Chapitre 68: Chapter Sixty-Six
The competition's MC stepped forward, clearing his throat as he commanded the attention of the square.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The preparation time is officially over!" He gestured towards the line of competitors behind their plated bread, "Now comes the moment we've all been waiting for – the judgment!"
He continued, reminding the gathered crowd, "Each dish will be graded based on four criteria: taste, creativity, presentation, and originality. A total of 40 points can be earned, 10 for each category. Our esteemed judges will sample each dish and grade them accordingly."
A magic crystal spotlight then illuminated a grand table on the side where three majestic chairs were placed.
The first judge to grace the stage was the Goddess Bia, a deity of strength and might, her presence radiated authority.
Next came Goddess Khione, delicate as the winter's first snow, her elegance was unmatched, and the crowd whispered excitedly as they anticipated her critique.
Lastly, and much to the audience's surprise, came the boisterous God Ganesha. Striking a flamboyant pose, he declared with his ever-enthusiastic tone,
"I am Ganesha!!!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.
The MC gestured to the divine trio, "These are our esteemed judges, and they shall decide the fate of our competitors!"
As the judges began their tasting, the atmosphere grew thick with anticipation.
They started from one end, meticulously sampling each bread, discussing amongst themselves, and noting down their scores.
One by one, competitors received their scores.
A young female elf baker received praises for her creativity but fell short in presentation. A dwarf, known for his robust flavours, faced criticism for lacking originality.
There were sighs, smiles, and some even whispered words of gratitude to the gods for their fair judgment.
Then the moment came when the judges approached May's rival. She stood tall, her confidence evident.
Goddess Bia admired the presentation, Khione commented on the intricate flavours, and Ganesha, after taking a bite, exclaimed, "This is divine! I am Ganesha, and I approve!"
Their scores totalled a staggering 36 out of 40. The dog girl gave a triumphant Ojou-Sama laugh and shot May a smug look.
Finally, it was May's turn. The square was filled with a hushed silence.
The celestial glow of her bread caught the attention of the judges. Goddess Khione was the first to take a bite, her icy demeanour momentarily melting away.
Goddess Bia followed, her stoic expression giving way to a nod of approval. Ganesha, upon tasting, stood up, struck a pose, and declared, "Incredible! This bread reminds me why I am Ganesha!"
The scores were tallied, and the anticipation was palpable. The judges exchanged final nods and passed their scores to the MC.
The moment of truth was upon them.
.....
The square was abuzz with excitement.
The MC, holding the scorecard, took a moment to revel in the anticipation of the crowd. With a flourish, he announced...
"Ladies and gentlemen, with a total of 37 out of 40, our winner for today is... May from the Hostess of Fertility!"
The crowd erupted into cheers. The girls from Hostess of Fertility shouted in jubilation, creating a cacophony of celebration. Streamers flew in the air, and the festive atmosphere was contagious.
However, amidst the joy, May's rival, her face contorted in disbelief, shouted, "You got lucky this time! But next time, victory will be mine!" She huffed, turning on her heel and storming off, her exit as dramatic as her presence throughout the competition.
The Hostess girls, elated, swarmed May, lifting her off her feet in a jubilant group hug. Their laughter and joy echoed throughout the square.
Amidst this celebration, a familiar figure approached.
It was Muichiro. Despite the loud festivities, his approach was almost silent, like a gentle breeze on a summer day. His usual blank expression remained, but his eyes held a hint of warmth as he stood in front of May.
"Congratulations," Muichiro said, his voice as calm as a still lake.
May, flustered by his direct attention, replied with a shy smile, "Thank you, Muichiro. I couldn't have done it without your help."
Gathering her courage, she hesitated for a moment before leaning in to whisper something in his ear.
Her face turned a deep shade of crimson as she pulled away.
Muichiro simply nodded in response.
He then gently patted her head, his touch feather-light. "Well done," he whispered, "You did good."
A collective gasp echoed through the crowd. Whispers spread like wildfire. Men who had been silently admiring May from the shadows felt their hearts shatter, the sting of jealousy evident.
Murmurs of, "Who is he?", "Why is he so close to May?", and the occasional curse directed at Muichiro filled the air.
Amidst the unfolding drama, the booming voice of Ganesha reverberated through the square.
"Citizens of Orario! In celebration of today's marvellous competition, there will be a grand float walk at the 9th hour! Display your most exquisite outfits and join the festivity! And remember...I AM GANESHA!"
With those words, in his signature flamboyant style, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Taking this as his cue, Muichiro bowed slightly to the girls, "I must take my leave now. Congratulations once again."With that, he faded into the crowd.
The girls, still on cloud nine, decided to head back to Hostess of Fertility to share the joyous news with Mama Mia.
.....
( Location: Wheat Manor)
The lavish chambers of Demeter echoed with silence.
The Goddess of Harvest, usually surrounded by the hustle and bustle of her familia, was today bathed in solitude.
Cuthbert entered the room, taking in her contemplative form.
"Muichiro will be informed at once," he assured her. "And the dress you mentioned, shall I have it readied?"
She nodded, an unusual flush colouring her cheeks.
Demeter, often seen as the very emblem of grace and elegance, today was a mixture of nerves and excitement.
It was an innocent dare, a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Yet, as the hours rolled on, she realized she truly wished to spend this evening with Muichiro.
To laugh, to share stories, and perhaps to learn a little more about the enigmatic young man she found herself increasingly intrigued by.
"I want tonight to be special," she whispered more to herself than to Cuthbert, who gave a nod of understanding.
She could feel the weight of the impending evening pressing down on her, and she tried to shake off the tension, reminding herself to enjoy the night.
"I best use my nicest perfume," Demeter whispered to herself before, opening up a closet filled with perfumes and oil bottles most likely made by Alice.
...
On the east side of Orario, an entirely different scene was unfolding. The festive mood was infectious, drawing even the mightiest of adventurers into it.
At a game stall, Ais Wallenstein, Tiona Hiryute, and Lefiya Viridis were deeply engrossed in a game of scooping fish with paper nets.
Lefiya's concentration was evident as she tried to scoop up a fish, but her hands shook, and her scoop tore.
Tiona, unable to resist, laughed heartily, "For someone so adept with magic, you sure are clumsy with a simple paper scoop!"
Lefiya pouted, making an excuse as to why she was so bad at the game"It's not as easy as it looks!"
[AN: Must be a skill issue!!]
Ais, usually the picture of stoicism, was singularly focused on the task.
Her usually sharp eyes now reflected a childlike wonder.
However, each time her scoop neared a fish, it evaded her, leading her to tear the paper in frustration.
A rare expression of annoyance marred her features, causing Tiona and Lefiya to halt their banter and stare.
Then, Ais did something completely unexpected. She pouted, a childlike disappointment evident on her face. Tiona and Lefiya exchanged glances before bursting into giggles.
Even in her state of dejection, Ais was absolutely adorable.
"Come on, Ais," Tiona coaxed, wrapping an arm around her, "We'll get that fish for you!"
Lefiya, trying to hold back her laughter, added, "Yeah, and maybe next festival, we can try something less... challenging."
The three friends continued their merry attempts, their laughter echoing with the surrounding citizens.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Iseeyou6969
Iseeyou6969 I'm so tired, I feel like I'm gonna collapse...okay that's just me exaggerating but still I really am burnt out.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone