Chapter 1 The Boy Thought He Was Embarking on a Great Adventure… But, Uh, What’s Going on Here?
“Everyone done?” the teacher asked. “Okay, back row, collect them for me.”
The students in back stood up and moved forward, collecting the questionnaires.
They’d been taking a survey on parent-child relationships. Not on a xeroxed sheet, but in those little booklets with the really nice paper. Like the answer booklets for a nationwide standardized test. This survey sure seemed important.
Because it was. The questionnaire was sponsored by the Cabinet Office’s Department of Policy on Cohesive Society and was intended to give them real-world data on today’s youth. In other words, it was part of the government’s long-term strategy.
“Still, I was certainly surprised to hear our school was selected to participate,” the teacher said. He was clearly quite proud. “You have been chosen to represent your generation! This is quite an honor. You should all be proud!”
For students forced to waste time filling out a survey right before school let out for the day, this was less of “What an honor” than “Seriously, let us go already. Who cares?”
Masato Oosuki was definitely in the latter group.
I just wanna get home and play my game… Stop wasting my time with this crap, geez.
Masato scratched his head impatiently and let out an exasperated sigh.
Right, calm down. You filled it out. You’re done. As soon as the students collecting them hand them in, you can go. Wrap this up already.
He tried to forget all about it and think about his game. Should he grind for rare drops and craft equipment at 100 percent odds or take a chance at 75 percent using common materials? He tried refocusing his mind on this dilemma.
But one thing bugged him.
“…What was with that last question?”
If you went on an adventure with your mom, would you become closer?
Masato had answered it as part of the survey. An official governmental policy study just up and asking something that ridiculous? Really?
“Was this written by a total idiot? I’ll bet it was.”
Was there any hope for Japan’s future? He wasn’t sure whether to shake his head or lament the country’s end.
But whatever. It’s over. Just gotta get home, and I can play my game to my heart’s content. Looks like we’re cool to leave. Let’s go, people!
“Oh, I was afraid of this,” the teacher announced, looking up from the pile of survey booklets. “That entry field on the last page of the survey isn’t for your name, kids! But one of you went ahead and signed your name there anyway. Won’t say who!”
He’d warned against that beforehand, right?
“Wait, did I…? Nah, couldn’t have… Whatever, game time!”
He felt as if the teacher had shot him a dirty look, but Masato was already out the door.
A few days later, it was the weekend.
His school had a half day, and Masato got home just past noon to find an extra pair of shoes in the front entrance. Looked like a pair of women’s pumps.
He felt as if his mom had several similar pairs, but given their placement right in the center of the foyer, these clearly belonged to a guest. He could hear voices chatting happily in the living room.
Friend of Mom’s? Should I say hello?
Should he help earn himself a rep as a good son? Or was he better off passing on whatever horrors that conversation might lead to?
He debated internally, but his body was linked directly to his id and burning with desire to get to his room and fire up his game. He started sneaking down the hall, hoping to slip past unnoticed…
…but it was to no avail.
“Those footsteps are Ma-kun’s! I’d know them anywhere!”
“Urgh…”
The living room door flung open, and Mamako Oosuki leaned out.
The sight of her always rattled Masato. Even though he was her son, her face always forced a single question into his mind.
…Is she really a mom? My mom?
She was just too young. Her appearance was undeniably, unambiguously too young.
As she beamed at him, there wasn’t a single wrinkle around her eyes, and her skin always glowed. The cuticles on her long, wavy hair were always perfect, bearing an angelic shine.
But she was not his father’s second wife. Mamako was a mom with a son in his first year of high school. She was a housewife who could easily pass for a teenage girl, a transcendent being.
And she acts young, too! Gawd, what is with my mom?
Her youth could only be described as a supernatural phenomenon. At a glance, there was nothing about her that said “mom”…and Masato just couldn’t handle that.
Yeah, that was the best way to put it. There was no real rejection; he didn’t hate her. He just wasn’t sure how to handle her or find the appropriate distance and preferred to avoid trying. Get it?
But the worst part was that she was wholly oblivious.
“Ma-kun, welcome home!”
A sweet, syrupy smile spread across her face, and she flung herself toward him as if a big hug was just inevitable. Too close for comfort.
“Argh, enough already! Lemme go!”
“Oh, too much? How was school?”
“The usual.”
“By ‘usual,’ you mean… Nothing bad happened, did it?”
“Nah.”
“Th-then you had a great time? Like always? …Oh! Did you already eat lunch? I could make you something!”
“I’m good.”
“You…mean you don’t need anything? You ate with a friend somewhere? Is that what you mean?”
“Yeah. Anyway, is this really the time for this? You’ve got company, right?”
“Oh! Yes, you’re right! I’ve got a very important guest. Would you come say hello? I’m just dying to show you off!”
“I’m good.”
“Does…that mean you’ll say hello?”
“Nah, it means I’ll pass. Obviously. Sheesh…”
Who would want to bother with something like that? Masato turned his back on Mamako, taking a second stab at slipping by the living room door. But as he did, he happened to glance through and catch the eye of the woman inside.
“Oh? Seems like your son’s home already!”
She didn’t look like any of his mom’s friends. An intelligent-looking, businesslike woman with long black hair, in a nice skirted suit. Like someone who sold insurance… No, there was something about her that suggested she didn’t do anything that ordinary. This hunch proved right.
The woman stood up, moved swiftly over to Masato, and showed him the ID hanging from her lanyard:
CABINET OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF POLICY ON COHESIVE SOCIETY, EXTERNAL SURVEYOR
Quite a long and imposing job title.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Masumi Shirase. As my name implies, I’ve come to inform you about some follow-up questions we have related to the recent cabinet survey.”
“Because…shirase means ‘to inform’? We’re just…starting off with bad puns, then?”
“Children at school made fun of me so mercilessly that I must inform you that I have long since decided to own it.”
This woman didn’t just have a complex about her name. She’d willfully chosen to handle it in the worst possible way.
Mamako was sidling closer to Masato again. She always stood far too close to him, convinced her son would accept it.
“Hey, Ma-kun! The survey Ms. Shirase is talking about…”
“Oh, you mean the parent-child-relationship one?”
“Wow! Got it in one! How’d you know?”
“We just took it at school.”
“Hunh…? Y-you did? Ma-kun, you didn’t say a word about it!”
“I don’t tell you everything, do I? And let go of me!”
His mom was snuggling up to him like a needy pet.
“So… Ms. Shirase, are we done with the survey?”
“No, just taking a short break because you jumped out of your seat the moment your son arrived. You certainly do seem to love him very much.”
“The feeling’s not mutual.”
“Whaaat?! Ma-kun, you love me, too, right? I know you do!”
“Gawd, just stop! And learn the concept of personal boundaries already! Also, stop calling me that awful nickname! I told you it’s embarrassing! Try to remember!”
“B-but…you’ll always be Ma-kun to me. I’ve always called you Ma-kun, so I just keep calling you Ma-kun! But if you don’t like Ma-kun, I’ll have to think of something to call you besides Ma-kun…”
“Just…stop talking!”
No matter how many times he pushed her away, she kept moving in close.
“Um, anyway, Ms. Shirase…I’m sure my mom’s running you ragged, but please carry on with your survey.”
“I will certainly try… Oh, one thing, if I may. The goal of the exercise is to get each parent’s and child’s opinions independent of one another, so…”
“So you don’t want us to know what the other says? You don’t want me eavesdropping on what you’re doing here?”
“Exactly. I see I had no need to inform you of that! Despite my name dictating that as my sole function in life!”
“Sorry about that… But, like, my mom’s answers…?”
When he was told not to listen, human nature made him want to do just that.
And if the answers were going to be what his mom actually thought of him?
What does she really think? I guess I’m a little curious…
But Shirase was conducting a formal government survey. If Masato eavesdropped and leaked info, that could cause a lot of trouble. He’d better do what she said.
“…Got it. I’ll hole up in my room, then.”
“Thank you for understanding. As soon as we’re done, I will come inform you. Until then, please relax in your room as you see fit. After all, shirase means ‘inform’!”
“Understood. I’ll be going, then!”
“Wait, Ma-kun! We’re still discussing what I should call you!”
“Don’t care.”
He dodged another of his mom’s advances and ran upstairs.
In the living room, after Masato’s exit, Mamako wiped her tears with a tissue, blew her nose, wiped her tears, blew her nose, blew her nose again, and finished off the box of tissues while explaining the delicate heart of a mother with a teenage boy.
“…I mean, I do try to understand. Ma-kun’s in high school now—of course it’s embarrassing to be close with his mom.”
“It does seem like that’s part of it. We’ve seen a number of similar results from the cabinet survey. I can inform you this is entirely typical. As my name means inform, you know that information must be true.”
“But I still want to be close to my own child. He’s the only one I’ve got!”
“Any mother would wish the same. I have a daughter of my own, so I understand.”
“You do? How old is she?”
“She’s five. Still quite a handful!”
“Five… Yes, indeed… They can walk around on their own and say all kinds of things but still throw their arms around your legs, crying ‘Mommy!’”
Remembering her own son at that age, Mamako’s expression grew even gloomier.
“Part of me wishes we could still be like we were then. But Ma-kun doesn’t seem up for it. I bought him a computer when he got into high school, but all he’s done since is play games. He barely speaks to me at all anymore.”
“Yes, he did seem to be trying to end the conversation quickly. Short responses like ‘The usual,’ ‘Nah,’ ‘I’m good,’ and ‘Yeah.’ But really, that’s just your typical teenager. I believe all you can do is maintain the right distance.”
“Yes… But that’s easier said than done…”
“True enough. Hmm… A typical teenage boy… This level of friction might be just about right. Hmm…”
Shirase thought for a moment, then quietly made up her mind and removed a document from her bag.
MMMMMORPG (WORKING TITLE) REGISTRATION FORM
She placed this document in front of Mamako.
“Then…you’ll accept my application?!”
“Yes. I believe the Oosuki family meets the conditions to participate in the program. Therefore, I will allow you to join. You’ll have to get ready at once.”
“R-right! What do I need…? I’ll have to get Ma-kun’s shoes first! Oh, and! We’ll have to tell Ma-kun all about it!”
“I will inform your son. Such is my name; such is my duty.”
“…Or so I thought, but despite my name, I don’t always inform people of what I should. A slightly mischievous side to me, if you will.”
“You realize I have absolutely no context for whatever you’re saying.”
Masato had been playing a game in his room when a voice suddenly announced itself behind him. He’d turned his head to find Shirase standing there.
“At least knock…”
“I did not want to break your concentration, so I knocked as quietly as humanly possible.”
Then the knock meant nothing.
Shirase looked over his shoulder at the screen.
“Hmm, an MMORPG?”
“Hey! Don’t look at…!”
“That frame rate is buttery. Your computer has an excellent graphics card, Masato. The whir of that fan is so comforting. And a low-latency monitor, too! Excellent taste.”
“Th-thanks…but this is just what my mom picked out for me. Said someone nice helped her out. You know a lot about computers?”
“In college, I spent a time holed up in my room, afraid people would mock me for my name. The computer OS was the only one who understood me. I did what I could to understand him, too.”
“I think that’s the kind of tragic backstory you’re best not informing people about.”
“Whether you wish to know or not, it is my duty to inform. That is the Shirase seal of quality. Now, to the point…”
“You’re here to inform me that you’ve finished interviewing my mom?”
“Indeed! And…I’m here to inform you that we’d like you to lead a different kind of life.”
“…What?”
Convinced she was talking nonsense again, Masato rolled his eyes. In that instant, Shirase yelled, “You let your guard down!” reaching out to tap the ESCAPE key. The game screen vanished instantly.
As Shirase stretched over Masato’s shoulder from behind, her breasts flattened against the back of his head. He yelped, and she snatched the entire keyboard away from him, opened the browser, and typed in a URL:
www8.cao.go.jp/ksn/mmmmmorpg……
“Hey! What are you doing?! What kind of site is that?!”
“One question, for reference purposes. Surveys conducted by the Cabinet Office have found that many players of online games harbor a desire to enter the game world, if they only could. Do you share that ambition, Masato?”
“W-well, sure. If I could. But I can’t!”
“What if I were about to grant that wish?”
“Huh? B-but that’s…”
Impossible. The word stuck in Masato’s throat.
The instant Shirase tapped the ENTER key, light poured out of his low-response monitor. The light washed over Masato like beachfront waves, enveloping him. Then it returned to the monitor, dragging Masato with it.
“Th-this isn’t… No way!”
“Yes! This is exactly that twist! You never saw it coming!”
“I’m being sent into the game wooooooooooooorld?!”
Masato stopped struggling. He released his hands from the edge of his desk, letting his body ride the current.
His body slipped inside the previously impenetrable monitor. Just then…
…Ma-kun! …Wait for me!
He thought he heard Mamako screaming. Had the commotion caught her attention and sent her running upstairs?
The light was blindingly bright. Masato couldn’t see his mom, but he turned to her and whispered:
“Sorry, Mom… I gotta go.”
Why had he apologized? Because he genuinely felt sorry.
With his father transferred away for work, it was just him and his mother. If her son vanished, his mother would be all alone. Masato knew how hard that would be on her. Part of him didn’t want to do that to her.
It wasn’t like Masato hated his mother.
Of course, he would never admit aloud that he loved her.
But she was the only mom he had, and that was important to him. He thought about her happiness sometimes and wanted to live up to the expectations she had for him.
But it was incredibly hard to express those emotions in actual words. He’d gotten hung up somewhere. Whether it was the fact that she looked too young to be his mom or something else, he just couldn’t handle her anymore. That was Masato’s current circumstance.
But…
I’m gonna have an amazing adventure, get really strong…then maybe I can be more honest with her. That would be nice…
He’d come back some day. And that day, he hoped to tell her, “I’m home,” gently, without embarrassment, and be welcomed with a hug.
With that lovely thought in mind, Masato crossed the boundary between worlds.
At last, Masato landed.
He found himself somewhere quite unlike his room. He was standing on a rock altar on the edge of a floating island, one of many such islands dotting the world beneath a wide-open sky.
There was a magic circle at his feet, still glowing dimly.
“Yikes…?!”
Something tiny ran past Masato’s feet: A lizard. With eight legs.
The tiny eight-legged lizard reared up, threatening him with a tiny burst of fire breath—but as ready for combat as it seemed, it immediately turned tail and fled.
There were no creatures like that anywhere in Japan. Or anywhere on the planet Earth, for that matter. Which meant… “No way… Really?” It had to be.
This was the game world? A fantasy world? For real? For real!
Masato yelled, “I’M HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE!”
I made it! I’m really here! Good-bye, reality! Hello, fantasy world!
The story I’ve been waiting my whole life for is finally, finally, finally about to begiiiiiiiin…!
Or so he thought.
“For goodness’ sake, Ma-kun. I said to wait a minute so I could come, too, but you didn’t even hesitate! You make me so sad sometimes.”
“…Huh?”
Hearing a really familiar voice, he turned around and saw a girl.
She was wearing a nice dress and holding an overnight bag so filled with stuff that the zipper wouldn’t close, as if headed out on a journey… No, wait.
She looked like a girl, but in fact, she was a little too old to be one.
It was none other than Masato’s mom, Mamako.
“…Uh… H-hold on… This can’t… This can’t be happening…”
“Ma-kun, you and me are going to have so many adventures together. Hee-hee!”
“WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!”
Masato had been transported into the game…with his mom!
Seriously?! With my own mom? No, no, this can’t be…
But it was.
“Now then, Ma-kun. This way! I’ll make sure you get there.”
“Y-yeah, sure…”
Masato gave up and started walking. She was pulling his arm, so he didn’t have much choice.
There were suspension bridges between the floating islands, and they crossed an especially imposing one, headed for a particularly large island.
The road was lined with statues of gods, and at the end of it was an impressive palace with a domed building at the center. Mamako seemed to be leading him there.
Right, calm down. Don’t give up. Think. You can keep up.
What did this mean? What was happening? Given everything that had transpired so far, it seemed safe to assume they’d definitely been transported into a fantasy game, but…
But Mom’s here. Gotta do something about that. Before anything else. Yeah.
“Uh, Mom? Why are you…?”
“Here we are! Apparently, there’s an event here first thing. This is going to be so much fun!”
“Huh?”
His head still reeling, he was dragged down a long passage to the event checkpoint.
They were in the center of the palace, under the domed roof. An old man on a throne was waiting for them.
He was well built, wearing gorgeous clothing and a train embroidered with gold and silver thread. He had a long white beard and wore a crown inlaid with jewels like some sort of… king…
“Welcome! I am the king, ruler of the Transport Palace!” Ding!
He actually was the king. Did he have a name besides King? There didn’t appear to be any soldiers or ministers around, just this guy.
“I’ve been waiting for your arrival! I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Thank you! It’s a great honor to be invited. Come on, Ma-kun. Where are your manners?”
“Oh, um… Thanks…?”
Following Mamako, Masato bowed his head before the throne, doing as he was told.
The king smiled broadly at them both and said, “Let us begin with your names. State them, please.”
“My name is Mamako. And this is my son, Ma-kun.”
“Lady Mamako and Lord My Son Ma-kun? Then let us register those names.”
“No—wait a second, Your Majesty! My name’s Masato! Masato!”
“Hmm. Then your mother is Mamako, and the son is Masato, correct? Then let us register those names.”
The king held up his hand. Two windows appeared in the air, demanding that names be entered. Mamako’s and Masato’s names appeared on them, and registration was complete.
“Uh… Wait, was that just the initial account setup?”
“Indeed. By the way, once registered, a name cannot be changed.”
“Tell us that first!!”
Accidentally registering with your real name was a common enough mistake, but when you couldn’t change it later? Even worse. Masato pounded his fist on the floor in frustration. At least there was a floor to take it out on.
“Dammiiiiiiiiit! Whyyyyyy?!” Bam, bam, bam.
“M-Ma-kun! Don’t punch the floor! What will the people downstairs think?”
“Hoh-hoh-hoh! There’s nobody living down there. Don’t worry. Punch away! But now that your accounts are set up, allow me to present you with your base stats. Accept these.”
The king wiggled his fingers, and the screens slid over to them. When they came to a halt, they were showing Masato’s and Mamako’s status pages.
Masato’s account name was Masato. Yep, just his real name. His job was listed as “Normal Hero.” There were numbers for attack and defense, and terms like “combat licensed” and “crafting forbidden.”
He glanced at Mamako’s status screen, and it also showed her real name, Mamako. Her job was “Normal Hero’s Mother.” She was listed as “combat licensed” and “crafting forbidden” as well.
He had a lot of questions, but most of all…
“Um, Your Majesty… Why am I a ‘Normal Hero’?”
“Normal means normal,” the king replied with a pleasant smile. “Nothing dramatic like saving the world. As a Normal Hero and a Normal Hero’s Mother, you should aim to get along normally, for normal happiness.”
With this mission statement delivered, he pointed far into the distance.
“Now be off, hero!”
He said this so theatrically you could almost hear the fanfare.
“Right, let’s go! …No, wait. We can’t go yet!”
Go where? Do what? This made no sense.
“Hmm? You can’t?”
“Of course not! You haven’t explained anything yet! What’s even going on?! I don’t even have the slightest idea!”
“Hmm. Then allow me to explain. Listen well!” The king cleared his throat and announced, “In the simplest terms, this is an online closed beta, and using certain techniques I couldn’t possibly explain, we’ve transported you into the game world! We’d like you to be our beta testers.”
“Geez, that’s kinda…simplistic…”
“Our test players are selected carefully based on the results of a certain survey…although we do sometimes pick poor fools who write the names on an anonymous survey. Because it’s easier to figure out who they are. I won’t name names.”
“Pffft, who’d do something like that? …Wait. No, it couldn’t be…”
He felt as if a booming voice were yelling “It is!” at him, but it had to have been his imagination. He hoped it was.
“As far as the game itself goes, as it’s still in testing, it doesn’t really have an official title yet. At the moment we’re just calling it MMMMMORPG (working title).”
“You realize adding extra unexplained Ms just makes it sound like a parody title, right?”
“The genre is your typical fantasy MMORPG. There are many job choices, and you can choose to play in combat or pacifist mode. You can go fight if you want, or you can focus on making items or decorating your home. Play however you like! You’re free to choose the play style that’s best for you.”
“Except in our case…”
“Yes, to gather performance data, we assigned you to jobs nobody else had picked yet. You can’t change them, I’m afraid.”
“So much for freedom. Just the way the world is, I suppose…”
Totally unfair, utterly unreasonable. The world as we know it.
But being selected as a beta tester was a pretty big deal. And test playing within the actual game? Masato was actually quite pleased about that. Feeling slightly better about things, he picked himself up off the floor.
“Sigh… Well, I think I get the gist, at least. Your standard online game, right?”
“Mm. I’m glad you understand. Lady Mamako, any questions from you? You understand how the game works?”
“W-well… Um…”
“Hmm? If something’s bothering you, let me know. I’d be happy to answer.”
The king gave her a friendly smile.
Looking totally lost, Mamako asked, “Well, then… What exactly is…an account?”
““You don’t even know that?!””
“Hmm,” the king said. “Just…out of curiosity, what do you think an account is, Lady Mamako?”
“Let’s see… An account is…” Mamako paused, thinking. “A…a…a…a…,” she repeated, counting on her fingers. Then she beamed as if she’d solved the riddle.
Yep. That was definitely about all Mamako knew about online gaming.
The king’s pleasant smile grew slightly strained, and he looked at Masato.
“Lord Masato, Lady Mamako is in your hands. Good luck!”
“Wha?! You’re just giving up?! Do something!”
“There is nothing more I can do!” Ding, ding!
“How did you make that sound like a proclamation?!”
“I am but a mere NPC! I can only say what the writers have written! If you wish me to explain the core fundamentals, prepare a text description of less than ten kilobytes! Do your jobs, management!”
“You’re running on a script but bad-mouthing upper management?! Whoa, that’s some impressive NPC scripting…”
“I should mention that this game contains both test players and NPCs, but it’s quite difficult to tell the difference. If you really need to distinguish, just hand them something smutty. NPCs will just read it verbatim, you see.”
“That hardly seems necessary…”
Then again, I could make them say…or… Nope, nope, I’m not doing that. Nope.
Right.
“I believe that’s enough talk. You’ll figure the rest out by playing!”
“Yeah, I suppose… It’s quicker to just jump right in instead of having you explain it to me… Wait?!”
Masato had almost accepted that this was ample explanation, when he realized he’d forgotten his biggest question.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on a sec. There’s still one big problem, and she’s standing right next to me!
Mamako had suddenly sneaked up beside him.
“H-hold on! We still haven’t addressed the biggest problem!”
“Yes, I can imagine what you’re about to ask, Lord Masato. You want to know why your mother is with you, correct?”
“Y-yeah! Explain that!”
“But I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Huh? Why not?! They didn’t prepare that text for you?!”
“That’s not it… It’s just that having your mother with you is intricately connected to this game’s purpose. For that reason, I shouldn’t elaborate further. A detailed explanation would result in us forcing our backer’s intentions on you, and that shouldn’t happen. It’s best if you figure it out yourself on your adventures and make your own decision to engage in it.”
“Huh? Um… Wh-what’s that supposed to mean…?”
“Your mother was given a more detailed explanation. Children should just enjoy themselves! Go where you please, adventure together, and let it take you where it will. With that…”
The king stood up and tapped his throne. It vanished into thin air, and the stone beneath it sank into the ground with a low rumble, revealing a spiral staircase.
“To the next scene! Come this way.”
“Stop! I’m not ready to proceed! I demand an explanation!”
“Now, now, just bear with me a minute. However unhappy and mistrustful you may be now, hero, I promise this next bit will make your jaw drop. We’ve got some presents for you!”
“You can’t trick me with crap like that!”
“What’s this, then? You don’t need the new-account first-login exclusive bonus?”
“E-exclusive…?”
Thwack! A direct hit.
Every online game had amazing exclusive items for early adopters… Who could resist those? There was no way Masato could pass up this chance. They were his! His alone!
He might be a hero, but how could he resist such temptation…?
At the bottom of the spiral staircase was another round room. There were a number of doors in the walls, each labeled with the name of a job: PALADIN, MAGE, FLORIST, FARMER, et cetera.
One of these was the HERO room. Following the king’s lead, Masato stepped inside, and what he saw made him forget all his doubts and frustrations. He gulped.
Swords. Beautiful swords.
“Wow… For real…?”
The room was made of stone that emitted a soft glow, and in the center of it was a boulder with three swords sticking out:
A sword the color of scorching-hot red lava; a sword that was deep blue, deeper than the sea itself; and a transparent sword the light shone through.
Masato had never seen a real sword before, but even he could instantly tell these were no ordinary blades. Rather than having the intimidating feel of weapons, these left him…awestruck, as if in the presence of something truly great.
“You can feel it, can you? You are a worthy hero.”
“W-well… I guess…”
“Now, Lord Masato. Pick whichever blade you like. I will entrust it to you.”
“…I can really take one?”
“You may. To tell the truth, these were created as the reward for a high-level quest, but gamers these days won’t bother if the exclusive first-login item isn’t something worthwhile. Basically, these are bait.”
“That’s…not what I wanted to hear.”
“Kids these days are so entitled! Heroes in my day used to set out armed with only a stick.”
“Sure, because the NES was soooo much better…”
“Well, Lord Masato. Your sword.”
“R-right…”
Masato stepped forward and without hesitation grabbed the translucent sword.
Why that one? Masato wasn’t even sure himself. It just felt right.
I wonder why… I’m just sure this is the one for me… No doubt about it.
The sun, the moon, stars. The hilt was covered in detailed metalwork depicting celestial bodies. Masato grabbed that hilt and pulled out the sword.
“Interesting. Lord Masato, you are a hero chosen by the heavens above.”
“Chosen by the heavens…?”
“The sword you’ve selected is the Great Holy Sword of the Heavens, Firmamento. Long ago, when this land was shrouded in darkness, a single swing of this legendary blade tore that darkness to pieces. According to the item description anyway.”
“Again, didn’t need that last bit. Either way, this is clearly an amazing sword. Although based on that backstory, I’m not exactly clear on how amazing. Specifically.”
“Then let me give you a clearer version.”
The king put on a pair of reading glasses and pulled a book out of his pocket. It said Official Guide on the cover. He flipped through it.
“Mm, Firmamento… 2× damage versus flying monsters, 3× critical rate. Of the event items, top-class attack. Can’t be sold.”
“That’s easier to follow but sort of ruins the mystique. At least try to respect the world building…”
“Don’t worry—we’ll make the proper edits for the official release.”
Masato didn’t think this being a beta was an excuse to phone it in. They could definitely try a little harder…but the king didn’t seem open to feedback, so he let it pass.
Anyway.
“What say you, Lord Masato? Getting into the spirit of things now?”
“Um… W-well…”
The king was right. He was hooked. The instant he’d laid his hands on Firmamento, the Holy Sword of the Heavens, Masato had felt something change inside him.
There’s a sword. In my hand.
That sensation was calling out to him. The desire burning in the heart of any man—the urge to do battle, as strong a desire for any male as the urge to live itself.
And the sword Masato held was legendary. A top-tier weapon. A promise that at the end of his adventure, at the end of his battle, he would be the best there was.
What reason could he have to cast aside such an honor? However long he searched for one, he would never find it.
“Sigh… I hate letting you talk me into it, but you have.”
“I know how you feel, but just accept it. This is your duty as a hero, Lord Masato.”
“Is it? I guess the whole hero thing really doesn’t make sense to me yet.”
“What are you saying? You hold the sword of legend in your hand! Only a hero could ever wield such a weapon! This is proof that you are, indeed, a true hero. Without question.”
“M-man, when you say it like that…it’s kinda awkward…”
Masato was a hero, without question. A true hero. A hero!
“No need to be embarrassed, Lord Masato. This is your calling! This world needs a savior. You are the chosen one!”
“P-pleeeease, don’t be silly! You’re too kind!”
A hero. The savior. The chosen one. If that wasn’t a three-blow knockout combo, what was?
“I merely state the truth. That is, whether this game ever launches to the public depends on these test results. It depends on what you do here. I’m begging you, help bring this world to the next stage! You’re the only one who can!”
“What’s that you saaay? Well, if you put it that way, I guess I’ll tryyyy—”
“Hee-hee-hee, I knew you’d say that, Ma-kun! I’m so proud of my little man!”
“Um…you are? Well, then… Hold on…”
“Maybe I should take some swords, too! Here we go!” Pop, pop.
Mamako pulled out the lava and deep-sea swords as well.
The legendary swords that only the chosen could use, and she’d just picked two of them up.
The king’s flurry of compliments had gone to Masato’s head, but this completely pulled the rug out from under him. Uh, wait? What’s going on? Can someone please explain?
“Er…um…Your Majesty? How…?”
“I’m sorry. I can say no more. Forgive this poor fool of an NPC… Oh, right, pass this guidebook on to Lady Mamako, would you? Good day!”
Pressing a gift for Mamako into Masato’s hands, the king turned and ran away.
They left the HERO room through a door at the back and found themselves in a circular arena. There were no stands or audience, just a single stage in the center of a vast space. This was clearly going to be the tutorial battle.
Masato stood at the end of the stage, skimming the manual. He found the information he was after soon enough.
“Terra di Madre and Altura…”
The names of the swords Mamako had snatched.
The red one was Terra di Madre, the Holy Sword of Mother Earth. Borne from the earth at the moment of its creation, this sword was life itself—the origin of all existence, apparently.
The dark-blue one was Altura, the Holy Sword of Mother Ocean. One miraculous swing of this sword had tamed the great flood that ravaged the world. The manual said it was a symbol of the agreement the earth and the sea had made, dividing the world between them.
But just how good were these two swords, actually? According to their raw data:
Terra di Madre: 2× damage versus land monsters, 3× critical rate. Attacks all. Of the event items, top-tier attack. Can’t be sold.
Altura: 2× damage versus aquatic monsters, 3× critical rate. Attacks all. Of the event items, top-tier attack. Can’t be sold.
According to the entries, the “attacks all” feature worked by dividing damage among the enemies. In other words, there was a set amount of total damage one strike would do, and that amount was divided evenly by the number of enemies being attacked.
In practice, these weapons… Well…
“Watch me, Ma-kun! Let’s see what Mom can do! …Hyah!”
Mamako held Terra di Madre high over her head and swung it down.
Countless sword-shaped rock spikes shot out of the ground, thrusting themselves at the group of monsters.
“Graaaaah?!” “Kreeeeeee?!” “Uuunhf?!” “Raaaaargh?!”
The ant, caterpillar, spider, wolf, and bear monsters facing Mamako were instantly cut in half, utterly destroyed. Quite easily, in fact.
But a moment later, another pack of monsters appeared!
“I’m not giving up! I need to show Ma-kun what I can do! …Hyaaah!”
Mamako used her other hand, swinging Altura horizontally.
Water appeared when the blue blade passed, dividing into countless drops, which fired themselves at the monsters like bullets.
“Raaaaargh?!” “Krkrkrkrkrkr?!” “Guhuuuh?!” “Uuuurgh… Gruhhh…!”
Pelted with this ultrasonic water volley, the monsters were filled with holes, their bodies collapsing in the blink of an eye. The second wave of enemies was wiped out. Again, quite easily.
But the battle still wasn’t over! In the sky above, a monster’s silhouette!
“Ma-kun, now’s your chance to show me your strength! Go for it!”
“…Uhhh, okay…”
Masato closed the guidebook and waved Firmamento in the enemy’s general direction.
As he did, a crescent-shaped beam shot out of the transparent sword, chasing the enemy upward. Its path curved, following the monster’s movements and scoring a direct hit.
“SQUAWK?!”
The single sparrow-sized monster passing overhead fell out of the air, reduced to dust.
He’d defeated a monster!
Masato collapsed to the ground, weeping salty tears.
“…Sniff… This isn’t right… It’s all wrong… It’s gotta be…”
“Wh-what’s wrong, Ma-kun?! Did you hurt yourself?! Let Mommy see!”
“No! That’s not it… That’s not it at all… Augh…”
Firmamento was impressive in its own right. It shot a homing beam! Definitely pretty great. He could be sure of that. He could be proud of that. Cool.
But Mamako’s regular attacks hit all targets, and she was dual wielding, which meant she could make two-hit strikes.
His mom had easily slaughtered a dozen enemies, while Masato…
Mine was just…sad…
How could he not cry? He was fully prepared to go to bed and sulk. It was the only reasonable reaction.
Mamako came running over to her son.
“Ma-kun, cheer up! Your attack was amazing! I was so surprised when that beam went rocketing out of that clear blade of yours! You were super cool, Ma-kun!”
“Please stop trying to cheer me up. I’ve fallen as low as a man can already, and you’re digging me an even deeper hole.”
“I-I’m not trying to! I mean… L-look, let’s start by standing up! Together we’ll finish this tut…toot… Oh, what was it called again…?”
“…Toot-toot train.”
“Right, that! I did one of those once, with a friend. It was that Funnel Fan game.”
“It definitely wasn’t. And this isn’t like that! We’re not all standing in a row, for one.”
“Th-that’s true—I suppose now’s not time to reminisce. Um… Well anyway, we’re done here, so let’s go see what’s next! I’m sure it’ll be a hoot!”
And with that, Mamako grabbed his arm and tried to hoist him up.
Masato brushed her off.
“M-Ma-kun…?”
“If you want an adventure so bad, why not just go on one yourself? You’ll get out in the field and might find yourself surrounded by a bunch of monsters, but with your firepower, I’m sure you’ll be fine. Go knock that prologue dead.”
“Firepower? I don’t have any fire powers. I’m not exactly a Bunsen burner, you know!”
“That’s…not the kind of fire I mean.”
Firepower was your attack stat. The same fire as in firearms—guns. Maybe a bit too advanced a term for his mom. Whatever.
“Sigh… Look, just go already. Leave me alone.”
“B-but…”
Masato was just done. Done with all of this. He’d have given up on breathing if that had been an option. He flopped down on the ground, pretending to be dead. Corpses didn’t answer their moms.
“Sniff… Ma-kun… I—I don’t know what to do when you get like this… Oh, wait!”
Mamako reached out and picked up the guidebook Masato had dropped. She began flipping through the pages, searching for a needle in a haystack.
“There has to be something in here… Strategies for when your hero son doesn’t want to adventure with you…”
“As if a guidebook would have such a specific strategy like that!”
“‘When he learns that you can perform two-hit multi-target attacks, your son will be overjoyed. He’ll give you a big hug and beg you to adventure with him.’ Well, that’s not true! You weren’t happy at all, Ma-kun!”
“…I admit, most people probably would be.”
“They would?!”
“Well, yeah. It’s a high-firepower AOE, right? And it does two hits! If you ran into a player like that, you’d super want them in your party. You’d pay to have them join.”
“Then…why aren’t you happy? Is it…?” Mamako thought for a moment, then it dawned on her. Reluctantly, she asked, “Is it…? I’m sure this isn’t true, but could it be…because I’m your mom?”
“That is exactly my problem… Can I ask you something?” Masato sat up, facing Mamako.
He tried his best not to be mad, not to yell at her. This was important.
“Could you explain this?”
“E-explain what?”
“Everything. All of this. Explain what’s going on here. You know, don’t you? That king dude said they’d filled you in ahead of time. That government lady told you something, right?”
“Well…”
“To be honest, just getting thrown into a video game is already pretty nuts, but I’m all in favor of that, so I’ll let it slide. But this is pretty different from what I’d imagined that scenario would be like. And the key difference there is that you’re here with me.”
“I’m sure other moms get thrown into video games with their sons sometimes…”
“They don’t! Not ever! It isn’t even possible! If that happened all the time, it would be a nightmare! Moms have no place in young men’s fantasies! They’re just in the way!”
“Humph. Now you’re just being mean, Ma-kun. I’m hopping mad right now!”
Mamako puffed her cheeks out, sulking. “Hopping mad.” Geez, she’s cute.
No, no, wait, wait! That’s my mom! She’s, like, forty! Well outside the acceptable range of “cute”! Not the point anyway!
“Cut it out! Stop messing around and answer the question!”
“R-right! I’m answering!”
“Why are you here with me? What’s going on? Explain it all. In detail.”
“B-but… They said I shouldn’t explain at first… They said we should adventure together, and the experiences we had would build on one another, and eventually you’d figure it out yourself…”
“Come on! Just tell me! I’m frustrated enough as is! Please, Mom… If you don’t, I’ll…”
“Y-you’ll what?”
“I’ll never speak to you again!”
A flash of anger sparked those words. His mounting frustration made his mouth move on its own.
Words spoken in the heat of the moment, unleashed on Mamako with all the heat intact…and they scored a direct hit. Her smile faded.
“…Oh… No, I didn’t mean…,” Masato stammered, aware he’d crossed a line. Too late.
Mamako stared at him, stunned. Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
She stared directly at him, crying.
“…I’m sorry. I just don’t know how or what to explain. Ms. Shirase and her people have a lot they’re working on, and I just don’t know how much of it I can tell you.”
“Oh, uh… Okay. I get it. If you can’t say, then…”
“But there is one thing I should tell you. I would never trick you. I would never do anything to try to hurt you, Ma-kun. Will you believe that, at least?”
“Yeah, I do…”
“I just want to get along with you, Ma-kun. I want to go on an adventure with you, talk to you about things, tackle different challenges with you, become closer as a family. That’s all. So… Sniff… So…”
“All right! All right already. I get it! I promise I understand!”
“So please…just…”
“Y-yeah…”
“Just don’t say anything that awful ever again… That was the worst thing anyone has ever said to me in all my life… It broke my heart.”
The tears were still flowing down her cheeks, like waterfalls of sadness.
Masato had really done it this time.
He’d made his own mother so sad she couldn’t stop crying. It was his fault she was like this.
There was nothing worse a child could do.
What the hell am I even doing…?
This wasn’t even about his feelings. She’d brought him into this world, given him life, and wanted nothing more than for him to be happy. His soul couldn’t bear the idea of making her this miserable. He couldn’t stand it. He couldn’t even bear to look away.
Masato sat upright and then bent over until his forehead touched the arena stage.
“I’m sorry, Mom! I didn’t mean that! I would never do something like that! It just came out… I didn’t mean it at all! So…!”
Forgive me. Don’t cry. He was about to plead with her further when…
He felt her hands rubbing his head. Her gentle touch ruffling his hair, as if lightly scolding him.
“…M-Mom?”
“You know what I love more than anything, Ma-kun? When you’re being nice to me. When you’re being considerate.”
“I-I’m just…really sorry I said that.”
“I’m glad to hear it… That’s enough, now. Raise your head.”
“Um, uh… Okay…”
Masato glanced up, but he could still see the tears on her cheeks glistening. He couldn’t stand to stare directly at them, so he looked away.
“Now, now. Look at the person you’re talking to!” Mamako scolded.
“S-sorry,” he said, forcing himself to face her again.
Mamako watched him expectantly. She clearly wanted to join his party.
“Argh, I never dreamed my mother of all people would ever look at me like that…”
“Hey! Eyes on me! Listen when I’m speaking!”
“Y-yeah…”
“I just want to go on an adventure with you, Ma-kun! Will you add me to your party?”
Add Mom to party?
No doubt remained. He had only one option available.
“…Well, okay, then. I’m sure your firepower will be a huge help. I guess you can join the party. I guess…you can come with me.”
“Then I will! We’re going to have the best time, Ma-kun!”
“Right, um… I hope we will, Mom.”
Mamako joined the party.
“But, Ma-kun, let me make one thing clear.”
“Mm? What?”
“I don’t have fire powers. I’m not a Bunsen burner!”
“God, how many times do I have to tell you that’s not what the word means?!”
Masato couldn’t shake the feeling the greatest enemy they would face on this journey was his mother’s comprehension skills.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login