“I’m off to protect my friends~!”
Pastel marched bravely down the busy street. Crowds gathered on both sides.
“With popularity comes responsibility, you know!”
She spun around and raised her arms high.
“Hooray~!”
Behind the lively pink girl trailed about 200 gloomy soldiers, fully armed with rifles and more at their sides.
As she walked, Pastel glanced back at her impressive team.
A solid number of troops.
Is this the achievement of starting a smuggling ring while starving?
Proud!
“Everyone! Let’s do our best!”
She waved one arm energetically, rallying her troops.
The nervous soldiers hesitated, wondering whether to cheer for their excited Lord Marquis.
Hmm…
Has everyone lost their sensitivity fighting in wars? Or have they just become too disciplined?
Max, the head of the top escort unit, approached, looking just as tense as the soldiers. In a small voice, he began to speak.
“Are we really going to raid the academy like this? We may not have many troops regularly, and we’re quite vulnerable to surprise attacks, but the academy’s predecessor is, after all, a training ground for officers. If a crisis strikes, upperclassmen can shift to soldiers in an instant.”
Whaat?
This is serious now.
If someone saw this, they’d think we were up to no good.
Looking around, the onlookers were whispering suspiciously, likely questioning Max’s anxious expression and quiet tone.
Oh no, oh no!
If this keeps up, I’ll be misunderstood as a bad kid!
Just enough misunderstandings to give the Demon Lord a run for his money!
Pastel declared confidently, “A raid? We’re just going to protect our friends, the students!”
She spread her arms wide, as if to shout it for everyone in the lively Sky Island to hear.
“The academy is in chaos! The principal has passed, and a terrorist plot has been discovered. Instead of dealing with these internal and external crises, all they’ve done is have endless faculty meetings!”
She clenched her fists with determination.
“Things are all wrong! At this rate, we won’t be able to protect the innocent students who only focused on their studies!”
She pointed back at her soldiers.
“So we’ll step in, organize the chaos, and protect the students! Before a greater tragedy strikes!”
Pastel halted mid-rant, realizing the implications of her latest statement and gaping.
Wait, I’m saying that my soldiers will organize the current chaotic situation and establish peace? Surely nobody will take that the wrong way?
Uh-oh.
This sounds like something you’d say in a coup d’état!
Pastel’s mouth dropped open like a baby bird, stunned.
I just wanted to bring extra soldiers to help my friends at the academy; how did I end up sounding like I was planning something atrocious?
Could it be that I’ve gotten so used to the Demon Lord’s influence that I’ve picked up his bad habits?
Ahh.
Demon Lord!
Why did you raise me like this…!
Max bowed his head with a serious expression.
“I understand, Lord Marquis. As the scale of the upper echelons increases, clashes with the academy will become inevitable. Since the academy is unprepared right now, this is actually the suitable timing.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, I feel like I’ve been appointed as a coup instigator.
“That’s not—!”
Pastel floundered in panic.
“We’re just going to protect our friends! If a terrorist attack happens during the tournament, we need more troops to respond quickly! We’ll even share some soldiers to protect Elshire, my friend, who is the most at risk!”
Max’s expression softened, as if he understood.
“I see. We’re going to protect your friends, then.”
Oh.
He gets it right away.
Phew.
Pastel let out a sigh of relief.
I went from being a bad kid trying to incite a coup against the academy to a good kid protecting my friends.
Max looked over the soldiers.
“We’re heading to the academy.”
“Yes!”
The soldiers responded in unison.
Heading in…?
Isn’t there some other term we could use?
“Um, you do understand correctly, right?”
You’re not thinking of turning protecting my friends into some clever excuse, are you?
“Yes.”
Max confidently placed his hand on his chest. He looked ready for battle.
Yikes!
He looks reliable, but…
There’s just something about his reliability that feels off…!
Ahh!
Pastel trembled, suddenly alarmed by the intense gazes around her. The crowd was murmuring speculatively.
It seemed like people were shooting glances, incredulous at the thought of anyone being near such controversial topics.
The crowd’s whispers multiplied in a matter of seconds.
Oh no.
Pastel’s body trembled.
Shiver, shiver.
With so many eyes on me, I should feel ecstatic, but why do I feel this way?
Because it’s all such a terrible misunderstanding!
I can see someone in the crowd leaving to alert others about the “scandal.”
“Wah wah.”
I’m totally losing control!
Now I’m certified bad news across the whole Sky Island!
Pastel flailed her hands, nearly on the verge of tears. Her face flushed crimson, steam virtually rising from it.
I’m not a bad kid!
But what I said might be true!
Ahhh!
Demon Lord!
Why did you raise me this way?!
Pastel squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath as she shouted, “Everyone, it’s a misunderstanding…!”
The murmurings stopped, and all eyes turned on her. Then, an even more heated whispering began.
The truth abandoned in the face of sensational falsehoods.
What a relentless epidemic.
Ahhh!
“I don’t know!”
Facing the stark reality, Pastel decided to run away.
Flutter flutter.
The pink girl sped off at an incredible pace.
Max was startled and ran after her.
“Follow the Lord Marquis! From now on, it’s a race!”
The soldiers shouted in alignment. The armed regiment chased their teary-eyed Lord Marquis.
“Please believe me…!”
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
After a frantic run, they finally reached the academy. Max caught his breath, panting hard. The soldiers following suit.
Having transcended humanity, Pastel quickly regained her composure and apologized earnestly.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I just rushed ahead without checking back.”
Max wiped the sweat from his brow.
“It’s fine. It’s best not to give them time to prepare. We might face off against the academy guards, so we should take a moment to regroup.”
“Fight.”
Pastel shivered, her lips quivering. Her face went pallid.
“I-I’m sure there won’t be anything like that!”
Her hands flailed in the air.
“We’re just going to protect our friends! Leading kind soldiers to keep innocent students safe! That means everything is kind and gentle, right?”
Pastel held up three fingers and beamed.
“Three times the kindness!”
An absolute heavenly level.
Her pink eyes sparkled.
“There absolutely won’t be a fight!”
Pastel declared confidently.
Though, she couldn’t quite assure those around her.
Max and the soldiers shared glances and decided to ignore the image management efforts of the Craft family.
Even the subordinates had accepted the disbelief surrounding their Lord. They had resigned themselves to this situation.
No one could genuinely believe there would be three times the kindness. They’d merely take note of the bit about there not being a fight.
While they couldn’t predict how to navigate a situation where they were introducing soldiers into a sacred institution, they had their suspicions. Craft was the empire’s top scheming family, after all.
As they approached the academy’s main gate, they encountered a fully armed guard unit on alert for battle.
Max and the soldiers were not surprised; they hadn’t bought Pastel’s “three times the kindness” rubbish.
The one who should know best, the Lord Marquis herself, was trembling, however.
Oh wow!
Pastel looked feeble.
Minus three times the kindness!
An outright hellish level!
Yikes.
The guards’ watchful eyes were tensed and wary.
To anyone watching, it was evident they were preparing to confront troublemakers.
Has the word already spread?
The captain of the academy guard stepped forward. Stopping at a distance, he spoke with a stern expression.
“No matter how grand Lord Craft may be, this is a garden of learning and a cradle of martial arts. Soldiers cannot be allowed in.”
Clear respectful language, yet the feeling of suddenly being an outsider washed over Pastel.
I just wanted to bring more troops because our academy guards seemed insufficient.
Max looked on resolutely, the face of a hero ready for combat.
He might seem reliable, but…
I can’t deal with that kind of look!
Ughhhhhh.
Pastel waved her hands frantically in the air.
“As a student council, I brought troops to bolster the academy’s guarding force for the tournament! Strictly for student safety!”
The guard captain stared at her blankly, as if he were irritated that she wasn’t even putting effort into creating a convincing excuse.
But that’s exactly the truth?!
At the uproar, students and professors flocked to the main gate.
The professors gathered and, upon seeing Pastel and her troop, began to panic and chatter wildly.
Among them, Professor Carlo appeared to take the lead in the discussion, but suddenly Professor Horace stepped forward, loud enough for all to hear.
“Didn’t you just say you brought those soldiers with the student council’s authority?! Then supervisor oversight of the student council is my responsibility! Or are you mocking yourself right now?!”
The discussions continued, and it seemed like a decision had been made, as Professor Horace stepped out. The guard captain stepped aside as if addressing a superior.
The professors and students ceased their commotion and looked on silently. The academy’s entrance was crowded, but an unusual silence enveloped the scene.
Professor Horace, with the demeanor of a true educator of this sacred institution, spoke up.
“My Lord Marquis, you stated you brought extra soldiers to increase security for the student council?”
Pastel turned pale.
Whaaaaat?
I’m not a delinquent!
Trembling, she managed to reply.
“Y-yes.”
Professor Horace closed his eyes, savoring the answer.
“The audacious move of such a student council for the representatives of students and professors is…”
The guard captain steadied his troops, as if anticipating the next word. Professors readied themselves as well, preparing for any possible confrontation.
Pastel’s heart raced.
Professor Horace’s eyes snapped open. Then he broke into a wide smile.
“I believe it’s a commendable intent! Heehee!”
Amidst the stillness, only his laughter echoed.
Huh?
The professors looked on in shock at the apparent traitor. Professor Horace then turned to the guards, sternly reprimanding them.
“What are you doing? The Lord Marquis is to come in! Make way!”
As Pastel stood still, Professor Horace stepped in to guide her.
“Let’s go, my lord!”
Pastel was taken aback as she was led forward. The armed troops followed in her wake. They passed through the main gate, trampling over the confused guards, entering completely.
Professor Horace smiled brightly.
“An entry without bloodshed!”
At his seemingly triumphant statement, professors and students gaped at Pastel in disbelief.
The looks were that of ones directed toward Craft…
Ohhhhhh!
Pastel shivered late to the realization.
Upperclassman!
If even the upperclassmen start spouting coup talk, my heart can’t take it!
My heart…
Pastel paused, thinking.
Huh?
She glanced around.
The professors were glaring at Professor Horace, muttering silent curses. Since they couldn’t speak the words outright, it seemed they wouldn’t resist physically.
The guards were dazed, but with the higher-ups recognizing it and having already let it pass, they didn’t seem prepared for battle.
The students were just seniors and friends.
Oh, wait.
Now that I think about it, this situation isn’t so bad.
After all, this school belongs to the students, and the representatives of the students are the student council.
And as for me, I’m the vice president of the student council, along with being the head of planning, treasurer, promotions, volunteer activities, and the discipline committee.
A smile broke through her previous worry.
“That’s right! It is indeed a non-violent entry! Just as I planned!”
Hooray, hooray!
Hehe.
