Chapter 205: I Know It’s Severe

Ŕεａɗ ｏṅ​ ＫаţＲ​ｅɑɗίɴｇ​Ċａ​ｆҽ​

A morning where leisurely drifting clouds blot out the sunlight, casting a pleasant shade—that kind of day.

A beautiful holy city.

The heart of the Saint’s Church.

In such a Holy City, standing before the wall of the knights’ training grounds is a golden-haired young man.

His shirt buttoned all the way to the top, a dark-colored tie. His usual immaculate appearance.

Slightly tired, he sips his coffee and pulls out a pocket watch from his cloak. Perhaps waiting for someone. After all, he’s holding another coffee cup besides his own.

Before long, a Holy Knight approaches. Dressed in training gear, wiping sweat with a towel around her neck—clearly fresh from exertion.

“You’re busy, so why call me out this early?”

A man only has time when his partner is asleep. That’s why he deliberately reached out in the morning.

When Natasha scolds him for the timing, Riley wordlessly offers her the spare coffee. Sipping his own, he studies her. Unlike someone he’d have to look down at for a long time, their eye levels roughly match.

“Ugh. Fine.”

Taking it, Natasha stands beside him.

Silence lingers for a while.

They just drink their coffee.

After a long pause, Riley finally speaks.

“You. What did you say to her yesterday?”

“Why? Did she say something?”

“Her.” No need to specify a name. No need to ask.

“No. That’s why I’m asking.”

“Then why?”

“She’s gotten weird. She was always weird, but… it’s shifted direction.”

“How so?”

“…She melted.”

Melted. There’s no other way to describe it. Yesterday, Sugar was warm and melted, sticky and sweet, radiating a syrupy aura.

Seeing his friend’s “What the hell are you talking about?” expression, he tries rephrasing.

“Soft?”

“…I don’t get it, but ask her yourself. It’s not my place to say.”

“I did. But she just said there was some conflict with you and clammed up.”

If they’re barred from mentioning it, what else can he do?

“Dunno. Then just drop it.”

Natasha clicks her tongue in reply. Her face is full of irritation.

The man, who thinks of her purely as a “friend,” offers a piece of advice.

“…Speaking of, here’s a tip. Don’t indulge their provocations. The more you do, the worse it gets. Draw a clear line—say, ‘I’m not interested in Riley,’ ‘We’re just friends’—and it’ll dial down a bit.”

Clearly, another explosion of jealousy led to mutual needling and chaos.

At his words, Natasha lets out a sigh.

“…God, I hate you both.”

“What’s wrong?”

“What? ‘Not interested’? You think I’m not interested in you?”

She locks eyes with him. Beneath sweat-damp bangs, her steel-gray eyes gleam in the sunlight.

“I like you, okay? That’s why I can’t help but react when they get territorial, you blockhead.”

Riley’s brow furrows slightly.

“Sorry.”

“Getting rejected outright is annoying too…”

“That’s fair, but I was worried you’d boil over.”

“What?”

“Never mind. Forget it.”

After a pause, he continues.

“Be careful at night.”

“You damn lunatics… Stop enabling each other.”

A woman who tries to kill her rival, and a man who calmly accepts it as part of life.

Now that she thinks about it, they’re perfect for each other.

‘I’ve really picked the wrong one.’

Natasha exhales deeply, reflecting on everything so far.

“Even death won’t tear you two apart.”

Meanwhile, the woman replies as casually as ever. Hah. All she can do is laugh.

Then, Riley loosens up slightly and shares a thought.

“I can’t breathe without her.”

“What?”

“One day, while holding them as they slept, it hit me. What if I’m only breathing because of them? What if functioning as myself, living like a human, is only possible because of her?”

“Oh for fuck’s sake—say that sappy shit to her, not me. Got no heart? I got rejected less than three minutes after confessing.”

“Ah.”

Sorry—

Natasha covers her eyes with the towel.

“…Ugh. Whatever. I knew this would happen… How the hell can someone like you fall in love? I’m genuinely amazed.”

Love.

Riley doesn’t deny her words.

“Why haven’t you confessed to her?”

“I will. Someday.”

“‘Someday’ when?”

“…”

He’s thought about it a lot.

Once Church matters settle down… Once things stabilize… But he’s kept postponing it.

And Sugar drawing a line had played a big part in it, too.

She’d made declarations no different from confessions countless times—Don’t leave my side. Stay with me. Words that should’ve been embarrassing, yet she’d poured them out willingly.

But even so, she kept stubbornly deflecting with friends or family. What could he do? Coupled with the secrets she’d buried since childhood, it all left Riley feeling hollow.

What would even change if he confessed now?

Wouldn’t it just stress her out more? Wouldn’t someone as responsible as her agonize over it?

So he’d resolved to wait. To let her stay comfortable for now. She already had enough weighing on her—he refused to become another burden.

Riley was patient.

And, truthfully, he wasn’t being honest either.

Deep down, he wanted to claim Sugar immediately, to make her his.

He wanted to hear what she truly felt, what lay hidden in her heart—to see those small lips spill everything.

Yet, like any other man, he endured, pretended not to know, and kept his desires locked away.

That was the ambiguous balance they’d maintained—

‘But last night…’

They’d crossed a line.

And afterward, he’d thought a lot. Really a lot.

Sugar, who’d begged him to take her. Sugar, who hadn’t once mentioned friends or family.

Even the memory alone made his head spin.

…

“…Did I ask for relationship advice?”

He cut off his thoughts there. This wasn’t why he’d called her today.

Natasha sharply turned her head. Tall and sharp-featured, even the slightest tension in her expression made her seem icy.

Still, she wasn’t as cold as she appeared.

“It’s frustrating. Infuriating. Watching you two is infuriating.”

“That’s your frustration, not ours. We’re—”

“Ugh! Enough. I’m not frustrated anymore. I said my piece—I’m over it. Whether you date or suck face or whatever, I don’t care. I’m done.”

“Wha—suck what?!”

“That’s your type, huh? Saw it when I went to wash up. Why not just carve your name into her while you’re at it?”

“…”

Natasha downed her coffee in one go and turned to leave.

“You’ve got nothing else to ask, so I’m going.”

Her ponytail swayed as she strode off, crisp and decisive.

Riley watched her back and called out one last warning.

“Just a tip—wear armor when you—”

“Teach your psycho girlfriend not to stab people, you lunatic!”

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

Rolling her eyes toward the window, Sugar noted the sky was clear and blue.

No meteors falling, no heavens splitting—the world hadn’t ended.

Her body felt heavy, but her mind was oddly clear. Maybe because she hadn’t dreamed.

She’d expected that white-clad woman to barge in, asking how her first time was, but no one came.

Whatever.

“Ugh…”

Trying to sit up for water, the reality hit harder. Every part of her ached—her waist, her hips, between her legs.

Then she noticed something odd and glanced around. The man who should’ve been beside her was gone.

“Riley?”

The bed was tidy too. The sheets, which should’ve been damp, were dry. She was naked except for an oversized shirt. Had he cleaned her up?

When did he even do this?

When did I pass out? When did I fall asleep?

It’d all been hazy. Too good. So good. The entire time, it felt like dreaming.

…Was it actually a dream?

A chill ran through her. But checking her chest and thighs confirmed the vivid marks. And her hips wouldn’t hurt like this otherwise.

“…”

Her cheeks burned. Covering them, she curled back under the sheets.

‘So embarrassing… I must’ve looked pathetic…’

Her throat was raw—she remembered sobbing uncontrollably in her daze.

Being held against his firm body, filled so completely, whimpering good, so good—ah, ah—

“Ah… Ugh…”

The more she recalled, the clearer it became. Had she really lost all dignity? What if he thought her vulgar? To come undone like that the first time…

Burying her face in the sleeves, she squirmed—until a familiar magical presence made her freeze. The door creaked open, and her childhood friend stepped in.

“You’re awake.”

“…”

“How do you feel?”

“…O-Okay…?”

Nervousness twisted her words.

“Had any water?”

“W-Was about to…”

As she steadied herself, Riley poured a cup from the bedside and handed it over. She took small, careful sips.

Her face stayed crimson. Memories flooded back—including the way he’d passed water to her mouth-to-mouth between rounds.

After finishing the water, he patted her head.
As if she’d done something praiseworthy—though she hadn’t—he stroked her hair anyway.

So good.

Good.

I love it.

“…Hey. Where’d you go earlier?”

She bit her lip, then quickly blurted the question. If she stayed silent, she’d combust. Part of her had hoped to wake up in his arms, so she asked.

“Out. Had some business.”

Riley sat beside her as he answered.

“…Who’d you meet?”

“Just someone.”

“Dodging means it was a woman…”

“…”

“Aah… Was it that knight?”

What? Riley swallowed hard.

Was this some saintly clairvoyance? It was unnerving.

Sugar climbed onto his lap, facing him, and looped her arms around his neck.

“Sugar… Look, don’t jump to conclusions. You’ve been getting really jealous lately.”

He deliberately used the word jealous to defuse her. This usually made her redirect her anger—

—I’m not jealous! I just worry about bad influences around you!

A little teasing would normally derail the conversation. A well-practiced tactic.

He waited for the usual script.

But what came next surprised him.

“Yeah, I know it’s severe. But I can’t help it…”

“…What?”

“Talking’s fine. People should talk. That’s what this was, right? Asking about… what happened with us yesterday?”

“…”

“So… I won’t complain. Don’t worry. But I’ll still be jealous. Sorry. I can’t control that. Just… the thought of you with another woman… I hate it…”

“You…”

Her whisper against his ear carried something new. A woman’s aura.

As if declaring, Last night made me one. She radiated a sultry confidence.

Then she bit his earlobe—the pierced left one—gnawing gently, careful not to hurt.

“I just… want you… to look only at me…”

Huu— She blew into his ear. Riley shuddered.

“Heh… You’re sensitive today. Reminds me of when we were kids… I’d blow on your neck, and you’d turn red… So cute… Mmm… But then you grew up… and stopped reacting… So disappointing…”

Her tone was nostalgic, almost innocent—but this was pure seduction.

“Huu… Feels good?”

“…”

Riley’s breathing roughened. His pulse hammered.

This is dangerous.

This wasn’t the usual Sugar.

No playful teasing.

She admitted her jealousy. Rubbed against him like she wanted to devour him, dripping with feminine allure. Unfamiliar.

No heat-of-the-moment lust. Just broad daylight, a flicking tongue, sticky saliva—

“Hey, wait—”

“Mmm…”

She clung relentlessly, whispering You can undo the seal— and hell, damn it—

We used all the condoms yesterday!

What happened? How does someone change this much overnight?

He smothered his rising desire with fear and confusion—

Tap tap tap—

Something knocked on the window.

“L-Letter’s here.”

He hastily dumped Sugar onto the bed and strode to the window. He could’ve used magic, but he needed the distance.

Behind him, Sugar clicked her tongue.

“…From Steele. Open it.”

Ignoring her, he handed her the letter. She slowly tore the envelope—then frowned.

“What’s it say?”

“See for yourself…”

[URGENT SUMMONS]

The recipient of this notice must report to the academy immediately—