Ch. 227 Scolded Less Than Expected
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 227: Scolded Less Than Expected
Even in a conveniently fantastical world, there were no smartphones.
After being caught in a spatial distortion and escaping, they immediately boarded a carriage and moved—there had been no time to check the date. So, the fact that there were only three days left of vacation was nothing short of shocking.
First, they slept soundly for a day. After all, people needed rest before they could do anything.
And then, the next morning.
With two days left until the start of the semester.
“One assignment… two assignments… three, four, five assignments…”
Riley wondered how far that song would go—and whether it was even appropriate to measure assignments in “units” like livestock. Just as he was lost in thought—
Knock knock.
A sound came from Sugar’s door. Waving a hand to open it, Riley found Leon standing there.
“Hey. Long time.”
“Yes, it has been a while. I figured you two would be together. Glad to see you’re both unharmed.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Must there always be a reason? I just came to check on you.”
Despite his words, Leon’s expression looked oddly weary—like he had something to say.
Sugar and Riley exchanged glances before setting down their pens.
“Should we talk outside?”
“…Sure.”
So he does have business.
The three bought tea and headed to Leon’s room.
A faint medicinal scent. The sound of something bubbling. The blinds were drawn, as if sensitive materials were present—a cozy room, perfect for dozing off.
“Oh, right. How’s the preparation of the Saint’s Water going?”
“Smoothly. Relatively speaking.”
Whether it was truly smooth was unclear. His pensive face made it hard to read his thoughts.
As Leon sat at the table, Sugar and Riley took their seats across from him.
“I didn’t call you here for anything major. Riley, what are you going to do about your dorm room?”
“My dorm? Just keep using it as usual… Why do you ask?”
What an odd question. Riley frowned slightly in confusion.
“You haven’t seen the notice yet?”
“Notice?”
“There was some commotion in the male dorm. Apparently, someone got caught in a spatial distortion…”
“…”
“Anyway… the aftermath seems to have resolved the spatial distortion phenomenon. Single rooms are now available. They said applicants should hurry and apply before the semester starts.”
Sugar and Riley stared at each other. Then, Sugar awkwardly spoke up.
“Uh. The person who got ‘caught’… was us.”
“I had a feeling.”
“It’s a false accusation! There’s footage of me in the male dorm’s surveillance area. I was just trying to clear my name, and things got out of hand—”
“Not surprising in the least.”
Leon nodded as if he’d expected this all along, sipping his coffee nonchalantly.
“Hey! I said it’s a false accusation! There’s a real culprit. I already explained it to the school!”
“Ah, yes.”
He just kept drinking.
Sugar narrowed her eyes.
“Wait. So it’s fixed? How?”
“Our involvement must’ve influenced it. The energy flow corrected itself and closed the distortion,” Riley offered as Sugar tilted her head.
“But how did the connection even form?”
Sugar voiced her doubt, and Leon, who had been quietly listening, finally showed interest.
“Connection?”
“Yeah. The White Forest’s Great Cavern and Steele’s male dorm were linked. We escaped through the White Forest to get back to the Holy City.”
“Is that so? How peculiar.”
They had discussed this before with Louveci.
“Connected to Steele? Hmm… I only know what I’ve read in the cult’s archives. The spatial distortions artificially created by Gab—ahem, the Saint—were described there.”
“Wait, the White Forest’s creatures didn’t even know about this, but it’s written in a heretical cult’s books?”
“One of his disciples founded the cult.”
“…!”
“This is one of the secrets the Holy Church keeps hidden. They’d naturally suppress tales of betrayal…”
“…Anyway, there was no mention of Steele in those records?”
“None. This is my first time hearing of it.”
Recalling that conversation, Sugar pensively pinched her cheek.
“Could it just be a coincidence? The Great Cavern was created by the Saint, and Steele was built after their death—there shouldn’t be anyone who could link them. Leon, what do you think?”
“How would I know…”
“You’re the Saint’s chosen prophet, aren’t you?”
“I’ve never even heard their voice. Maybe their remaining disciples did something. Or it really is just a coincidence.”
As Leon gave his tentative answer, Sugar, who had been idly squishing her cheeks, suddenly perked up.
“…Huh? Wait. Single rooms…?”
She glanced sideways at Riley.
“Riley, you can get a single room now, huh?”
“Yeah. But why are you so happy about it?”
“W-Well… it’s more comfortable alone… If you’re happy, I’m happy… Hehe…”
Sugar couldn’t suppress her grin as she fidgeted with her fingers. The smile was downright sinister.
Sugar was someone who knew how to sneak into the dorms undetected.
After all this, they got off way too lightly.
Riley abruptly yanked his hopeless childhood friend into a crushing hug, squeezing so tight she could barely breathe. Ehk, ehk!
In response, Sugar buried her petite nose into his chest, squirming like a trapped animal. Each desperate gasp—hoo, huff—filled her lungs with his scent, until even her insides felt dyed in him.
After a while: Dizzy Sugar, complete.
She didn’t even need his arms around her anymore—she’d cling to him on her own.
“Hah… Haaah… R-Riley… Nngh…”
Her dazed eyes and cheeks rubbing against him seemed to beg for more.
Leon clicked his tongue and looked away.
“Anyway… To return to the main topic—Riley, if you were to share a room, would you consider pairing with me?”
“No. I’m taking a single.”
“Ahh…”
“Why? Got a reason to room with me?”
Riley tightened his grip around Sugar, inexplicably irritated. He knew who Leon liked, but this felt… instinctually unpleasant.
“Well… Ian proposed sharing a room again this semester.”
Hm.
“I declined, saying I already had a roommate lined up. So…”
“You came to me to fabricate an excuse.”
“Correct.”
So that’s it.
Now he understood why Ianne’s glare could make even Sugar tremble.
“You. Know how Ian’s been feeling lately?”
“…Low-pressure zone, sir.”
“Know why they’re angry?”
Leon sighed at Riley’s question.
“Haa… Look. I know they trust me, but some lines shouldn’t be crossed. This is the right call. They need their own space… You’re a man too—you get it.”
He did understand.
Leon was in love with someone whose beauty transcended gender. Sharing a room with a person of such noble lineage—while restraining himself—was torture.
But that wasn’t the point right now.
“Did you two talk while we were gone? About your feelings, Ian’s secrets—anything we discussed before?”
“…”
He didn’t.
Again, Riley understood. It was hard to broach.
Really, really understood.
He fell silent, stroking Sugar’s hair.
Then—
“You dense idiot!”
Sugar, now fully alert, sprang up with wide eyes—a far cry from her earlier daze.
“I told you to ask Ian directly! To hear the truth from their own mouth! To do something you wouldn’t regret…! And you still haven’t?!”
“Whoa, since when did you flip moods like a pancake—”
“I don’t care! This is about you!”
Sugar’s voice cracked.
“You keep saying you’ll give up on them because of status, but what’s the truth? You still love Ian, don’t you?!”
“…What does that matter? My feelings don’t—”
“It matters so much! You don’t get it—Ian they’re… they’re…!”
—in love with you!
Sugar bit her tongue, pounding her chest instead. This wasn’t her truth to tell. Frustration burned through her.
Ah.
In that moment, Riley finally understood someone.
That knight in the mountains—the one who’d shattered Sugar’s facade, tore into her, left her in pieces—he grasped her fury now.
Of course, the circumstances were different. The relationships, the emotions involved—nothing aligned. But the essence of that frustration? Near identical.
“Look, Leon, you—”
Just as Riley opened his mouth—
Beep—
Sugar’s pocket chimed. The Ianne-exclusive comms device. Silence swallowed the room.
She cleared her throat and answered.
“H-Hello?”
[Yeah, Sugar. You said you had something to discuss yesterday—asked me to gather the guardians. Free today?]
“Y-Yes! I’m available.”
[Good. Let’s talk this afternoon… Free for tea before that?]
“Ah, I’m out running errands right now… Can’t meet. Sorry.”
[Hmm. Fine.]
A pause. The call seemed about to end—
[You’re with Leon right now, aren’t you?]
“…!”
Three breaths hitched at once.
[How funny. He avoids me but meets you so easily… Bring him along later. We’ll talk then.]
Click.
“…”
“…”
“…”
The silence thickened.
Two of the three stared at the third. Two were male; one was female.
The voice on the comms had mirrored someone too perfectly.
Riley broke first.
“Ian learned from you… What’re you gonna do?”
“D-Don’t pin this on me! Wh-When was I ever that scary?! Maybe I influenced Ian a little, but—”
“‘A little’? Really?”
Even Riley, usually lenient, wasn’t buying it. Sugar’s eyes darted before she plunged back into his arms.
“Dizzy Sugar doesn’t understand hard wordsss… Dunno what you’re sayiiing…”
“Then you deserve punishment.”
“Kyaugh!”
Leon, too exhausted to speak, covered his eyes—a picture of despair.
LegoMyEggo
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