Chapter 73
On the day of the tournament event.
The large arena was remodeled, covered with temporary walls and facilities like a colosseum. Food stalls set up by students surrounded the outside of this colosseum-like structure.
Pastel wandered between the stalls from early morning. She wasn't just playing around, but actually working.
"How's the control of outsiders going?"
Ellie followed closely behind with quick steps.
"Some trading companies brought unexpected people, so we're dealing with that."
A friend friend ran over, handed Pastel a memo that Dustin had likely organized on-site, and left.
Ellie read it and reported:
"Most were sent back, but some trading companies aren't being very cooperative. Seems like a pride battle between companies."
"What kind of pride battle? Like how much they can ignore the student council's authority that recommended bringing only verified people?"
"Yeah. But it seems they'll be able to send them back eventually, even if it takes time."
Originally, the tournament event was going to prohibit outsiders from entering. But there were too many students who didn't want to miss a good opportunity to appeal to outside organizations, so they had no choice but to open some doors.
It's the second semester now, and for many students from branch families or illegitimate backgrounds, self-promotion is truly a matter of future livelihood, so it's difficult to flatly refuse.
Especially since desperate upperclassmen even gathered student signatures along with Elsior Bellamont's, who was under assassination threat.
In fact, Pastel was still going to refuse, but Professor Horace, who was directing administration after the school's normalization, was a bit troubled.
"Ahem, junior. If you oppose too much, the student sentiment will worsen. How about compromising just a little, to a safe degree?"
It's very troublesome not to manage public sentiment when you've even brought private soldiers to the school.
Especially at a point when there's a consensus like "Isn't it safe now since Pastel personally caught all the terrorists?"
Huk, how could this be! There's trouble even when you do your job too well!
Is this the trouble faced by a dictator, no, a representative of public sentiment?
"Don't worry! I have a method!"
"Senior! Your junior trusted you!"
Pastel had to put her heads together with Professor Horace to devise a safe method.
Uwaa, why has a world come where we have to worry about hunger as students?
She feels somewhat understanding of Professor Carlo who put student safety on the back burner.
But she doesn't sympathize!
Still, after much effort, they were able to devise a thorough method for verifying outsiders. Though it was a way of mobilizing the Craft Trading Company and consuming a ton of the academy's administrative power, isn't it fine as long as the students are safe?
In the process, they also excluded personnel from that faction, including Professor Carlo, from all duties.
Hehe.
Those who can't work should just watch.
It's absolutely not revenge for accumulated emotions. Absolutely not.
Nod nod!
As Pastel was examining the current situation while recalling the past, she spotted a certain drink stall in her view and paused.
A senior who seemed somewhat familiar was selling drinks. When he turned the spigot of a wine barrel painted with orange patterns, orange liquid poured out and filled wooden cups.
Eeng.
Déjà vu.
『Hmm? Isn't that the guy who sold alcohol at the last festival?』
Huk, that's right!
The senior who secretly sold orange alcohol at the Glow-in-the-dark Dragon Super Festival!
But because of demon, only I couldn't drink...
Uwaa.
Pastel was needlessly regretful then paused.
Me then and now are completely different.
Current Pastel, super super authority figure.
First of all, demon with servant status was an unstoppable absolute authority figure!
Pastel approached with confident steps.
The senior who was wiping wooden barrels before the main event started turned around.
"Oh, second visit?"
Pastel smiled wickedly.
"But I'm different from then. Give me one-"
"It's alcohol."
Ellie who was sniffing the air frowned. Then as if feeling discomfort at Pastel's words just now, she stopped speaking and stared intently.
It was a gaze meaning "What were you about to say just now?"
Completely caught, Pastel froze then gradually changed to the expression of a righteous student council.
She slammed the booth table. She stared at the senior with a firm gaze.
"Senior! According to tournament event regulations, alcohol sales are absolutely prohibited! If you drink before duels, it becomes dangerous for both sides!"
"Ah..."
The senior was troubled.
"Isn't it fine since only first years are fighting today anyway?"
"Then are you not going to sell to first years today, second years tomorrow - no there are no second years - not sell to third years, and not sell to fourth years the next day? Even if they come looking to drink?"
The senior pondered then grinned. His thumb went up.
"A drink or two is fine for free spirits."
"It's not fine!"
The senior flinched.
"Alright. I'll put away the alcohol."
"We'll inspect unexpectedly so make sure to put it away!"
Pastel who diligently finished her work left the booth.
"Phew, this is really why you have to inspect on-site."
Ellie who followed out looked at her strangely. It was a gaze saying "Weren't you about to drink just now?"
Pastel suddenly felt wronged. Though she was going to drink, it was because she was going to drink after work finished, not now while working.
『Young Craft, surely you weren't going to drink alcohol?』
Huk.
A situation where I'll be scolded even though I didn't drink.
Uwaa.
This isn't right, I'd understand if I drank and got scolded~!
Pastel pretended not to hear the demon's words and ran.
"Let's inspect quickly! Inspect! Inspect!"
She carried out on-site inspections. Though Leonard and friend friends would inspect thoroughly anyway, doing it herself puts her mind at ease.
"Magic stone stimulants for sale! Not suspicious products from the cult, but safe products handmade by an alchemy major! Buy with confidence!"
"Uwak! What are you selling now?!"
"Seasoning for a fiery tournament!"
"I said no doping!"
Uwaa.
It's still like this because Professor Carlo tacitly allowed magic stone stimulants!
Should I have seized power earlier?
[The respected Marquis Your Excellency is working hard for students again today. All students should sincerely participate in the tournament event to repay this grace.]
Even the newspaper club, the voice of students, affirmed it.
I understand my friends' hearts well too!
Nod nod!
#
After finishing on-site inspections, Pastel met the head of Grace Trading Company who came to the school.
There was something she had requested.
The trading company head carefully placed a long box on the table.
"For now, I brought it made to match the quality you specified as much as possible. But it's absolutely not demon realm relic level. Many techniques in magic stone processing were lost or hidden during demon realm pioneering."
"Thank you!"
Pastel opened the box.
A magic broom caught her eye.
A white stick with pink tassels.
Uwaa!
It's sparkly sparkly!
Dazzling...
She carefully picked up the magic broom.
An excellent weight.
Are you perhaps named Nimbus 2000?
You're not? Puu puu.
The Grace Trading Company head was dumbfounded.
"What on earth are you going to use a broom with magic stones for?"
Pastel grinned.
"I'm going to ride it!"
She had an experience when fighting the cult group on the sky whale.
When she fixed and controlled magic stone knives under the table she was riding, the table actually flew around.
Huk.
Amazing fact!
Pastel could fly!
But then she only had Mercury friend and no Venus friend. It was half-flight that needed hand gestures to control magic stones.
But now popular Pastel has Venus friend too!
Meaning I can control magic stones without hand gestures!
"I'll show you!"
Pastel stood up from the sofa and walked to a wide space. She put the broom between her legs.
She focused her mind and sensed the magic stones inside the broom. She felt magic stone powder arranged in a metaphysical structure.
It certainly seems lower quality than the magic stone knives that were relics of the previous Demon King.
But it seems she can control it somehow.
Hwaahp!
Power to control magic stones!
Pastel controlled the broom.
"Pyo pyo~!"
Along with self-made sound effects, the broom floated up. With a riding sensation like mounting horizontal bars, her body floated along. Her feet left the ground.
Dangle dangle float float.
"Waa!"
Pink eyes sparkled.
I flew!
Pastel held the broom and flew slowly. She flew bobble bobble around the room at low altitude.
Bobble bobble bobble bobble~!
The Grace Trading Company head stared blankly.
"Why is that floating...?"
"Because it's an airplane that flew flew!"
Waa~!
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
The Grace Trading Company head blinked rapidly while staring at Marquis Craft. When her thoughts seemed to organize and bewilderment faded at some point, she opened her folding fan and covered her mouth.
"Well, the Craft family was at the vanguard of demon realm conquest... It's not strange even if they analyzed and stole the Demon King's powers."
"Shwoosh! Shwoosh! Wak!"
Pastel who was increasing speed suddenly braked when about to hit the wall. The broom tilted sharply.
Screech-!
She arrived right in front and her head bumped konk.
"Ow!"
"Are you alright, Your Excellency?"
Grr.
Pastel rubbed her head.
"I'm fine! Anyway, thank you!"
She bowed her head bow.
"My schedule is tight so I'll be going now!"
"Alright, Your Excellency."
Pastel looked around the window and spotted an open window. She gauged her body size against the window then floated the broom.
One, two, three!
She gripped the broom tightly and made it charge. Her body leaned back and her hair fluttered. As her view changed rapidly, the broom passed through the window in an instant.
Her view opened up. The blue sky and campus scenery came into view.
She flew up just like that.
The colosseum-shaped arena and surrounding booths could be seen at a glance.
People were as small as toy soldiers.
"Waa!"
Everything is within reach!
A view where I can immediately handle any suspicious signs!
Friends, Pastel will protect you!
As you wished!