“Whoa….”
Having finished her work, Pastel sprawled out on the giant chick. Her pink hair covered the chick’s feathers.
She had roughly completed the aftermath of the cult suppression. After managing the casualties and prisoners from the battle with the cult, she confirmed the traitorous knight members that Melissa had organized and approved the action posthumously.
To investigate what the cult had done to the holy land, she decided to call in the academy’s research team.
In detail, it would take more time and require more specifics, but for now, it was something the staff could handle.
In the first place, silly Pastel knew nothing.
“Powerful Pastel, fresh Pastel.”
In fact, she wasn’t very fresh right now.
Having power was nice, but the fact that she had to work despite her complicated family matters was quite bothersome.
Was there no automated task processing system? Even if there was, did that come with the responsibility of being in her position?
“Flap flap.”
She moved her hands to smell the chick’s feathers.
“Chicken scent.”
—Peep?!
The chick shivered. It seemed to be shocked by the fact that it was on par with chicken.
It felt like she had said something harsh by mistake.
“Sorry, baby chick friend. I got tired and spoke my mind. You’ve always smelled like chicken.”
—Peep?!
The chick’s beak opened in shock.
“Uh! I’m really sorry!”
Feeling prickled, Pastel hopped down.
“By the way, have you found your parents? The battle was fierce, so I don’t know if they could tell friend from foe. Your parents didn’t know you betrayed the cult.”
—Peep.
The chick pointed its wings somewhere. In one of the floating islands, a mother bird had gathered two baby chicks and was scolding them for something. One of the baby chicks tried to sneak away and got pecked on the beak.
“Wow. You all seem to handle yourselves well? That’s a relief.”
—Peep~!
The baby chick bragged.
“It’s only the second kidnapping, though.”
—Peep.
She patted the baby chick.
“Come on! Hurry up! You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this! Parents are important!”
—Peep!
The baby chick flapped its wings and flew away. The mother bird watched her child approach and, perhaps frustrated by the slow speed, flew over first and grabbed it. The chick, grabbed by the nape, struggled.
—Peeeyaak!
After some time, it seemed to realize that, like the other baby chicks, it was in trouble and started flailing.
“Don’t cause any trouble~!”
Pastel waved her hand. Then she watched with a smile as the chick getting scolded multiplied to three, and she lowered her hand weakly.
Ugh.
“A delicious meal and a warm place to sleep are needed right now.”
Friends are nice, but today, she felt cloudy and wasn’t confident she wouldn’t make any slip-ups.
But then again, she didn’t want to be alone…
『It would be better to enjoy a bath first.』
A devil walked out of the white building in the holy land. He rolled up his suit sleeves to avoid getting them wet, as if preparing for bathwater.
“Oh! Lord Devil!”
Pastel’s expression brightened.
『Originally, the routine would have been to take a bath right after the battle, but since I’ve only washed my face and taken a quick shower while I had time, you must be quite tired.』
It seemed the mention of her father was deliberate.
“That’s true! No wonder I can’t shake off this feeling of lethargy!”
The devil looked around for a moment but didn’t say anything further.
They arrived at the spacious bath. The windowless interior was illuminated by artificial moonlight coming from an open ceiling. Looking up, the light sources in the cavern ceiling sparkled like stars.
“Wow!”
The atmosphere was perfect for a bath!
As she dipped her hand in the water, she felt a slight warmth. The leaves swayed with the ripples. When she scooped some water and smelled it, a refreshing forest scent wafted up.
Thinking that it must have been sprinkled by the lord devil, a single leaf fell from the open ceiling. Around the hole, lush branches and leaves were unfurling.
Whoa, a bathhouse with natural fragrances falling on their own?
Super ultra perfect spot!
“Lord Devil! Lord Devil! This place is super ultra perfect!”
It seemed even more expensive than Sky Island real estate!
With vigorous hand movements, she splashed the water.
“This is why the forest scent doubles!”
『Yes. The towels are over here. The clothes to change into are here. The magic circle is designed for the shrine and might feel unfamiliar, but it’s not too different, so you can use it intuitively.』
The devil’s red eyes surveyed the bath.
『And, that’s all. Take your time and enjoy. If you get hungry, come out. I’ll have something prepared.』
The devil, who had roughly explained everything, turned around. Pastel, busy playing with the water, flinched.
“Oh, wait a moment!”
Her small hand reached out as if to grab him.
The devil glanced back in surprise.
Her pink eyes flickered nervously.
“So, um.”
Her hesitating voice rang out.
“Please don’t leave me alone right now.”
Her wet fingers twitched. A droplet rolled down her hand and fell.
The pink-toned girl looked down at it, then turned to the devil with a bright expression.
“Of course! Preparing a meal is important! If it’s a long-cooking dish, I can’t help it! It sounds delicious!”
The devil let out a small sigh.
Then he turned his body.
Ah.
The strength left her hand.
『I’ll get a chair.』
“Oh!”
The girl’s face brightened again.
“Yes!”
Pastel, fully undressed, held a strange expression as she picked up the bath additive. A smooth glass bottle contained a high-quality skin care product that was probably unaffordable for common folk.
“Where did you get this?”
There’s something like this in the holy land?
『That was taken from the knight corps’ luggage.』
The devil, seated with his back turned, nodded his crossed legs.
『There were quite a few types.』
“Did you come for a vacation?”
Master Craft unintentionally blurted that out.
The original purpose of the knight corps was to conquer ruins, yet their bags seemed packed for outings by nobles?
Ugh.
Pastel momentarily considered the restructuring and absorption of the knight corps and shivered.
“Oh!”
Relax now! Relax!
No talk about work…!
Pastel’s expression became serious in another way.
“The holy land is very risky for bringing in resources! The righteous student council will check it out!”
Oh yeah.
She popped the cap off the bath additive. The wealthy knight seemed to have an elegant taste, as it released a subtle floral fragrance that was not vulgar. It should pair well with the natural forest scent of the hot spring.
“Hiding the truth, the scent is good, but whether it’s dangerous can only be known by using it!”
Lulululu~!
She poured the bath additive into the tub. A transparent liquid gushed out.
『This scent… After bathing, it would be nice to apply it lightly. It’s a moisturizing lotion made for skin care…』
The devil stopped speaking at the sound of the water.
『What have you done…?』
Oh?
Pastel looked down at the entirety of the poured bath additive (that wasn’t). A transparent lotion floated, not mixing well.
Rolling her eyes, she pointed at the lotion.
“This one wants to be friends with the bath water!”
It was truly like that!
『What kind of trick is this?』
“It’s a friend-making project! It’s definitely not a mistake and my smart head making moves! Ah! They are compatible and should get along! Popular Pastel needs to help!”
She pointed at the lotion.
“Look! They’re already best friends!”
The oily substance floated on the surface of the water.
Pastel gazed at the iridescent oil and then sneaked a glance at the devil’s back. She bent her body slightly. Her hand swiftly stirred the water.
Splash splash!
She hurriedly stood up, pretending not to notice. She pointed again.
“See!”
The bath additive was harmoniously mixing with the water.
Whoa.
“Completely best friends!”
Is this the compatibility my head was so sure of?
Completely smart.
『Did you really pour in lotion? How much did you pour?』
“Friends! I’m coming~!”
Pastel carelessly placed the empty glass bottle down and jumped into the water. Splash. The warm heat enveloped her body at once. A hot breath exited from her lips.
“Wow! Wow!”
The temperature control was perfect.
The only person capable of preparing bath water perfectly suited to Pastel’s taste in the entire world is the lord devil! Including Pastel!
As she flipped her body, she grabbed the edge of the bathtub and splashed water everywhere. Both legs struck the surface, creating bubbles.
Splash splash!
“Lord Devil! Lord Devil! Aren’t you bathing?!”
The devil shifted positions and sat.
『Returning with a sword means returning in a fixed state, so it’s not essential. Currently, I can’t do it since it’s the holy land.』
Then again, she thought; he mustn’t have been able to wash while locked up in prison?
Heh.
“So, the soap scent coming from you is the scent that would come out when sealed?”
『Hmm?』
The devil sniffed the collar of his clothing.
『I don’t know. Is something coming from me?』
“It’s a nice scent, so it’s okay!”
So this is why he keeps nagging her to tidy up her bedding.
Flap flap.
She sat quietly in the tub.
“Lord Devil! Lord Devil!”
『You don’t need to call me. You can just talk.』
Saying that…
“Lord Devil! Lord Devil!”
『Yes.』
But when Pastel called out, she found she had nothing to say.
She just called out.
She blankly raised her head. The stars shined brightly from the high ceiling of the cave.
Aha!
She turned to look at the devil.
“Please tell me about love!”
The devil looked blank.
『Why is that?』
That is! That is!
“I’m at an age where I’m becoming interested in love!”
『Don’t say that with your own mouth.』
Hehe.
“Anyway! You must have at least had a love experience with that appearance! If not, I’d be happy to hear about unrequited love!”
Even though it’s a bit awkward to say, according to her father, the devil once had an unrequited love for her mother, but it ended in failure, right?
The devil who lost to such a father.
Whoa.
Just slightly feeling a sense of guilty pleasure…!
Lord Devil, hang in there!
Although he’s already lost!
The devil rubbed his face with one hand.
『I understand what you want to hear.』
“I didn’t say anything about my mother!”
『You just did.』
Whoa, shock.
The devil changed his sitting posture. He switched to the other leg and then crossed his legs again.
『Love, huh. I don’t know what kind of feelings you will have, but it would be good not to engage in it for now. Think it over again.』
Is it advice based on experience?
『Choosing a partner isn’t a light matter. You must consider various conditions, so it would be better to think carefully at least from the point where you’re not a minor.』
The devil rubbed his chin.
『Hmm. I see. Don’t even think about it for the next few years. From what I see, there isn’t even a suitable partner for you around.』
Pastel, taken aback by the sudden scolding, made a blank expression.
Then she brightened up.
“Please tell me about love!”
『Sigh.』
The devil, who had been trying to change the subject, rested his face in his hand.
