Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 137
137. Mari-nee and Signing Ceremony
The battle over the swimsuit video resulted in a truce two nights later.
When I logged back into the world of Mebius, the negotiations had been completed, with only the signing ceremony left.
I asked the emissary sent by the king about the upcoming plans, and he said the ceremony would take place in a few hours. However, the location was vaguely described as a “representative place of Liberta,” leaving us confused.
“A representative place in a commercial nation… could it be a bank?”
“You still can’t think outside the box, Mareus-chan,” Kanna-san said, looking more exasperated than disappointed.
“Is it really that bad!?”
“Unlike Caldia, it’s not a monarchy. Maybe it’s a parliament building,”
If they operate by consensus, that wouldn’t be unusual. Considering it’s a functioning country, there should be some impressive buildings.
With that in mind, we boarded the carriage provided by Liberta and set off with the emissary.
After a while, we arrived at a truly magnificent building. However, its purpose was not what we had expected, causing everyone to tilt their heads in confusion.
A large, circular structure made of cut stone with numerous archways—the building was unmistakably…
“An arena, the Colosseum?”
A facility for entertainment where gladiators fight each other or wild beasts. Not exactly fitting for a signing ceremony.
The emissary from Caldia seemed to share my sentiment and was confronting a person who appeared to be a Liberta diplomat.
Sensing the tension, Mareus-san remarked,
“It feels like something’s going to go wrong again.”
“You’re probably right, Mareus-chan. Although we won’t be attacked, the target is likely,”
Kanna-san stopped and began to look at me.
“Maria-san,” Roulette finished.
“Again, it’s me!?” I exclaimed.
They said it so smoothly that it made me anxious.
There was a very painful incident in a previous negotiation between nations. I hoped such an event would never happen again…
“Don’t worry, Maria. We’re here for you,” Gils said, slamming his fist into his palm confidently. Vel spread his wings and gave a sharp look.
Thank you, both of you.
Although when Vel narrowed his round eyes, it seemed more sleepy than fierce, which was endearing.
“The Holy Founder-sama will not come to harm while we are here! Rest assured!” declared one of the cult members, though their gaze was fixed on Gils.
“…”
“…”
The silent stare-off continued.
Why do they always have to compete with each other?
Given the situation, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anxiety.
Well, at least it’s better than before, now that they don’t act on every impulse.
We disembarked from the carriage at the main gate of the arena and walked through the gates, where a pure white carpet extended straight ahead.
Typically, carpets used for ceremonies are red, but perhaps white is the noble color in Liberta. Looking around the city, the grander buildings seemed to be the whitest.
At the end of the carpet stood a wide table and enough chairs for everyone.
Three people dressed in white, black, and gray, along with their presumed guards, greeted us.
The vast arena was devoid of spectators, creating a strange feeling of guilt since it’s usually bustling with people.
Before taking our seats, the Liberta representative who guided us introduced us.
In response, the older man with a portly figure in white Gandura-style attire began to speak.
“Welcome from afar. I am one of Liberta’s three merchants, Shahel Ben.”
“I am Shahel Heler,” said the woman next, dressed in black, resembling an Abaya but even looser. Her slender frame and clear voice stood out. She was an exotic beauty with prominent lips and almond-shaped eyes.
“And I am Shahel Sahar,” said the final person, a man in his late thirties with an average build. Unlike the previous two, who exuded a king-like authority, Sahar-san’s voice was gentle and soothing.
“Are you Maria-dono, the representative of Caldia’s king? I heard you managed to put the Empress of Legios in her place. I didn’t expect you to be so lovely,” Ben commented.
“I didn’t really ‘put her in her place’…” I muttered.
I hadn’t fought directly, and if I had, I would have been defeated instantly. Yet, Gils and the others behind me nodded as if to say, ‘They get it.’
Their attitude seemed disrespectful towards Liberta’s representatives, and I debated whether to chide them. Before I could decide, Roulette-san stepped on Gils’s foot, and Kanna-san elbowed Graham-san in the side.
Gils simply muttered, “Oh, my bad,” but Graham-san doubled over in pain. I wondered just how hard Kanna-san’s elbow must be to make someone bend over like that. Considering her past outburst against Mareus-san’s slip of the tongue, I questioned if she was truly in a cleric class. She looked more like she’d wield gauntlets or tonfas than a staff.
The ceremony proceeded smoothly despite my misgivings. The emissaries from Caldia had already settled the details of the treaties and tariffs, so now we just had to ensure there were no final discrepancies.
The Caldia emissaries reviewed the parchment one last time and handed it to me for signature. As instructed, I wrote the king’s name, followed by my own and my title as his representative. Despite the parchment taking time to dry naturally, the ink dried almost instantly here.
We exchanged documents and read them aloud. This final check ensured there were no misunderstandings.
With no issues found, I signed the parchment with Liberta’s signatures. With both sides having signed, my role was almost complete.
The handshake to conclude the ceremony should have been the final step, but at that moment, we were presented with an unexpected proposal.