Hmm, intriguing. Overall a good read that I'll keep a look out for

Personally, I am giving this a 5 star because the writing is good and the translation is well-done. The translation is one of the strong points for my praise as well. Its kind of quality you can find in official translated light novels. By that, the translator faithful translate the contents and reconstruct them to still convey the same intent and feelings the author wants to convey. Easy it seems but difficult to accomplish.

I'll add and point out... more>> that the combat scenes are executed nicely. There's even technical aspects of actual sword fighting baked into it. Not the kind of stuff that hand waves it but explains theory with practical execution; to be precise, it's HEMA and it helps to visualize the motions of the MC in fights later on. It's rare to find such details in webnovels. Another point is that the first 6 chapters has a good pacing to it. Not only that but how world building is introduced bit by bit without feeling forced is also another positive point as well.

As for the main character, Pastel is loveable, optimistic and totally ready to survive; truly cunning while being cute about it! The misunderstanding part... its entertaining so far. I won't explain since its easy to spot as soon as you get into it. <<less

Pastel is so adorable.

She is the perfect blend of a smart and cunning protagonist and an airheaded protagonist. Currently, the story is very enjoyable.

Wow Wow, I'm looking forward to more chapters.

Pastel is so adorable (╥﹏╥) Life is too easy, Pastel. Life is too hard, Pastel. Uwaah

Pastel LoveCraft is such an eccentric protagonist. She's not like the usual leads you get in stories like this. She's clever and cunning, but also has this airhead charm that keeps surprising you. That mix of traits makes her super engaging. One moment, she's outsmarting everyone like it's nothing, and the next, she's doing something completely random and unexpected, but somehow it totally fits her character.

The story itself has a lot going on and it's... more>> honestly pretty compelling. Watching Pastel struggle with the messy politics around her is interesting. There are tons of schemes and conspiracies, and the layers keep you guessing. What stood out the most is how Pastel doesn't stick to traditional methods. She's out there making deals with shady professors and underground crime bosses just to claw her way up. It's all morally gray, but that's what makes it so good. She's not afraid to get her hands dirty, and seeing how far she'll go is honestly fascinating.

The action scenes are another highlight. They're not just flashy fights for the sake of drama; they're grounded and detailed, making them feel realistic. You can tell the author put a lot of effort into researching technical swordplay as @Nekomimik mentioned, and it really adds to the world-building. It makes every fight feel meaningful, not just there for dramatic effect.

What I really liked was how the tone shifts throughout the story. There are lighthearted moments where Pastel's sharp humor and the absurd situations she finds herself in give you a breather from all the tension. But even during those moments, there's always this sense of darkness lurking in the background. The story doesn't really let you relax, and that balance between humor and despair is what makes it so addictive.

I'll admit, the pacing feels a bit slow at first, but it's definitely worth sticking with. As the story goes on, everything starts to come together, and the payoff is totally worth it. If you like morally complex protagonists, layered politics and schemes, and a story that expects you to pay attention to the details without overwhelming you, this one is definitely worth checking out.

PS: I don't usually mention this, but the translations are so good. I read the MTL version back in July, and I was really impressed. Big thanks to the translators for the amazing work 🙏 The onomatopoeias and occasional "Uwaah"s had me cracking up.

Characters :

Spoiler

•Pastel Love Craft - Bubbly, Playful, Energetic, Pinky Pink, Lack Common Sense, Sword Genius, Superhuman, Student Council, Pseudo-Human, Charming, Viscountess, Super Smart but also an airhead

•Demius (Mr. Demon) - Longsword, Mature, Pastel's Master/Guardian, Nanny, Surprisingly good at housework

•Ellie - Black hair and eyes, Student Council

•Melissa Camelot - Mage, Tsundere

•Leonard - Bully, Childish, Big Muscle

•Dustin Wilde - Lackey, Pitiful, Student Council

•Professor Horace - Shady Prof, Smuggling, "Benevolent"

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Hmmm, the protagonist is definitely not an idiot but definitely, absolutely childish and immature. True airheaded detached psychopath to its very essence. A chaotic innocent evil, a borderline psychopath, it's literally her. All of the reviews are right, but at the same time I kinda went in with wrong expectations, I thought she would be closer to that of a Deadpool, but she isn't. She's chaotic neutral in a sense but with a much more airheaded, very childish/immature aura. Borderline comedic, crazy, and annoying. When it's funny, it's really funny,... more>> but when it's annoying it's really annoying. The problem with the novel is definitely the pacing. Up to ch72 there are so many filler chapters or arc that aren't necessarily needed to be written, it feels like it's there just to be there. The beginnings (below 40 or something) are definitely amazing tho. But then it fluctuates... Ironically the same like the MC with her completely unpredictable, chaotic, careless, and childish nature.

Also, It's weirdly written like it's a SoL novel. IDK why like, it definitely has that Slice of Life feeling in it. Its like the plot doesn't really develop, progress, or goes anywhere (literally), unless for that one arc where Pastel is kidnapped by the cult (her father). Beside that, the plot never progress. But WHAT DO PROGRESS IS THE WORLD BUILDING, WHICH IS THE STRONGEST PART OF THIS NOVEL. Like for example, the politics behind the scene, the power and social dynamics between different characters, it helps developing the world itself, but as for the plot itself (the set course, series, or sequent of events happening throughout the story) never really grow anywhere. It feels like things happen because it just does–meaninglessly, but maybe that's what the author tryna aim for—the chaos.

Our MC doesn't really grow except for her strength / power either, and if she did grow, it's childishly written like, how do I describe it, like in a snap, she suddenly changed. It's not good at all. Change or development needs to be written gradually, thoroughly, and progressingly. Maybe the sudden change in her personality is one part of her chaotic charm, but if that's true, we would have to face the bad odds in the future that protagonist never really grow since the very start shes already lile that (unpredictable). Or maybe it's slow type of development in her character, idk man I just wish she would grow more matured, even just slightly, just a tiny bit. The mood/tonal shift is so abrupt and it's most of the times was all caused by her. Shes chaotic neutral, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone see her as a psychopathic careless evil since she's THAT shameless, I mean it, when I said, shameless, I mean shes absurdly shameless <<less