Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 177
177. Mari-nee and The Feelings Woven
The King sat elegantly, sipping tea with his legs crossed.
There were only a few baked sweets on the table compared to the size of the dish, indicating that he had been there for a while.
“Why is the King here at this timing…?” I muttered to myself, suddenly realizing something.
Could this be another case of a wasted divine revelation, like during the class change?
As if reading my thoughts, the King began to speak in a serious tone.
“As you’ve guessed, it’s not because another divine revelation has descended, so you can rest easy.”
He then broke into a playful smile.
I felt a bit let down but also relieved that it wasn’t anything serious.
However, Your Majesty? Showing up unannounced like this isn’t exactly something that puts me at ease, you know?
Feeling the need to get on the same page, I asked everyone, “So, what’s going on here?”
Entering a slight “Retya-san’s story mode,” I questioned them, to which Kanna-san responded.
“You might have guessed it when we showed up, but Mari-chan’s new equipment is ready. However, we wanted the collaborators to be present for its unveiling.”
Collaborators… In this situation, there could only be one person who fits that role.
As I shifted my gaze back from Kanna-san, the King quietly placed his cup back on the table.
“I heard through the grapevine that your equipment was being renewed. And considering that it’s being crafted by these three… ordinary materials wouldn’t suffice for their skills. So, I provided the missing materials.”
“We gathered some materials in the ‘Great Magic Forest,’ but there were plenty of items that surpassed those,” Mareus-san added, supporting Roulette-san’s surprise.
“There were even some materials that we couldn’t imagine how to obtain,” Roulette-san remarked.
“Of course, that’s my King for you!” Kanna-san concluded boldly.
“If it surprised you all, then it was worth the trouble of selecting them from the castle’s treasury,” the King said.
“The treasury!?” I exclaimed.
“Mari-chan, you’re the hero of Caldia. This level of assistance is only natural for a King,” she added.
While I still felt uncomfortable being treated as a hero, the King considered this a matter of course.
Ignoring my internal struggle, another shocking revelation was dropped.
“By the way, when I mentioned this to the Legios diplomat during negotiations, they immediately informed the Empress. Not long after, materials I had only known from books were sent over.”
The King seemed to have anticipated the Empress’s reaction, chuckling mischievously.
Thanks to the rare materials, Roulette-san and the others looked quite pleased.
Meanwhile, I stood there, expressionless and stunned.
Why had this situation become so grand when it was just about renewing my equipment?
Instead of feeling excitement for the new equipment, I felt a headache coming on from how much this had blown out of proportion.
“All of this is the result of the bonds you’ve woven. If you take pride in that, it will be worth it for both me and the Empress,” the King said, with an unusually serious expression.
How unfair, to say something like that.
Thinking of this as something to feel guilty about would be disrespectful.
I took a deep breath and responded with a smile.
“Thank you.”
I added no extra words, just my gratitude.
The King nodded in satisfaction and then turned his gaze toward Roulette-san and the others.
“Well then, it’s time for the opening act to step back. From here on, you three are the stars,” he said, stepping aside.
Kanna-san and Mareus-san stood side by side as Roulette-san stepped forward from between them.
After traveling together, I felt like the distance between Roulette-san and me had closed somewhat. But facing her so formally like this, I couldn’t help but feel a bit shy.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one feeling this way, as Roulette-san also wore a bashful smile.
We both shared a small laugh before Roulette-san began to speak.
“I poured all my feelings into this, hoping you’d like it.”
As she finished speaking, a complete set of equipment, primarily navy blue and white, appeared in her hands.
My previous outfit consisted of a white, flowy shirt paired with a long navy skirt and matching boots.
In contrast, the new ensemble before me featured a sleek, off-the-shoulder navy blouse with short sleeves, a white flared skirt that reached the ankles, and short boots with a beautiful gradient from white to black.
The overall design was more mature, and the blouse had yellow buttons, while some of the pleats in the skirt were accented with green.
The significance of these colors was unmistakable.
The colors representing my family were woven throughout the outfit.
Emotions welled up inside me, breaking through the dam, and tears began to spill down my cheeks.
“Thank you so much!”
For thinking of us so deeply.
For warming my heart so dearly.
Through my blurred vision, I suddenly realized that Roulette-san was holding me close.
She held me as if she were cradling something precious, full of tenderness and care.