Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 98
Intermission_one after another
98. Mari-nee and younger sister working behind the scenes
One morning, my older brother Masato brought our big sister, whose eyes were slightly swollen.
It was the same as the morning after she suddenly burst into tears in the middle of the night before ending the game.
At that time, it was accompanied by an alert from the AI, but last night there was no alert.
So, I don’t think there’s a problem with the situation, but the fact that something happened to make Onee-chan cry is a problem.
No matter what the reason, I have no intention of ignoring or forgiving anything that makes Onee-chan cry.
Masa-nii… No, he hasn’t noticed.
For someone with a severe sister complex, it’s strange that he doesn’t notice these little things.
I guess I have to be more vigilant.
While Masa-nii prepared breakfast and Onee-chan watched, I secretly contacted someone.
After finishing breakfast and while Masa-nii was doing rehabilitation exercises with Onee-chan, I returned to my room and put on the blind circlet.
This wasn’t something to connect to Mebius World Online, which Onee-chan has, but something prepared specifically for me for meetings with Caduceus Corporation.
Closing my eyes and activating the blind circlet, my consciousness momentarily faded with a slight sensation of floating.
When I opened my eyes, it wasn’t the usual meeting room.
What I first noticed was the fresh scent of herbs.
The four-and-a-half tatami mat space seemed to be modeled after some famous tea room.
But clearly indicating its unreality, green bamboo grew at regular intervals instead of walls.
Beyond the gaps in the bamboo, more bamboo grew in orderly layers, creating a strangely spacious yet deep space.
I hadn’t paid attention before because I had always had meetings in normal meeting rooms, but if the smell and scenery felt so real, it’s no wonder people would travel less.
You can experience the extraordinary without going on a trip.
“I’m glad I sold off travel-related stocks early.”
As I muttered to myself, two figures suddenly appeared.
One was Yukki, the PR manager for Caduceus Corporation.
With her short haircut and stylish appearance, she looked like the efficient secretary she always was.
She’s the person I’m closest to at Caduceus Corporation, the one I contacted today, but I wasn’t expecting another person to come.
A man in his forties with neatly styled hair, parted to the side, which is rare these days.
He looked like a typical salaryman from the bubble era of Japan.
But such a person is the president of Caduceus Corporation.
“It’s been a while since we met like this, Maki-san.”
“Long time no see, Yukki-san. And it’s been since we met during the investment that I saw President Yatsuka.”
“I apologize for the long absence, Maki Akizuki-san.”
He straightened his back, bowed at a precise forty-five-degree angle, and greeted me.
“By the way, why is the president here? I said I wanted to talk to Yukki-san.”
To be honest, it’s annoying to have someone come who wasn’t invited.
“I asked Yukki-kun to do something about that. I requested her to be here without prior notice, and I hope you can forgive that.”
“…Is that related to what I want to talk about?”
“Yes. Please, have a seat first. We’ll talk after that.”
Prompted, I sat down, with Yukki-san to my right and the president in front of me.
“Do you know that her sister, Mari Akizuki-san, known as Maria in Mebius World Online, is a unique presence?”
“I heard from Yukki-kun. She’s still overdoing it with her Karma stat, right?”
“Yes, indeed. However, whether our perception of her greatness matches what we think now…”
There’s something off about the way they’re speaking.
Yukki-san also had a serious expression.
“When Yukki-kun asked Maria-san for cooperation in promoting, we judged her to be the best fit for conveying Mebius’s concept. However, Maria-san’s influence is now beginning to extend to the world of Mebius itself.”
“You’re the ones who gave Onee-chan that Karma stat, right?”
The way it’s framed, it seems like Onee-chan’s at fault, and it irked me.
But the president shook his head in response to my words.
“Let me clarify that what I stated was merely a fact. And I must correct you; we are not involved in setting Karma. Karma is entirely set by the world of Mebius.”
“The world sets it? Are you mocking me?”
I felt like I was being evaded, and my frustration manifested in my words.
But then…
“Allow me to explain that.”
Suddenly, someone appeared on my left, sitting formally in seiza.
Long silver hair, golden eyes, a face that seemed meticulously crafted, almost inhuman.
I had seen him in a promotional video.
He’s supposed to be a person, but I recall…
“I am Zagreus. The managing AI of Mebius World Online. Well, to be precise, I am one of the managing AI. Earlier, Yatsuka-san mentioned ‘the world sets it,’ but accurately, we AI set it. And Maria-san’s current Karma is based on her actions, expressing our gratitude and hope towards her.”
“I get the gratitude part. But hope, what’s that?”
More than whether Zagreus was human or not, I was taken aback by his dubious words.
Words like hope or expectation often sound good, but they usually serve as sophistry to impose trouble.
And companies that use such words usually aren’t up to any good, as I’ve seen through plummeting stock prices numerous times.
“I don’t care about your hope. I just want to know why Onee-chan was crying. Depending on the reason and how you handle it…”
I turned to the president and stated briefly, “I won’t forgive you.”
Yukki-san flinched beside me, but the president met my gaze squarely.
As expected of a president, he remains unfazed by something like this.
“Now, let me explain the series of events involving Maria-san this time and the hope I’m about to mention.”
I nodded at his words, serving as a bridge in the conversation.
Now, let’s see what he has to say.
If he tries to exploit Onee-chan for personal gain or malice…
I listened to his story while mentally recalling my assets and connections that I can leverage at the moment.
And after hearing everything, aside from the events themselves, I was speechless at the magnitude of this so-called hope.
“Phew…”
Removing the blind circlet, I exhaled deeply.
For now, I grasped what happened to Onee-chan and the background behind it.
Honestly, I don’t care about the background, but those who trampled on Onee-chan’s precious things, I’d like to identify them and socially… deal with them.
Well, not really, though?
I won’t do that because it would make Onee-chan sad, so I’ll endure it, endure it.
But if something similar happens again next time…
Another thing I gained is that if there’s someone else in that world who’s appreciated as much as Onee-chan, I heard that they might have experienced similar things.
Even without Onee-chan’s biased view, I don’t think there are many people like her.
Still, whether there’s someone who can replace her or not would affect Onee-chan’s mental burden.
So, I’ve organized the situation like that within myself.
As for the talk about hope, I can’t say anything about it for now.
Both me and the president talked seriously, but I couldn’t help but find it preposterous.
Well, I guess I’ll wait and see.
If it happens, it wouldn’t be bad for Onee-chan, and the fact remains that the world of Mebius World Online gives her the strength to live.
But, leaving that aside…
“The Young Saint Cult, was it? I wonder if I need to have a little chat with those people?”
It’s nice that they cherish Onee-chan, but their behavior, well, it’s a bit… off.
“For now, I’ll trace it back from the bulletin board, then ask a hacker acquaintance for help from there.”
It’s just in case, but if things get any more outrageous…
I hope the information I gather doesn’t cause a stir. Right, Graham-san and his delightful companions…