Chapter 101
"Totally bad dad! Totally totally totally!"
Pastel poured out her resentment while embraced by the demon.
Like imagining rebuttals before bed after being unable to refute while the other person was speaking, her words flowed.
"Totally bad!"
A million times bad!
The demon stroked her back.
『Yes. Calm down and breathe first. You're hyperventilating a bit.』
Pastel slowly took big breaths.
"Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale."
『Don't say it out loud.』
She closed her mouth tightly and breathed through her nose.
Inhale, exhale, inhale...
When she hugged the demon tightly, she felt a warm body temperature. For some reason there was a soap smell. It was a clean fragrance.
As her breathing calmed, she wiped her face with her hands. Red liquid mixed with tear stains came off.
"Uwee."
Pink eyes became blank.
Huk.
Am I injured somewhere?
She touched various parts of her head with her hands but was fine.
Aha, it's other people's blood.
It's the result hormone friend created. The smell of blood wafted. Her body shivered slightly.
Uwee.
I want to take a relaxing bath in warm water.
『Hah.』
The demon sighed in relief. Red eyes looked down then at the other person.
『Be thankful I couldn't bring myself to deal with a parent in front of their child.』
Father rolled the relic device in his hand then put it in his pocket. A strange gaze stared at the demon.
"Demonius. What qualifications do you have to care about others' families?"
Pastel flinched slightly at the powerless voice as if addressing an old friend. She gradually changed her embraced posture and moved as if hiding behind the demon's back.
The demon reached back to embrace her and clicked his tongue.
『At least more qualifications than someone who can't even fulfill the role of father. Who do you think is taking care of the child who isn't even fully grown?』
Silence fell.
Father directly looked at Pastel for the first time. He stared at the pink hair hiding behind again feeling his gaze, then looked strangely at the demon.
"She still resembles her exactly even though young. But, she's a different personality. Don't project the other onto your child. It's not respectful to Blossom."
『What...?』
The demon's mouth opened slightly. He seemed dazed as if unable to process the nonsensical words.
"Or, are you going to harm my daughter because Blossom first broke her promise to help pardon your demon status and imprisoned you again?"
Father's gaze became contemptuous.
"Don't do that. It's an act that tarnishes Blossom's honor."
『Ha.』
The demon let out a hollow laugh. His palm wiped his face.
『A very righteous concern but... for you to say such words, ha.』
Pastel who had somewhat calmed down glanced at the demon.
Demon seemed to be in a state where his feelings were very complex but he was too dumbfounded to speak.
Pastel's hands trembled then she took a deep breath. She shook off her tension then completely stuck out her upper body that was hiding.
"F-father!"
Gazes focused.
"Don't misunderstand demon! Demon is very kind, and someone I can rely on! He had no bad intentions or purposes at all!"
Pastel shouted sincerely.
"It's not that he formed a relationship taking advantage of my weak mind! Or that he prevented other relationships from forming by staying together all day! Though such things happened repeatedly, it was never a wicked method to make me dependent on this relationship!"
The demon looked down blankly. As if feeling slightly dizzy, he slowly closed and opened his red eyes then turned to father.
An even more contemptuous gaze than before came.
"Don't live like that."
『No.』
The demon's mouth opened and closed.
『No.』
Pastel became proud.
I boldly defended the kind guardian in front of the bad parent. Though I can't repay all the kindness I've received with this, I must have repaid a little.
The sound of wing flaps came from the terrace. A shadow fell and a man riding a bird landed.
"Oh, was it an appropriate timing?"
The knight-class cult member looked at father.
"Are you finished?"
Father looked back at the white magic circles. Then he walked to the terrace.
"I'm done."
Father got on another bird then looked back. The backlighting from artificial sunlight dazzled the eyes.
"Pastel, I'll give you one piece of advice."
Pastel flinched then looked blankly.
"To release the great demon's seal, the heart of a Craft bloodline is needed."
Eeng.
『Wait.』
The demon was perplexed.
"If you didn't hear such an important fact, there must be dark intentions."
Father's hand grabbed the reins. The bird spread its wings.
"When you want to help revive your mother, come to the demon realm. I'll give you a position."
With the sound of wing flaps, father left.
#
Pastel looked at the washroom mirror.
Blank pink eyes were visible. Sticky dried bloodstains dyed her hair and face.
Though this wasn't a hospital room, there was a smell of blood.
Uwee.
『Hmm.』
The demon made soap bubbles next to her. He made lots of bubbles in his hand then rubbed Pastel's face.
Splash splash.
"Uwaa! Uwaa!"
『Stay still for a bit. Since we can't wash properly, we'll just have to wash your face simply.』
Uwaa!
"Soap water got in my mouth!"
Ptoo ptoo!
『Of course it gets in if you open your mouth.』
Huk.
A fact I didn't know.
Puff puff.
Scrub scrub.
The demon rubbed Pastel's face with a towel. Her soft cheeks were squished.
Uwaak.
"I'll do this much myself!"
『If you say so.』
Pastel barely received the towel and wiped her face. A somewhat clean appearance was reflected in the mirror.
"I smell like soap..."
Clean clean.
Uwee.
She left the washroom and walked through a white corridor. The demon walked together.
Pastel's expression became slightly sulky.
"Demon, don't you have anything to say to me?"
Like about hearts hearts.
『Hmm.』
The demon rubbed his chin.
『I told an unnecessary fact to a child.』
"Uwaaa~!"
Pastel clutched her head.
"Terror! Confusion! Fear!"
Trusted demon actually had dark intentions...!
Will innocent innocent Pastel become a sacrifice for the great demon's revival like this!
Red eyes looked down meaningfully.
『That's why you should have done your own work from the start. From now on, tidy up your own bedding in the morning.』
Huk.
Shocked Pastel's hands trembled.
Then she pretended not to hear.
Wow, a silver-haired girl is coming from the opposite side.
"Friend!"
"Craft."
Elsior carrying luggage bags walked over.
"Camelot says she completed subjugating the cult's base according to your plan and wants to know the next step."
My plan?
Using Camelot's authority guaranteed by imperial order to steal the Knight Order's military authority and raid this place?
When did I make such a plan?
To think Melissa had such scary authority like stealing military authority from the start. And she always used polite speech and acted gentle? Southern successor is totally scary. Totally Craft.
But thinking about it, since even the person who accomplished it doesn't know, it would be good to make it the smart merit of great Pastel Your Excellency.
Pastel raised her head high.
"That's right! I planned it!"
To think you're following my smart head!
You're quite quick-witted!
Elsior looked strangely.
"I suspected it might be Camelot's somewhat excessive interpretation, but I guess not."
Huk.
Elsior seems a million times smarter.
I wonder why she's still carrying luggage bags with that head.
Mystery~
"Anyway I'll go to the site myself! I can't just leave it to Melissa!"
Pastel walked along the corridor together.
"Why were you having a staring contest with the baby bird?"
"When I put the Knight Order's luggage on it, it kept trying to pass it to me."
"Heeh."
So a staring contest with the giant chick?
"Heeeh."
The conversation gradually stopped.
Demon following behind is subtle to approach and speak next to others due to his servant status. Elsior also originally didn't speak first much.
Normally, Pastel herself would have skillfully created conversation topics for Elsior who would feel awkward in silence.
But currently Pastel was not in a very good mental state.
Her fingers rubbed the ends of her hair. Dry blood powder came off on her hand.
What is love.
Love, love.
Love nobler than anything.
Love, love.
Love more important than anything.
Therefore love that doesn't come to me.
Elsior looked at her.
"Is something stuck?"
"I need love."
The silver-haired girl tilted her head.
"Should you have free love?"
"Love...?"
"Well you're the family head, and there are many who would like you."
Pastel's eyes went round.
Then can I understand father's heart?
Pink eyes sparkled.
"Elsior!"
She grabbed her hands. The girl flinched in surprise.
"Yes?"
"You're quite good at giving advice! I knew you had this talent from when I first saw you! Because we're best friends!"
Pastel promoted Elsior from friend to best friend. Since she suddenly called her best friend when they first met, it was no different from returning to that time.
It's very rare for pink pink Pastel to get advice, but to go beyond that and even suggest a solution!
You qualify as a best friend!
She shook the grabbed hands.
"Elsior! You can put down the luggage bags now!"
Though I've never ordered between best friends!
"Really? Okay."
Elsior's expression brightened slightly.
Though not difficult since she's apprentice knight-class, the porter job was shabby in many ways for a duchess.
Elsior left with quick steps to put down the luggage bags.
Puu! Puu! Puu!
Pastel stood in the middle of the corridor. She put her hands on her sides and raised her head high.
Popular Pastel.
Love is easier than anything!
The demon walking separately approached.
"Demon! Demon! Did you hear?"
『Hear what?』
She raised one arm high.
"Popular Pastel!"
Her gesture pointed at herself.
"I'm going to start dating!"
Turu tutu!
The demon blanked out.
『What did you say...?』
It was an expression of learning a future like a bolt from the blue.