By the way, when Machina-san brought up the topic of the shipboard party just now, I honestly felt a prickle of alarm. I had been on edge, dreading the moment she might say something like, "I’ll help you," but fortunately, she had drifted into a story about her memories with Alice. I thought I was safe.
"Oh, that’s right! My Beloved Child, I’ll help you prepare for the party too!"
"..."
Ah, I should have known. Here comes the persuasion phase. I wondered how I should answer. Even if I told her I intended to handle the preparations with only my household, she would likely just say, "I’m your mother, so I’m part of the household." If I botched the refusal and tripped her berserk switch, it would be a nightmare.
She possessed what one might call a "super-positive" outlook—or rather, a way of twisting any word of persuasion into something favorable. The end result was always the same: her affection and favorability toward me would skyrocket until she lost control. I felt like a gamer desperately scanning the screen for a dialogue choice that wouldn't lead to a disastrous ending.
"...Um, I appreciate the thought, but you see... once I wake up, I usually forget everything that happens here."
"Hehe, no need to worry about that. I was going to reveal this later, but... I’ve adjusted the contract with Shallow Vernal! I can now bring my physical form as Machina into your world, and My Beloved Child won't have to forget what happens here anymore. Are you happy? You are, aren't you? Of course you are—you're thrilled to be able to remember your mother. Oh, stop! You're making me blush with all that excitement!"
That was strange; I hadn't said a single word. I really wished she would stop incorporating the reactions of an Imaginary Kaito in her head into the conversation while the real person was standing right in front of her.
Refined logic aside, I had intended to use my inability to carry memories over from this dream as a reason to decline, but apparently, that obstacle had already been cleared. Come to think of it, the only reason for the memory wipe in the first place was to keep things hidden from Shiro-san. If Shiro-san was now in the loop, there was no longer a need to suppress my memory.
"Does this have anything to do with Mana-san, who’s visited a few times?"
"Ah, no. This is a terminal that possesses power much closer to my Main Body... though that terminal’s output is so vast that if I don't prepare properly, it can destabilize the world. I can't move it frequently, so I'll mostly continue to act from Paradise (Eden) as I have before. Even so, I can occasionally go to see you in this form now!"
"I-I see..."
Machina-san spoke with a beaming smile, but in contrast, my own expression was likely a brittle twitch. I had lost the one hand I thought would let me refuse her peacefully. I was running out of ways to avoid her "help."
"I’m very touched by the offer, Machina-san, but this time, I was really hoping that only the people living in my house and I would handle the hosting side..."
"...Wait! Oh, I see! So that’s what this is!!"
I decided to be direct to avoid complicating things, and after a moment of looking blank, Machina-san’s face lit up as if she had been struck by a divine epiphany.
"I see! My Beloved Child wants to show his mother how much he’s grown—that he can handle things on his own! Oh, I was so shallow... I reflexively tried to help, but a mother’s role isn't just to provide; it's to nurture. Sometimes, watching over My Child’s growth is just as vital... But oh, this is such an agonizing dilemma! Both helping and stepping back have merits that are simply too great to ignore.
"If I were to help, the primary merit would be performing a joint labor of love with My Beloved Child! It would be such a joy for My Beloved Child to spend that much time with his mother. In a situation where I’m the one offering to help, My Beloved Child—who is usually so shy and reserved—could finally let go and completely spoil himself with his mother’s presence. And I, in turn, would accept him with open arms... Yes. This would be the 'Lovey-dovey Benevolence Route.' I’m tempted to decide on it this instant because I’d get to savor my Lovely Cute My Child to the fullest, but the other choice is equally magnetic.
"Children naturally want to show their parents how they’ve matured. That’s why My Beloved Child has this deep-seated desire to do it with his own strength and present the results to me, his most beloved mother. If that’s the case, then acknowledging those feelings is a paramount duty as a mother. I can only see a Lovely Charming Beloved Child stretching himself to act like a man on this route! That sort of youthful innocence is a fleeting treasure; a precocious My Beloved Child working his hardest for his mother’s sake would be undeniably adorable. I would praise his efforts and gently stroke his head, satisfying My Beloved Child’s need for recognition. This is truly a mother’s benevolence!
"Thinking of it that way, this route is also... Waaaaah!? What should I do? Both versions of My Beloved Child are the supreme peak of perfection that can only exist in that specific moment! There’s no way to choose which supreme is superior! Both are overwhelmingly wonderful!! But as a mother, I must make a choice... Wait! No, calm down, Machina! You're missing the most important factor. Yes! My Beloved Child’s feelings!! If I consider it from his perspective, the view changes.
"In the first route, My Beloved Child receives an overflowing Mother's Love and can indulge himself to his heart's content. He’s at an age where he still wants to be pampered; even if he’s shy, he must naturally want to leap into his mother’s arms and entrust her with his heart and soul! If so, this route allows My Beloved Child to express the feelings he usually keeps buried inside.
"On the other hand, the second route grants him immense validation by showing his growth to his mother. My Beloved Child is a boy, after all; even if he’s young now, he must dream of becoming a wonderful man who can stand as an equal beside me, his most beloved mother. Of course, My Beloved Child is already supreme, but he must want to feel that progress for himself. He wants the tangible sensation of closing the distance between himself and his mother, who currently seems like a distant, divine existence.
"I mean, in reality, My Beloved Child is already right beside me. We are so close in heart, mind, and soul that even if he doesn't reach out, I'm right here to hold him—but that’s hard to perceive from his vantage point. So, this route satisfies his desire for approval, boosts My Beloved Child’s self-esteem, and reaffirms his place by my side... No, wait. He wouldn't just be a child; he’d feel his strength as a man who loves his mother. In other words, this is the route where he can strongly recognize me as a member of the opposite sex!
"Oh, this is even more agonizing... My love is infinite, so I can respond to any wish he has, but My Beloved Child must also crave the satisfaction of succeeding by his own hand... Hmm. So, the first route is about what I give, and the second is about what My Beloved Child earns. In that case, he’d probably prefer the latter... But then again, the first is so hard to let go. This is all My Beloved Child’s fault for being too cute! He’s a supreme existence no matter what he does, which makes choosing impossible.
"Let’s think deeper. Should I only focus on My Beloved Child and me? While he is the absolute priority, I should probably weigh the demerits as well. Not that there are any demerits to interacting with My Beloved Child—every potential negative instantly becomes a positive—but for the first route, the amount of time I’d have to spend around Talking Meat Slabs is a concern.
"I’m fine with Anima, since she’s My Beloved Child’s lover and essentially my daughter-in-law now. I think I can be gentle with her. But will I be able to keep my disgust for the others in check? I’ll try my best, of course, but there’s always the risk of a slip-up. If I caused trouble for My Beloved Child, that would be a clear demerit. I don't care what happens to Meat Slabs unrelated to him, but if they’re My Beloved Child’s friends, he’d be sad. I want to be as tolerant as a mother can be. Alice says I need a 'softer' attitude, so it's a point of concern.
"The second route lets me take a waiting posture. I’d be receiving hospitality from My Beloved Child, so that demerit vanishes. However, the downside is that I can't be involved in the preparations, meaning I won't get to see My Beloved Child working hard up close. The idea of being 'treated' by My Beloved Child is as sweet as nectar, but I’m the type who prefers to spoil and dote on him. Providing is more my style than receiving... Wait, no. Love isn't a one-way street. It’s about mutual exchange. If My Beloved Child wants to return my love, I have to respect that. So, is the second route the winner?
"No, wait! I can't conclude yet! I have to consider the Perority too! In terms of Peropero points, the first route feels higher. Being with My Beloved Child during the preparations and savoring his loveliness is a massive bonus. With my power, I can carve every valiant moment of his efforts into my very soul while supporting him. It’s the perfect environment! I wouldn't interfere too much, of course. He’d be the lead, and his mother would be the devoted support. But if My Beloved Child wished for it, I’d support him anytime, from his chores to his private life!
"Now that I can interact with him in my original form, our hearts are closer than ever. I’ll help him prepare, watch him work, and then, when we hit a milestone, I’ll hug My Beloved Child and tell him what a good job he’s doing! He’ll spoil himself with his mother, and we’ll spend a dense, intimate period together. I’ll even manipulate time so we can linger as long as we want without a care in the world! That’s a huge merit for him, and a supreme joy for me. The 'Lovey-dovey' factor of the first route is just overwhelming! But that doesn't mean the Perority of the second route is low..."
"..."
...I really do think Machina-san is a good person at heart. Whenever I saw her as Eden, she always seemed like she was in the middle of a rampage, but in reality, she was making an effort to suppress it. Her affection for me was undoubtedly genuine.
As our dream meetings became more frequent, I saw her commoner-like hobbies and her occasionally endearing clumsiness... but yeah. No matter how many good points I found, my final conclusion always circled back to the same thing: "She’s a dangerous person."
As I watched her drone on through her never-ending internal monologue, Machina-san suddenly clenched her fist and punched herself in the face.
The impact was so massive that the landscape behind her was obliterated. Space itself seemed to fracture for a heartbeat, and I could have sworn I saw a glimpse of the void beyond the stars.
"...Th-That was close... My love for My Beloved Child almost sparked and triggered another rampage. I’m glad I managed to hold back at the last second."
"..."
No, I’m pretty sure that counted as a rampage... I was deeply curious as to what part of that she considered "holding back," but the truth was too terrifying to ask.
How should I put it... Machina-san was, as always, exactly who she was.
Serious-senpai: "Why did the word count increase there?! I mean, she was actually doing a decent job of raising her favorability for once, but the fact that the conclusion still ends up being 'Yeah, she’s a total nutcase' is just so quintessential Machina."