After eating yakisoba with Amel-san, we resumed running our stall. Though I said that, as the ceremony of the Founding Festival is currently being held, I feel that we'd be getting fewer customers than in the morning, so we were able to take it easy. Well, we set up our stall not because of money, so that isn't really a problem.
[Seeing the number of customers decreasing like this, the ceremony must be quite bustling.]
[Yeah, today's festival involves the Gods after all. The festival normally wouldn't be this big.]
[Certainly, with all three Supreme Gods in attendance, there must be quite a crowd.]
Even though Lilia-san participating in this Founding Festival was Eden-san's fault, I feel like she's got it rough... Arehh? Come to think of it, in the end, will Lilia-san be coming by to our stall?
I already handed to her a befitting accessory, which was Eden-san's objective for sending her here, so strictly speaking, there's no need for her to come anymore. Lilia-san is a Duchess and quite famous as the Strongest Human, so I feel like it would be difficult for her to come.
[Do you have troubles in mind? If you want, I can always lend you my strength.]
[Yeah, I'm worried if Lilia-san will be able to properly come to our stall... Unnn?]
[I see, she does hold a considerable position, so that might be difficult. I understand. My bel———- Hrmph! Miyama Kaito-san's problems, I'll solve it for you!]
[...Ahh, errr... Mana-san? Why are you here?]
The person who suddenly appeared was Amaterasu-san's subordinate who was Eden-san's representative at the time of Symphonia Kingdom's Founding Festival... or so she claimed she was. No matter how I looked at it, Mana-san seemed to have a higher position than Amaterasu-san.
She's definitely connected with the other world... or rather, our former world's Eden-san, isn't she? Why did she come to Archlesia Empire's Founding Festival as if it's the most obvious thing in the world?
[That is, of course, to see Miyama Kaito-san's sta————- Ouuuuuch!? Wait, I'm still talki————— Ouuuuuch!?]
Before I could get a proper response to her question, Alice, who also suddenly appeared, grabbed Mana-san's head and slammed her to the ground. Thereupon, seemingly rubbing her face down on the ground, she took her away somewhere.
W- What the heck just... I mean, Mana-san is as mysterious as ever. Even though Alice was treating her so roughly and was being dragged away in such a painful-looking way, almost as if she's a prisoner being sent to the chopping block, she was still waving her hand my way... Who is she?
[...That friend of my sworn friend sure is a bundle of personality.]
[H- Hmmm. I don't really know about her either. I mean, was she really the subordinate of my acquaintance? ...I only know that she was a self-proclaimed subordinate and is close with Alice.]
[Fumu, if she's acquainted with the King of Empty Illusions, is she connected with the Kings of the Demon Realm?]
[No, she was apparently connected with the God of the world I was in.]
[To the God of my sworn friend's world?]
[Something close to that... I guess?]
Not really having a clear answer to Amel-san's question, I could only tilt my head and give her such a vague reply.
Makina, who was finally brought into a subspace by Alice while her face was being dragged on the ground by said person, puts her hand on her battered face to restore it.
[Isn't that mean, Alice!? This body isn't made strong at all, you should be more gentle with it!]
[No, what do you think you're doing, you stupid Makina!!!? What, appearing at Kaito-san's stall like it's a matter of course, you asking for a beating!!!?]
[No, as I've mentioned before, I haven't visited as Eden, so it's perfectly safe. Not only that, I haven't caused any trouble for my beloved child, so it's double safe. Moreover, I'm trying to be of assistance to my beloved child, so I believe that's a triple————- Ouch!?]
As Makina tried asserting her innocence with a brilliant smile and a thumbs up, she was met with Alice smashing her fist on her head. Makina, in pain, tears streaming from her eyes, rolls on the ground.
[You asked Lilia-san to act as your representative, so I thought you'd be quiet...]
[N- No, wait, Alice! I have no intention of going shopping or anything at my beloved child's store. I leave that to Lilia. However, even so! My beloved child is working hard at his stall. It would be inexcusable and a tremendous sin for his mother that I am to not go and see my hardworking child. Of course, I know that being a mother isn't just about assisting her child in everything. That's why I didn't interfere when my beloved child was preparing for his stall, and even now, I have no intention of thoughtlessly shopping there. However, I believe that a mother's support can be like a source of energy for my beloved child. By receiving my loving cheer, the burning emotions my beloved child held for his mother is ignited, and that ultimately converts into an infinite wellspring of vitality. As it has been expressed in various works of media, the power of love is boundless, and my own power is also infinitely vast, so in essence, my love is justice! To put it in a straightforward example, it's like a mother attending her child's school observation day. It's a sacred ritual where I confirm my beloved child's growth, imprint their hard work into my memory, and engrave their significance in my heart. Yes, it doesn't hold any impure thoughts or my desire to lick my beloved child at all. Ahh, no, of course, I do have the desire to lick my beloved child. Losing that feeling, even for a moment, would be nothing short of blasphemy against my beloved child. So, as his mother, I firmly maintain the fundamentals and always maintain an unwavering motherly stance that allows me to lick my beloved child anytime. Ah, in this case, the "stance" refers to the mental aspect rather than the physical one. In other words, it means that I am always prepared to accept my beloved child, regardless of the circumstances. That ultimately represents the boundless love of a mother. Now, to get back on track, as someone who possesses such infinite love, I cannot help but participate in my beloved child's momentous occasions. Yes, indeed, I understand what you were trying to say. His stall at Symphonia Kingdom's Founding Festival was already popular, so you're saying this isn't the first time he's setting up a stall. I see, your argument is not incorrect, but I want you to think about it carefully. My beloved child is a supreme existence in each and every moment, and there is never even a split second of the same state. Everything is fresh and everything is shining, and that's exactly why he's my beloved child. In other words, my beloved child, who is the light of the world, is always in the spotlight, shining in every moment and in every form. However, I believe that milestones, that turning points are important even within that context. In other words, my beloved child, who is managing a stall like this time, possesses not only the usual loveliness but also the dignity of bearing responsibility. He possess multiple beauties and sacredness, like the moment when a chrysalis turns into a butterfly. By witnessing my beloved child, the love for my beloved child within me also blooms, glittering like a drop of dew on a magnificent flower. And thus, a perfect cycle is formed where my shining love brings even more vitality to my beloved child, and we mutually influence and inspire each other. I dub this the infinite power of love, a power that is crucial for the growth of my beloved child. That's why, if I truly love my beloved child, as his mother, it is necessary for me to go there myself! But unfortunately l, due to the contract with Shallow Vernal, I am unable to come with my true form, nor am I able to come as Eden, and that is a promise I am unable to break. Well, now that I think about it, during the Symphony Kingdom, I was told not to go as Eden either, and in the end, I couldn't go... Well, it can't be helped. I believe that there should be no obstacles in the path of my beloved child and his mother, but still, when I think about the growth of my beloved child, I understand that some trials are necessary. My Eden self, his mother is unable to come to his stall. It's like the sadness of a mother not being able to attend her child's class observation, and such a thought truly saddens me. I'm filled with a strong desire to break the contract and rush to my beloved child's side. But I'm sure my beloved child doesn't want me to suffer for his sake. He's a kind-hearted child. However, as his mother, I still want to watch over my beloved child's growth, even if he doesn't realize my presence nearby... That's why I'm here, using the alias "Mana", sending my cheers to my beloved child. Of course, my beloved child doesn't realize that I am his mother. However, deep down in his soul, he must be able to feel it! Yes, the big bang of my lo————–]
[You're still acting all brazen!]
[———-OUUUUUUUUCH!? Wait, s- stop with the iron claw! You'll crush my head!]
After watching Makina, who spoke rapidly with eyes tainted by madness, Alice looked at her with genuine astonishment and swiftly clutched her hand with an iron claw, aiming to crush her head.