Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 25
1-25. Mari-nee and the boy from the second town
The direction from which the sound came was difficult to pinpoint due to the echoes in the mountains.
While narrowing down the general direction with Nero’s assistance, I climbed a tree and attempted to explore from a higher vantage point.
“The volume of the voice suggests that it’s not too far away.”
Using visual enhancement, I scanned the nearby area and spotted what seemed to be an animal trail.
Following it led me to a narrow road. Further along, several adventurers had gathered.
On the roadside of a seemingly empty road, there was probably no specific reason for them to gather there.
Descending from the tree with Nero in the lead, we cautiously approached, taking a detour just in case.
Thanks to auditory enhancement, or perhaps by sheer luck, I could hear a child’s scream or rather a shout.
Through the gaps in the trees, miraculously, my line of sight was clear, and I could finally grasp the details.
“Mom got hurt because of you guys! Don’t let adventurers come near!!”
A small boy with a stone in hand threw it towards the adventurers.
“Whoa, this brat threw a stone at us.”
“Also, who cares about someone’s mom getting hurt, I don’t know.”
“It’s too much trouble to deal with, let’s go.”
The adventurers, relatively calm, either ignored or tried to pass by.
I was hoping they would just leave quietly, but…
“Take this!”
Wait, why are you throwing another stone there, kid?!
Unfortunately, it hit one of the adventurers.
“Cut it out, kid. We were attacked first, no complaints if we retaliate.”
A sword smoothly unsheathed from his waist.
Ah, it turned out like this after all.
I extended one of the threads hidden in the grass, drew a mouse at the tip, and activated [Clown].
“Hmm? A monster?”
Good, it worked on the adventurers too.
While the attention of the boy was diverted, I wrapped the other thread around the boy and lifted him up like a fishing rod.
To avoid the hassle of him screaming, I quickly did it with about one-third of my strength, ignoring the boy’s burden. It should be fine, right?
The thread was replaced with [Giant Spider’s Silk], and I controlled it to avoid hitting the trees.
Peering at the adventurers, they looked puzzled as the boy disappeared suddenly, with a face like he was grabbed by a fox.
They thought they sensed a monster, but it disappeared, and it’s understandable to be confused.
After scrutinizing the surroundings for a while, they returned to the road and left.
“Phew… It’s a relief it didn’t turn into a fight.”
I unconsciously released the breath I had been holding. I’ve never fought adventurers, and I don’t want to, so I really wanted to avoid it at all costs.
“Now, why did you do something so risk… no, dangerous!?”
Looking at the boy, his HP was below half.
The strain when lifting him seemed to be stronger than expected. This is not the time to be calmly considering it!
In a panic, I quickly administered a potion, and his HP immediately recovered.
Though he had lost consciousness, he eventually woke up.
“Are you okay? Is there anywhere that hurts?”
“Huh? Where are they? Actually, where is this?”
“We’re a bit away from the main road. I pulled you up from where you were until just now. It seemed dangerous to leave you there.”
In reality, I was the one who created the danger, but sometimes it’s better not to know, right?
But thinking about it, things like this are convenient for the one saying it, I realized, and I grew up a bit.
“Hey, don’t do unnecessary things! And you’re an adventurer too! Just like those guys!!”
Keeping a distance, he glared at me, his eyes filled with hatred.
I took another look at the boy in front of me.
He seemed a bit older than the children from the church, Van included.
His clothes were patched up but not terribly worn.
He looked like an ordinary child you’d find anywhere.
For such a child to confront adults, especially adventurers, it must be something significant.
“I hate adventurers…,” he had said, and I understand the reason was his mother’s injury, but what to do about it?
Fortunately, in my relatively short life, I’ve had some experiences.
I drew from the experience when things got rough with Masato.
“I see. You really don’t like adventurers.”
Meeting his gaze, I acknowledged his words first.
“I hate them! You’re an adventurer too! So, I hate you too!”
“You’ve really taken a dislike, huh. But meeting for the first time and being hated is kinda sad, you know? Hey, why do you hate adventurers?”
“Adventurers are arrogant and just a bunch of thugs! My hardworking mom got hurt because of you guys! It’s all your fault!!”
And I didn’t deny it.
“Your mom is a hard worker, huh? I wonder how someone like your hardworking mom got injured.”
“My mom was just serving at the bar, and a drunk adventurer suddenly hugged her. When she resisted, he suddenly hit her!”
In reality, this would be a case for the local authorities in one hit. However, it’s terrible to have gone this far.
According to Mareus-san, in the second town, almost no adventurers are being paid attention to. So, the fact that this boy’s mother was abused happened before that.
If such things were happening frequently, it’s no wonder the residents would dislike adventurers.
“How severe is your mother’s injury?”
“…She got punched in the face, it’s swollen. The doctor said her bone might be broken. To heal it, we need an expensive potion, but we can’t afford it. After seeing her injured face, my mom cries every day and won’t go outside anymore.”
For the first time, the boy showed a different expression than hatred.
<Quest: “Mother’sWish” has been initiated. Will You Accept The Quest?>
No, no, what kind of perception of reality is this to call it a quest here! There’s a thing called atmosphere.
We don’t need to see the reward; I’m canceling this.
<Quest rejected>
As a precaution, I took out the high-grade potion I had bought and handed it to the boy, holding his hand.
“If you want, try using this.”
“This! This is what the doctor talked about! …Is it okay?”
He seemed happy without thinking, but then he remembered he hated me.
“Of course. If one bottle isn’t enough, if someone from Eden comes to your town, tell them to pass a message to me. I’ll provide as much as you need. Oh, I haven’t told you my name. I’m Maria. What’s your name?”
“…Ryle.”
“Ryle, huh. You’re a good child who cares for your mom.”
“…Why?”
“Hmm?”
“Why are you doing so much for me? Nobody else ever helped me.”
“Why, huh? I wonder why. I don’t really understand it myself.”
“…Weirdo.”
“That’s mean. I’m still older than you, you know?”
I lightly tapped his head, and he turned his face away.
Let’s just pretend not to notice if he’s blushing.
Then,
“Gurgle~”
Someone’s stomach made a grand noise.
“!”
If you shyly press your stomach, the bugs are gonna escape from the cat’s paw you know?
Well, there are only Ryle and me here, so it’s bound to be obvious, though.
I took out two stew hamburgers and placed them in front of him.
Although I made them quite a while ago, in the game, they still look freshly made.
“You can eat these. Since your mom is going to use the potion, you might as well have them together.”
“…Thanks.”
He probably intended to mutter quietly so that it wouldn’t be heard, but with auditory enhancement, I heard it perfectly.
But, yeah.
If he can express gratitude now, he seems to be okay.
“Can you go home alone?”
“I’m not that much of a kid.”
“I see. Be careful, then. Also, don’t pick fights with adventurers anymore, okay?”
“I won’t! …Well then, Maria.”
“See you, Ryle.”
Ryle’s back, walking in the direction of the supposed second town, grew distant, then small, and eventually disappeared.
“An unexpected event has tired me out. It’s been quite some time, let’s go, Nero.”
When I called Nero, he turned towards the area behind me and gave a wary voice I’ve never heard before.
“Fshh!!”
His fur stood on end like a hedgehog.
I also got ready in a hurry, and the shadow about 2 meters away swelled up, repeated division and integration, and gradually took on a human form.
What appeared was a creepy figure, holding a silk hat with one hand and wrapping its whole body in black bandages.
Its face was covered by the same black mask, with only the eyes emitting a red color like blood.
“I thought you’d be falling into despair by now, but here you are. Well, well, to recover from that state is quite something.”
Muttering to himself as if we weren’t even worth his attention.
I, who never cared much about strong or weak, this is impossible.
I haven’t stopped trembling since earlier.
It feels like being thrown in front of a hungry lion.
And not just one but surrounded.
Honestly, I want to run away right now, or rather, not log in for a while.
The red eyes turned towards me as if remembering something.
In the overwhelming fear, I felt like my heart might stop.
“Well, well, I apologize for speaking to myself without greeting the lady before.”
With utmost politeness, he bent deeply at the waist and lowered his head.
“…But, I see. So that’s why Eden’s progress is slow.”
Seemingly satisfied with something, he nodded repeatedly.
“…Who are you?”
Despite saying something like “I apologize,” he seemed to be convinced without permission. Irritated, I couldn’t help but ask.
“What a splendid and profound question you’ve posed. I would like to answer what I am… however, now is not the time for that.”
Reversing the appearance as if rewinding, the humanoid shape returned to a shadow.
“We shall meet again soon. Until then, as long as this moment continues, please feel free to enjoy yourself.”
When the presence completely disappeared, and Nero’s vigilance returned to normal, I collapsed on the spot.
I don’t want to meet that thing again.
Besides, there was something unsettling about the way it spoke.
“This is probably related to some event…”
I thought about reporting it to Roulette-san and the others, but as soon as I returned to Eden, I lay down on the usual bed in the church’s room.
The straw mattress on the bed had been replaced with a black wolf’s fur, and the fluffy feeling provided a slight comfort. I expressed gratitude to Estelle-san in my mind as I logged out.