Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 23
1-23. Mari-nee and How to Use Black Fur
Upon returning to the church, I found Estelle-san cleaning with the children.
However, this wasn’t the usual cleaning routine. It seemed more like a full-scale cleaning operation with all the children mobilized.
“Hello, Estelle-san. What’s happening with everyone cleaning together like this?”
“Mari-san! Oh? You’ve changed into new clothes. It really suits your atmosphere, and it looks lovely.”
I had thought it looked good, but receiving compliments from others still made me happy.
“Thank you. These were made by my friend, Roulette-san, who visited here before. She’s also the creator of Nero.”
“I see. If it’s the one who made Nero-chan, then it makes sense. It’s a very delicate and thoughtful design.”
There was a faint sense of admiration in her gaze.
Estelle-san is a girl too, maybe I should consult with Roulette-san next time.
“Well, about this cleaning…”
“Ah, sorry. Actually, the straw we were using as bedding got dirty, so we were planning to replace it. That’s why all the children are helping.”
“Ah, so all the kids are pitching in.”
Once we remove the straw, we’ll need to sweep away dust and dirt, and depending on the area, we might need to wipe it down too. If we wipe it while the straw is still wet, the straw might get damaged. So, it’s necessary to dry it along with removing any remaining moisture.
And then, after laying down the straw, it indeed becomes quite an extensive process.
“Perfect timing…”
“Is something the matter?”
“No, it’s nothing. I’ll help too.”
Since I’m looking forward to the reaction to the fur, I’ll keep it a secret a little longer.
I gently pushed Estelle-san, who seemed apologetic, and went with the children to the large room where they usually sleep. There, instead of continuing the cleaning, the boys were engaged in a straw fight.
Being dragged along by Estelle-san is already a routine.
But where exactly are we being taken?
The child who got dragged away returns with a pale face, looking scared, so it’s a bit intimidating to ask.
“…Shall we do it ourselves?”
“Did something happen?”
“No, it’s nothing. I’ll help too.”
Since I’m looking forward to the reaction to the fur, I’ll keep it a secret a little longer.
I started cleaning with the remaining girls.
Even though straw is light, it’s bulky, making it difficult for small children to carry. So instead of carrying, they pushed it from all sides to gather it in the center.
Once it was gathered in the center, I manipulated the thread given to me by Roulette-san to tie it down.
Some fine straw may fall off, but that couldn’t be helped.
After taking the trash to the disposal area, I joined Estelle-san, who had the boys with blue faces. I was surprised that the handling of the major items had already been finished, but she kindly offered to take care of the remaining cleaning.
While the boys were sweeping, the girls split up to wipe down the areas that needed cleaning.
Afterward, everyone joined in to dry-wipe, and finally, the room became clean.
“Now, for the new straw.”
“Ah, leave that to me.”
“Huh?”
While Estelle-san was bewildered by my words, I took out a large amount of black wolf fur from my item box.
In an instant, a mountain of black fur was created, leaving the children in awe.
A successful surprise, I suppose?
“Please spread these on the floor. I think it’s warmer than straw.”
At first, the children timidly touched the fur, but they were quickly captivated by its softness, and excitement ensued.
And as expected.
“”””Yaaaaaaay!””””
They all leaped in simultaneously.
It’s like wanting to jump into a luxurious bed.
Watching them with a smile, Estelle-san seemed fidgety.
So, I quietly approached her from behind, gave her a little push, and sent her into the pile of fur with the children.
“Kyaa!? M-Maria-san!!”
“Ahaha, sorry about that.”
Despite her tone sounding like a squeak, Estelle-san was already enchanted by the softness, blushing slightly as she squirmed.
Her long sisterly robe lifted, revealing her white, slender legs that are not usually exposed. (TL: ( ?° ?? ?°))
Yeah, it’s a sight I can’t show to Allen-san, even if I don’t express it explicitly.
After enjoying the experience for a while, I waited for the right moment and, along with everyone, started spreading the fur on the floor.
I was worried if there would be enough, but it turned out to be unnecessary, we even had some leftovers.
“Now, you should be able to sleep more comfortably than before.”
“Um, is it really okay? Buying this much fur would cost quite a bit, I think.”
“All of these were obtained by me capturing black wolves. You don’t need to worry. At most, it cost me the cleaning fee, but considering I always rent a room here, it’s a small price.”
“Maria-san… Thank you. The children will be delighted. No, they are already so happy that they’ve fallen asleep.”
Looking at the children who were making so much noise earlier, now freely rolling around and snoring, Estelle-san expressed her gratitude.
Children being this carefree is a good thing.
Just being able to witness this scene is worth the price.
Handing the remaining fur to the smiling Estelle-san, I headed outside the church.
“Where are you going now?”
“I’ve upgraded my equipment and changed jobs, so I’m going to check the results.”
“I see. Please don’t push yourself too hard. Also, I’ll replace the straw in your room with the fur.”
“Thank you. I’ll leave it to you then.”
“Yes, leave it to me!”
Responding with an innocent smile, Estelle-san reminded me of a scene from a manga recommended by Maki. Mischievous thoughts crossed my mind.
Approaching Estelle-san, I placed my hand on her cheek and looked into her eyes from below.
Leaving Estelle-san in a flustered state, I whispered in a lower tone than usual.
“If you do your best, I’ll give you a reward later, okay?”
“!!!”
A sound effect like “Pfffsh” seemed almost audible as Estelle-san’s ears instantly turned bright red.
Yeah, she’s really adorable.
I left the church satisfied, thinking about what I should do as a reward.