Chapter 2 Dah (Translation: Weren’t the Libere Kings Enough? Why Me, Too?)
At the base of a giant fir tree. Masato and the Libere Kings had vanished, leaving behind piles of gear—and four stunned babies. Familiar-looking babies.
Mamako was the first to react.
“Oh dear! We can’t let them lie on the snow; they’ll catch cold! Hahako, hurry! We need to cradle them!”
“R-right! I can cradle a baby!”
Mamako made a beeline for the baby lying in a heap of Masato’s clothing. Hahako used the white hands that spawned from all over her body to pluck all three babies out of the Kings’ clothing, holding them carefully.
“I’ve got some baby clothing here. I know I have three, but we’ll need one more… Oh, good, I did make an extra. Have them wear these.”
“Mommy! Let me help!”
“I’m confused, but I can lend a hand. Let me dress one! Aw, these are so cute!”
Dark-Mom Deathmother pulled four sets of baby clothes out of her shoulder bag. Porta and Mone stepped in to help Mamako and Hahako dress the babies. Mone seemed primarily interested in how cute the clothes were.
Their swift actions ensured the babies’ safety.
Now what?
“Shiraaase, what did you do?” asked Wise.
“If you confess willingly, the violence will be five percent less intense,” Medhi said with a grin.
“So violence is assured either way, is it? What a terrifying girl.”
Shiraaase put her hands up, surrendering.
“Let me put it this way. Christmas means presents. Presents mean Santa Claus. Which children get presents from Santa?”
“The nice ones, obviously.”
“Naughty children don’t get anything.”
“Exactly. Naughty children get no presents! Serves them right—and yet we feel sorry for them. Such is the nature of Christmas! A day of mercy and forgiveness. So this fir tree provides them with an opportunity.”
“To start over as a baby and become a good child? That’s harsh!”
“It’s not really forgiveness. More like a punishment…no, wait. For Hahako and the Kings, this is…”
“Right you are, Medhi. You are a clever one. Yes, by making the Libere Kings babies and having Hahako raise them, we create family memories.”
Once, at the Matriarchal Arts Tournament, Mamako had told Hahako that it was memories that made them mother and son. And this was her chance to create those.
“Ohhh, so it lets the Kings gain actual experience in what having a mom is like.”
“And that’s why you had them join this event. Makes sense. But why did you turn Masato into a baby?”
“Personal vendetta.”
“Figures.”
“I’m kidding. I thought having a practical example to follow would help Hahako and her children. Don’t you agree, Mamako?”
“I certainly do! I’m just so happy to be able to hold Ma-kun like this again! Tee-hee!”
She started glowing.
Mamako had Masato in a swaddle, tied to her front, and was smiling down at him.
Her joy was so great, A Mother’s Light was at max brightness. “Mamako, we can’t see!” “Oh, sorry.” She gritted her teeth, reducing the brightness level from Sun God to Spotlight.
Hahako took her sling and put baby Amante by her belly and babies Sorella and Fratello on her back. She did this gingerly, using the white hands to make sure she didn’t drop anyone.
“Aren’t they heavy? I could hold one for you.”
“Thank you, Mone. But I’m fine. The weight is no issue. This is the weight of happiness. Tee-hee.”
“It is? Wow…”
Dark-Mom Deathmother was putting on a sling herself—
“I don’t need one—I’m too big!” said Porta.
“R-right…”
—but her plan was swiftly thwarted.
The party regrouped.
“Will they ever return to normal? That is a concern, but since the main theme of this event is to create fond memories for Hahako’s family, I will not address it.”
“Wow, I kinda think that’s the main thing on their minds…” said Wise.
“They’re not old enough to complain. Onward with the event, then. First, we have to decorate this fir tree. We’ll need ornaments, tinsel, and a star—so go forth, gather, and return here.”
“Could you give us any hints on where we might find those?” asked Medhi.
“Naturally. This game is by mothers and for mothers. Making them run around while carrying babies would be just plain cruel. Fir tree, they have small children with them.”
Shiraaase knocked on the trunk a third time.
The fir glowed gently. Three transport circles appeared at the base of the trunk.
“Wow! This looks fun. I think I’ll tag along!” cried Mone. “Which one should I choose?”
“Whichever you please. Off you go!”
“You’re not coming, Shiraaase? Slacking off on the job? Well…it is you,” said Wise.
“Mone, you clearly misunderstand me. I’m not slacking—I have other work to do. Frankly, much of this event was implemented under some serious crunch.”
“And to ensure everything goes smoothly, we’ve got a lot of checks to run. I’ll be staying behind, too. And that means…”
Dark-Mom Deathmother turned to Porta. “Daughter!” “Mommy!” They embraced. They would have to part but would soon meet again. Soon!
This item collection quest would be handled by Mamako, Hahako, Wise, Medhi, Porta, Mone—and four babies.
“Well, everyone, let’s do our best! Come on, Ma-kun! Hip, hip, hooray!”
“Dah!”
Mamako raised the baby’s little hand high in the air, and they were off!
But before they could actually go anywhere, they had to check their gear and recovery items and make sure they were battle-ready.
As Mamako and the others talked things over, a fierce battle was underway near her belly.
Gah! What the hell! This is insaaaaane!
Baby Masato was extremely displeased and doing his level best to struggle—but was unable to move his arms and legs as he pleased. He was left pinned, immobile, with his face between his mother’s breasts.
It was warm, soft, and smelled good. He could hear the comfortable beating of her heart, and before he knew it…
I can’t sleep nowwwww! Wake uuuuup!
He tried to slap his own cheek and wake himself up. He couldn’t!
This was hopeless. The only option left to baby Masato was to cry as loud as he could.
Hey! Masato Oosuki! My ears hurt! Shut up!
Wow, you’re pretty loud, too! Keep it down…wait…
Amante’s voice was echoing in baby Masato’s head.
His vision was blurry, but he was pretty sure that was Hahako in front of him. She had baby Amante in a sling in front of her, and baby Sorella and baby Fratello on her back. All of them were staring at Masato.
What is this, some sort of telepathy? How?
Don’t ask me! But at least we can communicate.
Riiiiight. So we have a favor to aaaaask…
Sonny, do something.
Look, I’d love to! But what can I do?!
Then…
“Oh my. Ma-kun’s getting a little fussy! There, there.”
“It’s important to comfort babies when they’re like this. Let me join you! There, there.”
Mamako detected the problem at once and started rocking his body. Hahako joined her, rocking her body.
This was the mom skill A Mother’s Cradle. A core technique that made you sleepier than anything else in the world.
Crap! She’s gonna knock us out! Hang in there, you three! You’re all about fighting mothers, so don’t give in…!
Zzzzz…
They’re already under! Argh…I can’t hold out…zzz…
Resistance was futile.
Mamako and the others stepped into the transport circles quietly, so as not to wake the sleeping babies. Light poured out, and they were somewhere else.
The first place they went sparkled even in daylight—a town filled with signs lit up by magic stones in all seven colors. At the entrance was an especially large sign reading CASINO. The paving stones even spelled out the word. There were casinos everywhere you looked.
This was Yomamaburg, the city of Merchants, the Mecca of gamblers.
Standing at the town’s entrance, Mone looked this way and that, already excited. She was jumping up and down.
“Wow! This place is crazy! So many lights!”
“I figured we’d wind up in a dungeon, but nope—a town. And this one.”
“This place certainly opens some old wounds…”
“I had fun wearing that cute bunny girl outfit!”
Wise and Medhi would prefer to forget it. They’d poured all their money into a casino, lost a rigged match, been burdened with a crippling debt, and were forced to work for free in bunny girl outfits while serving as casino prizes.
Sorella had orchestrated their suffering, but Mamako had saved the day. The casino town was back to its usual hustle and bustle.
Now the shops all recommended gambling in pairs, parent and child, keeping an eye on each other and making sure nobody got too carried away. This had been Mamako’s idea. There were lots of grown children walking the streets with their parents.
“I’m glad to see everyone is enjoying themselves safely!” said Mamako.
“I thought gambling with your mom was dumb and would only lead to violence, but I guess I was wrong. And since we’re here anyway…heh-heh-heh…”
This was her chance to settle the score, and rake in some money!
Wise checked her wallet. It was empty. Sorella had already wiped her out back at the Mom Shop. She was “holding on to the money” for Wise.
“Arghhh…” Wise groaned, crestfallen.
“Wise, this is no time for playing games. We’re here to find items we can use to decorate the tree.”
“I—I know that, Medhi! And these aren’t games…”
“Then let’s get these items! But what should we go for? Where should we look?” asked Mone.
“Could they be casino prizes?” wondered Porta.
“It’s possible. In that case, let’s check each casino and see what prizes they’re offering.”
“Yes—why don’t we start with that casino? It’s been so long, I’d love to say hello to—oh?”
Mamako was looking down the road.
At the end of the main street was the biggest casino in all of Yomamaburg. The brightly lit, multicolored façade had a hologram of coins falling—very eye-catching.
This was where they’d met their fates. As Mamako spoke, an old man in a flawlessly tailored suit emerged. Not a face any of them would ever forget.
“Oh my! Speak of the devil. It’s the manager!”
“I imagined you would be arriving soon and came out to meet you. Mamako, everyone, how lovely to see you again. I’m glad to see you’re all looking well.”
“You’re looking well yourself, Manager. Oh, you haven’t met everyone! Let me make some introductions…”
“No, that won’t be necessary. If the two of you would just show me your hands…”
The manager took Hahako and Mone’s hands.
There was a ding. “Oh, the Casino God.” “Wow, there’s a lot going on here…got it!” They both nodded.
“What did you do, Manager?”
“Mone, like myself, is an NPC. And Hahako something comparable. I simply shared the necessary data with them. A transfer paints a thousand words, as they say.”
“Huh…handy. So you haven’t changed much,” said Wise.
“He never did care about preserving the immersion…otherwise he’d be the perfect gentleman,” added Medhi.
“Ha-ha-ha, pardon me. Now then, I’m well aware of your business here! I suppose we can get right down to it.”
He smiled and snapped his fingers.
Everyone vanished…
And found themselves on the stage at the center of an ancient stone arena.
“…Oh?”
“Wh-what’s going on…?”
“It’s a special service we offer for those with very small children. We’ve teleported you down to our secret casino!”
“A secret casino…but this is a combat arena, isn’t it? Eep!”
Mone looked around her and saw some dirty stone chips floating by, wavering like ghosts.
This was the ancient gambling grounds. Where money, goods, and lives had been wagered and lost. The destructive impulses of the ancients remained behind, wandering aimlessly…
“The high concept is the nexus of treasure and grudges! The ghosts are merely for flair! Not frightening! Not at all! I’m totally not scared!” Mone was shaking like a leaf.
“Whoa, calm down, Mone!”
“Hey, don’t use Porta as a shield! And don’t use words like high concept and flair! …So, Manager? Why’d you bring us here?” asked Wise.
“To gamble, of course!”
The manager snapped his fingers. Beads of light appeared around the stage, expanding and transforming into a number of different objects.
Treasure chests studded with jewels, gems gleaming with magical light, silver bells—countless objects often represented as Christmas tree decorations, but real and full-sized.
“Allow me to explain the rules. These are the items you’re looking for—ornaments for the giant fir tree. However, each object has a grudge attached to it and can transform into a monster—so you’ll have to begin by defeating that.”
“But if we attack, won’t they break?”
“No worries there. These are all classified as important items, so from the game’s perspective, no matter what you do to them, they’ll never break.”
“So we just beat up the ornament monsters? That’s it?” asked Medhi.
“Of course not. You’ll defeat ornaments, gather them, and then gamble with them—and take them with you only if you win that bet. Who’ll be participating?”
The manager stepped to the edge of the stage, waiting for them to prepare.
“Obviously me and Medhi—Mamako, and Hahako, what do you think? I don’t see how you can fight with those babies.”
“But we’re decorating a fir that’s giant, so we need a lot of ornaments. Which would be a good time to call in their two-hit multi-target attacks…”
“That’s true. This is all to make the best possible Christmas tree! Don’t worry. I’ll join in. And I’ll keep Ma-kun perfectly safe.”
“Don’t worry about me, either. It would be one thing if they were ordinary babies, but they’re the Heavenly Kings. Even at a time like this…see?”
The three baby Kings and baby Masato were all sleeping soundly, despite the monsters swarming around them. It didn’t seem like they would be waking up anytime soon.
“Maybe they’re safest while tied to the world’s strongest moms. Okay, fine.”
“I’ll gather the ornaments! Good luck!”
“I’ll help Porta! Retreating for now!”
Mone was still using Porta as a human shield. They hopped off the stage together, hiding.
The party was ready. The manager nodded and took a small bell from his pocket.
“You have five minutes to gather ornaments. Please begin!”
Ding-a-ling! He rang the bell, and the battle began.
Wise leaped forward first.
“This is a race against time! I’m going full power from the get-go! …Spara la magia per mirare… Luce Sparo! And! Luce Sparo!”
She chain cast, bursts of light firing in all directions. Peppering the ornament monsters.
When Wise got serious, she could do some incredible damage. Even the sturdiest of treasure chests were one-shot. “Collecting!” “Time to collect!” Porta and Mone scurried around, picking up all the ornaments that fell off the stage.
“Nice! I’ll just keep that up! Mwa-ha-ha!”
“Wise, focus your attacks, or—”
“Relax, Medhi. I got this. No way I’m gonna hit any—eep?!”
She’d gotten a bit too slapdash, and a shot was sent flying directly at the manager. By the time she noticed—it was too late.
A direct hit!
“Never fear.”
The light shot burst just before it struck the manager.
“Huh…?”
“In this location, no attacks against me will do any harm. This is an unbreakable rule assigned to me in my position as the Casino God. Most embarrassing.”
“I see…then I suppose we don’t have to worry about accidentally attacking you. Spara la magia per mirare… Morte!”
Medhi cast an instant death spell. A reaper appeared, split into multiple clones, and passed through the ornament monsters, tearing their grudges away.
One of them did pass through the manager—but of course, he didn’t die.
“You really do cancel out all attacks… Oh, oops!”
A gem came rolling to Medhi’s feet. She reflexively swung her staff like a golf club. Fore! Look out, Manager!
The gem stopped in the air right in front of him. It fell harmlessly to the ground.
“It really does cancel all attacks.”
“Yo, Medhi, that was totally intentional.”
“Just making sure. No malice intended. Oh, Wise, if you don’t focus on the fight, they’ll hog all the glory.”
“Hee-hee! Yes. I might just accidentally defeat all these monsters!”
While the teens were distracted by the manager, Mamako had drawn her blades. She swung both swords gently, so as not to rock the sleeping baby Masato.
The noise of her attacks was at least 90 percent softer than usual. Stone spikes quietly shot out of the stage, water bullets silently fired, and a horde of ornament monsters were vaporized without a sound.
“Thank goodness these monsters didn’t have any death cries! Ma-kun, rest easy.”
“A mother’s feelings can even stifle ambient noise. Allow me.”
After each wave was defeated, beads of light appeared, forming more ornament monsters. It was now Hahako’s turn.
She raised Terra di Madre and Altura, swinging the two Holy Swords gently…
“Wahh, wahh…”
“O-oh! My, my! Sorella woke up?!”
One of the babies on her back suddenly made a noise, and Hahako quickly turned to her.
Her swords swung with her.
The monsters weren’t yet lined up properly—so all the attacks targeted the manager.
“Geez, mom attacks in this game are so broken!”
“Quick, cast a defensive spell! He can’t possibly cancel this onslaught!”
Spikes that rip through any foe, water bullets that penetrate any target, all aimed at the manager!
“Fear not.”
But just before they hit him, all the attacks dissipated. Even the ultimate mom attacks were powerless before him.
Everyone stared, stunned, and the manager smiled faintly. He pulled out a pocket watch.
“…Time’s up. That’s all the ornaments you can collect. Now it’s time to gamble for the right to take them with you. I’ll be your opponent!”
Porta and Mone had gathered a mountain of ornaments, a gleaming treasure horde. More than enough to decorate the giant fir. If they sold these, they could probably buy their own country. But could they take them all home?
“Let us begin.”
The manager moved over to the party…and raised his fists.
“Um…when you say you’ll be our opponent, you mean…literally fight?” asked Mamako.
“Yes. Fight me!”
“No, no, wait, there’s no way that’s a fair contest!” shouted Wise.
“You can negate all our attacks—even motherly ones—so how are we supposed to win?” demanded Medhi.
“No complaints. To arms!”
With leg strength far beyond that of his apparent age, the manager lunged toward Hahako—who was still distracted by the baby on her shoulder.
And that baby—Sorella—was his target.
“Wha—?!”
Hahako was caught completely off guard. She reacted too late. The manager’s fearsome punch…
Stopped right before Sorella’s eyes.
“Here we go. Rock! Paper! Scissors!”
“Dahhhh?”
The manager threw out a fist. Baby Sorella had an open palm! Or rather, she was just waving her hand around like babies do.
But she won!
“Ha-ha-ha! My loss, then. Victory is yours! Take all the ornaments with you. There’s a lot, so we’ve prepared a special bag to transport them in.”
“Wha…argh, Manager! Don’t scare us like that! We seriously thought you were gonna hit her!” yelled Wise.
“You really went too far,” said Medhi. “I thought my heart was going to stop.”
“I do beg your pardon. But I ask for your understanding—this is an emotional issue for me, after all.”
The manager held an index finger out before baby Sorella.
“Sorella, I have not forgotten what you did. You placed us under your control and did many horrible things. Demeaning mothers, making them suffer—it was hard on all of us. Even if everything ended well, we cannot forgive your actions. Thus, as the god of gambling, I charge you with an ordeal.”
“Dahhh?”
It wasn’t clear if she even understood his words, much less agreed to them.
But the verdict came down regardless.
“Be a child, know thy mother, and learn what happiness is. Only when you have become a loving family will I consider your sins forgiven and bless you from the bottom of my heart. That is a promise.”
“Uuuu…dahhh…”
Baby Sorella’s little hand reached out and wrapped around the manager’s finger. Forming the old gambler’s vow, “Cut my finger, if I cheat, my wealth to beat, my life shan’t linger.”
“I’m starting to like this manager,” said Wise.
“Yeah…he’s really kept our heads spinning,” agreed Mone.
“Well, that is my programming.”
“Do you have to keep bringing that up?” complained Medhi.
“Ha-ha-ha, forgive me. Hahako, I do apologize for the fuss. Take this with you. A small gift from me.”
“B-but this is… Oh!”
The manager placed a small notebook in Hahako’s hands. On the cover was an illustration of a mother and a baby.
“Porta! Can you appraise this? Is it what I think it is?”
“Hnggg…this is…yes! It’s a maternal and child health handbook! It lets you record a child’s development and serves as proof of your bonds! And if you have one of these, you can access services that help with child-rearing!”
“Isn’t that lovely, Hahako? In the real world, when the doctors tell you you’re pregnant, you report that to city hall, and they give you one!”
Check your local government home page for more information.
“And if you wish to take advantage of these services, they should be able to help you at any pediatrician’s office!”
“That sounds marvelous! …But wait, Mamako, what’s this field for?”
“Oh, that…”
Hahako had been avidly looking through the handbook, and she was pointing to a page inside.
It said…
Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?!
Yikes! Wh-what’s going on? Was that Sorella?!
An earsplitting scream jolted baby Masato out of his slumber. But it wasn’t like he could actually move.
Or really see all that well. They were indoors, at least. Mamako, Hahako, the girls, and the babies were all here.
As were a man and a woman in white. Hahako had baby Sorella on her knees, and these two were next to her, doing…something.
Augh! That hurts! I’m dying!
Dying? Why? What’s going on?
Masato Oosuki, calm down. It’s no big deal.
Mm. Sorella’s just bein’ a big baby. Pathetic.
You sure this is ‘no big deal’…?
Even as the babies communicated telepathically, the situation was progressing rapidly.
Still wailing, baby Sorella was passed over to Medhi. Wise had been holding on to Amante, and she stepped forward, placing the baby on Hahako’s knees.
It was baby Amante’s turn.
Ha! Sorella always had the weakest defense in the Libere Rebellion. This won’t work on meeeeeaghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?!
Whoa? That sounds like it really hurts?
Baby Masato couldn’t see well enough to tell what was going on.
Baby Fratello was up next. Mone stepped forward, placing her on the lap of doom.
I’m a proud member of the Rebellion! Y’all won’t catch me wailing like aughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?!
You’re the loudest one yet?! Why?! What are they doing to you?
Hahako stood up, patting baby Fratello, soothing her wails.
This meant it was finally Masato’s turn. “Ma-kun, you can do it!” He was plunked down on Mamako’s lap, the sleeve of his baby clothes rolled up. All ready.
The lady in the white clothes—from this distance, he could tell she was a nurse—dampened a cotton ball with disinfectant and rubbed it lightly on baby Masato’s arm.
Wait…does this mean…oh, okay. That explains it.
The man in white smiled and leaned in with a hypodermic needle.
Yes. A shot.
Geez, I’m not gonna scream about a dumb shot. You girls are pathetic. Lemme show you how it’s done. I’m not gonna bat an eye. I’ll endure this like the hero I am!
He might be a baby, but this was a chance to show off. He was gonna be the best baby.
He could handle it. Shots weren’t scary. A confident smirk appeared on baby Masato’s lips.
Poke.
“Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?!”
“Oh my! That hurt, didn’t it? Hang in there. This will keep you from getting sick! There, there, don’t cry, don’t cry.”
“Wow, Masato cried louder than anyone!”
“Geez, knock it off… I’m getting a headache…”
“How can such a little body make so much noise…”
“I know he’s a baby and can’t help it, but…ohhh…”
“Sorry, everyone. But shots are important. Forgive him.”
The chorus of four crying babies was so loud, it seemed like the glass in the exam room was about to shatter.
Mamako smiled though it all. Hahako was busy describing their crying in her handbook. The other girls all covered their ears with both hands, scowling.
Vaccines come in many forms and have to be given on specific schedules. Consult your doctor and local government guidelines for more information!
They’d obtained their ornaments.
After soothing the crying babies with A Mother’s Cradle, the party returned to the giant fir.
But decorating would have to wait until they had everything they needed. They put the ornament bag down. “Daughter!” “Mommy!” They allowed Porta and her mother time to hug, then they were on the move again.
The next transport circle took them to a town called Meema. This was where the Matriarchal Arts Tournament had been held.
Mamako’s party landed on the stage where the mothers had fought, at the center of the main hall, surrounded by monuments to cooking and cleaning supplies.
“Oh my! I remember this!”
“Mamako, this was where I first met you, fought you, and became who am I today. This place is important to me. And yet…”
There was not a soul in the stands. A hush lay over the arena—and there was a chill in the air.
They looked up at the sky and saw it covered in dark clouds. Every now and then they could hear the rumble of thunder.
“…Thaaaat doesn’t seem promising,” said Wise.
“Yeah. Like it’s about to rain…or a monster’s about to attack.”
“I think you just jinxed us all, Mone…” said Medhi.
There was something out there. Like a snake, but no ordinary snake—far too long and thick, covered in some sort of silvery hairs. They could just make it out between the gaps in the clouds.
“Hngg! That’s a monster! The body is covered in tinsel! It’s a kind of dragon known as a Tinselron!”
“Wait, a real monster?! A dragon?! That thing’s the real deal!”
“Mone, what were you thinking?! We’re in the middle of a town! I can’t believe you.”
“If we fight here, collateral damage will be unavoidable. How are you going to pay for all that?”
“Auughhhhh?! Is this really my fault? It isn’t, right? Please say it isn’t!”
Mone grabbed their sleeves, but Wise and Medhi turned their backs on her. “We don’t know you.” “This sin is yours alone.” “Noooo!” Good-bye, Mone. Your cell is this way…
But before she could be incarcerated…
“Relax! It’s not your fault!”
A figure leaped from the top of the gate between the stage and the waiting rooms.
She spun magnificently through the air, landing in front of them…a middle-aged woman, fully humanoid except for the dog ears and tail. A beastkin.
She, too, had been in the Matriarchal Arts Tournament.
“Oh my! Growlette!”
“It’s been far too long, Mamako. Wise, Medhi, Porta…and a new face, and some faces I know but that have gotten much smaller since the last time I saw them.”
“Oh, you noticed? This is Masato! It’s a long story.”
“It isn’t often that we see you without your kids, Growlette.”
“Yeah, I was forced to leave them with someone. More important…” The beastkin mother scowled over at Hahako, who shifted uncomfortably. “You look exactly like Mamako, so I assume you’re Hahako. The one who made a mess of the Matriarchal Arts Tournament and tried to steal my children. I haven’t forgotten.”
“Neither have I…but I’ve no idea how to even begin apologizing.”
“Wait, Growlette. Hahako is no longer—”
“Let me handle this, Mamako. I’ve got something she needs to hear. First…”
Growlette pushed Mamako aside and reached for Hahako…
And tightened the loose string on her sling.
“If you wanna be a proper mom, you gotta keep an eye on these things! You can’t go dropping your babies!”
“Th-thank you.”
“I recognize these kids, too—not in a good way, either. I’d love to hear exactly what led up to this…but it’ll have to wait.”
There was an earsplitting monstrous roar, and Tinselron’s face appeared through the clouds.
There were six eyes surrounded by silver scales, each glittering like a dangerous gem, fixed on the prey on the stage below.
“Sorry, but can you lend a hand? If we don’t do something about that monster, it’ll be a real disaster!”
“Okay, you got it! Let’s show Growlette how much our skills have leveled up!”
“Porta and Mone—oh, and Mamako and Hahako, step back. We can’t have the babies distracting you during this fight.”
Wise and Medhi stepped forward. This was the magical girls’ time to shine!
But Tinselron attacked first, shaking all the hairs on its body. A most unpleasant rustling.
Wise’s magic was sealed. Medhi had instantly used her as a shield, but her magic was sealed, too.
“Predictable. I figured that would happen any minute now.” Wise smiled.
“Yes. As did I. It’s almost a relief to get it over with.” Medhi smiled.
“You’ve gotten way better at accepting the harshness of reality! But this ain’t no time for games! I could take him out with one swing, but I can’t reach him that high. If someone doesn’t back me up…”
“Then this is Ma-kun’s moment! Yay!”
Masato was sound asleep in the sling, but Mamako lifted his fist up for him, stepping forward.
“Wait, Mamako…don’t be ridiculous! What can a baby do? Step back, it’s dangerous!”
“Don’t worry, Growlette. Ma-kun is the warrior chosen by the heavens. He’ll unleash an amazing power! …Porta, dear, do you have a moment?”
“Y-yes? What is it?”
With Porta’s help, Mamako…
…placed a baby bed on the center of the stage, set Masato on it, and lay down next to him!
Then…!
“Night night. Night night. Night night. Night…night…zzz…”
Masato was already asleep, but Mamako tried to settle him down…and fell asleep herself. Everyone stared, flabbergasted.
The special mom skill A Mother’s Nap activated!
This occurs when a mother accidentally falls asleep trying to put her baby to bed! Mother and child sleep side by side, looking ever so peaceful! A great calm falls over all who bear witness to the sight!
A moment later, there was a whoosh from the sky above. Tinselron had fallen asleep, and was falling toward them!
“Well, I see she’s as nuts as ever. Blows your mind!”
Growlette thrust her claws into Tinselron’s neck, and the dragon was slain.
When Tinselron’s body vanished, a huge pile of silver tinsel was left behind.
Which meant…
“…Y’know, Masato didn’t actually do anything,” said Mone.
“Yeah…he was asleep from start to finish. That’s basically the definition of ‘not doing anything.’”
“But if Mamako says this was his doing, I suppose we can give him the credit.”
“Yes! Masato wins!”
The baby hero scored a great victory, and they had all the tinsel they needed to decorate the giant fir.
Everyone worked together to stuff the long tinsel strands into Porta’s shoulder bag, and then they left the Matriarchal Arts Tournament arena behind.
As they walked, they explained how four of them had ended up becoming babies, and what had brought them here. They were headed toward the end of the road, where the city guard barracks were.
Once there, they paused before the entrance. Growlette straightened herself up.
“My children have caused no end of trouble for you,” she said. “My deepest apologies.”
She bowed low to the guards, who were looking distinctly uncomfortable in their matching armor.
The captain of the guards sighed deeply through his whiskers.
“Fortunately, there was no damage to the town—so we’ll ask no further questions about Tinselron’s arrival. But make sure the other guardians know to be on the lookout. We don’t want situations like this occurring again.”
“Yes. I promise. And sorry.”
“Hold on—what’s all this about Tinselron and your kids?” Wise asked.
The captain’s frown deepened.
Growlette hung her head.
“Tinselron was a rare monster prepared for a Christmas event being held in secret. Summoned by the seven balls hidden in this town, you obtain a vast quantity of tinsel by defeating him. But…Growlette here just happened to be passing through…”
“And my children found all the balls hidden in this city, and then curiosity got the best of them…”
“And they summoned the dragon? Yeah, those five troublemakers would totally do that. But we’re trying to get through those events, and we got the tinsel we needed, so…we’re good. Right, Captain?”
“Yes—that’s a satisfactory solution. As far as Tinselron is concerned.”
He glanced over his shoulder, looking very tired.
Behind him…
“Pway wiff us!” “Pway!” “Hugs!” “Arm swings!” “Up!”
“Hahh.…hahh…I can’t…I’m only human…”
“We’re not as strong or as tough as beastkin! Please…have mercy…”
“Then let’s draw!” “Draw!” “Art!” “Crayons!” “Look!”
“Wait, not there! You can’t draw on the walls!”
“Or that paper! That’s an important docu—augh, too late.”
It was basically a crime scene. There were scribbles everywhere. One chair leg was broken, and a window was cracked…
Like it had been through the eye of a storm. Five beastkin children racing all around, ears twitching, tails wagging. And the young soldiers were slumped on the ground, utterly exhausted.
The color drained from Growlette’s face. She looked ready to turn to ash.
“K-kids?! Wh-wh-what are you doing? Stop that! Come here! Line up! Say you’re sorry! Now!”
“Huh?” “No.” “Pway wiff us!” “Hugs!” “Mommy, hugs!”
“No hugs! Say you’re sorry! Mommy’s really mad!”
She struck a proper mother scolding stance.
It was like a crackle of electricity running down each kid’s spine. They quickly threw themselves at her.
“We’re sorry!” “Mommy, I’m sorry!” “Sorry!” “Forgive us!” “Sowwy!”
“Not to me! They’re the ones you bothered! Go on!”
“““““Sorry!”””””
“They just pile it on, don’t they? I can’t apologize enough!”
Growlette and the beastkin kids all bowed their heads in unison.
The entire family’s tails and ears were drooping. The captain let out a long sigh and then said, “Apology accepted. That’s enough! Raise your heads.”
“Th-thank you! Thank you! I’ll pay for everything they broke! And I’ll clean!”
“Nah, won’t be necessary,” the captain said. “The paperwork…we can redo. And this guard station is scheduled to be replaced soon. So a little dirt and damage isn’t an issue.”
“Replace?” “First I’ve heard of it…” The other guards looked puzzled. Suspicious.
His men glared at him, but he shushed them and shrugged.
“Just talking to myself here, but my son’s a student, you see. And he got mixed up in this attempted coup at the adventurer academy he attends. But the teachers forgave children and parents alike, not a word of rebuke.”
He turned to Mamako, the one who’d resolved the situation, and saluted.
Then he grinned.
“Kids were born to cause trouble. And as a parent myself, I’ve gotta be as forgiving as my own son was forgiven. Everyone cool with that?”
“No complaints here!” “Bad ass, Captain!” “Your wife’s got you under her thumb!”
“Ha-ha-ha, who said that?!”
He grabbed the culprit and pulled him into a cobra twist. “Choke! Choke!” “Who cares?!” What a violent way to hide embarrassment.
Growlette bowed her head several more times, and when she looked up, she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Then at least let me clean! Will that be okay?”
“Fine. Knock yourself out.”
“Then we’ll help! The more hands, the faster the work goes!”
“Okay…Porta, you’re up!”
“Yes! Leave this to me!”
Everyone grabbed rags, brooms, dusters, all the cleaning supplies they needed to make the guard station spick-and-span. Paperwork was organized, and scribbles washed away.
Wise and Medhi went into big sister mode, teaching the beastkids how to clean. Nearby, “Porta, can you help with this?” “Yes!” Porta was secretly using Item Creation to replace the broken chair and window.
As they worked, Growlette quietly placed herself next to Hahako.
“Guess it’s pretty clear I ain’t exactly a perfect mom myself. We make trouble, apologize, and beg forgiveness. I ain’t got no right to hold a grudge against you.”
“…You’ll forgive my failures at the Matriarchal Arts Tournament?”
“That’s what I’m saying, yeah. And for everything those Rebellion kids you’ve got sleeping on your back did. Back in the beastkin world, Materland, they sank a whole dang island! Fortunately, nobody died. Honestly, no one’s really mad. We wound up with a great place to play!”
Exploring the sunken Libere Rebellion base had become a really popular skin-diving tour—but that’s a topic for another day.
With three babies to look after, Hahako wasn’t at her most mobile, so Growlette straightened up the paperwork for her and then turned to look her in the eye.
“You gonna make those girls your daughters?”
“Yes. That is my wish.”
“Then remember this. Kids make mischief. No matter what. The important part is how you handle it. You’ve gotta be there for them.”
“I know…and let me apologize. For what I did, and for what they’ve done. I’m very sorry.”
Hahako bowed her head carefully, to the extent that the babies allowed it.
As she moved to write this advice down in her handbook…
“Mah…” Baby Fratello’s bleary eyes fluttered open.
It was probably just a noise to her, but it felt like a baby’s first word.
“Oh, are you sorry, too?” asked Growlette. “Well said, kiddo. You all have to be good girls and help your mother out.”
“Mah.”
“Good answer!”
Growlette took it as one anyway. So everyone else did, too.
She patted baby Fratello softly on the cheek.
At any rate, they’d obtained the second decorative item—silver tinsel.
When they’d finished cleaning, the party said good-bye to Growlette and returned to the giant fir tree. They placed the tinsel to one side—“Daughter!” “Mommy!” And waited out a second round of Porta family hugs.
Mone was watching them, biting a finger.
“Lucky! I want some kids. I need to stock up on spoiling! But Masato’s a baby, and Mamako’s busy with Masato…”
“Fine, I’ll spoil you. C’mere!”
“It’s necessary to restrain your powers, right? Come, then.”
Wise and Medhi both gave their saintliest smiles and spread their arms wide.
“I’m good, thanks.”
““Hey!””
Apparently they didn’t meet the baseline spoiler qualifications.
There was now a snow hut by the side of the giant fir and a kotatsu inside. On the kotatsu was a work tablet, a portable grill, a portable burner, and a pot.
On the grill’s grates was some mochi, puffing up nicely.
“That looks good! I was just feeling peckish.”
“For all your talk about work, you sure know how to treat yourself, Shiraaase.”
“I am working. But it is almost noon.”
“We’ve prepared these both as lunch and as a means of acquiring the sugar that keeps our brains functioning. There’s enough for all of you. Take a break from item gathering and join us.”
“Yes! I would love some! I love eating the lunch Mommy made!”
“I-I-I’m glad to hear it! Here’s an extra piece of mochi for my adorable daughter!”
Dark-Mom Deathmother’s glasses had fogged up from the vapors of love for her daughter, but at this point everyone was just leaving them to it.
They had shiruko for lunch. Topped with beautifully grilled mochi. Everyone dug in.
““““Mmmm!”””” Squeals of joy echoed through the snow hut.
Then…
……Mm? That smells good!
In Mamako’s arms, baby Masato’s eyes opened.
He couldn’t see that well, but he could still make out the shiruko. They were eating shiruko! In a snow hut!
This was definitely the sort of dish that tasted ten times better in the right environment. Everyone was clearly enjoying it accordingly.
“Enh…gwehhhhhhh! (Hey, where’s my shiruko? Let me have some!)”
“Yikes! Masato suddenly started crying! Crap, he’s loud!”
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! (Sorry! I’m not trying to be this loud!)”
Baby Masato was just trying to talk normally, but that didn’t appear to be an option. No matter what he said, it came out as a bawl.
“That’s quite the voice… I wonder if Masato’s hungry?”
“Yaahhhhhhhhhhh! (Right you are, Mone! Yes, that’s my point here!)”
“Or maybe he just needs his diaper changed!”
“Gahhhhhhh! (Damn it, Medhi, no! That’s not it!)”
“I don’t smell anything. I think he’s doing just fine…”
“Eeeeeeaughhh! (Great, Mom! You know best! Feed me!)”
“Well, if it seems fine, all the more reason to make a visual check. Not like in a weird way. I don’t mean it like that.”
“Eeeeeeeek?! (Yo, Wise?! Have you lost it?! Are you literally insane?!)”
But despite Masato’s screams, Wise plucked him out of Mamako’s arms and laid him down on the kotatsu.
“Come, Mamako!” “Yes, just a quick check.” “Aiiiieeee?! (No, stop?!)” It was just a check. Absolutely nothing weird about it.
Mamako peeled back the baby clothes and then opened baby Masato’s diaper all the way.
ω
“It does look like a garlic clove.” Staaaare.
“There’s definitely a resemblance.” Staaaaare.
“Garlic glove, indeed.” Staaaare.
“I-I’m not looking!” Glance.
“Hm, approximately two centimeters.” Staaaare.
He was just a baby. Nothing to be embarrassed about.
Shiraaase had quietly joined the row of girls, armed with a ruler, making all the proper measurements. There were no problems with the diaper. It was placed back in full lockdown.
Baby Masato did seem a bit dead-eyed, like his soul had left his body, but Mamako picked him up again.
“Then he must be hungry! Does anyone mind if I feed him here?”
“Go ahead. It’s just girls here, and none of us are going to complain.”
“Thank you, Deathmother. Here we go, Ma-kun!”
“Wah? Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?! (Wh-what are you talking aboooooout?!)”
Mamako had undone the front of her dress and popped out her right boob.
There was nothing strange about this. It was how mothers fed babies!
No wait, wait, wait, wait! It’s not wrong, but just…don’t!
Mamako’s boob was coming in hot! It was bigger than baby Masato’s head!
“I’m probably wrong here, but do you think Masato’s mind is still in there? Like, his normal teenage mind?” asked Wise.
“If that was true, this would be a real mess,” said Medhi. “Perhaps it’s different in other cultures, but in Japan, a high school boy breastfeeding is…well, it would certainly go down in history for Heroic Sons. They’d sing songs about it for eons to come.”
“I dunno, maybe we should report this or something?” offered Mone.
“Er…I’m not sure myself!” said Porta.
The girls were all watching avidly. And the fateful moment arrived!
Baby Masato’s little mouth closed around Mamako’s—!
“The teat of fate! I do hate to interrupt this momentous occasion, but Mamako, do you actually have any milk in there?” asked Shiraaase.
“Oh my! Good point. I definitely don’t.”
Standard breast milk is produced after a birth. Baby Masato had not been born recently, merely babified by the magic of the giant fir tree.
Just to be sure, Mamako gave her boob a solid squeeze, but failed to lactate.
“I figured this might happen, so I prepared some milk. We made it before the shiruko…it should be warm enough by now. Here.”
“Thank you, Ms. Shiraaase. It’s such a help.”
“Wahhhh! (Seriously, you’re a life saver.)”
Having overcome the greatest crisis of his Heroic Son career, Masato was given a bottle.
And thus he was safely fed. “You owe me one,” Shiraaase whispered, but he pretended not to hear. This was all her fault in the first place.
While this was going on, the baby Kings awoke. “Hahako!” “Emergency!” “Yes, leave it to me.” Three sobbing babies were given bottles, which they drained quickly. Chug-chug.
“Well, Ma-kun. Once you’ve eaten…”
“Urp. (Whoops, ’scuse me.)”
To avoid building up gas, he was held up against her shoulder and given several back pats. The burp signaled the end of mealtime.
“Ma-kun, you ate all your food! You’re such a good boy!”
“All three of you finished your meals. Good girls, each one of you.”
Once they were fed, the babies quickly drifted off to sleep. Baby Masato on Mamako’s chest, the three Kings in Hahako’s arms, every eye drifting shut.
Meanwhile, the rest of the party polished off the shiruko and gave thanks—for all kinds of things.
Then…
“My? This is unexpected!”
“Oh dear! What is this?”
Baby Masato’s body had suddenly pulsed and was getting bigger. So were the baby Kings. Arms and legs stretching, baby clothes buttons bursting, ripping…
They’d gone from less than a year old to toddler-sized!
“…Mm? Wait…am I bigger?”
“You are! You look…three years old! I’m sure of it.”
“Eating right and having your mother call you a good child seems to have helped you all grow up! You might even be three centimeters now.”
“Augh! What might be three centimeters?! You’re weird, Shiwaaashe!”
Time to get them dressed.
As long as Dark-Mom Deathmother was around, they didn’t lack for materials. She soon had clothes for all the kids.
Three-year-old Amante got a skirt and a child-sized stadium jacket with a tiger-striped kitty embroidered on the back.
Three-year-old Sorella got a short dress and a hat with a cute skull mark.
Three-year-old Fratello got shorts and a hoodie with a goofy-looking shark on it.
“I picked these clothes for you… Do you like them?”
“Humph. Good enuff.”
“I thiiiink…I might liiiike them.”
“Ain’t too shabby.”
The outfits all paid homage to their full-sized quirks, which seemed to please them.
Hahako seemed relieved. She had a measuring tape and was sneakily writing their heights in her notebook. Recording her children’s growth.
Meanwhile, three-year-old Masato. Shorts and a jacket—typical activewear for a young boy.
But the illustration on the back of the jacket was a Baumkuchen cake.
“You’re the hero of the heavens, Ma-kun, so I made it a Baumkuchen! Do you like the clothes Mommy picked out?”
“Nngh, I dun get it…b-but I’m a good boy, so I’m not gonna compwain… Argh! I wanna grow up!”
They were too little to equip weapons. The children were all ready to head out.
“Then let’s go get the final decoration item,” said Shiraaase. “Good luck, three centi—I mean, Masato.”
“Augh! Let’sh get dis event over with sho I can grow up.”
“Oh my, Ma-kun! You can’t go off alone. Make sure you hold Mommy’s hand.”
“I dun need to! I’m fine on my own!”
The Oosukis, the teenage girls, the toddler Kings, and Hahako all set out merrily, stepping into the transport circle. They were enveloped in light.
As they faded from sight, Shiraaase and Dark-Mom Deathmother sighed.
“Only one thing left. It’s all going well.”
“Yes. Almost there. Not much longer until the beautiful ending, when Hahako and those girls become a real family.”
“…Mind if point out something unnecessarily?”
“I’d prefer you didn’t.”
“You didn’t say a word to those girls at all while they ate. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
“I said, don’t point it out! Argh. All they need is a mother who raised them. There’s no place for their failure of a birth mother here.”
“You got all branches of management mixed up in this, begging for our help, worked yourself till you were covered in tears, but okay. I just thought they ought to know how much of yourself you poured into this event.”
Shiraaase looked her way, but Dark-Mom Deathmother avoided her eyes.
“No point addressing it. Let’s get these system checks done. Can’t have anything going wrong. We must be cautious—hm?”
She’d just noticed Mone, standing alone in the transport circle.
Her hands clasped before her belly. She looked lost in thought.
“Mone? Is something wrong?”
“Er? Oh, uh…I ate with everyone, but I don’t feel full…ah, it’s nothing. Just a little hungry!”
“Then have some more mochi. We’ve got plenty.”
Deathmother took some mochi from the grill and sandwiched it between some seaweed—a dish known as isobeyaki.
Mone took a bite and flashed a bright smile. When she stepped back on the circle, she was transported, too.
“A healthy appetite. The wonders of youth.”
“Yes…let’s hope that’s all it is.”
Dark-Mom Deathmother went back to the snow hut, focused on her tablet.
Meanwhile, Shiraaase stayed where she was, staring at the circle Mone had used.
The third transport put them on a hill overlooking the sea.
A crescent-moon-shaped coastline, a port town with orange roofs, ships with white sails. All these things drew the eye, but nothing so much as the tower looming over them on an island in the bay.
This was the coastal city, Thermo. A village known for its tower dungeon.
“Sorry I’m late!” Munch, munch.
“What kept you, Mone? …Oh, never mind. Guess it’s obvious.”
“Everyone’s here! Let’s get going.”
“Yes! Let’s get da last item!”
Masato was all fired up. This was how he was going to finish growing. He ran off on his three-year-old legs…
And immediately tripped and fell.
“Wah! Masato, are you okay?” asked Porta.
“Unh…i-it doeshn’t hurt…it’s jusht sho shad. I wanna cry.”
Sniff.
“C’mon, Masato. Don’t be so stubborn! Just hold Mamako’s hand,” said Wise.
“If we have to stop every time you fall down, we’ll never get anywhere. You’ll end up being stuck as a child for much longer,” said Medhi.
“Mommy doesn’t mind that at all! Tee-hee!”
“I mind! …F-fine! Jusht for now! Got dat?”
“Yes. Take Mommy’s hand, okay?”
He held out his little hand, and hers wrapped around it. Soft, smooth, and warm. Just holding hands made him feel safe and protected.
Meanwhile, Hahako and her kids…
“Holding handsh meansh no twipping. So let’s do dat. Sowella, Fwatello, come on!”
Toddler Amante in the middle, three-year-old Sorella on the right, and three-year-old Fratello on the left. The trio walked off, hand in hand.
“If we can walk on our own, we won’t need Mommy’sh help! Dun want it! Humph!”
“Uhhh, maaaaaaybe.”
“Mm. Maybe.”
“Oh dear. How sad. When you were babies, I carried you all the time. But now that you’re a little bigger, you want more space. Sniff.”
Hahako followed after them, looking so, so sad. Ready to cry.
Or so it seemed.
Toddler Sorella and toddler Fratello were actually using their free hands to hold on to Hahako—but making sure three-year-old Amante couldn’t see. They were latched on to her wrist and the hem of her skirt, so it was a one-sided hold, but the link was there. Hahako was grinning.
The transformation wasn’t complete, but it was definitely there, to a surprising degree.
“…Mommy, what’s goin’ on with dem?”
“A lot happened while you were asleep, Ma-kun.”
“Hmm…”
Toddler Masato wanted to know more but felt like prying might ruin it. He decided to keep quiet and watch.
The party set out down the hill, into the sea-breeze-scented streets of Thermo.
Looking for information, they first headed for the Adventurers Guild Mamako had founded to clear the tower dungeon, the Mom Guild. But on the way…
“Right, on my signal, give it a pull! One, two!”
“““Heave, ho! Heave, ho!”””
There was a familiar rough-hewn man’s voice, followed by children’s voices shouting together.
There was a crowd by the cliff. Mostly women and young children. Lots of families.
A chubby woman with a perm noticed them approaching and waved from the middle of the crowd.
“Oh, if it isn’t Mamako! Yoo-hoo!”
“Oh…my, my, if isn’t Pocchi’s mother! And so many other Mom Guild members here, too!”
They’d all conquered the tower dungeon together. And just the other day, when young adventurers had attacked, seeking the elimination of all mothers, they’d held the line and fended them off. These battle-hardened powerhouse moms all came running toward Mamako.
And suddenly…
“Mamako, it’s been ages! Oh my, is that Masato?”
“It is! It’s a long story. Ma-kun, say hi!”
“I’m Masato Oosuki. I’m thwee years old! …No, wait, there’sh no time to chat—”
“Wise, Medhi, Porta! How nice to see you all again. Have you been well?”
“Y-Yeah…” “Thankfully…” “I’m great!”
“We’ve got tea and treats! Will you join us? Oh, are these your friends?”
“Why, you look just like Mamako! Oh, so you must be the famous—”
“Hahako. A pleasure to meet you.”
“And are those your children? Oh, they’re so cute!”
“Hey, what’sh da big idea?” “Too many moooothers!” “Sho loud…!”
“Can you introduce yourselves? Names and ages?”
They didn’t even leave enough room for the wind to pass between the chatter. They were doomed. Worst-case scenario, they’d be stuck here for over an hour, helpless to free themselves.
But an opportunity presented itself. The mothers had been interested in toddler Masato, but their eyes soon drifted upward, and the discussion focused on Mamako.
And then Mamako let go of Masato to accept a proffered cookie.
…Yes! Now!
Three-year-old Masato carefully slipped between the mothers’ legs, wriggling free of the net. He’d successfully escaped—
Or so he thought. Someone grabbed his arm, pulling him back!
“Masato Oosuki, jusht you wait! No eshcaping!”
“Oh, you guys are here, too? Fine! Come on!”
“Quietlyyyy! Sho we dun get cauuuught!”
“Let’sh run for it!”
The three-year-old Kings had also escaped—they formed a new team. Together, they sneaked away.
Watchful of the mothers’ eyes, they headed right for the beach. There, they found a huge crowd of children. As adults yelled instructions, the children pulled on a long rope that stretched into the ocean waves.
“Masato Oosuki! What are those people doin’?”
“Net fishing, maybe? You throw a net in da water and pull it out, and there’s fish and shellsh inshide.”
“Fishiiiing? Ohhh…that sounds fuuun!”
“Mm. Good back mushcle workout.”
“You all want to join in, then? This is an event for parents and children, sponsored by the Mom Guild. All kids have a right to participate!”
There came a gruff voice behind them, and rough-hewn hands patted their heads.
They turned around and found a very suspicious man crouching behind them. Bulging muscles, a mohawk, and a face only a mother could love.
“Oh? Pocchi?”
“Yo, Masato. It’s been a minute since we last met—you got real tiny.”
This was the leader of a gang of former thugs who were now part of the Mom Guild. The son of Pocchi’s mother—which meant his name, logically, was Pocchi.
“I heard the mothers kicking up a fuss, so I knew you were here, but I didn’t count on you looking like this! Still…”
Pocchi gave Amante a long, hard look.
“Yo, Amante. You worked us to the bone, turned us into monsters, and then cast us aside. You were a leader in the evil Rebellion…and now? Look at you! You’re so cute!”
“Tch…wh-what? You tink you can beat me now? Out for revenge? Fine! Let’sh fight!”
“Revenge? Yeah, I suppose you got some payback coming your way, but…don’t be ridiculous. I ain’t raising a hand to a little kid! That goes against my policy…as a childcare worker.”
Pocchi stood up, puffing up his chest proudly.
His apron had a cute gorilla on it. It flapped in the wind.
“Er…P-Pocchi? You’re a childcare worker?”
“The Mom Guild started a day care! I’m currently doing training to get my license. There are way too many fools out there who don’t know how lucky they are to have moms. I figured the best way to teach them the truth was to start when they’re small. Got that, Amante?”
“Wh-what?”
“First, you gotta let yourself be held with love.”
“Huh?”
“Just like how I woke from a bad dream when my mother put her arms around me. A good hug can work miracles! It’s high time you accepted that mothers ain’t going anywhere and become a good girl!” His muscles rippled.
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeek?!”
Pocchi’s burly bro smile of love advanced on three-year-old Amante! “Call da poliiiiice!” “Mm.” “I’ll help!” It reeked of criminal activity, but it was mere wholesome education! Pure early childhood learning! All charges would likely be dropped…
But then…
“Yo, Pocchi! Over here! Emergency!”
“Huh? What? What’s going on?”
Another thuggish-looking man—like Pocchi, wearing a day-care worker’s apron—came running toward them, looking distraught.
“The net got stuck, so I dove in to take a look! But there’s a monster I’ve never seen before caught in it! It’s really huge!”
“What?! We can’t just stand here! Get these kids—”
But before he could even finish…
The surface of the ocean exploded, a column of water rocketing upward like a geyser. A gold, glittering, star-shaped monster emerged from the blue waters of the ocean.
A giant starfish, the size of a ship’s sail. It was moving its five arms like wings, fluttering over the water’s surface.
“Ooh! A fwying monster! That’s mine!”
“Masato, don’t be stupid. You’re too small to fight this thing! Everyone, run! C’mon, Amante! You too.”
“Eeeeeeeek?!”
Pocchi scooped up toddler Masato and toddler Amante, and the distraught childcare worker scooped up toddler Sorella and toddler Fratello. With a three-year-old under each arm, they ran off. “Over here!” “Hurry!” Porta and Mone were beckoning furiously. The children pulling the net were snatched up by their guardians, and everyone hastily fled the beach.
They were replaced by Mamako’s party, who ran out toward the surf, ready for combat.
“Oh dear! It’s so big and sparkly!”
“A gold star—and exactly the right size to decorate that giant fir. Is this another decoration item?”
Both mothers had quietly made certain their precious children had been safely evacuated, and they were now ready to lead the assault. Two Holy Swords of the Ocean swung together.
A double layer of water bullets hit home, and the giant starfish split into five. Now they had five starfish, each the size of a dinghy.
“Yikes, there’s more of ’em! I hate this type of monster…”
“Well, we’ll just have to burn off the excess calories we consumed!”
“From the looks of it, the smaller ones are easier to handle! Which means… Spara la magia per mirare… Luce di Lampo!”
Wise’s spell activated! A sphere of lightning appeared, then burst, and the scattered bolts struck all the starfish.
Once again, they divided. Each split into five more starfish, each of those the size of a human child. Twenty-five in all.
The child-sized starfish began spinning like shuriken, arms sharp as blades. They attacked, but— “Not happening!” Medhi instantly deployed a defensive wall, fending them off.
A lot of enemies. It would take a lot of hands to defeat them—as many hands as the starfish had arms.
“We’ll fight, too! Mom Guild company—charge!”
“““Aye-aye!”””
My kids, your kids, all kids are good kids. The maternal need to protect all kids gave them strength, and that strength became armor, covering their bodies—the armor of moms, Full Armom.
Now combat ready, the army of moms grabbed on to the child-sized starfish, embracing them. “Tee-hee, boys, boys, be good.” “Aiiiiiieeee?!” The starfish all screamed but then went limp. Much like Pocchi had back in the day.
Meanwhile, all the toddlers could do was stand around watching.
“Finally, a fight! And I can’t do nothin’! Argh!”
“Not much you can do at this age! Behave yourself.”
“Hey! Let go of me, Pecchi! Leggo before I get really mad!”
“You settle down now. And it’s Pocchi, not Pecchi.”
Pocchi had settled down cross-legged a safe distance from the coast, his bulging biceps acting as seat belts to restrain toddlers Masato and Amante.
Meanwhile, the other thug childcare worker was taking care of three-year-old Sorella and Fratello. His ugly mug seemed to terrify them both, so they were being quiet as mice.
Amante was trying to escape, but Pocchi made her sit, keeping a close eye on the combat in front of them.
“Masato, that lady who looks just like Mamako—that’s Hahako, right? I’ve heard the rumors.”
“Uh, yeah. She ish. She’sh a…shpecial pershon. She’sh tryin’ real hard to become a mommy to Amante and da other Libere Kingsh.”
“Argh, Masato Oosuki! Don’t tell him dat!”
“Ohh? That is a special lady. Who’d wanna be a mom to these kids? Guess it takes all types.”
“Pocchi, dat’s jusht mean…”
“Truth hurts. I mean, they’re the last people in the world that would ever love a mother. No saving them, right? They’re unsalvageable.”
Pocchi gave three-year-old Amante a grin that was clearly trying to wind her up. She scowled back up at him.
“Did I say anything wrong? You don’t even know how to be a good girl. Right?”
“You think I’m dat eashy? Shure, I’m pisshed off. But nothing. Will ever. Make me shay what you want. I won’t shay ‘I’ll prove I can be a good girl.’”
“Tch, you might look like a kid, but you don’t think like one, huh?”
His bait had failed. But Pocchi wasn’t giving up that easy.
“Well, if you ain’t a kid anymore, you oughta be able to do better. Grow out of this sort of thing.”
“Too bad! I’m opposhed to all mothersh. Dat’s what I wash deshigned to be. It’sh how I wash made. I can’t grow out of it. I dun need to explain dat to you! Ha!”
“How you were ‘made’? Wow, so edgy. You into that sort of thing?”
“Nooo! I’m not one of thoshe people!”
“Enh, that’s beside the point.”
Pocchi released the biceps seat belt restraining toddler Masato and patted three-year-old Amante on the head.
“Real talk, though, I think you’ve got a chance here specifically because of who you are. Same way as I acted like a fool and caused so many problems for my mom because she was such a big part of my life—and I just couldn’t handle that. I think one day soon, you’ll figure out that moms are really amazing. So don’t chicken out and piss yourself, you hear?”
“Me? Pissh myshelf?! Don’t be a total weirdo! Weirdo Pacchi!”
“My name ain’t Pacchi—ow!”
Toddler Amante had just bitten Pocchi’s arm.
When he flinched, she slithered out of his arm and ran off as fast as she could.
“Uh, hey! Amante, stop! It’s too dangerous!”
“Shut up! Weirdo Picchi! Backwardsh Picchi! You even went bald backwardsh!”
“Yo, Amante! I don’t care about Pucchi, but that lasht one’sh mean to everyone with a mohawk!”
“You’re plenty mean yourself, Masato. Whatever—Amante! Look up! There’s a monster!”
“What?”
Amante had made it to the sand, but she stopped in her tracks, looking up.
A child-sized starfish was falling toward her, spinning. It was about to hit!
Then…
“Amante!”
“……Huh?”
Hahako had her arms around toddler Amante. She’d cast aside her weapons and thrown both arms around her protectively.
Three-year-old Amante had her face in Hahako’s chest and couldn’t see anything…but she felt Hahako’s body shake.
“Oh dear! That went in deep! We’d better treat her fast!”
“Hahako! I’m gonna pull it out! Grit your teeth—here goes!”
“I’ll heal it! Don’t move. Spara la magia per mirare… Cura!”
“Wait, what’s going on? The spell activated but the wound isn’t closing! Hang on, this isn’t some weird thing like Hahako is immune to healing spells because she’s a unique being, is it?”
Toddler Amante could clearly hear the panic in their voices.
She knew things were bad, really bad. But…
“Amante, are you okay? You aren’t hurt, are you?”
Hahako pulled back, Amante’s well-being her only concern. Checking her over for injuries, she even brushed the sand off Amante’s feet as if it were the most urgent thing in her life.
“W-wait! Hahako, calm down!” Amante said. “You’re in worshe shape den me—!”
“I’m fine! I just forgot to guard and damaged the core of my very being, but that’s all!”
“Dat shounds like a very big deal?! Are you gonna shtop exishting?!”
“Healing spells may not work, but there are repair programs, so it’s probably fine.”
“Pwobably?!”
“What matters is that you’re all right, Amante. Tell me if anything hurts!”
“Argh! I’m fine, okay? I’m not the leasht bit hurt! Shee?”
Toddler Amante waved her arms around, showing how healthy she was. “Oh, good!” “Hngg?!” And she was quickly hugged very tight.
Around them, the battle was drawing to a close.
The starfish that had wounded Hahako had fled, regrouped with a few limp companions, and formed a giant starfish again.
Immediately afterward, Mamako’s full-powered attacks took it down. At last it was defeated, leaving only a giant gold star behind. The final decorative item.
The evacuees cheered. The mothers-at-arms breathed a sigh of relief.
“How do we take this with us?” “I think I can get it in my bag!” “Nah, no way it’ll fit.” “If we fold it…?” The girls swiftly faced another dire problem.
Meanwhile…
“……”
“……”
Hahako gently released toddler Amante. For a long moment, they each stared wordlessly at the ground.
Hahako had hugged Amante, fully aware she would be rejected. And Amante had been saved despite all her resistance. Neither seemed to know what to say next.
Seeing them getting nowhere, toddler Masato came over and bonked Amante on the head.
“Yo, Amante. There’sh only one ting you shay here.”
“Wh-what’sh dat?”
“It’sh obvioush! Don’t overthink it. Jusht shay da firsht thing dat comesh to mind.”
He gave her a little push. She stumbled but then took a step toward Hahako.
There was a long internal battle. Mamako, toddler Masato, Pocchi, and Pocchi’s mom all watched over her. Amante’s fingers twitched; her toes drew lines in the sand…
And then she finally reached out and grabbed Hahako’s dress, tugging on it.
“……………………Thank you.”
Her lips were pouting, and she was sulking a bit…but she got the words out.
Hahako said nothing. She just nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Argh! Arghhhh! Arghhhhh! Masato Oosuki!” Bonk bonk bonk bonk!
“Ow! Wh-why are you hitting me? Shtop!”
Just covering her embarrassment. Bonk bonk bonk bonk. Red all the way to her ears and taking it out on him. Everyone just watched, smiling. “…Urgh…” “M-M-M-Ma-kun?!” Since he was toddlerized, Masato had very little HP and was soon down for the count.
Three-year-old Amante leveled up.
Somehow, they managed to get the gold star into Porta’s shoulder bag and made their retreat.
At the exit to Thermo, the Mom Guild members gathered, seeing the heroic party off.
“You’re leaving already? It wouldn’t hurt to take a breather.”
“We do have urgent business… Oh, I know! Your net fishing event might have been canceled, but I know a delightful event that’s happening instead! You should look forward to that.”
“Oh? What could that be? If you say it’s delightful, Mamako, I’m sure something genuinely incredible will happen. We’ll all look forward to that! See you again.”
“Yes, I wish you all the best of fortunes. Come on, Ma-kun.”
“Ugh…f-fine! But just for today!”
He held Mommy’s hand so he wouldn’t fall down.
So did the other group.
“I’ll let you hold her haaaand, Amaaaante. I’m da big shiiiiishter.”
“Amante, ya gotta show it. In body language.”
“I—I know! Humph!”
Toddler Sorella held a white hand. Toddler Fratello held the left hand. And toddler Amante took the right. All three were holding hands with Hahako.
The beach fight had left everyone covered in sand, but they’d cleaned themselves off and were ready—
“Oh, hang on. We have some fresh seaweed here; would you like some? It’s perfect for wrapping onigiri! The children would love that.”
““Oh, are you sure?””
Mamako and Hahako stopped. “What about some fried mackerel?” “Perfect for breakfast!” “I’ve got some whitefish…” “Oh, those look good!” More and more offers of gifts, all of them irresistible to a mother.
This was dangerous.
“If you could just wait a moment, I’ll run and fetch them! Won’t be a minute!”
“I suppose a minute won’t be—”
“Wait, wait! Hey, Mommy! Aren’t we in a hurry?”
“Oh, that’s right. We are…we are, but…”
The irresistible lure of idle chatter, the ultimate pleasure for a mom! Pocchi’s mother was not about to let this opportunity pass her by! Her smile broadened.
As she searched for a topic, any topic, a topic strong enough to stop Mamako in her tracks…her eyes locked on to three-year-old Masato and the three toddler Kings.
“Oh, right. Have they had all their shots? There’s a pediatrician’s office right down the road from here.”
““““Eep?!””””
“They had…wait, have they? They’re about three now. I think they’re due for a Japanese encephalitis shot!”
“There’s a standard schedule in your MCH handbook. There are two shots for three-year-olds, with a bit of a gap in between. You’ve got to make sure they’re taken care of.”
““““Augh?!””””
More needles. More doctors. “But I refushe!” The toddlers reflectively tried to escape, but Mamako and Hahako took their hands firmly, not letting it happen.
“No, no, no, noooo! No more shooootsh!” Flail.
“Mah worsht memoriesh, dredged up again!” Tremble.
“We’re children! We feel da pain sho much more intenshly! And you wanna inflict dat on ush again? Never! Masato Oosuki, do shomething!”
“Argh, you leave me with no choice! C’mon!”
The terrible three-year-olds prepared for war!
The ultimate attack of cornered children!
““““WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!””””
They exploded with sobs. “Crap, that’s loud!” The older girls covered their ears, even closed their eyes! It was very unpleasant!
Heh-heh-heh…nothing can defeat a crying child! Victory is ours!
In the face of this ultimate attack, even Mamako and Hahako would be forced to surrender, to respect their children’s wishes…
““Okay, here we go!”” They smiled.
““““It’s ineffective?!””””
If it was for their children’s own good, mothers could harden their hearts, ignore any selfish behavior, and haul them right to the clinic. Mothers were strong like that.
“M-Mamako, we’ll just kill some time nearby,” said Wise.
“Let’s agree to meet up at the giant fir later,” added Medhi.
“Yes, that should be fine. Enjoy yourselves!”
“Good luck, little ones! I’ll be rooting for you from very far away!” cheered Porta.
“…Me too,” Mone said. She was acting oddly quiet, but she followed after Wise, Medhi, and Porta.
Hypodermic time.
The toddlers had been dragged off to the pediatrician’s office. Their crying was no longer audible.
The girls were walking on the deserted shore, sighing with relief.
“How can Mamako and Hahako stand all that? That’s a real feat.”
“I think they’re really great! I respect them!”
“I can only hope we’re capable of that someday. But what do we do now?”
“Mm…I’m not all that hungry, so I guess we could look at clothes? If you’ve got any better ideas, I’m up for anything. Huh?”
When Wise looked around the group, she noticed someone missing.
Mone was way at the back, both hands clutching her chest.
“Yo, Mone, what’s up?”
“Mone? Is something wrong?”
“I’m afraid so…looking at Masato and those girls…I just really wanted someone to hold my hand. I really needed a hug. I got really jealous and wanted someone to spoil me…maybe that’s why.”
Mone smiled apologetically and looked down at the hands on her chest.
They were covering a hole. A hole in her chest, like a bottomless pit—nothing visible within those depths.
“Augh, what the hell is that? What’s going on?! Eep!”
“I don’t really know, myself. It’s like a wind blowing through my heart…if I don’t fill it with something, something bad’s gonna happen. What do we do?”
“I—I know! I’ll get something to fill it!”
“Porta? Wait! If you get too close…”
Too late.
When Porta stepped closer to Mone, she was lifted up. “Whoa?!” A moment later, her body was sucked into the hole, and she was gone.
“Porta?! Holy crap!”
“I was afraid of that…I can’t hold back the craving. What do we do?”
“That’s what we want to know! How do we stop it? How can we help?”
“Help? …Um, well…maybe if the two of you spoil me…”
Mone’s eyes looked up at them, turning hollow.
And Wise and Medhi were sucked into the hole in her chest so fast, they could not even scream.
“Huh? Where’d they go? I’m all alone…so lonely…someone spoil me, please…”
Mone leaned forward, staring into the hole in her chest.
And then Mone herself was sucked into it, vanishing into thin air.
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