The planned city of the United Kingdom has a bright exterior with smoke puffing everywhere, but just as there’s light, there exists darkness.
Although slavery has long been abolished by the reasonable judgment of the council, which couldn’t tax slaves but could tax citizens, crime sprouting in the troublesome vast underground passages was unavoidable.
Once again today, someone descended the underground stairs as if an army of rats had overturned a trash can.
Among them were a man in a suit and a violet girl.
“It’s violet~!”
Pastel, disguised with Craft Family’s special dye and makeup techniques, clung tightly to the Demon Lord’s arm and trembled.
“Ugh, the atmosphere here is a bit off.”
The underground passage, dimly lit with magical lights, smelled musty and slimy. It was like a stench of vomit due to the lack of ventilation.
Ugh.
As they walked, a demon with tattered clothes leaned against the wall and stared with bleary eyes. It didn’t seem to have good intentions.
Ughh.
Though it felt a bit prejudiced, it seemed there would have been trouble if she had come alone without the Demon Lord.
“Demon Lord, you know I like you, right?”
Pastel nuzzled her cheek against the tightly attached arm of the Demon Lord.
“Oh, it would be nice if you maintained that mindset ordinarily.”
The Demon Lord said while glaring at the bleary-eyed demon, causing it to bow its head.
“But contrary to your expectations, this doesn’t seem like a date at all. It’s just a rendezvous point, so I think you might be mistaken?”
“That can’t be! I can infer intentions with my clever mind! As you said, the inexperienced tend to misinterpret emotions! Meeting alone in a heart-thumping location can lead to confusing it with love! It’s a strategy to charm innocent girls!”
Nathaniel is smart!
Even if the Demon Lord isn’t alone, they’re together!
“Young Craft, if you say that with your own mouth, it’s not innocent at all. But if it’s true, the intention is quite annoying. What does a grown adult want with a child?”
“Boo! Boo! I’m a young lady now! Please don’t be petty and meddle, attendant!”
Given the situation, she had done some adult makeup and disguise.
Roughly speaking.
From middle school to high school!
Ugh, at this point, isn’t she an adult?
All grown up!
Pastel realized it was a bit unbalanced to cling to the attendant’s arm while being grown up yet a bit scared.
“Considering the bond we’ve built over time, I’ve decided to act a bit spoiled to shake off the regret of being independent! But I guess it’s time to stop! Because I’m all grown up now!”
Pastel fell away from the Demon Lord’s arm and proudly stood alone. She took a strong breath. The not-so-pleasant musty smell hit her nostrils.
But adults aren’t scared of things like this!
Right, right!
A suspicious shadow brushed past her feet.
“Whoa!”
Startled, Pastel clung back onto the Demon Lord’s arm.
A mouse had dashed by.
Phew, just a mouse friend.
Pastel wiped away her cold sweat unnecessarily.
“That almost led to an assassination.”
Thinking about it, it’s natural for even an adult to cling to their guard!
Ugh, I’m smart.
“Oh, come on.”
Pastel felt a tiny bit embarrassed.
“Ugh, it’s not my fault; I have a lot of friends in the underground.”
“Must you really attach the word friend to the underground?”
The violet lenses sparkled.
“Ah! I just felt the nuance was a bit subtle too!”
Hehe.
“It’s not like I have nice friends in the Sky Island’s sewers; it feels weird to call someone a friend in an underground full of crime!”
Pastel clapped her hands together.
“Anyway, anyway! Why is there an underground in a planned city?”
It’s a place where industry is booming; is there really a need to create a dangerous underground space?
“Hmm.”
The Demon Lord rubbed his chin.
“I haven’t verified the reason for the underground, since I’ve been surveying the surface city, but I have some guesses. However, I think it’s something you don’t really need to know.”
“Ugh. What is it? Just tell me!”
“Forget it.”
After walking for a while, they finally stepped into a more organized and relatively clean underground area.
Demon clan members in decent outfits roamed around, and occasionally there were people in suits, which created a distinctly different atmosphere. The lingering smell of muddy money hung in the air.
“Wow.”
The aroma of corruption!
Pastel’s cheeks flushed at the unfamiliar scent.
As she excitedly looked around, she spotted Nathaniel leaning against the wall, clicking a pocket watch.
Oh no, I almost forgot about him!
“Nathaniel! This way! Here!”
Pastel waved her arms, filled with joy.
The Demon Lord frowned.
“Is that guy? He looks like he could fall over at any moment due to his lack of training.”
“Huh? Demon Lord, why so harsh all of a sudden?!”
Nathaniel, perhaps confused from Pastel’s violet disguise, approached hesitantly, looking quite displeased.
“What have you been up to that you’re so late—”
Seeing the extremely disgruntled Demon Lord, he flinched and hesitated.
“Y-you’re the Great Demon right? Or are you the Great Demon? No, that’s not it. How should I refer to you?”
This was a stark contrast to how he had only read about this figure in history books!
The Demon Lord seemed even more displeased at Nathaniel’s uncouth response. He firmly established what Nathaniel ought to do.
“Don’t even bother addressing me.”
Nathaniel was stunned.
He gaped, unsure of how to respond, then seemed to decide to escape the situation by looking back at Pastel.
Pastel beamed brightly.
“Nathaniel, it’s been a while!”
“We met yesterday.”
“It feels like meeting a childhood friend overseas!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Nathaniel was baffled as he turned away.
“I arrived late, so let’s move first. We need to go deeper to get to the casino we’re heading to. This is just a place for peasants to play.”
“Yup yup!”
Pastel bounced along, energetically talking.
“But! But! Why is there an underground in the capital? Isn’t this a planned city?”
Nathaniel looked at her in disbelief.
What kind of question could a Craft ask so shamelessly? He stared for a moment before explaining, looking displeased.
“Since the sanctuary of Sky Island was damaged, the intention was to restore something similar in the capital. The intent was good, but once interests got tangled up, the council kept fighting without reaching a decision, leading to it being neglected. Now it’s too costly to clean up the crime, so everyone in the council is silent and avoids mentioning it. What did the princess say, I wonder? I don’t know, not my problem.”
Ugh.
The ruins of the Sky Island sanctuary = Sewer friend.
The demon clan turned their sacred land into just sewers while gobbling it up = Craft.
And the one who audaciously asked the question = Pastel Love Craft.
Aahh!
Sorry!
The Demon Lord clicked his tongue.
“You have no consideration. Just like your weak body, your mind is also weak. A typical example of an untrained spirit.”
Oh no.
Eheh.
Pastel gazed at the Demon Lord with a playful smile.
“So, you’re just being considerate of me, right?”
Ehehe.
The Demon Lord didn’t bother to respond.
“Puru pu~!”
“What’s your name?”
“Natalie Wingate Piasley! I’m an adult now!”
A peace sign with her fingers!
The grumpy guard viewed her suspiciously.
Oh no, did the pseudonym give it away?!
I’m a good Pastel who can’t tell a lie…!
“She thinks she’s an adult.”
Nathaniel, with his hands in his pockets, pointed at her lazily with his thumb.
“Yes, indeed.”
The guard seemed to be convinced and stepped aside at the door.
“Even if you bring your parents, no refunds, so enjoy carefully.”
He said that, but his gaze was entirely on the Demon Lord behind Pastel rather than her, treating her like a child.
Ugh?!
That’s not the treatment I wanted…!
“Don’t play along with them!”
I went through an incredibly unfair situation, but at least they managed to get into the casino.
Inside was an elegant atmosphere with tables featuring cards and cash chips. A well-dressed dealer chatted leisurely with customers. Chandeliers sparkled with golden light.
“Wow, wow!”
Pastel gasped in excitement as she exhaled.
Gambling! Gambling! Gambling!
Absolutely purple!
“I’m starting with poker—!”
As she tried to dash forward, suddenly her scruff was grabbed.
“Eek!”
“What do you think you’re doing, trying to gamble on your own?”
The Demon Lord turned to Nathaniel.
“Weren’t you supposed to quickly guide her before she ran off?”
Nathaniel stiffened.
“Ah, we need to go to the VIP area.”
He pointed out the direction and walked ahead, but shortly after, he looked back with a sad expression.
“Anyway, we’ll have to meet the entrance criteria, you know. It depends on the amount spent.”
“Are you serious?”
The Demon Lord clicked his tongue.
“Well, I expected that, so I actually brought money.”
A pouch of gold coins was produced.
“Huh? Then why not for me…?”
“Stop staring blankly and trade it for money or chips.”
Ignoring Nathaniel’s grievance, the Demon Lord surveyed the casino. As if finding the game he wanted, he walked and playfully poked Pastel’s head.
“You just watch.”
Oh?
“Are you going to play?!”
“Yeah.”
Wow, wow!
The Demon Lord reached a table where the dealer was shuffling cards with no customers. He sat down and crossed his legs.
“Blackjack has the highest odds of winning against the dealer.”
His finger gestured.
“Dealer, cards.”
Wow!
An aura of expertise!
I want to be a good gambler like the Demon Lord…!
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