The crime organization was swiftly subdued.
About a dozen villains, beaten and unconscious, lay sprawled on the floor.
The only one left unscathed, the pink girl in the center, was screaming in excitement.
“Ahhhh!”
Blood on my hands, blood on my hands.
“Blood of a good criminal!”
“Demon Lord! Demon Lord! My conscience is tingling!”
Tingling tingling.
Do I really have this much conscience?
The Demon firmly stated, “Endure strongly.”
“Huh?! Is that right?!”
Totally Demon advice?!
“Steeling your heart is essential. Safety isn’t earned through kindness alone. You need to establish hierarchy for your own safety.”
“Wha- is that right?”
“These people are clearly criminals. They could turn at any moment. They only showed kindness because they underestimated you. Kindness obtained through underestimation lacks permanence. It must be earned through strength.”
“Ugh, Demon Lord, what kind of life did you live?”
“And don’t feel too sorry for them.”
The Demon spoke with a softened voice.
“I’ve shown them that a relationship can be established without murder. That’s a very compassionate act. Even if that isn’t how you see it, it is for them. You need to understand that the emotion in the back alleys is different.”
It felt like it could be right, but not really.
“Ugh!”
The Demon transformed into a suit-wearing figure with a demon sword. The red eyes gently swept over Pastel. The Demon took Pastel’s bloodied hand.
“Well then, let’s wash your hands first. There’s a sink over there.”
“Okay!”
Pastel washed her hands, the cool water washing away the bloodstains.
“If you’re scared of having blood on your hands, just wash it off. Water is more impressive than you think.”
The Demon said, holding out a fresh towel.
“Ah, isn’t that a metaphor? Ding ding ding!”
Caught the Demon in an embarrassing mistake!
The Demon smiled slightly.
“I was speaking metaphorically as well.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, I felt like the only fool here.
I should just stand still.
“I also want to wash my face!”
“Go ahead.”
Splash splash.
Gurgle gurgle.
Hehe, all done.
She wiped her face and hands with the fluffy towel. Completely clean.
The awakened criminals were groaning on the floor.
Pastel had a strange expression.
“Maybe the Demon Lord is right. In a rough world, there are rough methods.”
She clapped her hands and smiled brightly.
“But still, when everyone wakes up, I’d like to apologize! I want to do that!”
Hehe.
The Demon looked at her with a complicated expression.
“They will underestimate you. You’ve already given them enough leeway by merely subduing them. Apologizing is too weak.”
The girl shook her head vigorously.
“Ding ding ding.”
“Demon Lord! You’re wrong! It’s precisely because you’re dressed up like this that you’re being this meticulous!”
Ugh, so dreary.
I shouldn’t wear that kind of thing.
“I’m doing it because I want to!”
The Demon thinks too much.
Pastel danced as if to tease the Demon. She walked sideways, spun around, and swayed. Her pink hair fluttered. The dress swirled.
The red eyes were fixed on her.
“What do you believe in…?”
A look akin to a weary office worker stained by blood.
Pastel smiled brightly.
With a confident gesture, she pointed to herself.
“It’s so easy because I’m Pastel!”
The world will help her!
Oh yeah.
A short time later, the organization members all woke up.
The young boss rubbed his bruised nose with a handkerchief. A splinter of wood was stuck in his mouth.
“I can do it.”
Pastel bowed her head.
“I’m so sorry! I was floundering around trying to figure out how to get cooperation for smuggling, and my hand acted first! I’m sorry!”
“Eh?”
The boss pulled the handkerchief from his nose and stared at Pastel in bewilderment.
“Well, whatever.”
The boss waved his hand, contemplating.
“It’s alright, it’s alright. Anyway, no one is seriously hurt. Using paralysis poison was a bit excessive. It must have been frightening.”
The boss looked around at the organization members.
“Is everyone alright?!”
“Yes!”
While everyone answered, one organization member raised his hand.
“I’m kinda hurt, aaagh!”
The member who was speaking got hit and dragged away.
“Ugh.”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
“Hmm! Hmm!”
The boss cleared his throat to capture attention.
“But you fight really well, huh? I feel like I’m sorry for underestimating you just because you’re a kid. I’m sorry for having a bias because of your age.”
The boss bowed his head.
“Wah?! A proper adult…!”
Demon Lord? Demon Lord?!
The Demon looked awkward.
“Well done, young Craft. You dealt with it well.”
Oh yeah, I’m being praised.
Oh yeah oh yeah.
I need to celebrate this.
Pastel, breaking the Demon Lord’s opinion.
Ugh.
A strange thrill of betrayal.
Is this the joy of a rascal?
The boss chewed on the splinter of wood.
“We’ll help with the smuggling. If we could manage to sell it inland, it could be quite profitable. But do you have smuggling goods? And the airship? It’s tough for us to prepare that too.”
“It’s okay! I’m here!”
“Oh? Then that makes things easy.”
Pastel consulted with the boss about business matters.
Though it was a small organization of about a dozen people, they had the capability to handle Pastel’s smuggling goods.
They shook hands.
“I look forward to working with you!”
“We feel the same way, Craft.”
“Hmm.”
Pastel smiled brightly.
“Now let’s build our friendship, Boss! Err… Mr. Preston?”
“Call me whatever you like.”
“Okay! Boss! But Boss! Why do you chew on splinters?”
Could it be a goat?
Ugh.
“This?”
The boss flicked the splinter in his mouth.
“Yep!”
“When you chew it, it tastes sweet. It’s instead of tobacco.”
“Ohhh.”
“I want one too!”
Preston chuckled.
“Miss, you smoke?”
“Just one!”
“Wait a second.”
The boss rummaged through the drawer.
Suddenly, a commotion was heard outside the boss’s room.
The door burst open.
An organization member shouted with a pale face.
“Boss! We’re under attack! It’s those bastards!”
“What?”
Explosions echoed from below. The ground trembled.
The boss frowned.
“Damn it, grab your weapons!”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
Looking down at the shaking tea kettle.
“Huh?”
The boss turned around, a tense expression on his face.
“Miss, you’d best leave today. I know you’re skilled in martial arts, but close combat is different.”
The boss gestured to his subordinate.
“I’ll show you the underground passage. If you go that way, you’ll be safe. Show her!”
“Yes!”
The boss grabbed his gun and sword and dashed out.
Pastel was left there with the guide.
“Huh?”
“I’ll show you the way, follow me.”
Watching the familiar guide, who had a scar on his lips, she stepped toward the window cautiously.
She peeked her head out.
About thirty armed thugs surrounded the entrance of the destroyed building. Daggers, axes, and hammers glinted in the sunlight.
A cannon that was aiming at the entrance was being dragged away.
A man who looked like the leader stepped forward with an axe resting on his shoulder.
“Preston! Today is your funeral! Better wash your neck! Hahaha!”
Laughter erupted in succession. Thirty weapons clanked in response, shining silver.
Pastel’s hands trembled.
Shudder shudder.
“Ahhh.”
Really bad adults…!
Evil from another dimension…!
The cruel reality preying on starving children…!
Shudder shudder.
From the first floor, Preston’s voice was heard.
“What do you mean wash your neck?! I’ve been waiting! Come on in!”
The leader burst out laughing, looking around at his subordinates.
“Wow! So you’ve been waiting! You’re outnumbered two-to-one! Did you reserve a grave?!”
Laughter filled the air.
“Ahhh.”
“We have to leave. If the fight intensifies, escaping becomes difficult.”
The guide approached.
“Ahhhh.”
Pastel, flustered, shouted.
“I don’t want to!”
“What?”
She quickly tapped the demon sword.
Demon Lord, Demon Lord.
Please give me the courage to act without protection.
“In an open space with a significant number of people. You can’t always fight in a good combat environment.”
The Demon calmly stated.
“Remember this: in a multi-person battle, what you must cut down isn’t people but their morale. Strike them hard with your spirit.”
Understood.
Pastel placed her hands on the window frame.
Gathering her thoughts, she jumped down.
Her vision opened up.
The air wrapped around her dress and her pink hair fluttered.
As her feet touched the ground, the girl stood up. All eyes turned to her.
The leader and his gang looked stunned.
“What is that?!”
“Pastel!”
The girl drew her sword. The blade brushed the sheath. A sharp noise echoed. The cold silver gleamed.
The blade aimed straight ahead, forming a curve.
Suddenly, the tip trembled lightly.
Hesitation and resistance.
“Ah.”
Pastel looked at the leader and his gang, embarrassed.
“Is there anyone willing to shoot for me…?”
Hehe.
Killing people is way too hard.
I don’t know when I’ll get used to it.
“What’s this kid doing?”
Unconcerned, the leader reached for his belt. His hand touched his holstered gun.
The gun aimed right at her.
Preston’s voice cut through, clarity returning to his mind.
“Run—”
A gunshot rang out. A round bullet spun through the air. The sword flashed. The bullet was sliced, and sparks flew.
Adrenaline surged.
Pastel, half-conscious, landed on the ground. The distance closed explosively. A startled face approached her.
The blade crashed down. It swept across the body of the leader. Silver flashed. A symphony of flesh and blood followed. The body shattered and scattered. Blood gushed forth.
Blood splattered onto the face of the dazed subordinate. The blade traced a curve. The subordinate’s neck cracked. The head rolled away.
What I needed to cut was not a person but their spirit.
The headless body was met with another blow. The blade sliced through the corpse. Debris exploded around. Faces and clothes turned red.
“Eh…?”
The subordinate wiped his face in confusion. Flesh clung to his palm.
The blade shone again. The corpse, gazing at its palm, received the next strike. Limbs scattered. The body collapsed.
Screams erupted.
The sound of fleeing feet spread like an infection.
The girl pounced on the fleeing group.
She slashed their backs, severed their necks, and dismembered limbs.
One by one, the screams faded.
Blood flowed down Pastel’s pink hair.
The blood splattered forcefully, creating a noise.
Suddenly, a calm voice pierced through her subconscious.
“You did well. You can stop now.”
Halting in her pursuit, Pastel froze.
Reality gripped her as her dazed senses returned.
“Ugh?”
She exhaled, catching her breath.
Droplets of blood flowed down the blade.
Footsteps were heard. Growing closer, then fading.
As she turned her head, Preston and the organization members stood still, staring blankly.
Wow, a crime organization.
How fascinating.
Pastel smiled brightly despite her hazy mind.
“Hello, everyone.”
Blood dripped from her pink hair.
The girl pointed to herself.
“I’m Pastel Love Craft.”
A bloodied hand extended.
“Let’s work well together from now on.”
Hehe.
After that, for some reason, Pastel was able to renegotiate work agreements with Preston, who had become even kinder.
“Huh?”
“Really? Is it okay for you to give in like this?”
All sorts of conditions were adjusted to be more beneficial for starving children.
Ugh, so touching.
“Demon Lord! Demon Lord! They’re such good people!”
Wow.
“See? The world is beautiful!”
Pastel flailed her arms.
Life is too easy, it’s Pastel!
“Life is too easy, it’s Pastel…!”
Waaah.
The Demon sighed.
A sigh that seemed to come from deep within his soul.
“Huh.”
I can’t understand the Demon Lord’s sensitivity. Isn’t the suit wrong? Shouldn’t he wear something different?
Anyway.
Pastel gazed at the gem boxes that seemed to be 20% more than before.
Wow wow.
Her mouth dropped open.
This isn’t just a simple 20%.
It’s the compounding percentage that increases with every smuggling operation.
Pastel clenched her fists.
Taking a deep breath.
One, two, three!
“Waaah!”
Once more.
“Waaaah!”
Achieved 0% smuggling fee!
Her body trembled.
Is this the thrill of complete tax evasion?
Could it be that I have a criminal constitution…?
Oh yeah.
