Pastel hummed as she moved the finest cloth to the cargo hold. A new roll of cloth was placed atop the stacked ones.
“Lord Demon! Lord Demon!”
She flapped her arms.
“The cargo hold is full! Completely full! The cargo hold is full! That’s what I’m saying! It means the cargo hold is full!”
Wow wow.
“Lord Demon! Lord Demon!”
『…I’m listening.』
The Demon, answering casually, rubbed his forehead and pondered alone.
『How did it come to this? I shouldn’t have suggested smuggling from the start. But was there another way to handle the gem meals? Sustainable big profits aren’t possible in the short term.』
The Demon sighed.
『If only the Craft family were intact, things would have been easier. Wait, why should I wish for a family like Craft to be intact? How did it end up like this…?』
“Lord Demon! Lord Demon! The cargo hold! The cargo hold!”
Pastel pointed at the Demon.
The Demon turned around, startled.
Oh, seriously.
“The cargo hold! Hurry! Hurry! The cargo hold!”
After thinking with a confused expression, the Demon opened his mouth.
『Full?』
“That’s right! Correct! Correct!”
Pastel cheered.
“The cargo hold is full!”
Oh yeah.
She twirled around. The entire view was filled with smuggled goods.
“Wow!”
The academy’s airship storage was completely stuffed.
“We need to do the next smuggling with a bigger airship! Let’s go, go! Pastel fighting!”
『Don’t plan for the next one already…』
The Demon muttered wearily.
Pastel grabbed the Demon’s arm and ran.
“Let’s go! Let’s go!”
They raced down the airship corridor and reached the helm.
She grabbed the round wooden steering wheel with a serious face.
“Captain Pastel declares departure!”
She turned the steering wheel vigorously.
“Yay! Yay! Yay!”
The steering wheel spun round and round.
Round and round and round.
The Demon watched and then turned to operate the device in front of the steering wheel.
Gears turned, and small magic circles began to shine. As the gems reacted, the airship slowly began to rise.
“Yay! Yay! Yay!”
Pastel spun the steering wheel frantically.
Round and round and round.
The Demon took a moment to look at the compass and map. Then adjusted the direction, altitude, and speed meticulously.
『Hmm, that should do it.』
The airship began to sail through the skies.
Captain Pastel removed her hands from the steering wheel after diligently spinning it.
She wiped her forehead with her sleeve.
“Phew, that was tough.”
Is this the captain’s responsibility?
Using up too much energy just to set sail once.
The Demon looked back.
『That’s not even supposed to work, but it is an emergency steering wheel, so don’t mess with it too much. It’ll be problematic if it breaks during an emergency.』
“Yes.”
Captain Pastel listened with one ear and let it slip out the other.
A charismatic captain never listens to the crew!
Pastel decided to devote herself to her duties as captain.
She wouldn’t listen to the Demon.
She would turn it again next time.
#
Pastel leaned against the railing and looked through a telescope. A pirate airship floated beyond the sky.
As she peered closer at the pirate ship, she noticed a pirate watching this side through the telescope.
Hours had passed since the pirate ship appeared. During that time, the pirate ship maintained its distance, continuously observing.
After hours of shouting and trembling, Pastel now sighed and just stared blankly at the pirate ship.
It felt like her eyes met those of the pirate with the telescope.
Hello, pirates.
After watching some more, she put down the telescope.
“What do they want?”
The Demon, wearing an apron, stirred milk cream in a bowl and glanced at the pirate ship.
『They’re probably on guard. They’re wary of your strength and are watching to see what you’re up to.』
“Do you think they’ll call in other pirates for a raid?”
『Let me see the telescope.』
The Demon received the telescope and looked through it.
『Looks like they’re slacking off their guard. Their demeanor doesn’t seem like that of a pre-battle stance.』
“What if it’s just a ruse? I’ve killed the pirates before, so they might be here for a thorough revenge.”
Oh no.
The harsh reality hit.
『You tend to underestimate your appearance. Half of your life runs on your looks.』
Huh.
So it wasn’t my brains after all?
Shock.
『It’s rare for someone to mobilize a force just because a kid beat them up. Much less if they threw the first punch. Asking for reinforcements would just give them mockery from their fellow pirates.』
The Demon lowered the telescope.
『But since anything is possible, let’s eat on deck today. I was thinking of making coconut cream pie. If you want anything else, say it now, and I’ll make it for you…』
The Demon tried to take back the bowl of cream when he noticed Pastel with whipped cream smeared all over her mouth, holding the spatula. The cream had gem powder sprinkled all over it.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
“Oh no, when did I eat this?”
Contrary to the words, her mouth was full.
“Wow! Lord Demon! The whipped cream is so delicious! So soft and sweet! Your cooking skills are the best!”
The Demon looked at the cream meant for the pie and then glanced at the sky.
『Eat as much as you want. I can make more…』
He looked like he was contemplating how life had come to this.
A while later, after finishing her meal, Pastel stood back at the railing, looking through the telescope again.
“Just as you said, they were just on guard and left. There was no need to be scared!”
Oh yeah.
Straight to the Demon Realm like this!
But her luck was about to run out, as she noticed a sudden change while they continued sailing.
A pirate ship was chasing them while the airship fled.
Huh.
That airship looked oddly familiar.
Upon closer inspection, it was the airship she had seen docked at the academy. It was an airship belonging to the academy.
Oh no.
“Lord Demon! Lord Demon! I’m just a poor victim! We… we need to help! It’s urgent!”
Pastel stammered.
Her hands trembled.
Oh no, pirates.
Walking into danger to save someone—it’s my life.
The Demon casually watched the chase unfold.
“Ignore it.”
What did you say?
“It would be impudent to ask a kid for rescue. Don’t bring danger upon yourself. Your life is still long.”
Wha?
Such a demon-like piece of advice!
Pastel’s mind was in chaos.
Should I… should I run? People are in danger, but is it okay to do that?
After surviving the mansion and every fight, her survival instincts began to rise.
But those pirates were scary.
I haven’t done anything wrong…
Her conscience prickled.
Is this a life dilemma?
Oh no.
Life’s too hard for Pastel…!
What do you do when the one who’s ahead in life denies it while conscience affirms it?
What should I believe in, and what should I do?
Actually, she didn’t need to fret.
The airship, which was just an observation target, suddenly came at full speed.
Oh.
The distance rapidly closed.
『Even if they adjust the speed from that side, a collision is inevitable. Hold on tight to the railing.』
Immediately afterward, the two airships grazed and collided. A loud noise echoed. The impact struck the airship, shaking it.
“Ahhh!”
Pastel held onto the railing. Her body was thrown before flying into the air.
“Woah!”
Pastel was airborne.
As the shock subsided, Pastel rolled on the deck, her pink hair tousled.
Oof.
『Are you okay?』
“Yes.”
The Demon transformed into the Demon Sword.
『Good. Then prepare for battle.』
Pastel grabbed the sword and stumbled to her feet.
Life’s too hard.
From the colliding airship, a wizard hurriedly dashed out, alone.
The shield-wielding wizard hastily crossed over.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
“Pr-Professor?!”
Professor Horace.
The top supervisor of the semester report.
She had crossed paths with him a few times while inquiring about the semester report before departure.
“Count… Pastel student? Are you by yourself?”
A flustered Horace scanned the area.
“Just me. What about you, Professor?”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
The airship shook again in that moment.
“Woah!”
The pirate ship had come alongside. A wooden plank was laid over the railing. Pirates brandished their weapons as they stepped across the plank.
“Tsk.”
Horace pulled out a staff. He handed Pastel the shield.
“Cover me! Just hold them off for a bit!”
“Y-yes!”
Pastel stood in front of Horace, holding the shield and Demon Sword.
Cover?
How does one cover?
Blank thoughts flowed.
Do I just kill them all?
That seems right… or maybe not.
In that moment, Horace swung his staff.
“Sixteen Strikes.”
Fire surged. It split and divided, creating sixteen projectiles.
The staff pointed menacingly at the pirates.
Flames shot toward the pirate ship, colliding and exploding with the pirates. A pirate crossing the plank fell to the ground with a scream.
In the meantime, the staff drew the next spell and paused.
“Sixteen Strikes.”
New fire projectiles surged. The wooden plank exploded, pushing the pirates back to their ship.
Oh.
Pastel realized.
Ah-ha.
Wizards are OP.
Just then, several pirates leaned against the pirate ship’s railing, pulling out rifles.
The professor shouted pale-faced.
“Cover me!”
Ah-ha.
So they can die in one shot.
Gunfire erupted in succession.
Iron bullets sliced through the air.
Pastel raised the shield. With quick movements, she blocked each bullet’s trajectory. Iron bullets ricocheted, creating sparks.
“Oh! I blocked them all?! We definitely won!”
The professor was astonished.
Just like he said, the pirates firing off rounds must have realized they were up against more than a wizard’s sloppy shield, as they retreated back to their ship.
Pastel’s mouth dropped open. She looked back at Horace.
This is a gun-wielding wizard?
Respectful gaze~.
Professor Horace wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“If it were normal, showing off magic a few times would have them back off, but this time they wouldn’t budge. That was close. Thank you, Pastel.”
“I didn’t do anything!”
Wow.
This is a gunner?
Experiencing the real deal was a jolt.
Just then, the Demon quietly spoke.
『Hmm, this professor seems suspicious. A wizard who isn’t a great mage wandering alone is quite dangerous. What’s his purpose in the Demon Realm?』
Huh.
The Demon is suspicious of unnecessary things.
But a well-behaved disciple decided to follow her teacher’s words.
“Professor, you’re going to the Demon Realm, right? Shall we sail together on your airship?”
“Oh, could it be that?”
“Of course! But what are you going to do in the Demon Realm? Isn’t it dangerous to go alone?”
Horace paused at Pastel’s calm questions. A subtle tension crossed his face.
“I’m visiting for research purposes, to facilitate smooth academic studies for students. A professor can’t shy away from danger when it comes to education.”
Huh.
That sounds familiar—it sounds like a public mission?
Oh?
Pastel tilted her head.
Horace’s eyes trembled slightly.
Oh dear.
So suspicious.
“I see.”
Pastel nodded. Then, she quickly turned her body.
“I’ll take a look at your airship!”
Footsteps hurried away.
Waaah!
“Wait! Pastel student, just a moment! I have something to discuss!”
Ignoring the professor, she darted over to his airship. She raced through the interior at breakneck speed until she arrived at the cargo hold.
“Woohoo!”
She flung open the cargo hold door.
What greeted her was a load of smuggled goods stacked to the brim.
Oh no.
Pastel’s mouth fell open.
Ahh.
Smuggling…!
Sinister crime…!
The professor, breathing heavily, followed her in.
“Oh, no! It’s a misunderstanding! Not at all! I just stumbled across it by chance! I found it!”
“How can you just stumble across it from the clouds?!”
Pastel retorted back.
“I’m innocent of any nefarious acts! Professor! As a righteous student committee, I cannot condone smuggling! Absolutely! Never will I allow it!”
One arm raised high.
“Down with smuggling! Down with smuggling!”
The student committee that is not remotely associated with smuggling will take action!
“No, no! Just wait! It’s all a misunderstanding! I can explain! Just give me a moment!”
“Come on, speak up, you devious criminal!”
“Listen to me! I really just stumbled upon—”
Horace, sweating as he tried to explain, suddenly stopped. With the intellect of a professor, he seemed to grasp an immense possibility.
Horace gave her a strange look.
“But why are you wandering alone?”
“Down with smuggling! Down with smuggling—”
Oh no.
Pastel took a deep breath.
That strange look turned intense.
“Well, you see…”
Pastel awkwardly whistled.
Professor Horace’s expression shifted dramatically as he suddenly charged ahead.
“I’m curious about your airship! Let me take a quick look!”
Footsteps hurried along.
Waaah.
“Wait a minute! Professor! Professor! I have something to discuss!”
Pastel clung to Horace. Ignoring her, he dashed towards Pastel’s cargo hold.
The cargo hold burst open.
What was visible was a treasure trove of smuggled goods.
Oh no.
Horace turned to Pastel.
“You…?”
Pastel awkwardly whistled.
“Oh, I just found it as I was passing by.”
It was utterly true.
It was resting atop a cloud.
The professor’s gaze morphed.
“This isn’t your first time, is it?”
Oh no, I’ve been completely caught.
Is this the mind of a professor?
Oh no.
The valedictorian, Pastel, couldn’t keep up!
Horace approached, grinning.
“It wasn’t my first time either!”
What?
What did you say?
Horace grabbed Pastel by the shoulders.
“This must be a divine connection granted by the gods!”
A gleam shone in his eyes.
“The student council and the professor! The professor and the student council! Together, we can become the gods of smuggling!”
Pastel’s eyes went wide.
Oh no.
Could I become the god of smuggling?
Her heart raced.
The voice of the Demon echoed.
『What on earth is this guy proposing to the kid?』
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