Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Do What You Must, Even in Fear
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Pastel shouted at every student she came across.
"Get inside the buildings! It's paralyzing gas, so don't breathe it in—hole up indoors! Don't let your guard down just because the effects aren't immediate—get inside!"
The flustered students evacuated into the buildings.
A pack of wolves charged through the paralyzing smoke. As they lunged at a student, Pastel kicked off the ground.
The leaping wolf bared its fangs. The student's eyes widened. A sword flash gleamed. Blood sprayed. It splattered across the student's cheek.
The wolf pack surged forward. Amid the smoke, pink hair whipped about. Her sword traced silver waves. The waves swept over wolves in every direction. Silver flashed. Blood sprayed.
Blood droplets scattered, turning the smoke red.
Pastel burst through the crimson haze, shaking her head as if to shake off her excitement, then shoved the student she'd protected. The student stumbled back in a daze.
"Get inside!"
She yelled at the students who had stopped evacuating and were staring blankly.
"Go on! Hurry!"
After leading everyone inside, she emerged from the building again.
Pastel looked around. The academy was shrouded in smoke, devoid of people.
She ran, exhaling sharply. The chemical stench of the paralyzing gas stung her nose. Her face twisted in disgust.
"What kind of motive could this terrorism have?"
What was worth targeting the academy for?
『To know that, we'd need to figure out which group it is. For now, it's mild paralyzing gas and wolves even students can handle, so it's probably not demon extremists.』
The demon pondered for a moment.
『Maybe a new group formed while the church collapsed and I was sealed away. They could be here to steal artifacts.』
*Ping.*
"What's in the academy?"
『You forgot? The Demon King's legacy is buried here.』
"Right."
『Sky Island is the site of the final great clash between humans and demons, a bizarre island floating between the Human Realm and Demon Realm. There are plenty of strange artifacts beyond just the Demon King's legacy.』
*Ping.*
『After the Sky Island Governor's Office disbanded, the academy took over managing all sorts of odd artifacts. Most have only historical value, but apparently something caught this new group's eye. It happens from time to time.』
What kind of deranged place is this to build a school on? They said it was originally an officer training ground? Yeah, that makes sense for a brutal spot like this.
"I don't know the goal, but it's probably stealing artifacts, right?"
『Yeah.』
"If we just hunker down in the buildings, they'll probably leave us alone?"
『Given their bold moves, publicity is likely a goal too, so student slaughter is off the table. Groups like this need sympathy from some and infamy from others. That's how they attract talent and funding. Massacring students just earns pointless disgust. It doesn't help operations at all.』
"Practical thinking."
Pastel thought it over.
"Got it. Then the student council focuses on evacuating students rather than fighting the terrorists. We'll leave resolution to the knights and guards."
It was too late to join the command center and represent students as student council. Better to evacuate them on-site.
She turned and sprinted toward the gardens. Plenty of friends would be panicking in the sudden chaos.
『Good call. If there's even a knight-level attacker among them, you couldn't win anyway.』
"What's so special about knight-level?"
Wasn't Cardin not even quasi-knight?
『A knight order is named for a single knight-level member and their subordinates. Back then, there were fewer than twenty knight-level across the entire empire.』
Ooh.
Top-world tier?
Eek.
If I encounter one, run immediately.
Go, academy-bound knight order!
Arriving at the gardens, she spotted a student trembling atop a garden tree. A wolf pack circled below, barking.
The paralyzing gas rippled across the ground. Strength drained from the student's hands, and they plummeted. The wolves lunged.
Pastel grabbed a stone and hurled it with all her might. A faint whoosh cut the air. The trajectory slammed into its target. The wolf's head exploded, debris scattering.
The pack froze as one. The girl crashed into them. Wolf howls turned to screams.
Soon, silence fell.
Blood-soaked Pastel rescued the still-shivering student and led them to a nearby building.
She walked on after exiting the building.
She clutched her head.
"Ugh."
A strange haze settled in.
Adrenaline rush.
Wolves weren't much threat, and she'd stayed mostly clear-headed, but the constant blood scent was exciting her body.
This could be trouble—if she met a foe she couldn't beat and charged in blindly.
Hormone buddy, calm down.
Chill, and I'll gift you the "friend friend" title.
Double letters, even.
Double.
Pastel shook her head.
Maybe okay, maybe not.
Clapping echoed from somewhere.
"Nice un-Craft-like good deed. Or is it Craft-like? You're always so scheming."
A man in black robes approached through the smoke. It parted unnaturally around him, defying the flow.
Villain vibes to anyone watching.
Pastel sobered, leveling her sword. Surprisingly calmly, hormones in check, she spoke.
"Are you the ringleader?"
"Hm?"
The man tilted his head, then glanced at his black robes.
"Why ask? I look the bad guy part. Hoping I'm innocent? Oh, such a pure heart."
He marveled.
『Young Craft.』
The demon spoke calmly in the interim.
『Knight-level.』
Eh?
Knight-level, right here.
Eek?
The man pondered, then drew a dagger from his robes.
"Shall we see your skills?"
A finger hooked the dagger ring, spinning it. Fluid motions gripped it reverse.
Cold water doused Pastel's mind.
Eek.
Knight-level.
Wrong opponent...!
No wonder!
Her hazy hormone buddy had gone quiet...!
Buddy was weak vs strong, strong vs weak?
Me too...!
Total twins!
『Run—that's smart.』
Pastel spun and bolted before the demon finished.
Eek.
"First move's yours—what?"
A startled voice faded behind, but she didn't look back, sprinting full tilt.
Eek.
Pink hair bounced.
Vision blurred past buildings, up and down stairs in full flight.
Reaching a secluded spot, she stopped. Gasped raggedly.
Eek, nearly died.
Shouldn't have joined student council.
『Hm, running's not your matchup.』
The demon said flatly.
"Huh?"
What?
Presence bloomed right behind.
"You run well—"
Adrenaline surged.
Pastel whirled, swinging her sword. A spinning slash targeted the man.
He flinched, extending a hand. Fingers met the blade path, shifted. Air boomed.
The blade caught on his fingers, slash halted.
"Whoa, reflexes—"
Pastel dropped the sword, swinging her fist. It smashed the man. Impact echoed.
He caught the fist in his palm, pushed back slightly, frowning.
"Ow, what monstrous strength."
Eh.
Real knight-level.
With sword and hand caught, Pastel snapped clear.
Her hormone buddy, ruling till now, chirped sweetly.
Hehe, can't do this.
Dunno.
Bye-bye.
Hormone buddy whooshed away.
Whoosh~.
Eek.
Buddy, don't go!
Don't leave me alone here!
We're friends!
Eek.
"Ow, that hurt."
The man shook his caught hand, then moved. He scooped under her legs, hoisting her up.
"Up we go!"
Eh.
Princess-carried gently, then he bounced her suddenly.
"Bouncy-bouncy, piggyback!"
Pastel jolted along.
Vision bobbed.
Eek? Eek?
What? What?
His play shattered her will. Satisfied, he walked on.
Pastel's eyes rounded.
Eek.
Kidnapped...!
She trembled.
Shiver shiver.
"I-I don't have anything valuable."
True.
"Oh! You know that well!"
He burst out laughing.
"No one knows better than us?"
Eek.
Planned crime...!
Total evil kidnap...!
Shiver shiver.
Kidnapped straight to the chancellor's building. Carried down the hall.
"Put me down."
"For real?"
He nodded at the hall. Corpses and blood pools filled her view.
Eek.
Massacre scene...!
"P-put me down somewhere else."
He laughed.
"Got it! Got it! Soon."
Rooftop. Many in black robes. Bloodstained.
Sharp gazes turned.
He strode casually to center.
Stopped before villainous someone.
The figure, examining a bloody artifact device, turned. Robes swayed. Plague mask hid face.
The man spoke.
"Brought her."
Mask eyes fixed on Pastel, then on subordinate.
"Why bring her?"
Dry voice.
"Eh? Not?"
Master eyed subordinate, ignored, resumed artifact. Gloved hand manipulated.
Silence.
Another black robe approached.
"Ready to check."
Master handed device. Robe took it, went to rooftop edge.
Crowd parted, revealing black magic circle. Device placed at center.
Man scratched head.
"Oops, really not interested."
Pastel set down.
Eek?
Man caught her look, shrugged, approached master. Business talk now, words indistinct.
Pastel huddled, eyes darting. Surprisingly mellow vibe eased tension.
Just kidnapped?
Surprisingly fine?
Rubbed arms.
It's okay, Pastel.
Just kidnapped.
Mind intact, can survive.
"Begin."
Master gestured. Robes swung staves. Black circle glowed.
Central device floated. White light burst.
Ground trembled faintly. Like rippling water. Subtle, yet shook rooftop, earth, entire view.
"It's the navigation device!"
Inspecting robes cheered, hugged in joy.
Rooftop filled with euphoria.
Pastel stood apart. In every sense.
Her view filled not with mystic artifact, but background black circle.
Drawn not in mana stone dust, but sticky something.
Huh.
Memory flipped. Similar rose.
Mansion monsters, garden giant circle.
Seen before...?
For real.
Pastel shook off confusion. Magic circles weren't unique; no need to connect.
They wouldn't carve her mansion, spawn monsters.
Wouldn't sacrifice her loyal retainers guarding dumb head.
But she couldn't resist, walked over. Reached unimpeded.
Sweet scent.
First aroma mana stones, awakeners couldn't chase.
Entranced, hand extended. Finger stirred circle; sticky black gelatin coated.
Licked pudding scrap. Meat pudding wet tongue. Nerves sparked.
Brain crackled.
Euphoria of reclaiming lost.
Void filled, satisfaction.
Pastel's lips quivered faintly.
Ha.
Crooked smile formed.
Man approached.
"What's wrong, young lady?"
Girl bowed head, lips working silently.
Refining words, suppressing emotion, then one sentence.
"Have you ever harmed me?"
"Oh, plenty."
Man answered readily.
"I see."
Girl shut mouth. Fiddled sword hilt, released.
Area bustled. Mage swung staff; gelatin rose, boxed. Rooftop cleared.
Airship flew from clouds. Reached rooftop, ladders dropped. Robes grabbed. Ladders pulled up one by one.
Man walked to ladder, turned.
"See you next time, young lady."
"Why..."
Girl couldn't hold back.
"Why do this?"
Man paused. Glanced at pondering master eyeing artifact, climbed silently. Ladder rose.
Girl stared at remaining master.
"Why do this?"
Silence blanketed rooftop.
Master pocketed artifact. Gloved hand grabbed ladder.
"Love is greater than all."
Dry voice echoed.
"You'll learn one day, Pastel."
Ladders rose.
Black robes billowed.
Alone, girl blankly watched airship vanish into distance. Long minutes, blankly.
Clouds brushed sky.
Girl suppressed emotion, spoke.
"Demon, I want something now."
Cold voice rang.
"I want to kill them all."
For retainers who protected powerless head.
"What must I do?"
Demon silent awhile.
Then slowly.
『Gather talent, build power. Too much can't do alone.』
"Decided."
Girl tore gaze from sky, turned. Cold-faced, descended rooftop.
"I'll earn money, gather people, build forces."
Till all dead.
First semester ended.
『......But your method isn't smuggling, right?』
Oh dear.
『Young Craft? No answer? Hey?』