Chapter 65
Professors' Council.
Though formally there were higher decision-making bodies, this was where various matters of the academy and Sky Island were actually decided.
Normally professors would sit around a large table arguing, but now something was different.
The biggest difference was likely the soldiers lined up on all four walls. Though they were just normally standing by in full armor, somehow the professors were sweating nervously.
Why weren't the professors conducting the meeting as usual, instead looking around with suffocating expressions?
Surely it couldn't be because of the soldiers.
These soldiers were the result of Marquis Craft's consideration, allowing the professors to be guarded even during meetings after she crossed her arms, went eeng eeng while thinking, then said:
"The professors' council is a very dangerous timing with important people in one space, how can the guards be so insufficient? It would be a big problem if terrorism occurred!"
In a situation where assassination plans for the duke's daughter and indiscriminate terrorism plans were discovered, professors couldn't be safe either, so everyone was grateful for Marquis Craft's ocean-like grace.
Of course, there were some professors who didn't know grace.
They pointed fingers with fierce expressions at the exemplary Professor Horace - they were too scared to insult Marquis Craft who was grinning innocently even in this situation - and even called for the non-existent guards, but such ungrateful few were dragged out with limbs grabbed by soldiers so they weren't here.
The professors here had no complaints about the grace of soldiers guarding the professors' council. Of course they became intensely curious about what happened to the dragged away professors, but it was only for a moment. They had the brains to know such things without being told.
So the reason the professors were sweating profusely was different. The most rational reason was likely due to the student in the seat of honor.
With a student participating in the professors-only council, the school finally became owned by students. Order was restored and the school normalized. Since it was an exceptional event, the professors couldn't help but be tense.
The only one who could escape this tension was an exemplary professor who cared for students more than anyone and was more upright than anyone, namely someone like Professor Horace.
Professor Horace sitting to the right of Marquis Craft smiled brightly. His mouth shape was somewhat frivolous as if unable to contain his laughter.
Could he be so satisfied with the normalized situation of students becoming the school's owners? The professors here should learn from that exemplary attitude from now on.
But surprisingly, there was still someone insulting such a Professor Horace here.
『As expected this bastard is the root cause. I could tell from when our first meeting was catching smuggling. Young Craft, you need to get rid of this guy immediately. Look at how he's proudly sitting in your right seat after causing this mess. He's a really bad guy.』
Fortunately, no one could hear the demon's wicked whispering.
Not even Pastel whose head went boing boing from power dopamine.
Boing boing boing boing~
Dopamine boing boing Pastel led the meeting with a grin.
"How about the professors' council withdraws its previous position and maintains close cooperation with the Knight Order to block the assassination plan against Elsior Bellamont and ensure student safety? By attaching Knight Order escorts to Bellamont and increasing the academy's guard force."
A strong opinion expressed by the student council representing students. When put to a vote, it passed unanimously.
The professors worked for students more than ever before. It definitely wasn't because of the fully armed private soldiers.
#
Pastel was in a good mood all day. She twisted her body and rubbed her loosened mouth corners.
Hehe.
Is successful insubordination this good of a feeling?
With Professor Horace's help and cooperation, she brought the professors' council's authority to the student council. From budget approval rights to guard operation rights.
A natural procedure!
Because students are the school's owners!
But though it was done with such benevolent purposes, somehow her mind sparkled sparkle sparkle and her heart floated float float each time she gained an authority.
It's too thrilling.
"Uheheng."
She twisted her body violently.
The demon combing her disheveled pink hair looked down displeased.
『Don't get addicted to the wrong thing. When addicted to power, greed keeps growing to an unmanageable extent. Whether you give up desires or not, the end isn't good.』
Pastel who was about to answer kindly as usual recalled something and looked up at the demon in formal wear.
Oiing.
『Why?』
I feel this good after making the professors' council above the student council kneel.
How good would I feel if I made demon above Pastel's head kneel?
The girl's heart went thump thump thump thump.
She opened her mouth with a trembling voice.
"D-demon."
『Speak.』
She swallowed dryly gulp.
"Can I make a rude request?"
The demon was dumbfounded. He twirled the comb in his hand once then combed down Pastel's hair. Pink hair stretched long and was arranged.
『If you know it's rude, don't say it.』
A firm voice.
"How could this be~!"
Pastel staggered.
『What do you mean how could this be. If you thought it was rude when speaking, it's a rude request.』
The demon rubbed his chin.
『Hmm. You thought with your tomboy head and still judged it rude, it must really be a rude request. Don't even bring it up.』
Pastel who wanted to do it more when told not to just shouted.
"Demon!"
When she tried to speak she was slightly embarrassed so she squeezed her eyes shut.
"Please kneel just once!"
Silence fell.
Pastel subtly opened her eyes to check his reaction. The demon looked down dumbfounded without speaking.
Uwaat.
Feeling like a child committing unfilial acts toward their guardian.
"O-or honorifics or..."
Pastel who was losing momentum suddenly had an idea flash.
"Ah right! I'm a marquis anyway! Marquis Your Excellency! Isn't it natural to use honorifics to Marquis Your Excellency?!"
That's right that's right!
"Speaking casually to Marquis Your Excellency! Morals and honor! Manners and etiquette! Set an example as a guardian! How will I grow up if demon acts like this!"
Nod nod!
Pastel completely agreed with her own argument and waved both arms.
The demon stepped back one step then looked with arms crossed. Red eyes were very dumbfounded.
『How do you think I'll answer?』
Pastel paused. She narrowed her brows and thought seriously.
Then she brightly spoke her wishful thinking.
"Marquis Your Excellency, I understand."
Uwa uwa.
Just imagining it makes wickedness go boing boing.
The demon shook his head then looked with his chin raised and gaze looking down.
『Young Craft, it's an impossible request.』
Huk.
Pastel staggered then became slightly sulky.
"You're walking around in servant status anyway! Just use honorifics, it's not even difficult!"
She clung to the demon's arm and shook it.
"Honorifics! Honorifics! Set an example!"
The demon poked Pastel's head with the comb.
Ouch.
『Lower your voice since people around can hear. Stay still since your neatly combed hair is getting messy again. You can sit here.』
The demon dusted off a large wooden box with his hand then spread a handkerchief on top.
『Sit.』
Insubordination failed...
Pastel sat on the clean handkerchief with no strength. The demon rearranged her hair.
She looked around while swinging both legs. The docking area bustling with sailors and mercenaries came into view.
Internal measures at the academy to prevent assassination and terrorism were finished. Perhaps because Professor Carlo led it, the lukewarm sewer blockade was roughly finished too, with some entrances buried and soldiers stationed at others.
So with only two days left until the tournament event, she was looking around the airship docking area to ensure safety.
Leonard walked over leading soldiers from the far side of the docking area. She had told Mr. Max in charge of private soldiers to share some command authority.
Anyway, the process was for Leonard's subordinates slash friend friends to find suspicious things then mobilize private soldiers to pounce. There were results, catching some demon race spying around the academy pretending to be mercenaries.
"Are you playing alone again after ordering others around."
Leonard criticized.
Pastel swung both legs while sitting on the box.
"It's not playing but managing!"
Oh yeah.
"Shameless bastard."
Leonard glanced at the demon then reported.
"An airship composed only of demon race mercenaries was discovered. They say they came from the demon realm but keep docking without doing anything."
"Heeh."
Pastel stopped swinging both legs.
"And and?"
"When we checked what kind of guys they were, the mercenary captain was apprentice knight-class. Since Elsior Bellamont is apprentice knight-class, they'd need to be about that to cleverly assassinate her right?"
"And and?"
Leonard who was speaking well raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, why is your attitude like that? Am I your subordinate? Huh?"
Oing.
Pastel's eyes went round.
She rolled her eyes as if thinking then answered brightly.
"Yes!"
A fresh voice rang out.
"Wh-what?"
Leonard's mouth fell open.
A shocked expression.
Eeng?
At the unexpected reaction, Pastel thought deeply again.
Think think.
Four bears.
Eeeng.
Isn't he a subordinate?
This is official work and I'm a super ultra authority.
Arrogance overflowing~!
But separate from arrogant feelings vigorously welling up, she didn't feel the catharsis of coup power.
I don't feel any joy from ordering Leonard around unlike with demon.
Why is that?
Come to think of it...
He's weaker than me anyway.
Disappointment.
Disappointment~
Pastel thought deeply then smiled brightly.
"Leonard who's weaker than me! You don't need to be a subordinate! We're friend friends!"
Oh yeah, congratulations.
"Weaker than you?!"
Leonard's expression suddenly crumpled.
"Hey! What kind of thoughts did you go through to say that? Your expression changes were strange!"
Oiing.
I just stated facts.
Pastel rolled her eyes then got down from the wooden box she was sitting on. She raised her arm energetically.
"Since we spotted wicked villains!"
She suddenly ran.
"Dispatch dispatch~!"
Private soldiers followed.
"Hey! Hey! You're not stopping?! You shameless bastard...!"
Shouts were heard but didn't reach her heart.
Is it because he's weaker than me?
Nod nod.