Chapter 4 I Pinched My Cheek. It Didn’t Hurt. This Isn’t a Dream! The Chronicle of This Son’s Greatest Adventure Ever Begins!
It was so early, the sky betrayed only the slightest hints of dawn. Too early to even call morning.
But not to Masato.
“All right, morning! A bright, shining new day! Morrrrrrning!”
He bounded out of bed, washed his face, and polished off the breakfast he’d laid aside.
He finally had his equipment back, so he put that on and was ready to go.
“Well, Ma-kun. Anything you forgot? Your handkerchief? Or…”
“Got my weapons and armor! Everything I need!”
“Masato,” said Hahako, “your collar’s out of place. I’ll fix it for you. Don’t move.”
“Thanks! …Right, now I’m ready!”
“Masato! I’m rooting for you! Good luck!” cheered Porta.
“Argh, it’s not a date, okay? Ha-ha! Well, see you later!”
The moment he was out the front door he was shouting, “Yee-haw!” his engine at full speed as he made a beeline for the meeting spot. Mamako, Hahako, and Porta watched him go in their pajamas.
Looking so cheery that it seemed like he might start to literally glow, he plunged into the darkness of the jungle.
“Sheesh, he really went…”
“That he did… Oh, he tripped…and caught himself, laughing. Like everything in the world is a delight.”
Wise and Medhi both looked half-asleep. They were pawing at their bedheads half-heartedly on the terrace, watching Masato go. Both sighed, thoroughly annoyed with him.
“I dunno if it’s a date or not, but he’s waaay too carried away.”
“Heh-heh-heh. I can see you’re curious. Maybe you should sneakily follow him?”
“Yeah, yeah, shove it, Medhi. That’s not what this is. I’m just genuinely, purely, utterly disgusted. We’re in the middle of a huge incident, but does that idiot care?”
“Clearly not,” Shiraaase said, sounding quite vexed. “I’d very much like to convince him of the urgency of the situation.”
She came striding out onto the terrace in a sexy black negligee.
“You’re up, too… Wow, that’s a racy getup.”
“Sex appeal is the domain of a mature woman. It is important to regularly present yourself in a nearly nude fashion and observe the changes in your own body.”
“So…this is a health thing? Never mind.”
“Come to think of it, it’s pretty rare for you to stay the night in this world, isn’t it, Ms. Shiraaase?”
“Knowing we’d be launching an operation to the destroy the Rebellion lair, I left my daughter with my parents, allowing me to operate without regard to the hour. Yet…”
“Masato’s being an idiot.”
“His mind is elsewhere…”
“Yes. He’s such a nuisance…”
All three sighed, shaking their heads.
Then…
“Masato’s actions may not be entirely in vain,” Hahako said, coming back into the room, Mamako and Porta behind her. “It may well be that he turns out to be invaluable to the execution of our plan.”
“Hahako? What do you mean?” asked Wise.
“I mean exactly what I said. But I’d prefer not to share the details.”
“You’d prefer… Why?” Medhi asked.
Hahako looked perplexed.
“My feelings on the matter are complicated, but…you’re all getting ready to attack the Libere girls…and what they’ve done has certainly earned them that punishment. But to me, they’re…”
“Your potential children,” Mamako said.
Hahako nodded happily. “I have several pieces of information you’re as yet unaware of. But if I were to share them with you, those girls would suffer. And the mother in me would prefer to avoid that. I may not yet be a mother, but I wish to honor my maternal instincts.”
Hahako looked around the room and then bowed low.
Her children might be causing problems for others, yet they were still her children. She loved them all the same. To a mother, some things override conventional ethics.
“I think that’s fine,” Mamako said. “Any mother knows how that feels.”
Smiling, she patted Hahako on the back, urging her to raise her head.
“You’ve mastered a mother’s weaknesses, too. You’re becoming even more like a mother, Hahako!”
“You think so? …I’m so glad to hear you say that, Mamako.”
“Shall we keep that spirit going?”
Mamako and Hahako smiled at each other, then, in unison, they cheered enthusiastically, ““Let’s mom it!””—one mother and one mother-in-training.
“So, I hope everyone else is in. Wise, Medhi, Porta?”
“Uh…well…I dunno much about how moms feel…”
“While I’d prefer to be fully briefed, I don’t want to force the issue.”
“I think this is best! A mom’s feelings are important!”
“Thank you. Ms. Shiraaase, what do you say?”
Shiraaase frowned, but…
“Disregarding my feelings as a mother myself…as management, I must throw up my hands. This game places the utmost importance on a mother’s bonds, which makes it impossible for me to deny those feelings. This is information I would give anything to have, but even with it right in front of me, I clearly can’t demand that you share it with us.”
Shiraaase turned her back on Hahako. “But just in case, I’d better talk my superiors into the idea.” She left the cottage, looking frustrated.
They bowed their heads after her.
“Well, I must be going,” Hahako said. “As much as I enjoy your company, if I spend too much time with you, those girls will turn against me.”
Hahako’s feet melted into the ground. As a singular construct of the main system running the game, she was gone a moment later.
So.
“Well, what now? I certainly am worried about Ma-kun, but…”
“Yeah…I’m with you there. Not in a weird way—just…I have concerns.”
“For all Hahako wished to avoid sharing information, she did tell us one thing.”
“Yes! She said Masato’s actions might actually be very important!”
“Right! Exactly! That’s why I’m concerned!” Wise pounced.
“But Mamako’s fussing is just her normal deal…”
“Especially since there’s a chance Masato’s on a date.”
“Where could Ma-kun be? Where did he go? Who is he meeting? I just can’t stop fretting about it!” Mamako began to fidget.
And when Mamako fidgeted, the ground beneath her feet quaked… “Stop!” “Mamako, calm down!” They managed to stop Mother Earth from answering her call.
“Whew… We need you to keep your head, Mamako.”
“I know! Let’s borrow the power of the earth and find out where Ma-kun is! Porta, could you get me my swords from your bag?”
“Okay! ……Um, let’s see here……” Rummage, rummage.
“She didn’t calm down at all! Don’t! You can’t use A Mother’s Fangs!”
“You’ll find out where Masato is, but totally mess up whatever’s going on there!”
“So instead, let’s try that approach…right, Medhi?”
“Yes. This time…we need to be stealthy.”
Judging from their smiles, both girls loved that sort of thing.
In the pitch-black jungle, guided by the hand of fate, Masato reached the promised spot!
Or at least, he wanted to claim as much, but actually he’d just sort of run around until he stumbled across it. He’d headed in the general direction until he found the damage their combat had incurred.
Masato stood staring at the giant jungle hole Fratello’s attack had created.
“That’s no ordinary power… The force is simply incredible. And my kindred spirit is going to teach me this move? Where is he?”
He found a place to sit down, and it felt like he’d been waiting around two hours or so, but there was still no sign of Fratello. This was entirely Masato’s fault for showing up way too early.
Through the gaps in the broccoli above, he could see blue skies. Morning had definitely broken.
Any minute now…
“Sonny! You’re already here?”
“Oh, Fratello! I’ve been waiting!”
Fratello appeared farther down the giant hole, walking toward him.
He gave Masato a long look with those dazed eyes of his and nodded approvingly.
“Mornin’, sonny. I see you kept our man-to-man promise.”
“I mean, I am a man, after all. I keep my word.”
“Mm. Still, ya sure dressed for the occasion.”
“Heh-heh, well? This is my true form.”
Long jacket. Gauntlet on one arm. The Holy Sword of the Heavens, Firmamento, at his hip.
Fully equipped, Masato struck a proud pose! Shiiiing!
Fratello looked at Masato and then down at his own leather garb and sighed.
“You ain’t too hot in that, sonny?”
“Honestly, yeah, I’m burning up under all this. I was thinking about taking it off…but this is my equipment! I can’t just ditch it!”
Even just sitting still in this had worked up quite a sweat.
“Well, in that case, we’d better relocate.”
“Relocate? We aren’t training here?”
“If we train here with you dressed like that, you’ll die of heatstroke. I know a place that’s a mite cooler. Come check out my lair.”
“Uh…your lair?”
“I’ll put my own equipment on. I’ve got some really badass gear, specially made for me. Let me show it off for ya!”
Not a house, hotel, or inn, but a lair.
That bugged Masato a bit, but… “You comin’ or not?” “Oh, wait up!” Fratello was already moving, so Masato followed close behind.
A while later…
Porta poked her head out of the brush near where Masato and Fratello had been.
With her keen eyes, she looked around, first to the right, then to the left, then to the right again.
“Hnggg… I think it’s safe to step out!”
Back in her usual garb, the shoulder bag secured to her back, Porta jumped out of the brush.
After her came Wise in a crimson jacket; Medhi in a white healer tunic; Mamako with a few pieces of armor over her favorite dress; and Shiraaase in her usual nun habit.
All of them were drenched in sweat.
“It’s so hot! I feel like all the moisture is being wrung out of me.”
“Perhaps putting all our gear on in case of trouble was a mistake. Wise, can you cool us down?”
“No prob. Spara la magia per mirare… Vento Fresco…”
She sounded exhausted, but the spell activated. It wasn’t the strongest effect she’d ever managed, but a cool breeze blew past them.
A look of relief spread across their fatigued faces.
“Oh, that’s nice! It’s so helpful having you around, Wise.”
“You’re a huge help! Thank you, Wise!”
“Even I have to admit it this time. I’m genuinely glad we have you, Wise.”
“Wow, even Medhi? …Man, you’re making me blush…”
“No need to be embarrassed! You’re a human air conditioner.”
“Dammit, Shiraaase! You just ruined it.”
“You so rarely get to use magic in combat… Perhaps you should change your job to ‘Air Conditioner Technician.’”
“I’m not changing jobs! And that’s hardly our focus here…”
Wise pointed at the giant hole in the jungle.
“…That kid with Masato. Same one, right?”
Mamako, Porta, and Medhi all nodded.
“Yes, I’m sure of it.”
“I agree!”
“Sorry, I’m lost…”
“Oh, right, Ms. Shiraaase, you weren’t there. Let me expl—I mean, infooorm.”
“Medhi, is that a challenge?” asked Shiraaase. “Are you aiming to steal my role from me?”
“I’m just following your lead! Anyway, please listen. When we were developing the resort, we stumbled across two of the Heavenly Kings…”
And a sudden intruder had blown Mamako away one-handed.
And that intruder…
“Fratello… Come to think of it, the other two Heavenly Kings dropped that name. Supportive evidence.”
“That clinches it… This Fratello’s the third of the Four Heavenly Kings,” said Wise.
“When we encountered him, he spoke very differently…but I suppose we should assume this is a plot to entice Masato to their side.”
“Just like a certain someone we know who tried to honey trap Masato. So evil.”
“Those were my mother’s orders, and not my choice.” Medhi’s smile twitched.
“Ow, ow, ow, stop it, you evil beauty! Your staff is grinding against my foot!”
“Hmm…I’m not so sure… It didn’t seem like he was faking it…”
“I thought they seemed like real friends, too!”
“I had the same impression but let us put such doubts aside for now. We have more pressing matters to attend to.”
Shiraaase began walking.
“They said they were headed for Fratello’s lair. This is our opportunity.”
“True! If the enemy’s gonna lead us there himself, we can’t let that go to waste.”
“And if this leads to our discovering how they get around, that would be perfect.”
“Exactly. Come on!”
All fell silent, tailing Masato and Fratello as quietly as possible.
Meanwhile, those being tailed…
“Signs of suspicious activity nearby are…all clear.”
“Can’t say the same for you, sonny, but no one slips by a man like myself unnoticed.”
“Don’t underestimate my detection skills. They’re even better than yours!”
“Fat chance—mine are the best.”
Shoving their shoulders into each other, each stubbornly insisting he was better, the two boys pressed onward.
The jungle gave way to a rocky area filled with boulders and potatoes.
The road grew steep and the terrain uneven, but it was definitely a doable climb. Skirting the edges of the giant boulders and potatoes, they made steady progress.
In time, they reached a sheer rock face.
“Looks like a good spot for rock climbing… Where to next?”
“Ain’t no next. This here’s the entrance to my lair.”
Fratello put his hand on the sheer rock face.
A moment later, a hole just wide enough for a person to pass opened up.
“Um…wow, how’s that work?”
“Nothin’ special. Just a touch. Works for those of us living here and any undead monsters in our employ.”
“Uh…why undead monsters?”
“One of my folks is good at controlling undead monsters, so we made the door work for ’em. Course, if ya ask me, they’re too wimpy to do us a lick of good.”
“Weird skill to have… Hmm…”
A flicker of doubt passed through Masato’s mind.
“C’mon, sonny! It’s a real maze inside. You’re gonna get lost if you lose sight of me.”
“R-right…”
Masato wiped the sweat from his brow—caused not by heat, but by the turbulent emotions he was experiencing. Then he followed Fratello into the lair.
The cave interior was a gentle downslope. There were magic stones placed here and there, glowing softly.
A zombie hoard appeared before them, but when they saw Fratello, they shuffled aside.
The road beyond split in two, and the path they took split in three, and again beyond that.
“…This really is a maze.”
“Even we get lost sometimes! This one dope got turned around and ended up running all over this here cave. Didn’t get back till she’d gotten up close and personal with every single cave. But she’s got some wicked fast legs, so it only takes her a few minutes to run places.”
“So…really high physical attributes…but really dumb…”
“Come to think of it, that same dolt said somethin’ about getting fed up with it all. She set about making somethin’… I feel like I saw it placed right by the entrance… Did ya see it, sonny?”
“No, I didn’t see anything. I was kinda preoccupied…”
The cool breeze on his cheeks had gone from comfortable to downright chilly.
After several more branches, the rock and dirt floor gave way to carefully laid tiles. The ornately decorated walls and ceiling had clearly been crafted by skilled artisans…
Fratello had Masato had reached the entrance to some sort of church, all lit up by colorful magic stones.
“Like an underground shrine…”
“Not much of a shrine, since ain’t nothin’ here being worshipped… Though I guess there is somethin’ special resting here. One heck of a treasure.”
“Treasure?”
“Interested, sonny? Rightfully so. You go through a cave, see a room like this, hear there’s a treasure, any man would get excited.”
“Yeah, well…that’s part of it…”
“Okay, then. I’ll let ya have a peek. This way, sonny.”
Fratello walked off, humming. He told some patrolling skeleton knights to keep up the good work.
Masato followed at a safe distance.
Crap. I’m in real trouble here.
Deep down, he was already sure.
He was sure, but he didn’t know how.
Where had he gone wrong? Half his brain was going back over events, trying to figure it out.
But the rest of his brain was desperately trying to think of an escape plan.
The two trains of thought were tripping each other up, making his head spin.
“Here we are! The treasure!”
Masato’s legs had carried him there without him noticing. A massive door stood open before him.
His eyes focused on a dark glimmer.
“Wha… Th-that’s…”
It was some sort of laboratory—science? Sorcery?
And a pretty big one, at that. There was a giant magic circle on the floor with cords of all colors tracing its lines, which led to a number of pedestals arranged around the magic circle.
And in the center of the circle was a gelatin sphere over ten yards in diameter.
“Mwa-ha! Your eyes are poppin’ right outta their sockets, sonny! Ya look like ya just seen a ghost.”
“Uh, yeah… This is a surprise, I mean… Holy crap…”
“Go on in. Relax a spell. I’m just gonna change real quick.”
Fratello dashed off.
Masato stepped into the room, looking at the nearest pedestal.
There was a dark gem on it the size of his fist.
“That gem’s…definitely the one Amante and Sorella used.”
It was one of the unofficial items that could control any NPC, overwriting their behaviors or turning them into monsters. They had been used against them any number of times.
There was a Now Loading message displayed on the pedestal. The dark gem seemed to be downloading something.
There were cords running from the pedestal beneath the gem to the magic circle. He followed them carefully, moving closer to the source—that giant sphere. He stared into the sphere’s depths.
Lines of computer code were swimming around inside like sea snakes.
“The dark gem is downloading this data… A program? I have no idea what that means, but if this program lets them control NPCs… Wait, I thought…”
When they’d first gone up against Sorella at her casino, they’d been hired to recover a program that controlled character settings. It was one that had been stolen from management.
This Alzare document had been successfully recovered, thanks to Masato’s own heroics, but…
“Was it actually a fake? No, no, no, no! It couldn’t have been! Shiraaase verified it! So they secretly made a copy! That must be it! Yeah. I couldn’t have screwed that up! I didn’t!”
His voice rose into a shriek that echoed through the room.
He felt much better afterward. Calm.
“So this is where they manufacture the dark gems. And the lair itself…”
…was the Libere Rebellion’s hideout. Sad, but clearly true.
And Fratello…
“Damn. What now? What should I do?”
Masato stared blankly around the room.
Nothing came to mind.
Meanwhile, outside the lair entrance (which was disguised as a totally ordinary wall):
“Here goes! …Spara la magia per mirare… Alto Bomba Sfera!”
Wise’s spell unleashed a massive amount of energy.
It scored a direct hit on the rock face, causing a tremendous explosion. The backwind rushed past them, blowing all nearby boulders away.
“Ow!” One of the boulders hit Wise in the forehead. 5 damage! Moving right along…
The wind blew the dust away, leaving behind a pit where the explosion had occurred.
But the rock face itself was unharmed. There weren’t even any scorch marks.
“Tch! Now I’m really pissed.”
“Wise, let me try next.”
Medhi emerged from behind a giant potato. Player Change! Medhi stepped up to the rock face, smiling broadly, like the beautiful girl she was.
THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD. A series of yakuza kicks! “Ow!” The winds stirred up by the kicks sent another boulder into Wise’s head. 9 damage!
The beautiful girl’s strikes seemingly had more force behind it than the spell did, so maybe… But no.
The rock wall was unharmed. Not so much as a footprint was left behind.
“Even my power can’t damage it… How frustrating.”
“If it actually had, I probably would’ve died from the shock… Either way, we clearly aren’t smashing our way through. Sigh… So annoyinggg…”
Wise waved to a nearby giant potato.
Mamako and Shiraaase came out from behind it, joining them.
“Good work, both of you! As a reward, I’ll rub both your heads!”
“Yaaay! Thanks! …I mean, I always like head rubs, but we failed, so…”
“Masato and Fratello definitely went in from here. This is clearly the entrance. But…”
“…The path won’t open without the conditions being met. This is a problem…coming all this way only to get stuck here… How vexing.”
Shiraaase hung her head. Her disappointment was contagious. The other three hung their heads, as well.
Next to them…
“I wonder if there’s a special effect on it! Even my eyes couldn’t appraise it. I’m gonna take another look!”
Porta went alone toward the rock face. “Hnggg…” She gave it a long stare. A looooong stare. She scanned every inch of the rock face, determined to find something.
But she couldn’t find anything. So sad.
“Awww… I wasn’t useful at all…”
Dejected, Porta put her hand on the rock and hung her head. “Fwah…” She sighed.
Then…part of the rock in front of her vanished, and a hole appeared.
“Huh? …Whoa! It opened! It opeeeened!”
“Wait, for real?” said Wise. “Wow, it actually did! Porta, nice work!”
“Oh my! That’s amazing, Porta! How’d you do it?”
“Um…I just touched it! And it opened!”
“Just by touching it? That’s…like… Um…” Medhi trailed off.
Shiraaase put a hand on her shoulder and quietly shook her head.
“Never mind that! Our path is open! Let’s hurry in. Come on! Let’s go! Yahoo!”
“Ms. Shiraaase…you’re being a little too obvious. Do you know something?”
“Yes. I do, but I had carelessly forgotten. There was a simple solution all along, but I was too busy panicking to think of it. I have much to learn.”
“I would love to hear more about this.”
“I must ask for your patience. The contents are quite shocking…and I’m at a loss regarding how best to share them.”
Shiraaase looked over at Porta. “That tickles!” squeaked Porta. She was getting dual squeezes from Mamako and Wise and looked to be having the time of her life.
Medhi glanced at Porta, and a shadow passed over her face.
“Very well,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll defer to your judgment on this.”
“Thank you. In appreciation for keeping this on the down-low, I may ask for your assistance later. Heh-heh-heh.”
“I-if you mean what I think you mean, that may be quite a challenge…”
“Intelligence carries its own trials. I do appreciate it. That said… Mamako, Wise, Porta! We should get moving. I’m concerned about Masato.”
“Oh, yes! I’m so worried about Ma-kun!”
“I’m less worried about Masato than what’ll happen if Mamako gets too worried about him. Let’s infiltrate this enemy lair!”
“Yes! Let’s go!”
Porta had the sharpest eyes, so she took the lead. The party filed into the dimly lit cave.
Weapons in hand, caution at the max.
“Careful, everyone… This is the Rebellion hideout…,” Wise warned. “Who knows what sort of traps they have lying in wait.”
“That’s right…,” agreed Medhi. “And it’s so dark here… I wouldn’t be surprised if there are undead monsters roaming about.”
“Hmm…about that. I’ve been thinking…”
“Mm? What is it, Mamako?”
“This is where Amante and Sorella live, right? If they have traps and monsters everywhere, wouldn’t that be terribly inconvenient? If they had some helpful means of getting to the center of this lair quickly, then it might make more sense, but…”
Mamako tilted her head, looking confused.
The rest of the party stopped, thinking this through.
“No way,” Wise said, shaking her head. “Not that I don’t get your point, Mamako. I mean, sure, you wouldn’t want to prep traps and monsters and put them in your own way. That would be dumb. But…that’s how RPGs work.”
“Everyone who enjoys these games realizes this at some point and simply accepts it as a tacit understanding,” said Shiraaase.
“Even in one’s own domain, it’s basically common practice to never have a convenient transport device,” added Medhi. “There’s no chance of there being one here.”
“Nope.”
“Never.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Oh! I found one!”
“““Whaaaat?!”””
Porta was pointing at a spot a few yards inside.
There was a wooden sign on the wall that read: NOT THAT I NEED TO EXPLAIN THIS, BUT THE TRANSFER CIRCLE IS THIS WAY! It also had a giant arrow pointing down the passage.
When they followed it, they found themselves in a small room with a magic circle on the floor.
Mamako’s party found a convenient transport device!
“Yes, I knew it! This is ever so helpful. Hee-hee.”
“But why…? Oh, right…”
“This is the lair of the Four Heavenly Kings.”
“The hideout of a bunch of idiots.”
“It goes directly to their living quarters! I can operate it!”
Mamako and Porta both beamed. Everyone else looked tired already. All of them stepped into the circle.
“It’s voice operated, so I’ll do it! Ready? Initiate Transfer!”
At Porta’s call, light enveloped them.
A moment later, the transfer was complete.
“Whew, that was easy… So, where are we?”
“Oh my! This place is lovely!”
They were in the middle of an elaborately decorated passage, like a palace or shrine. There were elegant magic stone lamps all around them, evenly spaced and providing plenty of light.
There were four doors in the passage—two on each side.
The doors on the right were labeled I and II.
The doors on the left were labeled MAN and IV.
“This is the common area, and these are the Four Heavenly Kings’ rooms?” said Wise.
“That seems fair…but why is one of them labeled Man?” asked Medhi. “That’s just…baffling.”
“Whatever. Let’s take a quick look around. Carefully… We don’t want to just bump into an enemy here.”
No sooner had the words left Wise’s mouth than the door marked MAN swung open.
“What’s all the ruckus? Y’all… Ahem, you must be very foolish to make such a racket outside my room.”
Halfway through his speech, he corrected his manner of speaking. He went from cute to cold in an instant.
Fratello was in Libere Heavenly King mode, wearing an oversize black coat, both sleeves and hem much too big for him.
“……Mm?” And he ran right into Mamako’s party. Both sides looked surprised.
Gasps all around.
“Oh, where are my manners? Hello, Fratello. So sorry to intrude.”
“Oh, right, hello.” Fratello reflexively responded. So proper! “No, wait…why are you here?! How did this happen?!”
“Crap, we already bumped into someone!”
“And this one…the worst one. Ms. Shiraaase, Porta, you’d better get back.”
“Splendid idea. Porta, let’s go.”
“R-right! Don’t want to interfere with the fight!”
Shiraaase and Porta tried to hide in one of the opposite rooms.
But this was the worst choice.
“Hey, Fratello! What are you yelling about? Keep it down!”
“We’re busyyyy! It takes a lot to heal after getting hit by a meteooooor! We need peace and quiiiiet!”
The doors opened. Amante emerged from I and Sorella from II. Both Heavenly Kings had cooling gel sheets plastered all over them.
“Owww… It still stings… Wait, what?! You’re—”
“Wh-wh-why is Mamako heeeeere?! Whyyyy?!”
“How bad is this gonna get?!”
“Three of the Four Heavenly Kings, all at once!”
“Oh my! Amante, Sorella, don’t strain yourselves. Rest as much as you like!”
“No, no, Mamako, don’t be nice to the enemies!”
“You mean it? I could really use the rest.”
“Honestlyyyyy? It hurts to even moooove.”
Amante and Sorella went back into their rooms.
“Um…they’re actually listening?” said Medhi. “Well, as you were, then.”
“W-we were joking! We’re not falling for such an obvious trick!”
“R-riiiight! We didn’t fall for iiit!”
They clearly had, but they hastily turned back. ““Owwwww!”” They were swiftly removing the cooling gel sheets, trying to look like Heavenly Kings again.
Fratello, Amante, Sorella, all three together, braced for any sudden movements.
“Mm? Where’d Porta and Ms. Shiraaase go?”
“Seems they snuck into room IV.”
“They didn’t come rocketing back out, so I guess that room was safe?”
“Oh, good. Well, first, where is Ma-kun?”
“They’re not gonna answer just because you ask.”
“Then we’ll just have to force them to!”
Wise pulled out her magic tome. Medhi raised her staff. Ready for combat!
“Um…let’s talk first…” Mamako pushed for diplomacy, but they cut her off, stepping forward.
However, none of the Heavenly Kings went for their weapons. They looked totally calm.
“Never thought you’d manage to get into our lair… What a blunder. But in a sense, it works in our favor. This place is filled with secrets all designed to defeat Mamako Oosuki.”
“Fratello’s right! This our hideout! The master designed the place to make it next to impossible for you to use your motherly powers! Here, you’re a shadow of your usual self! And if we use our trump card… Heh-heh-heh…”
“Alsooooo, it’s based on my Debuff skiiiill. All thanks to meee. That part’s important, so take noooote.”
“Both of you, shut up. Stop explaining things! …Let’s do this. Time for a taste of hell!”
“Oh my! This does sound bad. Wise, Medhi! Be careful!”
They braced themselves. The Heavenly Kings surrounded them.
They all wore malicious grins as if their victory was assured.
Amante moved first, holding out a hand and chanting.
“She who rejects mothers, Anti-Mom Amante, wills it so!”
Then Sorella joined her.
“She who scorns mothers, Scorn-Mom Sorella, wills it soooo!”
Finally Fratello.
“He who threatens mothers, Frighten-Mom Fratello, wills it so!”
In answer to their call, a magic circle appeared at the party’s feet. The pattern looked suspiciously familiar…
The Libere Heavenly Kings all put their hands on the rim of the circle, and, as one…
“““Initiate Transfer!”””
They activated the transport spell.
“Wait, this isn’t some secret art?!”
“It’s just a transport spell?!”
“Oh my… Where are they sending us? Oh, maybe to where Ma-kun is!”
“You’re waaay too optimistic, Mamako! Oh crap!”
A burst of light surrounded the three of them…
Meanwhile, in room IV.
Shiraaase and Porta had their ears to the door, listening.
“…I can’t hear anything.”
“There’s no way to tell what’s happening outside!”
“I’m concerned…but it would never do to show ourselves and get in the way of the fight. We’d better wait quietly in here until Mamako infooorms us that it’s safe to come out.”
Shiraaase looked around the room.
It was fairly large, with a bed, shelves, couch, and table—all quite fancy looking.
Based on all the stuffed animals, this was a child’s room.
“…Ah!”
Porta yelped and ran over to the couch. She picked up the giant teddy bear lying there, hugging it while her eyes sparkled.
“You like that one?”
“I’ve wanted this stuffed animal for ages! Ever since I started playing the game! But I could never figure out how to get it…!”
“Hmm, I see… This room is filled with things that would delight you… Is that a coincidence, or…?”
“Oh! S-sorry! This is no time for playing with toys!”
“No, go ahead. It’s given me the glimmer of an idea.”
The idea was almost more of a wish.
Shiraaase moved over to Porta.
“Is the leader of the Libere Rebellion available?” she asked. “I’d like to talk.”
Porta turned around, looking surprised. Shiraaase pretended not to notice.
“Management is aware of your true nature. Our evidence…” She began tickling Porta.
“Eeeek?! Aughhhh!”
“This will lead us to the truth.” Her assault continued.
“M-Ms. Shiraaaseeee?! That reeeally tickles!!”
Shiraaase’s fingers danced over Porta’s cheeks and neck as the girl squirmed. But still the tickling continued.
Until…
“…Cease this foolishness. State your business.”
A whirl of darkness had appeared in front of Shiraaase. The voice that emerged was unearthly, androgynous.
“Eep?! Wh-what’s that?!”
“You were monitoring her, then? I thought so.”
“I said…state your business.”
“Then let me be brief. We’re in the midst of an operation to eliminate the Libere Rebellion. Our investigators will reach you momentarily. Before that happens, I have a proposal.”
“…Namely?”
“If we say the incidents you caused were necessary to restore parent-child bonds, wouldn’t that resolve everything tidily?””
“………!”
The sound from within the swirl sounded like a gasp.
The proposal had certainly gotten a reaction. Shiraaase pressed the point.
“If that’s the reason for it, then myself and management will not hesitate to cooperate. Please consider it.”
“That’s not—”
“It is possible. There is precedence, as you’re well aware. Given the scale of the incident, the penalty will be significant…but if we place parent-child bonds first…”
“If that were possible, I’d never have had to do this in the first place!”
The voice was suddenly a shriek.
Overwhelmed, Shiraaase fell silent.
“…Shirase, take that girl and evacuate the island at once. Please.”
This was almost a whisper. The swirling darkness vanished.
Diplomacy had failed.
Shiraaase stood stunned for a moment and then let out a disappointed sigh.
“…It appears I stepped in something I shouldn’t have. Quite a blunder.”
“U-um, Ms. Shiraaase?” Porta looked up at her, really confused. Her eyes spoke volumes. Anxious eyes, staring up at her, pleading for an explanation.
But Shiraaase pretended not to notice. Again.
“Work talk. Don’t worry about it.” Tickle.
“B-but! I-I-waaahhh! That tickles!”
“Pay it no mind.” Tickle, tickle.
“B-but…eeeek!”
“Pay it no mind.” Tickle, tickle, tickle, tickle, tickle.
“O-okay! I won’t! I won’t, so stopppp!”
This was not silencing her by force. This was a reward for being a good girl! “A little extra.” “Eeeeeeek!” Porta was all smiles. It was a reward for sure!
Now, that’s enough of grown-up duplicity.
“At any rate, my business is concluded. The rest lies in Mamako’s hands…”
Shiraaase put her ear to the door, searching for sounds outside. She couldn’t hear any signs of battle. The entire time they’d been hiding in the room, there’d been no sounds from the hall.
“What on earth is going on out there…? Perhaps just a peek… Oh?”
She opened the door and peered through the crack…
…and found no one outside.
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