“Wow.”
Pastel’s mouth gaped open.
The space was so vast that it made her question if it was really an underground area. There was plenty of room for buildings to be erected, with vegetation thick on the ground, and small hills floating above her head.
That alone would be considered a strange natural landscape, but the small hills were topped with pure white architecture, causing a sense of dissonance.
Is this the Holy Land?
“Wow.”
Pastel was startled and shivered, hastily covering her mouth with her hands.
Oops.
I shouldn’t say anything.
She looked around at the Demon and the baby birds.
“Shh. Shh. Shh.”
It felt like they were too far away, but she sensed the presence of the Cult nearby, so everyone, please be quiet.
She breathed a sigh of relief and focused her mind. She could hear voices and the flapping of wings, sounds mixing together. It was the noise of the birds moving between the small hills.
Are they using birds as a means of transport?
After all, smooth flying was said to only be possible for great magicians, so it makes sense to use a cost-effective method. Being underground must have made it difficult to bring a whole airship.
Ugh.
What kind of massive operation requires the kidnapping of birds? Just considering the workload involved gives a sense of an unusual objective.
Pastel trembled slightly.
Now that she was actually in the middle of something wrong, her heart was racing, and it felt like this was something that should be left to the police.
But the police, the Knight Corps, are incompetent.
Ugh.
She glanced sneakily at the Demon. Seeing his dreary suit and his deep red eyes lost in thought, she felt a sense of relief.
He seems like someone who would quickly rescue me if I accidentally fell into the water while staring at the stars.
There may not be anything bad about dreariness after all.
She gestured for him to come closer. When the Demon approached, she gestured again for him to lower his body. He complied but looked puzzled.
‘Why is that?’
Gulp.
Startled, Pastel quickly whispered into the Demon’s ear.
“What if you make a sound?”
Such a silly Demon.
‘It’s not a sound—it’s a concept.’
The Demon tapped his lips. He was speaking without moving his mouth.
“How do you do that?”
‘You can’t do it right now.’
That’s impossible.
Disappointment.
Pastel whispered again.
“Since the Cult is nearby, I’ll communicate like this from now on. It’s cumbersome, but it’s the right thing to do.”
Whisper, whisper, whisper.
‘I agree. If you have something to say, gesture it.’
“Okay.”
Like this, like this.
Pastel hesitated while practicing gestures.
Ugh.
She made the Demon bend again with her gestures and whispered.
“But why do I have to be the only one inconvenienced? Why can’t you be equally inconvenienced, Demon?”
Isn’t it strange that the lower-ranked Demon is the only one spared from formalities as a person of power?
‘Oho.’
The Demon pondered seriously.
Then he whispered into Pastel’s ear.
‘I don’t want to.’
I don’t want to…!
Pastel stumbled.
After a moment, she composed herself and said.
“I was just kidding.”
Hoo.
She seemed to have relaxed considerably.
For sure, the Demon must look good as a human. The difference between face-to-face conversations and ones done through communication is clear. When he’s by her side, she feels reassured and comfortable.
Maybe it’s because he is the first person she encountered when she was feeling vulnerable, but as her only protector, she couldn’t help but rely on him.
As someone popular, Pastel must have found this kind of dependent relationship quite troublesome, but since a protector isn’t a friend, it’s fine.
She gestured to the baby bird friends to come closer.
“Let’s start planning in earnest. How strong are we objectively right now? What is the Demon’s capability?”
Since the seal has loosened, can we expect something? If necessary, can we see what the plan is for breaking and hiding?
‘Hmm.’
The Demon clenched and relaxed his fist.
‘Winning might be uncertain, but I can guarantee your safety.’
What level is that?
‘It depends on the opponent, but even if a Knight-level person comes, you won’t die. That was generally the case even before.’
Wow.
Just by being in the Holy Land and with the seal loosened a bit, his abilities are already showing!
This is a Great Demon!
This person is my protector!
Totally reassuring!
Pastel’s heart raced with excitement.
“Then I’ll be a pink rabbit riding on the back of a tiger.”
She brushed back her pink hair like rabbit ears.
How confident she looked~.
‘Why must you ride on its head?’
The Demon looked bewildered.
Hehe, that’s that.
“It’s a strict hierarchical relationship, perhaps.”
It’s highly important for a person of power.
‘Now that’s very blatant.’
“Hehe.”
Is the Demon not at all troubled with his strength?
“Better to avoid conflict and do reconnaissance, right? In terms of the quality of information too. Do you locals know any safe ways to scout?”
With those small hills floating around, it must be pretty tricky.
—Chirp.
A baby bird flicked its own wing. It had a confident expression.
Then it began to explain an impressive idea.
—Chirp chirp. Peep. Chirp. Chirp chirp.
—Chirrup?!
Another baby bird opened its beak in shock. It looked like it was reacting to an unbelievable idea.
The baby bird who spoke puffed up its chest proudly.
—Chirp!
Whoa.
I see now!
So that was it!
Pastel finally realized.
I can’t understand bird language.
I know it must be some great method, but I have no clue what they are talking about.
“I’m sorry, baby bird friends. I can’t understand you at all.”
Even someone as popular as Pastel has her limits.
—Chirp…?
The baby bird froze in the puffed-up position. Another baby bird comforted it by patting with its wing.
“Ah, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
Pastel turned slightly. While scanning the surroundings, she noticed the small hill floating in the sky.
“It seems like its position is different from earlier, right? They must be in the process of moving.”
It would be nice if she could hide over there since there’s architecture.
Pastel took out her magic stone knife. She had left her broom behind, so this would have to do. She was about to climb onto the knife as usual but hesitated.
The pink eyes turned towards the Demon.
“Demon, can you fly?”
‘Ordinary people can’t fly.’
“Ah, so can you? Do you have demon wings that flap?”
The Demon looked baffled.
‘I’m saying I also can’t fly.’
That’s impossible.
‘Twas the Great Demon who was exceptional, but realistically, unless one is adept at magic, it’s right not to be able to fly.’
—Chirp!
The baby bird suddenly raised its wings.
What’s going on?
“Do you have a good idea? Oh, sorry. I wouldn’t understand even if you told me.”
—Chirp chirp.
The baby bird shook its head. It fell slightly, then flapped its wings.
Flap flap flap flap.
The round body, like a chick, slowly began to rise.
Whoa.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
“You could fly?”
No, no, because you’re a bird, it’s only natural!
The baby bird flew slowly above her head, looking down at her.
—Chirp.
It had a look that seemed to say, “What else do you expect?”
“Wow wow.”
Pastel quickly whispered.
“Demon! Demon! It turns out that while people can’t fly, little birds can!”
An unimaginable truth!
“The Cult also moves on birds, so the Demon can ride the baby birds!”
A Demon riding a baby bird!
‘Hmm. I see.’
The Demon stood slightly askew with his hands in his pants pockets. Though he acknowledged it, there was a subtly displeased expression.
What?
Pastel quickly picked up on the tone of his feelings.
Why such a reaction for something clearly good?
No way.
Pastel’s lips curled into a slight smile as her finger poked the Demon.
“Demon! Demon! You’re not embarrassed that you’d have to ride a baby bird, right?”
Her voice chirped playfully.
“A grown adult would be moving around atop a big chick. And all the Cult members we’ll meet are riding grown-up birds, but you’re on a chick.”
So adorable, the chick!
The Demon stared at her in silence for a moment.
‘While I don’t intend to restrict your imagination, making judgments about others’ feelings isn’t a good decision.’
Ah! Ah!
Pastel’s expression brightened.
“Is it because I said earlier that your ears turned red, and that I would remember it and pass it down through generations?”
‘That is part of it.’
Boo boo! Boo boo!
“That’s right! Your ears didn’t turn red then! That was my imagination!”
A very imaginative Pastel!
‘Only now do you admit it.’
“But, but.”
Pastel whispered.
“Honestly, Demon, please tell me. The future where you have to ride a baby bird would be just a tiny bit embarrassing, right?”
Speaking earnestly,
“I can understand completely. You’re a person, so it makes sense for you to feel that way. Wouldn’t it be worse to lie? After all, I’m watching! That’s not good for education!”
Really, really.
‘Hmm.’
The Demon looked up at the flying baby bird. It was like a scene from a fairy tale to see the big chick flying around.
‘Just a little bit.’
“Yes! Just a tiny bit!”
Just like the Ant Friend’s antennae!
The Demon shifted his weight from his crooked stance to the other leg. He moved his hand slightly, then crossed his arms.
‘Just a bit could indeed be a little embarrassing.’
Pffft!
Pastel barely held back laughter that was about to burst out. Pressing her hands tightly against her mouth made her cheeks tremble.
I must remember this for a lifetime!
I’ll make it a framed keepsake!
The Demon seemed exceedingly displeased.
‘It would be best if we set off soon. The Cult’s activities don’t reach here yet, but the situation can change at any moment.’
If the change of topic isn’t the reason, that’s wisdom indeed.
Pastel and the Demon mounted their baby birds.
“Wow, so soft!”
The baby birds began to rise. Though they wobbled and were slow, they were flying reasonably well after all.
The small hill drew closer.
‘Haa.’
The Demon rubbed his face with a voice of surrender.
‘What a disgrace.’
Ahaha!
Pastel buried her face in the feathers. Her body shook slightly, and suppressed giggles squeaked out.
