Chapter 124: Shirt (2)

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“Sugar… I heard you were sick. You didn’t show your face all weekend. Are you feeling better now?”

After the weekend passed and it was Monday, Ian asked with a worried tone. Sugar hid her cloudy eyes with a smile.

“Yes. I rested well, so I’m feeling better now. Thank you for worrying about me.”

“But your complexion looks worse than before…”

“I’m really fine.”

She held back a slightly different nuance of words than what she actually said.

And then she brought out something she had prepared.

“I have a gift. I made this while I was bored during my rest… Take one for each room.”

“Huh? What is this?”

Sugar handed Ian and Riley each a palm-sized box.

“It’s an air freshener. I’ve set it up so that the scent deeply permeates the place where you open the box, so don’t open it here. Open it later in your dorm room.”

“You made something like this while you were sick…”

“Hehe. I was bored staying in my room… I had the materials ready. I made it because I had nothing else to do.”

“Thank you… Sugar. I’ll use it well.”

“By the way, you’re quite skilled with your hands.”

Ian, who seemed to have a lot of interest in air fresheners, smiled and seemed pleased. Meanwhile, Leon nodded and muttered, recalling how she had cooked during the holiday.

Riley, while examining the box, blurted out.

“You should’ve just rested…”

“I told you. I was bored. It wasn’t that hard.”

Riley frowned slightly at Sugar’s calm demeanor. The way she stood with her arms crossed, looking down, seemed to bother him.

“Don’t be like that. She worked hard on it. I hope you like it.”

“…What scent is it?”

Sugar slightly raised the corner of her mouth.

“It’s a secret.”

.

.

.

Night fell.

Sugar lay quietly in bed, waiting for a call. It didn’t take long for the communication device to ring. There was no moment more thrilling than this.

“Yes. Riley.”

[Hey… What did you make with that thing you gave me earlier?]

“Huh? Why? It’s just an air freshener. Does the scent smell weird?”

[It’s not about the scent… It’s just smoke coming out. My roommate and I opened the window, used magic, and tried everything, but it’s sticky and won’t go away.]

“Oh… That’s strange… Did I mix it wrong? What should I do? I’m sorry, Riley.”

[…It’s fine. You were sick. That’s why you should’ve just rested…]

“I’ll do that next time. I’m so sorry… You’ll probably have to keep the window open all day to let the smoke out naturally…”

At this point, she coughed.

[I was planning to do that anyway. But what’s wrong? Why are you coughing again?]

“Ah… My condition gets a bit worse at night… I’m fine. I’ll have some tea and go to bed.”

[You haven’t been sleeping well lately. Are you sure you’re okay?]

“Yes. I’m fine right now and I’ll be fine later. Thank you for worrying about me.”

[Go to sleep right after we hang up. Please don’t get sick.]

“Hehe… Sorry. Goodnight, Riley. Dream of me.”

[Goodnight…… Hey, about this smoke. I have to keep the window open all day. I’ll have to keep it open until tomorrow—]

After a loving farewell, the call ended. She could faintly hear him talking to his roommate.

Sugar sighed in relief and relaxed her body.

‘Stage 1 cleared.’

Over the weekend, she had stayed holed up in her dorm room. Contrary to what her friends thought, it wasn’t because she was sick or had a cold.

She had been preparing a lot. Checking the feasibility of the plan, the risks, and the groundwork. Sugar, who had checked everything, took the first step of her plan today, Monday, and succeeded.

Now, she could finish everything tomorrow.

As long as she followed the plan.

With dark circles under her eyes and a sinister expression, Sugar spent the night half-asleep.

.

.

.

[Are you sick again? Can’t come to class?]

“Yes… I think I need to rest today.”

Early in the morning. This time, Sugar was the one who initiated the call. It was hardest to stop the kind Riley from bringing medicine or insisting on going to the clinic.

‘This is Riley’s fault… I have no choice…’

You’re the one who made me unable to sleep alone. Just cooperate a little— Sugar thought with her sleep-deprived brain.

And so, time passed until 11:30 AM.

When the students had left for class, she began her operation.

The plan to infiltrate the male dorm!

She tied her hair up and tightly held the dream lantern in her arms. She left the tracking magic headband in her room.

She moved quickly, using less frequented paths. The key was to avoid being seen.

Arriving in front of the male dorm building, she squinted her eyes and confirmed Riley’s room on the third floor. The balcony window was slightly open, likely due to the smoke from the “faulty air freshener” Sugar had gifted.

She climbed the wall and landed on the balcony. Immediately, she crouched and looked around.

‘I made it here without being noticed.’

This is where the real mission begins.

Sugar used a long branch to open the window wide, inside was Riley’s room. The room where he slept and woke up every day.

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. It wasn’t time yet. When she shone the Dream Lantern, she could see a magical barrier blocking her.

If she even touched it, her school life would be over.

Sugar repeated the plan in her head.

‘The barrier has no gaps, so I can’t break through. But according to my analysis, the magic pattern changes every four hours. Probably to strengthen security. During that brief moment when the pattern changes, for about one second, the barrier disappears. I’ll use that moment to enter through the balcony window.’

One second. Just one second.

‘I can do it.’

Over the weekend, she had sat in front of her balcony, analyzing the barrier.

With the lantern by her side, she made one proper air freshener and one faulty one while staring intently. She thought giving only Riley the air freshener might raise suspicion, so she gave one to Ian as well.

After figuring out the cycle, she practiced moving one meter within the “designated one second.” The barrier itself was as thin as paper, so she calculated that her body could pass through easily as Sugar had always been good at moving quickly.

The problem was the floor getting scratched. To gain speed, she had to explode her magic and push off the ground, which inevitably left some marks. Even using the minimum amount of magic, some traces remained.

‘There might be some traces, but they probably won’t notice.’

Repeating the plan in her head, Sugar stared at the barrier and calmly waited for the right moment. Checking her watch, she saw the time was approaching.

‘Three minutes until 12.’

She took a deep breath. She tried to relax.

Speed wasn’t an issue. What mattered was the start. She had to enter within the designated time, so quick reflexes were crucial.

Calming her pounding heart, she looked at her watch.

‘…One minute.’

She began counting down.

She hid her hair inside her blouse and tightly gripped the lantern handle. She got into position to dash, sweat dripping down her nose.

Ten seconds left.

‘Not yet… not yet… not yet…’

She took her eyes off the watch and stared at the barrier, counting the seconds in her heart.

Five seconds.

Four seconds.

Three seconds.

Two seconds.

One second.

And then, the moment the barrier disappeared—

‘Now!’

She exploded the magic she had prepared in her lower body.

Letting the acceleration take her, she was instantly pulled into the room. If anyone had seen it, it would’ve been in the blink of an eye.

Sugar crouched down, gasping for breath, and placed her hand on her chest. Her heart was pounding as if it would burst. In the quiet room, only her breathing and heartbeat could be heard. No alarms sounded.

She raised her head and took a deep breath. Riley’s scent faintly wafted through the air.

Her body trembled. A sense of accomplishment, joy, and other emotions swelled up, making her chest ache.

“Ah… Ahh…!”

Riley… Riley’s room.

Successful entry.

Sugar held her cheeks and exhaled a heated breath. After catching her breath, she wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve and headed towards Riley’s area. She didn’t even glance at his roommate’s side. Instinctively, she found Riley’s bed and buried her face in it. Her wide eyes and heavy breathing were terrifying.

“Ahhh…”

She hugged the pillow Riley had used as if it were Riley himself and squirmed.

Unable to sleep properly and using magic, the euphoria spreading through her body and the sense of accomplishment from completing a difficult task made her head spin.

‘…Hot.’

Snap out of it. This isn’t the time.

She slapped her cheeks and got up from the bed. Her target was the shower room. Specifically, the laundry basket in front of it. There were two baskets, and Sugar immediately headed for one.

‘This is Riley’s basket…’

Does he do laundry on time? There wasn’t much in it. Or maybe he did it just yesterday.

‘Given Riley’s personality, it’s probably the former.’

Thinking this, she reached in and immediately grabbed the shirt on top. It was likely the one he wore yesterday.

Naturally, she took it out, folded it, and put it in a paper bag. Then she took out a new shirt from her pocket. She had prepared a replacement in advance. She already knew his size.

She deliberately crumpled the new shirt to create wrinkles and placed it in the laundry basket.

This completes the perfect crime—

‘…Wait?’

At that moment, something caught her eye.

Underwear.

Boxer briefs.

“…”

Looking at them, her breathing, which had just calmed down, became rough again. Her eyes began to glisten.

Her right hand trembled uncontrollably, and before she knew it, she was holding the fabric.

She lifted it slightly and took a deep breath. The intense, intoxicating scent—

‘No!’

Sugar quickly let go.

This is dangerous. This is truly disqualifying as a human. No matter what, I can’t do this to a friend’s underwear. I’m not a pervert.

She shook her reddened face vigorously and returned the laundry basket to its original position.

Now she had what she came for. The cleanup was done. All that was left was to wait in the room for four hours and then leave through the balcony when the time came. The same way she entered.

It was a peaceful plan. A perfect plan where she could solve everything on her own without bothering Riley.

When she returned to her room, she would indulge in today’s spoils. Sugar could secretly satisfy her desires, and Riley wouldn’t feel burdened. Killing two birds with one stone.

‘The completion of a world where no one gets hurt…’

She smiled contentedly and hugged the pillow tightly. She felt a slight pang of guilt from Louveci’s eyes in the lantern, but it wasn’t a big deal.

-Is this really what you’re using it for?

It felt like she was being asked.

‘Sleep is a serious matter.’

Making excuses to herself, Sugar changed the direction of the lantern and sat on the floor. If she stayed on Riley’s bed, smelling his scent, she would feel too comfortable and fall asleep. That would be dangerous.

‘This way, the shirt will definitely have an effect too.’

With some time to spare, she looked around. It was neat. Except for the faint smoke from her trick, the room was clean. A normal room with a desk and books. There were many books that looked difficult.

She imagined Riley being here.

Sitting at the desk and taking a book from the shelf, preparing to go out, eating late-night snacks, going to shower and undressing, preparing for bed, talking in his sleep and looking drowsy.

All the things Sugar couldn’t see.

She stared intently at the roommate’s area.

‘…I’m jealous.’

Just because they’re the same gender, they can share a room with Riley and observe his every move. Her hands gripping the pillow tightened.

Soon, she turned her gaze back to Riley’s area.

Time passed. At 4 PM, the cute thief quietly left the male dorm.

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

Riley had been thinking about what to feed Sugar to help with her possible illness, as he had been going out of Steele a lot to collect materials he thought the least he could do was bring something back for her.

After finishing class and returning to his room, Riley felt something strange.

At first, he thought it was just his imagination because he hadn’t seen Sugar all day.

‘Why does the room smell like Sugar?’

As he approached the bed with this question, the faint scent made him suspicious. He pressed his nose to the pillow, and a doubt formed in his mind.

The room itself was nothing unusual. Just a normal dorm room.

However, that doubt made Riley act. He was the type to act first and think later, especially when it came to Sugar.

First, he checked the door and found nothing unusual. Then, he checked the balcony.

Something immediately caught his eye.

Scratches on the floor.

Normally, it would be something he wouldn’t notice, but Riley narrowed his eyes.

“…”

Sugar had overlooked one thing in today’s infiltration plan.

She didn’t know that Riley was so obsessed with her that he could detect her scent this accurately.

Translator Note

Sugar… oh my god… when she sets her mind to something important (Riley) what can’t she do!!?