Pastel neatly organized the traces of the battle.
The corrupted fairy had scattered tables, chairs, and various dishes with telekinesis, and Pastel restored everything to its original state.
The fairy, satisfied with her work, patted her belly and went to sleep, leaving Pastel to clean up alone.
Pastel looked down at the last fork with focused eyes, adjusting it precisely to align perfectly.
Plates, knives, forks.
A perfect order in every direction.
So tidy, so tidy!
A proud smile spread across her face.
Poodoot.
With skills like this, even the Demon Lord would be impressed!
It’s not that Pastel can’t clean; she just doesn’t clean!
“Cleaning is done!”
Now she could return to the banquet hall!
As she turned around, she noticed shards of a shattered vase scattered on the floor.
Oh?!
Pieces of the vase that the corrupted fairy had broken.
A pink eyeball rolled away.
The girl sneakily glanced around the lounge. Naturally, there was no one around. She slowly approached the vase fragments.
The pink eyeball looked away for no reason, and the flat shoes lightly pushed the vase fragments into a corner. The shards rolled beneath the display cabinet.
The girl walked out with an expression as if nothing had happened and looked around again.
Everything was clean and spotless.
A proud smile came back again.
“Poodoot!”
It’s not that Pastel can’t clean; she just doesn’t clean!
The Demon Lord, who sometimes wondered if she could live alone, should reflect on her thoughts.
Pastel hummed as she walked towards the door.
Suddenly, someone opened the soundproof door.
Oh?!
It was the Demon Lord, looking flustered. Upon seeing Pastel, he let out a sigh of relief.
『Nothing happened.』
“What’s going on?”
The Demon Lord pointed behind him at the banquet hall. The area, where merchants and officials were leisurely eating, was now filled with a thick, hazy smoke.
Wow!
Surprise event?
From the smoke, a wealthy merchant was flailing and stumbled, collapsing over. Screams of confusion echoed everywhere.
“Ahh!”
It was poison gas…!
『It’s paralysis gas. The heir you mistakenly called Father actually turned out to be just that. He suddenly returned and blew up the gas canister before running away.』
Huff.
I guess the corrupted fairy died and the disguise magic wore off!
I suppose Dad, masquerading as a merchant, realized something was off and quickly fled.
Huh?!
Pastel dashed towards the door. As the gas began to pour in, she screamed, “Waaah! Pastel needs saving!” only to be calmed by the Demon Lord, who reminded her that young Crafts inherently had physical differences from the world.
Phew.
Come to think of it, since I’m a gem-eating being, I’m immune to gas.
She glanced around the gas-filled banquet hall.
“So Dad’s gone then?”
Could he have scurried away like a mouse friend?
What about his daughter?!
『The knight escorting him was spotted too, so he must be far away by now.』
Ahh.
Dad, that was a quick judgment!
If they were high-ranking members of the evil cult, they should have let out a sinister laugh when their identity was exposed, threatened the people nearby, gloat about their wicked plans, and then flee while disguised!
If that had played out, I could have seen Dad presenting his malicious plans with dignity only to suddenly get hit by the Demon Lord and collapse!
Pastel’s shoulders slumped in disappointment.
Boo-hoo.
As she wandered around the banquet hall, she opened each window one by one. The curtains fluttered and with time, the gas escaped. It seemed that the gas wasn’t too powerful, as people slowly started recovering.
Pastel approached an official, who appeared to be in charge of the scene.
“What’s the meaning of all this? You’ll have to take responsibility for failing to properly execute the Emperor’s command.”
The official clutched his throbbing head, confusion reflecting in his eyes.
“Who are you…?”
Pastel tapped her waist, where the Emperor’s sword she’d brought from the carriage gleamed.
It seemed the official, despite his education, recognized the sword and his eyes widened. Then they fell upon the pink hair.
Pastel, being the Governor in the capital, had previously overlooked the significance of her pink hair but now realized it.
“The sale of the gem mine is a clearly military matter. You’ll have to explain why someone who appeared to be a cult member participated.”
Corruption.
Apparently, the merchant Dad had disguised himself as fattened up the officials with bribes enough to be the heir.
Usually, the gem mine matters are managed by the Demon Realm Stock Company. However, this time it seems the Royal House wanted to avoid giving fees to the company so Empire officials were present.
Having been lowly during this event, they likely had no qualms about bribing someone from the Demon Realm since they’d eventually head back to their Empire, where monitoring eyes would be considerably fewer due to being on a different continent.
It’s staggering to think they could involve the Emperor in their plans after receiving bribes to select an heir.
Or maybe the past tyrant’s massacre of infants had diminished the royal authority this much? The fact that the grand Emperor’s close friend was from the Craft family, who turned on and brought down the Emperor-faction, might have influenced royal authority as well.
When they searched the carriage the heir had ridden in, they found the securely bound heir.
Upon interrogation, they revealed they had received news about the gem mine’s sale earlier than others and started seeking sponsors to gather funds for their schemes. That sponsor turned out to be the cult!
It’s absurd that a mere merchant could pick up on royal matters before others. It seems the cult dropped hints like this to those merchants.
Was the merchant just a pawn in the cult’s net?
“Ahh. The cult’s ears are reaching the royal house!”
『I wonder why the Empire got to this state…』
Having grasped the overall situation, the person wielding the Emperor’s sword had no choice but to deal with those involved.
“What should I do? What should I do?”
Pastel buried her face in her hands, groaning.
Good little Pastel has no idea how to punish those officials who dared insult the royal house.
Should she behead them?
Huff.
The Empire officials, who were waiting in a stiff posture across from the sofa, were sweating profusely.
Pastel drew the Emperor’s sword. She inspected the blade, imagining a scenario where she would behead someone with it.
Blood would spray…
Huff.
One official hiccupped.
Oh?!
Pastel stared at the bribe-greedy official. As she regarded him, his eyes trembled wildly.
Pastel opened her mouth.
“Oh?!”
The official beside him hiccuped.
As Pastel alternated her gaze between the blade and the official,
Oh-oh-oh!
An old man who had only been sweating beside them rushed to speak.
“Um, why has the Governor Pastel come here?”
His voice trembled, but you could sense his life-or-death effort to change the atmosphere. But it was clear that experience came from a life of corruption.
Still, respecting the old man, Pastel gently sheathed the sword.
“I just came to watch.”
The official swallowed dryly.
“Are you perhaps interested in the gem mine?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I have no interest.”
Pastel blushed and awkwardly fidgeted.
The official’s eyes sparkled. He exchanged swift glances with other officials before suddenly kneeling.
“Even if we have placed our minds at ease for a penny, our hearts toward the Empire and the royal house are unmatched!”
“That’s right!”
The officials all kneeled like a wave.
Oh?!
Pastel tilted her head in confusion.
The official looked up with wide eyes.
“As the Governor Pastel has mentioned, the gem mine is a military matter. But how dare a cult even think to take it from us? We cannot bear such an affront to our hearts!”
“Is that so?”
Wow.
“It’s clear that if the gem mine fell into the hands of the cult, it would have caused a tremendous issue.”
“That’s true.”
Now that I think about it, their sin seems deep.
If they feel the same, should I behead them?
The official bowed deeply.
“Please punish us!”
Oh?!
The pink eye widened.
Wait a minute, are these guys loyal subjects?
Other officials blinked rapidly, glancing at the speaking official as if they were sharing a silent conversation, then quickly straightened their heads.
The official faced Pastel.
“But before that, please allow us to resolve this matter ourselves! If the situation changes and becomes chaotic, it would be easy for wicked hands like the cult to take the gem mine! Please, consider our final loyalty!”
Huh?!
That sounds kind of plausible… or maybe not, but the Emperor’s sword feels like it craves blood.
Emperor’s Sword: “I yearn for blood.”
Huff, really?
Wow.
“I too hold sentiments for the Empire and the royal house; perhaps it would be better for me to get involved rather than you all withdrawing.”
The official’s eyes sparkled.
“Indeed!”
Oh?!
“That’s precisely what we feel. Regardless of how much we ought to get, selling the military matter of the gem mine through competition was wrong in the first place. Rather, there should be a contract with a selected person who has unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, military expertise, and can pay the price.”
That certainly sounds right.
“Someone like Governor Pastel.”
Huff.
Now that sounds doubly correct.
The official gave a sly glance. Other officials followed suit, peering at her with similar looks.
Oh?!
Why this sudden glimmer in their gazes?
Wait a minute.
Is this a bribe?!
It appears they are implying that if they can cover up their crimes, they will appoint Pastel as the heir of the gem mine. I suspect that they already have everything ready regarding procedures and a tidy plan concerning the heir.
Are they trying to bribe me?
To this Governor Pastel, the true loyal subject of the Emperor?
“What are you talking about?!”
Pastel jumped up. The officials froze in terror. The girl’s finger pointed accusingly.
“How dare you propose something so absurd to me! I can’t forgive that!”
“Wh-what, Governor Pastel!”
The officials trembled in fear.
“I’ll give you my assets as well! You won’t spend a single penny of your funds in the purchase of the gem mine!”
Do you think I care about a measly penny?!
How dare you!
Thinking any further would only upset Pastel, who took out a sharp fountain pen.
The pen tip shone.
She inscribed the contract for the acquisition of the mine.
Scribble, scribble, scribble.
It seems these folks have discerning eyes!
Wow.
