Shen Qin was pushed by Noelle to Diluc's side, with Venti and Kaeya in the crowd looking at him enviously. Being able to taste a brand-new drink at the first opportunity was such a fortunate thing!
His appearance on stage sparked another round of cheers from the crowd. Over the past few months, the name Shen Qin had spread throughout Mondstadt. The wonder of his flying hoverboard and the redemption his bionic prosthetics brought to the disabled had earned him an excellent reputation among the people of Mondstadt.
Looking at the enthusiastic crowd, Shen Qin let out a bitter laugh but ultimately accepted this sudden role as a judge. Besides, he was quite interested in drinking. In his previous life, he often went to quiet bars alone to enjoy a drink.
The competition soon began. Shen Qin and the other five judges sat on chairs by the bar as contestants took turns to present their cocktails.
The first to take the stage was a tall, burly man with a stout figure. His eyes were nearly squeezed shut by the fat on his face.
"Good evening, everyone. I'm Frank, the bartender."
Frank seemed like a man of few words. After this brief introduction, he immediately started preparing his drink.
He first walked around the liquor cabinet to see what ingredients were available, then returned to the counter with two bottles in hand.
Noticing Shen Qin's confusion, Diluc softly explained, "The white bottle is a type of rum, characterized by moderate alcohol content but high sweetness. The darker one is a fruit wine, with low alcohol content, moderate sweetness, and a rich fruity aroma."
Frank used the fruit wine as the base and poured the rum into a shaker. After shaking it for about ten seconds, he mixed the rum into the fruit wine.
"His movements are very standard. The shaking is vigorous but not too fast, which prevents too much air from getting into the rum. He probably doesn't want to disrupt the original flavor of the rum. However, simply mixing these two drinks seems a bit too ordinary."
But just as Diluc finished speaking, Frank cut a piece of sunsettia and dropped it directly into the drink.
"Hmm, it seems this sunsettia is the finishing touch!" Diluc's eyes lit up. "When sunsettia comes into contact with the ingredients of that fruit wine, it produces a particularly spicy and stimulating flavor. But the rum balances out that spiciness. A nice idea."
Frank poured a small amount of the drink for each of the six judges, then divided the remaining drink into six portions for six lucky guests in the VIP seats.
Shen Qin picked up his glass and smelled a very rich fruity aroma. The alcohol scent was extremely faint, but when mixed with the fruitiness, it added a stimulating kick to the otherwise mellow flavor.
He took a sip, and the alcohol taste initially overpowered the fruitiness. But three seconds later, the intense fruit flavor, along with the stimulating taste Diluc mentioned, invaded his taste buds, sending a refreshing sensation straight to the top of his head.
"A simple drink, but with a creative twist. It feels like a return to simplicity. I like it!" Margaret gave Frank a thumbs-up.
"The drink is good, but your appearance could use some work. A visually appealing bartender can add a lot to the drink's charm."
"The taste is nice, but it's too light. It's more suitable for younger people."
"It's too sweet for my liking, but it's a good drink."
The judges gave their evaluations, and soon it was Diluc's turn.
"Your appearance doesn't pass in my book, but while you were mixing the drink, I noticed that your charm overshadowed your looks. You have a unique bartender's aura, and the aroma and color of your drink are excellent. It's a drink that can attract customers." Diluc gave a very high praise.
Shen Qin didn't understand these nuances. He simply raised his empty glass to Frank and said, "It's delicious!"
The audience, who had been eagerly watching the judging, burst into good-natured laughter. Frank also smiled, as if those two words were the highest praise for his drink.
Next, the second bartender took the stage...
Time flew by during the competition, and Shen Qin was surprised to see Diona. According to the storyline, she was bound to win this competition, as in the game, she was already the bartender at the Cat's Tail Tavern when players encountered her.
A catgirl determined to destroy Mondstadt's alcohol industry, yet possessing a magical talent for mixing drinks. No matter what ingredients she added, her drinks always turned out delicious.
And Shen Qin finally understood why she was so beloved by the customers.
While mixing drinks, her ears and tail would sway gently with her movements, making her a delight to watch! Moreover, the drinks she made were exceptionally tasty, carrying a unique charm that was distinctly Diona's.
"I think you're the perfect fit for our Cat's Tail Tavern!" Miss Margaret, a cat lover, was completely smitten by her ears and tail. She couldn't resist such a talented little cat bartender.
"If you're willing, you could come to the Angel's Share as a bartender—assuming you don't win the competition, of course." Diluc also extended an invitation to her.
"Delicious!" Shen Qin raised his glass as usual.
By the time the competition reached the semifinals, it was already past midnight, but about half of the crowd remained in the square. Many had found their favorite bartenders through the judges' comments and were looking forward to visiting their bars the next day for a drink.
The final four in the semifinals were:
Frank, the burly man. His drinks were always the simplest yet most creative, with the potential to become classics.
Diona, the catgirl. Her drinks were always full of personal flair, though Shen Qin knew her peak would come after joining the Cat's Tail Tavern and adding those strange ingredients to her drinks.
Xi Meng, the cool and handsome guy. A Liyue native residing in Mondstadt, his drinks carried a nostalgic taste, as if one were savoring ancient wines from decades or even centuries ago.
Martina, the long-legged beauty. Her drinks were as sexy and captivating as she was—intense in flavor, with alluring colors and a strong aftertaste. It was certain that many men would visit her bar after this competition.
Among the four, Shen Qin's favorites were Xi Meng and Diona. Xi Meng's drinks reminded him of his great homeland in his previous life, while Diona was simply a delight to watch, and her drinks were delicious.
However, after the semifinals, Xi Meng was eliminated. The finalists competing for the championship were Frank and Diona.
In the final round, Frank finally broke away from his previous simplicity and used a total of ten different ingredients to create a pale yellow drink as clear as crystal. The taste didn't disappoint Shen Qin and the others.
Unfortunately, Diona, after finishing her drink, used Cryo to give it an icy enchantment, making her drink far more stunning than Frank's creation.
Although Diona ultimately won the championship, her score was only one point higher than Frank's.
Shen Qin leaned back in his chair, feeling a bit dizzy. Even though he only took a small sip each time, the number of drinks he sampled was overwhelming!
"Diluc, thanks for this. If it weren't for you inviting me to be a judge, I wouldn't have had the chance to taste so many delicious drinks!"
Diluc: "No need for thanks. Next time you want a drink, just come to the Angel's Share."
"That won't do. Drinking too much will make Klee dislike me, and it'll interfere with my alchemical inventions." Shen Qin stuck out his tongue.
"Alright, you still have one last task to complete." Diluc pulled him up from the chair and handed him the championship medal. "Go award the champion. This is what the champion requested!"
"Huh?" Shen Qin, still dazed, was pushed by Diluc toward Diona.
"Hello, Mr. Shen Qin! I really admire you. Your invention of bionic prosthetics has saved many people in Springvale!" Diona looked at him excitedly. "Even though I dislike drunkards, you're a good person!"
"Well, thank you for not disliking me!" Shen Qin said with a wry smile, then placed the medal around her neck. "Congratulations, the head bartender of the Cat's Tail Tavern."
But at that moment, Diona let out a surprised yelp as she felt someone grab her tail!
Turning around, she saw a little girl in red crouching on the ground, curiously touching her tail.
"So fluffy and comfortable!"