“So everyone, pick one each!”
Pastel shook the paper box. The papers with tournament assignment numbers rustled inside.
“Just one! You can’t pick two. That would make you greedy!”
Elshire, who had hesitated due to the no-forfeit clause, finally picked one. After that, friends came out one by one to draw their papers.
“Next, next!”
Pastel waved her hands.
“My turn.”
Dustin, who had been updating the assigned numbers behind the podium, approached.
Oh?
Dustin?
Isn’t that the busybody from the student council in the ranked Tournament A?
Pastel’s eyes went wide.
“Weren’t you just here to do chores?”
Dustin, who was about to put his hand in the paper box, froze. He stared blankly, visibly flustered.
Pastel beamed.
“Dustin! You worked hard!”
It’s a world apart from when he was fuming about his low written exam score on the admission airship and chose the delicate and fragile girl—pink Pastel—for a practice duel!
She snatched Dustin’s hand that was reaching for the box and raised it high, peering down from the podium.
“Hey everyone! Look at this!”
All eyes turned sharply.
Pastel smiled brightly.
“Dustin achieved top scores after all his hard work! Most of you have excelled in combat or academics since admission, but Dustin didn’t, so this result is even more impressive!”
Wow, wow!
“He’s the dark horse of this competition! If you clash with Dustin without any preparation, you’re in for a world of hurt!”
Swish, swing—crack!
Dustin stared in shock. After glancing at everyone below the podium, his face turned bright red.
A trembling mumble was heard.
“Are you really doing this on purpose because of that handkerchief incident from admission…?”
“What?!”
Pastel tilted her head.
Dustin’s pink eyes shimmered as he opened his mouth, then turned away, his face flushed for a different reason.
“Uh, could you maybe let go of my hand?”
“Oh! I need to draw my number! Sorry!”
As she released his hand, Dustin quickly picked his number and returned to update it.
“Alright! Next, next!”
Leonard, who had been lounging with his feet up on the table, stepped forward. With his hands in his pockets and a slouchy attitude, he glared at Dustin instead of picking a number.
“Hey! Why are you showing off?”
Dustin, still awkwardly standing after updating his number, flinched.
Oh?
Pastel’s eyes went wide.
“Leonard, are you jealous right now?”
Leonard paused, staring back in astonishment.
“What?”
Pastel declared firmly.
“You can’t do that! Even if jealousy wells up in your heart, if you lash out like that, it’s not right! Do you know how hard Dustin worked to get those grades? I know for sure because I fought him when we enrolled! Dustin put in a massive amount of effort!”
Leonard rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he pointed at Dustin in disbelief.
“Why would I be jealous of that guy?! He’s a weakling!”
Huh?
“Hey! Dustin! You tell him!”
“Uh? Huh?”
Dustin was taken aback.
Uh-oh.
These self-proclaimed ‘leadership enthusiasts’ are such a pain.
Pastel grabbed a number from the box and shoved it into Leonard’s hand.
“Come on! You’ve picked it, now go back to your seat! Hurry up!”
The older and burly Leonard swayed from her shove.
“Why are you picking for me, oh? No way. I’ll do it myself.”
The drawn number flapped in his hand.
“Hey! Showoff! Look at this! Update the chart! Let’s have a match!”
It was the number for Dustin’s opponent.
O-oh?
Pastel’s mouth dropped open in shock. She looked down at her hand that had drawn the number.
What did my hand just pick in this situation?
Dustin!
I’m sorry I can’t protect you…!
Not daring to look at Dustin, she turned her head.
In that direction, Elly shot her a scathing look. A total “the villain’s been revealed” glare.
Elly, why are you looking at me like that?!
Pastel felt incredibly wronged.
So unfair!
Leonard went down, and Melissa came up. Her blue eyes studied Pastel suspiciously.
A soft voice floated through the air.
“You’re not doing this on purpose, are you?”
Even Melissa?
What have I done?!
Aaaah!
The tournament A matchups were completed, and they dispersed. The student council members moved to the waiting room for tournament B.
Pastel turned to Elly.
“Elshire and Melissa. Even if their families have an old grudge, they won’t fight too harshly in the duel, right?”
“I don’t know much about combat, but I’ve heard of the bad blood between Bellamont and Camelot.”
Oh?
Could it be that the rumors also include Craft’s notorious scheming?
Elly pondered.
“As a mediator, you might want to take the lead. The professor is here, but those two have considerable family prestige, so it might be tricky to intervene at the right time.”
Uh-oh.
“What do you think, Dustin? Dustin?”
“Huh?”
Lost in thought, Dustin finally snapped back to reality.
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. What did you say?”
Pastel tilted her head.
“Are you worried about facing Leonard?”
Well, given that he’s up against a tough opponent, I’d easily win in a spar, but the disparity in size makes it more awkward to call him my classmate.
“Why are you stressing over it so much?”
Elly looked at Dustin with contempt.
“There are no angels whose fate hinges on your win or loss.”
Dustin’s ears turned red with embarrassment.
“No, it’s just… I’m overwhelmed with how to approach him.”
“Elly! Normally, because of the student council’s administrative tasks, it’s true Dustin lacks skills, but this is about combat, so don’t scold him too harshly!”
Pastel patted her chest confidently.
“Dustin! If you’re troubled, come to me for advice! I’ll share the secrets of the ‘Doo-shah-doo-shah Pa-sha-pa-sha’!”
“Doo-shah-doo-shah Pa-sha-pa-sha…?”
Dustin stared vacantly.
And then he unconsciously muttered softly.
“So cute.”
Oh?
Pastel’s eyes went wide.
“Really? Thanks!”
Wow!
Compliments are always delightful!
I wish the Demon Lord would praise me more often!
Elly looked at Dustin with absolute disdain.
“How naïve.”
Dustin averted his gaze, rubbing his ear.
“Anyway, I really don’t know how to face Leonard.”
“True!”
Pastel crossed her arms, deep in thought.
“Leonard loves playing leader, while Dustin fits the role of a subordinate, so the matchup isn’t favorable.”
They might actually fit together if they just wandered around together!
Dustin sat there blankly.
Uh-huh!
I understand your feelings!
It’s so frustrating!
“But if Pastel has a special remedy, then we can easily turn the tables on that dynamic!”
Pastel rummaged through her belongings and pulled out a glass bottle.
“Ta-da~!”
She held the bottle high as a yellow liquid sloshed around inside.
Pastel’s special remedy!
It can actually paralyze the opponent!
Wow.
Dustin and Elly stared at the super-ultra-special item in awe.
Pastel puffed out her chest.
“As you’ve experienced, this can paralyze someone!”
Even big ol’ Leonard would go down in one shot!
Wow.
She grabbed Dustin’s hand.
“I learned this from my mentor!”
Her pink eyes sparkled innocently.
“A disgraceful victory is better than a crushing defeat!”
A true teaching!
I will always uphold this!
The quiet demon chuckled in disbelief.
『I never stated it quite like that.』
Then, after some thought, added another comment.
『But it’s true.』
Leonard examined the sword and shield provided for the tournament.
“Ugh. This is cheap.”
Though his words suggested otherwise, the gear was high quality. It wasn’t flimsy like other practice gear but a proper sword and shield.
They may have been dulled and tempered for safety, but they were still usable enough.
Still, compared to the personal gear prepared by the count’s family, it felt disappointing.
After all that effort to acquire new gear, now he had to use the same stuff as the leftovers? What nonsense is this?
“Sigh.”
If he were the student council, he would have changed the regulations long ago. No, if he could join the student council in the first place.
—Why can’t I join the student council?
—Boo-boo-beep!
Leonard looked up at the sky.
A strange girl, mumbled evasively, was flying around on a broom.
Her pink hair billowed against the blue sky. The girl gripped a white broom, spinning her body joyfully.
“Woohoo!”
Her bright laughter echoed.
A Craft family girl.
Just as infamous as her reputation, she lived without revealing her true intentions.
Her bubbly actions and innocent expressions were always accompanied by a lurking shadow of contradictions and double standards.
What is the truth? What is the mask?
Even the reason for blocking student council membership reflects this. Poking around hints at a likely theory.
Concentrating power in the student council to monopolize authority and minimizing the number of members ensures smooth internal control and is a clear sign of power addiction.
That attempt to control and never share a smidgen of authority is a textbook example of a power addict’s behavior.
“Woohoo!”
The girl repeated vertical maneuvers while performing tricks. The crowd cheered for the marquess’s performance.
So this is public sentiment management?
What a devious girl.
He turned his head. Right in front, Dustin stood there with a bewildered expression, sword in hand.
Leonard grimaced.
Why is that guy in the student council?
—Why can’t I be in the student council, but that loser can?
—Huh? Just because!
Seems like it’s just that simple.
Most likely, he’s been recruited because he’s easy to manipulate with a dull mind.
Definitely an easy mark, much like Elly, who also has the obvious weakness of being a demon.
But regardless of the reasoning, Leonard was unsettled by the situation. A clueless guy hit the luck jackpot and landed a position of power.
Why him, of all people?
The minimum membership of the student council might seem a good idea, but it has clear weaknesses. If one of the components breaks down, it’ll greatly hinder operations.
But now, he’d got the chance of facing off against him in the tournament. He could suitably deliver a nasty injury to this unqualified kid and slip into the empty position afterward.
Be it an apology for the inflicted injury or just a makeshift solution for the personnel shortage.
After the broom performance ended, it was time for the duel.
Leonard pointed his sword at Dustin.
“Hey! Just giving you a heads-up, there’s a large crowd, and I’m feeling pretty pumped right now! So I might have trouble controlling my strength, so watch out!”
Building the narrative.
But Dustin was too busy staring at Pastel. He looked at her with hopeful, longing eyes.
The girl smiled brightly and gave him a thumbs up.
What the?
Leonard couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with the exchange between the referee and contestants, pondering if it wasn’t some sneaky cheat.
The real reason became clear only after the duel began.
Suddenly, a glass bottle was flung, exploding yellow gas everywhere.
“Ugh!”
Leonard was engulfed in gas as he stared in horror at Dustin, who charged at him wearing a mask that was clearly prepared.
He hurriedly looked up at Pastel.
“Referee!”
That guy is cheating!
He should be disqualified!
The observing referee, Pastel, subtly turned her head.
“Woohoo!”
Her finger pointed at the clouds.
“Dog cloud!”
The clouds look like a dog~.
Leonard’s eyes bulged.
You…!
This is biased officiating!
Expecting a disqualification, Leonard was helpless as he was struck by Dustin’s sword.
“Cough!”
That sly…!
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