Chapter 249: Christmas Cake
After the game tournament ended, we set aside time to replay the games everyone had enjoyed, then returned to the event hall.
Some of the remaining groups were enjoying drinks, and a few people were already tipsy.
“Oh! Sato-san, you’re back! Let’s all drink together!”
Rozzo-san approached, holding a bottle, interacting not just with me but also with Sheila-san and Norman-san.
I didn’t mind drinking, but there was still one surprise I needed to present before that.
“We’ll have the drinks a little later. First, I have a surprise gift for everyone.”
“A surprise gift!? Do I get one because I won?”
“…Then it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t get one either.”
“This is for everyone. The victory prizes are separate, so please look forward to them.”
“I wasn’t told about this either. What could it be?”
“I’ll bring it out shortly, so please wait just a little longer.”
I told Sheila-san, who looked curious, and returned to the villa with Norman-san and Jacob-san.
We took out the decorated cake we had prepared in advance from the magical refrigerator and hurried back to the event hall.
Finally, we could reveal the cake, and I was excited to see everyone’s reactions.
After all, this was a creation that required both effort and NP, so I hoped everyone would enjoy it.
“Pure white cream with red fruits… it looks almost mystical, but I’m nervous about whether it tastes good. Not being able to taste it beforehand is a problem.”
“The ingredients were just barely enough, but it should be fine. Both the cream and strawberries were delicious, so there’s no mistake.”
“It’ll definitely be fine! With Norman-san and Sato-san behind it, it can’t turn out bad!”
“Hopefully… it would be terrible if the finale of the Christmas party flopped.”
“Even if it fails, there’s always next year to make up for it. Besides, you’ve already done more than enough this year; no one will blame you for a minor failure.”
Norman-san looked worried, so Jacob-san and I encouraged him.
His performance during the event had been excellent, and even if the cake didn’t turn out perfectly, no one would blame him.
…Well, I was 99.9% sure it would be delicious anyway.
While chatting, we carried the cake to the event hall.
Jacob-san opened the door, and when we entered holding the cake, there was a small but enthusiastic cheer.
The loudest reactions came from Ren-san and the others, who knew what a Christmas cake was.
In contrast, Sheila-san and the others looked puzzled at the unfamiliar cake, and I was excited to see their reactions when they tasted it.
“This is a dessert eaten at Christmas, called a shortcake.”
“A dessert…! Just hearing about a new dessert makes me excited!”
“It’s pure white and beautiful! But I thought Christmas was all about pudding and ice cream?”
“Pudding and ice cream are relatively easy to make, so they were prepared as substitutes for the cake. Traditionally, this cake and the fried chicken you ate earlier are the classic Christmas staples.”
While explaining this, we cut and served the prepared Christmas cake.
We could only make one slice per person, but it was enough for everyone to taste it.
“I never thought I’d get to eat a Christmas cake! Every year, you keep surpassing yourself!”
“I’m truly grateful. This whole day has been full of happiness.”
“Sato-san, we can’t thank you enough. I’ll never forget the favor of this cake.”
“Right! No matter what happens, we’ll always be on your side!”
Ren-san and the others expressed their delight, while Sheila-san and the others examined the cake from every angle.
Yato-san looked impatient, so it was time to say “let’s eat.”
“Has everyone got a slice? We only prepared one slice per person, so eat carefully. Now—let’s eat!”
“““Let’s eat!”””
After everyone said the phrase together, they began eating the cake.
I nervously took a bite, wondering if it turned out well… and it was absolutely delicious!
The shortcake was perfect, with exquisite sweetness and flavor.
The strawberries were just the right balance of sweet and tart, and eating cake after so long felt truly satisfying.
“…This is… too delicious! What is this amazing dish? I can’t believe such delicious things exist!”
“It’s really amazing! Fluffy, sweet, and utterly delightful!”
“This is incredible. Compared to usual meals, it feels like I’ve stepped into another world. Sato-san, thank you so much for inviting me today.”
The praise was overwhelming, and Milagros-san even had tears in her eyes.
Next to her, Norman-san finally looked relieved, carrying a slice to his mouth with a satisfied expression.
“—Delicious. I didn’t know I could make something this good. Since moving here, I can feel myself improving steadily. Sato-san, thank you for accepting me.”
“No, thank you. And I hope we can continue working together.”
Norman-san’s help is absolutely essential in recreating Earth’s cuisine.
I couldn’t have made this Christmas cake alone, so I was the one who should be giving thanks.
In any case, the final Christmas cake was a great success, and this year’s Christmas party was perfect.
Ending the year with the best party was truly wonderful.
Next year, I want to hold another Christmas party, so I’ll continue focusing on agriculture and making this place even better.
Watching everyone’s smiling faces, I held that thought in my heart—and enjoyed the Christmas party to the very end.