Epilogue
The new beastkin area, Materland. Far to the south of the starting point in Materville was one of this world’s few resort areas.
Lapped at by the warm southern seas, the island was a paradise. Sun, sea, sand, and colorful tropical flowers. Play, eat, and rest to your heart’s content. A luxurious vacation meeting all your needs.
Here are the island’s most popular attractions:
In third place, beastkin beach volleyball. Women boasting animal ears, tails, and astounding athletic physiques using their species’ famously high stats to trounce one another’s teams with a ball made of solid stone. Whipping beastkin audiences into a frenzy, this was less a sport and more a martial art.
In second, the beastkin fire dance show. Muscular beastkin in grass skirts wielding fire, breathing fire, setting themselves alight and emerging unscathed—a vastly entertaining spectacle.
And the current most popular attraction…
“Oh, look! The ship the heroes made! Gosh, it’s so big!”
“They used it to escape some island… I wonder which island…”
“Rumor has it the island grew popular overnight and then suddenly sank into the ocean. It’s a legendary island!”
“Like, super legendary. And it has some rare items the heroes accidentally dropped! A treasure hunter’s dream!”
The majestic ark in the harbor was currently drawing the bulk of the tourists.
A ship the size of an island itself, with a hotel and plenty of shops on board. At the prow, a goddess-like statue of Mamako. A ship under the protection of Mothers Ocean and Earth, guaranteed safe passage.
And the one who built the ship had deemed it be named the SS Thank You For Helping, Ma-kun. The name was inscribed on the ship’s side, gleaming proudly in the sunlight.
So…
On the beach.
“…Huh? The Rebellion Elimination Plan?”
Masato had been sprawled out on the beach trying not to scowl at the ark, but this got him on his feet.
He was surrounded by Mamako, Porta, Wise, Medhi, and Shiraaase, all lounging on beach chairs in their swimsuits.
Mountains, plateau, plateau, hills, and hills. But all boob topography aside…
The hills farthest away from Masato were the ones that mattered now—Shiraaase’s hills.
“That plan was why you came? You were running that the whole time? This is the first I’ve heard of it…”
“I infooormed you of it.”
“You were so obsessed with Fratello you didn’t bother listening. We all heard her.”
“The events on that island and the operation itself are considered complete with the sinking of their lair. All you need understand is that it’s over.”
“Uh, okay…sure…then, um…good work, everyone?”
Some major goals had been accomplished without his knowledge. That was cool! And sort of mortifying. Masato ended up on his knees, repenting.
Shiraaase shot him a thin smile…but it soon faded.
“But there is one related matter I must infooorm you of,” she said, glancing around the party.
Medhi seemed to catch her hint and sat up.
“Porta, would you like to go swimming with me? Wise, you stay here.”
“Okay! I’ll join you!!”
“Why are you leaving me out?” whined Wise. “I wanna come, too!”
The three girls ran off toward the surf, playing at the water’s edge. A sight to behold.
Although Masato was a little disappointed that they hadn’t asked him to join them.
“Masato, you should be panting after a MILF like me, not those children. This infooormation is serious.”
“That statement is pretty much the opposite of serious…but sorry. Go ahead.”
“Following the operation to destroy the Rebellion’s lair, we’re currently attempting to suppress the mastermind behind everything. This relates to that plan…”
“…How so?”
“This plan will require your party’s assistance. Thoroughly, from start to finish, and undivided. You will find yourselves at the center of it without me lifting a finger to put you there. Understood?”
“Seriously? But wow, you’re actually going to explain this before it happens? You usually wait until we’re already in over our heads.”
“True enough. But this time, you need to be infoooormed ahead of time. This one could get very tricky. Now then, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
Shiraaase stood up, stared at the happy, playing girls for a moment, and then walked away.
It grew quiet.
Only Masato and Mamako were left. The girls’ voices were mixed with the sound of the waves, sounding very far away.
“Shiraaase didn’t seem like her usual self… She certainly kept her tone light, but you could hear the tension under the jokes. What do you make of it, Mom?”
“……”
“Mom? Are you asleep?”
Mamako’s eyes were closed, her expression peaceful. Masato leaned in close, and her eyes fluttered open.
“Eep! So you are awake? You startled me.”
“Hee-hee. So sorry. I wanted to join the conversation, but I promised you I would take it easy! So I pretended I was asleep.”
“Okay, okay. I get it. Today is your day off. So, uh…if there’s something you need to do, make sure you tell me. I’ll help any way I can.”
“Why, thank you! Then I do have a favor to ask.”
“Cool, leave it to me! What should I—yiiikes?!”
Mamako had rolled over and untied her bikini top, exposing her bare back and the overflowing sides of her boobs… Now she was rummaging around underneath the beach chair…
…and handed him some suntan lotion.
“Since today is Mommy’s day off, I’m going to make you spoil me, Ma-kun. So will you do the honors? Hee-hee.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny, Mom.”
“Eeeek!”
Helping was one thing—spoiling was another.
Masato squirted a huge glob of thoroughly chilled lotion onto her back.
Meanwhile, in a forest near Materville…
Three of the Four Heavenly Kings were facing Hahako.
“So you’re trying to say the master’s abandoned us?” Amante said angrily.
“I believe that’s what’s happened,” Hahako replied with a sorrowful nod. “They tried to sink the entire lair in full knowledge that you were still there.”
Sorella snorted.
“I doubt thaaat. The master knew we’d be able to get out on our ooown. That’s whyyy. They trusted uuus. Clearlyyy.”
“But you girls were stuck in a special trap. Do you think you could have escaped that on your own?”
“Erk… W-well…”
“Errrrk… That might have been haaard…”
“There y’all have it! You two are so useless that y’all got kicked out.”
“Dammit, Fratello! What the hell is your problem? That’s not true!”
Amante tried to grab her, but Fratello easily dodged, blearily glaring back.
“I ain’t like you two fools! I sent Mamako Oosuki flying! I got things done! I ain’t been cast aside. I still have the master’s trust!”
“Do you truly believe that?” asked Hahako. “You were lying unconscious in the lair as it was filling up with water. Do you think you would have survived that?”
“Nope! Fratello just has a specialized skill that works on moms, but her core stats aren’t anything special.”
“And you lost to Masatoooo, who barely even counts as an enemyyyy. Seriously, Fratello, you’re the weakest one heeere. The first candidate for abaaaandonment.”
“It’s true I lost to that kid. I admit it. But…”
Fratello was clearly furious at being called the weakest one here. She seemed ready to punch Sorella.
Hahako stepped between them.
“Please, don’t fight. Deep breaths, everyone! I know this is all very sad, but it’s going to be fine.”
“Fine? How’s that?” Fratello demanded.
“I won’t abandon any of you. No matter what. Even if you do something bad, I’ll just give you a proper scolding. But I’ll still love you. After the scolding, I’ll give you a big hug and promise not to let you go. So…”
“We’ve gotta run before she starts hugging us!”
“Fratelloooo! You take care of the rest, thaaaaanks!”
“Mah?!”
They pushed Fratello into Hahako’s open arms.
And then Amante and Sorella hightailed it out of there…or tried to. “Eeeek!” “Auuuuughh?!” Countless white hands rose out of the ground, embracing them securely.
“See here, this is Mommy’s embrace. Isn’t it lovely? Hee-hee-hee.”
“Mah…mah…mahhhhhh! No good, I can’t shake her off… Hngggg!”
“Hahako isn’t fully a mother yet, so Fratello’s power won’t work!”
“This is no time to stand around explaining thiiiings! Helloooo?! Masterrrr?! Help uuuus!”
“Master! Master! Are you out there? Please respond!”
“Hnggg… Please, master…if ya don’t save our skins, I’m gonna suffocate between her…boobs…”
They called again and again. But no dark swirl appeared. They’d been ghosted.
And one woman gathered the three desperate Heavenly Kings into her embrace.
“They really abandoned you? This master of yours is very naughty.”
Hahako sighed and stared up at the sky, her eyes looking somewhere beyond the vast heavens—at the unseen real world—a faint trace of anger in her gaze.
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