Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 85
Happy Eid to whoever celebrate it.
85. Mari-nee and unexpected encounter
The soldiers from the empire appeared and advanced around the empress, while the adventurers pressed closer behind us.
On the stone stage built on the surface of the lake, the empress and we were sandwiched between the two groups.
To put it mildly, we were in a tight spot.
“Your Majesty… Surely in this cave, harming people from the other country is prohibited, right?”
“That’s correct… But conversely, it also means it’s not applicable to our own country.”
“Which means…”
“Those people’s aim is probably not to usurp the throne… But what are you truly thinking? Why didn’t you stop this blatant action beforehand?”
Without showing any signs of disturbance, the empress replied calmly.
“Our country is a military state based on meritocracy. There is no reason to stop it. If they oppose us… we’ll crush them.”
Even when faced with her own soldiers, there was no hint of emotion in her words.
Despite her brother being among those she intended to crush…
“I am here for my brother… But the adventurers here are not for me.”
“What do you mean?!”
“Your Majesty!”
As the king expressed his confusion, an arrow was shot from the adventurers, nearly hitting him.
Fortunately, he noticed it just in time and dodged it, but if he hadn’t, it would have surely hit him.
“Why the adventurers’ attacks allowed? Even if they’re adventurers, they’re citizens of the empire… Wilhelmina, you!”
“It’s not me. But it’s not something only I can do. If it’s my brother, it’s possible. Whether to accept them as citizens or not.”
“Knowing that, why did you call Nero and Maria here… The price for this will be high, Wilhelmina von Legios.”
“Then let me pay that price while alive, Areis Roa Caldia.”
With that said, the empress directed herself towards her own soldiers closing in, while the king headed towards the adventurers.
Once again, I was left behind, still trying to fully grasp the situation.
In other words, because they’re no longer affiliated with the empire, these adventurers aren’t bound by the restrictions of the cave, allowing them to attack us, the Caldian people?
There seemed to be over a hundred adventurers, but there were only two of us, or five if we include Nero, Kuuga, and him.
Although it seemed that the initial battle ratio had decreased from 50 to 20, what could we do…
Fortunately, only a few adventurers had crossed the narrow path leading to the stone stage.
Thanks to that, the king was able to quickly defeat them and block the reinforcements, preventing a chaotic melee.
The king wielded a sword and shield.
The blade of the sword was enveloped in fiery waves, inflicting severe burns on the attackers without regard for defense.
The shield not only blocked attacks but also returned fireballs of varying sizes according to the attack’s power, incinerating the attackers.
An unstoppable offense and a counterattack integrated with defense.
Is this what they call a perfect offense and defense?
The empire’s adventurers were overwhelmed by the king alone.
It’s not that the empire’s adventurers were weak, rather, I believe they were quite strong, considering the attacks I couldn’t keep up with. But more than that, the king was stronger.
While the performance of his weapons and armor was apparent, it seemed that the king’s own level and stats were also high.
Although we occasionally supported the king from behind, it was unnecessary.
After several exchanges of attacks and defenses, the adventurers began to distance themselves from us.
“No matter. The resolve and strength of you who abandoned the empire and came here, is this all?” the king provocatively questioned.
Indeed, the king’s ability to provoke in such situations was impressive. However, the adventurers’ reaction was eerie, they showed no response.
Upon careful observation, I noticed a common trait among them: the lack of expression.
Though not all of them, many adventurers’ eyes seemed vacant, devoid of emotion in a different way from the empress.
“Well done, King of Caldia, Areis Roa Caldia. Your skill is truly magnificent,” came an applause, sounding out of place.
While praising the opponent, their attitude seemed somewhat mocking… It felt oddly familiar.
Emerging from among the adventurers at the forefront was the veiled woman who had concealed her face.
Her appearance indicated she no longer intended to hide her identity.
“I didn’t particularly want to meet you either. Mephistopheles.”
Although her face was hidden by the veil, I could sense a smile forming like a crescent moon.
“Well done for noticing my true identity, Maria,” the woman replied, her tone changing from female to male halfway through, and her appearance transforming in an instant.
The veil turned into a mask, the mourning attire into bandages, and a silk hat appeared on her head.
All of them were dyed black, and only her eyes remained red like blood, just like her lips before the transformation.
“Mephistopheles… I’ve heard that name before. It seems my people have been quite indebted to you in the past,” the king remarked.
“There’s no need for thanks, King Areis Roa Caldia. I am just…”
At lightning speed, the king closed in on Mephistopheles and swung his sword.
But his attack was blocked by the bandages covering Mephistopheles, and instead, the king was ensnared entirely by them.
“Your Majesty!”
“You need not worry, Lady Maria. It is not permitted for me to harm King Areis Roa Caldia. However… it is also not permitted for me to stop their atrocities,” Mephistopheles replied, glancing at the adventurers.
“What is your purpose?”
“You are quite astute, Lady Maria. I have prepared a door here.”
With a snap of his fingers, a black door suddenly appeared.
“The other side of this door leads only to a vast empty space. If Lady Maria chooses to open the door and proceed, they will follow. However, if she chooses to remain here without opening the door, they will also remain here.”
In other words, if I stay here, there is no guarantee of the king’s safety.
And I don’t have the power to protect the king against all these adventurers alone.
“All of them…? So if I go, will all the adventurers here follow me?”
“Yes, all of them. And in that case, I promise that no harm will come to King Areis Roa Caldia, no matter what happens afterwards.”
“Stop it, Maria!”
Though the king shouted, I believe my fate wouldn’t change regardless of my choice.
In that case, I only have one option, right?
Looking at Nero and Kuuga, their tails wagging eagerly, they seemed ready to follow without hesitation, as if saying, “Don’t leave us behind.”
As for ‘him’… looked bewildered.
Well, that’s understandable.
“It’s okay if you stay here,” I said.
He seemed to want to say something but couldn’t find the words, and he hung his head in silence. Still, when he raised his head, he stood silently by my side.
“Thank you… Well then, shall we go, everyone?”
After finishing our preparations as best as we could, the three of us stepped into the door together.
As we passed each other, Mephistopheles briefly mentioned the title of the upcoming performance, implying what was to come.
It sounded ominously like the “Dance of Death.”