Ch.76 : The Butler's Tricks and the Two Sided Round

The first round was nearly over. Now, it was time for the most anticipated performance—Class E.

The stage lights dimmed slightly. A gentle classical melody began to play.

Then came Nic—tall and composed. He walked slowly, deliberately, like a true professional butler. His elegant black suit fit him perfectly, and his posture, steps, and gestures were all synchronized with graceful rhythm.

From the left side, Erina entered in a classic maid outfit, pushing a luxurious three-tier trolley filled with porcelain tea sets. From the right, Selfi emerged carrying a large silver tray with a polished cover, both hands steady. Their calm and precision silenced the hall.

Whispers stirred among the audience.

"Butlers?"

"What are they doing?"

Jack burst out laughing in his seat and shouted, "Look at that! They've run out of ideas! They're just playing servants now!"

Chloe glanced at him briefly but stayed quiet. Her eyes returned to Nic, curious what he was actually planning.

Nic and his partners approached the judges' table. Erina stopped the trolley beside him.

Nic took the teapot, offered a gentle smile, bowed his head slightly, and spoke with a calm yet deep voice:

"This tea is more than a drink.

It's a story in rising steam.

As warm as a smile,

As deep as a memory—

May it touch your heart before it touches your lips."

With precise and fluid movements, Nic brewed the tea. The way he moved was mesmerizing. Soon, the fragrant aroma filled the area, making the judges exchange impressed glances. Once ready, Nic presented it with one hand over his chest and the other behind his back—pure charisma.

"Please enjoy," he said softly.

The first judge took a sip and broke into a wide smile.

"Wow… This is fantastic. But… isn't this supposed to be a fashion contest?" he chuckled.

Laughter spread across the hall, easing the tension.

Now it was Selfi's turn. She gently removed the lid from the tray, revealing a heart-shaped cake decorated with strawberry cream and delicate flower petals.

With a polite bow, she said, "If you taste this cake, I believe you'll only have one thing to say—'delicious'."

Chloe's mother sliced off a small piece and tasted it. She didn't speak. But her expression said it all. The texture was soft, the strawberries melted into the cream perfectly.

"…This is amazing," she whispered.

The audience remained unsure. Amazed, but skeptical.

"Is tea and cake really enough?"

"Can this beat Cyberpunk and Carnival?"

Suddenly, Nic stepped centerstage with Selfi and Erina.

"And now... for the real show," he declared with a confident smile.

The three stood close together. With swift, deliberate motions, Nic removed his butler outfit, revealing a plain white long-sleeved shirt and white trousers underneath. Selfi and Erina followed, revealing similar white attire—modest tops and skirts.

Gasps filled the room.

"They took off their costumes?"

"This is the fashion part, and they're wearing... nothing?"

Jack laughed again. "Totally out of ideas! What style is that supposed to be?"

Then, Nic raised his hand high.

Splash!

Water poured down from above the stage. The audience gasped, some even yelped. But the backstage staff just grinned knowingly—this was all planned.

As the water soaked their white clothes, vivid abstract colors began to bloom across the fabric like living brushstrokes. Patterns merged and danced with each drip, forming a mesmerizing display.

When they stood side by side, the colors from their outfits combined into one unified modern painting—a living canvas of synchronized chaos.

Chloe's mother rose from her seat and stepped forward, eyes wide.

"What… is this," she murmured.

She squinted at the interplay of colors, then smiled, nodding.

"The simple fashion at the start was just a distraction... And these clothes—this is brilliant. They've fused fashion, art, and skill. Excellent. One hundred."

The other two judges exchanged looks, then burst into laughter and nodded together.

"100," they both said.

The audience erupted in cheers. Applause thundered through the hall.

Chloe stood up and clapped hard, her face bright with admiration. Her heart, however, was tangled in bittersweet emotion. She bit her lip—part of her wished she had stood on stage next to Nic.

Among the crowd, two loud voices yelled in unison:

"NIC IS AWESOME!"

"NIC WIN!!"

Lily and Mika, despite not competing, were the loudest and most loyal cheer squad.

As the round ended, Nic casually strolled toward Chloe, drying his wet hair with a towel. Erina and Selfi followed behind.

Chloe met them with an enthusiastic clap.

"You guys were amazing!" she beamed.

Erina and Selfi returned her smile. Chloe even high-fived Nic warmly. But when Jack clapped, he only acknowledged Erina and Selfi, completely ignoring Nic.

Nic just chuckled at Jack's behavior.

"Seriously?" he muttered, tossing the towel over his shoulder.

The mood between them grew a little awkward. Nic decided to excuse himself.

"I'm heading to the clubroom for a bit," he said, waving casually.

"Okay… take care," Chloe replied, though her tone carried a hint of hesitation.

As Nic left, Jack smiled with relief and turned to Erina and Selfi, eyes gleaming.

"You two were incredible! That was such a wild concept!"

Erina raised an eyebrow and giggled.

"Eh? We didn't do anything," she said with a smirk. "The whole thing—from concept, gestures, to final impact—was all Nic. He taught us everything last night."

Jack's lips puckered. He pretended not to hear.

"Whatever. It was cool." Then he looked at Chloe, determined. "In the final round, we're going to be just as awesome, right?"

Chloe gave him a stiff smile. "Y-yeah… of course."

Soon, the MC's voice echoed through the hall.

"The next round is about to begin! The theme: two opposite sides!!"

The crowd roared with excitement.

First participant : Class A – Olivia and Violet

Spotlights lit up the stage.

Olivia entered with graceful steps. White wings spread from her back, and her sparkling gown shimmered like a true angel.

"Woooow..." students whispered.

"She's so beautiful… like a real angel."

From the audience, Nic's eyes sparkled.

"Haha… my girlfriend never disappoints," he murmured proudly.

Olivia stood center stage, raised her hand to the sky, and spoke softly.

"This world… is filled with light… hope… and love…"

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed. The lights dimmed.

Violet emerged from the back, dressed in full black. Small horns curved on her head, and her gaze was razor-sharp.

The audience held their breath.

Violet approached, lifting a hand toward Olivia, casting a stark contrast between purity and darkness.

Olivia turned around, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"Why… did you choose the path of darkness?" she asked, voice trembling.

Violet smirked coldly.

"Light is weak. This world needs power… not hope."

She lunged. Olivia stumbled back, trying to hold her ground—but was overwhelmed. Wounds covered her body.

In her final breath, Olivia placed her hand gently on Violet's chest, sending a small glow of light into her.

"I… still believe… there's good… in your heart…"

Violet froze. Her body trembled.

Light flickered around her as she dropped beside Olivia.

They lay still together.

In their final breath, they whispered,

"…Nothing lasts forever… not even angels… and demons can't outrun death…"

Lights out.

Silence.

Then—applause exploded.

The judges stood. Some audience members wiped their tears.

The score: 95 points.

Chloe's mother sighed softly.

"Good or evil… in the end, we all meet the same fate," she whispered.

---

Second participant : Class B – Melody and Serene

Lights returned to the stage.

Melody stepped in, playing a soft violin tune. Her fantasy green gown shimmered with every move. Elf ears adorned her peaceful face.

Suddenly, from the shadows, Serene appeared—dark elf attire, dagger in hand.

She approached, glaring.

"Stop," she hissed at Melody.

But Melody closed her eyes, smiled, and kept playing.

Serene gritted her teeth, lifting the dagger.

"I said stop!"

Melody stayed calm, letting her music flow.

With a scream, Serene stabbed.

"MELODY!!" Nic yelled from the stands.

"Dude, shut up!" a student in front scolded.

Nic chuckled and raised his hands. "Sorry, sorry."

Melody's body floated, lifted by invisible strings. Her dress fluttered like a true ghost.

Even in death, she played on.

The haunting tune made Serene freeze, overwhelmed with regret.

On stage, a silent message was clear:

"A moment of rage… leads to a lifetime of regret."

The hall remained still.

Then—thunderous applause.

The judges gave the same score: 95 points.

Nearby, the student council stood beside Nia.

One whispered, "Those Unity Club people… they're unreal."

Nia crossed her arms and smiled faintly.

"It's all thanks to Nic," she said proudly.

The third participant : Class E – Chloe and Jack

"And now, the final performance!" the MC declared.

All eyes turned to the stage.

Would Chloe, the daughter of the fashion queen, bring Class E to victory?

To be continued...