“Help me! Help me!”
Pastel dashed into the warehouse.
“I’ve only committed the crime of sneaking onto an airship and stealing…!”
Huh.
Now that I said it, it sounds like a capital offense!
Aaaaah.
Frantically, she ran away.
The dark warehouse was spacious. It looked like it was specially designed for a certain purpose, given that it was at the end of a deliberately constructed straight corridor.
That feeling became even stronger when she saw the metal storage box standing alone in the center of the warehouse.
The rectangular storage box was large enough for Pastel to lie down in, even with a few people.
As important as the size, it was wrapped in chains and secured with a padlock.
Pastel approached the storage box and was flustered. It was a warehouse, but there was nowhere to hide or escape.
Aaaaah.
What kind of place is this!
Shouldn’t there be a hiding place for a kindhearted thief like me!
Heartless humanity!
“Looking for an exit? Give up.”
The Demon Mercenary Leader sauntered in. His leisurely gait seemed to block the only exit, the door.
“That cunning Craft has come to die all on his own.”
The Mercenary Leader grinned with a face clouded by alcohol.
“Whatever plans may be set, I had half given up thinking about saving my own life, but is the Demon King watching me from the afterlife?”
Aaaaah.
“It’s a misunderstanding! It’s a misunderstanding!”
Pastel waved her hands.
“You have the wrong person! I’m neither cunning nor Craft—just Pastel! Pastel Lovelove!”
Pastel attempted a bold name change.
It was an embarrassing name to say out loud, but hey, if she could survive, who cares?
“Pastel, what?”
The Mercenary Leader slung a one-handed sword over his shoulder.
Oh, we’re having a conversation!
Pastel felt relieved.
“Pastel Lovelove!”
She formed a heart with her fingers.
Heart pyoong pyoong.
The Mercenary Leader stared without a word.
Silence lingered.
“Hmm.”
Demon Lord, what’s wrong?
“Umm.”
Excuse me?
Pastel felt a bit embarrassed at the lack of response and rolled her eyes.
Then, she decided to get cheeky.
After all, popular people can never be understood!
She winked and cheerfully exclaimed.
“Pastel Lovelove!”
Heart pyoong pyoong~!
The Mercenary Leader stared for a moment before aiming his gun.
“What kind of joke is this?!”
“Waaah!”
Pastel gasped in shock, scattering away to hide behind the massive metal storage box.
Sticking her head out desperately, she shouted.
“Don’t shoot!”
The Demon Mercenary Leader, infuriated, did not pull the trigger.
“Who do you think I am! Once you’re in here, there’s no escape for you! Fight for your life!”
“A fight?! Aaaaah! I’m a pacifist!”
“A pacifist? Don’t give me that nonsense!”
The gun was harshly aimed.
“Waaah!”
Pastel pulled her head back into hiding.
“Whoa!”
The Mercenary Leader exhaled with frustration. Then, in a surprisingly calm tone, he spoke.
“No matter how Craft you may be, you understand honor, right? The Demon King is watching me too, and I don’t intend to end the last survivor of Craft with a meaningless death.”
Ah?
Pastel peeked out again. Her pink eyes sparkled.
“Does that mean…?”
You’re going to spare me?
The Mercenary Leader aimed his one-handed sword.
“So fight with honor!”
Aaaaah.
“That’s not what I wanted to hear…!”
Pastel’s face went pale.
With her spinning eyes, she searched for an escape route.
How can there be no windows in a warehouse!
Then she realized something.
Oh?
Gathering her courage, Pastel observed the Mercenary Leader. The Demon was glaring at her with a menacing expression.
But he was merely glaring, not attacking. Holding a sword in one hand and a gun in the other, he was just staring.
Oh?
The Demon Mercenary Leader wanted to hate the Craft family and kill them, yet he was trying to reason with Pastel instead of attacking.
As she pondered this, her gaze landed on the metal storage box she was pressed against. It was locked with chains, appearing extremely important.
Is he being cautious so that any fight doesn’t damage the storage box?
The Mercenary Leader had sliced the metal door with ease, so it would make sense if he was worried about the storage box during a battle.
What could be inside?
Although she didn’t know, discovering her opponent’s weakness calmed her heart.
Pastel regained her composure and looked around the warehouse again.
They moved such a large storage box into the warehouse, but the warehouse door seemed small for it. They must have a separate cargo door.
Sure enough, as she scanned the wall, she discovered a lever.
If I pull that down, does the wall open with a roar, allowing me to escape with a cheer?
Yes, yes!
That’s a hopeful prospect!
Pastel secretly pulled out a gem knife from her pocket. She positioned the knife almost touching the ground and prepared to move toward the lever.
She stepped forward to catch the Mercenary Leader’s attention.
“You said to fight with honor?”
Stepping slightly away from the storage box, she drew her sword, and the Mercenary Leader’s eyes brightened.
“Heh! Now you’re talking!”
He pointed his one-handed sword at Pastel.
“I am Trimaut! I’ve devoted my life to annihilating humans who trample on the holy site of Sky Island!”
Pastel took a slow breath and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, her pink irises glowed brightly.
“Thanks for the introduction. But unfortunately, how should I put this?”
She pointed at herself.
“I don’t really know anything about honor.”
“What?”
The girl aimed her sword at the storage box, shooting a sneer at Trimaut.
“You look foolish. How could you be so restless and pleading for something you prepared to come to pass?”
That sudden change in attitude made Trimaut flinch.
Seizing the opportunity, the gem knife glided across the floor. Upon reaching the lever, it pushed against it, but it slipped as it struggled to gain grip. As she kept trying, slight friction sounds echoed.
The girl slammed the sword against the storage box. A clear ringing filled the dark warehouse.
“Well, when you pretend to be scared, you really start to get bold…”
Her pink eyes glared at Trimaut.
“You look foolish.”
Trimaut’s face hardened.
“You….”
The girl folded her arms, looking down at him.
“Don’t you find this strange?”
Am I the only one?
“That Craft came here on their own.”
She tilted her head.
The Mercenary Leader flinched. As if an uncomfortable realization hit him, his eyes trembled.
One corner of the girl’s mouth twitched.
“From the moment you stepped into my territory, or even before that, I knew about you. Thoughts, designs, plans. Common desires and simple ideas born from a heart steeped in resentment.”
“Don’t give me any nonsense!”
Trimaut gritted his teeth.
“What do you think you’re talking about, you failed Craft? Your family’s spy network has long been uprooted!”
The gun was roughly aimed at the girl.
She didn’t bother trying to persuade him.
Instead, she spread her arms and spun around leisurely in place, her clothes fluttering and pink hair flowing.
A soft voice spread through the air.
“I just wanted to say thank you.”
After stopping the spin, she leaned forward to make eye contact.
“Thanks to you, I could easily swallow up the academy.”
Trimaut’s complexion hardened.
“Don’t tell me, you knew all along? You created a justification by capturing the first unit directly from the sewers, then rushed here right after seizing the academy’s power. You knew from the beginning…….”
The aimed gun trembled.
The girl smiled as she squinted her eyes.
Her pink lips parted.
“You look foolish.”
Her voice filled the dark warehouse.
Flames flickered in Trimaut’s eyes.
“Did you just leave it as is, even knowing? Knowing!”
He aimed the gun at the metallic storage box wrapped in chains.
“You left it here so it could be brought to the dock?! The Crafts are said to always grow their power even in the Demon Realm! Just for some trivial power, you laughed at life and enjoyed tormenting others!”
Trimaut was furious.
“And this time, you don’t care whether innocent humans die?! You folks cannot distinguish between humans and Demons! And still call yourselves humans!”
He pointed a finger.
“You beasts!”
The girl appeared bewildered. As she contemplated, something seemed to dawn on her, and she smiled softly. She pointed at herself.
“I’m not human, you know.”
Her voice was light, as if joking about life.
Trimaut froze.
A cold silence engulfed the room.
Pastel, who had been acting, sighed in relief internally.
Phew, the joke worked.
In her imagination, her body trembled.
Aaaaah.
Why is he acting so strangely all of a sudden!
She suppressed her fear, but the thought of him suddenly lunging with a sword sent her mind spinning.
However, having lived her life as a popular person, Pastel unleashed her ultimate improvisation.
It was none other than, a comedic twist to change the atmosphere!
So effective that the hot, fighting atmosphere turned to calm in an instant.
How satisfying.
“Turns out, eating gems makes me not human~.”
It’s surprisingly true.
Hehe.
Trimaut narrowed his eyes, his anger cooling.
“Such a plan is no longer needed. I will sever the Craft family’s lineage, even if it costs me my life.”
Whoa!
Why are you aiming at me……!
Pastel internally trembled while continuing her act.
With a smile, she clapped her hands.
“What a great mindset! But what should I say now?”
The gem knife barely nudged the wall lever. The entire wall creaked ominously.
“You won’t have such a future, you know. I told you, thanks to you I seized the academy’s power.”
The wall opened entirely, and light spilled out. A gale rushed in, blowing past the girl’s attire and pink hair.
“Used tools that have completed their roles are…”
The girl walked toward the now-open wall, brushing her wind-blown hair back with her hand.
“Decommissioned.”
As she gestured to the pouring light, silhouettes of people emerged. From a small airship waiting beyond the wall, armored figures leaped inside.
An elite group clad in gem armor.
The Knight Order.
They surrounded the Marquis, who had been guarding the area.
Oh?
Pastel, stunned by the unexpected turn of events, forgot her act.
Oh oh?
Had they obtained evidence from the demons dining at the restaurant? So Leonard requested the Knight Order?
Wow.
Hehe.
Trimaut’s eyes widened.
“You damn!”
He aimed the gun at Pastel.
“Craft…!”
The trigger was pulled, and flames erupted.
The bullet disregarded the laws of nature, accelerating explosively as it evaded the world’s resistance. The very air was shredded.
Pastel’s eyes went wide.
As she lifted her sword, the neighboring knight moved first. The blade gleamed as it clashed with the bullet, sparks flying, and the bullet ricocheted away.
Wow.
Pastel calmed her racing heart and finished her act.
She shot a glare at Trimaut, who had fired.
Her pink lips curved.
“You look foolish.”
Eyes focused on her, silence fell.
“Craft! Craft…!”
Trimaut raged, his words spilling forth. Then he kicked off the ground and charged at her.
Waaah!
No more acting!
“I’m sorry! I was wrong! Please spare me!”
Pastel flailed her arms as she ran.
“Knight Order! Knight Order!”
Please catch that bad person!
He’s been tormenting me completely!
Waaaaaah!
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