Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 74
74. Mari-nee encounter with a certain parent and child
After the casserole sold out and the customers left, the atmosphere finally settled in the station.
I collapsed onto the counter, while Roulette-san and Kanna-san leaned back on the bench, and Mareus-san muttered to himself, gazing at the mountain of golden coins paid by the citizens and muttering, “Never in my life to see this much money.”
Mareus-san, some of that money includes Graham-sans’s too, you know?
I didn’t miss the fact that they muttered something unsettling like “It could also be considered a donation” and paid several times more than the citizens did.
Where on earth do they earn that much money?
As a very disturbing scene seemed to appear in my mind, I stopped thinking about it further.
Reluctantly recognized as a food establishment, we need to think about what to do next.
Wow, my ability to switch gears has gotten faster without me even noticing.
I’m definitely growing as a person!
It’s not growth, but rather enlightenment, you say?
Hahaha, I have no idea what you’re talking about.
As I divided the chores to clean up the dishes and saw the three of them off to their quarters, I headed back to the market alone.
While walking slowly on the sparsely green cobblestone streets of the city, I pondered about the treatment of the food establishment.
In the world of Mebius, time flows four times faster compared to reality.
So, it’s almost impossible for just the four of us to open the shop every day.
And if we open every day, I’ll have to cook all that food myself, which makes me wonder why I came to the world of Mebius in the first place.
Huh? But for the past few days, it feels like I’ve been doing nothing but cooking…
Yeah, switch gears, switch gears!!
There’s a clan-shared item box on the platform, freely accessible to those I’ve authorized.
Since it has a large storage capacity, I should be able to cook a large amount in advance and store it.
Someone with free hands can open the shop and serve it to customers, but I don’t want to burden the three who are immersed in production too much, especially considering Simon’s rampage, which undoubtedly started with my cooking.
“I really don’t know what to do…”
It’s heartwrenching to think about not serving my cooking when there are so many people who appreciate it.
While it’s somewhat inevitable for me to cook, it’s absolutely necessary to have someone else handle customer service in return.
However, I don’t have any idea who that person could be.
For a moment, I considered relying on Graham-san and the others, but I quickly dismissed the idea, as I could easily imagine them not only handling customer service but also closing the shop to hoard food.
As I fretted and my mind spun, I saw a child rushing toward me from the front.
Slightly older than Van, but dressed in such high-quality clothes that it was obvious they lived in the city.
Did they need something urgently? I wondered.
“Maria!!”
The child suddenly called out my name.
Huh? How do they know my name?
Glancing around instinctively, I checked for the presence of Graham-san and the others, feeling like my natural instinct.
No, considering their track record up to now, it’s understandable, right?
The child who stopped in front of me, panting heavily, started speaking in fits and starts.
“Haa, haa… Finally, I found you… Haa, haa… Thank you… for the potion, for the food…”
Finally found me?
That means he was looking for me, right?
But I don’t know anyone who dresses so nicely…
Huh? Potion and food??
The only person I can think of who would need both…
“Could it be Ryle?”
As I said that, Ryle vigorously nodded his head up and down.
Hey, hey, since you’re not breathing properly, don’t overdo it.
I bought some fruit water nearby and handed it to Ryle. He drank it all in one gulp from the large cup.
“Phew, thanks.”
“You’re welcome. But more importantly, why is Ryle here? It seems like you’re living here, but…”
“The king accepted us, who used to live in that town!”
I see, so the king kept his promise.
He did something to help the people who used to live in the now deceased town.
You can tell just by looking at Ryle in front of me.
It’s not just the clothes.
He used to have a hostile expression towards adventurers like us, but now he proudly talks about the king with a bright expression, like a completely different person.
We met by chance, and we didn’t talk for long.
Still, seeing a child I’ve interacted with looking happier than before makes helping him worth it.
Come to think of it, does it double for Sawa-san’s case…? Alright, switch gears, switch gears, switch gears!!
“Ryle, why were you running so suddenly?”
As my mind was undergoing yet another round of switching, a woman in her mid-twenties with long hair braided to the right rushed over to Ryle’s side.
“Mom! This is Maria, the one who gave us the potion and food!!”
“Oh my, you’re Maria, right? But Ryle, you shouldn’t call her ‘this,’ you know?”
His tone of voice saying ‘You shouldn’t?’ sounded cute, like he might say ‘Meow!’ but her right fist mercilessly slammed into Ryle’s skull.
“Ouch!”
Wow, what swift discipline.
But that dull, heavy sound seems to be crossing the line a bit, doesn’t it?
As I looked at Ryle, crouched down and holding his head in pain, his mother (?) deeply bowed to me.
“I’m Ryle’s mother, Reitia. Thank you very much for the valuable potion and delicious food for strangers like us. Thanks to you, Maria-san, who healed my injured face and endless tears, I can leave the house and work again. I really don’t know how to thank you.”
“Please raise your head. Originally, it was because of us adventurers, and if you want to thank anyone, tell Ryle, who took action for you, regardless of the way he acted. Regardless of how it happened, if it weren’t for Ryle, neither the potion nor the food would have reached you, Reitia-san.”
“Maria-san… You’re as wonderful as the rumors say.”
Wait a minute, what do you mean ‘as the rumors say’?
I wonder who’s spreading what rumors about me, I’m really curious.
From a casual gesture, I suddenly shook my head.
…Just ordinary people passing my mind and somewhere in front of me, including Graham-san and the others, there’s no one suspicious. But there’s something nagging at me.
“By the way, where are you going, Maria-san?”
Reitia’s voice pulled me out of the swirling whirlpool of suspicion in my mind.
“I was thinking of going to the market to buy ingredients for cooking. Due to various circumstances, I ended up opening a food establishment. Oh, but I’m not sure if we have enough staff for customer service to open the food establishment.”
“Is that so… Um, in that case, would you let me help you?”
“With you, Reitia-san?”
“I used to work as a server in a tavern. I think I can handle customer service without any problems.”
“I’ll help too!”
“Reitia-san, even Ryle…”
Certainly, if we can ask an experienced person for help, it’s an unexpected blessing.
And if Reitia, whom Ryle adores, is the one, I think she can be trusted.
I’d like to ask, but I need to consult with the other three first.
When I consulted them in the clan chat, the word ‘leave it to us’ came back without delay.
Their quick response clearly indicates they’re delegating everything.
I understand they’re busy, but that’s the kind of response they give, huh?
Hmm…
Well, all three of them, look forward to the next meal, okay?
“Thank you. Since I’ve also received permission from my comrades, could I ask for your help? Of course, I’ll pay you for your work.”
Reitia initially declined to accept payment, but compensation is necessary for work, and it also contributes to motivation and a sense of responsibility.
Plus, we don’t know how long the king will continue to assist the people who used to live in the deceased town.
Once the ore veins are depleted, the effects of the oracle may disappear, and there’s no guarantee the assistance will continue.
It’s better to have savings.
Coming from someone like me, who is practically clueless about persuasion, it’s not very convincing, but after a not-so-brief exchange, Reitia and Ryle reluctantly agreed to accept payment.
Alright, alright, if we’re going to run a proper food establishment, I want it to be a fair workplace.
After that, with Reitia and Ryle’s encouragement, they agreed to help with the shopping at the market.
It was there that I witnessed a hidden side of Reitia, which would leave me shaken…