Pastel cautiously stared at the suspicious male mercenary airship from a distance.
“A mercenary group equipped with knight-class personnel is just sitting at the docking station doing nothing?”
Moreover, the composition of the races is precisely the same as the demons who were attempting assassination and terror.
“Completely suspicious!”
“I told you. There’s nothing more to see. We need to take them down right now.”
Leonard answered with a crooked posture, leaning on one leg.
“Take them down?”
Pastel swallowed hard.
She felt a slight burning sensation in her throat.
“How impressive can a knight-class mercenary really be?”
“What?”
Leonard looked at her as if he had received a strange question.
“If a commoner is knight-class, they can gain a title like baron under a noble dying with achievements as a lifelong title.”
“Baron?”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
Imagining the social class pyramid in her head: baron, viscount, count, marquis…
Wait.
Baron?
Imagining the social class pyramid suddenly made it feel like nothing. Of course, that’s how it was since I’m a marquis.
Ah, right!
There were commoners below barons.
In fact, most people are commoners.
So, knight-class means they have the capability to become nobles solely through fighting skills, surpassing commoner status.
Talent that even a social class system can’t obstruct.
We call it a super ultra fighter.
Gasp.
A super ultra fighter?
Compared to me, a super ultra power player!
Whoa, now that I think about it, the number of letters is exactly the same?!
Ahhhh.
Did I just realize that the letter count is the same…?!
No way…!
Do I really have to go fight with such a mercenary leader?
Gasp.
Pastel trembled, her face turning pale.
“A capability to become a noble!”
Can’t we avoid fighting?
Leonard looked at her, puzzled.
“It’s a lifelong title. What does an unprivileged commoner know about being a noble? It’s just a commoner who achieved success.”
Oh?
Pastel looked up with round eyes.
“Then can you win?”
You, knight-class?
“What?”
Leonard frowned. Tilting his head slightly, he clenched his fists tightly. His naturally strong build created a powerful grip.
“Do you think I can’t win? In just a few years, I could beat such lucky commoners with my bare hands.”
His fist struck the air.
In just a few years?
Heh.
He can’t win.
Pastel was not exactly disappointed.
She didn’t have high expectations.
Instead, she clutched her magic sword tightly.
Oh my devil, my devil!
As always, I have no one but my devil.
Classmates? Well, relying on them feels a bit tricky. There’s a sense I have to take care of them rather than the other way around?
This is troublesome.
Caring for them as a friend is enjoyable, but as a work relationship, it’s a bit awkward~.
As a greedy person, even though I know this is a friendship, sometimes I wish they could also be competent in a work context!
Just like now!
I wish the seemingly reliable Leonard would fight instead of frightened little me, but it’s unfortunate he can’t.
Yeah, yeah.
“Hey! What kind of expression is that?!”
Leonard’s face turned red, feeling insulted.
“Nothing! It’s okay, Leonard! You’re taking good care of the kids! Everyone has their strengths! If anyone bothers you, call me! I’ll help you as a friend!”
Pastel swung her small fist, clearly smaller than Leonard’s, at the air. The air shattered, and a small popping sound echoed.
“Huh? What?!”
Leonard’s face contorted. He clenched his fists tightly, shaking slightly.
He then seemed to feel humiliated, unleashing a flow of words.
“Don’t get confused into thinking you’re going to win forever. Just because you can fight a bit better than a mouse doesn’t mean you should boast.”
Bark bark, tweet tweet.
Wow, what a rough reaction!
Did I say something wrong?
Pastel panicked and waved her hands.
“Leonard! Leonard! Being weaker than me is natural! I’m a super genius!”
She pointed at herself proudly.
Super genius.
“Therefore, don’t blame yourself too much!”
She winked and struck a fighting pose.
“Let’s go, fighting! You can do it, Leonard!”
“Are you mocking me?!”
Leonard ripped his hair out in frustration.
Whoa.
Encouraging him seems to have made the situation worse.
Could this be inferiority complex?
It was something she often experienced as a popular person.
At times like this…
Ignoring each other would be better.
Pastel gave a thumbs up to cheer him up and then turned her gaze to the demon airship.
Ignoring whatever Leonard was saying beside her, she recalled what he had told her.
Knight-class mercenaries, mind you. Not nobles raised in a greenhouse, but demons who have come up from the bottom as commoners.
Oh no.
That’s a bit terrifying…
I should just confirm the charges and leave the fighting and capturing to the knight corps!
Hehe.
Pastel looked at herself.
With pink hair, pink eyes, and dressed in white,
anyone would recognize her as Pastel Lovecraft.
If I lead, the wariness would increase, and the chances of starting a fight would be high, right?
“You lead, Leonard! I’ll observe from behind!”
“Aren’t you listening to me?!”
“Yep!”
Pastel cheerfully pointed at the airship.
“Go, Leonard! Pretend to approach and confirm the charges! Show off your acting skills!”
Leonard got more excited but calmed down quickly, even suggesting another method.
“Is there really a need to confirm their charges? The fact that a knight-class commoner is living the life of a mercenary itself indicates there’s something sinister afoot.”
“Is that so?”
Is this a noble-like judgment?
Pastel shook her head after thinking.
“But we should confirm the charges first! They could really be innocent demons!”
Leonard clicked his tongue, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he suggested another method.
“Upon investigation, it seems that those demons only stayed in the airship, but the day before yesterday, they had a group meal at a nearby restaurant.”
“The day before yesterday?”
“It must have been frustrating being stuck only in the airship. Or perhaps, with a tournament event coming up, they were rallying before carrying out their terrorist operation.”
Leonard glanced between the soldiers waiting in the back and the distant demon airship.
“If we’re just confirming charges, isn’t it better to have the security team investigate that restaurant where they gathered instead of heightening our alertness by approaching the airship? The security team should investigate the restaurant, not the demons. Invent a reason like tax evasion or something.”
“Oh! That’s a great idea!”
Pastel’s pink eyes sparkled.
“Creating a chance encounter with public power to see how tense they get and looking at their expressions? Since the target isn’t them and the place is a restaurant, there’s less chance of a fight!”
Leonard grinned.
“It seems that Lady Craft, having been the top scholar and top researcher, has a sharp mind.”
“Of course!”
Pastel raised both arms.
“Alright! Let’s do this right away, Leonard!”
Let’s set off!
Leonard paused.
“What? Do I have to do this too?”
Pastel nodded as if it were obvious.
“Yep.”
You suggested it, after all.
“No way!”
#
Upon hearing news about the demons’ restaurant visit, Pastel boarded her small airship.
“Even though it always seems like I’m playing…”
She skillfully placed her feet on the tiny ship and focused her mind, causing her body to lift.
“I’m always working.”
She flew low, moving behind the airship that was docked. The shadow of the airship covered the pink girl. It was a blind spot behind the airship that wouldn’t easily catch the attention of those strolling through the dock.
Carefully avoiding the gaze of people, she flew between the shadows of the airships, getting closer to the demon airship.
She hadn’t told Leonard, but she had plans to secretly search the airship that the demons had left behind to go to their group meal.
Sure, they said they would indirectly mobilize public power to gauge the demon mercenaries’ reactions, but it felt a bit lukewarm to do just that. This is a serious situation connected to assassination and terrorism.
Pastel rubbed her arms, slightly tensed.
They had all left by now.
There wouldn’t be a fight with the scary demons.
The goosebumps on her arms faded.
“Devil, I’m going in.”
The devil spoke calmly.
『Since it’s not the first time you’ve infiltrated an airship, you’ll do even better this time. Loosen up your tension appropriately.』
“Oh, that’s right.”
Pastel beamed.
Thinking about it, she was an experienced rookie!
A small thief grows to be a great thief, after all; she had already barged into others’ airships before, so now she could do it even better!
She steered her little airship.
Her body floated up.
Once she reached the appropriate height, Pastel cautiously glanced over the railing of the airship.
No one was there.
Confidence bubbled up.
Pastel darted in. She sped across the deck and ran silently through the indoor corridor.
Evidence, evidence.
Charges, charges.
She moved while checking each room.
Though not every demon had left, with only two guards remaining in the interior, it was fine—they seemed to be annoyed at being excluded from the group meal and sat drinking while chatting at the dining chairs.
Hidden against the wall in the corridor, she overheard them say there were only two. Relaxing, she managed to sneak by and delve deeper inside.
Pastel searched the captain’s cabin and the control room, inspecting the wide space that seemed to be the operations room.
No evidence came up at all until she discovered a huge pile of ashes in the operations room’s fireplace.
Oh?
Suspicious ashes indeed.
Upon closer inspection, she found a burnt piece of paper in the corner. It seemed like documents had burned entirely.
Oh no.
“Devil, everything’s burned! If this is a den of terrorists, doesn’t this indicate destruction of evidence?”
『Did they destroy the evidence before the operation? Even without evidence, there are sufficient charges to detain and investigate.』
“Let’s take a closer look.”
Pastel wandered around some more. Passing by the dining area, she saw the two demons who were drinking had completely passed out, allowing her to feel reassured again.
However, still, finding nothing was the same, and only upon discovering an oddly shaped storage room at the end of a straight corridor did she locate something suspicious.
Pastel stared at the locked metal door. Up till now, most had been wooden doors, but this one was made of iron.
Gasp.
What a visually enticing place to enter.
『If there’s something, it must be here.』
“Right?”
Hehe.
Pastel fiddled with the iron door.
It felt sturdy.
Whatever they were trying to hide, its importance was unmistakably felt.
But, but~.
Pastel pulled something from her pocket.
The keys she had stolen from the captain’s cabin sparkled.
Ta-da~!
Keychain!
It can unlock anything!
After trying various keys, the iron door opened. The sound of the creaking iron door echoed through the quiet corridor.
Oh yeah oh yeah.
I’m coming in~!
Let’s see if these bad people are really so!
『Hmm?』
In an instant, the devil paused. Hearing a subtle sound, Pastel also froze.
Devil?
『Wait. I can hear faint footsteps. The natural order is responding, and the world is resonating with an approach.』
While waiting in backward glance, Pastel spotted the mercenary commander walking down the corridor.
The mercenary commander, having downed some liquor, tossed the bottle aside casually and drew a sword and pistol at his waist, shooting a menacing glare.
“The liquor was awful so I returned, only to find that the despicable Craft has come to me. Hehe, now I have another head to offer to the Demon King’s tomb.”
Oh no.
Pastel’s mouth fell open.
I’ve been found!
I’ve been found!
Panicking, she looked for a place to escape. The straight corridor had no suitable exit.
Uwahhh!
A straight corridor that absolutely seems suspicious!
A location anyone would recognize as a trap!
In a frenzy, as the mercenary commander approached, Pastel turned her body.
She ducked into the open iron door and quickly shut it. The iron door slammed shut with a noise. Trembling hands hurriedly locked the door.
Oh no.
Pastel took a step back with a pale complexion.
“That person! That person! He’s knight-class, isn’t he?! That’s right, right?!”
『That is—』
Cutting off the devil’s voice, an odd occurrence took place.
Repeated sword strikes split through the iron door. A normal one-handed sword pierced the metal, slicing through it with ease.
The iron door was kicked apart and fell.
The mercenary commander glared at the girl.
『So you are knight-class.』
Uwaahhh!
Don’t deliver a death sentence in such a calm voice…!
