Chapter 98
This will be difficult.
Pastel poked out just her head from behind a rock at the edge of the floating hill.
The green vegetation covering the ground of the great cavern and the floating hills widely obscured her view. Even through that, black figures frequently riding birds and flying were visible in the distance.
Uwaa.
Aren't there too many cult members?
Though she carefully came up riding a baby bird while avoiding patrol gazes, she's not sure if it's possible to approach further.
She hid behind the rock again.
"When does night come here? There's a sun hanging on the cave ceiling."
Something mysterious illuminated the great cavern without being dazzling. If only that wasn't there it would be dark, so we could try sneaking up.
The demon who hid together poked out his head.
『Did God make it?』
"The sun's position is at the center ceiling, doesn't that not match the current time? I don't know the exact time but that's a position for around 12 noon, right?"
It's a sun but it seems just hung like a light bulb. Though I don't know if it will click off when night comes.
『That's an abnormal state. Considering theological interpretation, there's no way a sun in holy land would be fixed like that. It's the cult's doing. They probably forcibly fixed the sun that originally moved according to time.』
Oh oh, I see.
It would be difficult to wait until night comes then approach.
The demon's expression became serious.
『It's not a good omen. Whether the evil god's influence strengthened or they gained the ability to interfere with the holy land's system, whatever it is, the cult has gained dangerous capabilities.』
The demon rubbed his chin.
『We clearly collapsed them with such hardship 10 years ago, how did they...』
Pastel looked at the demon lost in past events for a moment then turned to the baby birds.
"Is there night here?"
―Piyo.
The baby bird's head shook.
"There's no choice. Shall we go back and regroup with friends?"
Though the floating hill we rode up is moving towards the cult's base, if there are that many cult members it's right to just give up at this point.
The cult is active on too open floating hills to sneak in like with the sky whale.
Pastel crossed her arms and pondered.
There's no problem finishing the Knight Order investigation at this point. Since the cult's existence is certain.
Though there's no physical evidence right now, I have power so if I force Knight Order pressure and investigation, it's possible to unify Sky Island's power.
All power to the academy~!
Don't worry, it's not dictatorship!
A very satisfying result.
But there's something slightly uncomfortable. This work seemed like it would take two days even if continued. The problem is what the cult will do in that time after realizing they were discovered by Knight Order spies.
The cult might not do anything and just run away, but that's regrettable in its own way.
"Can't we just quickly do it ourselves?"
Help me, hormone friend.
『Hmm?』
The demon woke from his thoughts.
『Ah, sorry. What were we talking about?』
"The great operation to blow up the cult."
『It would be stirring up a hornet's nest, but it's possible to try clashing head-on. After sending these baby birds back to their nest that is.』
Meaningless hornet nest stirring is a bit...
―Piyoo?
The beak of the baby bird who was just openly sightseeing outside since it's a certified resident anyway opened.
"What's wrong?"
―Piyo! Piyo!
Its wing pointed somewhere.
Pastel poked out her head. Black smoke not visible earlier was rising to the ceiling in the cult's area.
Oing.
Suddenly flames soared with an explosion sound. Cult members flying wobbled in confusion then flew to the source. Shouts mixed with questions of what's happening were heard.
Oiing.
"Did an alchemy experiment fail or something?"
Like Pastel learning potion making from demon?
Who told you to make and sell drugs like magic stone stimulants. Foolish foolish. It's karma.
The demon's brow narrowed.
『That's attack magic. It's an external assault.』
Uheh?
Pastel's expression became puzzled~.
Various thoughts flashed through her mind then made her body move.
"Let's infiltrate in this gap!"
She ran to the hill's building. A white temple rapidly approached. She flung open the door.
『What are you trying to do?』
The demon and baby birds hurriedly chased after.
"I pray this isn't sacrilege!"
Pastel entered inside and suddenly pulled curtains. Unable to withstand the force, the curtains tore off the curtain rods.
"Since it's come to this and we have baby bird friends' cooperation, let's just openly fly! Kids! Come here! Come here!"
―Piyo?
She wrapped a long curtain around the chick body's neck area.
"Like this like this!"
Pastel got on the baby bird. Then she arranged the curtain to cover her body.
"Let's fly while hiding!"
Since baby bird friend is a resident here anyway, there's no problem with just openly flying.
『Oh? A bird wrapped in curtains. It'll be good for getting attention.』
Huhu.
"But in a chaotic situation, they'll be too busy to pay attention to baby birds whose identities are already verified!"
They'd be perfect for getting scolded by superiors saying is this the time to watch such things.
Pastel checked if her hair showed through the white curtain. Pink yarn was clearly visible.
It's good my hair looks pretty but it's troublesome at times like this.
"One layer isn't enough!"
She got off the baby bird.
"Next curtain! Next curtain!"
The demon reached out his hand.
『Wait. That's not how you separate curtains.』
His hand waved as if raising the curtain. With skilled hand movements, the curtain rod's knot untied at once.
『It's the same as old grand temple curtains and knots. Catch.』
Wow.
Hands with curtain laundry experience showing!
Actually Pastel left all laundry to demon for times like this!
Foresight!
"Great! Hurry hurry do it!"
Pastel focused on decorating the baby bird with curtains.
Knot knot.
"Tell me if your neck is too tight."
―Piyo.
"Huh? You're saying your neck is tight already?"
―Piyoo.
"You're not? I see."
Considering weight not to be shaken by wind, she generously tied ten layers. It was a possible number since the baby bird was a giant chick as big as a person.
Pastel who finished preparations got on the baby bird. She thoroughly covered with curtains. The baby bird wrapped in lots of curtains walked to the hill's edge.
"Demon finished boarding too, right?"
『Yes.』
She patted the baby bird thump thump.
Depart! Depart!
―Piyo!
The baby bird jumped vigorously. The plump chick body left the ground and touched the air. Then it fell just like that.
Oing.
A sense of gravity swept her body.
Uwak?!
―Piyoo?!
The baby bird flapped its wings with all its might.
―Piyo! Piyo! Piyo! Piyo!
Flap flap flap flap.
The fall slowed and it rose little by little.
Huuk.
Pastel pressed her rapidly beating heart.
"Thought I'd die."
You need to diet a bit.
―Piyo.
The baby bird started slow flight while feeling embarrassed.
『Are you okay?』
"I'm fine."
As they approached the cult's base, the commotion grew closer. The cult members' murmurs became very audible.
-It's a Knight Order attack!
-Knight Order? What's the vice commander doing?!
-How did they know our location again?!
A cult member riding a bird passed nearby. They were too flustered to mention the baby bird with special fashion.
Pastel quietly held her breath.
Knight Order?
That incompetent Knight Order?
Was it actually a place with self-purification function without academy interference?
When the cult member's presence disappeared, she lifted the curtain slightly. She examined the source of commotion through the gap.
The thick forest had been swept once by sword strikes. Fallen trees were burning chaotically.
At the center, there really was a Knight Order in black armor. Magic staves fired bullets into the sky in an orderly manner. Lightning and flames exploded. Cult members screamed as they fell.
What's going on?
There were beings immediately noticeable. The Knight Commander and Melissa were talking with hardened expressions at the center of the formation.
Huk.
My best friend Melissa!
I don't know the middle process, but you did a good job!
―Piyoo?!
The baby bird peeking together was startled as if seeing something.
Looking closely, there were other people next to Melissa too.
Elsior and some baby bird were having a staring contest while carrying the same luggage bags. The two were just having a staring contest without conversation.
There's a baby bird there too.
Oing.
Pastel suddenly realized.
There were three of you!
When we met on the sky whale there were clearly three!
Back then one suddenly went missing and caused an accident by exploding an airship alone!
That baby bird friend still hasn't fixed its habit!
But it's okay since the result is good!
Pastel patted the baby bird.
"Don't worry. Since my friend Melissa is there, your sister? Sibling? Anyway your baby bird friend will be safe too."
―Piyo.
Since that side is trustworthy, we can go beyond infiltration to feint operations.
She closed her eyes and focused her mind.
As demon taught, she changed the commotion and noise into wide-ranging presences. A three-dimensional image was associated and countless cult member forms were drawn.
She drew everyone's movement routes and calmly observed taking time. She organized by excluding unnecessary information one by one through the elimination method.
The route of a cult member who seemed to be a messenger was clearly recognized. It was a route quickly going between the Knight Order battle site and some sky hill.
Command post found.
"I'll strike the command post."
Confusion, disorder, command system paralysis.
『Excellent tactics.』
They flew to the command post. Guarding cult members approached puzzled but she ignored them and landed on the hill.
The curtain opened amidst everyone's wariness. A girl's appearance was revealed. Blank gazes focused.
The girl stepped on the ground with a relaxed expression. She brushed up her disheveled hair. Pink hair flowed.
"You know me, right?"
Pink eyes looked around.
"Who wants to die first?"
A sword was drawn.