The emotions of the half-demon race are deeply rooted in the hearts of the Empire’s citizens. Given the history of opposing the Demon Realm, the mentality of competition has transformed into a sentiment.
However, now that the competition has ended with the Empire’s overwhelming victory, that sentiment has significantly eased. As a victorious nation and leading power, there is no reason to burden themselves with the issues of the defeated.
Currently, the atmosphere is somewhat mild. With the Demon Realm being in a state similar to a vassal, the demons have become second-class citizens. They can even enter and exit the Sky Island, a military stronghold, peacefully.
But not everyone appreciates this relaxed atmosphere.
Since the prophecy declaring that the Demon King would appear has been announced, there is a distinct vigilance from patriots directed toward the demons.
They shouted for the expulsion of all demons from the Sky Island.
“This is Elly’s revenge!”
Pastel threw a magic stone. An explosion occurred. Trees were crushed roundly and fell.
“This is the revenge of my wronged heart!”
I didn’t do anything!
The magic stone zipped through the air, exploding a rock.
“Unfair! Unfair!”
Craft was a clan that would rank at the front in any assessment of patriotism against the half-demon race. Not only was it a clan that had achieved the conquest of the Demon Realm, but its brutal methods during the conquest were also well-known.
This very academy, which was the holy land of the demons, had turned into a military academy to invade the Demon Realm!
And it wasn’t established for reasonable military purposes, but rather with the malicious intent of humiliating the holy land and dispiriting the demon race!
The intent was so twisted that it only incited unnecessary hatred, resulting in the Demon Realm being unable to participate in peace negotiations.
“Ancestors, why did you live like this?!”
Thanks to that, when an unknown professor suddenly advocated for the expulsion of the demons, people began to suspect it was a veiled statement from Lord Craft!
I feel so sorry for Elly!
It felt the same as hearing that a friend who appeared friendly in front of me was speaking ill of me behind my back!
Considering the reason for my leave of absence, it didn’t seem like rumors had swayed things, but human emotions cannot be dictated solely by rationality.
The disheveled pink hair trembled.
The pink eyes coldly glared at the shattered wooden debris.
“I understand the intent to keep me in check, but the method is too cruel.”
Some faculty, leaving aside Professor Horace, whom I had appointed as acting president, were targeting Professor Marius.
I understand why it’s quiet—there’s a conflict with the Knight Corps. And word must also have reached that the Craft Guild is struggling to maintain its private soldiers. They likely judged that if they showed strength at the right time, they could negotiate.
It’s a good judgment.
In that short time when the faculty moved, I had already seized the Knight Corps under the royal privilege of the Camelot family.
“If it weren’t for Melissa, it would have been a headache.”
To target Ellie, who handles all the student council’s affairs, with only two members in the student council is a way to paralyze the student council.
Is this a mutiny starting from the paralysis of the loyal forces?
If it really happened, I would have been completely flustered.
After that, the angered Pastel Lovecraft would likely have worked through the night in full task mode.
“Cruel, cruel.”
I know it’s an effective method, but they didn’t consider the wounds Ellie would suffer at all.
What’s more infuriating is that the faculty, whose goal is negotiation, assessed that Ellie receiving such treatment would not be a problem.
They thought that Craft would be upset just because the second-class citizens were being bullied.
“How do you see me?!”
The real issue lies with the clan title!
I look completely innocent!
And my heart is genuinely the kindest in the world!
But no one believes me…!
“I’ll have everyone fired!”
There might be patriots, but I don’t care!
I don’t feel any sense of belonging to the Empire anyway!
“Um…”
When I turned around abruptly, Dustyn flinched.
“I brought Professor Marius.”
The professor stood in the back as I fell.
Is that person the root cause?
“Good job. You can go now.”
Pastel waved a hand but then stopped.
“No, bring the faculty here. In a bit.”
“Understood.”
Dustyn left.
Pastel roughly tidied her disheveled hair with her hand.
I wonder how tough a person must be to step forward amidst the faculty.
Or perhaps, those who strongly opposed normalizing the academy have already retired, making this person someone slyly trying to inflate their own value.
“Professor, I wonder if I’ve done something to disappoint you.”
She turned to the professor as she tried to build rapport.
Looking closely, despite the name, this person seemed oddly familiar.
Where have I seen them before?
I racked my brain.
Ah, that’s right!
During the entrance practical exam!
Pastel, who was late due to smuggling, had crashed into the practical exam area while racing the airship, and this professor was the first to rush over to save the Pastel student.
The professor approached with a stern face.
It felt like the resolve of someone about to face a critical moment.
Is this a challenge?
Pastel gently touched the sword hilt.
“Viscount!”
Suddenly, the professor knelt to the ground.
Thud.
“Please punish my disloyalty!”
What?!
“I have long admired the Craft family’s reputation from my youth! I had no intention of crossing your mood!”
The professor pressed their head to the ground.
What?!
Pastel was startled by the sound of his head hitting the ground.
“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?!”
Showing off a remarkable career for admiring Craft’s bad reputation…!
“I have impeded your clever plans with my foolish judgment!”
The professor’s voice was almost desperate, as if on the verge of tears.
“I sought to hold the Knight Corps accountable for allowing terrorists into the Sky Island after forming an anti-demon agenda! But I did not realize that you had already considered the royal privileges of the Camelot family!”
What?!
I didn’t know that either?!
“Moreover, I thought to draw together the academy’s insidious elements to deal with the discontent against you! I believe it was your clever scheme behind that as well! Please punish me for acting on my own judgment!”
I had no plan like that?!
“So, um, so…”
My heart suddenly softened.
Is there such a loyal subject in a place I don’t know about?
There are always loyal subjects around any power figure.
A loyal subject who understands how smart I am can’t be a bad person!
As Pastel thought this, she suddenly came to her senses.
Wait.
But in the apology, Ellie is missing.
“And what else?”
The professor pounded his head against the floor again.
“Also, I did not expect the demons you showed kindness to would be so irresponsible! No matter how tamed you have made the demons, even for a moment, placing trust in the dark-haired beasts was also my fault!”
Aha!
This professor does not treat demons as people!
It’s understandable why they admired Craft!
My heart became complex and delicate.
It felt like meeting a loyal slave who serves me.
Ugh.
Is there anyone who can’t communicate?
Is it due to the age difference?
Is it due to the difference in experience?
Either way, I can’t communicate.
“Ellie is my friend.”
Professor Marius nodded with a stern face.
“I will take that to heart. There are many who are incapable of handling their own affairs and feel pity for the demons, so it’s better for that to be known.”
No, no.
“She really is my friend.”
We are on a level where we call each other by our names instead of titles right after meeting.
Considering that it took a long time even for Melissa to reach that stage, it’s a significant relationship.
Professor Marius placed a fist over his heart.
“I will not tell anyone.”
His expression felt driven by a sense of duty. It was a certainty that the Craft family would never regard demons as friends.
Pastel, who had been repeating the explanation for an hour in the café, closed her eyes tightly.
Ancestors…!
What on earth did you do in the past that even now, making a public clarification is considered image management!
She gulped down her cold cocoa. The rich sweetness of magic stone powder and cocoa calmed her heart.
Huh!
Given the current situation, it’s better to choose a comfortable path for Ellie, even if my good nature is misunderstood.
Pastel thought for a moment. Various information connected and formed a false plan.
“You know well. Regardless of how you feel, externally treat Ellie with utmost kindness. You should apologize too. With the prophecy of the Demon King’s appearance, building a good relationship with elite demons is much more important.”
Professor Marius flinched.
“Could it be that because the trade ban from the Demon Realm is too firm, you plan to use the scheme from the time when Lord Craft tricked the great demon Demonious into aiding smuggling?”
What?!
The demon has such a past?
Eep, this isn’t good.
“Our clan has this saying.”
I altered my impromptu lie based on the information I had heard.
“Betrayal requires a good follow-up after success.”
I rested my chin on my hand and stirred the spoon. White particles floated and settled in the cup.
“Once you obtain what you desire, induce internal division. Then, siding with one, propose an alliance again.”
The girl lifted her cup and took in the aroma.
“The strongest method is for the current clan leader to betray and the future clan leader to sincerely apologize to propose re-alliance. Craft a scheme that spans generations. The opponent will be helpless.”
The pink eyes smiled playfully.
“Since the generation has changed…”
Somewhere, the scent of cherry blossoms wafted.
“It’s time to apologize.”
Sincerely.
“So, Professor, you should apologize too.”
Let’s make a good world together.
