Chapter 129: Sugar Mill

Rea​d on KatRead​ingCafe

There was no intention to peek. It was just that the door opened, and her gaze naturally followed.

Inside the student council room, an air of gloom could be felt. Despite the curtains being wide open and the room being bright, the air that flowed out felt like the underground prison Sugar had once visited.

“Well, I need to entertain this first-year, so I’ll be going out for a bit.”

“Damn it…”

“I wish I could bump into anyone too…”

“I should’ve said I’d go first. I still have one bathroom break left.”

No, this place is definitely a prison.

Drinks with unknown contents scattered everywhere, piles of documents stacked here and there.

People with dark expressions.

Every day, they hold emergency meetings to keep up with Steele, and every day, they update the school rules, drowning in their accumulated despair.

It’s common for A to be changed to B, only to revert back to A the next day, and then suddenly change to C. They have to adjust the details accordingly, revise related documents, issue notices, and correct the students.

Given their considerable influence in the school, they have a lot of work to do.

This is the fate of those who were lured in by the glorious title of being part of the “Steele Student Council.”

And so, leaving behind the student council members who were going crazy wanting to escape, the president closed the door.

Sugar brushed off the goosebumps on her arm.

“Are you really not hurt?”

“Yes, really. I’m fine.”

The president, who was from a noble family, naturally spoke in a formal tone.

Sugar’s bottom was a bit sore, but it wasn’t too painful.

The two went to a nearby lounge and sat down. The president had a few documents in hand, prepared in response to Sugar’s request for a private room.

She even made tea, as if she had time to spare.

“Well, you’re an interesting person… I thought you were a boy.”

“I’ve seen your face before, and you’re so handsome that I got confused. Sorry about that. I’m just a first-year, so there’s a lot I don’t know.”

“No, it was an interesting experience. I do get mistaken often.”

As Sugar rambled on with her apology, the president smiled warmly, looking quite handsome.

‘She must be popular with the girls. She has a more androgynous charm than even Ian, who actually dresses as a boy.’

‘Honestly, Ian is like a goddess…’

She exudes feminine charm not just in her chest but in every part of her body. It’s a pity she has to hide it.

“I have a younger brother. I’ve been told since I was young that we look alike.”

“Is he at Steele too?”

“No, he’s somewhere else.”

So, the student council president in the original story had an older sister. Sugar roughly understood the situation.

‘In the original, they went to different schools, but here it’s the opposite.’

While she was thinking, the president spread out the documents on the table. She thought she would drag out the conversation, but it seemed not. She got straight to the point.

“You need a private room. What exactly do you plan to do?”

“I want to use it like a club room… I have a long-term project with a friend. We decided to do some research together, so I need a place where we can focus. Somewhere with few people around. Oh, if you need a proposal, I can write one.”

The student council president fiddled with the documents.

“Hmm, there is a space like what you’re describing. Here, it’s on the 4th floor of the East Building. It has good lighting and is in a secluded area, so there aren’t many people.”

“Wow, that sounds perfect. But, you said there was?”

“Another student came earlier with a usage proposal. I decided to give it to them.”

“Then I’ll write one too. How about we compare the two and give it to the student with the better proposal?”

“That student filled out 5,700 characters. Can you do that?”

“…What other rooms are available?”

The president, though speaking in a stiff tone, kindly introduced other options.

But nothing sounded appealing. The first place she mentioned seemed the best. Sugar groaned and crossed her arms in frustration.

‘Twelve floors up is too high… and you have to climb the stairs to get there. Next. This place is too small. One sofa would fill it up. Next. This place is okay, but… the room next door is for the percussion club? Ugh.’

After pondering, she stood up.

“I’ll just go talk to that student.”

She decided to have a direct conversation. It wouldn’t be good to keep bothering a busy person. She might earn the resentment of other student council members.

The president’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, but she kindly saw her off. She knew that if the work wasn’t done, she couldn’t leave anyway.

“Thank you for your time.”

As she left, she thought about the student council president from the original story. He was also buried in work but remained a good-natured person who didn’t lose his brightness. After Leon helped him a few times, he became an ally.

‘His sister seems like a good person too.’

As she thought this, she suddenly jumped.

-Buzz.

“Eek!”

A vibration that resonated through her neck, or so it seemed. It felt like it was shaking her internal mana, making her shoulders tense.

“What… what is this…”

It seemed to originate from the choker. It felt strange, as if something was stimulating her skin from the inside. She fumbled with the choker, and at some point, it suddenly stopped.

Just as she thought, ‘Phew, Riley put some weird device in here—’

[Sugar.]

“Ahh!”

Secondary damage. A familiar voice resonated through her head, sending shivers down her spine.

[Sugar. Can you hear me?]

“Riley…? What did you do to this thing?”

[Sounds like it’s working. It’s a hassle to carry around a communication device, so I used this instead.]

It seemed to have both communication and bone-conduction earphone functions. It didn’t feel like it was directly hitting her ears, but yet her eardrums were still tingling.

It felt like someone was speaking directly into her neck.

She thought about arguing but decided it wasn’t worth it.

“…What do you want?”

[That lantern you mentioned earlier. I need it, so bring it to me.]

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? I’m busy right now.”

[Sugar.]

“Eek…”

[Please, Sugar.]

[…]

[I need you right now.]

He deliberately spoke in a low, serious tone. It wasn’t something he would normally do.

He’s definitely enjoying this.

“Speak normally!”

[It’s not like it’s bad for you, so just hurry up and bring it. Idiot.]

“What!?”

[East Building, 4th floor. I’ll be waiting.]

“I’m not going!”

And with that, Sugar headed straight to the girls’ dormitory.

‘He’s just messing with me! He even put a device like this in the choker! He could’ve made it sound normal! This is so ridiculous!’

She was already on edge from cooperating with something she didn’t like but was good for others.

So, grumbling, she opened the drawer and took out the lantern, hugged it tightly, and headed to the East Building, 4th floor.

What a pitiful girl.

‘Wait… East Building, 4th floor?’

As she repeated the location, she realized it was the same place the student council president had first mentioned.

Climbing up with a sense of foreboding, she found Riley waiting.

“…Just asking. Did you write the 5,700-character proposal?”

“Yeah. Did you go to the student council room too?”

As he said this, he took the lantern and immediately opened the door next to him. The lighting was good and it was a quiet place with little to no people around.

So, this guy had come first and taken it. He wrote the proposal and went to the student council room before Sugar.

The reason he moved was probably the same as Sugar’s. Scouting a place to mark, a place to share secrets.

Sugar covered her eyes. Her face turned red to her ears, and she banged her head against the wall.

“Come in. I got this place for you.”

“Thank you… thank you…”

Riley, who was just as obsessive as Sugar, continued his antics outside. He didn’t want others to see or hear her.

Sugar couldn’t help but wonder what content Riley had filled the usage proposal with.

Regardless, Riley shone the lantern light around the room. It was empty, with no furniture, making it easy to inspect thoroughly.

‘Did you even check that?’ she thought but kept her mouth shut.

Internal enemies. There could be plenty. It’s a pity that there are no spies whose identities are already known, as the story has diverged significantly from the original.

Well, pity might not be the right word.

Riley, who had even leaned out the window to check, soon returned the lantern. It seemed there were no issues.

Next, he took out various tools from the bag he had placed on the floor. He embedded neatly cut raw stones into each corner of the room and drew a large magic circle in the center. He cut his finger and let his blood drip onto the circle, then chanted a spell.

He was making this room his domain, a space for mages, a workshop, a place of his own.

“Now come inside. Close the door.”

Was the work done? As she followed his instructions, Riley waved his wand and cast a dark veil over the window.

Then, he took out the grimoire.

“Eek.”

“We have to be sure.”

He immediately began chanting spells. He moved around the windows and doors, areas that could serve as entrances, making hand gestures. The grimoire responded, emitting a gloomy light.

Who knows how many layers of barriers and curses he was casting. And he would surely put great effort into concealing the results.

His focused appearance was truly pleasing. Sugar liked seeing Riley concentrate on something, whether it was studying or magic. She crouched in a corner, resting her cheeks on her hands, and stared blankly at the scene.

After working for a while, Riley finally sat down next to Sugar. Beads of sweat were forming on his face, indicating that it had been quite a task.

“Good job.”

She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped his sweat. He closed his eyes and quietly accepted her touch.

After gently wiping him, his face returned to its clean state.

And the handkerchief, now soaked with sweat, Sugar put that spoil of war into her pocket.

“I’ve already ordered the furniture. The school will provide the basics. I bought a sofa and such.”

“…You’re really thorough. When did you do all that?”

“I had to. So, I did.”

How should she take this? What started as a dark desire seemed to be growing bigger and bigger.

She didn’t know, so she decided to take it positively. Good things are good. It’s fortunate to have a safe space to be together.

Though there was no furniture yet, the room was cozy with Riley’s mana thickly permeating the air. The two sat on the floor, leaning against the wall—a strange sight.

A quiet stillness.

“It feels like we’ve taken refuge here…”

“Don’t say such unlucky things.”

Thud. She got a light flick on the forehead.

“Ow, that hurts… Anyway… thank you, Riley. It feels like I’m always receiving things from you. But you never use your wish tickets…”

“…”

Riley seemed to want to say something, his mouth twitching, but he stopped. His expression was complicated.

“I’ll buy anything else you need. Just say the word.”

“You should buy your own snacks.”

“I have money too.”

Pretending to be angry, she smiled and leaned on his shoulder. Then, something came into view.

The grimoire, still in Riley’s hand, was visible.

Sugar reached out her hand.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m curious. Can I take a look?”

“You’ll die if you do. Do you want to die? Or are you planning to assassinate someone with it—”

“What are you talking about!”

She hit his shoulder repeatedly. Then Riley handed her the book, saying, “Just look at the cover.” Sugar pouted but soon let out a sigh of admiration, filled with curiosity.

“Wow…”

Come to think of it, this was the first time she had looked at the grimoire up close. Though she had known Riley for a long time, it wasn’t something he could just take out casually. Even now, it was only possible because of all the preparations he had made in this space.

A sinister book imbued with the breath of life.

But perhaps because of her feelings for its owner, she found it purely fascinating.

“It looks ordinary, just like a high-quality book. Except for the patterns and the mana it emits.”

She didn’t want to say it felt unpleasant, so she phrased it differently.

“It feels unsettling doesn’t it.”

Despite her careful wording, Riley’s indifferent response made her sweat.

“Ah, what’s inside? It doesn’t seem like it’s just spells.”

“Why are you curious about that?”

“Because it’s yours. Can’t you read a little bit for me? Please?”

Rubbing her cheek against his shoulder, she pleaded. Riley sighed and took the book.

“Prologue. To the one reading this, take pride in being chosen as my proxy. Remember those who resisted the distant morning star. Nurture and protect the essence that contains my entirety. Thus, you may achieve your deepest desires.”

“…There are a lot of commands.”

“I thought so too.”

“Does anyone else know about this content?”

“Just you and me.”

“That’s it? Not even Uncle Cedric?”

“He didn’t really touch the book. He said, ‘It’s not my place to intervene. Go according to your own instincts.’”

“…Hehe.”

Suddenly, Sugar laughed.

Wondering what she was thinking, Riley looked down at her. The warm woman tightly hugged the man’s arm and whispered.

“It’s our little secret.”

She smiled sweetly, her peach-colored cheeks adorable.

Her vibrant, mysterious eyes. Her feather-like voice gently landing on the man’s ears like a spring breeze.

Riley picked her up and sat her on his lap.

“Hey! I would’ve climbed up myself if you’d said so!”

“I’ve named this room.”

“…Named it? What is it?”

Startled by the sudden touch on her waist, Sugar grumbled but perked up with curiosity, her eyes wide and ears attentive.

…

…

And at the man’s answer, she burst into laughter, exclaiming, “What is that!?”