Chapter 405 Willope’s Mother ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
While Kento, the proprietor of the magic circuit shop “Harvest”¹, was being informed by Queen Cecile regarding the return of Sister Amelia and the impending visit of the “Holy Figure”² Loire-Rose… in the heart of the Willope Empire³ to the east, a man was rushing noisily into the innermost depths of the imperial castle.
”Mother! Lady Karla!”
”…How tiresome. I have told you time and again, I am not your mother.”
”Ha! And yet, Mother is the mother of our very nation…”
The man was clad in opulent robes, an individual whose years had transitioned from middle age toward the threshold of senescence. Yet, in stark contrast to his dignified appearance, he knelt before “Mother” as if he were a mere scullery maid.
”That is merely a name you all have foisted upon me. I possess a perfectly fine title which I bestowed upon myself: the Phantom Fairy Spirit Emperor⁴. If you must address me, use that…”
”Perish the thought! For one such as I to speak Great Mother’s title so lightly…!”
”No, that is precisely why I am telling you to call me by it…”
”I beg of you! Please, grant me your forgiveness…!”
”Muu…”
In contrast, the woman addressed as “Mother” was an Elf. She possessed hair the color of withered leaves and pointed ears. A single length of cloth, woven from the finest silk, was draped over her shoulder, flowing across her front and back; beyond that, she wore nothing at all.
Even in this world where magic was a reality, her presence – a confluence of exquisite beauty and fragile transience – was enough to make one mistake her for a literal phantom at a single glance. Despite that, the sight of her sulking like a child because she wasn’t called by the rather embarrassing title she’d invented for herself was quite the sight indeed.
”You’ve become a boring man, Little Dee… In your youth, you used to say such darling things. ‘Then I’ll become the Strongest Diamond Great Emperor! I’ll be even stronger than Father!’”
”I implore you, truly, stop. If you tell my children that, they won’t speak to me for a week.”
”I have already told them. Since you keep popping them out one after another, I get to enjoy a fresh reaction every single time.”
”Mother!!!!!”
The man called Little Dee cried out her name with an expression twisted by a cocktail of despair, humiliation, and rage, but she simply maintained a serene, detached composure. Given the vast gulf between the lifespans of Elves and humans, perhaps this sort of ‘child-handling’ was a common occurrence.
”Kukuku. So, you seemed quite flurried – is your business concluded, Little Dee?”
”…Naturally, there is a matter I wish to bring to your attention… I will not ask you to address me as Emperor, but at the very least, call me Demandyl…”
”Very well, Demandyl. And you, cease this ‘Mother’ business.”
”…Ha. As you wish, Lady Karla.”
The man known as Little Dee – the Emperor of the Willope Empire, Demandyl – and the mysterious Elf, “Mother” Karla. Having finished their banter, it seemed the two were finally ready to address the main topic. It was a ritual both found somewhat tedious yet perhaps secretly enjoyed; neither was of a temperament to speak seriously without first enduring this customary exchange.
At times they spoke of Demandyl’s philandering, or Karla’s habit of exposure (she technically covered the essentials, though he argued it was poor for the children’s education), or news of the children Karla looked after. From petty grievances to sharp rebukes, speaking of anything and everything was the desire and tradition of Karla and the Willope Royal House (now the Imperial House).
It began before Willope was a nation. Even before Willope became the front line in the war against monsters. It traced back to the encounter between Karla and the youth who would become the progenitor of the Willope line… but that is a tale for another time. Demandyl began his urgent report.
”It appears Loire-Rose intends to visit the Canaria Kingdom.”
”…Hmph. And who was this Loire-Rose again?”
”The ‘Holy Figure’ of this era.”
”Ah… That heretical cult is still stubbornly clinging to life, I see…”
To the eternally living Karla, the Church of Demon-Subjugation was nothing more than a heretical sect. Elves had their own faith, as did the Beastmen once upon a time. A religion manufactured by mere humans was a suffocating thing for other races.
While she had found them useful in the past, to the current Karla, they were merely an obstacle to her Great Ambition. If they stood in the path of herself and Willope, she saw no choice but to prune them away.
”The Canaria Kingdom… that was the western nation, yes? They are quite persistent as well. It would have been simpler had they allowed themselves to be absorbed quietly…”
”Furthermore, they have become too powerful to ignore in recent years. Do you recall the report of the two Great Dragons being subjugated?”
”Umu. Even I do not forget the events of a few months prior.”
”You say that, and yet you never managed to remember the date of my coronation, did you?”
”…Stop grumbling about trifles. It makes you sound like an old man.”
”As you can see, I am, in fact, nearly an old man.”
”…Muu. …Do not say such lonely things.”
”…Ha. My apologies.”
Karla did not typically dwell on individual events. Part of it was age, but it was also a philosophy – that the movements of the world were part of a vast current, and there was little sense in oscillating between joy and sorrow. However, it was a different matter when it concerned the children of Willope; she had never once forgotten the name of a child she loved. That was the kind of Elf she was.
”So, the slaying of two Great Dragons. That was quite thrilling. To think mere humans could bring down a Lust Dragon⁵ using a magic circuit.”
”The Lust Dragon, you say…?”
”Umu. The elder Elves called it such. I witnessed a subjugation via a ‘Holy Relic’ once, though being an Elf, I could not grasp the mechanism. But, if it is a magic circuit…”
”…Have humans finally reached that domain of magic? It is a pity such an invention did not spring from our own soil.”
”Indeed. It adds to our labor, but it is a stroke of luck. If we swallow the Canaria Kingdom whole, we shall be two steps closer to our Great Ambition.”
”Exactly so. The problem lies in the method of that absorption.”
A single word from Karla was worth a thousand gold pieces. However, since she only spoke of what interested her, extracting critical information was often a trial. But this time, it seemed she was speaking of something vital. Demandyl etched her words into his mind, resolving to record them later, and prompted her to continue.
”The ‘Holy Figure’ is attempting to make contact with Canaria. Ostensibly to reward the nun who contributed to the fall of the two Great Dragons.”
”Fumu… A magic circuit and a nun… The times truly are changing…”
”We have already driven a wedge of division between that nun and the ‘Holy Figure.’ If we eliminate one – or perhaps both – we can alienate the Kingdom from the Church, leaving both sides weakened and in chaos…”
”…If we are to kill, let it be the ‘Holy Figure.’ To bring misfortune upon that nun… one who threw herself into the fray against monsters and contributed so much… it would be a pity. Though, of course, that depends on her future conduct.”
”Then it shall be so. However, in the event of an emergency, I assume I have your leave?”
”Umu. It cannot be helped. For the sake of our Great Ambition, a few sacrifices are inevitable…”
Karla and Demandyl nodded to one another with expressions of absolute normalcy. They shared the same goal and the same vision; their logic was identical. Karla thought to herself that if the previous generation had possessed half this much understanding, this child wouldn’t have had to struggle so.
Regardless, it seemed Demandyl’s report was finished. The rest would play out while she toyed with the children, as was her wont. How long had it been since she’d had to lift a finger herself? Would there come a day when her counsel was no longer required?
The children had grown great, and the nation had flourished… perhaps not perfectly, but to a satisfying degree. It was a source of joy, yet it brought a certain loneliness – and a touch of boredom.
Truthfully, she wished to meet the one who crafted the magic circuit that slew the dragons, and the nun who fought them. But Demandyl would surely be furious… he would worry, and he would sulk.
Nothing goes quite as planned… Eventually, she would be like the old human folktale: growing roots, spreading branches, and turning into a giant tree that shaded the entire nation. That wouldn’t be so bad, she suppose…
Demandyl sensitively picked up on the drift of Karla’s thoughts. This lady would never say it aloud, nor did she think poorly of him, but if there were some small amusement to be had…
It was that sentiment that spurred him to a bit of mischief. He happened to have an item in his breast pocket pertaining to that very magic toolmaker Karla had shown interest in.
”On the subject of that magic toolmaker…”
”Fumu. What of him?”
”It seems his primary business is… the sale of rather peculiar magic circuits…”
”Oh? Peculiar how?”
”…Like this.”
What Demandyl produced was the “Harvest” shop’s signature weapon (?): the “Tremble-Buddy”⁶. Karla blinked her almond-shaped eyes at the unexpectedly lewd object.
”Pff – hah! Hahahaha! A ddo!? You brought such a thing to me!?”
”…Indeed. However, it is quite a fascinating device. Try pressing that protrusion there.”
”Fumu. Like this…? Pff – fuhahaha! It’s vibrating! It’s actually vibrating! Hahahaha! What on earth is this!?”
How long had it been since he’d seen “Mother” laughing so hard she had to hold her stomach? It might have been the first time since he’d reached manhood. He’d originally ordered it for his time with his wives, but if it pleased her this much, it was a worthy offering.
Following this, an emboldened Emperor Demandyl would find himself purchasing every single item in the “Harvest” catalog at the behest of “Mother”…
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Summary:
The scene shifts to the Willope Empire where Emperor Demandyl visits the ancient Elf Karla, known as the ‘Mother of the Nation.’ They discuss the political threat posed by the ‘Holy Figure’ visit to Canaria and the impressive subjugation of two Great Dragons using Kento’s magic circuits. The chapter ends on a comedic note as Demandyl presents a ‘Tremble-Buddy’ vibrator to Karla, sparking her rare laughter.
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Trivia:
- Karla is an Elf and lives much longer than humans, hence her mother-like relationship with the Imperial family.
- Willope was originally the front line in the war against monsters.
- Karla considers the Church of Demon-Subjugation a ‘heretical cult.’
- The ‘Lust Dragon’ (Shikiyoku-ryuu) is one of the dragons Kento helped slay.
- Demandyl has a ‘habit’ of bringing adult goods for his wives, which he redirects to Karla here
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Character Insight:
Karla shows a mix of ancient weariness and genuine affection for the ‘children’ of the Willope line. Demandyl, despite being an Emperor, is completely subordinate to her. Both prioritize their ‘Great Ambition’ over moral concerns, showing a more ruthless political side compared to Kento’s shop focus.
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Behind the Scenes:
The contrast between the serious political plotting (assassination of the Holy Figure) and the absurdity of the ‘Tremble-Buddy’ is a staple of this series’ tone.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Loire-Rose – The current Saintess, possessing a divine appearance yet a modern, playful, and irreverent attitude that clashes with Church tradition. She has white hair, pale skin, blue eyes, and wears clergy robes.
• Amelia – The Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating, who usually buys from Kento, has light blue hair.
• Cecile – A queen in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Karla – An Elf woman referred to as Mother or the Mother of the Nation. Self-titled Phantom Fairy Spirit Emperor. Has withered-leaf colored hair and pointed ears. Wears only a single length of silk cloth flowing front and back.
• Demandyl – Emperor of the Willope Empire. Known as ‘Dee-boy’ (Dee-bou) by Karla. A man past middle age approaching old age, wearing opulent robes. He has children and wives.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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