Chapter 62: Farewell

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After the two children left, the spire became quiet once more.

Yet in the suddenly desolate spire, Ian surprisingly didn’t feel too lonely.

Why? Because she had finally reconciled with her sister.

The barrier that filters out evil, those who would harm this sacred land, and such forces.

It was a power that required the Saintess to constantly adjust, so she had heard she often suffered from headaches. Even in her sleep, she couldn’t rest deeply.

Yet, their mother had always been gentle in her lifetime, in contrast the sister who was eerily mechanical had been frightening.

However, that day she was unusually tender.

‘Ian. I love you.’

‘A truth that will never change. I swear it in the name of the Saint.’

‘…For now, endure with this.’

The reason she had disguised her as a boy. She had thought it was done so that reverence and power would be directed solely to the Saintess.

However, from her final words spoken in a tone similar to their mother’s, she sensed something. She began to understand Ione’s true feelings, her love, and decided to trust her.

And the second reason.

This was a bit… well, something like…

After sending the priestesses out, Ian looked around again. Even though she knew no one was there, she felt oddly guilty; once nobody was around she reached under her bed pulling a book out.

‘[The Long Afternoon of a Lady]’

It was a novel about a wealthy young lady falling in love with her childhood friend, who was also her servant.

‘Ah! My lady, such actions are improper.’

‘Can you feel my feelings for you, Paul?’

That was the gist of it. The sorrow of a love that couldn’t be due to social status. Yet, the lady persisted, and the servant couldn’t simply push her away.

In the latter half, they confirmed each other’s feelings, held hands and walked affectionately.

Then, suddenly, they entered an alley…

And there…

“…”

Ian’s cheeks turned red.

It was… too scandalous.

Who had given such an indecent novel to the child of the saint’s bloodline?

It was Cedric who had bought it, thinking that at this age, one should start reading such things he had gifted it to Ian. With thoughts like ‘Girls like this kind of stuff, right?’, knowing Ian’s true gender, he had chosen it.

If the other guardians outside the holy city found out, they would be horrified. If the older clergy heard, it would be a barrage of scolding.

‘But if no one knew, it was fine, right?’

Ian had thought of this novel when he saw those two earlier.

Their hands intertwined so affectionately. There were even rumors that they had done… such things on the roof.

A pretty girl and a handsome boy. The two of them were so lovely, like protagonists from a romance novel. They claimed to be precious friends, but Ian wasn’t so sure.

“Amazing…”

Ian was now 14 years old. Right in the middle of puberty.

It was the age to dream about ‘such things.’ Despite appearances, Ian was a girl. She let her imagination run wild with the book, a dreamy girl filled with fantasies about the outside world.

If, if she grew up and could go outside…

Maybe then, she could be like the protagonists in these novels…

‘Kyaa! Scandalous! No! No!’

With such thoughts, she didn’t have time to feel lonely.

She knew she was a girl of saintly blood, and that romance was out of the question. Even if she went out, she couldn’t reveal her true gender.

‘But it was okay to imagine, right?’

Rolling around on the bed, Ian suddenly remembered what Sugar and Riley had said.

That when they were older, they would go to Steele. An educational institution founded by the disciples of her ancestor.

Listening to them, she felt so envious.

Wishing her first friends well, she also thought, ‘I want to go too…’ The idea of school life with friends seemed so joyful, she couldn’t help but feel jealous.

“…”

‘So, Riley is going to get stronger for Sugar?’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘Wow… amazing… What about Sugar?’

‘I’ll stay here and train until Riley returns. We’ll definitely go to Steele together.’

They were truly remarkable kids.

Ian had heard why Sugar couldn’t go out freely. Those wicked heretics were after her unique constitution.

Yet, she bravely decided to do what she could.

Riley, too, had resolved to become stronger for his precious friend.

Ian felt that the two of them were oddly mature.

Seeing these younger kids, each finding what they could do and acting on it, was truly incredible.

‘What I can do…’

She couldn’t just beg to be let out or attempt to escape to gain true freedom. She had known that for a while. It was so frustrating that she kept trying, unable to help herself.

But that wasn’t the way. It would only trouble those who protected her.

‘Like Sugar… I should find what I can do…’

Ian quietly got up from the bed.

Her destination was the Saintess’s room. She wasn’t going to throw a tantrum to be let out.

As she walked, her face looked slightly more mature than the day before.

***************************************

Sugar and Riley, having witnessed the squabble between the two knights that had started and ended neatly, returned to their room.

Riley’s room. He had brought Sugar there, saying he had something to give her before he left.

What could it be? Her heart raced as she waited, and Riley pulled out a box from the bedside table.

A long wooden box. It felt familiar.

“Here.”

He handed it to her, tied with a pink ribbon. Sugar took it.

“This is…”

She quickly untied the ribbon and opened the lid.

Inside, as expected, inside was a staff, made of dark brown wood with a subtle sheen, its high quality apparent at a glance.

“Riley… what is this…”

When had he bought it? Why was he giving it to her? How had he gotten the money? As she bombarded him with questions, Riley sighed.

“Just take it. You bought me something too.”

“In return… well, not exactly, but you did buy me that headband back then… It must have been expensive.”

Back then, she had gotten it at a discounted price because she was friends with the owner of the general store, but here, there was no such thing.

“I just wanted to give it to you.”

Parents to their child. A teacher to their student.

Sugar had given it to Riley, thinking, ‘It’s something family gives to family, so it’s like an older sister giving to her younger brother!’

Riley, in turn, thought the same and gave it to Sugar, a younger brother to his older sister.

‘But why am I the younger one? Even though I’m taller?’

Riley, who was also Sugar’s magic teacher, wanted to provide his precious friend with a wand.

“I’ve been wanting to get this for you for a while. It’s not good to keep sharing one. Plus, I won’t be here anymore, so you’ll need your own.”

“I was planning to ask the training grounds to lend me a practice wand…”

“Do you really want to use something touched by those old men? Just use this one.”

He grumbled, but she understood. The wand was full of his feelings for her.

“…Thank you, Riley.”

Sugar took out the wand and examined it. It was a bit large for her small hands, but considering she’d grow into it, it seemed fine.

“Is it okay?”

“Yeah. I like it.”

She held it tightly with both hands and pressed it to her chest.

“Really… thank you so much. I’ll treasure it, thinking of you. Hehe…”

“…”

Relieved by her satisfied expression, Riley plopped down on the bed.

“But the money? Was it okay?”

“Don’t ask about that.”

With his departure imminent and no money on hand, he had borrowed from Cedric. He’d pay it back during his journey, so it didn’t matter.

Sugar, who had vaguely guessed the situation, fidgeted nervously before placing the wand on the table.

“Do you have a pen and paper?”

“Huh? There should be some left from when we gave our testimonies.”

Sugar immediately began rummaging through the room.

“What are you trying to do…”

“Just wait.”

She finally found a pen and paper in a drawer.

She placed them on the table and began scribbling something furiously. Then she glanced at Riley.

“What…”

She grinned and turned back to her scribbling.

“Here, it’s done.”

She hurried over and handed Riley a piece of paper.

[Wish Coupon x3]

Only usable by Riley

“…”

“I’m so grateful… I don’t know how to repay you for everything you’ve given me. So. When you come back, use these.”

“What… is this…”

“You can ask me to clean or run errands. I’ll save up money by then too. I’ll buy you anything you want. I’ll serve you as much as I can.”

“…”

“Of course, even without this, I’ll try my best to grant your wishes… There’s so much I want to do for you. I’m your older sister and your precious friend, after all. You know how I feel, right?”

Riley didn’t hear her words.

Shaking off the strange thoughts creeping into his mind, he just stared endlessly at the words ‘Wish Coupon x3 (Only usable by Riley).’

“Riley?”

Worried by his odd reaction, Sugar called his name anxiously, wondering if he didn’t like it. Riley nodded stiffly.

Then he carefully folded the wish coupon and tucked it into his pocket.

‘Ah, he must have liked it.’ Sugar sighed in relief.

“Riley! You there? Get ready to go soon!”

Just then, there was a knock on the window. Cedric, flying in the sky, was peeking in and tapping on the window.

“Uncle! Respect our privacy!”

“Oops. You were with your girlfriend. Sorry.”

“I’m not his girlfriend. I’m his older sister, childhood friend, and best friend.”

Sugar placed her hands on her hips and declared proudly, making Cedric click his tongue.

“Whatever, kids. Get ready and come to the gate. You two finished your goodbyes, right? Here. Your wand.”

Cedric opened the window and tossed Riley’s wand—which had been confiscated by the Holy City—inside.

“I’ll go ahead.”

After Cedric left, Sugar and Riley looked at each other.

“…Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Riley stood up and spoke, and Sugar responded.

Since they had come to this land with nothing, there was no luggage to speak of. The two of them quickly headed outside the cathedral.

They walked in silence, step by step.

The time walking together before parting was precious. Without a word, they reached for each other’s hands.

Looking up at the sky, the golden rays of the setting sun poured over the two children, dazzling their eyes.

Even though the gate was quite a distance away, they arrived in no time, walking in silence. It was too bittersweet.

“…”

“…”

Sugar looked up at Riley, and Riley looked down at her.

“Stay healthy and don’t get hurt. Promise me you won’t get hurt.”

“…Okay.”

“Eat well. If training gets too hard, whine a little.”

“Are you my mom?”

“Don’t complain too much about Uncle’s smell…”

“I’ll… try to endure it.”

‘What?’ Cedric’s distant shout could be heard, but both ignored it.

“And… and…”

“…”

Take your time. Riley gently squeezed the hand he was holding.

Meanwhile, they sensed someone approaching. Turning around, they saw Ian had come to see them off with the priestesses. She waved quietly, as if not wanting to disturb them.

Riley frowned slightly but then sighed and bowed his head toward her.

Seeing that, Sugar chuckled and tapped Riley’s chest. Look at me. Riley turned his face back to Sugar.

“And, you know. There’s something else.”

“…What is it?”

As if she’d been waiting, Sugar stretched her neck slightly and whispered into Riley’s ear.

-Ian is actually a girl.

“…!”

Then she blew softly into his ear and pulled her face away.

“I’m telling you because it’s you. Got it?”

She pressed a finger to her lips, signaling it was a secret.

Riley grabbed his ear and let out a long, melting sigh, swaying slightly.

“Haha…”

“You really…”

Even at the end, she’s messing with me.

Riley’s face turned red, about to get angry but stopped.

He wouldn’t have this for a while. That thought alone made his anger fade.

What a frustrating girl. He let out a hollow laugh.

Instead of getting mad, Riley placed his hand on Sugar’s head, patting it gently. He wanted to remember this feeling, this scent.

Sugar pursed her lips and looked up at him, surprised by the unexpected reaction.

Feeling like teasing her more, Riley slowly moved his hand down to cup Sugar’s cheek. It was soft, warm and felt nice.

As he touched her, Sugar clenched her lips tighter and stiffened like a stone. Her cheeks seemed to grow hotter.

‘After all the times you teased me, now you’re like this? It’s absurd.’

Riley leaned his face closer to Sugar’s other cheek.

Very lightly. Like a greeting. Mwah. Then he pulled away.

“Take care.”

Reluctant to let go, he slowly removed his hand from her cheek and turned to walk toward where Cedric was standing.

With each step, his golden hair swayed slightly.

Sugar stood still for a long time, watching his retreating figure.

“Ah… ah… ugh…”

She held the kissed cheek, unable to close her mouth. Her face turned as red as a ripe fruit. Blood rushed to her head, making her dizzy.

He left without giving me a chance to retaliate. Really, she raised one hell of a boy.

“Ah, he’s an adult…”

Ian, who had been watching from behind and had also turned red, muttered softly. The priestesses silently patted her head.