As the saying goes, forbear for a moment and the wind calms, step back and the sea broadens.
But...
Forbear for a moment and get... frustrated. Step back and get... irritated. Hold it in for a day and feel stifled. Get angry once and feel the tension rise.
The more they looked at Female Gil, the angrier they got. The oldest King, having drawn the full hostility of the entire room, successfully initiated a golden battle of 1 vs. All.
Everyone expressed extreme displeasure at Female Gil's actions. This time, even Enkidu and Ishtar couldn't hold back.
At first, they had thought Female Gil would invite them along last night. After all, back in Uruk, they had done so more than once.
But until they went to rest and sleep, Gil-chan hadn't done so. She fully demonstrated what it meant to hog everything!
No, this wasn't just hogging… this was called being possessively greedy!
Finally, faced with such a Female Gil, everyone was swept up in a wave of anger. The desire to compete began to flow among them.
"Everyone, since none of you are willing to yield to the others, how about we start a competition?"
Stepping forward proactively, the speaker was Haruno.
Breaking the stalemate in the atmosphere, Haruno spoke with a light, clear voice.
Looking at the Servants present, each harboring their own thoughts, she indicated she had an idea.
"You say competition? What do you mean?"
Female Gil, the paragon of mockery by taunting everyone single-handedly, was the first to ask.
"Well, as part of Ryu's family, I'm saying this from the perspective of his sister."
"First, I'm not very familiar with all of you present. As an ordinary person, I believe you all deeply love Ryu. But arguing like this every day is clearly meaningless, right?"
Listening to Haruno's words, Artoria nodded, "As Sensei's lover, I admit the current situation is very inefficient. Continuing like this, we will only be engrossed in daily fights, which might become a flaw and a weakness for Sensei."
"As a King, I do not agree with such behavior."
Irisviel: "Master's love? I won't lose to anyone either!"
Merlin: "Seems quite interesting."
Enkidu: "Sounds fun."
Morgan: "Mhm, so it's about a competition? Seems possible."
Ishtar: "This goddess will absolutely not lose!"
Compared to the Servants, the positions of Yukino, Kaguya, and Souji were more ambiguous.
Yukino, due to her age and personality, was a bit too timid to speak and didn't know what to do.
Kaguya hadn't even confirmed her relationship, and she was just here observing.
As for Souji, in Ryuya's heart, she was still family.
Moreover, she hadn't confessed her feelings, putting her in a similar position as Kaguya.
But...
"We want to participate too!" x3
Remembering how Haruno gathered the four of them last night, painstakingly forming the 'Master Squad', their confidence surged instantly.
They all expressed their desire to participate, the three of them speaking up as well.
"Mhm, mhm, good. Everyone's morale is high. So now..."
Spreading her arms, Haruno shouted loudly, "Then let us hold a competition! To decide who is most worthy of the title of wife, and thereby decide who gets to accompany him next."
In the Einzbern Castle's hall, as an alternative war unfolded, perhaps the first 'Ryuya Contest War' had now officially begun!
Because they decided to hold a large competition, after lunch, Haruno, wearing a referee's armband, officially announced the rules.
"First, participants in this competition can choose to fight solo or as a team. However, correspondingly, a solo victory is for an individual, and a team victory is for the team. Please remember this clearly and avoid backstabbing."
Glancing at the now re-dressed Female Gil, Haruno's target was obvious.
"Hmph." Female Gil snorted disdainfully at Haruno's action.
"Second, this competition strictly prohibits interfering with other contestants. We are competing on feminine charm, qualifications as a wife, and love for Ryuya. Underhanded methods are not allowed!"
Saying this, Haruno stared at Merlin, who seemed to be trying to add something to the drinks nearby, and shouted, "You there, the great mage of Camelot! What are you trying to do?"
"Ah? I'm not doing anything!" Never expecting her little scheme to be discovered, Merlin had been planning to make everyone fall asleep so she could claim victory alone.
Blinking, she swallowed the potion in her hand without blushing or panting. After all, she was a Succubus… she wasn't afraid of such hypnotic stuff.
"Third, this competition is temporarily divided into three events, using a points system. The results for each event: 1st place gets 10 points, 2nd place gets 5 points, 3rd place gets 3 points. Those below 3rd get no points."
"The final winner is the one with the highest total points. The prize is a solo shopping date with Ryuya and the qualification to spend the evening with him."
Haruno thought no one would care much about these rewards, but she was surprised to find that, upon hearing the prize, all the women rolled up their sleeves, looking eager to try.
"Please, this is a great chance to declare sovereignty! How could this lady miss it?"
The first to speak, Ishtar, was extremely excited.
Actually, going on dates with Ryuya, and even... those indescribable things, everyone except Kaguya, Souji and Haruno already had some past happy experiences.
But unlike past experiences, the significance of this victory prize was completely different. Hadn't they seen Female Gil's arrogant attitude this morning, talking about filling bathtubs and being the bathtub?
Everyone looked at Haruno expectantly, thinking, "Stop the nonsense and just tell us the competition events already!"
"Alright, since everyone is so eager, I will now announce the first competition event."
Signaling to the homunculus maids, as several maids brought out a huge banner and unfurled it, all the women saw what was written on it.
"Cooking?"
Their faces changed slightly. Female Gil felt things were going badly.
Confirming her thoughts, Haruno announced loudly, "As everyone knows, as a qualified wife, an excellent lover, cooking a meal for your beloved is an essential skill."
"Perhaps a wife who can cook isn't necessarily excellent, but an excellent wife definitely can cook. So the first competition event is... cooking!"
"By this evening, everyone must present one dish they are confident in. We will taste each other's dishes, Ryuya will also taste them, and then we'll score."
"Then..... now, I declare, the first battle in the Hubby Contest, the Cooking Showdown... begins!"
Boom!
Striking a bronze drum she had procured from somewhere, Haruno initiated an 'extremely intense' battle royale.