Chapter 165: Stiffened

Ｒҽаｄ ​ȯη ḰɑţȒеａ​đіηģḈαｆė

Early in the morning, laughter echoed from the towering spire.

Where the sky met the earth, noble blood had returned.

The conversation of the two sisters with violet eyes was unbearably precious.

“Somehow, even before enrollment, they were already inseparable… In the early days, they racked up a lot of demerits. I thought it’d be disastrous if they were ever apart… Or maybe, because they were separated, they longed for each other even more.”

Ian, her hair loose and bandages removed, sipped her tea. She was in front of her older sister after a long time, sharing stories of her friends in Steele and enjoying a comfortable moment.

But Ione remained motionless. She didn’t even touch the tea in front of her, sitting quietly with her face, as always, hidden behind a white veil, her expression unreadable.

Still, Ian no longer doubted her sister like she used to.

“Ah, also… I made a new friend. You probably read about it in my letters, but I wanted to tell you in person. He’s the first friend I made outside the Holy City, after all. He’s here now—have you met him?”

—Vigorous headshake.

“You know who I mean, right? The one chosen by the staff…”

—Nodding.

“Yes. We’ve really become close. Isn’t it strange? We eat together, attend classes together, even share a room… he’s kind and diligent. Sugar, Riley, me, and him—the four of us stick together. Because of that, other friends don’t approach me much… but I’m happy. I didn’t realize it before, but I’m actually quite shy. So this suits me.”

She smiled as she reminisced about her school life, then suddenly paused.

“Ah… About sharing a room—it’s because there was an issue with the boys’ dormitory. Only double rooms are available now.”

She had slipped up mid-conversation. Her sister might already know, but hearing it from the person involved was different. Ian quickly tried to recover.

“You don’t need to worry. I’m good at disguising myself as a boy, and that friend is, um… well… safe…?”

Because he likes men. No, no—even if that weren’t the case, he’s earnest and polite. Nothing problematic would happen.

After finishing, Ian subtly checked Ione’s reaction.

But, as always, the Saintess was as unreadable as stone. There was no telling what she was thinking.

—Cough.

Just a single cough.

‘…What does that mean?’

As Ian pondered, Ione finally took a sip of tea. Lifting her veil slightly, the elegant way her lips touched the cup was mesmerizing.

Most people wouldn’t even catch a glimpse of her jawline. But for her younger sister, she willingly partook.

Ian stared blankly before slowly lowering her gaze. Soon, her eyes landed on the ample curves hidden beneath the white robes of the Saintess.

After a few seconds, she glanced down at her own chest.

“…”

Some genetics just can’t be helped.

“C-Can we move on to the next topic?”

Though the other tilted her head slightly, she didn’t object. So Ian continued unraveling stories of her life outside the Holy City.

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

Waking up after a deep, dreamless sleep left her refreshed. The tranquil morning of the Holy City—a sacred land blessed by the Saintess’s grace.

Unlike the woman who bore that holy blood, the one chosen by evil rose from her bed.

For someone with such a grand title, she looked small and harmless. Beneath the surface lay something vast, but her outward appearance was adorable.

“Oww…”

She whimpered at the pain from her nipples brushing against her clothes.

‘Why does it hurt so much…?’

It ached more than expected. She loosened her shirt and peeked inside—her skin was mottled with marks, and the tips of her breasts were red and swollen.

Last night, she had been toyed with relentlessly. She cried. It felt good.

“…”

Sugar banged her head against the pillow a few times before quietly getting up to prepare for the day.

Entering the shower, she saw the pants, stockings, and underwear she had hand-washed last night still damp and hanging.

‘No way I can show these to the nuns. They’d freak out.’

Memories of yesterday resurfaced vividly, the sensations replaying in her mind. Unable to bear it, she flinched.

“Eek!”

She rushed out, grabbed her staff, and returned. Last night, she had only managed to wash them hastily. Now, she planned to dry them with magic.

After the clothes were thoroughly dried and tossed aside, she finally started her shower.

…

…

…

With the letter from Professor Trace tucked inside her cloak’s inner pocket, she stepped out of the Grand Temple.

Today, she would really talk about it.

But first, a stop at the pharmacy.

She walked cautiously, deliberately choosing a path far from the Grand Temple. She didn’t want to run into anyone she knew.

Absolutely no one.

Inside the pharmacy, she spoke in a voice barely louder than an ant’s.

“One ointment, please… For skin irritation.”

The moment she paid, she stuffed it into her pocket and bolted out.

She could’ve requested ointment at the temple’s infirmary, but too many people there knew her.

‘No one would care where I’m applying it. I’m just embarrassed.’

‘Now, back to… the Grand Temple… to the infirmary…’

To meet her c-c-c-childhood friend, her p-p-p-precious childhood friend—

“…”

She buried her face in her hands.

Her steps slowed.

No one was around to judge, yet she still mumbled “Agh, agh,” twisting her long hair between her fingers.

What should I do? What face should I make? How should I greet him?

Her cheeks were already burning.

‘Just act like usual… like usual.’

…What was “usual” again? Her mind went blank.

Her thoughts were white noise, and her chest ached.

Sharp, throbbing pain demanded her attention. She needed to finish this and get back to apply the ointment. She shouldn’t be standing here.

“Hi, Sugar!”

A greeting from behind startled her.

The sudden movement made her nipples rub painfully against her clothes again.

Wincing slightly, she turned around to see an unwanted face—a certain knight waving cheerfully, as if yesterday’s tearful escape never happened.

“…Hi, Natasha.”

Sugar replied weakly.

“Judging by your direction, you’re heading to visit someone, right?”

“Mmm…”

“Heh… I’m going after morning training to take it easy in the afternoon.”

“I see. You’re as energetic as ever—good to see. Train hard…”

“…?”

Natasha blinked.

What did she just say?

“Knights have it tough… short on manpower, endless threats… When you’re finally deployed, today’s training will be a huge help.”

“Uh… yeah.”

“But don’t push yourself too hard. I’ll be cheering for you.”

Her tone was serene, devoid of any mockery—just pure encouragement.

“Thanks…?”

“No. Stay strong. See you later…”

She was essentially saying she’d be in the infirmary all afternoon, but there was no malice in her words—just a simple statement of fact.

Natasha was stunned. She had braced herself for a sharp retort, only to be met with such a gentle response. Unsure how to react, she could only stare blankly.

“Hey… stop looking at me like that…”

For some reason, Sugar covered her chest and turned away, her shy eyes downcast. Her cheeks flushed peach-pink as she bit her moist lips, making even the onlooker’s face grow hot.

A scent richer and sweeter than any perfume Natasha had ever worn lingered in the air—intoxicating, mesmerizing.

“Ah… S-Sorry. I’ll get going now.”

Flustered, the knight apologized reflexively and vanished, a giant question mark hovering over her head.

Left behind, Sugar finally resumed walking.

Brown sugar melts into syrup. If someone watches over it, stirring carefully so it doesn’t burn, it thickens into a sticky, sweet-smelling caramel.

That scent was like raw allure.

Her mind was too occupied by the sharp, throbbing pain in her chest to even think of putting up a fight. The memory of who caused it was seared into her.

“Are you insane? Of course it’s my first time.”

A sensation given to Sugar—only to Sugar—by Riley.

“Ah…”

‘They stiffened…’

Her face grew so feverish that sweat began to bead.

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

“L-L-L-Letter.”

“What?”

“Letter… le-lettter…”

“You’re giving it to me?”

“Le-lett…”

What the hell is this?

The man furrowed his brows. His childhood friend had returned overnight as a babbling fool—he had every right to be confused.

Was last night’s excessive pampering the problem?

“Got it. A letter. For me. From the professor…”

“Which professor?”

“Professor. Trace…”

“So. You want to discuss this?”

“Mm-hmm…”

—Bonk.

“Ow! Why’d you hit me?!”

“Welcome back.”

Rubbing her head, Sugar glared at Riley. Her eyes were noticeably sharper now.

“You were out of it. Open the letter first.”

Still scowling, she pried open the wax seal. Work came first.

“Let’s see…… Huh… That’s it?”

“What’s it say?”

“Look.”

‘Thought you might be interested. Since it’s vacation, how about it?’

Finally, the letter’s contents—but it was too short. Just two measly lines.

Riley took the letter and turned it over in his hands a few times. He even cast a detection spell with the staff resting on the bedside table, but nothing unusual stood out.

“Ah. There’s another piece of paper inside the envelope.”

“What kind of paper?”

“Looks like an auction catalog.”

Sitting side by side on the bed, the two leaned in to examine the contents.

[OPEN AUCTION: The Mysteries Brought by Praline, the Greatest Adventurer of Our Time. Treasures from the Shattered Land.]

Beneath those words, a list of auction items scrolled down.

“Petrified anomaly stones, peculiar fruits, Elige’s Tears… All rare stuff. There’s even an ‘original’ magic-nullifying ring.”

As a mage, Riley found them intriguing—materials capable of invoking mysteries, or artifacts renowned in their own right.

Things usually too rare to obtain.

These were wonders from a land where, even after centuries, not even proper exploration had been achieved, let alone conquest.

A place where all natural laws twisted. A demonic realm of distortions.

There, reason was unnecessary. If you wished to break through, then by all means, trust in your shallow wisdom.

Only the Gem Dragon moved freely, unaffected.

“Wait… Look at this. Look.”

As they skimmed through the list of rarities, Sugar’s finger shot out, pointing at one entry in particular.

[Song of Silence]

“Song of Silence. Fragment of the Stars. And… the last one, powdered unicorn horn.”

Their eyes met.

“We should tell Ian and Leon right away. And also…”

Sugar’s finger slid to another part of the page.

“This name here…”

‘The Mysteries Brought by Praline, the Greatest Adventurer of Our Time.’

Familiar. Extremely familiar.

“Why that name? I saw it in the papers recently. She broke the record for longest expedition into the Shattered Land.”

“Don’t you remember? From the orphanage. When we were kids.”

Riley paused, thinking, then spoke.

“Ah. The one who used to follow you around.”

An image flashed in Sugar’s mind—a shy girl with navy-blue hair and golden eyes.

“But still. There are plenty of people with the same name in the world.”

“You never know.”

“Hmm…”

Riley crossed his arms, indifferent. Sugar glanced at him, then suddenly turned away.

“L-Let’s contact Ian first.”

It wasn’t like she was suddenly self-conscious or anything. She just rummaged through her pockets—she had Ian’s direct communication crystal from the Holy City.

“Um… Where was it? I definitely put it in here…”

As she muttered and searched, something else slipped out of her pocket instead. And of course, it fell straight to the floor.

“Ah—!”

Before it could roll away, Riley’s magic froze it mid-air. It floated gently, drifting right up to his face.

“Ah—! Give it back!”

“What’s this?”

The ointment she’d just bought at the pharmacy. A small, round container. Riley turned it over in his hands, inspecting it, while Sugar’s entire body trembled.

“N-None of your business! Just—just hand it over!”

“This is… ointment. Did you get hurt somewhere?”

“…”

No answer. She just hugged her chest and ducked her head.

Riley observed her. Stared at the girl who couldn’t speak. His gaze slowly trailed downward—then stopped.

Ah.

A beat of silence.

The air grew awkward.

“…Does it hurt a lot?”

“N-Not that much…”

She fidgeted, fingers twisting, legs shifting. Avoiding his eyes.

Riley patted his thigh.

“Come here.”

“Huh…?”

“I’ll apply it for you.”