Chapter 102 - Don't Eat Just About Anything When You're Hungry

"Huaaa..."

Pastel who finished work sprawled on the giant chick. Pink hair covered the chick's feathers.

Roughly completed the aftermath of subjugating the cult.

After managing casualties and prisoners from the battle with the cult, she confirmed and retroactively approved the Knight Order members who colluded as organized by Melissa.

She also decided to call in academy researchers to investigate what the cult did to the holy land.

Though it would take more time and details for specifics, for now it was something for working-level staff to handle.

To begin with, foolish foolish Pastel doesn't know anything.

"Authority figure Pastel, fresh fresh Pastel."

Actually not fresh now.

Authority is good but having to work separately from tangled family matters is not good.

Isn't there a fully automated work processing system? Even if there is, is the responsibility of sitting in the position separate?

"Puu puu."

She moved her hand and smelled the chick's feathers.

"Smells like chicken."

―Piyoo?!

The baby bird shook its body. It seemed shocked by the fact it's equivalent to chicken.

Seems I said something harsh by mistake.

"Sorry, baby bird friend. I spoke my true feelings because I'm tired. You always smelled like chicken."

―Piyoo?!

The baby bird's beak opened in shock.

"Hut! Really sorry!"

Pastel who was caught hurriedly got off.

"More importantly more importantly did you find your parents? I'm not sure if friend and foe could be distinguished since the battle was intense. Your parents didn't know you betrayed the cult."

―Piyo.

A wing pointed somewhere. On one of the floating islands, an adult bird gathered two baby birds and was scolding them about something. When one baby bird subtly tried to escape by turning its body, it was pecked by the beak.

"Wow. You take care of yourselves well? That's fortunate."

―Piyo~!

The baby bird boasted.

"Though it's your second kidnapping."

―Piyo.

She patted the baby bird.

"Now now! Hurry and go! You shouldn't be the only one left out at times like this! Parents are precious!"

―Piyo!

The baby bird flew away flap flap. The mother bird watched her child flying over then flew over first and caught it in her mouth, impatient at the slow speed. The baby bird caught by the nape struggled.

―Piyooo!

It seemed like struggling after belatedly realizing it was also in a situation to be scolded like the other baby birds.

"Don't cause trouble~"

Pastel waved her hand. Then she watched smiling as the scene of scolded baby birds increased to three, then lowered her hand powerlessly.

Uwee.

"It's time for delicious food and a warm bed."

Friends are good but today my mind is hazy so I'm not confident I won't make verbal mistakes.

But I don't want to be alone either...

『It would be good to enjoy a bath first.』

The demon walked out of a white building in the holy land. His formal sleeves rolled up to avoid getting wet looked like he prepared bath water.

"Ah! Demon!"

Pastel's expression brightened.

『If it was the usual routine you would have bathed right after battle, but you only briefly washed your face and showered when there was time, so you must be quite tired.』

Whether intentional or not, there was no mention of dad.

"That's right! Somehow my exhaustion wasn't disappearing!"

The demon examined her briefly but didn't say anything else.

They arrived at a wide bath. The interior without lighting was illuminated by artificial moonlight coming down through the open ceiling. Looking up, light sources on the cave ceiling shone like stars.

"Uwaa!"

Totally a bathing atmosphere!

When she touched the water, a slightly warm temperature was felt. Leaves swayed with the ripples. When she scooped and smelled the fragrance, there was a refreshing forest scent.

Thinking demon sprinkled it, a leaf came down from the open ceiling. Around the ceiling hole, lush branches and leaves were partially spread.

Huk, a bath where natural fragrances fall on their own?

Super ultra prime location!

"Demon! Demon! This is a super ultra prime location!"

Seems more expensive than Sky Island real estate!

Intense hand movements played with the water.

"The forest fragrance is doubled like this!"

『Yes. Towels are over here. Clothes to change into are here. The magic circles are temple specifications so it may be unfamiliar, but it's not very different so you can use it intuitively.』

Red eyes looked around the bath.

『And, there's nothing else. Come out when you're hungry after enjoying slowly. I'll prepare something.』

The demon who roughly explained turned his body. Pastel who wasn't listening while playing with water flinched.

"Ah, wait a moment!"

A small hand reached out as if to grab.

The demon turned back puzzled.

Pink eyes were slightly cowed.

"So..."

A hesitant voice rang out.

"Don't leave me alone right now."

Wet fingers fidgeted. Water drops flowed down her hand then fell.

The pink-toned girl looked down at that then looked at the demon with a bright expression.

"Of course! Meal preparation is important! If it's a long cooking dish there's no choice! It'll be delicious!"

The demon sighed softly.

Then he turned his body.

Ah.

Strength left her hand.

『I'll bring a chair.』

"Ah!"

The girl's expression brightened again.

"Yes!"

#

Pastel who completely undressed held bath salts with a strange expression. High-grade skin care products sloshed in an elegant glass bottle. It had an appearance commoners couldn't even use.

"Where did this come from?"

There's even this in the holy land.

『What's there was taken from the Knight Order's luggage.』

The demon sitting in a chair with his back turned moved his crossed leg.

『There were many by type.』

"Did they come to play?"

Marquis Craft reflexively spoke.

The Knight Order's original purpose should be exploring ruins but the luggage bags are composed of nobles' outings?

Eeyee.

Pastel seriously considered restructuring and merging the Knight Order then flinched.

"Hut!"

Relax! Relax!

No work talk...!

Pastel's expression became serious in a different sense.

"Since it's the Knight Order's holy land contraband, it looks very dangerous! The righteous student council will check!"

Oh yeah.

She popped open the bath salts lid. The Knight Order member with lots of money had refined taste, as it was a subtle flower fragrance not vulgar. It should go well with the natural forest scent of the bath.

"As if hiding intentions, the fragrance is good so I'll have to use it directly to know if it's dangerous!"

Lulu lulu~

She tilted the bath salts into the bath. Clear liquid poured out gush gush gush.

『This fragrance is. It would be good to apply lightly after finishing bathing. It's lotion made for skin moisturizing...』

The demon stopped speaking at the water sound.

『What did you do...?』

Oing.

Pastel looked down at the poured bath salts (not). Unmixed clear lotion floated bob bob.

She rolled her eyes then pointed at the lotion.

"This guy says it wants to be friends with the bath water!"

It really did!

『What have you done.』

"A make friends project! It's definitely not a mistake and my smart head that heard the request went pishung pishung! Ah! These guys have compatibility to get along well! Popular Pastel should help!"

She pointed at the lotion.

"Look! Already best friends!"

The oily components floated bob bob on the water.

Pastel looked at the rainbow-colored shimmering oil then glanced at the demon's back. She subtly bent her body. Her hand movements quickly stirred the water.

Splash splash!

She hurriedly stood up pretending not to know. She pointed again.

"Look!"

The bath salts were harmoniously mixed with the water.

Huk.

"Totally best friend state!"

Is this the compatibility my head was certain of?

Totally smart.

『Don't tell me you poured lotion? How much did you pour?』

"Friends! I'm coming~!"

Pastel roughly put down the empty glass bottle and entered the water. Splash. The warm heat instantly made her body hot to the core. Hot exhaled breaths were let out.

"Wow! Wow!"

Perfect temperature control.

Demon is the only person in the world who can prepare bath water to Pastel's taste! Including Pastel!

She flipped her body then grabbed the bath edge and splashed. Both legs hit the surface causing bubbles.

Splash splash!

"Demon! Demon! Aren't you washing?"

The demon changed his sitting posture.

『It's not essential since I return to a fixed state when I go back to being a sword. Though I can't do it now since it's holy land.』

Come to think of it, you couldn't wash while imprisoned?

Heeh.

"Then is the soap fragrance from demon the fragrance from when you were sealed?"

『Hmm?』

The demon smelled his collar.

『I'm not sure. Does something smell?』

"It's okay since it's a good fragrance!"

So that's why you keep nagging me to tidy up the bedding.

Puu puu.

She sat quietly in the bath.

"Demon! Demon!"

『You can speak without calling.』

While saying that.

"Demon! Demon!"

『Yes.』

But Pastel had nothing to say after calling.

I just called.

She blankly raised her head. Constellations shone from the high cave ceiling.

Aha!

She turned her body and looked at the demon.

"Tell me love stories!"

The demon blanked out.

『Why does it become that?』

That is! That is!

"Because I'm at the age to become interested in love!"

『Don't say that with your own mouth.』

Hehe.

"Anyway! With that appearance, it's not like demon never experienced dating! If there's really nothing, even a one-sided love story is fine!"

It's awkward to say this, but according to father, didn't demon have a one-sided love for mom and fail?

Demon who lost to that kind of father.

Huk.

A slightly painful sense of wickedness...!

Demon cheer up!

Though you already lost!

The demon wiped his face with one hand.

『I understand what you want to hear.』

"I didn't say it was mom's story!"

『You just said it now.』

Huk, shock.

The demon changed his sitting posture. He switched to the opposite leg then crossed his legs again.

『Love huh. I'm not sure what kind of feelings you've developed, but it's better not to do it now. Think about it again.』

Perhaps advice arising from experience?

『A partner isn't something to decide with a light heart. You should consider various conditions, so it would be good to calmly ponder at least from when you're not a minor.』

The demon rubbed his chin.

『Hmm. I see. Don't even think about it for the next few years. From what I see, there's no one suitable for you around you anyway.』

Pastel's expression became blank at the sudden nagging.

Then it changed to a bright expression.

"Tell me love stories!"

『Hah.』

The demon who was changing the subject incidentally covered his face.