The crime organization was swiftly subdued.
About a dozen villains who had been beaten and collapsed lay sprawled on the floor.
The only unscathed pink girl in the center was shrieking, “Uwaaah!”
“bl**d on my hands, bl**d.”
“The bl**d of a good criminal.”
“Devil! Devil! My conscience is prickling!”
“Prick, prick.”
“Do I also have this much conscience?”
The devil spoke firmly.
“Endure strongly.”
“Huh?”
“Is that right?! Totally devil’s advice?!”
“Steal your heart. Safety is not obtained through kindness. You must establish a clear hierarchy to feel more secure.”
“Ugh, is that right?”
“They are undeniably a group of criminals. They can turn on you at any moment. Their kindness just now was based on underestimating you. Kindness obtained through underestimation is not lasting. You must seize it by force.”
“Ugh, what kind of life have you lived, Devil?”
“And you don’t need to feel too sorry for them.”
The devil continued in a softened voice.
“I told them that the hierarchy was established without m*rder. It’s a very compassionate act. Even if it’s not so for you, it is for them. You need to understand that the back alleys have a different emotion.”
It felt like something might be right, but it also felt wrong.
“Uwaah.”
The magic sword transformed into a devil in a suit. Its crimson eyes gently scanned the pastel girl. The devil took hold of the pastel’s bl**d-stained hand.
“Now, it would be best to wash those hands first. There should be a sink over there.”
“Okay!”
Pastel washed her hands. The bloodstains were washed away by the cool water stream.
“If you’re afraid of having bl**d on your hands, just wash it off. Water is more powerful than you think.”
The devil spoke while holding a fluffy towel beside them.
“Oh, isn’t that a metaphor? Ding, ding, ding!”
“I caught the devil’s embarrassing mistake!”
The devil smiled faintly.
“I meant it metaphorically as well.”
“Huh?”
I suddenly felt like I was the only one being foolish.
I should just stay quiet.
“I’ll also wash my face!”
“Go ahead.”
Splash, splash.
Gulp, gulp.
Hehe, all done.
She came out drying her face and hands with the fluffy towel. Completely clean.
The revived criminals were groaning on the ground.
Pastel made a strange expression.
“Maybe the Devil is right. In a rough world, there must be rough methods.”
She clapped once and smiled brightly.
“But still, if everyone gets up, I want to apologize! I really want to!”
Hehe.
The devil looked at her with a complicated expression.
“They will look down on you. Just by subduing them, you’ve already given them enough leeway. An apology is too weak.”
The girl shook her head vigorously.
“Ding, ding, ding.”
“Devil! You’re wrong! You’re wearing a suit because you’re nitpicking about everything!”
Ugh, gloomy.
I shouldn’t wear that kind of thing.
“I’m doing it just because I want to!”
The devil thinks too much.
Pastel teased the devil, skipping around. She walked sideways and twirled around, swaying gently. Her pink hair fluttered. The dress swayed.
The crimson eyes stared intently.
“What do you believe…?”
It was a gaze like that of a tired worker filled with bl**d.
Pastel smiled brightly.
With a confident gesture, she pointed to herself.
“Life is so easy because I’m Pastel!”
The world will help me!
Oh yeah.
A little while later, the organization members all awakened.
The young boss rubbed his bruised nose with a handkerchief. A splinter of wood was stuck in his mouth.
Ugh, I can do this.
Pastel bowed her head slightly.
“I’m sorry! I was at a loss about how to get cooperation for smuggling and my hand went first! I’m really sorry!”
“Uh huh.”
The boss removed the handkerchief from his nose. He looked at Pastel with a dazed expression.
“Well, whatever.”
The boss waved his hand in thought.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. No one was seriously hurt anyway. The paralysis poison was a bit excessive as a scare tactic. It must have been frightening.”
The boss looked around at the members.
“Is everyone alright?!”
“Yes!”
As everyone responded, one member raised his hand.
“I’m a bit hurt, aah!”
The member who was speaking got hit and dragged away.
Eh.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
“Ahem!”
The boss coughed lightly to get attention.
“But you fight really well! I feel sorry for underestimating you because you’re just a kid. Apologies for having a bias due to your age.”
The boss bowed his head.
“Waaah?”
A proper adult…!
Devil? Devil?!
The devil seemed awkward.
“Hmm. Well done, young craft. You handled it well.”
Oh yeah, I received a compliment.
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
I should make this a commemorative occasion.
Pastel, defy the devil’s opinion.
Huff.
A strange sense of betrayal.
Is this the joy of a mischievous person?
The boss chewed on the wood.
“We’ll help with smuggling. It would be quite profitable to sell it inland with a little effort. But do you have smuggled goods? No, scoff? It’s hard for us to prepare that as well.”
“That’s okay! I’m here!”
“Oh? If so, then the job becomes easy.”
Pastel discussed the work details with the boss.
It’s a small organization of about a dozen members, but they had the capacity to handle Pastel’s smuggled goods.
They shook hands.
“I look forward to working with you from now on!”
“Likewise, Craft.”
“Hmm.”
Pastel smiled brightly.
“Now let’s build our friendship, Mr. Boss! Or Mr. Preston?”
“Call me however you like.”
“Yes! Boss! But Boss! Why do you eat wood?”
Are you perhaps a goat?
Huff.
“This?”
The boss tilted the piece of wood in his mouth.
“Yes!”
“It tastes sweet when you chew it. It’s instead of cigarettes.”
Oh wow.
“Can I have one too?”
Preston chuckled.
“Miss, you smoke?”
“I just want one!”
“Wait a moment.”
The boss rummaged through the drawer.
Suddenly, a commotion could be heard outside the boss’s room.
The door burst open.
A member shouted with a pale face.
“Boss! We’re under attack! It’s them!”
“What?”
An explosion echoed from below. The floor shook violently.
The boss frowned.
“d*mn it, grab the weapons!”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
She looked down at the trembling teacup.
Oh?
The boss turned to look back. His face was tense.
“Miss, you should leave now. I know you’re good at martial arts, but close combat is different.”
The boss gestured to his subordinate.
“I’ll guide you through the underground passage, you’ll be safe if you take that route. Lead her!”
“Yes!”
The boss grabbed a g*n and a sword, then dashed out.
Pastel was left alone with the guide.
Oh?
“I’ll show you the way, follow me.”
Watching the familiar guide, who had a scar across his lips, she moved toward the window. Cautiously, she peeked out.
A group of about thirty armed men surrounded the entrance of the destroyed building from the explosion. Daggers, axes, and hammers glinted in the sunlight.
The cannon targeting the entrance was being dragged away.
The one who seemed to be the leader stepped forward, axe resting on his shoulder.
“Preston! Today is your funeral! You better get ready! Uwahaha!”
Laughter rang out. In response, thirty weapons rattled. Silver glinted.
Pastel’s hands trembled.
Shiver, shiver.
“Ahhh… Real bad adults…!”
A different level of evil…!
The harsh reality targeting starving children…!
Shiver, shiver.
From the first floor, Preston’s voice could be heard.
“What do you mean get ready! I’ve been waiting for you! Come in!”
The leader burst out laughing. He turned to his subordinates with a grin.
“Hah! You’ve been waiting, huh?! Even with a two-to-one disadvantage! Did you reserve a grave?!”
Laughter erupted.
“Ahhhh…”
“We have to go now. Once the fight gets intense, it’ll be hard to escape.”
The guide approached.
“Ahhhh…”
Pastel panicked and shouted.
“I don’t want to go!”
“What?”
She quickly tapped her magic sword.
“Devil, Devil. Please give me the courage not to be protected.”
“In an open space with considerable numbers, you cannot always fight in a good environment.”
The devil said calmly.
“Just remember one thing. In a multi-person battle, what you should cut is not a person, but their will to fight. Use fierce techniques to instill fear.”
I understand.
Pastel placed her hands on the window frame.
Gathering her heart, she leaped down.
Her vision cleared.
The atmosphere embraced her dress. Her pink hair fluttered.
As her feet touched the ground, she stood up. All eyes turned to her.
The leader and his group stared in shock.
“What is it?”
“It’s Pastel.”
The girl drew her sword. The blade brushed against the sheath, producing a sharp sound. The cool silver gleamed.
The blade curved and aimed straight ahead.
Suddenly, the tip trembled slightly.
Hesitation and resistance.
Ah.
Pastel looked at the leader and his group, feeling embarrassed.
“Is there anyone who can sh**t for me…?”
Hehe.
Killing people is really hard.
I don’t know when I’ll adapt.
“What the heck, what is this kid doing?”
The leader carelessly lowered his hand to his belt. It touched the g*n resting there.
The barrel was aimed.
A focused Preston’s voice rang from behind.
“Run—”
Gunfire erupted. The round b*llet whirled. The sword glimmered. The b*llet was cut, and sparks flew.
Adrenaline surged.
Pastel stumbled and crashed onto the ground. The distance closed exponentially. The startled face drew near.
The sword blade undulated. Its trajectory grazed the leader’s body. Silver glistened. Sounds of flesh splitting followed. The body splintered and scattered. A fountain of bl**d erupted.
bl**d spattered onto a dazed subordinate’s face. The blade curved. It cracked the subordinate’s neck. The head rolled and spun.
What must be cut is not a person, but their will to fight.
The body without a head received the sword strike. The blade grazed the corpse, scattering debris explosively. People’s faces and clothes turned crimson.
“Ah…?”
The subordinate wiped his face in confusion. Flesh stained his palm.
The blade glimmered. The sword strike grazed the hand of the body gazing at its palm. The limbs scattered. The body collapsed.
Screams echoed.
The sound of running feet spread like an infection.
The girl pounced on the fleeing flock.
She sliced their backs, severed their necks, and hacked off limbs.
Screams faded one by one.
The red bl**d flowed down her pink hair.
bl**d splattered violently on the floor.
Suddenly, a calm voice pierced through her daze.
“You’ve done well. You can stop now.”
Pastel, who had been chasing the fleeing criminals, halted.
Her consciousness clarified and a blank sensation overwhelmed her body.
Huh?
She belatedly gasped for breath.
Droplets of bl**d trickled down the blade.
Footsteps were heard, growing closer and quieter.
Turning her head, she saw Preston and the members standing still, staring blankly.
Wow, it’s a crime organization.
So fascinating.
Pastel smiled brightly, her dazed mind clearing.
“Hello, everyone.”
bl**d streamed down her pink hair.
The girl pointed to herself.
“My name is Pastel Lovecraft.”
A bl**d-stained hand was extended.
“Please take care of me from now on.”
Hehe.
After that, for some reason, Pastel was able to create business agreements with a kinder Preston.
Oh?
“Really? Is it okay for you to give me this much consideration?”
Various terms were adjusted better for the starving child.
Huff, so moving.
“Devil! Devil! They are really kind people!”
Wow.
“The world is indeed beautiful!”
Pastel flailed her arms.
Life is so easy because I’m Pastel!
“Life is so easy being Pastel…!”
Wowww.
The devil sighed.
A soul-like sigh escaped.
Huh.
I really can’t understand the devil’s sensitivities. Isn’t the suit wrong? What about wearing something else?
Anyway.
Pastel looked at the boxes of magic stones that seemed to have increased by 20% compared to before.
Wow, wow.
Her mouth fell open.
It’s not just 20%.
It’s compounded values that amplify with each smuggling.
Pastel clenched her fists.
She took a deep breath.
One, two, three!
“Wowww!”
One more time.
“Wowww!”
Achieved 0% smuggling commission!
Her body trembled.
Is this the true thrill of tax evasion?
Could it be that I’m made for crime…?
Oh yeah.
