Chapter 189: She Was Shocked

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The tranquil early morning in the Holy City.

Sugar opened her bleary eyes. The ceiling, though familiar, wasn’t her own, and the warmth of the familiar figure beside her felt foreign.

“…”

She had just woken from a dream—a lucid one. The traveler in her head was setting up champagne and cake, waiting eagerly.

‘Congratulations, Sugar. You’ve finally become a true woman. How was it? Tell me everything. I’m dying of curiosity. I didn’t peek once you got into bed. What lines did you use to seduce Riley? The initial pain? Did you black out midway? How did it feel? Spill it—’

It was the most animated she’d ever seen them. The endless chatter made her slip away quietly.

At least they kept their promise not to watch when things got… that intense.

‘Why does it always circle back to that…’

As if she’d ever go that far with a friend. What a ridiculous woman.

Her mouth was parched. She wriggled slightly—aches from last night. She was dying of thirst.

‘Ugh…’

She twisted, trying to escape for a glass of water, but his grip was too tight. Her back throbbed.

The room reeked of sex. The scent clung to Sugar’s skin, too.

They’d really gone at it.

Every time she collapsed, spent, that friend of hers would thoroughly—

“…”

God.

Pervert.

She wanted to die of embarrassment.

Treating her body like it was his to play with. What the hell had they done?

‘Bunny? Bunnnny?’

Sugar admitted she was partly to blame. Swept up in the moment, she’d crossed every line—words and actions no proper woman, no virgin, should ever utter.

‘Oh right, I don’t even have family to scandalize except him.’

Shame. Guilt.

They’d stripped completely, tangled naked under the sheets. Anyone would assume they’d finished what they started.

‘No! We didn’t go all the way!’

She gritted her teeth. It was true. They’d stopped just short.

As she trembled with frustration, her friend stirred. Finally free, she wriggled out of his arms—her small frame slipping easily—and grabbed the water bottle on the nightstand.

‘I’ll live…’

The bedsheet beneath her was still damp. She didn’t need to wonder why.

After gulping water, Sugar studied her childhood friend, sprawled peacefully under a thin blanket. Cute, yet irritating.

Her gaze drifted downward. That thing under the blanket, its outline unmistakable.

Her cheeks burned. Memories of last night made her bite her lip.

She stared, dazed, alternating between his problem and her own abdomen—

Then jolted, shaking her head, and fled the bed.

Shower. Need a shower. Get it together, Sugar.’

‘She repeated it like a mantra, darting into the bathroom.

The steam and familiar scents—Riley’s shampoo, his body wash—calmed her. Wrapped in a towel, she stepped out to find him sitting on the bed, looking just as dazed.

“…”

“…”

She averted her eyes.

He broke the silence, disappointed.

“We missed it.”

“What?”

“Waking up tangled together. Morning cuddles.”

She blinked.

What? So he wanted that?

“That’s…”

We’re not—we’re not lovers or anything!

That kind of sickening sweetness…

“…”

Not that she hated the idea.

She looked away silently. Riley ruffled his hair and stood—completely naked.

Sugar spun around, flushing.

“C-cover yourself!”

“I’m showering. Who cares?”

After last night? He scoffed, brushing past her.

“Next time, shower together.”

He said next time so casually her brow twitched.

“There won’t be a next time…”

He paused, tilting his head as if daring her to continue.

“Last night was… a one-time penalty. Bunny Sugar is gone. From today, I’m back to being your childhood friend and sister, got it?”

“Sure, Sugar.”

He smirked, disappearing into the bathroom. She glared at his back.

Pervert, pervert, pervert.

…

Idiot.

She changed clothes—back into what she’d worn before switching to her costume.

The problem? No stockings. She always wore pantyhose under her costume, but last night’s… activities had left them torn and soaked beyond use.

So now, Sugar stood in shorts, bare-legged, with the faint marks on her inner thighs fully visible.

As she frowned at the evidence, her freshly showered friend wordlessly handed her a new pair.

“…Why do you have these?”

“Figured this might happen.”

“…”

Sugar snatched them without a word and turned toward the bathroom.

“Put them on here. Let me watch.”

She spun around, punched Riley repeatedly, then stormed off to change.

Somehow, the two managed to prepare for their outing. They’d depart for the Forest of Unicorns tomorrow, so today was for gathering supplies.

Sugar wobbled weakly as they walked—until Riley offered his arm. Grudgingly, she clung to it, pressing close to steady herself, ignoring her pounding heartbeat.

“I have a dilemma.”

Just then, a wild prophet appeared.

The two exchanged annoyed glances but followed him to his room, where the faint scent of herbs lingered.

On the desk sat a transparent glass orb—the Song of Silence. Floating grains of sand inside swam like tiny fish, captivating the eye.

“So? What’s the problem? Research hit a wall?” Sugar asked, eyeing it.

“Well… I can’t say no, but that’s not why I called you.”

“Then what?”

Leon hesitated. “Remember when we stayed in Zenrock…? That night we drank.”

“Yeah.”

“And how Ian got drunk after one glass?”

“Get to the point.”

Leon took a breath. “That night… there was a minor incident.”

Sugar and Riley immediately narrowed their eyes.

“For the record,” Leon raised his hands, “it was truly minor. I didn’t do anything.”

“Uh-huh.”

The two inched away, arms still linked.

Leon sighed. “Anyway… the thing is, I’ve had feelings for Ian for a while.”

“Okay.”

“So I wanted to clarify something. I’ve had suspicions, and I’d appreciate your input—”

Sugar nodded absently.

…

…

Wait.

What did he just say?

She’d missed her chance to react—it’d slipped out so casually.

“Hold on. Hold on. Let’s rewind. What did you say earlier?”

“That I wanted to clarify something?”

“No, before that. About Ian… what?”

“Oh. That I have feelings for them?”

“That!”

“Yes.”

“…What?”

Leon nodded, utterly unfazed, as if this were the most natural confession.

“I have romantic feelings for Ian.”

Sugar and Riley’s jaws dropped.

Meanwhile, Elsewhere…

Tomorrow, they’d meet the magical creatures.

Ian worried. Unicorns prized purity and virtue—would they respond to their group? They only answer virgins.

‘Can we even count on Sugar…?’

The doubt came automatically.

If necessary, she might have to step forward—but with four people present, it’d be risky. Officially, Ian was male.

‘What if the unicorns sense my real gender?’

A mess of concerns.

Maybe she should bow out, send the other three ahead…

‘But then Sugar’s alone with them… Ugh. Should I just ask her directly…?’

“Hey. Are you… y’know. A virgin?”

She groaned. Even among girls, was that question appropriate? Was doubting her friend’s purity okay?

Ian hesitated, her steps slowing. She needed to consult Leon—the only other person with a direct ancestral connection to the magical creatures. If anyone could negotiate for the unicorn horn powder, it’d be him.

But then she paused.

Just the two of them?

Alone.

Alone with Leon?

“…”

Her chest tightened. Nervousness prickled under her skin.

Lately, his behavior had been… off. The frequency of his “You’re cute” compliments had skyrocketed, leaving her flustered. This wasn’t the reserved Leon she knew.

‘…It just means we’re closer now. Right?’

Besides, he already had someone he liked. A man, at that. Not that it mattered to her.

‘…Wait.’

Why was she even thinking like this?

Whether Leon had feelings for someone or not—why did it matter? Sure, it was a shame he preferred men, but so what?

‘Are you… upset because his compliments felt like flirting?’

Tch. Don’t be ridiculous.

Sugar called her cute all the time, and that meant nothing. Maybe it was the same for guys. Probably.

Nodding to herself, Ian forced her feet forward, ignoring the weight in her chest.

Act normal. Just act normal.

‘…Maybe I’ll tease him a little?’

She suppressed her magical aura, sneaking toward Leon’s quarters. An unannounced visit—might as well make it a surprise.

A childish prank, but… What would Sugar do?

Lately, she’d caught herself mimicking her little-sister-like friend. Last time she’d tried Sugar’s boldness on Leon, he’d called her “adorable”—and she’d burned with embarrassment.

To Ian, Sugar was the epitome of effortless femininity: close, cute, unapologetically girly. Maybe that’s why she kept copying her. A subconscious craving for the womanhood Ian had buried.

‘Do you… wish he’d see you as a woman?’

She shoved the thought down, cheeks flushing, and reached for the door—

—Only to freeze.

Muffled voices spilled into the hallway.

“—Wait, hold on. Did you just say… about Ian—?”
“Ah, my… feelings?”
“Yes, that!”

Ian’s hand hovered over the doorknob.

‘Are they… talking about me behind my back?!’

Not angry, just playfully scandalized, she gripped the handle—ready to swing it open and startle them—

—When Leon’s voice cut through, crystal clear:

“I have romantic feelings for Ian.”

Silence.

Ian’s plan to prank them evaporated.

‘…Huh?’

She was supposed to be the one shocking them.

But now—

—Now she was the one left stunned, heart hammering, as the words replayed in her skull.