Pastel was able to choose an airship to the Demon Realm after intense deliberation.
Actually, it wasn’t intense deliberation at all. President Horace had meticulously saved the academy’s budget to purchase a large warship fitting for Governor-sama’s ceremonial events.
“Wow! A warship!”
Just like a civilian airship, a massive white warship mimicking a giant sky whale took up the dock with its two-fold height.
The size difference made the civilian airship look like a baby whale next to a mother whale.
Aside from its grand size, there was clearly a difference that set it apart from civilian airships. Typically, airships are made of wood, so they naturally have a wooden appearance. They can be dyed in all sorts of bright colors, but it’s still wood.
However, this warship was clearly not made of wood. It had no wooden patterns and was a smooth, solid material that felt familiar if you were used to it.
Pastel stood at the edge of the dock and poked the side of the hull with a sword. The ornate Emperor’s sword punctured, while the demon sword poked at the hull.
It made a ting-ting sound.
Not a thud, but a ting-ting?
Whoa, ting-ting friend!
“A wooden whale has evolved into an armored whale…!”
An armored whale?
Wow!
Armored armored!
Totally cool!
Pastel slapped her smooth and cold cheeks. The characteristic chill of metal made her feel the early winter cold.
“Wow! Wow!”
I might get icicles on my cheeks!
“Hahaha!”
President Horace beamed and slapped the warship.
“Wherever you go, you can ride comfortably!”
It was a mix between polite and casual speech, but that wasn’t important. Pastel just wanted to become a junior of this amazing senior.
“Senior!”
She clasped her hands and sparkled her eyes.
Moved.
This incredibly expensive warship, and I get to use it without spending a dime!
Is this how it feels to have my own company car?!
“How did you know I like this kind of thing!”
“Isn’t it a senior’s duty to take care of juniors?”
President Horace laughed nonchalantly. It was as if he was flaunting his relationship with Governor-sama to the staff present.
Pastel shouted enthusiastically.
“I’ll just trust my senior!”
With that level of skill, it seems like you could take on the role of Acting Governor of the Sky Island and head to the Demon Realm without a second thought!
Following that judgment, Pastel packed her things as soon as the schedule to the Demon Realm was set.
After handling some urgent matters and consulting with Craft High Merchant and wrapping up personnel distribution, the departure day had arrived.
Of course, the Demon Lord would be going along.
And the Princess Elly was a given as well.
Melissa….
“Want to come along on the business trip?”
“I wanted to visit the Demon Realm at least once to expand my horizons. Given my current school years, I probably won’t have time for it otherwise.”
Then let’s go together!
Leonard would handle himself well.
Dustin is just Dustin!
Yep yep!
Elshire had returned to the Duke’s family, so she was ready to depart!
And then.
“Off we go! Off we go!”
Pastel shouted from the warship’s deck.
The former knight members and Craft High Merchant personnel moved about busily. The white warship began to depart the dock, flapping its fins like a bird.
Pastel rushed to the deck rail and waved her arms.
“Goodbye friends! Don’t cry because it won’t be a long separation!”
Friends who had come to see her off waved their arms in return.
One of them, Dustin, pointed at himself with a blank expression, as if to say, “Is it really just me here?” but that wasn’t particularly important.
Melissa seemed to think so too; she held onto the rail and gazed at the dock with misty eyes. Her golden hair flowed with the wind.
“This is almost my first time leaving the Empire.”
She paused before continuing.
“It feels somewhat confusing and exciting. Is this what my mother was talking about when she mentioned training as a knight?”
Oh?
Pastel still waved her arms and replied.
“But the Sky Island isn’t the Empire, right?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Melissa brushed her fingers along her ear. Her hair that had been swaying was now neatly arranged.
While doing this, Melissa lightly waved at the ladies who had come to see them off. It was a level of poise that was on a different plane compared to Pastel’s casual waving.
Whoa, that’s total nobility moves.
So old-fashioned.
I should do that too!
Pastel started by brushing her fingers against her ear.
Her pink hair that had been fluttering got tied up into small braids, but the ribbon had snagged her fingers and came loose with a smooth motion.
Oh?
Pastel stared blankly at the white string in her hand. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew. Loose strands of hair whipped her face.
“Wuaaaah!”
Save me, Pastel!
The pink thread made its way into her mouth.
“Wuaahk!”
Pastel flailed her arms about.
A real crisis!
Ahh!
“Demon Lord! Demon Lord!”
Please save me…!
Melissa, who had been next to her and had many experiences with her hair assaults, had already stepped away, watching the scene in disbelief.
“What on earth are you doing…?”
The warship gradually moved away from the dock. As people turned into dots and buildings felt smaller than the clouds, the farewells concluded.
Phew.
“This was the biggest crisis of my popular life.”
Pastel lowered her arms with a slightly drained expression. Melissa’s magically tied-up hair string swayed beside her.
As a nesthead, Pastel couldn’t show anyone, but she almost showed everyone.
“I also sometimes worry about whether showing my untidy appearance to the maids each morning is okay. Though it might be right not to worry.”
Melissa covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
“Why is it right not to worry?”
“Because it’s their duty, and also mine. It would be wrong to refuse simply because it feels a bit embarrassing.”
“Hee.”
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
She trudged across the deck toward the interior.
Pastel strained her ears trying to locate the Demon Lord. She realized he was with Elly in the meeting room, not the kitchen, and walked toward that direction.
Is it the Demon Lord with Elly?
What an odd pairing.
I don’t really know the reasons, but as a Demon, the Demon Lord is a traitor…
Ugh.
“The train miniatures you prepared were so cute. They bring back delightful memories from when my mother taught me military science.”
Melissa reached for the door of the meeting room.
“Ah, wait a moment.”
Pastel stopped her and took hold of the doorknob. She didn’t open it but carefully pressed her ear against the door. Quiet sounds could be heard from inside.
Melissa looked at her strangely.
“What are you doing?”
Pastel quickly adopted a shhh posture.
“I’m trying to observe how the two are doing.”
“Observe, huh?”
Pastel listened closely.
Using the auditory visualization technique that the Demon Lord taught her, she understood the situation inside.
The Demon Lord was seated, reading a book.
Elly was adjusting a miniature railroad set at a nearby table.
There was no conversation?
Considering the meeting between the Demon Realm’s princess and the Great Demon, the atmosphere was strangely silent.
But Elly seemed awkward, like she was trying to distract from any cringe by working with the miniatures when there was really nothing to do.
This could definitely be clearer if I saw it with my own eyes.
Pastel adjusted her winter dress and squatted down slightly. After checking for a keyhole, she carefully peered inside.
As she twisted her body a little to get a better look, she spotted a girl with black hair, her expression clearly awkward as she focused on the miniature.
Awkwardness was right.
She then looked over at the Demon Lord, who was sitting back in his chair with his legs crossed, leisurely reading his book.
The Demon Lord seemed like he was just existing.
Ahaha.
So the relationship feels like this, huh?
Satisfied, Pastel suddenly felt a strong gaze on the back of her head.
Turning slightly, she found Melissa looking at her with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Oh?
In a fittingly quiet voice that matched the situation, Melissa asked.
“Can I ask you something I’m curious about?”
Pastel quickly shook her head.
No, no.
Ignoring the mischief in her demeanor, Melissa asked.
“Do you usually do this?”
Gasp.
No way!
Pastel felt like a sneaky rat eyeing the cheese in a vault!
It’s not like I’m listening for secrets or anything, but I often wonder what they talk about when I’m not around!
I’ve done it a few times, sneaking out while putting on a show like I’m leaving and just eavesdropping, to see if they’re getting along well without me.
As the popular one, it’s a valid action!
After all, when a popular one is absent, it’s easy for tiny misunderstandings to grow between the crowd – “Don’t fight because of me!” – and if those aren’t resolved in time, it could lead to an irreparable disaster later, even for the popular one!
Disaster! Disaster!
Oh no.
The student council members are gathering mainly for power, so it wouldn’t fall apart due to bad blood, but the lack of unity in competing for second place is still a problem.
That’s why Melissa is always firmly ranked as the number one friend, and that’s why she consistently supports Elly in her role as the indomitable second!
Aah.
Poor Pastel is just trying her best to live her life today too.
La la la~.
I’m working again today~.
But I can’t explain all this in this situation, and I didn’t want to bring it up with Melissa, so Pastel just made an aggrieved face.
How unfair!
Believe me!
Melissa smiled gently.
“I see.”
Her expression became one of someone who already knew Pastel was a Craft, so she wasn’t surprised.
She gestured toward the keyhole. It was a sign saying, “Don’t mind me, just keep looking through the keyhole as you were.” There was also a slightly strange glance directed at Elshire.
Oh dear.
That’s not the kind of gaze I wanted!
What’s this…
Ah, since the north is underdeveloped, does that mean the cultured Bellamont doesn’t change clothes often? (Or not). I should understand as a friend.
And,
Ah, Craft is naturally mischievous, so it’s in Pastel’s nature to act like this. I should understand as a friend.
Aah!
This is a bit too much!
I feel like a suspect turned criminal…!
I might be caught for being a thief in the bloodline…!
But feeling wronged is feeling wronged, and Pastel, who has work to do, looked through the keyhole.
Just then, the Demon Lord closed his book and folded his arms, seeming lost in thought. Elly flinched at the sound of the book and subtly looked back, which was the exact precursor to conversation.
Oh, intriguing moment.
Heart pounding, pulse racing.
Feeling her cheeks heat up, Melissa appeared bewildered.
“What in the world are you feeling wronged about?”
Gasp, asking that kind of question is dangerous.
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