Chapter 111: By My Own Freedom, I Will Set You Free

&R;εa​d o​n​ Kα​tRe&a;​d̂ｉñ​g​Ĉa‍fẽ​

The train was bustling with activity with many students on board returning home for the holidays.

Closing the door of the four-person compartment made it a bit quieter. It was a cozy space where the seats could be converted into beds at night.

“Ian, did the Holy City really give you permission?”

“Well, I always have an escort with me. Plus, they know my destination.”

‘That fog-like thing I saw before?’ There’s no trace of it now. But that doesn’t matter anymore.

Sugar hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

“It’s not about safety… I was just worried if you felt disappointed.”

“Who? My sister?”

Ian laughed, waving her hand dismissively.

“She wouldn’t be disappointed over something like that. In her letter, she just wrote, ‘Come back safely.’ Oh, and in the postscript, she added, ‘Bring them with you later.’ Why is the postscript longer than the main message? Anyway… she seems happy that I’ve made friends outside.”

“…”

‘I’m not sure.’

Sugar glanced at Leon. He was holding his chest with an uncomfortable expression.

“Are you feeling train-sick?”

“I don’t know… I’ve never felt like this before… My stomach feels weird. I think I need to rest.”

Sugar’s mind wandered to ominous thoughts.

First, she recalled what Leon had done. The sin he committed without even realizing it.

Sharing a room with Ian.

Touching Ian’s chest.

Oh no. He’s beyond redemption.

Sugar pretended not to notice and leaned into Riley’s embrace. At least this wasn’t something she had to take responsibility for.

‘I should rest too…’

She yawned softly and fully leaned against him.

The mana deficiency from this morning. She felt fine now, but her wrist still tingled. Just in case, she brought all the remaining mana potion; she had already drunk one, so there were three left.

That snake, that familiar—what does it want?

In any case, it seems they want her to follow them and she’s willing to oblige.

Sugar is currently unaware of the bigger picture.

Let’s think about the original story.

The protagonist, dealing with sudden monster outbreaks inside and outside the school, uncovers the truth behind the phenomenon and realizes it’s the work of the Shadow Cult. They confront the evil forces planning to engulf the continent!

—But in reality, none of that has happened.

It’s clear the cult is up to something, Sugar experienced it firsthand at the Crystal Tower.

Since then, there’s been no significant information. Does Riley know something? He must, but he’s not saying anything. Probably to avoid worrying her, he’s keeping it to himself.

“…Sigh.”

Sugar let out a small sigh.

Occasionally, Riley disappears.

Whether it’s in Steele or the market district, he always leaves Sugar with Ian and then suddenly vanishes.

When he returns, his mana is highly active. He hides it well, pretending everything is normal, but if you touch him, you can feel it—the rough flow of mana circulating through his body.

Seeing Riley’s slightly tired face, smelling the faint scent of blood mixed with his usual scent, Sugar would quietly swallow her questions.

‘Ah, he must have gone to “handle” something.’ she ends up thinking.

She doesn’t ask because she knows it’s pointless.

No question or comfort would mean anything. She just wants to free this man as soon as possible.

Sugar is the Saintess of the Evil God. A being cherished, desired, and protected by a great entity. She has no freedom, but at the same time, she possesses power.

The power to seize freedom.

It’s a contradiction—having the power to be free while not being free. Yet, she believes it’s possible.

She will win this tug-of-war where one side must fall. She’s willing to throw herself into it, staying still means knowing nothing and gaining nothing.

Sugar gently closed her eyes.

‘There’s a lot to do when we arrive. I need to conserve my energy.’

Feeling Riley’s warmth and the vibrations of the train, she let go of her consciousness.

…

When she woke up again, the surroundings were dark. It wasn’t night yet, but someone had closed the curtains. Sunlight peeked through the gaps.

Sugar blinked her drowsy eyes. Looking around, she saw that she was lying on a bed. The seats had been converted into beds while she slept, and everyone else seemed to be asleep.

‘Riley…’

Looking at the adjacent bed, Leon was sleeping. Sugar quietly slipped out and looked up. The upper bunk above Leon was occupied by Ian, and the one above her was Riley’s.

Confirming this, Sugar tiptoed toward Riley’s bed. Climbing the ladder and peeking in, she saw Riley lying straight, fast asleep.

Sugar climbed onto the bed and lay down beside him.

His breathing was steady. A rhythmic sound.

“Riley. Are you asleep?”

She whispered. There was no response.

Hesitating, Sugar took Riley’s hand and guided it.

Her target was her thigh. She placed Riley’s large, warm hand on her soft skin.

‘Are you really asleep, Riley?’ she murmured, placing her own hand over his and moving it as she pleased.

Gently rubbing over her stockings. Gripping. Sliding between her thighs. Allowing the sensual flesh beneath the black fabric to be revealed.

“If you’re awake now, I’ll let you touch more without using a wish.”

…

Only the sound of breathing.

He’s really asleep.

Sugar lay down comfortably.

After all, sharing a bed is embarrassing. Even if they’re childhood friends, sharing a bed is embarrassing.

When they were kids, it was fine but now they’re grown up. Riley is a man, and Sugar is a woman. Sugar has her own boundaries, that’s why she checked first.

Lying there, Sugar propped herself up to look at Riley’s face. This was her goal. Watching Riley sleep.

‘Why do you still frown in your sleep?’

She gently pressed between his brows to smooth them out. His face looked much more relaxed.

‘Hehe.’ A natural smile spread across her face.

He may look rough, but he’s a kind friend. Always thinking of Sugar first. A friend who makes her rely on him and lean on him.

That’s why she decided to let go of those feelings. To become stronger.

Having Riley by her side is truly wonderful and comforting, but someday, she’ll have to let him go.

‘He’s not meant to stay by my side…’

Sugar glanced at the books and notebooks by Riley’s bedside. Even here, he’s diligently building his knowledge.

He’ll probably join Sky Island after graduation. He’ll want a proper research environment or maybe he’ll leave the continent altogether and cross the sea to gain new experiences.

Whatever it is, it’s fine. She’ll support him.

But if she’s still here. If Sugar, still bound by the cult, is still here.

He’ll turn his eyes away from what he wants. To protect his childhood friend, he’ll hurt, ache, and suffer. He’ll waste his days and shackle himself, letting his talents rot. He’ll lock himself in the same cage.

Sugar can’t let that happen. Just as Riley does things for her, she can do the same for him. She’ll willingly grow her “power.”

That way…

‘By my own freedom, I will set you free from me.’

“…”

Sugar placed a hand on her chest, feeling a sharp pain.

‘This again. I’m so weak. Pathetic, Sugar.’

She scolded herself and tried to calm her heart. There’s no greater happiness than seeing Riley free. Her attachment is too strong.

Frowning, she looked at Riley’s face. He had turned in his sleep and was now facing her. Even in sleep, he looked composed.

The buttoned-up collar and tie looked uncomfortable, so she loosened them slightly. One button, the tie a little.

Then she suddenly stopped.

Riley’s exposed neck. She stared blankly. The prominent Adam’s apple. Unlike her smooth neck.

Mesmerized, she moved her face closer but then stopped. Feeling guilty, she pursed her lips and looked around.

After a moment of hesitation, Sugar moved to the other side of Riley. Lightly, she climbed over.

Lying against Riley’s back, she focused on the nape of his neck. The slightly rough hair growing there. She gently brushed it and then moved her fingers to lower the collar of his shirt.

‘Is it here…? Around here?’

The area where the neck meets the shoulder. She poked at the spot hidden by the collar. Once she memorized the location, the work was almost done.

Hoo, hoo. Sugar breathed heavily. Her face was red even though Riley hadn’t touched her. She was embarrassed by what she was about to do.

But, isn’t it okay for me to do this much?

Half-embarrassed, half-determined, she brought her face closer.

Her moist, soft lips touched the man’s nape.

Chuu…

She sucked lightly. Applying pressure to burst the capillaries beneath the skin.

“…Pfft.”

Just one time, but why was she so out of breath? Sugar pulled her lips away and observed her handiwork.

Riley’s skin was fair. On that fair nape, a small, reddish mark.

A mark left by Sugar.

Sugar gulped. With trembling fingers, she traced the mark.

It still felt warm and damp from her lips.

“…Ah.”

What do I do, what do I do? Even though she made it herself, she didn’t know what to do, her cheeks burning.

‘R-Riley has done much more to me. So, it’s fine.’

She deliberately placed it where it wouldn’t be visible. A hickey is something lovers do. That day, Riley even used a wish, so she allowed it. Normally, it wouldn’t be allowed, but it’s Riley. She even let him do it without using a wish. Because he’s a precious friend who wanted to do it.

‘It’s under the collar… Riley won’t notice, and no one else will know…’

A secret only Sugar knows. Only Sugar’s secret.

So, it’s fine.

If no one knows, it’s as if it never happened.

“Ugh… Ah…”

Sugar adjusted Riley’s collar back and quickly turned away.

Why did I suddenly want to do that? I could’ve just smelled his scent and left it at that. Why did I want to leave a mark?

‘…I’m too obsessed.’

She placed her hands on her burning cheeks and scolded herself again.

Slightly distanced from Riley, she listened to his breathing and closed her eyes.

Just a little longer. I’ll go down after my breathing calms.

But that resolve didn’t last long.

“…Zzz.”

Listening to Riley’s peaceful breathing, Sugar unknowingly fell asleep.

This time, she dreamed.

Faintly, she heard a beautiful, tinkling laugh.