Father-Daughter Crafting Team (8)

As the light faded from the armor, a deep indigo suit of antique design was revealed.

Even the fine hairs clinging to the carapace had been worked into artistic flourishes; the finished piece was genuinely magnificent. It stood up proudly even against the dress that Ellirihua, the Arachne contestant, had poured her heart into.

"Ahhh! I can't believe it! I thought they'd given up on design, but look at this twist! Absolutely incredible!"

The host gushed with theatrical flair. Pretty face or not, I already disliked the guy.

"With Contestant Yohan as our final entry, every participant has completed their item! Personally I'd love to examine the masterpiece that just put on such a spectacular show first, but rules are rules! We'll proceed with judging in order from the front!"

"Boooo!"

"No, really, there's nothing I can do. Rules must be followed, right?"

A broad smile spread across Polapo's lips even as the crowd booed him. Watching him beam at the cameras, I understood exactly what he was up to.

Back on Earth, popular celebrities were always saved for the end of a program to lock in the ratings. Hostages, basically.

The armor Evni and I had made was so outstanding they'd decided to hold us hostage for the finale. I felt pretty good about that.

"Then, starting with Contestant Number One..."

While a trembling minion presented his item to Icehai, I stroked Evni's hair.

"Our Evni. Want to appraise the armor Daddy and you made together?"

"Mm..."

Evni eagerly appraised the item. Contestant Number 99 beside us must have been curious too; he leaned in with exaggerated casualness.

"Ahem. Watch from the platform, please."

"Hing."

The male was whining and carrying on. Had this bastard also come from a gender-reversed world?

I was never letting him get close.

"Daddy...!"

In the meantime Evni finished the appraisal and excitedly tugged at my pants. She was so thrilled her usual strength had jumped a notch.

At this rate my pants were coming down. Showing off the lower half would make me far too popular; I wasn't ready for that kind of exposure.

I firmly clasped her hands so she couldn't yank them down, then checked the item information.

Hero grade is just Hero grade. What the hell was this "Hero (True)" nonsense?

Heat shot through my head for a second, but once I calmed down the options looked genuinely excellent. In the Newbie League the highest wearable grade was Rare.

A full Hero item would have been unusable, but because it was Hero (True) we could actually equip it.

"This is a really fine piece of armor."

"Mm..."

"Daddy could never have made something this good alone. We finished it thanks to Evni's help, right?"

"Mm...!"

Evni raised both arms and did a little happy dance. The way her hips wiggled side to side was unbearably cute.

"Wow! The laser's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠output is incredible! And it doesn't fire in a straight line—it curves like a tentacle!"

—Correct. This is the Tentacle Spider Laser Cannon.

"But the outer surface is overheating?"

—Continuous fire is dangerous.

"Hmm. I see... Icehai-nim, what score do you give it?"

—Sufficient power, yet a minion unskilled in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠marksmanship would struggle to aim properly, and continuous fire is impossible. That is regrettable. Seventy-eight points.

"Seventy-eight points! Seventy-eight! Highest score so far!"

While we were checking our own item, Shinpago's minion had finished judging. The minion was making a big fuss, but seventy-eight wasn't actually that high.

—Disappointing.

Albigongchil must have realized it too; he trudged back looking dejected. I glanced around and spotted Sophia sending me a gaze full of expectation, so I waved.

"Sophia-nim, don't worry. I think we're going to win this."

"That's my Yohan!"

"Mad Demon. Are you confident?"

"Of course. Evni and I made it together, so we have to take first place."

But where had Ebrote gone? The elf who'd been cheering so enthusiastically earlier was nowhere in sight.

"Where did Big Brother Ebrote go?"

Evrande and Ebria both looked away at the same time. Dohoyo squeezed her eyes shut completely.

"Do not speak of it..."

"Forgive us. Goddess Dohoyo has ordered silence."

—He saw Evni dancing, clutched his chest, and collapsed.

"You slave spirit...!"

Under the flat-chested goddess's glare, Lirota shrank into mini form and hid behind me.

"You tactless little—!"

—Yohan-nim. You'll protect me, right? Right?

"No."

I was grateful for the intel, but informants who leak secrets never end well. I tossed Lirota to Dohoyo; the goddess's gaze toward me softened at once.

—Uwaaaa... Mad Human... revenge...

"Keep talking."

—...I will not!!

While I watched Dohoyo thrash Lirota like she was wringing a rat, Ellirihua's turn arrived. Contestants who failed to produce even a Normal-grade item were auto-eliminated, so the line was moving fast.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Heheh. Ellirihua is quite confident~."

—First, the design is excellent. Beautiful. I would wear it to a party. Yet practicality was not neglected. It will not hinder movement. Any female minion proud of her figure would gladly put it on.

"Of course~."

—The options are good as well. However, there is a fatal flaw.

"Ah?"

Every participant in the competition waited for Icehai's next words. I was no different. What fatal flaw? That men couldn't wear it?

The perverts from gender-reversed worlds would probably put it on gladly. Machines could wear it too if they wanted.

—It offers no bust correction. Women with small chests will find it difficult to wear.

"Ehh?"

Ellirihua tilted her head.

"Even women with small chests can wear it, though?"

—That is by your species' standards!

"Ah!"

Ellirihua stared straight at Icehai's chest. Seeing that desolate cleavage, I nodded in agreement.

On par with Dohoyo or even less...! Icehai's usually icy face flushed crimson.

—Anyway, points are deducted for that! Final score: eighty-nine!

"That's so meeean..."

A dejected Ellirihua returned to her seat.

I thought privately, We might actually be able to aim for the championship here.

Time flowed on until at last it was our turn. Contestant Number 99 had only managed a Normal-grade item and never even made it onto the platform.

Up close, Icehai was truly tiny. I was taller than her. Evni must have thought the same; she squeezed my hand tightly.

—What an adorable child. Your name is Evni, correct?

"Yes..."

—Would Evni like to explain?

"Yes...!"

Evni began her explanation with proud determination.

"Daddy and... tentacles..."

—Mm-hmm. And?

"Defense..."

Evni spoke slowly but with complete earnestness. It took as long as the previous two or three contestants combined, yet Icehai showed not the slightest boredom.

If anything she was so charmed by Evni she didn't know what to do with herself—a stark contrast to the host, who kept yawning.

"Spirit...!"

—Yes, yes. That was a truly splendid explanation. Since Evni worked so hard, I should try it on.

"Really...?"

—Of course.

Icehai donned the tentacle armor. Instantly she transformed into a goddess knight radiating sharp presence.

The chest plate of the armor swelled outward, mercifully concealing Icehai's pitiful figure.

—Truly outstanding armor! First, it reshapes itself to the wearer, granting superb versatility, and the options are excellent. Spirit summon.

—Hueeeng~

A cute little spirit popped out and vanished again. Admiration erupted from the crowd on all sides.

—The option that summons tentacles for a counterattack upon being struck is also to my liking. Above all, this is the only Hero (True) grade item among all the contestants.

"Huuurk?!"

The host nearly choked on his own breath. Polapo clutched the microphone and poured out words in a frantic rush.

"Hero (True) is a grade that has appeared only a handful of times even across the entire history of this competition! The very first champion created a Hero (True) item and entered Hephaestus-nim's service! Absolutely incredible! Who would have imagined a cute daughter and her dashing father would produce a Hero (True) grade item!"

—Indeed. Final score: one hundred points. I would give more if I could, but a perfect score is one hundred, so I am left wanting.

"Ahhh! The highest score of the entire contest! A perfect score that leaves second-place Ellirihua in the dust!! It seems the winner has been decided!"

Two minions climbed onto the platform for the award ceremony. Second place was Ellirihua. Third was a minion I had never seen before.

—To third-place Irihoeyong: the right to take home the item he crafted, a modest cash prize, and the title of third place in the Leze Festival.

Above Irihoeyong's head the words "366th Leze Festival 3rd Place" appeared.

"Thank you!"

—To second-place Ellirihua: likewise the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right to take home her crafted item, a cash prize, the title of Leze Festival runner-up, and a set of the finest ice cream sold in my shop.

"Thank you~."

Wearing the title "366th Leze Festival Runner-up," Ellirihua turned to me.

"Handsome male. Do you have time? How about a little something between champion and runner-up~?"

"Ellirihua. Do not cross the line."

"Yeees..."

Warned by her master, Ellirihua returned to her place looking dejected. Evni stepped protectively between Ellirihua and me.

"Evni. Trying to protect Daddy?"

"Mm...! Daddy...! Protect...!"

"What a wonderful girl you are."

But I kind of wished she wouldn't. Arachne were a pretty hot species. It would be nice to meet up in secret sometime when Sophia and the kids weren't watching.

—Next, Evni and Yohan. Step forward.

"Yes!"

"Yes..."

Icehai looked at the two of us who had come right up to her with a strange expression. Then her gaze shifted to Sophia standing among the crowd.

—Would you consider selling her?