Chapter 2 The One You Always Say “Good Morning” To Is Gone. What Now? The Answer’s Obvious.
The castle had no windows, allowing no sunlight to enter.
It was the ghouls that announced the arrival of morning; spectral creatures who’d long since abandoned their flesh. They roamed the castle halls, tapping the magic stones that lined them, summoning a soft white glow.
They could pass through the walls at will, even lighting up the private bedrooms.
“…Mm…huh? Whaaa?! A g-g-g-ghost?!”
Porta’s eyes opened at the light and found a ghoul directly in front of her.
The ghoul seemed unconcerned with Porta’s shock. It vanished through a nearby wall.
“Th-that was spooky…”
But she was definitely awake now. Time to get up.
She clambered out from beneath the stuffed animals piled atop her very soft bed. First things first: time to wash her face.
There was a sink on the wall, and she ran over to it.
“Ooooh, it’s so cold! But that also helps wake me up!”
With her face clean, she now needed to get changed. She dashed to the closet at the far end of the room. It was a very big room.
She changed from her animal pajamas to her Four Heavenly Kings coat.
“And I’ve got my shoulder bag with me… Time to eat!”
The Libere Rebellion didn’t bother eating breakfast together.
There was a table in the center of the dining room and trays lined up on it, each with a breakfast platter. Maybe the ghouls got it ready? Each had toast, ham, eggs, potato salad, and soup.
It looked good, but it seemed like it had been sitting out for a while.
“I guess I must’ve overslept! That’s my fault! …Okay, then, thanks for the food! …Mm! That’s delicious!”
She took a bite of cold toast and a sip of similarly cold soup.
Her cheery voice echoed through the vast room.
She focused on her food, hunched over, staring only at the tray.
There was no need to look up. There was no one else around her.
“…I’ll be fine. When I first came to the game world, I always ate alone like this, so I’m fine,” she told herself.
But then her hands paused.
She went and got four stuffed animals from her bed, set them up next to her, and finished her breakfast.
The plans for the day had been communicated the night before. They started with a meeting.
Once she was ready, Porta headed to the throne room, where they’d agreed to meet. “G-good morning!” she said, greeting the Skeleton Knights who lined the passage. The castle was huge, and it took her a while to get there.
But finally, she reached a giant set of doors with the Rebellion logo on them.
“Um…good morning! It’s Porta! Can I come in?” she called. Then she waited.
The door opened a crack, and Amante poked her head out.
“You don’t need to ask, y’know. You’re one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Porta. Just get in here!”
“R-right! Thank you! Pardon me!”
Amante’s words were harsh, but Porta caught a hint of kindness behind them, and that was enough to cheer her up.
Everyone but Porta was already assembled. “Moooornin’!” Sorella called with a languid wave of her hand. Fratello just grunted and held out a fist.
They’d been enemies a day before but seemed totally comfortable with Porta being there.
She was relieved, and the strain on her face eased…
“You’re late. Not that it matters.”
This voice completely shattered the laid-back vibe.
It came from the person on the throne at the top of the stairs—looming over them like a demon lord.
She wore a suit of armor with a coat over that; her chin rested in her hand, and her eyes stared into the distance, as if she could not even be bothered to look at her minions. A very solitary, aloof demon lord.
“Um…M-Mommy…good m—”
“If you have important business to discuss, keep it brief.”
Was a morning greeting “important business”? …Didn’t seem to be. Porta shut her mouth and stared at the ground.
The other three Heavenly Kings immediately gathered around her. “Er…?” Sorella had given her a big hug from behind. Fratello silently stood with her back to Porta, as if guarding her.
Amante gave Porta a pat on the shoulder and glared up at the throne.
“Master, I have a proposal.”
“You may speak.”
“This is the first time we’ve all been together. Perhaps we should all introduce ourselves.”
“Unnecessary. I know who you all are.”
“That may be true, but we don’t know who you are. So…”
“I am the creator and operator of the Libere Rebellion. My name… As a mother who, in death, descended to the underworld, I shall call myself Dark-Mom Deathmother.”
She had clearly made that up on the spot, likely based on the castle’s ghoulish interior.
Amante appeared displeased.
“I didn’t mean just your name. I was looking for a clear declaration of whether you’re actually Porta’s mom or not.”
“Legally speaking, I suppose so.”
“Legally…? What kind of phrasing is that? Is that the best you can do? In front of your own daughter?!”
“I’m fine!” Porta said, tugging Amante’s coat. She shook her head vigorously, showing she didn’t mind.
“You’re not fine! How could you…”
“Amanteee…that’s enough for nooow.”
“Time to listen. Shut yer trap.”
“……All right, fine.”
With Sorella and Fratello both against her, Amante reluctantly dropped the subject.
Dark-Mom Deathmother did not even bother glancing at the commotion her statement had provoked.
“Since your business is concluded, I will issue instructions. Begin by shoring up this castle’s defenses. Immediately.”
“The defeeenses? Who’s going to attaaaack? Oh, riiiight…you’ve got a wanted poster circulaaating.”
“Sure, but this castle ain’t somewhere people can just get to. Ain’t nobody comin’ here.”
“The Admins are the ones after me. They have the power to change these settings… And even if a problem is beyond an Admin’s abilities, there are certain people who can step in and solve it through the most extreme means.”
“““Oh…”””
Everyone knew from personal experience who that was.
“Sooner or later, they’ll get here. I can’t have that happening too soon. I need time to ensure my plan does not go unfinished. Which means you must promptly…”
“Yes! I can make lots of traps so that nobody gets close to you, Mommy! Leave it to me!”
Porta enthusiastically threw her hand up, seizing the opportunity.
Dark-Mom Deathmother raised an eyebrow, as if mildly surprised. But this still did not prompt her to look at Porta.
“…I believe I was clear it is your friends who will be attacking.”
“Yes!” Porta said, even more enthusiastically. “I know them well, so I think I can stop them! I’m one of the Four Heavenly Kings now, so I’ll do my part!”
“Very well…then do what you think best.”
“Okay! Um…I, Praise-Mom Porta, will protect you, Mommy! Just you watch!”
Upon stating her full title, Porta turned on her heel and dashed out of the throne room.
Dark-Mom Deathmother didn’t watch her go. She just stared absently into space.
Then she said, “I believe I gave that child a different name—she who mourns mothers, Post-Mom. What’s this ‘Praise-Mom’ she speaks of?”
“Porta gave herself a new title. She’s calling herself the one who loves moms.”
“Personally, I wish she’d knock that ooooff.”
“Mm. It don’t fit with the Four Heavenly Kings shtick. Loving a mother like you is a sign Porta’s got bats in her belfry.”
“Silence.”
Dark-Mom Deathmother’s glare met Fratello’s bleary gaze. Neither backed down.
“Oh? So you’ll look me in the eye now, eh? …So which bit ticked you off? ‘A mother like you’? Or the part where I mocked Porta? You ain’t done nothin’ mom-like but you’ll get mad on her behalf?”
“I said silence. We don’t have time to waste on idle chitchat. All of you should get to work immediately. If you obey my orders without question, I shall overlook your insolence.”
“What if I don’t obey? You gonna dish out the punishments?”
“…Your manner displeases me. Who do you think you are?”
“Are you seriously asking that?”
“That’s what weeee want to knoooow.”
Amante and Sorella joined the staring contest between Fratello and Dark-Mom Deathmother.
“You’ve yet to fulfill your exposition obligations. You sank the Materland hideout into the ocean with us still in it. What were you thinking?”
“Management’s analysis achieved results sooner than I’d expected. I was forced to take drastic action to avoid them securing evidence of my actions. Time was of the essence. I apologize for the lack of consideration.”
“Theeeen, after thaaat, you didn’t answer no matter how many times we caaaalled. Why noooot?”
“Same reasons. I was focused on evading management’s investigation. I didn’t have the time to respond. Again, I apologize.”
“Lip service apologies,” Fratello grumbled.
“You have your explanations. Obey my instructions…”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
All three of them stared up at Dark-Mom Deathmother, radiating hostility.
“I shouldn’t even have to explain this, but I’ll make this very clear. We find this treatment completely unacceptable. And we see no reason why we should follow you.”
“My, my, such disobedient minions.”
“Damn skippy. How else would we become the Four Kings rebelling against mothers?”
“We haaaate mothers. Why would we obey instructions from oooone?”
“I see. That is true. You’re completely right. You are obeying the tenets of the Rebellion you joined. In which case, how’s this?”
Dark-Mom Deathmother raised a hand.
Above her head appeared a shoulder bag far larger than Porta’s, its mouth yawning like that of some giant beast.
An avalanche of weapons poured out. Swords, daggers, spears, and axes. They surrounded the three Heavenly Kings, tips pointed at their throats.
“That’s…”
“My in-game job is Merchant. The bonus abilities provided to moms have given me unlimited weapons, armor, and items. And this is just one way I can use them.”
“You can use anythiiiing?! That’s not faaaair!”
“Settle down, Sorella. Even if she can use any weapon, it don’t mean squat if she can’t hit us. Right, Amante?”
“Ha-ha! Exactly. No attacks will work on me! All of these will bounce off—!”
“You think so?” Dark-Mom Deathmother proceeded to chant a spell: “Trade-in.”
Instantly, light drained from the Heavenly Kings’ bodies—like the light of their souls.
And the light changed to dictionary-sized books, which vanished into the shoulder bag.
“Er…what was that…?”
“Reflection, debuffs, attack bonuses against mothers—I purchased each of your unique skills, converted to skill books.”
“What are you talking abooout?! You can’t buy skiiiiills!”
“Of course I can. I’m a Merchant. Literally everything can be traded. Oh, right! I have to pay for them. I’d value those skills at…this much.”
Three 1 mum coins were spat out of her bag, rolling to the Heavenly Kings’ feet.
“Ridiculous… Hey, Amante.”
“Amanteeee!”
“Huh?”
Fratello punched Amante in the stomach. “Gah!” The attack landed. No reflection.
Sorella slapped Amante’s face. “Ow!” The attack hit. No reflection.
“Wh-wh-what noooow? We’ve really lost our skiiiills!”
“Seems like it… I don’t think it was necessary to test it twice, though.”
“Anyways, we ain’t got no way to fight. She’s really done a number on us… So, what now? You got us under control, so we gotta follow your orders?”
“Exactly. You will obey me. Do your duty as the Rebellion’s Four Heavenly Kings. Once you have fulfilled your duties, I shall return your skills. That is all.”
The hovering weapons surrounding them parted, opening a path to the throne room door. A clear invitation to leave.
“…One final question, if you don’t mind,” said Amante. “Masato Oosuki mentioned something about pins and brainwashing. We’d never heard anything about that…”
“Currently I am personally heading up a stratagem to eliminate mothers from the world at large. This stratagem does not require your participation. Your help would doom it to failure, and I can’t allow that.”
“Ohhhh? We’d only screw it uuuup? In other words, you’ve already deemed us uselesssss.”
“Fine by me. No skin off my nose. Humph!”
Blustering, the three Heavenly Kings left the room.
Dark-Mom Deathmother watched them go. No one saw her self-deprecating smile.
Once they’d left the throne room, all three Heavenly Kings sighed.
“…I still can’t believe the Master is really Porta’s mom. What a shock.”
“I knoooow! I thought it was weird how she was so interested in Portaaaa, so I figured they were relaaaated, but…I didn’t think she’d be her moooom.”
“But why’s her mom trying to erase all moms from the world? The heck is she thinkin’…?”
Fratello stopped in her tracks, staring back at the throne room door.
But her question went unanswered.
“I don’t get why she treats Porta like that, either.”
“Riiight? What kind of mom is like thaaat? Porta’s trying to prove how much she loves her, but she won’t even look her in the eeeeeye.”
“Yet she was all prepared for her,” said Fratello. “She’s got a room and a custom-made Heavenly King coat. Speakin’ of, there was a room just like it at the old hideout before it sank.”
“Yeah…it’s like she always meant for Porta to be one of the Four Heavenly Kings. But once she shows up, she’s all indifferent. It makes me sick!”
An innocent Skeleton Knight, who just happened to be standing there, ended up getting his head punched off so Amante could vent.
But it wasn’t really harmed by this. It was already dead, after all. The body just scrambled off to recover its head.
“My, myyyy. Aren’t you angryyyy. I do sympathize, buuuut…”
“Ain’t no point thinking about what we don’t know. Times like this, it’s best to keep things simple.”
“…Yeah, good point,” Amante said, releasing her frustration in a huge sigh. Then she laughed. “Heh-heh-heh. At the very least, we’re clear the Master is a mother. And that she played us for fools. The worst kind of mother! Which means there’s only one thing the Four Heavenly Kings should do next.”
“Riiiight! What do we do when a mother pisses us ooooff?”
“We mess her up.”
Sorella and Fratello exchanged malicious grins.
“If Porta’s determined to protect that awful mother…well, I’d love to talk her out of it, but we’ll have to leave that for later. First, we need to ruin the Master’s plan.”
“The Master seems concerned about who’s coming to attack this caaaastle. Which meeeans…”
“We oughta bring ’em here.”
“You can’t reach this place via any normal means of transport, so we’ll need to guide the one person she’s afraid of… I don’t suppose there’s anyone capable of something that extreme just hanging around here, huh?”
Amante glared across the hall. There was nobody else there, but…
The floor began bubbling like molten sugar, gradually taking human form.
Mamako’s face, Mamako’s hair, and finally, Mamako’s figure—in a black dress.
The unique creation modeled after Mamako—Hahako.
“How did you know? …Oh, that’s it! Parents and their children share a natural psychic bond! Hee-hee-hee.”
“Nope. You’ve just been following us so relentlessly that I’ve somehow learned to sense when you’re nearby. Anyway…”
“Yes, leave it to me!” said Hahako. “Porta’s mother is most concerned about Mamako. I’ll bring her and her party here.”
“Heh-heh-heh, exactly, bring Mamako Oosuki…wait…”
“It’s so nice of you to invite your former enemy over! When did you become friends? I think that’s just lovely! Hee-hee-hee. I knew you were all good girls.”
Hahako smiled happily and melted back into the floor.
“Uhhhh…the Master’s enemiiiies…are the Rebellion’s enemiiies…”
“The same folks we’ve got our hackles up about…”
“And we just agreed to bring them here… Are we, like, actually dumb?”
The three of them stared at each other for a long moment.
“““……We’re so dumb……”””
The answer was too obvious to deny, but no less depressing.
Meanwhile…
“…What does this mean?”
“It is exactly what it appears to be.”
Masato was lying on the lap of the Mysterious Nun, Shiraaase. She was staring down at him.
The back of his head was preoccupied with the sensation of thighs. Thighs belonging to someone else’s mother—Shiraaase had a five-year-old daughter.
……What is this? What’s going on?
He needed to get to the bottom of this.
He was currently in a room at an inn in the Catharn capital.
Glancing around, he saw Wise and Medhi leaning against the wall, glaring down at him.
Everyone had woken up at the crack of dawn for an early breakfast, so it was still morning.
We want to go search for Porta, but have no idea where she might be…
They’d all settled down somewhere, dealing with their anxiety as best they could.
Masato had sprawled out on his bed, eyes tightly closed, praying for Porta’s safety.
Yes…and then…
Mamako had called out, “Ma-kun, if you don’t mind?” and lifted his head, sitting down next to him. He’d known she was going for the lap pillow.
She must have been worried about how much this was upsetting him.
Masato had decided it wasn’t worth picking a fight about, and let her do it…but then the lap pillow didn’t feel quite right, and when he’d opened his eyes…
“Should I clean your ears while I’m at it?”
…he’d found Shiraaase staring expressionlessly down at him.
Mamako was standing by the side of the bed, and judging from her apologetic smile, she’d been in on the ruse.
Now fully clued in, Masato slowly sat up.
“…Thanks, I guess.”
“My! You took that in stride. I expected to get yelled at!”
“Not really in the mood. Sorry.”
“I see…in that case…Masato, grit your teeth.”
“Huh?”
Shiraaase raised a hand, and slapped Masato hard on the cheek.
Everyone gaped at her. Especially Masato.
“Masato! What’s gotten into you? Wise, Medhi, this is no time to sulk! Get yourselves together!”
They’d never seen Shiraaase genuinely angry before. Even her expression was angry!
Her words got under their skin more than the pain or surprise. They could feel their deadened insides springing back to life.
“That’s…right,” Masato stammered. “Yeah!”
“We’re not the type to just mope around!” said Wise.
“Moping doesn’t change anyth—!” started Medhi.
“I’ve come to visit you, but not only did you fail to speak to me, you didn’t even notice my arrival! Who do you think you are? Give me your undivided attention!”
“What?! That’s what you’re mad about?”
“Of course I am! I was sitting in a coffin outside the inn, waiting for you! Trying to fulfill my quota! But over an hour passed and no one came out to revive me!”
“There’s no quota for showing up dead!”
“And! After all that waiting, I thought you’d finally brought me back, but it was just a total stranger! A random passing healer! I just assumed it was you, greeted you like always, and got, ‘Uh…I don’t know you…’ like I was some sort of crazy person! That was super embarrassing! I was so embarrassed, I nearly died again!”
“I don’t think you can blame that part on us…”
“Fair. I did jump to conclusions. Tee-hee.”
Shiraaase was back to her usual blank expression. She rubbed Masato’s cheek.
“I did my best to come up with a way to disperse the cloud of gloom that had settled over you…but raising my hand to you may have been ill-advised. I apologize.”
“Your motives are pretty suspect, but…fine, it did snap me out of my funk.”
“I must apologize to you, too, Mamako. I have done awful things to your precious son. I’m so sorry.”
“No…honestly, it’s my job to cheer Ma-kun up. I should have said something. But I just couldn’t find it in me to scold him…you’ve been a great help.”
“I see. I’ve helped you! Then I shall dwell on it no longer. I promise I will continue to be just as silly. Heh-heh-heh.”
Not the best news, but irritation certainly drove away depression.
Everyone sat upright, facing Shiraaase.
“If you’re here, you must have some critical infooormation, right? Lay it on us,” said Masato.
“I’d be glad to. Mamako already told me all about Porta’s desertion while you were all moping around like idiots.”
“Phrasing! Not that I can deny it…”
“First, the reason Porta left the party…requires that I infooorm you about Porta’s mother.”
Shiraaase pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket it and placed it on a table. It was a wanted poster with a likeness of Porta’s mother on it.
“This is Porta’s mom…?”
“Her name is Saori Hotta. She is Porta’s real mother…and a producer of MMMMMORPG (working title).”
“……Huh?”
Not a title he’d been expecting. Masato’s mind went momentarily blank.
“Porta’s mom is a producer on this game?! Seriously?”
“Seriously. Mom’s Massively Maternal Multiplayer Making-up-with-Offspring RPG is primarily run by mothers, even lowly drones such as myself. The government agency that manages it saw this as a chance to increase employment opportunities for women…but in Hotta’s case, she was hired purely on the basis of her experience and accomplishments. In other words, she earned the role of producer.”
“She worked her way up to that level while raising a kid? Wow,” marveled Wise.
“It must have taken considerable effort,” said Medhi. “A mother and a producer…oh…come to think of it, the whole point of this game is that you’re here with your mom, so is the reason Porta was playing all by herself…?”
“More or less. Her mother was in a position to make that sort of request. But Hotta…was also doing terrible things behind the scenes, leading to our current predicament.” Shiraaase tapped the wanted poster. “She had secretly created an in-game society dedicated to eliminating mothers from the game world. That society…is the Libere Rebellion.”
Everyone gasped.
“Hotta is the mastermind behind the Rebellion…and once management discovered this, they attempted to take her in for questioning. But they were a moment too late, and Hotta fled into the game world, hiding herself here.”
Porta’s mother was the Rebellion leader. She was hiding somewhere inside the game.
“At that point, I should have immediately approached you…but I was delayed by the need to implement stopgaps against this sort of thing happening again and meetings planning our next actions. For her child to see a posting like this…well, that was certainly careless of us. I’m rather angry about it, honestly.”
Porta had found the wanted poster, got in touch with her mother somehow, and gone to her side.
And decided to join the Libere Rebellion—to be with her mother.
“I see…so that’s what she was hiding at the Adventurers Guild…it all makes sense now.”
Masato let himself fall backward onto the bed.
He stared up at the ceiling, mulling it over.
“Porta’s the only one who never got to travel with her mother…she must have missed her.”
“Masato and Mamako were together the whole time, and both Medhi and I at least started out that way… Porta was always alone. Of course she’d get homesick.”
“Even if her mother is the mastermind behind everything…especially if she was in trouble, she’d want to be with her, to help her however she could.”
“Yes…Porta is such a nice girl. She would listen to her feelings and go running right to her mother’s side. Knowing that is actually something of a relief!”
Mamako smiled gently and rubbed Masato’s head. “Stop it!” “Hee-hee-hee. Sorry.” Perhaps she was wishing her own child would listen to his feelings more.
Seeing this demonstration of family bonds made everyone smile…
“But that resolves nothing. There are so many problems remaining,” Shiraaase pointed out.
Their smiles faded.
“Right…even if parent-child reunions are a good thing, if the mom’s like that…well, we can’t just leave them to it and hope for the best.” Masato hopped to his feet. “Sitting around thinking about it won’t get us anywhere. We’d better go meet with Porta and her mom.”
“It’s the only way! We gotta talk it over, figure it out! Charge on in and see where it gets us!”
“Let’s make a formal thing out of it. We certainly shouldn’t show up empty-handed…”
“Right! Gotta prepare for the worst, make sure our equipment’s in order…”
“You can’t go to a meeting like that without a tray full of sweets. We’ll have to make enough for the Four Heavenly Kings as well, so…maybe two boxes’ worth?”
“Yo, Mom, what are you talking about? We’re not raiding an enemy lair with boxes of sweets.”
“Also,” Shiraaase mentioned, “do you have any idea how to get where they are?”
They all just grinned.
“That’s easy, Shiraaase.”
“Yep. ’Cause since you showed up here…”
“You must already know where they—”
“But I don’t?” Shiraaase said, blinking.
“““……Uh?”””
“I really don’t,” she insisted. “I’m aware the situation calls for swift action, but the world doesn’t always make things that easy.”
“True enough…”
“That said, you are the hero’s party. Thinking for yourself, struggling to progress, and finally achieving a breakthrough—all part of a heroic adventure. Are you sure you wish to rely on help from others, always taking the easy path? Is that what you want, Masato?”
She had a very valid point.
Masato bit his lip, ashamed he’d ever wanted help.
“You’re right… We should solve this ourselves.”
“Well, that’s easily said, but I’ve actually already made arrangements. I’m sure she’ll be here soon…oh, and so she is.”
“Huh?”
The floor in the corner of the room suddenly swelled up, taking a form that was the spitting image of Mamako.
“Oh, Hahako?!”
“Hello. Did I time that right?”
“Couldn’t have been better. You got results?”
“I did. Just as you requested, Ms. Shiraaase, I have discovered Porta’s mother’s location. Porta was there, too. I can guide you all to her immediately. What do you say?”
Hahako smiled at Masato.
“Hoo boy…all that crap she talked, but she’d actually already set things up… You’re sneaky, Shiraaase. In a good way, I guess.”
“Just my way of making up for management’s failings. Consider it my apology.”
“Very well. Then we’ll be happy to accept Hahako’s offer.”
“Oh, also—Masato, now that you’ve experienced the joys of another mother’s lap pillow, I can offer you the unique title: Mom’s Lap Pillow Master.”
“Do not want!” Denied!
You give Shiraaase the slightest compliment and she’d immediately gets carried away. He turned his back on her and started getting his things together.
“Well, then, shall we? Everybody ready?” asked Hahako.
“Yes. I’ve got both boxes of cookies right here!”
“Mom’s seriously bringing cookies…but maybe that’s for the best! As long as her hands are full of sweets, she can’t hold any weapons!”
“And we’ll have to take care of any combat! Perfect,” said Wise.
Just in case, they made sure everyone was carrying a good supply of healing potions, and it was time to go.
“Well, everyone, do take care.”
“You aren’t coming, Ms. Shiraaase?” Mamako asked.
“I shall remain here and handle the matter of the rapid child growth. Mone has had the warning posted everywhere, but that alone won’t solve the crisis.”
“Oh, right! I forgot about that,” said Wise. “Geez, so many problems…”
“If you handle the root cause, everything else will sort itself out. So…”
“Very well. We’ll both do what we can,” said Masato. “Here we go!”
Countless white hands reached out of the floor, wrapped around them, and dragged them back down.
This was an ability only Hahako could use—as a creation of the game itself, she could submerge into the game’s raw data. “What…is this…?” “It feels like sinking into a bottomless swamp!” The new sensation made the group’s faces turn white as a sheet.
Shiraaase waited until the hero’s party could be seen no more, and then let out a brief sigh.
“Right, then I’d better spring into action. First things first: swing by the Mom Shop and share information with Mone.”
Shiraaase promptly departed the inn.
But the moment she stepped outside…
“Oh…?”
…the ground beneath her feet tilted upward, and she began sliding down it.
The road outside the inn had a depression in it—a crater. And Shiraaase was sliding into it.
“Uh-oh…”
“Oh, nun lady, you okay? I got a rope here! Grab on!”
A man in a fishmonger’s apron was passing by, and he pulled her out.
“Thank you. That was quite helpful. But what is this?”
“I’m not really sure, but they’re happening all over! The ground just suddenly depresses. Just like this.”
“That’s…very odd…”
“Definitely one word for it. Oh, come to think of it, this morning when I went to lay in my fish supply, there was a depression like this in the ocean, too. Smaller, but like…a section of the water was just…not there.”
“I…find it hard to imagine a depression in the ocean.”
“Maybe I’m just seeing things. But make sure you watch your step!”
The man laughed and walked away.
“Hmm. Most bizarre. Another mysterious phenomenon? Well, they say if you chase two hares, you’ll catch neither. As planned, I’ll handle the rapid child growth first.”
For now, she would just make a mental note of this other strange occurrence.
Shiraaase turned toward the Mom Shop… “Oh…?” …and started sliding again. A second depression had opened silently next to her.
Proof the situation was getting steadily out of control.
Masato’s party was moving rapidly.
“Like a walk through the ocean…swimming through a sea of data…does that sound right?”
“Strictly speaking, more like deep-sea diving…,” replied Medhi. “It’s pitch-black and we can’t see anything.”
“Well, yeah, there’s nothing here but data,” said Wise.
They were passing through a realm composed entirely of data—a realm beneath the game world.
Naturally, there were no shapes, colors, or anything else displayed.
“It’s like being behind a set…like we’ve been shown just how fake the game world really is. Not ideal, but…we’ll just have to grin and bear it.”
“Hahako, how much longer?” asked Mamako.
“We’re almost there. About one more second. Here we are!”
“What, alrea—”
But before Masato could finish, they’d arrived.
The sensation of movement changed from forward to upward. They were rising.
The cocoon of white hands opened…and they were in an entrance hall, lit by a pale blue glow.
“This…is a lot like the entrance to Catharn Castle.”
“Yes—this is a castle. Deathmother Castle, the residence of Porta’s mother—Saori Hotta, who now calls herself Dark-Mom Deathmother.”
“Dark-Mom Deathmother? That’s…certainly a choice.”
“Perhaps she’s trying to get in the spirit of the game world. I won’t name names, but she might be similar to your mother, Wise.”
“That counts as naming names! …But, like, you’re totally on the money. My mom was super proud of calling herself the Queen of the Night. I thought I was gonna die from the secondhand embarrassment. Putting that aside…Hahako, what now?”
“You’ll have help. First…”
But before Hahako could say anything further, a dark swirl appeared behind her.
Something like yellow caution tape shot out of it, wrapping itself around her.
“Whoa! What the—?”
“This…is a tool only those with Producer privileges can access. My actions have been severely curtailed. This will not be easy to free myself from.”
“Producer privileges…then Porta’s mom is doing this? Damn!”
Hahako was dragged into the dark swirl. “Oh my!” “Wait!” “Why, you!” All four of them grabbed on and tried to pull her back, but to no avail.
“Resistance is futile. Her privileges are too powerful. Resign yourselves.”
“But…!”
“This is merely a movement restriction. Don’t worry—I’m in no danger. Also…I fear someone has come to peek at the source of this commotion. The child you’re looking for is right around the corner. See?”
“Huh? …Oh! Porta!”
Their former party member was at the end of the long hallway inside the entrance. “Whoa?!” She was wearing the black Heavenly Kings coat, and only her face was peering around a pillar. She immediately turned and fled.
“Hurry after her,” Hahako suggested. “That’s why I brought you here.”
“Yes, that’s right. Ma-kun! Girls!”
Mamako’s cry gave the others the push they needed.
“…Right, let’s go!”
“Thanks, Hahako! We owe you one!”
“We’ll make it up to you someday!”
“No need. Oh, right… I was about to say—there are those in the Rebellion who will help you. They’re not always honest about their feelings…but they’re all good girls at heart. I hope you’ll all become friends…”
That last bit sounded like something they’d have preferred not to hear. But with that, Hahako was pulled into the swirl. Once she was inside, it vanished.
“Help within the Rebellion? I could name a few people who seem unlikely to ever help, but…”
“Hahako probably jumped to conclusions. The three stupid Heavenly Kings probably did something dumb and it just worked out in our favor.”
“Extremely likely. I feel like attempting to contact them would just be more trouble than it’s worth, so let’s do our best to avoid them at all costs.”
“Yep,” Masato said. “Let’s just go after Porta. We’re in enemy territory. I know we want to do this fast but keep your guard up!”
He drew the Holy Sword Firmamento and took a firm grip on the hilt.
Wise manifested her magic tome. Her other hand was preemptively gripping a jewel that could cure magic seal. Ready for anything.
Medhi took a few practice swings with her staff. Ready for the attack. Even though she was the healer.
With everyone ready…
“Okay! Ma-kun, girls—let’s clear this dungeon!”
Holding boxes of cookies in both hands, Mamako dashed ahead.
“Wait, Mom?! You can’t just charge forward! Look at what you’re holding?!”
“It’ll be fine! I individually wrapped the cookies! They won’t crumble if the boxes get a little shaken up!”
“That’s not my concern! …Argh! After her!”
An army of Skeleton Knights were attempting to block Mamako’s charge.
But she didn’t even slow down. She just ran right into them! “My!” High-level undead! “Hello!” Unleashing savage attacks! “Oh, lovely!” But she just seemed pleased to see them! “You all match!” And she elegantly dodged her way past!
This was the special Mom skill, A Mother’s Parry!
She had urgent business. But friendly neighborhood housewives were in her path!
She couldn’t just ignore them. But she couldn’t let herself get trapped in a long conversation!
At times like this, it was an important skill to deflect their approach and quickly move on without giving a bad impression.
“If you have a skill like that, why does it never activate when we’re shopping?!”
“It’s up to Mamako when to use it. Oh, right! …Spara la magia per mirare… Forte Vento! And! Forte Vento!”
“Let’s clear these enemies out of our way and get after her! Raghh!”
Wise’s fierce torrent of winds lifted the Skeleton Knights off their feet, and then Medhi hit them with a sideways swing from her staff, sending them flying.
“Yes! Once they’re in the air, they’re mine—!”
“No, secure us a path through here.”
“Okay…”
It was the perfect chance, but she was right. Masato glumly waved his sword back and forth, clearing a path between the enemies. They were soon through the Skeleton Knights as well.
They could still see Mamako ahead of them. She’d stopped in her tracks.
“Right, catch up with her! Mom! Don’t get too far ahead!”
“Oh, Ma-kun! Stop! Don’t come this way! You’ll get stuck!”
“Huh?”
It was too late to stop. They’d already caught up with her.
It was the end of the central hallway, the entrance to the next area.
There was a huge space in front of them, like a ballroom. Gorgeous chandeliers dangled from the ceiling, and they really drew the eye…
But there were squares drawn on the ground, each about a meter across—and the one the party was standing on had the word START written on it.
“What the… Hey, we’re stuck on this square! Like, there are invisible walls around it!”
“Yes…the moment I got here, I was trapped,” said Mamako.
“Yikes…and we all ran headlong into that trap, huh?” asked Wise.
“Maybe so…,” replied Medhi. “It looks like there’s a line of squares winding around the room all the way to the exit…like a board game.”
“Exactly! This is a board game of traps I made!”
Porta’s voice came from the exit at the end of the hall by the square marked GOAL.
“Yo, Porta! Got a moment?”
“Wh-what is it? I’m one of the Four Heavenly Kings, so that makes us enemies now! We shouldn’t be chatting!”
“Good morning!” Masato yelled, as cheerily as possible.
“…Huh?” Porta’s eyes went wide, then she blinked at him.
“Ah, yeah, I guess it’s not morning anymore… I just wanted to say that, though.”
“Totally,” Wise agreed. “If you can’t greet everyone, it’s like the day never started!”
“It’s an important ritual that keeps the whole party together.”
“Hee-hee-hee. Everyone missed your cheerful voice this morning, Porta, dear. Shall we? …One, two… Porta!”
“Morning!” “Yoohoo!” “Hello!” “Did you remember to eat breakfast?”
They spoke on top of one another, but everyone said something different.
However, the effect was the same. Tears welled up in Porta’s eyes. Even so…
“Th-that makes me really happy, but it won’t change anything! I have to protect my mommy! I have to fight for her!”
Porta had almost taken a step toward them, but she forced herself to stop. She turned around and ran off.
“Just hearing us say hello made her that happy… Mom, what do you make of it?” said Masato.
“She’s definitely forcing herself. I had hoped she was enjoying being with her mother, but it seems that’s not the case. I’m getting worried now.”
“Yeah. We’ve gotta follow her and get her to tell us what’s going on. So…”
They were already at the trap-based board game’s start.
A giant die appeared in midair, falling into Masato’s hands.
“Let’s take on this so-called ‘trap’ challenge from our adorable little Porta, shall we? Here goes!”
Masato threw the die. It rolled across the floor, and the number it showed…was a 2.
Masato moved forward two spaces and saw something written on the square.
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU GET A WONDERFUL POWER-UP ITEM!
A tiny treasure chest appeared before him.
“Wow! Lucky start! …Or maybe not…”
There was as note stuck to the chest…
This is a trap! Don’t open it!
…in Porta’s handwriting.
“So…I shouldn’t open it…but…”
If Porta was their enemy now, would she leave a note to help him?
Maybe this note was the trap and there really was a wonderful item inside.
Masato stared at the chest.
“It’s a game of traps…traps are the point. So Porta’s note must be the trap, and I’m going to get an amazing treasure perfect for me! I’m sure of it!”
No adventurer could resist a treasure chest! His appetites spurred him to open it…
And the trap activated. Inside: a debuff effect that dramatically lowered his attack.
“Aughhhhhhhhhhh! Damn iiiiiiiiiit! I-it really was a trap! And the chest is empty, too!”
“Oh my! You may have overthought that one.”
“No…he got greedy, and paid the price.”
“Jeez, no self-control at all. But I’m next!”
Wise’s turn. She scooped up the die, and hurled it, rolling…a 2.
“Ugh! Same as Masato. Whatever…unlike Masato, I’m not activating any dumb traps. C’mon, move. These squares aren’t exactly roomy.”
“Argh…”
Masato had been on all fours, wracked with despair, but Wise pushed him aside. A new tiny chest appeared.
This is a trap! Don’t open it!
There was another note from Porta…but the top of the chest had an illustration of a necklace called Prevenire, which could completely prevent your magic from getting sealed.
A flicker of lust crossed Wise’s eyes.
“Th…th-that’s…! W-wait—no, it can’t be?!”
“Come on, Wise. You know it’s a trap. It will always be a trap.”
“I know! I know it’s a trap! I’m just gonna…take a peek.” Click.
Wise opened the lid a fraction of an inch, peering inside.
The trap activated. Inside: a debuff effect that sealed her magic.
“Arghhhhhhhhh! Damn iiiiiiiiiiiiiit!”
“And you had the gall to lecture me on self-control. I’m ashamed to be in the same party as you.”
“Oh my! Wise also let herself get tricked! Too bad!”
“Masato and Wise were easily fooled by Porta’s strategy. But I won’t go down so easily! My self-control is a rock, unyielding in any situation!”
Medhi’s turn. She rolled the die…and got a 4.
She sailed past Masato and Wise, where they lay curled up in heaps.
When she reached the fourth square, words appeared.
YOU ACCIDENTALLY BROKE THE WALL! UNTIL YOU CLEAN IT UP, YOU CAN’T ROLL AGAIN!
Apparently.
“I broke a wall? I have done no such thing, so this must be invalida—”
A small wall rose up right next to Medhi.
There was a list posted to it ranking the heroines. Mamako was first. Wise was second. Third was, of all people, Shiraaase. There were a lot of other girls’ names under that…
98: PEBBLE (FEMALE)
99: MEDHI
100: HORSE POOP (FEMALE)
Medhi’s eyes immediately clouded over, and a jet-black aura sprang up around her. She began wordlessly kicking the wall. Thud, thud, thud! A string of yakuza kicks.
Porta had left another note explaining, This list was generated randomly and is not true! But Medhi didn’t notice that.
No self-control here. No use trying to stop her. Just leave her to it.
“Medhi’s particularly fixated on results and rankings…that was already in effect, then to have her between a pebble and some horse poop…although I am curious how you determine a pebble’s gender.”
“That ranking might actually be totally real? I bet it is. At least, I hope is. Please.”
“Poor Medhi got tricked, too! Well, then.”
It was finally Mamako’s turn.
“Mom, be careful! Porta’s been with us a long time and knows exactly what our weaknesses are.”
“I doubt she has a way to stop your domination, but…better safe than sorry.”
“Yes…this is a serious contest between Porta and myself! …Hyah!”
Cradling the cookies in one hand, she rolled the die with the other…and got a 6.
When Mamako reached the square, it read…
BARGAINS GALORE! TAKE THE TRANSPORT CIRCLE DIRECTLY TO THE STORE!
A direct hit to Mamako’s heart!
“Oh my! A sale?! I wonder which store!” she fretted.
“Mom, calm down! It’s a trap! Definitely don’t go!”
“Hahako’s been captured, so if you get transported somewhere, you can’t come back! We don’t have any clue how to get back here, so I don’t think I could transport you back!”
“R-right. This is a trap! I have to stay calm and… Oh, my!”
A flyer had fluttered down in front of Mamako.
There was a note from Porta in the corner.
This is the trap’s switch! Don’t press it!
“Oh dear. The sale ends today! And there’s a coupon attached!” Snap.
Before she could stop herself, Mamako’s hand grabbed the flyer.
A magic circle appeared at her feet. The light of the transport spell enveloped her.
“…Oh no…”
“Aughhhh! What were you thinking?”
“Mamako’s really getting teleported out?! Masato! Do something, fast!”
“I know, but I can’t leave my square! Mom, isn’t there anything you can do?”
“Well…I suppose this leaves me with no choice. I know this isn’t ideal, but…it is an emergency. Ma-kun!”
“What? You know a way…uh?”
Mamako had thrown something at him.
The boxes of cookies. It was close, but he managed to catch them both.
“I’ll leave those with you, Ma-kun! Make sure you say hello to Porta’s mother! Tell her I wish her well! Please!”
“People can’t leave their squares, but inanimate objects can… No, wait, that’s the last thing that matters now! Can’t you use your mom powers to smash the game and evade—augh!”
Too late. With a smile and a wave, Mamako vanished…
Back in Catharn, at the Mom Shop:
“…Reports are increasing? How so?”
“Our warnings are spreading, and the pins in question are being steadily recovered…but before they know it, the children have them on again. They just find them somewhere.”
Shiraaase had stopped by and was skimming reports, listening to Mone. The situation appeared grim.
“They must be infinitely spreading…like there’s a sale on pins. No way to stay on top of things.”
“And there’s a Black Friday rush on SOSes from moms. Although some people are starting to give up, saying all children eventually grow up and leave their parents.”
“That is certainly true, but when you write that in letters smudged with tears, it isn’t convincing.”
“Yeah. The letters themselves prove how sad and lost these mothers feel…mm? What’s that?”
“Is something wrong?”
A magic circle had appeared at the front of the shop.
Light swelled up from it…and Mamako appeared.
““Huh? Mamako?!””
“…Oh, my? Is this where the sale is?”
Everyone stared at each other, blinking.
Back in Deathmother Castle, Porta’s game of traps was still in progress.
A screen showed where Mamako had been sent, but it soon vanished.
“To the Mom Shop, huh? …Eh, better than an unfamiliar location. Guess we don’t have to worry about her.”
“On the other hand, our combat potential’s taken a huge hit. This could be bad news for us…,” said Wise. “Masato, you’d better not collapse in a heap of tears wailing about how you can’t do anything without your mommy.”
“Like hell I would! We’ve just gotta grit our teeth and make it through this on our own. We’ve all grown enough!”
“True. Right, then…”
Back to the game.
Masato’s turn. The die rolled over to him like a puppy that wanted to play, and he tossed it.
He rolled a 6.
“One, two…Medhi, coming through!”
“Go right ahead… I’m almost done cleaning… Uh, wait, Masato! I don’t see Mamako anywhere! What happened?!”
Medhi had finally recovered from her rage. “Wise, fill her in.” “Righty-oh.” Masato left them to it, moving to his new square. The following words materialized on it:
THE FOUR HEAVENLY KINGS APPEAR! YOU CAN’T PROCEED UNLESS YOU BEAT THEM!
He hoped he was reading that wrong.
“Sheesh. Here? Now? Right into the fire, huh? Can we not?”
Just in case, Masato readied the boxes of cookies, so he could offer them up at a moment’s notice. “Oh, wait, wrong thing!” He tried to switch to his weapon but failed to make it in time.
The magic circle on the floor lit up, and the Libere Rebellion’s Four Heavenly Kings appeared.
Anti-Mom Amante. Scorn-Mom Sorella. Frighten-Mom Fratello.
Three powerful foes appeared inches from Masato’s face!
“If I can say one thing first… You’re way too close! Think before you spawn!”
“I thought the same thing! Also, don’t scream in my face! You got spit on me!”
“Come on, Fratelloooo! You’re squishing meeee! Move closer to Masatooo!”
“I-I’m a man, so…I can get real up close and personal to him and it ain’t gonna bother me!”
“R-right…I’m fine with it, too. Even though I know you’re really a girl. Mm.”
Welp. The Heavenly Kings were here.
Wise and Medhi tried to run over but were stuck in their squares. Masato had no way of retreating. Therefore: Masato vs Three Heavenly Kings.
“We can’t even move, but I’ve gotta fight all three of you? This is a mess. I don’t suppose I can persuade you to just let me pass, since you did all help invite us here?”
“Nope. That was all Hahako jumping to conclusions. We’re still enemies. So…Masato Oosuki!”
“Unh!”
A fierce battle began!
“Masatoooo! Roooock!”
“C’mon, sonny! One, two…”
“Three?”
Masato threw out rock. All three of the Heavenly Kings threw out scissors.
Masato defeated the Four Heavenly Kings!
“Yes! I win… Wait, that doesn’t count! Quit screwing around!”
“No, victory is yours, Masato Oosuki. There were no specific instructions on how to determine a winner, so this is a legitimate fight, and a legitimate outcome. I shouldn’t have to explain that, though! Humph.”
“……Seriously?”
Was Amante telling the truth? He glanced at Sorella and Fratello, and they both nodded.
Then Masato had really won……?
“Masato, don’t let them trick you! This is the game of traps!”
“And you’re up against the Four Heavenly Kings! Think rationally! The slightest error could mean your life!”
“O-oh, right… You can’t fool me!”
Masato braced the box of cookies… “Wait, not that!” He didn’t really have anything to brace, though.
Amante just looked disgusted. “Jeez, you really can’t figure it out without me explaining? Fine…Sorella. Show him the video.”
“Right, riiiight…eyes to the waaaall…”
A giant magic tome appeared above her head, shining a light against the wall like a projector.
It showed footage of Porta from that morning: waking up in her luxurious bedroom, washing her face, changing… “Privacy!” “Don’t watch, Masatoooo.” “G-got it…” Amante and Sorella clapped their hands over his eyes during the most important part.
Then the next scenes made Masato want to cover his eyes himself.
Porta eating alone next to a row of stuffed animals.
Running to her mother’s side, but not even allowed to say, “Good morning.”
Announcing she’d do her best for her mother, but getting no smiles, not even a glance in her direction.
But even then, gamely smiling and dashing away. At that, the video ended.
“See, Masato Oosuki? How did that make you feel?”
“Feel? It’s beyond words.”
Immeasurably frustrated, he let out an agonized sigh.
“You’re not gonna tell me that was a fake and this is another trap, right?”
“Sonny. I swear on the manly soul within me. Every moment of that was the God’s honest truth.”
“Crap…if Fratello says so, it must be true…”
“Mm. I’m a man, so I don’t lie. No trickery here.”
“Sooooo, you seeee…”
Sorella showed him a piece of paper.
If no results are achieved within a minute, everyone will be sent back to the start!
Everything Porta wrote was definitely true. No lies there.
“…Amante, explain.”
“Our Master is Porta’s mom. But she’s a mom who treats her kid like that. So she’s our enemy. And the way she treats us…just remembering it makes my blood boil. Rrgh!”
“Wh-what? What happened?”
“Never mind. Point is, the Master needs to be eliminated. But Porta won’t agree to that.”
“Of course not…she loves her mom.”
“I have no idea why. Anyway, we tried to talk her into it, but just made her angry…so she locked us in here. If we don’t obey the rules, we can’t leave this dumb game.”
“So you picked rock, paper, scissors so we could settle things fast. I see…yeah, no way I’d figure that out without an explanation.”
“Fair enough… But now that you get it, enough talking.”
All three of them turned on their heels.
“Oh, Masatoooo…if you don’t miiiind…”
“I’m certainly angry, too. But I can’t agree to fight Porta’s mom. I’m glad you told me what’s going on with her, though.”
“Mm. I thought you’d say that, sonny. In the end, we’ll always be enemies.”
“We’re going to defeat the Master like the enemy she is. You and your party have fun with this game. See you later.”
The three of them tried to walk away…
“““Mmphah!””” Thud!
…but couldn’t. There were invisible walls around the squares.
Having slammed face-first into them, all three turned around, teary-eyed and red-nosed.
“You really can’t get it together, huh?”
“Sh-shut up! It, uh, seems we have to clear the board game before we can leave… Masato Oosuki! Hand me the die!”
“Who’s got it now?”
“It’s my turn, so it’s with me! Here goes!” Wise was after Masato. She rolled a 6. “Argh!”
And the die went to Medhi.
“Anything but a 4. Please not a 4.”
Medhi rolled a 4. “Erk…?!”
So…
“Wise, please squeeze in closer.” Push.
“I can’t! Masato! You scoot over!” Flat.
“Impossible! Stop pushing! Augh, look, we’re crushing Fratello!”
“I got no issues being pressed up against you, sonny! No skin off my nose!” Flat.
“Tough luck, Masatooo. You’re stuck between the two flat giiiirls.” Squish.
“Sorella! Stop talking crap and gimme the die! Now!”
“Whaaat? Aren’t I neeext?” Squeeze?
“No, I am! If I don’t roll now, I’m gonna suffocate between your boobs…wait…was that your plan all along—?!””
There they were, on the eighth square of the game of traps.
Who would be the first to break free? This was the start of a fierce battle between six—“…Gah…” “Amante’s ooout!”—five people crammed into a single square meter.
Now, in the throne room.
“If they somehow cooperated with one another, that would be my ideal outcome, but…it seems unlikely.”
Dark-Mom Deathmother was watching the commotion through a crystal ball, her expression softening…
But only momentarily. Her face quickly stiffened, and she looked away.
“…You’ve escaped your bonds already? Impressive.”
“It was extremely difficult. Your resolve is not easily overcome.”
The floor beside the throne swelled up and transformed into Hahako.
And yet Hahako smiled at Dark-Mom Deathmother, displaying no objection to her treatment.
“…What?”
“You don’t hate children, do you?”
“No. I have no reason to. I don’t think of them as any kind of evil.”
“You don’t hate your own child, either.”
Dark-Mom Deathmother did not have an answer to that.
Instead, she waved at hand at the crystal ball, changing what it displayed.
Porta was dashing around the castle, placing stuffed animals in every corner.
Dark-Mom Deathmother watched closely.
Hahako’s smile grew even happier.
“You are a mother.”
“Stop. That point I must refute.”
“Oh? Why?”
“Liking children makes one a mother? That’s not how it works, is it? By that logic, you could become a mother regardless of blood ties, gender, or age. That’s just wrong.”
“Oh my. You certainly are particular. Then…do you demand such precise responses from children as well?”
“No. I demand nothing at all. I have no intention of raising them strictly to my own specifications.”
“Very well. Then I’m at a loss. You fit no type of mother I’m aware of…and I’ve gathered data on all the mothers participating in this game.”
“Of course. A mother like me would never consider participating in a game that required a mother’s presence.”
“What…?”
Dark-Mom Deathmother dismissed the image of Porta and rose from her throne.
“Adventuring with one’s mother is absurd. The world inside the game ought to be for the children alone. A mother’s participation is unnecessary.”
“I disagree. Adventuring with your mother is a wonderful thing.”
“But doing so stymies the child’s growth.”
“It does?”
“Does a child learn everything in life at their mother’s side? That’s clearly not true.”
“Well…no, but…”
“Children form relationships with each other, experience things together, and learn much in the process. Hahako, listen closely.”
Dark-Mom Deathmother turned to face Hahako.
“Children grow up even if they have no mothers.”
This was Dark-Mom Deathmother’s core belief.
At the very least, in this moment, her faith in it was absolute.
“Hahako, if you wish to make those three your children, go right ahead. I grant you permission. Is that your desire?”
“I-it is, but…”
“But consider whether they really need you as a mother. Consider if that really is in their best interests. If you make the wrong choice, it will be painful for all of you.”
Seeing the troubled look on Hahako’s face, Dark-Mom Deathmother patted her on the shoulder.
And then she headed for the private quarters behind the throne.
“…Could I ask one last thing?” said Hahako.
“Depends on the question.”
“It seems like you are treating your own daughter harshly, trying to turn her against you. It seems you welcome the children seeing you as a nemesis and coming here to defeat you. What is it you’re planning? What are you thinking?”
Dark-Mom Deathmother paused.
“Everything I do is for the children. Everything and anything.”
She spoke softly, as if affirming each and every word. Then she stepped through the door.
All alone, Hahako was left trapped in her thoughts.
“Children grow up even if they have no mothers…then perhaps it is better if I don’t become a mother. Am I not needed…?”
This was starting to sound true. Hahako grew despondent…
Hahako was a being who wished to become a mother.
The strength of that feeling allowed her to use mom power every bit as powerful as the ultimate mother, Mamako.
Mom power had three main sources: the mother herself, Mother Earth, and Mother Ocean. Hahako was not yet a mother herself, so her power was drawn from a close connection to the earth and the ocean.
Which was why this was happening.
A dreadnought warship flying a Catharn flag was patrolling the vast expanse of ocean.
“Mm…? The waves…stopped?”
A sailor peered over the prow, unable to believe his eyes.
The water’s gentle lapping had ceased completely.
This wasn’t a “calm.” The wind was still blowing. The ship’s sails were swollen with it, and the ship itself was progressing at a steady speed—only the motion of the water itself had ceased.
Then…
“Wh-what the—?!” screamed another sailor—this one was posted in the crow’s nest at the top of the sail.
“What’s wrong? Report!”
“There’s a depression in the sea straight ahead! Distance…crap! The depression’s getting bigger by the second. I can’t measure the distance! We gotta turn now or the ship will fall in!”
“Got it! Hard to starboard! Emergency maneuvers! All hands, grab on to something! Don’t fall overboard!”
The helmsman spun the wheel and the ship listed dangerously to the right, turning as tightly as it could.
The massive depression in the water was closing in fast, big enough to swallow an entire town. The ship skirted the edges of it—and pulled away.
With that narrow escape behind them, the ship remained on high alert. The depression had stopped expanding, so they began sailing around it.
“Looks like it’s over… Oh! Is Her Majesty the Queen all right? Go check on her!”
“I’m fine. It certainly was quite a lurch and took me by surprise, but as you can see, I escaped unscathed.”
“Y-your Majesty…! Oh…”
Queen of Catharn (the queen of Catharn) stepped out of the ship’s cabin.
Even on deck, she wore a magnificent dress…but appeared to have been dining when the ship turned. The queen had a fork, a knife, and boiled lobster stuck in the curls of her hair.
“Not entirely unscathed, I see… My humblest apologies.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I am perfectly unharmed. I would, however, appreciate an explanation.”
“R-right…you see…”
Unable to tear his eyes away from the lobster on her head—c’mon, get it together, don’t look—the sailor explained the situation.
Queen of Catharn stared at the depression, deep in thought.
“I did not imagine it being this dire… I was right to verify matters in person. We need to take drastic action. Let’s head back to the Catharn capital, please.”
“Aye-aye, Your Majesty!”
He saluted the lobs—no, the queen—and ran off down the deck.
“Friction between parents and children the world over. Disturbances in Mother Earth and Mother Ocean. I imagine these phenomena are related somehow…which means the only one who can resolve this is…”
The queen closed her eyes, and despite the urgency of the situation…smiled.
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