Chapter 197: A Cradle-Like Place

Rҽａd‍ ​on Ka​ṫ​Rҽａ​d&i;ｎgC​ａf̂e

She was in trouble.

“Is it the youth these days, or is it you people who are the problem?!”

For some reason, she was being scolded.

All she did was pass Riley a secret note.

And then, while protesting with her whole body to be freed from the restraints…

Well, she might have ended up on top of Riley. And maybe lost her balance, pressing her entire body against him while squirming.

But still! Now that Sugar was free from the restraints, she didn’t think she’d done anything wrong.

“How dare you do such things in broad daylight on sacred ground?! Only the corrupted would behave so shamelessly!”

“Um, Lady Guardian?”

“I won’t hear any rebuttals!”

“I need to use the bathroom.”

Miriam covered her eyes with a sigh and pointed to the side, as if telling her to hurry up and go.

Sugar quickly scurried off to the nearest restroom and freshened up her lower half.

Why is it so wet down there?

When she returned with a slightly sulky expression, Miriam took the lead.

“Are you done now? I have something to discuss with you, so follow me.”

“Yep.”

“Only you need to come. The other one doesn’t have to follow.”

“Huh?”

While Sugar blinked in confusion, Riley, who had been beside her, bowed his head. He tucked away the note he’d discreetly retrieved earlier and gave her a knowing glance.

It was almost disappointing how easily he let her go. She thought he might at least say he wanted to come along once or twice.

Instead, she could feel Ian—who she hadn’t even noticed arrive—hesitating, as if debating whether to stop her.

“…What’s there to be disappointed about?”

Well, she should listen to the Guardian. She seemed serious and strict, after all.

“…”

Contrary to her thoughts, Sugar walked with her head ducked low, pouting exaggeratedly. Her lips jutted out so much she looked like a duck.

“Does Riley not care about me anymore? Isn’t he worried? Hmm. Hmm. Hmmmm…”

At that moment, an electric-like sensation shot through her neck.

“Eeek!”

“What is it this time?”

“Ah, well… I tripped…”

She pretended to be flustered, rubbing her neck and accidentally brushing against her choker. The communication line activated.

Her disappointment melted away like sugar, leaving her mouth sweet.

He does care after all. Hehe.

Wiggling her fingers and grinning, she followed Miriam down the hallway.

Soon, they arrived at Miriam’s office.

As she sat in front of the low wooden table, Miriam pulled out a wand from her robe and waved it. A teacup, tea leaves, and water floated in the air before settling into a freshly brewed cup.

“If you’re in the middle of a communication, cut it off.”

“It’s something else.”

“Your mana is flowing steadily in one direction.”

“It’s a tracking signal. My coordinates are being transmitted in real-time.”

“To whom?”

“That blond friend from earlier. The tall, handsome one.”

“…”

“Hehe…”

Sugar smiled coyly. Her peach-colored cheeks dimpled, and her eyes—windows to her heart—overflowed with affection.

She sounded downright happy about having her location tracked.

“Honestly… I’ve lived a long time, but you’re the first of your kind I’ve met.”

She’d heard something similar from a unicorn not too long ago.

Am I really that strange?

Sugar sipped her tea, lost in thought.

“Let’s set aside the matter of improper fraternization for now.”

“That’s how it looks to you? Even to you, Lady Guardian?”

“What?”

“Fraternization.”

“Are you saying it’s not?”

“No. We’re not dating. We’re not like that.”

She shyly clasped her thighs together, swaying slightly and avoiding eye contact.

“We’re childhood friends. Family.”

Despite her words, she seemed pleased by the misunderstanding, giggling to herself. Miriam, however, couldn’t care less.

“Fine… Let’s assume that’s the case.”

“Okay. So, why did you call me here today?”

“To foster camaraderie.”

“With me?”

“You’re Her Holiness’s friend, aren’t you?”

Then, she stirred sugar into her tea. One spoonful, two.

“You’ve been here for quite some time, haven’t you? Since we’ve never properly spoken, I thought it was time to change that.”

“I’m happy. You’re paying so much attention to me, Lady Guardian.”

“Of course. I have to. Do you know what you are?”

Sugar glanced subtly at Miriam.

She just kept adding sugar. Three spoonfuls, four.

“What am I?”

“Her Holiness’s Friend.”

“You mentioned that earlier.”

“Did I?”

It seemed like there was more Miriam wanted to say, but she pretended not to notice, stirring in more sugar instead. Five spoonfuls, six.

“I’ve been curious about something, so I’ll ask. Sugar—how much do you know about the Shadow Cult?”

An abrupt question.

Just textbook knowledge, right?

At Miriam’s added remark, Sugar stayed silent for a long moment before answering.

“The Evil God. The Devourer of Light. The heretics who worship Damutria.”

“Right. Those heretics. The ones who fear starlight. They believe every star in the night sky is an ‘eye,’ so they hide from its gaze by gathering under the Devourer of Light.”

“That’s also why they hate the Saint’s Church. Because the stars appeared in the night sky the moment the Saint descended upon this land.”

“Exactly. You know well.”

Sugar sipped her tea without another word.

“That cult—I’ve been trying to predict what they’re scheming lately. Have you ever seen the crystal towers? Do you know what’s inside them?”

“The Evil God’s power.”

“And what do you think will happen if all of it is unleashed at once?”

She didn’t even want to imagine it. A world engulfed by that corrosive black force—

“It would be pure chaos.”

“Indeed.”

Finally stopping her sugar ritual, Miriam took a sip.

“But even in such a scenario, the Holy City will remain safe.”

“…”

“This land is special. The land where the Saint’s remains rest. Long ago, to protect the daughter who clung to his lifeless body and wept—such power was left behind.”

Gabriel, who saved the continent from being devoured by the Evil God, was revered as the Saint.

Though even his great life eventually came to an end, much of what he left behind still holds influence.

“Even now, his female descendants can react with his remains and wield absolute power—at least within this land.”

“That’s a well-known story.”

It’s why the Saintesses are so important. The safety of the Holy City depends on them.

“No matter what happens outside, the Holy City will be safe. As if the Saint himself still resides here… I’ve seen it with my own eyes over the long years. I served the previous Saintess, and the one before her as well.”

She now served a third-generation Saintess. Given the time she’d spent, her devotion must run deep.

“Many incidents have occurred, but this land has always remained peaceful. No matter how chaotic the world becomes, humanity can always recover by using this place as its anchor. Find the solution here, enact it here. It’s the last bastion of mankind.”

And the guardian of such a land is, by extension, the guardian of humanity itself.

“I want this land to endure forever.”

Miriam locked eyes with Sugar as she finished.

“…What about the people outside the Holy City?”

“The faithful would be disappointed to hear this, but I’ll be honest. We can’t save everyone. Not even the Saint could. No one can.”

Hah. Sugar listlessly poked her cheek. It was strange hearing such grim words from someone in a child’s body.

She thought she understood Miriam now. A relentless pragmatist. Someone who believed the ends justified the means—to an extreme degree.

At least her principles were clear. Easier to deal with than those whose thoughts were inscrutable.

“I understand. So, what are you trying to say?”

The conclusion. She had a rough idea, but she asked anyway to keep the conversation moving.

“…A place like this is strong against external threats, but vulnerable to those that arise from within.”

“…”

“No matter how strong a warrior is, they can’t overcome an illness that festers inside their own body.”

Sugar exhaled silently.

Miriam pressed on.

“Do you like this land?”

“Yes… It’s like a cradle to me. The home of my heart. A precious place. I owe it so much. I, too, wish for it to remain safe and peaceful.”

“Good. I hope you never lose that feeling.”

—And I hope those words aren’t lies.

That seemed to be the unspoken meaning.

Miriam took a sip of tea and curled her lips into a strictly professional smile.

“Hm. I’ve been too serious with you, young one. My apologies. At my age, worries tend to pile up.”

“The world is turbulent, so it’s understandable. As someone who resides in the Holy City, I’ll do what I can to help.”

Sugar smiled back. It didn’t quite reach her eyes, but she smiled anyway.

“Now, let’s return to the earlier topic.”

“Huh?”

“Improper fraternization.”

“Ah.”

What followed was an hour-long lecture on proper conduct between men and women before the conversation finally ended.

“I bet Ian learned this from her…”

Don’t even hold hands before marriage? We’re not even dating!

Her ears burned as she stepped out of the office, flicking her temple in irritation.

Her expression froze immediately.

Because she realized—she was being watched.

Internal threats. A sickness from within.

Those were the words she’d heard.

Today’s conversation had undoubtedly been a warning.

Sugar let out a deep sigh.

She had anticipated something like this might happen someday.

She was the kind of existence that would make others recoil in horror if they knew the truth. Beloved by the Evil God? The fact that such a being had been allowed to reside in this sacred land was nothing short of a miracle.

And now, as she gradually absorbed more of the Evil God’s energy, growing stronger—was it any wonder they feared her?

‘Do Ione and the other Guardians feel the same way?’

If so, it would be a little sad.

Especially if Ian thought that way…

“…”

It would probably—no, definitely—hit her hard.

Still, as long as they didn’t outright point their blades at her, it was within expected limits. If they told her, “Your power is harming the Holy City, so leave,” she’d turn away without hesitation.

‘But…’

What if they used this as an excuse to push out her childhood friend too?

The moment the thought crossed her mind, her chest tightened.

Something unpleasant surfaced—the memory of someone pounding on the city gates until their hands bled, screaming.

‘Calm down. Think rationally.’

Nothing had actually happened yet. Today’s conversation hadn’t been an outright declaration of expulsion.

She couldn’t let her emotions blind her. The last thing she needed was to strangle her own future—and her friend’s—with her own hands.

Sugar rubbed her choker absently, steadying herself.

You heard all that, right?

No words passed between them. Yet, through the connection, she knew he was listening.

‘As long as you’re safe, that’s enough.’

Even if the outside world fell into chaos, as long as he could remain in this peaceful land—

They were harmless to the Holy City. No, more than that—they were beneficial. If she could just prove that…

Sugar pressed a quick kiss to the tip of her finger—the one that had been stroking the choker—as if compensating for the urge to press her lips to his directly.

Feeling slightly better, she walked down the hallway with a small smile.

On the way, she ran into a certain knight whose perfume had changed—perfect timing to mess with someone, given her mood.

“Working hard on your escort duties, I see.”

“…”

“Your perfume’s different. Trying to appeal to someone new? Ohhh, but that guy doesn’t really care for scents—”

“What? The place I usually buy from got branded as heretical, so I had to switch.”

“Huh? Wait, was it Label of the Skin?”

Finally, Natasha turned to look at her.

“How’d you know?”

“Of course I’d know. It was a famous workshop.”

(She hadn’t. In fact, Sugar herself had played a major role in getting it labeled heretical. But she played innocent.)

“They were especially famous for their alluring fragrances. Mhm, mhm.”

“…”

“Wait… don’t tell me… you—?”

As she smugly parroted knowledge she’d picked up from Ian, Natasha pressed her lips together tightly.

Sugar rose onto her tiptoes, leaning in with a triumphant grin.

“Heh… Hehe…”

“I’m on duty. Leave.”

“Wow, so even a holy knight wears stuff like that~”

Then, Natasha shoved her hand under Sugar’s armpit and hoisted her up to eye level.

“Wha—Hey! What the hell?!”

“Wow. You’re tiny. And you’re not even a kid…”

“It’s called petite! And I’m over 150cm! Put me down before I get violent! Want to taste the knife even His Holiness trembles before?!”

“Tch.”

She dropped her unceremoniously.

Sugar’s eyes narrowed. Natasha was only slightly shorter than Riley—but that was still tall enough that Sugar had to look up, and she hated it.

“My mood isn’t completely ruined yet, so I’ll let it slide.”

“Whatever. Lately, you’ve been—never mind.”

“What?”

“Not now. I’ll tell you later.”

“Ugh. There are two ways to piss someone off—one is starting a sentence and then—”

“Not the time. Just go. Keep yapping and you’ll get in trouble.”

“Like I care.”

Sugar stuck out her tongue and flounced past her, expression sour.

What an idiot. “Alluring fragrances?” Pfft. As if that would work.

“Dumbass. Riley likes my scent the most…”

Every inch of her—every inch—he’d buried his face in, over and over, there and there and—

[I can hear everything.]

“Eek!”

A disbelieving voice came through the choker as she muttered to herself.

Oh right. The call’s still connected.

…

“Y-you’ve reached a number that is currently unavailable! Please try again later!”

Flustered, she spat out the words and hastily cut the connection, her face burning.