Chapter 184
What have I really been doing all this time?!
My head spun round and round.
Even when my financial situation improved and my position rose, requiring me to pay attention to maintaining my dignity, the decision not to carelessly hire subordinates was definitely exquisite.
The first principle of information management is minimizing the number of people who can know the information.
As the number of personnel increases, management costs increase exponentially, and mistakes are inevitably bound to happen.
Adhering to this grand principle, which would be maintained even in a world where technology advances and Magic exists, was unavoidable for Pastel, who lacked knowledge and experience in information warfare.
In the first place, what was the reason I could at least hold my ground against Mr. Penguin, who operated the Imperial Intelligence Network? Wasn't it because the opponent also found it difficult to investigate my weaknesses, so there was no reason to be intimidated at all?
Since I had no Subordinates, if I left documents behind while working, I had to go get them myself. Since I didn't hire a Chef, I had to cook my own meals, and I had to do basic things like laundry and cleaning myself, but I could fully endure it.
Because Lord Demon would do it anyway—no, because an advantage in information warfare was worth that much.
As Governor-General Pastel, I have not an inch of regret about this choice. Even as Demon King Pastel, I have not an inch of regret about this choice.
If there was a downside to Minimizing Subordinates, it was that a Bottleneck Phenomenon could occur in work, but thanks to the existence of outstanding imperial studies personnel like Princess Ellie and the future Southern Commander-in-Chief Melissa, it didn't become a problem, so it was an excellent choice.
Of course, although other risks arose because of that, anyway, as Governor-General Pastel, I was appropriately satisfied.
But, bu-u-ut.
For just Pastel, who rolled around in bed eating cookies, it made no sense at all…!
What was I thinking, leaving even my underwear laundry to Lord Demon…!
Do I have no shame?!
Gasp.
A shock that would make the cookie I was eating fall from my mouth.
Absolutely opposed! Absolutely opposed!
But it had already been realized…!
Hwaaah!
"I can sympathize. But I think it was too much."
Melissa placed the Bundle of Documents on the table. She took the remaining Bundle of Documents from Pastel, placed it down, and shook her head.
"Mother told me that the Battlefield is important enough to let go of dignity, but even so, one shouldn't consider the Battlefield as life itself. It was a teaching she imparted when I, having learned the Concealment Technique, hid in the Wardrobe to avoid the eyes of the Servants."
"Hwaaah!"
Pastel, her face turned bright red, grabbed her head. Her body flailed around on its own.
Melissa-a!
Thanks for the advice, but right now I'm not at the level of being embarrassed after learning the Concealment Technique and hiding in the Wardrobe with a fluttering heart only to be caught by Mom!
"I need Regression Magic!"
I want to go back to the past, give the work-crazed Pastel a flick on the forehead to scold her, steal her cookies to eat, take a nap, and then hire Servants…!
Melissa pressed her lips with her finger and thought.
"According to Magic Theory, going to the past is roughly impossible. Magic is essentially assimilating with nature, but Time Manipulation is the act of being an independent existence disconnected from nature."
"I don't need such an exemplary answer!"
Pastel's breath trembled. She grabbed Melissa's shoulders. Pink Eyes stared earnestly.
"What about altering Lord Demon's memories?"
It might be possible if I smash Stone Friend into the back of Lord Demon's head as he passes by!
Gasp.
Stone Friend is omnipotent!
Melissa looked troubled.
"It's impossible, but even if it were possible, wouldn't it be impolite? More importantly, what do you plan to do about your underwear laundry from now on?"
"Of course, I have to make sure Lord Demon can't even get near it!"
Iron Wall Defense!
Iron Wall Defense!
Pastel pumped her fists, Eusyaeusya.
"Then shall I lend you my Maids? Hiring someone new right now is highly risky, just as Pastel thought."
Melissa pointed to one side of the Guest Room. A neatly dressed Maid bowed her head.
"They are personnel selected militarily, so there will be nothing for you to worry about. Hmm. Though I don't know if they will meet Pastel's strict standards."
"Gasp, thank you! As expected, I only have Melissa!"
Pastel tightly hugged her best friend.
Touched! Touched!
Melissa was someone who even protected the safety of my underwear!
Melissa flinched in a fluster before carefully moving her arms to hug back.
"Since we're on the topic, may I continue speaking?"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Considering that the Archdemon washed your underwear without saying anything, Pastel, your love is…"
Melissa hesitated.
"I think it's hopeless."
Gasp.
Pastel's body stiffened.
"Has the Archdemon ever told you to wash your own underwear yourself first?"
"W-Well, he hasn't."
"So even though you have the leeway now and there's no need for him to do it, he didn't bring it up first. If so, it means he doesn't take this matter that seriously. Wouldn't it feel like an everyday thing, like Blanket Laundry?"
Uwah?
"You mentioned your date with Mr. Nathaniel to the Archdemon a while ago, didn't you?"
"I did…?"
"Continuing to wash the underwear of a girl who now knows how to talk about love—isn't that only possible if he truly doesn't think of you in that way at all? Since he can't even imagine himself being the target of that love, he can continue to consider it routine laundry like before."
Pastel stayed still, her thoughts halted. Then she slowly slipped out of Melissa's embrace.
Pink Eyes slowly spun around.
"That's, that's."
First of all, I think Melissa is wrong.
Because…
This is because she has to be wrong.
But it was so logical that it was hard to refute.
Oh my goodness...
My thoughts became complicated.
As they tangled and tangled, a flashing idea crossed my mind.
"Ah!"
Pink Eyes sparkled. She looked straight at Melissa.
"You're wrong! Lord Demon was just so embarrassed that it was hard for him to even mention this topic!"
Right, right!
There was no reason for him not to be embarrassed when dealing with the Daughter of the Unrequited Love Interest.
It wasn't like he picked up the Daughter because he still couldn't forget the dead Unrequited Love Interest and was immersing himself in the role of an Adoptive Father.
Huh.
The demon, who found out that the originally annoying Romantic Rival was wandering around abandoning his daughter after his wife died, decided to pick up the daughter and become her adoptive father with the mindset of 'I should have been the one to marry her'…
But it turned out the Romantic Rival was doing it to resurrect his wife. However, the evil deed of abandoning his daughter was obviously something he would get cursed at by his wife for. Even if he resurrected her, it was clear it would lead to divorce.
If so, it was only natural that her heart would go to the demon who had cared for the abandoned Daughter with utmost sincerity and finally proven his love.
Gasp.
Pastel froze as she delusionally imagined Lord Demon's Malicious Intent all by herself.
Objectively, she knew the possibility of Lord Demon harboring such Malicious Intent was small. But a faint sense of betrayal rose up.
She didn't have a naive enough mindset to mistake compassionate goodwill for love, but when it was cleanly denied like this, her heart ached.
Pink Eyes trembled before squeezing shut.
"I don't know!"
Anyway, Melissa is wrong!
"Even if you try to persuade me with facts, I won't fall for it!"
That kind of thing doesn't work on the smart Pastel!
"Pardon?"
"I don't know, I don't know!"
Pastel vigorously shook her head and ran out of the Guest Room. She dashed down the Corridor frantically. She went up and down the Stairs and headed to the Hotel Kitchen.
She threw the door open. The door hit the wall and made a sound.
"Lord Demoooon!"
Lord Demon, who was boiling Pasta Noodles, turned his head.
"What is it? If it's not an urgent matter, your opening the door so roughly—"
"Lord Demon, you're totally mean!"
Lord Demon made a Dumbfounded Expression.
Pastel, her face red with embarrassment and anger, quickly shouted.
"If you're going to wash my underwear, get my permission first! Don't just wash it as you please! Isn't that basic common sense?! Why are you washing someone else's underwear as you please?! Don't touch my things!"
Silence flowed.
Lord Demon wordlessly opened and closed his mouth.
The sound of water boiling in the pot could be heard.
Teary Pink Eyes glared at him.
"Totally mean! Totally mean! Totally mean! Totally mean!"
Having shouted in succession, Pastel was soon panting with heavy breaths.
Then, as Lord Demon, whose expression had changed from flustered to bewildered and wronged, tried to open his mouth, she shouted at the top of her lungs as if to cut him off.
"Lord Demon, you're totally mean!"
Pastel stuck her tongue out and blew a raspberry. Her pink tongue peeked out and blew a vigorous raspberry.
Bleh.
"That's why you got dumped by Mom! You should think it's rather a good thing you got dumped by Mom! With that kind of sense, even if you had dated, you would have been dumped by Mom in no time! Lord Demon and Mom are inherently incompatible! Good for you! Good for you!"
Bleh.
—Out of nowh—
"Bleh!"
She blew a raspberry and ran out of the kitchen. She stomped up and down the stairs and threw open the guest room door. She scored a goal into the bed.
"Lord Demon, you're totally mean!"
She hugged Pillow Friend and rolled around.
After that, Pastel didn't even look in Lord Demon's direction for a week. When eating at the same table, she moved her bowl to the side at an angle, and when he spoke to her, she diligently used Finger Earplugs.
"I can't hear you! I can't hear you!"
She was shaking her head side to side.
—Hah.
The demon, who had finally given up after trying to talk to her for a week, walked powerlessly to the window sill. His red eyes looked up at the sky.
—This is ridiculous…
It was a voice filled with many emotions.