Chapter 12: Candy

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Two days had passed.

Sugar had successfully awakened her magical pathways, but the aftermath left her bedridden. After drifting in and out of sleep, she finally opened her eyes properly.

“…It hurts.”

Her body moved, albeit stiffly. According to Tommy, her body was like a porcelain vase that had expanded and cracked all over. The only saving grace was that, unlike porcelain, humans could heal themselves.

“How’s your body feeling?”

The orphanage director’s younger sister came in with a bowl of soup. To the adults, they had lied that Sugar had caught a cold after sneaking out to play in the early morning, so she was isolated in a private room. Anything related to magic had to be kept a secret.

“I think I’m better than before.”

“That’s good… It’s getting colder at night, so don’t do that again.”

“-That’s why I told you not to wander around at night! If you get better today, you’re skipping dinner!”

“Sister… she’s still sick…”

After the director and her younger sister left, one scolding and the other comforting, a few minutes later, Praline timidly entered. She had just returned the day before after finishing a sponsor meeting with the director.

“Sugar…! Are you okay? What happened while I was away…”

She’s such a good kid. We only got a little closer that one day, and she even came to visit me.

“I’m fine. I’ll get better soon. Don’t worry about me, tell me about your trip. How was the outside world?”

“Uh, uh, uh, uh…”

“Huh?”

“It was amazing!”

Her yellow eyes, now visible after cutting her bangs, sparkled.

“I had no idea there were so many cars powered by magic stones! Here, we still use horses, but out there…! The buildings were so tall, and the walls weren’t just dull gray but colorful… Everyone was dressed so stylishly, like they were all fashionistas…”

I would’ve been so upset if I hadn’t been able to go.

She kept chattering for several more minutes. It was the perfect distraction from the pain, so Sugar listened quietly. Surprisingly, Praline was quite the talker.

“The mansion was beyond words! I’ve never seen anything like it. Can a house even be that big? Everyone moved around so quietly, and they said all those people were hired workers, not even nobles! I wondered if someone like me could even step foot in such a place, but the director walked in so confidently—”

Then she suddenly stopped talking.

“Ah… um… sorry… I got carried away…”

“No, it’s fine. You can keep going. It was interesting.”

“But you’ve been out there so much, you probably know all this already… And you’re sick, you should rest…!”

Praline stood up and fumbled around in her pocket, pulling something out.

“…I have a gift for you. I got it at the mansion, but it’s really something you should’ve received.”

It was neatly wrapped in a handkerchief. When Sugar unwrapped it, she found a lollipop. Something rare to see in the slums.

“Hey…! You didn’t have to give this to me. It’s yours.”

She should’ve eaten it herself. At her age, giving up something sweet like that to someone else was no small feat.

But Praline gave a mischievous, Sugar-like smile.

“Actually, I got two, so I’m giving you one. If I only got one, then… hehe…”

What a cheeky kid. Sugar couldn’t help but laugh.

As they giggled together, Praline suddenly grew serious.

“…Thank you, Sugar. Because of you, I got to see the wider world. It made me realize how small my world was, and it’s almost frustrating…”

“I don’t think I did much…”

“No, really… no.”

After Praline left with a gentle smile, Sugar lay back comfortably, sucking on the lollipop.

‘How long has it been since I last had sugar…?’

The moment it touched her tongue, a sweet, electrifying sensation spread, making the back of her head tingle.

Come to think of it, I remember there being quite a few dessert shops in the magic school city from the original story. Ice cream, pudding, cake, and more.

‘Ah, I’m really craving it now.’

In my past life, I wasn’t the type to indulge in such things. If it was there, I’d eat it; if not, no big deal. That was it.

But in this body, I sometimes get these intense cravings, and since I don’t have money, I can’t satisfy them. I end up chewing on wild berries or sneaking snacks from the adults.

‘…Maybe I should go to the magic school.’

It’s not like I’m considering going to school just for desserts. The thought just crossed my mind. It’s part of seriously planning for the future.

I held out my hand while sucking on the lollipop. Though I couldn’t see it, I could feel something flowing. If I focused that sensation throughout my body, I could feel something flowing everywhere.

These were the magical pathways. Sugar had cleared the first stage of a mage’s basic requirement: ‘feeling the flow of magic.’

The original plan was to reach at least the second stage to avoid being kidnapped by the cult, but…

‘Since I’ve come this far, why not aim for the third stage?’

Sugar felt a sudden surge of confidence.

If she could achieve that, she’d have the basics of a mage and even qualify to apply to Steelé, the magic school where the main story of the original game takes place. She could befriend the main characters, learn magic, and live that adventurous, romantic life. Since she had loved the game enough to stir up communities, the thought was exciting.

Of course, it wasn’t all good.

There was a high chance she’d get tangled up with the cult, Riley, and other villains.

The first two were the biggest concerns.

A cult without Sugar, and Riley teaming up with that cult. It was hard to predict how those two would turn out, and that was the problem.

Getting caught up in the fight between the cult and the protagonist.

Getting caught in Riley’s schemes.

Becoming his pawn, his lackey, his slave, being tormented, or even killed.

The latter half was just me venting my personal grudge, but still, these possibilities couldn’t be ignored.

Who is Riley? A twisted guy.

He looks down on people, tramples them, and tries to rise above them, all while being filled with inferiority and a desperate need for validation, greedily seeking attention.

That guy, twisted by the protagonist and various factors, ends up giving up in the end, thinking, ‘If the world won’t acknowledge me, then it can just burn—’

‘What a narrow-minded jerk.’

A kidnapper of the disabled. His grand plan with that insane magic book? Tormenting a disabled person (no senses, no voice) to lure out their protector. Legendary levels of low.

Putting aside the question of whether the evil god even counts as a protector…

Sugar’s harsh criticism was heavily influenced by the dream she had seen. The scene where Riley used Sugar to summon the evil god. That made it impossible for Sugar to shake the perception that ‘Riley is wicked.’

With all these uncertainties, if she only considered her own safety, it might be best to live quietly in some remote place, dabbling in magic for fun.

‘…On the contrary. Maybe the school is the safest place.’

After all, there’s someone who can stop all those villains.

The protagonist, who wields the ‘Saint’s Staff,’ shows incredible growth, and solves incidents both inside and outside the school.

‘Leave the strong enemies to the protagonist, and I’ll quietly attend school, handling any sparks that come my way with my own strength… Maybe even befriend the heroines…’

My future planning quickly devolved into otaku-like fantasies.

Still, the sight of her rolling the lollipop around while deep in thought was fitting for her age.

Her cheek bulged cutely as she moved the lollipop to the other side.

Hehe. So tasty.

Enjoying the sweetness, Sugar soon stopped her daydreaming and got up.

It was too early to worry about these things since the cult’s kidnapping hadn’t even happened yet. The main characters in the original story were all high school to college age. Sugar is currently 11. Since they’re around the same age, there’s still plenty of time before the main story begins.

Stretching gently, she peeked her head out the door of the private room.

After lying down for two days, her body felt even stiffer, so she thought she’d move around a bit. If the adults saw her, they’d scold her, so she carefully checked the hallway.

Fortunately, it was quiet.

‘Now that I think about it…’

I haven’t seen him. How could he not visit even once?

Sugar grumbled but then recalled what happened two days ago.

The pain felt like countless thorns tearing through her from the inside. It hurt so much she couldn’t even scream, only cry.

She endured the pain and succeeded in awakening her magical pathways.

‘I’m pretty amazing, aren’t I?’ she thought, but feeling embarrassed about writhing in pain, she tried to lighten the mood by asking him if she was brave.

-…Yeah. You’re brave.

The boy’s face had a faint smile as he answered. Looking back, it might have been the first time she saw him smile.

He was exhausted sweating profusely and clearly worn out, but he still managed to smile slightly, and it made him look quite mature.

“…”

‘So he can smile like that.’

It’s nice. I don’t know why he always frowns.

There was a high chance Sugar was the reason for his constant frown, but she was also the one who made him smile.

‘Good. I’ll make sure to smile more from now on.’

It was a cunning plan—if she smiled more, maybe he’d follow suit. Hehe. With a sly grin, she headed straight for the attic where the boy was.

When she went up, she saw him busily writing something by the light coming through the small window.

“What are you doing?”

He stopped writing and looked up at Sugar. His brow furrowed deeply.

Sugar’s plan to make him smile more still had a long way to go.

“…You’re already moving around?”

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“…It’s your body, so do as you please.”

Then he went back to writing, so Sugar crouched down in front of him.

“Why didn’t you visit me?”

“Do I have to visit you?”

His tone suggested, “Are we that close?” He didn’t even look at Sugar as he spoke.

Even though they’d been spending a lot of time together, it was a bit disappointing to hear. But he was the one who contributed the most to helping her awaken the first stage.

“Fine. I’ll let it slide since I’m grateful.”

She grinned and spoke cheerfully.

As she glanced at what he was writing, she noticed it was filled with complex terms. The main content was about achieving the first stage through magic infusion and related hypotheses.

Why is someone so young doing all this? she wondered, looking at his face. He was completely absorbed, as if entranced.

He had an incredible thirst for knowledge.

Truly.

Excessively.

‘It almost feels pathological.’

He was fascinated by languages he’d never seen before.

He had a grasp of magical studies that a child his age shouldn’t know.

Looking closer, she saw he’d also written a report on pure magic. Just from observing Sugar’s magic that day, he had so much to think about.

At his age. In such a poor environment. With that level of intellectual curiosity.

His deep eyes scanned the report intently. Watching him was almost eerie.

The smile on Sugar’s face slowly faded.

What on earth was driving such obsession?

“…”

She shook her head.

This must be why geniuses are lonely.

‘I should stay by his side.’

Even though I’m using him as a mentor, it’s not right to feel upset just because he’s a bit obsessed with studying.

He’s definitely going to achieve great things in the future.

What I need to do isn’t to hold him back or fear him, but to support and encourage him. To be there for him.

To teach this precocious child a kindness that can’t be learned from books.

So he doesn’t stray down the wrong path. So he can move toward the light.

With that in mind, she spoke up.

“Take a break while you’re at it.”

“It’s fine. I need to write things down while they’re fresh in my mind.”

“You’ll wear yourself out.”

“I’m still young, so it’s okay.”

Tch. Already talking about sacrificing his youth. He’s going to be a professor’s favorite when he gets to college.

Feeling a pang of pity for his future, Sugar rolled the lollipop around in her mouth.

“Tommy. Open your mouth.”

“What? Why?”

As he said “why,” she popped the lollipop into his open mouth.

“Your blood sugar’s low. Eat while you work.”

Then, thinking he looked busy, she decided to leave the attic. If he insisted on working, there was no point in stopping him. Her mind was already at ease, thinking, ‘Maybe I’ll go sneak some berries to eat.’

As for Tommy, who was left behind…

He stopped writing and sat there with his eyes wide open. His mouth hung open as he kept muttering, “Ah… ah…!”

His face was redder than it had ever been.

He didn’t even have the chance to get angry or yell. Every time the sweetness mixed with his saliva, his body twitched.

This time, there was no intention to tease him.

It was just an act of sharing, like splitting a single bean in a place where snacks were scarce.

“Ah…! Ugh…!”

But it seemed like it was too much for this young boy to handle.