Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Professor Just Did His Job
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Sky Island Academy.
The garden of learning and cradle of martial arts.
It originally started as an officer training ground for pioneering the Demon Realm, but now that the pioneering has been successfully completed, it has been reorganized into a comprehensive talent development institution.
Though the transition was successful, the academy's culture hadn't completely vanished, so the emphasis on martial arts remained a slight flaw.
Perceptions hadn't fully changed either, making it tricky to secure external research support and funding. Military fields easily garnered backing, but the rest suffered from prejudice.
But maybe this festival could refresh the atmosphere?
Not quite up to the young marquess's expectations, though.
The upperclassmen thought that way, but the marquess himself was distracted by a strange gadget.
"What if I flick this stick switch?"
The megaphone clicked.
"Ah, ah."
Pastel spoke into the megaphone. Her voice echoed loudly.
"Ooh, it really amplifies!"
"Be careful not to scream too sharply, or it'll tear the internals. And it's fragile if you drop it."
"Got it, senpai!"
Pastel replied briskly and turned toward the front of the stage.
Seats were arranged in front of the wide stage area.
Beyond the seats, colorful student booths stretched endlessly to both sides.
A Magic Department student sat at her booth, spreading cards on the table to read fortunes.
Whoa, fortune cards.
I should get a reading after everything's done.
Early-arriving outsiders poked around between the booths.
Oh yeah!
"Festivals are what school is all about!"
She tapped the magic sword rapidly, as if begging for agreement.
"......I've told you countless times, but dragons won't react well. Only you and the creator found it fun."
Grumpy demon.
Doesn't get the coolness of the Glow-in-the-Dark Dragon.
That's why he's wandering around in a suit on a nice day like this?
Time passed.
The seats filled up completely. With no spots left, more people stood waiting. Department students left their booths temporarily to watch the festival opening.
Countless gazes focused on the stage.
Wow, tons of people.
Pastel's lips curved up.
This'll be fun.
I've already committed mutiny, so might as well go all out.
The event began.
Pastel leaned into the megaphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen who crossed seas and skies to come all this way! And our proud academy students! Today, we gather here to open the curtain on a new festival!"
She pointed to herself with her hand.
"I'm Pastel Love Craft, handling the main hosting duties for this precious event! Nice to meet you!"
Pastel bowed her head.
Applause and cheers erupted.
She gave a light hand wave and wink to the especially enthusiastic first-years, then returned to the megaphone.
"No need for long speeches! Let's dive right in as you all expect!"
She took a deep breath and shouted at full volume.
"The Academy Festival's first run—and many more to come—starts right here, right now!"
She raised the megaphone.
"Let it beeeegin!"
Unable to hold back, Pastel hopped in place.
"Yay~!"
Her pink hair fluttered.
Pink effect magic burst behind her with pops.
The festival has begun!
Pastel went wild on stage.
"Dragon!"
Kraaang.
"Glow-in-the-Dark Dragon!"
Flash flash.
"Eyeball laser!"
Laser beam~.
Ziiiiiing.
"Woooow! This is what I wanted!"
Unlike the host's sky-high energy on stage, the audience wasn't quite there yet.
The first-years' embarrassed yet amazed reactions.
The upperclassmen's amused "She's really doing it" vibes.
And most importantly, the polite smiles from the upper-echelon dignitaries.
Ugh, adult faces.
After finishing the stage program, Pastel checked the Glow-in-the-Dark Dragon's score sheet at the bottom.
Huh?
Huh?
Why is the funding investment so low?
The trading companies ignored the Glow-in-the-Dark Dragon.
Gasp.
She clutched her heart.
My Glow-in-the-Dark Dragon's been abandoned.
Is there no beauty in this cruel world?
She flopped dramatically to the floor.
The world is a death game......
They won't acknowledge a mere Glow-in-the-Dark Dragon......
Uwaaa, harsh reality.
The magic sword turned into a demon and approached the slumped Pastel. He bent down and patted the girl's back.
"You tried your best anyway. It was your first time too."
"Demoniiiim."
How can someone be so kind?
Pastel gazed dreamily at the demon.
"Can I call you angel?"
It suits him perfectly.
The demon's face stiffened slightly.
"Don't."
Eek, so firm.
Well, with the suit, black hair, and red eyes, he's the devil incarnate.
Pastel let out a big sigh.
"The festival's success is out of the student council's hands now. We need results good enough for the Magic Department to sign off on. Even better if Professor Carlo approves."
The demon patted her back.
"Failure's fine. Opportunities are everywhere if you look."
"True that."
She nodded.
A commotion came from outside the break room.
Hm?
Pastel left the break room.
The source of the noise was obvious.
A beam of light shot into the blue sky. It burst, scattering into a brilliant array of colorful tiny beams.
Ooh, fireworks.
We didn't plan this?
Another beam soared up.
It burst, splitting into dozens of beams that drew curves, forming a massive picture.
Pastel's mouth fell open.
"Gasp!"
A multicolored dragon pattern flashed in the sky.
"D-Dragon!"
Someone's carrying on the failed Glow-in-the-Dark Dragon's legacy.
The Dragon Cartel has assembled!
She grabbed a watching upperclassman.
"That, that! Who did it?!"
"Huh? Magic Department."
Gasp, touching.
The Magic Department—the one that said "Craft who?"—is helping like this?
They wouldn't sign, but their hearts were warm after all?
The world is beautiful.
Oh yeah!
"Thanks for telling me!"
She dashed to where the Magic Department booths clustered.
A huge crowd awaited. Plenty of trading company reps too. Bright faces, lively discussions.
Wow wow.
This is it.
Another beam rose. It burst into dozens, writing countless words in the sky.
It was a Magic Department intro and guide. A small map showed the way to their booths.
Whoaaa, bold department promo.
We're the main event.
A declaration to crush the Magic Engineering Department—which stole the main spot thanks to the student council—with sheer results.
Who's behind this massive feat? No one like this when I visited, so a personal booth.
She pushed through the crowd and ran. She spotted a familiar blonde girl.
"......Therefore. Sunlight that cuts through the clouds, reach the twisted curves. 5th circle, 32 strokes, Sunlight Flash!"
⟨ Sunlight Flash ⟩
Melissa swung her rod staff.
Light flashed. A beam soared. It split and moved independently, writing words.
Festival safety rules filled the sky.
Gasp, safety rules.
Melissa looked up proudly at her handiwork.
The trading reps moved.
—They said it was a new spell, but it's nearly complete. Ready for license sales right away.
—Wasn't the incantation sixteen flashes? Already at 32 strokes?
—When's safety verification done? Before the Founding Festival? Short on funds? How much?
—Hmph, no vision. Military-grade. Camelot's secret research? We'll handle sales. Name your price.
The reps grabbed upperclassmen helping Melissa.
Ooh, it's working.
Personal booth success as planned.
Oh yeah!
Pastel giggled, watching Melissa.
That's my Melissa.
Stepping up for her student council friend.
Even if she always shows me her back and runs, I knew you were my friend.
After her demo, Melissa headed behind the booth for a break. Pastel hurried after.
"Melissa!"
Melissa turned, flinching.
She quickly backed away, eyeing her warily.
"Craft of hidden schemes. You twisted our senpai's mind with your shady plots. Can't let my guard down."
Huh, did I?
Me, shady?
"But I won't fall for it."
Melissa pointed to herself.
"I only helped this time because senpai asked. I'm dismantling your bad personality bit by bit. No next time."
Firm expression.
Gasp.
Pastel's eyes widened.
What is she talking about?
My friend has a quirky side.
Fourth-dimensional stuff I can't grasp.
She pondered briefly, then gave up.
Just ignore it.
She beamed.
"Anyway, you did great! My friend rocks!"
Woo, friend!
She spread her arms and charged at Melissa.
Melissa panicked and dodged.
Her hugging arms swiped empty air.
Whoa, air hug.
"See? I won't fall for it."
She straightened her disheveled mage robe.
Melissa looked triumphant.
Then she flinched, glancing at Pastel's shadow and her own shoe stepping on it.
"Ahh."
Melissa's eyes trembled.
"I-I fell for it......"
A dejected voice.
After meeting Melissa, she ran into the now-convinced Magic Department rep and got an on-the-spot signature.
Oh yeah!
"Complete! Complete! Complete!"
Pastel hugged the student council support documents and spun around. The festival sights spun with her.
Great great.
She tucked the papers away and turned.
"Demon! Let's enjoy the festival now! Festival! Together!"
The suited demon sighed as he followed.
"If word gets out, I'll be the only one embarrassed. Fine, what do you want to do?"
"Dunno! We'll see as we—whoa!"
Pastel spotted a constellation booth, eyes sparkling.
"Look! Constellations, oh right! The fortune cards! Not constellations, fortune booth! This way?"
She yanked the demon's arm and ran. Pink hair flew.
"Run, run!"
"Haa."
Booths whizzed by on both sides.
Suddenly, Pastel spotted a drink booth and skidded to a halt. Her feet screeched on the ground.
Oof.
She pointed at the booth's wine keg with its orange pattern.
Orange juice?
"Wow! Wow! Drinks! Let's get some together! Drink and walk!"
"Calm down a bit."
She dashed up.
"Two cups please!"
"Ooh, freshman."
The upperclassman grinned and handed over two wooden cups. Orange liquid sloshed inside.
Ooh, orange scent.
Feels like craftsmanship.
She hurriedly pulled out her pepper shaker from her pocket. Time for mana stone dust.
Then the demon snatched her cup.
The demon downed the drink in one go.
Huh?
Pastel alternated between the empty spot and the demon.
Huh?!
The demon set down the empty cup.
My drink......!
Uwaa.
The demon spoke calmly.
"It's booze."
"Pardon? What?"
"Booze."
Gasp.
Pastel's eyes widened.
She looked at the upperclassman. He just grinned and thumbs-upped.
Gasp!
"No juice?"
"We do."
The upperclassman poured from a small neglected keg in the corner. He handed the wooden cup to Pastel.
"Drink this."
"Ah, thanks."
Pastel sprinkled mana stone dust and eyed the cup suspiciously.
Then cautiously brought it close and flicked her tongue at the liquid.
Lick lick.
Sip sip.
Orange flavor.
Real orange juice.
Pastel felt oddly wronged.
I wanted juice, sure, but still.
I really meant to drink juice, but still.
She glanced at the booze cup, then her juice.
Eee.
Pastel fidgeted, then stared boldly at the demon.
"Demon!"
"What."
A subtle look.
Pastel winked.
"Just one sip!"
Hehe.
No big deal.
The demon got serious.
"No."
Aww.
Change your mind, demon.
You're a demon.
She sent pleading eyes.
"No."
Eek, firm.
Not a crack.
Pastel pouted and sipped her juice.
Tasty, but still.
Sulking, she ignored the demon and looked at the upperclassman.
"Senpai, can I take the cup?"
"Drink nearby, but return the cup."
Then drink while strolling.
She turned to nearby booths. An adult caught her eye.
Oh, Professor Carlo.
The professor scanned the festival with an odd expression. His gaze fixed on laughing, chatting students. Laughter rang out.
Hm.
"One more juice please."
Pastel took the drink and approached the professor.
He turned.
She quietly handed over the support papers and drink.
Professor Carlo took the papers, eyed the cup oddly for a moment.
Then slowly accepted it. The cup touched his lips, throat bobbing.
Orange scent wafted.
Pastel smiled.
"Tasty, right?"
The professor finished the drink without replying.
Then returned the cup.
"Yeah."
He turned away.
"Don't expect extra budget."
Footsteps faded.
Pastel watched his back.
"Such a stiff guy, huh?"
The demon approached.
"People get like that with age."
"Whoa, adult talk outta nowhere."
Wow wow.
Pastel burst out laughing alone.
Then grabbed and shook the demon's arm.
"Demon! Demon! How old are you?!"
"Haa, why that now. Can't follow your thought process."
"Just! Just! Tell me quick!"
Bright questions and laughter echoed.
The sounds blended with the festival.
And reached the two watching from under cloaks.
Gazes turned to the pink-haired girl.
"Your daughter seems full of energy."
A dry voice replied.
"Not interested."
"Figured."
The questioner shrugged.
"......How's the infiltration?"
"All successful. Tough today, but academy intrusions will be easier ahead."
The questioner stroked his chin.
"Too smooth, almost suspicious. Like the academy's demon spies are aiming for mutual destruction."
"Let them. We stick to plan."
"Yes."
The festival ended.
Peacefully.