Chapter 35: Great Success

Re​a​d on ​Ka​tRe​adi​ng​Cafe

“Ouch… it hurts…”

Every step creaks, and her whole body aches.

Fortunately, she woke up in the afternoon, so she barely managed to meet the request broker.

“Why are you so hurt?!”

“I rolled.”

“You got like this from rolling…? …Did you finish the request?”

“Uh… well… here’s the memo… read it first. I found something strange and ran away, which is why I ended up like this. Please emphasize that we need proper investigative personnel. Seriously.”

After receiving her payment, she headed straight to the “Under the White Tree” general store.

“Why are you so hurt?!”

“I rolled. More importantly! I finally saved up all the money!”

At last, she bought the gift.

Finally!

The grandmother looked at Sugar with pity but wrapped the gift beautifully, adding a scolding to take care of herself.

Now everything was done.

All that was left was to return to the orphanage, give the gift to her friend, and properly apologize.

Then he wouldn’t be able to say anything, right?

‘I did all this to buy you a gift!’

He’d be touched, regret why he said such harsh things, and be at a loss for words, right?

Hehehe.

While Sugar was lost in such wicked thoughts…

‘…I hope it makes him feel better.’

She hugged the gift tightly.

It was the first thing she had ever bought with money she earned herself.

Not for snacks or anything trivial, but purely to express her gratitude to her friend through her hard work.

It was the perfect gift for her precious friend.

She hoped her feelings would be accepted. She wished her friend wouldn’t get angry but would be happy instead.

Returning to the private room at the orphanage…

“Ah…”

A sigh escaped as soon as she saw the scene.

Praline was kneeling on the floor.

In front of her stood their prickly friend, tapping the floor impatiently with his foot.

When he turned his head toward Sugar, Sugar quickly closed the door.

She had said she’d be back soon, but she’d already been caught.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door again, only to be met with an angry face.

Startled!

Sugar quickly hid the gift behind her back and tried to control her expression.

“Ah, well… hi, Tommy. Do you have something to do?”

“Get in here. Now.”

“Okay…”

“You can leave.”

Praline, as if she’d been waiting for this, quickly left. Now only Riley and Sugar remained in the room.

And Riley was very, very angry.

Sugar sat on the bed, head bowed, as Riley finally spoke.

“Do you really want to die?”

“Ahaha…”

“You go out like this, all hurt. Are you out of your mind?”

“I… had something to pick up…”

She subtly pushed the gift under the bed with her foot.

Riley, who didn’t seem particularly interested, didn’t even glance at it and instead stared at Sugar.

“You…”

He seemed to be choosing her words but eventually let out a deep sigh.

Seizing the moment, Sugar quickly spoke up.

“I’m sorry, Tommy!”

“I’m the one who should be sorry…”

“…”

“…”

“Why are you sorry?”

“Why are you sorry?”

The girl’s eyes widened, and the boy’s narrowed as they stared at each other.

“Well… I went out alone at night without telling you, acted recklessly, and got hurt…”

“Ah…”

Feeling a pang in his heart, Riley clutched his head.

“No… forget what I said earlier…”

“Why… you weren’t wrong. I need to reflect on that too.”

“No, it’s… all my fault. I’m not even a proper mage, yet I tried to teach you magic. I’m still inexperienced. Who am I to teach you…? I gave you false hope… and I couldn’t protect you in that moment. I should’ve been firmer. So… I’m sorry.”

Perhaps because he had resolved to leave Sugar’s side, the words came out surprisingly candid.

Sugar, unaware of this, was simply amazed by the unexpected response. It was so honest.

She knew Riley was angry because she got hurt, but she didn’t expect him to think so deeply about it.

–I couldn’t protect you in that moment, and I should’ve been firmer.

The care and concern she felt. It made something warm bloom in her chest.

It was comforting.

This boy, who had always been cold and in pain, was now giving her warmth.

The results of Sugar’s care were slowly showing. Moved, she bowed her head.

Misinterpreting her gesture, Riley closed his eyes, clenched his fists, and took a deep breath.

“And there’s something else I need to say… I’m going away—”

–Sniff…

“…Hey, are you crying?”

“Yeah…”

When she looked up, tears were streaming down her face.

“Wait, why are you crying all of a sudden…?!”

“No… I’m not crying because I’m sad… it’s just… touching…”

Sugar wiped her tears.

It was such a happy thing to know that someone cared for her so deeply. Especially when it was her dear friend.

Perhaps her young body made her emotions even more intense.

After drying her tears, she smiled awkwardly.

“What’s so touching about it…?”

“I can feel your affection.”

“What?!”

“Come here, Tommy.”

She opened her uninjured right arm wide.

“No! I’m not coming! Why should I?!”

Even though he’d calm down if hugged, it seemed his heart wasn’t in it right now.

She wanted to feel each other’s warmth while talking, but if Riley refused, she’d just talk face-to-face.

“Tommy, you don’t have to be sorry. It’s true that I should’ve been more careful… I’m the one who caused you worry, so I’m sorry. And thank you for thinking of me.”

“…”

Riley turned his head slightly. Taking it as a sign of agreement, Sugar continued.

“But… there’s something I’m curious about. Earlier, you said you’re not a mage? You’ve said it before, and I’ve been wondering since then.”

“Why…?”

“Look at what you’ve done. You’re totally a mage.”

After all the magic-related incidents she’d witnessed, how could Riley deny it?

“Not that kind of mage… a ‘proper’ mage, you idiot…”

“So what exactly—”

“Listen. I can’t introduce myself as a mage anywhere. ‘Who’s your master?’. I can’t answer. ‘Where’s your staff?’. I can’t answer that either. So how can I call myself a mage? I’d just be a laughingstock…”

And yet, thinking he was something, he gave Sugar false hope…—Riley covered his face.

He was scared of not being able to protect her. Afraid of how his heart would react if something like this happened again, he had even resolved to leave Sugar’s side.

After all, Sugar kept getting in the way of him becoming ruthless.

To gain power through the grimoire, he needed to harden his heart.

His thoughts were a mess. He was a boy who always carried so much anguish.

Sugar quietly watched Riley.

After fidgeting awkwardly, Sugar seemed to make up her mind. She nodded and pulled out a box from under the bed.

“But… from now on, you’ll be able to answer that second question.”

“…What?”

“Open it.”

She gently handed over the box, and Riley cautiously accepted it.

Sugar smiled shyly as she watched, she felt both excited and a little worried.

Behind Riley’s prickly attitude was low self-esteem. She hoped this would bring him some comfort.

Riley, looking puzzled, unwrapped the box.

It was quite heavy and long, sparking sudden anticipation.

After untying the string and tearing off the paper, a wooden box appeared.

Opening it…

“This is…”

“Hehe… actually, this is why I’ve been going out every night.”

“Why did you… get this for me…?”

“The owner of the general store is a mage, so I consulted him. It was too expensive for me, so we compromised… but he said the performance isn’t bad at all.”

“So, why are you giving this to me? This is something parents or masters give to their children or disciples… you know that, right?”

“I just wanted to express my gratitude… I wanted to give you something that showed how I feel…”

As her words trailed off, she suddenly clapped her hands as if she had thought of something good.

“Ah, if that’s the custom, then from now on, I can be your family!”

“What?”

“Parents give to their children, so it’s family giving to family, right? If you think of it as an older sister giving to her younger brother, that’s fine, isn’t it?”

“…”

She spoke with a bright smile.

As if it were the most natural thing in the world. As if it were no big deal. Her warm-hearted words were comforting.

Riley couldn’t say anything.

He wanted to say something, but his throat tightened, and he just closed his mouth.

He held the box containing the wand-shaped staff, completely still.

What was family to him?

-“You’re just like your mother! You act just like her, you look just like her!”

It was a heartless entity that thrived on violence and contempt.

-“Take care, Riley.”

It was an irresponsible entity that betrayed trust.

Even if his family had stayed together and he had grown up to blossom his magical talent, he would never have received a staff.

He didn’t even have a name. There was no expectation at all.

That’s why he felt resentful and ashamed.

He could have bought one himself long ago if he wanted to survive, but he had wanted a staff “given by someone.” He had vowed to obtain it through his own efforts, but deep down, he had been longing for it.

While others used items filled with the affection and expectations of adults, he had lived alone, pitifully, with no one to give him anything.

It felt like it would forever be a regret. He kept putting it off, fearing that every time he thought about it, he would feel sad.

In the end, there was no one to give it to him. He had no parents, no master, nothing, so he had been avoiding it and then, he received it.

All the envy and inferiority he had harbored were blown away in an instant, as if they were nothing.

The image of this little girl scrambling to save money was clear in his mind.

Her words, “I’ll be your family,” seeped into his very being.

He had received too much.

Someone who believed in him more than anyone else.

Someone who gave him warmth more than anyone else.

“…”

He held the box tightly and stayed still for a long time.

When Sugar approached and hugged him, he didn’t resist.

If he opened his mouth, his emotions would spill out, so he kept it shut, letting only tears fall.

“…Don’t cry.”

“…”

“How’s the gift? Do you like it?”

He couldn’t bring himself to say that her words were a greater gift than the staff.

Without answering, he closed his eyes, and a tear fell. The girl, like spring sunshine, wiped it away.

His heart was being kneaded.

Her touch felt like it was invading even his mind.

[I want to be acknowledged by the world.]

His dream kept blurring. It grew fainter and fainter until even its outline disappeared.

If he crushed the weak with strength, pulled down those above him, and climbed to the top through all sorts of ugly deeds, what would become of this girl?

‘If I left without protecting her, what would happen to this child who said she would be my family?’

‘And what about me? Would I truly be happy? Could I smile?’

Questions flooded in like a tidal wave.

It was overwhelming, making it hard to stand still. Struggling even to breathe, a warm spring breeze lifted the boy up.

The enveloping warmth made him dizzy.

It felt like she was casting a spell to control his heart, but he couldn’t defend against it.

Feeling her comforting touch, he was endlessly dyed in her colors.

Suddenly, he looked up at the window.

It was already evening. Beyond the window, higher up, the starry sky was scattered with dense jewels.

As he stared blankly, Sugar gently spoke. Perhaps she thought he had calmed down a bit.

“Ah… come to think of it, didn’t you have something to say earlier? Do you want to say it now?”

He had something to say before, but now it was gone.

-“Tommy. Will you help me by my side?”

Sometime ago, in front of the café, he had nodded in response to this girl’s question.

He had signaled his agreement.

So, there was no choice. Promises had to be kept. Trust had to be repaid.

He simply shook his head.

“Really?”

Haha. Sugar smiled and hugged him even tighter.

It seemed like she would never let go.

As if to say you could never cross the boundary. She had firmly tied him down.

The ‘terrifying plan’ seemed to be a great success.