Take Care

After the children left, the tower grew quiet once more.

Inside the now empty tower, Ian didn't feel particularly lonely.

Why? Because she had reconciled with her sister.

The Saintess, the barrier that filters out those who would bring evil to this holy land.

She had heard that the Saintess's power, which she had to tune in real-time, always gave her a headache. Even when sleeping, she couldn't sleep deeply.

Yet, her mother was always kind throughout her life. The sister who was like a machine was terrifying.

But that day was particularly gentle.

'Ianne. I love you.'

'The sincerity that won't change for a lifetime. I swear on the name of the Saintess.'

'... Please endure this for now.'

The reason she had dressed as a boy. She thought she was doing it so that the power and reverence would go to one Saintess.

But from the last words spoken in a tone similar to her mother, she sensed something and decided to believe that she had understood a bit of Ione's inner thoughts and that love.

And the second reason.

This was a bit awkward.

After sending the priestesses out, Ian looked around again. Even though she knew no one was there, she felt a bit guilty for no reason. Then she pulled out a book from under the bed.

'[The Lady's Long Afternoon]'

A novel ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about a rich young lady who grows up as a servant like a childhood friend and falls in love with her.

'Ah! Young lady, this is not right.'

'It's my heart for you, Paul.'

Something like that. A longing for a love that can't be realized due to status. Yet the lady presses on, and the servant can't push her away.

In the middle to later part, they confirm their feelings, hold hands and walk affectionately.

Suddenly enter an alley...

Go in...

" ... "

Ian's cheeks flushed red.

It was too, too indecent.

Who gave such an obscene novel to the heavenly Son of Heaven?

Cedric bought it. Thinking that at this age, she should start reading such things too, he bought it as a gift. Do girls like this? Since he knew Ian's original gender, he chose it.

If another Guardian outside Seongdo finds out, they'll be in trouble. If the older priests hear it, they'll scold her, but maybe it's okay if they don't know?

Anyway, Ian recalled this novel while looking at the two earlier.

Gently, intertwined hands. According to rumors, there were eyewitness accounts of doing such things on the roof.

Pretty girl and handsome boy. Two exquisitely beautiful people. Seeing them, they look like the protagonists in romance novels. They said "precious friend" but I don't quite understand.

"Amazing..."

Ian's age is now 14. In the midst of puberty.

The time to dream about such things.

Even if she is a girl, she has dreams, imagining while reading books, a fantasy girl full of illusions about the outside world.

If she becomes an adult and goes outside.

Perhaps then, like the protagonists in those novels...

'Kyaa! Indecent! No! No!'

Because of imagining such things, she didn't feel lonely at all.

She knows she's a woman descended from the Saint's blood, and that romance is nonsense. Even if she goes out, she shouldn't take off her disguise. But imagining in her head is okay, isn't it.

So, Ian rolling around on the bed suddenly recalled the stories Sugar and Ryly had told her.

The story that if she grows bigger, she'll go to Stille. An educational institution built by the ancestors' disciples.

Hearing that, she felt envious.

At the same time as hoping her first friend would do well, the thought 'I want to go too...' kept coming in. The school life with friends seemed so fun, she was envious.

" ... "

'Then, is Ryly going to become strong for Sugar?'

'Yes. That's right.'

'Wow, amazing... Then Sugar?'

'I'll stay here and train until Ryly comes back. I'll definitely go to Stille together.'

What amazing kids.

She heard why Sugar couldn't go out carelessly. Evil heretics were targeting her unusual constitution.

Yet, she bravely does what she can.

Ryly also made a resolve to become strong for his precious friend.

Ian felt that the two of them were grown-up.

The sight of younger kids finding what they can do and acting was so amazing.

'What I can do...'

Just demanding to go out and trying to escape to get true freedom can't be done. She knew that already. Too frustrated, she couldn't hold it in and kept trying.

But that can't be done. It would only make all those who protect her troubled.

'Like Sugar... I should do what I can...'

Ian quietly stood up from the bed.

The destination was the Saintess's room. It wasn't to throw a tantrum asking to be sent out.

The face as she moved her feet was a bit more adult-like than yesterday.

***

Sugar and Ryly, who saw the two Holy Knights fighting and ending it cleanly, returned to the room.

Ryly's room. Before leaving, he brought Sugar to give her something.

What could it be, what could it be. As she waited with a pounding heart, Ryly took out a box from the side table next to the bed.

A long wooden box. It felt familiar.

"Here."

He handed it to Sugar, wrapped in pink ribbon.

"This is..."

Quickly untied the ribbon and opened the lid.

And as expected, the contents were a wand-shaped staff. A subtly glossy dark brown wood. It looked high-class at a glance.

"Ryly... what is this..."

When did you buy this? Why are you giving this? How did you get the money? If she asked implied questions, Ryly sighed.

"Just take it. You bought me something too, right."

"Instead... but, you bought me a headband that day too... it must have been really expensive."

At that time, because of friendship with the shop owner, it was a bit discounted, but here there was no such thing.

"I just wanted to give it to you."

Parents to children. Teachers to students.

Sugar gave it to Ryly thinking 'Since family is given to family, it's like a sister giving to a brother!'

Ryly thought the opposite and gave it to Sugar. A brother to a sister.

But why am I the brother? I'm shorter than you?

Anyway, Ryly, who was also Sugar's magic master, wanted to prepare a staff for his precious friend.

"I wanted to buy you one before. Since I can't use it, I'll pass it on. Now that I don't have it, you can use it."

"I was going to borrow a training staff from the training ground..."

"Do you want to use something with the old man's touch? Just use this."

He muttered while sulking, but Ian understood the heart. The heart thinking of Sugar.

"... Thank you, Ryly."

Sugar took out the staff and showed it. It was a bit large for her small hand to hold, but considering the size, it seemed okay.

"Alright?"

"Yeah. I like it."

Then she hugged it tightly with both hands and pressed it to her chest.

"Really... really thank you. I'll cherish it thinking of you as yours. Hehe..."

" ... "

Seeing her satisfied, Ryly sat down on the bed with a thud.

"But the money? Was it okay?"

"You don't ask about that."

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠departure was imminent and there was no money right now. Borrowed from Cedric. Since he'd repay on the way, no problem.

Seeing this situation, Sugar put the staff on the table, fidgeting.

"Do you have writing utensils and paper?"

"What? There should be some left from when I testified."

Immediately, Sugar started rummaging through the room.

"What are you doing..."

"Wait."

From the drawer, Sugar pulled out writing utensils and paper.

Put them on the table and started scribbling madly. Then glanced at Ryly.

"What's that..."

Smiling slyly, turned her head and scribbled something else.

"Here, done."

" ... "

"Too thankful... I don't know how to repay what I received from you. So. When you come back, use it then."

"This is... what is this..."

"Cleaning or errands. You can ask for anything. Until then, I'll save up money too. I'll buy whatever you want. I'll do the maximum service I can."

" ... "

"Of course, even if this doesn't exist, I'll try to grant what you want... There are too many things I want to do for you. I'm your sister and precious friend. You know my heart?"

Ryly didn't hear those words.

Shaking off strange thoughts that seeped into his heart, he kept staring at the letters of '[Wish Coupon x3 (Only Ryly can use)]' endlessly.

"Ryly?"

Worried about the strange reaction. Maybe she didn't like it? Sugar called her name worriedly.

Then, Ryly nodded with a creaking sound.

And folded the Wish Coupon neatly and put it in his pocket.

Ah, probably liked it. Sugar sighed in relief.

"Ryly! Are you there? Get ready to go soon!"

At that moment, the sound of knocking on the window came. Cedric, who flies in the sky, was knocking on the window looking inside.

"Uncle! Protect privacy!"

"Iko. You were with your girlfriend. Sorry."

"It's not a girlfriend. It's my sister, childhood friend, and best friend."

As Sugar placed her hand on her hip and said boldly, Cedric clicked his tongue.

"Whatever, kids. Prepare and come out to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠city gate. You two have already said your goodbyes? Okay. The staff."

Cedric opened the window and threw Ryly's staff - which Seongdo had confiscated - inside.

"I'll go ahead."

After Cedric left. Sugar and Ryly faced each other.

" ... Let's go."

"Yeah."

When Ryly stood up and said, Sugar answered.

Since her body had come to this land, there was no burden. The two immediately went out of the cathedral.

Walking silently, and walking again.

The time walking together before the farewell was precious. Without deciding who first, they held hands.

Looking at the sky, the golden sunlight just before sunset. It poured over the two kids, dazzling.

Even though the distance to the city gate was quite far, walking silently made it arrive in an instant. Too sad.

" ... "

" ... "

When Sugar looked up at Ryly, Ryly looked down at Sugar.

"Stay healthy. Don't get hurt. Definitely. Don't get hurt."

" ... Yeah."

"Eat well. If training is hard, take it easy."

"Mom?"

"Don't scold me too much saying 'you smell like an uncle' to Uncle..."

"That's... you have to hold it in."

"What?" From far away, Cedric's voice was heard, but both ignored it.

"And... and..."

" ... "

Speak slowly. Ryly gave a slight squeeze to the hand he was holding.

While doing so, a presence was felt. Turning around, Ian was coming out with the priestesses to see them off. Quietly waving her hand as if not to disturb.

Ryly made a slightly displeased face, then sighed with a 'eh' and bowed his head towards her.

Seeing that, Sugar smiled and patted Ryly's chest. Look at me. Then Ryly turned his face back to Sugar.

"And, by the way. There's something else to say."

" ... What?"

As if waiting, Sugar slightly stretched her neck and whispered into Ryly's ear.

"Ian-nim, actually I'm a girl."

" ... !"

Then blew once into his ear and pulled away from his face.

"You said it because you're me. Got it?"

Never tell a secret. Putting a finger to her lips, continued in a small voice.

Then Ryly grabbed his ear and let out a drawn-out sigh like melting, and swayed his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠body.

"Hehe..."

"You really..."

Even at the end, she was teasing people.

With his cheeks red, Ryly wanted to get angry but stopped.

This would be gone for a while. Because of that, the anger naturally subsided.

A really annoying girl. A laugh came out.

Instead of getting angry, Ryly placed his hand on top of Sugar's head. And gently stroked. Because he wanted to remember this touch and scent properly.

Then Sugar closed her mouth and looked up at Ryly. Surprised by the unexpected reaction.

Feeling like teasing her more, Ryly, who was stroking her hair, gently lowered his hand and caressed Sugar's cheek. Soft and warm, it felt good.

While touching, Sugar kept her tightly closed lips shut, body hardening like a stone. Her cheeks seemed to get hotter and hotter.

After all that teasing, how could she do that to me. It was beyond belief.

Ryly pressed his face to the opposite cheek of Sugar.

Very lightly. As if greeting. Cheek, and pulled away from the face.

"Take care."

After the falling was a pity, he slowly removed his hand from the cheek, then moved his feet towards where Cedric was standing.

With each step, the golden hair tie swayed a little.

Sugar stood still for a long time looking at his back.

"Ah... ah... uwa..."

Holding the cheek that was kissed, she couldn't close her mouth. It turned bright red like a ripe fruit. Her head was spinning with blood rushing to it.

She didn't even give time to retaliate and left. Really. Sugar had raised a boy properly.

"Ah, adult..."

From behind, watching and joining, Ian muttered with a red face, and the priestesses silently stroked her hair.