Casual Heroing, Chapter 250

AND THE BEST DISH LANDS AMONG ELVES!!! 🍕🍕🍕

Next chapter comes out on March 15th!

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Chapter 250 – Pizza-Party, Part 3

Raissa took a step forward to smell the unfamiliar dish. Her eyes widened in surprise as she took in the fragrance of the freshly baked pizza. "This is incredible, Joey!" she exclaimed, and others eagerly watched.

In contrast to the short Elf's enthusiasm, [Princess] Laurealia's face darkened. Today, everyone in the kitchen had looked at her with admiration and respect for how well she had organized the catering, something extremely foreign to her capabilities. But now, they only had eyes for Joey, the Human savior of the night who had somehow come up with a new dish out of nowhere and casually carried enough ingredients with him to take care of this 'unexpected' disaster.

Laurealia watched from the sidelines as more people crowded to get a whiff of the pizza, but then, she saw the Human turn to her and step closer.

Joey said to Laurealia with a glint of excitement in his eyes, "let’s show them what we’ve got," he said. "Come with me."

"Wait," she said with gritted teeth. "How come you had all of this?" she asked, approaching Joey. Her voice carried a hint of suspicion, the weight of her uncle's insinuations coloring her perception.

Joey turned to face her, his expression earnest. "These people want me dead," he said, his tone somber. "Many of them. From what I heard tonight, even more than I had previously imagined. So, I was very suspicious of Cornelia, and I’d prepared the only ingredients I knew I could arrange in enough quantities and quality for the party. Plus, no one knows pizza here, and it will surprise them. Trust me, we’ll do one hell of a presentation."

Laurealia paused, considering Joey's words. The idea that he had anticipated an attempt on his life and prepared accordingly was... rational.  And choosing pizza—a dish unknown to them and thus beyond the reach of sabotage—was undeniably clever.

But can I trust him not to lie? She looked down at her wrist, seeing the truth-stone indicate that there was no lie here.

But still, her uncle's warnings echoed in her mind, painting Joey as a potential threat – a man capable of undermining her position for his own gain. The logic of Joey's actions battled with the seeds of doubt planted by her uncle's suspicions.

Joey wouldn't do it... would he? He couldn't have fooled both me and my uncle... He can't be after the [Druid] Class for Humans, can he?

"Hey," Joey frowned, observing her, "everything ok?"

The possibility that this was all a calculated move to humiliate her, to weaken her standing among her people, lingered like a shadow.

"Why pizza?" she found herself asking. Maybe she would find her answer there.

Joey's response was simple. "Because it's a dish that brings people together. It's humble, but it's capable of making a nice statement for tonight, you know? We can make a point."

"A point?"

"Maybe food can bring Humans and Elves together," Joey smiled at the [Princess].

Laurealia watched him, the sincerity in his eyes challenging her doubts. His words resonated with her. Yet, the question of his intentions remained unanswered.

"Now, follow me, please," he said to Laurealia.

...

As Joey and Laurealia entered the grand ballroom, the guests' eyes widened at the sight of the unconventional dish on the platter. The [Princess] was acutely aware of the skeptical glances cast their way, the murmurs of discontent that wove through the crowd like a discordant melody.

"Is that... bread with tomatoes on top?" a nobleman sneered. "How pedestrian."

"I can't believe they're serving us this after such a grand feast," a lady added, her nose turned up in disgust.

The mockery grew louder, with guests openly laughing and pointing at the pizza. Laurealia felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She glanced at Joey, worry etched on her face. Was this his plan all along? To humiliate her in front of her guests?

But Joey seemed unfazed by the ridicule. He held his head high and smiled warmly at the crowd as the single platter with four steaming slices drew criticism from all around.

"I know this dish may seem strange to you," he said, his voice calm and confident. "But I assure you, it's a treat from my homeland. It's called pizza, and I promise you've never tasted anything like it before."

The guests fell silent, surprised by Joey's composure in the face of their derision. Some looked intrigued, while others remained skeptical.

Laurealia watched Joey, her heart pounding. She didn't know what to expect.  A part of her feared he would use this moment to undermine her authority, to make her look foolish in front of her subjects. But another part of her wanted to trust him, to believe that he had her best interests at heart.

As Joey continued to speak, describing the flavors and textures of the pizza, Laurealia saw something shift in the crowd. The initial hostility began to fade, only to be replaced by a reluctant curiosity. A few guests even leaned forward, eager to get a closer look at the dish.

Laurealia felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe Joey wasn't trying to sabotage her after all. Maybe he genuinely wanted to share something new and exciting with her people.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Joey said, "I really must apologize for having you wait so long."

"It’s all my fault—I made a bit of a mess in the kitchen and created problems for the Princess," Joey confessed, his admission prompting a mix of surprised glances and softened expressions.

"However, thanks to Her Highness’s organization, we’re ready to offer you a dish that has never been served before on all Epretos. In fact, you might even be the first ones to try this dish in Epretos and Teiko."

When Joey finished his introduction, he turned to Laurealia and gave her a small nod, whispering. "Princess," he said, "I hope you won't mind."

...

Princess Laurealia stood beside him, her heart tumultuous. The crowd's mocking laughter had faded, replaced by a silence thick with curiosity.

"Now, then," Joey began, his voice resonating with a warmth that seemed to embrace the entire hall. He spun gracefully with the platter in hand, his smile broad and inviting. "I will ask the four most beautiful maidens to sample this dish and allow me to have the staff bring out the rest."

The crowd leaned in.

"The most beautiful maidens who'll get to taste this fabulous dish first are…" Joey's voice trailed, the suspense hanging in the air.

Laurealia watched, her pulse quickening. She saw the crowd's skeptical expressions soften and their interest piqued by Joey's confident demeanor.

"[Princess] Laurealia, the architect of this magnificent catering!" Joey announced, turning to her with a flourish.

Without anyone noticing, Joey had started unconsciously emanating a strong aura that roped them all in.

And so, the crowd erupted into cheering and thunderous applause. Laurealia blinked in surprise, a smile tugging at her lips despite her initial reservations.

She realized then how Joey's cunning and resourcefulness had turned the tide. He had just made this not her failure and his victory, but his failure her triumph.

"As our second taste-tester," Joey continued, his voice carrying over the clamor, "I'd like to ask my most gracious host, [Lady] Diana!" Again, the crowd cheered, their enthusiasm bolstering the atmosphere of unity Joey was crafting.

The princess watched, her earlier doubts melting away. Joey's acknowledgment of those who had supported him, of those who had played key roles in the night, was a masterstroke.

"The third lady is a person I owe everything to in this town. She gave me a job when she didn’t even know me. She trusted me with extremely difficult choices and stuck with me through thick and thin – a just-crowned [Druid], Clodia Tullia!"

And then, Joey paused, his gaze sweeping the room before landing on Lucinda. "Lastly, the woman who stole my heart the very first day I arrived in Amorium. Her grit, ambition, and determination scared me at first, but then I saw why the Elves managed to win the war against the Humans: they are tough, much tougher than I had ever hoped I to be."

...

Lucinda felt a lump in her throat.

"And this fair woman taught me toughness; she made me realize what I really wanted for myself. And so, I present to you Amorium’s greatest magical talent, Lucinda Ennia…" Joey's voice softened, his gaze locking deep in her eyes, as he finished, "MAGICA!"

The ballroom erupted into applause again, louder and more heartfelt than before.