Tournament Day.
The large arena had been remodeled, covered with walls and facilities like a coliseum. Food stalls set up by students lined the exterior of this coliseum.
Pastel had been wandering through the booths since early morning. She wasn’t just having fun; she was actually working.
“How’s the control of outsiders going?”
Elly followed her quickly.
“Some merchants have brought unexpected guests, and we’re handling it.”
Her friends rushed over, handing Dustin’s notes which he had organized earlier, before leaving again.
Elly read the notes and reported back, “Most of them have been sent back, but a few merchants are being uncooperative. Seems like a pride battle among the merchants.”
“What sort of pride battle? How much can they disregard the student council, which advised only bringing verified personnel?”
“Yeah. But although it will take time, they think they can send them back anyway.”
Originally, the tournament had planned to prohibit outsiders. But there were so many students who didn’t want to miss the opportunity to appeal to external organizations, they reluctantly opened some gates.
Now that it was the second semester, self-made students and illegitimate children had a lot at stake, making it difficult to firmly reject their appeals.
Well, especially when desperate senior students collected signatures, even from current students, to support Alshire Bellamont, who was facing assassination threats.
Pastel had tried to refuse, but Professor Horace, who had been in charge of the administration since the school’s normalization, was slightly troubled.
“Ahem, junior. If we oppose too much, the student sentiment will worsen. How about we compromise a bit for safety?”
It would be very troublesome to ignore student sentiment when soldiers were brought in.
Especially since there was a coalition that formed around the agreement that Pastel had caught all the terrorists, making it feel safe now.
“Oh wow, you can’t even do your job well!”
Is this the dilemma faced by a dictator, or rather, a representative of public sentiment?
“Don’t worry! I have a plan!”
“Senior! I believe in you!”
Pastel had to work closely with Professor Horace to devise a safe method.
“Ugh, why has the world come where I have to worry about hunger as a student?”
She was beginning to understand Professor Carlo, who had been neglecting student safety to some extent.
Not that she empathized!
Still, after much effort, Pastel was able to come up with a thorough method for verifying outsiders. Although it involved mobilizing Craft Merchants and consuming administrative resources, wasn’t it okay as long as the current students were safe?
During that process, they also excluded the faction related to Professor Carlo from all operations.
Hehe.
Let those who can’t work just watch.
This isn’t revenge for the feelings that had built up over time. Absolutely not.
Yup!
While reflecting on the past and assessing the situation, Pastel paused upon noticing a beverage booth.
There was a senior selling drinks who seemed oddly familiar. Twisting the cap on a wine barrel adorned with orange patterns, orange liquid poured into wooden cups.
Huh.
A sense of déjà vu.
“Wait? Wasn’t that the guy who sold alcohol at the last festival?”
Oh wow, it was!
The senior who secretly sold orange drinks at the Glowing Dragon Fest!
But because of the Demon Lord, I was the only one who couldn’t drink…!
Aaaah.
Pastel sighed in sorrow before stopping.
The me from then and now are completely different.
Pastel now was a super powerful figure.
Right now, the Demon Lord, as a subordinate, was an unstoppable powerhouse!
With bold steps, Pastel approached.
The senior, who had been wiping the barrel before the event, turned around.
“Oh, a second visitor?”
Pastel grinned mischievously.
“But I’m different from before. Give me a drink-.”
“That’s alcohol.”
Elly wrinkled her nose at the scent that wafted through the air. Then, seeming to feel discomfort at Pastel’s words, she stopped and looked at her intently.
That look was as if to say, “What are you trying to say?”
Completely caught, Pastel froze, but gradually transformed her expression into that of a righteous student council member.
She slammed her hand on the booth table and stared intently at the senior.
“Senior! According to the tournament regulations, alcohol is absolutely prohibited! Drinking before a duel poses a danger!”
“Ah….”
The senior looked flustered.
“Anyway, today it’s just first years, so what’s the big deal?”
“Then are you going to not sell it to the first years today, and not sell to second years tomorrow, no second years, so not to third years the next day, and to fourth years the day after that? Even if they come asking to drink?”
The senior pondered this for a moment and then smirked. Thumbs up.
“A drink for a free spirit is alright!”
“No, it’s not!”
The senior flinched.
“Alright. I’ll put the alcohol away.”
“I will conduct surprise inspections, so make sure to put it away!”
Having successfully completed her duties, Pastel exited the booth.
“Phew, this is why you have to check the site.”
Elly looked at her strangely. “Didn’t you just try to drink?”
Pastel suddenly felt wronged. It was true she had intended to drink, but she wanted to do so after finishing her work!
“Little Craft, you weren’t really thinking of drinking, were you?”
Ugh.
Even though I didn’t even drink, I’m going to get in trouble!
Aaaah.
It would have been better if I had actually drunk something rather than this!
Pastel ran as if pretending not to hear the Demon Lord’s words.
“Quick, let’s do an inspection! Inspection! Inspection!”
She proceeded with on-site inspections. After all, Leonard and her friends would meticulously handle the inspection, but doing it herself made her heart feel at ease.
“Selling Gem Awakening Potions! A safe product created by an Alchemy major, not a suspicious product from a Cult! Trust and buy!”
“Ugh! What are you selling right now?!”
“A seasoning for a fiery tournament!”
“Doping is not allowed!”
Aaaah.
It was still in this state because Professor Carlo had tacitly allowed Awakening Potions!
Shouldn’t I have seized power sooner?
[Respected Marquis, you are once again working hard for the students today. All students should sincerely participate in the tournament event to repay your kindness.]
The newspaper club, representing the voice of the students, also gave a positive affirmation.
I understand my friends’ feelings too!
Yup!
After completing the site inspection, Pastel met Grace High Merchant, who had come to the school.
Pastel had asked for something.
The high merchant carefully placed a long box on the table.
“I’ve tried to make it best according to the quality you mentioned, but it’s definitely not at the level of a Demon Realm relic. In the field of Gem processing, there are many lost or hidden techniques from the time of the Demon Realm development.”
“Thank you!”
Pastel opened the box.
Inside was a magical broom.
A white stick with pink liquid.
Wow!
It sparkles!
So dazzling…!
Carefully picking up the magical broom, it had an incredible weight.
Hey there, are you Nimbus 2000?
No? Whoops.
Grace High Merchant looked bewildered.
“What exactly are you planning to use a broom with Gem inside for?”
Pastel chuckled.
“I’m going to ride it!”
From her experience fighting a cult amidst the Sky Whale, she had learned something valuable.
When she secured a Gem Knife beneath a table she sat on, the table actually floated!
Oh wow.
What a surprise!
Pastel could fly!
But back then, she only had the Mercury Friend; now she also had the Venus Friend!
She could control Gems without any gestures!
“I’ll show you!”
Pastel stood up from the sofa and walked toward a spacious area. She positioned the broom between her legs.
Concentrating her mind, she sensed the Gem inside the broom. She felt the metaphysical structure in which the Gem powder was arranged.
It certainly looked to be of lower quality than the Gem Knife, the legacy of the previous Demon King.
But still, it seemed like she could control it.
Haah!
Gem control powers!
Pastel maneuvered the broom.
“Beep beep~!”
With her own sound effects, the broom lifted off the ground. It felt like riding on a high bar, and her body lifted along with it. Her feet lost contact with the ground.
Swinging and floating.
“Wow!”
Her pink eyes sparkled.
I can fly!
Pastel took hold of the broom and began to fly slowly. She zipped around the indoor space at a low altitude.
Zooming and whooshing~!
Grace High Merchant gazed in disbelief.
“Why is it flying…?”
“It’s a flying broom, of course!”
Woooow~!
“Whoosh whoosh!”
The senior blinked rapidly while gazing at the Craft Marquis. Once the confusion subsided and she could gather her thoughts, she twirled her fan to cover her mouth.
“Well, the Craft family was the spearhead for the Demon Realm annexation… so it wouldn’t be strange for you to analyze and steal the power of the Demon King.”
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Wow!”
As Pastel increased her speed and was about to crash into a wall, she hit the brakes hard. The broom tilted sharply.
Creeeak—!
She came to a stop right in front, her head clashing against something.
“Ouch!”
“Are you alright, your Excellency?”
Ugh.
Pastel rubbed her head.
“I’m fine! Thanks anyway!”
She bowed her head slightly.
“I’m on a tight schedule, so I’ll be going now!”
“Please do so, your Excellency.”
As Pastel turned toward the window, she noticed it was open. Estimating her body size against the window, she took off with the broom.
One, two, three!
Gripping the broom tightly, she galloped forward. Her body leaned back, and her hair flew in the wind. The scenery changed rapidly as she quickened through the window.
Her vision opened up. The blue sky and the school’s landscape filled her sight.
She flew straight up.
The coliseum-like arena and surrounding booths could be seen at a glance.
People looked like toy soldiers.
“Wow!”
Everything was within reach!
If there was anything suspicious, she could handle it right away!
Friends, Pastel will protect you!
Just as you have all wished!
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