"Special Orange Peel Honey Puffin ~ Cream Ice Cream Style"
Katy's gaze fell on the puffin, which looked like a work of art, and she fell silent.
So far, most of the pastry chefs had already presented their creations for tasting. The highest score so far was by the pastry chef partnered with Slurpuff, who received 85 out of 100 points.
The other two chefs, partnered with Steenee and Kirlia respectively, scored 83 and 81, ranking second and third.
Now, could Lucas's puffin surpass those scores? It would be judged not only on appearance but also on flavor and texture—a comprehensive evaluation. Even though Katy was familiar with Lucas, she would judge fairly.
Katy picked up her utensils and gently pressed against the shell of the puffin. The crispness, different from ordinary puffins, made her pause for a moment.
This is…
Miss Joy, always wearing a friendly smile, looked at the beautifully presented puffin and couldn't wait. "So pretty! I wonder how it tastes. I'll start now!"
Hidden behind her crystalline mask, Geeta gently inhaled the subtle fragrance in the air. It was a scent different from cooked food: subtle, lasting, and elegant, making one linger in its aftertaste.
Cynthia felt today was full of pleasant surprises. She had taken a break from her archaeological work and, after hearing about the dessert association's invitation from her butler Jervis, came to Paldea, which was almost twelve hours away in time difference from Sinnoh.
Since she was attending as an elder member of the Sinnoh Dessert Association, she used the alias "Ms. C," just like "Ms. G" beside her, to participate anonymously.
After tasting so many types of puffins, this one topped with a mound of tempting cream ice cream was a first. The texture and flavor aroused Cynthia's curiosity.
Cutting a small piece with the cream ice cream on top, Cynthia eagerly tasted it.
The moment it entered her mouth, she first felt the cold, slightly shivering sensation of the cream ice cream, along with its dense texture.
As she chewed, the crispness, different from an ordinary puffin, filled her mouth. Normally, a puffin made of cream ice cream, honey, and candied orange peel would be overwhelmingly sweet. But the subtle tartness of Payapa Berry cleverly neutralized the excessive sweetness, adding depth and layering to the flavor.
Cynthia's eyes sparkled with delight, and she kept taking bite after bite, unable to stop.
The dense, crisp, sweet, and rich flavors exploded on her tongue. Premium ingredients, combined with this ingenious combination, made Lucas's puffin leave a deep impression on the four judges, unmatched by the previous pastries.
Miss Joy was so enraptured by the flavor that she was briefly at a loss for words.
Usually outwardly stern, Geeta, now wearing a mask and white lace gloves, held her cheeks, momentarily surrendering to her senses and enjoying the extraordinary taste.
Katy was the most shocked. She stared at Lucas as if he were a monster. She knew Lucas best; just three days ago, she had taught him the basics of making puffins.
How had he, in just three days, created something that could be called a signature dessert even at Patisserie Soapberry!?
After a brief silence, the four judges gave their scores:
Miss Joy: 23.5 points.
Katy: 23.5 points.
Ms. G: 24 points.
Ms. C: 25 points.
Total: 96 points, ranking first.
Perhaps the shock from Lucas's performance raised the bar for the judges, as none of the next dozen pastry chefs scored higher than 80 points—even the previous third place didn't surpass it.
This meant that Lucas, Milcery, and Dragonite were the undisputed champions.
On the makeshift award stage, after interviewing the third and second place chefs, the host handed the mic to Lucas and asked, "Mr. Lucas, your Orange Peel Honey Puffin ~ Cream Ice Cream Style received unanimous praise from the judges. How did you come up with such a creative dessert?"
Taking the mic, Lucas smiled, unfazed by all the attention. "I think I owe it to my partners. Their unique traits inspired this dessert. Also, it's all about persistence and hard work!"
Milcery on Lucas's shoulder and Dragonite at his side cheered happily.
The host was a bit surprised by Lucas's answer, which credited his Pokémon rather than himself, but maintained a professional smile and invited, "Now, may I invite Ms. C from the Sinnoh Dessert Association to award the first prize to Mr. Lucas!"
Cynthia, after receiving the red velvet box with the prize, elegantly walked to the stage and handed it to Lucas. With a pleasant voice, she said, "Congratulations. Also, the cream ice cream pairs perfectly with the puffin."
Lucas took the box and smiled. "Thank you for the compliment, Ms. C."
Cynthia nodded slightly and glanced at Milcery on Lucas's shoulder. "Open it. You must have joined the competition for this little one, right?"
Cynthia's keen observation surprised Lucas, but he had intended to do so anyway. He opened the red velvet box, revealing a wild berry candy topper resembling a blueberry.
"Wild berry candy..." Lucas paused, not immediately giving it to Milcery. Instead, he cautiously asked, "Do you like this candy? If not, we can find another."
"Milcery~~"
Milcery reached out without hesitation for the wild berry candy.
To Milcery, any candy won together with Lucas, Dragonite, and their farm friends was precious, no matter the type.
"I see."
Lucas smiled and placed the wild berry candy on Milcery's head. At that moment, an excited Dragonite, unable to contain itself, hugged Lucas and Milcery, spinning around joyfully, as Cynthia and the other judges looked on in surprise.
Lucas and Milcery's faces were full of joy. Milcery's happy laughter made others smile knowingly.
Just then, a pure, holy light enveloped Milcery's body. Gasps of surprise arose as Dragonite stopped spinning and, like Lucas, watched curiously as Milcery began to change.
Everyone wondered—
What kind of Alcremie would it evolve into?