Pastel looked downstream. Melissa’s hem was no longer visible.
“Is it okay?”
『Do you think the next archmage wouldn’t know how to swim?』
“That’s true.”
The demon sighed.
『It’s a foolish judgment.』
“No, no.”
Pastel shook her index finger from side to side.
“That’s not how friends behave.”
『You do not understand the aftermath of the demon king issue.』
“No! I know it well!”
She pointed to herself.
“The child who was hungry in abundance will be able to eat!”
The replication of magic stones should be possible, right?
Hehe.
Pastel cheerfully went down the steps of the ruins.
A dim corridor in the underground came into view. Magic light sources flickered continuously on both sides. It became bright beyond the corridor.
Ohh.
There was a noise from behind that echoed against the ground.
Turning around, the entrance closed.
Eh.
Eh?
Eeeh?
“Ugh!”
Pastel grabbed her pink hair.
『It’s a precaution for the successor. There’s no way to die.』
Aha.
Thinking back, that’s true. She removed her hands from her head. She calmed down.
“Hehe, okay. Shall we explore the ruins?”
At the end of the corridor was a huge stone door.
Beside it were walls decorated with various magical patterns. Below the wall, there was a puzzling stick device and a magic book.
Magic?
Finally, even someone like me, who has no magical talent, can get a chance?
An exploration of another world with an automatic rifle?
She read the title of the magic book.
“Encyclopedia of Magical Knowledge.”
No.
『It means that the successor should at least know basic magical knowledge. This is a magical knowledge puzzle.』
Disappointed, she opened the book.
『Humans cannot actually use magic. All magic, except for magic engineering, borrows strength from other essences. If you beg the gods, you become a priest; if you beg nature, you become a wizard.』
Oh ho.
『Therefore, magic is subordinate to the world, and the world is enslaved by nature. Humans exist within nature.』
Pastel raised one hand high.
“I can make friends with that guy! I can even greet wildflowers I pass by! Surely I might be able to do magic too?”
『You have no talent. I’ve confirmed it several times. Think of magic as unrelated to you. It’s just your fate.』
So emphatic.
『There are some preserved items in the corner. Did they make it so you could break it? You don’t need to. I’ll tell you the answer, so move the stick puzzle.』
Oh yeah.
She ran to grab the stick. It was a puzzle where she had to move it up, down, left, and right according to the order.
“It’s time to show the pride of the top student!”
『First, to the left.』
“This is the mind of the top student!”
Ho-it.
A clanking sound echoed. As something got stuck inside, the stick barely moved.
“Uh, wait a moment. It seems some dust has accumulated. I’ll use some strength.”
She braced herself and gripped the stick.
One, two, three.
“Urrgh!”
Crack.
Huh?
She held a broken stick in her hand.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
Huh huh.
Did I apply too much strength?
The broken stick puzzle made a noise. An unusual light spilled from inside.
“Ugh!”
Boom!
The stone door opened.
Pastel was about to throw herself to the ground, but stopped and looked back.
Oh?
『…It’s for the successor, so if it malfunctioned, it might just open.』
Her mouth dropped open.
Did I just solve the puzzle with a single gesture?
Am I this smart?
Oh yeah.
She raised her arms high. The broken stick flew away.
“This is the top student!”
Fear me, revere me, this genius.
Yay!
『…To the next room.』
“Oh, right.”
A long corridor. Small trap-like black holes were sporadically present on both sides.
“Oh! I know this! They are arrow traps!”
If you walk, arrows will go whoosh.
The floor of the corridor trembled, and it moved like a conveyor belt. If you stand still, you would be pushed back.
『Oh, it would have been harder to implement if it were that simple. If you get hit by an arrow and fall, you’ll return to your original starting point. You must break through in one go.』
She saw an open door beyond. A wide space unfolded beyond it.
Is this the boss of the ruins?
Pastel stepped closer to the trap and reached out.
An arrow flew toward her hand, aiming at it. She lowered her palm and then raised it again, catching the passing arrow. The arrow made a rough sound as her grip crushed it. The wood splintered under her strength.
“It’s a wooden arrow.”
The arrowhead was wooden and blunt.
『There must be a paralyzing poison on it.』
“Oh ho, so I have to cut through them all to get past?”
She examined the arrows embedded in the walls.
“Lord Demon, you taught me that weapons are governed by the structure and range of motion of the hands and arms, right? So a longsword can only block one defense area at a time.”
『That’s correct. You’ve remembered well.』
“So then, how do I fend off arrows coming in from both sides at an angle of 180 degrees? There’s only one sword, so I need time to block both sides.”
『That’s neither simultaneous nor 180 degrees. Combat is an interaction between you and your opponent. If you change, your opponent changes.』
“An interaction, you say.”
『Run close to one side. It will no longer be simultaneous. You can fend off one first, then the other side.』
Pastel stepped to the side.
『You don’t need a precise posture to fend off arrows. Twist your body to align with the sword path. You’re not blocking with the sword but moving your body close to it.』
Nod, nod.
『In the first place, there’s no need to think. You can just do it. And you know that.』
Uh oh, busted.
Hehe.
Pastel took on her stance without much tension. The sword tip aimed straight ahead.
『Feel the wind. Arrows are slower than sound.』
She slammed her foot against the ground. She heard the sound of arrows. The quantity, trajectory, and speed of the arrows communicated through sound.
Her mind drew a three-dimensional space.
A waltz of arrows and sword paths.
Arrows stormed from side to side. The blade of the sword glinted. The sword path curved. A cascade of silver surrounded the girl. Her pink hair fluttered. An arrow grazed her nape as the sword sliced through it.
Her steps dashed across the ground. The sword path rippled. Debris from the arrows rained down.
The girl kept running. Even when the corridor ended and a wide space opened up.
In the center of the space, a small black sphere floated. Rocks on the ground levitated as if embracing the sphere.
『The golem—』
The girl dashed forward. She slammed into the ground. The pink figure stepped on the levitating rocks one after another, her silhouette leaping upward.
The rocks formed into a hand, slowly enveloping the black core. The girl’s hand pierced through in an instant. Her palm struck the black core. The core was swallowed by her grip. An immense force made a noise. The sound of breaking followed successively.
The atmosphere rippled. The levitating rocks lost strength and fell.
The girl spun as she fell. She regained her balance and her feet touched the ground lightly.
The rocks crashed to the ground, creating a thunderous noise. The surface rumbled and the wind blew. Pink hair fluttered.
Amidst the commotion, Pastel regained her senses.
Eh.
She heard the demon’s voice.
『Well done. Excellent combat sense. The golem’s core is not typically broken with bare hands, but if you have great strength, it doesn’t matter.』
When she opened her palm, black powder was visible.
Whoa.
『However, be careful not to be swept away by hormones. The immersion in murder gave you a double-edged experience.』
Pastel licked her palm with her tongue. A small pink tongue emerged.
『Wait, wait.』
She paused.
『It’s synthetic magic stone. You shouldn’t eat that.』
Eh.
Disappointment.
She shook her hand.
Pastel shook her dazed head and looked around.
There was an elegant box in the corner.
Oh?
Wow.
“Demon! Demon! It’s a treasure chest! A treasure chest! That means treasure is inside the chest! It’s sparkling! Really sparkling!”
『Whoa, calm down.』
She dashed over.
The treasure chest filled her view.
Wow.
This radiant light.
With trembling hands, she grabbed the lid.
With a click.
Brilliant light poured out.
Wow.
Pastel twisted her body in dazzlement.
Treasure, treasure, my eyes…
Then she paused in confusion and looked back inside.
In the large box, there was nothing but a compass sitting alone.
What a massive waste of space.
Eek.
Eek.
Pastel’s expression turned gloomy.
My life is too easy.
No gold ingots, no magic stones.
『Is it a destiny compass? If you open the top, there will be something else inside.』
She opened the top with the compass attached.
A small jewelry box-like structure was revealed inside.
There was one jewel placed, and the rest were empty.
『I see.』
“What? Am I the only one who doesn’t know?”
『The compass will guide you to places with legacies. Right now it doesn’t react, but when destiny strikes, it will point the way.』
The demon continued with a complicated yet calm voice.
『The one jewel is undoubtedly a legacy. It’s an effect that allows the consumption of magic stones.』
Eh.
“I don’t need it; I want gold ingots.”
『The aim is to strengthen your body with magic stones. You may be reverted to energy, but in its original form, the byproducts that would be expelled through breathing would be used to enhance the body. It’s efficient and effective.』
Oh?
She pulled out a small pepper shaker from her pocket.
Holding it in her palm, she shook it.
Magic stone powder sprinkled.
The sweet taste of bad candy.
A brightening of the senses?
“Oh?! Demon! Suddenly I feel overflowing with strength! Whoa!”
Is this what demon awakening feels like?
『…There’s no way you could feel that after eating that.』
Uh oh.
Hehe, caught.
Teasing the master is so difficult.
Calmly, she put the pepper shaker back in her pocket.
The compass-turned-jewelry box also fit snugly in her pocket.
She looked around.
“Shall we look for a secret room?”
『There’s no way they would make it useless against a successor. More importantly, we need to get out. It seems you forgot, but there’s a practical exam going on.』
Pastel’s eyes widened.
“Ah?! We need to get out now! Quickly! The exit, huh? The exit isn’t there?!”
『Maybe it’s completely broken from age. Just wait. We can get out. It will take some time.』
After much struggle, Pastel was able to exit the ruins. A significant amount of time had passed.
She made eye contact with the professor at the meeting point.
The practical exam results were announced.
“Pastel Love Craft.”
Combat practical.
0 points.
Ugh!
Ugh…
Failed, groan, coo!
“But since you’re the top student, you pass. Congratulations on becoming a student at this academy. I expect you will continue to work hard.”
Oh?
Pastel raised her arms high.
Oh yeah, I passed.
I may have zero points in combat, but I passed.
Because I’m the top student.
Oh?
This is unexpected.
Ta-da.
Pastel was just a smart student.
A shocking truth.
“I’m the top student!”
The entrance ceremony was over.
“My head is smart, but I’m not good at fighting!”
She also offered words of apology to Melissa. She wasn’t sure if the meaning came through as she shouted it at her retreating back.
“But I passed even with zero points in combat, and I came to the dorm!”
Pastel tumbled around on the sofa in her personal lodging.
“I’m the top student Pastel!”
Yay!
『Oh dear.』
The demon, folding a towel at the opposite table, directed a glance her way. His red eyes looked somewhat disgruntled.
『Your clothes are wrinkled. You’re not going to iron them yourself, are you?』
Pastel’s eyes widened.
“Clothes? Oh right! Clothes! I have no clothes! It’s spring, and I’m still in a winter dress! I’m going to freeze to death soon!”
Mumbling as she rolled around on the sofa.
“When will they give us the uniforms? It should have been normal to receive them before the entrance ceremony, right?”
『What uniforms?』
Their eyes met.
“No uniforms?”
『Why would there be uniforms in a noble house? It’s casual clothing.』
“What?!”
Pastel clutched her heart.
“No way. There are no uniforms at the academy?”
Is it really not a middle or high school?
Ugh.
“I’m going to rebel! I’m going to be a troublemaker!”
She flailed her arms as she rolled around on the sofa.
“I’ll wear something all pink!”
A strange look came over the demon.
『Do as you like.』
The demon stood up holding a pile of freshly folded towels.
Ugh.
No one sympathizes with me.
Her body went limp.
Ugh.
“Is the money made from trade still okay? I need to buy some decent clothes first.”
『That would be a good idea. You’ve thought well.』
She jumped up.
“Okay! Let’s go right away! Demon! Magic sword!”
『What?』
She snatched the changed magic sword and ran.
I want to be all pink.
“I’ll be everyone’s cherry blossom before the cherry blossoms bloom!”
She exited the dormitory and dashed outside.
I, hmm?
Pastel stopped in her tracks, her feet screeching on the ground.
She raised one hand high.
“Ellie!”
The demon girl turned around. Her black hair swayed. Her slightly pointed ears were revealed.
“Pas-”
“We’re on the same wavelength!”
She grabbed Ellie.
“I was just about to invite you to join the student council!”
I’ll hit the clothing store tomorrow.
“Huh?”
Moving the dazed Ellie towards the student council room.
Lululala.
“If you join now, I’ll give you the position of my best friend. Of course, I have prepared many positions, but please don’t feel left out.”
“…What do I have to do if I join?”
“Um, secretary? Choose anything!”
Pastel smiled broadly.
“I’m the vice president, head of finance, head of planning, head of publicity, head of service, and head of discipline!”
Ellie stared blankly. Her expression was filled with question marks.
“Ah! Just turn this corner and you’ll reach the student council!”
She rounded the corner.
A professor stood in front of the locked student council room.
Huh.
The professor turned around.
That rigid, inflexible face is definitely the same one from the written exam?
What was his name…?
Professor Carlow opened his mouth.
“Is it the student council?”
“Oh, yes. I’ll open it for you in just a moment. Would you like tea or coffee?”
“I’m fine. I came to notify you of a decision.”
A decision?
His calm gaze fixed on her.
“The student council system is abolished.”
What did you say?
“If you want it back, you must gather the support of all the departments.”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
“Are you telling me to defeat all the departments?”
Dudung.
『Why is your thought process going like that?』
