Chapter 406 Willope’s Mother ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Karla, the elven Matriarch known simply as Mother, sat in the deepest sanctum of the Imperial Castle. She had just finished her audience with Emperor Demandyl Willope. In her hand, she idly toyed with a Treble Ddo-Buddy¹, a curious smirk playing across her lips. It was a sensation she found altogether strange.
”Heh… honestly, I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard. This is why the world of mortals is so perpetually entertaining,” Karla said to the empty room.
No matter how many centuries one lived, there would always be someone who defied logic. This was exactly why she had never craved a life of silence in the deep woods. What sort of man would think of scattering such… contraptions upon the populace?
If the goal were merely to provide carnal pleasure, or to turn a woman into putty, there were far more potent magical means at her disposal. Beside those, this harigata²-this toy-seemed almost quaint.
The “Forbidden Tool” classifications of the Church meant nothing to her; she had the skill to handle such items with perfect safety. Not that she had much personal use for them-her own fire had long since faded, like leaves in autumn. And yet, she felt a flicker of intellectual curiosity.
”Ah… I see now,” she murmured.
Karla leaned in, her elegant features brushing against the device. Her supple fingers traced the underside of the shaft, playfully flicking the bulbous tip.
She surmised that the creator of this magic circuit³ found his own ecstasy in the act of pleasing. It was a charmingly transparent manifestation of desire. The sheer effort invested far outweighed the practical utility-a labor of love, however peculiar.
She wasn’t entirely wrong, though Kento’s effort was mostly born of limited options. Still, Karla let her imagination paint a portrait of the craftsman.
”I’d love to see how this mechanism actually functions, but it would be a shame to take it apart. I suppose I must wait for Dee-boy to fetch me a spare,” she whispered.
She clicked the switch, feeling the rhythmic thrum cycle through its settings. It was a sensation entirely new to her long life. For the first time in an age, Karla felt a pulse of genuine, girlish excitement.
’Perhaps I should test it properly. My desires may be dormant, but the machinery of womanhood remains… though I wonder if I can still produce enough moisture. I’ll likely need to prepare some lubricant…’
Her private musings were cut short by the pitter-patter of small feet. Not just one or two pairs, but a small army. Replacing her smirk with a soft, maternal smile, she quickly tucked the device into her desk drawer. This was certainly not for their eyes.
”Mother! Mother!”
”Are you done talking yet?”
”Come to the garden with us!”
”The flowers are all out!”
A swarm of children-dozens of them-burst into the room. Karla looked after them all: royal heirs, children of high nobility, and nameless orphans alike. To them, bloodlines didn’t matter; they only knew her.
”Very well, my darlings,” Karla said, standing up. “Shall I teach you how to weave flower crowns today?”
”Yes!” the children cheered in unison.
They tugged at her hands, dragging her out into the sun-drenched courtyard. The air was warm, smelling of fresh-cut grass and innocent joy. This was Karla’s true work. She had always loved children, ever since the days she wandered the streets picking up strays and playing with the village youth.
Over time, her “children” had grown up to be kings and protectors. They had built her a mansion, then a palace, and eventually begged her to stop wandering for her own safety. She had yielded, but only because she couldn’t bear to see them worry.
Now, the Gendarmerie brought her orphans they found on their rounds, and the nobles sent their own children to be raised in her light. They all called her Mother. While she found the lack of freedom slightly stifling, she could never say no to their smiles. She was the Mother of Willope, a secret kept in the heart of the empire.
”Mother, look at mine!” one girl shouted.
”Oh, that’s wonderful. Come here, and I shall grant you a coronation,” Karla replied.
”A… coronation?” the girl asked, tilting her head.
”It means I place this crown upon your head and declare you worthy of the honor.”
”Wait! Like an Emperor? Can I be the Emperor?” a boy asked, eyes wide.
”Mmm. If you play hard, eat well, and study with all your heart, you surely can. But remember-no fighting. Whichever of you wears the real crown, the others must offer their blessing,” Karla said firmly.
”I don’t really get it… but okay!” the boy chirped.
Karla stroked the head of the boy-a child once left to starve under a bridge-and settled the blossoms upon his brow. Soon, every child was clamoring for their own coronation. Karla ended up draped in flowers, her arms ringed with woven stems from wrist to shoulder.
”Mother is the greatest Emperor of all!” a child giggled.
”Indeed. You may call me the Empress of Phantoms,” Karla laughed.
”So cool! Then I’m… the Strongest… Diamond…!”
”No, no,” Karla said, patting his cheek. “That title belongs to Dee-boy. You shall be… the Invincible Sovereign. Yes, that suits you.”
”The Invincible Sovereign! That’s me!”
The game continued, titles being traded like sweets. She corrected the ones that were too similar to heroes from centuries past and praised the ones that sounded fresh and bold. The children were a whirlwind of noise, exhausting themselves until, one by one, they collapsed onto Karla’s lap.
As the sun began to dip, casting long, amber shadows, they huddled close to her.
”My, my. We’ve had a busy day. Did everyone have fun?” Karla asked.
”WE DID!” they shouted.
Karla’s smile in the twilight was radiant. The children watched her, captivated by a beauty that seemed to glow from within.
”Mother! What about tomorrow? What are we doing then?” a small boy asked.
”Tomorrow? We shall decide that when the sun rises.”
”But… Mommy and Daddy always say we have to plan for the future!”
”Planning is important,” Karla said softly. “But the future isn’t tomorrow. It’s much further away. If you think about what the world should look like in a hundred years, tomorrow takes care of itself.”
”I see… I want to be playing here with everyone a hundred years from now, too,” the boy whispered.
Karla felt a sharp pang in her chest. A hundred years from now, these voices would be silent. But perhaps, she told herself, their great-grandchildren would be running on this very grass. It had to be so.
”To ensure that, we need our Great Wish⁴. You haven’t forgotten it, have you?”
”No way! We hear it every day!” the children cried.
”Tell me, then. All together now…”
”A land unconquered, a realm undying!” the children chanted.
It was the oath she had sworn with the first King of Willope. A country that would endure. Willope had grown on the back of that promise, but Karla knew it wasn’t enough. Not yet.
The world was still full of terrors-dragons and demons that made a mockery of human walls. The Church thought the danger had passed, but they were blind. Karla, with her Elven sight, could see a thousand years of threats yet to come.
They had to be stronger. The entire continent needed to be forged into a single, unbreakable shield.
”Good. Very well done. Now, everyone, inside. Don’t forget to wash the dust from your hands and faces,” Karla said.
”YES, MOTHER!”
They scattered back toward the castle. Those with parents ran to find them; the others clung to Karla’s skirts. She hoisted one child onto her back and stroked the hair of another.
’A hundred years from now, it must be like this. A thousand years from now, it shall be like this.’ For the sake of the children, she would see the Great Wish fulfilled.
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Summary:
Karla examines a new adult magical item from Kento’s shop, finding its creator’s intent charming. She then spends the afternoon in the Imperial garden with dozens of children she treats as her own. The chapter concludes with Karla reflecting on her ancient oath to build an indestructible nation for the future of these children.
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Trivia:
- Karla is an Elf and has lived long enough to know the First King of Willope.
- The ‘Church of Demon-Subjugation’ considers Kento’s items ‘Forbidden Tools.’
- Karla’s title ‘Mother of Willope’ is a secret known only to a few.
- The Emperor (Demandyl) was raised by Karla and is referred to by a nickname.
- Karla has the ability to see threats a thousand years into the future
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Character Insight:
Karla shows a duality between her hedonistic/curious nature regarding adult items and her deep, selfless maternal love for children. Her motive for supporting the Empire is rooted in preserving the happiness of future generations.
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Behind the Scenes:
The contrast between the ‘Adult Goods’ and the ‘Wholesome Garden’ is a deliberate pacing shift to show Karla’s multi-faceted personality as an immortal Matriarch.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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