Chapter 229: Would You Give It to Me?

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After the meeting ended.

Since it was around dinnertime, a natural atmosphere formed—those who wanted to gather stayed, while those who didn’t left.

Among them, a small group of young people formed.

“Ah…”

“…”

“It’s been a while since we all got together like this…”

“…”

The contrast between the strangely subdued Ianne and the oddly excited Leon was truly peculiar.

The former was already in a bad mood, and the shocking contents of the meeting must have made it worse. The latter, on the other hand, had just finished talking about a topic he was familiar with—perhaps that was why.

In such a situation, what should Sugar do?

‘Let’s bail.’

Her judgment was quick.

Swiftly, she wrote something on Riley’s palm, and the moment their eyes met—

“Haha… Yeah. It’s been a while since we all met.”

Unexpectedly, Ianne relaxed her expression and laughed, playing along.

“Everyone’s hungry, right? Let’s go eat first.”

She turned and took the lead, acting no differently than usual. The other three followed in a daze.

The meal proceeded normally. Inside the noisy Grand Temple dining hall, they each got their food and munched away.

Ianne told them about what had happened in the Holy City while Sugar and Riley were away.

Nothing particularly noteworthy—just daily life stuff. Stories about cats, acquaintances, and other mundane things.

Leon, who had been stiff beside them, finally relaxed, his shoulders slumping slightly.

“Ah, school starts the day after tomorrow, huh?”

“Right?”

“Hehe… I’m looking forward to it. I hear there’s a lot of outdoor activities in the second semester.”

“I have plans for the second semester!”

“What are they?”

“First, exams. I’m going to study hard in advance this time. I’ll act more like a model student… earn lots of merits… and also… um… get… closer to Riley…?”

“Sugar, even if it’s a plan, it should be within the realm of possibility. Everything but the last one is already impossible.”

“That’s so mean!”

And so, the trivial yet warm conversation flowed on.

But the most dangerous moment is when you let your guard down.

“Ah, by the way, Riley.”

“Yes, Ian?”

“What are you going to do about your dorm room?”

The hearts of the three (excluding Ianne) dropped.

It had come.

What should they say?

“…I’m still thinking about it.”

“Why? Just take a single room. Money isn’t an issue, and you’d probably be uncomfortable with a roommate.”

“Everything you said is true, but I’m worried Sugar might barge in.”

“Hey!”

As Sugar shouted beside him, Ianne nodded with a serious expression.

“Can’t deny that…”

“What do you all think of me?!”

(She had actually broken in before.)

Riley looked down at Sugar with a gaze that asked, Do you even have a conscience? Sugar, perhaps feeling guilty, avoided eye contact and rolled a cherry tomato around on her tray.

Truthfully, as long as it wasn’t the dorms, she could break into any room she wanted. If caught, she’d be scolded—but even that was part of the game. It was an excuse to torment Sugar as much as possible.

The warning was just, Don’t get caught sneaking into the boys’ dorm.

“Then, if you do take a double room, who would you share it with? Whoever the school assigns? Or…”

“I’m still debating. Whether or not to share with that friend.”

Though Riley had no intention of doing so, he played along to buy time. For now, the situation was defused.

Leon, outside Ianne’s line of sight, quickly mouthed a tearful thank you, blinking rapidly.

“Hmm…”

Meanwhile, Ianne rested her chin on her hand and let out a soft hum. Even with her languid tone and vague movements, her presence was undeniable.

Then, she smirked.

“Would you give it to me?”

Sugar and Riley’s mouths fell open at the same time.

A shiver ran down their spines.

“N-No, you can’t!”

Leon hastily cut in from the side.

“…Why not?”

“Why? Because—”

“Why can’t I?”

“It’s just—”

“I’ve been curious for a while, Leon. We got along fine all first semester. So why are you suddenly against sharing a room with me?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to share, it’s just—”

Because every time I see you fresh out of the shower, looking all damp, I lose my mind.

He couldn’t say that. His brain scrambled for an excuse.

Amid the brewing storm—

Whether it was misfortune or luck, something interrupted.

—Thud.

A book suddenly appeared midair and landed on the dining table with a soft thud.

To Sugar and Riley, it was a very familiar object.

“…”

A single second of silence.

-Did you summon it on purpose?

-Unfortunately, no.

Three seconds passed as their eyes exchanged words.

Truly, the book had appeared entirely on its own, with no input from Riley.

In that brief moment, Sugar—quick to grasp the situation—clutched the grimoire tightly to her chest, using the pumpkin she was holding to mask its ominous aura.

Though the book wasn’t open and its power wasn’t unleashed, those nearby would still recognize it as something unholy.

“Ahaha… This just popped up out of nowhere! It’s nothing weird, just… a book on heresy! Totally normal! I have permission to carry it! Should we, uh, head back now?!”

Declaring this loudly to the surrounding people, she stuffed the book under her suspenders and stood up.

Riley rose with a stiff expression, and Ianne and Leon, sensing the mood, followed suit.

Once outside the dining hall—

“Hurry…! Send it back…!”

“It won’t go. It’s not listening.”

As Sugar whispered urgently, Riley frowned but answered calmly.

Why is it causing more trouble now, of all times?

Normally, he could freely store or retrieve it with a single thought, but ever since those pages were torn out, the book had been holding a grudge.

Just in case, Riley reached out to touch it, thinking direct contact might make it more obedient.

—Flicker.

In an instant, his vision whited out.

It happened in a flash.

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

“—I’ve just recalled a magnificent application for the ‘Azure Space.’”

The voice brought him back to his senses.

A solemn yet warm tone, resonating as if embedded directly into his mind. When Riley opened his eyes and looked around—

Was this an illusion?

An old-fashioned building interior, though not a single part of it seemed worn. As he glanced around curiously, he spotted two figures ahead: a platinum-blond man in a white robe embroidered with gold thread and a brown-haired man who seemed to be following him.

“—Time flows slower outside that space, doesn’t it? So, if you have something to wait for, you can just spend time inside! Suppose you live a day in there while two days pass outside. If you stay for three days and come out, it’ll already be the day of the festival!”

“Oh… my lord… Please, cherish your time. Why must you squander something so precious?”

The brown-haired man bowed his head but didn’t hold back his words as the platinum-blond man cheerfully rambled.

“My dear Rainer! Don’t think like that. Time is fair to all—to you and to me! My time isn’t any more valuable than anyone else’s. It’s a matter of how you use it. So instead of ‘squandering,’ let’s say ‘allocating wisely.’”

“My lord. Are you spinning strange logic again? Very well. Let us debate this today.”

Immediately, the platinum-blond man turned to flee—but then noticed Riley and feigned familiarity.

“Ah! Perfect timing. What do you think? You heard our conversation, didn’t you? As my final disciple, share your thoughts.”

At first, Riley thought the man was addressing him. But when he glanced to the side, a shadowy figure now stood there.

The platinum-blond man with violet eyes spoke to it:

“—Calard.”

…

…

…

“Riley?”

A voice as gentle as a breeze snapped him back to reality.

Lowering his gaze, he saw his childhood friend staring up at him with worried eyes, her brows furrowed and lips trembling as if she might cry any second.

“Are you okay, Riley? Are you hurt…?”

“No… I’m fine.”

Still dizzy from the vision, he clutched his head but managed to send the book away—this time, it obeyed its owner’s command.

“Is the book acting up because of what happened last time…? Want me to scold it…?”

“How would you even do that?”

“Maybe show it a tiny glimpse of the Evil God…”

“That’d just make it rebel more.”

“Oh… Yeah, maybe.”

As they talked, Riley noticed Ianne and Leon standing awkwardly nearby.

“Hmm… I don’t plan to pry about that book.”

“…”

“But if you’re okay with it, tell me later.”

Ianne’s words made Leon nod faintly beside her—he already had a vague understanding of the book from his dreams.

When Riley agreed, the tension eased slightly.

“Ack! I just remembered—I left the fire on for potion brewing! I should go!”

“Huh? Wait, Leon!”

Seizing the opportunity, Leon bolted before Ianne could stop him.

Tch. Sugar clicked her tongue, and a sigh immediately sounded from ahead.

“…Running away again, I see…”

Ianne’s icy murmur as she swept her bangs aside sent a chill down their spines.

Her face held anger—and beneath it, a deep, aching sorrow. Hurt. Grief.

Sugar’s heart ached watching her.

“Ian…”

How painful must it be, to be rejected so firmly by someone you love?

Sugar imagined Riley rejecting her.

Lately, she’d been planning something. To some, it might seem like an ordinary, everyday thing—but to others, it was a life-altering, heartfelt act.

A confession.

Specifically, a love confession.

Just the thought of it made her mouth sweet and sour, her heart pounding like a lovestruck teenage girl, her cheeks flushing.

But what if she were rejected?

Or worse, if he drew a line between them before she could even try, like he was doing now?

“…”

Ugh.

“What kind of medicine have you been taking lately…?”

“Just… huff… vitamins…”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Mhm…”

Even the mere imagination of it made her dizzy, her chest tightening until it was hard to breathe. It felt like Sugar herself might shatter into pieces.

Her situation was different, but Ianne must be suffering just as much right now.

Sugar looked up at her childhood friend with pity.

“…I gave him so many chances to talk.”

Ianne’s murmur cut through the silence. She stared in the direction Leon had fled, her voice eerily calm.

“Even before you two came back… I tried, over and over…”

She undid the ribbon in her hair, and under the moonlight, her pale platinum locks swayed in the night breeze.

The sight was beautiful—but for a fleeting moment, it sent a chill down Sugar’s spine.

“Ianne…?”

“But the one who ignored them… was you.”

Without waiting for a response, she walked away, her vibrant, cross-dressing figure gradually dissolving into the darkness.

That “you” probably wasn’t meant for Sugar.

“She’s really furious… Is there any way to help them make up?”

“Dunno. Feels like we shouldn’t interfere.”

As Sugar tilted her head in thought, Riley gently patted it.

“These things tend to resolve themselves in simpler ways than you’d think.”