Epilogue
Christmas morning.
Catharn was blanketed in white, and children’s squeals rang out from homes all over. They’d woken up to find presents by their pillows!
From whom? “Why, Santa, of course!” their parents answered with a smile, and the children’s eyes went as wide as dinner plates.
In the merchant town of Yomamaburg, no snow fell. Instead, there was a fluttering rain of silver chips. The casino’s Christmas display was very popular.
The manager smiled warmly as parents and children alike flocked to the casino interior, hoping odds were spoiled in their favor. (The odds of winning on each game…remained unchanged.)
Meema had plenty of snow, and the guards, dressed as Santas, were starting the Christmas parade. Decorated trees had been set up outside the Matriarchal Arts Tournament venue, and the parade started there, went down the main road, and then spread out through the streets. The guards wound through every road in town, handing out cookies to all the nice children…
But the white-bearded guards were swarmed by innocent beastkin kids, who seemed liable not only to snatch presents but to rip their arms off, too. The beastkin mothers swooped in to stop them, looking pale.
In the seaside town of Thermo, the celebrations took on a distinctly aquatic flair.
With the heavily decorated tower dungeon watching over them, parents changed into swimsuits, day-care workers tied Christmas-themed loincloths tight, and all plunged into the frigid ocean. They collected presents from the depths, bringing them up to the children on the shore.
The festival celebrated the bounty of the sea and the growth of the children. Local customs varied, okay?
And…
At the far end of the world, at the base of the Motherest Mountains…
The giant Christmas tree bedecked with Angel Mone gave off the most brilliant light in all the world.
“Masatooo! Heyyyy! How long do I have to stay up here?”
“Just a little longer! The event will automatically wrap up just after noon! Leene said she’ll spoil you rotten as soon as you finish making up for all your bad deeds.”
“Mommy said that?! Hooray! That will be the best! I’m so much more motivated now!”
With the spoiled angel watching over them, the Christmas party began in earnest.
The banquet table in the party venue was laden with all kinds of food. Painstakingly crafted hors d’oeuvres, roasted chicken, Christmas cakes, and more. The spread was a bit heavy for so early in the day—well, only the weak-stomached grown-ups thought that. The children were delighted.
There was enough food for twelve.
Currently at the venue were Masato, Mamako, Wise, Medhi, Porta, Dark-Mom Deathmother, and Shiraaase. Also technically Angel Mone. Only eight people.
They were holding off the start of the feast.
Shiraaase tried to steal a bite, but Dark-Mom Deathmother slapped her hand away.
Shiraaase looked around at everyone present, then said, “Well, to while away the time, I suppose we could have the children open the presents they’ve been dying to receive.”
“““““Yeah!”””””
The kids gathered on the couches, presents from their mothers in hand. Their mothers smiled as the unwrapping ceremony began.
“Who’s first?”
“An excellent question. Wise should definitely go last, since she’s bound to be the punchline,” said Medhi.
“The punchline?! Ugh, you’re probably right… It’s painfully obvious by now…”
“Then can I open mine? I’m too excited to wait!”
Porta was already pulling on the pink ribbon.
Inside was a key, decorated with Christmas colors.
But what was it a key to? Puzzled, Porta looked at Dark-Mom Deathmother, who just smiled. In which case…
“I’ll appraise it! Hnggg…this is a key that makes something appear! I think it’s better to use it somewhere with lots of room! I’m gonna go do just that!”
Porta dashed out onto the snowfield, stuck the key into thin air, and turned it.
A treasure chest appeared in front of her, one so big not only Porta but even Masato could probably fit inside. The lid popped open.
Inside the chest were stuffed animals, clothes, shoes, everything a girl could ever want.
“Whoa! There’s so much! …M-Mommy! Can I really have so many presents?!”
“Of course! Because I was a fool, I hadn’t given you any Christmas presents in such a long time. So I thought I’d give you enough to make up for it!”
“Mommy…I’m so happy! Mommy!”
“My beloved daughter!”
Porta and her mother threw their arms around each other, tears trailing in their wakes. The scene was incredibly heartwarming.
“You’re just too cute! Hff, hff!”
“M-Mommy?”
Deathmother’s head had overheated a bit, and her glasses had fogged up. Sauna-tastic!
Moving right along…
“I’ll go next… Oh? This is…”
Medhi had unraveled an elegant blue ribbon and found a delicately crocheted headband and a message card.
To my beloved daughter. So that your heart and mind stay beautiful, I’m sending you equipment with a sedative effect.
The letters were slightly uneven, but her handwriting had certainly improved a lot.
“Mother… A sedative effect…? Heh-heh-heh…thank you kindly.” Rumble.
“Medhi! Equip that now! You need it ASAP!”
“And that’s not even a game world item, right? It’s just a pricey-looking accessory!”
“Now that you mention it, yes… Honestly, Mother. You and your little jokes.”
Medhi put on the headband and smiled happily. A mother’s love and a little light teasing did a good job calming any child’s heart.
“You fell right for Medhimama’s plan. Mothers sure know their stuff. Okay, then…”
“Wait, Masato. I’m next. Better to be disappointed early. Gives me time to recover.”
“Damn, that’s sad.”
It was Wise’s turn. She took her present, said a prayer, gathered her mental fortitude, preparing herself for anything, and ripped off the red plastic tape and newspaper.
Her hands shaking, she removed the lid, whispering, “Please, God!”
It was empty.
“Argh…that idiot! You’ve gotta be kidding me!”
“Kazuno, the Queen of the Night…you never disappoint. Never let your daughter have a moment’s… Oh, wait, Wise, look again.”
“I already saw! It’s empty! Arghhhhh!”
“No, on the lid.”
“……Huh?”
She’d almost crushed the lid in anger, but taped to the inside was a pair of earrings with a brand-name logo.
There was also a note in ballpoint pen.
I sneaked into your room and saw your magazine. You had circled a bunch of things, but these were the cheapest.
“Wha…who let her in my room? Geez.”
“That’s the only comment you have?”
“You know you’re happy. Heh-heh-heh.” Medhi giggled.
“Oh, shut up. Just when you least expect it…ugh.”
Wise was muttering under her breath, but when she looked down at the earrings in her hand, she couldn’t stop herself from smiling.
Now then.
“Last is Ma-kun! I do hope it makes you happy.”
Mamako smoothly found a seat next to him and watched closely as he opened the present. “I didn’t know you could draw…,” he said. There was a cartoony illustration of him on the long, slim package. Inside was…
A rather fancy necktie.
“A tie? Why a tie? I mean, I don’t dislike it, but…it’s very unexpected.”
“I just thought you might be needing one soon. Well?”
“That is a surprise. Does she have ESP?” Stare.
“You can’t underestimate Mamako for a second.” Stare.
“Yikes, what’s going on here?”
Shiraaase and Dark-Mom Deathmother had popped up behind them, looking over his shoulders. Muttering to each other and staring at the necktie with great interest. He was totally lost.
“A-anyway, Mom, thanks. If I have a chance to wear it, I definitely will.”
“You’re welcome, Ma-kun. I’d be delighted to see it on you.”
“So that wraps up present time, but…oh dear.”
Shiraaase stared out at the snowfield, casually swiping a piece of fried chicken.
Before she could grab another, everyone stopped her—and then they all looked in the same direction.
Still no sign of Hahako.
“…If they’re being all distant now, we can’t just let that happen,” Masato muttered.
Everyone nodded.
Shiraaase offered to remain behind, and Dark-Mom Deathmother volunteered instead, in order to prevent her from eating everything.
The rest of them hopped onto a sleigh, going back the way they’d come. They traveled across the brutally cold snow and through the door to the transfer point on the plateau near the Catharn capital.
They were so high up, it was hard not to flinch, but they looked out at the world…and saw four people leaving the capital.
“Hngg…that…is definitely them! Hahako’s family!”
“Then let’s stop them with a few attack spells!” Grin.
“They deserve a punishment! …Spara la magia…”
“Stop that.”
They ran down the stairs, giving chase.
When they finally caught up with them, Hahako turned around, looking blissfully happy.
Sorella and Fratello turned toward them, also smiling, bleary and dazed eyes, respectively, looking quite happy.
Amante didn’t turn around.
“…Sheesh, nobody asked you to see us off.”
“We’re not here to see you off. We’re here to make sure you take part in the Christmas party.”
“Riiiight…we were going to do thaaat…”
“But it ain’t good to get too chummy. We’ve got other fish to fry.”
“I’m so sorry, these children said they wanted to go on an adventure as a family. I said we could still do that after breakfast at the party, but…”
“No worries. We’re not hungry.”
Her stomach growled. Everyone turned and looked at Amante. “You’re hearing things!” she said, punching her own stomach to shut it up.
Recovering, Amante wheeled around. Looking much more at peace than she ever had before.
“We’ve at last accepted her as our mother. So you win the final battle. But we won’t lose next time!”
“Do you know what ‘final’ means? Whatever… What’s next, then?”
“Do I have to explain everything? Sheesh. Obviously, this battle!”
Amante hooked her arm in Hahako’s. Fratello stepped up on Hahako’s left, holding her hand. Sorella went around back, hugging her.
Hahako smiled like she had never been happier, while the three sisters grinned like this was a challenge.
“Ohhh, right. The happy family battle,” said Wise.
“Well, we can’t lose that,” said Medhi.
“Exactly! I won’t ever lose that fight!” squealed Porta. “Masato!”
“…Sure.”
It was still a little embarrassing. But only a little. The heroic son was largely over that.
Masato put his arm around Mamako’s shoulder, puffing up his chest. “““Ohhh…””” His party gawked, but his confident expression never wavered.
“Oh my! Ma-kun! Mommy’s too happy! I don’t know what’s going to happen! Tee-hee!”
“Just be glad your son’s grown up. See, Amante? You’ve got no chance of winning here. But have a good time on your family adventure.”
“You may be able to lord it over us now, but just you wait! We’ll become a family even stronger than yours! Later.”
Former enemies, now turned rivals.
The two parties stared at each other for a long moment.
“Yeah, later.”
“Yes, some other day…” Growllllll…
Amante turned so red, she looked ready to explode, but Mamako took her hand.
“Tee-hee. The time for family adventures is after breakfast.”
“O-okay, fine! You have to listen to advice from moms! We’re good kids now!”
And with those words, the tale of those who rebel against mothers came to an end.
Meanwhile, by the giant Christmas tree…
Shiraaase was forced to kneel in the snow as punishment for repeated snacking violations.
As she watched the snow fall, she muttered, “The Oosukis have earned the right to challenge him. It’s time.”
“Yes, as we head toward the official launch, the final beta test…will soon begin.”
Dark-Mom Deathmother was sitting on the couch in the party venue, staring down at her tablet, her steely producer’s gaze on.
On the screen was a design document labeled:
ADVENT OF THE DEMON LORD
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