Prologue The Heavenly Kings’ Decree
Families came to the game to strengthen their bonds, but for many, it sowed the seeds of discord.
Such discord led to the rise of the Libere Rebellion. Their scheme placed the entire world in peril—but with the defeat of their ringleader, Dark-Mom Deathmother (aka Porta’s mom, Saori Hotta), the matter should have been settled.
And yet.
“As those who struggle against maternal tyranny, we challenge you to a final battle!”
Their decree echoed across the road outside the Mom Shop, in the capital of Catharn.
Peering through the windows of the Mom Shop, Mamako, Wise the Sage, Medhi the Cleric, and Porta the Traveling Merchant were all struck speechless. Mone, Saori, and even Shiraaase all looked surprised.
There was one further witness—Hahako, peering around the corner of a nearby building, clutching her hands to her chest with worry.
Before them stood the remaining members of the Rebellion—Anti-Mom Amante, Scorn-Mom Sorella, and Frighten-Mom Fratello. Three of the Rebellion’s Four Heavenly Kings, they had lost everything with the Rebellion’s collapse. Possessed of the desperation afforded only to those with nothing to lose, they faced down the Hero, Masato.
“…You’ve gotta be kidding,” Masato said.
“Oh, please. Do we have to explain every little thing?”
“After all thiiiiis, you should know we never jooooke. We mean iiiiit.”
“Sonny, we ain’t about to live down the things we done. We’re stickin’ to our guns like real men, never waverin’, never yieldin’. To the bitter end.”
“The bitter end? But—”
“Hold on! Back that up, dummies,” Wise yelled, bursting out of the Mom Shop. She stopped next to Masato and looked over the three Kings with a mocking grin. “This whole grimdark tone isn’t your thing! Don’t be stupid. Just apologize! We’ll happily chalk all the trouble you’ve caused up to role playing.”
“Sheesh. Wise the ‘Sage’! You appear to be so stupid, you’re incapable of understanding human speech.”
“Wha—? Who’s the dumb one here?!”
“We would never apologiiiiiize.”
“We came to settle things, ya hear? ’Cause I ain’t gonna say it again. ‘Sorry’ ain’t gonna cut it anyhow. Not after all we did…”
Porta and Medhi came running out, too.
“I was really mad before, but I’m not mad now! After all the trouble you caused, I finally got close with my mommy! That’s more than enough for me!”
“A calm follows a storm. That’s all that matters…but you’re all far too stubborn to listen, aren’t you? I brought a deterrent with me—one who can put an end to this foolish conflict.”
Medhi turned to the ultimate deterrent: Mamako.
The Libere Kings were powerful foes. But they had lost their unique skills. They no longer had any means of defeating Mamako. She was the party’s best defense.
Mamako glanced at Masato, checking if it was all right for her to hog the limelight here. Families didn’t need words. Masato simply nodded back.
Mamako turned the nicest smile imaginable toward the three Kings.
“I think it’s best we all take a deep breath and talk this over. We have some lovely tea and cake inside. Won’t you join us?”
“Ha! I’m not dumb enough to go to war on an empty stomach! I’m so stuffed, I couldn’t eat another bite!” Growl.
“Tea and caaaaake? Noooot iiiinterested.” Growl.
“I ain’t about to eat no sweet-tasting cake. I’m a real man.” Growl.
“Oh my! You’re even more stubborn than usual. Whatever should I do?”
Mone and Shiraaase were now standing in the window with a huge pile of cakes, making a big show of eating them. But the Kings stood firm.
“Just to be clear, we’re not waging war out of frustration over being homeless, unemployed, and starving. This is our core belief!”
Amante drew the rapier from her hip. Her eyes were clear and burning with rage. She stared down at her needlelike blade.
“We’re drawing a line in the saaaaand. Fighting moms is our thiiiing. If we didn’t do thaaat, we couldn’t be ourseeeelves.”
Her eyes bewitchingly bleary, her smile clear as the sun, Sorella raised both hands. A tatami-sized magic tome appeared above her, the pages opening of their own accord.
“I’m gonna live my life however I want.”
Fratello braced herself, a fire sparking in those dazed-looking eyes. The fighter claws hidden beneath her long sleeves glinted.
The three Kings meant business. This was intense. They felt like truly worthy foes.
“I don’t know why you’re being so hotheaded. Please, just—”
“Mom, that’s enough. Respect your opponent’s dignity. I think we’ve gotta do things their way here. All the battles we’ve had, it’s natural to want to settle things properly.”
“Masato Oosuki…I thank you. I’m glad you were my enemy. Admittedly not an enemy I was ever that concerned about, but—”
“You really don’t need to make that point every time.”
Amante smiled faintly, but only for an instant.
“Right, first, defensive walls on the buildings, don’t want to damage anyone during the fight.”
“You got it! …Spara la magia per mirare… Barriera! And! Barriera!”
“A natural concern. Spara la magia per mirare… Alto Barriera!”
Wise and Medhi’s spells activated, putting up a powerful defensive wall around them, protecting buildings and passersby from physical and magic attacks.
The party mages were definitely leveling up.
“Masato! I made this attack-boost drink! Here!”
“The perfect buff for me! Thanks, Porta!”
Masato took the medicine bottle from Porta and chugged it.
He then drew Firmamento and raised it to the sky. He swung it lightly, not intending to put any force behind it—but the shock wave it unleashed was so powerful, it sliced the clouds in twain.
Masato was hella buffed.
“Not bad! Okay, Mom, let’s do this. For them.”
“Yes, I suppose it’s important to respect their feelings.”
“Yep. We’re ready. We can go all out.”
“Okay then. Mommy will do her best, too!”
Mamako took a deep breath, and her smile faded. Her hands grasped the hilts of her Holy Swords. Terra di Madre, the Holy Sword of the Earth, and Altura, the Holy Sword of the Ocean, called on the divine will of mothers respecting their children’s wishes, glittering with power.
The hero’s party had lived through one tough adventure after another, and now they were about to show what they could really do.
The Libere Kings weren’t scared or anything like that; no, they were just blinking a bit, like, slightly startled.
“G-good, you’re finally ready! Great! Let’s battle!”
“Let’s go all ooooout! Get theeeeem!”
“Settle this in a single blow.”
Blade against blade. Their eyes locked, sparks flying—and those sparks lit the fuse.
It was almost comforting. Like battles against storied rivals should be.
This was the end, and Masato felt a tinge of sorrow. But it soon passed.
“Amante! Sorella! Fratello! It ends here! Come on!”
At his howl, the final battle began…
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