The sixth and final day of the Annual Beauty and Elegance Tournament dawned beneath an atmosphere thick with electricity and widespread anticipation, with the central square completely packed with tens of thousands of spectators competing for every inch of space in the temporary grandstands, balconies, and rooftops surrounding the great amphitheater. Seated at the center of the judges' presidential table, I adjusted the collar of my official tunic and took a deep breath, feeling the historical weight of that moment, which would crown the culmination of weeks of memorable performances. The capital's usual morning tranquility had been replaced by a deafening buzz of predictions, bets, and heated debates among the court nobles, foreign ambassadors, and ordinary adventurers, all eager to witness the consecration of the grand winner who would take home the continent's supreme title of elegance.
The official presenter, wearing a golden tailcoat richly embroidered with precious stones that sparkled beneath the sunlight, advanced to the edge of the stage and raised his arms in a dramatic gesture, instantly silencing the euphoric crowd with the help of a high-powered magical voice amplifier. He formally declared the tournament's final stage open, explaining that all the qualified contestants would walk down the runway in a joint closing performance, followed by the judging panel's definitive verdict and the awarding of the highest scores that would determine that edition's historic podium. A chill of pure adrenaline ran down the spines of those present; the moment of truth had arrived, and the responsibility resting on the jury's shoulders weighed like an anvil of forged iron in the depths of the Tower.
As the decisive runway shows approached, I briefly reflected on the extraordinary journey that had brought us to that urban altar of artistic and cultural celebration. Not long ago, my mind had been intensely focused on combat tactics against S-rank dungeon bosses, pure mana calculations, and strategies for strengthening troops to contain the Demon King's advance. Being there, seated in a velvet-upholstered chair and evaluating the grace and poise of extraordinary women, proved that building peace required just as much intellectual refinement and aesthetic sensitivity as victory on the battlefields of war. The duality between the relentless warrior and the thoughtful diplomat had become the essence of my current identity.
The final runway show began with a choreographed succession of contestants from distant provinces and merchant guilds, who displayed sumptuous outfits and mechanically precise rehearsed steps in an attempt to impress the judging panel in the competition's final moments. As president of the jury, I maintained absolute concentration, observing every detail of their body posture, firmness of gaze, and authenticity of artistic expression while recording preliminary observations on the leather scroll. However, the true highlight of the afternoon and the moment most eagerly awaited by the entire square came when the loudspeakers announced the final session featuring our companions, causing the grandstands to erupt in a deafening chorus of applause and passionate cheers.
Eara was the first member of our group to step onto the runway, radiating a welcoming serenity in her white and emerald-green dress that seemed to capture the very essence of healing and natural harmony. Immediately behind her, Vespera advanced with unmistakable aristocratic pride, displaying her bluish geometric tunic that exuded a cold and magnetic erudition. Rai'kanna and Lyannis walked down the runway together next, combining athletic strength and martial grace in a coordinated march that drew immediate exclamations of respect from the foreign ambassadors in the VIP pavilion. Scarlet followed with her icy, millimetrically calculated elegance, closely followed by Liriel's assistant, who coordinated the group's support, and finally, Liriel brought the session to a close with an absolutely breathtaking silver-clad performance that left the entire crowd breathless.
With all the contestants lined up along the extensive runway made of fine wood, the presenter ceremoniously turned toward the judges' table and requested that each member publicly announce their final scores for our companions, inevitably beginning with me, the panel's president. The entire square plunged into absolute, piercing silence; even the wind seemed to cease for a moment as thousands of pairs of eyes fixed upon me, waiting to see whether I would have the courage to remain consistent in the face of the veiled accusations of favoritism that had circulated in previous days. The challenge had been issued, and my response would define the moral tone of the entire event.
Without hesitating for even a single second, I rose slightly from my presidential chair, picked up the golden calligraphy pen, and announced in a loud, clear voice perfectly audible throughout the central square: "For Eara, a perfect ten; for Vespera, a perfect ten; for Rai'kanna, a perfect ten; for Lyannis, a perfect ten; for Scarlet, a perfect ten; and for Liriel, a perfect ten!" The consecutive announcement of the highest possible score for all my companions echoed through the magical loudspeakers like the ringing of a monumental bell, breaking the silence with an immediate wave of astonished murmurs, scattered laughter throughout the audience, and good-natured protests from spectators who had not expected such uniquely generous scoring.
The crowd's reaction was immediate and warm, oscillating between bursts of laughter born of pure amusement at my shameless audacity and enthusiastic applause demonstrating popular approval of our group's undeniable charisma. In the rows of conservative nobles, several furious bureaucrats tried to raise protest signs, but they were promptly drowned out by the festive roar of the overwhelming majority of adventurers and ordinary citizens, who considered the perfect scores entirely fair in light of the flawless show our women had delivered throughout the entire week. Vespera crossed her arms with an ironic half-smile, while Liriel laughed openly backstage, amused by my unyielding stance toward the tournament's traditional rules.
I calmly leaned against the edge of the judges' table, observing the delightful confusion that had broken out among the other members of the judging panel as they desperately tried to calculate the averages based on those absolute tens. The oldest scholar beside me shook his head in amused resignation, letting out a short laugh as he adjusted his glasses and decided to follow my verdict, awarding equally high scores as a sign of respect for our guild's leadership. This display of institutional courage and affectionate transparency reinforced our cultural hegemony in the capital, proving that the bureaucratic shackles of the nobility would never be able to contain the genuine brilliance of our achievements.
With the scoring concluded and the maximum scores officially confirmed, the presenter took a deep breath and prepared to announce the tournament's undisputed grand champion, the one who would receive the solid gold trophy from the hero himself at the closing ceremony the following day. The atmosphere in the square reached its boiling point, with organized fan groups shouting different names and hearts racing everywhere. I sat down again in my presidential chair, feeling a profound and revitalizing peace flood my spirit. The grand finale had been a resounding success, consolidating our glory on the surface while the mansion's underground vault patiently awaited the arrival of our gold and the battlefronts in the north called us toward the next great challenge.