Chapter 75
"Ziiing~"
Pastel walked towards the waiting room where the tournament bracket drawing would take place, putting on an intelligent expression.
"As a result of Great Detective Pastel and Revenge-Loving Pastel putting their heads together, I realized."
She pointed at the empty space in front of her.
"Professor Carlo is suspicious! If there's a spy on campus, it can only be Professor Carlo!"
That's how it was.
Huk.
Tremendous sense of betrayal.
『As I said before, Sky Island is the frontline and not just anyone can become an academy professor. Though I don't know the empire's current situation well since I was locked in the basement again while a generation changed, the basic structure probably hasn't changed much.』
Pastel shook her head.
"But actually demon was wrong! That's it!"
『Give me a reason.』
Reason, evidence.
"You think foolish foolish Pastel can't answer? But I can answer! Because this is related to the cult and I'm judging very seriously right now."
Pastel put on an intelligent expression.
"As I said before too, Professor Carlo handled work too strangely. Of course when looked at separately it wasn't that strange, but when put together it's strange!"
She looked back at the empty corridor and folded her fingers one by one.
"He tried to abolish the student council system for students. He tacitly allowed magic stone stimulants, facilitating the cult's infiltration. He didn't block the sewers in time, promoting assassination and terrorism."
That's right that's right.
"He handled work with valid reasons like budget savings, performance improvement, and administrative principles for each, so it wasn't particularly strange, but isn't the person too consistent?"
When coincidences continue, it becomes inevitable.
『That could be, but I doubt the empire has declined to the point of not properly screening even academy professors.』
Ing.
What kind of image does the empire have in demon's mind?
Is this the generation gap created by age difference?
Uwa.
The age gap is too big~
『In my opinion, that professor seeming suspicious is simply because he's too incompetent. The position one sits in doesn't represent their ability.』
Pastel who was trying to refute whatever the ancestral generation demon said was dumbfounded.
『Originally those with teaching professions easily misjudge that the world is also lacking like those less capable than themselves who they teach. That professor just abandoned humility, sat in a high position, and displayed his incompetence for all to see.』
Completely harsh words.
Words that would make Professor Carlo doubt his ears if he heard, wondering if this is really defending him.
Even though she still didn't know if he was really a spy, Pastel's conscience was pricked poke poke at the sight of the professor being insulted in real time.
Demon is totally like a demon.
"I think your words are too harsh."
Really.
『Hmm? Why are you speaking as if I'm the bad person? It's common for those competent in their field to overestimate themselves, thinking they're more capable than others in unrelated areas too.』
Pastel shook her head.
"Gossip is bad."
That's right that's right.
『No, why have I become the bad person.』
The demon was perplexed.
The waiting room door at the far end of the corridor opened. Ellie poked out her upper body and looked left and right down the corridor, then spotted Pastel.
"Pastel, come quickly. Everyone's waiting."
"Ah! Okay!"
Pastel ran with her pink hair fluttering. When she entered the waiting room, she saw friends assigned to Tournament A.
Melissa, Elsior, Leonard, Friend Friend A, Friend Friend B, etc.
All kids I know!
Since they made several tournaments and divided by grades so similar kids would face each other, only the top tier gathered in Tournament A.
Pastel waved both hands.
"Hello friends! Did you wait for me? You waited for me! The long-awaited Pastel has arrived!"
Melissa who was intently glaring at Duchess Elsior alone brightened.
"Ah, Pastel. Was there some trouble on the way?"
Pastel answered freshly.
"No! I just came late! I'm a tardy person!"
But I won't get scolded because I'm authority figure Pastel~!
Yahoo!
"Did you all miss me? I'm sorry!"
Pastel put her palms together and apologized gently.
Sinful popular person.
Sniff.
"Hey! No one missed you so hurry up and do the bracket drawing."
Leonard who was sitting with his feet on the table nodded towards the platform. His friend friends were standing like subordinates, apparently absorbed in playing boss.
"No one missed me?"
Pastel's eyes went round.
Then she burst out laughing alone.
"Ahaha! Leonard! My friend ranking in my heart won't change just because of that! If you try to get attention that way, only your ranking will drop."
You just dropped out of the top 20!
"What?!"
Leonard's mouth fell open. He was extremely dumbfounded then turned to his subordinate.
"Why does she always speak so annoyingly?"
The subordinate pondered then answered.
"Boss, they say strong denial is affirmation."
The other subordinates nodded too.
"You guys?!"
Scolding continued.
Pastel's eyes went round.
"Uwak! Friends! Don't fight over me~!"
She waved her arms with a slightly tearful face.
"I understand enjoying insubordination is fun but! If you keep fighting over me, you'll all become less than friends! Really!"
Ellie glanced at the scene and approached.
"Boys."
She brushed her black hair behind her ear then handed over a paper box.
"Let them fight and let's do the bracket drawing."
Oing.
Totally chic.
Pastel looked at Ellie with a dumbfounded face then turned to the fighting scene. Then she looked down at the paper box and pondered.
She smiled freshly.
"Okay! Let's do that!"
She walked to the platform. Dustin who was awkwardly waiting moved aside.
"You all know, right?"
She pointed at the tournament bracket behind the platform. The people's names were empty, but they'll draw now.
"You come up one by one and draw!"
Pastel looked down at her friends then pointed at the silver-haired girl sitting quietly alone in one corner.
"Elsior first! Come on up! It's a heart-pounding bracket drawing!"
Elsior was slightly troubled. Then she hesitated without getting up from her seat and spoke.
"I'll forfeit."
Oing.
Pastel was perplexed.
We held this tournament to safely face off and see what the next level apprentice knight-class is like, but if you drop out...
I'm flustered flustered~
"Why are you trying to forfeit?"
Pastel hurriedly picked up the tournament guide. She pointed poke poke at the rewards section.
"Even if you say you don't need the prize money since you're from the Bellamont ducal family, look! There's extra credit for semester report submission! If you get this, you can prepare the second semester report leisurely!"
Totally good!
Elsior shook her head slightly.
Ing.
She lowered the tournament guide.
"Why are you trying to forfeit?"
"Well."
Elsior hesitated, slightly burdened by the focused gazes. Then she spoke embarrassedly.
"Because I'll win anyway."
Oing.
"I'm sorry to take away a good opportunity, and I shouldn't be involved at this level in the first place."
Level.
"I didn't enroll to interfere with your level, so it seems you should enjoy yourselves among yourselves, excluding me as an exception."
A chilly silence fell.
Pastel's mouth fell open.
"What."
Leonard who was grabbing his subordinate's collar let go. A fierce gaze glared at Elsior.
"Are you picking a fight? Huh?!"
Elsior was troubled.
"No, I'll forfeit."
"That's what you're saying!"
Leonard slammed the table bang. As the noise filled the room, it was covered in a hostile atmosphere.
Melissa who was watching covered her mouth and secretly let out a small sigh then opened her mouth.
"Bellamont, be polite to your classmates. This isn't the north where you were born and raised."
Elsior who was troubled looking at Leonard brightened slightly.
"You're right. The sense of being in the north until recently remains, so it's difficult to match your level."
Melissa smiled gently. Then she silently stared at Elsior for a moment.
"If it's difficult to suppress your sharp on-site sense, shall I be your opponent? In the tournament. I'd be a sufficient opponent, right?"
Elsior was troubled again.
"I don't particularly want to easily handle a magician in a narrow arena. You're not even an archmage."
Melissa's eyelashes trembled flutter. She looked like she wanted to exchange arguments like during the tea party at the Bellamont dormitory, but was holding back since this was a public space.
Hueh.
Pastel opened and closed her mouth.
Apprentice knight-class is totally arrogant.
Elsior stared.
"Anyway, so I'll forfeit. Play among yourselves."
Hueheh.
Pastel met her gaze then grabbed the quill pen on the platform. She started writing additional text in the regulations section of the tournament guide.
Scribble scribble scribble scribble.
"That's impossible!"
She held up Tournament Guide 2.0.
She proudly pointed with her finger at the regulations section that somehow seemed to have just been written with ink not yet dry.
"It's impossible to forfeit on the day of the tournament! Because that's an act of betraying the hearts of students who prepared diligently!"
Pastel who wanted to face off anyway shamelessly declared.
This is power!
Yahoo~!
I love power~!
Elsior looked with a dumbfounded face.
"What is that."
Leonard hit the desk and laughed loudly.
"Serves you right! Serves you right!"
Leonard's finger pointed at Elsior.
"This is our academy! How about that! Can you still look down on our level after this?!"
Oing.
Leonard, you complained that popular Pastel was annoying earlier, but to change your attitude like that.
Unlike your hobby of playing boss, it's a totally sycophantic attitude.
Then, then...!
Pastel's expression became full of power.
Totally fun!
I hope more sycophants appear!
Ahem!
"Ah."
Melissa who turned red gently covered her face.
"To think this is our level..."
It was a very embarrassed voice.