Chapter 110: The Start of the Break

Re​ad on KatRea​d​i​n​gCafe

The shopping district was bustling. Since the stores would be closed during the break, students had come out to shop beforehand. Some were also out to buy souvenirs before heading home for the holidays.

This break was established long ago when the Saint scolded disciples who were so absorbed in their studies that they neglected their families, and dubbed May a month to spend more time with your family.

“Riley. Let me give you a hug to celebrate family!”

Sugar spread her arms wide. The two of them had no family, they met at the orphanage and decided to be each other’s family.

Back then, that little one kept trying to claim a higher position by calling herself “mom” or “older sister.” Riley had always wondered about that.

‘No matter how you look at it, shouldn’t I be the older brother? We’re the same age, after all. I don’t really care about positions, but if we had to define it, that’s how it should be.’

Riley slipped his hand under Sugar’s armpit and lifted her up. Sugar’s body dangled in the air, her straight legs flailing about in surprise.

“Eek… What are you doing? Put me down.”

Sugar pouted her lips. Despite her protests, Riley held her up for a while, observing her face at eye level. It wasn’t difficult as Sugar was light and Riley himself was quite strong.

He felt how light she was again. He already knew from having her sit on his lap often, but she really was as light as a feather. Her thighs were plump, but the rest of her was thin. Her arms were slender, her waist was slim, and her hands were small. Though she felt soft to the touch, her overall frame was small.

‘How could I ever let her out of my sight? What if someone just took her away?’

He knew she could resist if she wanted to. He knew she could be serious when she needed to be. She could unleash her magical power, open her sharp eyes, and stir the atmosphere.

Even now, instead of whining, “Put me down, put me down, you idiot,” she could easily break free if she really tried. Riley wasn’t putting much effort into holding her.

So, she was only resisting in words. She slapped his thick arms loudly, but it didn’t hurt. Her cheeks turned peach-colored as she muttered, “Why are you suddenly like this…”

“Why aren’t you resisting properly?”

“I am…”

“You’re not really trying.”

“I, I am trying!”

“Is this it?”

Sugar closed her mouth. Why was he asking this? Her pouting lips looked cute.

“Of course, I’m not trying hard because it’s you…”

“Then, what if it were someone else?”

“Someone else? Who?”

“Anyone. Let’s say that guy over there.”

“Leon? If it were him… I’d probably twist his wrist.”

Leon, who was looking at some items nearby, expressed his displeasure. “Why am I being dragged into this while minding my own business?”

Meanwhile, Riley set Sugar down. He had gotten his answer.

Sugar, who landed gracefully, immediately ran off. Though “running off” only meant taking a few steps, sticking out her tongue, and then heading into the store.

Seeing this, Riley’s expression deepened.

Sugar, who was always as light as the wind. Small and light Sugar.

It felt like she might disappear one day without warning, just like the wind.

Riley sighed and silently followed Sugar.

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

“Clothes packed… gifts for Leon’s family packed… snacks packed… toiletries packed… Oh. The new stockings.”

Sugar pulled out the stockings from her bag.

She noticed while wearing them that they tend to tear easily, stretching and wearing out quickly, so she has to buy new ones often.

But now, she can’t go without them. The thin fabric tightly wrapping her legs felt comforting.

‘And… sitting on Riley’s lap bare-legged is a bit…’

Sugar had started sitting on Riley’s lap again. Going bare-legged was too much.

Lately, Riley hadn’t been playing too many pranks, so she could sit comfortably. He only focused on rubbing her stomach. Occasionally, he’d play with her ears, but it wasn’t as intense as before—just light kisses and whispers.

“Hmm…”

Sugar shook her head, her face flushed as she recalled those moments. She should focus on packing, not thinking about such things.

To distract herself, she took a candy from the glass jar on her desk. It was lemon-flavored. Professor Hubert had unexpectedly gifted her a jar. The sweet and tangy flavor always lifted her mood.

When she received it, Riley’s expression had been one of confusion. She didn’t know why.

That reminded her of the conversation they had at the time.

‘Oh, right. Riley, your master is Cedric, right? Hahaha! What a small world. He was my classmate. Thinking back, he was quite the troublemaker back then. It’s a secret, but he caused a lot of trouble.’

‘That sounds like him… Oh! Then you must have been classmates with Professor Trace too, right?’

‘Trace? Yes. But why are you interested in him? He wouldn’t be teaching first-year classes.’

‘Well, I’m really interested in magical creatures. I went to ask him some questions, and even though I’m not his assigned year, he taught me well. So I thought, “Wow, I wonder who his master was…”‘

‘What did you just say?’

‘Professor Trace’s master—’

‘Student.’

‘Uh… Yes?’

‘There are those who serve only one master as a mage, but usually, we learn under multiple masters. For those of you who have entered Steele, I am also a master, am I not? Life is long, and the path of learning is equally long. A mage’s life is long, so it’s only natural.’

‘That makes sense.’

‘So, don’t get too hung up on having just one master.’

As she recalled Hubert’s retreating figure, she noticed the mana bottles on the table.

The faint pink liquid inside, four bottles in total. Riley had taken them from the infirmary. There were originally five, but she gave one to Riley.

‘…What does Riley plan to do with those?’

He took the stone that came out of her body without hesitation. Maybe he’ll use it for research? He wouldn’t just be collecting them for some sinister purpose, right?

With that thought, Sugar resumed packing for the trip. It wasn’t a big trip—just visiting a friend’s house—but still. It was her first outing with friends. While part of it was to learn more about Leon’s family situation, she was determined to enjoy it.

After finishing her preparations, Sugar lay down on the bed. She needed to sleep early to wake up early tomorrow.

“Kuu…”

As she drifted off to sleep, her right wrist began to ache.

.

.

.

When Sugar woke up, she headed straight to the infirmary.

She felt empty, short of breath, dizzy and had an ache in her right wrist.

She had slept fine, but upon waking, she sensed something was wrong. At the infirmary, they said it was early symptoms of mana depletion and took measures to address it.

“…I have some mana I extracted earlier. Would drinking that help?”

“Really? Of course, your own mana would be the most effective.”

She immediately returned to her room and opened one of the mana bottles. The sweet scent. According to Riley, this was the scent that came from her body. Feeling strange, Sugar drank the mana. There was a scent but no taste, it felt weightless at first but left a sticky texture on her tongue.

That should help.

After catching her breath, Sugar headed to Professor Trace’s office.

“Professor. I have something to ask. Are you here?”

There was no answer from inside.

She asked Mel, the headmaster’s secretary, who happened to be passing by. Mel was often seen walking around the campus going here and there, she had a significant influence on Sugar and Riley’s demerit points.

“Professor Trace left the school last night, the day before the break. He said he had somewhere urgent to go and took a leave.”

Oh no. What’s going on, starting the break like this?

Sugar looked down at her right wrist. The faint mark from where Venom had bitten her was still visible.

The mana depletion and pain. It seemed like the bite was the main cause.

‘But of all times, the professor had to leave…’

Now, Sugar had to leave too. Today was the day they were supposed to head to Leon’s hometown. Her friends were waiting.

What if she ran out of mana during the break? She could probably manage by drawing mana from the atmosphere.

Groaning, she walked on.

One side of Steele’s corridor had a map of the continent. The eastern desert of the elves, the central Holy City, and the southern Altair Kingdom.

Her gaze naturally drifted toward it, it wasn’t just a wall or a window. There was something to look at. It was simple.

Then, something bumped against her foot, and she looked down.

It was Venom.

Its pitch-black, matte body was almost invisible.

She didn’t know why it was here. Maybe Professor Trace hadn’t properly locked it up again.

But it didn’t seem like a simple escape.

It was coiled in a shape resembling the number “4,” with its head pointing east and its tail pointing south.

Then, it tapped the floor with its tail.

“Are you… a compass? Are you pointing in a direction? Telling me to go that way?”

Whether it understood or not, Venom uncoiled and slipped into Sugar’s shadow. As if its job was done.

“…”

Her wrist ached. Sugar rubbed the sore spot with her other hand and looked back at the map.

The snake had appeared in front of the map for a reason.

And the south. The direction it had tapped with its tail.

That’s where they were headed anyway. Leon’s hometown was there.

Quietly confirming this, Sugar steeled her resolve.

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

“Why are you so late?”

“Sorry! I had something to pack.”

Sugar ran over and bumped into Riley’s chest.

“It’s a bit tight, but we still have time. Let’s hurry.”

Leon, who had checked the time, took the lead. Everyone knew the way to the train station, but since the destination was Leon’s hometown, it felt natural for him to lead.

“And… there’s something I need to tell you beforehand.”

Leon’s expression darkened as he spoke. Seeing this, the others’ faces stiffened.

“It’s nothing serious. No need to be nervous. It’s just… my mother isn’t well. I wanted to let you know so you wouldn’t be surprised.”

“What? What’s wrong with her?”

“Well, it’s a bit…”

Leon evaded Ian’s question with a weak smile.

Meanwhile, Ian looked worried.

“You should have told us earlier! Are you sure it’s okay for us to come? If I had known, I wouldn’t have brought it up…”

“It’s fine. She’s in a treatment center anyway. I didn’t want you to think it was strange that no one was home…”

Ian grabbed Leon’s hand. She pressed it to her chest and looked at him with concern.

“Your hand is cold… Leon, thank you for telling us. You were worried we’d be concerned, weren’t you…”

She tightly held his cold hand, warming it with her own, and looked up at him with moist eyes.

Leon was flustered. Ian, who had been keeping their distance lately, was suddenly like this. Holding someone’s hand tightly and pressing it to her chest in a place full of students.

Her chest felt soft, with no muscle to speak of.

‘Friend… friend… pure… friend…’

As he repeated this to himself, he heard a small whisper from behind.

“Look, his ears are red…”

“Tsk…”

The two whispered. Leon tried his best to ignore them.