Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 198
198. Mari-nee and the Message
The message was brief: someone wanted to talk with me.
I had exchanged messages with Yuuki-san several times before, so speaking with her wasn’t a problem.
However, even when Maki asked for more details, Yuuki-san insisted that she would only share them with me directly.
That kind of response would naturally raise Maki’s suspicions, increasing the likelihood of her rejecting the request. Yuuki-san must have known that.
Despite this, he was adamant, and it seemed Maki sensed something serious was at play.
“I’ve made sure there’s no ill intent toward you, Onee-chan,” Maki assured me.
It was rare to see Maki, usually so steadfast when it came to my affairs, this troubled.
This meant Yuuki-san must also be extremely serious.
After a brief moment of consideration, I decided to speak with Yuuki-san.
Maki had put the call on hold, and as soon as Masato carried me to the living room and set me on the sofa, Yuuki-san appeared on the wall display.
“Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, despite the suddenness of my call.”
Yuuki-san stood from his chair on the other side of the screen, bowing deeply.
“Don’t worry about it. Given that Maki was so taken aback, it must be something quite significant.”
I gestured for her to sit, and after taking her seat and adjusting her posture, Yuuki-san continued.
“Indeed. To be honest, there was internal debate within our company about whether or not we should even inform you of this. Normally, it wouldn’t even be a subject of discussion, but because the matter is so delicate, we ultimately decided it would be best for you to judge for yourself, Mari-san.”
“Something that normally wouldn’t even be discussed?” I asked.
Yuuki-san nodded.
“As a rule, our company does not facilitate connections between players outside of the game. However, in this particular case, we couldn’t shake the feeling that following that rule might result in a disservice to you, Mari-san.”
I was taken aback by this unexpected explanation, but Masato, seated beside me, was the first to speak.
“Doesn’t sound good. And I take it you can’t tell Maki or me about it?”
“We weren’t sure to what extent we could share this with the two of you. However, we know how important you both are to Mari-san, which is why I plan to relay this in a somewhat roundabout manner. If at any point Mari-san feels uncomfortable with either of you hearing, we will stop immediately.”
His answer was addressed to Masato but was clearly meant for me.
To be honest, his serious tone made me a little scared of what I might hear.
Still, I knew I would regret it if I didn’t listen.
“Thank you for the consideration. But with Masato and Maki, I’ll be okay, no matter what’s said.”
I touched the hands of the two sitting beside me, and they gently squeezed back.
That alone made me feel so much stronger.
“…Understood. But please, don’t push yourself too hard,” Yuuki-san said before taking a breath and continuing.
“Mari-san, do you know a player by the name of Jade?”
“…!”
Hearing the name that had been weighing on my mind in the real world left me speechless.
“We were asked to deliver a video message from that person to you. If you’re ready, I can begin the playback… How would you like to proceed?”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my shallow breathing, and nodded.
Yuuki-san glanced at Masato and Maki before switching to the video.
The image that appeared wasn’t Jade-san.
Instead, it was an unfamiliar person, who looked to be in their forties.