Last night, after I returned, there was another argument about my lifespan, but we eventually settled on “First, let’s deal with the Apostle of God.” If I die in battle, extending my lifespan would be pointless. I think that’s fine for now. More than that, the scope of the discussion is too grand for me to truly grasp.
Now, today is the naming ceremony, and this is a guest reception room in the castle. Since it’s a public event, I decided to wear the ceremonial robes I received from the Guild during the Ascension Ceremony. I never have a chance to wear them usually, so I might as well put them to good use.
“It’s been a while since the Ascension Ceremony. I think it’s too flashy and doesn’t suit me…”
“Oh, come on! You don’t realize how beautiful you are, Older Sister Efil. You should wear other things besides maid outfits, like Sera. They’d definitely suit you!”
“This time, I don’t have to worry about Colette, so I can dress up to my heart’s content.”
“My chest feels a little tight…”
“Mm-hmm. Everyone looks great.”
Ange nodded with satisfaction at our attire. All of them were adorned with the Pars Adventurer Guild’s crest, a pair of wings. I was wearing a black formal suit, Efil a green one, Rion white, Melfina blue, and Sera a red dress. As for Ange, she was in her usual Guild staff uniform. She’s still technically considered a Guild staff member. The slave collar, a mark of servitude, is hidden by a blue scarf, so it shouldn’t be visible. Ange plans to officially inform the Adventurer Guild of her retirement once we’re back in Pars. I’ll be accompanying her then, and I’ll have to brace myself for one more battle. I will…
“Hey, Kelvin, don’t look so glum! It’s a grand occasion!”
“I’m not good with these kinds of events. It was the same during the Ascension Ceremony; aren’t you nervous?”
“I can’t believe those are the words of someone who went wild at the Beast King Festival… You could learn a thing or two from Gerard.”
“Gerard?”
I looked in the direction Ange was pointing.
“Guh-ha-ha-ha! How do I look, magnificent? It’s ceremonial attire, after all!”
“Wow, what pretty embroidery.”
“Your usual red cape is nice, but the white of the cloak and the black of the armor really contrast well, don’t they?”
Gerard ostentatiously flapped his white cloak, showing off to Ryuka and Shutra. With his looks, he could be mistaken for a pervert, but his delighted expression was obvious. Since his Unique Skill, “Self-Transcendence,” was ranked up, he could change his equipment. He was intent on showing his splendid appearance to his adopted grandchildren.
“See? You should be that confident.”
“…I never thought I’d see the day when I’d use Gerard as an example.”
“Don’t worry, Kelvin, you look incredibly cool too!”
They kept patting me on the back. Encouragement. Looking at everyone lined up in their formal wear like this, though, makes me wonder what Ange would look like in a dress. Maybe I should ask Efil next time. Oh, and that means I’ll need one for Dahak too… Hmm, I can’t picture him in formal wear. Right now, I was heading to claim seats in the audience to watch Pritia (in her dress) from there. She’s truly unwavering.
“Lord Kelvin, it’s almost time. Please gather in the courtyard.”
Oh, a Beastman servant has come to call us. Well then, let’s go.
“Have a good time!”
Sent off by Ange, we started walking towards the venue.
***
Jereol declared the opening on stage.
“Silence! We shall now commence the Gaun Country Naming Ceremony!”
The courtyard of the Castle of the Divine Spirit Tree, the venue for the naming ceremony, was packed with people. It was as if the guests who were supposed to be heading to the arena had swarmed here instead.
“Or rather, that’s probably what happened…”
“This courtyard is vast, but there are even more Beastmen here.”
The castle courtyard is located on the middle of the Divine Spirit Tree, with a garden created on a large protruding section of the tree. It made me laugh to see that, despite being on the Divine Spirit Tree, other types of trees were planted here too. The viewing residents were allowed to enter halfway into the courtyard, and beyond that, Gaun soldiers had set up ropes to mark a boundary. This area from the boundary onward was restricted to only authorized personnel, creating a spacious area free from crowds. …Well, in the center of it, there was something that clearly didn’t fit the scene. Since we were involved, we were seated on this side, together with the noble-looking individuals who would also be receiving names during the naming ceremony.
“Speaking of which, it’s great, isn’t it, Sabato and Goma? You’re going to inherit the Gaun name, right?”
“Yeah! I never thought it would happen, but it seems like it’s not a dream!”
“Sabato, please be quiet, or at least whisper. The ceremony is about to begin.”
Sitting next to us were Sabato and Goma. They seemed a bit flustered, but it seems their prowess in the Beast King Festival matches had been recognized by the Beast King. While their results might not seem impressive—both were eliminated in the second round—their opponents were Rion and Pritia. Given that even Jereol and Yujil, who currently bear the Gaun name, couldn’t defeat them, their efforts were certainly worthwhile.
“Now, we will bestow new family names. Those whose names are called, please come to the stage.”
As Jereol read out a man’s name, a Beastman sitting at the far end of the audience rose and headed towards the stage. When the man reached the stage, an elder in ceremonial robes stepped forward and began muttering some incantation. That must be the ‘naming.’ To bestow a family name, one needed a skill rank of A-Rank or higher, I believe. Normally, one would focus on a single skill and develop it, but this is the Beast Kingdom of Gaun. Perhaps that elderly Beastman was also once a renowned warrior.
“Older Kel, it looks like the order of being called is the same as the seating arrangement here.”
“In that case, we’re at the very end of the section near the stage, meaning we’re last…”
Hmm, I wish these events would end quickly so I could find peace of mind. Having the number one spot in the order would mean being worried and tense until the very end. They should have put people like Sabato, who is about to become royalty, last. I want to complain. Right, let’s forget my nervousness by chatting telepathically. That’s what I’ll do.
***
“Next, S-Rank Adventurer ‘Grim Reaper’ Kelvin! ‘Black Meteor’ Rion! ‘Empress’ Sera! ‘Smile’ Mel! ‘Bomb Princess’ Efil! ‘Sword Elder’ Gerard! Come forward!”
While I was playfully chatting with Rion and the others telepathically, our turn had come before I knew it. Drat! We were in the middle of an interesting discussion about “How to make Baal behave and call Sera ‘Big Sister’?” It’s no use lamenting. I ended the conversation and stood up from my seat, heading towards the stage. The only ones being named this time were me and my sister, Rion. Although Sera and the others also had the right to apply due to their achievements in defeating the Demon King, well, that’s something I’ll have to work on from now on.
“Kelvin and Rion, to you two, we bestow the family name of Celsius.”
The elder read out the family name that Ange had applied for in advance and began chanting. At that moment, my status screen appeared before my eyes, and the character to the right of ‘Kelvin’ began to glow. Soon, the light coalesced into the shape of characters, and the screen displayed ‘Celsius.’ It was the same for Rion. From now on, I am Kelvin Celsius, and Rion is Rion Celsius.
“Congratulations, Kelvin. I’m sure the name Celsius will resound throughout the world from now on.”
“Thank you, Prince Jereol.”
“Now, normally the naming ceremony would conclude here, but Kelvin will receive bounties, honors, and noble titles from various countries for defeating the Demon King. Here, bring them!”
As Jereol commanded, the sound of a cart being pushed was heard from the side of the stage.
“…Isn’t this too much?”
“Well, it includes compensation for the Hero who returned to their world. It’s only natural that Kelvin, who fought alongside them against the Demon King, would receive it as a proxy. Furthermore, the prize money for winning and being the runner-up in the Beast King Festival has also been added.”
What was brought before us was a mountain of gold coins, more than I had ever seen. It looked like a ridiculous scene from a manga or movie. I wonder how many of our mansions could be bought with this.
“Next, the medals. From us Gaun, the Beast King Medal, awarded to those who have rendered the greatest service. From Delamis, the Pope’s Medal and the Saint’s Medal. From Traage, the Camellia Medal… all of these are of the highest rank. We also have the King of Military Merit Medal from Trisen.”
“Should I say it’s an overwhelming honor?”
Medals. They are decorations that signify honor, but I’m not sure what to do with them. Should I wear one on my formal attire at events like these?
“Finally, the peerage. Such things tend to be disliked by adventurers, but King Traage insisted… The position of Captain of the Camellia Guard—”
“Ah, I don’t need that. I decline.”
That’s probably not a peerage.
“I see. That person never learns. Shall we have the reward money delivered to your mansion?”
“No, it’s alright.”
I transferred all the reward money directly into Kuroto’s storage on the spot, taking it all with me. It was just Kuroto’s tentacles absorbing the gold coins one after another, but the Beastmen gave me strange looks. Given the distance and Kuroto’s semi-transparency, perhaps they didn’t see. Let’s assume they thought I was manipulating the wind with Green Magic.
After that, I received congratulatory words from the country’s dignitaries (who, for some reason, were all burly), and our ceremony concluded without a hitch. The fact that the Beast King hasn’t shown himself since earlier bothers me, but there’s nothing I can do about it. Well then, let’s head back!
“Now then! The Beast King’s Special Exhibition Match will now commence!”
…Or so I thought. In the center of the courtyard, the thing that had been sitting there, which I had been wondering about, was a circular stage, just like the one at the arena. And the woman speaking loudly on it—no, the Beast King, right? She looked like Nelras’s daughter, the Elder of the Elf Village, but she’s the Beast King, right?
“An, Exhibition Match?”
“Did we have that planned?”
“It’s fine! It sounds fun! The Beast King Festival was canceled anyway, so this is perfect!”
The bewildered spectators gradually began to get excited. Was this why they filled the entrances and exits?
“S-Rank Adventurer ‘Grim Reaper’ Kelvin! ‘Empress’ Sera! Come to the stage. Look, it’s the best stage, isn’t it? Fight to your heart’s content.”
” ” ” Oooooh! ” ” ”
Her words were rough, but her gestures were those of an Elf woman. She beckoned cutely. The surrounding audience, now fully in spectator mode, erupted in cheers. There was no atmosphere for refusal. Overhead, comrade Kilt’s recording equipment was ready, and a barrier was deployed on the stage. They were thoroughly prepared.
“Ah, of course, it’s that scenario… What do you think, Sera? Wait, why are you equipping the black and gold demon armor!?”
Sera, who was already equipping the black and gold demon armor that clashed with her dress, was quick. That’s too fast to understand!
“Huh? Because we’re doing it, right? Your mouth is smiling, Kelvin?”
…It’s scary when you have no self-awareness. I took out my black staff from Kuroto.
“Just so you know, this isn’t the Beast King Festival. I’m going to use tons of magic, okay?”
“I know! I’ll use it too! Um, Mel.”
“Yes, leave the repeated casting of barriers to us. Feel free to go all out.”
Perhaps because we practiced mock battles almost every day, we were ready quickly. The preparations for fighting on stage were already complete.
“I will be the judge. Neither Jereol nor I can judge your serious match. Do you both have any objections?”
“No.”
“No!”
Serra and I faced each other. It felt fresh, perhaps because I was in a formal suit and she was in a dress.
“Then— Begin!”
The sky was clear and cloudless, a perfect day for battle. In the high sky of the Castle of the Divine Spirit Tree, cheers resounded.
Chapter 6 concludes here.
In the next chapter, those characters will finally appear.
