Chapter 40
Pastel strolled through the Apple Farm alone.
After being treated to Apple Pie, Apple Juice, Apple Wine, and so on, she had received a Farm Tour from Melissa before asking for her permission To Look Around alone.
Melissa hesitated as if she had something to say, but Pastel, distracted by the slush fund, pretended not to notice.
Sorry, Melissa.
For a Popular person like me, managing a Friend's Schedule is necessary. I don’t have time for you today. I decided to spend it with my Slush Fund Friend.
Heok.
Slush Fund Friend.
A friend who makes my heart go Thump-thump!
The Slush Fund Friend sent a Request for Rescue from under the farm.
Save Me! Save Me!
Take me out~.
Uwaah.
My friend is in danger!
“Wait just a little bit! I’ll Save you!”
Pastel put on a Serious Expression. She placed the edge of her hand against her brow and scanned the farm with a Sharp Gaze.
Apple Tree, Apple Tree, Apple Tree.
Heok.
Apple trees are everywhere.
The very large farm was filled with Disorderly Apple Trees and Untended Plants. It was Easy to Get Lost, let alone a slush fund. Wooden Signposts Here and There indicated the distances and paths, as if there were quite a few Victims.
Ugh.
I feel like I’m going to become a Lost child.
I feel like I’ll cry out, Lord Demon, Lord Demon.
“Wait, friend! I will never give up!”
Pastel bent down and pressed her ear to the Ground. After listening for the sound of the slush fund, she tried sniffing this time.
Sniff, sniff.
Whole Roasted Pig Friend who went into my Womb, Help me!
Sniff, sniff. Sniff, sniff.
“What are you doing?”
Flinch.
Pastel sniffed for the scent of the slush fund a bit more before standing up and whistling awkwardly.
“I absolutely didn’t do a Strange Act because I despaired over the farm being too wide.”
Nodding.
“More importantly! Isn’t it too wide here?”
She spread both arms. As she spun Binggeulbinggeul, All Directions within her sight were the farm. The scale was at the level of nature, as if they just put a fence around an Apple Tree Forest and insisted it was a farm.
“It’s a scale where I wouldn’t be able to find my Slush Fund Friend even if they were crying with a Wailing Sound!”
Pastel also made a Wailing Sound.
How was she supposed To Loot a Hidden Slush Fund in a place like this? And it was Someone Else's Farm, too.
“It can’t be helped. An Excellent Result is obtained at the end of Diligent Effort.”
The Demon said that and then paused.
“Though Searching for a slush fund is absolutely not a Diligent Effort.”
“Heok.”
Pastel’s Eyes Widened.
“That’s right! Diligent Effort is needed!”
“No, it’s not Diligent. Do not misinterpret my words.”
“Diligent Pastel…! I will live diligently!”
“What are you talking about when you’re trying To Loot Someone Else's Farm?”
Pastel took the advice to heart and earnestly conducted a Search for the slush fund. She examined the Ground to see if there were any traces left from burying the slush fund and checked if there was any Artificial Vegetation.
Then, she managed To discover a certain rock. The rock was about Pastel’s Knee Height in size, and an Artificial Pattern could be faintly seen on it. It was a Subtle Pattern that would feel like a Natural Mark if one didn’t Examine it suspiciously.
Oing.
Master Detective Pastel’s intuition went Banjjakbanjjak.
As a result of a Deduction made with the Master Detective’s Excellent Brain, the Master Detective saw a clue to the slush fund here!
Pastel crossed her arms and looked down at the rock. With a Serious Face, she Arrogantly opened her mouth.
“Any deception and Disguise are useless objects in front of Master Detective Pastel!”
Ahem.
“The super-intellect that counters deception and Disguise!”
She placed Both Index Fingers against her head.
“Super-Intellect Deduction…!”
Iyaap.
Various clues were mixed together In One's Head. Going through Metaphysical Logic, she produced a High-Dimensional Conclusion.
Bbishoong~!
The Answer was seen!
Master Detective Pastel confidently pointed at the rock.
“This is…!”
“It must be under here.”
The Demon spoke up Cluelessly.
Pastel Froze while pointing at the rock.
“It would be best To Dig the surface slightly to check, and then return Tonight with a shovel. The Buried Contents probably won’t be large in volume. I suspect there might be a Promissory Note in a Gold Coin Pouch.”
Merciless Elaboration.
Uwaah.
Pastel, who failed to become a Master Detective, Waved Both Arms.
“Lord Demon is totally bad! Evil! The Demon Itself!”
“Wh-why are you like this?”
The Demon was flustered.
“What do you mean why! I just called Lord Demon, Lord Demon! Ebebebe~!”
“Why are you acting like this?”
Pastel ignored the Demon and dug under the rock.
She dug the Ground with both hands, Udada.
“Making Laundry~!”
Dirt splattered Pubababak, dirtying her White Clothes.
“Young Kraft?”
The Demon was appalled.
Pastel felt proud.
Ppudeut.
This was Making Laundry, filled with Countless Experiences.
It can tease a Guardian.
The Sense of immorality is a bonus~.
Oh yeah.
Letting the Demon's Whisper go in one ear and out the other, she dug the Ground. After digging deep enough to submerge her ankles, she dusted off her hands.
“I dug the surface, but what can we check?”
“No, haah. Wait, I will take a look. Hmm. There is Magic Treatment on the dirt. The possibility of a slush fund being buried is high.”
Magic Treatment?
Come to Think of it, it seemed like something like Black Magic Stone Powder was finely mixed into the dirt.
“Is it dirt with an effect like Detection Magic Blockage?”
“Correct.”
“Heeh.”
Pastel covered the Shallow Pit again. She stomped it down firmly with her feet and took a quick look. Perhaps because the Moist Inner Soil had been overturned, the color was dark.
“Let’s finish this with a Swift Resolution!”
Looting Tonight!
Oh yeah.
#
Melissa stared blankly up at the moon.
―Even if Kraft is an untrustworthy person, what will you do if you coldly reject a peer friend who keeps approaching you? You’ll create a grudge where there was none.
In Memory, her mother smiled as if she found it cute.
―If it’s impossible To Live Like Strangers, just get along moderately well. Don't Even Step on Their Shadow doesn’t literally mean a Human Shadow. It means don’t Get Entangled in their Dark Circumstances.
It wasn’t a Human Shadow?
Melissa was engulfed in shock. How much effort had she put into avoiding Pastel's Shadow all this time?
She paid meticulous attention, such as looking at the Direction of the Sun and being wary of the direction the shadow stretched. Because Pastel had a habit of Suddenly Running up To Greet her, it was a very Difficult Task, but aside from a few mistakes, she had pulled it off perfectly. It was the result of keeping a close eye on Pastel's Shadow as she approached, pretending to be friendly for no reason.
But to Think it was all in vain.
Melissa touched her forehead and stumbled. She grabbed the terrace Railing to catch her balance. The Apple Farm next to the Mansion could be seen below.
Mother's Words are right this time too.
No matter if it’s Kraft, there’s no way they would commit a Misdeed As if Breathing.
It’s the same today. She came all the way to the Territory Purely To Meet me. It wasn’t polite to Escape from such a friend as if avoiding a plague.
Melissa clenched her fists tightly.
Let’s become friends.
Because no matter if it’s Kraft, there’s no way it would commit a Misdeed as Easily as breathing.
Meanwhile, Pastel sneaked into the Apple Farm and was Shoveling under the rock.
Heok.
Perfect Crime.
#
Pastel was able to obtain the fruit of her Diligent Effort. She put down the shovel she used To Dig the pit. She wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“Phew.”
Is this True Labor?
I feel like I could do it every day, As if Breathing.
Proud.
She pulled out the Wooden Box that was faintly revealed from underground. It was roughly Palm-sized.
“It’s small.”
There probably aren’t any gold bars.
“Gold is Excellent for burying, but this is strictly the Camelot Territory, after all.”
True.
She brushed off the dirt and Carefully opened the box.
Dugeun Dugeun.
The first thing she saw was a Gold Coin Pouch. Even if the box was filled tightly with gold coins, given the size of the box, it seemed to be for the purpose of Emergency Funds.
She pocketed the pouch and examined the Inside. There were checks with Leather Wrapping.
Dugeun Dugeun.
Thump-thump.
The checks were safely divided under various names that seemed Unrelated to Kraft across various Trading Groups and Institutions.
When she totaled the amount, a Long Number entered her mind.
Ing.
How many zeros and how many commas…
As she gradually realized the amount, Pastel’s mouth fell open.
Heok.
Ten times my Entire Fortune…!
The share of ten Pastels…!
She threw both arms up.
“Uwaaang!”
Her exclamation pierced the Night Sky.
A Refreshing Day!
Oh yeah.
Then she Flinched.
“Hmm.”
Heok, right.
This is Someone Else’s Apple Farm.
I am a Looter.
She grabbed the shovel again and Hurriedly covered the pit. She scooped up a mound of Earth, pushed it in Neatly, and went Pat-pat with the shovel.
Clean Without a Trace.
She Carefully tucked the checks under her arm. Holding the completely Suspicious shovel, she ran through the Apple Farm. It felt like she could hear the Sound of Hunting Dogs from somewhere.
Uwaah.
Hudadadak.
I didn’t do anything!
I just liked taking a Night Walk…!
She passed by countless apple trees. A wooden fence came into view. She ran straight at it, grabbed the fence, and vaulted over. Her body seemed To Float Up and then made a Landing.
Pastel escaped Hurriedly just like that. She hid the shovel in the planned Thicket and, whistling awkwardly, she proceeded To Enter the Mansion Walkway.
She just needed To Return to the Mansion like this.
She was Glancing repeatedly behind her for no reason.
There was no one chasing her.
The corners of Pastel’s mouth went up, Bizukbizuk.
Perfect Crime.
“Lord Demon! Lord Demon! I Think I have a real talent for this!”
The New Star of the Looting World!
Oh yeah.
The Demon was dumbfounded.
“…That is not something to brag about.”
Heok.
I see!
Shock.
Sho-ock.
Ahaha.
Pastel laughed to herself and took the checks out from her arms. As she removed the Leather Wrapping, Splendid Numbers dazzled her vision.
“Ah! My Heart Feels Warm!”
Hugging the checks, she spun Binggeulbinggeul.
“The World is Beautiful.”
You are beautiful, and I am beautiful too~.
In time with her song, a voice was heard from somewhere.
“Kraft?”
“That’s right! In this beautiful World, my name is Pastel Love, eue?!”
Pastel was startled.
Melissa, in Light Attire, was walking down the Walkway.
“Me, Me, Melissa?!”
Pastel began To Tremble and shoved the checks into her arms. She whistled awkwardly.
“What’s the matter, Melissaa?”
I really don’t know.
Melissa hesitated, acting slightly Shyly.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Aha!”
It really is nothing.
Phew.
For her Sleepless Friend, Pastel cleared her throat. She opened her mouth with a lower tone than usual.
“I too want to walk together?”
“…Okay.”
They walked along the Walkway. As Pastel deliberately didn’t Start a Conversation considering the nighttime, a Quiet Walk Time continued.
The Chirping of Insects could be heard.
A Cool Breeze blew.
Before they knew it, the Mansion was close.
Melissa cast a Glance at her.
“Kraft, I have something I want to say.”
“Anytime! Ah, Anytime.”
Melissa Bowed Her Head.
“I Apologize for my behavior of pushing you away all this time. I was rude. Can you forgive me for being like this? Even now, I want to be friends with you.”
Friends?
Pastel tilted her head.
“We were Originally Friends.”
“That’s…”
Melissa hesitated before smiling softly.
“Is that so?”
And then she looked up at the moon.
“I Think I misunderstood you all this time. No matter if it’s Kraft, there’s no way you would commit a Misdeed as Easily as breathing. because you’re Human.”
Pastel Froze for a moment. The Gold Coin Pouch and checks in her arms felt Heavy.
Heok.
Suddenly, her conscience stung.
Pastel: A Bad Kid who commits misdeeds As if Breathing.
Uwaah.
An Undeniable Fact…!
Please excuse it as Livelihood-Driven Corruption!
Pastel flailed both arms. She grabbed Melissa abruptly. Melissa looked at her with wide eyes.
“Kraft?”
“N-n-No Need to Apologize because we’re friends!”
Her conscience was Tingling completely.
She felt like a completely bad kid whose actions were Looting the farm despite coming with the purpose of building a Friendship.
But it wasn’t just a feeling; it was a fact…!
“From tomorrow on, let’s really hang out like friends! Ah, right! We’ll spend Melissa’s Daily Life together, forgetting Past Worries and hesitations.”
Having a tea party and going Hahahoho.
Heok.
Tea Slurping.
Cookie Munching.
The Perfect Daily Life of a Noble Young Lady.
“Together.”
Melissa acted Shyly.
“Kraft is the plan, and tomorrow we will be together.”
The Successor of the Southern Commander said.
“Shall we go for the Subjugation of a Red Boar? There’s news that one is prowling around a Private Residence.”
Subjugation?
Oing.
The next day, Pastel was forcibly woken up by Melissa at dawn before the sun even rose.
And with her hair still messy, she was dragged to the Stable and assigned a horse.
A drizzle was falling.
O-ing.
Where is my tea party?!
What about Tea Slurping and Cookie Munching…?!