“Did the Marquis Craft really get carried off by a bird?”
Descending from the airship and arriving on the back of the Sky Whale, Sinclair the High Merchant was flabbergasted upon hearing the report.
The other merchants seemed equally confused, with a considerable amount of chatter from the leaders.
“What does this mean for us?”
“Should we form a search party?”
“More importantly, what about the audit?”
Once the audit was announced, the merchants participating in the Sky Whale gathering had long ago agreed to brush aside the student council.
Even though the student council, which had taken some authority from the Sky Island Governor’s office, was powerful, it was ultimately still a group of students. Gathering the Sky Whale required specialized skills, and without the cooperation of those in the field, it would be hard to do it properly.
With the barriers typical of specialized fields, a conglomeration of evasions and manipulated testimonies could easily cover tax evasion or other illegal activities as a mere procedural practice.
The unity among the merchants went smoothly. Now they just had to pretend to cooperate with the student council while focusing on gathering resources separately.
But then, out of the blue, the Marquis Craft got carried off by a monster bird.
“Why on earth is this happening?”
It was truly absurd. Even merchants with considerable gathering experience had only heard tales of such monster bird kidnappings.
“What’s going on? Is it true that he was actually carried off by a bird?”
One of the merchant representatives questioned suspiciously.
It felt a bit irreverent to doubt the Marquis, but there was a subtle sense of empathy. Given Craft’s infamous reputation, it wouldn’t be too surprising if he were just tricked into lowering his guard before the audit began.
However, the reasonable suspicion was quickly laid to rest. The sight of a pink girl being carried off in a bird’s beak was too striking to ignore.
There were countless testimonies stating he was taken off with a squawk.
One merchant leader slapped their chest.
“Why, why did this happen?”
Although the somewhat cumbersome tasks of the student council had halted, it was not something any of the merchants had wanted. Now, they had to divert some of their people for a search party instead of making money.
At this point, a member of the student council entered the tent where the merchants had gathered.
Leonard arrogantly surveyed the group before announcing.
“You all know what’s happening, right? We’re forming a search party. Figure out how many people you’ll contribute. Why are you all so sluggish? Move it!”
With the one-sided requisition of people, the search party was assembled. Since the culprit was clear, they planned to head directly to the mountains where the bird’s nest was.
Soon, a search party made up of guides from various merchants and mercenaries set off.
The merchant representatives sighed and dispersed. They needed to act quickly to recoup their losses.
However, the one who looked most perplexed amidst all of this was Sinclair, the High Merchant, who owned the largest merchant group.
Given the situation, it seemed unlikely he’d encounter an audit, let alone anything resembling it. If anything, there might only be a bit of commotion surrounding the monster bird hunt.
Even as a first-year student, the fact that the Marquis Craft, who had taken over the student council, maintained a naïve appearance was burdensome enough to temporarily put plans on hold…… but now, he wouldn’t have to deal with Craft’s devious nature.
Sinclair quietly summoned a subordinate as he entered the merchant tent. With a signal, the subordinate left the tent and vanished into the woods.
They would contact the cult, which was somewhere in the Sky Whale.
The Freji merchant group had a long history. They had accumulated expertise by regularly interacting with the Sky Whale and had secured a significant foothold in the Sky Whale market.
However, even though Sinclair was the High Merchant, he had no blood relation to the history and traditions of this merchant group. When the former leader of the merchant group unexpectedly died en masse, the then-sub-leader, Sinclair, ended up inheriting the entire group.
An unexpected mass death and just-in-time takeover of the merchant group.
The cult had provided assured results. Now it was time for Sinclair to pay the price.
As promised, various core equipment and technologies from the Freji merchant group were to be handed over to the cult.
Once this contact was concluded, the cult would be able to source high-quality materials independently in places where the Empire’s gaze wouldn’t reach. Of course, securing funds through material smuggling would also become smoother.
It only took a single contact.
The plan was for a member from the cult, who traveled from the Demon Realm riding the Sky Whale, to be met by the Freji merchant group on Sky Island. The Knight Order and the Academy wouldn’t be a concern for a meeting taking place above the Sky Whale.
It was a bit disconcerting that the Marquis Craft, who was oblivious to the deeper intentions at play, had started an audit. However, considering that the Marquis himself was currently in distress, it couldn’t have been a better time for the contact.
With determined efficiency, Sinclair, the High Merchant, began to move.
—
Pastel lay on a branch of the tall trees, taking full advantage of the massive tree’s span.
Hiding her body with the thick leaves, she peered down at a pit in the distance.
The members of the Freji merchant group bustled about, moving to and fro around the pit. A long, large syringe-like device was embedded in the pit. As the gears on the machine turned, a red liquid began to rise through the needle.
Pastel whispered softly.
“What are they doing?”
It looked completely suspicious.
『They’re extracting blood from the Sky Whale.』
“Huh?”
Could it be that what she thought was a pit was actually just the Sky Whale’s hollowed-out skin?
The syringe was removed, and workers dumped the extracted blood into a massive cauldron. As a fire was stoked under the cauldron, the blood sizzled. Red liquid splattered.
Ugh.
Pastel’s eyes widened in horror.
“Oh, my Whale friend, your blood…!”
Being drained alive…!
Ahhh!
“That’s totally evil!”
Anyone would call it vampire-like!
A 100% association with the sinister cult!
『Hmmm, it’s a commonly practiced method, albeit uncomfortable to watch.』
“Huh?”
『They’ll extract moisture and go through several procedures to create the serum, which becomes the material for the awakening gem you’ve been eating.』
Pastel’s eyes went wide.
So that candy-like awakening gem was actually made from her whale friend’s blood, drawn while still alive?
She recalled the times she’d happily munched on it.
Oh dear.
Covering her gaping mouth with her hands.
“I’m sorry, friend!”
They hadn’t ever shared a conversation, but she truly felt sorry!
『I don’t know much either, but once boiled to a certain concentration, it’ll be moved to a barrel. The tax evasion occurs by underreporting the number of barrels. If you can confirm this on site, the tax evaders can be caught.』
“Is that so?”
Pastel observed the scene closely.
Although it was bizarre to witness the drawing of blood from a living whale, she couldn’t see anything overtly sinister.
Instead, she noticed a group learning the on-site operations. A few individuals, clad in weapons or wizard robes, were there, but it was odd for them to be learning fieldwork.
“Is that also a tax evasion act?”
『Probably not. It seems like they’re handing over the know-how, perhaps creating a new organization within the merchant group?』
The few individuals approached Sinclair, the High Merchant, and began to converse. When the wizard pointed to the worksite and asked a question, Sinclair, with his arms crossed, responded. It looked akin to a technical training session.
Nothing out of the ordinary, but for some reason, Pastel’s hair felt electrified.
“Something feels off.”
『What is it?』
“That….”
Pastel mulled over it.
Pondering with a serious expression, she looked up at the sky and down to the ground, then firmly declared.
“It just feels off!”
And thus was born the quintessential answer to a question.
『Really?』
The demon was baffled.
Whoa, they completely treated her like an idiot.
“Just you wait! I will find the basis for my sharp intuition!”
Pastel spent the entire day perched in the tree, keeping an eye on the operations.
As the work continued, the workers took a meal. When dusk fell and the sun set, the work halted. The workers began to return to a nearby campsite.
『I guess today’s work is finished.』
The demon continued in a concerned tone.
『Little Craft, perhaps you should head back now? You’ve been roughing it for days. You might wear yourself out. While you’re massively resistant to external infections, that doesn’t mean you’re immune to all diseases.』
“The demon lord has said the same thing for days.”
With worries about her getting sick, she had bathed in the creek and washed her clothes several times.
As a result, Pastel was now in a squeaky clean state rather than muddy.
Squeaky clean.
The demon’s specially identified surfactant plants were very effective—she was looking spick-and-span.
Ugh.
Pastel felt a hint of sadness.
No one would understand the miserable feeling of being forced to wash after disguising herself in mud while harboring cold thoughts of revenge against the cult…
Forced to splash around.
Caught Pastel squirmed.
The demeanor she needed to uphold as the head…!
That thirst for vengeance against the cult…!
All of that aside, splash splash.
“Ahhh! Demon Lord! Demon Lord! The creek water is cold! Really cold!”
“Oh dear.”
Squeaky clean Pastel let out a long sigh.
Though she knew the demon would obviously be worried, she couldn’t admit to being captivated by the cult.
『Do you want to go back? If you head back now, I’ll make a week’s worth of meals for you just the way you want, without any nutritional restrictions.』
Huh.
A whole week of whatever I want?
Pastel was incredibly tempted, but she quickly regained her composure, adopting a cold, steely gaze.
“I know you’d bend over backward if I threw a tantrum.”
There was absolutely no merit in that.
『What did you just say…?』
The demon was in shock.
Ignoring the now silent demon, Pastel scanned the worksite. The workers who had completely wrapped up all operations began to leave.
One peculiar thing caught her attention; the mercenaries, who were supposed to be recipients of a technique, didn’t leave but stayed behind. Sinclair the High Merchant returned after sending the workers off.
Oooh.
This was a million-level suspicious.
Some workers returned to the site and then left again, leaving behind various materials and equipment. They were the same tools used on-site.
The mercenary group exchanged greetings with Sinclair before packing the gear and moving.
They headed in a different direction from the Freji merchant’s campsite.
Pastel immediately chased after them.
The place where the mercenaries arrived wasn’t too far away, lying in a clearing surrounded by trees and bushes. The location was so exquisite that only by approaching could a hidden airship be spotted.
An airship?
The mercenaries grabbed the rope ladder of the airship and climbed aboard. The ship, modeled after a whale, began moving its fin-like wings. The gust of wind blew, and the massive vehicle slowly levitated.
Pastel dashed as if to hide in the shadow of the airship. Upon reaching a perfect blind spot, she leaped upwards toward the airship.
The girl’s body floated into the air. A knife glided from her bosom, flying toward her feet. The sounds of her jumps echoed in succession as the knife bounced and returned, repeatedly, as the pink silhouette soared.
Pastel thrust her knife downward towards the airship’s floor. The wooden surface splintered as the blade lodged itself. Spinning her body, she hung onto her weapon.
The airship, continuing to rise, began to accelerate. As it flew like riding over the trees, the huge trees were pushed back, creating a raucous sound of wind.
Ahhh!
Various branches brushed past beneath the girl.
“Waaaah! Where are we going?!”
『Hmm, judging by the insistence on low flight, it doesn’t seem they’re leaving the Sky Whale.』
“Really?!”
Hanging by the knife, Pastel’s heart raced.
Who are you guys~!
Where are you taking us~!
Not knowing a thing.
“In conclusion, it’s definitely camping for a million times!”
Pastel was absolutely filled with thoughts of camping.
『What did you just say…?』
The demon was in disbelief.
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