“Don’t worry, now focus on your studies!”
Pastel, having sent the older students away, closed the door.
The corners of her mouth started to curl up.
She whipped around to the black-haired girl.
“Ellie! Ellie! Did you hear? It’s a new business from the Craft Guild! A righteous venture that bet all its assets on new technology and aims to save the Engineering Department from bankruptcy!”
At the Academy, one should indeed be burning with passion for their studies!
It was a proud effort to revitalize the Engineering Department and promote a serious academic atmosphere.
“Are they going to take over the bankrupt guild?”
“Yes, yes! That way, we can help the seniors who invested and went bankrupt, and take over the magic stone fuel business! No wait!”
Pastel spread her arms and spun around. The hem of her white dress flared out.
“Originally, the guild used to buy magic stone fuel, so if we become that guild, we can’t do the fuel business the old way! Then, we just need to establish trade partners! There are probably many demon realm guilds using building golems, so we supply them with fuel!”
Round and round she went.
To supply fuel at a fair price to the guilds dedicated to the development of the demon realm was a righteous act to lift the minimum living standards and save the impoverished.
Even though Pastel hadn’t even started yet, she felt a sense of pride already. She stopped spinning and pulled a fountain pen from her front pocket.
When she lifted it, it shimmered.
Fountain pen friend!
“The technological advancement that solved the hassle of having to dip a quill in ink! I will lay railways at the pinnacle to improve the living standards of people!”
Ellie gazed silently.
“Humans and demons really don’t seem to be distinguished at all.”
“What do you mean?”
There’s only a difference in physical appearance, like pointy ears.
“It’s nothing. More importantly…”
Ellie gathered the documents left by the seniors. She glanced at the expected prices of the guild being sold by the Empire Bank and handed them over.
“Do you have any money?”
Huh?
Pastel looked at the selling price.
There were so many zeros.
Her pink eyes widened.
“I have no money!”
Ahhhh.
Now that she thought about it, she had no money!
She had gathered up her assets and credit and sent them off as good trade goods on a demon realm airship!
“Ellie! I have no money!”
She clutched her head. As she shook it in despair, her pink hair, which the demon lord had tied in pigtails, flapped around.
Despair.
Despair.
Was she really going to watch the pure Engineering Department go bankrupt like this?
Her pink hair slapped against Ellie.
Ellie rubbed her cheek and placed the documents that Pastel was ignoring on the desk.
“Don’t use too much liquid assets for business. That way you’ll end up in black ink bankruptcy.”
“Thanks for the advice!”
But telling Pastel, who despaired over the dark future of the Engineering Department, wasn’t enough to revive her spirits.
Someone please lend me some money…!
A knock sounded.
Huh.
Pastel stopped her despair and turned to the door, hurriedly fixing her hair.
Ellie opened the door to greet a guest.
“President, what’s the matter?”
“It’s nothing serious, just a private visit. You’re here, oh! Junior! I’ve come!”
Professor Horace, or the President, entered. After being elected as the acting president, he seemed to have changed into a luxurious robe that exuded a premium feel.
“President!”
Pastel brightened up.
“Haha! President? Is our relationship only at that level? I’m a bit disappointed.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, Senior! Please sit here! Ellie! The usual drink!”
Pastel tidied up a slightly cluttered space with some documents. President Horace sat down leisurely.
“This day seems nice compared to the approaching winter. I was just out for a walk and inspection. Junior, how about you don’t stay cooped up indoors and get some sunlight on a walk?”
“I would love to, but my passion for the students remains unwavering. I just consulted about the vexing situation in the pure Engineering Department.”
“Is that so? I heard about that. The guild supporting the department went bankrupt, right?”
“Exactly, Senior! You always listen to the news about students!”
You’re so capable!
“Indeed! But I wouldn’t receive more from you than from friends! My social skills couldn’t match!”
This time, he mentioned gathering friends for the newly established inspection department.
“Oh! Is that so?! Hahaha!”
They shared a warm laugh together.
Then President Horace’s expression turned serious.
“By the way, I happened to come here for that matter.”
Huh?
“Recently, the concentration of magical energy in the atmosphere has been rising, changing the habitats of sky creatures and altering the skies multiple times. As a result, the guilds engaged in trade have suffered significant blows. But now that the Empire Bank has lowered credit, many guilds can no longer hold on and have gone bankrupt.”
Wow.
A serious issue.
He said it was a private visit, but it turned out to be serious business.
Such a great president who thinks of public matters privately.
“If the Sky Island administration doesn’t take swift action, the economy of Sky Island will shake? Chain bankruptcies among trading partners will lead to mass unemployment, worsening security, and activating malicious smuggling.”
The Sky Island administration was the replacement for the disbanded Sky Island Governor’s office, which was the Sky Island Academy.
It wasn’t just a problem for the pure Engineering Department.
“Looking at the budget, there have been many funds left unutilized because the presidential position remained vacant and lacked authority. If that money is redirected, we might be able to save the major guilds.”
“That’s a relief!”
Phew.
“But it feels quite hesitant to support like this. The guild master mismanaged the guild and is still holding onto their position! Won’t they just repeat this in the future? Should we save them again then? Sigh!”
President Horace said something in a theatrical tone.
“What does the Student Council think?”
Pastel didn’t understand the intent and was puzzled.
“Having someone who failed at management remain in their position feels a bit uncomfortable, doesn’t it? There’s a risk.”
“I see!”
President Horace smiled brightly.
“So, while helping the major bankrupt guilds with the Sky Island budget, I plan to replace the management with someone trustworthy!”
Trustworthy management.
Who would be the most trustworthy?
Me, of course.
Wow.
Pastel’s cheeks turned pink.
“What a coincidence! I was trying to save the guild that supported the pure Engineering Department purely out of goodwill! I already had a thorough plan prepared for execution, and it was mere small problems that were left before execution!”
The small problem was that she had no money.
“But at the same time, the administration has already made takeover plans and now needs a suitable manager!”
To anyone looking, it would seem scripted!
How unfair!
In reality, she could have declined the offer, but Pastel was ready to feel unfair.
Unfairness expert Pastel…!
President Horace smiled even wider. Even though they spoke privately, it looked like a good choice publicly, making it doubly joyous.
“Ha! What a coincidence! There was someone who was already prepared to manage! And not just anyone, but someone with excellent experience leading a guild!”
“Though it feels awkward for me to say…”
Pastel twisted her body, feeling shy.
“Pastel is an excellent choice!”
Surprisingly true!
“I wholeheartedly agree! Other candidates don’t even need to be considered! Hahaha!”
“That’s right! Hahaha!”
Pastel could make the appointment without any dissent. It was a highly competent decision without any meddling from the prefect.
Shortly after, the president left.
The harmonious atmosphere settled down.
Pastel sat on the sofa and hugged her cheeks. She twisted her body with her flushed cheeks.
“Eek, eek.”
I had never planned for this.
I had no intention of this at all.
And somehow it turned out like this.
What will others think?
“Ahhhh! This is so unfair!”
But I really do feel unfair.
I honestly had no thoughts about it!
As she thought, Pastel genuinely became frustrated.
“Elli! I really, really had no thoughts about it! It’s the truth with three times the emphasis!”
At this point, it’s really the difference between a friend and a super friend!
Wow.
A super duper friend?
“The problem of not having money has been solved.”
Ellie neatly organized the private meeting documents.
“If we add the railway project to the major guild, no matter how we mobilize the Craft Guild, there will be too much work for the Student Council.”
“Huh? Is that so?”
It does seem that way.
Should we gradually increase the Student Council members?
Although she felt slightly guilty as an economic criminal for needing more hands, now that she was a rightful authority, there was no hesitation!
Pastel picked suitable candidates from her internal friend rankings.
Leonard had a bit of a minus due to first impressions, but he was perceptive and an appropriate candidate, though he was already appointed as the head of the secret inspection department…
“And so, we welcome Melissa and Elsha, who have joined the Student Council! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!”
Pastel introduced Melissa and Elsha to the existing Student Council.
Melissa placed her hand on her chest and slightly bowed her head.
“I’m Melissa Camerott. I joined the Student Council at Pastel’s request. I look forward to working with you.”
“From the Camerott family, huh.”
Honestly, Ellie, who had been handling all the office tasks by herself, was pleased.
“An excellent asset.”
Indeed!
Pastel approached the startled Dustyn. She poked him in the side. Dustyn flinched.
“Congrats on escaping the rookie zone! As a senior, you can pass on suitable menial tasks to the juniors now!”
“Huh? Pass on?”
Melissa bowed her head.
“Senior, I’m lacking, so I hope for your guidance.”
Dustyn, just the second son of a baron family, began to look very burdened by the southern warlord’s humility.
His gaze shifted toward the silver-haired girl beside him. Elsha stared at him blankly and said one thing.
“Weak.”
Dustyn felt double the burden. Avoiding the burden of her gaze, he turned to Pastel, looking for salvation.
Anyway, Dustyn was still in a field position, and having no plans for traffic management, Pastel smiled cheerily.
“Get along well!”
Indeed!
