Airships flew into the sky island dock, surrounding the one carrying the transfer students as if providing a guard.
As a whale-like airship moved its wing fins for a smooth landing, a strong wind blew. The clothing of the academy staff waiting at the dock fluttered wildly.
Pastel, representing the student council, trembled in the wind and casually spoke to Elly, who was waiting nearby.
“How do I address the Duke’s daughter? Hello? How do you do?”
“I’m not fully versed in imperial etiquette, but…”
Elly subtly rubbed her pointed demon ears.
“Am I speaking to you in honorifics?”
Memory check in progress.
No, never!
“We’re just students. It’s true that the after-graduation phase is uncomfortable, but I don’t think I need to stand out.”
Pastel’s face brightened slightly.
“Right, right! There’s no need for us friends to act awkwardly! We’re friends! No, we’re already friends!”
Elly tilted her head slightly at the somewhat different conclusion.
“By the way, I don’t think I’ve heard that Elshire Bellamont has received a title. Did she turn it down after being able to? Wouldn’t it fit the etiquette to treat her like Melissa Camelot? What do you think, Dustin?”
Dustin, who was waiting on the left, flinched, clearly at a loss. It was a challenging topic for someone born and raised in a baron family.
“Well, Bellamont is of royal blood, so how about using mutual honorifics?”
The Duke of Bellamont was a royal family absorbed during the Empire’s unification wars. While they gained the title of Duke to honor their bloodline, they were also tasked with overseeing the territories that had once belonged to their kingdom.
“Mutual honorifics between friends?”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
That’s an utterly new etiquette idea!
“I don’t even use mutual honorifics with my best friend, Melissa?!”
Pastel spread her arms as wide as possible to express how close she was with Melissa.
“If I treat her differently, she would feel sad!”
“Is that so?”
Dustin seemed embarrassed, feeling ashamed of his lack of knowledge.
Oh no, I should comfort him.
“Dustin! It’s okay not to know! You might be awkward with friend dynamics since you almost have no friends!”
Sure, sure!
Dustin looked like he had just been suddenly hit while passing by a playful child.
Having no friends must make such comfort feel strange.
Pastel felt a surge of consideration. In order not to create an awkward atmosphere, she let out a bright laugh.
Aha ha!
She gave a thumbs-up.
“You’re skilled at taking care of others, so it’s okay if you don’t have friends! You’ve proven that by handling chores in the student council! Right, Elly?”
Turning around, Elly was gaping in shock. The demon girl’s gaze darted between Pastel and Dustin.
The usual exasperation and distaste she showed toward Dustin were replaced with sympathy.
The demon girl sincerely comforted Dustin.
“It’s okay. Having your only friend like this is better than having none at all. Normally, you wouldn’t even associate, right?”
Wait.
Only friend?
Did Elly just unconsciously declare that she and Dustin were not friends…?
In shock, when Elly turned to Dustin, it seemed to be a critical hit; Dustin shriveled up intensely, looking like a half-melted snowman.
The snowman looked depressed.
“I have no friends…”
Oh no.
It’s true, but…
That doesn’t need to be echoed!
“Elly! How could you do this! This is a crime, a crime! A friend crime!”
Gasp, friend crime.
Pastel imagined a major offense!
“Uh? Did I do something wrong?”
Elly looked bewildered.
It took some time to deal with Elly’s major offense, but they managed to resolve it by the time the Duke’s daughter was ready to disembark the airship.
The group of transfer students descended with their attendants, and the dock suddenly became crowded.
Among them, the most noticeable figure was a silver-haired girl closely followed by armed soldiers, whom you would call attendants, not just servants. The soldiers’ spear tips pierced the sky as they chased the girl. Her cold silver eyes scanned the dock.
Those silver eyes stopped at a specific point—the student council gathered to welcome and guide the transfer students.
The pink-haired girl at the front blew her trumpet.
“The whole academy welcomes you, transfer students!”
Pastel shouted and took a trumpet to her lips.
Pew pew~!
To the side, Dustin handed the welcome booklet prepared by the student council to the attendants and explained it. Whenever the transfer students had questions, Elly handled them personally.
They discussed schedules, dormitories, the atmosphere at school, and more.
In the midst of the bustling conversation, Pastel’s job was simply to stand out by blowing her trumpet.
Pew pew~!
With the pink-haired girl making a scene, everyone turned their attention. Perhaps it was unusual for a marquis to act like this.
Even though she was just playing an instrument, if the student council didn’t stand out as guides, there could be dropouts, so it was a very important role. You could say it was the most crucial role.
Surprisingly, it was true.
Pew pew~!
Once the boarding procedures were fully completed, they began to move in earnest. The attendants would handle the minor details, and all Pastel had to do was guide the transfer students to their dormitories.
Pastel continued to blow her trumpet as she led the way until she slowly noticed that Elly seemed quite embarrassed, so she stopped playing.
Aww.
Feeling regretful, she took the trumpet away from her mouth, leaving her with nothing to do.
The group of transfer students followed closely behind, but Elly was explaining as she pointed out parts of the school, while Dustin took care of minor issues, leaving Pastel with no specific task at the front.
Trying to lift the welcome mood, she tempted to put her trumpet back to her lips, but Elly shot her a reproachful glance, making her give up.
Ugh.
It’s a problem if you hand over your duties too well.
Pastel strolled in the front with her arms crossed behind her back.
Ahem.
Nothing to do!
Wow, I’m so capable.
Hehe.
Is this what the head of the department feels like?
She looked back with a hint of arrogance.
“There aren’t only student cafeterias here, so if you don’t like the locations, it’s better to use other places.”
Following behind, the transfer students were being passionately guided by Elly.
Doing well, it’s not too crucial.
“No matter how much you tell the master to assign good dorms, it won’t happen. If you’re dissatisfied, the student must come to the student council directly. Please understand that conveying your opinion through the attendants is seen as being less than equal as students.”
In the middle was a struggling attendant, while Dustin outright rejected the suggestion.
Sure, sure.
Everyone’s doing well!
Could this be a good opportunity for something personal?
Pastel scanned the group of transfer students. Her gaze caught a silver-haired girl who was walking slightly away from the group.
It was unclear if she meant to fall back because she was going to be assigned to a better dorm, or if she simply didn’t want to mingle with the other students.
As her silver eyes scouted the school, they suddenly turned around. Her silver hair swayed as if caught in a blizzard from the northern mountain ranges.
This girl is said to be at the semi-knight level, adept at spear techniques.
Pastel smiled brightly.
And she’s my friend!
Hehe.
I need to cherish her like Melissa on my friend list!
“Hey, Elshire! It’s been a while!”
Pastel charged over, greeting her as if they were best friends.
“So happy to see you! Wow!”
She jumped up and down!
A flurry of pink engulfed the girl.
Elshire seemed a bit flustered by the sudden encounter, searching her memory as her gaze became a little unfocused. Perhaps she now firmly believed they had never met before.
“When have we met?”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
“Weren’t we just together not long ago?!”
Shock.
“Don’t tell me I was mistaken?!”
Gasp.
She struck a surprised pose, arms wide open.
“That’s why it felt weird! Thanks for telling me!”
Pastel simply walked alongside her.
As the distance between them narrowed, Elshire looked flustered as she glanced around.
“But, Elshire, do you know? The moment I first saw you, I suddenly realized—!”
Woosh~!
Pastel made a sound effect with her mouth and declared with hands on her hips.
“That we are going to be best friends!”
The shocking truth.
She whispered what felt like a huge secret in Elshire’s ear.
“I got so confused by this revelation that I felt like we were already friends. Gasp. Such a momentous reality! Keep it just between us! It’s our secret!”
Elshire stared at her blankly, appearing entirely lost, before looking back at her attendant. As if asking where she had met this strange person before.
The attendant shook their head. Elshire turned back to Pastel, still bewildered.
“When have we met…?”
Her expression radiated complete confusion.
Pastel whispered seriously.
“Right now!”
Gasp.
Complete best friend trigger.
Silence enveloped them. The sounds of Elly’s guidance and the commotion of the transfer students could not obstruct the atmosphere between them.
Pastel savored the silence.
Ah, this vibe.
As a pro at making friends, she could tell. A conversation can flow without awkwardness between best friends.
Pastel lowered her voice, maintaining a serious face.
“I have something I want to ask you cautiously as friends. Will you help me?”
Elshire stared at her in silence.
Gulp.
I know your heart too.
She must be thinking, “Go on, say anything.”
But I won’t make unreasonable requests to a friend.
Slowly, Pastel asked.
“Let’s have a sparring match.”
An opportunity to safely practice with a semi-knight.
I can’t pass this up.
Elshire looked utterly confused, trying to grasp what was happening before finally speaking.
“I’ll decline.”
Gasp.
Rejecting me.
That was a brutally cold rejection, akin to a fierce blizzard…!
Arriving at the designated dormitory intersection, Elshire rushed away, looking like someone who had just been attacked by a strange person after having trouble making friends while living in the cold and desolate north.
Gasp.
Pastel slumped down.
Elly glanced over, and Dustin approached with concern.
“Pastel?”
“Dustin!”
Pastel, with a sullen face, clung to Dustin’s leg. Dustin, looking down, jumped slightly, blushing while turning away.
“Dustin!”
“W-what is it?”
“Teach me how to propose a duel in a rude way!”
An immediate need for a handkerchief toss, totally essential!
Dustin’s face suddenly looked like someone had just hit him.
Elly, who was watching, let out a stifled laugh but quickly composed herself to pretend she wasn’t smiling.
Ugh.
Pastel despaired as she leaned against the ground.
“Still, asking for a duel rudely, like you or Leonard, would be wrong.”
Dustin’s face turned pained again.
“But sometimes people just don’t click together. Not everyone can be friends. Just in case, I had a solid backup plan!”
Pastel stood up vigorously.
She adopted the cold gaze of the Vice Student Council President, along with being the head of administration, planning, promotion, and volunteer departments.
If the friend hypnosis beam doesn’t work!
She raised her hand high.
“From today, the student council will promote one-on-one tournaments to enhance students’ skills and motivation!”
Who’s the strongest?
After failing to feign familiarity and feeling a bit embarrassed, Pastel wielded her power.
Power abuse beam~!
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