain cast, bursts of light firing in all directions. Peppering the ornament monsters. When Wise got serious, she could do some incredible damage. Even the sturdiest of treasure chests were one-shot. “Collecting!” “Time to collect!” Porta and Mone scurried around, picking up all the ornaments that fell off the stage. “Nice! I’ll just keep that up! Mwa-ha-ha!” “Wise, focus your attacks, or—” “Relax, Medhi. I got this. No way I’m gonna hit any—eep?!” She’d gotten a bit too slapdash, and a shot was sent flying directly at the manager. By the time she noticed—it was too late. A direct hit! “Never fear.” The light shot burst just before it struck the manager. “Huh…?” “In this location, no attacks against me will do any harm. This is an unbreakable rule assigned to me in my position as the Casino God. Most embarrassing.” “I see…then I suppose we don’t have to worry about accidentally attacking you. Spara la magia per mirare… Morte!” Medhi cast an instant death spell. A reaper appeared, split into multiple clones, and passed through the ornament monsters, tearing their grudges away. One of them did pass through the manager—but of course, he didn’t die. “You really do cancel out all attacks… Oh, oops!” A gem came rolling to Medhi’s feet. She reflexively swung her staff like a golf club. Fore! Look out, Manager! The gem stopped in the air right in front of him. It fell harmlessly to the ground. “It really does cancel all attacks.” “Yo, Medhi, that was totally intentional.” “Just making sure. No malice intended. Oh, Wise, if you don’t focus on the fight, they’ll hog all the glory.” “Hee-hee! Yes. I might just accidentally defeat all these monsters!” While the teens were distracted by the manager, Mamako had drawn her blades. She swung both swords gently, so as not to rock the sleeping baby Masato. The noise of her attacks was at least 90 percent softer than usual. Stone spikes quietly shot out of the stage, water bullets silently fired, and a horde of ornament monsters were vaporized without a sound. “Thank goodness these monsters didn’t have any death cries! Ma-kun, rest easy.” “A mother’s feelings can even stifle ambient noise. Allow me.” After each wave was defeated, beads of light appeared, forming more ornament monsters. It was now Hahako’s turn. She raised Terra di Madre and Altura, swinging the two Holy Swords gently… “Wahh, wahh…” “O-oh! My, my! Sorella woke up?!” One of the babies on her back suddenly made a noise, and Hahako quickly turned to her. Her swords swung with her. The monsters weren’t yet lined up properly—so all the attacks targeted the manager. “Geez, mom attacks in this game are so broken!” “Quick, cast a defensive spell! He can’t possibly cancel this onslaught!” Spikes that rip through any foe, water bullets that penetrate any target, all aimed at the manager! “Fear not.” But just before they hit him, all the attacks dissipated. Even the ultimate mom attacks were powerless before him. Everyone stared, stunned, and the manager smiled faintly. He pulled out a pocket watch. “…Time’s up. That’s all the ornaments you can collect. Now it’s time to gamble for the right to take them with you. I’ll be your opponent!” Porta and Mone had gathered a mountain of ornaments, a gleaming treasure horde. More than enough to decorate the giant fir. If they sold these, they could probably buy their own country. But could they take them all home? “Let us begin.” The manager moved over to the party…and raised his fists. “Um…when you say you’ll be our opponent, you mean…literally fight?” asked Mamako. “Yes. Fight me!” “No, no, wait, there’s no way that’s a fair contest!” shouted Wise. “You can negate all our attacks—even motherly ones—so how are we supposed to win?” demanded Medhi. “No complaints. To arms!” With leg strength far beyond that of his apparent age, the manager lunged toward Hahako—who was still distracted by the baby on her shoulder. And that baby—Sorella—was his target. “Wha—?!” Hahako was caught completely off guard. She reacted too late. The manager’s fearsome punch… Stopped right before Sorella’s eyes. “Here we go. Rock! Paper! Scissors!” “Dahhhh?” The manager threw out a fist. Baby Sorella had an open palm! Or rather, she was just waving her hand around like babies do. But she won! “Ha-ha-ha! My loss, then. Victory is yours! Take all the ornaments with you. There’s a lot, so we’ve prepared a special bag to transport them in.” “Wha…argh, Manager! Don’t scare us like that! We seriously thought you were gonna hit her!” yelled Wise. “You really went too far,” said Medhi. “I thought my heart was going to stop.” “I do beg your pardon. But I ask for your understanding—this is an emotional issue for me, after all.” The manager held an index finger out before baby Sorella. “Sorella, I have not forgotten what you did. You placed us under your control and did many horrible things. Demeaning mothers, making them suffer—it was hard on all of us. Even if everything ended well, we cannot forgive your actions. Thus, as the god of gambling, I charge you with an ordeal.” “Dahhh?” It wasn’t clear if she even understood his words, much less agreed to them. But the verdict came down regardless. “Be a child, know thy mother, and learn what happiness is. Only when you have become a loving family will I consider your sins forgiven and bless you from the bottom of my heart. That is a promise.” “Uuuu…dahhh…” Baby Sorella’s little hand reached out and wrapped around the manager’s finger. Forming the old gambler’s vow, “Cut my finger, if I cheat, my wealth to beat, my life shan’t linger.” “I’m starting to like this manager,” said Wise. “Yeah…he’s really kept our heads spinning,” agreed Mone. “Well, that is my programming.” “Do you have to keep bringing that up?” complained Medhi. “Ha-ha-ha, forgive me. Hahako, I do apologize for the fuss. Take this with you. A small gift from me.” “B-but this is… Oh!” The manager placed a small notebook in Hahako’s hands. On the cover was an illustration of a mother and a baby. “Porta! Can you appraise this? Is it what I think it is?” “Hnggg…this is…yes! It’s a maternal and child health handbook! It lets you record a child’s development and serves as proof of your bonds! And if you have one of these, you can access services that help with child-rearing!” “Isn’t that lovely, Hahako? In the real world, when the doctors tell you you’re pregnant, you report that to city hall, and they give you one!” Check your local government home page for more information. “And if you wish to take advantage of these services, they should be able to help you at any pediatrician’s office!” “That sounds marvelous! …But wait, Mamako, what’s this field for?” “Oh, that…” Hahako had been avidly looking through the handbook, and she was pointing to a page inside. It said… Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?! Yikes! Wh-what’s going on? Was that Sorella?! An earsplitting scream jolted baby Masato out of his slumber. But it wasn’t like he could actually move. Or really see all that well. They were indoors, at least. Mamako, Hahako, the girls, and the babies were all here. As were a man and a woman in white. Hahako had baby Sorella on her knees, and these two were next to her, doing…something. Augh! That hurts! I’m dying! Dying? Why? What’s going on? Masato Oosuki, calm down. It’s no big deal. Mm. Sorella’s just bein’ a big baby. Pathetic. You sure this is ‘no big deal’…? Even as the babies communicated telepathically, the situation was progressing rapidly. Still wailing, baby Sorella was passed over to Medhi. Wise had been holding on to Amante, and she stepped forward, placing the baby on Hahako’s knees. It was baby Amante’s turn. Ha! Sorella always had the weakest defense in the Libere Rebellion. This won’t work on meeeeeaghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?! Whoa? That sounds like it really hurts? Baby Masato couldn’t see well enough to tell what was going on. Baby Fratello was up next. Mone stepped forward, placing her on the lap of doom. I’m a proud member of the Rebellion! Y’all won’t catch me wailing like aughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?! You’re the loudest one yet?! Why?! What are they doing to you? Hahako stood up, patting baby Fratello, soothing her wails. This meant it was finally Masato’s turn. “Ma-kun, you can do it!” He was plunked down on Mamako’s lap, the sleeve of his baby clothes rolled up. All ready. The lady in the white clothes—from this distance, he could tell she was a nurse—dampened a cotton ball with disinfectant and rubbed it lightly on baby Masato’s arm. Wait…does this mean…oh, okay. That explains it. The man in white smiled and leaned in with a hypodermic needle. Yes. A shot. Geez, I’m not gonna scream about a dumb shot. You girls are pathetic. Lemme show you how it’s done. I’m not gonna bat an eye. I’ll endure this like the hero I am! He might be a baby, but this was a chance to show off. He was gonna be the best baby. He could handle it. Shots weren’t scary. A confident smirk appeared on baby Masato’s lips. Poke. “Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?!” “Oh my! That hurt, didn’t it? Hang in there. This will keep you from getting sick! There, there, don’t cry, don’t cry.” “Wow, Masato cried louder than anyone!” “Geez, knock it off… I’m getting a headache…” “How can such a little body make so much noise…” “I know he’s a baby and can’t help it, but…ohhh…” “Sorry, everyone. But shots are important. Forgive him.” The chorus of four crying babies was so loud, it seemed like the glass in the exam room was about to shatter. Mamako smiled though it all. Hahako was busy describing their crying in her handbook. The other girls all covered their ears with both hands, scowling. Vaccines come in many forms and have to be given on specific schedules. Consult your doctor and local government guidelines for more information! They’d obtained their ornaments. After soothing the crying babies with A Mother’s Cradle, the party returned to the giant fir. But decorating would have to wait until they had everything they needed. They put the ornament bag down. “Daughter!” “Mommy!” They allowed Porta and her mother time to hug, then they were on the move again. The next transport circle took them to a town called Meema. This was where the Matriarchal Arts Tournament had been held. Mamako’s party landed on the stage where the mothers had fought, at the center of the main hall, surrounded by monuments to cooking and cleaning supplies. “Oh my! I remember this!” “Mamako, this was where I first met you, fought you, and became who am I today. This place is important to me. And yet…” There was not a soul in the stands. A hush lay over the arena—and there was a chill in the air. They looked up at the sky and saw it covered in dark clouds. Every now and then they could hear the rumble of thunder. “…Thaaaat doesn’t seem promising,” said Wise. “Yeah. Like it’s about to rain…or a monster’s about to attack.” “I think you just jinxed us all, Mone…” said Medhi. There was something out there. Like a snake, but no ordinary snake—far too long and thick, covered in some sort of silvery hairs. They could just make it out between the gaps in the clouds. “Hngg! That’s a monster! The body is covered in tinsel! It’s a kind of dragon known as a Tinselron!” “Wait, a real monster?! A dragon?! That thing’s the real deal!” “Mone, what were you thinking?! We’re in the middle of a town! I can’t believe you.” “If we fight here, collateral damage will be unavoidable. How are you going to pay for all that?” “Auughhhhh?! Is this really my fault? It isn’t, right? Please say it isn’t!” Mone grabbed their sleeves, but Wise and Medhi turned their backs on her. “We don’t know you.” “This sin is yours alone.” “Noooo!” Good-bye, Mone. Your cell is this way… But before she could be incarcerated… “Relax! It’s not your fault!” A figure leaped from the top of the gate between the stage and the waiting rooms. She spun magnificently through the air, landing in front of them…a middle-aged woman, fully humanoid except for the dog ears and tail. A beastkin. She, too, had been in the Matriarchal Arts Tournament. “Oh my! Growlette!” “It’s been far too long, Mamako. Wise, Medhi, Porta…and a new face, and some faces I know but that have gotten much smaller since the last time I saw them.” “Oh, you noticed? This is Masato! It’s a long story.” “It isn’t often that we see you without your kids, Growlette.” “Yeah, I was forced to leave them with someone. More important…” The beastkin mother scowled over at Hahako, who shifted uncomfortably. “You look exactly like Mamako, so I assume you’re Hahako. The one who made a mess of the Matriarchal Arts Tournament and tried to steal my children. I haven’t forgotten.” “Neither have I…but I’ve no idea how to even begin apologizing.” “Wait, Growlette. Hahako is no longer—” “Let me handle this, Mamako. I’ve got something she needs to hear. First…” Growlette pushed Mamako aside and reached for Hahako… And tightened the loose string on her sling. “If you wanna be a proper mom, you gotta keep an eye on these things! You can’t go dropping your babies!” “Th-thank you.” “I recognize these kids, too—not in a good way, either. I’d love to hear exactly what led up to this…but it’ll have to wait.” There was an earsplitting monstrous roar, and Tinselron’s face appeared through the clouds. There were six eyes surrounded by silver scales, each glittering like a dangerous gem, fixed on the prey on the stage below. “Sorry, but can you lend a hand? If we don’t do something about that monster, it’ll be a real disaster!” “Okay, you got it! Let’s show Growlette how much our skills have leveled up!” “Porta and Mone—oh, and Mamako and Hahako, step back. We can’t have the babies distracting you during this fight.” Wise and Medhi stepped forward. This was the magical girls’ time to shine! But Tinselron attacked first, shaking all the hairs on its body. A most unpleasant rustling. Wise’s magic was sealed. Medhi had instantly used her as a shield, but her magic was sealed, too. “Predictable. I figured that would happen any minute now.” Wise smiled. “Yes. As did I. It’s almost a relief to get it over with.” Medhi smiled. “You’ve gotten way better at accepting the harshness of reality! But this ain’t no time for games! I could take him out with one swing, but I can’t reach him that high. If someone doesn’t back me up…” “Then this is Ma-kun’s moment! Yay!” Masato was sound asleep in the sling, but Mamako lifted his fist up for him, stepping forward. “Wait, Mamako…don’t be ridiculous! What can a baby do? Step back, it’s dangerous!” “Don’t worry, Growlette. Ma-kun is the warrior chosen by the heavens. He’ll unleash an amazing power! …Porta, dear, do you have a moment?” “Y-yes? What is it?” With Porta’s help, Mamako… …placed a baby bed on the center of the stage, set Masato on it, and lay down next to him! Then…! “Night night. Night night. Night night. Night…night…zzz…” Masato was already asleep, but Mamako tried to settle him down…and fell asleep herself. Everyone stared, flabbergasted. The special mom skill A Mother’s Nap activated! This occurs when a mother accidentally falls asleep trying to put her baby to bed! Mother and child sleep side by side, looking ever so peaceful! A great calm falls over all who bear witness to the sight! A moment later, there was a whoosh from the sky above. Tinselron had fallen asleep, and was falling toward them! “Well, I see she’s as nuts as ever. Blows your mind!” Growlette thrust her claws into Tinselron’s neck, and the dragon was slain. When Tinselron’s body vanished, a huge pile of silver tinsel was left behind. Which meant… “…Y’know, Masato didn’t actually do anything,” said Mone. “Yeah…he was asleep from start to finish. That’s basically the definition of ‘not doing anything.’” “But if Mamako says this was his doing, I suppose we can give him the credit.” “Yes! Masato wins!” The baby hero scored a great victory, and they had all the tinsel they needed to decorate the giant fir. Everyone worked together to stuff the long tinsel strands into Porta’s shoulder bag, and then they left the Matriarchal Arts Tournament arena behind. As they walked, they explained how four of them had ended up becoming babies, and what had brought them here. They were headed toward the end of the road, where the city guard barracks were.