Sky Island Academy.
The garden of knowledge and the cradle of martial arts.
Originally started as a training ground for officers to explore the Demon Realm, it has now been restructured into a comprehensive talent development center due to the success of these explorations.
While it was a successful transition, the academic atmosphere itself had not entirely disappeared, and the emphasis on martial arts lingered as a blemish.
The perception of the academy still struggles, making it difficult to receive external research support and investments. Military sectors receive easy support, but the rest suffer from prejudice.
However, could this festival provide a chance to refresh the atmosphere?
Though perhaps not to the extent of the expectations of the young lord.
The upperclassmen thought so, but Viscount Carlow was instead absorbed by a curious device.
“What happens when you click this stick switch?”
The megaphone clicked.
“Oh, ah.”
Pastel spoke into the megaphone. Her voice echoed.
“Wow, it really amplifies!”
“You have to be careful; if you make a sharp sound, the inside will tear. It’s also easy to break if you drop it.”
“Got it, senpai!”
Pastel responded cheerfully and turned her body toward the front of the stage.
Seats were lined up before the wide performance space.
Beyond the seats, colorful student booths stretched endlessly left and right.
A wizard undergraduate sat at her booth and laid out cards on the table to check fortunes.
Wow, fortune cards.
After the schedule ends, I should check my fortune.
The early arrivals peeked between booths.
Oh yeah.
“Festivals are just like school!”
To convey the message that she wanted shared excitement, Pastel tapped her magic sword.
『… I’ve said it countless times; dragons will disappoint you. Only you and the creator will find joy in this.』
The devil is so dull.
How could one not appreciate the coolness of the glow-in-the-dark dragon?
Isn’t that why one wears a suit on good days?
Time passed.
The seats were completely filled. As there were no more places to sit, the number of people waiting while standing increased. The undergraduates in their booths briefly gathered to watch the festival opening.
Countless eyes focused on the stage.
Wow, so many people.
Pastel’s lips curled up.
This will be fun.
Since I’ve already defied authority, should I go all out?
The schedule began.
Pastel brought her mouth to the megaphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen who have traveled a long way over the sea and across the skies! And to the proud students of our academy! Today, we gather here to open the curtain on a new festival!”
She pointed to herself with her hand.
“I am Pastel Love Craft, the main host for this precious event! Nice to meet you!”
Pastel bowed her head.
Applause and cheers erupted.
She lightly waved her hand and winked at the particularly enthusiastic first-year students before speaking into the megaphone again.
“Why prolong the words! Let’s dive right in as you expect!”
She took a deep breath and shouted with all her might.
“Here, we begin the first edition of the Academy Festival, right here!”
She raised the megaphone.
“Let the festivities begin!”
Unable to contain herself, Pastel jumped.
“Woohoo~!”
Her pink hair fluttered.
Behind her, pink magical effects erupted in bursts.
The festival has begun!
#
Pastel was swept up in excitement on the stage.
“Dragon!”
Kraaang.
“Glow-in-the-dark dragon!”
Shining.
“Eyeball laser!”
Beam of light~.
Ziiiiing.
“Wow! This is what I wanted!”
The high energy of the host on stage contrasted with the audience’s reactions, which were less enthusiastic.
First-year students were bashful yet impressed.
Upperclassmen found joy in the spectacle.
And most importantly, the Trading Guild officials maintained polite smiles.
A professional demeanor.
After wrapping up the stage schedule, Pastel was able to check the performance metrics of the glow-in-the-dark dragon.
Huh?
Huh?
Why is the investment amount like this?
The Trading Guild had turned a blind eye to the glow-in-the-dark dragon.
Gahh.
She clutched her heart.
My glow-in-the-dark dragon has been abandoned.
Is there no beauty in this merciless world?
Slumping to the ground.
The world is a death game…
No one acknowledges the glow-in-the-dark dragon…
Uaaah, the harsh reality.
Magic Sword transformed into a devil and approached the slumped Pastel. It bent down and patted the girl’s back.
『But you tried. It’s your first time, after all.』
“You’re a devil.”
How can someone be this kind?
Pastel gazed at the devil with a dreamy expression.
“May I call you angel?”
That would suit perfectly.
The devil’s face tightened slightly.
“Don’t do that.”
Huh, so resolute.
Well, dressed in a suit with black hair and red eyes, he is the very essence of a devil.
Pastel sighed heavily.
“The results of the festival have now left the hands of the Student Council. We need some achievements that the Department of Magic would sign off on. Moreover, they need to be acceptable even to Professor Carlow.”
The devil patted her back.
『It’s okay to fail. There will be plenty of opportunities if you look for them.』
“That’s true.”
Nodding, nodding.
A commotion was heard outside the lounge.
Huh.
Pastel left the lounge.
The cause of the commotion was immediately evident.
A beam of light shot up into the blue sky. It burst and spread into a dazzling array of colorful lights.
Whoa, fireworks.
I hadn’t planned this?
A new beam of light shot up.
It burst and split into dozens of light beams, each curving to create a massive picture.
Pastel’s mouth dropped open.
“Huh!”
A colorful dragon pattern shone in the sky.
“D-Dragon!”
Someone is continuing the legacy of the failed glow-in-the-dark dragon.
The dragon cartel has gathered!
She grabbed an upperclassman who was watching the fireworks.
“That, that! Who did that?!”
“Huh? The Department of Magic.”
Huh, what an emotion.
The Department of Magic had always been referred to as Craft, and yet they provide such assistance?
They didn’t sign but perhaps their true feelings were warm?
Indeed, the world is beautiful.
Oh yeah.
“Thank you for telling me!”
Pastel ran toward the area where the booths of the Department of Magic were gathered.
There was an incredible crowd. There were quite a few Trading Guild officials as well. Their expressions were bright, and there was a considerable atmosphere of discussion going on.
Wow, wow.
This could work.
Another beam of light shot up. It burst and split into dozens of streams, inscribing countless letters in the sky.
It was an introduction and guide to the Department of Magic. The route to the location where the booths of the Department of Magic were set up was illustrated in a small drawing.
Wow, that’s bold promotion for the department.
Our Department of Magic is the main event.
Thanks to the Student Council’s choices, the Engineering Department, which took the main position, is being overshadowed by our achievements.
Who in the world is capable of pulling off such an incredible feat? It seems to be an individual booth from what I saw during my visit to the Department of Magic.
Pushing through the crowd, I quickly ran. I spotted a familiar blonde girl.
“…Honi. Sunlight that parts the clouds, come to the winding curvature. Level 5, 32 strokes, Sunlight Flash!”
Melissa waved her rod.
Light sparkled. A beam of light shot up. It split and moved independently, writing words.
Festival safety regulations filled the sky.
Gah, safety regulations.
Melissa proudly presented her outcome.
The Trading Guild officials moved swiftly.
―They say it’s a new magic; it’s almost completed. We could start license sales immediately.
―Wasn’t the alias sixteen sparkles? Already using 32 strokes?
―When can we complete the safety verification? Can we finish before the founding anniversary? Is money tight? How much do you need?
―Hmph, the eyes are blind. This is for military use. Is it a secret being researched in Camelot? We will handle the sales. What’s the price?
The Trading Guild officials grabbed the upperclassmen who were helping Melissa.
Oh, it’s going well.
The personal booth achieved what it was supposed to.
Oh yeah.
Pastel beamed at Melissa.
As expected of Melissa.
Putting in effort for the friends in the Student Council.
Even if you only show your back and run away every time we meet, I knew you were my friend.
After the demonstration, Melissa headed to the back of the booth for a break. Pastel hurriedly followed her.
“Melissa!”
Melissa, who turned around, flinched.
She quickly distanced herself, looking at Pastel warily.
“The Craft of Treason. You’re using sinister plots to change our senior’s heart; I mustn’t let my guard down.”
Huh, really?
Me, sinister?
“But I’m not falling for it.”
Melissa pointed at herself.
“I only put in the effort because it was your request, but I see through all of your bad temperament. There won’t be another chance.”
With a firm expression.
Gah.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
I have no idea what she’s talking about.
My friend has quite the strange side, huh?
In a fourth dimension I can’t understand.
After pondering for a moment, I decided to give up on understanding it.
I’ll just ignore it.
Smiling brightly.
“Anyway, you did great! You’re truly my friend!”
Wow, friend!
With arms wide open, Pastel dashed toward Melissa.
Melissa startled and dodged.
Her arms, which were supposed to hug, swung through the air.
Wow, air hug.
“See, I’m not falling for it.”
Melissa’s wizard robe, disarrayed from dodging, was adjusted.
Melissa looked on triumphantly.
Then she flinched and looked down at Pastel’s shadow and her own shoes stepping on it.
“Ah.”
Melissa’s eyes trembled.
“I, I’ve been tricked…”
Her voice was a melancholy whisper.
#
After meeting with Melissa, I met the representative of the Department of Magic for an impromptu signature.
Oh yeah.
“Completed! Completed! Completed!”
Pastel spun around with the Student Council’s support documents cradled in her arms. The festival scenery whizzed around her.
Good, good.
I put the documents in my arms and turned back.
“Devil! Let’s enjoy our festival now! Festival! Let’s enjoy together!”
The devil, dressed in a suit, sighed as he followed.
『If this gets out, I’ll be the one embarrassed. So, what should we enjoy?』
“Well! That’s wandering around, wow!”
Pastel’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the astronomy booth.
“Look over there! The constellations! Oh! I said I’d check the fortune cards! Let’s go to the fortune card booth, not the constellation!”
Pastel grabbed the devil’s arm and dashed. Her pink hair billowed.
“Let’s run, run!”
『Hah.』
Booths flew by left and right.
Then Pastel spotted a drink booth and came to a sudden halt. Her feet screeched against the ground.
Huh.
She pointed with her finger to the wine barrel of the booth. An orange pattern was engraved.
Orange juice?
“Wow! Wow! It’s a drink! Let’s drink together! We can drink while exploring!”
『Calm down a bit.』
In a hurry.
“Two cups, please!”
“Oh wow, a first-year.”
An upperclassman smiled and handed over two wooden cups. The orange liquid sloshed inside.
Ooh, the scent of orange.
I can sense the craft of a master.
I quickly took out a pepper shaker. Time to sprinkle some magic stone powder.
Just then, the devil took Pastel’s glass.
The devil gulped down the drink in one go.
Huh.
Pastel glanced between the empty space where her glass had been and the devil.
Huh, huh?!
The devil placed the empty glass down.
My drink…!
Ugh.
The devil spoke calmly.
『It’s alcohol.』
“What? What did you say?”
『Alcohol.』
Gahh.
Pastel’s eyes went round.
She looked back at the upperclassman. The upperclassman silently smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.
Huhhh.
『Is there any non-alcoholic drink?』
“There is.”
The upperclassman fetched orange juice from a small barrel in the corner. He handed Pastel a wooden cup.
“Drink this.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Pastel sprinkled the magic stone powder and eyed her wooden cup with slight suspicion.
Then, carefully bringing her mouth closer, she tentatively stuck her tongue into the liquid.
Lick, lick.
Nibble, nibble.
It tasted like orange.
It’s indeed orange juice.
But Pastel felt somewhat wronged.
While it was indeed the juice she wanted, ugh.
It really was the juice she had intended to drink, but still, ugh.
She glanced at the alcohol again. Then at her juice cup.
Ugh.
Pastel hesitated, then with a bold face, she stared straight at the devil.
“Devil!”
『What?』
A subtle look crossed his face.
Pastel winked.
“Just one sip!”
Hehehe.
Nothing serious.
The devil’s expression grew stern.
『No.』
Ahh.
Please change your mind, Sir Devil.
You are a devil after all.
She sent him an earnest gaze.
『No.』
Ugh, so resolute.
Not a single gap.
Pastel pouted and drank her juice.
The juice was delicious, but ugh.
Feeling a bit forlorn, she ignored the devil and looked at the upperclassman.
“Senpai, can I carry this cup around?”
“You can drink it nearby, but you have to return the cup.”
Then perhaps I can drink while looking around.
Turning her head to the nearby booths, she spotted an adult.
Oh, it’s Professor Carlow.
The professor was observing the festival with a peculiar expression. His gaze was fixed on the laughing and talking students. Laughter echoed.
Hmm.
“One more glass of that juice, please.”
Pastel received a drink and stepped toward the professor.
The professor turned around.
Pastel quietly handed over the support documents and drink.
Professor Carlow took the documents and briefly examined the cup with a strange expression.
Slowly, he accepted it. The cup reached his lips, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.
It smelled of orange.
Pastel smiled.
“Delicious, right?”
The professor gulped down the drink without answering for a moment.
Then he returned the cup.
“Yeah.”
The professor turned his body.
“I wouldn’t expect additional funding.”
The sound of his footsteps grew distant.
Pastel stared at the professor’s back.
“He’s quite a stiff person, isn’t he?”
The devil approached.
『That’s how it is when you get older.』
“Wow, a sudden adult remark.”
Wow, wow.
Pastel burst out laughing.
Then she grabbed the devil’s arm and shook it.
“Devil! Devil! How old are you?!”
『Hah, why do you care? You don’t understand the flow of the conversation.』
“Just! Just! Tell me quickly!”
Her childish questions and laughter rang out.
The sounds mixed with the festival noises.
And reached even the two watching in their robes.
Their gazes turned to the pink-haired girl.
“Your daughter is quite lively.”
A dry voice answered.
“I’m not interested.”
“That would be the case.”
The questioner shrugged.
“…How did the infiltration go?”
“All successful. Though today was difficult, it will be easier to infiltrate the academy in the future.”
The questioner stroked their chin.
“On the contrary, it’s suspicious how smoothly everything is going. It seems like a demon infiltrator within the academy is aiming for a coup.”
“Let them do as they wish. We follow the plan.”
“Yes.”
The festival ended.
Peacefully.
