Chapter 6: Bright of Engage
The wyvern’s sudden attack was over quickly, and the kingdom’s knights were handling the cleanup, so Mom and I slipped away from the scene.
The kid I shielded thanked me like crazy, even though I didn’t do much.
Still had unfinished business with Lilith and Selen, so I brought them home, and they’re waiting in the living room now.
“Didn’t expect to meet the heroes who beat the Demon King like this… From their looks, they’ve probably thought that I’m not human.”
“Probably… sorry.”
“No need to apologize. Those gals don’t seem like the type to spill my secrets.”
They haven’t said it outright, but they’ve likely figured Mom out.
Them keeping quiet, not making a fuss, probably comes from hearing how much I cherish her.
“Mom, can we talk?”
“Go for it.”
Mom settled into a chair, her face soft, waiting for my words.
In all my lives—hell, even the night before the Demon King fight—I don’t think I’ve been this nervous.
What’ll she say when she hears this? What’ll she think of me keeping secrets all this time?
Her steady gaze urged me on.
“…Right.”
She stood, moved to the bed, and sat again, patting the spot beside her gently.
“You’re gearing up for a big talk, huh? Why not ease up a bit? Instead of facing off, let me hold you while you spill.”
“Mom… haha, I really can’t outdo you.”
“I’m your mom, Towa. No matter what goes down, I’m the one you can bare your soul to in this world.”
“…No part of my heart’s locked away from you.”
“Fufu, I know.”
Sat next to her, her hand on my shoulder, pulling me into a warm embrace.
Glanced up, and her kind eyes locked on mine—not the vibe I get with Lilith or Selen, but a pure, childlike trust in my mom, like I could melt into her care.
“I… I’ve been hiding something from you, Mom.”
“I know.”
“I’ve got memories of my past life—as Miracle Towa, part of the hero party.”
“Yeah, figured as much.”
“Huh… huh?”
Her breezy acceptance left me gobsmacked.
She let out a soft chuckle, ruffling my hair gently.
“I’m not saying I wasn’t shocked. Towa being the Miracle Towa of legend… yeah, that caught me off guard. But I always knew you weren’t some ordinary kid.”
“…”
“You were my first, you know. But even as a baby, you were… different. Way too mature for your age. Sure, you’d cry at night, but not nearly as much as most. And sometimes, it felt like you understood every word I said, even as a tiny thing. The older you got, the clearer it became—you had this calm, this poise, that no child should have.”
It’s true. I was reborn as a small child, raised and cherished under Mom’s care, but I was always… me. I never stopped to think, Is this how a kid my age should act? It just wasn’t something I dwelled on.
“But you know what? That never bothered me. Not once. I knew you’d open up someday, when you were ready. And no matter what secrets you were hiding, it didn’t change a thing—I’m your Mom, and nobody’s taking that from me. That’s my resolve, and it’ll never waver.”
Mom smiled, her voice soft but certain, like she was reassuring me everything was alright.
Still, now that she knew I was the Miracle Towa, it seemed she’d pieced together my connection to Lilith and Selen with a quiet sort of acceptance.
“But, uh… there’s something else,” I mumbled.
“Hm?”
“I’ve had my memories from the start. All of them. And… you treated me like a baby, like a little kid, didn’t you?”
“Oh… oh. That’s what you’re getting at.” A playful glint sparked in her eyes. “All those times we bathed together, slept side by side… or when you were still a baby, grabbing at my chest. Are you telling me that was on purpose?”
“Uh… yeah.”
Every moment—reaching for her chest, splashing in the bath together—it’s all etched in my mind, vivid and unfading. And she’d mentioned before how she despised men… so, pathetic as it sounds, that made me hesitate to open up to her.
“Pfft!” Mom let out a low chuckle. “You were worrying about that? Towa, that’s nothing to fret over. I told you, didn’t I? Nothing you’re hiding changes a thing. If anything, knowing you’ve been… drawn to me since way back then? That makes me happy. Really happy.”
“R-Really…?”
“So, what, did it make your heart race?”
“Of course it did!” I blurted, then froze. “Er—”
“Hahaha!” Mom threw her head back, her laughter shaking her shoulders. “That’s what I like to hear! Here I thought I wasn’t all that feminine, but apparently, I’ve got enough charm to make the Miracle Towa take notice!”
I couldn’t help it—I raised my voice, indignant. “Feminine? You’re joking, right, Mom!? You’re drop-dead gorgeous, cool as hell, the ultimate cool-beauty archetype! From the moment we met, I was like, Who is this stunning woman!? Your figure’s perfect, your curves are killer—total perfection!”
I was on my feet now, standing right in front of her, letting it all spill out. Sure, I knew she didn’t really think that about herself anymore, but I wasn’t about to let “not feminine” slide.
The others in the living room might’ve overheard, but I didn’t care. I had to say it.
“Okay, okay, I get it!” Mom’s cheeks flushed as she waved a hand. “Don’t… don’t stare at me so intensely. It’s making my insides quiver, like they’re calling out for you.”
Her hand drifted to her stomach, stroking it with a sultry, almost teasing gesture. Heat rushed to my face, my momentum fizzling as I clammed up. After a beat, I managed to mutter, “Uh… what were we talking about again?”
“You were hiding who you are all this time, right?”
“Right…”
“I’ll say it again—don’t worry about it. If anything, I’m glad.”
“…Okay.”
If she was fine with it, then… I’d let myself believe that.
“Mom… I’m really glad you’re my Mom.”
“You’ve said it before, but it never gets old. Warms my heart every time.”
“Back then, I didn’t know what family felt like. But these days with you? They’ve been so fun, so happy. I want to keep living like this, with you, forever.”
“I feel the same,” she said, her voice softening. “Honestly, I’ve been terrified this whole time. Scared that regaining your memories meant you’d reconnect with your old comrades and leave… leave me behind.”
“No way!” I shot back, louder than I meant to. “I’d never leave you!”
Funny thing is, I was the one scared of that. I thought if I told her the truth, she’d hate me, tell me to get out. But I was the one who didn’t understand her. Not really.
“…I’m sorry, Mom.”
“You don’t need to apologize for keeping quiet—”
“Not that. I’m sorry for even thinking, even for a second, that you’d hate me or kick me out. I should’ve known you’d never say that. You’ve always believed in me.”
“It’s fine,” she said gently. “If I were in your shoes, I’d probably feel the same.”
Talking like this, I realized something—Mom never shuts me down. She doesn’t just accept my words; she affirms them, encourages me, tells me I’m not wrong. And then, like some kind of combo attack, she pulls me into a hug, and the love I’ve built for her over these ten years feels like it’s about to burst… or maybe it already has.
“There’s something else you wanted to talk about, isn’t there?” she said, reading my face. “You look relieved, but there’s still something big weighing on you.”
“You’re too good, Mom…” I gave a small laugh. “Yeah, there’s one more thing. But it involves Lilith and Selen, so let’s head back to the living room.”
“Got it.”
Before we left the room, I turned to her. “Thank you, Mom… really, thank you.”
She smiled, soft and warm. “No, I’m the one who should be thanking you. Having a son as wonderful as you—that’s my miracle.”
My chest tightened, tears pricking at my eyes. I barely held them back, but then she ruffled my hair with a strength she rarely showed, and that was it—my defenses crumbled, and the tears spilled over.
“Dammit…” I muttered, sniffling. “Even if my body’s dragging me along, this’d make anyone cry.”
“Cry if you need to,” she said gently. “Those tears aren’t weak. They make me happy.”
“…I love you, Mom. So much.”
“I love you too. More than anything.”
I wiped my eyes, pulling myself together and slapping my cheeks to snap out of it. My eyes were probably red as hell, but there was more to say, so I steeled myself and headed back to the living room.
Lilith and Selen were exactly where we’d left them, unchanged, like they’d been frozen in time. It almost worried me.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” I said.
“My apologies for the delay,” Mom added.
“It’s fine,” Lilith replied.
“No problem,” Selen said.
We sat on the sofa across from them, the air thick with a strange tension now that Mom was face-to-face with them. But first, introductions.
“Let me introduce them properly,” I said. “These are Lilith and Selen, my old traveling companions.”
Lilith bowed first. “I’m Lilith, a succubus. And, well… I plan to be Towa-san’s wife someday.”
What!? I nearly choked. But before I could process, Mom let out a loud tsk beside me.
Ignoring my shock, Selen spoke up. “I’m Selen, high elf. Though I don’t care much for the ‘high’ part—just call me an elf. And yeah, I’m also planning to be Towa’s woman.”
Seriously, Selen!? This time, I swore I heard something crack next to me, but I was too freaked out to look.
…Okay, what do I do with this vibe?
Mom definitely reacted, but Lilith and Selen didn’t flinch. They just stared at her down, bold as ever.
Mom let out a long sigh. “I’m ignoring that last bit. I’m Astrefia Lynestol, vampire.”
Her introduction hit like a thunderclap, laced with authority. But true to form, Lilith and Selen didn’t bat an eye.
I forgot… Mom’s as strong as Arios in his prime. She’s a powerhouse, but damn, Lilith and Selen are holding their own.
It’s true—Mom’s strength is unreal. I’ve never seen her fight them, but knowing them, I’m certain they’re on her level.
“I had a feeling you were a vampire,” Lilith said. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen one in person.”
“Same here,” Selen added. “Last time was before the demon lord hunt. Got hassled a few times by some of your kind.”
“Hassled?” I asked.
Selen nodded, and Lilith chimed in. “They’d come up out of nowhere, demanding I be their bride.”
“Similar for me,” Selen said. “One said he’d ‘keep me’ and I should be grateful. Creepy as hell, so I blasted him with magic.”
Yikes. Lilith’s “bride” thing is one thing, but Selen’s “keep me”? That’s messed up. I wanted to punch whoever said that.
“I know my words don’t fix it,” Mom said, “but I’m sorry for what my kin did.”
“It was decades ago,” Lilith said. “I’ve forgotten their faces.”
“Same,” Selen agreed. “Those creeps aren’t worth remembering.”
Mom looked exasperated, clearly unimpressed with her own kind. She’d told me before about vampires—how the men obsess over beautiful women, not as equals but as trophies. Like Vigal, who attacked us years ago. To them, women are just accessories to make themselves look better.
“Some kidnap and turn women into blood banks,” she’d said. “Others treat them like jewelry to show off. Growing up seeing that… it’s why I came to hate men.”
No wonder she felt that way. Honestly, it’d be weirder if she didn’t.
“Vampire men are bad enough,” Mom said now, “but some women are just as bad. They chase pretty men or cute ones. In that sense, Towa, you’d be prime prey right now. Ugh, thinking about it makes me want to burn my homeland to the ground.”
“Please don’t,” I said quickly.
“I know, I know.”
Stopping her like this felt almost ritualistic.
“Alright,” I said, shifting gears. “We’ve covered some ground, but the real talk starts now.”
I’d thought about what Lilith and Selen told me on the way here and come to my own conclusions. Whether they’d like my answers was another question, but I had to try.
“Lilith, Selen… I’m glad we’re together again. I know I’m stuck in this kid’s body, but if you believe I’m still Towa, that’s more than I could ask for.”
“Towa-san…” Lilith’s voice wavered, a soft laugh escaping. “Say that, and you’ll make me cry again.”
“I’m tougher than I look,” Selen said, “but I’m not done crying either. Or hugging you, for that matter.”
Like back at the lab, they reached for me—but Mom swatted their hands away with a quick smack. They didn’t seem offended, though, just gave wry smiles.
“Can you blame us?” Lilith said. “Towa-san’s right there.”
“Exactly,” Selen agreed. “He’s right there. Of course we’re gonna reach for him.”
“Haha…” I laughed nervously.
“Sneaky little vixens,” Mom muttered, then scooped me up and plopped me onto her lap. “Oh, nothing beats being close to my darling son like this. I love you, Towa! ♪”
“W-Wait, Mom!” I squirmed as she nuzzled my head, tickling me. This wasn’t getting us anywhere. Steeling myself, I lightly smacked her hand. “Enough!”
“Oops,” she said, chuckling. “Got carried away.”
“Carried away, my foot.”
“Harsh critic, aren’t you?”
I sighed. “Just don’t make me have to call you out again.”
Finally, we could move on. I was about to bring up the Bright of Engage business with Lilith and Selen, but Lilith raised a hand.
“Hold on,” she said. “It’s better if we explain that part ourselves.”
“You sure…?” I asked.
“Yes,” Lilith said, glancing at Selen. “You’re okay with that, right?”
“Obviously,” Selen replied.
Fair enough. If they wanted to take the lead, I’d let them.
“…Why are you standing up?” I asked as both of them rose.
“We didn’t show you at the lab,” Lilith said, “but there’s proof—something undeniable.”
“We’re gonna show you what happened to us,” Selen added. “Proof you can’t miss.”
They reached for their clothes.
Wait, what!? My gut was right—they started stripping, fabric rustling as it hit the floor. In no time, they were completely naked.
“Why the hell are you stripping!?” I yelped, slamming my eyes shut.
Mom, on the other hand, stayed silent—probably calm since they’re all women. But that’s not the point! Why were they naked!?
“Towa-san, look,” Lilith urged.
“Towa, open your eyes,” Selen said.
“Don’t ask the impossible!” I shot back.
Had waiting so long driven them nuts? Was this my fault? No, it couldn’t be… but stripping out of nowhere!?
“C’mon, look already! Two drop-dead gorgeous women standing naked in front of you! They’re begging you to look—don’t be a coward!”
“Don’t you dare! A true gentleman doesn’t gawk at a lady’s body!”
“Shut it, you prude!”
“I’ll stop you at all costs!”
The angel and devil in my head were at war, screaming at each other. What was I supposed to do? What was the right choice?
“Towa, calm down,” Mom’s voice cut through.
“Mom…?”
“Just look.”
“…Huh?”
Look? What was she saying!?
I almost yelled, but her tone was dead serious, grounding me. If she was saying this, there had to be a reason. Bracing myself, I opened my eyes—and yeah, there they were, Lilith and Selen, their breathtaking bodies on full display. A faint blush on their cheeks, curves that seemed to tremble with every breath, taut waists… but then—
“What… is that?”
No underwear, nothing hidden. But my eyes weren’t drawn to that. They were locked on their lower abdomens, just below their navels.
“A mark…?” I muttered.
It was a pink pattern, almost like a tattoo.
“…That’s hot.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them. Back in Japan, I’d seen stuff like this in manga—uh, what were they called? Right, lewd tattoos! Not that this was exactly that, but a mark on their lower stomachs? Way too sexy.
“We haven’t explained this yet,” Lilith said, “but these marks appeared on our bodies twenty years ago.”
“This mark—it’s the proof of Bright of Engage,” Selen said, her eyes flicking to Mom. “Astrefia, right? I don’t know if you’ve seen this before, but you know what Bright of Engage is, don’t you?”
“Yeah…” Mom murmured, nodding slowly. “So that’s how it is.”
The mark itself might’ve been new to her, but Mom clearly knew about Bright of Engage.
“There’s no doubt Bright of Engage amplified my feelings for Towa-san,” Lilith said, her voice steady but warm. “But it’s not just that. Traveling with him, I was drawn to him—bit by bit, until the moment I truly fell in love. That’s when this mark appeared.”
“Same here,” Selen added. “The old me would’ve laughed at the idea of ending up like this. But I fell for Towa, hard. And then, boom—Bright of Engage kicked in.”
Their gazes locked onto Mom, then shifted to me, intense and unwavering. Just like back at the lab, hearing them say they love me stirred something deep—joy, nostalgia, and a weighty realization. They’d chosen me, and that meant I had to give them a real answer.
“Alright, here goes!” I said, hopping to my feet with a little bounce.
“Let me take it from here.”
Mom, Lilith, and Selen nodded, their eyes fixed on me. I took a deep breath and pressed on.
“Look, today’s been… a lot. It hit me out of nowhere, and I’m still scrambling to put it into words. But here’s the thing—I want to stay by Lilith and Selen’s side. That’s what I feel.”
“Towa-san…” Lilith whispered.
“Towa…” Selen echoed.
That was my answer, plain and simple. I wanted to be with them. These two, who’d opened their hearts to me, who’d thought of me even after we parted in death at the end of that long journey. They loved me, triggered something as wild as Bright of Engage, and held on even when their hearts nearly broke. There’s no way I could walk away from them.
“I know I’m just a snot-nosed kid right now,” I continued, my voice catching. “Standing next to Lilith and Selen, I’m nothing but a child. But even so—”
I wasn’t backing down, not one bit. I paused, steadying myself with a deep breath, then opened my eyes wide and let my feelings pour out.
“I’m done making you two sad! Bright of Engage can go to hell! From now on, I’ll protect your hearts with everything I’ve got! So please—will you walk with me into the future!?”
I shouted it from the depths of my chest, not caring how embarrassing it was, just desperate to get the words burning in my heart to them.
“…”
“…”
Lilith and Selen didn’t respond right away. They stared at me, stunned, their eyes never leaving mine. But the silence stretched on.
Did I mess this up?
Worry crept in, but it was unnecessary.
“Towa-san…!” Lilith gasped.
“Towa…!” Selen cried.
For a split second, they vanished from my sight. Before I could blink, they’d tackled me, their arms wrapping around me as I hit the floor. I didn’t even feel the moment my back met the ground—it was that fast.
“You mean it…?” Lilith’s voice trembled. “We can stay by your side, forever?”
“If you’re lying, I swear I won’t forgive you,” Selen growled. “If you disappear again, I’ll die just to chase you down!”
“Y-Yeah…!” I managed, nodding as they loomed closer, making me flinch.
Wait… is this a little scary?
That faint fear I’d felt back at the lab was back. Both of them, stark naked, pinning me to the floor—their ample chests swayed with gravity, brushing against my body. That alone was enough to stir any guy’s instincts, and the fact that two breathtakingly gorgeous women were on top of me? Yeah, even in this kid’s body, I was definitely feeling it.
“Together with Towa-san… forever…” Lilith murmured, her voice thick with emotion.
“With Towa… always, always…” Selen echoed.
And yet, it was terrifying. Seriously terrifying!
Their eyes glinted like predators, tongues flicking as they looked down at me, their hands roaming my body with gentle but deliberate touches. If I didn’t do something, I had a sinking feeling I was about to be devoured in a very… specific way.
“Towa-san ♡”
“Towa ♡”
Their faces inched closer, impossibly beautiful, their hands creeping toward parts of me that weren’t exactly grown-up yet—when suddenly, their bodies flew back.
Well, “flew” is dramatic—it was a light push, but enough to dislodge them. And the culprit? Mom.
“Really now,” she said, her tone dry as dust. “Trying to pounce on my son right in front of his Mom? The heroes who slew the demon lord would roll their eyes at this.”
“But it’s not our fault!” Lilith protested. “How are we supposed to act when Towa-san’s right there!?”
“Exactly!” Selen chimed in. “We thought the love of our life was dead, and now we’re reunited, and we get to be together! This is how we show it!”
Mom just snorted. “I get it. The kind of pain that rips your heart apart… agony that could break you. I can’t even imagine what I’d do if I lost Towa.”
She stepped in front of me, her eyes locking onto mine as she continued. “You want to protect these two—your old comrades, marked by Bright of Engage. You want to stand by them, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” I said firmly. “That’s what I want.”
“Alright. But what if someone else shows up, someone with Bright of Engage triggered for you? What then?”
“That’s…”
Someone else with Bright of Engage? I hadn’t even considered it. The phenomenon was supposed to be insanely rare, and dealing with Lilith and Selen was already overwhelming. But if it happened… I don’t think I could ignore them.
“Honestly, I won’t know until it happens,” I admitted. “But I’d want to stand by them too. If Bright of Engage triggers, they must mean something to me, right? Just like Lilith and Selen.”
It’s the same deal, isn’t it? If it triggers, they’re someone close to me. Though, it’s supposedly limited to their races, so I doubt I’ll run into anyone else like that.
“Good,” Mom said, a relieved smile crossing her face. “That puts my mind at ease, Towa.”
“Yeah… wait, Mom?”
Her smile turned playful as she reached for her clothes. Unlike with Lilith and Selen, I wasn’t rattled—because it was Mom. But why was she stripping all of a sudden?
“Could it be…?” Lilith gasped.
“No way…” Selen muttered.
Lilith and Selen froze, like they’d realized something, their reactions making my stomach twist with a wild guess.
“Mom…!?”
No, no way. It couldn’t be!
I tried to convince myself it was impossible, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away as Mom shed her clothes, standing bare before us. Her lower abdomen was smooth, unmarked… just my imagination, right?
“I was going to tell you eventually,” she said, her voice calm but heavy. “This is as good a time as any. I hate to throw you for a loop, Towa, but with rivals like these, I can’t stay quiet.”
Her finger traced below her navel, a slow, sultry motion that made me painfully aware of her as a woman. Then it happened—a pink mark, identical to Lilith and Selen’s, shimmered into view. The proof of Bright of Engage.
“I’ve had Bright of Engage too,” she said. “I was hiding it with magic, waiting for the right time to tell you.”
“The right time…?” I stammered. “And the person… it’s…?”
“You, Towa. Of course it’s you. I planned to wait until you were older, but I didn’t expect two heroes to show up like this.”
“…”
My jaw worked uselessly, opening and closing. Mom, with Bright of Engage? For me? I knew it could happen with elves, succubi, and vampires, but this was way too much!
“When… did it happen?” I managed.
“When you were still a baby. Remember? After Vigal attacked, when I craved blood. You offered yours to me, even when I said I didn’t need it. Call it cliché, but that’s when I fell for you.”
“…That’s when it happened.”
So, what, Mom didn’t just love me as her son but… as a man too? My head spun, and as if she could read my thoughts, she gave a shy nod—a smile I’d never seen before, one that screamed woman in a way that hit me like a lightning bolt.
“I don’t want to confuse you,” she said softly, “but this love carved into my body—it’s not something I can hold back. So, Towa, let me be blunt… will you have me too?”
“…”
I thought for a moment, then nodded. Her face lit up with a joy so raw it brought tears to her eyes. She pulled me into a tight embrace, her curves pressing against me as she showered my cheeks with kisses.
What… what’s happening to my life?
I let her do as she pleased, lost in a haze of confusion, until Lilith and Selen, crying “unfair,” dove in to join the chaos.
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