Chapter 30
The School, having welcomed the vacation, was quiet. As if waiting for tomorrow to stretch its limbs, the Cradle of Learning fell into a deep sleep.
But not everything was asleep.
There was a presence in the Student Council Room. The pink-toned girl sat in a chair, looking into the Knights Order’s report.
“Is it the Church?”
The Demon in Suit Attire looked over it with her and furrowed his brow.
『This shouldn’t be possible. Aren’t the Investigation Results wrong? The Church hasn’t been ruined for long. There’s no way it could be rebuilt already.』
“What is the Church, Specifically?”
『It is an Organization that denies the Personal God and reveres an Evil God. During the void when the Personal God’s Divine Revelation was cut off, it rapidly expanded its Force and threatened the Temple.』
Pastel furrowed her brow as if imitating the Demon.
“Is it Religious Strife?”
『You might feel that way. But it’s different. The Church reveres an Evil God, but it’s closer to a Self-serving Organization than a Religious Group. They make deals with the Evil God and pursue personal Wealth and Glory. They don’t shy away from Murder or terrorism.』
“So they’re a Group that follows the Secular Contract of an Evil God rather than the ethical words of a god, for the sake of their own Wealth and Glory.”
『Correct. It’s not a proper religion.』
“Heh.”
Pastel looked straight at the Demon with a Subtle Expression. Meeting his Red Eyes, she formed a Strange smile.
“The Church’s activities aren’t much different from a Demon Contract. They involve listening to what the Demon demands and gaining Evil Power for oneself.”
『In fairy tales, yes.』
“Heh.”
Pastel poked the Demon.
Can’t Lord Demon do something like that?
I want to get Evil Power.
Like slicing a departing airship in half with a single swing of Swordplay.
The Demon, his expression Complex and Subtle, looked down at her.
『Do not fall into pointless temptation. It will only Ruin you. Solid strength is obtained at the end of Diligent Effort.』
Pastel Suddenly sulked.
So un-Demon-like.
Shouldn’t you be giving a Recommendation for a Demon Contract at a time like this?
“Ah, whatever! I always knew Lord Demon wasn’t much Help in my life! It’s just the same this time!”
『What?』
The Demon was dumbfounded.
『Get into the habit of folding your blankets when you wake up in the morning before saying such things. Who do you Think organizes the blankets you just leave crumpled up?』
“The bed does! My Bed Friend and I are on good terms, so it organizes the blankets for me! You didn’t know, did you? I knew! It’s because the gloomy Lord Demon doesn’t have any friends!”
She stuck out her tongue.
Bleh.
“Hmph!”
Pastel whipped her head around and scribbled with her quill.
Church, Church, Church, Church, Church.
The Group that caused my loyal Retainers to die.
And then shamelessly played with me.
The rough scribbling dirtied the report. Ink smudged and tangled. The quill tore the paper. She snatched the torn report. The sound of tearing paper rang out.
“Evil God Worshippers.”
I will definitely kill them.
Pastel Bowed Her Head deeply.
The air sank.
The Demon tried to say something but stopped and moved his hand. His hand pressed down on her Pink Hair.
Time passed.
Pastel let out a breath.
“I’m sorry. I know you organize my blankets every morning.”
She twiddled her fingers.
“It’s just, I was so furious that I let the opponents I needed To Take Revenge on go unharmed… I took it out on Lord Demon for no reason.”
What disrespect to Lord Demon, who always helps me.
『It’s fine.』
“I’m sorry.”
『It’s fine.』
Pastel picked up the torn pieces of paper one by one and organized them.
“Would it have been right To Fight then? Should I have risked revenge as the Family Head instead of suppressing my emotions like a coward?”
『You judged rationally.』
She shook her head.
“I don’t Think I’m qualified to be the Family Head. Why did they die to protect someone like me - “
『Young Kraft.』
A hand stroked her Pink Hair.
『Do not lose yourself to life. The outcome is not decided by your choices alone. A Human is too powerless before the World To Blame himself or herself. You did your best in that moment. It’s just that timing and luck didn’t follow. Aim For the next time. There are many opportunities.』
Uwaa.
Lord Demon’s kind advice.
Is this the Demon's Whisper?
If I couldn’t make a Demon Contract, shouldn’t I at least rely on the Demon's Whisper?
I Think so.
Pastel deliberately took a breath.
And she shouted with all her might.
“Understood!”
She threw both arms up.
“Hormone Friend! Let’s Wait for our revenge together! We’ll show them that even those who prey on the Weak and Cower before the strong can be brought down!”
Don’t Escape alone!
Let’s do this!
We can kill them!
Adrenaline spurted out pyong-pyong.
The Hormone Friend answered as if responding.
Yeah! Next time, let’s chop the opponent to pieces! We’ll sever their limbs! Aja Aja!
Oh!
A reliable Answer.
Oh yeah.
Pastel Slapped both her cheeks clap-clap.
I can do it!
She looked back at the Demon.
“Lord Demon! Lord Demon! Since it’s come to this, let’s work hard on Smuggling! We’ll Gather a ton of money, Build up our Force, and take down the Evil Cult!”
The Demon, who should have responded to match the mood, hesitated for a moment. It was a reaction showing he was flustered because an uncomfortable word had Suddenly made an Appearance.
Huh?
Pastel’s Eyes Widened.
“Lord Demon? I can’t take down the Evil Cult? Really?”
What?
Is Lord Demon worse than the Hormone Friend?
The Demon Hurriedly responded.
『Of course you must take them down. You can do it.』
His hand patted her Pink Hair.
Pat-pat.
Pastel felt his touch and nodded vigorously.
“That’s right! I can be good at Smuggling!”
『No.』
“It’s Smuggling that even Lord Demon affirmed! I will work hard!”
The Demon was left speechless. His thoughts seemed complicated.
Seeing that, Pastel felt proud.
Good.
Seeing Lord Demon flustered definitely makes me feel better. My gloominess has flown away.
Is this the joy of a tomboy?
Hehe.
This Sense of immorality feels surprisingly good.
Pastel laughed and grabbed her quill.
That was a good Mood Change.
She took out a new Piece of Paper and wrote.
The things to do during vacation were written down calmly.
The first thing to do is take advantage of the Dormitory New Construction to Secure the Demon King's Inheritance that should be underground.
The Demon King's Inheritance?
Until recently, I wanted Magic Stone Replication, but I changed my mind.
Rather than Magic Stone Replication, I hope there’s something the Hormone Friend would like.
For example,
Something like a chainsaw!
Saw blade vroooom~!
#
“An underground passage?”
She walked with the Construction Manager.
“When we exposed the floor, there was a corridor that wasn’t on the Design. It looked deep, so we haven’t entered it yet.”
“Ah, that.”
Pastel pretended to know for no reason.
“As you know, this place used to be an Officer Training School. There are some military secrets. Please issue a Construction Halt for now. Our Student Council will Look Into it and let you know.”
After invoking the Student Council Authority, she went to the New Dormitory Construction Site a short while later.
The existing Dormitory had been torn down, leaving only the floor. The Manager took the laborers and left the Site.
Pastel was left alone. She looked down at the dim underground stairs sitting alone on the floor. She smelled the musty and cool air. There was a Fishy smell of water.
“What kind of facility is it?”
When she casually tossed a pebble, the sound echoed.
Oh?
According to the echo, it seems to be quite Spacious.
『It doesn’t seem to be a Military Facility.』
Pastel abruptly cupped her hands and shouted.
“Yahoo~!”
The sound echoed.
Yahoo, yahoo~.
Wow.
She shouted again.
“Pastel is smart!”
She quickly listened closely.
The sound came back.
Pastel is smart.
Gasp!
Pastel’s Eyes Widened.
“Lord Demon! Lord Demon! It says so!”
Pastel is totally smart.
The Underground Facility Friend acknowledged it too.
The Demon was silent for a moment then ignored Pastel and resumed what he was saying.
『It doesn’t seem to be a Military Facility. It’s probably a Sewer built even before the Officer Training School was established. They must have just buried it and built the Training School.』
Heok.
Our Friend was a Sewer?
Sorry, I’ll Correct it.
Underground Facility Friend -> Sewer Friend
Misunderstanding resolved.
Clap, clap, clap.
『Strictly speaking, in a broad Sense, this place is a Holy Land of Demonkind. After Humans committed the Seizure, they deliberately built the Officer Training School here as a Form of mockery. It’s a situation where officers educated in the Holy Land of Demonkind invade the Demon Realm.』
Pastel, who had been half-listening, paused.
Eh.
What a Vicious intention.
Humans are totally Evil.
『They must have gone out of their way to Build the Training School without even doing a proper Sewer Burial. I understand why the Inheritance is here too. The Demon King must have hidden it somewhere in the Sewer during the Sky Island war.』
Pastel was morally outraged.
“Humans are really bad! I’m a Human too, but the Idea of building an Officer Training School on the Holy Land is really too much!”
It might have been during a war. But hasn’t it been left unresolved even now that it’s Peaceful, with the Academy just built over it again?
“Bad people! Bad people! It was a long time ago, so the bad people are probably in the Cemetery, but if I ever meet them, I’ll scold them!”
Bash-bash!
The Demon’s voice became Complex and Subtle.
『The promoter was Kraft at that time.』
Oh dear.
I ended up Hearing about the Family’s Evil history.
Pastel’s mouth fell open.
She subtly averted her Gaze and awkwardly whistled.
T-Troubling.
It feels like I should bow my head and Apologize.
a 100th-degree black belt in bowing, Pastel~.
『More importantly, let’s get going. It’s not good to keep delaying the construction. It will Draw unnecessary attention.』
“Ah, yes!”
Pastel Hurriedly entered. A dark, long corridor continued. It was damp and humid, but the dirty water itself seemed to have evaporated and wasn’t visible.
As she went deeper, the light coming from the stairs disappeared. It became difficult to walk Right in Front of her.
She squatted down and began to light the Oil Lantern she brought. The pink-toned girl fiddled with the lantern in the hard-to-see darkness.
Fiddle, fiddle.
Hmm.
Ah! Here it is!
She found and took out the tinder and flint attached to the lantern. When the flint was struck, sparks flew. After several attempts, she was able to transfer the fire to the oil-soaked wick.
The lantern brightened, and the corridor was faintly illuminated.
“Phew.”
Pastel wiped her forehead for no reason.
Lighting a lantern is totally hard.
Guess it doesn’t suit my aptitude.
『…Next time, light the fire in a bright place before coming in.』
Heck, is he a genius?
No wonder it was hard.
Ahaha.
Pastel Burst Out Laughing by herself and Thrust the lantern forward.
“Darkness, Retreat!”
The Faint light is awesome.
Woah-Woah.
She raised her sword like a Hero.
“With the light, I am not afraid!”
Let whatever it is come out.
I’ll face it with my ultra-awesome Swordsmanship!
She did an Exploration of the Sewer. She passed a Fork in the road and wandered around the Labyrinth-like places.
And, as she wished, she encountered something.
Unknown eyes filled the dark Opposite Side densely.
Oh!
She lifted the lantern. A scene unfolded where knee-height rats completely filled the corridor. Countless eyes stared at Pastel.
Woah.
Hello, Squeaky Friends!
I squeak too.
You squeak too.
We squeak.
As if responding, one Giant rat opened its snout. Blood-stained front teeth were visible.
Uh oh.
We’re friends, right…?
『There are dozens of eyes just from what’s visible. There must be at least hundreds of them. Escape. A Swarm of Rats is a Natural Disaster.』
One Giant rat cried out, squeak~!
Gasp! Super cute!
The Crying Sound echoed in the corridor. Countless eyes looked back from beyond the dark corridor. Hundreds of eyes stared at Pastel.
Gasp, not cute.
The rats' Crying Sound rang out in Succession. The corridor vibrated. A Black Tsunami rushed in.
“Uwaaah!”
Pastel turned around and ran like an arrow.
『There should be a Ruins Entrance somewhere. Find it and you live.』
The Pursuit began.
Save Pastel.