Epilogue
The final round of the World Matriarchal Arts Tournament was over.
Tonight was a festival. The passion of the day’s events had yet to dissipate, and the streets of Meema were packed. Elves and beastkin playing music, angels and devils singing, tiny fairies and giants dancing hand in hand. All sorts of races from all over the world partying the day away.
Her back to the town…
“…”
…Hahako wandered aimlessly through a grassy field.
Where should she go? She didn’t know.
But she knew what she had to do.
“I will become a mother… And to do that…I need a child.”
Hahako walked on, longing for the moment when her child would be in her arms.
Meanwhile, in a forest far from Meema:
Amante and Sorella were standing before a dark vortex hovering in the shadows, looking unsure of themselves.
“…Guess we just keep an eye on her? That all we’re gonna do about Hahako?”
“It seems like she wants to be a motherrrr… So why not leave her to iiiiit?”
A third voice came from the vortex—an uncanny voice. Nothing about it was clear, not even the speaker’s gender.
“As long as it remains a mere desire on her part, you may ignore her.” The voice paused, as if considering things. “However, if there is any chance she could harm Porta, take her down immediately. Prioritize her over Mamako Oosuki.”
There was a hint of anger in the voice. Orders given, the vortex vanished.
Once they were sure all traces of it were gone, Amante and Sorella began whispering to each other.
“…Porta, huh?”
“Our master is definitely fixated on herrrr. Lord only knows whyyy…”
“There’s definitely something there. Like the master is Porta’s…”
…family…or something…?
Amante shook off that thought and started walking.
“No point speculating. Our duty is to eliminate mothers and secure Porta. The Four Heavenly Kings see their missions through.”
“Riiiiight. Don’t want to make the master angryyyy… But what neeext? Find another Heavenly King and boost our foooorces?”
“Not a huge fan of that idea, but it’s certainly an option… Let’s move.”
Amante and Sorella vanished into the dark depths of the forest, their matching black coats flapping.
Back in Meema:
The tournament hall itself had been repurposed as the main stage of the after-party. The kid’s area was filled with stalls, different performers were doing shows in the stands, and the place was packed with people of all races.
But the more people gathered in any one place, the more problems arose. Like lost children.
But don’t worry. This place has excellent babysitters.
“Mamaaaa! Where’s my mamaaaa?! Wahhhhhh!”
“Argh, will you stop crying? I’ll help you look, okay?”
“Excuse me, everyone! Is the mother of this human child nearby?”
“Oh! There’s someone waving over there! I’m sure she’s the mother!”
Originally, they’d been volunteer staff, but now…they were just volunteering. Wise, Medhi, and Porta were walking around the hall of their own accord, helping lost children. For as much as they’d resented helping the kids earlier, they certainly seemed to be having a good time.
And up onstage, an event was taking place.
“We’re about to begin the WMC—the World Masato Championship!”
“Somebody make them stoppppp!”
Mic in hand, Shiraaase was standing by a chair, to which Masato was securely strapped.
“Hey! This isn’t funny! We can’t be doing this! We’ve gotta find out what happened to Hahako…!”
“After she disappeared, she re-formed outside of town. Don’t worry… She’s driven by the desire to become a mother. That usually isn’t a bad thing. Just in case, we’ve upped our monitoring of her. If anything happens, we can swiftly deal with it.”
“Y-yeah? Well, that’s good, I guess…”
“So please enjoy the fun… Hahako has admitted she isn’t a mother, which disqualifies her from the tournament… But nevertheless, Mamako’s victory is undeniable. Celebrate it with her!”
“I’m all for celebrating, but that has nothing to do with the current situation!”
“Well then, everyone looking to score points with Masato, please join us onstage! Volunteer or be volunteered! No method is off-limits! Come one, come all!”
“Stop trying to make this happen! Score?! What does that even mean?! …Aughhhh!”
Mothers from the tournament were streaming onto the stage. He was soon surrounded by moms of all races. This was really happening. At last…
He had a harem!
“Look, Masato! Elf-mom ears!” Twitch, twitch. “How’s my tail for ya?” Fluff, fluff. “A shishamo mermaid!” Such glittery scales! “Eat some mapo doufu, and you can breathe fire!” Dragon fire! “Time to get those teeth brushed!” Vampire Mom went swish, swish! “D-do you like Mommy’s six-pack?” Flexxx! “Oh, a pocket just for me!” The tiny fairy mother squirmed about! “Is that Mommy making your heart pound? You nauuughty boy!” An overly sultry devil! “Time to fuse!” Fire, water, earth, and wind performed spirit fusion with their son! “Time for your enhancement operation!” Was Masato finally becoming an android?! “Want to join me in Heaven?” The angel had come for him! “Yay! I wanna join in!” The giant mother picked him up. “Time for some ninja arts! Nin!” Her ninja scroll became a sushi roll! …Wait, that was just normal sleight of hand.
Masato was pulled this way and that, lots of skin contact, lots of feels copped! This was…
…way too much, honestly!
“Listen, I’m absolutely flattered, but hang on!! I really don’t think I’m equipped for a harem of moms! …Huh?”
Suddenly, he realized he was no longer tied to the chair. He was free. Someone had untied him.
Chaliele and Growlette, representing all the moms gathered, both smiled kindly at Masato.
“I hoped to capture your heart and make you my child,” the elf mother said. “But…”
“But after seeing those memories?” the beastkin mother chimed in. “We all know whose kid you are.”
“Uh, yeah… Right.”
“So go on. Go to Mamako.”
“I think she’s in the waiting room. Go congratulate her on her victory.”
“Good point. I still haven’t told her… Bye, then!”
They gave him a push, and he leaped off the stage.
Just then, he bumped into the girls.
“Okay, Masato! This is your last battle! Show us how much you’ve grown!”
“How will Masato fare against his own mother, Mamako? This will be a fierce battle indeed.”
“Good luck! I’ll be cheering my hardest for you!”
“Guys, I’m not gonna fight her… Well anyway, here I go!”
Each of them gave him a pat on his back, and he was off.
Masato raced through the tunnel into the waiting room.
Mamako…was sitting on a bench in the corner, flipping through a photo album.
“Hey, Mom! Is that the prize?”
“Oh, Ma-kun! Yes, it is. It’s lovely! …See, look!”
Mamako showed him the tournament grand prize, the Mother-Child Album. It looked like any other photo album, but the pages were filled with auto-captured images of their time together here.
Animal Mamako, Elf Mamako, Devil Mamako, Child Mamako. Images of all Mamako’s transformations, and next to them—Masato’s exaggerated, snot-spewing reactions. “Yeah, don’t show me those.” Masato closed the album.
Now was the time for the hero son to test his mettle.
“Uh, Mom. I didn’t say this properly, so let me say it now… Congratulations on your victory.”
Simple, to the point. What he should be saying.
But Mamako had her head down, looking unhappy.
“Mom…?”
“Thank you. I’m always happy to get praise from you, Ma-kun… But… Sigh…”
“Wow, it’s not like you to sigh. What’s the matter? …Oh, I know… This is about Hahako, right?”
“Well, yes, but that’s not all… Ma-kun, listen.”
Mamako got up on her knees on the bench, patting the space in front of her. She wanted Masato to sit there, apparently. She looked awfully serious. “Wh-what?” This sounded important. He did as she asked, sitting on his knees facing her.
And then her cheeks puffed up.
“Ma-kun! Mommy’s hopping mad!”
“Wh-why are you mad?! Or rather, sulking?!”
“I was watching, you know! I saw those other mothers pulling you around! I could tell it was going to your head! You were loving it, you cheater!”
“So that’s what was bugging you! And that’s not cheating!”
“You like other moms more than your own mommy…” She sniffed.
“And now you’re gonna cry? No, wait, calm down! Of course I don’t! I’ve only got one mom, and she’s right in front of me!”
“…You mean it?”
“Of course! I swear! I swear on our memories together!”
“On our memories? Then…will you give Mommy a kiss like you used to?”
“Huh? Where’d that come from?! You’re acting weird!”
Each time Mamako got jealous, it activated one of her special skills, A Mother’s Envy.
This skill could store up energy over time, and Masato’s cheating had driven it past the critical point, forcing her to make an outrageous demand! Her cheek turned toward Masato, urging him to seal his vow with a kiss!
A boy his age kissing his mother’s cheek? This was a tougher battle than facing a million monsters at once.
Argh… But if that settles things…I’d better just get it over with.
They were mother and son. It was fine. There was nothing weird about it! Kids kissed their moms all the time!
He took a quick look around, making sure there was no one there.
And then the hero son summoned all his courage!
…Smooch.
He planted a superfast kiss on Mamako’s cheek.
“Th-that good enough? You satisfied now?!”
“Yes! Mommy is ever so happy! Hee-hee!” GLOWWWW!
“Yeah, yeah, okay! Too bright! Can’t see!”
Mamako was far too happy and glowing way too brilliantly. Getting a kiss from her son was a much greater source of joy than winning the tournament. She was so incredibly happy, she didn’t know what to do with herself.
And seeing her like this made him feel a little bit like it might have been worth it…
…at least until ten seconds later, when he spotted the rest of the party watching and then promptly freaked out.
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