Chapter 82: If it Were Sugar

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“… How did you end up with those people?”

Inside the cold and dark prison.

On the left, Sugar and Riley were on one side, while Ian and Leon went to the right.

Under the heavy atmosphere, Leon spoke first.

A couple that he didn’t understand the reason behind them coming to Steele. Considering their personalities, he didn’t understand how they became close with someone as high-ranking as His Holiness. One is bold, and the other is prickly.

So he casually asked.

“Ah… they came to the capital after an accident when I was young. That’s when we first met.”

“An accident?”

“Yeah. You can probably guess?”

An accident severe enough to send someone to the capital is simple. A victim of heresy.

Surprised by the unexpected, Leon stiffened. He had gone through something similar himself.

“After that, we ended up getting closer. Sugar helped me a lot. We traveled together for a few years and then came to Steele.”

“… Were they like this even in the capital?”

“Ah… well… yeah, that’s right. But they’re good kids. Sometimes—actually, often—they engage in public displays of affection. Still, they’re thoughtful to their core. They have a strong passion for what they want to do…”

As Ian reminisced, she spoke without much hesitation.

She had received a lot of help. Especially from Sugar, she was very grateful.

Reconciliation with Ione, motivation for the outside world.

If she hadn’t become close with Sugar, she probably wouldn’t even be here now.

She often curses her as “perverted Sugar!” but that’s because she really is a perverted Sugar…

Still, deep inside, she trusts and cherishes her as a friend and a younger sibling.

“I don’t quite get it…”

Leon said doubtfully, and Ian gave a bitter smile.

“It’s true. You don’t know her well yet. She’s really… an amazing person.”

“…”

Leon simply looked at Ian in silence.

He had felt it before, but Ian was a simple person. He understood his own disrespectful attitude, came to return the handkerchief he had left behind.

He was from the bloodline of the leader of a religion firmly rooted in this land. Even royalty cannot treat them recklessly.

Normally, they wouldn’t even be allowed to see each other’s faces.

Yet, here he was, out of the capital, mingling with regular students.

“What do you think of the staff… Ian?”

He was curious about what someone like Ian, who held such an esteemed position, thought of him.

“Staff? Do you mean the sacred staff? Honestly, since it’s yours, I think it’s up to you. My ancestor must have had some great purpose for it. Of course, I hope you obey that purpose, but… I won’t force you.”

An answer typical of a religious person. He didn’t want to force, but still hoped for obedience.

“… Many people don’t think so.”

This was a thought that slipped out unintentionally.

Having grown tired of the gazes of others over the past few days, he just wanted to complain after hearing such words from someone high up.

“That’s… because everyone has their own hardships. Many have suffered at the hands of heretics, like Sugar and Riley… so they probably want something to hold onto.”

Ian stopped for a second before continuing.

“…I was curious, though. The reason why you don’t use my ancestor’s staff. Is it because of the pressure?”

“It’s more than just pressure… I think it’s a matter of qualification.”

“Qualification?”

“I understand that people want heroes. But I’m not that kind of person. I’m too busy just focusing on what I hold in my hands. I don’t have the luxury to care about others or the capacity to protect anyone… I’m far too lacking to be the one they expect.”

“…”

“For someone like me to be given this staff… is it really the right thing? Honestly, the expectant looks just… make me feel sick.”

Ian fell silent. She was surprised by how openly Leon expressed himself.

Leon, realizing what he said, immediately regretted it.

Why was he even talking about this? He was someone revered as a high-ranking individual, the heir to a religious leader, someone who had been surrounded by love and protection all his life. Why had those words slipped out while looking into those violet eyes?

‘… When my mother was in that state, I cried and begged, but received no answer.’

Yet now, when offered the holy staff, seeing those violet eyes, Leon didn’t know what to do.

He simply lowered his head.

“I’m sorry. That was a slip of the tongue.”

Ian, looking at him, felt uneasy.

She didn’t know how to respond.

The heavy burden bestowed by her ancestors. Her uncertain feelings about herself, the inner conflict beneath her calm expression and words.

Looking at Leon, Ian questioned whether she had the right to say anything at all. She wasn’t sure whether she should offer comfort or scold him seriously.

The position of the Saint’s descendent. Ian’s thoughts as herself, as Ian, as Ianne. Man. Woman. Everything felt entangled.

What would Sugar have done?

For a moment, Ian wondered.

That sweet, kind friend who even moved Ione’s heart. What would she do with a gloomy young man like Leon?

What actions would she take?

Ian, lost in thought, made a decision.

“Leon.”

She called out his name first.

Leon raised his head slightly. His deep black eyes, they always looked hollow and melancholic, never once showing a smile.

Ian wasn’t sure what kind of thoughts were in his mind, but she had learned a little today.

So, as a friend. As someone who might become a roommate, she wanted to offer a gesture of friendship.

“Let’s stay close from now on.”

Ian reached out to Leon. She pulled him into an embrace, pressing her chest against Leon’s and patting his back gently.

‘If it were Sugar, would she have done this?’

Well, she would only do that with the one man she allowed close.

Anyway, Ian, with a deep desire to comfort, held Leon. Her ancestors had given him a heavy burden, and as their descendant, she felt it was her job to console him.

“I understand what you’re feeling. But… at least I won’t force you. As his descendent, I’ll respect your choice without saying anything. I hope that brings you some comfort.”

“… ”

“I’ve been through similar gazes since I was young, so I understand a little… Of course, I’ve gotten used to it, but you’re not used to it. It must be difficult since it happened suddenly. That pressure, those admiring gazes… It’s not like you became the saint overnight. Right?”

While gently patting his back, she spoke calmly. Her voice was a mix of low for a woman and high for a man, creating a strangely soothing tone.

“So… I understand how you feel, and I, as someone from a very high position in the Holy City, understand it. So, cheer up.”

After patting Leon’s back for a while, Ian looked down briefly.

‘… I hope the bandage is secure?’

She had hidden her chest with a bandage that had been specially treated to apply extreme pressure. She had checked it in the restroom a few times, but even then, she was worried.

After checking, it seemed fine.

Then, Leon began to shift his body.

“Ah, understood. Please let go now.”

“Ah… okay.”

“… Thank you. That was a much-needed comfort.”

“It’s nothing. Also, even though I’ve said things like ‘Saint’s Descendent’ and so on, I want you to think of me as a friend. You don’t have to put me on a pedestal.”

“I’ll try.”

Leon lowered his head deeply and said, “I’ll go take care of the lost items,” then headed toward the opposite side of Ian. His hurried pace made Ian feel strangely uneasy.

‘Oh, right…’

She had hugged a boy.

A man and a woman hugging in a secluded place might seem like a scandalous act. But Ian always scolded Sugar and Riley for their behavior.

But right now, she was a man, so between men, there was no problem.

… No problem at all.

At least, it seemed like the conversation had ended smoothly.

Her head felt a bit hot, but she had made it through safely.

‘I can do this!’

The distance between her and a man. Wasn’t this fine?

If she could do this, maybe living in the same room would be fine too.

Ian, feeling grateful for her ancestors’ guidance and letting out a sigh of relief, still couldn’t calm her racing heart.

‘… I must have been really nervous.’

From Leon’s reaction, it seemed like he wasn’t too fond of the situation. Did she make a slip of the tongue?

With some worry, Ian went to take care of the lost items as well.

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

“Are you done over there?”

“Yeah. It seems mostly finished.”

Sugar and Riley, who had been particularly close together, peeked out.

“But… how do you two manage to be like that even while cleaning…”

“I don’t know. We’ve built up merit points, so we’ll stick together even more now.”

Even more!

Ian was horrified, Leon frowned, and Riley pinched Sugar’s cheek.

“Nonsense. Just focus on maintaining those points.”

“You too—while sleeping—”

Seeing this, Ian coughed awkwardly.

“Ahem. Anyway, are there any places left we haven’t checked? And what about the ghost cleaning?”

Then Sugar, freed from Riley’s cheek-pinching, answered.

“Wait a second… we got the map. Ah, there’s one place left. It’s in a corner, so we missed it. As for the ghost cleaning… Riley and I will handle it alone. Once you’re done with the lost items, Ian and Leon can head back first.”

“Is that okay?”

“Originally, it was just going to be the two of us. Thanks for helping this much. Leon, thanks for helping too.”

“…It’s nothing. If it was helpful, then I’m glad.”

Sugar looked at Leon. She stared at him for a moment before turning her head and leading the way.

“The path is this way. I’ll guide you.”

Riley, standing next to Sugar, looked at the map.

“…Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Here. The structure is a bit weird.”

He tapped a spot on the map.

“…Ah. You’re right. Why is it like this? Is it because it’s a prison?”

The two following behind also peeked at the map.

“What is it?”

“Here. This room… or should I say passage? There’s no entrance. It should be around here in reality.”

Sugar, looking at the map, pointed to a spot in the prison. In the original story, they didn’t walk around with a map, so this space was unknown. Even if she had seen it, it was over ten years ago. It’s understandable that she forgot.

“Looking at the map, it seems pretty spacious…”

Sugar muttered as she examined the walls in that area. No matter how much she looked, there was nothing that could be called a door.

“…Should we just pretend we didn’t see it?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s probably best.”

“…Let’s do that.”

Unanimously decided. They were a pretty good team.

The four of them moved on to continue their path.

As before, Sugar and Riley led the way, with Ian and Leon following behind.

-Thud thud.

“Here… turn left…”

-Thud thud.

“Then go straight…”

-Thud thud thud.

“—and the remaining room should be ahead.”

-Thud thud thud.

“Hey, who’s stomping so loudly?”

Sugar turned around sharply and stopped, revealing her confused companions.

Because she had stopped, the other three stopped as well but the thudding vibrations didn’t stop.

“…”

Then something suddenly occurred to her.

The most important rule. If you suddenly feel vibrations like your body is shaking, get out of there immediately.