After an hour and a half for lunch and a short rest, it was time to announce the results of the scoring.
"Now, the results are in! But before we reveal the winners, let’s take a look at the dishes our participants prepared!"
Since the audience had already finished their own meals, the presentation didn't risk causing a mass outbreak of food cravings.
Bib #1: Natalia & Nave — Kurumu miso soup and salted grilled barakudo. Bib #2: Shu & Merry — Fu and shalot miso soup and salted grilled saury. Bib #3: Eugene & Melanie — Cabbage and karotto miso soup and salted grilled omasou. Bib #4: Greena & Shal — Itopo, marunegi, and karotto miso soup and grilled mountain stream eel kabayaki. Bib #5: Sireen & Allen — Nameko and tofu miso soup and foil-grilled mejika. Bib #6: Sidney & Liddel — Eggplant miso soup and grilled whitebait. Bib #7: Werner & Leila — Pumpkin miso soup and yellowtail teriyaki. Bib #8: Florence & Clark — Turnip and turnip leaf miso soup and steamed grilled mackerel. Bib #9: Elvis & Cyrus — Bean sprout miso soup and cod meunière. Bib #10: Rubina & Alice — Daikon and satoimo miso soup and salted grilled sea bream. Bib #11: Jin & Reiko — Aburaage and okara miso soup and salted grilled ayu. Bib #12: Lordtoss & Momoko — Wakame and tofu miso soup and salted grilled hariboo. Bib #13: Marikka & Hanako — Topopo and marunegi miso soup and miso-grilled sawara.
(Note: Barakudo = kamasu; shalot = scallion; itopo = sweet potato; marunegi = onion; karotto = carrot; topopo = potato; hariboo = flounder; kurumu = clam; omasou = landlocked salmon; mejika = salmon.)
"Choosing a meunière for the grilled fish category was a bold and refreshing move from Bib #9!" Luckhart commented.
"Indeed. It was quite delicious. And that kabayaki... that was truly exquisite," Stayhart added, offering his impressions from the tasting.
Sion looked over the list with admiration. "I’m impressed that the ingredients didn't overlap more than they did. They really thought their menus through."
"Truly," Luckhart agreed. "You can see the traces of the participants' hard work and careful planning."
Finally, it was time for the final tally.
"And now, for the scores! In first place with 90 points... Bib #1, Natalia’s Nave! And tied for first, Bib #4, Greena’s Shal!"
A roar of cheers erupted, loud enough to make the stadium shake.
For the first time, Jin’s Reiko had dropped significantly in the rankings. It seemed that personal taste had played a decisive role in the outcome.
Well, I guess my preferences aren't exactly what you'd call 'crowd-pleasing,' Jin thought with a wry smile. He looked over at Reiko, who was hanging her head in disappointment, and gave her a warm smile and a supportive nod.
With just that simple gesture, Reiko understood exactly what Jin wanted to tell her. She lifted her head, her spirit restored.
"Tied for third place with 89 points are Bib #11, Jin-sama’s Lady Reiko; Bib #13, Marikka-sama’s Hanako; and Bib #7, Werner’s Leila!"
First place sat at 90 points, with the runners-up only a single point behind at 89. It was a razor-thin margin, but in a competition, that tiny gap made all the difference.
Following them at 88 points were Bib #2 (Shu’s Merry), Bib #3 (Eugene’s Melanie), Bib #5 (Sireen’s Allen), Bib #8 (Florence’s Clark), Bib #10 (Rubina’s Alice), and Bib #12 (Lordtoss’s Momoko).
The bottom of the pack was only three points away from the winners, scoring 87 points. These were Bib #6 (Sidney’s Liddel) and Bib #9 (Elvis’s Cyrus).
"That was an incredibly close contest," Stayhart remarked.
"In the future, it might be better to provide a set of common ingredients for everyone to use," Luckhart suggested.
"I think you're right," Sion agreed.
"Our next event is 'Sketching'!" Luckhart announced. "Our guest commentator, Sion-sama, will provide the themes. The contestants will have one minute to draw, and then the entire audience will judge the quality of their work!"
"They will compete across three different rounds with three different themes," Stayhart added, filling in the details Luckhart had missed.
"The drawings will be done with pencils on the provided one-meter-square boards. Now, Sion-sama, if you please... the first theme?"
"Let’s see... Since we're all here, I think it’s only fitting that we start with a portrait of Jin!"
"What?!" Jin blurted out.
He seemed to be the only one caught off guard; the rest of the stadium broke into enthusiastic applause at the suggestion.
"Then... begin!"
Every contestant set to work on their boards at once. Their pencils flew with such incredible speed they were almost a blur. Since everyone there knew Jin’s face by heart, they didn't even need to look at him to capture his likeness.
"Stop!"
Hands froze instantly. Every single board was complete.
"Now, let’s see the results."
Thirteen large-class magi-screens displayed the drawings for all to see. The audience began to cast their scores as they examined each piece.
"They’re all so talented..." Sion murmured.
"Indeed they are," Stayhart replied.
Are you people serious? Jin thought, staring at the floor. Almost everyone else was looking at the screens with intense focus, but Jin was far too embarrassed to even look up.
"Please cast your votes now. We are beginning the tally... please enter your scores into your terminals... the results are being calculated... and we have them!" Luckhart announced.
"The results for the first round: First place, Lady Reiko, 100 points! Tied for first, Hanako, 100 points! Also tied for first, Momoko, 100 points! In fact... everyone has scored 100 points! It’s a complete draw!"
"Haha, I suppose no one could bring themselves to find a flaw in a portrait of their Ancestor, Jin-sama," Stayhart joked.
Please, just stop already... Jin sat there, unable to raise his head, his face burning with embarrassment.
"Now, Sion-sama, your next theme?"
"Right. Let’s go with something classic. Please draw a 'swan'."
"The theme is 'swan.' Ready... begin!"
This was a subject everyone was familiar with. The contestants began drawing immediately. Looking at the large-class magi-screens, distinct individual styles were beginning to emerge this time.
"They really are all quite gifted," Sion said, repeating her earlier sentiment. And she was right; every drawing was exceptional.
"Stop!"
The scoring and tallying were over in moments, and the results were announced.
"The result is... once again, every participant has scored 100 points!"
The drawings shown on the magi-screens were more like high-resolution photographs than sketches. The precision was so absolute that the audience clearly found it impossible to rank one above the others.
"This is turning out to be quite an unexpected development!" Luckhart cried.
"Perhaps choosing well-known subjects makes it too easy for them," Sion mused, falling into thought.
Jin, too, was considering the results. It’s less about artistic expression and more about realistic reproduction. Since they’re automata, they can achieve perfect mimicry and precision.
Indeed, the swans on the screens looked less like art and more like perfect scientific illustrations.
"In that case, let’s make the final round something creative," Sion decided after a long moment of contemplation. "The final theme will be 'The thing you like best'."
This was something no one could have seen before; they would have to imagine and create their own interpretation.
"Very well... ready, begin!"
The final minute of the sketching competition commenced.