This is going to be tough.
Pastel peeked out from the edge of a floating island at the cliffside.
The lush green trees covering the ground of the Great Basin and the floating islands obscured her view. Yet, she frequently spotted black figures flying on birds beyond the scenery.
Whoa.
Aren’t there too many cult members?
She managed to sneak up carefully riding a baby bird to avoid the patrol’s gaze, but she wasn’t sure if she could get any closer.
She hid behind the rock again.
“When does night arrive here? The sun is in the cave’s ceiling.”
Something mysterious lit up the Great Basin without being blinding. If that wasn’t there, it would be pitch dark, making it worth a secret approach.
The demon hiding with her peeked out.
“Is that created by the gods?”
“The sun is positioned dead center in the ceiling, but it doesn’t match the current time, does it? I don’t know the exact hour, but that position corresponds to around noon.”
The sun is a sun, but it looks just like it’s hanging like a lightbulb. I wonder if it would click off at night.
“That’s quite strange. Considering theological interpretations, the sun in a holy site shouldn’t be fixed like that. It must be the cult’s doing. They probably forcibly fixed the sun that should have moved according to the original time.”
Oh, I see.
Waiting until night to approach will be tough.
The demon’s expression became serious.
“That’s not a good omen. Whether the dark god’s influence has strengthened or they’ve gained the ability to interfere with the holy site’s system, the cult now possesses dangerous capabilities.”
The demon rubbed its chin.
“We definitely had them down ten years ago, how could it come to this?”
Pastel glanced back at the baby birds after watching the demon, who was lost in thought.
“Is there night here?”
—Peep.
The baby bird shook its head.
“I guess we have no choice. Shall we regroup with our friends?”
Even though the floating island was moving towards the cult’s stronghold, there were so many cult members that giving up here seemed proper.
Unlike when they hid during the Sky Whale incident, the cult was too scattered across these open floating islands.
Pastel crossed her arms, deep in thought.
It wouldn’t be a problem to wrap up the investigation here. The existence of the cult was confirmed.
While she didn’t have immediate evidence, there was power, so if they pressured and investigated the cult, they could unify the power of the Sky Island.
All power to the Academy~!
Don’t worry; it’s not a dictatorship!
A very satisfying outcome.
But there was a slight unease. Continuing this operation would likely take two days. The cult, realizing they had been discovered as spies, might do something during that time.
The cult might run away and not do anything, but that would be disappointing too.
“Can’t we stealthily do it ourselves?”
Help me, Hormone Friend.
“Hmm?”
The demon snapped out of its thoughts.
“Oh, sorry. What were we discussing?”
“The great operation to blow up the cult.”
“It could turn into a hornet’s nest, but it’s possible to confront them head-on. We’ll just send these baby birds back to their nests.”
Pointless hornet poking doesn’t sound great…
—Peeek?
The baby bird, being a resident certified by the cult, opened its beak while curiously watching the outside.
“What’s wrong?”
—Peep! Peep!
It pointed its wing towards something.
Pastel peeked out. Black smoke, which hadn’t been visible before, was rising to the ceiling in the cult’s territory.
Oh?
Suddenly, a sound of explosion erupted, and flames shot up. The flying cult members staggered in confusion before racing towards the source. Shouts filled with questions rang out.
Whoa.
“Could it be a failure during alchemy experiments?”
Like how Pastel taught potions to the Demon Lord?
Who would make and sell something like a gem awakening drug? Silly, silly. Cause and effect!
The demon narrowed its eyes.
“That’s an offensive spell. An outside attack.”
Wha-?
Pastel’s expression turned into a peculiar one.
Various thoughts raced through her mind, prompting her to take action.
“Let’s invade during this chaos!”
She dashed towards the buildings of the floating island. The white temple quickly approached. She burst the door open.
“What are you trying to do?”
The demon and the baby birds hurriedly followed behind.
“I hope it’s not divine desecration!”
Pastel entered and promptly yanked the curtains. The curtains couldn’t withstand the force and tore away from the curtain rod.
“Since this has happened, let’s just fly out in the open with the cooperation of the baby bird friends! Hey, everyone! Come here! Come here!”
—Peep?
She wrapped a long curtain around the neck of the chick.
“Like this, like this!”
Pastel climbed onto the baby bird. Then, she tidied up the curtain to cover her body.
“Let’s fly while hiding!”
Since the baby bird was a resident anyway, flying openly wasn’t an issue.
“Oh! A bird draped in curtains. That could attract some attention.”
Hehe.
“But in such a chaotic situation, they’re too busy to care about a baby bird with verified identity!”
If they did, they’d definitely get scolded by their boss for not focusing on the current situation.
Pastel checked if her hair was visible against the white curtain. The pink strands stood out vividly.
It’s nice that my hair looks pretty, but that’s not ideal right now.
“One layer isn’t enough!”
She hopped down from the baby bird.
“Next curtain! Next curtain!”
The demon reached out.
“Wait a moment. That’s not how you separate curtains.”
Its hand waved as if raising the curtain. With a skilled flick, the knot of the curtain rod was undone in an instant.
“The knots of the old shrine curtains are the same. Take this.”
Whoa.
Those hands show the experience of washing curtains!
In fact, Pastel had assigned the Demon Lord to do the laundry for such occasions!
Foreseeing this!
“Fantastic! Hurry, hurry!”
Pastel was focused on decorating the baby bird with curtains.
Knot, knot.
“If it’s too tight around your neck, let me know.”
—Peep.
“Oh? Is your neck already too tight?”
—Peeew!
“Really? Got it.”
She tied ten generous layers to consider the weight that wouldn’t sway in the wind. This number was possible because the baby bird was as big as a person.
Once Pastel finished preparing, she climbed onto the baby bird. She carefully covered herself with the curtain. The baby bird, wrapped in curtains, walked to the edge of the island.
“You’re ready for boarding too, right Demon Lord?”
“Indeed.”
She nudged the baby bird.
Let’s go! Let’s go!
—Peep!
The baby bird hopped energetically. Its plump body lifted off the ground and reached the air. Then it fell straight back down.
Whoa.
The sensation of gravity wrapped around her.
Whoa?!
—Peeew?!
The baby bird flapped its wings with all its might.
—Peep! Peep! Peep! Peep!
Flap, flap, flap, flap.
The descent gradually slowed and started to rise a little.
Hooray.
Pastel pressed down her rapidly beating heart.
“I thought I was going to die.”
You need a diet.
—Peep.
The baby bird started flying slowly, feeling embarrassed.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
As they got closer to the cult’s stronghold, the commotion grew nearer. The murmurs of cult members became very clear.
—It’s an assault by the Knight Order!
—Knight Order? Where’s the deputy commander?!
—How did they know our position again?!
A cult member riding a bird passed nearby. In a flurry, they didn’t mention the oddly dressed baby bird.
Pastel quietly held her breath.
Knight Order?
That incompetent Knight Order?
Could it be that this place functioned on its own without the Academy’s intervention?
As the presence of the cult member faded, she slightly lifted the curtain. Peeking through the gap, she observed the source of the commotion.
The dense forest was ravaged by a strike. Fallen trees burned amidst the chaos.
In the center stood the Knight Order, clad in black armor. Magical wands fired projectiles orderly into the air. Lightning and flames exploded. Cult members fell screaming.
What on earth is happening?
Clearly visible were the figures at the forefront, the Knight Order Leader and Melissa, who were in tense conversation.
Gasp.
My dear friend Melissa!
I don’t know how it went, but you did well!
—Peeew?!
The baby bird, who was glancing over, seemed to have seen something, and suddenly panicked.
Upon closer inspection, there were others beside Melissa.
Elshire and another baby bird were having a snowball fight, both carrying bags without speaking to one another.
Another baby bird over there.
Whoa.
Pastel suddenly realized.
There were three of them!
Back when they met on the Sky Whale, there were definitely three!
One had gone missing and had exploded an airship causing chaos!
That baby bird friend still hasn’t changed its habits!
But it’s fine since the outcome looks good!
Pastel patted the baby bird.
“Don’t worry. My friend Melissa is over there, so your siblings should be safe.”
—Peep.
Since trust is there, we could launch a pincer attack while sneaking in.
Closing her eyes, she concentrated her mind.
Just as the Demon Lord taught her, she transformed the chaos and noise into a wide sense of presence. 3D images took shape in her mind, and she sketched countless figures of the cult members.
She mapped everyone’s movement paths and took her time observing calmly. By eliminating unnecessary information one by one, she organized everything.
The path of a cult member, seemingly a messenger, became distinctly perceivable. It was a quick route between the battlefield against the Knight Order and some floating sky island.
Found the command center.
“I’ll strike the command center.”
Chaos, disorder, command system paralysis.
“What a brilliant strategy.”
She flew towards the command center. The guarding cult members approached in surprise but she ignored them and landed on the island.
While everyone was on guard, the curtains opened. The figure of a girl was revealed. Dazed gazes focused on her.
The girl stepped onto the ground with a relaxed expression. She brushed her disheveled hair. Her pink hair cascaded gracefully.
“I know you!”
Her pink eyes scanned the surroundings.
“So, who wishes to die first?”
A sword was drawn.
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