Because It's Scary
Seongdo is a religious city, but it is still a place where people live.
Moreover, it is the origin of Saint faith and the holy land where the Saint’s remains rest. There are countless people applying for entrance permits for tourism.
Amid all this, the market cannot be skipped.
“Wow…”
Sugar’s eyes widened as she took in the market of Seongdo for the first time. Unlike the city she had lived in before, the religious atmosphere was thick here. The goods on sale, the buildings themselves—all of them were white, so the feeling was overwhelming.
Her gaze turned as if she had come to see the sights like a tourist girl.
Decorations made of white wood. Magic tools crafted in connection with the Floating Island. Street foods.
The crowd was bustling. The Descent period had nearly ended, yet the lingering heat still lingered.
While wandering through such a market, signs that stole one’s gaze appeared everywhere.
“Guardian-nim also enjoys it! Seongdo specialty, Palmangseong bread!”
Since the Saint had descended to this land alongside the stars, the compass-like design of the Palmangseong had become the main symbol of the Saint cult.
In my previous life, it would have been something like “cross bread.”
But could they really put up an advertisement like that? I understood the sentiment behind “The President came and went!” yet this was a religious city. The sacredness… it felt as if one star-shaped bread alone could pull you down.
Feeling a bit uneasy, she glanced at Ione. The Saintess simply passed the sign without any reaction.
Well, if the leader approved it, then it was fine.
Sugar followed behind as well.
Then, as if naturally, she stopped and turned around. It was one of her habits. Always walking one step ahead when with friends, she would check to make sure they were following.
Of course, the blonde-haired boy appeared. Sugar, turning back out of habit, was startled to see what lay ahead.
He had grown so tall. How annoying.
The kid who got annoyed at his own actions and picked on others unnecessarily.
Sugar, seeing in front, simply followed Ione in silence. The Saintess walking ahead was roaming around freely, having had several outing experiences.
The younger sister was locked away, yet she did this.
She didn’t seem like someone who acted out of selfishness on purpose.
Her speech was extremely laconic, and her actions were strange. Maybe she was hiding some ulterior motives that others couldn’t see?
In the end, since she had allowed Ryly’s grimoire, she couldn’t be a bad person!
Sugar let out a silent laugh. Then she sighed deeply, thinking of Ryly. Her emotions ran wild, up and down.
When she got lost in her own thoughts like this, she decided to try engaging in conversation.
“But where are we going?”
Ione turned back slightly at Sugar’s loud voice. She tilted her head as if questioning what she was being asked.
“Gift.”
“Do you have a store you know?”
The head tilted sharply.
What? Had she asked something wrong? While Sugar was flustered by the meaningless action, Ione spread her arms wide, as if all the stores around here were such places.
“Could it be that you’ve been looking for gifts while wandering around?”
Ione nodded.
Wow. This person was really hard to deal with.
“You brought me along to choose together. You can ask us anything.”
Even though she hadn’t known Ian for even a day, since it was just choosing a gift for a kid, she could give opinions.
When she said that, Ione stood still for a moment, then nodded slightly.
“First, while walking so far, was there anything you liked?”
Puzzled.
Yes or no.
While Sugar waited quietly, Ione pointed to a store. It was a shop that handled magic tools made on the Floating Island.
For a kid who was desperate to go outside, what would the reaction be if she bought something from the outside world?
Still, thinking it would be better than the things she saw every day in Seongdo, Sugar offered her opinion.
“It seems good.”
Then their gazes turned to Ryly. But Ryly had already been sparkling with eyes at that store. No need to ask. He was a magic otaku.
Entering the store, a strange scent wafted out. Light yet heavy, mysterious. A candle was lit in a corner of the shop, smelling like that.
“Wow…”
Just looking at the store, the original work vaguely came to mind. Potions, elixirs, throwing tools, orgeole chasing monsters, card games where you bet souls, lie-detecting crystal balls. And suspicious accessories like cat ears, rabbit ears. Things she knew immediately.
On one side, there was a match that improved one’s mood.
“Match!”
When she approached, the owner popped out and said, “Kids don’t do that,” blocking her. She hadn’t come to buy, just to look.
With a hint of regret, she glanced beside her. Ryly came into view. He was standing in the “Saint corner,” surrounded by copies of the magic book written by the Saint for his disciples and a one-fifth size model of the Saint’s staff.
“…Reminds me of the old days.”
Not just old—last year. The time she had gone to the “White Wood Shade” antique shop. The time they secretly bought things and gave each other surprise gifts.
The item on Sugar’s head now was the gift she had received then. Slightly touched, it was soft.
“…”
Thinking of that time and comparing it to now, her chest felt tight. A very sharp, heavy thing had entered and was stirring her insides wildly.
That day had been truly good. She wanted to keep it that way.
If like this, without being able to reconcile, and that kid left.
I am…
“This.”
Surprise!
Ione pushed two items in front of Sugar’s eyes.
A model that looked like it had cut the sea. In the other hand, a model that looked like it had cut the sky. In the latter, a small island model estimated to be the Floating Island was included at the bottom.
Ione tilted her head while holding a square model that could be held in one hand.
Sugar’s thoughts were broken.
Yeah, first, I have to complete the assigned task.
“Choose one of the two? I’ll look at the sea first.”
Then Ione gave her one model.
The moment the model touched her hand.
-Shuaaaaa!
The background of reality flew by in an instant. In front was only the sea.
Waving blue water. Colorful coral reefs. Tropical fish swimming under the sunlight seeping in were beautiful.
Water sounds everywhere. Bubbling. Reaching out, it seemed like it would cool down immediately, a slightly creepy sight.
“The sea is scary, right.”
Opening her mouth and giving her body to the flow.
Ah.
Dduk— The illusion ended.
Ione took back the model from Sugar’s hand.
Then the sky model. Touching it, it fell into the vast sky. Blue sky with clouds flowing. Watching the distant ground, the Floating Island was visible far away.
“O…”
While admiring, the illusion ended.
“Both are good…”
A device to see the illusion of the outside world prepared for a kid who couldn’t go out.
Was this right? Worried it might just be false hope.
When she trailed off, Ione tilted her head again.
Whatever. Sugar opened her mouth.
“I wonder if my brother will like it. Rather, it might just stimulate the desire to go outside.”
“Now. This is fine.”
Surprisingly, a direct answer came. An extremely firm answer. Sugar had nothing to say, so she just closed her mouth.
Then Ione went to Ryly and gave each model.
Ryly, slightly dazed, then his gaze returned to reality.
“Both seem good.”
“Only one.”
“Then sea.”
“I want the sky!”
From the side, Sugar shouted and stuck out her tongue at Ryly. The boy who was challenged turned his head away as if not wanting to respond.
Amid the divided opinions.
Ione weighed the models in both hands up and down.
And said one word.
“Buy both.”
Ah. Wise.
.
.
.
Carrying the packaged models, they came outside.
Then, a gurgling sound came from Sugar’s stomach. The result of being shocked by Ryly’s “I’m leaving” confession and skipping breakfast. That Sugar had skipped meals was a pretty serious matter.
The aftereffects were starting to show. Dizziness. Cold sweat. Hypoglycemia seemed to be coming.
“Hmph…”
Sugar, forcing herself, cleared her throat and winked towards the Palmangseong bread shop.
Warm hands for the poor hungry little kid. With such feelings, she kept giving signals to the Saintess.
“?”
But Ione just tilted her head.
No choice.
“Uhm… If it doesn’t bother you, just one bread…”
Final blow. Iron plate on the face.
Then surprisingly, Ione happily headed to the stall owner. Communication was difficult, but the request was properly fulfilled.
Ah…! Look at that benevolent back. She was truly the Saintess.
“I will bury my bones in the Saint cult from today…”
Sugar was thinking that if Rubshi heard, she would faint saying “No, my Saintess—!!”
Ryly, who clearly showed what he was thinking after buying one bread, clicked his tongue beside her.
.
.
.
Eating warm, cozy bread one by one, on the way back to the cathedral.
“Thank you for the bread!”
“…Thank you.”
When the two kids greeted her, Ione dismissed it lightly.
This person was like this. Basically not a bad person. Expressing emotions or anything was extremely laconic, just like a rock.
Conversely, Ian had quite rich emotions. So they might not match well.
While eating the chocolate-flavored bread.
Suddenly, a savory smell from the side made Sugar turn her head. The smell from Ryly’s cheese-flavored bread.
“…”
While eating, drooling Sugar. Staring at the orange bread intently, then slightly lifting her head, she saw Ryly looking down at her.
Quickly turned her head. It was nothing. The one she was holding was much tastier. Didn’t want to eat at all.
“Hey.”
But suddenly, a bread popped up in front of her eyes. Half of the cheese-flavored bread.
Ryly was handing it over.
Pushed almost to the nose, she had to receive it.
“…Mine too half.”
“Fine.”
When Sugar tried to share her own, Ryly passed by.
“What…”
What really.
Staring sharply, again Ione popped out.
Again!
Surprise!
This time, she was holding out a beautifully wrapped envelope. The illusion models she had bought earlier.
While looking up at Ione with the question of why she was giving this to her, she said shortly.
“Give it to him instead.”
“Huh? I should give it directly.”
“I bought it. It’s a gift I’m giving.”
“What is this…”
A word that didn’t make sense.
Sugar’s one eyebrow rose. The woman hiding her face. Her voice was always emotionless and flat, so she didn’t know what she was thinking.
A personality that others couldn’t help but misunderstand.
Still, Sugar decided to ask subtly.
This person was not the noble bloodline of the Holy City owner who couldn’t know the inside as a criminal.
Just think of her as a slightly strange older sister who thought about her younger brother.
“Is there a reason not to give it directly even though you want to comfort the crying… because you think about your brother enough to choose the gift yourself?”
Gentle tone. Such eyes.
A kind girl to everyone. Especially to kids. Ione was still in her mid-teens. Yet, as the head of the religion surrounding the continent, she had to lead everyone.
In such a position, how many people could she be comfortable with?
Sugar asked warmly as if to say “tell me what’s in your heart,” not matching her age.
“…”
-The Saintess’s will is the will of the sky…
-I don’t understand! Sister! It’s weird!
The inner thoughts no one had asked. Mind that didn’t even think of finding out.
Since childhood, Ione, who didn’t show even one tear or one smile, had become “such an existence” before inheriting the title of Saintess from her mother.
At least, the younger sister who could talk equally just pushed her away saying she couldn’t understand her.
While Ione became an object of reverence from all, she became infinitely isolated.
She hadn’t particularly felt lonely. Originally, she had little emotions. She was born that way, and had to live that way.
Amid this, a small kid asked.
“Is there a reason? Is there a reason to hide your inner thoughts?”
As if asking that.
Then, moved by the sunny smile, remembering the smile her younger brother had shown someday.
Ione showed a very small piece of her inside.
“…Because it’s scary.”