Chapter 149: Only One (5)

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After exiting the Library, the two headed straight to the dining hall. Since it was just across the same hallway, all they had to do was walk straight.

“This time, it’s inside the book.”

Opening the cover of the borrowed book “Slime Encyclopedia”—grabbed at random—revealed a concave groove in its pages, inside which sat a tiny pair of eyes.

It seemed the challenge this time was safely borrowing the book while navigating through pitch-black darkness and avoiding traps.

“We’ve found two already, so four remain… We might gather them faster than expected. Right?”

“Yeah.”

When Riley tilted his head slightly and replied with a warm smile, Sugar couldn’t help but feel reassured.

“Wonder what’s waiting for us this time…”

“The dining hall might not actually be the answer.”

“Then where else would the tongue be?”

Chattering away, they stepped inside the dining hall.

Since it wasn’t lunchtime yet, the place was empty, but the kitchen staff were likely busy preparing.

Strangely, there was no smell of food.

Sugar pulled out the exam paper.

* * * * *

1-3. Eat until you are satisfied.

* * * * *

“Ah, a new question appeared.”

“What… ‘Eat until you are satisfied’?”

Behind her, Riley peered at the exam paper.

Meanwhile, Sugar felt a wave of relief. She had been worried about what kind of question they’d face.

“Wait… The food could still be weird.”

Unpleasant possibilities surfaced—poison, human flesh, things like that.

Hesitantly, Sugar peeked into the kitchen.

“Um, is food available now?”

“Huh? It’s not lunchtime yet.”

A friendly middle-aged staff member answered.

The clock’s time kept changing—when was lunchtime, anyway?

She hesitated, unsure how to proceed. One wrong word, and she might end up chased out with a kitchen knife.

“But the cooking’s already done. Come and take some. Today’s a new menu.”

Oh? Surprisingly, they were willing to serve food.

“Kids these days… Skipping exams to eat at this hour. Impressive.”

Chuckling, the woman placed two glass cups on a tray, filled them with a thick purple liquid, and handed them to Sugar. The bubbling foam looked unsettling.

“Here.”

“…This is today’s lunch?”

“What else would it be? Don’t tell me… you’re complaining?”

“No! No! I’ll eat it!”

Afraid of being punished for food complaints she quickly accepted.

Sitting at a table, the two examined the liquid carefully.

“The color looks… poisonous.”

“It doesn’t smell like anything.”

They each dipped a finger in to taste.

“Huh? Not as bad as I thought.”

After sampling it, Sugar took a sip.

“Oh…”

Sweet? No—it was an indescribable flavor that enveloped her tongue. She took another sip.

“Just drink a little, just in case, Sugar.”

When Riley spoke, Sugar silently gulped it down.

“Sugar. Listen to me—”

“It’s delicious…”

“…What?”

“It’s delicious!”

Suddenly shouting, Sugar jumped up and sprinted to the kitchen before Guardian Riley could stop her.

“Ma’am! Can I have another cup? Please?”

“Oh? Of course!”

The staff member eagerly refilled the cup. Sugar immediately drank it.

“Wow! So good…! This is really good. One more, please!”

She planted herself in front of the kitchen, begging for more.

The cup was filled again.

Gulp, gulp. She drank eagerly, savoring every drop.

“Phew…”

Setting the cup down, she exhaled.

“Another?”

“Yes!”

The kind woman’s generosity was overwhelming. Such hospitality! Such delicious food, offered without limit!

Tears welled up from sheer gratitude. Her lips curled into a blissful smile.

The cup was refilled. She drank.

“Ah…!”

It was like tasting divine ambrosia. The liquid coated her tongue, electrifying every taste bud. She couldn’t think—only drink.

Pleasure surged down her spine.

“So good!!”

A sensation both soft and intense, impossible to describe, flashed through her mind. Like all the world’s delicacies condensed into one.

She needed more.

More!

Every cell in her body craved it. She licked her lips, not wasting a drop.

The cup was filled again.

The more she drank, the fiercer her gaze became. The mysterious purple liquid was too delicious—nothing else mattered.

The staff’s cheerful “Glad you like it!” sounded distant.

Just one more. One more.

Ask.

Drink.

Ask.

Drink.

Life wasn’t about living to eat—it was about eating to live. she couldn’t stop. The more she drank, the more she craved that initial ecstasy.

Hunger and thirst only grew.

She wasn’t satisfied. She wanted to be satisfied.

She asked for another. The cup was filled. She drank mechanically.

Again. Filled. Drank.

Again—

“Stop.”

Someone snatched the cup away.

Her glorious, luxurious feast—interrupted.

Who dared? Rage twisted inside her. Even so, she lunged forward, desperate to lick the remnants.

“Give… give it back…!”

She was starving. Parched. She had to have it. Anger faded—only the meal mattered.

“Please…! Give it back!”

Drooling, she gnashed her teeth—

Crunch.

Something firm, like raw meat, filled her mouth.

“Ugh… ugh…”

She bit down harder, but it wasn’t what she wanted. Frustration brought tears.

Why was her meal being taken away?

This wasn’t it. This wasn’t what she—

“…?”

A metallic tang spread in her mouth.

Lick.

Salty. Iron.

Her vision cleared slightly.

Sniff.

Beneath the blood, a familiar scent lingered.

Her favorite scent. One she couldn’t sleep without.

Slowly, she released her grip.

Before her was Riley’s left arm, dotted with deep bite marks.

“Sugar.”

His voice finally registered—short on the “Su,” lingering on the “gar.”

Familiar. Routine.

“…Huh?”

“Sugar.”

“Oh…”

“Are you back? Do you know who I am?”

Blinking, Sugar looked up to see  Riley’s worried face. His frown stabbed at her heart.

“Ah, um… Riley. The dream’s Guardian version of Riley…”

Only now did she realize what she’d done.

How disgusting she must have looked.

“I… I’m sorry… So sorry…”

Bowing her head in guilt, she felt his gentle hand pat her hair.

“It’s okay, Sugar. Really, it’s okay.”

His warm embrace only made her chest ache more.

“Right, then what should you say now?”

“1-3. Eat until you are satisfied.”

“Ah, ma’am… You don’t have to give me more… ‘I’m satisfied.’ I’m full. No more.”

Stammering the answer, she watched as the kitchen staff sighed in disappointment.

“Really? Aww. You don’t have to hold back. There’s plenty more.”

“No… I’m really satisfied…”

“Then I’ll pack a bottle for you. Take it and have it later.”

She filled a glass bottle to the brim with the purple liquid and handed it to Sugar.

“I’ll add this too.”

A small container was also offered.

The two quietly gathered the items and stepped out of the dining hall.

“…”

“…”

Without a word, they headed toward the basement. The glass bottle was immediately thrown into a trash bin.

When they opened the small container, inside was a tiny tongue.

* * * * *

1-4. Do not fall asleep.

* * * * *

They soon arrived at the underground prison.

Checking the exam paper, they were relieved to see a new question had appeared. It was about the location of a hidden body part.

Do not fall asleep.

What could that mean? Before they could ponder further, the prison door slammed shut behind them.

Now that they were locked in, they had no choice but to wait it out.

The chilling, eerie air grew heavier. Sugar slumped into a corner, sighing as she held  Riley’s left hand, guilt gnawing at her when she remembered the state of his arm beneath his sleeve.

He sat beside her and silently pulled her into an embrace.

“…I’m sorry. About earlier, in the dining hall. I’m really sorry.”

“You don’t have to keep apologizing.”

“Once I tasted it, I just… couldn’t stop. I’m ashamed…”

“That food was designed to ensnare people from the start.”

“I should’ve stopped after just tasting it, like you did…”

“Who knows? Maybe that wouldn’t have counted as an answer.”

There was no point dwelling on it now, but the guilt weighed heavily on her. Even if he was just a subordinate-like existence, he still wore Riley’s face and had cared for her all this time and she had worried him, then mindlessly bit into him like a rabid animal.

“Sugar. Don’t think like that. If anything, you overcame the trial. That’s an achievement.”

Even now, he chose the kindest words. She could see why people said she was being spoiled.

“What achievement…? If you hadn’t been there, I’d still be gulping that stuff down forever…”

“But I was there. That’s what matters.”

“Well, yeah, but…”

The coldness in the air gradually intensified.

Riley tightened his embrace, and Sugar wordlessly nestled deeper into it.

Her chest rose and fell with each breath. The man gazed quietly at her small face.

“That expression doesn’t suit you. It’s not like you.”

“What if I storm out shouting, ‘What even is ‘like me’?!’”

“I’d catch you and hug you again.”

“…Heh.”

An answer she wouldn’t normally hear—no, wait. Even in normal circumstances, he might’ve said the same.

Sugar smiled weakly, thinking of the real Riley.

Right.

Moping wouldn’t do either of them any good. She slowly steadied herself.

Riley draped his cloak over her.

The cold was becoming unbearable—unnatural, piercing, like needles digging into her skin. Shivering in pain, they pressed closer together.

“Hah… When we get out, I’ll have to tell him about today.”

“Who?”

“The real Riley. He’ll be so jealous.”

“…Really?”

“That guy’s obsessed with me too. Ugh, so clingy.”

She fake-shivered, pretending to be grossed out by male possessiveness—though she was already trembling violently from the cold. She just wanted to lighten the mood.

Guardian Riley snorted silently.

Feeling a surge of emotion, Sugar spoke again.

“…My guardian Riley of my dreams.”

“Yeah. Say it, Sugar.”

“Thank you. For everything today. There’s still more ahead, but… we’ve come this far because you were here. I wanted to say it properly.”

Would she have made it this far alone? Emotionally, physically—he had helped her in every way. She wanted to thank him over and over.

“You’ve… really been my comfort.”

You always have been.

Every time she was swallowed by the dark, suffocating grip of the cult, Riley had been there for her. The thought alone made her chest ache. His warmth reached every part of her, strengthening her resolve.

Then, he spoke.

“Lean on me until we escape. Even if something like earlier happens again, it’s fine. That’s what I was made for. I’ll do anything for you.”

She felt the same. She’d do anything for the real Riley.

He was just saying this as the dream’s guardian, but still—hearing those words from someone who wore his face made her happy.

The real Riley must think the same way.

She knew that.

They both kept secrets for each other.

They both acted in the shadows for each other.

They deceived each other—

—But that’s unnecessary.

As far as Sugar was concerned, Riley didn’t have to do anything for her. In fact, she’d rather he didn’t.

Her only wish was for him to live safely, unharmed, doing what he wanted.

A wish as deep and devoted as her own clinging, suffocating love.

What happened to her didn’t matter, not at all.

Hiding those thoughts, she nodded quietly.

“I’d do anything for you too…”

As if seeing right through her small head—as if sensing the difference between her feelings and those she held for his real counterpart—Guardian Riley murmured something under his breath.

Less a statement, more a soliloquy.

Then, despite the freezing cold, his arms—steady and unwavering—wrapped around her.

Left arm. Right arm.

Sugar placed her hand over his, stroking gently, as if to say, I understand.

“Thank you. Let’s escape together. And when we get out, stay in my mind where you belong.”

“Of course.”

“…Heh.”

They exchanged smiles, comforting each other.

Despite the relentless cold, their hearts burned warm.