“Professor, indeed!”
Pastel ran over with a bright smile.
Professor Horace turned around.
“Oh, junior! Why use such a stiff title like ‘professor’?”
“Oops! That’s right! Senior!”
Senior! Senior!
Pastel flapped her arms according to her mood.
“Yes, indeed, junior!”
Professor Horace smiled broadly.
A cheerful atmosphere continued. After sharing health and well-being updates since the cult’s raid, they got to the main topic.
“The High Merchant under the Student Council?”
“Yes!”
Pastel excitedly described the big picture.
“There are so many people in desperate need! We’re trying to help them, but with our little hands, we can’t assist everyone, can we?”
She reached out.
Her hand trembled as if tormented by the thought of those she couldn’t help.
It wasn’t about regretting the unmet demand for smuggling, not at all.
“Oh, what you say is true!”
Professor Horace enthusiastically agreed, putting on a pretend sad face.
“I, too, have felt sorrow about that. What on earth should we do?”
Gasp.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
“Really?!”
“Yes, indeed.”
Wow.
The senior-junior relationship was so beautiful.
“I have an idea, junior! Let’s form a trade group under the Student Council to deliver goods with more hands!”
“Great idea! That way, we could save a lot of people!”
Even a veteran smuggler agreed.
However, Professor Horace put on a sad expression.
“But it might be difficult.”
“What?!”
“Good juniors don’t commit bad deeds, so that’s fine, but there’s actually a check system in the Student Council. The auditing professor has to oversee the Council’s activities and manage funds, reporting regularly to the faculty meeting.”
Gasp.
The auditing system.
It would be more strange if it didn’t exist.
Pastel’s mouth fell open.
Various embezzlements and abuses of power she was guilty of rushed through her mind.
Student Council funds?
Evolved into smuggled goods~.
Public authority?
Evolved into a demon realm pass~.
Combining both, it’s a fantastic smuggling operation~!
In her imagination, the professor was looking through the books and shaking his head.
—No, this won’t do; it leads to jail.
Gasp.
Pastel’s wrist was cuffed with clank.
Bars were present.
Ahhh.
Economic villain, Captain Pastel…!
Please recognize it as survival corruption…!
“The Student Council was originally intended to be abolished, so this year’s auditing professor wasn’t selected. After the abolition was withdrawn, there were many opinions stating that it wouldn’t be appropriate to audit other first-year students since the Marquess, who holds real power in the student council, isn’t a bad person.”
“So, what then?”
Pastel’s complexion brightened.
Professor Horace looked even sadder.
“But we can’t leave it empty for long; there will be an audit starting the second semester, and it’s already been decided who will do it.”
Her breath caught.
Pastel turned pale again.
The professor looked more sorrowful.
“I understand your noble intentions, junior, but I don’t know if the auditing professor will understand. A trade group under the Student Council seems suspicious, doesn’t it?”
“Y-yes! I’m just trying to help people!”
“I know, I know. How could I not? But the world is just too harsh.”
Exactly!
Pastel slumped down.
Wonderland turned complete death game.
The harsh realities for starving children were merciless.
Ugh.
“May I know the auditing professor’s name, or rather, what to address them? I want to wholeheartedly persuade them. I’m just trying to deliver for the desperate!”
Why is the world so cold?
I hope the auditing professor is a warm adult who opens their heart to the child’s persuasion (gold bars).
Golden sparkle.
A warm heart.
The girl goes yay yay.
“Hoh. So you plan to make a heartfelt persuasion?”
Professor Horace lamented.
Gasp.
Complete bad expression.
Pastel felt a chill while sitting on the floor. Her heart was getting cold.
“Is it possible they don’t even respond to persuasion? Like Professor Carlo? Or is it Professor Carlo?”
The one who firmly declared the student council’s abolition?
“Originally, Professor Carlo was supposed to do it, but another professor, burning with passion for auditing the Student Council, stepped up firmly, persuading all the professors and becoming the auditing professor.”
Ahhh.
Complete bad news.
Pastel wiped her eyes.
“Senior, I’ll take my leave now. I will go to prison with all of society’s misunderstandings and coldness.”
Professor Horace sighed.
“Hahaha! But there’s a little good news for you, junior.”
“What is it?”
Pastel looked up with a tearful expression.
She felt tears welling up.
“That auditing professor is…”
Professor Horace suddenly smiled brightly.
“Me!”
Laughter filled the room.
Pastel’s eyes grew wider.
Gasp.
The auditing professor is actually a senior?
So all this time, I was the butt of the joke?
“Haha!”
Pastel burst into laughter.
Sadness and fear flew away.
“Senior! You are so clever! I completely fell for it!”
She almost cried!
She hastily wiped her eyes.
The world is worth living after all.
Filled with anticipation, she looked at Professor Horace.
“You understand the kindness of a new trade group, right?!”
“Of course! If there’s any bad misunderstanding, I personally will audit! If my junior is working, what wrongdoing could there possibly be! As a senior, it’s my duty to prevent misunderstandings!”
Professor Horace laughed heartily.
“Just as I expected, senior!”
Pastel flapped her arms excitedly.
So happy!
“As a junior, I can’t just sit idly by! Whenever you visit the Student Council, I’ll prepare a fruit basket so you won’t get bored! Please come anytime!”
Fruit (gold bar) basket.
Professor Horace’s face lit up.
“Oh! Will you really do that? I didn’t expect it, but since it’s a gesture from you, I can’t help but accept! As an auditing professor, I’ll visit regularly! I can’t abandon my duty!”
“Of course, of course! Come often!”
Hahaha.
A cheerful atmosphere flowed.
Is this gathering of good and righteous delivery personnel?
Yay.
“Haa.”
The demon muttered.
“Don’t hand over bribes so naturally…”
“To organize a trade group, we need to pick a good merchant, especially for a unique trade group like yours.”
“I’ll keep that in mind!”
“Yes!”
Professor Horace moved his quill. Elegant handwriting filled the letter.
“Finding the right merchant is a very difficult journey. It’s hard to search due to the unique circumstances, and it’s also tricky to pick just anyone.”
“Oh! That’s right!”
Nod, nod, nod.
Hundred percent relatable.
“Even if we find a suitable merchant, it’s a problem. Someone who’s tight-lipped and capable. They should also possess an unique ethical background. Such a merchant would be likely to betray halfway through.”
“Oh! I completely agree!”
Thousand percent relatable!
That’s a tenfold increase in relatability!
“But somewhere, a suitable merchant must exist. If you can tolerate a few flaws. What’s needed here is the experience and insight to recognize the merchant.”
Gasp.
“I have none of those!”
Ahhh!
Pastel was just a cherry blossom tree…!
Cherry blossom, cherry blossom.
Professor Horace chuckled.
“Just trust me.”
The quill was set down. The letter was neatly folded and placed into an envelope.
“I’ll fill in your experience and insight.”
The envelope was sealed. The candle leaned, and wax dripped. The wax sealed the letter. The professor’s ring pressed into the wax, leaving the family crest.
Professor Horace handed the letter over.
“It’s a letter of introduction. It should ease their wariness. After that, it’ll be easier.”
She glanced at the pink-haired junior.
“Junior, you are persuasive just as you are.”
Pastel gulped hard.
“I will do my very best!”
She received the introduction letter with both hands.
“For the sake of your fruit basket, senior!”
Professor Horace was momentarily taken aback, then laughed heartily.
“Of course! I will await good news!”
Pastel exited the professor’s office.
With a light step, she walked away.
“You are so nice, senior!”
Pitter patter.
Pitter patter!
Then, she spun around delightfully.
Her view spun, and wow!
A beautiful world!
“Younger Craft, I really struggle to understand your sentiments. Think about that brat’s nasty intentions. He’s not helping you just for a bribe. He’s just setting up connections with the Marquess, who will eventually enter central politics. What a nasty guy.”
“Oh please!”
Pastel waved her arms.
“Thinking grim thoughts brings about grim words! Just look at me, look!”
One, two, three!
“Pastel Spin!”
She twirled in place. The white dress fluttered. Pink hair danced around.
One, two, three!
“Pastel Reverse Spin!”
She spun the other way.
The white dress flapped.
The pink hair swirled.
Feeling so merry!
“The Demon Lord is completely gloomy!”
Hahaha.
Pastel cheerfully ignored the demon’s whispers.
Sweet, sweet lemonade~.
Wow.
She left the academy and headed to the airship dock.
Trade center buildings lined up. Taking advantage of the Sky Island’s geopolitical value, the trade groups passing between the human world and demon realm were characterized by solid security and armament.
It was completely different from the local trade association she had defeated in an arm-wrestling match last time.
“Expenditures are high. You didn’t experience it properly, but mistaken encounters with pirates lead to the seizure of trade vessels and bankruptcy frequently. Selling buildings and changing signs overnight is ordinary.”
Oh ho.
“Smuggling is not an easy way to make money. Especially as you grow larger, it attracts pirate attention. I hope you keep that in mind.”
Gasp.
I see.
Pastel half-listened, looking around.
“But it seems there’s increased security personnel compared to before?”
What’s going on?
“It’s because it’s the vacation season. When the students who need protecting return, the Sky Island’s defenses become lax. However, trade itself does not cease, so more mercenaries are employed by the trade groups.”
“Pirates will know too, right? Their activities will increase.”
“That’s why, every vacation season, the trade alliance typically conducts partial pirate hunts. They’re probably preparing for that, causing this commotion.”
“Ahhh.”
Pirates, huh.
Shiver, shiver.
So scary.
Pastel trembled while strolling through the street. Suddenly, she spotted the sign the professor indicated and beamed.
“There it is!”
Wow!
It was a trade group of appropriate size—not too big, not too small—compared to the surroundings. What was peculiar was that the armed personnel outnumbered the actual size of the trade group.
Pastel swallowed hard and stepped into the trade group.
She confidently approached the desk staff. The disinterested expressions of those who saw a clueless visitor met her.
Then their gaze landed on her pink hair, and after a moment of contemplation, the staff’s expression changed. There was a huge ruckus.
Shortly after, Pastel was informed that the high merchant would soon return in the reception room on the top floor.
Wow.
Left alone, she fidgeted on the sofa.
The sofa was plush.
The girl exclaimed in delight.
After enjoying the luxury of the high floor’s reception room, she glanced down at the steaming teacup with the expression befitting of nobility.
So expensive-looking tea.
She elegantly picked it up with both hands.
After blowing on it a bit, she took a sip.
Bitterness filled her mouth.
Ewww.
So bad.
She set the teacup down with poise.
Then her eyes widened.
Wait a minute.
It’s not the time to be stupid.
A meeting with the high merchant awaited. No matter how good the introduction letter might be, she couldn’t let her guard down.
Ahhh.
How mercilessly would cold reality attack starving children, she pondered?
A cruel death game seemed to be about to unfold right here…!
Ahhh.
A clever Pastel was needed…!
The high merchant arrived at the reception room.
It was a middle-aged woman dressed in both practical and vintage clothing, with a folding fan in hand.
Gasp.
So scary.
Business mode, business mode.
Pastel’s expression turned cold.
The high merchant sat directly across from her.
A moment of scrutinizing silence passed.
Suddenly, the high merchant smiled.
“Do you perhaps not recognize me? I sent the letter of condolence. We’ve met before when you were about knee-high.”
“Oh?”
Pastel’s mind raced back.
Nope, not a clue.
Had her expression given it away? The high merchant looked slightly disappointed.
“I’m the sister of Maid Captain Emma. I applied for a maid position with Craft but was rejected. I cried back then, but now I’m here, sitting across from you.”
Her voice carried a bittersweet yet nostalgic tone.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
The sister of Maid Captain Emma?
The sibling of a sacrificed retainer…?
Whoa.
The demon warned her.
“Don’t let your guard down. Even though the academy is right next door, she hasn’t come to visit. She loves profit and numbers.”
Ah, I know that.
I’m firmly in business mode, after all.
