NOVEL NEXT “There doesn’t seem to be a big problem. There may be a few changes, but I think we can keep it as it is.”
After finishing the site inspection of the Gem Mine, I came back up to the surface.
The current management staff didn’t seem too bad in their evaluations, and their faces brightened up. Considering they were put through a million staircases by the pink-haired Chairman, the results were remarkably better.
A few changes are expected whenever the owner of a business changes, as the internal structure always gets twisted. It seems they are taking it as a decent outcome.
Perhaps they’re expecting the common approach taken by noble High Merchants, where they fill key positions with their own people and leave the practical staff alone to avoid troubles.
That common approach is indeed correct.
Unfortunately, what’s different in Pastel’s head is that massive restructuring post-acquisition is the norm. The easiest way to make people aware of who the new boss is and how they should follow is to remove the positions of those beside them.
Still, the management staff and miners at the Gem Mine are elites in their own right. It would make sense to utilize them, even if it requires retraining.
Pastel finished the work with the mine staff and stepped away from the group. She stretched under the sunlight above the dim mine hole.
“Kuuaang!”
Inspection complete!
Probably confirmed why the Cult wanted to acquire the Gem Mine!
『Where have you been wandering around? The Knight Order was on alert, so the assassination threat was low, but you were a bit careless.』
As work hours ended, the Demon Lord began to nag.
“Beep beep~.”
Pastel shot a glare.
“I was just wandering around places with no oxygen using my smart head.”
『Oxygen doesn’t matter with mine collapses.』
The aftermath of the wishing had affected the entire neighborhood. Even if it was an unused tunnel, the rocks shook and collapsed, so how could she not notice?
“I agree. You don’t know how anxious everyone was when they couldn’t see the Governor in such a dangerous situation. Please consider your subordinates as a noble.”
Melissa, who was beside her, nodded modestly.
“Eh? Really?”
It might not just be about losing a job but literally losing one’s head. Did it create more chaos than she thought?
Everyone seemed relieved when she returned. Is it fate that the highest authority always has to be in the dark on-site?
“I’m sorry about that. I guess I’ll have to return the performance bonuses.”
Pastel felt a bit worried as she headed for the carriage.
She had only wished for the upgraded Fairy to help find the Demon King’s legacy. Was this the extent of the consequences? If she made a grand wish later on and it went wrong, wouldn’t the existence of the Fairy be exposed to the whole world?
What if the Fairy received all the attention and wishes and became arrogant, turning into a Corrupted Fairy who wouldn’t grant wishes anymore?
Ugh.
For the love and peace of the Fairy world, Fairy corruption must never happen!
It’s inevitable for the pinkish stress to lead to corruption! But Fairy corruption is an incident that’s devoid of dreams and hope!
Absolutely not!
Pastel resolved to be careful with her wishes. She probably would forget when it was actually needed, but for now, that was the plan.
She got into the returning carriage. Normally, she would have entered the passenger cabin, but Pastel got out again, pondering. She glanced over at the Demon Lord sitting in the assassin escort seat. He had closed the passenger’s door lightly. She walked a few steps and sat beside him.
『Huh?』
The Demon Lord, holding the reins, looked surprised.
『What’s this? Do you have something to say?』
“I don’t know. Anyway, let’s go! Let’s move!”
The Red Eyes looked suspiciously at her.
Pastel pretended not to notice.
Honestly, as the dignified Governor Pastel, it felt a bit belittling to be nagged and just let it pass!
The Demon Lord nagged all the time, but everyone would agree that I was the higher up! It’s true!
The Demon Lord was unsettled but started the carriage anyway.
Even though it was a public space where they had to be wary of assassins, they had a Knight Order escort surrounding them, so it seemed okay.
The horse’s hooves stepped on the dirt road. Pastel opened her mouth with a flawless expression, without a hint of negativity.
“But you see, I was working and not just slacking off, so I don’t think it’s something the Demon Lord should comment on.”
The Demon Lord shot her a glare that screamed, “What are you saying?” but as he needed to keep his eyes on the road, the moment was fleeting, yet it left Pastel stunned.
Gasp.
Just looking at my expression, it’s completely different from how she perceived it, why would she give such a distorted look!
Rebellion was rising within!
“Beep! Beep!”
Pastel protested audibly.
“Beep! Beep!”
The Demon Lord murmured nonchalantly.
『Looks like I’ve got an elephant next to me.』
Eh?
Why am I being compared to an elephant?
Why an elephant?!
This is outrageous.
Simply outrageous.
“What kind of elephant have you seen like this? I mean, it’s a little awkward for me to say it myself, but I’m really cute and pretty!”
If she said this herself, she’d lose her popular status, but hey, no one could deny it!
The Demon Lord chuckled.
『Once upon a time, I did see cases of elephants in the army. I’ll certainly remember how outrageous their feed costs were.』
“I don’t care about such useless stuff! And I don’t eat much gem! I only eat a few gold bars each day!”
Her Gold Bar friend would also love it if it was spent on the popular Pastel’s dining expenses.
Pastel nudged the Demon Lord’s body playfully.
“Demon Lord, Demon Lord, you don’t know what I was doing, do you? You don’t know, do you? You don’t know! But I do!”
Wow, I know more than the Demon Lord! I’m like a million times smarter!
Pastel was about to boast about her knowledge regarding the Demon King but hesitated.
The pink eyes scanned the vicinity.
The Knight Order had formed a distance around the carriage. Since the Governor had begun a private conversation, they wisely increased the distance. It would be tricky to mention the Demon King in a normal voice, but a little whisper would suffice.
She expressed gratitude with her eyes to the Knight member in command. Then she glanced towards the direction where Melissa would be in the carriage and turned back to the Demon Lord.
The Demon Lord must have realized his own lack of knowledge. But still, instead of bowing his head to the great Governor, he just focused straight ahead while driving the carriage.
This was shocking.
As shocking as being compared to an elephant.
If only he’d called her a pink elephant, she’d wonder if the pink or the elephant would take precedence, but no, just an elephant was just out of the question.
In an attempt to shock the Demon Lord’s face, Pastel leaned close to his ear. Specifically, because of the height difference, she had to firmly grip the edge of his elegant attire.
The Demon Lord glanced back at her. After thinking for a moment, he tilted his body slightly. When she leaned in, her lips were almost at ear’s reach.
Pastel began her whisper to infuse shock into the Demon Lord’s face once again.
Of course, it wasn’t a sudden confession attack.
“I got the Demon King’s legacy.”
Whisper, whisper.
『Hooh?』
The Demon Lord’s expression changed.
Proud.
With his gaze still maintained forward, the Demon Lord pointed slightly to his mouth as he leaned down.
『Is there anywhere you’re hurt?』
Hehe.
“Hero Pastel can defeat any strong enemy with the Fairy’s magic hammer!”
『Hmm.』
The Demon Lord looked confused about what she meant. After thinking for a moment, it seemed he chose to ignore it.
『It’s a coincidence that there was such a thing in the Gem Mine that the cult was trying to acquire. This could have become a hassle. Fate tends to lead treasures to rightful owners, but if the cult were involved with the evil god, that might have distorted fate.』
Pastel’s expression darkened.
“I don’t think that’s a coincidence. After reviewing several times, acquiring the Gem Mine purely for the money would involve too much risk. If the royal family notices later and orders the mine to be returned, they would lose big bucks for doing so.”
The Gem Mine is a big opportunity, but tied to the defense industry, it can’t be managed by a secret society of the underworld.
What if the royal family knows about the cult’s acquisition plan but decides to shut their eyes for a moment, collects the money, and just leaves? You got scammed, but where do you go to complain?
You just cry!
Wah wah.
As the Demon Lord had told her before, the cult clearly showed their accounting weaknesses.
『I agree. But I’m not sure why the cult is interested in the Demon King’s legacy.』
The Demon Lord rubbed his chin.
『The legacy is protected by fate. No matter how much they borrow the evil god’s powers, it would take a significant effort just to pinpoint its location. Even then, there still exists the playfulness of fate involved in acquiring it. To offset that would require even more effort.』
Pastel delivered surprising news next.
“I heard somewhere that the Demon King’s power actually contains divine energy. Not the personality god, but some divine being existing somewhere in the Fairy world.”
The Demon Lord didn’t look surprised but rather incredulous.
『I can guess where you heard that from. In the past, the imperial theological community conducted research to undermine the barbaric rule of the Demon King, which was said to be located in the Demon Realm. It was once treated as conventional wisdom.』
Ugh.
Feeling embarrassed after showing off knowledge that turned out to be well-known facts only to be rebutted.
『But after the gap ended and the New Testament era began, the personality god directly denied it and corrected it. It’s an exemplary case illustrating how much the imperial support distorts theology. To elevate the emperor’s authority, to disrupt the Demon Realm’s king and label him as the evil god’s servant. It was a ridiculous academic invasion.』
That was a theoretical rebuttal from a former priest.
Oh dear.
『The imperial support led to misunderstandings that the gems contained the evil god’s powers, which slowed down the advancements in gem engineering, so you, little Craft, wouldn’t know how much of a nuisance it was.』
The Demon Lord clicked his tongue because he appeared to be in a bad mood.
Oh dear, oh dear.
“R-right?”
She couldn’t refute since she didn’t know.
But the Fairy might be wrong too, so it was also hard to argue back.
“Maybe, but anyway…”
Pastel became dazed for a moment before smiling brightly.
“I think we should make contact with the cult!”
I should ask Dad.
Even if the relationship isn’t great, having connections in the world is the best, right?
Hehe.