Chapter 38
“No! I don’t want to!”
Pastel dashed across the Deck.
Udada.
“I told you to spit it out, not eat it.”
The Demon in a suit chased after her.
“No! I don’t want to!”
Pastel ran Hurriedly.
She quickly chewed the Black Jelly.
Mumbling/Chewing Sound.
“Please, just listen to me.”
The Demon, having caught up in no time, snatched the girl.
His hands touched her sides, and the girl’s body lifted into the air.
Uwaah.
Pastel ran with all her might. Her feet pedaled in Mid-air.
Swoosh, swoosh.
Whish-whish Whish-whish
“Uwaaack! I’m Running at full speed, but I’m not moving forward!”
Is this the Demon's Curse?
Uwaaack.
So scary.
“Save Pastel!”
Lord Angel! Lord Angel! Guardian Angel!
Pastel flailed while being held up. Her arms and legs thrashed Frantically.
Hurriedly.
Struggling.
The Demon complained of mental anguish as he was struck by her arms and legs. Then, he held the Flailing girl further away from him.
“When someone speaks, listen to him or her. I told you to Spit Out that Atrocious thing, not eat it. Hurry.”
Uwaah.
“No! I don’t want to!”
Pastel Shook Her Head Vigorously. Her Pink Hair fluttered. Her hair hit the Demon’s face Tudak-tudak.
Good people told me To Ignore the Demon's Whisper.
A Mumbling/Chewing Sound.
The Black Jelly was completely chewed.
Gulp.
The Demon Flinched.
Pastel made a Declaration with a triumphant face.
“Ppu-ppu! I ate it all!”
Yay.
I’ve become a good child who doesn’t fall for the Demon's Whisper.
Uwang.
Pastel is so good!
Oh yeah.
The Demon let out a pained groan, as if his soul were leaving his body. The girl was set down limply.
“You really…”
“Ppu-ppu! Ppu-ppu! Pastel’s victory!”
Her small Pink Tongue stuck out, teasing him.
Blep blep.
Right after unknowingly putting the Black Slime extracted from the knife into her mouth, Pastel had the dangers explained to her.
The Status of Existence was literally related to one’s existence, so it shouldn’t be handled carelessly.
Direct actions like consumption, in particular, caused major problems and side effects. If direct actions are done wrong, one’s existence could be shaken and one’s mind ruined.
Even though this Status of Existence was mixed with demonic energy and processed to be Easily edible, there were too many uncomfortable aspects to consuming it, even when relying solely on the Authority of Magic Stone Consumption. It was definitely not safe.
After Hearing all that, Pastel only remembered one thing.
Heok.
I can consume the Status of Existence.
Can I become super ultra strong?
And so, she ignored the Demon’s words to spit it out, ran away, and swallowed the jelly.
The jelly was digested quickly.
Pastel’s Eyes Widened.
Oh my.
Her mind floated up.
Her brain Crackled.
Banjjakbanjjak.
A Sense of satisfaction washed over her, as if filling the Void of the Soul even just a little.
Oh my goodness.
It felt like eating a Substitute Food for Meat Pudding.
Has the Substitute Food Industry developed this much?
It wasn’t as good as Meat Pudding, but if I ate a ton of this, my soul might Be Satisfied…?
“Young Kraft?”
The Demon, who had approached at some point, grabbed both her shoulders. A Worried Gaze looked at her.
Heot.
Pastel Flinched in surprise. She wiped her drool with her sleeve.
Uwa.
It’s so delicious; it’s mind-blowing.
Actually, isn’t Black Jelly a friend of Meat Pudding?
Heok.
Among Friends.
The two of them went amicably into Pastel’s belly.
Uwang.
“Young Kraft?”
“Ah, yes, yes!”
Pastel looked at the Demon in surprise. The Demon’s hands reached out and squished both of Pastel’s cheeks.
What is this? What is this?
Her cheeks were squished Here and There.
Uwaaaang.
Pastel Steamed Bun…!
No red bean paste added…!
“It is Dangerous, as expected. It’s definitely putting a strain on your mind.”
The Demon frowned.
“In the first place, the Status of Existence is something that must be built up honestly through life. You cannot reach a Complete State by stealing from others.”
The Magic Stone Knife was examined.
“It would be best to Throw away the products. I will collect them after the battle is over, so keep that in mind.”
“What?”
Pastel rubbed her cheeks, and her Eyes Widened.
“You’re going to Throw it away after going through the trouble of collecting the Status of Existence?”
“It’s very bad for the mind, especially at an age like yours where Self-growth is necessary. Are you still trying to consume it even after what you just experienced?”
Ah.
“That’s just because it tasted good…”
Shy-shy.
Hehe.
The Demon looked at her suspiciously.
A Gaze full of Doubt.
“I-it’s true! It tasted so good, and since it was my first time eating it, I just lost my mind for a moment!”
The Demon let out a deep sigh.
“Forget it. You’ve already eaten it this time, so it can’t be helped, but there won’t be a next time, so keep that in mind.”
Oing.
A statement that gave a Sense of déjà vu.
The first time is hard, but the second time is doable, and the third time is…
Heok.
Good Pastel didn’t Think of anything at all.
Pastel whistled awkwardly.
The Demon looked at her questioningly before opening his mouth.
“Since you’ve already eaten it, it would be best to minimize the side effects for now. I will teach you how to use the Status of Existence. I didn’t teach you because it’s bad for Self-growth, but it can’t be helped.”
Uwang.
“If I Learn that, am I Knight-Level?!”
“Of course not. You aren’t even Semi-Knight Level yet, though your Base Stats and senses are so good that we’d have to see you in a real fight.”
Ing.
Pastel moved to the Cabin.
She sat Neatly on the bed.
“You must Enter your Inner World through Meditation. Then, the consumed Status of Existence will be causing disharmony with your inner self, so you must Tame it well. Once you Enter, you will intuitively know what to do.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Everyone’s Inner World is different, so there is no way to tell you Specifically. Just Think about Order and Harmony. You just need to go in a direction that satisfies your heart.”
Total Armchair Theory.
Iing.
“How do I become Semi-Knight Level?”
“You just need to Change the Outer World through your Inner World. Then the World will revolve around you.”
A real Armchair Theory.
Pastel looked like she was about to cry.
“Try Meditation for now. You’re overflowing with talent, so it will just happen.”
Glad to hear that.
Pastel closed her eyes.
Meditation, Meditation.
Sleepiness washed over her.
Deep sleep, deep sleep.
Good night.
“…You must not sleep. You need to be able to perceive your Inner World with a Sound Mind.”
Yes.
Pastel grew drowsy, listening to the Demon’s voice like a lullaby.
Drowsy, drowsy…
Snore, snore.
Zzz.
She fell fast asleep just like that.
#
The fast-asleep Pastel Suddenly opened her eyes in her Inner World.
Her body floated in the zero gravity of space. Her Pink Hair spread out Here and There.
Heok.
Was Meditation this easy? Wasn’t Meditation originally something calm and composed people were good at?
Could I be a Meditation Genius?
Heok.
Was I a calm and composed child then?
An Amazing Fact.
Pastel was a calm and composed child!
Uwang.
I should tell Lord Demon when I go back.
Ing.
Lord Demon?
Ah, right!
I shouldn’t be doing this. I need To Look Around my Inner World like Lord Demon said.
Pastel looked at her Surroundings in zero gravity.
Her Inner World was space. Stars twinkled beyond, and the Milky Way could be seen faintly.
Totally beautiful.
Pastel flew through space To Get Closer to the Milky Way, but the distance didn’t seem to decrease at all, as if it were an immense distance away. It was truly like space. She could only see it as if she were photographing it with an astronomical telescope, but she couldn’t reach it.
It’s too far.
If that’s the case, where am I?
An Empty Space in space?
Or a Planetary System?
She turned her body.
A Burning Sun caught her eye at once. A black, Black Sun illuminated space, emitting a contradictory light.
Twisted Essence and Origin.
Her inner self was showing her something.
Pastel flew toward the sun as if possessed. Even as she got closer, gravity didn’t act on her, but she could feel the heat.
It got hotter and hotter, and eventually, flames erupted on her body. The flames burned her body and shook her mind.
Her mind was bleached Pure White.
Uwaaack?!
It felt like my soft mind was flying away…!
It felt like Pastel Lovecraft would be corrupted into Pastel Lovecraft…!
Coming to her senses, Pastel Hurriedly moved away from the sun. She quickly brushed off the flames. The flames died down, and the cold space cooled her body.
She wiped her forehead for no reason.
Phew.
I almost died mentally.
Space is Cosmic Horror after all.
Full of Dangerous things.
What am I supposed to do after finding in such a Dangerous place the Status of Existence I went Nom Nom Nom on?
Shiver, shiver.
Pastel trembled as she looked at her Surroundings.
Status of Existence, Status of Existence.
Upon closer inspection, there was something else besides the sun. Rock fragments were circling the sun, following its gravity.
Rock fragments?
Oing.
Could you guys be the Status of Existence I just consumed?
For some reason, a Foreign Energy could be felt from the rock fragments. It felt like visiting guests rather than Family.
Pastel narrowed her brow To Ponder, and then nodded.
Just like Lord Demon said, rock fragments Suddenly existing in a Planetary System with only a sun are indeed disharmonious. To become harmonious, it should naturally be a Planet, shouldn’t it?
A Planet?
Heok.
I Suddenly realized how to bring guests into the Family.
Am I a genius?
Oh yeah.
Pastel gave a gesture to the rock fragments. The fragments moved through space according to her will.
Yaap.
The fragments collided and clumped together.
Squish, squish.
All the fragments merged and became a single small Rock Planet. When she Let Go of the Planet, it reached the sun’s vicinity and hovered at a close distance.
Uwaaang!
The sun and the Planet!
Harmony itself!
Pastel pointed at the sun.
Sun!
This time, she pointed at the small Planet.
Mercury!
She cheered.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto!
Ah?
Correction.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune!
We are Family!
Oh yeah.
(Pluto: Hiing…)
Pastel shook off the Crying Sound of the Planet coming from somewhere and looked at her new friend, Mercury, with a thumping heart.
Mercury revolves around the sun.
Heok, so touching.
As it completed one full revolution, a Change came Suddenly to her Inner World.
As if one were creating a Solar System, the Mercury Orbit was drawn in a Circle. Line met line, and the orbit was completed.
Order and Harmony arrived.
Pastel’s mind rang, Tingling. The Laws of Nature awakened her mind. A Clear realization came to her.
Could this be? Could this be?
Super Ultra Superpower acquired…?!
At that moment, Mercury made a noise.
Cracks formed on the Planet, and it crumbled to dust. The Planet returned to rock fragments. Her realization flew away.
Aah!
Mercury Friend!
Mercury Friend’s gravity is lacking!
Pastel jumped up from the bed in shock.
Heok.
The Demon stopped while trying To Cover her with a blanket.
“Right, it wasn’t Meditation at all, but it seems you entered your Inner World well anyway. You have great talent.”
Red Eyes looked at her.
“How was your Inner World? Was it full of sunshine? Did animal friends welcome you amidst beautiful cherry blossoms?”
Pastel looked like she was about to cry.
“Lord Demon! Lord Demon! Mercury Friend died from a Lack of gravity!”
Uwaah.
“What are you talking about?”
The Demon was bewildered.
“It crumbled to dust because it lacked gravity!”
Uwaah.
“No.”
#
The Grace Merchant Guild Leader smiled with satisfaction.
“There are three pirate ships. For the airship, we can just use the misappropriated Academy Airship, so if we Secure funds using the pirate ships as collateral, we can buy more Smuggled Goods.”
“That’s true…”
Pastel nodded weakly.
“Hmm.”
A Folding Fan pressed against the Merchant Guild Leader’s cheek.
“Your Excellency, you don’t look well. If you feel there is something unsatisfactory, it’s okay to speak honestly.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I made you worry. They’re Private Matters, not because of you, Merchant Guild Leader.”
Pastel shook off the feeling of losing her Mercury Friend.
“Understood.”
The Merchant Guild Leader changed the subject.
Documents were spread out.
“Is this amount all the Initial Capital you will put into the trading expedition?”
“Yes.”
“Is there no more? It’s much better in the long run to Gather as many funds as possible before the first Smuggling.”
“It’s a Compound Interest Calculation, so I suppose so. But this is really everything. This is the amount I’ve earned from Smuggling so far, combined with the Student Council Budget.”
The Grace Merchant Guild Leader tilted her head.
“Given the number of times you’ve smuggled so far, does the Capital seem smaller than expected?”
Pastel let out a deep sigh.
“Since my Family went to Ruin, I didn’t have the Initial Capital to run Smuggling. I bought trade goods with the Student Council Budget and gradually inflated the Capital, accumulating this much.”
It was a bit lacking for establishing a Trading Group, but it was still an amount to be proud of.
“The Student Council Budget…?”
“It was once my Entire Fortune.”
Pastel looked beyond with eyes that seemed to Recall a Faint past.
The past was when she couldn’t even eat chicken skewers.
Heueuk.
The Grace Merchant Guild Leader was flustered.
“What about the Kraft Family’s slush fund?”
Ing.
“Pardon?”
“The Family slush fund.”
The Kraft Family’s slush fund?
Is this the slush fund of the Marquisate where betrayal and conspiracy are traditions?
Pastel’s Eyes Widened.
There was no way a wicked and Evil Family wouldn’t have a slush fund.
But I don’t know a single thing about it.
Ueeeh.
The Grace Merchant Guild Leader was even more flustered.
“D-do you perhaps not know the locations of any of the slush funds? Oh my goodness.”
Uwaah.
Shock.
Shock.
Pastel collapsed into her chair.
Silence flowed.
“No wonder…”
The Grace Merchant Guild Leader let out a sigh. Then she put away the documents and fell into thought.
“In the long run, it would be best to find at least one slush fund to buy Smuggled Goods before the First Trading Expedition.”
Pastel drooped limply.
“I really don’t know anything.”
“Hmm.”
The Grace Merchant Guild Leader tapped her own leg with her fan.
“I don’t know about Kraft’s slush Fund Management, but surely there’s a portion managed by my older sister, who was the Head Maid, right?”
“I suppose so…?”
The Merchant Guild Leader’s eyes sparkled.
“If so, I have a place in mind. There’s a place my sister visited a few times unnecessarily.”
Oing.
Pastel straightened her back and focused.
“Where is it?”
“The Apple Farm is in the Camelot Territory, right next to the Camelot Mansion.”
Ing.
If it’s Camelot, is it the home of my Mage friend, Melissa Camelot?
“What connection does that place have with Kraft?”
The Grace Merchant Guild Leader explained Carefully.
“I know that His Excellency Kraft of the Generation Before Last pulled some strings and took the Apple Farm that Camelot had inherited For Generations. I Think the reason was that the apples were too delicious when he was served Apple Pie. It had been taken away from Camelot until then, and Camelot only recently got it back.”
Heok.
The wicked past of the Kraft Family was revealed once again.
The Seizure of the farm from another Family was just for eating a delicious apple.
Pastel’s heart beat Thump-thump.
The Family slush fund.
The slush fund was buried in another Family’s Apple Farm…!
Heok.
A Sense of immorality is overflowing.
“Let’s go Looting right away!”