“Is it too difficult to listen to experiences of unrequited love?”
Melissa, walking down the white corridor of the Holy Land, felt bewildered.
“Probably, right? No matter how much the opponent is a servant, there are etiquettes to uphold. Even if it was merely a moment of pure love, it must have meant everything at that time.”
Huff.
Such a romantic statement.
Did mom once think of the Demon Lord as everything?
Huh.
Her feelings were complicated.
It was hard to imagine.
“How did you become curious about free love all of a sudden, Pastel? Have you developed feelings for someone?”
Melissa looked puzzled.
“Not really. By the way, I heard that Alysia also mentions free love? Is it considered a taboo for nobles?”
Is the popular Pastel ahead of her time?
Melissa thought for a moment.
“It’s not exactly taboo, but there are quite a few people who don’t encourage it. After all, the will of the clan is important.”
Engagements between clans?
Heh.
“Do you have an engagement partner too, Melissa?”
Melissa smiled gently.
“My mother told me to decide for myself gradually. I haven’t really thought about it much.”
A model student friend who follows her parents’ advice to decide for herself. While I’m not sure if that’s really making her own decisions, it’s an admirable attitude.
“Does Alysia have one?”
“I don’t think so…?”
Melissa twirled her golden hair.
“I haven’t heard anything, but this is a matter within the clan, so I might not know.”
“Is it true that you two got closer?”
After parting ways, they continued to work together in the Knight Corps, getting along well, as you had claimed until now that they weren’t friends.
“Of course. I’m not sure if we’re friends, but we get along like regular friends.”
Ugh.
Then that means they’re not friends.
But that’s better than being in a fighting state.
“That’s good!”
“Right?”
Melissa’s face brightened. Regardless of everything, it’s better to be close than to be fighting because the clans are not on good terms.
“Ah~!”
Pastel walked a bit faster, hands behind her back.
“I need love~. Romance, engagement, romance, engagement~. It sounds better to call it romance~.”
“Since you’re the clan leader, isn’t there not much difference between free love and engagement? You don’t need to get someone’s permission, after all.”
“Is that so? Then, if you call it engagement, it’s better~.”
Though, it’s questionable whether love can be felt when you call it engagement.
“How does one get engaged?”
Melissa thought for a moment.
“I’ve only heard about it, but many portraits come to the clan. From those, they review the clan history and personal details to select, then the parties or their parents choose. I believe they meet several times to check their impressions and personalities before having a casual agreement.”
“Totally rigid!”
Not what I imagined!
This isn’t romantic at all!
Engagement is indeed engagement!
“Is that so?”
Melissa looked bewildered.
“It might seem strict from your perspective. But it doesn’t happen without some romance. My parents met this way, and they’re quite happy.”
“Really?”
Is there a way of love that fits the era and situation?
“I’m not sure, but it does sound interesting!”
Uh-huh!
Melissa hesitated slightly. She wanted to give advice to her friend’s overly light mindset, but felt it might be too intrusive regarding the Craft clan’s internal affairs.
Eventually, she brought up another topic.
“What should we do about the Knight Corps? Given the circumstances, I had no choice but to execute a summary trial for treason, but I don’t know how long I’ll hold command authority.”
“Oh that?”
Since the faction that colluded with the cult was dealt with, it might be fine to let the Knight Corps handle their own self-correction, but…
“How about using the command authority to restructure? To about half the personnel. Replacing the empty positions with new recruits.”
“H-Half?”
Melissa’s face showed shock.
“Yeah! Since they’re all useless anyway!”
Better to streamline than ruin the work atmosphere with unnecessary personnel.
There are risks involved, but thinking of everything the Knight Corps has done so far, it’s time to dispose of the whole thing. It’s also a good time since they’ve dealt with the cult once, providing a cushion of safety.
“You brought so much unnecessary stuff in your travel bag! Is it a picnic?”
Pastel approached Melissa. She lifted her golden hair and sniffed.
Melissa shrugged her shoulders and tensed up.
Huh, there’s no scent at all?
The heir to the Southern Commander position must have bathed with soap while camping, as she had no scent.
“You didn’t use any fragrance?”
“I didn’t bring any.”
“But there was some in the Knight Corps supplies, right? Since you brought them, you might as well borrow some.”
“I enjoy that kind of thing, but I hold back in situations like this. Scents can easily lead hunting dogs to track me down. If they know my preferences and train on that scent, I’ll be found even if I disguise myself.”
Whoa, ultra-elite.
Actually, when she washed her hair, she didn’t even glance at the stiff soap, and Pastel felt a bit guilty.
“Melissa!”
She hugged her friend tightly.
“I wish there were more people like you under me!”
It’s so soothing!
“Bu-but if we reduce the number by half, won’t there be a lot of resistance? Not to mention, the Knight Corps leader will be hard to control.”
She’s a Knight-class.
“I’ve already discussed it with the Knight Corps leader!”
Despite being in a rather disheveled mental state yesterday, I took care of business.
In exchange for covering up excessively embarrassing issues within the Knight Corps, I agreed to comply with the Academy’s governance.
“I’ve also drafted a rough restructuring plan, so talk to the Knight Corps leader!”
Having already investigated the Knight Corps and examined the internal affairs was helpful. I’ll have to adjust the details again, though.
Melissa’s mouth slightly dropped open. Her hand covered her mouth late.
“You really are amazing. Everything flows so smoothly for you. You planned this all along.”
Huff.
Is that so?
“If the Knight Corps effectively comes under the Academy, then on Sky Island, there won’t be anyone to stop you. While the past glories may still be far away, it will become a foundation to rebuild the Craft clan.”
Pastel was impressed. She grabbed Melissa’s hand and shook it.
“Melissa! You care about our friendship and look out for me like this! You’re the only one!”
“Is that so?”
Melissa smiled gently.
“Then, as your friend, I’ll say this. How about just stopping the disgraceful smuggling? Even if the abuse of public power isn’t great, it’s somewhat justifiable for rebuilding the clan. But smuggling is way too disgraceful. The Student Council covering the operation costs of the Craft guild is just a strange structure.”
Huh.
Pastel suddenly turned her gaze.
Huff.
An ant is passing through the corridor!
They look so busy!
“Melissa! It’s time for us to work like ant friends! I’ll check the plundered goods alone, so you talk to the Knight Corps leader!”
“Y-Yeah?”
Pastel dashed away.
Zip.
“Wow! There’s so much here!”
Pastel’s jaw dropped at the pile of gold and magic stones. It looked like the cult had fled, leaving behind all their material assets.
This is the taste of plunder…!
I think I can understand a pirate’s mindset!
“Total confiscation! Total confiscation!”
She made an instant approval for the plundered goods confiscation.
After all, there’s no one in power above Pastel now!
“Good job, little chick friend!”
She roughly rubbed the feathers of the giant chick beside her.
“If it weren’t for you, it would have been hard to find these hidden in a corner tunnel!”
—Peeep!
The chick boasted.
“Well done! Well done!”
The decision to confiscate was made just by looking at the gold and similar-priced magic stones, but since everything must be done meticulously, she examined all the plundered goods. Upon entering a stored warehouse, a scent of herbs wafted through. She spotted some burlap sacks and wooden boxes.
“Are these emergency medicines?”
“Through the prisoners, we found out they were brought from the Skywhale, the whales that regularly visit Sky Island.”
“Oh, those whale friends?”
I also gathered my friends and cleverly sold herbs to create a budget for the Student Council.
—Peeep! Peeep!
The little chick, who was accompanying as a benefactor, pointed somewhere with its wings.
A gorgeous treasure chest sat there.
Huh.
“What is that?”
The Knight Corps member looked bewildered.
“We’re not sure either… The cult found this treasure while discovering ruins damaged on the back of the Skywhale.”
“What’s inside it?”
“That, we don’t know.”
“You haven’t opened it?”
If they’re going to manage confiscated goods, shouldn’t they check inside?
The Knight Corps member looked flustered. It seemed hard for them to believe they hadn’t thought to check.
“I should have checked, I’m sorry.”
What a strange mistake that raised eyebrows. Pastel paused in updating the restructuring list.
“People can make mistakes! Make sure to be thorough next time!”
Should I open the treasure chest?
Pastel hummed as she moved her hands. The chest opened with a satisfying click. How come I didn’t think it would be this easy?
Peering inside, she saw a jewel that looked quite familiar.
It resembled the ones obtained from the Demon Lord’s ruins. Powers of magic stone consumption or powers of magic stone manipulation, perhaps.
Her hand subtly covered the box. Quietly thinking, she slipped a hand into her pocket. A small compass was pulled out. The needle pointed toward the chest.
Wow!
It’s the fate compass given by the former Demon Lord to find treasures! I had almost forgotten about its essence…!
“Confiscate! Confiscate! Full confiscation!”
She picked up the entire chest.
“It looks dangerous, so I’ll manage this myself!”
She quickly wrapped up her work.
She ran towards the demon who was making pie dough in the kitchen.
“Demon Lord! Demon Lord!”
The treasure chest she placed on her head shook.
“Wait. It’s not ready yet. Sit over there and wait. Why is that on your head?”
“This is just a hat!”
She carelessly put the treasure chest on a shelf. From her pocket, she took out a jewel.
“The Demon Lord’s legacy!”
Smart Pastel has found it!
“Were there ruins in the Holy Land?”
The Demon opened her apron.
“How careless of you. Are you hurt at all?”
Her red eyes scrutinized.
“I can’t tell the Demon Lord this, but I personally went through a very arduous journey, conquered the ruins, and boldly seized the powers!”
Proud.
“What kind of journey was it?”
“It was an amazing journey! A journey to become friends with a million Skywhales!”
Huff, that’s amazing.
With this, you might even be able to conquer the world!
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Yes!”
She opened the fate compass-cum-jewel box and stored the jewels. It fitted perfectly in the empty space.
“Huff!”
The pink eyes widened.
“This feeling! This feeling!”
Pastel was very excited, rolling her eyes.
I feel nothing at all.
Former Demon Lord, some instructions, please.
“This is the power of magic stone conversion.”
Huff.
Magic stone conversion?
“Can I turn a magic stone into a pizza?!”
But thinking about it, if I turned a magic stone worth its weight in gold into a pizza, I’d lose a million-fold!
“It couldn’t possibly turn into pizza.”
“Seems like that’s true!”
Heh heh.
Pastel took out a snack magic stone from her pocket. This magic stone friend had pleaded to stay in her pocket, and she had granted that wish specially.
“It’s best to widen the distance.”
“Yes.”
She stepped outside and placed the magic stone on a rock.
She stretched out both hands.
“Huhhhh!”
Whatever it is, power beam~!
“Psychic blast beam~!”
The magic stone shimmered black.
What is this? What is this?
Energy surged from the magic stone. At the critical point, an intense light erupted. An explosion occurred, shattering the rock. The aftershock stirred the wind, tousling her pink hair.
Whoa.
She could see a deep pit.
The Demon spoke calmly.
“The magic stone has been converted to energy.”
This is how Pastel interpreted it.
Gold transforms into air.
“Aaah! My gold value…!”
The remains left no dust at all.
Thud.
“My magic stone friend!”
I wish you’d just turn into a pizza!
