Chapter 15: Rival (2/2)

It was clear who would win the girl’s favor.

Fejio smiled at the silver-haired girl, certain of his success.

In his worldview, age didn’t matter for love, but species? That was different.

Yet…

Why did he feel uneasy?

“Ah… I see. You don’t know, do you?”

The disgusting orc’s face… it was starting to look like one of pity.

“What?”

“Was that so? No, it doesn’t matter. You don’t need to know. Now is not the time for this. Let’s end this conversation here…”

What was that pig saying?

Fejio, now aware of Chloe’s gaze, was about to shoot a sharp, logical retort.

But Groomrok opened his mouth first.

“Suddenly, the number of visitors to the exhibition shot up. Almost 40 people. I was looking for you because I figured you were behind it.”

“Visitors? What does that have to do with me… Wait, what did you say?”

How many?

40 people?

Why?

I only called about 20 subordinates…

“Well, about 20 of them looked like your friends. The rest were my acquaintances.”

What a coincidence, huh?

Groomrok’s sneer froze Fejio in place.

He finally understood the meaning behind those words.

“So this is how it will be. A fair competition, right?”

“This… this bastard?!”

Had Groomrok figured out his scheme?

He’d gathered people to counterbalance the rigged votes.

Only the clean votes would determine the outcome?!

‘If that happens… if that happens, the vote rigging will be impossible!’

Fejio couldn’t just gather more people.

If things got too big, Yaltarion would notice.

If the vote manipulation was exposed, Fejio was finished.

And…

If it came down to a fair fight, the scales of victory would tip heavily in Cynthia’s favor.

“Try copying Saintess’s painting? Are you insane!”

“But I like it.”

“Do it now!”

“Damn it, Saintess! What is this painting? Inspiration… inspiration keeps pouring out of me!”

Because of those guys…

Because of those insane fanatics!!

Fejio’s breathing quickened, the failure now so clear it seemed inevitable.

He was frozen, unable to move, like a stone.

“As of now, the vote is concluded. I sincerely thank all the visitors who came to the exhibition.”

Even as Yaltarion called for the closing of the exhibition,

Fejio didn’t even notice the outcome.

But in truth, he didn’t care about the result anymore.

Tap.

The cute little shoes for a girl.

Even the tips of her shoes were visible when she lowered her head.

Fejio hesitated, raising his head.

What he saw was the disappointed face of the girl he tried so hard to impress.

“…You said we would definitely win.”

A liar.

She believed him.

Her voice, so filled with sadness, carried that message clearly.

Chloe turned her back to Fejio.

He couldn’t stop her as she walked away.

Thud.

Fejio collapsed weakly to the ground.

***

As the exhibition neared its closing time, with the dusk chasing it away, I turned my attention to the voting results.

“Sigh.”

I grumbled in disappointment, but fortunately, I hadn’t won this art contest after all.

‘In a way, this is an even more shocking result.’

Noemirika vs. The Click.

62 votes to 62 votes.

In other words, a tie.

The world is full of surprises.

How could it have been exactly a tie?

[Isn’t that randomness the fun part of life?]

I always say, the biggest variable in my life is you.

No, wait.

With the way you keep causing trouble, maybe you’re a constant after all.

The other day, I had secretly hoped and tried to use spirit magic, and of course, it failed.

How do you think it went?

Do you think I succeeded?

If I had used magic, by now, I would have been too busy kissing The Click, damn it.

[Really? Then should I try it now? Spirit Magic!]

‘I can’t! You stupid idiot!’

[You can’t do it, but I know how!]

I might just kill you for that.

Okay, calm down. What’s the point of arguing with you?

All I’ll do is lose my temper.

I decided to talk to someone more sane, like Emil, who was watching the results.

“Unexpected results, huh? For both of us.”

“Indeed.”

Emil turned to look at me.

And then silence.

When I started wondering, ‘Did he eat something weird?’ Emil finally spoke up.

“How did you draw so well?”

“Huh?”

“How do you draw like that?”

I made a contract with the devil, Emil.

Once this contest is over, I’ll be free.

It’s hard not to tell the truth.

“Don’t ask. I think your drawing is better. Other people will think the same.”

“Other people? Who?”

Who?

What’s with this sudden weird question?

“Don’t you see the results? It’s a tie.”

“I see it. But it doesn’t matter.”

“What do you mean… if the results don’t matter, then where would they matter?”

“Those first two votes you got.”

What?

“Who do you think they were?”

What the heck is he suddenly talking about?

Oh, the two people who voted for me at the start?

‘Well, uh…’

Other than Chloe’s fan club, there were a few people who might have really appreciated The

Click’s drawing.

It seemed impossible, but surprisingly, there were exactly two people.

They were painters I knew personally.

‘Wait a minute…’

Could it really be that simple?

“This tie is the result of you increasing the number of voters.”

At least, that’s what Emil seemed to think.

“So, in the end, this competition is my defeat. Both Grandpa and Groomrok voted for you, not me.”

“…Popularity is also a big advantage for artists, isn’t it?”

“I don’t agree at all. Art requires insight and qualification.”

“Our aesthetics differ.”

“Exactly. So let’s do this.”

Emil muttered and grabbed a brush.

“This means your victory.”

Swipe!

With a swift motion, Emil made a mark on the voting sheet.

Emil had voted for The Click’s painting.

The brat is stubborn.

But, of course, she’s still just a kid.

Look closely, heroine.

The foundation of art is imitation.

“Really? Then let’s do this.”

I casually swiped the brush in front of me.

Before Emil could stop me, I swung my arm.

Swipe!

With a swift motion, I made a mark on the voting sheet.

Noemirika vs. The Click.

No.

Emil vs. Chloe.

63 votes to 63 votes.

“This makes it a tie again.”

I grinned proudly.

Meanwhile, Emil narrowed his eyes.

“You’re being unreasonable.”

Emil chuckled softly with his eyes barely open.

“You’re allowed to be unreasonable. Throwing a tantrum is a privilege of children.”

“I guess so. Our aesthetics are different.”

“Well, you don’t look very pure, to be honest.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s grab dinner. To celebrate the tie, it’s on you!”

“I asked what you meant.”

I didn’t answer, and instead, I quickly ran away.

It was better to do so, whether it was to get a meal or to avoid a playful smack on the head.

But…

Hmm.

How should I evaluate this competition in the end?

It wasn’t bad?

That expression didn’t really sit well with me.
It was too passive and self-defensive.

Hiding dislike is courtesy, but not showing what you like is pretentious.

It means you’re hiding your feelings by weighing the pros and cons.

So, just for a moment.

Just for a moment, let’s be honest with ourselves about how we feel in this moment.

AI, art… all those complicated topics can wait for a while.

“It was fun, right? This contest.”

“…Hmph.”

It might not have been a good contest, but it was definitely a very enjoyable one.

***

And so,

The two girls walked away, leaving the twilight behind, bickering playfully.

The distance that had felt somewhat distant until today seemed a little bit closer now.

A connection that’s neither quite a stranger nor a full friend.

Perhaps this is what people might call a rivalry.

“By the way. You know I’m going to the monastery next week, right?”

“…What?”

“Can you send the musician I’m supposed to meet to visit me? I’m starting to focus on music and quit painting soon.”

“……………………What?”

…Probably.