Who Takes First in the Second Round Finals?
"Who takes first in the second round finals?"
Lukan asked back in a worried voice.
"An interview? Haha... Could we maybe schedule it after the announcement..."
"You're so frustrating. Why not move fast?"
"Ahh, yes! Got it! I'll book it right away!"
Lukan bolted off somewhere, sweat pouring down his face. Maribel and Clara, watching from the side, tilted their heads in unison.
"What's with that confidence?"
"We only made it a few meters ourselves... You weren't much different until the pillar was revealed..."
"We were even back then."
Lilfrea just smiled leisurely. The two had no idea what answer she'd found. And she had no intention of telling them.
"You'll see once the results are out today."
"Results? What happened?"
"You'll be shocked, I bet. Hint: I beat Estel."
"You beat Estel..?"
"For real...? How...?"
Maribel and Clara's eyes widened simultaneously. They stared at Lilfrea in disbelief, but she offered no more explanation—just a subtle smile.
That was when murmurs rose from afar, and two familiar figures appeared.
Han Seru and Estel. Walking slowly toward the finalists' waiting area amid a shower of gazes.
"Here they come."
Lilfrea spotted them and flashed a meaningful smile—especially warm toward Han Seru. He finally deserved her attention.
Final day of the second round finals. The stadium was already packed to the brim, not a single spot left to stand. Far more people than in the first round— even the upper seats were full, leaving staff scrambling to bring in extra chairs.
Cheers erupted everywhere. The venue buzzed with excitement and anticipation.
Towering at the center: fifty pillars. Each draped in a black curtain from base to top, completely opaque. No one outside could see inside.
This was the "Silence Period." Until results were announced, only the participant could check their Willin's growth status. They could only see their own stem; others' results would be revealed today, right now, any moment.
I took a calm breath, surveying the stadium.
"...We did all we could."
"After this, we're stuffing ourselves with bread. Gonna eat everything we missed!"
Estel was fired up. After days cooped up inside the pillar, tending Willin nonstop with no free time, she glared at the stadium with fierce determination, lute hugged tight. Results? Not even on her mind.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"I'll treat you big time. Eat up."
Anyway, Estel was thriving by my side. Her face serene, condition back to peak. No trace of fever, cough, or exhaustion.
Me, Belldia, Bolcas, Pardel, Lijel, Minerri—we'd all pulled together to lift her up.
"Good thing we could grow it more at the end."
"Yeah. Wonder how much the others managed."
Her words tugged my lips into a grin. Proud didn't even cover it.
All prep done.
"Hey, you all better now?"
A voice popped up behind me. I turned instinctively—and frowned without thinking.
Lilfrea. She looked unusually relaxed, like something good had happened. Like a marathon winner.
"You all better? Congrats."
Checking on Estel, even? Go away. Unneeded. I just nodded silently.
Estel's eyes shifted in an instant. Alertness maxed at 200%.
"Why're you here?"
Estel cut straight to it. Lilfrea smirked, glancing my way.
"Suddenly... missed you, Teacher."
...What? What nonsense is this? I wanted to wash my ears out.
"Don't say weird stuff..."
"Back off!"
Before I could finish, Estel yelled. She grabbed my hand hard—startlingly strong—and yanked me toward her, shouting at Lilfrea.
"What're you scheming with Master this time? Stay away from us!"
Visibly annoyed, one of Lilfrea's eyebrows arched. She tilted her head and chuckled.
"You... grow your Willin properly?"
"Can't say. Tournament rules."
"Pfft."
Lilfrea giggled. Estel's face said it all: You barely grew it 'cause of that cold.
"Hope you get good results."
What the hell? Something really happen? That weird confidence was so off from her usual.
Whatever. If you're happy, celebrate with your crew—why come here?
"It's starting soon. Head back."
I said curtly. Lilfrea nodded with uncharacteristic warmth.
"Guess I should. Thanks for the heads-up, Teacher."
Why emphasize Teacher? It grated.
She turned toward her seat, then glanced back with a bright smile.
"Let's grab a meal sometime. It's been ages."
"You...!"
I barely stopped Estel from hurling her shoe. Leaving those chills down my spine, Lilfrea sauntered back to her spot.
Did she lose her mind? No other explanation for that behavior.
"What'd she eat wrong? Why act like that?"
I muttered. Estel huffed beside me, cheeks puffed like a hamster.
"Master. Eat with that girl even once? I swear, I won't let it slide."
"I know, I know. Won't happen, so chill."
"Do it again and you're total dead meat. Remember that."
"Yeah, got it."
Dinner with those three girls? Shudder just thinking. Need salt now.
"Final measurement beginning now!"
The announcer's voice boomed. The packed stadium erupted—cheers, applause filling the air with heat.
Number one would be decided.
Forgetting the exchange, Estel and I fixed our eyes on the distant stage.
Raena de Bert glided on, goddess-like as ever. Every glance, gesture perfectly poised.
At center stage, the venue hushed.
"Deep thanks to our fifty finalists who poured heart into growing your Willins this past week. Your dedication shone bright. Dear audience—shower them with applause and cheers!"
Her words ended; thunderous ovation filled the air. She added a few closing remarks, then elegantly descended, hips swaying in her backless dress.
And finally—the final measurement began.
The fifty black pillars at center lit up one by one, like seals breaking—turning transparent blue.
Audience swallowed, tense eyes fixed.
"Who grew their Willin the most?!"
With the male MC's call, pillars revealed grown Willins in blue glow. Gasps burst everywhere.
"That's 3 meters!"
"This one's 6 meters!"
Cheers and sighs mixed as each Willin showed: Maribel's at 10 meters—eliminated. Clara's at 12—out.
"Ugh, hated revealing this! Damn it!"
"Knew we'd lose to Estel anyway... Wanna go home..."
Soon, only two pillars remained black: Lilfrea's L-26. Estel's L-37.
Murmurs swelled.
"Ooh, Partita Guild's Lilfrea's still up!"
"Partita bard? She's got a shot!"
"And the unknown girl who topped round one!"
Lilfrea smiled at the voices.
Winner's me.
She lifted her chin proudly. The crowd and judges would soon react to her record—awestruck.
Her pillar turned blue. Black faded to reveal the stem: far beyond others' 10m max. Green Willin shot up thick and tall—60 meters.
Revealing: L-26 Willin's stem, final 60 meters.
The stadium exploded in roars.
"Whoooaaa!"
"S-sixty meters!"
Amid cheers, Maribel and Clara gaped, speechless at Lilfrea.
"H-how...?"
"How'd you...?"
Lilfrea crossed arms, smirking satisfied.
"See? Victory's mine. I beat that bitch."
Maribel and Clara recovered, squealing.
"Anyway, good job! Beat Estel— that's what counts!"
"Lilfrea... you saved our face..."
Unable to hide joy, Lilfrea jumped up, striding forward arms wide, shouting to the crowd.
"Everyone! Talent's about who you're born as! And today, I proved it again!"
"Lilfrea! Lilfrea!"
Chants echoed nonstop—so loud, proceedings paused.
Watching from afar, Raena tilted her head at Lilfrea's swagger.
"That girl's... jumping the gun."
The chief organizer stroked his chin awkwardly.
"Hmm..."
Judges, already knowing results, shook heads.
"Heard some dumb rumor?"
"She's mistaken."
"Someone stop her."
Then—the last black pillar, L-37. Estel's. It quietly turned blue amid the raucous cheers for Lilfrea.
Instantly, a clear magical voice rang across the stadium.
Revealing: L-37 Willin's stem, final 97 meters.
In a blink—the boiling cheers cut dead.
Silence. A hush so deep breaths vanished, swallowing the stadium.
Audience gawked, disbelieving: another first place, at an unimaginable 97 meters. They turned to each other.
"N-ninety-seven meters...?"
"Is... that even possible?"
"Taller than Lady Raena's from last week...?"
Lilfrea's eyes shook wildly.
"That's... Estel's?"
Her victorious smile froze into rigidity.
"Th-this... impossible. No way."
She turned slowly. There—Han Seru, smiling silently.
That smile said one thing.
Sorry. We won.
Then—the silence shattered. Stadium-shaking cheers exploded.
"WAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"