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The Four Penguins of the Apocalypse

 

The school was quiet as vacation began. The cradle of learning fell into deep sleep, as if waiting for tomorrow to stretch.

 

But not everywhere was asleep.

 

There was movement in the Student Council room. A pink-toned girl sat in a chair examining the Knight Order’s report.

 

“Is it the Cult?”

 

The demon in a suit who was looking together furrowed his brow.

 

『That can’t be right. Could the investigation results be wrong? The Cult fell not long ago. They couldn’t have rebuilt already.』

 

“What exactly was the Cult?”

 

『A group that denied the personal god and worshipped evil gods. During the gap period when revelations from the personal god stopped, they rapidly grew in power and threatened the temple.』

 

Pastel furrowed her brow like the demon.

 

“Is it a religious dispute?”

 

『You could see it that way. But it’s different. Though the Cult worships evil gods, they’re closer to a private organization than a religious group. They pursue personal wealth and glory through give and take with evil gods. They don’t discriminate between murder and terrorism.』

 

“So rather than following god’s ethical teachings, they’re a group that follows evil gods’ worldly contracts. For their own wealth and glory.”

 

『Correct. Not a proper religion.』

 

“Huh.”

 

Pastel stared at the demon with a subtle expression. Meeting the red pupils’ gaze, she smiled strangely.

 

“The Cult’s activities aren’t much different from demon contracts then. Granting what the demon wants and gaining evil power in return.”

 

『In fairy tales, yes.』

 

“Huh.”

 

Pastel poked the demon repeatedly.

 

Can’t you do that kind of thing~

 

I want to gain evil power~

 

Like cutting up departing airships with one sword strike and such~

 

The demon looked down with a complex expression.

 

『Don’t fall for needless temptation. It will only destroy you. Solid power is gained through diligent effort.』

 

Pastel suddenly became sulky.

 

Totally un-demon-like.

 

Shouldn’t you recommend demon contracts at times like this?

 

“Oh forget it! I always knew you wouldn’t be much help in my life! This is just more of the same!”

 

『What?』

 

The demon was dumbfounded.

 

『Start with habits like making your bed when you wake up before saying such things. Who do you think tidies up the carelessly crumpled blanket?』

 

“The bed! My bed friend tidies the blanket because we get along well! Didn’t know that? I did! Gloomy demon has no friends!”

 

She stuck out her tongue.

 

Bleh.

 

“Hmph!”

 

Pastel turned her head sharply and scribbled with the quill pen.

 

Cult, Cult, Cult, Cult, Cult.

 

The group that made my loyal retainers die.

 

Then shamelessly played with me.

 

Rough scribbling dirtied the report. Ink smeared and tangled. The quill pen tore the paper. She grabbed the torn report. Paper tearing sounds rang out repeatedly.

 

“Evil god worshippers.”

 

I’ll definitely kill them.

 

Pastel hung her head low.

 

The air sank.

 

The demon was about to say something but stopped and moved his hand. His hand pressed on the pink hair.

 

Time passed.

 

Pastel exhaled.

 

“I’m sorry. I know you tidy the blanket every morning.”

 

She fidgeted with her fingers.

 

“Just… I was so frustrated about letting the people I need to take revenge on go unharmed… I took it out on you wrongly.”

 

What rudeness to the demon who always helps.

 

『It’s okay.』

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

『It’s alright.』

 

Pastel picked up the torn papers one by one and organized them.

 

“Should I have fought then? Instead of suppressing my emotions like a coward, should I have carried out revenge as head of house?”

 

『You judged rationally.』

 

She shook her head.

 

“I don’t seem worthy to be head of house. Why did they die to protect someone like me-“

 

『Young Craft.』

 

A hand stroked the pink hair.

 

『Don’t lose yourself to life. Results aren’t determined by your choices alone. Humans are too powerless before the world for self-blame. You did your best in that moment. It was just that timing and luck didn’t follow. Aim for next time. There are many opportunities.』

 

Waaah.

 

The demon’s kind advice.

 

Is this the demon’s whispers?

 

If I couldn’t make a demon contract, shouldn’t I rely on the demon’s whispers at least?

 

It seems so.

 

Pastel deliberately took a breath.

 

Then shouted with all her might.

 

“I understand!”

 

She raised both arms high.

 

“Hormone friend! Let’s wait for revenge together! We’ll show what strong against weak and weak against strong can do!”

 

Don’t run away alone!

 

Go go!

 

We can kill them!

 

Adrenaline burst forth pew pew.

 

Her hormone friend responded in agreement.

 

Yeah! Next time let’s dismember the opponent! Cut off their limbs! Go go!

 

Huh.

 

Reliable answer.

 

Oh yeah.

 

Pastel slapped both her cheeks.

 

We can do it!

 

She turned to the demon.

 

“Demon! Demon! Since it’s come to this, let’s work hard at smuggling! We’ll gather tons of money, build power, and overthrow the evil Cult!”

 

The demon who should have played along with the mood hesitated for a moment. It was a response of being flustered by the sudden appearance of an uncomfortable word.

 

Huh?

 

Pastel’s eyes went wide.

 

“Demon? Can’t you overthrow the evil Cult? Really?”

 

Huh?

 

Is the demon worse than hormone friend?

 

The demon hurriedly played along.

 

『Of course we must overthrow them. You can do it.』

 

The hand patted the pink hair.

 

Pat pat.

 

Pastel felt the hand then nodded vigorously.

 

“That’s right! I can do smuggling well!”

 

『No.』

 

“Smuggling that even the demon affirmed! I’ll work hard!”

 

The demon was at a loss for words. He seemed to have complex thoughts.

 

Pastel saw this and felt satisfied.

 

Good.

 

Seeing the demon flustered definitely makes me feel better. My depression flew away.

 

Is this the thrill of being a troublemaker?

 

Hehe.

 

The sense of blasphemy feels pretty good.

 

Pastel laughed then grabbed the quill pen.

 

My mood is refreshed.

 

She took out new paper and wrote.

 

Things to do during vacation were calmly written down.

 

First is securing the Demon King’s legacy that should be underground, taking advantage of the dormitory reconstruction.

 

Demon King’s legacy?

 

Until recently she wanted magic stone replication, but her mind changed.

 

Rather than magic stone replication, I want something my hormone friend would like.

 

For example.

 

Something like a chainsaw!

 

Saw blade goes vrooom~!

 

#

 

“Underground passage?”

 

She walked with the construction manager.

 

“When we exposed the ground, there was a passage not on the blueprints. It looked deep so we didn’t go in yet.”

 

“Ah, that.”

 

Pastel pretended to know.

 

“As you know, this used to be an officer training school. There are some military secrets. Please stop construction for now. The Student Council will examine it and let you know again.”

 

After invoking Student Council authority, she went to the dormitory construction site a while later.

 

The existing dormitory had been demolished, leaving only the ground. The manager took the workers and left the site.

 

Pastel was left alone. She looked down at the dark underground stairs standing alone in the ground. Musty and cool air wafted up. There was a watery smell.

 

“What kind of facility is it?”

 

When she casually threw a stone, sound echoed.

 

Huh?

 

Given the echo, it seems quite spacious.

 

『Doesn’t seem like a military facility.』

 

Pastel immediately cupped her hands and shouted.

 

“Yahoo!”

 

Sound echoed.

 

Yahoo yahoo~

 

Wow.

 

She shouted again.

 

“Pastel is smart!”

 

She quickly listened.

 

Sound came back.

 

Pastel is smart~

 

Gasp.

 

Pastel’s eyes went wide.

 

“Demon! Demon! That’s what it says!”

 

Pastel, totally smart.

 

Underground facility friend acknowledged it too.

 

The demon was silent for a moment then ignored Pastel and continued what he was saying.

 

『Doesn’t seem like a military facility. Probably a sewer built even before the officer training school. They must have just buried it and built the training school.』

 

Gasp.

 

Our friend was a sewer?

 

Sorry, I’ll correct it.

 

Underground facility friend → Sewer friend

 

Misunderstanding cleared.

 

Clap clap clap.

 

『Strictly speaking, this place is broadly a demon race holy site. After humans seized it, they deliberately built an officer training school as mockery. Officers educated at a demon race holy site invading the Demon Realm, you see.』

 

Pastel, who had been half-listening, hesitated.

 

Eh.

 

What a vicious intention.

 

Humans totally evil.

 

『Seems they built the training school without even properly filling in the sewer. I understand why the legacy is here too. The Demon King must have hidden it somewhere in the sewer during the Sky Island War.』

 

Pastel was morally indignant.

 

“Humans are really bad! Though I’m human too, the idea of building an officer training school on a holy site is really too much!”

 

Though it was during war, even until now when it’s peaceful they haven’t returned it and instead rebuilt it as an Academy.

 

“Bad people! Bad people! Though the bad people are probably in graves since it was long ago, if I ever meet them I’ll scold them!”

 

Bam bam!

 

The demon’s voice became complex.

 

『The one who pushed for it was Craft.』

 

Huh.

 

She heard the family’s evil history.

 

Pastel’s mouth fell open.

 

She slightly averted her gaze and awkwardly whistled.

 

Tr-troublesome.

 

Feels like I should bow and apologize~

 

100 bows Pastel~

 

『More importantly, let’s get going. It’s not good to keep delaying construction. It’ll draw unnecessary attention.』

 

“Ah, yes!”

 

Pastel hurriedly entered. A dark, long passage continued. Though damp and humid, the sewage itself seemed to have evaporated and wasn’t visible.

 

Going deep inside, the light coming from the stairs disappeared. It became difficult to walk straight ahead.

 

She crouched and operated the oil lantern she brought. The pink-toned girl fiddled with the lantern in darkness where she could barely see.

 

Fiddle fiddle.

 

Huh.

 

Ah! Here it is!

 

She found and took out the flint and steel attached to the lantern. When she struck them, sparks flew. After several attempts, she was able to transfer it to the oil-soaked wick.

 

The lantern brightened and softly lit the passage.

 

“Phew.”

 

Pastel unnecessarily wiped her forehead.

 

Lantern totally hard to light.

 

Guess it doesn’t suit my aptitude.

 

『…Next time, light the fire in a bright place before coming in.』

 

Gasp, are you a genius?

 

No wonder it was difficult.

 

Ahaha.

 

Pastel burst out laughing alone then held the lantern forward.

 

“Darkness, begone!”

 

Soft light super strong.

 

Wow wow.

 

She held her sword like a hero.

 

“With light by my side, I’m not afraid!”

 

Come at me, whatever you are.

 

I’ll face you with ultra amazing swordsmanship!

 

She explored the sewer. She passed intersections and went around maze-like places here and there.

 

And as wished, she encountered something.

 

Unknown pupils densely filled the dark opposite side.

 

Huh.

 

She raised the lantern. A scene of knee-high rats filling the passage spread out. Countless pupils looked at Pastel.

 

Wow.

 

Hello squeaky friends?

 

I squeak too.

 

You squeak too.

 

We squeak.

 

As if responding, one giant rat opened its mouth. Blood-stained front teeth showed.

 

Huh huh.

 

Are we really friends…?

 

『Just the visible eyes are dozens. Must be at least hundreds. Run away. A rat swarm is a natural disaster.』

 

One giant rat cried squeak~!

 

Gasp, so cute.

 

The cry echoed in the passage. Countless pupils from far down the dark passage turned to look. Hundreds of pupils stared at Pastel.

 

Gasp, not cute.

 

Rat cries rang out repeatedly. The passage vibrated. A black tidal wave rushed in.

 

“Waaah!”

 

Pastel turned and ran like lightning.

 

『There must be a ruin entrance somewhere. Find it and you’ll live.』

 

The chase began.

 

Save Pastel~

2 Comments

  1. Nekomimik
    Nov 8, '24 at 6:42 am

    Run Pastel! Run!!!

    Also, awwww~ that’s so cute! So heartwarming!

  2. Phantom
    Nov 8, '24 at 10:13 am

    Mr Demon give up, Pastel God of smuggling is an inevitability you cannot stop

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