Tournament day.
The large arena was renovated and covered with walls and facilities, resembling a colosseum. Food stalls set up by students surrounded the outside of the colosseum.
Pastel was wandering between the stalls early in the morning. She wasn’t just leisurely strolling; she was genuinely doing her job.
“How is the control of outsiders going?”
Ellie followed closely behind her.
“We’re dealing with some guilds that brought in unannounced individuals.”
A friend of hers rushed over and handed her a note organized by Dustyn on-site before leaving.
Ellie read it and reported back.
“Most have been sent back, but a few guilds are not very cooperative. It seems there’s a clash of pride between the guilds.”
“What kind of pride? How much can they disregard the authority of the Student Council, which only recommends bringing in verified individuals?”
“Yeah. But even though it might take some time, it seems they will eventually be sent back.”
Originally, the tournament event aimed to prohibit outsiders from entering. However, there were too many students who didn’t want to miss the opportunity to appeal to external groups, leading to some doors being opened reluctantly.
Now that it’s the second semester, making an appeal is a critical matter for many students from collateral lines or illegitimate backgrounds when it comes to future livelihoods, making it hard to dismiss so outright.
Especially desperate upperclassmen collected signatures from students as well as those of Alesia Bellevue, who was under assassination threats.
In fact, Pastel had intended to refuse; however, Professor Horace, who led the administration after the school’s normalization, was slightly troubled.
“Ahem, junior. If you oppose too much, the sentiment among students will sour. How about compromising a little, just to a safe extent?”
It would be very troublesome not to manage public sentiment after even bringing in soldiers to school.
Particularly at a time when there was a sentiment around that Pastel had already captured all the terrorists herself, which should mean it was now safe, right?
“Heh, that can’t be! Even doing well can cause trouble!”
Is this the difficulty faced by a dictator, or rather a representative of public sentiment?
“Don’t worry! I have a plan!”
“Senior! I was counting on you!”
Pastel had to come up with a safe method in close collaboration with Professor Horace.
“Ugh, why has the world come to one where students have to worry about hunger?”
She somewhat understood Carlo’s sentiment, who had previously prioritized student safety less.
Though she didn’t empathize!
Still, after a lot of effort, she could come up with a thorough verification method for outsiders. Although it would involve mobilizing the Craft guild and consuming vast amounts of the academy’s administrative power, wouldn’t it be sufficient as long as the students are safe?
In the process, she also excluded those affiliated with Carlo, including his faction, from all duties.
Hehe.
People who can’t work should just watch.
This is definitely not a revenge for the emotions that had built up. Absolutely not.
Yeah!
As Pastel reflected on the past and examined the situation, she suddenly stopped upon spotting a drink stall that caught her eye.
A senior who didn’t feel like a stranger was selling drinks. When she turned the tap of an orange-patterned wine barrel, orange liquid poured out and filled a wooden cup.
Wait.
A sense of déjà vu.
“Hmm? Wasn’t that the person who sold alcohol at the last festival?”
Oh right!
That senior who secretly sold orange liquor at the Glow Dragon Festival!
But because of that demon, I couldn’t drink……!
Ugh!
Pastel paused, feeling involuntarily regretful.
The me back then and the me now are completely different.
Now, Pastel is a super-super powerful figure.
Currently, the demon in the position of a servant holds unimaginable absolute power!
With bold steps, Pastel approached.
The senior, who had been polishing the barrel before the event, turned around.
“Oh, it’s the second visit?”
Pastel smiled wickedly.
“But I’m different from back then. Give me a glass—.”
“It’s alcohol.”
Ellie, who had been smelling the aroma, grimaced. Then, as if feeling uncomfortable with Pastel’s recent remark, she halted and stared intently.
It was a look that seemed to ask, “What were you just about to say?”
Completely caught off guard, Pastel froze momentarily before slowly shifting to the expression of a righteous student council member.
She slapped the booth table. With a determined gaze, she stared at the senior.
“Senior! According to the tournament regulations, selling alcohol is absolutely prohibited! Drinking before matches will make it dangerous for everyone!”
“Ah…….”
The senior seemed troubled.
“But anyway, it’s only first-year students competing today, so it shouldn’t matter to us, right?”
“In that case, will you not sell to first-years today and not sell to second-years tomorrow—and since there are no second-years, you won’t sell to third-years the day after tomorrow, and then won’t sell to fourth-years? Even if they come looking to drink?”
The senior thought for a moment and then smiled. His thumb went up.
“A drink for a free spirit should be okay.”
“It’s not okay!”
The senior flinched.
“Fine. I’ll put away the alcohol.”
“Make sure to clear it away as I might conduct surprise checks!”
Having completed her duties earnestly, Pastel exited the booth.
“Phew, this is precisely why I need to check the site.”
Ellie, who followed her out, gave her an odd look. It was as if to say, “Didn’t you just try to drink?”
Pastel suddenly felt wronged. Yes, she had intended to drink, but it was meant to be after she finished her work, not while working now.
“Younger Craft, you’re not seriously trying to drink, are you?”
Oh my.
How am I being scolded when I haven’t even drunk yet?
Ugh!
It would’ve been better if I’d just drunk and got scolded, but it’s not this situation!
Pastel pretended not to hear the demon and ran.
“Hurry, let’s check! Check! Check!”
She carried out site inspections. After all, Leonard and his friends would thorough in their checks, but doing it herself brought her peace of mind.
“Magic stone awakening potions for sale! Safe products crafted by an alchemy major, not a suspicious product from a cult! Buy with confidence!”
“Ugh! What are you selling right now?!”
“Spices for an exciting tournament!”
“Doping is not allowed!”
Ugh.
The situation was still this chaotic because Professor Carlo had implicitly allowed the potion of awakening stones!
Shouldn’t I have taken power sooner?
[The esteemed Viscount Craft works tirelessly for the students today as well. All students should participate diligently in the tournament event to repay this kindness.]
The student voice from the newspaper club also affirmed it.
I understand my friends’ hearts well!
Yeah!
*
After completing site inspections, Pastel met Grace, the guild master, who had come to the school.
There was something she had asked for.
The guild master carefully placed a long box on the table.
“I did my best to match the quality you mentioned. But still, it’s definitely not on the level of Demon Realm artifacts. There are many lost or hidden techniques in the processing of magic stones from when the Demon Realm was developed.”
“Thank you!”
Pastel opened the box.
A magical broom caught her eye.
A white rod with pink candy-like hues.
Wow!
It sparkles!
So dazzling……!
She carefully lifted the magical broom.
It had an excellent weight.
Could it possibly be named Nimbus 2000?
No? Bloop.
Grace, the guild master, seemed bewildered.
“What exactly are you planning to use a broom with magic stones for?”
Pastel grinned.
“I’m going to ride it!”
Having had an experience of fighting against a cult group on the Skywhale, she recalled how she managed to secure a magic stone knife beneath a table and fly.
Oh my.
What an astonishing realization!
I can fly!
But at that time, there was only a Mercury friend, and no Venus friend. It was half-hearted flying because she needed gestures to control the magic stones.
But now that Pastel is popular, she has a Venus friend!
That means she can control magic stones even without gestures!
“I’ll show you!”
Pastel got up from the sofa and walked over to a spacious area. She tucked the broom between her legs.
Concentrating her mind, she sensed the magic stone inside the broom. She felt the metaphysical arrangement of magical dust.
It certainly looked of lower quality than the knife, the legacy of the previous Demon King.
Still, she felt she could manage it somehow.
Haaap!
The power of magic stone manipulation!
Pastel controlled the broom.
“Beep beep~!”
With a self-made sound effect, the broom lifted off. Feeling as if riding on a horizontal bar, she lifted from the ground.
Swinging and floating.
“Wow!”
Her pink eyes sparkled.
I’m flying!
Pastel held onto the broom and flew slowly. She buzzed around the indoor space with low flights.
Buzz buzz buzz~!
The guild master, Grace, stared in shock.
“Why is it flying…?”
“It’s flying, it’s flying, because it’s an airplane!”
Wow~!
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
Grace blinked rapidly, gazing at the Viscount Craft. As clarity began to return and confusion faded, she unfurled a folding fan and covered her mouth.
“Well, the Craft clan was at the forefront of the Demon Realm invasion, so……It’s not surprising if they analyzed and stole the Demon King’s powers.”
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whack!”
As Pastel accelerated, she nearly crashed into a wall, quickly braking. The broom tilted sharply.
Creeeak-!
She reached the front and her head hit against something.
“Ouch!”
“Are you okay, Your Excellency?”
Grrr.
Pastel rubbed her head.
“I’m fine! Anyway, thank you!”
She bowed her head.
“I have a tight schedule, so I’ll be off now!”
“Please do, Your Excellency.”
Pastel looked back at the window and noticed it was open. She gauged her body size against the window and lifted the broom.
One, two, three!
She gripped the broom tightly and surged forward. Her body was thrown back, and her hair flew wildly. Her field of vision shifted rapidly as the broom dashed through the window.
The view opened up wide. The blue sky and the school’s landscape came into view.
She soared straight up.
The colosseum-shaped arena and surrounding stalls appeared below her at a glance.
People looked tiny, like toys in a soldier game.
“Wow!”
Everything is within reach!
If something suspicious arises, she can handle it immediately!
Friends, Pastel will protect you!
Just as you wished!
