―One gold coin…
The auctioneer repeated Craft’s bid as if confirming the scheduled amount.
The ladies and gentlemen from Empire Bank were in despair, wracking their brains.
Someone from the senior management rushed towards the company’s direction with a crimson face.
In an instant, Count McKenna’s collar was grabbed.
―Count McKenna! What is the meaning of this! Is this not vastly different from what you discussed with us? Do you think it’s acceptable to give up bidding for zero gold coins?!
―Why are you behaving like this, it’s quite impolite.
Count McKenna twisted the senior’s hand and freed himself, leisurely gazing around the banquet hall. Meeting the eyes of the ladies and gentlemen, he casually remarked.
―There’s no rule against writing down 0 gold, is there?
The senior was enraged.
―Common sense suggests that shouldn’t even be a thing! Our Empire Bank will respond strictly to this matter! Do you think it’s normal for a consortium holding railway construction rights to be awarded at a pittance in a private contract as if it’s a legitimate auction?! Collusion is fundamentally invalid!
Count McKenna adjusted his clothing, which had been gripped earlier. Meeting the senior’s gaze, he gave a sly smirk.
―Can you handle this?
The senior froze.
In the eerie silence with everyone watching, a small footstep echoed casually. The senior inhaled slowly, remaining rigid.
―Collusion? That’s a misunderstanding.
With her pink hair swaying gently, an approaching girl wore a somewhat innocent expression.
―I had no idea this result would happen. I half gave up on bidding, thinking of Count McKenna’s financial strength, yet here we are. What a remarkable coincidence.
Her pink eyes scanned the ladies and gentlemen, sparkling softly with mirth.
―Don’t you all think so too?
There were no objections.
The Empire Bank personnel averted their gazes and bowed their heads. The lone senior’s expression began to change, beads of cold sweat forming increasingly.
The girl seemed a bit sorry.
―But, even if all of this is a coincidence, the bid was still won…
Gold coins were drawn from her pocket. The girl gently unfolded the senior’s trembling hand and placed the coins in it.
―Upfront.
The senior’s hand reluctantly folded around the coins. His expression turned to one of despair.
The girl smiled and turned away.
―Enjoy the banquets. I get in trouble if I have too much fun.
Her footsteps headed towards the exit of the banquet hall.
Until the pink afterimage completely vanished, no one could muster a word.
“Should I drink or not? That is the question~.”
Pastel hopped around the garden outside the banquet hall like a rabbit, her pink hair bouncing with every leap.
A silver-haired girl quietly followed behind.
Pastel spun around and pointed at her friend.
“Elshire! Should we drink? Or not drink?”
Elshire tilted her head.
“What?”
“Wine!”
Pastel pointed to the wine bottle openly sitting on the garden table. There were also some simple cheese and biscuits.
“Wow! Wow!”
An attractive spread not to be missed by a rebel!
But for the utterly good Pastel, it was something to pass by with great restraint.
Huh.
Am I supposed to just pass by, being the utterly good Pastel?
No way.
Why am I the utterly good Pastel?
Should I transform into the not-so-good Pastel starting today?
“Is it spoiled or something?”
Elshire lifted the bottle. She poured some into a glass and took a sip.
Oh, smooth actions.
Elshire tilted her head.
“It’s not spoiled.”
Pastel looked somewhat flabbergasted.
Is this okay?
Maybe Elshire is a delinquent after all?
But Melissa and Elly drank without hesitation during the last item description meeting.
Huh.
So is everyone but me a delinquent?
“Was Pastel the only good one?!”
Her pink eyes widened in shock.
No wonder I keep getting into unfair situations!
This is a world of reversed good and evil…!
“No wonder! No wonder!”
I didn’t do anything wrong, yet I feel wronged!
Pastel finally realized.
She is the truly good Pastel, and the world is wrong. A pink girl standing firmly against the flawed world. A character straight out of a fairy tale—that was her.
“What’s no wonder about it?”
Elshire tilted her head. As she poured more wine into her glass, she handed it over casually.
“Eek!”
Pastel jumped back, spreading her palms defensively against the wine glass.
“I won’t fall for such temptation! The only way to prove purity in this flawed world is to embody untainted moral values! That is the mission of one born pink!”
You go, girl!
Elshire looked perplexed.
“What are you talking about?”
The wine glass was pushed forward.
“Yipe!”
Pastel jumped back again.
“You! You would do such a thing to corrupt my heart! I didn’t think you’d go this far!”
Betrayal…!
If she had accepted the wine, the super ultra whatever effect would have tarnished her heart!
Just look at that wine!
It’s completely purple!
It’s purple itself!
Pastel pointed at her friend.
“Totally a demon!”
No wonder her hair was silver!
One can realize that wicked beings approach with unwicked appearances without even mentioning it!
“I will never drink!”
She shook her head, her slightly braided pink hair swaying.
“Absolutely, absolutely not!”
Elshire tilted her head. She downed her own wine in one shot, leaving the glass of wine she was going to give Pastel untouched for herself.
“Suit yourself.”
Waah!
“Victory for Pastel!”
Hooray! Hooray!
Pastel bounced around, her pink hair swinging wildly.
Then part of her hair inadvertently fell into the wine glass.
Splash.
“Oh.”
Elshire stared at the pink thread floating in the purple liquid, her expression blanking out.
“Ah?!”
Pastel froze in shock.
“My hair…!”
As she hurriedly retrieved it, her hair hung limply stained in purple. Wine droplets dripped down.
Nooo!
“It really turned purple!”
Waaah!
Pastel’s face turned to a crying expression.
To think such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was wasted like this.
The moment of corruption should have been thrilling for the Demon Lord to witness…!
An all-too-familiar presence drew near.
“Ah, so you were here. Was the auction already finished? There should still be a banquet left, but you managed to slip out well.”
The approaching Demon Lord walked over.
“Demon Lord!”
Pastel rushed towards him, showing her soggy hair with a tearful expression.
“Look at this!”
Waaah!
Droplets of wine splattered.
“How did this happen?”
The demon’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Did you drink it?”
“Of course not! The utterly good Pastel doesn’t do such bad things!”
Really!
“Hmmm.”
The demon stared skeptically. After closely observing Pastel’s condition, he believed her since she didn’t seem drunk.
“Wait a moment. You should clean it up before it gets sticky.”
The demon seemed ready to pull out a handkerchief from his pocket.
As Pastel watched him, she looked at her wet hair.
Sticky?
Sweet and sticky.
Sugary sweet.
Her pink eyes became dreamy.
She put a strand of hair in her mouth.
Nom.
Munch, munch.
The demon, who finally retrieved a handkerchief, paused. His red eyes were filled with disbelief.
“Why are you eating that?”
Munch, munch.
Ignoring him, Pastel savored the taste until her expression gradually turned sour.
Bitter.
So bitter.
“Totally bitter!”
The bitter taste tormented her tongue.
“Yuck, yuck!”
Pastel quickly spat out her hair. It looked clean in multiple ways, but now her hair was even wetter.
“Demon Lord Fraudster! There’s no sweetness, it’s totally tasteless!”
Why would I eat this?
Coffee or tea might not taste great, but they enhance productivity, whereas this kills productivity without tasting good!
Wine friend!
I’m sorry, but you’ll have to be taken off my friends list!
Not even friends before!
“Why on earth are you eating that?”
The demon appeared perplexed. He hesitated and then wiped her saliva-soaked hair with his handkerchief.
Pastel clutched her head.
“This tasteless thing is unacceptable! As the great Pastel, I must issue an order! From now on, all wines on Sky Island shall be banned from sale if they aren’t as sweet as grape juice!”
“Don’t plan any weird tyrannies.”
“Then, then! I’ll limit it to students only—no drinking allowed!”
That’s right, that’s right!
This tasteless decline is unacceptable for the great Pastel!
If they’re my limbs, they need to focus on work without distraction!
“If this drinking habit becomes the norm, people won’t even realize if they are drunk and will end up conversing with inanimate objects, totally spaced out!”
Absolutely, absolutely unacceptable!
The demon regarded her oddly.
“That’s your usual state, though.”
Huh.
Come to think of it, that would be true.
“Could it be?”
The demon looked doubtfully.
Pastel felt suddenly indignant.
“No way!”
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
“Whatever it is, no way! Cloud Friend passing by! Bear witness to my innocence!”
“Oho. That cloud friend has significantly reduced your credibility. You chose the wrong witness.”
“That’s impossible!”
Thud.
Pastel slumped down in despair.
Not far from where she sat, Elshire continued to gaze at the wine glass.
A strand of pastel hair floated in the purple liquid, unable to be rescued in time.
The hair waved hello.
“Hello!”
Elshire’s eyes widened slightly.
In a dizzy state, she seriously pondered before subtly responding.
“Hello.”
