“I don’t want to! I don’t want to!”
Pastel ran across the deck.
Thud, thud, thud.
“Don’t eat it; spit it out!”
A devil in a suit chased after her.
“I don’t want to! I don’t want to!”
Pastel dashed away.
She quickly chewed the black jelly.
Munch, munch.
“Please listen to me.”
The devil who had caught up grabbed the girl.
His hands reached her sides, and she was lifted.
“Ahhh!”
Pastel ran with all her might. Her feet barely touched the ground.
Zoom, zoom.
Swish, swish.
“Uwaaah! I’m running with all my strength, but I can’t move forward!”
Is this the devil’s curse?
Uwaaah.
Scary!
“Save me, Pastel!”
Angel! Angel! Guardian Angel!
Pastel flailed about, with her arms and legs thrashing in panic.
Flail, flail.
Struggle, struggle.
The devil complained of mental anguish as he was hit by her flailing limbs. He tossed the struggling girl away.
“Please listen when someone talks. I’m telling you not to eat that horrible thing and to spit it out. Hurry!”
Uwaaah.
“I don’t want to! I don’t want to!”
Pastel shook her head vigorously. Her pink hair fluttered. Her hair slapped against the devil’s face.
Good people told her to ignore the devil’s whispers.
Munch, munch.
The black jelly was completely chewed up.
Gulp.
The devil paused.
With a triumphant expression, Pastel declared, “Pupu! I ate it all!”
Yay.
She became a good child who wouldn’t fall for the devil’s whispers.
Wow.
Pastel is so good!
Oh yeah.
The devil let out a groan filled with anguish as if his soul was escaping. The girl was dropped helplessly.
“You really…”
“Pupu! Pupu! Pastel’s victory!”
Her small pink tongue waggled in triumph.
Wagging.
Pastel had unwittingly put the black slime pulled from the knife into her mouth just before receiving a warning about its dangers.
The essence of existence shouldn’t be handled carelessly, as it was literally related to existence itself.
Especially direct actions like consumption could cause significant problems and side effects. If done incorrectly, one’s essence could waver, and one’s mind could shatter.
Although this essence was processed to be easy to digest, mixed with magic, there were many troubling aspects when relying solely on the powers of consuming magic stones. It was definitely not safe.
Pastel remembered one thing from it all.
Heh.
It was said that one could consume the essence of existence.
So, can I become super ultra strong?
And while ignoring the devil’s warnings and running away, she had swallowed the jelly.
The jelly digested quickly.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
Oh my.
Her mind floated.
Her brain clicked.
Sparkle, sparkle.
A sense of satisfaction, as if filling the emptiness of her soul, began to wash over her.
Oh my.
It felt like she was eating a substitute for meat pudding.
Has the substitute food industry developed this much?
It might not be as good as meat pudding, but if I eat a lot of this, maybe my soul could be satisfied…?
“Young Craft?”
The devil who had approached unexpectedly grabbed her shoulders with a concerned expression.
Oh.
Pastel flinched in surprise and wiped the drool that had flowed down with her sleeve.
Wow.
It was so delicious it nearly knocked her out.
Could the black jelly perhaps be a friend of meat pudding?
Heh.
Friends.
Both went cheerfully into Pastel’s stomach.
Wow.
“Young Craft?”
“Ah, yes yes!”
Pastel looked at the devil in surprise. As the devil’s hand approached, it squished her cheeks.
What, what?
Her cheeks squished all over.
“Wooaah!”
Chubby Pastel…!
No bean paste added…!
“That’s dangerous indeed. It surely puts a strain on your mind.”
The devil frowned.
“The essence of existence should be built up honestly through life. You can’t reach completeness by stealing from others.”
The magic stone knife was examined.
“It would be best to discard the product. I’ll collect it once the fight is over, so keep that in mind.”
“Eh?”
Pastel’s eyes widened as she rubbed her cheeks.
“You’re going to throw away something that you barely acquired from the essence of existence?”
“It’s very bad for your mind. Especially at your age, where your ego should be growing. Are you still planning to consume it after what you just experienced?”
“Oh.”
“That’s just because it was delicious…”
Embarrassed.
Hehe.
The devil looked at her with suspicion.
A questioning gaze.
“I’m serious! It was delicious, and since it was my first time eating it, I just lost my senses for a moment!”
The devil sighed deeply.
“Fine. You’ve already eaten it this time, so there’s nothing to be done, but just know that you can’t do it again next time.”
Whoa.
That sounded oddly familiar.
The first time is difficult, but the second time is doable, and the third time…
Oh.
Good Pastel didn’t think about it~.
Pastel whistled awkwardly.
The devil looked at her with confusion before speaking.
“Since you’ve already eaten it, it would be good to minimize the side effects. I’ll teach you how to use the essence of existence. I didn’t want to because it’s not good for ego growth, but this is an exception.”
Wow.
“If I learn that, I can be a knight-level fighter?!”
“Not really. You’re not even a junior knight yet. You have exceptional basic specs and a great sense, but you’ll only know once you actually try fighting.”
“Eh?”
Pastel moved to the cabin.
She sat neatly on the bed.
“You need to enter your inner world through meditation. The essence of existence you’ve consumed will create discord within you, so you need to tame it well. Once you enter, you’ll instinctively know what to do.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Each person’s inner world is different, so there’s no way to tell you specifically. Just think of order and harmony. You should move in the direction that your heart finds satisfying.”
Complete theoretical discussion.
“Ehh…”
“What about becoming a junior knight?”
“You need to change the external world through your inner world. Then the world will move around you.”
Truly theoretical discussion.
Pastel looked gloomy.
“Just meditate for now. You are overflowing with talent, so it’ll work out.”
That was a most welcome remark to hear.
Pastel closed her eyes.
Meditation, meditation.
Sleepiness began to overwhelm her.
Deep sleep, deep sleep.
Good night now.
“… You can’t sleep. You need to become aware of your inner world with a clear mind.”
Yeah.
Pastel felt drowsy as she listened to the devil’s voice like a lullaby.
Drowsy, drowsy…
Snore, snore.
Zzz.
She suddenly fell asleep.
#
Pastel fell into a deep sleep and suddenly opened her eyes in her inner world.
Floating weightlessly in the universe, her pink hair fluttered around.
Gasp.
Was meditation this easy? Wasn’t meditation meant for calm and composed people?
Could I be a genius at meditation?
Oh.
Then does it mean I was a calm and composed child?
What a surprising fact.
Pastel was calm and composed!
Wow.
She had to tell the devil when she returned.
Huh.
Devil?
Oh, right!
Instead, she had to look around her inner world like the devil said.
Pastel observed her surroundings in the weightlessness.
Her inner world was the universe. Stars twinkled in the distance, and the milky way appeared briefly.
So beautiful.
Pastel flew through space to approach the milky way, but it seemed quite far away, and the distance never seemed to shorten. It truly felt like space. It was like viewing it through a telescope; she could only see it but couldn’t reach it.
So far away.
Where am I?
An empty space of the universe?
Or is it a planetary system?
She turned her body.
A burning sun came into view. A black sun illuminated the universe with a contradictory light.
Distorted essence and origin.
Something shown through the inner world.
Like a trance, Pastel flew toward the sun. Gravity did not act on her as she approached, but she felt the heat.
The heat intensified, and soon flames engulfed her body. The flames scorched her skin and shook her mind.
Her consciousness turned white.
“Wooah?!”
It felt like her mushy mind was flying away…!
The feeling that Pastel Love Craft would be transformed into Pastel Lovecraft…!
Pastel, regaining her sanity, hurriedly distanced herself from the sun. She quickly shook off the flames. The flames subsided, and the cold universe cooled her body.
She wiped her forehead for no reason.
Whew.
That was nearly mentally deadly.
The universe truly is cosmic horror.
Full of dangerous things.
What am I supposed to do, looking for the essence of existence in such a dangerous place while munching away?
Shivering.
Pastel trembled as she looked around.
The essence of existence, the essence of existence.
Upon looking closely, she noticed there were other things besides the sun. Rock fragments spun around the sun, following its gravity.
Rock fragments?
Huh?
Could it be that you are the recently consumed essence of existence?
No wonder they felt like otherworldly energies emanated from the rock fragments. They seemed like guests rather than family.
Pastel squinted, contemplating. Then she nodded.
As the devil said, the rocks suddenly present in the planetary system with the lone sun felt disharmonious. It should naturally be a planet to become harmonious.
A planet?
Oh.
She realized how to take in visitors as family in one instant.
Am I a genius?
Oh yeah.
Pastel waved her hand at the rock fragments. The fragments moved through the universe according to her will.
Huzzah.
The fragments collided and merged.
Fidget, fidget.
All the fragments combined to become a small rock planet. Once set, it touched the sun and started to orbit it closely.
Wow!
The sun and the planet!
The epitome of harmony!
Pastel pointed at the sun.
The sun!
This time, she pointed at the small planet.
Mercury!
She cheered.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto!
Huh?
Correction.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune!
We are family!
Oh yeah.
(Pluto: Hiii…!)
Pastel shook off the cries of the planets she heard somewhere and eagerly gazed at her new friend, Mercury.
Mercury orbited the sun.
Gasp, that’s touching.
As it completed an orbit, suddenly, change came to her inner world.
Like creating a solar system, the orbit of Mercury was drawn out in a circle. Lines touched, and the orbit was completed.
Order and harmony came.
Pastel felt her mind tingle. The truth of nature awakened her spirit. A clear realization dawned upon her.
Could it be…?
Acquiring super ultra powers…?!
Suddenly, Mercury made a noise.
The planet cracked, and then collapsed. The planet returned to rock fragments. The realization flew away.
Ahh!
My friend Mercury!
Mercury friend lacks gravity!
Pastel jolted awake in shock.
Gasp.
The devil paused as if to cover her with a blanket but then stopped.
“Well, it wasn’t precisely meditation, but it seems you did enter your inner world well. You have exceptional talent.”
The red-eyed gaze fell upon her.
“How was your inner world? Was it full of sunlight? Did animal friends greet you in a beautiful cherry blossom setting?”
Pastel’s face fell.
“Devil! Devil! My friend Mercury died due to lack of gravity!”
Uwaaah.
“What do you mean?”
The devil looked bewildered.
“Due to lack of gravity, it… Crushed!”
Uwaaah.
“No.”
#
Guild Master Grace smiled with satisfaction.
“Three pirate ships. Since the skywhale academy airship is useful, if we secure funding against the pirate ships, we could buy more smuggled goods.”
“That’s true…”
Pastel nodded weakly.
“Um.”
A folding fan pressed against the guild master’s cheek.
“Your Excellency, you seem unwell. If you have any dissatisfaction, feel free to express it honestly.”
“Oh, I apologize. I didn’t mean to trouble you. It’s a personal matter; it’s nothing to do with you, guild master.”
Pastel shared her feelings about losing her Mercury friend.
“I understand.”
The guild master changed the subject.
Papers were unfolded.
“Is this all the initial capital you plan to invest in the trade?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t there more? Maximizing your funding before the first smuggling trip is crucial for the long haul.”
“Considering compound interest, that’s certainly a point. But this is truly all I have. This amount combines what I’ve earned from smuggling with the student council budget.”
Guild Master Grace tilted her head.
“Considering how many times you’ve engaged in smuggling, doesn’t it seem like your capital is less than expected?”
Pastel let out a long sigh.
“I had no initial capital to run smuggling due to my family going bankrupt. I bought trading goods with the student council budget and gradually amassed this amount.”
Though it was a bit lacking to establish a guild, it was still a commendable sum.
“The student council budget…?”
“At one time, it was all my wealth.”
Pastel gazed off with a reminiscent look in her eyes.
A past where she couldn’t even eat chicken skewers.
“Ohh…”
Guild Master Grace looked taken aback.
“What about Craft’s slush fund?”
“Huh?”
“Craft’s slush fund.”
Craft’s slush fund? The slush fund of a viscount family known for betrayal and intrigue?
Pastel’s eyes widened.
There was no way a sinister and wicked family wouldn’t have a slush fund.
But I didn’t know anything.
Eeehh…
Guild Master Grace looked even more baffled.
“You don’t know the whereabouts of the slush fund? How can this be?”
Aaah!
Shock.
Shock, shock.
Pastel slumped in her chair.
Silence fell over the room.
“That makes sense…”
Guild Master Grace sighed. Then she put away the papers and fell deep in thought.
“It would be best to find at least one slush fund to purchase smuggling goods before the first trade. For the long term.”
Pastel hung in defeat.
“I truly don’t know anything.”
“Um.”
Guild Master Grace tapped her legs with the fan.
“I don’t know about Craft’s slush fund management, but it seems there is some connection to my sister, who used to serve as the head maid.”
“That could be the case…?”
The guild master’s eyes sparkled.
“If that’s true, I have a place in mind. My sister used to visit a location unnecessarily a few times.”
“Huh?”
Pastel straightened her back, focusing.
“Where is it?”
“The apple orchard in the Camerott estate. It’s right next to the Camerott mansion.”
“Huh?”
The Camerott estate, the home of her magician friend, Melissa Camerott?
“How does that relate to Craft?”
Guild Master Grace carefully explained.
“I’ve heard that the previous Craft lord used various underhanded means to acquire the apple orchard that had been passed down for generations in the Camerott family. It was said that he thought the apples were incredibly delicious after being treated to apple pie. The Camerott family was returned the orchard just last time.”
Wow.
Once again, the wicked past of the Craft family was revealed.
To steal someone else’s orchard just to eat some delicious apples.
Pastel’s heart raced.
The family slush fund.
The slush fund buried in someone else’s apple orchard…!
Ohhh.
Feelings of guilt burst forth.
“Let’s go dig it up right now!”
