Chapter 150: Only One (6)

Ｒｅａｄ ｏｎ Ｋ​ａｔＲｅａｄｉ​ｎｇＣａｆｅ

“Achoo!”

A sneeze burst out as Sugar exited the underground prison.

Her body was still cold, shivering uncontrollably. Her cheeks stung—partly from the cold, but also…

‘I’m so sleepy… so, so sleepy…’

‘Sugar. If you fall asleep now, you’ll sleep forever.’

Her cheeks were pinched relentlessly, leaving them tingling sharply.

At any rate, after enduring a few more minutes in the prison, the cell door finally opened. In front of it lay a small piece of human skin.

“That’s the fourth one… Next, should we head to the West Wing? Near the choir club room.”

“Sure.”

As Riley had been doing all day in this dream, he held out his left hand. Sugar stared at it blankly before offering a quiet smile and taking it.

Thus, they arrived at the choir club room.

“The problem isn’t showing up.”

“Huh?”

They had broken the window to sneak in, but the test paper refused to display a question.

“Is this the wrong place? Where else could a voice come from…?”

“…The auditorium?”

“Why the auditorium? …Oh. For sermons or announcements?”

Since the auditorium was close to the West Wing, they headed straight there.

And sure enough, a question appeared.

* * * * *

1-5. Deliver a speech.

* * * * *

“What is this now?”

Bewildered, Sugar stepped onto the stage, where a piece of paper rested on the podium. This time, it was oddly considerate.

The problem? She had no idea what language it was written in. Her expression went blank, as if her brain had short-circuited.

Meanwhile, Riley snatched the paper.

“This is Ancient Isian.”

“Ancient Isian?”

“Yeah. A language from a long-dead kingdom… It’s hard to translate, but I know how to pronounce it. I’ll write it down for you—just read it as is.”

Sugar opened her mouth to protest but stopped.

“…Riley, you’re really smart.”

Just a simple compliment.

Without another word, he began jotting down the pronunciation. A pen had been left on the podium.

After a few minutes of glancing around the auditorium, Riley handed her the speech.

“Why are all the pronunciations so aggressive?!”

Every syllable was harsh. The people of that ancient kingdom must have sounded perpetually angry, even when they weren’t.

Her cheeks flushed, Sugar spat out the bizarre pronunciations. Embarrassed, she repeatedly gestured for Riley to cover his ears, but he only grinned, thoroughly entertained.

Well, if he was enjoying it, she might as well lean into it. If she had fun, she wouldn’t feel ashamed. With a booming voice, she delivered the speech as if making a grand declaration.

When it ended, applause echoed through the empty auditorium—then the lights cut out.

Just like in the library, darkness swallowed the room. Before panic could set in, the lights flickered back on. And on the podium, something new had appeared.

“So this is what vocal cords look like? Weird…”

She picked up the strange organ-like object, examining it with fascination.

Now, only one piece remained.

The greenhouse near the East Wing—a place they deduced would house the nose, given its association with scents and plants.

They passed through the West Wing, crossed the Main Wing, and finally returned to the East Wing.

The rioters from the percussion club earlier had thinned out.

Still, getting caught wouldn’t end well. The two crept silently toward the greenhouse.

* * * * *

1-6. Reach the innermost area.

* * * * *

“Wow… Finally… The last piece…”

“Don’t let your guard down.”

The moment they stepped inside, warmth enveloped them, loosening their stiff bodies. What kind of ordeal could possibly lurk in such a peaceful place? As they tensed, a sweet fragrance wafted through the air.

Their eyes met.

As if they’d made a silent pact, they immediately shed their cloaks and handed them to each other. Then, burying their noses in the fabric, they advanced inward.

Deeper inside, they found rows of carnivorous plants far larger than a human torso—similar to pitcher plants.

The sweet scent was undoubtedly emanating from them, a lure for prey.

Of course, it didn’t work on these two.

“It’s a relief the last one’s the easiest. Right?”

“Yeah.”

At the very back of the greenhouse, a box sat inexplicably, and inside it lay the nose.

* * * * *

Having collected all the pieces, Sugar and Riley returned to the club room on the fourth floor of the East Wing.

The moment they entered, exhaustion crashed over them.

“So much happened… I’m seriously wiped…”

Beside her, Riley smiled and praised her efforts.

Right, she’d made it this far thanks to him.

Recalling their short time together, she began assembling the doll. First, she opened its mouth and inserted the vocal cords. Then the tongue. The eyeballs. The skin. Finally, the nose.

The ears had been attached earlier—now, it was complete.

Immediately, she pulled out the test paper.

* * * * *

2. Offer the perfect human as a sacrifice.

How to create a temporary altar: Shed your blood. That place shall become the altar.

* * * * *

“…It wants us to offer it as a sacrifice.”

“Nothing else?”

“It says to shed your blood to make the altar.”

Guardian Riley stared down at Sugar.

A sacrifice, a human offering.

The meaning was clear. Every event today had led to this single conclusion.

Sugar had overcome countless trials to create the perfect human.

That result, that fruit—it must now be offered to the god.

Nothing could bring greater glory.

Nothing could show greater devotion.

The sanctity of suffering.

Nothing is given freely. The god bestows hardships to elevate humanity, loving those who obey. Blood, sweat, and tears shed in adversity—and the unyielding spirit that endures and overcomes.

Thus, the saintess’s sanctity ascends further.

“…Let’s go.”

Sugar took the lead, carrying the doll. She, too, understood the meaning of today’s events. But because it was what she desired, she stepped forward without hesitation.

The dream journey was nearing its end.

With strange emotions in their hearts, the two roamed the school, gathering what they needed for the sacrificial ritual.

Once everything was ready, they climbed to the rooftop.

“Will a single drop of blood be enough?”

“The test only emphasized the importance of your blood, not the quantity.”

She pricked her finger and let a drop fall to the ground. Placing the doll atop it, she doused it in oil. Then, striking a match, she tossed it onto the offering.

It burned fiercely.

“Take this, and please—just let us leave. Please, let us go.”

As she prayed with desperate sincerity, the doll burned away without a trace.

…Huh?

At that moment, she clenched and unclenched her fist, sensing something. It seemed she could now use a fraction of her magic. Had her rank risen just enough to exert some influence?

“Sugar. The test paper.”

“Oh.”

Snapped out of her thoughts, she quickly checked it.

* * * * *

<Trial Complete>

You have successfully passed the trial. Well done.

Passage to reality: Main Gate

* * * * *

“Yahoo!!”

In all the hectic days of exam prep, she had never felt such joy.

She had considered the possibility that, regardless of the trial, they might not be allowed to leave. But that wasn’t the case.

Sugar jumped up and down in excitement. Beside her, Riley ruffled her hair, grinning. “Congrats.”

“Riley! You really worked hard too!”

“You suffered the most.”

As they exchanged humble praise, a warm, proud feeling swelled in their chests.

Finally, they could leave this strange place. They could return to reality.

That alone was enough to ease their minds. Even though there were things to deal with outside, even though they worried whether their friends were safe—once they got out, they could handle everything.

They’d find a way.

…Somehow.

The two immediately headed for the main gate. There was no reason to delay.

Suddenly, when Sugar looked up, she saw the sky shimmering. Not just that—the scenery surrounding Steele had turned translucent, as if the world outside was faintly visible. It felt like Steele was now just a lone island floating in a vast, dark void.

Was this space, too, reaching its end? A place created solely for the trial. Now that the saintess had overcome it, its purpose had been fulfilled.

Before they knew it, the main gate stood before them, wide open, as if welcoming them to leave whenever they wished.

Standing before it, the two faced each other.

“Finally… we’re escaping.”

“You worked hard, Sugar.”

“Thank you, Riley. Really… I want to thank you a thousand times.”

“I told you, didn’t I? I was made for you. You can rely on me until the end.”

“…Right. Because you’re the guardian of my dream.”

Sugar giggled, pure and carefree, then threw herself into his arms.

He hugged her back—tightly, fiercely. His hand slowly stroked her back, as if cherishing something irreplaceable. He ran his fingers through her hair, breathing in her faint, sweet scent.

As if trying to memorize someone he’d never see again.

“Riley! You’re squeezing too—”

“Sorry. I got carried away.”

“Why would you get emotional?”

A brief silence fell. Pressed so close, they could feel each other’s heartbeats. Even in a dream, it felt so vivid—how much more real would it be outside?

“…We should go. Before it’s too late.”

Riley gently pulled away as he spoke.

But Sugar’s damp, upturned eyes were too adorable to resist. He hugged her again, rubbing his cheek against hers.

“My sweet Sugar… Stay healthy out there. Don’t get hurt. Don’t make people worry.”

After lingering a little longer, he finally let go.

As if reminding her—he was just a figment of a dream. That escape was a privilege only for those of the real world.

Sugar looked up at him, then took his hand. Smoothly, naturally, she interlaced their fingers.

Guardian Riley flinched but allowed it. Just this once. Just for the last time.

“Riley…”

Sugar called his name in a voice so dizzyingly sweet.

Then—in an instant—she yanked his right arm toward her face.

“!”

Guardian Riley jerked his arm upward, holding it above his head—out of her sight.

But Sugar, refusing to let go of their linked hands, was yanked up with it. Her shoulder popped painfully, and she let out a small “Ow!” Startled, Riley quickly lowered his arm.

Seizing the chance, Sugar shoved his sleeve up.

There, written on his skin, was a single phrase:

“Only one person can escape.”

“……”

Silence.

A chill so deep it froze the air.

Even the eerily quiet school seemed to hold its breath.

“What… is this?”

“…”

“You were hiding this all along? Using your left hand instead of your right just so I wouldn’t see?”

“It’s just scribbles. Means nothing.”

“Liar… You’d never write something like this.”

It didn’t matter what it meant.

Only one could escape.

Just one.

There was no need to make this cruel dream even more brutal.

Because you’re not that kind of person.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, Sugar… Just go. Once you’re out, it’s over. I’m just your mark, remember?”

“No… No, that’s not the point. You’re still trying to dodge this.”

Sugar shook her head furiously, glaring at him. Even now, he was trying to deceive her—and she couldn’t stand it.

“You were never just a mark in my dream… You were never an illusion I created.”

Her next words pierced through everything.

A revelation of the secret they’d both pretended not to know.

“You… are the real Riley.”