Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Breezed Through the Ruins Like a Stroll
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Pastel looked toward the downstream direction of the river. Melissa's skirt hem was no longer visible.
"She'll be okay, right?"
『You think the next great mage hasn't learned to swim?』
"Yeah, true."
The demon sighed.
『That's a soft judgment.』
"No way, no way."
Pastel wagged her index finger side to side.
"That's what friends do."
『You don't know the aftermath of the Demon King incident.』
"No! I know all about it!"
She pointed at herself.
"The kid starving in the lap of luxury will get to eat!"
Mana stone duplication on a massive scale, right?
Hehe.
Pastel skipped down the ruin steps, humming happily.
A dim underground straight corridor came into view. Magical light sources flickered continuously on both sides, illuminating all the way to the end of the hallway.
Ooh.
A rumbling noise echoed from behind.
She turned around to see the entrance sealing shut.
Eh.
Ehh?
Eeeehhh?
"Uwaaaah!"
Pastel clutched her pink hair.
『It's a safeguard for the successor. You won't die.』
Aha.
Yeah, that made sense. She let go of her hair and calmed down.
"Hehe, alright. Shall we explore the ruins?"
The end of the corridor featured a massive stone door.
Next to it was a wall engraved with various magical patterns. Below the wall sat some puzzle-like rod device and a single magic book.
Magic?
Finally, some doot-doot-doot pew-pew-pew bang-bang-bang for me, who has no magic talent?
Assault rifle in hand, isekai exploration?
She read the title of the magic book.
Dictionary of Magical Common Sense.
No way.
『It means the successor should at least know basic magic knowledge before leaving. This is a magic trivia puzzle.』
She opened the book in disappointment.
『Humans can't actually use magic. All magic except mana stone engineering borrows power from other beings. Borrowing from gods makes you a priest; from nature, a mage.』
Oho.
『Thus, magic is dependent on the world, and the world is subservient to nature. Humans exist within nature.』
Pastel shot her hand up high.
"I can make friends with nature just fine! I even greet wildflowers I pass by! Doesn't that mean I can do magic too?"
『You have no talent. I've checked multiple times. Just think of it as having no connection to magic. It's your fate.』
So firm.
『There's some preserved food in the corner. Probably meant to make you starve until you solve it. But you don't need to. I'll tell you the answer, so move the rod puzzle.』
Oyeah!
She rushed over and grabbed the rod. A puzzle where you slide it up, down, left, right in sequence?
"Time to show the prestige of the top written exam scorer!"
『Left first.』
"This is the mind of the top written scorer!"
Hoi!
A click sounded as it caught. Something seemed jammed inside, and the rod wouldn't move easily.
"Uh, hold on. Looks like dust buildup. I'll put some strength into it."
She braced herself and gripped the rod.
One, two, three.
"Hngh!"
Crack.
Huh?
The broken rod was in her hand.
Pastel's eyes went wide.
Huh?
Too much strength?
The broken rod puzzle started making noise. An ominous light leaked from inside.
"Uwaaaah!"
Rumble rumble boom.
The stone door opened.
Pastel, mid-throw to the floor, froze and turned back.
Oing?
『...Since it's for the successor, they probably made it so it just opens if broken.』
Her mouth dropped open.
I solved the puzzle with one flick?
Am I, like, super smart?
Oyeah!
She threw her arms up high. The broken rod flew off.
"This is the top written scorer!"
Fear it, revere it, this genius!
Yahoo!
『...Next room.』
"Ah, yes."
A long corridor. Small black holes dotted the left and right walls like traps.
"Ah! I know this one! Arrow traps!"
Walk and arrows go pew pew.
The corridor floor rumbled and started moving like a conveyor belt. Standing still pushed her backward.
『Hoo, that would've been harder to implement back then. If you get hit by an arrow and fall, it sends you back to the start. You have to clear it in one go.』
A door was visible ahead. Beyond it stretched a wide space.
Ruins boss?
Pastel approached the trap zone and reached out her hand.
One arrow flew at her hand. She lowered her palm, then raised it to snatch the passing arrow. It screeched under her grip. The wooden shaft splintered from her grip strength.
"Wooden arrows, huh."
The arrowheads were wood too, and blunt.
『Probably laced with paralyzing poison.』
"Oho, so I have to knock them all away?"
She examined the arrow holes filling the left and right walls.
"Demon sir, you taught me that weapons are dependent on the structure and range of hands and arms. That's why long swords can only block one defensive area at a time."
『Correct. Good memory.』
"So how do you block arrows coming from both sides at a 180-degree angle? There's only one sword, and blocking both sides takes time."
『They're neither simultaneous nor exactly 180 degrees. Combat is interaction between you and the opponent. If you change, so does the opponent.』
"Interaction, huh."
『Run close to one side. It won't be simultaneous anymore. Block the first, then the other.』
Pastel stepped sideways.
『No need for perfect form to deflect arrows. Twist your body along the sword path. You're not blocking with your body behind the sword. Move your body adhered to the sword.』
Nod nod.
『In the first place, no need to worry. You can just do it. And you know that.』
Ah, caught.
Hehe.
Pastel took her stance without much tension. The sword tip pointed straight ahead.
『Feel the wind. Arrows are slower than sound.』
She kicked off the ground. Arrow sounds rang out. The number, paths, and speeds transmitted via sound.
A 3D space formed in her mind.
A waltz of arrows and sword paths.
Arrows rushed from both sides. The blade flashed. Sword paths drew curves. Chains of silver light enveloped the girl. Pink hair whipped. An arrow grazed her nape as the blade split it.
Her feet dashed across the ground. Sword paths rippled. Arrow fragments rained down.
The girl didn't stop running. Even when the passage ended and a wide space opened.
A small black sphere floated at the center of the room. Ground stones floated around it as if embracing it.
『Golem-』
The girl charged. Kicked the ground. Leapt across floating stones in sequence. Her silhouette soared.
The stones formed a hand shape, slowly encasing the black core. The girl's hand pierced the instant gap. Her palm slammed the core. It was engulfed in her grasp. Monstrous strength roared. Cracking sounds echoed.
The air rippled. The floating stones lost power and plummeted.
The girl spun mid-fall. Balanced, and landed lightly on the ground.
Stones crashed into the floor with a boom. Dust rose, wind blew. Pink hair fluttered.
In the commotion, Pastel snapped out of it.
Eh.
The demon's voice sounded.
『Well done. Excellent combat sense. Golem cores aren't meant to be crushed by hand, but if you've got the strength, no issue.』
She opened her palm to see black powder.
Whirr.
『But watch out for getting swept up in hormones. Immersion in killing gives double-edged experience.』
Pastel licked her palm. A small pink tongue poked out.
『Wait, wait.』
She froze.
『Synthetic mana stone. Don't eat it.』
Eh.
Disappointment.
She shook her hand clean.
Pastel patted her hazy head and looked around.
A fancy chest sat in the corner.
Oing?
Whoa!
"Demon sir! Demon sir! Treasure chest! Treasure chest! Treasure in a box! It's sparkling! Super sparkly!"
『Whoa, calm down.』
She dashed over.
The treasure chest filled her vision.
Uwah!
This brilliant shine.
With trembling hands, she grabbed the lid.
Creak.
Dazzling light poured out.
Uwak!
Pastel squinted and twisted away.
Treasure, blinding my eyes...
Then she paused, puzzled, and peered back in.
The wide chest held no treasure—just a lone compass rattling inside.
What a massive waste of space.
Ing.
Iing.
Pastel's face crumpled.
My life's too easy, overflowing with plot armor.
No gold bars, no mana stones.
『Fate Compass, huh. Open the top where it's attached; there should be something inside.』
She opened the compass-attached top.
A small jewelry box-like interior revealed itself.
One gem slotted in, the rest empty slots.
『I see.』
"Huh? Am I the only one who doesn't get it?"
『The compass will guide you to places with inheritance. No reaction now, but it'll point when fate connects.』
The demon continued in a voice laced with complex yet calm emotions.
『The one gem is obviously the inheritance. Effect to enable mana stone ingestion.』
Eh.
"I don't need that, gimme gold bars."
『Purpose is body reinforcement via mana stones. You'd convert it to energy, but normally, the waste breathed out gets used for reinforcement. Efficient and effective.』
Oing.
She pulled a small pepper shaker from her pocket.
Sprinkled it on her palm.
Licked the mana stone powder.
Bad candy sweetness.
Mind sharpened?
"Ooh?! Demon sir! Suddenly overflowing with power! Uwaaaah!"
Is this Demon King awakening?
『...No way you'd feel that from eating it.』
Ah.
Hehe, caught.
Too hard to tease the master.
She calmly pocketed the shaker.
Compass-cum-jewelry box too.
Fits perfectly, small as it is.
She looked around.
"Shall we hunt for secret rooms?"
『No point making unnecessary ones for the successor. More importantly, we need to get out. Forgot? Practical exam's ongoing.』
Pastel's eyes went wide.
"Aah?! Hurry out! Quick! The exit, uh? No exit?!"
『Maybe fully broken from age. Wait. We can get out. Needs time.』
Pastel finally escaped the ruins after much hardship. Quite some time had passed.
She met the professor's gaze at the assembly point.
Practical results announced.
"Pastel Love Craft."
Combat practical.
0 points.
Uwaaaah!
Uwaaaah...!
Fail, glug glug, tweet tweet!
"But top written scorer, so pass. Congratulations on becoming a student of our academy. Keep striving; I expect great things."
Oing.
Pastel threw her arms up.
Oyeah, passed.
Even with combat zero, I passed.
'Cause top written scorer.
Oing?
No way.
Thrilling.
Pastel was a kid who was only good at academics.
Shocking truth.
"I'm the top written scorer~."
Entrance ceremony over.
"Smart head but bad at fighting~."
She apologized to Melissa too. Not sure if it got through, yelled at her fleeing back.
"But passed with combat zero and made it to the dorm~."
Pastel rolled on the sofa in her private room.
"I'm top written scorer Pastel~."
Yahoo!
『Good grief.』
The demon, folding towels at the opposite table, gave her a weary look. Red eyes trembled in dismay.
『Clothes'll wrinkle. Not like you'll iron them yourself.』
Pastel's eyes went wide.
"Clothes? Right! Clothes! No clothes! Spring but still winter dress! I'll melt soon!"
She mumbled while rolling on the sofa.
"When do we get uniforms? Should've been before ceremony, right?"
『What uniforms.』
Their eyes met.
"No uniforms?"
『Wouldn't wanna upset noble families with uniforms. Free dress code.』
"Nee?"
Pastel clutched her heart.
"No way. Academy without uniforms."
Really not like middle or high school?
Uuuh.
"I'll rebel. Turn delinquent!"
She flailed her arms while rolling on the sofa.
"Even though I'm all pink-pink, I'll dress all pink-pink!"
A subtle look came her way.
『Do whatever.』
The demon picked up the stack of folded towels and stood.
Uwaa.
No one to sympathize.
Her body went limp.
Uuuh.
"Trade money still good? Gotta buy decent clothes first."
『Good idea. Smart thinking.』
She bolted up.
"Great! Let's go now! Demon sir, demon sword!"
『What?』
She snatched the transformed demon sword and ran.
I'm gonna be pink-pink.
"Before the cherry blossoms bloom, I'll be everyone's cherry blossom~."
She left the dorm and ran outside.
I'm, oing?
Pastel skidded to a halt. Feet screeched on the ground.
She threw one hand up high.
"Ellie!"
The demon girl turned. Black hair swayed, revealing slightly pointed ears.
"Past-"
"Our minds are in sync!"
She grabbed Ellie.
"Was just about to invite you to join the student council!"
Clothes store tomorrow.
"Huh?"
Dragging the bewildered Ellie, she headed to the student council room.
La la la~.
"Join now, and I'll give you bestie spot. Got lots prepared, but don't be too sad."
"...What do I have to do if I join?"
"Hm, secretary? Pick anything!"
Pastel beamed.
"I'm Vice Student Council President cum General Affairs Director cum Planning Director cum Publicity Director cum Volunteer Director cum Guidance Director!"
Ellie stared blankly. Her face full of question marks.
"Ah! Turn this corner and it's the student council!"
She rounded the corner.
A professor stood before the locked student council room.
Ing.
The professor turned.
This rigid, inflexible face—definitely the prof from the written exam?
Name was...
Professor Carlo opened his mouth.
"Student council?"
"Ah, yes. I'll unlock it now. Tea or coffee?"
"No need. Here to notify of a decision."
Decision?
His calm gaze pierced her.
"The student council system is abolished."
What?
"If you want it back, get support from all departments."
Pastel's eyes went wide.
"Department stamp rally?"
Dun dun.
『Why does your mind go there.』