NOVEL NEXT WORLD Pastel looked over the documents with the signature lines from each department.
An empty signature line.
Dududud.
“Everyone will support the student council, right? It doesn’t make sense for a school to have no student council!”
She clenched her fists.
“A student council for students! Even though the semester just started, look at how hard we’ve worked!”
For example.
Buying smuggled goods with the student council budget.
Taking an airship out for smuggling purposes.
Using expensive gem fuel for the airship budget for free.
Thanks to that, they completed a smuggling operation with a 100% profit margin.
Oh dear?
Do we really need a corrupt student council before the semester even starts?
Isn’t abolishing the student council system too justified?
She clutched her heart.
Huff.
“B-but the student council is necessary for the students! For those starving students!”
The starving student, the Vice Student Council President, Head of Finance, Planning, Promotion, Service, and Discipline nodded.
『You aren’t seriously thinking of aiming your swords at every department, are you? Don’t underestimate your elders. Sufficient experience can stab talent.』
Pastel flinched and shook her head.
“There are methods for the top student!”
『…Do you really care that much about the top student title?』
Uh-oh.
Am I being obvious?
Hehe.
She twisted her body and grabbed her documents.
“Anyway, I’ll be seeking support from every department!”
Let’s go.
#
“Senpai, please just sign this.”
Pastel hugged the documents tightly and followed the upperclassman closely. The department representative walked faster, looking troubled.
Faster, faster.
The upperclassman spun around the square repeatedly, with Pastel in tow.
“Senpai, please, just one signature.”
Wail.
Students began to gather around the square. Some upperclassmen whispered among themselves.
—We don’t need a student council that just eats up the budget. Why are they still here?
—What? How could we expel a child of that age?
—Even if he is the son of a marquis, Craft is done for anyway, ugh!
The upperclassman was tackled.
—Shut that kid up! How dare you speak disrespectfully without a title!
—Ugh!
—Do you think the family that was a founding contributor to the nation’s establishment and conquered the Demon Realm is easy to take down? Do you want to face the wrath of the imperial family?
—Ugh, ugh!
The department representative picked up the pace even more.
Out of breath from chasing with her short legs, Pastel began to run. Her pink hair swung with her steps.
“Senpai, please, just one signature!”
Wail.
Upperclassmen whispered among themselves.
—What should we do, huh? Who is she?
—Haha! I thought of a polite way to send her away!
An upperclassman marched to the square with a desk.
“Marquis, no, newbie!”
“What?”
A desk was placed in the center of the square.
The upperclassman brushed off his hands and grinned.
“This place is a garden of study and a cradle of martial arts. You might be the top student in academics, but why would the student council, which oversees all departments, be weak enough to use you?”
The upperclassman leaned against the desk.
“A duel with a freshman is fine.”
One arm rested on the desk.
“How about an arm wrestling match?”
The upperclassman chuckled meaningfully.
“I do wield a spear a bit, but I’m a wizard after all. I can never acknowledge a student council that can’t beat a wizard.”
—Wow! What a clever kid! I knew from the moment he stumbled, waving his spear at night! That’s my friend!
—Right, right! The young marquis has a combat score of zero, right? He’s just a smart guy, so both justification and result are certain!
The fleeing department representative quickly seized the opportunity.
“If I win, not only will I get your signature, but I’ll also help with the honor of our department.”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
—Looks like you’re in trouble, huh? What to do?
—But the academy is a cold and cruel place. Even the young marquis needs to know that.
—Right! We go all out even against kids!
#
Oohhh.
Pastel stood in front of the desk with a blank expression.
When the upperclassman took his arm wrestling stance, cheers erupted. The upperclassmen’s voices grew louder.
Ugh, upperclassmen.
Am I in big trouble?
Aaaah.
I’ve fallen into a brutal death game.
It’s a merciless world that won’t give even an inch to a freshman.
Pastel took a hesitant arm wrestling position.
Their hands gripped tightly.
The feel of rough, calloused skin.
Ugh, the Demon Lord was right. The pressure time creates cannot be replaced with anything else.
Especially with a soft hand that has no calluses.
Could he feel the difference? The upperclassman’s smile deepened.
Aaaah.
The upperclassman referee held their hands.
“Get ready. 3! 2! 1! Go!”
The arm wrestling began.
Aaaahhh.
Pastel trembled and didn’t move.
The upperclassman, who had been watching intently, looked slightly apologetic. Then, without hesitation, he applied force.
The upperclassman’s arm moved with power.
Thud, jolt.
Aaaah.
Thud? Thud?
Thud…?
The upperclassman, who was twisting his body, paused. The freshman’s hand did not move. The eyes that wavered gazed at Pastel.
Aaaah, that intense gaze.
The upperclassman straightened his posture. With a serious expression, he inhaled and tensed his muscles.
“Haap!”
A firm shout.
His wrist twisted powerfully.
Thud.
Aaaah, so rough with those calluses.
The upperclassman’s eyes twitched. He turned his head sharply and looked around at the spectators.
The upperclassmen whistled.
“Our hero! You’re the smartest among the department!”
The upperclassman turned back and stared at Pastel. Sweat dripped down his face.
Then he quickly whispered.
“Huff, huff, Marquis, I’ve always respected you—”
“Senpai!”
Pastel, lost in her own world, squeezed her eyes shut.
“I’ll give it my all, freshman!”
“Wait—!”
“Uryaaah!”
The girl swung her arm with all her might. The upperclassman’s arm was easily twisted.
“Ahh!”
The back of his hand crashed against the desk. There was a loud noise. The desk broke. The upperclassman tumbled to the ground along with the debris.
“Arggh!”
Dust flew up.
Silence fell.
Pastel stared blankly at the upperclassman rolling on the ground while clutching her hand.
Oohhh.
The dignity of the elder?
『Well done.』
She heard the calm voice of the Demon.
A smile crept onto her face.
Hehe, did I win?
Oh yeah.
As she turned around, she saw the stunned spectators.
She raised her arm triumphantly.
“I won!”
Let’s get those signatures for the student council.
From the ground, the upperclassman groaned.
“Ah, are you okay?!”
Moments later, Pastel was able to collect signatures. Nearby, the upperclassman who suggested arm wrestling was kicking the ground in agony.
With a sigh, the department representative looked around at the students. Then, with a serious expression, he said.
“Under these circumstances, for the honor of our department, we’ll resort to the drowning tactic.”
Pastel soon witnessed the amusing sight of arm wrestling proposals at every department she visited.
—Hey, we sent the Marquis back home smoothly with arm wrestling. He has a combat score of zero. We really hit his weak point!
—Oh, really? Then what about us?
“For the honor of the department…”
The desk creaked.
“Ahh!”
—What, what’s going on? What kind of monster strength is that? I thought he had a combat score of zero! Is he even human?!
—What, what, you guys help too!
Waaah.
Pastel moved on from the departments she had just conquered. She gazed at the document, almost filled with signatures.
Her cheeks flushed.
“Demon Lord! Demon Lord! Senpai, they are all so nice! The upperclassmen united to make sure the freshman wouldn’t be embarrassed and let me win!”
Was the world really this kind?
So beautiful.
『Hah, as long as you’re happy, that’s enough.』
Oh yeah, it’s nearly full.
Indeed, the student council was necessary for the students, even if it was corrupt.
“Hey! You!”
A sharp voice cut through. Turning around, she saw a hulking male student approaching.
He held a sword and shield in both hands.
Huh, is he an upperclassman?
A group of unfamiliar first-years followed closely behind.
Hmm?
Quickly scanning through the student roster in her memory. She had memorized the entire list in preparation for this.
Oh, they’re the friends who entered via the airship from the Demon Realm.
They really do look unfamiliar.
Then the bulky male student holding the sword and shield is…
Leonard Tyler, the Count’s son.
What did he eat to look so different in age? He has an amazing physique.
Behind the sturdy Leonard was another male student hiding.
Dustin Wild.
The male student she first battled with in the airship.
Dustin looked intimidated as he glanced at Pastel.
Huh?
“Hey buddy, why are you here?”
Leonard ignored him and stepped forward, blocking the view of the timid boy.
Hmm.
Leonard glared.
“Hey, who do you think you are, acting high and mighty as a student council member when you’re our age?”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
Eek.
That’s too spot-on!
Leonard’s gaze flickered rapidly as if surveying the spectators. Then he fixed his eyes on the frail girl.
“Senpai told you to stay out of it, but there’s honor for a first-year. If we leave a kid like you be, how can we show our faces?”
A handkerchief was thrown.
It landed softly on Pastel’s pink hair.
Huh.
Pastel looked up at the handkerchief resting atop her head and glanced at Dustin. He flinched and hid behind Leonard.
Oh no.
“Alright!”
Pastel smiled brightly.
“But are you okay?”
And she spoke to Dustin, not Leonard.
“If you lose it’ll be embarrassing.”
Dustin flinched.
Leonard’s face flushed.
“What did you just say?!”
The sword was drawn, and the shield raised.
“Come at me right now! What are you guys doing? Make room!”
A circular space was formed around them in the crowd.
Leonard took his stance.
“Out of respect, I’ll let you attack first!”
The large shield covered his robust frame.
“Come at me!”
Pastel did not charge in but tilted her head. She tapped the hilt of her demon sword.
『Duels should be conducted with feather swords. That way, it’s safe.』
Right?
After a moment of thought, she pulled out the demon sword.
Leonard’s expression turned serious as he carefully gripped his large shield. The metal shield stabilized his sturdy frame.
Hmm.
Pastel took her stance.
One, two, three!
She stomped the ground.
The pink figure dashed towards Leonard. The demon sword swung to target the shield.
Leonard’s eyes sparkled. The shield was held tightly. It seemed like the sword strike was about to land on the shield.
But the demon sword did not collide with the shield; it narrowly brushed past it.
By the thickness of paper, the blade spun in a circle. Pastel spun her body and hurled the demon sword into the sky.
Leonard stared blankly at the flying demon sword.
“What?”
Pastel clenched her fist with a cold expression. She stomped the ground fiercely. With all her might, she swung at the shield. There was a loud sound. The air vibrated, and the shield crumpled.
Leonard staggered. His eyes widened. Between the damaged posture and the now deformed shield, the girl slipped in. Pink hair danced around her.
Her foot hit the ground. Her fist drew a trajectory. His abdomen was struck. A shockwave hit.
Leonard inhaled sharply, bending over. The sword and shield slipped from his hands. His knees hit the ground, and he let out a wheezing sound.
Pastel brushed off her hands.
“Duels should be conducted with feather swords.”
She stretched her hand toward the sky. The falling sword spun and landed back into her grasp.
She swung the sword like dust and slid it into the scabbard. The locking sound resonated.
Pastel turned around. Her pink hair fluttered.
Silence ensued.
Suddenly, her gaze met with Dustin’s dazed eyes.
She smiled sweetly.
Her pink lips flickered.
—See you again, buddy.
She left the scene.
#
The signatures were almost full.
Waaah.
Just one left to go.
The Magic Department.
Hehe.
Can I do arm wrestling here too?
The department representative from the Magic Department looked on with sleepy eyes.
“I don’t want to.”
Huh?
A blonde girl peeked out from behind the representative’s robe. Then she muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Stirring up the department with subterfuge, it’s so Craft. But your sinister scheme, I’ve thwarted it. Mother, I’ll protect the Magic Department you graduated from. I can do it.”
Melissa’s cheeks flushed.
The department representative, who heard the mumbling along with Pastel, scratched his head. He lightly shook his robe and opened his mouth.
“Well, I can’t give you a signature. We need a big budget. A student council that just takes the budget without helping isn’t worth having.”
The department budget is tight.
Some outstanding students would get funding, but most wouldn’t. To solve the budget shortage, they had to rely on outside support.
The easy way would be through family help.
However, most students at the academy are either illegitimate children or collateral relatives, and many are commoners. Families would not be a source of help.
The other way was to seek investment from merchant guilds. However, since guild investment requires connections, it’s quite a tricky business.
To at least try to connect with guilds, it would require accepting frequent commissions while going outside.
The professors’ help was the only somewhat hopeful option. But the professors themselves were not in a good situation.
With the conquest of the Demon Realm complete, Sky Island is now a remote corner of politics. Most were people without power or influence.
Professors of such caliber wouldn’t have guilds willing to support them either.
“Well then, well then.”
Her head was spinning.
“Um um, isn’t there a school festival?”
Pastel’s eyes lit up.
“A festival to promote industry-academia collaboration!”
Wow, a festival.
The department representative looked on skeptically.
“What’s with the festival? If you mean a departmental demonstration, that exists.”
“Not just a departmental one! A school festival! A festival! An event to show our accomplishments and enjoy together!”
“I don’t quite understand what you’re trying to say. We don’t need a festival in research and training. It’s not good to play too much.”
What kind of strict place is this?
No wonder they don’t even have school uniforms.
Pastel flailed her arms.
“We need to invite major guilds through the festival! Then it becomes easier to gain opportunities!”
The department representative looked unmoved. He muttered apathetically.
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“I’m sure they’ll come!”
No, this won’t do.
“An industry-academia collaboration festival!”
Pastel raised one arm high.
“The student council will take the initiative!”
She shouted with enthusiasm and swiftly pulled out her documents.
She extended the documents with both hands.
“So please, senpai, just sign this…”
Hehe.
The department representative looked dumbfounded.