Chapter 13: This School Has No Festival
by Polar Bear
“Industry-academic cooperation?”
Professor Carlo examined the proposal.
Pastel swallowed dryly.
Where’s the problem?
“You got signatures from everywhere except one place.”
“Yes.”
Carlo put down the proposal. His serious eyes met hers.
“Why do you think a student council is necessary?”
Alright, a question within the expected range I prepared for.
“Because the role of a student organization that consolidates and reflects students’ opinions is essential. There needs to be a permanent body so that reasonable opinions don’t evaporate.”
“We don’t need such a grand organization for research and training. If there are complaints, talk to your department, and if you have opinions, suggest them to the professors.”
Alright, within the expected range.
“The whole is not just the sum of its parts. Someone needs to encompass the departments and act as a lubricant. A single gear can’t do anything, but interlocking gears can move a steam engine.”
Carlo looked at her quizzically.
“What’s a steam engine?”
Eh.
The professor’s eyes became thoughtful, then found an answer.
“Ah, that research field in the Pure Engineering Department. Doesn’t get much investment from merchant groups, does it?”
Oh no, it failed.
That was a bad analogy.
The professor looking at the proposal picked up a stamp.
Thunk.
A red mark was stamped.
“This is your last chance. If there are no results here, the student council system will be abolished.”
Oh yeah.
Pastel’s eyes shone.
“I’ll work hard!”
She left the professor’s office.
She closed the door and leaned against it limply.
Phew.
“I almost died from nervousness. That professor’s expression is too stiff.”
『Oh boy.』
The demon laughed lightly.
『Still, you spoke well. Good job.』
Hehe.
“I can do it when I need to, you know.”
Unexpectedly competent.
Ellie walked over from the other end of the corridor.
“Pastel, all the department representatives have gathered. We need to go quickly.”
“Already? Such proactiveness! Alright! Let’s go!”
She grabbed Ellie and ran.
When they arrived at the borrowed meeting room, the older students were huddled in a corner. In the center of the crowd, some representative was being kicked while rolling on the floor.
“Agh! Agh! What did I do wrong! It’s you guys who couldn’t even win at arm wrestling that are the problem!”
The excuses were met with more intense kicking.
The Magic Department representative watched the scene haughtily. There was a subtle sense of superiority at the corners of his mouth.
The magician sipped his coffee superiorly.
The Magic Department gave a look to the student council that had just entered.
“Hm? I guess the student council president is too busy to come after all?”
“Yes, I’m in charge.”
Pastel looked around the chaotic meeting room. The older students were focused on stomping on someone.
Wow, how do I handle this?
Is it okay for a freshman to open her mouth impertinently in this atmosphere?
Uwaaah.
The Magic Department opened his mouth instead.
“The student council is here! Quiet!”
The older students finally noticed Pastel. They flinched and hurriedly returned to their seats.
In an instant, the commotion settled and a meeting atmosphere was created.
Wow, everyone’s such a nice person, being considerate to the freshman.
Pastel bowed her head to the Magic Department.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing, start the meeting.”
She walked to and sat at the head of the long table. The representatives sitting in rows on both sides gave her looks.
Oh, oh.
Uwah uwah.
The unbalanced combination of being a freshman and the person in charge weighed on her shoulders.
A complete reversal of hierarchy.
It’s a perfect situation for backbiting about the impudence of an arrogant freshman. But with a 100% chance that I’m the only one who doesn’t know?
Ugh.
The cruel death game of campus politics begins.
The sacrificial lamb is the freshman.
Uwaaah, that’s me.
Suddenly, a calm voice was heard.
『You can do it. Don’t hesitate to act. Believe in yourself.』
Gasp, Mr. Demon.
Her confused mind calmed down.
Courage she didn’t have before, from her master’s encouragement.
I understand.
If that’s what you wish, master.
Let’s do this!
Rebellion!
Actually, I’ve always liked rebellion…
She received the meeting materials from Ellie, who was preparing to take minutes. She spread out the materials with a tap tap, as if shaking off her nerves.
She looked straight ahead.
Pastel Love Craft.
The debut of rebellion begins.
The girl opened her mouth.
“I will now begin the meeting on the preparation and procedures for the festival to promote industry-academic cooperation.”
The meeting plunged in.
Uwaaah, come at me all of you.
“Is the festival to be understood as an expanded version of the existing department demonstrations? Is it just expanded to the scale of the whole school instead of individual departments?”
A relaxed voice from an older student?
Uwaaah.
“No. Not exactly. The department demonstrations were mainly a pinpoint strategy to receive investment from targeted merchant groups, right? Focusing on topics and achievements that merchant groups would like, then demonstrating them.”
“Is the festival different?”
My head is spinning.
“The difference between a festival and a demonstration is like the difference between a buffet and a formal dinner.”
She opened the prepared materials.
“You don’t really know what you want to eat until you’re in front of the food. Preparing food that people will like is certainly effective. But do the merchant groups themselves really know what they want to eat? No. They’re just investing based on what’s demonstrated to them.”
She stared directly at the older student who had asked the question.
“This time, instead of a formal dinner, we’ll show as much as possible through a buffet. And we’ll let them choose. We’ll induce active investment instead of passive investment.”
Ellie quickly took minutes.
“A large quantity ensures high quality. At the festival, we’ll pour out quantitative diversity rather than qualitative achievements. A variety of ideas.”
The girl at the head of the table looked around the meeting room. She met eyes with each department representative one by one.
There was a unique gleam in each gaze she met.
“In each department, please ensure individual autonomy rather than unified participation. Let people bring out something they’ve been researching as a hobby, but has been ignored. You don’t make the decisions and take responsibility. The investors do.”
Quiet murmurs arose in the meeting room.
The Magic Department looked around the bustling meeting room. Then he opened his mouth after hesitating.
“Bad money drives out good.”
His expression was still disinterested but also more complex.
“Half-baked ideas and unrefined achievements will only disgust the merchant groups. Good accomplishments will be buried and discarded among junk. How will you handle the resentment?”
“Some of that might happen. But more ideas will shine.”
Pink eyes looked around the meeting room.
“I’ll take responsibility.”
Her voice rang out.
“Proceed.”
The girl commanded.
Gazes slowly lowered.
Various matters were handled without delay.
A while later, the meeting ended.
The representatives left the meeting room with expressions that were complicated but excited.
Pastel clutched her head.
Ugh.
Ughhh.
I can barely remember what I did during the meeting.
Uwaaah.
A student council that just babbles nonsense swept up in tension might as well be abolished, right?
Gasp.
She clutched her heart.
That sounds too reasonable.
Someone deny it.
Pastel twisted her body and trembled.
This will definitely lead to backbiting. Absolutely.
Eh eh, they say the freshman rebelled.
Whisper whisper.
Uwaaah.
Such justified backbiting.
I was so nervous I can barely remember what I did during the meeting. Please forgive it once as a freshman’s antics.
Uwaaah.
Please, anything but backbiting.
I hope all sorts of rumors don’t spread without me knowing…
First-year friends, help me.
The Magic Department, who hadn’t left, approached.
Complex eyes looked down at Pastel.
“As expected of a Craft, your outside and inside are different.”
The Magic Department turned around.
“Scary.”
The magician’s robe fluttered. The Magic Department left.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
Ugh.
As expected of a Craft?
Was our family ever used in a good sense? Not at all. No matter how I think about it, it’s not a compliment.
This is that, right? It’s really that, right?
There will really be backbiting.
Rumors will spread without the person in question knowing!
Whisper whisper.
Uwaaah.
…
Magical Engineering Department.
The triple crown winner of budget, support, and investment.
“We have to be the main attraction of the festival.”
The representative gave a tour of the department.
Pastel followed, walking with a serious but somewhat blank expression.
A student brought an iron cannonball, struggling to carry it. The representative proudly pointed at the cannonball.
Magic circle patterns were engraved on the surface of the cannonball with magic stone powder.
“The new cannonball we’ll showcase at the festival! We’ve reduced magic stone usage by 2% for the same performance!”
A satisfied expression.
The gathered department students were the same.
Satisfied, satisfied, with dark circles under their eyes.
Pastel looked at the cannon shell.
Huh.
Is this amazing?
Reducing the use of magic stones, which are as good as gold bars, is certainly impressive, but…
2% feels somewhat subtle?
『Hooh, excellent achievement.』
Oh, is it?
Pastel nodded.
“I’ve seen the department-level participation well. It’s excellent. Now, can I see the individual participations?”
The representative was flustered by the subtle reaction. Then he quickly exchanged glances with the department students. A determination to secure the main spot at the festival flashed.
Individual projects were shown one by one.
『Not much. Not much. Not much.』
The demon declared mercilessly.
Huh, is that so.
Well, we came to check as a procedure. The merchant groups will make the decision.
Pastel’s thoughts deepened.
Still, I want to successfully hold the festival by pushing an amazing item from the student council.
Isn’t there anything?
A commotion arose in a corner.
“Are you really going to show it?”
“What else can we show a young freshman? This will have an immediate effect.”
“Hey, what’s a Craft- Just die alone!”
“Aah!”
An older student who was about to come out was dragged away. Along with the massive pedestal he was pulling.
Oh?
Pastel trotted over.
“What is it?”
The surrounding older students let out silent screams. A flash of intense shame crossed their faces.
What could it be?
The older student being dragged away proudly shook off the arms holding him and approached. The wheels of the pedestal rumbled.
Something huge covered in cloth was mounted on the pedestal, reaching all the way to the extremely high ceiling.
“You won’t be able to help but support our department after seeing this!”
The older student reached for the cloth.
The hesitating representative shouted with a red face.
“Th-this isn’t right! Stop him!”
The older students rushed in.
“Everyone stop this guy-!”
The cloth was pulled away.
What was revealed was the form of a massive fantasy reptile.
Gasp.
Pastel’s eyes widened.
『This is the worst thing I’ve seen here. This isn’t even a joke.』
Yellow reptilian eyes flashed.
Sharp fangs went crunch.
Magnificent wings fluttered.
Pastel’s mouth moved rapidly.
“D-d-d-d!”
The older student pointed at his super ultra result.
“Behold! This is!”
The dragon flashed.
“The strongest creature!”
Pastel raised both arms high.
“Wooow!”
It’s a dragon!
Super awesome dragon…!
Exclamations swept through the space.
The older students were dumbfounded.
The excited creator, alone, took out a staff.
“Freshman, watch closely! There’s more!”
The staff was waved.
All the indoor lights went out.
Something was revealed in the darkness.
The creator shouted as if screaming:
“This is…!”
A green light flashed across the reptilian skin.
In the darkness, the massive form alone glowed.
Green flashed on and off.
“Gasp!”
The staff pointed at Pastel as if telling her to speak.
Pastel took a deep breath.
She puffed out her chest and clenched both fists.
Then she shouted with all her might:
“It’s a glow-in-the-dark dragon!”
Super ultra awesome glow-in-the-dark dragon!
The ultimate form of the strongest creature, a glow-in-the-dark dragon!
She raised both arms high.
“Wooow!”
This is the amazing item I was hoping for!
Dragon! Dragon! Glow-in-the-dark dragon!
I’ll make the festival a success with this!
A frenzy flowed between just the creator and Pastel.
Silence fell as if surrounding a separate world.
A dumbfounded voice muttered.
『W-what is this.』
…
The creator, who had calmed down after being hit on the back of the head by the representative, opened his mouth.
“But there’s a problem.”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
There’s a problem with this incredible result?
The staff pointed at the dragon’s reptilian eyes.
“Originally, light beams were supposed to come out of there.”
What?
You’re saying light beams come out of the dragon’s eyeballs?
Light beam~
The genius creator became dejected.
“But because of the flying creatures, the materials from the demon realm can’t come right now. They won’t arrive before the festival.”
“No, no way.”
That’s impossible.
The creator’s hand pressed on her pink hair.
“Freshman, don’t be sad. Our dragon is already amazing as it is. Adults need to know when to be satisfied. The dragon is complete in the face of reality.”
“I see, I see.”
Pastel’s eyes unnecessarily reddened.
“Don’t give up! Our dragon isn’t complete yet!”
She raised one arm high.
“The student council exists for the students!”
Express delivery from the demon realm?
“The student council will do it!”
Along with smuggling.
Oh?
Pffftt…. the misunderstanding deepens! The saga of the legendary Student Council President-blah-blah-blah (I cannot remember the other positions she hold lol) continues! 😂
glow in the dark hahahaha
okay but are you really a person if you don’t get excited at a glow in the dark dragon