Once there, they paused before the entrance. Growlette straightened herself up. “My children have caused no end of trouble for you,” she said. “My deepest apologies.” She bowed low to the guards, who were looking distinctly uncomfortable in their matching armor. The captain of the guards sighed deeply through his whiskers. “Fortunately, there was no damage to the town—so we’ll ask no further questions about Tinselron’s arrival. But make sure the other guardians know to be on the lookout. We don’t want situations like this occurring again.” “Yes. I promise. And sorry.” “Hold on—what’s all this about Tinselron and your kids?” Wise asked. The captain’s frown deepened. Growlette hung her head. “Tinselron was a rare monster prepared for a Christmas event being held in secret. Summoned by the seven balls hidden in this town, you obtain a vast quantity of tinsel by defeating him. But…Growlette here just happened to be passing through…” “And my children found all the balls hidden in this city, and then curiosity got the best of them…” “And they summoned the dragon? Yeah, those five troublemakers would totally do that. But we’re trying to get through those events, and we got the tinsel we needed, so…we’re good. Right, Captain?” “Yes—that’s a satisfactory solution. As far as Tinselron is concerned.” He glanced over his shoulder, looking very tired. Behind him… “Pway wiff us!” “Pway!” “Hugs!” “Arm swings!” “Up!” “Hahh.…hahh…I can’t…I’m only human…” “We’re not as strong or as tough as beastkin! Please…have mercy…” “Then let’s draw!” “Draw!” “Art!” “Crayons!” “Look!” “Wait, not there! You can’t draw on the walls!” “Or that paper! That’s an important docu—augh, too late.” It was basically a crime scene. There were scribbles everywhere. One chair leg was broken, and a window was cracked… Like it had been through the eye of a storm. Five beastkin children racing all around, ears twitching, tails wagging. And the young soldiers were slumped on the ground, utterly exhausted. The color drained from Growlette’s face. She looked ready to turn to ash. “K-kids?! Wh-wh-what are you doing? Stop that! Come here! Line up! Say you’re sorry! Now!” “Huh?” “No.” “Pway wiff us!” “Hugs!” “Mommy, hugs!” “No hugs! Say you’re sorry! Mommy’s really mad!” She struck a proper mother scolding stance. It was like a crackle of electricity running down each kid’s spine. They quickly threw themselves at her. “We’re sorry!” “Mommy, I’m sorry!” “Sorry!” “Forgive us!” “Sowwy!” “Not to me! They’re the ones you bothered! Go on!” “““““Sorry!””””” “They just pile it on, don’t they? I can’t apologize enough!” Growlette and the beastkin kids all bowed their heads in unison. The entire family’s tails and ears were drooping. The captain let out a long sigh and then said, “Apology accepted. That’s enough! Raise your heads.” “Th-thank you! Thank you! I’ll pay for everything they broke! And I’ll clean!” “Nah, won’t be necessary,” the captain said. “The paperwork…we can redo. And this guard station is scheduled to be replaced soon. So a little dirt and damage isn’t an issue.” “Replace?” “First I’ve heard of it…” The other guards looked puzzled. Suspicious. His men glared at him, but he shushed them and shrugged. “Just talking to myself here, but my son’s a student, you see. And he got mixed up in this attempted coup at the adventurer academy he attends. But the teachers forgave children and parents alike, not a word of rebuke.” He turned to Mamako, the one who’d resolved the situation, and saluted. Then he grinned. “Kids were born to cause trouble. And as a parent myself, I’ve gotta be as forgiving as my own son was forgiven. Everyone cool with that?” “No complaints here!” “Bad ass, Captain!” “Your wife’s got you under her thumb!” “Ha-ha-ha, who said that?!” He grabbed the culprit and pulled him into a cobra twist. “Choke! Choke!” “Who cares?!” What a violent way to hide embarrassment. Growlette bowed her head several more times, and when she looked up, she wiped the tears from her eyes. “Then at least let me clean! Will that be okay?” “Fine. Knock yourself out.” “Then we’ll help! The more hands, the faster the work goes!” “Okay…Porta, you’re up!” “Yes! Leave this to me!” Everyone grabbed rags, brooms, dusters, all the cleaning supplies they needed to make the guard station spick-and-span. Paperwork was organized, and scribbles washed away. Wise and Medhi went into big sister mode, teaching the beastkids how to clean. Nearby, “Porta, can you help with this?” “Yes!” Porta was secretly using Item Creation to replace the broken chair and window. As they worked, Growlette quietly placed herself next to Hahako. “Guess it’s pretty clear I ain’t exactly a perfect mom myself. We make trouble, apologize, and beg forgiveness. I ain’t got no right to hold a grudge against you.” “…You’ll forgive my failures at the Matriarchal Arts Tournament?” “That’s what I’m saying, yeah. And for everything those Rebellion kids you’ve got sleeping on your back did. Back in the beastkin world, Materland, they sank a whole dang island! Fortunately, nobody died. Honestly, no one’s really mad. We wound up with a great place to play!” Exploring the sunken Libere Rebellion base had become a really popular skin-diving tour—but that’s a topic for another day. With three babies to look after, Hahako wasn’t at her most mobile, so Growlette straightened up the paperwork for her and then turned to look her in the eye. “You gonna make those girls your daughters?” “Yes. That is my wish.” “Then remember this. Kids make mischief. No matter what. The important part is how you handle it. You’ve gotta be there for them.” “I know…and let me apologize. For what I did, and for what they’ve done. I’m very sorry.” Hahako bowed her head carefully, to the extent that the babies allowed it. As she moved to write this advice down in her handbook… “Mah…” Baby Fratello’s bleary eyes fluttered open. It was probably just a noise to her, but it felt like a baby’s first word. “Oh, are you sorry, too?” asked Growlette. “Well said, kiddo. You all have to be good girls and help your mother out.” “Mah.” “Good answer!” Growlette took it as one anyway. So everyone else did, too. She patted baby Fratello softly on the cheek. At any rate, they’d obtained the second decorative item—silver tinsel. When they’d finished cleaning, the party said good-bye to Growlette and returned to the giant fir tree. They placed the tinsel to one side—“Daughter!” “Mommy!” And waited out a second round of Porta family hugs. Mone was watching them, biting a finger. “Lucky! I want some kids. I need to stock up on spoiling! But Masato’s a baby, and Mamako’s busy with Masato…” “Fine, I’ll spoil you. C’mere!” “It’s necessary to restrain your powers, right? Come, then.” Wise and Medhi both gave their saintliest smiles and spread their arms wide. “I’m good, thanks.” ““Hey!”” Apparently they didn’t meet the baseline spoiler qualifications. There was now a snow hut by the side of the giant fir and a kotatsu inside. On the kotatsu was a work tablet, a portable grill, a portable burner, and a pot. On the grill’s grates was some mochi, puffing up nicely. “That looks good! I was just feeling peckish.” “For all your talk about work, you sure know how to treat yourself, Shiraaase.” “I am working. But it is almost noon.” “We’ve prepared these both as lunch and as a means of acquiring the sugar that keeps our brains functioning. There’s enough for all of you. Take a break from item gathering and join us.” “Yes! I would love some! I love eating the lunch Mommy made!” “I-I-I’m glad to hear it! Here’s an extra piece of mochi for my adorable daughter!” Dark-Mom Deathmother’s glasses had fogged up from the vapors of love for her daughter, but at this point everyone was just leaving them to it. They had shiruko for lunch. Topped with beautifully grilled mochi. Everyone dug in. ““““Mmmm!”””” Squeals of joy echoed through the snow hut. Then… ……Mm? That smells good! In Mamako’s arms, baby Masato’s eyes opened. He couldn’t see that well, but he could still make out the shiruko. They were eating shiruko! In a snow hut! This was definitely the sort of dish that tasted ten times better in the right environment. Everyone was clearly enjoying it accordingly. “Enh…gwehhhhhhh! (Hey, where’s my shiruko? Let me have some!)” “Yikes! Masato suddenly started crying! Crap, he’s loud!” “Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! (Sorry! I’m not trying to be this loud!)” Baby Masato was just trying to talk normally, but that didn’t appear to be an option. No matter what he said, it came out as a bawl. “That’s quite the voice… I wonder if Masato’s hungry?” “Yaahhhhhhhhhhh! (Right you are, Mone! Yes, that’s my point here!)” “Or maybe he just needs his diaper changed!” “Gahhhhhhh! (Damn it, Medhi, no! That’s not it!)” “I don’t smell anything. I think he’s doing just fine…” “Eeeeeeaughhh! (Great, Mom! You know best! Feed me!)” “Well, if it seems fine, all the more reason to make a visual check. Not like in a weird way. I don’t mean it like that.” “Eeeeeeeek?! (Yo, Wise?! Have you lost it?! Are you literally insane?!)” But despite Masato’s screams, Wise plucked him out of Mamako’s arms and laid him down on the kotatsu. “Come, Mamako!” “Yes, just a quick check.” “Aiiiieeee?! (No, stop?!)” It was just a check. Absolutely nothing weird about it. Mamako peeled back the baby clothes and then opened baby Masato’s diaper all the way. ω “It does look like a garlic clove.” Staaaare. “There’s definitely a resemblance.” Staaaaare. “Garlic glove, indeed.” Staaaare. “I-I’m not looking!” Glance. “Hm, approximately two centimeters.” Staaaare. He was just a baby. Nothing to be embarrassed about. Shiraaase had quietly joined the row of girls, armed with a ruler, making all the proper measurements. There were no problems with the diaper. It was placed back in full lockdown. Baby Masato did seem a bit dead-eyed, like his soul had left his body, but Mamako picked him up again. “Then he must be hungry! Does anyone mind if I feed him here?” “Go ahead. It’s just girls here, and none of us are going to complain.” “Thank you, Deathmother. Here we go, Ma-kun!” “Wah? Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?! (Wh-what are you talking aboooooout?!)” Mamako had undone the front of her dress and popped out her right boob. There was nothing strange about this. It was how mothers fed babies! No wait, wait, wait, wait! It’s not wrong, but just…don’t! Mamako’s boob was coming in hot! It was bigger than baby Masato’s head! “I’m probably wrong here, but do you think Masato’s mind is still in there? Like, his normal teenage mind?” asked Wise. “If that was true, this would be a real mess,” said Medhi. “Perhaps it’s different in other cultures, but in Japan, a high school boy breastfeeding is…well, it would certainly go down in history for Heroic Sons. They’d sing songs about it for eons to come.” “I dunno, maybe we should report this or something?” offered Mone. “Er…I’m not sure myself!” said Porta. The girls were all watching avidly. And the fateful moment arrived! Baby Masato’s little mouth closed around Mamako’s—! “The teat of fate! I do hate to interrupt this momentous occasion, but Mamako, do you actually have any milk in there?” asked Shiraaase. “Oh my! Good point. I definitely don’t.” Standard breast milk is produced after a birth. Baby Masato had not been born recently, merely babified by the magic of the giant fir tree. Just to be sure, Mamako gave her boob a solid squeeze, but failed to lactate. “I figured this might happen, so I prepared some milk. We made it before the shiruko…it should be warm enough by now. Here.” “Thank you, Ms. Shiraaase. It’s such a help.” “Wahhhh! (Seriously, you’re a life saver.)” Having overcome the greatest crisis of his Heroic Son career, Masato was given a bottle. And thus he was safely fed. “You owe me one,” Shiraaase whispered, but he pretended not to hear. This was all her fault in the first place. While this was going on, the baby Kings awoke. “Hahako!” “Emergency!” “Yes, leave it to me.” Three sobbing babies were given bottles, which they drained quickly. Chug-chug. “Well, Ma-kun. Once you’ve eaten…” “Urp. (Whoops, ’scuse me.)” To avoid building up gas, he was held up against her shoulder and given several back pats. The burp signaled the end of mealtime. “Ma-kun, you ate all your food! You’re such a good boy!” “All three of you finished your meals. Good girls, each one of you.” Once they were fed, the babies quickly drifted off to sleep. Baby Masato on Mamako’s chest, the three Kings in Hahako’s arms, every eye drifting shut. Meanwhile, the rest of the party polished off the shiruko and gave thanks—for all kinds of things. Then… “My? This is unexpected!” “Oh dear! What is this?” Baby Masato’s body had suddenly pulsed and was getting bigger. So were the baby Kings. Arms and legs stretching, baby clothes buttons bursting, ripping… They’d gone from less than a year old to toddler-sized! “…Mm? Wait…am I bigger?” “You are! You look…three years old! I’m sure of it.” “Eating right and having your mother call you a good child seems to have helped you all grow up! You might even be three centimeters now.” “Augh! What might be three centimeters?! You’re weird, Shiwaaashe!” Time to get them dressed. As long as Dark-Mom Deathmother was around, they didn’t lack for materials. She soon had clothes for all the kids. Three-year-old Amante got a skirt and a child-sized stadium jacket with a tiger-striped kitty embroidered on the back. Three-year-old Sorella got a short dress and a hat with a cute skull mark. Three-year-old Fratello got shorts and a hoodie with a goofy-looking shark on it. “I picked these clothes for you… Do you like them?” “Humph. Good enuff.” “I thiiiink…I might liiiike them.” “Ain’t too shabby.” The outfits all paid homage to their full-sized quirks, which seemed to please them. Hahako seemed relieved. She had a measuring tape and was sneakily writing their heights in her notebook. Recording her children’s growth. Meanwhile, three-year-old Masato. Shorts and a jacket—typical activewear for a young boy. But the illustration on the back of the jacket was a Baumkuchen cake. “You’re the hero of the heavens, Ma-kun, so I made it a Baumkuchen! Do you like the clothes Mommy picked out?” “Nngh, I dun get it…b-but I’m a good boy, so I’m not gonna compwain… Argh! I wanna grow up!” They were too little to equip weapons. The children were all ready to head out. “Then let’s go get the final decoration item,” said Shiraaase. “Good luck, three centi—I mean, Masato.” “Augh! Let’sh get dis event over with sho I can grow up.” “Oh my, Ma-kun! You can’t go off alone. Make sure you hold Mommy’s hand.” “I dun need to! I’m fine on my own!” The Oosukis, the teenage girls, the toddler Kings, and Hahako all set out merrily, stepping into the transport circle. They were enveloped in light. As they faded from sight, Shiraaase and Dark-Mom Deathmother sighed. “Only one thing left. It’s all going well.” “Yes. Almost there. Not much longer until the beautiful ending, when Hahako and those girls become a real family.” “…Mind if point out something unnecessarily?” “I’d prefer you didn’t.” “You didn’t say a word to those girls at all while they ate. Are you sure you’re okay with that?” “I said, don’t point it out! Argh. All they need is a mother who raised them. There’s no place for their failure of a birth mother here.” “You got all branches of management mixed up in this, begging for our help, worked yourself till you were covered in tears, but okay. I just thought they ought to know how much of yourself you poured into this event.” Shiraaase looked her way, but Dark-Mom Deathmother avoided her eyes. “No point addressing it. Let’s get these system checks done. Can’t have anything going wrong. We must be cautious—hm?” She’d just noticed Mone, standing alone in the transport circle. Her hands clasped before her belly. She looked lost in thought. “Mone? Is something wrong?” “Er? Oh, uh…I ate with everyone, but I don’t feel full…ah, it’s nothing. Just a little hungry!” “Then have some more mochi. We’ve got plenty.” Deathmother took some mochi from the grill and sandwiched it between some seaweed—a dish known as isobeyaki. Mone took a bite and flashed a bright smile. When she stepped back on the circle, she was transported, too. “A healthy appetite. The wonders of youth.” “Yes…let’s hope that’s all it is.” Dark-Mom Deathmother went back to the snow hut, focused on her tablet. Meanwhile, Shiraaase stayed where she was, staring at the circle Mone had used. The third transport put them on a hill overlooking the sea. A crescent-moon-shaped coastline, a port town with orange roofs, ships with white sails. All these things drew the eye, but nothing so much as the tower looming over them on an island in the bay. This was the coastal city, Thermo. A village known for its tower dungeon. “Sorry I’m late!” Munch, munch. “What kept you, Mone? …Oh, never mind. Guess it’s obvious.” “Everyone’s here! Let’s get going.” “Yes! Let’s get da last item!” Masato was all fired up. This was how he was going to finish growing. He ran off on his three-year-old legs… And immediately tripped and fell. “Wah! Masato, are you okay?” asked Porta. “Unh…i-it doeshn’t hurt…it’s jusht sho shad. I wanna cry.” Sniff. “C’mon, Masato. Don’t be so stubborn! Just hold Mamako’s hand,” said Wise. “If we have to stop every time you fall down, we’ll never get anywhere. You’ll end up being stuck as a child for much longer,” said Medhi. “Mommy doesn’t mind that at all! Tee-hee!” “I mind! …F-fine! Jusht for now! Got dat?” “Yes. Take Mommy’s hand, okay?” He held out his little hand, and hers wrapped around it. Soft, smooth, and warm. Just holding hands made him feel safe and protected. Meanwhile, Hahako and her kids… “Holding handsh meansh no twipping. So let’s do dat. Sowella, Fwatello, come on!” Toddler Amante in the middle, three-year-old Sorella on the right, and three-year-old Fratello on the left. The trio walked off, hand in hand. “If we can walk on our own, we won’t need Mommy’sh help! Dun want it! Humph!” “Uhhh, maaaaaaybe.” “Mm. Maybe.” “Oh dear. How sad. When you were babies, I carried you all the time. But now that you’re a little bigger, you want more space. Sniff.” Hahako followed after them, looking so, so sad. Ready to cry. Or so it seemed. Toddler Sorella and toddler Fratello were actually using their free hands to hold on to Hahako—but making sure three-year-old Amante couldn’t see. They were latched on to her wrist and the hem of her skirt, so it was a one-sided hold, but the link was there. Hahako was grinning. The transformation wasn’t complete, but it was definitely there, to a surprising degree. “…Mommy, what’s goin’ on with dem?” “A lot happened while you were asleep, Ma-kun.” “Hmm…” Toddler Masato wanted to know more but felt like prying might ruin it. He decided to keep quiet and watch. The party set out down the hill, into the sea-breeze-scented streets of Thermo. Looking for information, they first headed for the Adventurers Guild Mamako had founded to clear the tower dungeon, the Mom Guild. But on the way… “Right, on my signal, give it a pull! One, two!” “““Heave, ho! Heave, ho!””” There was a familiar rough-hewn man’s voice, followed by children’s voices shouting together. There was a crowd by the cliff. Mostly women and young children. Lots of families. A chubby woman with a perm noticed them approaching and waved from the middle of the crowd. “Oh, if it isn’t Mamako! Yoo-hoo!” “Oh…my, my, if isn’t Pocchi’s mother! And so many other Mom Guild members here, too!” They’d all conquered the tower dungeon together. And just the other day, when young adventurers had attacked, seeking the elimination of all mothers, they’d held the line and fended them off. These battle-hardened powerhouse moms all came running toward Mamako. And suddenly… “Mamako, it’s been ages! Oh my, is that Masato?” “It is! It’s a long story. Ma-kun, say hi!” “I’m Masato Oosuki. I’m thwee years old! …No, wait, there’sh no time to chat—” “Wise, Medhi, Porta! How nice to see you all again. Have you been well?” “Y-Yeah…” “Thankfully…” “I’m great!” “We’ve got tea and treats! Will you join us? Oh, are these your friends?” “Why, you look just like Mamako! Oh, so you must be the famous—” “Hahako. A pleasure to meet you.” “And are those your children? Oh, they’re so cute!” “Hey, what’sh da big idea?” “Too many moooothers!” “Sho loud…!” “Can you introduce yourselves? Names and ages?” They didn’t even leave enough room for the wind to pass between the chatter. They were doomed. Worst-case scenario, they’d be stuck here for over an hour, helpless to free themselves. But an opportunity presented itself. The mothers had been interested in toddler Masato, but their eyes soon drifted upward, and the discussion focused on Mamako. And then Mamako let go of Masato to accept a proffered cookie. …Yes! Now! Three-year-old Masato carefully slipped between the mothers’ legs, wriggling free of the net. He’d successfully escaped— Or so he thought. Someone grabbed his arm, pulling him back! “Masato Oosuki, jusht you wait! No eshcaping!” “Oh, you guys are here, too? Fine! Come on!” “Quietlyyyy! Sho we dun get cauuuught!” “Let’sh run for it!” The three-year-old Kings had also escaped—they formed a new team. Together, they sneaked away. Watchful of the mothers’ eyes, they headed right for the beach. There, they found a huge crowd of children. As adults yelled instructions, the children pulled on a long rope that stretched into the ocean waves. “Masato Oosuki! What are those people doin’?” “Net fishing, maybe? You throw a net in da water and pull it out, and there’s fish and shellsh inshide.” “Fishiiiing? Ohhh…that sounds fuuun!” “Mm. Good back mushcle workout.” “You all want to join in, then? This is an event for parents and children, sponsored by the Mom Guild. All kids have a right to participate!” There came a gruff voice behind them, and rough-hewn hands patted their heads. They turned around and found a very suspicious man crouching behind them. Bulging muscles, a mohawk, and a face only a mother could love. “Oh? Pocchi?” “Yo, Masato. It’s been a minute since we last met—you got real tiny.” This was the leader of a gang of former thugs who were now part of the Mom Guild. The son of Pocchi’s mother—which meant his name, logically, was Pocchi. “I heard the mothers kicking up a fuss, so I knew you were here, but I didn’t count on you looking like this! Still…” Pocchi gave Amante a long, hard look. “Yo, Amante. You worked us to the bone, turned us into monsters, and then cast us aside. You were a leader in the evil Rebellion…and now? Look at you! You’re so cute!” “Tch…wh-what? You tink you can beat me now? Out for revenge? Fine! Let’sh fight!” “Revenge? Yeah, I suppose you got some payback coming your way, but…don’t be ridiculous. I ain’t raising a hand to a little kid! That goes against my policy…as a childcare worker.” Pocchi stood up, puffing up his chest proudly. His apron had a cute gorilla on it. It flapped in the wind. “Er…P-Pocchi? You’re a childcare worker?” “The Mom Guild started a day care! I’m currently doing training to get my license. There are way too many fools out there who don’t know how lucky they are to have moms. I figured the best way to teach them the truth was to start when they’re small. Got that, Amante?” “Wh-what?” “First, you gotta let yourself be held with love.” “Huh?” “Just like how I woke from a bad dream when my mother put her arms around me. A good hug can work miracles! It’s high time you accepted that mothers ain’t going anywhere and become a good girl!” His muscles rippled. “Eeeeeeeeeeeeek?!” Pocchi’s burly bro smile of love advanced on three-year-old Amante! “Call da poliiiiice!” “Mm.” “I’ll help!” It reeked of criminal activity, but it was mere wholesome education! Pure early childhood learning! All charges would likely be dropped… But then… “Yo, Pocchi! Over here! Emergency!” “Huh? What? What’s going on?” Another thuggish-looking man—like Pocchi, wearing a day-care worker’s apron—came running toward them, looking distraught. “The net got stuck, so I dove in to take a look! But there’s a monster I’ve never seen before caught in it! It’s really huge!” “What?! We can’t just stand here! Get these kids—” But before he could even finish… The surface of the ocean exploded, a column of water rocketing upward like a geyser. A gold, glittering, star-shaped monster emerged from the blue waters of the ocean. A giant starfish, the size of a ship’s sail. It was moving its five arms like wings, fluttering over the water’s surface. “Ooh! A fwying monster! That’s mine!” “Masato, don’t be stupid. You’re too small to fight this thing! Everyone, run! C’mon, Amante! You too.” “Eeeeeeeek?!” Pocchi scooped up toddler Masato and toddler Amante, and the distraught childcare worker scooped up toddler Sorella and toddler Fratello. With a three-year-old under each arm, they ran off. “Over here!” “Hurry!” Porta and Mone were beckoning furiously. The children pulling the net were snatched up by their guardians, and everyone hastily fled the beach. They were replaced by Mamako’s party, who ran out toward the surf, ready for combat. “Oh dear! It’s so big and sparkly!” “A gold star—and exactly the right size to decorate that giant fir. Is this another decoration item?” Both mothers had quietly made certain their precious children had been safely evacuated, and they were now ready to lead the assault. Two Holy Swords of the Ocean swung together. A double layer of water bullets hit home, and the giant starfish split into five. Now they had five starfish, each the size of a dinghy. “Yikes, there’s more of ’em! I hate this type of monster…” “Well, we’ll just have to burn off the excess calories we consumed!” “From the looks of it, the smaller ones are easier to handle! Which means… Spara la magia per mirare… Luce di Lampo!” Wise’s spell activated! A sphere of lightning appeared, then burst, and the scattered bolts struck all the starfish. Once again, they divided. Each split into five more starfish, each of those the size of a human child. Twenty-five in all. The child-sized starfish began spinning like shuriken, arms sharp as blades. They attacked, but— “Not happening!” Medhi instantly deployed a defensive wall, fending them off. A lot of enemies. It would take a lot of hands to defeat them—as many hands as the starfish had arms. “We’ll fight, too! Mom Guild company—charge!” “““Aye-aye!””” My kids, your kids, all kids are good kids. The maternal need to protect all kids gave them strength, and that strength became armor, covering their bodies—the armor of moms, Full Armom. Now combat ready, the army of moms grabbed on to the child-sized starfish, embracing them. “Tee-hee, boys, boys, be good.” “Aiiiiiieeee?!” The starfish all screamed but then went limp. Much like Pocchi had back in the day. Meanwhile, all the toddlers could do was stand around watching. “Finally, a fight! And I can’t do nothin’! Argh!” “Not much you can do at this age! Behave yourself.” “Hey! Let go of me, Pecchi! Leggo before I get really mad!” “You settle down now. And it’s Pocchi, not Pecchi.” Pocchi had settled down cross-legged a safe distance from the coast, his bulging biceps acting as seat belts to restrain toddlers Masato and Amante. Meanwhile, the other thug childcare worker was taking care of three-year-old Sorella and Fratello. His ugly mug seemed to terrify them both, so they were being quiet as mice. Amante was trying to escape, but Pocchi made her sit, keeping a close eye on the combat in front of them. “Masato, that lady who looks just like Mamako—that’s Hahako, right? I’ve heard the rumors.” “Uh, yeah. She ish. She’sh a…shpecial pershon. She’sh tryin’ real hard to become a mommy to Amante and da other Libere Kingsh.” “Argh, Masato Oosuki! Don’t tell him dat!” “Ohh? That is a special lady. Who’d wanna be a mom to these kids? Guess it takes all types.” “Pocchi, dat’s jusht mean…” “Truth hurts. I mean, they’re the last people in the world that would ever love a mother. No saving them, right? They’re unsalvageable.” Pocchi gave three-year-old Amante a grin that was clearly trying to wind her up. She scowled back up at him. “Did I say anything wrong? You don’t even know how to be a good girl. Right?” “You think I’m dat eashy? Shure, I’m pisshed off. But nothing. Will ever. Make me shay what you want. I won’t shay ‘I’ll prove I can be a good girl.’” “Tch, you might look like a kid, but you don’t think like one, huh?” His bait had failed. But Pocchi wasn’t giving up that easy. “Well, if you ain’t a kid anymore, you oughta be able to do better. Grow out of this sort of thing.” “Too bad! I’m opposhed to all mothersh. Dat’s what I wash deshigned to be. It’sh how I wash made. I can’t grow out of it. I dun need to explain dat to you! Ha!” “How you were ‘made’? Wow, so edgy. You into that sort of thing?” “Nooo! I’m not one of thoshe people!” “Enh, that’s beside the point.” Pocchi released the biceps seat belt restraining toddler Masato and patted three-year-old Amante on the head. “Real talk, though, I think you’ve got a chance here specifically because of who you are. Same way as I acted like a fool and caused so many problems for my mom because she was such a big part of my life—and I just couldn’t handle that. I think one day soon, you’ll figure out that moms are really amazing. So don’t chicken out and piss yourself, you hear?” “Me? Pissh myshelf?! Don’t be a total weirdo! Weirdo Pacchi!” “My name ain’t Pacchi—ow!” Toddler Amante had just bitten Pocchi’s arm. When he flinched, she slithered out of his arm and ran off as fast as she could. “Uh, hey! Amante, stop! It’s too dangerous!” “Shut up! Weirdo Picchi! Backwardsh Picchi! You even went bald backwardsh!” “Yo, Amante! I don’t care about Pucchi, but that lasht one’sh mean to everyone with a mohawk!” “You’re plenty mean yourself, Masato. Whatever—Amante! Look up! There’s a monster!” “What?” Amante had made it to the sand, but she stopped in her tracks, looking up. A child-sized starfish was falling toward her, spinning. It was about to hit! Then… “Amante!” “……Huh?” Hahako had her arms around toddler Amante. She’d cast aside her weapons and thrown both arms around her protectively. Three-year-old Amante had her face in Hahako’s chest and couldn’t see anything…but she felt Hahako’s body shake. “Oh dear! That went in deep! We’d better treat her fast!” “Hahako! I’m gonna pull it out! Grit your teeth—here goes!” “I’ll heal it! Don’t move. Spara la magia per mirare… Cura!” “Wait, what’s going on? The spell activated but the wound isn’t closing! Hang on, this isn’t some weird thing like Hahako is immune to healing spells because she’s a unique being, is it?” Toddler Amante could clearly hear the panic in their voices. She knew things were bad, really bad. But… “Amante, are you okay? You aren’t hurt, are you?” Hahako pulled back, Amante’s well-being her only concern. Checking her over for injuries, she even brushed the sand off Amante’s feet as if it were the most urgent thing in her life. “W-wait! Hahako, calm down!” Amante said. “You’re in worshe shape den me—!” “I’m fine! I just forgot to guard and damaged the core of my very being, but that’s all!” “Dat shounds like a very big deal?! Are you gonna shtop exishting?!” “Healing spells may not work, but there are repair programs, so it’s probably fine.” “Pwobably?!” “What matters is that you’re all right, Amante. Tell me if anything hurts!” “Argh! I’m fine, okay? I’m not the leasht bit hurt! Shee?” Toddler Amante waved her arms around, showing how healthy she was. “Oh, good!” “Hngg?!” And she was quickly hugged very tight. Around them, the battle was drawing to a close. The starfish that had wounded Hahako had fled, regrouped with a few limp companions, and formed a giant starfish again. Immediately afterward, Mamako’s full-powered attacks took it down. At last it was defeated, leaving only a giant gold star behind. The final decorative item. The evacuees cheered. The mothers-at-arms breathed a sigh of relief. “How do we take this with us?” “I think I can get it in my bag!” “Nah, no way it’ll fit.” “If we fold it…?” The girls swiftly faced another dire problem. Meanwhile… “……” “……” Hahako gently released toddler Amante. For a long moment, they each stared wordlessly at the ground. Hahako had hugged Amante, fully aware she would be rejected. And Amante had been saved despite all her resistance. Neither seemed to know what to say next. Seeing them getting nowhere, toddler Masato came over and bonked Amante on the head. “Yo, Amante. There’sh only one ting you shay here.” “Wh-what’sh dat?” “It’sh obvioush! Don’t overthink it. Jusht shay da firsht thing dat comesh to mind.” He gave her a little push. She stumbled but then took a step toward Hahako. There was a long internal battle. Mamako, toddler Masato, Pocchi, and Pocchi’s mom all watched over her. Amante’s fingers twitched; her toes drew lines in the sand… And then she finally reached out and grabbed Hahako’s dress, tugging on it. “……………………Thank you.” Her lips were pouting, and she was sulking a bit…but she got the words out. Hahako said nothing. She just nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Argh! Arghhhh! Arghhhhh! Masato Oosuki!” Bonk bonk bonk bonk! “Ow! Wh-why are you hitting me? Shtop!” Just covering her embarrassment. Bonk bonk bonk bonk. Red all the way to her ears and taking it out on him. Everyone just watched, smiling. “…Urgh…” “M-M-M-Ma-kun?!” Since he was toddlerized, Masato had very little HP and was soon down for the count. Three-year-old Amante leveled up. Somehow, they managed to get the gold star into Porta’s shoulder bag and made their retreat. At the exit to Thermo, the Mom Guild members gathered, seeing the heroic party off.
Chapter 165
29 min read