“Don’t worry, now get ready to focus on your studies!”
Pastel closed the door after sending the upperclassmen off.
The corners of her mouth crept upwards.
She turned abruptly to the black-haired girl.
“Elly! Elly! Did you hear? It’s a new business from Craft High Merchant! A righteous venture to save the engineering department that went bankrupt after betting all their assets on new technology!”
If it’s an academy, then one must be burning with the passion for studies!
It was a proud initiative to revive the engineering department and promote a scholarly atmosphere.
“We’re going to take over a bankrupt trading company?”
“Yes, yes! That way, we can rescue those seniors who invested and ended up losing everything, plus we can take over the gem fuel business! No wait!”
Pastel spun around with her arms wide open. Her white skirt flared.
“Originally, the trading company was supposed to buy gem fuel from us, but if we become that trading company, then we can’t do business the old way! So, we just need to create new customers! There are surely plenty of demon realm trading companies that use construction golems, so we’ll supply them with fuel!”
Round and round she twirled.
Supplying fuel at a fair price to trading companies dedicated to demon realm development—what a noble action to raise the living standards of the poor.
Pastel felt proud even before starting. She stopped spinning and pulled out a fountain pen from her front pocket.
As she lifted it, it sparkled.
Fountain pen friend!
“A technological advancement that solves the hassle of using a quill that needs ink! I’ll improve people’s lives by laying down railroads at the peak of this technology!”
Elly watched quietly.
“Looks like you really don’t distinguish between demons and humans.”
“What do you mean?”
After all, the only physical difference is the pointy ears.
“Never mind that.”
Elly gathered the documents left behind by the seniors. She handed over the expected pricing from the Empire Bank, which had put the trading company up for sale.
“Do you have any money?”
Huh?
Pastel looked at the price tag.
There were zeros everywhere.
Her pink eyes widened.
“No money!”
Aaaah.
Now that she thought about it, she had no money!
All her assets and credit had already been cashed in and sent off in an airship loaded with benign trade goods!
“Elly! I’m broke!”
She clutched her head. As she shook it in despair, her pink hair, tied in pigtails by the Demon Lord’s small hands, flailed about.
Despair.
Dee-spair.
Was she really going to watch the pure engineering department go bankrupt like this?
Pastel’s pink hair slapped Elly on the cheek.
Elly rubbed her cheek and placed the documents she had received on the desk, turning away from the girl who had fallen into her own world.
“Don’t use all your liquid assets on business like this. You’ll end up in the red.”
“Thanks for the advice!”
But the harsh reality of the engineering department’s dark future was beyond what Pastel could handle.
Someone please lend me some money…!
A knock sounded.
Ugh.
Pastel stopped her spiral of despair and turned to the door, quickly fixing her hair.
Elly opened the door to greet a visitor.
“President, is there something you need?”
“Oh, it’s nothing major, just a private visit. Craft, you’re here too! Ah, there you are! Junior! I’ve come!”
Professor Horace—or rather, the president—walked in. Having been elected as acting president, he had swapped out his usual robes for a luxurious-looking, high-end robe that screamed ‘prestige.’
“President!”
Pastel’s face lit up.
“Haha! President? Is that really the best title we have? That’s a bit disappointing.”
“Aah! I’m sorry, senior! Please have a seat! Elly! Get him his usual drink!”
Pastel quickly tidied up the somewhat cluttered area with papers. President Horace sat down comfortably.
“It’s nice today, unlike the approaching winter. I was out for a stroll and decided to check in. You should join me for some sunlight instead of being cooped up indoors, Junior.”
“I’d love to, but I can’t quench my passion for my students. Just now, I consulted on a troublesome matter in the pure engineering department.”
“Is that so? I heard that the trading company sponsoring your department went bankrupt?”
“As expected of you, Senior! You’re always tuned into the students’ news!”
You’re so competent!
“Of course! How could I be outdone by a junior with many friends? My social skills can’t be matched!”
He mentioned the new inspection department, which Pastel had just formed with her friends.
“Ah! Is that so?! Ahaha!”
They shared a hearty laugh.
Then, President Horace’s expression turned serious.
“By the way, I happened to come for that very issue.”
Huh?
“The concentration of magical energy in the sky has been rising lately, causing changes in habitats for sky creatures, leading to multiple changes in air routes. Due to that, the trading companies involved in trade were hit hard. Now, with the Empire Bank downgrading its credit, many companies have finally gone bankrupt.”
Guh.
That’s a serious matter.
He mentioned it was a private visit, but what a serious issue it was.
Our excellent president, treating public matters as private affairs.
“Then, if the Sky Island government doesn’t take swift action, the Sky Island economy could be in jeopardy? A series of bankruptcies among trading companies will lead to mass unemployment and worsened public safety, boosting illicit trade.”
The Sky Island government is the successor to the disbanded Sky Island governor’s office.
It wasn’t just an issue confined to the pure engineering department.
“I examined the budget, and during the time the presidential position was vacant, there were many funds that remained frozen and unused. We could use those funds to rescue major trading companies.”
“That’s a relief!”
Phew.
“But offering support as is feels too clumsy. The high merchant mismanaged their trading company but still holds their position! Are we supposed to help them out? What if that happens again? Oh dear!”
President Horace said something in a theatrical tone.
“What do you think about the student council?”
Pastel couldn’t grasp the intention, so she just went, “Hmm~.”
“It does raise some eyebrows when those that fail in managing continue to hold their positions, right? There are risks with that.”
“Exactly!”
President Horace smiled brightly.
“Therefore, we will support the major bankrupt trading companies while replacing their managers with trustworthy individuals!”
Trustworthy managers.
Who is the most trustworthy?
Right, it’s me!
Guh.
Pastel’s cheeks flushed with a rosy color.
“What a coincidence! I was planning to save the trading company that had been supporting the pure engineering department purely out of goodwill! I had a well-thought-out plan all ready! It was just a minor issue that I hadn’t executed it yet!”
The fact that she had no money was indeed a minor issue.
“But what luck that the administration has already made a takeover plan and now needs a capable manager!”
Anyone would think it was premeditated!
So unfair!
Truth be told, she could simply decline, but Pastel was already mentally prepared for injustice.
Injustice expert Pastel…!
President Horace smiled even wider. Though it was a private talk, it was also a great public choice—he looked doubly pleased.
“Haha! What a coincidence! To think someone was already prepared to manage! And not just anyone, but an experienced individual who led a trading company magnificently!”
“I shouldn’t be saying this, but…”
Pastel fidgeted, a bit flustered.
“Pastel is an excellent choice!”
Surprisingly true!
“I strongly agree! At this point, there’s no need to consider other candidates! Hahaha!”
“That’s true! Ahaha!”
Pastel could decide on the hiring with no dissent at all. It was a competent decision with no interference from the dormitory head.
A while later, the president took his leave.
The cheerful atmosphere settled down.
Pastel sat on the couch, cupping her cheeks. She twisted and turned, her cheeks still flushed.
“Hehe, hehe.”
I never planned this.
I didn’t think of it at all.
But here we are.
I wonder how others will see me.
“Aaaah! This is so unfair!”
But really, it is unfair.
I genuinely didn’t have any thoughts about it!
As Pastel thought more about it, she felt genuinely, truly unfair.
“Elly! I’m not kidding! I honestly didn’t think of anything at all! It’s true three times over!”
At this point, there’s a distinct difference between a true friend and a truly, truly, truly friend!
Guh.
A truly, truly, truly friend, huh.
Completely super ultra friend material.
“The issue of not having money has been resolved.”
Elly neatly organized the minutes of the meeting.
“If we add the railroad business to the major trading companies, no matter how much we mobilize Craft, there’s going to be too much work for the student council.”
“Huh? Is that so?”
It certainly seems that way.
Perhaps it is time to increase the student council staff.
Pastel felt a bit guilty about increasing her crew since it seems a bit like capital crimes, but now she’s become a rightful power-wielder!
She picked out suitable candidates from her inner circle ranking.
Although Leonard’s first impression was a bit negative, he was insightful—a competent choice—but since he was already appointed as the head of the secret inspection department…
“And so, we welcome Melissa and Elshire who have just joined the student council! Everyone, welcome! Welcome! Welcome!”
Pastel introduced Melissa and Elshire in front of the existing student council.
Melissa gently placed her hand on her chest and bowed her head.
“I’m Melissa Camarot. I joined the student council at Pastel’s request. I look forward to working with you.”
“Camarot and Bellamont, huh.”
Honestly, Elly was pleased that she had been managing all the paperwork on her own before.
“Wow, a great catch!”
Yes, yes!
Pastel approached a flustered Dustin. She poked him in the side. Dustin jumped a little.
“You’re out of the noob club! Congrats! As a senior, feel free to delegate appropriate chores to the juniors!”
“Huh? Delegate?”
Melissa lowered her head.
“Senior, I’m inadequate, so I ask for your guidance.”
Dustin, just the second son of a baron, looked extremely burdened by Melissa’s humility from the southern military lord.
His gaze shifted to the silver-haired girl next to him. Elshire looked at him blankly before saying a word.
“Weak.”
Dustin felt twice as oppressed. Avoiding the pressure from the so-called juniors, he turned to Pastel with a pleading look.
But since Dustin was still on the ground level and had no thoughts of sorting traffic out, Pastel just smiled cheerfully.
“Let’s all get along!”
Yes, yes!
