Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Morta - Prince of Circo - Main Story
Chapter 1 - A Sorrowful Smile
Kingdom of Aspiration, Circo, July...
In a prairie, where a soft breeze was blowing, a single prince slowly woke up. As he was still somewhat in a daze, he slowly blinked and looked around.
??: Where am I...?
(A mask...!?)
When my eyes met with his face that was covered halfway with a mask, I instantly felt a chill going down my spine. Then...
??: ...I see. That wasn't death...
(Eh...?)
While he was feeling completely exhausted, the wind made his green hair flutter.
MC: Um...
When I spoke to him, the man looked up at me with a surprised face.
??: My apologies for not noticing you. Did you save me?
MC: Yes...
When I answered him, his deeply melancholic expression softened up.
Morta: Thank you very much. I'm the prince of this kingdom, Morta.
As he gently smiled, he politely bowed.
MC: ...I'm MC.
After I responded quickly, Morta-san slowly raised his face...
Morta: I would like to thank you at least, but... Won't you come see my circus troupe's performance?
MC: Circus...?
I looked at the mask on his face again.
(Then, the mask is part of a circus outfit...?)
The mask that looked like it was smiling felt sorrowful... As I was unable to express it in words, we became surrounded by an ominous atmosphere.
Morta: Yes. I do air trapeze and acrobatics in it.
MC: I see... I'll be glad to, thank you.
Morta: You're welcome. Well then, let's go. Please, enjoy it to your heart's content.
As Morta-san was smiling gently... I headed to the town of Circo...
Chapter 2 - An Honorary Children's Badge
Along with Morta-san, who has awakened, I headed to the town of Circo. While passing by some children that were going back and forth in town, we headed to the circus tent...
(Somehow, it feels like I'm only seeing children...)
As I felt odd gazes from all over the place, I hung my head down.
Morta: My apologies, the children's gazes must be bothering you.
Morta-san hid me from the gazes by getting closer to me.
MC: Ah, no...
Morta: It's okay to be honest. Anyone would get worried from just being looked at.
As Morta-san smiled softly, he slowly stopped.
Morta: This kingdom is a kingdom with only children in it. That's why adults are something unusual to them.
MC: Eh? Only children...
(Morta-san looks like an adult, but why is that?)
When I looked up with that question in mind, Morta-san narrowed his eyes again.
(Morta-san...?)
Despite that he was showing a gentle smile, his expression felt cold like ice for some reason...
(What is it... This feeling.)
Just like the first time we've met, I felt a chill going down my spine.
Morta: Just to make sure that you won't have a hard time here, take this...
He took out a badge from his chest and handed it to me.
MC: This is?
Morta: It's an honorary children's badge. If you wear that, you'll be recognized as royalty and have an easy time here.
MC: ...Thank you.
Morta: I'll put it on for you.
Morta-san reached out to me so casually. His handsome face looked kind up close, but...
(I wonder why, despite that he's smiling gently. Somehow, it feels like he's not smiling for real...)
While getting an uncomfortable feeling, I let him put the badge on me.
Morta: There, you'll be okay with this.
Morta-san slowly backed away from me. At that moment.
Boy: Morta-sama! You've returned!
Coming from the other side of the road, a boy ran over here with a happy look.
Morta: Yes, my apologies for being absent.
Boy: No, it's okay! I'm just glad that Morta-sama is all right~! Ah, that's right! Look, I made this while you were gone!
The boy happily presented a beautiful necklace.
Morta: ...You made this by yourself?
Boy: Yeah! I thought that we could get some money if I set up a shop by selling this! If I'm helping everyone, then I'm happy!
Morta: ...
(Morta-san?)
Morta-san's expression changed completely from the boy's words. I...
///Choices///
- Speak to him (☼)
MC: Morta-san, is something wrong?
Morta: ...No. It's nothing.
Morta-san showed a smile for a moment and turned towards the boy soon after.
- Watch him (☽)
(But, I just came here, so I shouldn't interrupt...)
As I was silent after thinking that, Morta-san softly spoke to the boy.
///Choices///
Morta: Hand it over. We can't allow any businesses outside the circus. It's best not to think about something unnecessary.
(Eh...?)
I twitched from Morta-san's cold words. Including the boy...
Boy: I... I just wanted to be praised by Morta-sama...! So mean...!
Morta: ...
As Morta-san gripped the necklace that he confiscated, he watched the boy run away...
Chapter 3 - Hidden True Intentions
Morta-san watched the boy run off from behind with a blank expression, but...
Morta: ...My apologies. Let me take you to the circus tent now.
MC: Okay. But...
As Morta-san softly pushed my back, I calmly asked him a question.
///Choices///
- Why can't he set up a shop? (☽)
MC: Why can't he do that?
Morta: Because it's unnecessary.
Morta-san didn't tell me anymore than that.
- Worry about the boy (☼)
MC: Will that boy be okay...?
Morta: He'll understand.
His gentle smile made it feel like he was trying to prevent me from getting any more details...
///Choices///
It felt like the mask was hiding Morta-san's true feelings.
(Why is my heart being noisy like this... Despite that Morta-san is so kind to me.)
The town that only has children, Morta-san's expression... While feeling uncomfortable, I couldn't bring myself to speak and continued to walk with him...
......
After walking for a while, I spoke about what I was curious about.
MC: Morta-san, you mentioned that there aren't any adults here, but... How are you living here?
Then, Morta-san looked at me with a soft smile on his face.
Morta: You can live as long as you have a dream. Even if there aren't any adults. I watch over all of the children's dreams.
MC: A dream... You say.
(Kind of a strange thing to say...)
MC: But, don't children need adults? Also...
As I was hesitant to speak, I noticed Morta-san's eyes trembling sadly a little. Suddenly, the deeply sorrowful look in his eyes took hold of my heart.
Morta: You may go on.
Despite him letting me go on, it looked like Morta-san knew about everything that I wanted to say.
MC: Morta-san... Uh... I can see that you're not a child, but a handsome adult. But, doesn't this kingdom only have "children"...?
The sky was reflected in Morta-san's sad red eyes.
Morta: I have 3 younger brothers*, them and the children in this kingdom don't accept adults. So, I thew away the despair of becoming an adult and chose to dream of being a child.
(What does he mean...)
I...
///Choices///
- Morta-san isn't a child (☽)
MC: But, really... I don't think you're a child, Morta-san. I can see that you're a handsome adult.
When I said that to him properly, Morta-san silently shook his head.
Morta: For this kingdom, I chose the path of continuing to be a child.
- The despair of an adult? (☼)
MC: What's the despair of becoming an adult? I don't understand it well...
Then, Morta-san looked at me as if he was dealing with a young child.
Morta: There's nothing else to think of except despair. You're an adult, so that despair should be in front of you.
///Choices///
(I really can't understand. Just what is an "adult" to Morta-san...)
At that moment...
Castle Gatekeeper: Morta-sama...! Morta-sama, big trouble! We have a traitor that wants to become an adult!
A child that guards the castle gate came over with the boy from earlier.
Boy: Let me go! Let me go! I want to become an adult! I want to set up a shop to sell accessories!
(Could it be that this child was going to leave this kingdom by himself...!?)
Without thinking, I walked up to the boy.
MC: Wait. Can't we hear him out a little? Is that okay, Morta-san?
Morta: ...
As I hugged the sobbing boy to defend him, Morta-san furrowed his brow.
Morta: ...Why do you want to become an adult so much?
When he said that softly, I felt his anger. For the first time, I understood Morta-san's feelings clearly.
Boy: I want to become like Papa and Mama...!
Morta: ...
Boy: Papa and Mama would make medicine and help everyone...!!
(Medicine...?)
When the boy desperately appealed, Morta-san looked down at him with a loathsome expression.
Morta: ...That's unnecessary.
With an icelike tone, he said that to the boy coldly.
Morta: Don't you understand? They died because they became adults. It's best for you to stay as a child. Because you can continue to have dreams.
(They died...? Just what happened in this kingdom...?)
While hugging the boy that was still crying, I looked at Morta-san. As he touched his mask, he silently made a ferocious smile...
Chapter 4 - Staying as a Child
-Flashback-
Morta: Don't you understand? They died because they became adults. It's best for you to stay as a child. Because you can continue to have dreams.
-Flashback-
When we arrived at the circus tent, Morta-san explained to me about Circo...
-Flashback-
Morta: Since you want to know about it, I'll explain it. Why there aren't any adults in Circo... They were all killed. But, that was their fault... It's best to say that they were killed by their own greed. Since then, there have only been children here... Once they become adults, they die in this kingdom.*
T/N: Check Nero's story for more details
-Flashback-
The adults that make medicine for a living in Circo got their interests out of control and ended up killing everyone...
(That's... still unbelievable though.)
But, it's certain since there are only children here.
(This kingdom being like this for such a long time... With just children here. But, it's kind of sad...)
When I looked at Morta-san as I felt pain in my heart, he was looking at me softly.
Morta: We have finally arrived at the circus tent. It's embarrassing, but I have a lot of errands to run, please excuse me.
MC: It's okay, but more importantly... Why would you say something like that to that child?
-Flashback-
Morta: Don't you understand? They died because they became adults.
-Flashback-
Morta: Ah...
Suddenly, the smile disappeared from Morta-san's face.
Morta: It's because I wanted to see an endless dream.
MC: Eh...?
Morta: My brother cherishes this kingdom, so I need to protect it. The children in this kingdom are like that too. My brother's dream, including the dreams of everyone in this kingdom, I work to make them real.
(What does he mean...?)
As I tilted my head to the side, Morta-san continued speaking.
Morta: The circus is an embodiment of those dreams. A world of never-ending children... My brother that uses his own hands to continue the dream, me making the circus more enchanting, the troupe...
MC: Morta-san...
Those eyes that were looking at something else besides me, they started to become very teary. I...
///Choices///
- Become scared (☽)
(What should I do, he's kind of scary...)
Morta: Are you... scared?
While watching me tremble a little, Morta-san smiled.
- Speak to him (☼)
MC: Morta-san, you shouldn't have deprived him of his dream, but...
Morta: It was a wonderful dream that felt like it appeared on a calm water surface.
Morta-san interrupted me when me spoke.
///Choices///
Morta: Time stops when you stay as a child for all of eternity... In other words, it's the same as death.
MC: ...!?
Morta: Also, since you're an adult as well, soon... The time will come when you'll receive death. I'm sure that death is a reward for trying so hard up till now.
I felt a cold chill going down my spine. Although, at the same time, I was captivated by Morta-san's alluring eye and voice... The mix of fear and tranquility gave me a strange feeling.
MC: I knew it... I can't understand it. Even though you're an adult like me... Why do you live by denying yourself? Can't you protect this kingdom as an adult...
Morta: You're an incomprehensible person...
Morta-san's hand reached out to me and gently caressed my cheek.
(So cold... I wonder why, he looks so sad...)
Morta: Like I said, I'll be dead soon. The only thing that rejuvenates me is when I'm in the circus, seeing dreams... Since it's you, I'm sure that you'll understand. Even a child can see this sort of thing clearly...
(Morta-san denies the adult within him... Then, surely, I, too will...)
His cold fingers were on my cheek again. The sad look in Morta-san's eyes made my heart hurt deeply...
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