Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 124
124. Mari-nee and the flag she sowed (Part 2)
Once back inside the station with Retya-san, we were met by Gils, who had rushed over with Vel perched on his shoulder, alarmed by the commotion.
Although I briefly explained the situation to calm them down, it didn’t go as expected…
“Maria is not some spectacle for those idiots to gawk at!!”
“Pi-yooo!!”
How lively.
If I didn’t switch from [Moira’s Thread of Blessing] to [Puppetry], he looked ready to charge out there on his own. Even Vel, perched on his shoulder, seemed fired up, flapping his wings with determination.
He probably thought he was making an intimidating “flap-flap” sound to show his anger, but it was undeniably cute… no, that’s not the point.
Why has Vel become so combative?
Oh, right, it’s probably because he overheard the exaggerated stories of my exploits with Nero and Kuuga on the roof.
I could feel his strong resolve to “take them down” alongside Gils.
I appreciate the sentiment.
But let’s calm down a bit, okay?
When I petted his head with my fingertip, Vel gave me a look that seemed to say, “What are you doing?” But he quickly closed his eyes, succumbing to the pleasant feeling.
If it were Nero, he’d probably be purring by now.
Vel, the little one, is manageable, but the issue is Gils, the big one.
With the skill switch, Gils was managing to stay still, but if those people pushed past Graham-san and the others and got inside, I wasn’t confident I could hold Gils back.
I understood his feelings well enough.
But my worry turned out to be unfounded.
“Now, now. The one hurting the most is Maria-san, so let’s calm down, shall we?”
The Savior (Roulette-san) placed a reassuring hand on Gils’ shoulder.
“But!”
“Ca-a-a-lm do-o-wn, alright?”
Roulette-san slightly adjusted her glasses as she spoke.
“…”
“…”
The sheer force of her words rendered even me speechless.
Her tone carried a weight similar to what I’d heard from Kanna-san’s voice during an event, if not even more intimidating.
Vel froze on Gils’ shoulder, eyes wide.
I also thought I heard an ominous creak coming from Gils’ body where Roulette had placed her hand.
“Now, now, let’s not scare Gils too much.”
“Indeed, you need to calm down the most.”
Kanna-san admonished her, and Mareus-san gently pushed Roulette-san’s slipping glasses back into place.
“We can’t talk properly here. Let’s move to a different place to share information.”
Oh, Mareus-san is so reliable!
I couldn’t help but wonder if I had been completely influenced by those around me.
We relocated to a small room on the first floor of the station. I was curious about why we chose this room, but Retya-san explained it to me.
“Since His Majesty the King visits frequently, the royal mages have placed a formidable barrier around this room. No one can enter unless approved by Maria-san, and its strength is said to rival that of the castle walls…”
Retya-san said this with a distant look in her eyes, and I found myself staring into the distance as well.
However, King, this is supposed to be our station. Have you forgotten that?
Although it’s a bit late to say this since a secret passage from the castle was already constructed.
I think the people from the castle shouldn’t just follow the king’s orders blindly.
Because helping him escape is pretty much the same as assisting in his runaway…
And then it hit me.
They’ve given up, haven’t they?
So, I decided to give up thinking about this any further.
The small room, lavishly decorated by the king, was where we settled to discuss. Retya-san returned to the counter alone.
Though I suggested she stay with us just in case, she replied,
“If any impolite guests come in, I need to be prepared to make the most out of the situation.”
Retya-san said this with a smile, but it was the face she made when she was about to squeeze every penny out of rude customers.
So far, I don’t know anyone who’s managed to escape with their wallet intact after being on the receiving end of that smile.
As I watched Retya-san’s sturdy back, Kanna whispered to me that she had called some people from the production guild, which gave me some relief.
“I said we were sharing information, but what’s happening now isn’t complicated,” Mareus-san began, sitting in a chair.
“It’s the effect of the promotional video, plain and simple.”
“Of course…”
Even though I had planted the seeds myself, being reminded of it so clearly made me slump in resignation.
“Many people chose Caldia for the second wave. In fact, there were so many that restrictions had to be implemented.”
“Restrictions!?”
Just how many… no, I mustn’t think about it.
I can’t let my head droop any lower.
“The second wave players stayed in Eden for a while, but now that their levels are up, they’ve started coming here. Hopefully, this is the peak,” Kanna-san added.
“Please, Kanna-san, just say it’s the peak!”
“The number of views on that video is terrifying. Consider it a fame tax and deal with it.”
“A fame tax… the promotional video was well-made, but I don’t see why people need to come see me personally.”
As soon as I said that, Mareus-san and Kanna-san sighed, and Roulette-san gave a wry smile.
Why were they reacting this way?
I don’t think there’s anything particularly enjoyable about meeting me…
“You need to be more aware of your influence.”
“I agree with Mareus-chan,” added Kanna.
“Even though you don’t use social media, Maria-san, if you did, things would be crazy,” Roulette-san said.
When I asked Roulette-san what she meant by “crazy,” it was truly overwhelming.
The expected number of followers, the number of times I’d be mentioned, the content of those mentions…
Yes, I’m really glad I don’t use social media.
“In a way, it’s because you don’t use it that people are flocking here. But if it’s this chaotic now… will it ever calm down?”
“…”
“…”
“Uh, Roulette-san, Kanna-san? If you don’t say something, I’m going to be incredibly anxious…”
In situations like this, how should one handle it?
Should I avoid logging in and wait for things to cool down?
But how long would that take?
It’s particularly difficult because the other party is made up of real people.
If it were the residents, maybe the King’s intervention could resolve things…
At that moment, I didn’t realize I had unknowingly set up another flag.
“I’ve heard everything!”
A spirited voice echoed from nowhere.
“This voice… could it be!?”
Kanna-san, you clearly know who it is, don’t you?
The voice and the fact that it’s coming from someone who isn’t in the room…
Looking around the corners of the room, I noticed a carpet, worn from frequent use, with frayed fibers.
“For you who are in trouble, I have a special proposal.”
This sequence of events happened with Joshua-san too.
As I was consumed by this déjà vu, the King emerged dramatically from a hidden door under the carpet, which was no longer well-concealed.
Seeing the King’s somewhat triumphant expression, it was clear he was pleased with himself, timing and all.
The two flags I had inadvertently set were unexpectedly addressed by the King’s appearance and his proposal.
“We should consider opening the castle grounds to the public temporarily,” the King declared. “This will give the curious crowds somewhere else to gather and alleviate the pressure on your home.”
His idea, though unexpected, made sense. It could redirect the attention and excitement of the visitors elsewhere.
“The royal grounds?” I repeated, unsure.
“Yes,” the King affirmed. “It will be a controlled environment. We can organize guided tours, special events, and maybe even a meet-and-greet with some of the key figures from your PV.”
Mareus-san and Kanna-san exchanged looks, and Roulette-san nodded thoughtfully.
“It could work,” Roulette-san said. “It would take some of the spotlight off Maria-san and manage the crowds better.”
“And…”
The King added with a grin.
“It will be an opportunity to showcase the kingdom’s splendor. A win-win situation.”
Despite the abruptness of the proposal, it was evident that the King had put some thought into it. And given the circumstances, it seemed like a viable solution.
“Alright,” I agreed, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension.
“Let’s give it a try.”
With that, we began to discuss the logistics, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the unexpected support. Sometimes, the most unanticipated solutions turn out to be the best ones.