The meeting quickly progressed and soon came to an end.
The representative from the messenger side said they would come but ended up not showing up. Now, the most heated topic for debate was Craft’s joining, but Ellie had appropriately crushed it using the Demon King’s authority, so there wasn’t much left to discuss.
That said, it was also true that the presence of Pastel Lovecraft sitting at one end of the round table made it difficult to talk about sensitive matters like the development of the Demon Realm or trivialities of the attendees’ everyday lives.
Such an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere could have been mitigated by Ellie, but even Ellie didn’t seem to want to experience a racing heart while discussing confidential matters in front of Pastel.
Thanks to this, Pastel was finding herself in a situation where her own heart was racing more and more.
There are no moderately bad demons…
The Emperor’s castle and pressure?
If they go to a meeting where demons gather, it’ll be resolved!
Such positive thoughts were failing in real-time.
Ugh.
What to do! What to do!
There are no malicious and evil demons in sight!
The one penguin that might seem suspicious was ostracized by all attendees and in a dejected state!
Someone, stay strong!
Pastel realized she shouldn’t be thinking such wicked thoughts, but she hoped for a bad situation to arise.
What should I say, what should I say?
Whoosh! Bang! Whoosh! Bang!
It was like praying for a school to collapse in an earthquake and to stop the test right before entering the exam hall without studying.
But the difference between such an examinee and Pastel was that Pastel genuinely believed that if she wished hard enough, her wishes would somewhat come true.
As if in accordance with Pastel’s wish, something flew toward the wall of the meeting room. And then, it exploded.
A vast flame from the explosion blew the wall away. The wind rushed in.
“Ugh!”
Pink hair fluttered messily before settling down. Strands of pink hair got stuck in her mouth.
Sunlight streamed in through the collapsed wall. A demon riding a bird landed, breaking the debris.
“Did you all have fun playing house?”
Ugh!
It was clearly an extremist…!
A demon brushed aside the stone debris that had bounced toward the round table and stood up.
“Nathaniel! What do you think you’re doing?! This is Sky Island! Do you think this is a playground for your tricks?!”
Gasp.
Nathaniel sneered.
“That’s your problem. I’m not bothered.”
Ugh!
What a brazen statement!
What should I do! What should I do!
They were secretly holding a confidential meeting right in the middle of Sky Island, and that moderately bad demon did something bad, and now the rumors would spread everywhere!
Even though the atmosphere among the demons was relatively calm, the alertness had greatly increased after experiencing several terror incidents here on Sky Island!
An immediate investigation would surely be launched!
The Knight Corps would be mobilized, and the news would reach even the strictest of the top authorities!
Then, then…!
They would come for me, right?
Huh?
It wasn’t particularly a problem for me.
Knight Corps: We have captured suspicious demons holding a suspicious meeting!
Pastel: That’s not a big deal.
Knight Corps: Oh, really? I didn’t know.
Pastel calmed down.
Indeed, power is supreme!
Nathaniel approached the round table. He grimaced at the dirty chair covered in dust and debris but just stood there with his arms crossed.
He scanned the chaotic meeting room with a scrutinizing gaze. His gaze briefly stopped on Pastel before moving on.
“I heard there are traitors mourning the death of the heir to Belamont here… Was I mistaken to come?”
“This guy!”
Some of the attendees tried to stand up in outrage.
Ellie raised a hand and gently stopped them. A calm voice spread.
“Then you’ve come to the wrong place. You should leave.”
Nathaniel feigned a shocked expression.
“Oh, Princess. I had no idea you were here. I didn’t think someone who should be focusing on their studies would be here unnecessarily.”
Pastel’s mouth dropped open.
This guy is causing trouble for everyone just a few minutes after arriving.
Is this what an appropriately bad demon looks like, the ordinary idea was talking about?
My ordinary idea friend, your standards seem way too high. You won’t be able to smoothly inflate the outcome like that.
The penguin, who had been ostracized and gloomy until now, suddenly straightened his posture.
His gaze sharpened as he stared directly at the messenger team member.
“Nathaniel, please stick to your duty. It doesn’t matter what you think or how you feel. If you came as a messenger, fulfill your role.”
Wow!
Now that’s a straightforward statement!
Suddenly, the penguin, who had only been speaking awkwardly, made me feel so relieved!
At this rate, maybe I can dance the wobbly penguin dance together!
Nathaniel frowned. He glared at the penguin and then pulled out a paper from his pocket to read it somewhat carelessly.
“The death of Belamont is not something we initiated; it was an accidental incident caused by demons linked to the cult.”
“Accidental? Are you asking us to believe that?!”
One demon slammed their hand on the table.
Nathaniel shrugged.
“Then don’t believe it.”
“What?!”
The paper that should have been longer was turned over.
“Anyway, it’s an accidental incident we’re unaware of, so you should take care of it yourselves. Now, onto the report about the Demon King’s discovery…”
Nathaniel looked at Ellie.
“We cannot trust you.”
Ellie’s brows furrowed.
“In what way?”
“We would like to believe, but the timing seems suspect.”
His gaze fixed on Pastel.
Huh?
“That Craft obtained the right to build railways right after the Demon King appeared, and that this Demon King is favorable to Craft? How much time and resources have we devoted to finding the Demon King until now? And yet, there’s been no outcome, until it just happens now?”
Nathaniel let out a hollow laugh. He scanned the meeting room, carefully observed everyone, then shook his head.
“Seeing you all, it seems you haven’t shown up at all. How can we trust a nonexistent and suspicious Demon King?”
Ellie let out a small sigh.
“I believe I may have lacked explanations earlier. It was unavoidable for the safety of the Demon King—”
Nathaniel kicked away a stone debris. A heavy rock created a shockwave. The stone flew out and hit a nearby stone building. A loud crash resonated. The wall crumbled.
Ellie quietly touched her forehead. She glanced at Pastel, who was about to cover for the commotion, then flinched.
Pastel’s expression grew serious.
If a messenger evolves into a terrorist, Governor Pastel would be exceedingly busy.
In fact, I might need to call in the Knight Corps I had on standby.
Ellie quickly whispered.
“There aren’t any people around. All the buildings nearby are ours.”
“Oh really?”
Pastel turned pink again.
Ugh.
Nathaniel, satisfied with the outcome, caught sight of a cloud mackerel flying from beyond the sky. His hand reached out.
Huh?
Mackerel!
Pastel felt a shiver down her spine at facing her nemesis, the mackerel, which had never once been a good experience—well, it was nice at the table, but still not a good experience.
Just as expected, the mackerel that came flying bore a leather bag around its body.
Ugh! It’s a letter!
It certainly couldn’t be good news that the mackerel brought!
A note was retrieved from the bag.
“We won’t believe until the Demon King himself steps forward.”
Nathaniel read the note and shook it as if to show everyone. The note was folded and tossed aside, landing in Pastel’s lap.
Oh?
A note thrown down for me to read.
Pastel carefully unfolded the note.
It contained news that they successfully terrorized some of the infrastructure and railways in the Demon Realm that had fallen to Craft.
Ugh!
My railway…!
The sound of wings flapped.
“We will do what we must do.”
Having boarded the bird, Nathaniel took hold of the reins. The bird flapped its wings.
“So don’t cause any trouble! You traitors!”
Nathaniel instantly fled beyond the sky.
“Ugh!”
Pastel clutched her head.
My railway! My railway!
The worst! The worst!
Absolutely the worst!
She dashed to the end of the broken wall and yelled with all her might.
“This moderately bad demon…!”
As if to challenge him, she pulled out a purple handkerchief and threw it. The rolled handkerchief swooped into the sky and unfurled as it fell to the ground.
Ugh, my railway.
Pastel stumbled and sat down.
“Waaaah! My railway…!”
My choo-choo train!
Demon!
That demon is completely and utterly a bad demon!
Thinking back, the Demon King was viewed as a traitor by the demons, hence didn’t come along.
With no one to comfort her, Pastel quickly calmed down and stood up. She dabbed her tears with a freshly retrieved white handkerchief.
“My railway…”
Ugh.
Ellie approached but paused. She quickly calmed down, surprised, thought for a moment, and turned her steps toward the wall.
Her gaze was thrown and then stopped at the handkerchief that fell onto the roadside.
Ellie’s lips trembled slightly.
“What is that?”
Thinking about it, there was someone who could comfort her. Pastel’s face turned back to a frown.
“Ellie!”
Pastel hugged Ellie tightly.
Comfort me!
“Why did you throw that?”
Are you more curious about that than me?
Phew.
Pastel sniffed.
She leaned close and whispered slowly into Ellie’s ear.
“Princess, excessive curiosity is not good.”
Wouldn’t it be more convenient for you if the popular Pastel asked for comfort instead of Governor Pastel warning you so directly?
Ellie’s body stiffened.
Her hands trembled but then gently stroked Pastel’s back for comfort.
Ahh.
This soft touch.
Feels different from the Demon King!
