Award Ceremony

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My vision was blurred with tears as I finally found the figure I had been seeking. However, I didn’t have time to immerse myself in that emotion. Sirius-sama was lying on the beach like a washed-up driftwood, powerless. Hokuto-san, curled protectively around Sirius-sama, also seemed unconscious, not even moving his tail. As for Reese… though still some distance away, was diligently following me. But before I could step forward to check on Sirius-sama’s condition, Reus, with an unusual strength, grabbed my shoulder.

“Wait, Nee-chan! Don’t get any closer!” (Reus)

“What are you saying? Sirius-sama is so injured… we need to hurry!” (Emilia)

“I said don’t get closer! Marina, help me out here!” (Reus)

“O-Okay! Emilia-san, let’s calm down even though I don’t really understand!” (Marina)

Reus, though sometimes lacking in certain areas, was someone I trusted for their instinct and keen sense, and now they were earnestly trying to stop me. Marina, clinging onto my back, helped me regain some composure. I took a deep breath and turned to Reus.

“Phew… what’s going on?” (Emilia)

“I don’t get it, but I have a bad feeling about getting too close to Aniki right now.” (Reus)

“Just having a bad feeling isn’t enough. Sirius-sama is right in front of us—” (Emilia)

“Reus-kun! They went that way!” (Beowulf)

Several monsters were apparently targeting Reus and Fia-san, who were following us. Beowulf seemed to be dealing with them, but one of the monsters had escaped. As it came towards us, Reus swiftly stepped forward, not drawing his sword but instead grabbing the monster barehanded and hurling it away.

I couldn’t help but tilt my head at this action, but there was no time to be dazed. In an unexpected turn, my brother threw the monster towards where Sirius-sama was. Finally understanding Reus’s intention and the oddness around us, I instinctively leapt backward.

“Hey!? What are you doing— aah!?” (Emilia)

“Don’t come out after me!” (Reus)

The thrown monster was supposed to soar over Sirius-sama’s head but suddenly became engulfed in flames mid-air. The flames were intense and eventually exploded, erasing the monster completely. Thanks to Reus’s earnest intervention, I was saved. I would have to think about this later. Upon calm observation, despite Sirius-sama being defenseless, there were no monsters around, and judging from the burnt marks on the ground, I could have figured it out. I was too flustered with Sirius-sama right in front of me.

Nevertheless, those flames were incredibly powerful. It didn’t seem like an external attack, so Hokuto-san must have done it. As we stepped back to reconsider our strategy, Reese and the others caught up. It seemed they had also witnessed the monsters being engulfed in flames from a distance.

“That earlier thing… Hokuto did it, right?” (Reese)

“But it’s too strong. That child seems clumsy or lacking composure.” (Fia)

“Maybe he’s desperate to protect Sirius-san? So, if he is aware of us, he won’t attack.” (Beowulf)

“I’ve been calling out to him many times since earlier, but there’s been no response at all. Unless Hokuto-san realizes, we’re no different from monsters.” (Emilia)

As a test, I threw a small stone towards Sirius-sama to avoid hitting him, but once it entered a certain range, it was attacked by flames and disappeared. Furthermore, Reese attempted long-distance healing by extending water like a whip, but the result was the same.

The fact that he attacked things that weren’t even monsters or even living things means that currently, Hokuto-san has completely lost consciousness and attacked indiscriminately any being that approaches him. Of course, as Beowulf suggested, there was a possibility that Hokuto-san would notice us and stopped the attacks if we get closer. However, if that expectation fails, we could face the worst-case scenario of being attacked by Hokuto-san. We must avoid that at all costs.

However, we cannot just stand by silently. From here, I could see that Sirius-sama was covered in many wounds, stained with dry blood, and in urgent need of treatment.

“We can’t wait until Hokuto stops attacking… can we?” (Fia)

“Even if they lose consciousness, they’re still protecting Sirius-sama. When he can no longer produce flames, it might be the end for them.” (Emilia)

“Then we have no choice but to act.” (Fia)

“…Yes.” (Emilia)

‘To break through the frontal assault of flames and forcibly secure Sirius-sama from Hokuto-san. At the very least, this won’t result in a mutual downfall, and although I don’t want to think about it too much, it might even be what Hokuto-san desires. The problem lies in the immense power that turns monsters to ashes in an instant. Can we approach? In this situation, using Reis’s water to defend is the best option, but I can’t rely on Hokuto-san as an opponent, so I have no choice but to go alongside to deflect the flames with wind magic.’

“Wait, Nee-chan. This is my moment, isn’t it? I’ll approach Aniki alone, while you guys protect from behind.” (Reus)

“That won’t work. If you’re far away, I won’t be able to maximize your defense power.” (Reese)

“And having more people will increase the burden. Only Reese and I should go.” (Emilia)

‘If it’s wind magic, then Fia-san should handle it, but I can’t let her take any more risks.’

Ignoring everyone’s attempts to stop me, I held hands with Reis and moved forward while keeping our bodies close together to reduce the area covered by water. Meanwhile, Fia-san, the only one who didn’t try to stop us, spoke to the wind spirit with a pained expression.

“I’ll make it up to you later, so lend those kids your power. Of course, give it your all!” (Fia)

“Darn it! Isn’t there something we can use as a shield?” (Reus)

“Even with a shield, it won’t protect against the heat!” (Emilia)

“Something… anything we can do…” (Reese)

After taking a deep breath, Reese focused on maintaining the water defense and began gathering water after speaking to the spirit, Naiad. The water enveloped us in a large sphere, and once Fia-san’s wind barrier was layered on top, we entered Hokuto-san’s attack range.

At that moment, as expected, we were hit by intense flames and impact, and even with our bodies protected by water and wind, we felt the pain and heat from the force of the blow.

“Ugh… kuh… ugh…” (Reese)

Reese was dedicated to maintaining the water defense, so it was my role to move forward while pulling her along. However, Hokuto-san not only burns the target but also tries to smash us with the wall of flames, so we could only stand firm to avoid being pushed back.

‘What a heavy attack. However, I feel like I understand a bit more about Hokuto-san’s situation after directly experiencing this attack. I don’t know what crises you’ve overcome since parting ways with us, but upon arriving here, you seemed truly strained. I believe you must have lost consciousness, unable to even move, let alone carry Sirius-sama, because of your unconscious defense instinctively at work. Even though you should have had no energy left, you’re able to unleash such intense attacks. Perhaps you’re sacrificing your life force to generate mana. If Hokuto-san continues these attacks, they might completely disappear, so I understand the urgency to end this quickly… ‘

“Oh no, Nee-chan, you both are slowing down!” (Reus)

“It’s hot! But we can’t do anything…” (Emilia)

“If only we could at least slow down his attacks…” (Reese)

Despite still having some distance to Hokuto-san, the pressure of the flames was too strong to advance further. The water protecting us had already turned into hot water, and although Reis was trying to release the heat, it was only a matter of time before it turned into boiling water. With Fia-san’s wind magic providing defense, supplemented by my efforts, we were barely holding on and nearing a dead end.

‘Nevertheless, we can’t retreat now.’

“We won’t… give up…!” (Emilia)

‘For Sirius-sama’s sake… and for Reese, who holds my hand in return, refusing to give up.’

Gathering our strength, I took one step… another step… and just as I was about to take the third step, a significant change occurred.

The intense attack from Hokuto-san momentarily eased up.

“See, his response is reacting to illusion or magic! Let’s split his attention!” (Marina)

“As expected of Marina! Beowulf, let’s push rocks from both sides!” (Emilia)

“I never thought my trained strength would come in handy in a situation like this!” (Beowulf)

‘The intensity of the flames prevents us from hearing outside noises, but surely those kids did something for us. Anyway, now is our chance.’

Taking advantage of the moment when Hokuto’s attack subsided again, I leaped forward while holding onto Reese.

“Hokuto-san!” (Emilia)

“Hokuto!” (Reese)

And as we called out him name while touching him, the flames, which had been so intense, disappeared as if nothing had happened. Approaching this closely could endanger Sirius-sama, so he shouldn’t be able to produce flames.

“Ha… ha… Reis, how is Sirius-sama?” (Emilia)

“Ah… um… he’s breathing… he’s breathing…” (Reese)

I once heard from Sirius-sama that even when critically injured, they intentionally lowered not only bodily functions but also breathing and heartbeats to their limits, a technique that could make others mistakenly believe they were dead. So maybe…

“He… he’s moving. Very subtly, but he’s moving…” (Reese)

“Then you know what to do, right?” (Emilia)

“Yeah! Naia, lend me a bit more power! Let’s start with water treatment, stimulate, and then revive…” (Reese)

‘Considering what I heard before, I don’t think Sirius-sama can be revived on his own right now. However, with Reis, who learned medical techniques from another world from Sirius-sama, she should be able to handle this situation well with magic. I’m not sure if she anticipated this situation, but Sirius-sama really never gave up on surviving until the very end. I’m concerned about Sirius-sama’s condition, but there’s nothing else I can do but leave it to Reese. So, I continued to speak while touching Hokuto-san’s still body.’

“Hokuto-san, thank you for waiting.” (Emilia)

The earlier conflict may have been unnecessary, as Hokuto-san was simply a tool for protecting his master. I held no grudges or such emotions. I was only impressed by his loyalty. There was no response since he was unconscious, but his feelings were transmitted from where I touch him.

“Now, leave it to us to protect Sirius-sama, whom you have protected until the end. Truly… thank you for everything.” (Emilia)

‘Despite continuing to sacrifice their life force and seemingly fading away, unfortunately, I don’t know the method to heal Hakuto-sama. But you’re not such a fragile being, are you? Rest slowly, and please show us a lively figure with Sirius-sama.

“Aniki! Aniki!” (Reus)

“Oh, come on! This worn-out… you really did well to survive…”  (??)

“As soon as the treatment is over, we should transport them somewhere safe. I’ll call Xenodora-san.” (Albert)

“Wait a moment, they seem to have noticed us. Aniue! Over here!” (Marina)

Two days ago, with Lambda’s defeat marking the end of the battle that determined Sandor’s fate, our own fight continued. However, now at last it seemed our battle had come to an end.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I looked up at everyone waving from behind Zenodora-sama.

 

—

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

It had already been two days since we found Sirius-sama and Hokuto-san and brought them back to Sandor. Two days ago, Lambda was defeated, and while Sandor celebrated victory on the first day, the entire country was now busy with numerous post-battle procedures.

Nevertheless, the internal affairs of Sandor didn’t concern us as adventurers from outside, so we were relatively relaxed. Since the martial artists like Reus and Ojii-chan would lose their skills, they helped wipe out the monsters with the help of the three dragons, who had recovered from their injuries and were able to fly. Even though they hadn’t completely recovered from the fatigue from the battle the other day, they were really energetic.

In the meantime, Sirius-sama and Hokuto-san, who played the most active roles in this battle, are spending time in the largest guest room in the castle…

“Good morning, Sirius-sama.” (Emilia)

Unfortunately, they haven’t awakened once since being rescued. Despite Reese’s magic treating not only external wounds but also internal injuries, their consciousness still hasn’t returned. However, their weak heartbeat and breathing have returned to normal levels, and I had heard stories of bedridden people suddenly waking up after several days, so it wasn’t a situation to be overly pessimistic about. Nevertheless, the continued sleep was unsettling, and the desire to hear Sirius-sama’s voice soon was growing.

“Hokuto-san, how are you feeling?” (Emilia)

Since the bed is small, Hokuto-san is sleeping on a blanket laid out on the floor right beside Sirius-sama’s bed. They emitted a faint light that seemed like it could disappear at any moment, but now they seem to have calmed down, which was reassuring.

“How does it look?” (Reese)

“Well, unfortunately…” (Emilia)

“No, it’s okay! Let me examine them first.” (Reese)

Reese, having finished breakfast, began examining Sirius-sama. Starting with checking their breathing and heartbeat, Reese then meticulously assessed Sirius-sama’s condition, making sure to look for any signs of reopened wounds or infection. Perhaps it was bias towards family, but watching her work, she seemed more professional than the medical practitioners.

“Hmm, no change… Sigh, physically there’s absolutely no issue. Maybe they need some sort of shock?” (Reese)

“I don’t want to take any risks, but it seems we need to consider something soon.” (Emilia)

“I’ll talk to Fia-san later. Then, let’s switch places.” (Reese)

Next, to prevent Hokuto-san’s body from becoming stiff from being bedridden, I performed a full-body massage. He couldn’t express pain right now, so I had to be careful, but taking care of Sirius-sama still calmed my mind.

After wiping their body with a cloth squeezed in hot water for final grooming, Fia-san arrived with Karen.

“Good job. We’ll keep an eye on them for a while, so go have a meal and rest.” (Fia)

“Yes, thank you.” (Emilia)

“Both Shishou and Hokuto are still tired, aren’t they?” (Karen

Originally, I wanted to stay by Sirius-sama’s side as their attendant, but Fia-san suggested otherwise.

“If you stay by their side too long, you might start feeling down. So, let’s take turns appropriately and wait patiently for them to wake up.” (Fia)

Sirius-sama being in this condition naturally made me feel impatient and unsettled. Therefore, Fia’s advice to relax had been a tremendous help as she often checks up on me. As Karen began gently brushing Hokuto-san, I left the room. As I walked down the hallway, Sanger-sama appeared from the end and waved at me.

“Sanger-sama, is something the matter?” (Emilia)

“Nah, I was just about to head over there. How’s their condition?” (Sanger)

“Unfortunately, Sirius-sama hasn’t awakened yet.” (Emilia)

“I see… Well, then there’s no point in me going right now. I’ll check in after I finish up here.” (Sanger)

“Thank you for your concern. Sanger-sama seems busy too, but please don’t push yourself too hard.” (Emilia)

“Hah, I don’t want to hear that from the folks who pushed themselves the most.” (Sanger)

Despite his brusque tone, I could sense his trust in us and genuine concern for Sirius-sama in the undertones of his words. The next king of Sandor… no, as someone who already held the title of king, he kept coming to see how things were going, probably because he wanted to quickly express his gratitude to Sirius-sama for saving the country despite being busy with post-conflict affairs. He was truly diligent and valued his duties.

“Sirius-sama has advised us many times.” (Sanger)

Yesterday, Sanger-sama delivered a speech at the town center to the people of Sandor, detailing the events and his aspirations as the king. Although one might think he was simply favored by his parents for the position of king, his voice carries a strange power, and many seemed captivated by it. Sirius-sama’s concern for him was indeed justified.

After parting ways with Sanger -sama and arriving at the dining hall, I found Zenodora-sama and Mejia-sama having a meal with Hina-chan. However, they had already finished eating, and upon hearing my greeting and inquiry about Sirius-sama’s condition, they stood up and left the dining hall.

“Sanger-sama seems busy…” (Hina)

“I see. Does Hina want to see that boy? Let’s go then.” (Mejia)

“But… Is it okay?” (Hina)

“I don’t know much about it, but surely that boy isn’t one who can refuse a request from a child.” (Mejia)

Initially afraid of the dragonkin, Hina-chan had now become so friendly with Mejia-sama that she voices her wishes freely and even receives shoulder rides, so there’s no need to worry anymore.

After seeing them off, I finished the meal prepared for me and was about to return to the room when Beast King-sama, walking with subordinates and discussing things, passed by.

“Well, preparations are complete, but are there any complaints? Then a bit more— Ah, Emilia-dono?” (Beast King)

“Good morning, Beast King-sama. It seems preparations for your return are going smoothly.” (Emilia)

“Yes, preparations were completed yesterday, and many units have already returned. However, I feel bad for the wives and Sandor’s side, but I plan to stay a few more days.” (Beast King)

Since the Beast King-sama was the current king of Arbitray, he should return to his home country as soon as possible, but it seemed that he had decided to stay in Sandor due to personal circumstances.

“Leaving when a friend continues to sleep is unsettling. It seems that person still hasn’t awakened.” (Beast King)

“Yes. Sirius-sama also wishes to speak with you before you part ways.” (Emilia)

“However, Your Highness, please plan to leave within two days. We are concerned about Sirius-dono, but you are the king.” (??)

“I understand. Well, if it’s about him, my wife and daughter will understand.” (Beast King)

‘It’s a personal opinion, but I can imagine that the Beast King-sama’s wife and daughter would be angry if he returned without confirming everyone’s safety.’

After briefly discussing our current situations, we parted ways with Beast King-sama and his group. However, as if they were waiting for me to be alone, certain individuals approached me. Four individuals with unusually serious expressions, one of whom was Cayenne-sama, who had played a key role in the recent battle. I trusted him, but the people accompanying him don’t seem to harbor good feelings towards us.

Feeling uneasy about their presence alongside Cayenne-sama, they quickly got to the point after a brief greeting.

“Emilia-dono. It has been decided that an important meeting will be held within the castle after today’s lunch. We would like you and Reus-dono to attend.” (Cayenne)

“…Understood. However, if we are needed for this meeting, what exactly will be discussed?” (Emilia)

“Well, to put it simply, it’s about Sandor’s future and rewards for the heroes. It will inconvenience you both, but please assist us.” (Cayenne)

The tone was polite, but I felt an undeniable pressure, so I nodded earnestly. Although I was curious about the content of the meeting, if it was just me and Reus, it shouldn’t be a problem regarding Sirius-sama’s protection.

After that, they quickly left after conveying only necessary information, which made me suspicious. I hurried back to Sirius-sama’s side to relay the earlier conversation and the questions I had felt.

After a brief discussion, Reus and I arrived at the castle’s meeting room. Among the people attending the meeting, I recognized the king, Sanger-sama and Julia-sama, and of course it was Cayenne-sama who called me, but for some reason, not only Beast King-sama but also Liefel-sama was there.

There were also around several dozen individuals who seemed to be Sandor’s executives, among whom the most intriguing participant was the Strongest Sword Ojii-chan. I felt a little creepy that the old man was sitting obediently in the seat next to Liefel-sama, even though he had a genuinely troubled expression on his face.

“Looks like everyone’s here. Let’s begin the meeting. Cayenne!” (Sanger)

“Yes! I thank you all for gathering at such short notice amidst your busy schedules. Today, we intend to discuss the progress reports from various sites and rewards for those who played key roles in Sandor’s crisis.” (Cayenne)

Cayenne-sama took charge, and first, the executives of Sandor reported on the progress and issues of their operations. However, they quickly wrapped up this part as it wasn’t the main topic of the meeting and moved on to the discussion of rewards.

“We were assisted by many individuals who have no affiliation with our country this time. It’s embarrassing to admit, but without them, our nation would have perished.” (Cayenne)

“Indeed. Of course, it’s not just them. It’s thanks to everyone in Sandor who fought with all their might. Allow me, as king, to once again express my gratitude. Thank you!” (Sanger)

When King Sanger stood and bowed his head, the room was filled with a sense of disruption, but when he lifted his head, he had a natural smile on his face. I had heard that those in leadership positions shouldn’t bow so easily, but King Sanger’s smile seemed to exude pride, as if he were boasting about his own children, so I didn’t feel inclined to disrespect him.

“Anyway, let’s get to it. Since there are many of us here, we’ll only announce the rewards for external individuals.” (Cayenne)

“This decision is provisional, and the formal award ceremony will be held at a later date. The selection of recipients and the rewards themselves were decided by us alone, so if you feel that a recipient’s reward is not appropriate, feel free to voice your opinion. Let’s proceed without delay.” (Sanger)

“First, Arbitray’s Beast King-sama. Despite his position as king, he fought on the front lines multiple times, inspiring many soldiers and supporting the entire battlefield. He’s one of the main contributors.” (Cayenne)

We didn’t have many opportunities to see it directly, but it was because the Beast King-sama supported everyone that we were able to fight with all our might. Although he was a king of another country, this time, he was granted medals and a substantial sum of money as personal rewards, and Beast King-sama nodded calmly in acceptance.

“There’s no need to hesitate here. I humbly accept this.” (Beast King)

“Next, we have Strongest Sword-dono and Reus-dono. To be precise, it’s not only Julia-sama but also Keith-dono and Albert-dono, but for this occasion, we selected the two as representatives. Like the Beast King, they fought on the front lines, slaying many enemies. Additionally, they defeated Hilgan, one of Lambda’s right-hand men, making a significant contribution to the battle.” (Cayenne)

‘Ojii-chan probably killed the most monsters in the past few days. Of course, I don’t think Leus or Lady Julia were any less deserving, but various factors like their renown likely influenced the selection of the old swordsman and Leus. Well, the old man himself had an indifferent attitude, saying something like, “I’ll take what’s offered…”’

“And then, Emilia-dono over there. She dealt with the very troublesome Lambda’s right-hand man, Luca. Even if she’s considered Sirius-sama’s attendant, her achievements extend beyond that, so I’d like to reward her personally, regardless of her status as a retainer.” (Cayenne)

“…Understood. I humbly accept.” (Emilia)

Normally, the achievements of an attendant are associated with those of their master, but due to the magnitude of my accomplishments, I was given a special award. Regardless, I intend to dedicate any reward I receive to Sirius-sama, so I decided to accept it graciously.

As for Hokuto-san, it seems they couldn’t quite decide on the appropriate reward for a familiar, so they’ve decided to hold off for now.

And finally…

“Lastly, though he’s not here as he’s still asleep, Sirius-dono. His contributions need no explanation. He is truly deserving of the title of hero.” (Cayenne)

Not just me, but Liefel-sama and Julia-sama nodded with satisfaction, and even Reus beside me looked delighted, pounding his fist in approval. While I didn’t imagine Sirius-sama would show a pleased expression, I was happy at the thought of his greatness being recognized and filled with an overwhelming sense of pride.

The responses from those around were truly varied at the extravagant rewards typical of such situations, but overall, they seem to be accepted. And just as Cayenne-sama was about to mention the common practice of granting titles and power to incorporate individuals into one’s country…

“…If desired, I plan to grant titles and land, but to be honest, I’m against it. I believe it’s best to avoid giving him power.” (Cayenne)

Suddenly, Cayenne-sama’s demeanor changed.

 

—

 

Author’s note:

The disciples’ final opponent was Hokuto, who went berserk trying to protect his master.

 

By the way, if Emilia and the others had continued to wait until Hokuto exhausted all his strength, Hokuto would have continued to protect the master for another two days and then disappeared, resulting in the worst outcome where Sirius couldn’t be treated and passed away. On the other hand, if they had intentionally worn down Hokuto with appropriate attacks, Hokuto would have used up all his strength and disappeared, but Sirius would have survived with timely treatment.

 

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