"—Mimi! Congratulations, chefs, mimi!"
"—Mimi! Everybody wins, mimi!"
The Little Fairies didn't care about anything else. They burst into cheers, their bellies full and their hearts overflowing with joy.
Mydei and Phainon exchanged a glance. Each saw a hint of resignation on the other's face, but the tension had eased considerably.
Perhaps a noisy draw like this wasn't so bad.
"Very well," Mydei said first, the fighting spirit in his voice fading into quiet acceptance.
"At least we've proved that both Xuan Feng's stewpot and the outsiders' frying basket can win over the palates of the Lost Illusionary Realm."
Phainon smiled.
"A pleasure working with you, even if we were mostly competing."
He glanced at the battlefield, now in shambles.
"At least no one will leave hungry."
"Working together?" Mydei snorted, but he didn't argue.
He looked around at the fairies sprawled across the ground and the thoroughly satisfied manager and judges, then said calmly,
"We should get people together to clean this up."
"The village chief may have something to say if we leave this mess behind."
Then he looked toward Castorice at the judges' table.
"Thanks for the effort. You had to give so many thoughts on the food."
Castorice smiled and shook her head.
"It was an honor to taste the dishes you both poured your hearts into."
She paused, then added,
"Perhaps different styles don't need a winner. Letting them coexist and complement each other could become this restaurant's signature."
The fairies on Phainon's and Mydei's sides had lost any reason to fight. Eyeing one another's round bellies, they even began chatting in a chorus of "mimi" about which dish tasted better. The atmosphere was perfectly harmonious.
Amid the lingering warmth, a voice spoke up.
"Mydei, could we use your leftover scraps for a little practice?"