Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Catching Pirates the Smart Way
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Human Realm and Demon Realm were terms used to distinguish continents far apart from each other.
If you flew straight out from the Human Realm, the sea and sky suddenly sloped into a steep decline. Seagoing ships got swept away by the rapids and sank, leaving only aerial ships to survive in the sky.
Ignoring the downhill slope and ascending into the sky brought you face-to-face with a ceiling that felt like the roof of a massive cave.
It resembled the sky, complete with natural weather and sunlight streaming in, but in truth, it was just the ceiling of a gigantic cave.
From the Human Realm, you navigated it like descending stairs through a cave, passed via Sky Island, and arrived at the underground Demon Realm.
The cave was riddled with holes and open spaces. Thanks to that, pirates infested the place, giving the Empire a massive headache.
And right now, it was Pastel's terror.
"Uwaaaah!"
Pastel ran around on the deck.
"Uwaaaah...!"
Pirates. Pirates!
No skull sails since it was an airship, but pirates with skull-patterned cloth tied to the prow were coming to steal everything they had.
Fierce. Wicked.
Miserable pirates coming to snatch the snot-crusted savings from a starving kid.
『Hmm.』
The demon loaded a cannonball into the cannon.
Oh, cannon.
Pastel scurried over.
"Fire it off!"
Bang!
The demon turned the crank. A harsh noise erupted. Sparks flew, and the smell of gunpowder filled the air.
The cannonball whistled through the air.
Pastel pumped her fist high.
"You got this, cannonball buddy!"
Swoosh.
The cannonball struck the pirate ship's hull. It did barely any damage before plummeting away with a pathetic whine.
"Tch, buddy? Why didn't it explode?!"
『Cannonballs don't explode. It's just a lump of iron.』
Not an explosive shell?
Aaah...
The demon inspected the cannon.
『Just a decorative piece without mana stone engineering applied. No matter.』
The demon transformed into a sword. Pastel grabbed it instinctively.
"No way?"
『Prepare for battle.』
The pirate ship closed in. Pirates gathered at the railing, weapons in hand.
Uwaaaah.
A pirate with a long scar across his face slung a greatsword over his shoulder and shouted.
"No witnesses left alive! Come at us if you dare!"
What?
No offer to surrender?
Isn't that too bold?
Wooden planks bridged the pirate ship and airship. A horde of pirates charged across them, weapons gleaming.
Uwaaaah.
『Run to the cabin.』
She ran, pink hair whipping behind her.
Her heart pounded wildly.
It was a different rhythm from sparring.
Memories of hardships and tightropes at the mansion flashed by.
Not a duel, but a fight to the death.
Do I actually like life-or-death battles? Do I get a thrill from gambling with my life?
Is it PTSD? My mind twisted from too much stress, did a full loop to cope?
『Here.』
She halted. Turning, a straight corridor stretched out.
『I'll teach you how to handle multiples.』
The sword pointed straight ahead.
『Arms and legs are finite. Skill doesn't mean extra limbs. Even experts struggle with simultaneous attacks.』
Footsteps echoed.
『Step diagonally into their formation. Disrupt their order, draw out a protrusion.』
The sword tip trembled.
『...Young Craft?』
"I... I've never killed anyone before."
Her heart raced fiercely. An indistinct sensation—excitement, tension, hesitation—pulsed through her. Her heartbeat roared in her ears. Her thoughts tangled.
Suddenly, the magic sword dispersed. The demon in his suit turned his back to the corridor and looked down at her. His gaze was gentle.
『Everyone starts that way. Even great knights began as clumsy apprentices. You don't need to feel confused by your emotions. It's not just you. You're not lacking.』
The demon's hand pressed down on her pink hair. Warmth and weight settled on her head.
"Demon..."
Pastel looked up into the red eyes. Then she noticed something beyond her vision and flinched.
A pirate had sneaked up, swinging a cutlass at the demon.
Pastel tried to shout.
The demon leaned aside without turning. The blade grazed his suit.
He spun, his suited leg kicking the pirate's. The pirate lost balance and floated up. The demon's arm struck the pirate's nape. Impact rang out. The pirate's body twisted in midair.
The demon snatched the dropped cutlass. The blade flashed. Its arc sliced the pirate. Blood sprayed.
Seamless Counter
The demon shielded Pastel from the blood.
『You can stop thinking. Focus on the voice of the one ahead. You're not alone.』
His suit fluttered as the magic sword reformed in his hand.
Pirates charged down the straight corridor.
『Open stance.』
Unconsciously, she widened her feet.
The lead pirate swung his sword.
Pastel leaned her upper body back as far as possible. The blade cut the air in front of her torso.
Nachreisen
Upper body arcs back into a sweeping cut. Cloth tears, flesh parts. The tactile feedback stains her fingertips. Thick crimson sprays.
Immediately, another pirate closed in, raising his cutlass.
Unterhau
Step forward and slice upward. A swift strike swallows the foe's wide overhead. Blood erupts.
Blood droplets splattered the girl's cheek.
A new blade targeted the girl.
Kron
Twist the raised hilt from the upward slice into a cross-guard bind. Blades clash, roots grind. In that locked instant, she shoves with power. Impact ripples. Foe staggers. Her blade flashes toward the exposed torso. Blood sprays.
The pink-haired girl pivoted toward the next foe. Their eyes met. Pupils dilated, a scream rang out.
The opponent turned to flee.
Scheitelhau
Pink hair whips. Blade gleams. The strike engulfs the fleeing back.
"You bastard...!"
A pirate shoved past the fleeing ones and charged, hefting a massive greatsword.
Anbinden
Just before engagement range, she surges in ambush-style. Whip-crack spin shortens attack distance explosively. Trajectory sweeps the ankle. Ankle severs, blood gushes.
The greatsword-wielding pirate's body toppled as he raised it. His eyes widened.
Rage Strike Barrage
Blade storm engulfs. Blood mist erupts. Screams echo.
The pink silhouette dashed. The blade flashed repeatedly. Gleams raced down the corridor. Arms severed, torsos rent. Heads spun from necks. Blood streaks painted the walls.
Chaos filled the space.
Pounding feet and voices chased after. The corridor ended, opening to the outdoors.
The pirate ship hastily ascended and fled. A straggler who hadn't escaped screamed, arms outstretched from the railing, then glanced back.
Silver flashed.
"S-spare...!"
The bloodied blade halted right after.
The girl froze mid-swing.
Huh?
Dreamlike sensation shattered; reality jolted her mind awake. Amid adrenaline haze, Pastel snapped to.
She lowered the sword. Breath came ragged.
The terrified pirate entered her sight. He collapsed bonelessly. His pant leg darkened wetly.
Oof...
Pastel dazedly surveyed her surroundings.
Blood trails and corpses marked her path.
Eh...?
No sense of reality.
Suddenly, her hands trembled faintly. The shaking grew, climbing her arms to her body. Heartbeat thundered.
Then a familiar hand pressed her head.
『Good work.』
A soft voice.
The trembling eased gradually.
She looked up at the demon.
Their eyes met briefly.
Pastel tried for her usual bright smile. It didn't quite form.
The demon's hand ruffled her pink hair.
"...My hair's getting messed up."
『So it is.』
She paused mid-fix as she noticed blood on her hands. Her whole body was soaked red. Blood droplets fell from pink strands.
『A warm bath will make you feel better.』
"Sure."
Whew.
Turning her head, she spotted the surviving pirate. He stared with trembling eyes, then slammed his forehead to the deck. A sharp thud.
"Meals! Cleaning! Organizing! Anything!"
Uh...
What now?
Pastel was stunned.
『On your feet.』
The demon stepped forward.
The pirate sprang up rigidly, face like a new recruit.
"Order me to do anything!"
"Wh-what's your name?"
"Chaseon, ma'am! Call me whatever!"
Oh, wow.
Chaseon.
『You've been through it too.』
The demon patted the pirate's shoulder.
Chaseon flinched, then shook his head vigorously.
"No, ma'am!"
『No need for more hardship.』
"Pardon?"
The demon grabbed Chaseon's collar and shoved. The railing clanged. Chaseon plummeted beyond the airship. His scream trailed long.
Eh.
The demon wiped his hand on the railing and approached. He scooped Pastel up by her legs. Pink hair cascaded down.
The demon walked slowly.
『A warm bath, good meal, deep sleep—you'll feel much better.』
Eh.
That scream down there.
Oh.
Stopped now.
#
The Demon Realm docking area was heavily guarded. Warships—barely worthy of the name airships—dotted the area. Soldiers patrolled the ground too.
Pastel's airship neared the docks. A small but meticulously armed airship approached and docked alongside.
A stern-faced soldier eyed them.
"State your business."
Uwaaaah.
Uwaaaahhh.
We're not here for smuggling, right?
Pastel tremblingly handed over papers.
The soldier ignored the girl's common jitters and checked the documents stamped by the Student Council President.
"Student Council?"
"O-one exam student got left behind, so we rushed to pick her up! The combat practical schedule got messed up!"
The soldier scratched his head with his scabbard.
"Hm. Got it."
Papers returned. Procedures cleared without issue. Pastel set foot on solid ground.
Yay.
People bustled in the docking area. Soldiers occasionally strode through, sword sheaths swaying at their waists.
Oh, wow.
Pastel whistled awkwardly and reboarded the airship. Clutching the magic sword with shaky eyes.
"Demon! Demon! It's super strict here?!"
Uwaaaah.
『Set it down first.』
"Y-yes."
The sword became the demon. He scanned the docks from the railing. His gaze locked on a massive building.
『There it is.』
The demon strolled casually toward the building. Pastel trailed hurriedly.
"S-secret rendezvous spot?"
Only the demon knows?
Whoa.
A sign came into view.
Demon Realm Joint-Stock Company.
The naming?
『A private enterprise with state capital.』
The demon waited in line normally, met the merchant normally, signed normally.
Then said,
『Sold it all. Now just pick up the exam student and head back.』
Eh.
They exited the building. Soon, a caravan arrived and unloaded the smuggled goods from the airship.
Sunlight glinted off the contraband.
Uwaaaah.
Smuggled goods out in broad daylight.
Pastel's eyes twitched as she locked gazes with a soldier overlooking from an overhead airship.
The same soldier who'd checked her Student Council papers and waved her through.
Gasp.
The soldier saw the blatant unloading of contraband from Pastel's airship. Then indifferently looked away.
Oof?
The demon finished haggling. He received several large crates and had them carted over.
Ooiing?
She opened a large crate.
Unprocessed black mana stones filled it.
Gasp.
Pastel clutched her chest.
Eyes twitching, she threw her arms up high.
"Wheeeee!"
Life's easy...!
I'm gonna be the goddess of smuggling...!
She scooped up the enthusiastically homeless exam demon girl and hightailed it back. No pirates in sight.