I Became a Beautiful Girl, but I’m still an MMO Junkie

Episode 102: Gathering of the Maid Army

To create the “Sun Essence Lantern” and “Flashstone”, I consumed a lot of solar energy and went back to
Komugi Village to collect light. “Are the Tough Slimes still appearing?” I asked. “Yes, they are,” replied Mina. “I
hope they don’t become like Ine Village…”
While making fine adjustments to the Alchemy Kit “Zodiac Telescope”, Mina and I were gazing at the wheat
fields, watching the Tough Slimes and the mercenary players fighting. “It’s a good place to earn experience
points, but I hope the people fighting do their best,” I said. “If the wheat fields are destroyed, the amount of
color we can collect will decrease.”
“I’m surprised that there are changes in the town and village, like Clan Clan,” Mina said. “Yes, it’s not something
that would happen in a normal game,” I replied. Ine Village, which was slow to discover the mass appearance of
Tough Slimes, was ravaged by them and had changed into a desolate landscape. The villagers were also
exhausted.
This game has changes in the game that affect various things – fields, dungeons, NPCs, towns, and villages. And
even in real life, there are suspicions…
“Alright, we’ve got a lot. Let’s head to the meeting spot, Mina.” I said to Mina, trying to shake off the bad feeling.
“Yes, Tenshi-sama.” Mina replied brightly, without any hesitation. Her response helped calm my racing heart.
We arrived at the “Kiraman na Kumo no Nagaretei” restaurant, where we had dined with Wise Man Misora on our
previous date. After being approached by Yuuki and Koya to run a food stall, I had invited Mina, Lily, and
Unknown to join us for the summer festival event.
They had all agreed, and we had planned to discuss what to sell and share our opinions while having a meal
together. “I’d love to run a food stall with Tenshi-sama at the summer festival! Yes, please!” Mina exclaimed. “I
have no choice, but I’ll do it with you,” Lily said with a laugh. “What a fascinating invitation! I’ve always wanted
to collaborate with Taro-shi. I’d be delighted to accept,” Unknown said with a grin.
The three of them gave me positive responses, so we had agreed to meet up and discuss our plans over a meal.
“Two is better than one, and three is better than two.” With this mindset, I gathered the maids to reduce the
psychological pressure I feel when wearing the maid uniform. I had already obtained prior consent from Yuuki
and Koya.
“Welcome, welcome… Ah, Silver-chan is here! And, oh! The attendant priestess-chan is also here, thank you for
coming!” Nyudou-san, the owner, greeted us warmly. “Hello, Nyudou-san!” I replied, exchanging light greetings.
“Hello, store owner!” Mina added, bowing her head slightly. “Nyudou-san, since three of our friends will be
arriving soon, may we take a seat in the larger seating area?” I asked, seeking permission.

“Ah, yes! Come on in, come on in! I’m grateful for your business! I’ll have to provide good service today, too!”
Nyudou-san agreed, gesturing to the larger seating area. With his permission, Mina and I took a seat, and I
glanced at the menu. “Oh, new items have been added!” I exclaimed, noticing the updates.
I decided to go with today’s recommended menu: “Yamitsuki Mokotto Ramen + Tororin Snow Cloud Pudding 100 Esso”. I had been wanting to try the ramen for a while, and I also wanted to try the new pudding product.
I’ll order it when everyone arrives.
“Alright, with service!” Nyudou-san said with a smile. “As always, thank you!” I replied, grateful for the good
service. “Thank you!” Mina added, bowing her head slightly.
Nyudou-san gave us the usual “Cloudy with a Chance of Juice”, and we received the gray juice and mixed it with
a straw to change it to a blue sky color. After that, we enjoyed the refreshing citrus taste with a hint of
carbonation.
Just then, the others arrived. “Did we keep you waiting?” Lily asked, looking apologetic. “We kept you waiting,
sorry about that,” Unknown replied, bowing their head slightly.
After a while, Lily-san and Unknown-san, the people we were waiting for, arrived. Since the last member was
running late, I had already received prior notice, so I decided to eat first and advance the conversation.
“No need to apologize, thank you for coming. Let’s order from the menu and discuss the food stall,” I said.
Unknown-san nodded and replied, “Got it, I’ll refer to the menu here.” As expected of a tailor aiming to open a
store, she was already in strategy meeting mode.
“No, I just think the food here is delicious,” I added, trying to clarify. But I honestly disagreed with Unknownsan’s enthusiasm. “Ah, Silver-chan is always saying pleasant things. And today, I’m too happy with all the
beautiful people! Here, have a service,” Nyudou-san said with a smile, handing us a drink.
Lily-san received the “Cloudy with a Chance of Juice” and drank it in its gray state, making a bitter face that
was quite amusing. “What’s this drink… Ugh!” she exclaimed, clearly not enjoying it.
I wonder why. We had almost all the members, the food was delicious, and all that was left was to discuss the
strategy. However, the conversation took an unexpected turn.
It all started with how I was eating my ramen. Mina and I had ordered the recommended menu and were
slurping away, enjoying the flavorful noodles. But then, Lily-san told me off, saying “That’s crude!” I thought it
was normal to eat ramen with gusto, but apparently, that was not the case.
When I looked at Mina, who was sitting next to me, I noticed that she was eating her ramen in a completely
different way. She was slowly savoring each bite, carefully placing the noodles and soup in her mouth, and
eating with a deep appreciation for the flavor. It seemed like her way of eating would bring out a richer flavor.
I had no idea there was a way to eat like that… it was like a silent eating method.

“No, I think it’s more delicious to eat ramen with a lot of gusto…?” I said, trying to defend my eating style. But
it seemed like I was the only one who thought that way.
“I think everyone has their own way of eating, so let’s compromise and save that for when we’re not in public.
We’re in a store with other people right now, okay?” Lily-san said, somewhat exasperated.
“Uh, yeah, I guess…” I replied, not really paying attention. Lily-san seemed to be enjoying herself, wrapping her
fork around her “Spider Pasta” and twirling it around with a smooth, flowing motion. She took a bite, her small
mouth closing around the fork with a delicate, refined movement.
Without spilling a single bite, she finished her meal with a graceful smile. “It’s really delicious, store owner,”
she said, her voice like music. The beautiful rose flowers in the background seemed to pale in comparison to
her radiance.
Nyudou-san’s face turned redder than the roses as he exclaimed, “W-wow, th-that’s, uh, that’s some culinary
skill right there!” His eyes wide with amazement, he stared at Lily-san in awe.
“Now, now, the previous one was just an example. With refined movements and a smile to top it off, anyone
would be a sucker for that timing, right? Even a shallow man would be manipulated by that.” Lily-san said with
a sly smile.
Lily-san was indeed skilled, a middle school student who could manipulate men like pawns and had a reputation
for being a skilled mercenary player in the dungeon. Her beauty was captivating, and any man would be thrilled
to be smiled at like that.
“Does Lily-san always do that to men?” I asked, feeling a bit envious. To be able to get away with that kind of
attitude from such a beautiful person was a blessing, even if it meant getting stabbed from behind. Lily-san
seemed to sense my inner thoughts and responded with a slightly flustered expression.
“I-I only do it when necessary! It’s not something I do often!” she said, trying to defend herself. However, Mina
and Unknown-san were not convinced. “That’s a lie!” Mina said, and Unknown-san added, “That’s not what I
heard!”
“Either way, anyone who gets a beautiful smile from someone like Lily-san would be happy, right?” Mina said
with a grin, teasing Lily-san further.
“T-Taro-san, could you be jealous?” Lily-san asked with a sly smile. But before I could respond, Mina
interjected sharply. “That’s impossible! Taro-san is perfect just the way he is. Don’t try to force him into your
mold!”

“That makes sense,” Unknown-san chimed in. “But a smile can be a good strategy to smooth things over,” Lilysan countered. “That’s also true,” Mina replied. “There’s no need to force it, especially with a fake smile like

yours.”

“What did you say!?” Lily-san exclaimed, her expression turning dark. I sensed a strange tension between Mina
and Lily-san. While Lily-san’s smile strategy might be effective, I had no desire to become a girl who
manipulates men or uses feminine wiles.

I should clearly state my opinion to stop their bickering. “I don’t think I’m jealous, and I don’t want to be a girl
who manipulates men either,” I said, trying to intervene. “Let’s just focus on our meal and enjoy each other’s
company.”
“I might not be able to smile like that at men.” I said, feeling a bit self-deprecating. “I’m a man after all, and
I’m not gay.” I added, trying to clarify. I also made sure to show my appreciation for Lily-san’s advice.
But for some reason, the atmosphere suddenly became quiet. Did I say something wrong? “Could it be that Taro
-san has had a painful experience with men in the past?” Mina asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. “That’s right.
I had a terrible experience in my past relationship,” I replied, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
“Lily-san, you’re not exactly the type to heal Taro-san’s wounds,” Unknown-san said bluntly. “Shut up!” Lily-san
snapped back. “You’re the worst, Lily-san,” Mina added. “But still, the fact that Taro-san would reject a beautiful
girl like you is quite interesting. What kind of person was he?” Unknown-san mused.
“!??” I thought the three girls were whispering and having a secret conversation, but then Mina and Lily-san
stiffened up. Wait, when did Mina move to the seat across from me?
“Taro-san’s loved one…” Mina said, her voice filled with interest and concern. “That is… interesting and
concerning… and who knows if that brainless boy won’t come near him again…” Lily-san added, her eyes
narrowing slightly.
“Y-yes, that’s right! We should ask him about that person!” Mina exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Then, you go ahead, Lily-san,” Unknown-san said, nudging Lily-san forward.
“Why me?!” Lily-san protested, her face scrunched up in distaste. “Because you said that a lady’s manners are
important, and you have a lot of experience, right?” Mina replied, her tone teasing. “You’re the best person to
hear about Taro-san’s delicate love story.”
“But you’re the one who boasted about being Taro-san’s best friend, aren’t you?” Lily-san shot back, her eyes
flashing with annoyance. “As his best friend, you should be the first to hear about his love troubles.” Unknownsan added, their voice dripping with sarcasm. “The only two boys around Taro-san are those two…” Mina trailed
off, her eyes glinting with mischief.
“!??” Again, Mina and Lily-san are frozen in place like statues. I’ve been wondering what they’re talking about
since earlier, but it’s really frustrating that they’re having a secret conversation with just the two of them. It’s

like they’re in a women-only zone or something, and I feel like I’m intruding.
Plus, I get the feeling that they’re talking about me, and that makes it hard for me to just blurt out a question.
To be honest, I had forgotten that we usually interact in the game, but now that I think about it, this situation is
pretty amazing. I’m a guy who’s never had a girlfriend, and yet here I am, eating with three beautiful girls.
I’m starting to realize that my usual careless self might have slipped up somehow… “I’m listening… So, you’re
saying that Kou-san and Yuu-san asked you to…?” “Those two impressive guys, right?” Mina asked, her eyes
sparkling with curiosity.
“So, Lily-san, as the representative of this group, I’d like to hear about Taro-san’s love life,” Unknown-san said,
their voice dripping with sarcasm. “Representative? Well, I suppose that’s one way to put it. Please go ahead,
Lily-san,” Mina added, her tone teasing. “Why me?!…” Lily-san protested, her face scrunched up in distaste.
“Alright, alright, we won’t pry anymore,” Unknown-san said, holding up their hands in defeat.
“!??” Again, Mina and Lily-san’s bodies twitched, but then they didn’t move at all. What is Unknown-san
whispering to them? No, Unknown-san is the calmest one in the group. Maybe the other two are just
overreacting. Anyway, can’t we break this awkward silence already? My stomach is starting to hurt from all the
tension.
“Shall we stop talking about Taro-san’s love life?” Unknown-san asked, their voice breaking the silence. Mina
and Lily-san remained silent, their faces expressionless. “Lily-san is our great representative,” Unknown-san
continued, their tone dripping with sarcasm. “If I’m being called the representative, then I have no choice but to
act like a lady,” Lily-san replied, her voice laced with annoyance.
Hmm? It seems like the whispers have finally stopped. The three of them have finally stopped their secret
conversation and are now facing me. Mina has returned to her original seat and is now sitting next to me.
However, everyone’s expression seems tense, and it’s a bit scary. “Ahem. Taro-san, sorry about earlier,” Mina
said, her voice softening slightly.
“Hmm, I guess it’s about the secret meeting. No, it’s fine, if there’s something I did wrong, then just say it
clearly. That way, I can learn from it.” I said, trying to appear nonchalant despite my growing unease.
“It’s okay, Lily-san. But, um, what were you talking about…?” I asked, swallowing hard. Yeah, it’s still hard to
hear criticism from someone around my age, especially if it’s a girl. I thought we were getting along pretty well,
so the damage is pretty big. But I’ll try to learn from it… for future reference.
Lily-san seemed hesitant to speak, and Mina and Unknown-san were staring at her with an intense gaze, as if
urging her to continue. This made me even more nervous. “Eh, did Taro-san have a crush on someone…?” Lilysan asked, her voice trembling slightly. “Huh?” I replied, taken aback by the sudden question.
I guess it’s about the secret meeting. No, it’s fine if there’s something I did wrong, then just say it clearly. That
way, I can learn from it.
It’s okay, Lily-san. But, um, what were you talking about…? I asked, swallowing hard. Yeah, it’s still hard to

hear criticism from someone around my age, especially if it’s a girl. I thought we were getting along pretty well,
so the damage is pretty big. But I’ll try to learn from it… for future reference.
Lily-san seemed hesitant to speak, and Mina and Unknown-san were staring at her with an intense gaze, as if
urging her to continue. This made me even more nervous.
“Eh, did Taro-san have a crush on someone…?” Lily-san asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Huh?” I replied, taken aback by the sudden question.