Ch. 238 Sugar Cult

    Chapter 238: Sugar Cult

    &R;e&a;&d; o​n ́Kat&R;e​&a;&d;&i;n̂&g;C‌áfε

    Riley and Sugar headed to the Sugar Mill.

    It was a place fortified with layers of protective measures. Their plan was to listen to Louveci’s voice message here, ensuring no secrets leaked.

    “My tongue hurts…”

    “That’s what you get for having a foul mouth.”

    As Sugar grumbled while lying on the large sofa, Riley scolded her.

    In response, Sugar huffed and activated the voice message.

    [Sugar. Can you hear me?]

    “Yeah.”

    Even though it was a recording, Sugar answered anyway.

    [I have so much to say, but there’s a size limit, so I’ll answer quickly.]

    Sugar had included several questions in her initial letter to Louveci. It seemed the responses would follow now.

    Louveci’s voice sounded much better. When they reunited, she had seemed exhausted, but perhaps she had regained her energy. Probably because Professor Trace fed her well.

    ‘But then she set everything on fire and ran away. What a wicked woman.’

    That reaction to what was practically a confession—who does that? If it were Sugar, she’d have chased her for decades too.

    As Sugar clicked her tongue, the voice continued.

    [First… Thank you for returning my eyes, Sugar. I was too flustered to say it properly back then. Even for a blind person, having two is better than one.]

    Before parting ways after their reunion, Sugar had hastily returned one of Louveci’s remaining eyes.

    [And about why I left one behind… It’s simple. It was like a keepsake for those who helped me.

    The eye they retrieved by the lakeside—the black serpent had taken only one.

    [Before losing all my power as punishment for betrayal, I ordered my familiar to retrieve my eyes. That friend likely sought out those connected to me… It was a gift for those who suffered to find them. I thought such unique eyes would be useful somewhere…]

    “Seriously? Gifting your own eyeballs?”

    “That’s a terrible taste in presents.”

    You did the same, you jerk.

    Sugar shot Riley a glare. Not in reality, but in a nightmare.

    “Hey, Riley. Have you seen anything strange lately?”

    “What do you mean?”

    “Something different from usual. Things you normally wouldn’t see.”

    Riley frowned as if deep in thought.

    “Nothing besides that illusion before.”

    Good. Sugar let out a sigh of relief.

    She resumed the voice message.

    [And… You asked about my siblings’ intention when they said, ‘Elevate your state.’]

    Louveci’s calm voice flowed again.

    [This is also simple. They ‘see’ a little more than others. So, they likely sensed the presence dwelling within you. But since you seemed unaware, they probably wanted to advise you… I was quite surprised when I saw you again too.]

    The phrase “Elevate your state” had been mentioned by many before.

    One was the Traveler.

    Another was Louveci’s followers.

    The former was understandable, but Sugar had been unsure of the latter’s intentions—hence the question.

    ‘A presence dwelling inside me?’

    Just as Sugar tilted her head—

    [Sugar. When did you grow so close to the Lord?]

    “The… Lord?”

    To Louveci, “Lord” would refer to Damutria.

    But the only one inside Sugar now was the Traveler.

    She had received the Evil God’s blessing, but Louveci’s surprise predated that. Besides, she wasn’t living intertwined with the Evil God even after the blessing.

    Confused, Sugar replayed the message, but she hadn’t misheard.

    Did Louveci see wrong?

    Or did she see correctly?

    For now, Sugar decided to move on.

    [Next… You asked about the cult’s founder. There isn’t much information even within the cult. They were the first to contact the Lord and obtained the covenant…

    Their name is Calard.]

    Sugar and Riley exchanged glances.

    Calard.

    The hidden disciple of the Saint, Gabriel.

    [One day, they vanished without a trace. I’m sorry I couldn’t give a more helpful answer.]

    “Having this confirmation is enough.”

    Sugar replied, knowing Louveci wouldn’t hear it.

    After answering various other questions, the voice message ended.

    The closing words were Louveci’s own thoughts.

    [Sugar, let me say one last thing. It might sound foolish, but the god I believe in hasn’t changed. I know they’re endlessly greedy. I’m aware they’re called the Evil God for good reason. Yet, I believe there’s something in them that resonates with us.]

    “…”

    [Sugar. Have you ever thought of the stars in the night sky as ‘eyes’?

    The primordial night sky was a dark expanse with only the moon. But the moment Gabriel descended, starlight came into existence. People were captivated by its beauty and mystery.

    But have you ever considered that those beautiful things high above might each have wills, breaths, and be malevolent beings peering down at this land?]

    It was the doctrine of the Shadow Cult.

    Gabriel is the demon who brought countless outer gods into this world.

    One day, those beings will devour all souls, living or dead—so we must hide in the Lord—

    ‘Nonsense.’

    This much, Sugar knew.

    A secret revealed in the original work

    A truth that makes players wonder, “Is the Saint actually evil?” before it’s unveiled.

    It’s true that starlight became visible in the night sky after the Saint’s descent—but the beings he brought were never the source.

    Those things had always been there.

    The Saint’s immense magic merely awakened people’s eyes to see them.

    They aren’t malevolent outer gods, either. They’re beings who simply observe humanity, occasionally offering help—meddlesome entities who give advice through astrology or dreams.

    The boundless realm of possibilities, the starry sky.

    Its very essence and the will that resides there.

    Yet the Shadow Cult distorts this into plausible lies to bewitch and brainwash their followers.

    A massive problem, really.

    ‘The founder is the root of it all.’

    Even the cultists are victims of indoctrination, raised to accept it as truth.

    In that regard, Louveci is fascinating.

    Despite still believing in the Evil God, she calls out falsehoods—not just in words but in action. She sabotaged the cult’s grand “Salvation for All!” descent plan.

    […Yet, paradoxically, I adored gazing at the night sky. When my eyes were whole, I’d stare endlessly. Those white starlights embroidering the heavens… They never felt purely terrifying.]

    “…”

    [I’d love to talk with you about it. The sky. Life. Or even trivial things, like the scent of autumn wind.]

    [I’ll look forward to the day we meet again.]

    —Click.

    Sugar and Riley lay side by side on the sofa, lost in thought.

    After a long silence, Riley spoke first.

    “Will she really help you?”

    “With what?”

    “What you’re planning. It’s not just about stopping the descent.”

    “…”

    The Evil God shouldn’t exist in this world. No salvation can be expected from it—just endless hunger, pure malice.

    So Sugar intends to drag the cult’s “Lord,” the Evil God’s fragment, to some remote corner and seal it away.

    Riley’s question was whether Louveci would cooperate with that.

    Sugar’s reply was breezy.

    “I’ll convert her. Make her an apostle of the Sugar Cult.”

    “Sugar Cult…”

    A name that sounded like an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet.

    “A religious group that worships you?”

    “Yep. I’m the Holy Maiden. Doctrine’s simple: ‘Be happy with Sugar.’”

    “Got a spot for me?”

    “Of course. You’re the Cult Leader, the Holy Maiden’s most cherished and beloved.”

    “High position. Honored.”

    “Childhood connections.”

    What a well-oiled cult.

    “But the Cult Leader has one duty…”

    Sugar hesitated, then decreed:

    “What is it?”

    “Every day…”

    “Every day?”

    “You must offer the Holy Maiden a k-kiss…”

    She then lay back, closed her eyes, and tilted her chin up—as if demanding today’s tribute.

    “…”

    When no lips met hers, she peeked one eye open, then shut it again.

    “H-Hurry. The Holy Maiden grows impatient.”

    Hah. Excuses, always excuses.

    Could Riley really refuse?

    He feigned hesitation before leaning in. The curve of Sugar’s smile brushed against his lips.

    ***************

    After returning from close-combat training—a class simulating magic-less combat, Sugar’s specialty—she’d won all three matches (two against boys, one against a girl).

    “I wanna spar with you next, Riley.”

    “…”

    “Not ‘cause I hate you—just to test my limits against you…”

    A chill ran down Riley’s spine.

    As Sugar opened her locker to prep for the next class, she grimaced.

    “Why is there lemon water and a towel?! Who keeps putting these here?!”

    This wasn’t some lovesick girl chasing a boy. Why so meticulous?

    A week had passed since the first love letter. Rumors of “Sugar and Riley’s breakup” had sparked this.

    “I even posted a warning to stop, but someone’s persistent…!”

    Gifts and letters had trickled in, but after Sugar taped a warning inside her locker, they stopped—except for one person. No name, just the same gifting style.

    “…You too?”

    Riley’s question made Sugar’s eyes widen.

    “Wait… You’re getting them too? From one person?”

    “No name, but the pattern’s similar.”

    Sugar checked Riley’s locker. A ribbon-wrapped chocolate box greeted her.

    She gritted her teeth.

    “Two obsessive stalkers at school?! One girl, one boy?! I need to see their faces!”

    Nearby classmates silently glanced between Sugar and Riley.

    Why look far? A mirror would suffice.

    “This can’t go on…”

    “It can’t. Absolutely not.”

    Even Riley, usually the voice of reason, radiated displeasure.

    Ianne cautiously asked:

    “So what’ll you do…?”

    “Find the culprits.”

    “And then?”

    “…Talk. Ask them to stop.”

    Sugar’s shadow writhed unnaturally as she spoke.

    Leon fiddled with his staff, seriously debating whether to purify it.

    Translator Note

    Waaaaaaa!!! I did it I got them done on time, I spent basically all of today working and finishing a final project for college so I only was able to start translating at 8pm and got all 4 of my chapters done!! Now that I am done with 1/3 I need to start thinking about what to reward myself with when they are all done… hmmm difficult decisions…

    If you also read Favorite Group then you already know this but I am going to try and write more TL notes… interact a bit more with everyone I guess!!

    https://katreadingcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/imagezena.png

    LegoMyEggo

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