Chapter 9
The Human Realm and the Demon Realm were terms used to distinguish continents located far apart.
As one flew straight out of the Human Realm, the sea and the sky formed a Sudden, steep downhill slope. Seafaring ships would be swept away and submerged by the rapids, leaving only the airships in the sky to survive.
If one ignored the downhill slope and ascended into the sky, one would face a ceiling that made it feel as though one had entered a Cave.
It looked like the sky, possessed a Natural Climate, and even let in sunlight, but in truth, it was merely the ceiling of a massive Cave.
From the Human Realm, one would navigate the Cave as if descending stairs, pass through Sky Island, and then arrive at the underground Demon Realm.
The Cave had many holes and spaces. Thanks to this, it was swarming with pirates, making it a headache for the Empire.
And right now, it is Pastel’s terror.
“Uwaaah!”
Pastel ran around on the Deck.
“Uwaaah…!”
They’re pirates.
Since it was an airship, it didn’t have a Skull Sail, but a Pirate Ship with a Skull-Patterned Cloth tied to its bow was coming for the Seizure of her Entire Fortune.
Vicious, Evil.
Petty pirates are coming to steal the pocket Change of a starving child.
“Hmm.”
The Demon loaded a Cannonball into the cannon.
Oh, a cannon.
Pastel scampered over.
“Let’s shoot them!”
Bang!
The Demon turned the lever. A harsh noise erupted. Sparks flew, and the Smell of Gunpowder wafted through the air.
The Cannonball flew with a swoosh.
Pastel raised her fist high.
“You can do it, Mr. Cannonball!”
Shooo.
The Cannonball struck the hull of the Pirate Ship. Then, failing to deal any significant damage, it let out a pathetic whine and fell.
“M-Mr. Cannonball? Why didn’t it Explode?!”
“Why would a Cannonball Explode? It’s a Lump of Iron.”
It wasn’t an explosive shell?
Ah…
The Demon inspected the cannon.
“Is it just a decoration without Mana Stone Engineering applied? Well, it doesn’t matter.”
The Demon Transformed into a sword. Pastel grabbed it in a fluster.
“Don’t tell me?”
“Prepare for Combat.”
The Pirate Ship flew into Close Proximity. The pirates gathered at the Pirate Ship’s Railing, holding their weapons.
Uwaaah.
A pirate with a long scar across his face rested a greatsword on his shoulder and shouted.
“We won’t leave any Witnesses! Come at us!”
Excuse me?
No Recommendation to Surrender?
Isn’t that a bit too extreme of a statement?
A Wooden Plank was laid across the Pirate Ship and the airship. The Group of pirates stepped on the plank and charged over. Their weapons glinted.
Uwaaah.
“Run to the Cabin.”
She ran, her Pink Hair Fluttering.
Her heart pounded, Dugeun Dugeun.
It was a different beat from when she was Sparring.
The hardships and tightrope walking at the Mansion came to mind.
Not Sparring, but a life-or-death battle.
Do I perhaps like life-or-death battles? Do I feel euphoria from gambling with my life?
Isn’t this PTSD? I took so much stress that my mind twisted To Adapt and ended up going full Circle.
“Here.”
She stopped walking. As she turned her body, a straight corridor unfolded before her.
“I will teach you how To Fight multiple opponents.”
She aimed the sword straight ahead.
“The number of arms and legs is fixed. Just because someone is highly skilled doesn’t mean they have three arms. Simultaneous attacks are a difficult problem even for experts.”
The sound of Running echoed.
“Take your Footwork diagonally across the enemy’s formation. You can crush their order and Induce them to protrude.”
The tip of the sword trembled.
“…Young Craft?”
“I-I’ve never killed a person before.”
Her heart beat wildly. A sensation that could have been excitement, tension, or hesitation pulsated through her. Her Heartbeat sounded Loudly. Her mind was tangled.
Suddenly, the Magic sword dispersed. The Demon in Suit Attire looked down at her, his back to the corridor. His eyes were Gentle.
“Everyone is like that. Even a great Knight started as a Clumsy Apprentice. You don’t have To Be Confused by your emotions. You aren’t the only one to experience this. You aren’t lacking.”
The Demon’s hand pressed down on her Pink Hair. She felt warmth and weight on her head.
“Lord Demon…”
Pastel looked up into his Red Eyes. Then, she realized what was beyond her line of sight and Flinched.
A pirate who had approached at some point swung his pirate sword at the Demon.
Pastel tried To Shout.
The Demon tilted his body without even looking back. The blade grazed past his suit.
The Demon turned his body, and his suit-clad leg kicked the pirate’s leg. The pirate lost his balance and floated up. An arm struck the back of the pirate’s neck. A Shockwave erupted. The pirate’s body turned around in Mid-air.
The Demon’s hand snatched the dropped pirate sword. The blade flashed. The blade slashed the pirate. A Stream of blood spurted out.
The Demon embraced Pastel, as if shielding her from the blood.
“You can stop thinking. Focus on the voice of the one who came before you. You are not alone.”
The suit scattered, and the Magic sword was grasped in her hand.
The pirates came Running down the straight corridor.
“Open Stance.”
Subconsciously, she spread her feet wide.
The leading pirate swung his sword.
Pastel pulled her upper body back as much as possible. The blade slashed the space in front of her chest.
“Nachreisen.”
She swung the Magic sword as her upper body returned to its position. The top was slashed, and flesh was cut. The sensation dyed her fingertips. The thick Stream of Red Blood was deeply felt.
Immediately after, another pirate approached. He tried To Swing his pirate sword.
“Unterhau.”
She took a Step Forward and slashed upward with the Magic sword. The fast Sword Strike swallowed the Opponent who was trying to Slash downward with a large Movement. A Stream of blood spurted out.
Drops of blood splattered on the girl’s cheek.
A new Sword Strike was aimed at the Girl.
“Kron.”
She twisted the handle she had raised from the Upward Slash. She Thrust the Crossguard into the Opponent’s Sword Path. The swords clashed, and the Blade Roots Ground against each other. A noise rang out.
The moment the Attack was locked, the Girl pushed with her strength. A Shockwave erupted. The Opponent was pushed back and Staggered. The blade flashed toward his defenseless upper body. A blood spray erupted.
The pink-hued Girl turned her body toward the next Opponent. She locked eyes with the pirate. His pupils dilated, and a Scream echoed.
The Opponent turned his body and tried to run.
“Scheitel-“
Scheitelhau.
Her Pink Hair fluttered. The blade flashed. The Sword Strike descended upon the fleeing opponent.
“You little…!”
A pirate came Running, shoving aside the fleeing pirates. A Heavy greatsword was raised.
Anbinden.
Right before the distance for Combat was reached, the Girl closed in with a Surprise Attack.
Whipping.
In a split second, turning her body around, she swung the sword like a whip. The Attack distance explosively decreased. The trajectory swept across the pirate’s ankles. His ankles were severed, and blood spewed out.
The body of the pirate who had raised the greatsword collapsed. His Eyes Widened.
Zornhau.
The Sword Strike stormed in. A blood spray erupted.
A Scream echoed.
The Pink Figure ran. The blade flashed continuously. Flashes sprinted down the corridor. Arms were severed, and upper bodies were sliced away. A severed head turned around in the air. Streams of blood soaked the Wall Surface.
Commotion filled the space.
The Scampering and voices were pushed back as if being chased. The corridor ended, and the Outdoors unfolded.
The Pirate Ship hastily floated up and distanced itself. A fugitive who couldn’t get on board screamed and stretched out his arm from the Railing before looking back.
A silver light flashed.
“S-Spare me…!”
The red-stained blade stopped immediately after.
The girl Froze in the Posture of attempting to Slash.
Ah?
The dreamlike sensation faded, and reality awakened her mind. Pastel snapped back to her senses amidst the Adrenaline Rush.
She lowered the sword. Her breathing came out roughly.
The terrified pirate caught her eye. The pirate slumped down as if he had lost all his strength. His crotch was deeply stained.
Oing…
Pastel looked at her Surroundings with a hazy mind.
The bloodstains and corpses were created along the path the Girl had run.
Eh…?
She had no Sense of reality.
Suddenly, both her hands trembled faintly. The vibration gradually grew larger. It spread up her arms and to her body. The sound of her heart felt loud.
At that moment, a familiar hand pressed down on her head.
“You worked hard.”
It was a soft voice.
The trembling slowly subsided.
She looked up at the Demon.
They met eyes for a moment.
Pastel tried To Smile Brightly as usual. It didn’t Form well.
The Demon’s hand rubbed her Pink Hair.
“…My hair is getting messed up.”
“I see.”
She tried to fix her hair but stopped upon realizing the blood on her hands. Her entire body was soaked red. Drops of blood fell from her Pink Hair.
“Taking a Warm Bath will make you feel better.”
“I’ll do that.”
Phew.
Turning her head, she discovered the surviving pirate. The pirate looked at her with trembling eyes. Then, he quickly slammed his head onto the floor. A loud thud rang out.
“Meals! Cleaning! Organizing! I can do anything!”
Uh…
What Should I Do?
Pastel was bewildered.
“Get up.”
The Demon stepped forward.
The pirate quickly got up. He stood in a rigid Posture and put on a face like a new recruit.
“Please order me to do anything!”
“W-What is your name?”
“I am Chason! You can call me whatever you like!”
Oh, oh my.
Mr. Chason.
“You’ve had a hard time too.”
The Demon patted the pirate’s shoulder.
Chason Flinched. Then, he quickly shook his head.
“Not at all!”
“There’s no need for you to suffer anymore.”
“Pardon?”
The Demon grabbed Chason by the collar and shoved him. The Railing rattled. Chason fell over the airship. A long Scream followed.
Eh.
The Demon wiped his hands on the Railing and approached. Then, he supported Pastel’s legs and lifted her into his arms. Her Pink Hair cascaded down.
The Demon slowly moved.
“Taking a Warm Bath, eating a delicious meal, and getting a good sleep will make you feel much better.”
Eh.
Excuse me, the Scream.
Uh.
I can’t hear it anymore.
#
The Demon Realm Settlement was heavily guarded. Airships that should be called warships could be seen Here and There. There were also many soldiers on the Ground.
Pastel’s airship approached the Settlement. A small but thoroughly armed airship came over and pulled alongside it.
A Soldier with a Stiff impression cast his Gaze over the scene.
“For what purpose have you come?”
Uwaaah.
Uwaaaah.
We didn’t come here for Smuggling.
Pastel trembled as she handed over the documents.
The Soldier, seemingly uninterested in the Girl’s commonplace nervousness, examined the document stamped with the Student Council President’s Seal.
“Student Council?”
“O-One Examinee was left behind, so we came to pick him or her up urgently! The schedule for the Combat Practical got tangled up!”
The Soldier scratched his head with the scabbard in his hand.
“Hmm. Understood.”
The document was returned. The procedure ended Without Problems. Pastel was able to set foot on the Ground.
Oh yeah.
People moved busily around the Settlement. Between them, Soldiers occasionally walked by. The scabbards at their waists were shaking.
Oh, oh my.
Pastel blew an Awkward whistle and got back on the airship. Then, with trembling eyes, she gripped the Magic sword.
“Lord Demon! Lord Demon! It’s incredibly heavily guarded?!”
Uwaaah.
“Let Go for now.”
“Ah, yes.”
The sword transformed into the Demon. The Demon looked around the Settlement over the Airship Railing. His Gaze stopped on a massive building.
“There it is.”
The Demon calmly walked toward the building. Pastel followed closely behind.
“Is it a Secret Rendezvous Point?”
One that only the Demon knows?
Uwoah.
The signboard caught her eye.
Demon World Corporation.
The naming?
“It’s a Private Enterprise backed by State Capital.”
The Demon ordinarily waited his turn, ordinarily met a Merchant, and ordinarily Signed.
And he said.
“I sold everything. Now we just need To Take the Examinee and return.”
Eh.
They exited the building. After waiting a moment, the Trading Group came and took out the Smuggled Goods from the airship.
The sunlight shone on the Smuggled Goods.
Uwaaah.
Smuggled Goods are being taken out in broad daylight.
Pastel’s eyes trembled before she locked eyes with a Soldier looking down from an airship in the Sky.
It was the same Soldier who checked the Student Council President’s document and let the President pass the inspection.
Gasp.
The Soldier saw the Smuggled Goods being openly taken out of Pastel’s airship. Then, he indifferently turned his head.
Oing?
The Demon finished the Price Negotiation. He received a few large boxes and dragged them over on a cart.
Oiiing?
He opened a large box.
It was full of Unprocessed Black Magic Stones.
Gasp.
Pastel clutched her heart.
Her eyes trembled for a moment before she threw both arms up.
“Uwaaaang!”
Life is easy…!
I’m going to become the God of Smuggling…!
They picked up the Examinee Demon Girl, who was highly acclaimed for sleeping rough, and quickly returned. There were no pirates.