“I’m sorry.”
The crimson eyes gazed resolutely.
“Ugh.”
Pastel’s expression turned sorrowful. She tightly hugged her hands around herself and looked up at the demon.
“I’m a demon.”
“I’m afraid not.”
The demon in formal attire spoke coldly before turning away, a laundry basket in one arm.
Is this how my dreams of smuggling are coming to an end?
Pastel followed the demon closely.
“I’m a demon.”
The demon walked on without a response. Wet towels swayed from the laundry basket.
So cold.
Is it because of the formal attire that I can feel the coldness of society?
Is this the feeling of a child thrown into the harsh reality?
She trailed behind.
“Demon, just once.”
Seniors tend to let new students win at arm wrestling out of camaraderie.
Could it be that the demon might too?
But the demon seemed to sense something familiar. He let out a small scoff.
Then, with firm strides, he opened the laundry room door and walked in to receive water. Sounds of splashing followed.
The demon in formal attire began washing the towels mercilessly, ignoring Pastel.
The water splashed.
The soap rubbed.
The paddle slapped.
The towels became clean.
With skilled hands, the demon swiftly finished washing ten towels.
“Next is the blanket, huh?”
The demon wiped his forehead with his formal-clad arm.
“Ugh.”
Pastel’s hands trembled slightly.
So cold.
Demon, our relationship wasn’t this cold before.
What could have changed about smuggling for you to become like this?
Ugh.
Pastel felt a dark future approaching.
What will I eat if I can’t engage in smuggling?
What dream should I pursue if I can’t become the god of smuggling?
Her stomach growled suddenly.
The demon flinched and turned around. A hint of pity crossed his cold and indifferent expression.
“Ah.”
That’s it.
Pastel slumped down. She weakly held her growling belly.
“Demon, that’s right. Pure justice must come before hunger. I, Pastel, will go hungry for the greater good.”
The demon hesitated while packing the laundry basket.
“I’d rather be a hungry martyr than a well-fed pig.”
The demon let out a deep sigh.
“You poor Craft.”
“Yes.”
“Your skills are lacking.”
Pastel frowned.
“Oh, demon. Really, just one time. Objectively speaking, we don’t have many ways to earn money, do we? We can’t gather enough funds through commissions or research to eat gold bullion three meals a day.”
“That’s…”
The demon furrowed his brow and pressed his temples.
“Why is your situation so bad?”
“Oh?”
The demon bent down, raising a finger.
“Just this one time. There won’t be another. After that, you must find a way.”
Pastel’s eyes lit up.
“Of course! I believe in you, demon! You’ll find a solution even in this dire situation! You can turn me into a well-fed Pastel!”
You got this!
“Wait, you need to find a way too.”
Beginnings are hard.
Twice is manageable.
Then what about three times?
Oh yeah.
“Alright, it’s settled. But hurry up. You’re getting mud on your clothes.”
“Ah, yes.”
Look at this refreshing sky.
How about the sky ship swimming like a whale?
“This is the paradise on Earth!”
The flying ship pierced the sky with a whoosh. Pink hair waved from the railing.
“Hmm.”
The demon looked over the sky road beyond.
“Is that a flying creature?”
“What could possibly make a delivery impossible?”
It’s something serious enough to not allow a glow dragon to use its eye beams.
“This world’s master is not a human, but nature. The sky paths change based on nature’s whims.”
The demon came forward with a large cloth in hand.
“Before encountering a school of fish, you must wrap the fins with this cloth.”
A school of fish?
Pastel tilted her head, following the demon. She sprinted toward the ship mimicking a whale.
She barely managed to climb onto the flapping fins.
“The flying ship copied the sky whale, but it’s not perfect. The fins aren’t smooth and have many gaps. If something gets stuck, it’s likely to break.”
The white cloth was tied around the fin with skillful hands.
“Wow, demon!”
Pastel quickly shook her head in excitement. Her pink hair fluttered wildly.
“No, master! You’re incredible! You look like a sailor!”
“Remember this knot shape well. There are knots that can come undone and knots that can’t. You need to tie it securely.”
“Oh! I think I can do it!”
“Give it a try.”
Pastel took the rope and fiddled with a part of the cloth.
“Like this, like this.”
She made a knot but felt it was wrong, so she retied it.
“Like this, like this.”
This time she tugged on it, realizing it was coming undone, so she peeked at the knot beside her and gave it another go.
One knot was completed.
It was tight when she pulled on it.
Wow, wow.
Am I doing really well?
Is there talent for seamanship?
The demon approached, carrying the remaining cloth. Several tied knots on the fins were visible from behind.
The crimson eyes looked down at Pastel’s knot.
“Well done.”
Proud.
“Now for the other fin. We need to hurry.”
“Yes, master!”
Pastel ran. She positioned herself at the opposite fin and tied the knot with a serious expression.
Her quick hands wrapped the rope and cloth.
“Like this, like this.”
One finished.
Wow, I’m twice as fast as before.
Her small hands moved swiftly.
“Like this, like this.”
Another one finished.
Gasp.
Two already.
My skills have at least doubled.
Am I a genius in seamanship?
The demon approached.
The sharp gaze examined Pastel’s work.
“You did well.”
Hehe.
Several knots tied by the demon were visible behind him.
“Is preparation all done now?”
“That’s right.”
“Wow, wow.”
Already?
“Working together with master makes it so easy!”
Pastel turned a little red.
“It seems there’s a good synergy between us!”
She waved her arms in joy.
Wow, wow.
The demon alternated his gaze between the knots he tied and Pastel’s.
“Well.”
Without further words, the demon placed the cloth at the front and stepped back.
Pastel leaned on the railing and gazed beyond the sky.
“What’s a school of fish?”
It’s not the kind of school I know.
The demon’s finger pointed ahead.
“That over there.”
A blue wave surged through the clouds.
A streamlined sea creature with a white belly and a blue back.
Collective consciousness and chain actions.
A swarm of fish covered the sky.
Pastel’s eyes went wide.
“It’s a mackerel!”
What is that?
“That’s sky mackerel.”
The sky was covered by mackerel. The sunlight reflected on countless scales. The shadows of the waves painted the atmosphere.
“There must be someone outside in case the flying ship’s fins break. Hide in the railing and hold on tight. They’re coming.”
Eek.
Pastel stared at a single mackerel flying toward them.
The fish’s lifeless eyes.
Swaying fins.
But wait, what’s the size?
Our friend is bigger than my face.
Eek?
It’s a monster mackerel.
Eek.
She hunched down behind the railing. Moments later, the school of mackerel collided with the flying ship. The impact shook everything.
The flying ship wobbled. A thunderous noise echoed from all sides.
Whoa.
Pastel hid behind the railing and trembled.
Shudder, shudder.
“Friends, don’t do this!”
I don’t remember, but we used to get along well. Friends shouldn’t treat each other like this.
After a while, the thunderous noise subsided.
“The school of fish has adapted to the flying ship. They will move while leaving space. You can peek your head out now.”
Phew.
Pastel pressed her racing heart. While calming down, she slowly peeked out.
One mackerel flew right in front of her. Its streamlined body quickly changed direction.
The fin slapped her face.
“Ugh!”
Pastel plopped down.
Oof.
“Are you alright?”
“No….”
I’m scared of mackerel.
“I won’t eat mackerel dishes for a while.”
“Endure it. Once you calm down, look up. You’ll see a sight you normally cannot.”
Rubbing her probably flushed cheeks, she lifted her head.
The school of fish covered her entire field of vision.
The fish swarmed around the flying ship like seawater enveloping a submarine.
“Wow.”
Pastel’s mouth dropped open.
Sunlight shimmered in sync with the blue flow.
The flying ship was hazily dyed.
This is the sea of the sky.
“I, I changed my mind.”
“Hm?”
“I want to eat mackerel dishes.”
Nom, nom.
The demon let out a small snicker.
“Do as you like.”
Hehe.
Pastel carefully stood up. Upon realizing that the school of fish kept a safe distance from the flying ship, she fully stood up.
She looked around.
All fish.
“Wow, it feels like being underwater.”
Whoosh, whoosh.
Wow.
“But it’s not as dangerous as I thought?”
The collision was serious, but maybe not enough to halt a delivery.
“The environment is what’s dangerous. There it is.”
Pastel turned her head.
Beyond the mass of fish, she spotted another flying ship, also surrounded by fish just like theirs.
The sailors on that ship moved busily. Nets fluttered as they snagged mackerel.
Oh, fishermen?
She caught a glimpse of a skull pattern hidden at the bow of the ship.
“Huh.”
“Pirate ships should typically be driven off with cannon fire. Close combat inevitably leads to casualties.”
One of the pirates spotted Pastel’s flying ship.
“The school of fish conceals their sight and facilitates the approach of pirate ships. There’s a high chance cannon fire will be wasted by the swirling school of fish.”
The pirate ship moved.
“Since many pirates are out for fishing, the likelihood of encountering pirate ships has greatly increased.”
Eek.
The pirate ship approached. The swarming fish cleared a path.
“Friends, don’t leave me!”
A wooden plank hung over the railing.
Totally bad.
Pastel drew her sword.
“Wait! I don’t want to fight!”
A young man approached confidently across the plank, raising his hands in surrender. A rapier swung at his waist.
“Huh?”
“Alright.”
What’s that?
The man stepped onto the flying ship. Still holding his hands up, he backed away from Pastel.
His eyes scrutinized her.
“Are you the girl who killed Morris?”
Morris?
“If you’re talking about the pirate with the great sword, then yes.”
The man whistled.
“You’re quite skilled for your age. A bright future ahead. I’m Jackson.”
Jackson winked.
His eyebrows fluttered.
“Little lady, talent acquisition is crucial in piracy. How about considering a partnership?”
Huh?
“After all, you’re smuggling too.”
Gasp.
How did he know?
Pastel’s eyes widened.
Jackson chuckled softly.
“Your purpose going through the demon realm is obvious. If you’re also a powerful girl, you’re probably after a big payday.”
Is that so?
Pastel’s lips trembled.
“I, I’m just passing through for a legitimate purpose! Truly!”
For the glow dragon!
“I understand. Isn’t that how it usually goes?”
Jackson nodded.
“While getting the little lady on board would be the ideal outcome, it’s hard to expect a straightforward response. So, I came to propose a mutually respectful relationship. We aren’t bad people, you see! Look!”
He pointed his thumb at the pirate ship. A pirate with a long scar on his face turned to look.
The pirate appeared flustered, then scratched his head and waved.
“Hi hi.”
Huh.
He sheathed his sword.
Could they really be people who were just inevitably forced into piracy?
Fishing like this is completely the same situation as mine.
Suddenly, her hair bristled.
Instinct and intuition flared.
Before her consciousness could fully grasp the situation, her hand grabbed the hilt of her sword. She quickly turned her head.
Jackson, with a calm expression, aimed a pirate gun.
A single-shot flintlock.
The muzzle erupted in flames. A metal ball shot forth, slicing through the air.
The girl flicked her thumb off the hilt she held. It snapped up the cross-guard. The sword was drawn as if it was bouncing off.
Empty hands grabbed the hilt with reflexive speed. The recoil naturally transitioned as the sword swung.
What remained was the afterimage of the magical girl.
Her strike was the projectile of light.
The silver blade traced a path.
The bullet flew as if drawn in.
It collided with the blade, sparking.
Shards flew past the girl.
Jackson’s vest fluttered. The loaded flintlock revealed itself.
He drew one gun after another.
New guns fired in rapid succession.
Sixteen flashes.
Sixteen strikes.
The silver blade traced its path.
Bullets slashed, and fragments scattered.
Pastel’s pink hair flew wildly. Her footsteps rushed forth. A rapier was hastily drawn, but faster still, the magic sword blazed. A storm of blood raged.
The man’s body fell.
The girl turned her body.
She aimed for the next target.
By then, the pirate ship that had removed its plank was fleeing in the distance, its hull concealed by the school of fish.
“We are good fishermen!”
A terrified voice faded away.
Huh.
Pastel stared blankly at the pirate ship.
A familiar hand pressed down her pink hair.
“Well done.”
Ah, demon.
Hehe.
After that, they arrived in the demon realm and went about their tasks.
They waited normally until they met a merchant and signed a typical deal.
Swish, swish.
Contraband was taken out from the main deck.
In exchange, a large box was handed over smoothly.
If the box clicked open…
It was filled to the brim with unprocessed magic stones.
The girl raised her arms high.
“Wooow!”
This is my calling!
I want to do this for life!
“This is truly the last time.”
“Yes!”
Pastel didn’t even glance at her conversation partner as she hugged the magic stones tightly.
This heavy weight.
“Gah!”
Her heart raced.
Her body trembled with emotion.
“I’ll become a well-fed Pastel!”
I’ll eat a lot.
Demon will do the cooking.
“This… is really the last time. Are you even listening?”
“Yup!”
Pastel nodded like a model student.
“By the way, how about our profit margin?!”
“Ugh.”
Dragging the seemingly self-deprecating demon, she wandered the docking station, receiving the delivery from the trading guild’s delivery officer.
They returned to the sky island.
It’s a festival, a festival.
