Chapter 67: With all her might.

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Sugar eventually managed to secure the tights with suspenders.

‘Wouldn’t it have been more comfortable to just wear a skirt?’

Still, since she could move her legs without worrying about her panties showing, she decided to let it go.

Steele hadn’t specified, “Wear this kind of clothing.” They only emphasized, “Dress neatly, as befits a learner.”

Sugar supposed that this clothing would be neat enough, showing no exposure.

After leaving the clothing store, the two of them wandered around the market to buy daily necessities and other useful items for Steele.

Money wasn’t a concern. The protection fees collected by the knight order, the treatment fees from the clinic, and all sorts of donations and offerings—the Holy City was as wealthy as it was beloved by the people of the continent and the wallet of the sister of its leader was no exception.

On their way back to the cathedral after finishing their errands.

Sugar absentmindedly adjusted her headband, having gotten shifted while changing clothes. Memories of the day she received it ringing in her mind, its size changing magic allowing her to continue to keep it with her each day.

Seeing this, Ian cautiously opened her mouth.

“By any chance, still no contact?”

“Yeah, nothing…”

“Oh dear…”

She had heard through Cedric that he passed the written exam, but there was no response to the messages she had sent. It had already been months.

‘That Riley guy.’

She had met him about once a year when Cedric returned to the Holy City during the Advent season that had lasted until they had turned 14, so it had been years since she last saw his face.

The letters had gradually become less frequent, and this year, there had been no reply at all.

He must have his reasons, he must be busy. Even as she repeated this to herself, a sense of disappointment lingered. Just thinking about it made her angry, and Sugar’s expression soured.

‘That jerk.’

Was the outside air really that sweet?

Ian patted Sugar on the back.

“You’ll see him soon. He’ll have to come to Steele for the practical exam anyway, right? You’ll meet him there.”

“Yeah…”

She understood logically, but her heart wasn’t convinced.

Not seeing his face and not hearing from him kept making her think the worst.

‘I’m tired now. Goodbye.’

Or.

‘I got a girlfriend outside. That’s why I’ve been out of touch. Here, let me introduce you.’

Ugh!

Just imagining it made her feel sick.

The first one, well. That couldn’t be true. She should trust Riley, who had promised to go to Steele together. She scolded herself for betraying his feelings with such thoughts and tried to console herself.

But the second one…

‘What can I do?’

Even if Riley had found a lover outside, what could she do? It’s his heart, after all.

Birds grow up and leave the nest. And they find their mates to build new nests.

The sadness of thinking, ‘My little brother… has grown up… become an adult…’ would be there, but shouldn’t she still bless him?

Of course, she’d only allow it if she liked the girl!

She’d allow it!

She’d allow it.

…Would she?

“…”

‘Enough. Let’s stop.’

Worrying about something that hasn’t even happened is the dumbest thing.

As she shook her head, Ian dragged Sugar to the café inside the cathedral.

“Stop thinking weird thoughts. Have a drink and cheer up.”

“…I’ll pay for this.”

Since Sugar was also a member of the Holy City, she could order at half price.

She was part of the choir, trained under the guardians, and spent every day with the Saintess’ sibling. There was no way she wasn’t a member.

“Thanks. Oh, wait a sec. I see someone I need to greet. I’ll have a coffee.”

As soon as Ian finished speaking, she briskly walked off somewhere. A young-looking priestess? Knight? She headed toward a girl like that.

After glancing at him, Sugar placed her order with the clerk and headed to a table.

“Sigh… … Oof!”

She sighed and sat down on the chair, but the unexpected sensation made her jump.

The pants that barely covered half her thighs. With only a single layer of stockings covering them, the sensation of her thighs touching the chair felt incredibly strange. The coldness of the wooden chair immediately seeping through, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

‘…I’ll get used to it.’

It’s the outfit her friend went through the trouble of picking out.

She waited for the drinks to arrive and went to get them. This time, she didn’t plop down but sat down gently. The chair had already been warmed by Sugar’s body heat, so the discomfort wasn’t as severe.

Sitting there, Sugar sipped on her usual strawberry latte and stretched.

‘I’ve already reached this age.’

Thinking about it brought back memories. So much had happened in this land.

Practicing magic and studying to go to Steele, training under the formidable Sir Nova.

Avoiding the kids in the heresy interrogation process.

Joining the choir and harmonizing with others.

Becoming close with Ian by sticking together every day.

Hugging Riley tightly when he returned during the Advent season.

“…”

‘Why hasn’t he been in contact?’

‘What is he doing out there?’

Every year, when Cedric returned, he would vaguely say, “He’s doing fine,” and brush it off.

Sigh. Sugar let out a gloomy sigh and absentmindedly fiddled with her thighs.

Hmm. This might become a habit.

“Sugar!”

Startled.

She turned to see a familiar woman standing there. Someone who now felt more familiar in black robes than white.

“Peko… ma’am.”

“Call me unnie.”

Despite being old enough to be her aunt, Peko insisted on being called “unnie.” Her age was a whopping……!

A secret.

Of course, the fact that she still hadn’t found a man wasn’t a secret.

“Peko unnie.”

As Sugar awkwardly addressed Peko, who was dressed in the black robes of an inquisitor, Peko nodded.

“Sugar. I heard you’re going to take the practical exam. Congratulations. I’ve been too busy to talk.”

“It’s okay. Um… how’s work going?”

“…There’s no rule that says the duty given by the heavens has to align with what I want to do. I’m just living gratefully.”

Cedric had once mentioned that he had recommended her for a position that was great for promotions. It was none other than the Holy City headquarters of the Inquisition.

Though she despised heretics, her performance was outstanding, and she had risen to a fairly high position.

“Hahaha…”

Her weak laughter was pitiful.

Being a female inquisitor made it even harder for her to find a man.

“I wish you the best in your future.”

“Thank you. You too… I hope you pass the exam and do well there.”

After a brief conversation, they parted ways.

Just then, Ian came staggering toward Sugar. She looked like he had been through the wringer.

“What happened? You were fine just a moment ago.”

“I had to greet the eldest of the guardians… and got an earful…”

The eldest guardian was someone Sugar had never met during her time in the Holy City. While Cedric was always out and about, and Nova was a bit eccentric, this guardian handled almost all the paperwork and this was the only person who had opposed Ian going to Steele.

Sugar frowned slightly, but Ian waved her hand dismissively.

“It’s fine. Just the usual stuff. ‘Be mindful of your conduct. You belong to the Holy City. Don’t forget your lineage.’ That kind of thing.”

She spoke as if it were no big deal.

“They could’ve just said, ‘Come back safely.’ Why all the extra…”

“Really, it’s fine. They’re just worried and looking out for me.”

“If you say so, Ian…”

Sugar felt a wave of emotion. This person had truly matured, the image of the childish girl who used to throw tantrums for freedom in her younger days had now become this composed young lady.

And then she sighed again.

‘Really. Where are you, and what are you doing, you who must have matured so much?’

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

The day of departure arrived.

For safety, they decided to use teleportation magic to travel directly from the Holy City to Steele.

Long-distance teleportation.

The magic was handled by the Choir, which Sugar had been part of. The magic circle on Steele’s side would guide the coordinates, enabling the teleportation.

Once they arrived at Steele, they would be under its protection. Along with that for Ian, the Holy City’s escorts would accompany her. Though Sugar had never seen these escorts before, they were apparently present even now.

Sugar was sulking in a corner, her lips pouting like a duck’s bill because Riley hadn’t shown up even by the day of departure.

Ian sighed deeply, feeling a headache coming on.

“Sugar. We need to get ready…”

“I’ve already packed everything.”

“No. Come here.”

Then she dragged Sugar toward the crowd that had gathered to see them off.

Everyone was smiling, some even shedding tears at the thought of His Holiness leaving, waving and bowing.

‘Right, I should smile too.’

Sugar forced a slight smile. It was a good day. The day to leave the Holy City and head to Steele. A new place, new experiences with friends. She had been looking forward to this day for so long.

With positive thoughts, she took a step forward.

But suddenly, a flash of light, like lightning, illuminated the area.

When she blinked away the bright light, Ione was standing naturally among the crowd.

People who had nearly fainted in shock hurriedly tried to kneel, but the Saintess simply gestured for them to rise.

Ian ran to Ione.

“Sister!”

Ione silently patted Ian’s head and handed her a small box. Ian hugged Ione, and the two sisters bid each other farewell warmly.

Sugar watched the scene with a mix of pride and a hint of envy.

Soon, the choir began to sing. The farewells were mostly over, following the choir leader’s direction, they sang words that felt like incantations.

Listening to the melody, Sugar glanced sideways. Ian’s unique purple eyes sparkled more than usual. Of course. She must have been looking forward to this day just as much.

Truly. It was a happy… a joyous day.

She wasn’t feeling sad.

Just as she was waiting for the teleportation magic with her ambiguous emotions…

“…Huh?”

Sugar tilted her head in confusion.

Others who could sense magic also began to look around, wary. The choir, focused on their chant, didn’t show it, but they must have felt it too.

‘What’s this?’

‘Who’s emitting so much magical energy?’

‘How disrespectful, when His Holiness is about to leave…’

Everyone frowned at the sensation of a massive, unrestrained magical force rushing toward them at breakneck speed. It felt like whoever it was had no intention of hiding their presence.

‘This flow…’

But to Sugar, it felt all too familiar; it was as if it was saying, “It’s me.”

“…”

Sugar, sensing something, focused her attention in that direction.

No matter how she thought about it, this was…

Dazed, Sugar stared in that direction before suddenly stomping her foot.

“Sugar?”

Ian, startled, tried to grab her, but Sugar was too fast.

“Stop! Stop the chant! Wait!”

Ignoring the urgent command to halt, Sugar leaped forward with incredible speed. She flew past the open ground, past the cathedral, barely touching the ground as she moved.

Then she saw a figure in the distance. Sugar stopped to catch her breath. The other person must have seen her too, as they stopped running and finally concealed their magical energy.

“Haa… haa…”

Slowly, slowly. They moved toward each other.

Then they quickened their pace.

Then they started running.

Then Sugar threw herself forward with all her might and Riley caught her with all his strength.