Ch. 155 Until the Sugar Melts
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 155: Until the Sugar Melts
A vast plain stretched to the horizon.
In this tranquil place, where only the peaceful sound of the wind could be heard, calamity descended.
It appeared abruptly, painting the surroundings white—no, “stealing their color” would be a more accurate description.
These were the last moments of one who had offered their body to summon a fragment of the Evil God.
They had poured their “everything” into the shadows.
When He commanded them to sacrifice their life, they obeyed without question.
A mage’s final mystery, performed at the cost of their life, holds power commensurate with that sacrifice.
Yet, Verut’s ability could corrode even a seasoned mage in an instant. For him to expend everything on a mental interference—others might question, “Was it really necessary?”
A woman beloved by the Evil God. Were her mental defenses truly that formidable?
Well.
Having attempted it himself, the answer was no. Her personal barriers were not overwhelmingly strong.
But therein lay a problem.
They had prepared the ordeal for her alone, as commanded.
They had acted at the hour of the rising sun, as commanded.
They had sacrificed their life, as commanded.
Every step was executed flawlessly, exactly as the revelation had dictated.
And yet—someone else interfered. The owner of a grimoire, unmentioned in the revelation, had stepped in.
Was it their ability? No. Their spiritual energy was lacking, still immature, unlike the saintess.
This was the intervention of something else.
Something had meddled with the ordeal.
Something had taken root within the saintess—
“…?”
He stopped his thoughts there. Such questions were pointless.
An Apostle does not ask.
Why must this revelation be carried out?
What is Your plan beyond this?
Why have You remained silent until now?
What did You mean by “pierce the wall”?
Only obedience. Again, and again—the highest virtue.
He harbored no doubts. He did not demand to see the blueprint.
He simply entrusted his body, hoping his life had held meaning.
The end had come.
The time of martyrdom he had spoken of.
The chaotic energy surging from him began to quiet.
His form twisted, faded—as if nothing had ever existed there to begin with.
Leaving only a bleached, colorless wasteland behind.
****************
On the Road to Steele
The heretic girl, locked in battle with the Inquisition, widened her eyes.
A light burst from the school building—a golden, soothing radiance.
‘That… is extremely harmful to us.’
“Verut—!”
Instinctively sensing danger, B-13 unleashed her full power.
She detonated the energy she had gathered over time for crafting a sanctuary, erecting a solid barrier over her enemies. As she bit her lip, her face twisted into a scowl unbefitting her age, brimming with malice.
The transparent, multicolored shield held the Inquisitors at bay. Seizing the moment, she prepared to fly toward the school—
“—It’s over.”
“!”
The Apostle’s body, which had frozen when the shadows vanished, suddenly moved. A single word escaped his lips:
“…Already?”
“…”
Like all dreams, it was fleeting—a mere bubble in time.
“…Did it go well? The ordeal… and the message?”
His face was too dark to tell if his eyes were open or closed. Deliberately, B-13 stepped in front of him and mouthed the words:
“Yes.”
The man exhaled softly in response.
Though disobedience would surely earn her punishment upon return, she sighed in relief anyway.
Perhaps it was because her first journey had ended safely—or because she had fulfilled her companion’s wish.
Then, the man’s body began to crumble.
“…Goodbye. See you in hell.”
“That place is my cradle.”
The soul within the shadows had returned to the flesh, but the end was death. Having already spent his life to wield his power, this was inevitable.
Watching his life fade, she whispered her final farewell.
Soon, only fragments remained.
Black, hard—like stone.
The girl gathered them carefully. She had promised to send them to His side. A promise was a promise.
“Haa…”
Compared to the chaos below, the sky was eerily clear.
She felt a little tired.
Physically and mentally drained, she longed to return and rest. Swallowing an inexplicable emptiness, she quickly collected the remaining fragments before her trapped enemies could break free.
And then—
The hunter who had been watching all along would never let this chance slip.
“…?”
Just as she reached for the last fragment, she sensed something.
A black snake stood beside her.
Ah.
The traitor she had only heard of—the Apostle who had vanished after the battle.
B-13 immediately tried to raise a barrier—
But nothing happened. The horns that should have glowed to summon an all-rejecting shield remained dark.
Of course. She had already exhausted all her stored energy.
“…Uh.”
A chill ran down her spine at her own defenselessness.
For the first time, her face showed an expression befitting her age—bewilderment and fear.
The black snake opened its maw.
***************
A Pale, Dim Space
The curtains fluttered gently in the breeze from the slightly open window.
The summer morning air—damp yet refreshing—brushed over the woman on the bed, tickling her awake.
“Nn… Mm…”
On such a pleasant morning, the woman writhed and squirmed in bed. With a soft whimper, her white lashes fluttered open—just what kind of dream had she been having?
“No… Don’t… Stop…”
Was she being chased by something?
“We’re… not in that kind of relationship…”
Probably not.
“Ah—!”
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
“Ah, ahh… Nn… I mean, yes, but that’s still not allowed! That’s only for couples…”
She clutched the bedsheets and shook her head.
“Who even… does that… Ah! Aah… Nnn…”
Her denials grew weaker.
“No… Riley, not there—really…!”
Her voice suddenly turned urgent.
“NOOO—!”
A scream tore from her lips as her eyes snapped open.
Huff… Huff…
Breathing heavily, she rolled her eyes around, taking in the familiar white ceiling. Reality sank in.
…What kind of dream was that?
Sugar awoke in a room different from her usual dorm—one she hadn’t seen in a while. The lingering heat from the dream left her dazed, especially after dreaming of her childhood friend.
Her body still felt strangely warm, and when she noticed a damp sensation between her legs, she glanced down.
“……”
No. It’s just… excess discharge due to poor condition.
Staggering to her feet, she headed to the shower.
“A dream is just a dream. A dream is just a dream…”
She cupped her face under the lukewarm water, finally calming down.
‘I’ve had enough of dreams.’
After showering, Sugar changed into fresh undergarments and dressed properly, preparing to leave.
When she opened the window wide, the familiar scenery greeted her.
The Holy City—the home of her heart, where she had spent so much of her life. Though the constrained magic under the Saintess’s authority sometimes made it hard to breathe, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. Maybe this, too, was nostalgia.
The fatigue from the past few days seemed to ease a little. She had been busy.
Due to the heretic invasion, Steele had gone into an early summer vacation, with remaining exams replaced by assignments of considerable difficulty—whether that was good or bad, she couldn’t tell.
At least there had been no casualties, but the fact that heretics had boldly invaded in broad daylight meant she’d been summoned for questioning here and there.
Even with the Holy City’s intervention, the fact that the academy’s security had been breached would cause an uproar for a while.
The only silver lining was the public’s fascination was with “the student who repelled such a terrifying enemy with the Saint’s Staff!”
Thank you!
Truly, Leon is protagonist material.
The incident seemed to be concluding as “the heretics’ plot targeting the one chosen by His Holiness and the Saint’s Staff.”
Both Ian and Leon had readily agreed to let the story unfold that way. Ian was expected, but Leon’s cooperation was surprising.
‘I’ve received so much kindness. How many people have gone out of their way to protect someone like me?’
As she wiped her face dry, her resolute gaze reflected in the mirror. No matter what, she would repay this debt.
She would gladly carry the weight of those who had reached out to her.
“……”
And the one who had given her the most.
Her dearest childhood friend.
Sugar buried her face in the bed again. Despite having finished getting ready, she threw herself back onto the mattress, thrashing around in embarrassment.
Just thinking about it made her face burn—especially after this morning’s dream.
Ugh… Of course… Of course…
She had kissed him.
The first time, she had been the one to initiate it—a farewell kiss, a service granted under the Wish Refusal, nothing more.
She did love Riley. She had for a very long time.
But that was familial love—or the love between friends. Lately, she had begun to want something else, but that was all.
However, after the events in the dream, something had changed. Facing the end, she had taken time to reflect, and her feelings had deepened.
Shouldn’t this affection have a different name?
A new name for this sticky, endless emotion.
The answer was right in front of her—so close she could touch it if she just reached out.
But Sugar had her back turned. She pretended not to see it.
“I want to be with you…”
Only after everything had she finally admitted that much, she was never truly honest. While she could lightly say she cared for him, her deepest feelings remained locked away.
But he was the same. And he had accepted her anyway.
And then—
That kiss.
Their second kiss.
“Ah…”
Remembering it made her sigh. Her lips tingled unbearably, the sensation replaying in her mind, overwhelming her, melting her into nothingness.
His breath had been scorching, but his hands were gentle, cradling her. When she’d peeked, she saw his closed eyelids, his long lashes—until he’d noticed and rubbed his lips against hers, as if to say, “Stop staring and focus.” Startled, she’d shut her eyes again.
And then, lost in the feeling, Sugar had pressed closer, dissolving into him.
“……”
Thump! Thump!
She punched the pillow.
Her face burning red, she forced herself to stop. If she kept this up, she’d never leave the room.
They had arrived in the Holy City at dawn yesterday. Her childhood friend had come ahead for treatment, so she needed to visit him.
It felt like forever since she’d last seen him.
“I should hurry… There’s something I need to do.”
After a final check in the mirror, she grabbed her bag.
Inside was a carefully coiled rope.
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