“I look forward to your next visit, Viscount.”
Pastel was seen off at the docking station of the scoff.
“Great! I’ll look forward to your next visit too!”
After a week of enjoying tea parties and chatting excitedly with Melissa, Pastel happily agreed.
“Anytime.”
Count Cameron smiled gently, a subtle feeling mixed in.
Was it just a courtesy, without any real welcoming spirit?
No way, that can’t be.
After all, he was the one who always treated them to delicious apple pie during tea parties. It must be a misunderstanding~.
Pastel linked arms with Melissa, who was carrying a bag.
“My dear friend Melissa is looking forward to my next visit too, right?!”
“We’re not that close, but yes. I enjoyed it, Craft. You can come anytime, just like my mother said.”
As Melissa readily affirmed, the corner of Count Cameron’s mouth twitched. He said nothing, but looked at Melissa with concern.
Oh?
That gaze seemed to suggest a mother worried that her well-raised daughter might befriend a strange one and learn bad things?
No way~.
I’m not a strange one at all.
Pastel, looking all pink and fluffy, wouldn’t do anything bad. Just because Melissa is with me doesn’t mean she’s going to be tainted.
After receiving the send-off, they boarded the scoff and began their journey back to the Sky Island. There would be a few transfers to make, but it should be a smooth journey.
“Craft, it seems I misunderstood you for a long time.”
Melissa blushed slightly.
“Someone who can’t even keep tea party etiquette wouldn’t have a sinister plot or evil thoughts hidden away.”
It seemed that after spending a week at tea parties, Melissa had corrected her misconceptions and judgments.
“I’m sorry. I had preconceived notions about your beautiful appearance. I will admit it. You possess a pure heart, just as you appear.”
The misunderstanding was completely resolved!
Oh yeah.
But then Pastel halted in joy.
Wait, does that mean she thought my seemingly foolish behavior was just an act, and after a few days of observing me, she found out that I truly am a fool, and that’s why she feels relieved?!
What the…?
Shock hit Pastel to the core.
I, Pastel, shocked!
Having done my utmost to maintain etiquette with the help of the demon lord, it seems I didn’t meet the standards of a real noble lady’s eyes!
Gah!
At this rate, I’ll be rumored to be Fool Pastel.
Restore the honor of Pastel, the top academic!
Melissa was flustered.
“Craft, can I call you by your first name from now on?”
“Of course! Just don’t call me Fool Pastel!”
“Fool… Pastel?”
Melissa tilted her head in confusion.
Pastel’s mouth dropped open.
“Did you just call me Fool Pastel?!”
“Yes?”
Gah!
I really have become Fool Pastel!
So naive that I can rest easy knowing that I would never commit sinister and evil acts…
The first part of that description is all true, but calling me a fool is definitely wrong…!
Ugh!
Thud.
Despair struck as I arrived at Sky Island Academy.
#
Pastel walked around the campus in anxiety.
As the vacation was coming to an end, students who had entered the dorm early greeted her. She edged away from them and continued walking.
“Hey, Demon Lord, Demon Lord! Can you not hear? There are rumors trying to slander clever Pastel!”
Fool Pastel, huh.
Shivers ran down her spine.
『Not at all.』
Gasp.
“Can’t you hear?!”
Pastel gasped in shock and then quickly calmed down.
“I’ll believe what the Demon Lord says!”
Oh yeah.
Lulled, she headed to the student council room.
Before discussing various matters related to the slush fund from the apple orchard, she planned to check the status of the dorm construction first, since that was a public duty.
As she opened the door, a girl looking over documents with a quill in her mouth turned around. She had black hair and spiky demon ears.
“Oh, Ellie! You’re early for school!”
“I have a lot of scheduled work.”
Ellie pulled out a pile of documents that seemed to be fortuitous.
“By the way, I found some suspicious approval documents.”
It was paperwork regarding the establishment of the student council guild, not Viscount Craft’s guild.
Large letters caught her eye.
Pastel Love Craft – Ownership 100%
It was the student council guild, but there was no student council share.
What?!
The vice president who oversaw the student council and hastily processed the establishment of the guild with a 100% ownership share of the budget to skim off public funds was greatly shocked.
Oha!
Pastel’s dark corruption had been revealed to the world!
The handcuffs clanked.
The iron bars rattled.
Please consider it a survival-related corruption!
Ellie tapped the documents.
“Is this embezzlement of public funds?”
Embezzling public funds.
Pastel flailed her arms and panicked.
“That can’t be! It can’t be!”
Fumbling.
“I merely established a work agreement with professionals to facilitate the smooth operation of student council activities and enhance civilian cooperation!”
Waving her arms wildly.
A dubious gaze was thrown her way.
Gasp.
She can’t convince even one practical officer with her impeccable reasoning!
Fool Pastel who can’t convince anyone…!
Pastel grabbed her cheeks and let out a moan as if her soul was leaving her body.
Ugh~.
A dark future has become a reality~.
From now on, call me Prison Pastel.
Ellie shook her head and casually dropped the documents. Then, giving the impression of indifferent, she returned to her desk to finish her work. It seemed she had anticipated Craft’s behavior.
“The dorm construction has faced delays due to the discovery of a basement, but it is proceeding smoothly overall.”
Oh?
No questioning at all?
Pastel glanced around subtly before sneaking back to her own desk. Then, after checking again and seeing that there were indeed no questions, her expression brightened.
I don’t know what it is, but it is certainly a good outcome!
She raised her arms triumphantly.
Life is so easy, Pastel…!
Oh yeah.
There’s no prison living in my future~.
Of course that’s the outcome!
Nod, nod.
“Are you listening?”
“Yes! I’m listening! My ears wide open!”
She spread her palms out beside her head.
Wide open.
Ellie looked at her dubiously.
“I know the new dorm is being well-completed, but it’s also true that the schedule has been pushed back. I checked and found that some of the first-year students scheduled to come back early would need temporary accommodations.”
“Then just rent temporary housing. The academy has accommodations contracted. It should be sufficient if we shift some extra.”
“Yes, that’s what I plan to do. But Dustin hasn’t returned to school yet and we are short-handed for various tasks. Pastel, you need to handle some practical work during the remainder of the vacation.”
Huh?
Ellie brought a bundle of documents and schedule notes, which were filled with work for the remaining vacation.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
Me, in a work crisis?!
Where is the holy mission of participating in the first smuggling trade of Craft’s guild?!
Her breathing quickened.
I don’t want to work!
Pastel trembled.
“P-P-Pastel has prior commitments~.”
Her schedule was packed.
She wanted to work, but what a pity!
Without saying a word, Ellie moved and brought over detailed approval documents. Then she pointed her finger at the clear evidence of the crime.
Pastel Love Craft – Ownership 100%
Ellie’s finger pointed back at the dorm construction tasks.
An unspoken pressure toward the boss who enjoys playing around.
Ugh!
Evil intimidation strikes innocent Pastel!
Ellie, intimidation is bad…!
Just let me play around~!
#
Pastel leaned helplessly against the chair.
Ugh.
I’m going to be solely doing practical work for the short remaining vacation.
Grace, the guild master in the front row, was examining the slush fund checks and smiling smugly.
“That’s a sufficient amount. More than enough to decorate Craft’s guild’s first smuggling trade.”
“About that smuggling trade…”
Pastel slumped completely in her chair.
“I can’t go because I’m busy with student council matters. I’ll just hand over the demon realm entry permit for the urgent transport of dorm construction materials. You can go contact the Preston Organization at Blue Wave.”
“Oh my.”
Grace covered her mouth with a fan.
“By the way, the student council must be busy due to the arrival of the Skywhale to Sky Island soon, right?”
Skywhale?
Pastel tilted her head.
“What Skywhale?”
“Hmm? Isn’t it? Around this time every year, a Skywhale comes to the Sky Island. Although not like the trading guilds, the academy is supposedly busy for student safety, right?”
I don’t know. I was so overwhelmed by the dense workload that I didn’t pay enough attention to the work documents that I missed when I came back. I’ll have to ask Ellie about it when I return.
“I need to confirm for accuracy, but I think there will be something about the Skywhale.”
“I see.”
Grace waved her fan while thinking.
“Then you must send a representative in place of the Guild Master. Since the first trade of the guild is auspiciously important, it would be problematic if the guild owner were to be completely absent. It may lead to unfortunate circumstances regarding hiring mercenaries or funds for the next few years.”
A representative?
“We can’t just send anyone?”
“Absolutely not. You must send someone suitable for the prestige of your lord’s office.”
Someone to lead the first smuggling trade in place of Pastel?
A thought struck!
Professor Horace!
“I have someone in mind! Don’t worry, just prepare for the first trade!”
Pastel confidently left the guild and went directly to find Professor Horace.
“Senpai!”
Professor Horace, who was walking through the academy, turned around.
“Oh! Junior! What brings you here?”
“Do we only meet when we need something?! Of course, this time I came looking for you because I need something!”
Hehe.
Professor Horace thumped his chest.
“Speak as much as you like! Your troubles are my troubles!”
“You’re reliable, senpai!”
Pastel’s eyes sparkled.
“Senpai, would you be able to take a delivery in place of me? Just this once!”
“Oh! A delivery! Absolutely! I’d go even if I have to skip classes! What’s the schedule?”
So reliable!
Pastel relayed the schedule.
However, upon hearing it, Professor Horace coughed.
“Well, that date is a bit troublesome.”
“What?!”
“I have to be on duty due to the Skywhale. It’s difficult to be absent for student safety.”
Gasp.
Not so reliable!
Pastel froze in shock.
Professor Horace subtly glanced at Pastel and changed his words.
“Of course, if you really want me to, I’ll try to find time, but I can’t promise.”
Pastel’s head drooped.
“It’s okay… If it’s for student safety, then there’s nothing to be done.”
“Thanks for understanding. I’ll make sure to help next time!”
“Yes.”
The professor she trusted walked away.
Pastel trembled.
Oh no.
I might ruin everything after boasting!
Liar Pastel…!
Shake, shake.
『There’s no need to be too disappointed. After all, that professor isn’t quite suitable as a representative of Craft’s status. Even considering you’re a student, it’s lacking in weight.』
Demon Lord, don’t speak the harsh reality so coolly!
Ugh!
Pastel slumped down.
A representative suitable for the status of Viscount Craft?
No matter how I think about it, sending someone befitting status isn’t appropriate. Instead, sending the clan’s retainers to make up numbers is the answer, but in truth, none of the retainers have survived.
Despair.
Despair!
The sound of footsteps was heard.
“Craft, or should I say Pastel?”
Melissa approached.
“Is something troubling you?”
Pastel looked at her friend with a tearful expression.
“It’s incredibly, incredibly troublesome!”
“Oh dear.”
Melissa elegantly bent down and helped Pastel up.
“If there’s something troubling you, feel free to say it. I’ll do my best to help as a token of my apology for misunderstanding your innocent self during the past.”
Huh?
Melissa Cameron.
Heir of the Southern Commander.
While she isn’t a clan leader yet, considering she’s a fellow student and friend, isn’t she suitable enough to be a representative?
Pastel innocently asked with a quivering voice.
“Will you really help?”
“Of course.”
“It’s nothing grand, but I need someone to take over a delivery of necessary items for those in need. Just once during the remaining vacation.”
Melissa smiled brightly.
“You’re doing a good thing. I really misunderstood you. I can definitely do such a good deed for you.”
“Melissa!”
Pastel hugged Melissa tightly. Melissa flinched slightly but did not reject the embrace.
You’re definitely my close friend!
A while later, Pastel took her dear friend Melissa to the completed docking station for the first trade.
Melissa tilted her head.
“Is this the trade for delivery?”
“Yes!”
Several scoffs were piled high with smuggled processed magic stones.
Guild Master Grace approached them.
“Is she the one who will represent you in the first trade?”
“That’s right!”
Pastel entrusted Melissa to the guild. Melissa boarded the scoff with elegance.
“I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be waiting!”
The champagne of the first trade popped, and the scoffs set off.
“Have a good trip, Melissa!”
Pastel waved off her departing friend.
Waving her hands.
Melissa, who still didn’t fully understand the situation, leaned against the scoff’s railing, smiled, and waved back.
The mood was good.
The smuggling ship vanished beyond the sky, carrying a noble lady who had no idea of her purpose.
Thank you, Melissa!
You’re truly my close friend!
I’ll be counting on you again next time!
Oh yeah.
