Parallel Lines
“Cold medicine? Hmm… Well, there is something good for stamina recovery, at least.”
The misunderstanding was cleared.
Following Sugar's additional explanation, Rubshi took out a bottle, which was suspiciously odd.
A mint-colored liquid with countless bubbles floating in it. It wasn't boiled, yet it was bubbling on its own.
When she made a doubtful expression at the appearance that didn't seem edible, the other party looked flustered and waved her hand.
“Sugar? Why no words?”
“Do you know what that medicine looks like?”
“Huh? I know it's a pretty jade-colored liquid.”
“It's similar, but… Never mind. I won't drink it.”
When she turned away coldly, a desperate voice calling out came from behind: ‘W-wait! It's a safe medicine! I'll drink a sip first—’
“Wait there a moment.”
Sugar left that woman alone and entered the building. At that moment, the orphanage director and her younger sister were walking side by side, so Sugar approached them briskly.
“Director. The patron is in the backyard.”
“What! Why are you so quick!”
“That's what I was thinking.”
Without waiting for an answer, she went to the backyard with a whoosh.
With this, I don't need to deal with that human opponent for now.
“By the way, teacher. Do you have any cold medicine?”
“Hmm… Cold medicine? Well, there's no medicine here. Who is sick?”
The younger sister, who resembled the orphanage director but had a much more gentle expression, answered in a weak voice. She looked the same on the face, but her volume and personality were completely different.
“Yes, Tommy is a bit… Well, there probably isn't. Understood.”
With only three meals a day, even if there's gruel, there's no medicine. I didn't expect much.
I have to buy it myself.
There was a little left from the money I had saved in case of emergency when buying gifts before. I hadn't used it because I wanted to save it more, but I had to use it now.
Sugar went up to the attic to get the money and came down. In her pocket as she left were a cane and a money pouch. It was quite sturdy.
Then, she stopped abruptly.
There was a friend in the orphanage who was also a target of the cult. The problem was that friend was sick now. Even while holding the cane herself, it was uncomfortable to leave the heretic woman behind.
I know what she would do in my absence.
“Sigh…”
A useless woman. Sugar grumbled and headed to the backyard.
There, the director was trying to take Rubshi inside, and Rubshi was refusing, throwing a tantrum.
“No! It's cold! I'll bring you a cup of tea!”
“It's okay. This place is better. I have to be here.”
What is this…
Since Sugar had told her to stay here for a while, Rubshi was stubbornly refusing to keep that promise, but in Sugar's eyes, she was just an overbearing boss lady, neither more nor less.
Sugar hid her body and took out the cane.
She aimed a small stone, infused magic power, floated it low, and tapped it on the top of Rubshi's foot.
“… Ah, now that I think about it, I have an urgent errand. I'll be going.”
“No! Where are you going all of a sudden!”
Whether the director's heart burst or not, Rubshi strode after Sugar's magic power. Confirming that she was following well, Sugar passed through the forehead and headed out of the orphanage. The sound of the walking cane came at regular intervals.
Waiting ahead, Rubshi with a somewhat flushed face approached and opened her mouth shyly.
“Sugar… Actually, I was a little nervous… Offering such a kind secret sign…”
“Creepy. You're shameless, grandma.”
“Oh, my heart is still in my twenties.”
This is the repertoire of older people. Once you say that, it's set that you're old.
Holding back the urge to throw her away on the mountain, she moved her feet.
“But why the sudden outing?”
“Just follow quietly. Don't do anything unnecessary.”
“Hmm… Are we going to the pharmacy?”
“Yes. Whatever.”
No need to hide it. When she answered casually, Rubshi let out an ‘Ah…!’ exclamation and looked up.
“Since Sugar doesn't look sick, I wondered who was sick. It was that friend Tommy.”
“…”
Sugar stopped her steps.
Immediately, she put her hand in her pocket and narrowed her eyes.
“Ah, ah, it was just to satisfy my personal curiosity. H, did I have some strange thoughts? Like, while that kid who can use magic is away, I kidnap you or forcibly take you…”
“No, what are you saying so casually. Were you thinking that?”
“No! Really! If I was going to do that, I would have taken you away long ago…!”
When she saw Sugar's hand withdrawing slightly from her pocket while she was rambling excuses, Rubshi, who caught the sound, let out a sigh of relief.
“It's just… There's no way only the two of us, you and me, would be sent out. Since there's no one next to me now, it was strange and I was curious.”
“How much have you seen us to say you know everything.”
“Even if I look like this, I have good instincts.”
No? I have no instincts? Not even a mouse's tail?
If she really thought that, it would be pitiful. Looking at her with that in mind, Rubshi just smiled mysteriously.
The previous visit. She remembered the boy's magic flow that was about to attack at any moment but calmed down as soon as Sugar came.
This girl is no different from the boy's mental pillar. There was no way to send out such a suspicious heretic with just the two of them.
Sugar was desperately looking for medicine too. It must be for that kid who was always sticking around.
“You two seem to get along well…”
“If you're envious, convert. I'll get along with you a little.”
“I'm envious too, but rather… I miss it.”
When Sugar tilted her head at the incomprehensible sound, she didn't continue about it.
“—Originally, with people like us, aren't we the ones who get along well?”
“What?”
And then the atmosphere suddenly changed.
There couldn't be more nonsense than this.
“Did you eat the medicine and go crazy…”
Sugar murmured quietly in a flat tone.
Of course, compared to when they first met, her wariness towards Rubshi had decreased a bit.
What kind of personality is Sugar? She gets close to anyone quickly when together. Basically, if the other party doesn't cross the line, Sugar would respond to it.
The problem was that Rubshi had crossed the line.
A cult person who is only feared for existing.
A bad person who tormented friends.
She hadn't forgotten that day. She had flipped her precious friend's heart and crossed over without apologizing.
Since it wouldn't help to provoke, she hadn't mentioned it much, but if she suddenly touched it like this, she couldn't help but be dumbfounded.
She was just brazen. No sense of caution. Or was she pretending not to know everything and deliberately touching it?
“I'm fine. I didn't take the medicine either. Sugar, when are you going to open your heart?”
“When you come out of the cult and apologize to Tommy. You didn't apologize properly that day and just crossed over. Don't you remember?”
“The former would rather die, and the latter… Yeah. I'll admit it. I did touch it on purpose that day. I'll apologize to my friend right after I get back.”
It was an unsatisfactory answer.
The latter, yeah, even though saying it like offering sympathy didn't sit well, this was a story between the parties.
If Tommy accepts the apology, the problem is solved.
Of course, if not, she wouldn't know. Sugar was always on the side of her childhood friend.
This was thought at that time.
For now, the former. This was the biggest problem.
The root of all the negative emotions Sugar had towards Rubshi. The greatest risk factor.
Although her wariness towards Rubshi had decreased compared to before, it was only that, and fundamentally she knew she was a heretic.
She looked similar to ordinary people in outward morality, but she didn't know the inside.
The Shadow Cult.
Those who claim that the one praised as the Saint is the disaster that brings sorrow to the world, and that only he can free humanity.
How would they see this world, those who have a doctrine that denies the Saint faith entirely.
“… It seems impossible to get along with you forever.”
“No. There is still the option for Sugar to be with us.”
“I'd rather die.”
Rubshi clicked her tongue sadly.
Endless parallel lines. Originally, the world they see is different. Even if they seem to be walking in the same direction, they are looking at different places.
Without changing that gaze, they can't get close.
Sugar exhaled sadly.
This kind girl was losing her mental strength just by hating people. This conversation itself was too irritating.
Whether it was because of the cold or because the conversation was draining her energy, she walked while hugging her body, feeling cool.
“… Cold?”
Rubshi, who was walking quietly, held the cane and chanted, and a warm current enveloped Sugar's body.
“Thank you very much.”
When she answered sarcastically, ‘What kind of thing is this…’ she muttered and smiled wickedly. Then, her body twisting was creepy.
Ugh.
She missed her friend who was lying in pain. If she had been next to her, she would have shot her with sharp eyes.
Whether she knew or not that she knew that feeling. Rubshi slightly blocked Sugar's front.
“Sugar… Let me say it again this time. I have no intention of forcing you. I just want to see your face like this occasionally. Go out and buy delicious things and talk about your daily life. So, you don't have to be afraid of me at all.”
She was looking at Sugar with eyes that knew the fear she held inside. The strange eyes that see a different world from others were looking at Sugar.
“If I ask if you won't join together, see. If you don't like it, of course say you don't like it. Of course, there will be a bit of disappointment… but still, you'll work hard to earn money while expecting to meet again.”
“… I get it now. You won't force it. I've heard it several times.”
“I'm glad it got through.”
“But why are you so cautious? It's not like you're adopting a child and raising it. If you just hear it, you sound like a mom.”
It was too different from the image of the cult Sugar knew. When did you start caring so much about children's rights.
When she asked out of genuine curiosity, Rubshi hesitated.
“Ah… That's… Just…”
Then, she closed her eyes and just stood still.
As if reminiscing about memories.
As if chewing on a long hundred years.
“It's just… I remembered something from the old days.”
The faint smile she made was somehow sad.