The main event of the Elinia Academy Festival's beauty pageant, unlike the simplified preliminaries, included a charm appeal time along with individual introductions for each finalist.
In other words, appearance wasn’t everything.
If the looks are lacking compared to the others, there's an opportunity to flip the situation with charm.
The host spoke with a lively voice.
-Alright, I'll announce the finalists right now!
Among the list of the 10 finalists were Theo and Sally.
When the host called Sally’s name, Andrew cheered silently from the audience.
'As expected! There’s no way Sally wouldn’t get picked. I knew it!'
The proud feeling of dating a woman who made it to the finals of the beauty pageant filled Andrew.
Of course, it wouldn’t have mattered if Sally failed to make it to the finals.
Just spending time with Sally was already a great happiness for Andrew.
'Indeed, the best makeup for a woman is a smiling face.'
Sally may not be a traditional beauty, her unique bright smile helped her pierce through fierce competition and advance to the finals.
And so, while Andrew's mouth curled into a pleased smile,
-Alright, that was the top 10 finalists. Sorry for keeping you waiting! We will start the Elinia Academy Festival's beauty pageant finals right away!"
With the host's words, the finals of the beauty pageant began.
-Now, let’s introduce our first finalist! Ah, I think it might be too strong a start. A truly shocking participant.
The host, with the running order in hand, uttered with a playful tone.
-Please welcome him with a round of applause! It’s Theo Lyn Waldeurk from the Hero Department!
As the host finished speaking, Theo walked onto the stage.
Step, step.
Theo’s steps, just like in the preliminaries, exuded dignity.
There was no particular cheering from the audience.
Just expressions of admiration, accompanied by the sound of camera shutters echoing through the venue.
The audience, despite seeing Theo in the preliminaries just a short while ago, found his appearance shocking once again.
Regardless, Theo did not pay attention to his surroundings.
He might have appeared arrogant.
However, Theo just looked straight ahead, standing in the center of the stage.
The host walked towards Theo in the center of the stage.
-Hello, Theo Lyn Waldeurk. First of all, congratulations on making it to the finals. And you are the only male student among the finalists. How do you feel right now?
The host handed an extra microphone to Theo.
“I’m quite nervous. I participated in this beauty pageant to create memories of my school days, but I did not expect to make it to the finals."
Theo spoke nonchalantly.
He didn't seem nervous at all.
The host laughed exaggeratedly.
-Ohhh! Despite that, your words are quite clear and eloquent! Ah, I was secretly hoping for a brief word like in the preliminaries, but it’s different from what I expected. Ah~
And he pretended to be disappointed.
The atmosphere in the audience lightened with the host's jest.
A burst of laughter erupted from the seats.
Theo alternately looked at the host and the audience with an indifferent face.
'Hmm, I should say something.'
After the preliminary round, Theo had received a lecture from Aisha.
She had titled it, [How to Become an Idol that Captivates the Public].
The core idea was that 'to distinguish yourself as an idol, a unique charm is essential.’
Keeping that lecture in mind, Theo spoke.
"Shall I keep my words brief then?"
His voice was filled with a heavy energy, still amplifying [Twisted Noble's Dignity].
Theo had meant it as a joke, but the host and the audience felt a chilling sensation.
The host hurriedly smoothed things over.
─Ah, ah! That's perfectly fine, haha. True to a member of the Waldeurk family, even your jokes are strong.
“Thank you for understanding.”
With that, Theo smiled.
It was a faint smile, but since he had been expressionless until now, it appeared remarkably radiant to the host and the audience.
─Ohhh~ Theo knows how to smile! Your smile is truly beautiful. I must confess, I forgot I was a man for a second. Hahaha~
“““Puhahahaha-!”””
Even the audience thought Theo was cute.
Aisha in the audience stared at Theo with tired eyes.
‘Isn’t this your first time?’
His learning ability was terrifying.
Theo now seemed like an experienced entertainer.
The host continued the show smoothly.
─Ahem, ahem. Of course, I'm joking. I have a loving wife and two chubby sons at home. Since it’s the main event, how could we not have an interview segment? So, the question is! What does Theo do outside of Academy classes?
“Mostly, I spend it training. I tend not to leave the Hero Department much.”
─Hahaha, Theo, you’ve overestimated our information network. According to the information we received, you attended an academic seminar last week. Even as a co-author for joint research.
At the host's gesture, a staff member came out with a few sheets of paper.
After receiving the papers from the staff, the host read them out.
They were articles describing the situation and contents of an interview with a reporter during the academic seminar that Theo attended.
─There’s a lot more than this, but to avoid shocking Theo with our information capabilities, we'll stop here! Haha, it seems you're engaged in various activities besides training.
“Ah, I consider this to also be part of training. After all, a hero’s training should not be limited to martial aspects. Constant self-improvement is necessary to be an inspiration not only to others but also to the Aides.”
Theo spoke calmly.
It was something he truly believed in.
Clean waters flow from a clean source.
Beneath a foolish hero, only foolish aides exist.
Gazing at the audience, who were admiring Theo's words, the host loudly chimed in.
—Wow, to openly say such cheesy words. Oh, but what is this atmosphere? If I had said it, all of you would have laughed...! Isn’t this too much?
The host's cheeky words once again blossomed laughter among the audience.
Both the host and Theo skillfully played the audience like a fiddle.
Aisha looked at Theo with even more weary eyes.
‘Without any rehearsal, to show such chemistry with the host on the spot. That's a natural talent.’
In Aisha’s eyes, Theo at that moment seemed like someone born to be an idol.
After Theo's turn ended, the beauty pageant continued.
However, due to the impact Theo made as the first contestant, the others struggled to gain momentum.
Expectedly, the audience's response was merely perfunctory, lacking any particular enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, the beauty pageant was nearing its conclusion.
-Then, let's meet the final contestant! She is Sally Gallagher from the Knight Department! Please welcome her with a big round of applause!
With the cheerful voice of the host, Sally stepped to the center of the stage, smiling.
However, contrary to the host’s spirited commentary, there was little response from the audience.
Sally maintained her bubbly smile, but because the other finalists lacked charm compared to Theo, the audience was exhausted.
‘These bastards! Applaud, applause!’
Andrew, from the audience, grinded his teeth, angered.
How dare they treat our Sally like this.
He could not stand it.
Enraged, Andrew stood up and shouted.
"Sally is so beautiful! Sally is the best! Your smile is more precious than dozens of rare artifacts!"
Some of the audience's gaze turned toward Andrew.
The host, with the eyes of a predator spotting prey, pointed at Andrew.
-Wow, true to the spirit of a beauty pageant! It would be disappointing without such a reaction. Hmm, judging by the shoulder badge, you seem to be a student from the Hero Department, right?
All eyes in the audience shifted towards Andrew.
‘Sh*t...!’
Andrew was mortifyingly embarrassed.
However, he didn’t want to see Sally disheartened.
Andrew, running wild, yelled at the top of his lungs.
"I am Andrew Jackson, a first-year student in the Hero Department! Sally can’t be treated like this!"
-Ah, unexpectedly it’s the formidable Andrew. A top student, ranking 9th in the first year of the Hero Department, right? I can feel your spirit from here! Then everyone should respond to his cry, right? Let’s give a round of applause for Sally!
Whether the host was mocking or complimenting was unclear with his ambiguous statement.
However, the audience, seemingly startled by the sudden event, cautiously glanced around.
Andrew, eyes aflame, screamed.
"Didn’t you hear the host? Everyone, applaud! Applaud!”
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap─
Sensing Andrew’s madness, the audience looked at him with frightened eyes, clapping hesitantly.
Click, click─
Journalists not missing this spectacle snapped photos of Andrew with their cameras.
“...Ah.”
Tears welled up in Sally’s eyes as she looked at Andrew.
Her face was blushing like a red beet.
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