“Beep beep, beep beep, beep beep.”
Pastel crossed her arms and groaned.
Alciel asking for my advice… I feel a strong sense of duty to give proper advice.
But, but…
Pastel poked her cheek with her finger.
Even though it’s a tradition of the Craft clan, I’ve never actually engaged in fratricidal struggles or committed familial murder (though you might think my dad has).
Alciel must have asked knowing this, though.
Glancing at Melissa sitting next to her, she was diligently writing a reply on the bench floor. Though her fountain pen seemed awkward for her, the speed of her writing wasn’t particularly fast, but the worry in her heart was palpable.
“How will you advise her, Melissa?”
Upon hearing the question, Melissa stopped her pen. Moving the fountain pen as if to rub her cheek with a quill, she realized it was a fountain pen and halted before speaking.
“I won’t give any advice.”
Huh?
“Bella Mont already knows what she should do. Even though Bella Mont is usually dense, she’s capable of making that kind of judgment.”
The fountain pen resumed writing.
“Moreover, in a succession competition, the situation can change rapidly, so asking for vague advice through a letter is just a way to relieve frustration. What Bella Mont needs right now is emotional support only.”
“I see.”
Smart analysis.
It feels like it’s not good to interfere too much in someone else’s family matters.
If my friends were to ask how I deal with my dad, I wouldn’t feel good about it either.
After contemplating, Pastel wrote something very brief.
This is about all I can say.
Then Ellie clapped her hands.
“Let’s send the letter and finish it. It’s not a small amount to write, is it?”
“Oh, right. I got ahead of myself. I’m sorry.”
Melissa hurriedly organized her writing paper.
“I’ve written everything! Just send it right away!”
Pastel handed the paper with just a few words written on it to Ellie.
“Already? Since we’re friends, we don’t have to follow formalities, but…”
As Ellie tried to fold the letter, she suddenly paused after reading the overly short content.
“Kill them all.”
The black-eyed girl trembled.
“Wasn’t it too soon to write something like that? Pastel, please show some sincerity and offer her comfort. Bella Mont must be struggling without any friends.”
A slightly sulky Melissa scolded.
“Ugh? Come to think of it, Alciel likely has no friends back home.”
An unexpected realization.
Pastel groaned.
“But I wrote the best advice I could. I sympathize with what you said, Melissa, but I think what she needs right now is calm guidance.”
Melissa hesitated.
“Now that you mention it, it does seem that way. Someone needs to give advice as a third party in a dangerous situation. The parties involved may narrow their perspective.”
“Exactly. Being family can cause one to lose objective vision, and that makes them miss a lot.”
“Right. If someone in the family harbors malicious intent, it becomes very dangerous.”
“Mm-hmm! It would be great if everyone could be happy together, but realistically, that’s hard! You’re smart too, Melissa!”
Melissa smiled.
“Thank you. I’m curious about how you wrote it. Ellie, will you show me the letter?”
As her hand reached out, Ellie flinched and trembled. She quickly folded the letter and spoke a bit incoherently.
“Curiosity isn’t good. I, I’ll go send the letter.”
Ellie left.
Melissa tilted her head.
“Why did she do that?”
Pastel followed suit and tilted her head.
“I don’t know. Maybe she went to the bathroom?”
Huh, maybe it is the bathroom!
While waiting for Ellie’s return, Pastel prepared the carriage.
It wasn’t a magnificent carriage from a great industrial city but just a regular carriage. There were gears and mechanical devices hanging from the horse’s harness, and it did have auxiliary wheels on the hooves, but it’s uncertain whether its performance was good.
It felt like some transitional thing before the advent of cars?
When Ellie returned, the group divided into two carriages for boarding.
However, if things went as planned, she would have been sitting with them to explain the schedule for their journey to the palace. But for some unknown reason, Ellie sneaked into Melissa’s carriage.
Thanks to that, Pastel ended up sharing the carriage with the Demon Lord.
No, let me correct that.
Pastel kicked the demon out and boarded alone.
“Demon Lord! Something suddenly doesn’t feel right for me!”
Seeing the demon trying to sit down, the girl’s cheeks puffed slightly.
“It seems like you’re the reason for my discomfort! Being in the same space is kind of unpleasant, I guess? Anyway, get out!”
Her finger pointed at the carriage door.
“What?”
The demon seemed dumbfounded.
“What kind of ridiculous reason is that?”
The demon ignored her and tried to sit on the carriage sofa.
“Ah!”
The girl shuddered in shock.
“The Demon Lord’s backside touched my carriage! That’s a place I sometimes lie down when I’m bored! My head touches it! What do you think you’re doing sitting there?!”
“No.”
The demon was at a loss for words.
“Get out! Out of my cozy space! Get out! Get out!”
As she flailed her arms, the demon stammered several times before finally leaving the carriage, appearing to be fleeing from an incomprehensible situation.
“Demon Lord, you fool!”
Pastel slammed the carriage door shut with a very scowled expression.
After a moment, she relaxed her expression and looked around the inside of the carriage.
“Lord Fairy.”
Her voice whispered softly.
Hehe.
Instead of the demon who can’t make contracts, I called the Lord Fairy who fulfills any wish~!
The carriage remained silent without any reaction.
Oh? Is she not here?
That could be possible.
—Did you look for me?!
The cushion of the sofa the demon attempted to sit on was suddenly lifted, revealing the hidden fairy who emanated a dark aura.
“Wow! Lord Fairy, you were there?!”
Looks like it was a good thing the demon’s backside didn’t touch!
—I’m an expert at hide-and-seek!
The fairy perched on the sofa’s cushion and boasted quietly.
“Wow! That’s amazing! So cool!”
Suddenly, there was a knock on the carriage door.
“What’s going on? Is someone there?”
Huh?
Interruption during the conversation with the fairy.
Pastel’s mood quickly soured.
“Argh, Demon Lord! Don’t interrupt my personal time! I don’t need you right now! Go away!”
“No.”
“Leave!”
“No, what do you mean?”
The demon, who suddenly found itself with many things to say, eventually left.
Phew.
“The soundproofing isn’t great.”
Pastel manipulated the soundproof magic circle in the corner of the carriage. As it maximized its effect, the carriage set off.
She turned to the fairy.
“Ah, I’m sorry, Lord Fairy. Our demon is a bit oblivious.”
—It’s fine! I’m kind enough not to get angry over such trivial things!
The fairy flashed a smile.
Wow! As expected, it’s the Lord Fairy!
The pink eyes sparkled.
“Lord Fairy, then you will grant my new wish, right?”
A wish I’ve saved up while losing sleep and salivating! This time, I’ll use it specifically for Alciel!
The fairy’s expression became slightly delicate. But maybe I misread it, as Pastel opened and closed her eyes, and the fairy was still smiling brightly.
—Alright! I’m a kind fairy, so I’ll certainly fulfill the wishes of a good girl!
As expected, it’s a kind fairy!
I believed in you!
This isn’t something like borrowing another wish again and then worrying that the fairy would say no or that I would stack up debts like a tenant and wait until now to ask!
I’m not saying the fairy is asking for a place to stay out of debt from the landlord who is being chased by the cult!
—But!
The fairy suddenly became serious. Stretching her finger, she proclaimed firmly.
—Like last time, I cannot grant you the world’s greatest wealth and power! Making wishes that affect the entire world is beyond my abilities! Such wishes are impossible!
Huh.
Setting a boundary.
Well…
To be fair, asking for a fortune in rent is a bit much.
Pastel snapped out of her thoughts, realizing the demon could not fulfill the contract.
—Now tell me! What kind of wish do you want?
The pink eyes sparkled.
Being popular, Pastel shouted for Alciel.
“Please grant kind Pastel immortality!”
The fairy was taken aback. She stared at her silently.
Huh.
That was a wrong wish!
I should have wished for immortality after my body fully matured…!
No, no, that’s not it!
Alciel! Alciel!
Doo-doo-roo doo-doo~!
Dear listeners!
There was a transmission error during the broadcast, so we will take a moment to correct this!
Doo-doo-roo doo-doo~!
Pastel, rebooted, shouted once again.
I needed to wish for Alciel!
Oh dear, that’s right.
This was my true heart.
Sigh.
Pastel felt sad.
I’m sorry, Alciel. If I become immortal, I’ll do my best to help you.
Pastel squeezed her eyes shut.
“I’m ready to become immortal! Please make it happen!”
I’m so sorry, Alciel!
I’ll become immortal and help you!
—No, that’s impossible!
The fairy was dumbfounded.
—How can you make such an absurd wish? Even a kind fairy has her limitations!
Oh? Is that the case?
Is it something the fairy cannot do?
Below her ability?
Pastel’s gaze started to change.
It was similar to the disappointed look when she heard the demon couldn’t fulfill the contract.
Suddenly, the fairy felt unnecessary.
It seemed like she should keep a talented demon instead of a tenant who couldn’t pay rent.
The fairy flinched.
Clearly flustered, she hesitantly spoke.
—But somehow, it feels like it might be possible, but maybe it isn’t—I can’t say for sure.
“Huh.”
Pastel covered her mouth with both hands.
“Does that mean it’s possible?!”
—Ah~!
The fairy looked towards the distant hills.
—If my heart is happy and my condition is perfect, then in the optimal environment at the best location.
The fairy’s expression became somewhat sullen.
—But today…
Her neck was tapped.
—the weather isn’t great, and I didn’t sleep well. There’s a bit of the scent of fumes…
“Does that mean it’s possible?!”
The pink eyes sparkled.
The fairy, mouth agape, stared silently in the same position as when she was tapping her neck.
The pink eyes kept sparkling.
The fairy gradually averted her gaze.
Then, in a voice as subdued as that of a researcher under pressure, she said.
—Y-Yes, I guess I need more budget and time.
Huh.
That’s too realistic…!
