“Is it difficult to cooperate with the Knight Corps?”
A few days before the Tournament, Pastel barged into the professor’s office after receiving a strange notification.
“If the Knight Corps withdraws, who will protect the students?”
She leaned on the professor’s desk with both hands, staring at Professor Carlow.
Pastel was slightly on edge due to the discovery of an assassination plot against the Duchess and associated terror schemes. You could say she was in strict Student Council mode.
Although outsiders couldn’t enter during the Tournament period like during the festival, it was true that contact and visits from outsiders were increasing for various reasons, so safety had to be prioritized.
But today, just a few days before the event, she suddenly received notification from the faculty meeting that involving the Knight Corps in the prevention plan was problematic.
“There’s a misunderstanding.”
Professor Carlow, who had a stern demeanor, put down the work documents he was examining. He was the same professor who had previously announced the dissolution of the Student Council, causing a slight friction with Pastel.
“The Knight Corps is not withdrawing; it means they are to focus solely on the defense of the Academy’s outskirts. If they can prevent external invasions as usual, we will handle any terrorist incidents occurring inside the Academy.”
Pastel frowned.
“That’s essentially the same thing. If a terrorist incident occurs inside the Academy, the Knight Corps’s immediate response will be delayed, and that puts student safety at risk—”
Professor Carlow raised his palm to stop her.
“Excessive intervention by the Knight Corps is unnecessary. The Academy must be protected by us.”
Ugh.
What does that even mean?
‘Hmm, is it a power struggle between the Academy and the Knight Corps? Since they are effectively the two forces operating Sky Island, they probably don’t want to interfere with each other.’
Are they fighting over student lives?
Eww.
Pastel’s expression turned to one resembling a dog that had just seen another dog poop while out for a walk.
‘The Academy’s provincial government originates from the Sky Island, and the Knight Corps comes from the Imperial dispatched army, so they probably aren’t on friendly terms.’
Professor Carlow turned and looked out the window after walking to it and pulling aside the curtains, allowing strong sunlight to flood into the dim professor’s office.
Pastel squinted against the glare as the professor gazed down at the campus.
“The Chancellor passed away during the cult’s attack that occurred before the vacation. His Majesty the Emperor has not appointed a new one yet, so the Chancellor’s position is currently vacant. We can’t involve the Knight Corps in a situation of power vacuum.”
Professor Carlow folded his arms and turned back.
“For other matters, we respect the students and actively cooperate with the Student Council. The reason we’re not blocking the budget for the Tournament is because of that.”
Pastel met his gaze with a sulky expression before leaving the professor’s office after getting some additional cooperation.
This is really, really annoying.
She crossed her arms and looked around the office again.
Ugh.
Glancing around discreetly, she addressed the devil.
“Doesn’t Professor Carlow seem suspicious?”
‘In what way?’
“He made a decision to implicitly allow the cult’s drugs to spread in the school last time.”
Thanks to those drugs, students’ achievements had improved due to enhanced physical abilities, so it wasn’t all bad, he said.
“This time, terrorists are targeting the Academy, and this is how he responds! Of course, the Knight Corps is not completely excluded; they will still protect the Academy’s perimeter and prevent intrusions as usual!”
Completely suspicious.
Could he be an internal collaborator?
‘Hmm.’
The devil showed a lukewarm reaction.
‘You’re young, so you may not know, but that professor is just an ordinary human. And being a professor at the Academy is not a position anyone can obtain. There’s a verification process. These days, it may have loosened up a bit, but it’s not something you can easily look down upon.’
Gasp.
You’re saying I’m young and don’t know—.
That’s the most annoying phrase.
“I’m old enough to know everything, you know?”
‘Is that so?’
The devil let out a short laugh.
He… laughed at me……!
“If you keep acting like this, I’ll become a rebel! I won’t listen to a single word and will live by my own will!”
Pastel spread her arms wide, extending her nails, baring her fangs like a cat.
Grr—!
“Craaang! Craaaang!”
The devil dismissed her outburst.
‘Since when have you been obedient? Just a few days ago, you caught your favorite squeaky buddies and enjoyed eating their essence.’
As the devil spoke, he seemed to be suffocating, letting out a sigh.
‘Sigh. I tell you it’s dangerous, but you don’t listen. If you continue to disregard my words, you might as well live alone.’
Ah.
That sounded sincere.
Pastel flinched. Sensing the mood, she gingerly lowered her arms and whistled awkwardly.
“Wow, wow. Since we can’t get cooperation from the Knight Corps, I’ll have to find another way~.”
She waved her arms and started walking.
After a while, she noticed someone approaching from the end of the corridor. It was a familiar professor.
“Ah! Senior!”
Pastel raised her hand high.
Senior, senior!
“Ooh! Isn’t that my junior?”
Professor Horace looked around and confirmed that no one was nearby.
“Is everything going well?”
Here, ‘everything’ obviously meant smuggling.
Pastel also engaged in suspicious behavior by looking around and confidently replied.
“Very well! While the expenses are considerable and the yield is lower compared to when I was smuggling alone, I’m attracting loans under the guild name, expanding the scale of smuggling, so the profits have increased dramatically!”
The Preston organization should handle the goods for smuggling, and it was so overwhelmed that Melissa had to help with the organization conflicts.
“Ah! That’s too bad!”
Professor Horace patted his chest.
“It’s unfortunate that the arrival of the Skywhale coincided with this, and you couldn’t participate in the trade due to protecting the Academy! What a huge opportunity cost loss!”
“Ah, I couldn’t bring you along on such a dangerous first trade! I’ll actively invite you to the next one!”
Professor Horace smiled brightly.
“Will you really?!”
“Just prepare the smuggling goods! I’ll direct deliver them straight to the Demon Realm!”
Pastel gestured skyward.
“For a cheap rate~! I’ll treat you like a VIP!”
“Ooh! I’m counting on you, junior!”
Ahem.
To pacify the Student Council’s audits, this much is acceptable.
“We are currently seeking investors, so you can talk to the guild. I’ll speak to Guild Master Grace for you!”
After discussing serious business for a while, their conversation turned to casual topics.
“By the way, what brings you to this building?”
“I came to see Professor Carlow about the reduction of the Knight Corps’ involvement.”
Oh right!
Should I ask my senior for help?
“Is there any way to change the faculty meeting’s decision? As the Student Council, we are concerned for student safety. Please help me, senior.”
“Ah, that matter.”
Professor Horace looked regretful.
“I opposed that decision as well, but among the professors, there are many who have conflicts with the Knight Corps, making it difficult to change the mainstream opinion.”
“Ah, I see….”
Is this really an educational institution?
Professor Horace looked bitter.
“Because I often go overseas, I’m lacking in prestige among the professors. Given that there isn’t any decent faction, I lack the strength to change even this matter.”
Oh.
Pastel waved her hands.
“No, no! There’s nothing wrong with you, Professor! It’s all the world’s fault! Bad world! Bad world!”
“Junior….”
Professor Horace was moved.
‘Hmm.’
The devil pondered intricately.
‘It’s difficult to bring this up in such a bitter atmosphere, but that overseas business is essentially smuggling, isn’t it? There’s no way there isn’t suspicion around it, so it’s understandable you might lack support among colleagues. I realized something was off when you were given smuggling lessons by a professor.’
Gasp.
Devil, what do you mean by that?
Please don’t dismiss the professor’s sincerity as opportunism!
Well, he is an opportunist, though!
Pastel shouted in her heart and clenched her fists. She gazed at Professor Horace with fiery eyes.
“Senior, don’t worry! The Student Council will take responsibility for student safety!”
“Haha. Your assurance brings me comfort, but as an adult, I feel embarrassed. If you ever need my help, don’t hesitate to ask for anything!”
“Ah, about that, though.”
Pastel opened her mouth with a slightly mischievous heart.
“Could you smooth over the Student Council’s audit?”
Professor Horace looked puzzled.
“I’m already doing that.”
“I know! I know!”
But that’s the financial sector.
“I was hoping you might interpret the Student Council’s authority a little more broadly for the sake of student safety.”
For example, mobilizing emergency troops for student safety.
Just like how Alycia, under assassination threats, disguised her personal soldiers as servants to barely bring them in, currently the Academy cannot operate personal soldiers.
But just…….
Pastel, with her pastel colors, suddenly wanted to employ soldiers in the hallowed ground of education~.
Nothing major.
Hehe.
“Operation airships has increased to 13. This number combines the used airships acquired from bankrupt guilds and the pirate ships captured during smuggling.”
Pastel wandered through the Craft Guild. Max, who oversees the guild’s battle forces, reported the current status.
“During this smuggling operation, if it weren’t for Lady Melissa Camerott expertly repelling pirates without any issues, this number of captured pirate ships wouldn’t have been possible.”
That’s why it was taking so much time for smuggling; it was packed with various concerns. This change in the habitat of airborne creatures made air routes more challenging for everyone, and it means there’s more to manage.
“Indeed, my dear friend Melissa! I’ll be sure to express my gratitude! I must give her a kiss when we meet!”
Pastel blew a kiss into the air.
Kiss~!
Max walked behind her, handing over documents.
“The guild’s combat personnel has currently increased to about 260, but we plan to increase it to about 450 before the next trade. We plan to leave some guards at the guild and allocate 30 personnel per airship.”
Wow.
“Then how many people will be on each airship? The total number?”
“Although they’re combat personnel, most of them can also operate the ships, so including the combatants, there’s roughly 50 crew members per airship.”
50 people.
Wow.
That’s a lot of people!
Pastel’s mouth hung open.
Wide open.
The Guild Master Grace, who was walking beside her, glanced over. The fanned-out fan of the guild master covered Pastel’s mouth.
Huh?
“Thanks to many guilds going bankrupt due to the change in airborne creatures’ habitats, it was easy to grow by absorbing them, but looking at the internal situation, it’s not that good. It’s all debt. We need to succeed in the next trade to clear it all.”
Pastel smiled brightly.
“It’s okay! I’m sure we’ll succeed! Right?!”
“Well, that’s true.”
Guild Master Grace nodded.
Max pointed ahead.
“Let’s head to the parade ground. I’ll show you the training situation.”
Pastel stood on the platform, able to witness the synchronized training of 260 members.
It was a surprisingly systematic training with unified equipment for a guild. The unique tradition of a strong military force from Guild Grace had propagated even to the Craft Guild.
Ah, wonderful.
So these are the soldiers who will tackle the cult.
Satisfaction.
She clapped her hands while smiling.
She glanced at Max.
“Is there a schedule for practical training as well?”
“Yes. We’re planning to hunt in the forest area west of Sky Island.”
Is that the place where they took the practical exams?
“Then let’s have practical training for several days.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Hmm.”
Pastel crossed her arms, pondering before breaking into a bright smile.
“I mean, ‘The sword is heavier than the pen!'”
Let’s watch over our friends together~.
