Chapter 145: Only One (1)

Read on K​at​ReadingCafe​

Cedric narrowed his eyes.

The shadow he thought had moved was now nowhere to be found.

Only the pitch-blackened body of the Apostle remained, standing motionless.

‘Did he sacrifice his own body to execute something?’

That was the conclusion drawn from experience. The shadow’s finger-snap had less to do with mental interference and more with triggering something.

At any rate, the situation wasn’t too bad. The Apostle’s power had been somewhat blocked by magical tools.

The Inquisitors, though clutching their heads, were still standing—meaning they could still act.

When Cedric turned his gaze forward again, the Gem Dragon fusion, its ears encased in crystal, stood with an unchanged expression.

Then upon seeing the unmoving Apostle, she lowered her head deeply.

“Those who can move, deal with the fusion. I’ll go find the shadow.”

He kicked off the ground and dashed away, causing Object No. B-13 to flinch. Was she trying to stop him? Impossible.

The Inquisitors immediately blocked her path.

Scowling, B-13’s horns glowed faintly before she turned her back. Behind her stood Verut, frozen like stone.

Something had already been set in motion.

Perhaps it didn’t matter if he abandoned his post and fled. He had given no prior indication of his actions—this was the girl’s own choice.

“…”

Huu. The girl exhaled as if giving up, quietly gathering her strength. She had promised to watch until the end, so there was no helping it.

The creation of the next sanctuary would have to wait.

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

A sensation both cozy and cold, light yet heavy—like floating.

Lost in this indescribable feeling, the only thought that repeated was: ‘I heard a clear sound…’

Then—

‘…Huh?’

Suddenly snapping back to awareness, Sugar looked around, bewildered. She couldn’t remember what she had been doing, though she had the distinct feeling it was something important.

Her surroundings were eerily familiar. A lecture hall with tiered seating encircling a central podium, the slightly musty air carried within it a sense of nostalgia.

“Now, the time limit is 60 minutes. Remember, you can’t leave once the exam starts. First, I’ll hand out the test papers.”

Ah, right. Today was the exam.

So that was the important thing she’d been thinking about.

Standing at the podium was Professor Hubert, waving his wand to distribute the test papers.

A written exam.

She and Riley had studied hard for days, aiming just to avoid failing.

The thought made her stomach churn.

‘Weird. I feel like I’ve seen this before…’

A sense of frustration twisted inside her. The Advanced Mana Application exam was supposed to be on the first day.

Was today the first day?

If it was, then of course she’d be taking the exam now.

“You there, the frowning student. Relax. No matter how worried you are, staying tense won’t help you perform better.”

Caught off guard by the professor’s teasing grin, Sugar nodded awkwardly. The other students, feeding off her reaction, exhaled in relief.

Well, the professor was right. She couldn’t afford to space out now. All her hard work would go to waste.

Steeling herself, Sugar caught the floating test paper.

Still blank, for now.

“Alright, get ready…”

Tension filled the lecture hall. Everyone focused on the sound of the professor’s wand swishing through the air.

“Begin!”

Words began appearing on the test paper.

The clock on the wall read 10:00.

Sugar immediately picked up her pen and read the first question.

Q1. “Within the endless sky, the laws lie hidden. All things repeat creation and destruction within it, and only those who perceive the laws may know true freedom. Though the laws have no form, their existence permeates all things. To the unenlightened, they may seem like chaos, but to the awakened, they are the breath of the universe—”

1. True
2. Correct
3. Undoubtedly
4. Certain
5. The Answer

What is this?!

She barely held back a scream.

Right from the first question, she was stumped. What did this have to do with mana application?

‘Even the answer choices are weird…’

They all meant the same thing! Was this a vocabulary test instead?

Then she remembered the advice seniors had once given her in the baths:

“The professor bases the exam questions on whatever book left a deep impression on him at the time.”

Following that logic, he must’ve recently read some bizarre self-help book. Maybe his candy business hit a snag, driving him mad.

This is why you shouldn’t recklessly brag about your ventures.

Back to the exam. Sugar subtly rolled her eyes, scanning the room. Everyone else was calmly answering, the only sounds being the scratching of pens.

‘Am I the weird one…?’

She seemed to be the only one finding the questions strange.

Sighing, she propped her chin on her hand. Well, her friends did often give her odd looks. Maybe it was time to accept reality.

‘Hmm… True… Correct… Undoubtedly… Certain… The Answer…’

Setting aside her existential crisis, she focused on the question.

‘The answer is… The Answer!’

Double answer. Answer-answer.

She liked the sound of that, so she circled 5.

That must’ve taken at least five minutes. If the first question was like this, she couldn’t afford to dawdle.

Sugar glanced at the clock, a hint of panic creeping in.

It was now 10:57.

‘Good. Still three minutes left…’

The exam had started at 10:00, with a 60-minute limit. So three minutes remained.

…

‘WHAT?!’

Her jaw dropped.

Had that much time really passed? Did picking a stupid answer take 57 minutes?!

This—this was absurd.

There were still so many questions left. She’d only answered one, and even that wasn’t certain.

But no matter how many times she checked, the clock insisted it was 10:57.

Her hands began to shake. Visions of failing—of wasting Riley’s efforts—flooded her mind. The sheer injustice of it all left her hollow. She kept staring at the clock, refusing to believe it.

‘No way. Time can’t—’

‘…Wait.’

Her body stiffened.

After staring at the clock, Sugar slowly closed her eyes.

A suspicion had formed—one that wasn’t entirely escapist.

She counted to ten, then opened her eyes again.

The clock now read 7:12.

She closed and opened them once more. 3:35.

Sugar exhaled deeply—a sigh of relief. The tension drained from her body, leaving her limp.

The inconsistent time.

The déjà vu.

The bizarre questions and the oblivious students.

“This is a dream…”

The moment she said it, she realized her mistake.

You’re not supposed to say that in a dream.

Too late.

Shhk—

Every person in the lecture hall turned to stare at her. Dozens of hollow, empty gazes locked onto her.

“Uh…”

A cold sweat broke out as the expressionless figures lunged at her.

There was no time to resist.

CRACK—

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

“Now, the time limit is 60 minutes. Remember, you can’t leave once the exam starts. First, I’ll hand out the test papers.”

Inside the lecture hall, Professor Hubert stood at the podium, waving his wand to distribute the exams.

A sheet fluttered down in front of Sugar as well.

“…”

“Hm? You there. Why are you breathing so heavily?”

Clutching the paper, Sugar panted heavily until the professor noticed and called out to her.

“Professor, I don’t think I can take this exam. I’d like to leave.”

“Huh? Wait, why so sudde—”

“You said we can’t leave during the exam. So I’m leaving now. Please mark me absent.”

Sugar boldly declared her refusal. As the professor and students stared in shock, she swiftly exited the room.

In her hand was only the test paper. Afraid of being caught, she left everything else behind.

The moment she was outside, she bolted into the women’s restroom.

“Hah… hah… haa…”

Locking the door, she leaned against the wall.

Her whole body wouldn’t stop trembling. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt.

What had just happened—being grabbed by dozens of hands, unable to move, her neck snapping—

“No… it’s fine… it’s fine…”

She tried not to remember. She repeated the words like a mantra.

“How often do you get to experience death in your lifetime?”

Not something just anyone could experience.

After all, when you die, you die.

Sugar fiddled with the choker around her neck, comforting herself. She could brag to her friends later.

It’s fine. It’s fine. Just gotta watch her words from now on.

After steadying her breathing, she immediately read the test paper.

What should’ve been blank or filled with questions instead read:

* * * * *

1. Find the hidden body parts scattered across the school and assemble the perfect human.

Location of the first limb: East Building Nurse’s Office

* * * * *

“What is this…?”

After reading it, she tried recalling how things had led to this.

The Mental Defense exam – Interrupted.

The bell.

And then—the trial.

“I offer all that I am – to deliver your trial.”

After hearing that, her mind had gone hazy, and then she was here. She knew it was a dream, but she couldn’t wake up. Normally, she’d snap out of it instantly—meaning this wasn’t an ordinary dream.

Sugar stared at the test paper again. As absurd as it was, she had no choice but to follow along if she wanted to escape.

She didn’t want to endure some trial forced upon her by the cult. Who did they think they were, barging in like this?

‘…Fine. I’ll play along perfectly.’

Daring to make the saintess experience death? Thinking she’d be scared?

Gritting her teeth, Sugar folded the test paper and tucked it into her cloak’s inner pocket.

Ignoring her trembling hands, she gripped one with the other and pushed open the restroom door.