Chapter 64
"I'm going to protect my friends~!"
Pastel walked vigorously through the trading company streets. Crowds gathered on both sides of the road.
"Being popular comes with responsibilities!"
She spun around then raised both arms high.
"Yay~!"
Behind the lively pink girl walking energetically, about 200 gloomy soldiers followed. They were fully armed with weapons and even short-barreled guns at their waists.
Pastel subtly turned around while walking to check the personnel.
A reassuring number of people.
Is this the achievement of smuggling that started while barely eating?
Satisfied!
"Everyone! Let's do our best!"
She raised one arm and waved it heave-ho!
The tense-faced soldiers hesitated whether to respond to the excited Marquis alone.
Eeng.
Did everyone's sensitivity die from eating sword food on the battlefield? Or is military discipline enforced?
Max, the overall commander of the trading company guards, approached with a tense expression like the soldiers. Then he opened his mouth in a small voice.
"Are we really attacking the academy like this? Though they're weak to surprise attacks since there aren't many regular troops, the academy's predecessor is clearly an officer training school. If crisis strikes, upper year students will instantly convert to student soldiers."
Uwa?
Somehow a serious atmosphere and topic.
Someone might think we're going to do something bad.
As she looked around while walking, the spectating crowds whispered suspiciously at Max's tense expression and small voice.
How could this be, how could this be!
I'll be misunderstood as a bad child at this rate!
Such misunderstandings are enough with just demon!
Pastel proudly shouted.
"What do you mean attack! We're going to protect friends, that is students!"
She spread both arms and spoke as if for the spectating crowds in Sky Island's downtown to hear.
"The current situation at the academy is too chaotic! Though internal and external crises have come with the chancellor passing away and terrorist plans being discovered, they're just repeatedly holding professor meetings without properly dealing with it!"
She clenched her fists vigorously.
"Many things are wrong! At this rate we can't protect innocent students who just focused on studying!"
She turned around and pointed at the soldiers.
"So we're stepping up to resolve the chaos and protect students! Before a greater tragedy occurs!"
Pastel paused while passionately speaking. She retraced the meaning of her words just now and her mouth fell open.
I'll resolve the current chaotic system with my soldiers and make it peaceful. Trust me since it's not with bad intentions.
Huk.
Now that I say it, it sounds like something said in a coup d'etat encouraging insubordination.
Pastel opened her mouth in a triangle like a baby bird and was shocked.
I just thought the academy guards were insufficient so I planned to ignore school rules like a bad child and reinforce with private soldiers to protect friends, but how did such an atrocious statement come out of my mouth?
Could it be that I got addicted to insubordination climbing on demon's head and even my speech habits became bad?
Uwaa.
Demon!
Why did you raise me like this...!
Max lowered his head with a serious face.
"I understand, Marquis. Anyway, conflict with the academy managing Sky Island was inevitable as the trading company grew. Now when the academy is unprepared may be the more suitable timing."
"What?"
Suddenly feeling like I've been promoted to coup leader.
"That, that's not it...!"
Pastel flailed in confusion.
"We're just going to protect friends! Since it would be difficult to get Knight Order help quickly if terrorism occurs during the tournament, we're increasing troops! And giving some private soldiers to protect the most endangered Elsior, that is my friend too!"
Max's expression became one of complete understanding.
"I see. We're going to protect Your Excellency's friends."
Ah.
You understand right away.
Phew.
Pastel sighed in relief.
I've returned from being a bad child committing insubordination against the academy to a good child going to protect friends.
Max turned to the troops.
"We're charging into the academy."
"Yes!"
The soldiers answered in unison.
Charging...?
Somehow the word choice?
"Um, you understood properly right?"
You don't think protecting friends is just an appropriate pretext, do you?
"Yes."
Max answered reliably while touching his chest. It was an attitude prepared for fierce battle.
Eh eh!
It is reliable but!
Somehow it seems reliable in a different meaning...!
Uwaa.
Pastel trembled her hands then startled at the intense gazes around. The surrounding crowds whispered tremendously while staring.
A chain reaction of people who understood the situation explaining to puzzled people, and earlier spectators explaining to later spectators.
The number of whispering people and range increased by the second.
Huk.
Pastel's body trembled.
Tremble tremble tremble.
Why do I feel this way when I should feel good receiving attention from so many people?
Well, it's a completely bad misunderstanding~!
Some spectators were seen leaving the scene to spread the surprising news.
"Uwa uwa."
It's completely out of my hands!
I've been certified as a bad child to all of Sky Island!
Pastel flailed her hands with a tearful face then gradually turned red. Steam rose from her face and tears welled up.
I-I-I'm not that kind of bad child!
But what I said is also right!
Uwaa.
Demon!
Why did you raise me like this!
Demon is the worst!
She squeezed her eyes shut and shouted with all her might.
"Everyone it's a misunderstanding...!"
The whispering stopped and gazes focused. Then even more intense whispering began.
Truth abandoned before stimulating lies.
It was an unstoppable spread.
Uwaa.
"I don't know~!"
Pastel decided to flee from the harsh reality.
Pitter patter.
The pink girl moved away at tremendous speed.
Max was surprised then chased after.
"Follow the Marquis! It's a blitz from now!"
The soldiers shouted battle cries. The armed troops followed the tearfully running Marquis.
"Please believe me everyone...!"
#
"Hoo! Hoo!"
When they frantically ran and arrived near the academy, Max caught his breath while exhaling roughly. The following soldiers were the same.
Pastel who quickly became fine alone since her body transcended human became apologetic.
"Uwa, I'm sorry. I ran alone without thinking."
Max wiped sweat from his forehead.
"No, hoo. It's good not to give time to prepare. We should catch our breath for a moment since there may be battle with the academy guards."
"Ba-battle."
Pastel's lips trembled. Her face turned pale.
"There won't be anything like that!"
Both hands flailed in the air.
"We're going to protect friends! Good soldiers leading good academy to protect good students! So it's a good and good and good situation."
Pastel held up three fingers then brightened.
"Goodness tripled!"
Completely heaven level.
Pink eyes sparkled.
"There definitely won't be battle!"
Pastel confidently assured.
However, she couldn't give assurance to those around.
Max and the soldiers exchanged glances then decided to ignore the Craft family's image management acting.
They had already prepared for the ruthless distrust of deceiving even subordinates when deciding to serve Marquis Craft.
There's no way she would sincerely say things like goodness tripled. They just needed to engrave that there won't be battle.
Though they didn't know how there would be no conflict while committing the oppression of bringing private soldiers into a sacred educational institution, they could roughly guess. She must have schemed. The Crafts are the empire's top scheming family after all.
When they arrived at the academy gates, they encountered armed guards. It was an appearance prepared for battle.
Max and the soldiers weren't surprised since they didn't believe nonsense like goodness tripled! at all.
Though the Marquis who should have known best trembled.
Uwaa.
Pastel turned pale.
Goodness minus three times!
Completely hell level!
Huk.
They were tense and wary gazes.
Anyone would see it's the appearance of guards facing delinquents.
Seems the rumors have already spread.
The academy's guard captain walked out from the main gate. He stopped at a distance then opened his mouth with a hardened face.
"Even if you're Marquis Craft, this is a garden of learning and cradle of martial arts. You cannot bring in soldiers."
Clear honorifics and formal speech.
Feeling like I suddenly became an outsider instead of a student.
Pastel's breath caught.
I-I just brought them because the academy's guard force seemed insufficient.
Max looked with a resolute expression. It was the face of a warrior prepared for battle.
It's reliable but!
Don't be reliable~!
I don't need that kind of face...!
Uwaa.
Pastel waved both hands in the air.
"A-as the student council, I brought them to increase academy guard personnel in preparation for the tournament event! Only for student safety!"
The guard captain stared blankly. It was a reaction like "Were you too lazy to even make a plausible pretext?"
No, it's true?!
A commotion arose and students and professors gathered at the main gate.
The professors gathered at the scene then saw Pastel and the troops and discussed busily in panic.
Among them, Professor Carlo seemed to lead the discussion like a representative, but Professor Horace stepped forward and shouted loud enough for everyone to hear.
"She said she brought those troops as the student council! The student council audit is my jurisdiction! Or are you mocking me now?!"
After more discussion, it seemed a person in charge was decided as Professor Horace walked out. The guard captain stepped aside as if facing a superior.
Professors and students stopped the commotion and watched the situation. Though there were many people at the academy gates, it was more silent than ever.
Professor Horace opened his mouth with the face of a true educator of a sacred educational institution.
"Marquis, did you say you brought soldiers to increase guard personnel as the student council?"
Pastel turned pale.
Uwaa.
I'm not that delinquent~!
She trembled tremble tremble then barely answered.
"Yes~"
Professor Horace closed his eyes as if savoring Pastel's answer.
"Representing professors and students, such a bold move by the student council is..."
The guard captain organized the guards as if expecting the next answer. The professors were the same. They were wary preparing for possible conflict.
Pastel's face became like she was about to die.
Professor Horace opened his eyes wide. Then he smiled brightly.
"A very excellent intention I think! Hoho!"
Only laughter echoed in the silence.
Oing.
The professors looked at the traitor with shocked expressions. Professor Horace shouted at the guards with the face of a true educator.
"What are you doing! The Marquis wants to enter but you're not clearing the way!"
When Pastel stood still, Professor Horace took the initiative to approach.
"Let's go, Your Excellency!"
Pastel was led dazedly. The armed forces followed. The troops completely entered passing through the main gate and over the confused guards.
Professor Horace smiled brightly.
"Bloodless occupation!"
At the statement like plan complete, professors and students stared at Pastel with wide eyes.
Completely gazes looking at a Craft...!
Uwang!
Pastel belatedly trembled.
Senior!
If even you make such coup statements my heart!
My heart...!
Pastel who was shouting in her heart paused.
Oing.
She subtly looked around.
The professors were glaring at Professor Horace and spitting out silent curses. Since they weren't actually cursing, it seems there won't be forceful resistance.
The guards were dumbfounded but since the person in charge acknowledged and they passed the main gate, they don't seem to plan on fighting either.
The students are, just seniors and friends.
Oiing.
Come to think of it, the current situation doesn't seem bad.
The school belongs to students anyway and the student representative is the student council.
And I'm the student council vice president cum general affairs head cum planning head cum public relations head cum volunteer service head cum student guidance head.
The corners of her mouth loosened hehe.
"That's right! It's a bloodless occupation! According to my plan!"
Oh yeah oh yeah.
Hehe.