Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 8

1-8. Mari-ane and Estelle’s Monologue

I, Estelle, was entrusted with the church and the children by the previous Sister, and this happened about two years ago.

The financial aid had never been sufficient, and recently it had become even scarcer. We managed to feed the children somehow, thanks to the goodwill of the townspeople. Vanessa from the Rabbit Tail Inn, in particular, shared provisions with us many times, and I can’t thank her enough.

Also, Allen from the Adventurer’s Guild, who often came to check on us, was a welcome presence.

Despite being a church, with only me, a woman, and the children, having a man around provided some reassurance.

Especially since adventurers started coming to the town, I felt a growing sense of crisis due to their sometimes indiscreet glances.

Because of these circumstances, I wrote letters to the church headquarters multiple times, appealing for support, but all I received was a brief “under consideration.”

I have chosen this path for myself, and I am prepared.

However, for the children, I want to provide days without anxiety.

With this in mind, I wrote a new letter to the church headquarters, even though I was somewhat resigned.

When I went outside with the letter, I encountered her.

Her name was Maria.

Long, glossy black hair, and large sky-blue eyes.

Fair skin, a delicate small body, and her limbs appeared even slimmer than the church children’s.

Her appearance was undoubtedly that of a child, but more than that, I was intrigued by the aura she exuded.

Church children, abandoned by their parents, are often fearful and closed-hearted. However, she seemed to be lost in the act of living.

Guiding lost souls is also the duty of the church and its sisters.

Inviting her to a meal… I can endure the shortage; she doesn’t have to worry. When I returned to the hall with a pot, she was manipulating threads, drawing people and animals in the air, and captivating the children.

I’ve heard that many adventurers possess skills, and surely this must be one of them.

Nevertheless, what an intricate movement it was.

Even the craftsmen in the town, I believe, cannot handle threads so skillfully.

When cleaning up the dishes, I conveyed that I had brought her along thinking she was an orphan, and it seems she believed me without suspicion.

Upon parting, I thought it would be good for an adventurer to visit the Adventurer’s Guild, so I asked Allen to deliver a letter for me.

I didn’t expect her to refuse, but I was surprised that she responded not just as a simple favor and had noticed my health.

Even more surprising was that, having just met me, she showed concern, handed over food and money without any hesitation or expectation of anything in return. Embarrassingly, I felt incapable of reciprocating.

Furthermore, she spoke words of kindness with a depth of genuine affection that was unimaginable from her appearance. My tension dissolved easily, and I couldn’t hold back tears.

Now, looking back, I feel ashamed of how arrogantly I perceived Maria’s struggle with living.

From that moment, Maria-chan became Maria-san to me.

Allen visited the church sometime after that.

He brought boar meat as a gift, but I know Allen’s circumstances.

He works late to support his sick family, and there shouldn’t be any extra money.

When I asked if he had done something unreasonable, he said that an adventurer took on a cheap request. Hearing that it was a small girl and that she accepted because my name was mentioned, I could only think of one person.

As I inquired further, I paled.

The Trial Forest is where adventurers go to test their abilities after becoming accustomed to fighting. In terms of the strength of adventurers, I think it’s around level 10.

Asking a beginner like Maria to go there forcefully is something unworthy of a human being.

It seems Allen thought of forming a party, but if that were the case, he should have given a warning.

At that moment, I had Allen sit on the ground.

Ultimately, Maria-san seemed to have returned safely. However, when I heard that Maria-san’s figure disappeared right after Allen finished reporting to me, I felt like fainting.

The reason Maria-san had exhausted her strength was not unrelated to me giving her food. Fortunately, adventurers seem to be able to return here even after their lives are taken by the power of the outside god. When I saw Maria-san with my own eyes, I felt a deep sense of relief.

On that night, Maria-san treated me and the children to the delicious boar meat that we couldn’t finish, using the excuse of a taste test.

I had never eaten something so delicious in my entire life. Maria-san, who could cook, defeat such a large boar, and was so strong and compassionate, I believed she could be called an angel of God.

After everyone enjoyed the meal, Maria-san seemed troubled about something. When I asked, it turned out she hadn’t decided where to stay.

I gathered my courage and suggested that she stay at the church. I wanted to repay her even a little; there was no other reason, really, it’s true.

So, since there happened to be no available rooms, she ended up resting in my room. It couldn’t be helped.

That day, I thanked God for meeting Maria-san and went to sleep with the children. Strangely, my chest felt tight, and I couldn’t fall asleep easily.