Pastel shouted at every student she encountered.
“Get inside the building! It’s paralysis gas, so don’t inhale it and barricade yourselves indoors! Don’t let your guard down just because the effects aren’t immediate; go inside!”
The panicking students ran into the building.
A pack of wolves charged through the paralysis smoke. As one lunged at a student, Pastel stomped on the ground.
The wolf’s fangs flashed as it leaped. The student’s eyes widened. A flash of blade glinted. Bloodshed erupted. The student’s cheek spattered with blood.
The pack of wolves pounced. Pastel’s pink hair fluttered in the smoke. Her sword formed a silver wave, sweeping through the wolves in all directions. Silver flashed. Bloodshed erupted.
Droplets of blood scattered as the smoke turned red.
Pastel emerged through the crimson smoke, shook her head as if to shake off the excitement, and shoved the protected student aside. The student stumbled back in confusion.
“Get indoors!”
She shouted at the students who had stopped to stare blankly.
“Get in! Hurry!”
She led everyone and re-emerged from the building.
Pastel surveyed her surroundings. The academy was shrouded in smoke, devoid of people.
She ran, exhaling sharply. The smell of the paralysis gas tickled her nose. Her expression twisted.
“What kind of terrorism is this?”
What does the academy have to offer?
『To know that, we need to identify the group behind this. For now, the wolves are a manageable group reacting against the mild paralysis gas, so it doesn’t seem to be the radical faction of demons.』
The demon thought for a moment.
『Did a new group form while the cult crumbled and I was trapped? They might have come to steal artifacts.』
“Huh?”
“What’s so special about the academy?”
『You might have forgotten, but this place harbors the Demon King’s legacy.』
“Is that so?”
『The Sky Island is the site of the last great showdown between humans and demons, a bizarre island floating between the human realm and the demon realm. Aside from the Demon King’s legacy, there are plenty of other strange artifacts here.』
“Huh.”
『With the fall of the Sky Island governorship, the academy now manages various weird artifacts. Most have only historical value, but something must have caught the eye of the new group. It’s not an uncommon occurrence.』
What kind of ominous place did they decide to build a school? Wasn’t it originally a military academy? It might make sense to build it in a place like this.
“I don’t know their purpose, but it must be artifact theft?”
『Exactly.』
“If they just sit back and barricade themselves inside, they could easily leave, right?”
『Given their boldness, promoting the organization seems to be part of their agenda; slaughtering students isn’t on their list of considerations. Such organizations need both empathy and notoriety to attract talent and funding. Student slaughter would just earn them an unpleasant reputation that wouldn’t help running the organization at all.』
“That’s a pragmatic consideration.”
Pastel pondered.
“Got it. Then let’s have the student council focus on evacuating students rather than tackling the terrorism issue. We’ll leave the solution to the knight order and the guards.”
It was too late to join the control tower and represent the students as the student council; it would be better to prioritize student evacuation.
She turned on her heels and dashed towards the garden. There were probably many friends floundering in the sudden situation.
『Good thinking. If any knights are among the attackers, you wouldn’t stand a chance.』
“What’s the deal with knights?”
Wasn’t Kadin not even a semi-knight?
『The knight order is a term referring to a knight and their subordinate troops combined. It’s hard to say how many there are now, but there were fewer than twenty knights in the entire empire in the past.』
Whoa.
The elite competing for the title of world’s strongest?
Yikes.
If I see one, I should run immediately.
Go Knight Order, our allies rushing towards the academy!
Upon reaching the garden, she spotted a student trembling as they climbed a tree, surrounded by the pack of wolves barking at the base.
The paralysis gas rippled across the ground. The student’s strength drained, and they fell. The wolves charged.
Pastel picked up a rock, threw it with all her might. The light projectile struck the air. Its trajectory collided with the target. The wolf’s head burst, and debris scattered.
The pack of wolves, formerly charging at the student, froze. The girl swept over the wolves. The howls of the wolves echoed like screams.
Eventually, it quieted down.
Blood-soaked Pastel couldn’t help but guide the trembling student, finally getting them to a nearby building.
They walked out of the building for a while.
She held her head.
“Aah.”
A strange haziness washed over her.
Adrenaline rush.
The wolves weren’t a significant threat, or so she thought while maintaining her sanity (maybe). But smelling the blood had excited her.
What if she stumbled upon a powerful foe, and in her excitement, she couldn’t think rationally and attacked them?
Hormone Friend, calm down.
Calm down, and I’ll gift you the title of Friend-Friend.
It’s double the letters.
Double.
Pastel shook her head.
She felt somewhat okay, or maybe not.
From somewhere, she heard applause.
“Nice deed for a Craft. Or is it a Craft-like deed? You really ought to be more devious.”
A man clad in a black robe approached through the smoke. The smoke swirled as if avoiding him as he moved.
Clearly, the mastermind.
Pastel stared seriously and drew her sword. Surprisingly, in her hormone-induced state, she spoke.
“Are you the culprit?”
“Huh?”
The man tilted his head, examining his own black robe.
“Why ask when the outfit screams bad guy? You think I’m a good person? Oh ho, kind heart you have there!”
The man admired her.
『A young Craft.』
In that moment, the demon calmly spoke up.
『He’s a knight level.』
Huh.
A knight-level, just like that.
Eh?
The man pondered and pulled out a dagger.
“Let’s see what you can do.”
His fingers hooked onto the dagger’s hilt, flipping it to a reverse grip with graceful movements.
Pastel felt a splash of cold water hit her mind.
Oh no.
A knight level.
Clearly, the wrong opponent…!
That explains everything!
Just a moment ago, the hormone friend was quiet…!
Turns out our friendship is weak-strong-weak-strong!
I’m weak-strong too…!
Perfect match!
『Run, good call.』
Before the demon even finished speaking, Pastel turned and dashed away.
Ahhh.
“I’ll let you start, what the…”
Her bewildered voice echoed faintly, but she sprinted away with all her strength without looking back.
Ahhh.
Her pink hair fluttered.
In her full-speed run, her vision swirled. She dashed around buildings, up and down stairs.
Reaching a secluded spot, she stopped to catch her breath.
Phew, that was close.
Joining the student council was a mistake.
『Hmm, running isn’t your forte.』
The demon stated matter-of-factly.
“What?”
What do you mean?
Suddenly, she sensed a presence behind her.
“Nice running—”
Adrenaline surged.
Pastel spun around, wielding her sword. The whirling blade aimed at the man.
The man was startled, reaching out with one hand. His finger grazed the sword’s path, causing the air to tremble.
The blade caught his finger and halted.
“Wow, that’s some reaction time—”
As Pastel released her sword, she swung her fist. Her fist collided with the man. The impact echoed.
The man, having caught her fist with his palm, staggered back and frowned.
“Ouch, what kind of power is this?”
Huh.
A real knight level.
As soon as Pastel secured her grip, her mind cleared.
The hormone friend that had dominated her thoughts suddenly chimed in brightly.
Hehe, no way.
I don’t understand.
Bye-bye.
Hormone friend whooshed away.
Whoosh~.
Ahhh.
Friend, don’t go!
Don’t leave me in this terrifying situation!
We’re friends!
Ahhh.
“Ouch, that hurts.”
The man brushed off his fist, then moved. He supported Pastel’s legs and scooped her up.
“Whoa!”
Eh.
The man, holding her in a princess carry, suddenly rocked her.
“Whoa, look at this!”
Pastel was jostled.
Her vision spun.
What? What’s happening?
The man, entirely content with shattering her fighting spirit, walked away.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
Ahhh.
I’m being kidnapped…!
Her body trembled.
Tremble tremble.
“I… I don’t have anything valuable!”
No kidding.
“Oh! You know that well!”
The man laughed heartily.
“No one knows better than you!”
Ahhh.
A planned crime…!
A completely evil kidnapping…!
Tremble tremble.
She was taken to the building where the principal’s office was located, still cradled in his arms, wandering the hallway.
“Please put me down.”
“Really?”
The man gestured subtly down the hallway. The sight was filled with bodies and puddles of blood.
Ahhh.
The scene of a massacre…!
“Please put me down somewhere else.”
The man chuckled.
“Okay, okay! Just a moment, and I’ll put you down.”
They reached the rooftop. Numerous people clad in black robes were gathered. Each robe bore bloodstains.
Sharp eyes focused on them.
The man walked casually to the center.
He stood before a shadowy figure, who turned to reveal a bloodied artifact mechanism, its gloved hands manipulating the device.
Silence reigned.
Another figure in black approached.
“We’re ready for confirmation.”
The shadowy figure handed over the device. The robed figure accepted it and walked to the edge of the rooftop.
As a crowd gathered, a black magic circle emerged. The device was placed at the circle’s center.
The man scratched his head.
“Oh, I guess you really didn’t care.”
Pastel was set down on the ground.
Huh?
The man noted Pastel’s gaze and shrugged his shoulders, moving towards the shadow figure, more discussions ensued that she couldn’t hear.
Pastel shuffled uncertainly, casting around. Surprisingly, the atmosphere was calm, and her tension eased slightly.
So I was just kidnapped?
Surprisingly okay?
She rubbed her arms.
It’s fine, Pastel.
You were just kidnapped.
As long as your mind is clear, you’ll survive.
“Let’s begin.”
The shadow figure motioned. The robed figures waved their staffs. The black magic circle glowed.
The central artifact device began to lift, radiating white light.
Suddenly, the ground trembled lightly. It was a slight shake, like a disturbance in a glass of water. Though weak, it reverberated through the rooftop, shaking the earth and reaching her vision.
“It’s definitely the navigation device!”
The robed figures exclaimed in excitement. They embraced one another, sharing their joy.
The rooftop was filled with a jubilant atmosphere.
Amidst their successful celebration, Pastel felt utterly isolated. In more ways than one.
Her view was filled with the black magic circle, with the artifact merely a background detail.
The black magic circle was drawn not with powdered gems, but with something more viscous.
Huh.
Memories flipped, recalling something similar.
The mansion filled with monsters and a giant magic circle drawn in the garden.
Hadn’t she seen this somewhere…?
She really had.
Pastel, feeling lost, shook her head. The magic circle wasn’t an extraordinary skill; she didn’t need to make unnecessary connections.
They wouldn’t be etching a magic circle in her mansion to create monsters.
Her loyal subordinates wouldn’t have sacrificed themselves to protect a clueless lord either.
But somehow, Pastel couldn’t resist and walked over. To her surprise, she reached the black magic circle without any obstruction.
A sweet scent wafted through the air.
Not even the gems or gem awakening agents could compare to this original fragrance.
As if enchanted, she extended her hand. The moment her finger touched the magic circle, sticky black gelatin smeared her skin.
She took the pudding remnants from her finger and put them in her mouth. The fleshy pudding coated her tongue. A thrilling sensation raced through her nerves.
She felt brain fireworks.
The joy of rediscovering something lost.
The fulfillment of a void being filled.
Pastel’s lips quivered softly.
Ah.
A crooked smile emerged.
The man approached.
“What’s up, young lady?”
The girl, with her head bowed, hesitated before parting her lips.
She refined her speech, suppressing her emotions, slowly formulating a response.
“Did you perhaps do something to hurt me?”
“Oh, plenty.”
The man replied readily.
“I see.”
The girl fell silent, fiddling with the sword’s grip but ultimately withdrew her hand.
The surrounding bustle increased. As a wizard waved their staff, the gelatin that had formed the black magic circle floated, filling a box. The rooftop began to be cleared.
Aairship flew over from beyond the sky. It arrived on the rooftop, and ropes descended. The dark robed figures grabbed the ropes. Each rope was pulled up one by one.
The man walked to the rope ladder before turning back.
“See you next time, young lady.”
“Why…?”
She couldn’t help herself and finally voiced her question.
“Why are you doing this?”
The man paused briefly. He glanced at the silhouette inspecting the artifact, then, without a response, climbed up the rope ladder. It ascended.
The girl was left staring at the remaining shadowy figure.
“Why are you doing this?”
Silence filled the rooftop.
As the shadowy figure contemplated, they embraced the artifact. The gloved hand grasped the rope ladder.
“Love is greater than anything.”
The dry voice echoed.
“There will come a day you’ll understand, Pastel.”
The rope ladder rose.
The dark robe fluttered.
Left alone, the girl gazed at the departing airship, dumbfounded. As it vanished beyond her vision, she remained lost in thought.
Clouds brushed against the sky.
The girl finally summoned her voice to speak.
“Demon Lord, I’ve found something I want to do.”
A cold voice rang out.
“I want to kill them all.”
For the loyal subordinates who had protected this powerless lord.
“What should I do?”
The demon remained silent for a moment.
Then, slowly, the demon began to speak.
『You need to gather talent and build up power. There’s too much you can’t do alone.』
“I’ve decided.”
The girl turned her gaze from the sky and away from the rooftop, her cold expression resolute as she descended.
“I want to earn money, gather people, and build power.”
Until she could kill them all.
The first semester ended.
『…But you’re not suggesting smuggling, right?』
Oh dear.
『Young Craft? Why the silence? Hey?』
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