385. Cell hesitation




Dear Mr. Sato: "......

 Cyclodungeon Association President's Office.
 What I saw when I was called to talk to him and came in was a difficult looking cell stema.

''Has something happened again?''

 I, on the other hand, was rather calm.
 The cell is calling me out, there's something going on.
 I'm totally used to that process.

'There's one difficult decision to make. "There's one difficult decision to make, and it could be that it's going to stain Satou-sama's name. That's a decision I can't make.
My name? It's not a name that's important enough to be tarnished, but ...... what's going on?
It's time for another year of year-end awards.
'End of year awards? Oh, that.

 It's been a long time since the story came out, and I've missed it.
 It's a once-a-year story, so it's only natural that it's been a while.

'Satou-sama's family is up-assessed across the board. The hammer and the sorcerer are 3 Stars, the magician is 2 Stars, and the princess, the ordinary man, the servant and the mini-wise man are both 1 Star.
Oh, we're all flying. A princess, an ordinary person, and who are the servants?
Hmm? Let's see, the names are, what, Margaret and Cliff? My servant is Leia.
Oh!

 I clapped my hands with a pop. Oh, right, Margaret and Cliff.
 They each have their own family, but they're treated as being under my umbrella in a manner of speaking.

'Those two will be honored too?
Hmm.
'Huh? Where's Eve?
'The rabbit is the only one down, down to four stars from last year's five.
What's that? What's wrong with it?
You didn't do anything about it.

 Hmmm, tough.
 It's not that Eve didn't do anything, either.
 Rather, she was recognized by Calcium as one of the genie in the bottle, Yves Calcium.

 But, well, ...... I guess you could say that I haven't done anything worthwhile with my accomplishments.

 It's notably less of an accomplishment than it was before I joined the team.
 I don't blame him for the down assessment.

 He's not going to care about that, though.

'I see, almost everyone is up.
Mmmm: ......
...... hmm?

 I noticed that Cell had a very complicated look on his face.

'Oh yeah, I remember when difficult decisions were the first thing we talked about. What do you mean, ...... that you're going to sully my name?

 I had forgotten all about it in the good news of my friends, but that's what I was called to the cell for in the first place.
 I asked Cell so again.

''Actually, Satou-sama will be called a Star 7 again this year.
Okay.
However, considering the achievements that Satou-sama has made over the past year, this is no longer a problem for me. Seren's case, breeding in Filin. Creating a unique monster village and disposing of garbage. The handling of Phosporus. Plumbum's cage and bromides. The building of the dungeon city of Tennesin. The regeneration of Hashemi and Calcium. And erythronium.
Ooh, .......

 I count up the cells without hesitation.
 I've done a lot of things in the past year.

And many other small things. I'm going to be able to say that Satou-sama's existence is now a deterrent to inexcusable. For such a Satou-sama, a seven star rating would be considered rude.
'You don't mind, do you? If it's going to stay on the ceiling, that's what it is.
But there are seven other stars. But there are other 7 Stars, but their achievements are child's play compared to Sato-sama's. I'd like to give Mr. Sato a separate award.
Separately?
New 8 Stars or Hall of Fame?
Yeah.

 That's what you were thinking.

...... both dissatisfied, you mean?
No, I'm just saying that you can do whatever you want with either of them. I didn't have to do it for that.

 The cell read out my accomplishments for the year.
 Mostly, I just did it because I was unreasonable or in need of salvation.

 I didn't do it to get an award or to differentiate myself from others.

'Do what you want, I don't care what it is. Yeah, if it's anything, you don't have to make the selection.
What?
Isn't it a special thing not to dare? You're worried about breaking the rules, the new 8 Stars, aren't you?
...... Mm.
Well, I'll turn it down myself. And if I get an award, we won't tell them how many stars I got. Will you be able to do that?
...... I see, so secrecy increases the mystique.
That's one aspect of it.
...... You really don't care about that, Master Sato?
'Yeah, I don't care about those things. I don't do it for fame, you know.
All right, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for saying that. I feel like I'm out of the woods.
No, no, it's just that it's always nice to have you around.

 I stood up and put my hand out for him to shake.

'I'd appreciate it if you'd keep up the good work.
You're welcome.

 Cell honestly grabbed my hand back.

 I went over to see what was going on, and I was glad that nothing was wrong.

 But a few days later, on the published list of awards, I was the only newly established 8 Star on the list.
 I looked at the list and chuckled a little bit, wondering if I'd been blown up that way.