“It’s just unnecessary meddling. If they’re going to get along, they’ll do it on their own; if not, then that’s that.”
“The Great Demon Lord is right. I would have preferred starting the meeting as soon as our friends finished seeing us off rather than worrying about such trivial matters.”
The simultaneous refusal of the Demon Lord and Elly.
Let’s get along~ The project didn’t even start and has already sunk.
Boo-boo.
Pastel rested her chin on her hand while seated. Her lips stuck out in a pout.
With Melissa sneaking glances and apologizing without excuses, and Elly nicely organizing the Demon Realm map, the meeting atmosphere took shape immediately.
Ugh.
Stiff people who only work.
Pastel glanced down at the Demon Realm map in front of her. With the railroad and train miniatures placed on the map, it looked pretty convincing.
“The black miniature represents what currently exists, while the gray represents things that don’t yet exist but are planned.”
Elly unfolded her folding stick and waved it to indicate the whole map.
Pastel simply lifted the train, which looked like a toy—and it was a toy. When she placed it on the railroad and pushed it, there was no loud chugging sound, but the wheels rolled smoothly.
“Choo-choo~! Did Elly prepare the Train Friend? It seems your taste is cuter than I expected!”
Yep-yeah!
Above all, it’s clear that the substitute for my all-black preference is gray!
Elly casually ignored her. The stick pointed various places.
“As you can see, the railroad construction along the coastline is complete. Even after the collapse of the High Merchant, construction continued somehow.”
Boo-boo.
Pastel noticeably pouted her lips. It was a gesture saying, “Look at me!”
No one cared about the sulking Pastel.
Even the crossed arms of the Demon Lord were focused on the miniature map, while Melissa, as a member of the student council, was already somewhat aware of the explanations, marveling again at the miniature model.
“The engineering technology of the Demon Realm is really sophisticated. Having a military meeting with this would be very effective. Maybe I should send a letter to Mother.”
Boo-boo.
The future Southern Commander murmured to himself in fear. More than that, the kind Pastel is in a sulking state; you guys should focus on that!
Elly’s stick traced the coastline.
“We currently have connected ports and the next plan is to expand the railroad network to the inland cities. As you can see, the railroad is established up to the key inland city near the coastal area.”
Elly distributed statistical data.
“While the trains are still slow, making the transportation time long, we’ve already achieved mass transport with this. We even confirmed that related goods saw a significant decline in prices—effective enough to be felt by civilians.”
“Interesting.”
The Demon Lord scratched his chin.
“Why did the collapsed High Merchant start construction from the port? Starting from the capital would have been more profitable and impactful.”
Elly sighed loudly.
“That’s because I got too greedy. Although it was nominally a private merchant, our kingdom’s influence was quite strong in that place. That’s why I got involved in the construction plan.”
Elly did a mental reset.
“I planned to launch an all-out push from the coast to the capital. The fuel for the construction golems is controlled by the Demon Realm Stock Company, so it would be easier to smuggle around the port. By simultaneously smuggling fuel and laying down the railroad, we would have an explosive expansion before the Empire could feel it.”
“So it was a plan focused on overall expansion speed. And then the Empire Bank caught wind of it, and the railroad was only built along the coast, leading to a significant decrease in profitability, resulting in collapse?”
“Yes… I didn’t expect the Empire, which didn’t even know what a railroad was, to react so violently. It was a judgment error. My fault.”
“That’s not true.”
With her lips still pouted, Pastel opened her mouth while resting her chin on her hand, clearly showing she’d been sulking.
“Your plan itself wasn’t bad. Not starting from the capital probably delayed the issue of the Empire’s diplomats experiencing the railroad up close for as long as possible. If it had begun from the capital, their response would have been on a whole different level. It wasn’t a judgment error; there were just pros and cons to the plan.”
“That was one reason, but…”
Elly smiled softly.
“Thank you.”
“Yep-yeah.”
I’m so good at comforting friends!
Having practiced being a good friend, Pastel’s sulking state gradually lifted. She corrected her posture.
“It’s enough talking about things that only the Demon Lord doesn’t understand! Let’s get back to business!”
Elly looked taken aback. Her gaze shifted to the Great Demon Lord.
The Demon Lord seemed baffled.
“It’s a curious stance, but there is some logic to it. You don’t have to worry about it. I’ll understand in due time. But I do have one question.”
“Yes! Please ask!”
She gestured quietly at Melissa, who had only been listening silently.
“Is it permissible to discuss the national grand strategy of the Demon Realm in front of the Empire’s key military faction?”
Huh, is the Demon Lord a genius?
Could it be that Melissa is a devious spy?
What an unexpected revelation!
With no suspicion at all, she successfully infiltrated to gather sensitive information; what a fantastic skill!
All eyes were on Melissa.
Even a complete amateur spy like Melissa seemed flustered.
“That’s a question that already comes too late. I’ve already discussed the military use of railroads with Elshire a few times.”
Melissa spoke as if retracing her memories from tea time.
“When the mass transportation of supplies and troops becomes easier, the new soldiers recruited from the rear will far exceed the troop losses occurring on the frontlines, potentially leading to a kind of stalemate and a shift in the paradigm of strategy.”
In a calm voice like someone discussing a poetry book she read with friends during tea time.
Ahhhh!
What terrifying talk happens at tea time!
These oblivious warlords are frightening!
Pastel felt a shiver run down her spine.
No way, no way.
Could Melissa really be Melissa Craft?
Hiding her nefarious intentions, she infiltrated the student council to spy on the latest military tech of the Demon Realm!
What an extraordinary act to team up with the seemingly vacant Elshire all day and pull off such intense operations!
Innocent Pastel couldn’t take it anymore!
Ahhhh!
Suddenly, she felt Elly’s gaze.
Turning around, Elly looked at her with a trusting gaze.
Oh?
It seemed like Elly believed she already knew about the existence of the spy Melissa, but that Melissa couldn’t overcome Pastel’s devious plans and that Pastel would naturally have thought of some precaution or safety measure.
Huh.
Is that so?
Should it have been like that?
Isn’t she trusting me too much?!
With no plans in place at all, Pastel gulped nervously. Trembling, her pink eyes gazed at Melissa.
“My dear friend Melissa~.”
“What’s wrong?”
Pastel floated towards her.
She placed her hands on Melissa’s shoulders and gently began to massage.
Massage, massage, massage.
Then she lightly clenched her fist and tapped Melissa’s stiff shoulders with gentle puffs.
Pastel, wearing an expression that said she sincerely liked her friend without considering any profit-loss calculation, cutely asked.
“We’re still best friends, right?”
I’ve never doubted our bond!
Melissa tilted her head.
“That’s right?”
Wow!
She agrees!
Pastel cheered.
“I knew it!”
Friendship beams are indeed wonderful!
Crisis averted!
Hooray! Hooray!
Pastel jumped up and down in place.
“I’m best friends with Melissa!”
Yay! Yay!
But then she felt a peculiar gaze.
It was Elly.
A very rational suspicion of “You can’t possibly be entirely clueless, right?” briefly visited her mind only to be replaced with “Surely, Pastel can’t be that naive,” and fell silent.
Hehe.
Elly, don’t worry.
Friendship beams are magnificent!
Pastel happily returned to her place.
“Now that the Demon Lord’s question is resolved, let’s proceed!”
Elly fiddled with her stick and pointed at the map.
“Anyway, what needs to be done right away is already determined. Expand the railroad network and prepare against railroad terrorism.”
“That’s right! Didn’t the Radical Demons damage the railroad with their terror?”
Oh no, wicked minions of the Demon King.
“The railroad restoration is nearly complete. The linear construction allows for easy automation with construction golems, so as long as we have plenty of gem fuel, we can finish quickly.”
Heh.
“The problem is that the gem fuel is controlled by the Demon Realm Stock Company. Smuggling is fine, but if possible—”
Elly glanced over.
“Me! Me!”
Pastel raised her hand like a good little kid who hadn’t even considered smuggling.
“I’ll meet with Count McKenna and finalize a proper deal!”
The operating rights for the soldiers given by the Emperor would be laid out instead of guns, but let’s not worry about that!
“Then we can handle the gem fuel. As for preparing against the messengers, we can discuss that after receiving the latest report once we arrive at the royal palace.”
“Yep-yeah! Agree, agree!”
The airship to the Demon Realm peacefully reached the shores of the Demon Realm, as there were no audacious pirates to trouble their battleships.
“Wow! The Demon Realm! The Demon Realm!”
Once disembarked, Pastel stomped her feet on the ground and cheered.
Melissa pulled out a schedule.
“We arrived more easily than expected. I didn’t even account for the ship the Chancellor had purchased in the schedule.”
It was so early that the Craft High Merchant’s branch in the Demon Realm didn’t even come out to greet them.
“It’s best to account for troubles and schedule comfortably beforehand. So this is right! How empty is it?”
“About three days.”
“That much, huh.”
As they looked around, the delicious smell wafted from the dock area.
Ooh la la.
Pastel wiped her drool away and grinned.
A sparkling thought filled her mind.
This is the time…
Pastel cheerfully raised her arms.
“I want to conduct an unannounced inspection of the branch!”
Yay~!
“What?”
Delicious food is exciting, but power is more delicious!
Unannounced visit from Governor Your Excellency!
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