Olivia-san, the opening act of the Hidden Talent Show, had earned a well-deserved perfect score. It wasn't hard to see why; the sculpture she had produced was truly breathtaking.
It went beyond mere technical skill; it felt as though she had breathed a soul into the stone. Just looking at it filled me with a sense of peace and happiness. The composition, depicting Shiro-san and me holding hands, was likely modeled after our time at the Hydra Kingdom’s Founding Anniversary Festival.
While there were minor differences—like Shiro-san wearing her usual outfit—the sculpture perfectly captured the warmth between us. Looking at it brought the memories of our date rushing back.
It was a piece that resonated with the heart, which was undoubtedly why Shiro-san had been so effusive with her praise.
"Now then, let’s hear from the rest of our judges," Alice announced through her amplification magic tool. "Since she was our first performer, I’ll ask everyone for their thoughts to help us settle into the rhythm. For the contestants that follow, I’ll just call on people at random... Chronoa-san, would you care to start us off?"
"I found it to be a truly magnificent work," Chronoa replied. "Even to someone like me, who lacks a discerning eye for art, the quality is undeniable. I was particularly moved by the sculpture of Shallow Vernal-sama; it possesses a profound sense of divinity."
"I am honored by your kind words," Olivia responded.
Chronoa-san continued to shower the work with praise, and Olivia-san acknowledged her with a quiet bow and polite gratitude.
"Very well. Next, Kuro-san, your comments, please."
"If we're just talking about technical proficiency, I’m sure there are others who could produce something similar," Kuro said. "But this isn't just about being 'good.' You can feel the weight of the emotions Olivia-chan poured into it. The sculpture has a presence—a certain aura that you just can't manufacture. It’s clear how much effort and practice went into this. It was truly incredible."
"I am grateful for your praise."
Kuro, the next to be called upon, was equally complimentary, her voice full of genuine admiration. Yet, Olivia-san’s expression remained unchanged, offering a standard bow and the same polite words as before.
"Continuing on, Lilia-san."
"I have seen my fair share of fine art, but I have never encountered anything of this caliber," Lilia said. "I truly felt that this is a masterpiece that could only be forged by someone who has reached the absolute pinnacle of their craft."
"Thank you very much."
Lilia-san joined the chorus of praise, but as expected, Olivia-san replied with a detached air, as if the compliments were directed at someone else entirely.
This was Olivia-san in her Pope Mode. She showed no sign of joy at the acclaim, simply accepting it with calm, practiced professional courtesy.
"And finally, Canalis-san."
"Taha... let’s see. As Kuromueina-san noted, I feel this piece transcends mere technique. It was born from Olivia-san’s relentless pursuit of the ideal she holds in her heart—the vision she wanted to manifest. It’s as if a soul resides within the stone. Goodness, we’ve been treated to something spectacular right out of the gate."
"I thank you for your generous evaluation."
Despite her lack of expression, Canalis-san was also full of praise. Olivia-san responded with the same solemn, stoic bow.
Alice had said she would start by asking all the judges, which meant it was finally my turn. Just as the thought crossed my mind, Ein-san stepped forward and gracefully handed me a magic tool for amplification. I took it from her.
"And for the final word, Kaito-san, what did you think?"
"Ah, well... I thought it was truly amazing. Watching the process was one thing, but the finished work just makes me happy whenever I look at it. I was so surprised to learn Olivia-san had a talent like this, and seeing it in person was both shocking and deeply moving. Olivia-san, thank you for showing us such an incredible performance."
"To be held in such high regard by Kaito Miyama-sama... I feel a sense of honor and joy that I am scarcely worthy of! Of course, compared to the real Kaito Miyama-sama and Shallow Vernal-sama, this stone imitation is vastly inferior. Even so, I strove to recreate your noble figures as perfectly as the medium of sculpture allows. If it has provided Kaito Miyama-sama even a moment of pleasure, then I am happy from the bottom of my soul! On the contrary, it is I who should be profoundly grateful for being granted such a precious opportunity!"
"Her reaction is completely different from when she was listening to us..." Kuro muttered with a wry smile.
Hearing my words, Olivia-san’s eyes sparkled, and her face lit up with a radiance that was impossible to miss. It reminded me of what Kuro had said back at Kaori-san's shop; the contrast was as sharp as ever.
Summary of the judges' comments:
Comments from Chronoa, Kuro, Lilia, and Canalis → Olivia: Stoic face, polite bow.
Comment from Kaito → Olivia: Beaming with joy, sparkling aura, absolute ecstasy.