Chapter 74: Face-to-Face (1)

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When Sugar looked at her, the slight upturn of her lips indicated that she had returned to a relatively normal state compared to earlier.

Of course, “normal” was relative. Her eyes weren’t smiling at all, which made Ian who was standing beside her, shiver repeatedly.

“S-Sugar. Uh… where’s Riley?”

“Ah, Riley. He’s busy enjoying the life of an alpha male, so just leave him be. Being around someone like him would just ruin my reputation and get in the way.”

“Ah, alpha, what? No, never mind… you don’t have to answer…”

Ian decided to keep her mouth shut, better not to provoke her.

Words are the root of all trouble. To practice the wise saying of one of the ancient saint’s disciples, Ian firmly sealed her lips.

She’d read it in romance novels before. Poking at something like this would only make it explode. These things can only be resolved by the person who caused it in the first place.

“By the way, Ian. The incident during the entrance ceremony. Isn’t it interesting?”

Sugar casually brushed off the bomb she had just dropped and changed the subject.

Ian, sweating, nodded. It was indeed interesting.

The staff of her ancestor had moved. It was the first time since the founding of Steele and the enshrinement of the staff that such a thing had happened.

“Of course, it’s interesting… Before the ancestor ascended to the heavens, he left a message when he passed the staff to his disciples.”

“Really?”

“‘Until the one who inherits my will appears—’ he said. So the disciples displayed it at Steele as a symbolic element, saying, ‘Students, carry on the saint’s will!’ But now it seems like it was a kind of prophecy…!”

As she spoke, Ian, feeling overwhelmed, let out a sigh of admiration. Despite her past of being bound by restrictions, she was still a young lady who took pride in her lineage.

Then, as if snapping back to reality, she glanced at Sugar’s expression.

Sugar was squinting her eyes and smiling.

Ah, has her mood improved a bit compared to earlier…?

Her inner thoughts were unpredictable, making everything she did unsettling.

“I understand how you feel, Ian. Anyway, you’re interested, right? Then let’s go together.”

“Huh? Go where?”

“To that student, Leon.”

“What are we going to do there?”

“We should get to know him. He’s the male student who holds your ancestor’s staff.”

“No, why? We’ll just stand out unnecessarily.”

“Then let me rephrase it. I have something personal I want to ask him. It’ll be easier to approach him if you’re with me, will you help?”

“…If that’s the case, then sure.”

She wanted to help her friend, and besides, Sugar’s mood was at an all-time low. She had to do something like this.

Then Sugar clung to her, saying, “Ian, you’re the best!” This was more like her usual self.

‘Hmm. As long as we don’t bring up Riley, it’s fine.’

She didn’t know exactly what had happened between them, but she could roughly guess. Riley probably suggested keeping some distance because of the penalty points, and that must have caused some tension.

‘…Does she like Riley that much?’

It’s not like he said they should completely cut ties, just that they should tone down the physical contact. Is she really this upset over that?

Sugar had always been like this. Even before Riley left the Holy Land, she would cling to him. After he left, she missed him terribly and whenever he returned to the Holy Land, she would be overjoyed.

It was fascinating. This kid has been like this since she was little, even though she’s two years younger than Ian, they’ve always been like this.

They always say they’re not lovers, not a couple, but from Ian’s perspective, it was clear they were.

What does it feel like to be in love?

To like someone so much that when they act hurt, it stirs up such intense emotions?

It always comes up in romance novels. They share a strange chemistry, fall in love, misunderstand each other, fight, then reconcile and grow closer.

The changes and flow of emotions were so intriguing. When she was younger, she even felt a sense of longing. She wanted to experience something like that someday.

Of course, she’s given up on that now.

‘Ian’ is a man.

He has to be a man.

That’s why she’s here at Steele, able to enjoy her daily life with friends outside the Holy Land.

He is not a woman with matrilineal inherited powers.

“…”

Having finished her thoughts, Ian patted Sugar’s head.

“Alright. Let’s go quickly. And don’t cling to me too much outside. We’ll just get in trouble.”

“Ugh. Damn school.”

Sugar pouted and stepped back.

“But do you know where that student is?”

“Yeah, roughly. Remember? We ran into him at a café once.”

“I remember. He apologized to me. That…”

“Yeah?”

“He was the first peer I had a conversation with outside the Holy Land.”

Was that even a conversation?

Sugar tilted her head in confusion. Ian had added that to reinforce her memory, but to Sugar, it didn’t matter much.

“Yeah… well. Anyway. I’ve been observing the situation today. The students’ attention is divided between you, Ian, and that Leon guy. But they’re too intimidated to approach you, and with me and the plain-looking Riley around, they’re all focusing on Leon, who’s usually alone.”

“You were spacing out all day, and you still noticed all that?”

“Hey. I always keep an eye on my surroundings. That’s just basic.”

She made a V-sign with her fingers, looking reliable, but the image of her crushing the herbs earlier came to mind making Ian feel uneasy again. Not to mention she subtly insulted Riley.

“…I sometimes don’t understand you.”

“That’s just how the world is. There’s far more you don’t know.”

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

Finding Leon wasn’t difficult.

Just go where the crowd is, and you’ll find him quickly. Freshmen and upperclassmen alike were swarming around him, just as Sugar had said.

“Ahem, ahem.”

When Sugar cleared her throat while pushing Ian forward, a miracle unfolded. The appearance of the Holy Son made everyone part ways like the Red Sea.

Ian’s cheeks turned red.

“Yes. We’ll just pass through for a moment.”

Sugar pushed Ian from behind and walked through the gap. The students watched with curious eyes.

For the people of this continent, where the faith in the saint runs deep, the meeting between the bearer of the saint’s staff and the descendant of the saint is a spectacle worth waking up for.

“Hi!”

As soon as Sugar greeted the black-haired young man, he nodded awkwardly.

“…Yes.”

“Do you remember us? We ran into each other at a café a few days ago.”

“I remember. You were with that blond guy… Anyway, you’re a couple, right?”

Having witnessed such a scandalous scene, it’s no wonder he remembered.

Hmm. ‘A couple,’ huh? Sugar recalled one of the assumptions she had made in her mind.

“If we were a couple, what would you think? Surprised?”

“…Huh? If you’re asking if scandalous behavior is surprising, then yes…”

It doesn’t seem like he’s reincarnated or regressed. If he knew the original flow of the world, his reaction would have been different.

“Let me clarify. We’re not a couple. And do you know who this is?”

“Of course, I do.”

“Then this will be quick. Leon, right? You were chosen by the saint’s staff. I’m curious about that. Can we talk for a moment?”

“No.”

Despite his polite tone, his answer was sharp.

“Uh… just a little bit?”

“Not anymore.”

“Huh?”

Wasn’t he refusing to talk?

“I’ve returned the staff to Steele. So, I’m no longer the chosen one. If you’ll excuse me, I have things to attend to.”

Leon spoke firmly, glanced at Ian with a slight frown, and then turned around abruptly. He seemed to be leaving through the gap the students had made.

“…”

“Ian. Let’s report this to the Holy Land. Did you see how he looked at you? That’s blasphemy—”

“Enough!”

As Sugar whispered into Ian’s ear, she jumped in surprise.

“But it’s strange… the nuance feels different…”

“What’s strange…”

“Ah, just talking to myself. Should we follow him?”

There were too many eyes here, and Sugar wasn’t the type to back down after being rejected once.

-“I’ve returned the staff to Steele.”

That statement bothered her.

In the original story, Steele confiscates the staff and holds a meeting, but later returns it to Leon, respecting the staff’s will after breaking the triple barrier.

But he said “returned.” It implies that he gave it up voluntarily, not that it was taken from him combined with that he seemed oddly conscious of Ian.

Something’s been off since yesterday. He was angry and resentful about being chosen by the staff, and he glared at Ian.

‘Could it be… he’s hostile to the Saint’s Church?’

No way. Even so, would the saint’s staff choose a heretic as its master?

That’s unlikely.

Next possibility: reincarnation or regression.

It’s possible, but his reaction to Sugar was too lukewarm for that. Of course, he could be acting.

Anyway, next hypothesis.

Did he live a different past from the original story?

Just because the original story exists doesn’t mean this world has to follow it exactly. There’s also the butterfly effect caused by Sugar. Fate could have changed in many ways.

‘Hmm…’

Sugar pondered over various hypotheses. What could be the reason? Why is he so reluctant about anything related to the Saint’s Church?

Maybe she should consult Riley metaphorically—

‘Yeah. The most accurate way is to ask him directly.’

Forget Riley.

As Sugar took the lead, Ian followed hesitantly behind her.

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

“When is he coming out…?”

It had been several dozen minutes since they followed Leon into the main building. They saw him enter the headmaster’s office and had been waiting outside, but he hadn’t come out yet.

Sugar pressed her nose against the window, gazing at the scenery outside. Having more allies would be good. They could be helpful, but she wasn’t thrilled about following him around.

Glancing to the side, Ian stood quietly. Her posture resembled that of an older sister.

But she’s been fidgeting since earlier. Did Leon upset her?

‘This isn’t going well.’ Sugar’s eyes sharpened.

Just then, the door to the chancellor’s office opened.

“I really don’t need it…!”

“The headmaster insisted you keep it.”

“I’ve heard it enough times! You can stop now!”

The calm voice of the headmaster’s secretary, Mel. In contrast, Leon, clearly angry, raised his voice as he stepped out of the office.

Sugar blocked his path.

“Hi.”

“You again… Did you follow me here?”

“Of course.”

“Why… why on earth…”

“Because of what you’re holding.”

Pointing at the staff, Sugar smiled sinisterly, causing Leon to tremble.

The aftermath of the scene in the classroom had left Sugar slightly unhinged, making her seem eerily unsettling.

Behind Sugar, Ian kept glancing at Leon. The Saint’s descendent had been fidgeting since earlier, clearly bothered by him.