Chapter 146: Only One (2)

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The school was in the midst of exams.

An eerie silence hanging in the air, broken only by the sound of Sugar’s footsteps.

Unwilling to run into anyone, Sugar moved stealthily. The immediate destination was the East Building Nurse’s Office. Having already slipped out of the main building, all that remained was to head straight to the eastern side of the school.

“Find the hidden parts within the school and assemble the perfect human…”

Sugar repeated the task written on the exam paper, trying to organize the facts and questions swirling in their mind.

First, the absolute rule:
Never acknowledge that this world is a dream.

Whether it was safe to say it when alone was unclear, but there was no need to risk it.

“If I die in the dream, do I just return to the exam hall again?”

Having no desire to die again, Sugar set the question aside for now.

Next, the objectives:

1. Explore this world while following the exam’s instructions.
2. The ultimate goal: escape.

“This is so vague. It’s not clear whether finishing the ‘trial’ will let me escape or not.”

Sugar could only hope for the former and sighed.

What was happening outside? Were Riley and the others safe?

“No marks have appeared since earlier…”

The absolute mark that proved Sugar was still Sugar—her protector, her mark, the comrade who would endure hardships together. The fact that it hadn’t manifested meant Sugar was truly alone in this dream.

Alone to explore, alone to find the answers.

Memories of past dangers surfaced—the Crystal Tower, where at least the cultists had been present; the lake, where Professor Trace had been by their side.

But now, Sugar was completely alone.

In Steele, surrounded by countless people—dream residents who could turn hostile at a single word—Sugar was the only one awake.

Quietly, Sugar dredged up a memory she tried hard to forget: the first death in the dream.

Every face had been familiar. Students, professors.

People Sugar knew had killed her.

Those she has exchanged greetings with, collaborated with on assignments, blended into daily life—even knowing they weren’t the real ones, the shock of their images lingered.

Among them were Ian and Leon.

“Hah… huu…”

They’d reached out with hollow eyes.

With serene expressions, they’d restrained Sugar, wrapped gentle hands around her throat, and—like plucking a flower—squeezed.

“Ugh—! Don’t think about it!”

The vivid sensation sent shivers down Sugar’s spine, and she shook her head violently.

It was just a dream. It had nothing to do with reality. Just a nightmare—one of those where you’re killed by someone. Everyone has those once or twice in their life, right?

“Just wait till I get out…”

Now wasn’t the time to tremble in fear. Now was the time to think about escaping. Sugar was the type to pin imagined crimes on her friends and shamelessly milk them for all they were worth.

The thought lightened the mood. With a slightly relaxed expression, Sugar headed toward the East Building.

Whooosh—

The wind blew.

Despite it being early summer, the sharp gusts chilled Sugar to the bone.

“…”

Rubbing her arms to ward off the cold, a thought suddenly struck:

Even if this is a dream, I’m so glad you’re not here.

Clutching her cloak tightly, Sugar recalled a warmth from long ago and pressed forward into the East Building.

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

Entering the nurse’s office, a familiar face greeted them.

“Hm? Isn’t it exam time? What brings you here?”

They’d met during physical exams and when Sugar had been hospitalized for mana overload. The nurse from the Holy City—Cedric’s younger sibling.

“Ah, well. I’m not feeling well.”

“Skipping exams for this? Goodness. You’re not faking it, are you?”

(They were.)

“You are sweating a lot… Where does it hurt?”

“My—my stomach. It feels like my insides are twisting.”

“Stomach?”

The teacher nodded slightly and began gathering tools from a corner. Seizing the opportunity, Sugar scanned her surroundings.

Somewhere here was the “First Body Part.” she didn’t know what it was, but she had to find it.

“A body part… flesh… But where would a human body part even be here?”

The staff desk, sofas for waiting patients, the consultation room behind a partition, and further in—a rest area with beds lined up in a row.

Though this was a dream, exams were ongoing. No one would be in the nurse’s office at this hour.

“Wait… the teacher?”

Sugar glanced nervously at the nurse before shaking her head.

“The task said to ‘gather parts to complete it,’ so it’s probably in a… less-than-ideal state.”

Peeking into the rest area, one bed stood out—the only one with its curtains drawn.

“Bingo.”

That was suspicious. Sugar crept toward it silently.

“Excuse me…”

They gently pulled the curtain aside.

The moment they saw what was inside, they understood.

A human-shaped doll, about 40–50 cm tall. At a glance, it lacked eyes, nose, ears, and even skin—its raw, red flesh exposed like an anatomical model.

This is it. Sugar picked it up. Relieved it wasn’t a real person, though it was oddly warm and slightly sticky. Still, just a doll.

“Ah. That one?”

A voice came from behind. Turning, Sugar saw the nurse wearing a bitter expression.

“A pitiful thing, really…”

Sorrow tinged their voice. Did they see it as a real person?

“How did it end up like this?”

“It dreamed of perfection… and this was the result. Tragic, isn’t it? Would you like to complete it?”

“Can I?”

“Of course. You’re more than welcome.”

“Then I will.”

Sugar agreed readily. It was a relief to obtain it so easily.

The nurse smiled, as if pleased—then pulled out a saw from behind their back.

A woodcutting saw.

“Perfect! You said your stomach hurts, right? Let’s perform a laparotomy and extraction. I’ll make it painless. Lie down. Come on. Come on. Come on—”

“Goodbye!”

Clutching the doll, Sugar bolted out the window.

Just when things seemed to be going smoothly—of course. It was absurd how even in a dream, the five senses could be weaponized. From now on, Sugar resolved to keep her mouth shut.

A glance back revealed the nurse chasing after them, saw in hand, cheerfully calling, “Student! It won’t hurt a bit!” The genuine smile was more terrifying than any threat.

Sugar circled the East Building and slipped back inside. Heading to the crowded main building risked drawing unwanted attention.

“Hah… hah…”

Hiding in the rooftop stairwell, Sugar caught her breath. Her body felt unnaturally sluggish.

“I can sense mana, but I can’t use it…”

Was this part of the trial? The inability to cast magic made everything bleaker. Alone, with only this small body, Sugar had to navigate the cult’s trial.

“…”

Taking a deep breath, Sugar pulled the exam paper from their cloak pocket.

They’d obtained the “flesh.” Maybe the next task had appeared.

* * * * *

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

• 1-1.

* * * * *

A sub-task had appeared under Question 1, but its contents were blank.

“Does it unlock under certain conditions?”

Tucking the paper away, Sugar focused on the next step: finding the other body parts.

No clue where they might be hidden.

“First… I need to stash this doll somewhere.”

It wasn’t small. Carrying it around would draw attention, and there was no telling what the dream’s residents might do if they saw it.

The unpredictable dream inhabitants might suddenly declare “You must sacrifice yourself!” and brandish knives. Even in reality, carrying a creepy doll would earn strange looks.

Was there a safe place to hide it?

The dormitory? Aside from being far from the main building, it was ideal. A private room meant they could stash it there.

“I wonder if the Dream Lantern is here…”

The lantern that revealed the unseen would be helpful. But since Sugar had already brought one into a dream before, it was unlikely to appear again.

Still, the dorm seemed the best option. Sugar turned to leave—

“…”

—but stopped.

Descending to the fourth floor, Sugar froze mid-step. In the near-empty hallway, a strange tension filled the air as she stared at a distant clubroom.

“Since I’m already in the East Building… stopping by wouldn’t hurt.”

She was a little tired. A short break might be nice.

Step by step, Sugar approached, her heartbeat louder than her muffled footsteps.

Why? What was Sugar hoping for?

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

“Sugar Mill.”

Standing before the door, Sugar hid the doll behind her back. If someone was inside, they might panic at the sight of it.

A faint mana presence seeped through—veiled by a barrier, but undeniably there.

Hah… hah…

Fear and anticipation swelled. Terrified the person inside might turn hostile at a word, yet craving the comfort of seeing them regardless.

With a reckless resolve, Sugar grabbed the doorknob and gently pushed the door open.

The room was dark.

No lights, blackout curtains blocking the windows with only the faint whisper of sunlight seeping in, barely illuminating the space.

A cabinet and table in the corner.

A sofa and side table.

A rug on the floor.

And in the center of that familiar space—a silhouette stood.

An equally familiar figure, standing motionless in the dark.

“…Riley?”

At the call, he turned his head slightly.