Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Magic Isn't Hard
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Mage.
Magic?
Whoa, magic.
"What's magic?"
Too basic a question?
『It's broad in scope, but what you'll face is practical combat magic.』
Ooh, such a drab name.
『Killing a person doesn't take much power. Just one fatal wound, and they're done.』
"Sure, that makes sense."
『Quick casting, precise aim, and guaranteed lethality.』
The demon in his suit swung his hand like a rod, mimicking a staff.
Whoosh, smack!
『Magic bullets launched with elegant motions match the speed of bullets. Anything more is superfluous.』
Eh?
Gun?
Wait, what?
Did I hear that wrong?
"W-Wait a sec. So, you're saying a mage is basically a sniper with a gun that never needs reloading?"
No way, right?
『Roughly, yeah. Guns can't fire bursts, so this is even more useful.』
Which means I'm up against...
...someone with an automatic rifle?
In an open field, fair and square?
For real?
Pastel's eyes darted around.
"U-Um, actually, I like magic."
She flailed her arms.
"Majestic, fantastic, and great!"
She struck a shooting pose.
Rat-a-tat-tat.
Bang bang bang.
Squawk squawk squawk.
The demon looked down at her pityingly.
『You have no talent for magic. You wandered around oblivious to the spell etched on your back.』
"N-No way?"
My easy-mode isekai life hasn't even started and it's already over?
What about my chill life starting with an assault rifle?
A knock came at the cabin door.
Ughhh.
"Guess we're ready."
The demon turned into a sword.
『Let's go.』
Whoa, so curt.
Pastel left the cabin and arrived at the arena.
Stairs ringed the arena. Young nobles out for a stroll had gathered in clusters.
Pastel clutched her head, then shot her hand up high.
"Friends, listen up! Eyes here!"
She clapped to draw attention. Puzzled gazes turned her way.
"Pastel to win, hands up!"
Pastel scanned around with sparkling eyes.
A few hesitated, then tentatively raised hands.
Ooh, whoa.
"Melissa to win, hands up!"
Hands shot up in droves.
Ughhh.
Something's off.
Melissa Camelot.
The rising star of magic, destined great mage.
The world called her affectionately...
「Sixteen Flashes」
Ooh, harmless nickname?
Sounds kinda doable?
『It means sixteen shots in one cast.』
What kind of brutal nickname is that?
Way too straightforward?
It's basically...
「My Mag Has Sixteen Rounds」
What about the poor victim's side?
Footsteps echoed from shoes.
Melissa walked into the arena. Her mage robe swayed.
Whoa.
The professor stood at the center, looking disinterested.
『Mages aren't hard. Read the incantation, trace the path, and cut it down.』
Pastel calmed her mind. Unlike a life-or-death mansion duel, she refocused her scattered concentration.
Can I pull it off?
I don't know how to predict incantation paths.
The professor held a coin.
As if reading her expression, the demon spoke.
『I'll tell you the path.』
The coin flipped into the air.
『Strike the light.』
The coin clinked.
Pastel kicked off the ground.
The mage swung her rod staff without flinching. A graceful curve scarred the air.
It curved, twisted, and whipped.
Less than a second.
The staff roughly aimed at Pastel.
Golden hair whipped. The robe billowed.
The magic's prelude hummed through the air.
『Left arm.』
The meaning arrived without a voice.
Pastel swung her sword at nothing incoming. The blade sliced empty air.
Light flashed in the atmosphere.
A light bullet thundered like lightning, grazing her swing.
In that split instant, the girl twisted her stance forcibly. The blade path adjusted minutely. The grazing light bullet was cleaved, exploding in light.
『Right leg.』
She swung. No—in intuition twisted the path. The light bullet flew in, drawn into the blade and sliced. Light burst.
『That's it. Left shoulder.』
Instinct and sensation.
Intuition and conviction.
The golden tower of absolute talent piled high.
The precise strike cleaved the light bullet. Light debris rippled. Pink hair dyed in the glow.
Sixteen onslaughts.
Sixteen flashes.
Waves of light embroidered the pink girl.
Her steps crossed the arena.
The blade gleamed.
Blue eyes widened.
The sword tip tapped her nape.
Melissa's lips trembled.
"How... did you deflect sixteen undulations?"
Pastel exhaled roughly.
Then, thinking it over, her lips curved.
"Talent."
Hehe.
『Good grief.』
Melissa bowed her head.
"I lost..."
I won, I won!
She waved both hands at the few who'd cheered from the start.
"Thanks to you guys!"
Cheers followed. More people than before.
Ooh, more friends now?
She waved, then turned back to Melissa.
She extended a hand to the conflicted girl.
"You did great too. I was just lucky to be your opponent. Right, friend?"
Melissa paused at the last word.
Avoiding the pink figure, she looked down at her shadow and turned away.
"Not sure."
The girl left without stepping on the shadow.
Eh?
Rejected?
They arrived at Sky Island, the waypoint between the Human Realm and Demon Realm.
Sky Island was massive. A vast continent floated, grouped under the mere name of "island." Clouds wrapped it like a blanket over the heavens.
"Sky Island, whoaaa."
The whale-mimicking airship bobbed and sank like it was swimming. It hauled goods, scooping up arbitrage profits.
"Airship, whoaaa."
White tiles neatly paved the roads. White-roofed buildings lined both sides. Carts loaded with goods streamed endlessly from the docks.
"Planned city, whoaaa."
Eateries for merchants and sailors ringed the docks. Street food filled the roads. Delicious smells blanketed the streets.
Chicken skewer stall.
Pastel swallowed drool threatening to spill.
One?
Just one?
"H-How much mana stone powder left?"
The demon pulled a pepper shaker from the luggage. Shaking it rattled mana stone dust.
Even after stripping every stone from the basement that sealed a great demon, it was already running low.
Gold melting in my stomach.
Pastel's hand trembled outstretched, then curled back neatly.
"I'll ration it..."
She staggered to the assigned temporary housing.
"Ow, when's the combat practical? The Demon Realm examinees should've arrived by now."
『If their airship broke, procuring a new one takes time.』
Aha.
Hmm.
"Then we'll live like we're already students."
No way we'll fail, right?
She poked around the academy here and there. At the end of her sightseeing, she stumbled on a shabby spot.
Pastel eyed the student council hallway closely.
"Kinda off vibe?"
Why's the heart of student power so rundown?
She ran a finger along the window frame.
Dust said hello!
"Hey, you. Real royal squatter, huh? I'm the new tenant. No hazing, right?"
The student council door creaked open slowly.
Eh?
A senior boy in pajamas peered sleepily into the hall. His eyes met Pastel's.
"No yelling in the hall."
Limp voice.
Whoa.
"Sorry."
Bow.
The senior turned back to the council room. Tiny steps followed. Door shut.
Ooh, student council room.
Totally dusty.
Just one person too.
Pastel slipped in after and looked around.
The senior paused midway to the pillow-strewn sofa. Baffled eyes turned to Pastel.
Bow.
"Hi, senpai. I'm a prospective freshman. How do I join student council?"
Students gotta do student council.
But where's everyone?
The senior's face screamed utter apathy. He ignored her, flopped on the sofa, pulled up a blanket, and mumbled.
"Top written score, right?"
"O-Oh, yeah."
"No rules, but you'll probably get in anyway. Stamp's in the drawer—help yourself."
The senior soon went quiet as if asleep.
Eh?
Pastel tiptoed to the sofa. Breathing softened.
Looking closely, magic papers unrelated to council littered around.
Huh.
She rummaged the drawer, found the seal.
Heavy weight of power.
It's real?
Found the application, stamped it. Red ink completed the form.
It actually stamped?
Pulled blank paper, stamped.
Thud.
Student Council President seal.
Eh? Huh?
Current student council roster.
President: Pastel.
Total: 2 members.
Ooo?
Pastel blankly picked up the quill and scribbled. Made new forms, stamped.
Held up the finished paper.
Pastel Love Craft.
Positions.
Vice President, General Affairs Director, Planning Director, Publicity Director, Volunteer Director, Guidance Director.
Ooooi?
The paper sparkled.
Super item.
"Ugh, can't sleep here anymore."
The president sat up. Brushed his back, staggered over, picked up the rod staff rolling on the floor.
Staff swung. Wind blew. Papers organized, floated up.
A key dropped on Pastel's head.
Ouch.
Unprecedented papers fluttered.
President glanced down.
"Ooh, good stamping. Competent newbie. I'm too busy to come often. You'll handle paperwork—just stamp like that and pass it on. Lock up. Don't call unless urgent."
The president vanished.
The freshman was left holding the seal.
Wind blew.
Gasp.
Pastel trembled, clutching the seal in both hands.
Sh-sh-shake.
G-G-Power...
Student council power suddenly in my hands? To a freshman? Is this okay?
Ughhh.
Pastel was crushed by the dazzling weight of the seal.
Someone take this.
Power I can use freely—too much for a newbie. What insane authority.
Suddenly, her unfed belly rumbled.
Grrrowl.
Stomach screaming for energy.
Mana stones named gold.
Pause.
Power I can use freely?
Ooh, whoa?
『Power is money.』
The demon, appearing suddenly, took the seal from her hand.
『Dig into student council powers, and you'll find profitable stuff. Abuse it secretly, and you could rake in big cash. Enough mana stones to fill your belly.』
The demon eyed the seal complexly, then looked down at Pastel.
『Young Craft.』
Red eyes stared straight.
『Easy path here.』
The seal shook.
『Immoral road to fill your belly with gold.』
Whoa whoa whoa.
Corruption temptation!
Demonic advice...!
Pastel clutched her head, pacing the council room.
Mana stone dust on chicken skewers to my heart's content?
Whoa whoa.
Chicken skewers.
Saliva tingled. Body urged her to eat now.
Hand flailed on its own.
To dirty the hand or not—that is the question.
So thinking, her hand autonomously untied the pouch and popped candies inside.
Chewed and swallowed four or so quickly.
Sweetness spread.
Chewing away, she suddenly paused.
Ooi?
Looked at the pouch.
Black mana stones.
Examined the pouch carefully.
Magic Department research use.
Gasp.
When did desk stuff get in my mouth?
Embezzlement and corruption.
Hand did it on its own.
Am I a natural?
Immoral genius maybe?
『Sigh. What was I thinking, testing a starving kid.』
The demon approached with a deflated face, plopped the seal back in her hand.
『Fill your belly first. Just eat it all.』
"R-Really?"
Nom nom.
This sweet rain in drought.
Soon ate all the mana stones.
Meanwhile, demon sorted some papers.
『Abuse these student council powers.』
Council's autonomous budget allocation.
Academy-affiliated airship usage rights.
Demon Realm entry for official duties.
Ooi.
『Combine 'em, and you can smuggle.』
Sm-Smuggling?
Huge word.
『Embezzle budget to buy Sky Island trade goods. Hide in council airship, enter Demon Realm on official business. Sell goods there, buy raw mana stones, return.』
Whoa whoa.
『Skips the massive trade taxes. Smuggling, after all.』
Demon pointed at papers.
『Perfect official excuse too. One examinee stranded in Demon Realm due to airship issue. Requested council emergency transport.』
Swallowed.
"H-How much per smuggling run?"
『Hm, not exact, but around this.』
Two fingers extended.
Double.
Gasp!
"P-Per run?"
『Smuggling doubles council budget. Refill original from proceeds, pocket half. Plenty for legit ways after.』
Double? One more makes quadruple?
Whoa whoa.
"Got it!"
Pastel's eyes gleamed.
"Let's do it! Money in, money out!"
Capital doubles per Sky Island-Demon Realm round trip?
Awesome.
Catching crayfish, filling ditches, munching mana stones—love it.
Once crossing the line, thoughts flowed like water.
Am I a natural?
Demon looked stunned.
『No, just once.』
Firm voice.
『Exactly once.』
Pastel affirmed too.
"Yes!"
Of course!
Pastel nodded like a kid granted game time during exams.
Smuggling day.
One, two, three!
Pastel spread her arms.
Tada!
Docks' airship sprawled before her.
Tiny whale.
"My airship!"
Awesome.
『...School's.』
She flung open the cargo hold.
Packed with spices and fine fabrics.
"My trade goods!"
Whooo.
Belly already full just looking.
『...School budget.』
Our airship launched. Took to skies toward Demon Realm.
Zoom zoom.
Leaned on rail, pink hair whipping.
"Survival trade!"
『No, sigh. Kinda, but.』
Demon approached with endlessly complicating thoughts, raised index finger.
『Exactly this once.』
Finger emphasized.
『Once.』
"Yes!"
Pastel nodded.
"But what's good about smuggling?"
『...Skips 50% tariffs.』
Gasp.
Hide goods, legit trip to Demon Realm—puffier profits than normal trade?
"Hurry! Let's swing by Demon Realm, grab the poor stranded examinee friend, and bring 'em to the academy!"
Urged the complex-faced demon.
Vast blue skies stretched.
Bright future ahead, right?
A while later, Pastel stared round-eyed at her bright future.
Skull flag flapping.
"P-Pirates...!"
Ughhh.
『Pirates, huh. I'll teach you multi-opponent combat.』