Chapter 151: This Time, I’ll Refuse

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She had been suspicious all along.

It began, of course, when he offered his left hand. Riley always extended his right hand to Sugar—there was no way he would offer his left.

Sugar knew every little habit of his.

Even if this was a dream, he a fabricated guardian of the subconscious, such habits were always reflected.

‘I’ll keep the possibility of a fake in mind.’

Hiding her true thoughts, she acted calmly. What was the endgame here? What was the purpose?

Given their current situation, there was no need to provoke anything. She would bide her time.

‘How dare they imitate Riley’s form? How dare they touch me in his guise? When the final moment comes, I’ll kill them.’

She waited with the patience of vengeance.

But strangely, the longer she stayed with him, the more he seemed like Riley himself.

‘This… isn’t even Guardian Riley. This is the real Riley, acting.’

He had seen it once before in a dream, so he must be mimicking that.

Did he really think she wouldn’t notice?

His smile was awkward. His demeanor was different. Every gesture, every movement—it all grated against Sugar’s instincts.

Once she realized the truth, she played along.

How did you end up here?

What are you hiding, and why?

Why won’t you offer your right hand?

She buried her questions and waited, half in anticipation, half in worry. He would explain when the time came.

She waited and waited.

The problem was their conversation in the underground prison.

“Rely on me until we escape… Even if something like before happens again, it’s fine. I was made for this. I’ll do anything for you.”

The moment she heard it, she knew.

He had no intention of revealing the truth until the very end. He was hiding something enormous.

So she waited—not for him to confess, but for the moment she could uncover it herself. If he wouldn’t tell her, she would find out.

“So this is what you were hiding…”

The secret she uncovered was so heavy it made her sick.

“You… kept this from me…?”

As Sugar’s face twisted in distress, Riley’s gentle smile faded. His expression turned indifferent, almost harsh. There was guilt in his eyes, more than usual.

“…Since when did you know?”

“I don’t know. Maybe when you knew a language I didn’t in the lecture hall? Around then, I guess.”

She had known from the start but didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of an answer. It was petty, but she didn’t care.

“And… that doesn’t matter. You answer me. What is this? Why were you hiding it?”

“…”

“If it was just a lie, I wouldn’t care… It’s you, so even if you played a prank or did something cruel… But this isn’t that!”

‘Only one person can escape.’

The words alone sent chills down her spine.

“Calm down.”

“How can I calm down?! If I hadn’t seen that, if I’d gone back to reality knowing nothing—!”

Gasping for air, Sugar clutched her chest. Her heart pounded so violently it hurt, as if it might stop.

A world without Riley. A world where he never woke up.

‘I’ll do anything for you—’

“I don’t need that!”

She screamed, thrashing wildly.

Riley held her tight, soothing her like a child throwing a tantrum.

“Sugar. Calm down. This… this isn’t credible.”

The man who had deceived her spoke softly.

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

The circumstances of waking here.

The bell ringing in reality before everything went dark.

The moment he heard that clear sound, Riley’s entire body stiffened. While trying to assess the situation in the lecture hall, Sugar collapsed. At the same time, his own eyelids grew heavy—

Then his mind snapped awake, as if being torn apart.

His eyes were closed and his real body must have lost consciousness.

In this dark mental space, an inexplicable headache plagued him, as if demanding he not let go.

Amidst it all, he felt himself being pulled somewhere. His right arm was gripped, dragging him forward.

With each passing moment, nausea and rejection grew stronger. A place he shouldn’t step into, a place he shouldn’t have entered.

The sensation of intruding into someone else’s domain.

Enduring it, he suddenly opened his eyes.

A familiar place surrounded him—the clubroom he shared with Sugar.

The Sugar Mill.

Dazed, he looked around, then rolled up his sleeve when his right arm tingled. A single phrase was inscribed there.

‘…What is this?’

He stared blankly, pondering the meaning. What was the intent behind these words?

‘Is this… a dream?’

The process of entering, seared into his memory by the headache, made the conclusion quick. The words on his arm only confirmed it.

Then, the clubroom door creaked open.

“…Riley?”

That voice, warm and familiar, always made his heart skip.

Turning, he saw the white-haired woman freeze in fear. Petite frame, slender shoulders. Her round eyes, usually bright, were clouded with terror.

The moment he saw her, he understood.

The meaning of the phrase. And what he had to do here.

“…Hey, Sugar.”

Swallowing all his sorrow, he smiled brightly. Playing the role of the Riley from her ideals, he silently promised:

I’m on your side. Don’t be afraid.

I’ll make sure you escape this place.

That was the only vow he held.

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

“When I came to, I was in this world’s clubroom, and the phrase was carved into my right arm. This is probably… a device to confuse us.”

He spoke gently, as if coaxing her.

“It’s meant to shake people’s emotions. It’s not reliable information. Most people in this situation would fight over who escapes first, that’s what the enemy wants.”

Calmly, he spun a plausible tale.

“So, Sugar. Don’t worry. You go first. I’ll follow later.”

He smiled faintly, trying to reassure her, even as cold sweat dripped down his back. His grip on her shoulders tightened.

Sugar bit her lip. No matter what she did or said now, all she felt was rage.

“Oh? If it’s not credible, then you go first. I’ll follow after. Go on. Hurry up!”

“Sugar.”

“Why?! If it’s as you say, then it shouldn’t matter! Or—fine, maybe that’s not even the exit! So you go first. I’m scared, so you go ahead!”

The test had never lied. Its descriptions were simple, hiding details—but never false.

The main gate was undoubtedly the exit. The glorious return path for the saintess who overcame her trial.

“Sugar… Don’t be stubborn.”

They both knew.

As Riley tried to reason, Sugar clenched her fists.

His condescending tone grated on her. After deceiving her, after planning something so terrifying—how could he stay so calm?

“You’re the stubborn one! This is my trial! You’re just caught up in it! So why do you have to stay behind?!”

“Don’t shout. Listen to me.”

“How can I not shout?!”

She pounded his chest, putting all her strength into it.

She hated everything. The cult that orchestrated this, herself for being marked, Riley for getting dragged into it.

Then, something snapped. Tears began to fall.

“This doesn’t make sense… Two people entered, so why can only one leave?”

At her trembling question, Riley fell silent.

He had a rough hypothesis.

He had likely entered through an improper path. A place he shouldn’t have been able to interfere with, forced his way in.

But this world was made for one person alone, a trial crafted solely for one.

So only one could leave. After that, it would have served its purpose—vanishing, unable to sustain itself.

He didn’t know how he had intervened, but being able to help Sugar was enough. He discarded his doubts. He was just glad he could stay by her side in this bizarre place.

Especially in the dining hall. If he hadn’t been there, the outcome would have been obvious.

“Why… Why…”

Even if something happened to her, Sugar would always prioritize Riley’s safety. If she knew, she’d rage again.

But now, with no strength left to be angry, she only cried silently. Riley gently wiped her tears.

Then, with cruel kindness, he uttered the word that would end this conflict.

The magical words.

“Wish Coupon.”

Immediately, Sugar erupted.

“Ah…! Aaaaah!!”

Overwhelmed, she couldn’t even form coherent words. The exhaustion from earlier vanished as she screamed, mouth stretched wide in anguish.

Yet Riley remained steadfast.

“Go through the main gate, Sugar. That’s my wish.”

“Ugh, aaaaah…!!”

“I’ll follow you. You know how I am—I know way more than you. I’ll find a way out. Don’t worry.”

Another smooth lie.

That wasn’t what it was for. It was never meant to tear her heart apart.

How could he? How could he use it like this?

Her feelings for Riley—the gift she’d given him, wanting to offer everything she could—had become poison.

Betrayed, she sobbed violently, only to hate him more when he gently patted her back.

Amid the storm of emotions, one thought circled her mind:

‘A wish for your sake…?’

—”I’d do almost anything for Riley… You know how I feel, right…?”

She’d said it countless times, lived by it, breathed it.

For you.

Because it’s you.

Only for you.

‘Ah…’

The fury began to recede. A strange calm settled over her, like scalding water cooling into a still lake, her mind cleared.

And in that clarity, she realized exactly what she had to do.

‘The answer was decided from the start.’

A single, unwavering resolve began to glow in her chest.

Sugar stopped crying. Taking a deep breath, she whispered:

“…Okay. If that’s your wish.”

Her voice was steady now—nothing like before. Mistaking it for resignation, Riley softly stroked her hair.

“Good girl.”

A bittersweet smile tugged at his lips, as if genuinely relieved.

Thank goodness. Today’s duty was over.

They stood before the gate, closer than before.

The final moment. The end of a day that felt both fleeting and eternal.

“Sugar. Don’t cause trouble out there. Don’t get hurt.”

“…”

“I’ll catch up soon… Don’t worry.”

A laughable farewell. Head bowed, Sugar didn’t answer—instead, she yanked Riley’s tie.

“…Before I go. There’s something I want to say to you.”

“What is it?”

“Come here…”

As Riley leaned down, she beckoned him closer.

“Closer… To my ear. It’s… a little embarrassing.”

What could she possibly say now?

It was meaningless at this point, but he indulged her, bending low to meet her height. Slowly, she brought her lips to his ear—

—then abruptly turned her head, pressing her mouth to his.

“…!”

Riley’s eyes flew wide. His breath hitched, body stiffening.

But before he could react, Sugar pulled away with a soft, mischievous “mwah.”

“Wish Coupon. This time, I refuse.”

She grinned—a playful, spring-wind smile hanging in the air.

“Consider that a freebie.”

An old conversation played in his brain.

“…How far does ‘anything’ go?”

“As far as I can manage?”

“Even things you’d hate?”

“Huh? Wh—what would I hate?”

“A kiss.”

The next second, she shoved him with all her strength. Her body, now slightly empowered after the “offering,” sent him flying—

“Sug—!!”

—straight through the gate.

Alone, the woman stared at where he’d vanished.

The faintest trace of him lingered in the air, clinging to her breath.

“Be well, Riley.”

An unspoken goodbye.

Praying it would reach the one who mattered most, she brushed her fingers over her lips.