Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 116
I’ll use the honorific back, it felt wrong somehow if I didn’t use them
Chapter 4: Encounter at the Maritime City of Liberta (Part 2)
116. Mari-nee and the Troubled Blacksmith
A few days after the shocking revelation about the expenses behind the fireworks festival.
That day, Masato had an unusual errand at school, and with the afternoon rehab canceled, I had free time from early on.
Normally, I would read e-books or watch movies after rehab, but today I felt the urge to move my body instead, so I decided to log into MWO.
I woke up in my room on the second floor of the home base, and it was late at night.
The solitary nighttime setting felt familiar—just like when I logged in to Eden City during the night.
“Back then, I headed to the ‘Forest of Trials’ and had my first encounter with a Black Wolf. It was a tough battle.”
It wasn’t that long ago, but it felt nostalgic.
Unlike back then, my level had increased and my equipment had improved.
Now, I could probably take down not just a Black Wolf but even the named monsters in the Forest of Trials with ease.
Most importantly, there was one clear difference from before.
Thinking this, I summoned Gils.
Gils appeared silently beside me, still looking great in his black vest and pants that complemented his tall frame.
When he opened his closed eyelids, I saw his beautiful heterochromatic eyes—one yellow and one green.
Yes, unlike before, I wasn’t alone now.
Without saying anything, I took Gils’ hand. Though he seemed slightly surprised, he silently squeezed my hand back.
Gils’ hand was cool, but a certain warmth, different from body heat, was conveyed through his grip.
As we descended the stairs together, we heard the high-pitched sound of metal striking metal.
The rhythmic noise seemed to be coming from the annex.
Curious, we headed toward the annex, and light was leaking from a window.
I asked Gils to quietly open the heavy door a bit, and there was Mareus-san, hammering away with a stern expression.
Usually teased by Roulette-san and Kanna-san, Mareus-san always exuded confidence in his actions as a craftsman.
But even someone like him must be putting in a lot of effort behind the scenes, and that’s why his confidence has weight.
However, the way Mareus-san was hammering desperately now seemed less about diligence and more about being cornered by something.
“Damn it, this is no better than before!”
He had just finished crafting a fine axe when he suddenly threw it against the wall.
Startled, I almost cried out, but Gils covered my mouth.
After waiting for my heartbeat to calm down, I signaled to Gils with my eyes that I was okay, and he released his hand.
“Why, why am I always the one who fails…”
His repeated words sounded almost like sobs.
Failed? Is he talking about the black egg??
Since Mareus-san’s great sword was rejected by the egg, every weapon he made afterwards was also rejected.
Feeling worried about his unusual behavior, I tried to step inside, but Gils stopped me.
“Leave him alone for now.”
Though his words were harsh, Gils’ expression was as serious as the one he always showed me.
As I wondered if he sensed something, Mareus-san’s mutterings included the curious phrase “both here and there.”
Could “there” refer to the real world?
“The quality and concept of what I create aren’t inferior, so why am I the only one not recognized… Is it because it’s me? Just because it’s me??”
As Mareus-san spoke in a self-deprecating tone, it felt eerily familiar. He moved to a corner of the room and reached for a wooden carving.
For a moment, I feared it might be one of those miniature idols, but thankfully, it wasn’t.
“Nero and Kuuga?”
Luckily, my murmur didn’t seem to reach Mareus-san.
But more than anything, seeing Nero and Kuuga again, even as carvings, filled me with overwhelming joy.
Even though they weren’t real, just seeing the lost family members again blurred my vision with tears.
When did he make these… I wish I could see them up close.
Just as I leaned forward, Gils stopped me again.
“Hey, if I had crafted better, would you… would Kuuga still be safe now?”
Mareus-san spoke to Kuga’s carving with a voice overflowing with sorrow.
“So, I aimed to make stronger weapons, so your brother wouldn’t lose to anyone… Damn it, why? Why is it still not enough?!”
The final words, though loud, sounded feeble.
The sadness was palpable, and while I wanted to speak to him, no words came to mind.
Seeing my frustration, Gils spoke with a hint of exasperation.
“I was wondering what was bothering him. Even as one of my creators, he doesn’t understand this?”
“Wait, Gils, do you understand?”
“I inherited this from my brothers. But even so, anyone observing the other two should have noticed.”
Sorry, I didn’t notice either…
Using the strings from his skill, [Soul Inheritance], Gils manipulated the threads to entangle a metal armor among the pile of prototypes, yanking it out forcefully.
As the armor was pulled out, the prototypes tumbled down with a clatter.
Mareus-san turned towards the noise, but he didn’t notice the slightly opened door.
I was relieved… but also, what are you doing, Gils!?
Just as I was about to scold him, he gestured for me to look.
The armor that Gils had pulled out was now atop the axe Mareus-san had crafted, and its chest area was severely slashed.
Cutting through metal armor so easily—Mareus-san thinks his work isn’t good enough, but that’s clearly not true.
But why? Seeing the armor in such a state made my chest tighten painfully.
“That was a loud noise for just a collapse.”
Suspicious, Mareus-san returned his gaze to the pile of prototypes, and there he saw the axe and the armor.
“So the loud noise was from this? The armor must have rolled and hit the axe… But my weapon is good after all. To cut through high-defense metal armor so easily…”
At that moment, Mareus-san and I simultaneously uttered,
“Ah.”
The realization dawned on us both.
My voice was small, and Mareus-san probably didn’t hear it, but I think he noticed the same thing.
After all, I had shared the story with him about Kuuga, who protected me to the end, covering his front with wounds.
And now, the sight of the fallen armor overlapped with the image of Kuuga falling to protect me.
Did Gils plan this on purpose?
When I looked at Gils, he was observing Mareus-san with an expression that said, “What a hopeless parent.”
I’m sorry, Mareus-san…
“Kuuga protected Maria with his life. What kind of strength does that suggest? Is it the kind of strength that means defeating an enemy? Damn it, no! It’s not that at all!”
With that, Mareus-san smacked his cheek with a loud “Gah!”
I suppose he was trying to refocus himself, but he didn’t need to hit himself so hard that he couldn’t stand properly and his nose started bleeding.
I wondered if he was alright, but despite my concerns, Mareus-san had resumed his blacksmithing with a newfound confidence and certainty.
He seems fine now… though I’m not sure about the nosebleed.
Gils and I silently closed the door and left the scene, just as quietly as we had arrived.
Half a day passed in-game, and I was chatting with Roulette-san and Kanna-san when Mareus-san appeared, holding what looked like a short sword.
I couldn’t definitively say it was a short sword because the back of the blade had a comb-like, jagged edge.
“A sword breaker, Mareus-san, you’ve made something unusual again,” Roulette-san commented.
“Sword breaker? It has a very peculiar shape.”
“That jagged part is used to catch and break or disarm the opponent’s weapon using leverage.” I thought it was for some special attack, but it’s used defensively.
This must be Mareus-san’ answer.
When I took out the black egg, Mareus-san approached slowly, looking a bit nervous. After taking a deep breath, he handed over the sword breaker.
The black egg swallowed it instantly, and unlike before, it didn’t spit out the weapon Mareus-san had crafted.
“Yes!” Mareus-san shouted triumphantly.
Roulette-san and Kanna-san smiled at his joy.
Although they didn’t give direct advice, they were likely worried as fellow craftsmen.
As I was feeling warm inside, Roulette-san added a cool comment.
“Although, instead of stubbornly sticking to weapons, you could have just made armor or shields.”
Oh, did she have to say that?
I thought Mareus-san had realized that himself when our voices overlapped.
“……”
Mareus-san was speechless, looking stunned.
He really hadn’t realized it… Roulette-san and Kanna-san burst out laughing at his reaction.
Embarrassed, Mareus-san ran back to his workshop and didn’t come out despite our calls.
These three are a bit troublesome, but maybe I should be glad our usual dynamics are back.
A few more days passed, and the black egg, which had absorbed the equipment crafted by the three of them, began to glow more brightly each day until finally, a crack appeared in its shell.
Everyone held their breath as the crack grew larger, and the shell finally broke.
And from inside emerged… a chick?