“Ziiing~.”
Pastel walked into the waiting room where the tournament group draw would take place, wearing a clever expression.
“I, the great detective Pastel, have come to the conclusion that it’s clear what’s going on.”
She pointed ahead where no one was standing.
“Professor Carlow is suspicious! If there’s a spy in the academy, it can only be Professor Carlow!”
That’s how it was.
Ugh.
An overwhelming sense of betrayal.
“I said it before, but Sky Island is the frontline, and the position of academy professor isn’t something just anyone can take. While I was trapped in the basement, the world outside changed, and although I might not know the current status of the Empire, the fundamentals likely haven’t changed that much.”
Pastel shook her head.
“But really, the Devil is wrong! This is it!”
“Present your reasons.”
Reasons, evidence.
“You think the dumb-dumb Pastel can’t answer? But I can! Because this is about the cult, and I’m seriously assessing the situation right now.”
Pastel wore a clever expression.
“As I mentioned last time, Professor Carlow handled things in a very strange manner. Of course, when looked at separately, they aren’t that strange, but when viewed together, it’s weird!”
She glanced back at the empty corridor, folding her fingers one by one.
“He tried to abolish the student council system for students. He implicitly allowed the awakening of magic stones, which facilitated the cult’s intrusion. He failed to block the sewers on time, encouraging assassinations and terrorism.”
That’s right, that’s right.
“Each had valid reasons like saving budget, improving performance, and administrative principles, making them not particularly strange, but it’s just too consistent.”
If coincidences continue, it becomes inevitable.
“That might be true, but one wonders if the Empire has decayed to the point where it can’t even select academy professors properly.”
Huh.
What kind of image does the Empire in the Devil’s mind hold?
Is this the generation gap created by the age difference?
Ugh.
The age difference is just too much.
“I think the reason the professor seems suspicious is that he’s simply too incompetent. Being in a high position doesn’t necessarily represent ability.”
The rebellious Pastel, who wanted to refute everything the ancestor-generation devil said, was dumbfounded.
“The ones who are originally supposed to teach often misjudge the world, thinking it will fall short because they teach only those lesser than themselves. That professor simply abandoned humility, sat in a high seat, and showcased his incompetence to the world.”
That’s a harsh statement.
Even if Professor Carlow hears this, he would doubt his ears as to whether such a statement supports him.
However, despite it all, not knowing whether the professor is actually a spy, Pastel felt her conscience prickling seeing him being insulted in real-time.
The Devil truly seems devilish.
“I think your words are quite harsh.”
Really.
“Huh? Why am I being portrayed as the bad guy? It’s common for someone skilled in their field to overestimate their abilities in unrelated areas.”
Pastel shook her head.
“Gossip is bad.”
That’s right, that’s right.
“No, why have I become the bad guy?”
The devil seemed perplexed.
The waiting room door at the end of the corridor opened. Elle peeked out and looked left and right, spotting Pastel.
“Pastel, hurry up. Everyone’s waiting.”
“Oh! Got it!”
Pastel ran in, her pink hair fluttering. Inside the waiting room, she saw her friends assigned to Tournament A.
Melissa, Althea, Leonard, Friend A, Friend B, etc.
All familiar faces!
They had set up multiple tournaments and divided the students by grades, so only the top-tier students were in Tournament A.
Pastel waved both hands.
“Hello, friends! Did you miss me? You missed me, didn’t you? Your long-awaited Pastel is here!”
Melissa, who was intently staring at the duke’s daughter Althea, brightened up.
“Oh, Pastel. Did you have any troubles on the way?”
Pastel cheerfully replied.
“Nope! I just arrived late! I’m a tardy person!”
But since she’s the powerful Pastel, she won’t get scolded~!
Yay!
“You all missed me, right? I’m sorry!”
Pastel put her palms together and offered a slight apology.
A popular person full of sin.
Ugh.
“Hey! Nobody missed you, so hurry up and arrange the groups.”
Leonard, who had his feet on the table, nodded towards the podium. Maybe he was too caught up in playing the leader, but his friends stood like subordinates.
“No one wanted to see me?”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
Then she burst into laughter all by herself.
“Hahaha! Leonard! No way will that change my personal rankings of friends! If you try to get attention like that, your ranking will only drop.”
Just fell out of the top 20!
“What?!”
Leonard’s mouth gaped open. He looked absolutely incredulous as he glanced back at his subordinates.
“Why does she always talk so annoyingly?”
After some thought, one of his subordinates answered.
“Boss, strong denial is a form of affirmation.”
Other subordinates nodded as well.
“These guys?!”
A squabble ensued.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
“Whoa! Friends! Don’t fight over me!”
She waved her arms with a slightly pouty expression.
“I understand that rivalry is enjoyable! But if you keep fighting over me, you all will become less than friends! I’m serious!”
Elle approached, glancing at the scene.
“Guys.”
She swept her black hair behind her ear and handed over a paper box.
“Why don’t they fight and just draw the groups?”
Huh?
So chic.
Pastel stared blankly at Elle, then looked back at the fighting scene. She pondered while looking down at the paper box.
She smiled brightly.
“Okay! Let’s do that!”
She walked up to the podium. Dustyn, who had been awkwardly standing by, stepped aside.
“You all know, right?”
She pointed to the tournament bracket behind the podium. The names were empty, and they were about to draw.
“One person at a time will come out and draw!”
Pastel looked down at her friends, then pointed to a silver-haired girl sitting quietly in one corner.
“First, Althea! Come on! It’s time to draw groups!”
Althea looked a bit awkward. Then, without standing up, she hesitated before speaking.
“I’ll forfeit.”
Huh?
Pastel was taken aback.
This tournament was held to see how the next level of knight candidates would fare, but if you can’t even participate yourself…?
She was flustered.
“Why do you want to forfeit?”
Pastel hurriedly held up the tournament guide. She pointed out the reward items.
“You’re from the Belamont duke’s family, so you might say you don’t need the prize money. But look! There’s a bonus for submitting your semester report! If you win this, you can slack off while preparing for your second-semester report!”
Totally great!
Althea shook her head slightly.
Huh.
Pastel lowered the tournament guide.
“Why do you want to forfeit?”
“Well…”
Althea seemed slightly burdened by the gazes on her. Then, feeling embarrassed, she spoke.
“I’ll just win anyway.”
Huh?
“I’m sorry for taking away a good opportunity, but I shouldn’t even be here in the first place.”
Level.
“I’m not here to interfere with your levels, so I think I’ll take an exception and you all can enjoy yourselves.”
A chilling silence filled the room.
Pastel’s jaw dropped.
“What?”
Leonard, who had been grabbing a subordinate by the collar, let go. A fierce gaze bore down on Althea.
“Are you asking for a fight? Huh?!”
Althea looked awkward.
“Uh, no, I’ll forfeit.”
“That sounds the same!”
Leonard slammed the table. As the noise filled the room, a tense atmosphere engulfed them.
Melissa, who had been observing, covered her mouth and let out a small sigh. Then she spoke.
“Althea, please show some etiquette to your classmates. This isn’t the North where you were born and raised.”
Althea, who had been troubled by Leonard’s gaze, looked a bit relieved.
“You’re right. I still have the sensation of being in the North, so it’s hard to adjust to your levels.”
Melissa smiled gently. Then, silently, she fixed her gaze on Althea.
“If it’s hard to suppress the tension in the air, should I challenge you? In the tournament. I would be a sufficient opponent, wouldn’t I?”
Althea looked awkward again.
“I don’t really want to easily face a wizard in a small duel. You’re not even a grand wizard.”
Melissa’s eyelashes fluttered. Although she wanted to engage in back-and-forth debate like they did during the tea party at the Belamont dormitory, she was patient due to the public setting.
Ugh.
Pastel was dumbfounded.
The upper knight-level is so arrogant.
Althea stared.
“Anyway, I’ll forfeit. You all have fun.”
Ugh.
Pastel locked gazes, then grabbed the quill from the podium. She wrote additional words on the regulations item of the tournament guide.
Scribble, scribble.
“That’s impossible!”
She held up the updated tournament guide version 2.0 confidently, pointing with her finger at the regulations item that had just been written and hadn’t dried yet.
“Forfeiting on the day of the tournament is not allowed! That would betray the hearts of the students who prepared diligently!”
Regardless, Pastel boldly declared, wanting to participate.
This is power!
Yay~!
Power, I love it~!
Althea stared at her with a blank face.
“What is that?”
Leonard smacked the table and laughed loudly.
“Serves you right! Just serves you right!”
Leonard pointed at Althea.
“This is our academy! How about that! Can you still belittle your levels while doing this?!”
Huh?
Leonard, just a moment ago annoyed at the popular Pastel, suddenly changed his attitude.
Despite his hobby of playing the leader, he’s acting like a complete flatterer.
So then, so then…!
Pastel’s expression became fully charged with power.
So much fun!
I hope more flatterers appear!
Ahem!
“Oh.”
Melissa, blushing, gently covered her face.
“This level….”
Her voice was filled with great embarrassment.
