When Sally cried, it wasn't only because she felt moved.
"Uh, he, hic."
It was also because she was embarrassed.
...No, extremely embarrassed.
Sally could no longer maintain her plump, cheerful expression, and found herself sobbing.
The host, seeing this, quickly attempted to smooth over the situation.
-Ah, youth is indeed splendid! When I was young and in love, I never had a time where I was as full of spirit as Andrew... No, wait, I did! I definitely did! Anyway, everyone, you don't need to keep sending your applause anymore, it seems!
The applause from the audience stopped.
"Sh*t."
Andrew’s sense of reason returned.
He was very embarrassed.
But showing a timid appearance now would tarnish his image.
Andrew, with wide-open eyes, sat in his place, trying to seem unflustered.
Of course, to the others, it looked extremely awkward.
And so, the main stage of the Elinia Academy Festival Beauty Pageant came to an end.
About 10 minutes later.
The beauty pageant award ceremony was held.
3rd place was taken by a female student from the business department, and Sally was in 2nd place.
Her shy reaction when Andrew misbehaved earlier had earned her extra points.
The host spoke.
─Well, it has been a long journey. Elinia Academy Festival's beauty pageant! Finally, only the highly-anticipated 1st place remains to be announced. The announcement will be made by one of our judges, Professor Henderson from the Exploration Department!"
Henderson, who had been sitting in the judges' seat, straightened his clothes and walked to the center of the stage.
"Hello, my name is Henry Henderson, and I am a professor in the Exploration Department. It is an honor to announce the 1st place winner of this long-awaited beauty pageant. Let me get straight to the announcement.”
After speaking, Henderson paused for a moment.
─So, who will be our much-anticipated 1st place? Drumroll, please-
Seizing the moment, the host encouraged the audience to join in.
People in the seats followed the host, chanting "Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo" while drumming with their feet.
However, there was no suspense.
The 1st place was so dominant that anyone could predict it.
Henderson shouted.
"The winner of the Elinia Academy Festival beauty pageant is Mr. Theo Lyn Waldeurk from the Hero Department!"
"““Wowww~!”””
The audience's expectations were indeed met.
Theo was the 1st place.
Except for once in the past, all the beauty pageant winners had been female participants.
But Theo was in a different league from the other contestants.
He appeared from behind the stage.
Pointing at Theo moving toward the center of the stage, Henderson spoke.
"Winner Theo Lyn Waldeurk was chosen unanimously by the judges. He was a participant who emanated elegance not only in appearance but also in his approach to life.”
When Theo stood in the center of the stage, Henderson handed him the beauty pageant trophy and spoke.
“More than a decade ago, I saw a beautiful being in the Great Forest. Although he wore an eyepatch, it could not hide his beauty. The incarnation of beauty, I thought. However, Theo was no less. He was elegance itself.”
Henderson slightly bowed his head and offered a handshake to Theo.
"Thank you, Professor Henderson."
Theo, smiling faintly, shook hands with Henderson.
Clap, clap, clap──
Thunderous applause burst from the audience.
As the applause began to die down, the host handed Theo the microphone.
─Firstly, Mr. Theo Lyn Waldeurk. Congratulations on your win, truly. Please share a few words about how you feel. Or anything at all, like about upcoming Aide recruitment or anything else. It'll be the official Aide recruitment period for first-year students soon.
"Hmm."
The audience fell silent at the host’s words.
Most of them were already aware of Theo’s recent extraordinary tales.
Everyone focused on each of Theo's breaths and every word.
Only then could they write an aide application in a manner befitting Theo.
But Theo said nothing.
After a pause, Theo nonchalantly spoke.
"First of all, for those who wish to become my Aides, I have already decided on three individuals in my heart. All three of them have demonstrated exceptional performance in their respective positions.
I haven't yet completely decided, so please, send in your applications during the recruitment period. There are no prerequisites. Your department, grade, age, origin, gender, or race, it doesn’t matter at all.
I simply harbor the desire to create the best team in the long and extensive history of Elinia Academy, something utterly unprecedented."
The beauty pageant had come to an end.
The sun had already set.
However, the surroundings were bright.
During the festival, the lights from numerous stalls and additional street lamps illuminated the night sky.
Holding the beauty pageant trophy in his hand, Theo approached Aisha.
"Thank you, Aisha. I won thanks to you."
"Hmm, well. I think you would have won if you just went out there. Of course, it's true that you won overwhelmingly thanks to me."
"Is that so? Anyway, if it's alright, let's go for a meal. It's on me."
"Oh~ But I’m going to eat something really expensive, okay? You know that all sorts of rare and precious foods are available during the festival, right? Even as the heir to the Waldeurk family, it'll be a burden!"
"Still, I must properly repay you. Aisha, guide me to wherever you want. The others can join too."
Theo spoke, looking at Siena, Andrew, and Sally nearby.
Aisha's brows furrowed slightly.
Aisha’s nose twitched slightly.
The attention would be focused if it were just Theo and her, but with more people, it would be spread out.
There were other reasons as well, but Aisha couldn’t voice them.
Aisha placed her hands on her hips, adopting a displeased posture.
"Hmph, no matter if you're the heir to the Waldeurk family, you’re still a student, Theo. You shouldn’t recklessly spend the family's wealth from that age.
It's an act that would tarnish the honor of the Waldeurk family!"
"Hmm. So Aisha, you’re saying that it's okay if I don't use the family's wealth. I have money I earned separately. Is this enough?"
Theo pulled a money pouch from his pocket.
It contained money he’d been collecting from reporters, guild & national officials.
They had given money to Amy to pass on good word to Theo, but Amy hadn’t used a penny and had given it directly to him.
Theo opened the money pouch and showed it to Aisha.
Aisha’s eyes widened at the sight of the amount.
"This, this seems to be more than enough. But Theo, where did you get this money?"
"It’s from sponsors. Anyway, is this enough?"
"Uh, yes, uh... Yes."
Aisha reluctantly nodded.
Theo, Aisha, Siena, Andrew, and Sally sat at an open-air restaurant near the stage where the beauty pageant was held.
Despite her earlier words, Aisha ordered items that were reasonably priced even by commoner standards.
The five of them received various dishes and took their seats at a table attached to the shop.
"Um, this is the first time we're eating with the five of us. Nice to meet you, Sally. I'm Aisha Waldeurk from the Hero Department."
Aisha offered her hand with a smile to Sally.
Sally grabbed Aisha's hand with a broad smile.
"Thank you for remembering me, Aisha. No need to introduce yourself! If someone at the academy doesn't know Aisha, they must be a spy."
Andrew’s stern expression somewhat softened in their warm atmosphere.
'Phew, fortunately. Sally also seems to be in a good mood.'
It was a tricky situation where the girl he used to like and the girl he currently likes were in the same place.
However, Aisha seemed not to mind at all.
Andrew was slightly annoyed by this, but he couldn’t continue to act awkwardly any longer.
After the ruckus during the beauty pageant, it seemed that Sally’s attitude towards him had somewhat changed.
"Well, let's eat."
Theo lifted his chopsticks with a dignified motion.
Theo ordered anchovy noodles and dumplings.
"Order more if it's not enough. We have plenty of money."
"Hehe, just looking at you, Theo, makes me full. You’re especially cute today. Is it because it’s been a while?"
"Siena, is three days a long time to you? It doesn’t seem like something an elf, who lives for a thousand years, should say."
"Oh~ I don’t know, hehe."
Saying so, Siena folded her arms on Theo's left arm.
"···There are many eyes watching, Siena."
"Hehe, I don’t care. It's your fault for being cute."
Theo was in the middle of using his chopsticks, so he had no choice but to offer his left arm without resistance.
'Let it be.'
Theo sighed inwardly and returning to his anchovy noodles.
"Yum."
Siena, with her honey-dripping eyes looking at Theo, scooped a spoonful of plain rice and ate it.
Siena repeated this action three times.
At that sight, Andrew spoke with a puzzled expression.
"Uh······ Siena. I'm not interfering with the eating habits of elves but··· why are you only eating plain rice? There are side dishes."
"Theo is my side dish~ Hehe. Delicious."
"···I see."
Andrew felt a strange sorrow bubbling inside as he ate his soup.
At that moment.
"Siena, please stop."
A cold voice flowed from Aisha’s lips as she looked at Siena and Theo.
