Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 164
164. Mari-nee and Put Off the Bills
The morning greeted me alongside Roulette-san.
After offering our prayers in front of the villagers’ graves, we left the village behind.
Though it would have been quicker to return to the capital by resetting time, I chose not to.
Instead, we took the same route back to the capital, reflecting on the events of this journey and conversing with Roulette-san along the way.
At first, she was quiet, but by the time we reached the capital, her usual gentle demeanor had returned.
She expressed her gratitude once more, with those scarlet eyes narrowed in a soft, captivating smile.
I had seen her true face behind the glasses during her “Queen of Slaughter” mode, but this smile was breathtakingly beautiful.
Entering the capital, we headed home to give our report.
As we approached, I had a nagging feeling that I had forgotten something, but I couldn’t recall what it was.
One part of me tried to retrace my memories, while another part emotionally resisted, trying to keep the past buried.
Lost in these conflicting thoughts, we arrived at our home, and that’s when I remembered what I had forgotten—or rather, what my past self had deferred.
It was Estelle-san, who was waiting outside, hands clasped, smiling warmly as she looked at me.
In an instant, the memory of her frantically calling my name before I left resurfaced.
Oh, right… I had left without saying anything, trusting my future self would deal with it… how naive of me…
“Welcome back, Maria-san,” she greeted me.
“Th-thank you, Estelle-san,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
Despite her angelic smile, I could feel an overwhelming pressure—this was definitely not my imagination.
Even Van, standing beside me, was visibly terrified, his face tense, and he was trembling.
Gils, who often spared—well, conversed—with Estelle-san, was also taken aback.
Vel had hidden behind Gils, refusing to come forward.
Only Roulette-san seemed unfazed, giving me a thumbs-up as if to cheer me on.
I could use help more than encouragement right now, I thought, but before I could act, Estelle-san glided toward me.
“Maria-san, would you mind spending a little time with me?” she asked in a tone that left no room for refusal.
It reminded me of the time during the Potato Chips Hell when she had given me the illusion of choice, but in reality, it was a ‘Yes or Yes’ situation with no way out.
Resistance was futile…
I nodded weakly, and she took my arm, leading me to the innermost part of the church, to her room.
What followed was anything but a “little” time, and I’ll leave the details to your imagination.
Let’s just say, my foresight was painfully naïve…
Two hours later, I stumbled back to the main hall, where Kanna-san was teary-eyed before a revealed-faced Roulette-san, and Mareus-san was looking rather unsettled.
It seems that while I was away, they talked about everything that had happened.
“Oh, how wonderful, it’s love, love! Congratulations, Roulette-chan. You look good with glasses, but your true face is even more beautiful.”
“Thank you very much.”
Roulette-san responded to Kanna-san’s congratulatory words in her usual tone.
Feeling relieved at the sight that hadn’t been seen since the battle with Jade-san, Mareus-san hesitantly spoke up.
“Are you really okay without your glasses?”
He kept a slight distance, eyeing Roulette-san with suspicion.
“If you’re worried, why don’t you test it out for yourself? Aaah?”
“Eek!!”
With a short scream, Mareus-san retreated with a speed I’d never seen before.
That speed was unbelievable for a heavily armored knight.
Mareus-san, are you sure you’re not faking your job class… No, better not go down that rabbit hole—it could lead to unnecessary trouble.
“Anyway, this makes Roulette-chan the first among us to reach the third job class.”
“It just sort of happened that way.”
According to Roulette-san, after returning to the royal capital, she spent some time reflecting on herself by fighting alone.
The place was deep within the “Great Demon Forest,” which Graham-san had mentioned as being home to strong monsters.
Somehow, she reached the level cap and met the prerequisites for the third job class, which is just like Roulette-san…
Hearing this, we were all left speechless.
“That means, next up are Kanna and Mareus.”
“Wha—!?”
Both of them were stunned.
Considering they’d be up against monsters like the ones we saw in Liberta, their reaction was understandable.
Let’s at least pray for Kanna-san’s and Mareus-san’s safety.
“By the way, Maria-san, you’re next too.”
“Wha—!?”
Roulette-san continued, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Based on that Shahal-Ben person’s actions, it seems that you’re the one who needs to be most on guard.”
Now that she mentions it, Shahal-Ben did direct some pretty provocative words at me in the coliseum.
With everyone so caught up in the excitement, I’d almost forgotten.
In the end, I couldn’t come up with any effective arguments, and it was decided that I would aim for the third job class as well…