“Oh! Splendid! What excellent terms!”
Professor Horace reviewed the contract with the crime organization.
“How did we manage to get such terms?”
Feeling proud.
“With a heart that trusts people and a kind attitude!”
And the courage to believe in the crime organization and write a contract!
“Oh! For people like us who deliver essential items to those in desperate need, this is always a strength!”
“Right! Right!”
Pastel vigorously agreed, pounding on the demon sword.
“Lord Demon! Lord Demon! Look here!
Smuggling isn’t a strange thing!”
『Is it really okay for a professor to interact with a student like this? Don’t listen to this guy. He’s a bad influence. You shouldn’t learn anything weird.』
Eigh.
Pastel listened with one ear and let it flow out the other.
The nagging came in one ear and whoosh~ out the other.
『Are you listening?』
Whoosh whoosh~.
“Oh! It’s exactly as per the contract!”
Professor Horace examined Pastel’s pile of boxes and when he opened the lid, it was filled with unrefined gems.
“Just as my junior said, a 0% commission!”
“Of course! These people are kind and keep their promises!”
But they seem a bit cold. They can still have friendly conversations even when their opponent has killed their comrades.
Is it because they run a crime organization as the Lord Demon says? Mourning over the death of a fallen comrade would only disrupt the mood while negotiating with a strong enemy. Money over feelings, huh?
Pastel shook her head.
Ah, headache. This type of dilemma doesn’t suit me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing! Anyway, these people are kind! Professor, trade with them next time!”
“Hmm! Sure! The city’s security isn’t great, but the organization itself seems trustworthy.”
After finishing the description of the organization, they traded greetings with Boss Preston and left the Demon Realm.
Although Kadin’s recruitment had been discussed, she had no intention of staying here anymore.
On the way back, she navigated alongside Professor Horace’s airship.
“I’ll help arrange a gem processing company for my junior!”
Wow!
A 20% increase in profits through smuggling item and company changes!
Pastel encountered a pirate ship a few times, but when Professor Horace confidently cast magic into the air, the pirates backed off with looks on their faces as if they had stepped in something unpleasant.
The miracle of making pirates retreat with a single warning spell before even having to fight!
A stark contrast to Pastel, who had to swing her sword!
“The magician is amazing! Magic boom!”
Finger guns going pew pew pew pew!
“Hahahaha! Will you learn too, junior?”
“I’m not talented in magic…”
Ehh.
“Oh dear.”
When they arrived at the sky island, she coordinated with the companies. After handing over unrefined gems and receiving processed ones, she was able to obtain a larger quantity thanks to the cheaper company costs.
Pastel stacked up the gem boxes and screamed.
“Wow-woah!”
She looked back at the professor.
“Senpai! Senpai! This junior is so moved! To think you know such a cheap and high-quality company! You’re perfectly suited to be a delivery person who delivers what essential people need! A true veteran!”
“Hahaha! Junior, you’re also perfectly suited! You’ll become a veteran!”
“Really?!”
I can become a veteran smuggler!
“Wow!”
The professor and student were dancing joyfully.
『Don’t take that as a compliment, please.』
She could hear the demon’s voice filled with frustration.
Oiying.
Somewhere, the whisper of the demon could be heard.
Gasp.
Whispers from a demon are scary.
I can’t let this happen! I’m a good child, so I won’t be swayed by a demon’s whispers! I’ll let it go in one ear and out the other!
A completely good Pastel who listens well to adults.
Feeling proud.
『Are you listening? Don’t get close to that professor. He’s a wretched guy.』
The nagging came in one ear and whoosh out the other.
Puduut.
『How did it come to this? Did I misstep at the very first button? Did I foolishly introduce you to smuggling…?』
The demon let out a tortured groan.
Lord Demon! Lord Demon! Please don’t suffer! This is just the way things are!
It’s true.
Professor Horace approached.
“Junior! You said the semester report was difficult, right? It’s time to prepare. Time is tight, so we need to start now.”
Gasp.
I completely forgot.
The journey to becoming the Research Head, Pastel!
The clever Pastel would never let the title of Research Head slip away!
Her eyes sparkled.
“Senpai! I believe in you! How do I become the Research Head?!”
“Just believe in me! As the highest supervisor for semester reports, I will give you the best coaching! According to my coaching, the position of Research Head is yours!”
Coaching.
She swallowed hard.
They moved to the professor’s office. Professor Horace’s face became serious.
“Students misunderstand, but the semester reports aren’t evaluated objectively. Professors’ subjectivities greatly influence them.”
Oh, totally an expert.
Pastel also turned serious.
“So then?”
“If you include topics and perspectives that align with professors’ preferences well, your score will go up significantly. What topic are you currently researching?”
Pastel recoiled. She subtly averted her gaze.
“Well, uh… since I’ve been delivering items to those in need, shall I say I haven’t prepared yet?”
She whistled awkwardly.
Claiming to aim for the Research Head yet not having settled on a research topic… it felt kind of guilty.
“I understand. I often forget about my professor duties while living the good delivery person life.”
『What’s he bragging about? Don’t hang out with this guy. He’s really a bad influence.』
The demon’s whispers flowed in one ear and out the other.
“Senpai…! Junior finds comfort in this!”
“Indeed. Actually, if you don’t have an existing research topic, that’s not bad. I can just write my paper right away. It should align with the professors’ preferences. Let’s see.”
Professor Horace rummaged through the drawer. A thick stack of papers came out. It looked like a hefty book’s worth of a thesis.
“It might be an overkill for a first-year’s first semester report, but considering your competitors, this is what you need to do in order to aim for the Research Head.”
The thesis stack was handed over.
“It’s an unpublished thesis.”
Gasp.
Pastel received it with trembling hands. The heavy weight of the paper pressed down on her.
The weight of academia.
—Understanding the Fundamental Principles of Magical Engineering Phenomena through Theoretical Analysis and Application
Ahhh.
Totally unfamiliar content!
『Hmm? You’re going to hand over your own thesis? Something feels off. Is he just giving too much help? Don’t tell me this kid is trying to bribe the young lord in advance?』
The demon became enraged.
『Young Craft, this kid is really a bad one. You should cut ties with him immediately. Spending time with such a person will only lead to bad behaviors.』
The demon’s whispers were filtered out from her brain, leaving only a short message.
My own thesis, too much help.
Gasp.
Even the Demon Lord acknowledged the help.
She trembled holding the thesis.
“Senpai, is it okay for me to accept something like this?!”
Handing over her own research achievements.
Professor Horace smiled reassuringly.
“For my junior, I can do at least this much!”
Pastel’s mouth dropped open.
“Senpai…! Junior is moved! I will definitely become the Research Head! I won’t let your research achievements go to waste!”
“Indeed!”
Professor Horace smiled contentedly.
He looked as satisfied as if he had just bribed the still impressionable young lord.
“But this isn’t over yet. If you submit that thesis as it is, you’ll get caught. It all needs to be rewritten in your handwriting and style. And it needs to be adjusted to fit the format of the semester report.”
Oh, an expert’s advice.
『What on earth are you teaching this girl? How devoid of conscience can he be?』
“You’ll need to do that part yourself. I’ll coach you from the side, so let’s aim to finish it on time.”
“I’ll follow your lead!”
Pastel answered confidently.
Then she halted.
She looked down at the thick paper thesis.
Ehh.
Wait a minute, am I supposed to rewrite all this in my own style? Within the period?
“Y-you mean I have to rewrite all this? Not just copy it but reconstruct it in my own style?”
“Of course.”
Professor Horace brought over the stack of paper and a quill.
“Since time is tight, we need to start immediately!”
Ahhh.
Pastel grasped the quill.
She scrawled down the contents frantically.
Ahhh.
The path to becoming the Research Head is so treacherous…!
Life is too hard, Pastel…!
#
Melissa blankly stared at the bulletin board. The research field scores for the semester report were displayed.
Top student, Pastel Love Craft – A+
Second, Melissa Camelot – A+
Mother, Father.
I couldn’t make it to the top student again.
I thought I was confident this time, but perhaps it was overreach? Perhaps being revered as the next great mage made me forget my humility?
Pastel walked toward her, looking haggard. Upon glancing at the board, the corners of her mouth turned up weakly.
“Research Head, Pastel.”
Melissa looked at her usually fluffy pink hair, which now looked frazzled and tired as if she had been up all night.
Suddenly, she touched her own golden hair. Thanks to her maid’s daily care, it was soft and moist.
Pastel, who had been enjoying herself, rubbed her eyes with a fatigued look. It was a far cry from the lively girl she usually was.
“It was a nightmare… I’ll never hold a quill again.”
The girl’s hand bore ink stains, a testament to her exhaustion and perseverance.
Melissa looked down at her own hand. The soft, moist hand of a noble.
Suddenly, realization struck.
Ah, I didn’t put in that kind of effort like her.
I’ve mistaken being cared for and basked in the light in a greenhouse for hard work.
The next great mage encountered humility without defeat. The cracks in countless barriers of realms eased, paving the way for subsequent levels.
With just the experience of a second-place finish and raw talent, Melissa approached Pastel, who had obtained a realization most would take a lifetime to achieve.
She paused a distance away, careful not to cast a shadow.
“Craft.”
Pastel turned around, her pink eyes sparkling.
“Oh, Melissa. Sorry, I didn’t see you because I was tired. It wasn’t that I ignored you; it was an accident.”
Melissa opened her mouth.
“Both penmanship and research heads must surely be results of efforts and patience I can’t even imagine.”
Pastel’s expression transformed into one of surprise, “Huh? How did you know?”
Then it shifted into one of disappointment when she realized she had been discovered as a diligent student rather than a genius.
I was right.
With profound observation, Melissa discerned her emotions and inner self.
Craft is indeed a genius, but she also put in the effort. It’s only natural that I, in my arrogance, would lose.
“I’ll acknowledge it. You are truly worthy of Craft’s great reputation. An elegant swan indeed paddles furiously beneath the surface. Hidden behind graceful results is strenuous effort.”
Melissa pressed her hand to her chest and lowered her head briefly.
“Craft, you are elegant.”
And then she turned and left.
The sound of her heels grew distant in front of the bulletin board.
Left behind, Pastel’s eyes widened.
“Melissa is so fourth-dimensional.”
A friend with a way of thinking that is hard to understand.
But she’s my friend, so I must try hard to understand her!
“But swans don’t paddle; they just float, right? They wouldn’t be putting in effort.”
『That’s true. They just float. She must have misread a fairytale.』
Looks like Melissa likes fairy tales.
Wow.
#
The upperclassman, whose eyes were red and bloodshot, reveled in the results of the semester report.
He was among the top ten of his grade.
Thanks to taking an awakening potion recently and succeeding in consecutive high-difficulty combat requests.
With this score, acquiring sponsorship and investment from the merchant guild would be easier. Born as a bastard, he had been worried about what would happen after graduation, but now that anxiety was gone.
“Congratulations.”
The cult’s black robe approached him.
“It may have side effects, but the effect was sure, right? Oh? You’re in the top ten? Pretty good use!”
The upperclassman flinched.
The awakening potion that circulated in the academy had no side effects. The effects were reasonably good. It was rare among the upperclassmen not to have taken an awakening potion at least once.
This upperclassman was no exception. Even if the student council crackdowns were strict, he indulged in the illicitly traded awakening potions out of curiosity, and he was able to complete tasks that were normally more difficult than usual.
After that, he continued using the potions to increase his results. There were no side effects after all.
However, at some point, he began to think.
If an awakening potion with no side effects yields this much, how effective could a potion with side effects be?
How many high-difficulty requests could he complete? How much would his rank increase? How much sponsorship from the guild would flow in?
How much would my future change? What about my old age?
Then the black robe appeared.
Holding a potion that had side effects and could be addictive.
In a moment of conflict, the upperclassman drank the poisoned chalice.
There were side effects. His heart and muscles ached daily, and occasionally his mind became hazy. It felt like his lifespan was being cut short.
Yet, like dispelling the side effects, overwhelming effects came that set him apart from others. He could complete countless high-difficulty requests. His rank shot up to the top ten in no time.
The upperclassman trembled as he hid his report card.
The black robe approached and casually patted his back.
“Hey, go sleep a bit. You clearly had no insomnia from the side effects, so why do your eyes look like that? Oh, they are so red.”
Eyes peered out from the robe.
“Feeling uneasy? You think we might make some shady requests? Well, I suppose you’d be worried. Praise has been flowing in suddenly after a boost in skills, and if the awakening potions run dry, you’d be on edge, right? What if they find out your skills are fake? Isn’t that thrilling?”
The upperclassman trembled silently.
“Doesn’t seem thrilling, huh?”
The black robe tilted his head.
“Want me to make it thrilling?”
The upperclassman gasped in horror.
“No! No!”
“That’s right? Don’t worry! We won’t make any difficult requests of you. Just asking for a slight nudge on the internal security. Very slightly. Here’s the task list.”
A note was handed over. The upperclassman received it, trembling.
“Wh-why are you shaking? Don’t worry! Don’t worry! Of course, the knight order and professors can handle this, right? They are capable people. Just do your part, kid. Trust the adults!”
A hand patted him on the back.
The upperclassman left anxiously.
The black robe shook his head.
“I really wonder if this is okay for students. The world sure is tough.”
Another black robe approached from the shadows.
“Is it done?”
“Yes, it’s finished.”
The subordinate replied casually.
Then he couldn’t resist a slight smirk.
“Are you really not going to meet your daughter? You’re not going to have a family reunion and will just steal the device? Wouldn’t the young lord feel lonely without her father?”
The dry eyes turned to the subordinate.
“Not interested. Focus on the job.”
“Of course.”
The subordinate shrugged.
