Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Professor's Words Are Trustworthy
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"Ooh! Excellent! These are fantastic terms!"
Professor Horace examined the contract with the criminal organization.
"How did you manage to get such conditions?"
Proud.
"With faith in people and a kind-hearted attitude!"
And the courage to trust a criminal organization and draw up the contract!
"Ooh! For folks like us who deliver essential goods to those in desperate need, this is always a strength we have!"
"Exactly! That's right!"
Pastel nodded vigorously in agreement and tapped her demon sword enthusiastically.
Demon! Demon! Look at this!
Smuggling isn't weird at all!
『Is it okay for a professor to act like this with a student? Don't listen to that guy. He's no good. You shouldn't learn weird stuff from him.』
Aw.
Pastel let it go in one ear and out the other.
The nagging went whoosh~ right through.
『Are you even listening?』
Whoosh whoosh~.
"Ooh! It's exactly as the contract states!"
Professor Horace inspected Pastel's pile of boxes. He opened the lids, revealing them packed full of unprocessed mana stones.
"Zero percent commission, just like the junior said!"
"Of course! These folks are good people who keep their promises!"
But they seemed a bit cold. They could still have friendly conversations even after one of their comrades was killed.
Just as the demon said, running a criminal organization left no room for that. Mourning a dead ally while trying to win over a strong foe would only ruin the mood. Practicality overrode sentiment.
Pastel shook her head.
Ah, my head hurts. This kind of worrying doesn't suit me.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing! Anyway, these people are good! Professor, you should trade with them from now on too!"
"Mm! I will! The city's security is poor, but the organization itself seems trustworthy."
After explaining the organization to the professor, she exchanged greetings with Boss Preston and left the Demon Realm.
She had heard they planned stable expansion now that they'd recruited Cardin, but she had no further role to play here.
On the way back, they traveled alongside Professor Horace's private airship.
"I'll hook you up with a mana stone processing company for your sake!"
Wow!
Switching smuggling goods and processors boosted profits by 20%!
They encountered pirate ships a few times, but when Professor Horace confidently unleashed warning spells into the air with a beaming face, the pirates retreated with expressions like they'd stepped in dog poop.
A miracle—scaring off pirates with a single warning spell before any real fight!
A world apart from Pastel, who had to charge in swinging her sword!
"Magic is amazing! Magic pew pew!"
Finger guns: pew pew pew pew!
"Hahaha! Want to give it a try, junior?"
"I have no talent for magic..."
Aw.
"I see."
Upon arriving at Sky Island, she got the processing company introduction. Handing over unprocessed mana stones and receiving processed ones meant more volume thanks to the cheap rates.
Pastel stacked the mana stone boxes and let out a yell.
"Uw aaaang!"
She turned to the professor.
"Senior! Senior! This junior is moved! To know such a cheap, high-quality processor! You're perfect for delivering vital goods to those in need—a total veteran!"
"Hahaha! You're a perfect fit too, junior! You'll become a veteran yourself!"
"Really?!"
I can become a smuggling veteran!
"Uwaaa!"
The professor and student danced around joyfully.
『Don't take those words as compliments, please.』
The demon's voice sounded like it was burning up inside.
Oiiing.
Whispers from the demon somewhere.
Gasp.
Demon whispers are too scary.
This won't do! I'm a good kid, so I won't fall for demon whispers! In one ear and out the other!
The utterly good Pastel, who always listened to adults.
Proud.
『Are you listening? You shouldn't hang out with that professor. He's awful.』
The nagging went in one ear and out the other.
Prooooud.
『How did things end up like this? Did I mess up from the start? Shouldn't have taught her about smuggling...』
The demon let out a pained groan.
Demon! Demon! Don't suffer! It's just how things naturally turned out!
For real.
Professor Horace approached.
"Junior! You said the semester report is troubling you? Time to prepare now. Deadline's tight, so let's start right away."
Gasp.
Forgot all about it.
The journey to become top research student Pastel!
Smart Pastel wouldn't miss out on the top research title!
Pastel's eyes sparkled.
"Senior! I believe in you! How do I become top research student?!"
"Just trust this senior! As the top person in charge of semester reports, I'll coach you perfectly! With my coaching, that spot is yours!"
Coach.
She swallowed hard.
They moved to the professor's office. Professor Horace's face turned serious.
"Students misunderstand, but semester reports aren't evaluated objectively. Professors' subjective opinions play a big role."
Ooh, total pro.
Pastel turned serious too.
"Then?"
"Match the professors' tastes in topic and perspective, and scores skyrocket. What's your current research topic?"
Pastel flinched. She averted her gaze slightly.
"Well, being busy delivering goods to those in need means I haven't prepared one yet."
She whistled awkwardly.
Aiming for top research without even picking a topic felt a bit guilty.
"I get it. I forget my professor duties sometimes while doing my kind deliveries too."
『Why is this guy bragging about that to a kid? Don't hang out with him. He's really no good.』
The demon whisper filtered through her brain. The content vanished, leaving only short phrases.
"Senior...! It comforts this junior!"
"Of course. Actually, no existing topic isn't bad. You can just write my paper. It'll suit the professors' tastes. Let me see."
Professor Horace rummaged in a drawer. Out came a thick stack of papers—like a whole book.
"Overkill for a first-year first-semester report, but with the competition, this is needed for top spot."
The paper stack was handed over.
"Unpublished paper."
Gasp.
Pastel took it with trembling hands. The heavy weight pressed down.
The weight of scholarship.
—Fundamental Understanding of Magic Engineering Phenomena through Magical Principles: Theoretical Analysis and Application
Uwaaa.
Absolutely no clue!
『Hm? Handing over his own paper? Something's off. Too much help. Is he bribing the young marquess in advance?』
The demon flew into a rage.
『Young Craft, this guy's really bad news. Cut ties now. Hang with him and you'll learn bad habits.』
The demon whisper filtered in her brain. Content gone, short phrases remained.
His own paper, excessive help.
Gasp.
Demon-approved help.
Her hand trembled holding the paper.
"Senior, can I really take this?!"
Handing over the results of his own research.
Professor Horace smiled reliably.
"I can do this much for you, junior!"
Pastel's mouth dropped open.
"Senior...! This junior is moved! I'll definitely get top research! I won't waste your research efforts!"
"Of course!"
Professor Horace smiled contentedly.
As if very satisfied at having preemptively bought off the still-malleable young marquess.
"But it's not over yet. Submit it as-is and you'll get caught. Rewrite everything in your handwriting and style. Adjust to report format too."
Ooh, pro advice.
『What the hell is he teaching the kid? How shameless is this guy?』
"Do this part yourself. I'll coach from the side, so finish before deadline."
"Understood!"
Pastel answered confidently.
Then she paused.
Looked down at the book-thick paper stack.
Aw.
Wait, I have to rewrite all this in my own words? Within the deadline?
"W-Wait, do I have to rewrite every bit of this? Not copy-paste, but restructure in my style?"
"Naturally."
Professor Horace brought the paper stack and a quill.
"Tight deadline, so start today!"
Uwaaa.
Pastel gripped the quill.
She scribbled frantically.
Uwaaa.
The path to top research is too arduous...!
Life is too hard, Pastel...!
Melissa stared blankly at the bulletin board. The semester report research rankings were posted.
Top: Pastel Love Craft – A+
Runner-up: Melissa Camelot – A+
Mother, Father.
I failed to get top again.
I was really confident this time, but I overreached. Being hailed as the next great archmage made me forget humility?
Pastel walked up looking haggard. She checked the board and her lips curved into a goofy grin.
"Top research, Pastel."
Melissa eyed the unusually frizzy pink hair. Like she'd pulled all-nighters.
She touched her own golden locks. Soft and moist, thanks to daily maid care.
Pastel beamed happily, then rubbed her eyes tiredly. Haggard, unlike her usual bubbly self.
"It was a nightmare... Never touching a quill again."
The girl's hand bore quill marks. Vivid traces of toil and endurance.
Melissa looked at her own soft, pampered noble hand.
Sudden realization hit.
Ah, I didn't work like that.
I thought being cared for and helped in a greenhouse was effort.
The next great archmage learned humility without defeat. Cracks formed in her realm barriers, future realms easier.
Having achieved what others couldn't in lifetimes through mere runner-up and talent, Melissa approached Pastel.
She stopped at a distance avoiding the shadow.
"Craft."
Pastel turned. Sparkle returned to her pink eyes.
"Oh, Melissa. Sorry, I was so tired I didn't see you. Wasn't ignoring you, honest mistake."
Melissa spoke.
"Clerk top and research top must come from unimaginable effort and endurance."
Pastel's face screamed, How'd she know?!
Then shifted to regret at being exposed as a hard worker instead of a treated genius.
Just as I thought.
Her deep observation pierced emotions and motives. Melissa was certain.
Craft is a genius who also worked hard. Of course an arrogant me loses.
"I admit it. You're worthy of the Craft name. Elegant swans paddle furiously underwater. Elegant results hide grueling effort."
Melissa placed hand on chest and bowed briefly.
"Craft, you're elegant."
She turned and left.
Heel clicks faded from the bulletin board.
Left alone, Pastel's eyes went wide.
"Melissa's really from the fourth dimension."
Friend with a thought process hard for normal folks to grasp.
But since she's a friend, gotta try understanding!
"Swans just float without paddling, right? No real effort."
『Right. They just float. She must've misread the fairy tale.』
Melissa likes fairy tales, huh.
Whoa.
The red-eyed senior clutched the semester report results, lost in ecstasy.
He'd cracked top 10 in his year.
Thanks to awakening agents and chaining high-difficulty combat commissions.
This score would draw merchant guild sponsorship and investment. His orphan worries post-graduation were solved.
"Congrats."
A church black robe approached.
"Side effects aside, the effects are solid, right? O? Top 10? You used it well."
The senior flinched and trembled.
Academy mana stone awakening agents had no side effects. Decent effects too. Rare for seniors not to try once.
He had too. Despite student council crackdowns, he tried the underground ones out of curiosity and cleared tougher commissions.
Then regular use boosted results. No side effects anyway.
But then he wondered:
If no-side-effect agents are this good, how potent are ones with side effects?
How high-diff commissions could I take? How high the ranks? Guild support? My future? Retirement?
Then the black robe came.
With addictive, side-effect-heavy awakening agents.
After agonizing, he drank the poisoned chalice.
Side effects hit: daily heart and muscle pain, occasional mental fog. Felt like lifespan draining.
But overwhelming effects chased them away. Cleared countless high-diffs. Ranks soared to top 10.
The senior hid his report and trembled.
The black robe approached casually, patting his back.
"Aigoo, get some sleep. No insomnia side effect, so why the bloodshot eyes? Ew, so red."
Peered into his eyes from under the hood.
"Worried? Think we'll make shady demands? Sure. Suddenly your skills skyrocket, everyone's praising, but what if agents cut off? Exposed as fake—thrilling, right?"
Senior trembled silently.
"Not thrilling?"
Black robe tilted head.
"Want me to make it thrilling?"
Senior panicked.
"No! No!"
"Right? Don't worry! We won't ask hard stuff. Just tweak internal security a bit. Very little. Here's the list."
Note handed over. Senior's hands shook taking it.
"Wh-what? Relax! Relax! Think knights and profs can't handle it? They're competent. Just do your part. Trust the adults, kid!"
Back patted.
Senior left anxiously.
Black robe ruffled hair.
"Not sure if messing with students like this is okay. World's tough."
Another black robe emerged from shadows.
"Done?"
"Yes, done."
Subordinate replied curtly.
Then smirked slyly.
"Won't meet your daughter? Just steal the device and skip family reunion? Won't the young marquess feel lonely without father?"
Cold eyes stared.
"Not interested. Focus on work."
"As you say."
Subordinate shrugged.