“Is there anything pleasant happening?”
Melissa, seated in the front seat of the train, glanced at the documents she was sorting and asked.
“Huh?”
Pastel halted her pen as she instructed the arrangements for the consolation measures for the deceased former members of the Knight Corps and to fill their vacancies with other former members.
“I’m really sorry that it doesn’t fit the situation, but yes!”
Pastel chuckled.
“It feels like something is filling my soul, so I’m happy! At this point, money and power may not matter at all?”
“Really?”
Melissa was surprised.
“Aside from mourning, this is quite a happy occasion. I believed that you, Pastel, would someday break free from impure greed and find your dignity.”
“Eh? If you praise me like that, I might suddenly want to evolve into Super Ultra Governor Pastel!”
“What is that? I feel like I shouldn’t have said that. I’ll take back what I just said.”
“Ahh? Then, then Pastel will be disappointed!”
Pastel made a pouty face but continued to scribble with her pen. The document was completed.
She stretched and handed it to the very busy Ellie, who was sitting next to her.
“Ugh! Hah! Melissa, have you ever had a fairy tale-like experience? Like meeting a fairy or something?”
“A fairy tale-like experience?”
Melissa tickled her cheek with the quill and recalled her memories.
“I have. Definitely.”
“Huh? You do?”
Wow! Is this a fantasy world?
I thought Melissa was so naive that she believed in fairy tales, but maybe she’s formed confirmation bias from real experiences?!
Well, I met a fairy too, after all!
“Tell me! Tell me! I’m curious!”
“My mother said that in our territory, there’s a legend passed down through generations.”
Wow! Wow! A legend!
Her pink eyes sparkled.
Seeing the positive reaction, Melissa felt slightly embarrassed.
“It’s not about dragons or anything.”
“That’s fine! That’s fine! It doesn’t have to be a glowing dragon! Tell me!”
Melissa cleared her throat.
“The legend is that if a talented child listens well to their parents and works diligently, the largest apple tree in the territory will grant them a gift.”
“Wow?”
Pastel’s mouth dropped open in surprise, then froze. Her pink eyes rolled around.
Isn’t that just a lie parents tell to make children behave?
The premise of the legend is way too convenient for the parents!
If you behave well, you’ll get a gift?
Besides, if it were any child who could receive it, the gifts to prepare would be overwhelming, so they avoided trouble by specifying a talented child!
Melissa covered her mouth and giggled.
“I know you won’t believe it, but it’s true. I received a gift. On the day I managed to draw 16 strokes, I rushed to the biggest apple tree, and there was a gift waiting for me. It was this.”
From her wizard robe, she pulled out a stick wand. She brushed her fingers against the wooden surface.
“It’s an apple tree branch. The apple scent is gone now, but it smelled for a little while.”
Wow, wow.
Pastel was conflicted while still looking shocked.
Should I tell this innocent friend the truth?
Or should I respect the efforts of Camelot’s lord, who worked tirelessly to protect their child’s innocence?
The thought of a parent inventing a legend to encourage good behavior only to have their daughter shine with naive belief while they hastily ordered a magical apple tree wand brought a pang of guilt.
This is just like the Santa Claus dilemma…!
Pastel, feeling unsure, clapped her hands.
“Melissa, you’re amazing! I want something like that too!”
“Since you aren’t from our territory, that would be difficult. But if you visit the territory again, I’ll introduce you to the largest apple tree.”
“Okay, okay!”
Pastel nodded vigorously.
I guess meeting the fairy really is special!
Wow.
She swiftly turned her head to the side. She saw Ellie narrowing her brows while reviewing the personnel changes of the former members of the Knight Corps.
“Ellie, have you ever had a fairy tale-like experience?”
Pastel began asking people around her to relish in her sense of superiority.
Ellie tilted her eyes towards Pastel while keeping her head fixed on the documents.
“Can you lower your voice? It’s distracting.”
Huh.
It was a response akin to an overworked employee annoyed by their boss’s idle chatter while they had been working overtime for two days.
Oh, Ellie has also been working overtime for three days, so the comparison might be slightly off!
Ahh.
Pastel obediently turned her head and placed her hands gently on her thighs. She maintained a quiet and demure appearance, quieter than anyone in the world.
“I’m sorry.”
Melissa, who had joined in the chatter, frantically looked for something to do. Naturally, there was nothing a low-ranking member could do regarding important personnel changes, so she was just flustered.
The train shook as it ran along the tracks. Even though there were orders to analyze the suspicious train of the suspicious conductor’s group to acquire their suspicious technology, it couldn’t be applied immediately, so it was just as fast as a person running rather than with a bicycle.
However, since it was running day and night without rest, it was somehow faster than horseback riding. Because most noble heirs find it hard to learn normally, there was a certain demand for passenger transport aside from freight.
Of course, it was still slower than changing horses along the way or riding a scoff, so Pastel still had to send urgent news to the capital of the Demon Realm by means other than the train, making it clear that the technology wasn’t anywhere near sufficient to cover operating costs through civilian business alone.
What we can expect is perhaps the suspicious technology of the suspicious conductor group.
The cult that was thought to be specialized in the production of magic stone drugs or poison gas effortlessly surpassed the technology of the Craft trading guild. Even though it was a collaboration between the Sky Island and the United Kingdom of the Demon Realm!
Ah, it feels like facing a lifelong rival.
It seems like it’s a lifelong rivalry with a place that’s gone missing rather than a father leaving home.
—Look here, look here.
Huh.
Pastel turned around as she heard the fairy’s small whisper. The fairy’s fingertips were nowhere to be seen in the passenger car.
—It’s outside the window!
Now that she listened, it could indeed be heard from outside. Originally, it would be normal for someone to be inside the passenger cabin, but she checked the cabin first.
“I’m going to open the window for a moment! It feels stuffy in here!”
Pastel suddenly threw the window open. The wind rushed in with a rustle. Her pink hair fluttered.
“Wow! So refreshing!”
It was so refreshing it bordered on cold!
Pastel poked her head out the window, with the sound of papers fluttering in the background.
“Where are you, Lord Fairy?”
Where are you?
—Shh.
The fairy sitting on top of the passenger car hurriedly placed a finger to her lips.
Oh right!
The existence of the fairy is a secret!
Pastel also put her finger to her lips.
“Shh!”
—No, shh.
Oh.
Pastel made a serious expression and quietly put her finger to her lips. Speaking in a much lower voice than before, she said,
“Shh.”
—No.
The fairy stared at her, momentarily at a loss for words.
Then, realizing the original purpose was more important, she whispered again.
—I’m still not used to hiding, so I think I accidentally showed myself to the others while standing outside the passenger cabin. What should I do about the witnesses?
“Huh?”
A tiny finger pointed to the far landscape.
Pointing at the crimson sunset, a group was seen riding on horseback, approaching. Their masked faces and rifles in hand were noticeable.
“Ahh!”
It was obviously a train robbery gang…!
The fairy hugged herself and trembled.
—As a righteous fairy, I don’t know how to handle witnesses! What should I do?
Wow, wow.
“Fairy, can you do something?”
Like Super Ultra Fairy Magic?
—I’m kind, so I don’t know how to fight…
The fairy smiled brightly.
—I can grant wishes!
A dark aura shimmered.
—What wish do you want?
Granting a wish?
Wow! Such a fairy-like ability!
Of course, because she’s a fairy!
Pastel’s heart began to race.
This feels like a story where a kind-hearted person living a good life prays for salvation when a band of bad robbers arrives in the village, and the god answers!
“I…”
What to say, what to say.
Her pink eyes sparkled.
“I want the world’s greatest money and power…!”
Pastel shouted out her desires.
And immediately, she wanted to gulp.
This is so out of nowhere!
Completely unrelated to the situation!
Moreover, it’s not even a kind wish to ask of the fairy!
Ahh!
How embarrassing!
I feel like hiding in a mouse hole…!
“Wait, not that!”
Pastel quickly transitioned from embarrassment into a sincere prayer. Her eyes closed, and her hands clasped together.
“Please let the robbers leave without a fight!”
The fairy nodded.
—Money and power? Got it! I’ll give it a try!
Huh?
The fairy clasped her hands and closed her eyes.
—God, please grant this girl the world’s greatest money and power.
Wishing was subcontracted.
With a nonchalant voice, the fairy made a wish, opening her eyes immediately without a moment’s delay.
—Oh! How excessive a wish for such a mere fairy!
Her gaze turned towards the far landscape.
The horse-riding robbers were slowly approaching at a speed a million times that of the slow train.
Then, the leading horse stumbled. The leader faltered and fell off. The following robbers, startled, pulled on the reins with a rush. A cloud of sand rose. Their pursuit halted.
Huh.
The robbers hurriedly jumped off their horses, assisting their injured leader, shouting before quickly placing him back on the horse and turning the reins. The bandit gang fled hurriedly back the way they came.
Huh.
This is!
Pastel whipped around to look at the fairy.
Her pink eyes sparkled.
“Did you just play a trick, and grant my wish?!”
You have wit too!
The fairy is so capable!
—Uh?
The fairy appeared flustered.
—Uh, um! Right! Yes! I did it! Because I’m a fairy!
The fairy puffed up her chin. She took on an arrogant posture.
—Because I’m a fairy of this caliber, it’s better for you to follow my instructions from now on!
“Wow! I’ll remember that!”
You’re amazing, fairy!
