“Introducing Professor Marius, who decided to work towards the national cooperation for the acting presidency election~!”
“It’s Marius. Though I’m lacking, I will strive for the Craft family.”
Clap! Clap!
Pastel clapped her hands.
Professor Horace smiled contentedly.
“I knew this would happen. With justice, purpose, and righteousness on our side, everything unfolds just like a gentle breeze.”
“That’s right! It’s only natural for us to unite for the normalization of the academy!”
Pastel spoke but then her expression turned a bit sad.
“But if Professor Marius withdraws as a candidate, it will be like being elected unopposed. We’ll inevitably suffer from the false suspicion of an election influenced by authority.”
“Ha ha! An election influenced by authority!”
Professor Horace looked regretful.
“How could there be any intervention in electing an acting president? It’s solely about gaining the trust of the professors.”
“Exactly!”
“The Newspaper Club is only reporting good things, so how could there be any talk of interference?”
“But there’s no need to unnecessarily stir things up. If we said we would elect by majority vote, we should follow the fair process of majority voting.”
“Your Excellency, what should I do?”
Professor Marius looked serious.
“We just need to have a fair contest according to the existing fair procedures. So, let’s switch the method of election from just the professors voting to include students and staff as well. A somewhat more authoritative way.”
Initially, they hurried to elect an acting president to keep the Knight Order in check, but now that they have the Knight Order in hand, there’s no rush.
“A normal election, you mean?”
Professor Horace looked puzzled.
“I don’t oppose the younger generation’s opinion, but how could being elected from an ignorant majority be considered authoritative?”
Oh dear.
Pastel thought for a moment.
“They’re not an ignorant majority! They’re noble sons of the aristocracy! They’re all smart students who studied enough to enter the academy!”
It seems Professor Marius’s attempts to foster an anti-demon agenda have somewhat seeped into the students’ atmosphere.
If left unaddressed, it could become difficult for Elly to attend school!
We should achieve an overwhelming victory here so they recognize they are the minority and create a shameful atmosphere for persecution!
“Through a fair process to create a better world!”
Pastel mobilized her friends from the next day.
Booths were set up all around the campus. A booth with Professor Horace’s name written in large letters. Students visiting could receive gifts.
“Ahem! This is good indeed! I’ll be using my own pocket money!”
“Truly an upperclassman who cares for the students!”
It wasn’t that she expected a return; it was just a gift from the heart for the students.
A fair monetary election…!
Pastel handed out cookie bags in front of the dorm.
“Enjoy! I specially baked them!”
“I will enjoy them.”
With a smile, her classmate shyly accepted them.
“Hey, Pastel….”
Another classmate approached holding a half-eaten cookie, looking perplexed.
“Something’s weird with my cookie. I can feel the flour crunching in it…?”
Yes, yes!
“It’s a cookie, so it’s supposed to have flour!”
Pastel made a peace sign with her fingers.
“It’s double delicious! I put in double the flour! It’s a flour-flour cookie! Enjoy it! If you ask for more, that could be a problem~!”
The classmate hesitated but stuffed the cookie into their mouth. Then, smiling, they gave a thumbs up. The corners of their mouth twitched slightly.
Oh dear.
It must be really tasty!
I should have tried it too!
Dustin, who was handing out cookies with her, glanced over.
“Is this really okay?”
Pastel turned and smiled.
“What do you mean?”
“Is this really okay?”
Huh?
What is he asking about?
“Are you worried about my financial situation?”
Pastel smiled brightly.
“Thanks for worrying! But since Professor Horace is spending his own money generously, I don’t have a significant burden!”
“That’s not it.”
Dustin looked at the announcement board. The content read something about valuing every precious vote for a fair election.
“I just wondered if giving gifts in this situation is permitted.”
Pastel tilted her head.
“Dustin, aren’t we electing our president?”
“And?”
“Then we should look at the future president’s abilities, character, and passion, right?”
She looked around at the students and shouted as if to rally them.
“A kind person who gives gifts for students! A capable individual who prepares resources for students! A passionate person who spends their own money for students!”
She pointed towards the name on the board her friend was holding.
“It’s Professor Horace~!”
Cheers erupted from the noble sons and daughters. It was a sight of realization about how beneficial this novel election method was for them.
Wow!
I finally spread advanced knowledge!
So proud.
Pastel could bask in her overwhelming victory on the voting day.
A vote rate of 96%.
It certainly wasn’t because she handed out gold coins at the entrances without expecting anything in return.
What a true professor who gives gold coins to students out of his own pocket!
Indeed, a senior deserving of respect!
Elly returned after a short break from her studies. The changed atmosphere at the academy left her somewhat bewildered.
“What’s happening?”
“Justice has triumphed!”
Ahem.
Now it’s proven that Pastel is indeed kind.
The title of Craft was too heavy, but she needed something to hide her good nature.
“Professor Marius has withdrawn his claim of radical policies, feeling responsible for the overwhelming vote difference. He wants to apologize to you too. What do you think?”
“That professor?”
Elly placed her leather briefcase on her desk. Various office supplies she’d brought from the Demon Realm were taken out.
Pastel approached cautiously.
Beep beep!
“Maybe the professor holds some emotional loyalty to the Craft family or something; they yielded as soon as we had a conversation.”
Elly looked at her strangely without saying a word.
“But the truth is Professor Marius hasn’t genuinely reflected. He had a bit of a block, making communication difficult. So after some maneuvering, I ordered him to at least treat you kindly on the surface. To apologize! Of course, it’s fine if you don’t want to meet.”
Is this too much benevolent pity?
Pastel pondered slightly and then adopted a business-like expression.
“It was difficult for me as a superior to create an environment that places unnecessary stress on key members of the student council. I found it unpleasant being looked down upon, too. So from now on, please feel free to tell me if anything like this occurs that could interfere with our work.”
Feeling uneasy.
Elly ran her fingers through her hair. Her dark hair fell into strands as they were tugged and released.
“I’ll do that.”
Elly rummaged through her briefcase. When she pulled out some office supplies, she hesitated while fiddling with them before offering one.
“It’s a gift.”
“Huh?”
Pastel took the fountain pen.
Oh wow.
“A fountain pen from the Demon Realm.”
Oh wow indeed.
“I brought it since I find quill pens inconvenient.”
Pastel glanced back at the quill pen on her desk. The feather that had been dabbling in ink had become a bit mushy from her previous fidgeting.
She looked down at the sleek fountain pen.
“Whoa?!”
Cultural shock!
Technological shock!
Why have I been struggling with a quill pen when such a convenient item exists!
“Engineering technology is now ahead with the Demon Realm.”
There was a sense of pride that could not be suppressed in her calm voice.
“You can use it directly without dipping it into an ink bottle. It’s slightly more complicated to manage than the quill pen, but I will help with that.”
The technological power of the Demon Realm is incredible…!
Pastel gazed dreamily at the fountain pen.
“Wow! Wow!”
Dustin, watching from the side, approached hesitantly. He took a sneak peek at the office supplies being revealed and glanced at Pastel’s fountain pen. Then he glanced at Elly subtly.
Elly’s look turned disdainful.
“Have you analyzed the current situation of the Knight Order?”
“I’ve been busy with election activities…”
“Then do it now.”
At her cool gesture, Dustin quietly returned to his seat.
Once the work atmosphere set in, Elly tucked her briefcase away and sat at her desk. She pulled out the paperwork that needed processing.
Elly looked at Pastel’s fountain pen, then picked up her original quill pen. The quill dipped into the ink bottle and came back out.
“Pastel.”
The quill pen neatly wrote elegant letters.
“You should get to work too.”
Whoa!
Pastel suddenly felt disinclined towards paperwork.
The cheat sheet I implanted into the student council is highly effective during work, but I personally don’t want to create documents!
I am a powerful person who needs to ponder very important issues!
I returned to my seat and put on a serious expression of contemplation.
An expression worth a million times the sense of responsibility.
It’s not that I’m not working; I’m in the midst of serious thought.
So, I need to think.
About the side effect of the expulsion of all demons from the Sky Island.
Even if the malicious persecution sentiment was the motivation, it’s still not an issue to dismiss the concerns of patriots.
Now that the demon’s terror is becoming apparent, there’s enough reason to suspect hidden demon spies disguised as civilians. That’s likely why such an extreme claim of expelling all demons was made.
While I can’t sympathize with it, it’s true that if demons have made it deeply into the power structures of the military stronghold Sky Island, we should keep an eye on them.
At least minimal monitoring would be required, if not expulsion.
But since I broke the perimeter policy that could have allowed me to enact such a policy, is there a chance of problems arising?
Especially in a time like this, with the Demon King being prophesied?
Oh wow.
The pink eyes widened.
That next Demon King was actually me.
Oh wow.
It’s not about the spies; the future Demon King is already the sole power in the military stronghold.
“Ah ha ha!”
Pastel burst into laughter.
What a classic Craft joke!
I’m just Pastel!
