Category: Isekai Nonbiri Sanpo Tabi

“Oniichan, what do you think?”

“Does it suit me?”

“You look like a princess!”

“You even styled your hair. It suits you well.”

“““Ehehehe”””

Shiro is wearing a green dress, Fran is wearing a blue dress, and Horn is wearing a yellow dress. Their hair is neatly braided. At first glance, they look like noble ladies, but deep down they’re quite the tomboys.

“It suits you too, Sue and Sylvia-san.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, thank you very much.”

Sue, being a noble young lady, wore her red dress flawlessly. The rich crimson fabric seemed made for her, accentuating her refined bearing and natural elegance. Sylvia-san had chosen a pale green gown that perfectly complemented the color of her hair. The soft hue gave her an almost ethereal presence, gentle yet dignified.

I shouldn’t say this out loud, but Sylvia-san, who is about the same height as Shiro, has a bigger bust than Sue.

“Shun, are you thinking about something?”

“N-not at all.”

Yes. Let’s not think about that topic any further.

Lately, Sue’s intuition had become frighteningly sharp.

“So, were you told to come to the reception room as well?”

“Nope! We smelled you, Onii-chan, so we came!”

Right. As a cat beastkin, Shiro’s sense of smell was surprisingly keen. Fran nodding enthusiastically beside her only confirmed it—they had truly tracked me down by scent alone.

I suppose there was no hiding from them, no matter where I went. Not even in a quiet reception room meant for adults.

“By the way, where did Ao go?”

“Ao went somewhere with the Margrave.”

“I see. Well, it’s not a problem if we know where she is.”

The Margrave must have tasked Ao with some kind of work. Probably to deal with the person he was watching during the day.

“It seems like the dwarf girl has improved her skills quite a bit since then.”

“Is that so? Thank you.”

“She’s been training with Shiro and the others lately.”

“Really? If so, she might be a contender for the championship next year.”

That’s right. The martial artist noticed that Sylvia-san’s skills had improved dramatically, but even so, I think that even in a year, Sylvia-san still won’t be able to beat either the martial artist or the guard. That wasn’t a criticism. It was simply the difference in their experience. Talent and growth alone couldn’t erase that gap overnight.

After that, we continued passing the time in the reception room, chatting idly while waiting for the banquet to begin.

“Come to think of it, your cooking is really excellent.”

“Yes. It was extremely well received within the guard unit as well.”

“I–is that so? I’m glad to hear it.”

Before I knew it, the topic of conversation had drifted entirely to my food stall. From martial arts and magic… to grilled skewers and seasoning techniques.

Well, as long as the dishes I made were well liked, I couldn’t complain. That brought a different kind of satisfaction altogether.

“Oniichan is a very talented chef!”

“Shiro, I’m an adventurer, not a chef.”

“Oniichan can do both well!”

Shiro also sees me as a chef.

Sue is smiling wryly.

But please, please stop. I’m an adventurer, a magician, and a healer!

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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As the banquet drew near, we changed into our formal clothes for the victory party. Unfortunately, there was no way I could manage the intricate task of dressing Shiro and the others in their gowns myself, so I left their preparations in the capable hands of Sue and the maids. The art of fastening ribbons, layering silk, and arranging lace was too much for me.

Once I had finished changing, I was told to wait in the reception room.

So here I was. Tea was served in delicate porcelain cups placed neatly before me. However, there was nothing else here. No announcements, no summons, no sign of anyone. Shiro and the others had yet to appear. Sue hadn’t come either. Even Sylvia-san was nowhere to be seen.

I was completely and utterly idle.

Then—

Knock, knock.

“Ah—yes. Please, come in.”

“Excuse us.”

“Pardon the intrusion.”

At my invitation, the door opened, and a beautifully dressed pair stepped into the reception room.

The first was a woman clad in a vivid red gown, the dress moved elegantly with each step she took. The second was an elderly gentleman wearing a perfectly tailored tailcoat.

Oh? Could these two possibly be—

“You were among the prize winners at the martial arts tournament, were you not? My name is Shun.”

“Yes, I know you.”

“You’re that famous stall owner from the festival, are you not?”

Right. The woman has served as one of the guards, so it made sense that she knew who I was. But to everyone else, I am apparently nothing more than the “famous food stall owner.”

I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or sigh.

“To be honest, I was hoping not to face Ao-san in the tournament. She advanced through the preliminaries with remarkable ease you see.”

“Indeed. Capable in both close combat and long-range engagements, proficient with blade and magic too… I would rather not find myself matched against such a slime.”

“Well, Ao is… a rather special slime you see.”

That was putting it mildly though. Ordinary slimes can’t wield swords. Nor did they chant spells with perfect clarity. And they certainly can’t dominate both melee and ranged combat as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Ao was, in every sense, an exception.

These two truly acknowledged Ao’s strength.  

Still, they were strong themselves.

“I would say the same—no, perhaps even more so. I would rather not face you in battle, Shun-san.”

“Uhm, I’m a magian so I am not very good with swords…”

The old gentleman chuckled, stroking his neatly groomed beard.

“You handle a blade as well as any standard soldier. More importantly, your command of magic is exceptional. One does not earn a title for nothing.”

“Oh, no, no… I’m still far from impressive.”

I insisted, waving my hands modestly.

Apparently, they had watched my exhibition match with Sue as well. It had been almost entirely a duel of magic—spell against spell, control against control. But even then, I knew there was so much more room for growth.

Click.

“Oniichan, we’re done changing!”

“How do we look?”

“Are we pretty?”

The door flew open without warning. Shiro and the others, now dressed in their gowns, burst into the reception room as if it were their own playroom.

“Hey! Knock before entering the reception room. We have guests.”

This was definitely one of those moments where I had to act like the responsible adult.

“Yes, now greet them properly.”

“““Hello!”””

“Oh, hello.”

“Hohoho, such lively children.”

Thankfully, both of our guests looked upon Shiro and the others with indulgent smiles rather than annoyance.

The vivid dresses suited the girls beautifully, their excitement practically shimmering in the air. They spun slightly where they stood, clearly eager for praise.

But—

In the span of mere seconds, my mental energy had plummeted. Between hosting distinguished guests and managing overexcited girls in formal wear, I felt as though I had just finished another tournament match. What more, the banquet hadn’t even started yet.

“Shun-san, you’re like a father to them all.”

“”You really do.”

Next, Sue and Sylvia, who had also changed into their dresses, entered the reception room.

Sigh. Honestly, being a “father” with three kids to look after is tough.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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“The idiots who were surveilling us… they were indeed from the dark organization. Seems they were planning to interfere with the victory banquet.”

As soon as we returned to the Margrave’s mansion, we were led to the reception room where the Margrave explained everything. Even though it hadn’t been long since the spy was captured, somehow the Margrave already had all this information.

“My wife, upon hearing this, was furious. She went straight to the barracks where the spy had been taken, and out of sheer terror, he confessed everything.”

“Yeah, I can understand that immediately. They were trying to interfere with the banquet preparations, so naturally, they’d earn her rage.”

I can’t help but wonder if the spy even survived facing an enraged Madam. Well, at least we gained some valuable testimony.

“The party will go on as scheduled, but stay on guard.”

“Yes, if we cancel it now, it would be like giving in to them.”

Of course, we also prepared ourselves to respond immediately if anything happened. Fortunately, the party room is spacious, so there’s plenty of room to move around.

“First and foremost, forget about all that for now and enjoy the party. That’s the most important thing.”

“Right. That’s what this party is for, after all.”

The Margrave chuckled, but it’s true—we need everyone to enjoy themselves. Especially Ao and Shiro’s team, since they won the tournament they can eat as much as they want.

After finishing the discussion with the Margrave, we sat down for lunch.

“Oh? Not getting seconds today?”

“No, I’m saving my appetite for the party.”

Even Shiro, who usually insists on extra bread, didn’t ask this time. Looks like they really plan to eat their fill at the celebration.

“But if we get hungry halfway through and eat too many snacks, we won’t be able to eat enough at the party.”

“Ugh… okay, then I’ll have just a little extra.”

“I will have seconds too.” Fran added quickly.

“Horn as well.”

At my warning, Shiro thought for a moment, then requested a small second helping.

Makes sense—just a little shouldn’t be a problem. Fran and Horn also seem to be taking only a small extra portion.

“And Sue, you’re sticking to your usual, huh?”

“Yes. I make sure to eat plenty when I can.”

Watching Sue happily stuffing her mouth with meat, I also took a bite of my bread.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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And finally, the day of the victory banquet had arrived.

The banquet itself would start in the evening, so first we went to pick up Sylvia-san’s dress. As expected, the Margrave’s family was busy, so it was just us—Sylvia-san, myself, and the others—heading to the store.

(Kara kara kara)

“Haaah… I feel so dispirited…”

“No, no. Today you’re just putting on the dress that’s ready. Nothing else will happen.”

I reassured her.

Sylvia was still nervous from the last fitting, where she had basically been treated like a dress-up doll. She is worried that something similar might happen again.

I am pretty sure there wouldn’t be any surprises this time.

With that, our carriage arrived at the store that served as the Margrave family’s trusted tailor.

“So… how does it look?”

“Wow, it’s beautiful!”

“It really suits you!”

Sylvia-san was already wearing the dress after the size adjustments, and it looked fantastic on her. The green dress matched her hair, and she wore a delicate necklace to complete the look.

Looking at her like this, even though she was about the same height as Shiro, she had the presence of a grown woman.

“Now, we’ll make some fine adjustments, so please come this way.”

“All right, understood.”

Sylvia-san, visibly relieved, followed the store staff toward the back of the shop.

Well, now it was time for me to get a little work done.

“Sue, did you notice?”

“Yes… there’s someone peeking in here.”

Indeed, ever since we had entered the store, someone had been peering inside.

We had been observing quietly for a while, but it was clear they were keeping a close watch on us. Even using my detection magic showed them as a potential threat, so there was no need to hold back.

Then, something slid smoothly into motion.

(Sususu)

“Oh, Ao went outside!”

“That means this will be resolved quickly.”

Ao darted out and approached the suspicious figure. A tiny squeak reached our ears, and almost immediately, the soldiers arrived. Ao, in her usual confident manner, gave a proper salute with her tentacle to the troops.

Now, it was time to get to the bottom of why this person had been spying on us. They would have to explain themselves properly.

“Already over?”

“Boring~”

“That was fast!”

“Well, if you lot had gone wild, it would’ve been quite the commotion.”

Shiro and the others also noticed the suspicious person but since Ao had taken care of it in an instant, they seemed a bit disappointed at the anticlimactic turn of events.

Either way, with the victory banquet still ahead, we’d have to stay alert—who knew what might happen next.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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With a few days left before the victory banquet, we continued our activities as normal adventurers.

The sales from the food stall had been incredible and the guild is still in the middle of calculating how much would go to us, as well as the share for the attendants who had helped out. So, today, our focus was on hospital duties. Sylvia-san and Fina-san joined us as well.

“This hospital admits a lot of children.”

“So, if possible, it would be helpful if you could spend some time interacting with the children.”

“““Yes!”””

I see…

According to the staff, this is primarily a children’s hospital. I remember seeing a feature about children’s hospitals in my previous life—these places tend to be stressful for kids, after all.

Our group was split into teams: Sue, Shiro and Horn, myself with Fran and then Ao, Fina-san, Pearl and Sylvia-san.

“Y-yes… please, take care of me…”

“Pleasure to work with you.”

Fina-san and Sylvia-san were paired together so they could get along while helping out. With Ao nearby, there was no worry about the treatments going smoothly.

And so, the healing began.

“All right, how does that feel?”

“It doesn’t hurt! Thank you, Oneechan!”

“You’re welcome.”

Sue and Horn, already professionals in healing, treated the children with ease, smiling as they worked. It was completely different from dealing with burly adventurers or seasoned fighters.

Sue had even been punched once by someone she’d healed after being proposed to—so genuine affection like this was a welcome change.

“Oniichan, aren’t you a cook?”

“No, I’m an adventurer and a magician.”

“Oh, really? Mom bought me a fruit sandwich, but she said it was made by the same person.”

Ah, so even here, I’m being treated like a cook. It’s nice that they enjoyed the food I brought from the stall, but… it does feel a little complicated.

“Wow, a slime is doing the healing!”

“It’s so cute!”

“That’s Pearl-chan and Ao-chan.”

I wondered how Fina-san and Sylvia-san would fare, but the children were completely captivated by the slime doing the healing. Through Pearl and Ao, we were able to communicate with the kids while they were focused on the unusual sight.

After all, seeing a slime perform healing was definitely something rare.

At that moment, one of the hospital staff approached me with a request.

“I’m sorry to trouble you, but could you serve fruit sandwiches to the children?”

“Of course. I’ll prepare them right away.”

“That would be a great help. There are quite a few children eager to have some fruit sandwiches.”

It seemed the other children wanted to try the fruit sandwiches that the first kid had called me a cook for earlier. Luckily, the ingredients were all in the item box, so we got to work making them together.

“Delicious! Sweet and yummy!”

“A slime is cooking!”

By making the flavor a little sweeter for the kids, they ate happily. Once again, Ao in action as a cook was a huge hit with everyone.

“This was a very good experience.”

“Yes, indeed.”

The bond between Fina-san and Sylvia-san had also grown stronger, and today’s hospital work ended up being a great success for all of us.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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The day after the martial arts tournament, as planned, everyone headed to the clothing shop together.

“Ah… a-awawa…”

“What’s wrong?”

“This… this is an outrageously high-class store. I don’t belong here at all.”

Well, this is the clothing store that supplies the Margrave family after all.

Stepping down from the carriage, Sylvia-san froze completely in front of the luxurious shop. I could completely understand how she felt.

“Come on, let’s go inside.”

“U-um, wait, aah—!”

But Sylvia-san’s hesitation was meaningless in the presence of the smiling Madam. In fact, the Madam simply lifted her by the side and carried her inside the store. At this point, it was best to give up and let her accept it gracefully.

“Welcome!”

“Good morning, Owner. Let’s begin checking the outfits right away.”

“Certainly. And how would you like me to assist the lady over there?”

“Could you also select a dress for Sylvia?”

“Of course. Please, everyone, follow me this way.”

Once inside the store, we immediately began the fittings.

Of course, we weren’t designing anything from scratch. We were simply trying on the finished outfits to make sure everything fit properly. In fact, the whole process was completed in about half an hour.

“Hm… a red dress suits you nicely.”

“A blue one looks perfect too.”

“Maybe green would work well with your hair color?”

“Yellow would be nice as well.”

“Um, excuse me, but…”

Meanwhile, all the women in the group were busily debating which dress colors would suit Sylvia-san best. On top of that, they were discussing which gemstones and accessories would pair nicely with each outfit.

Poor Sylvia-san, reduced to a complete dress-up doll, was blinking frantically, clearly overwhelmed by the unfamiliar situation.

At this point, there was nothing that Ao or I could do. We simply sat in chairs, sipping the tea that had been served, and watched the proceedings unfold.

“Haahhh…”

“Um… thank you for your hard work.”

By the time all the fittings were done—including adjustments for size—Sylvia-san looked utterly drained, as if her soul had temporarily left her body.

The experience had clearly been exhausting for her, and for the victory banquet, she would be wearing a different dress. The outfits she had gone through today would be purchased separately after minor alterations.

Since Sylvia-san, being a halfling, would no longer grow taller, they decided to buy dresses in every color suggested by the women.

As expected, Ao paid for all of Sylvia-san’s dresses without hesitation.

“Now all that’s left is to wait for Ao’s victory banquet.”

“Yes. The Margrave’s household will be hosting it with all their prestige on the line, so everyone should look forward to it.”

“““Yey!”””

A party thrown by one of the kingdom’s most prestigious noble families—there was no doubt it would be something spectacular.

With that, the dress selection, despite all the fuss, was finally completed without issue.

“Heaah…”

Yes… Sylvia-san, it’s time to come back to reality now.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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“Haah… I’m exhausted.”

“We really wore ourselves out today, didn’t we?”

After spending hours at the stall grilling endless slabs of orc meat, I trudged along the road back to the estate, my body heavy with fatigue. Sylvia-san walked beside me. She kindly helped at the stall and she looked just as drained as I felt.

Sue, too, had treated an astonishing number of injured people, and the effort had clearly taken its toll on her.

“Yaaay— we won! We won!”

““Victory!””

Meanwhile, Shiro and the others—Ao included—were still dancing in celebration, unable to contain the joy of their championship.

But there was something I needed to confirm with Ao.

“Ao, what are you going to do with the prize money?”

Yes, Ao had won the martial arts tournament and earned a hefty reward. The prize had even been increased to commemorate the birth of a baby.

Apparently, Ao had already decided how to use it because she immediately turned to Shiro.

“Ao said, she’ll keep just a little for herself, and donate the rest to orphanages and the like.”

“If she gave it all away, it would feel rude to the tournament’s organizers.”

“She want it to be used in ways that will make the children happy.”

Shiro explained for Ao.

I nodded to myself. It was a decision so very like Ao.

Sue and Sylvia-san both applauded her decision, clearly moved by her thoughtfulness.

With that settled, we decided that as soon as we returned to the estate, we would consult the margrave about how best to use the prize money.

“In that case, we will gratefully put it to good use.”

“To think a slime could be so considerate… truly remarkable.”

The Margrave and his wife readily accepted Ao’s proposal.

According to Ao, she wanted the money used to help the poor, so the finer details, such as where the donations would go, would be selected by the Margrave’s retainers.

“Also, things were rather chaotic with that sudden preliminary round, but it seems everyone’s clothes are finally ready.”

“““Yay!”””

“Let’s go pick them up tomorrow. Since it’s a special occasion, why don’t we attend the celebration banquet wearing those outfits?”

Oh, right—we had ordered new clothes. The timing couldn’t have been better, and it would also serve as a perfect opportunity to demonstrate our manners.

Just then, the Margrave’s wife turned her gaze toward Sylvia.

“Since this is a perfect opportunity, we should prepare an outfit for you as well, Sylvia. You helped guide people to safety during today’s chaos, so you’ve more than earned the right to attend the victory banquet.”

“Oh, indeed. And for that matter, anyone who distinguished themselves during today’s orc incident will be invited to the celebration too.”

“U-um… well…”

“Ao says she’ll treat you to a dress.”

“She told us to pick something cute.”

“I’m sure it’ll look wonderful on you.”

“Ah—yes. Understood.”

They neatly closed in around Sylvia-san, leaving her no graceful path of escape. With everyone pressing her like that, even Sylvia had no choice but to nod in acceptance.

“And there’s one more thing—about that magician. We’ve decided to re-investigate all locations connected to the dark guild. I’m sorry, but I’d like you to remain at the estate until the victory banquet is over.”

“Yes, understood.”

They planned to conduct a thorough search once again, including the inn where Sylvia-san had been staying. There was no helping it, and Sylvia-san accepted the decision without hesitation.

Hmm… with the organization making such a conspicuous move this time, things might stay unsettled for a while. Since we’re deeply involved ourselves, it looks like we’ll be staying in the Northern Margrave’s territory until everything calms down.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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We hurried through the cleanup as the awards ceremony is to be held on the very same stage. There were still wounded participants who needed treatment so the ceremony is set to begin in an hour.

At last, with all preparations complete, the officials made their way onto the stage. I moved toward the audience as well, eager to watch the proceedings.

“Now then, we will begin the awards ceremony for the Martial Arts Tournament! First, our two runners-up—Martial Artist Zangief and Swordswoman Lulusia. Please step forward before the Margrave.”

“““Woooooh!”””

Despite this being only the presentation for second place, thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd.

Zangief-san, was not the burly, musclebound fighter one might imagine, but rather a small, slender practitioner of jujutsu—a master of technique over brute force.

As for Lulusia-san, she served as a defensive soldier within the Margrave’s domain, and her performance had upheld the honor of the garrison. Though known as a swordswoman, she was said to excel equally in hand-to-hand combat and magic—a warrior of rare versatility.

“Now then, will Champion Ao and their seconds please step forward before the Margrave.”

“““Yes!”””

“““Waaaah!”””

Technically, Ao was still classified as Shiro and the others’ familiar but by now, everyone clearly saw the little slime as a full-fledged martial artist.

Smiling brightly, Shiro and the others waved energetically to the cheering crowd, with Ao wobbling happily beside them.

“To be honest, I had my doubts when I heard a slime would be competing. But once the matches began, your strength was beyond dispute. Congratulations!”

“““Thank you very much!”””

“You were amazing!”

“So strong!”

“And adorable, too!”

As Shiro stepped forward to receive the prize list on their behalf, another great roar of applause swept through the arena. Ao joined in the celebration as well, waving her tentacles enthusiastically at the audience.

“Furthermore, the top finishers in today’s event are hereby invited to a banquet hosted by the Margrave’s household one week from now.”

Oh?

That was the first I’d heard of it.

Perhaps it had been mentioned during registration.

Ao certainly seemed unfazed.

But then came an announcement of something I was even less prepared for.

“In addition, the meat from the orcs subjugated today will be served at food stalls operated by the Margrave’s house. It will be provided free of charge, so please line up in an orderly fashion.”

“““Wooooah! How generous!”””

Hey! I’ve never heard of that!

And since it’s free, it’s bound to draw a staggering number of customers.

“Please rest assured. The soldiers will be joining in to help.”

“Shun-sama need only focus on grilling the orc meat.”

Right… 

Apparently, the head attendant had already been informed of this arrangement. When I looked toward the stalls, I could see soldiers inside, expertly butchering the meat.

Hm? Butchering…?

“Huh? Then who exactly is going to grill the meat besides me?”

…They all quietly averted their eyes.

—Hey!

The head attendant just looked away.

Does that mean… I’m grilling all this meat by myself?

And after the closing ceremony, that was exactly what happened. I ended up standing there alone, endlessly grilling meat.

Meanwhile, Ao was apparently speaking with the Margrave alongside the other award recipients, and stayed with Shiro and the others the entire time.

…Yeah. Honestly, this might have been the most exhausted I’ve felt out of everything so far.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Okay—the match was over, but there was still plenty to be done.

Corpses of countless orcs and the four Orc Kings lay scattered throughout the arena, and some of the surrounding facilities had been damaged. Worse still, several people had been injured—some from tripping during the evacuation.

We’d have to divide the work and handle things efficiently.

“Sir, Ao plans to drain the blood from the orcs and Orc Kings before storing them in the item box.”

“I see. That would be a great help. With this many orcs, even the Adventurers’ Guild in my domain wouldn’t be able to process them right away.”

The Margrave readily accepted Ao’s offer.

In fact, Ao was already hard at work, briskly draining the orcs and packing them away into the item box one after another.

“Alright, form a line, please.”

“We’ll treat you right away.”

The medical tent was crowded with people, but Shiro and Fran were efficiently organizing the lines.

Fina-san with Pearl in hand, was there as well. They are treating the wounded one after another. Even the manor’s attendants had joined in to help with the care, so I decided to leave things in their capable hands.

As for me, I headed toward the arena facilities to deal with the damage.

“Excuse me. I’d like to help as well.”

“Oh, that would be a great help. There are only two matches left, and we’ve decided to dismantle the damaged spectator seats rather than repair them.”

“Understood.”

Together with the guards, I began removing the broken sections of the stands.

There was supposed to be a third-place match in addition to the semifinals and finals, but with the mage already having fled, it had been canceled.

As I worked, lost in those thoughts, an announcement suddenly echoed across the plaza.

“Announcement regarding the upcoming schedule. Due to Shadow-senshu’s escape, the match for third place has been canceled. Furthermore, as one of the two competitors scheduled for the second semifinal has been injured, that match will also be called off.”

Oh?

Now this was unexpected.

Sue could heal most injuries, but it seemed there had been significant bleeding as well.

If that was the case… what would happen to the remaining matches?

“After consulting the two competitors slated for the second semifinal, both have declared that they stand no chance against Ao-senshu. Therefore, Ao-senshu is hereby declared the champion. The two who advanced to the second semifinal will be recognized as joint runners-up, and the prize money will be divided between them—split from the amounts allocated for second and third place.”

“““Congratulations!”””

“No objections here!”

“You were amazing out there!”

If they had already confirmed that much, then there was no issue.

The spectators were also fully convinced of Ao’s strength. Even while draining the blood from the orcs, Ao waved her tentacles at the cheering crowd.

And so, despite everything that had happened, the martial arts tournament finally came to a close—ending with Ao’s well-earned victory.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Suu.

Swooosh—crack!

“…!”

“Ao-senshu cancels her spell attack, closes the distance in one burst, and shatters Shadow-senshu’s magic barrier!”

“Hey, that’s the same move the food-stall guy used.”

“For a slime, that’s insanely skillful.”

The technique Ao used was the very same Barrier Break I used to destroy Sue’s magic shield. It’s a move where you forcibly channel your own mana into the opponent’s barrier, flooding it until it collapses all at once.

That magician’s barrier had already been fractured by Ao’s saturation assault a moment ago, so she must’ve judged it would break easily.

And… apparently I’m not seen as an adventurer, but as “that food-stall guy.”

Crackle—bzzzt, bzzzt!

“!!”

“And now it’s Thunder Bind—an immobilization spell that deals damage while restraining the target! Is this the end for Shadow-senshu?!”

Ao’s Thunder Bind locked firmly onto the magician, leaving him no room to move.

Checkmate.

—or so I thought . At that very moment, the magician made a startling move.

A dark haze spread outward.

BOOM—rumble!

“Whoa! A cloud of black mist just burst out from Shadow-senshu! Ao-senshu immediately responds, unleashing a rapid volley of spells straight into the fog!”

Silence fell.

“Aaaand the mist clears—but Shadow-senshu is nowhere to be seen!”

“Damn it, he ran.”

“He must’ve figured the odds were against him.”

After releasing that black mist, I sensed the activation of some large-scale magic. Most likely, the magician used either a spell or a magical tool meant for tactical withdrawal.

Ao fired off a barrage of spells, determined not to let him escape—but it was already too late.

“With Shadow-senshu’s withdrawal from combat, the winner is Ao-senshu!”

“““Woooooah!”””

Well, Ao had effectively secured victory the moment the magician summoned the heir. But after a performance like that, there could be no objections. The win was unquestionably Ao’s.

Still, because the magician fled the battle, Ao seemed somewhat unsatisfied. She waved his tentacles at the cheering crowd, yet her expression carried a hint of frustration.

“Excuse me, I’m heading over to see the Margrave.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Please be careful.”

After informing the staff members at the food stall, I made my way toward the Margrave.

“Sir, I used detection magic, but there’s no trace of the mage anywhere nearby.”

“Hmm, he most likely used long-range teleportation. Well, probably with the aid of a magical tool. I’ll have the soldiers stay on alert, but capturing him will be impossible.”

“I agree. All we can do now is see how much testimony we can extract from the heir.”

“Well, that boy probably doesn’t know much. Let’s leave it to the royal investigation unit to determine how much his parents were involved.”

The Margrave had already anticipated the magician’s escape.

It was frustrating to let him slip away, but at least we had prevented the shadow organization from interfering with the martial arts tournament.

The damage had been kept to a minimum, too—so for now, I think that was good enough.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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