Ch. 185 Isn’t it a bit hot here?
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 185: Isn’t it a bit hot here?
[A love story turned tragic… What happened overnight?]
The protagonists of the recent scandal that heated up Zenrock City were reported for heresy. According to the guards and knights who responded to the report, the couple had already vanished by the time they arrived—
What an unsettling ending.
Sugar put down the newspaper she’d been reading while brushing her teeth.
The lovers had disappeared in such a short time.
‘Raphael is one thing, but Olivier… that woman is the problem.’
She was likely the one who told Raphael about the cult.
After finishing their work that day, Sugar and her friends had interrogated the counter staff at their lodgings as soon as they returned from dinner. It wasn’t anything grand—just pressing them with questions under the glow of a lantern.
How did you meet Olivier? Do you know her true identity?
The staff member acted as if they were being asked something absurd.
‘What true identity? She’s just a pretty widow who found herself a second man. Heresy? Ugh. No idea. Don’t wanna get involved in that. We only know her ’cause she’d come around sometimes when men were fooling around, and we turned a blind eye.’
Their dismissive wave and cigarette-puffing demeanor made it clear they wanted no part in it. Since the lantern didn’t glow red, Sugar reluctantly let it go for now.
‘She approached me, so she clearly knows who I am.’
Yet, she guided them to an ordinary lodging, got them into the casino, and then vanished after showing nothing but kindness.
Was it out of respect for the Saintess? Or simply because Sugar wasn’t her target?
‘Even when Louveci’s eyes were borrowed, something felt off.’
The vision showed a normal human body with mana flow, but there was a distorted, wrong sensation to it.
With her ordinary sight, Sugar could only guess at the meaning. The original owner of those eyes might have been able to interpret it, though.
Ugh. Frustrated, Sugar sighed and rinsed her mouth at the sink. The familiar bathroom of the Holy City.
***************
The group had left for the Holy City a day after concluding their contract with Praline and arrived just yesterday.
With much to do over summer vacation, they needed to move quickly. Their next destination was already decided: the Forest of Unicorns. They’d rest for a few days to recover before departing.
And there’s more to wrap up in the meantime.
Once ready, Sugar headed straight for the towering spire in the Holy City.
“Ione, how are you feeling?”
She’d been unwell before they left Zenrock. Now, she seemed fully recovered.
-Cough.
Or not.
With her face always veiled, her complexion was impossible to read.
Still, Ione nodded dismissively, as if urging Sugar to get to the point.
So she did.
This was the consultation she’d wanted for a while—something she’d vowed to ask about upon returning from Zenrock.
“Do you remember? When I was young, I mentioned hallucinations of a wall. Today, I wanted to discuss that wall—”
Before Sugar could finish, Ione stood abruptly.
Her hand shot upward, then slashed downward in a sharp gesture.
Sugar’s vision spun.
“Whoa… Where…?”
The aftermath of teleportation. She’d been whisked away.
Clutching her head, she looked around. The place was quiet, almost sacred, likely due to the religious murals. Under starlight, a man with violet eyes—a depiction of a Saint.
“Beneath the Holy City.”
Ione’s delayed reply came as she gestured for Sugar to approach.
Then, she removed her veil.
Sugar gasped.
“I-Ione?!”
To reveal her face—one even her family rarely saw—was shocking.
In her daze, Sugar noted how much she resembled Ianne, but colder. Emotionless.
Ione gripped Sugar’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet.
Those mystical violet eyes peered into Sugar, into her core.
Clairvoyance.
A piercing gaze.
“The wall.”
Ione’s lips twitched after the single word, as if struggling to speak.
“This is something you must realize yourself.”
“But… that’s not helpful—”
“It’s tied to the secret of your constitution.”
“Huh?”
Sugar’s constitution—pure mana that harmonized with all magic.
Its connection to the wall in her dreams…
It made sense. The hallucinations of the wall in her childhood had marked the start of hearing mana’s voice.
But that raised another question.
“…The Evil God’s revelation came to me. ‘Break the wall.’ What does it mean?”
“…”
The Saintess faced the woman beloved by the Evil God.
Their eyes locked, probing.
Sugar swallowed hard, unnerved by the feeling of being laid bare. Yet she held the gaze until Ione finally spoke.
“If you cannot have it, breaking it is better.”
Then, clutching her head, she swiftly covered her face again with the veil.
“W-Wait! What does that mean?”
If you cannot have it, breaking it is better?
Was that the Evil God’s intention?
‘Does that mean if the wall in my dreams shatters, I’ll end up in a state equivalent to it?’
As Sugar pondered, Ione staggered, so she quickly steadied her.
“Are you alright?”
The sight of Ione coughing and gasping for breath worried her, but there were still so many questions left.
Perhaps sensing this, Ione raised a finger to her lips.
“They are always… watching and listening.”
“Who?”
Ione tapped Sugar’s forehead.
The resident nestled in Sugar’s mind, in her dreams.
The Traveler…
As Sugar mulled it over, Ione flicked her finger. In an instant, they were back in the Saintess’s chamber.
Ione wobbled to the bed and collapsed onto it. Whether exhausted from using her clairvoyance, from revealing divine secrets, or both, it was unclear.
“…Thank you, Your Holiness.”
Sugar bowed her head sincerely. Ione had pushed herself to the point of exhaustion in that brief moment, sharing weighty truths. Such excessive kindness left Sugar with nothing but gratitude.
“Repayment.”
Ione spat out a single word. Was this repayment for their earlier reconciliation? Sugar hadn’t done anything particularly special for her.
The Saintess waved her hand dismissively, so Sugar bowed again and left the room.
On the way back to her own room, Sugar repeated what she’d heard:
‘The wall in my dreams is tied to my constitution.’
‘If it shatters, ‘perhaps’ I’ll end up in a state equivalent to it.’
‘The Evil God would rather break me than accept not having me.’
‘…Why can’t they have me? Of course I’d resist, but shouldn’t they at least try?’
The Evil God had sent a revelation prematurely—as if declaring, “Sugar can never be mine,” without even confirming it. Had they panicked and sent an Apostle in advance?
She pondered the reason. Why would the Evil God fear? Why grow restless?
What could make such a colossal being react this way?
‘…Interference from an entity of equal stature?’
Currently, a being of immense power resided in Sugar’s mind.
The one who intervened during the Apostle’s trial, guiding Sugar and Riley.
The Traveler of the Starry Skies.
Her train of thought led straight to questions about the Traveler—and Ione’s earlier words echoed in her mind.
‘Always watching and listening… Always watching and listening…’
It was a warning to mind her words and actions. A headache-inducing realization.
Every clue about the Traveler and her goals, every move Sugar made to uncover them—the Traveler was observing it all. Naturally, Sugar couldn’t even discuss it freely with her friends.
‘…Hm? Wait. Always watching and listening?’
Then, a separate realization struck her.
This one was of a slightly different nature.
Always watching and listening.
Meaning, the Traveler witnessed Sugar’s every move.
And Sugar had a childhood friend who was almost always by her side.
Recent memories surfaced.
The way Riley had cupped her chest.
The voice that whispered “I love you.”
The affectionate gaze they’d shared, tongues entwined.
Riley was hers. Hers alone.
“…”
The moment she reached that conclusion, her hands trembled.
How dare—
How dare—
HOW DARE—?!
Eyes wide, Sugar sprinted to her bed.
***************
Tap-tap-tap—
The sound of construction echoed through the tranquil forest.
After a few hammer strikes, a house-shaped structure materialized—proof this was indeed a dream.
“Impressive. A lovely house. But why build it so suddenly?”
The white-clad woman spoke nonchalantly beside her. Even after being caught observing everything, her demeanor hadn’t changed.
Sugar glared sharply.
“You… usually stay here, don’t you?”
“Mmm. How resourceful. You blocked my access without me even teaching you.”
The Traveler trailed her fingers along the walls, murmuring.
The being inside this house now had no permission to observe the outside—sealed by the dream’s owner, Sugar.
“You’ve grown. I didn’t expect you to manage this.”
“Not your concern. Just stay here.”
“It’d be stifling to stay cooped up here all day.”
“Then, at the very least… when that kind of mood strikes, you must enter. As a tenant, respect the rules.”
“But that’s the most entertaining show. You’re asking me to miss it?”
The Traveler sighed, feigning disappointment. Sugar’s eyes flashed.
“That kind of mood with Riley is for my eyes only.”
Her cheeks burned, but her gaze seethed with jealousy, possessiveness, and venomous spite.
“Don’t treat him as a spectacle. He’s mine. No one else gets to see. Only me. Mine. No one else can even glance at him.”
Clutching the hammer tightly, Sugar spat out each word as if crushing them underfoot. Trembling with rage, something dark seemed to ooze from her.
The Traveler cupped her cheeks and giggled, faux-shy.
“Oh… So you plan to get Riley in that kind of mood from now on.”
“If you understand, then get inside!”
Sugar’s entire face flushed crimson as she hurled the hammer. The Traveler smirked and ducked into the house.
“Fine, fine. Sugar, I’ll respect that one rule. During those times, I won’t watch or listen of my own volition. I swear it on my long, long life.”
“…”
“I understand your feelings well.”
Her tone carried a peculiar nuance as she waved.
Sugar glared, on the verge of waking from the dream.
“But, Sugar.”
“What?”
“Don’t trust people too much.”
“You mean you?”
“No. Everyone except Riley.”
Sugar stuck out her tongue and woke up. What nonsense. Ugh, that infuriating woman.
Settling into others’ dreams uninvited, hiding her identity and motives—
And on top of that, a voyeur.
‘Why are all the divine beings attached to me like this?’
At least she’d extracted a promise.
****************
Preparations complete.
Sugar exhaled and rose from bed.
Life was full of hardships and trials. Stress lurked everywhere. But such was the way of the world. A true adult knew how to enjoy leisure, solve problems, and manage their condition.
Yet some things were unbearable.
Unacceptable.
Impossible to endure.
Sugar had just resolved one such thing in her dream, but an even greater torment remained.
The biggest stressor lately. The thorn in her heart.
She would confront it now.
After brushing her hair—pink-tinged strands cascading past her waist, fragrant and silky, the hair her best friend loved—she adjusted her headband, smoothed her clothes, fussed with her choker, and even applied the lip gloss she’d bought earlier.
“…”
Bzz—
“Eek!”
A sharp jolt shot from her choker. She startled, nearly leaping out of her skin.
“Wh-What was that?!”
[Why are you still in your room? Weren’t we meeting?]
A message.
Of course she didn’t question how he’d tracked her.
“Sorry. Something urgent came up… I’m coming now.”
[Got it.]
Click. The brief exchange ended.
“Haaah…”
Rubbing her tingling neck, she stepped outside.
****************
A brisk walk brought her to the cathedral’s café.
In a corner, Riley sat reading a newspaper. Sugar slid into the seat beside him. No greetings—just their usual idle chatter to pass the time.
Sipping the strawberry latte he’d ordered for her, she stole glances.
“R-Riley. About the clinic… You don’t need to be readmitted?”
“Why would I? Just need meds.”
“You’re feeling better?”
“Yeah. I got around fine in Zenrock.”
“Right… That’s good. No more hospitalization…”
She gnawed her straw, nodding absently.
Silence settled.
“…Ahem.”
A forced cough.
Riley glanced at her, then returned to his paper.
That casual indifference lit a fuse in Sugar.
“Hey… Isn’t it kinda, uh, hot here?”
“Not really.”
The Holy City’s climate was perpetually mild, blessed by the Saintess’s protection—warm in winter, cool in summer.
Yet Sugar fanned herself, loosening her ribbon tie.
“I feel a little warm though…”
She popped the top button of her blouse. The choker came fully into view, along with the red marks beneath it.
“J-Just us here. Hehe…”
Their corner was secluded. The café was empty save for them.
Emboldened, Sugar undid another button.
Now it’s really getting hot. Her face burned, sweat pricking her skin.
She peered up at Riley, collarbone exposed, fabric parted—
“…”
He kept reading the newspaper.
Frustrated, Sugar scooted closer. Time for bolder measures.
“Ah, so hot…”
She flapped her blouse, the angle deliberate—enough for Riley to glimpse the soft swell of her chest, the lace of her bra.
Well?
Can’t resist looking now, can you?
With a triumphant smile, she watched him.
“…”
Still.
Just.
The.
Newspaper.
Not even a glance.
Sugar’s face burned for entirely different reasons. Her shoulders trembled.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
Only then did he acknowledge her, genuine confusion in his voice. No malice—just obliviousness.
Sugar’s lips pressed into a thin line. The fuse was fully alight.
A trial of a different kind had just begun.
LegoMyEggo
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