“What’s up with the Knight Order?”
Pastel asked as soon as she heard that an airship was flying in for terrorist purposes.
“Stopping unauthorized airship intrusions isn’t our academy’s job; it’s the Knight Order’s responsibility,” a guard member hesitated.
“We received news that an internal issue has arisen. It seems like we need to handle it ourselves.”
Huh?
Pastel’s expression slightly frowned. Are they seriously fussing over internal issues when student safety is at risk?
The guard member flinched. Straightening up, he shouted vigorously.
“I’ll check again immediately!”
“Um… sure. By the way, could you return the spare gem I brought? I need to fly out and check the airship myself.”
Might as well try a preemptive strike.
Pastel received the gem and hopped on her white broom.
“Enhance defenses to the highest level and prepare for terrorists. Launch the airship too, please.”
“Yes!”
The member dashed off to meet the guard captain.
Pastel stomped on the ground. With her body securely balanced on the broom, she lifted off lightly.
Looking down, she noticed Melissa and Elshire still exchanging long-range attacks. Ground debris and light bullets collided, creating bursts of light.
The exchange wasn’t breathlessly intense; there were occasional provocations and dialogues. It felt like a leisurely duel maintaining noble etiquette.
Phew.
“I wanted to enjoy it too, you know.”
『The more power you have, the harder it is to live as you wish.』
Huh?
Pastel maneuvered the broom. The speed pulled her back, and her pink hair fluttered wildly.
She pressed the gem against the broom. Black energy oozed out, being absorbed into the broom.
She tossed the nearly empty gem into her mouth. She chewed on it like ice.
Crunch, crunch.
It had a cheap sweetness, among the low-quality junk food flavors.
With the speed of the broom mixing with the autumn wind, her hair and clothing fluttered.
“What’s that? Trimaut? We already captured the demon mercenary leader who was a terrorist, but where did this airship come from? It can’t be flying without personnel, which means there are more terrorists around.”
Hmm.
“If we caught the vanguard in the sewers and the rear guard on the mercenary’s airship, wouldn’t the terrorists be short on manpower?”
Am I thinking too modern? It’s tough to digest this in a world where safety is guaranteed.
『If the radical demons operated alone, it would seem so. But I’m not sure if they would be lacking in personnel after getting tied up with a cult. The cult actually recruits a considerable number of people based on interests and benefits.』
Heh.
“Looking for partners to help with terrorism. Pay offered.”
Feels like watching an international mafia.
Oh?
Are they actually an international mafia?
A mafia that funds itself through drug sales and a cult specializing in drug manufacturing?
“We need to root them out even more!”
She accelerated on the broom. The school grounds, busy with the festival, passed by rapidly. It was bustling with festive energy.
When she finally reached the outskirts of the school, detached from the festival and with fewer students around, an airship mimicking a sky whale was flying in from the peaceful sky.
“Bad airship! Ugh!”
The dense cannons filled her sight.
Wherever they gathered personnel from, armed mercenaries and suspicious robed cult members mingled on the deck.
Fully armed!
That looked like a warship!
This isn’t good…!
Pastel tried to hit the brakes on the broom.
As a power holder, personal play seems off!
Retreat! Retreat!
Had they spotted her conspicuous white and pink flying vehicle? It began to stir rapidly.
The airship changed its course, rotating to show its side. Countless cannons emerged. The guns were aimed straight at her.
Huh.
Don’t tell me they’re actually going to fire?
It was an undeniable situation where they were definitely going to shoot.
“Don’t do this…!”
Pastel screamed.
Flames erupted all at once and a thunderous roar filled the air. Countless shells filled her line of sight.
“Waaah!”
Please save me!
I’m just a good power holder…!
Aaah!
The leading shell approached. The engraved gem magic circle gleamed. Logic birthed magic. A small spark ignited, wrapping the shell like a dry plain.
In that moment, the girl stared dazedly at the flame’s transformation. Forgetting the mystery of magic and the heat of the fire, she gazed at life on the edge.
Hello.
Hormone friend.
The sword strike met the shell. The flames split open, and the girl on the broom soared ahead, creating a scarlet explosion.
The subsequent shells covered the foreground.
The girl held her broom with one hand.
『Only those who are exceptionally skilled can manage aerial combat. Breathing with the mount, timely movements, and fearless collisions require immense training.』
The white broom flew through the blue sky, her pink hair trailing like a tail, weaving between countless shells.
Silver sword strikes followed in succession. The shells were cut and exploded, creating crimson flames. The chain explosions blanketed the sky and obscured the terrorists’ vision.
『But you won’t need any training.』
On the deck, the terrorists blankly gazed upwards. The blue sky shimmered with vermilion.
The girl, riding her broom, burst forth from the flames. Surrounded by the fire and enveloped in smoke, she dashed onto the airship’s deck.
A mercenary reaching for his sword clashed with the broom. The force consumed the gem energy, creating a shockwave. The leather armor crumpled, sending the mercenary flying.
Screams erupted.
The broom flew between people. The strikes in waves swept over the deck. Bodies were sliced apart. The red scene filled the deck.
The broom chased after terrorists fleeing into the interior. As the straight corridor was revealed, the girl accelerated. The blade roared horizontally, cutting through walls. Countless upper and lower bodies fell without resistance, cut down.
The broom passed through all the corridors. Leaving traces on the walls, she flung glass bottles into the cabins and rooms.
Yellow smoke filled the interior. The screams and chaos subsided. Soon, peaceful silence returned.
『By the way, should something that can fly be called a cavalry? How interesting.』
The demon murmured.
Pastel came back to her senses and stopped the broom. Having completed her low-altitude flight, her feet touched the ground. The blood on the floor splashed and made a sound.
『Well done.』
Pastel flinched.
“What? What did you say?”
Her mind felt hazy.
Huh.
『Well done.』
Pastel blinked slowly, recalling what the demon had said earlier.
She grabbed the broom, stained red. The blood from her hands marked the broom in crimson fingerprints.
“This is a flying motorcycle!”
Whoa, motorcycle!
“Vroom vroom! Honk honk!”
She soared through the now-empty corridor. Drops of blood fell from her pink hair.
Pastel felt like a little delinquent!
The guilty pleasure of disturbing social order!
The joy of having a demon lord beneath her feet!
“Demon Lord! Please use honorifics! Honorifics!”
『Hmm.』
Huh.
『Before getting out of hormone influence, it’s best to wash up.』
#
Quickly washing up, Pastel sat with her knees hugged. She rubbed her cheeks. As her cheeks slightly squished, her pink lips pouted.
“Huh.”
Just a little huh…
A strange sense of lethargy washed over her.
She should normally be soaking in warm water to recover her mind, but this was merely a soggy shower situation, leaving her in a daze.
『Your condition isn’t great. How about enjoying a bath? Didn’t the hot water come on?』
The demon, manipulating the navigation magic circle, glanced back.
“No, the hot water came out fine. It’s just that the place is what it is.”
She pressed her cheeks firmly.
Her lips pouted.
“Killing… just doesn’t seem to get easier, even with Hormone Friend helping.”
『Hmm.』
The demon rubbed his chin.
『Everyone feels that way. No need to blame yourself.』
Pastel gazed at the demon.
“You too, Demon Lord?”
『I…』
The demon hesitated, then turned away. His fingers guided the navigation magic circle.
『I’ve spent too much time doing this.』
The airship flew toward a nearby dock. The guard member’s airship would be taking off soon, so it would be fine to hand it over in between.
Pastel rested her chin on her hand.
“Demon Lord, you said your age is calculated from before the archaic times plus thirty years, right?”
『Exactly.』
Heh.
The age gap is in the triple digits…
Is it really okay to use honorifics with a demon who feels like an ancestor?
Pastel pondered.
The corners of her mouth slightly lifted.
“Hehe.”
Probably feels good.
『What are you thinking?』
Pastel jumped in surprise and shook her head. Her pink hair flapped.
“Nothing!”
The demon looked at her skeptically.
But won’t my inner thoughts be discovered!
『So you were thinking of rebellion and guilty pleasures again.』
Gah!
Pastel’s mouth dropped open.
How did he know?!
Aaah!
Pastel, whose inner thoughts were exposed!
Transparent, mirror-like Pastel…!
Gah!
The character count is the same!
Pastel grabbed her head.
Aaah!
“The character count is even the same!”
It must be real!
I’m transparent, mirror-like Pastel!
Ignoring her, the demon continued looking at the airship.
The cruising airship safely delivered to the incoming guard member’s airship.
However, the situation wasn’t great.
As soon as the airships connected, a guard member hurriedly came over to relay news of the terrorist incident.
“Another terrorist airship collided with the tournament arena! A large gas leak spread, making entry difficult, and students are isolated!”
Pastel, who was sipping fruit juice, dropped the glass. It shattered, covering the deck with juice.
“Knight Order…!”
What are you doing not working!?
Are they treating our academy lightly just because there’s an internal issue?!
