56. Just in Case
Sugar had decided to become Cedric’s disciple.
‘I’ll come back… someday.’
The next morning.
Sugar was playing the piano.
More precisely, she was tapping her fingers on the cafe table in a piano-like rhythm, producing a tinny ting-ting sound. Her movements were surprisingly fluid, as if she had actually learned to play in her previous life.
Unfortunately, no sound was coming out. Of course, there was a piano in the cathedral for worship, but that wasn’t the point. The piano itself didn’t matter.
She stared blankly into space, occasionally letting out strange little sounds like “ue…” It didn’t matter if it was the piano or not.
She was shocked because her friend was leaving the Holy City.
She had long since forgotten the words “I’ll come back.”
It was simply a fact.
Ryly was leaving Sugar.
That was the only thing lingering in her mind.
“…”
Ryly had outstanding magical talent.
Even with the grimoire, the level he had reached at such a young age could only be called talent. It was a talent worthy of a Guardian’s notice.
Sugar had no right to stop such a boy. No matter what she said about becoming family, he wasn’t truly family, and even if he were, he should be wishing for the child’s happiness.
He had always carried a sense of inferiority about not having a proper teacher. Sugar had solved the problems with the staff or family, but she couldn’t fix the teacher issue.
So he should be happy about this chance. He was grateful to have the opportunity to receive proper education from a superb person and to become superb himself.
He had already thought about the boy leaving his side. As I said, he had no right to stop him.
Still.
The shock was too much to put into words.
“Ahaha…”
Whether laughing or sighing, the sound coming from the table far away drew Cedric’s attention. He asked Ryly,
“Why is he acting like that?”
“… I told him. That I’m leaving.”
“Did you say it properly?”
“Yes.”
“Even if I look at it, it doesn’t seem like you did…”
Cedric stroked his beard, thinking for a moment, then spoke again.
“Didn’t you give him a sweet line?”
“Huh?”
“Something like ‘for you’ or ‘I’ll get strong and come back.’ One manly line like that would make the girl side feel better.”
Ryly wanted to retort that he smelled like an uncle but held back and said something else.
“It’s obvious I’d be worried. Starting with ‘Why would you throw away your life for me…’ and then what? It’s fine. Just… as long as you know I’ll come back.”
He hadn’t said anything about becoming strong for her.
He had simply said, “I’m leaving to become Cedric’s disciple. I’ll return when I enter Stille.”
No deep conversation. He thought it would only add burden, so he kept it short.
Originally, if judging by being manly, wasn’t this more manly?
“You’ll regret it. In long-distance relationships, if you don’t properly soothe the other person’s heart, they’ll just run off to someone else. You need to make them understand the reason for leaving.”
The sight of the uncle adding “I haven’t experienced much of it…” was somehow sad.
Ryly let out a heavy sigh.
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“Ah, I see.”
“And that kid is tough. Even without me, she’ll be fine in a week.”
The reason Sugar had changed. Ryly thought it wasn’t a big deal.
Just because a close friend and little brother was leaving his side. The lively kid who always teased him was gone. It was a slight sense of loss, making her a bit strange.
Who was Sugar. A bold girl who treated teasing people as her life’s joy.
Since her favorite thing was disappearing right away, she was acting like that.
From the onlookers’ perspective, maybe not, but at least Ryly thought that.
He even felt a bit upset in a corner of his heart, thinking she’d quickly make new friends and become cheerful again.
So Cedric, who could see the boy’s heart clearly in front of him, clicked his tongue.
“Sigh. Little one. As an adult, I’ll give you one piece of advice for this immature and honest kid.”
“… What?”
“Girls like her. When they come to their senses, they’ll disappear somewhere. If you don’t catch them properly, maybe…”
He was indeed an unpredictable kid. When interest sparked, they’d suddenly go that way. They quickly befriend almost anyone.
“Look at her now.”
Following the gesture, Ryly turned his head hesitantly, but there was none.
The Sugar who had been playing piano had disappeared in that time.
“Ah!”
“I told you, right?”
Ryly didn’t look back and ran out of the cafe. Normally, whether wandering alone or not didn’t matter, but now the kid was a bit off her rocker. Who knew what she’d do.
“Those kids are tough.”
Cedric, watching the scene, muttered while sipping his coffee.
***
Sugar walked as she pleased.
Her steps were heavy and listless, but the speed was amazing. When she came to her senses, she was already on the cathedral roof. Having climbed it yesterday, she had felt quite high and refreshing, so her feet naturally took her there.
From up there, she admired the scenery of the Holy City.
Under the blue winter sky, a warm wind blew across the blessed land. The monotonous yet elegant white buildings were placed harmoniously. The holy city that believers of the Saint faith would want to visit once.
Being trapped in such a place felt desolate. Sugar crouched and sat, gazing at the Holy City scenery endlessly.
“I want to follow her too…”
Then the thought she had been holding in her heart spilled out.
She wanted to see the world, learn magic from the Guardian, feel the joy of living with freedom.
And she wanted to share all of that with him.
Being with a friend doing something together was really fun. But being unable to do that made her depressed. She felt left out.
Even while wrapping her head around her own immaturity, her heart was constantly stuffy.
“Aaaaa–!!”
Putting those feelings into a shout, a customer peeked from behind a pillar.
“You startled me! Be quiet!”
Caught…! The kid with the hood flipped back, covering her mouth and teasing.
The boy she saw yesterday. Tianzi. Your Highness.
Even knowing that, Sugar didn’t take any action. She didn’t seem like she’d like such fuss. Just muttered the title shortly.
“Tianzi.”
“… Yeah. Since you saw me yesterday, you figured it out.”
She slightly lifted the hood, revealing short ivory hair and purple eyes. She looked pretty, so she looked like a girl at first glance. Such a boy stood boldly.
“Should I greet you?”
“No need. But why? It’s different from yesterday.”
When she came closer, Sugar buried her face in her knees.
“This life is so annoying. Really annoying. I don’t need this kind of body…”
“What? Why…”
“Because of my unusual body, I can’t do anything else. It’s so annoying…”
“Huh? You got trapped here too?”
“Not exactly trapped… I can leave if I want to.”
Tianzi jumped up.
“Then why don’t you leave! It’s not like the Holy Knights are blocking you like me!”
“Because it would be a nuisance to myself and the surrounding people. If I get hurt, there would be people who would be sad… so… would there be…?”
“… Huh?”
Tianzi slowly backed away from the strange reaction, and Sugar spat out words as if it didn’t matter.
“Just… I don’t know. You leave the Holy City and suddenly go outside? It’s fine. It can be done… but without any lingering attachment, coolly leaving? Was our relationship that shallow? Am I just a burden? Even though you get red-faced just looking at me? Recently acting tough somehow? You’re too arrogant. Annoying. Even though you’re a little kid, if you could use magic, it’d be over?”
“No, calm down… you probably have some thoughts too.”
“Then why don’t you tell me that?”
“How would I know…”
Had she been drinking? Even though she knew she was the Saint’s bloodline, she was acting like this for the first time. Originally, it was rare to talk to peers, so she was wondering if this was normal, and Sugar blurted out.
“You’re Tianzi, right?”
“… Except for being born from the same womb as my sister, there’s nothing special. For now… my sister has all the power.”
“Then does the Saintess know?”
“I don’t know! I really don’t know what’s in that human’s head… She doesn’t seem like the same person. She always covers her face with a veil. Doesn’t talk much. Annoying!”
“Really?”
“That’s what I said! I don’t know what she’s thinking. She’s like a stone!”
In the game, I saw her once, and she was really stiff. I thought she was someone who chose to protect the authority suitable for the Saint’s staff. I didn’t know she would do that to family too.
“You must be having a hard time too.”
“So!”
Sugar looked at the shouting Tianzi and nodded slightly.
The thoughtless behavior from yesterday made her seem like a child, but at the same time, she felt a kinship. When she agreed with her, Tianzi smiled faintly.
“You. What’s your name?”
“Sugar.”
“I’m Ianne…”
“Huh?”
She trailed off, so Sugar asked back.
“Ianne. I’m Ianne. I’ll allow you to call me by name specially.”
“Wow.”
I gained an in-road.
I have to brag to Ryly—
“…”
Sugar shook her head vigorously.
“But, Tianzi. Is it okay to be like this? The Holy Knights will be looking for you.”
“I’m observing the situation here. I’m looking at the time when the security gets a bit loose.”
She really wanted to go outside the Holy City. No matter how much I think, I won’t recommend it, but I can’t stop her either.
“I’ll pray for you.”
“What! You’re not helping?”
“Then I’ll be in big trouble. At least I have to make sure not to drag in the surrounding people.”
“…”
Not knowing what punishment she’d receive for trying to steal the Saint’s descendant. When Sugar warned her, Ianne lowered her head deeply.
“… You’re right. Sorry.”
She reflected quickly. Even though she was pampered, she probably received good education.
“Just… it’s the first time I’ve had a friend who’s a girl of my age. I got carried away.”
“Huh? Are we friends?”
“Uh… no?”
Her eyes widened. A slightly disappointed expression. Exactly like a young child.
“It’s a joke. We’re friends.”
“What!”
She got angry but laughed cutely. That smile blooming like a flower was nice to see.
“Ah, this kid…”
Watching her, it felt like I learned a secret.
The younger sister of the original Saintess.
And the younger brother of the current real Saintess.
I realized a bit of the secret entangled between the genders, but since I wouldn’t ask, I decided to bury it and pretend not to know.
Sugar also just gave a curious smile.
“Haa?”
In the middle of that.
There was one boy hiding and watching them.
The blond boy who followed the girl’s magical power and eventually climbed to the cathedral roof.
So, when he tried to call out to Sugar, he saw her laughing happily—only in Ryly’s eyes. After being so gloomy earlier? Was that the case?
There was also a boy who looked like a girl in front of him. They were laughing together. Just like that, happily.
As if they had become good friends.
“Haaaa?”