If It Had Been Sugar
“ … How did it come to be that you're with those people?”
In a dark and ominous prison.
On the left, Sugar and Ryly. On the right, Ian and Leon.
Under a heavy atmosphere, Leon spoke first.
The couple who don't know why they came to Stille. Thinking about their personalities, how they became close to the high being called Tianzi. One is bold, the other is sharp.
So, I asked a bit.
“Uh… When I was young, I had an accident and came to Seongdo. That's when we first met.”
“Accident?”
“Yeah. Do you have any idea?”
If it's an accident that brought you to Seongdo, it's simple. A heretic victim.
Unexpected, Leon stiffened. He experienced something similar too.
“After that, somehow we got close. I received help from Sugar. After spending several years together, we came to Stille together.”
“… Did it happen like that even in Seongdo?”
“Uh… Well… Yeah… That's right. But they're good kids. Sometimes, not just occasionally, they do romantic entanglements. Still, basically they're considerate. They have strong passion to do something…”
Ian was rambling while recalling old memories.
I received a lot of help. Especially from Sugar, I'm very grateful.
Reconciliation with Ione. Motivation to go outside.
If I hadn't become close with Sugar, I probably wouldn't be here now.
I get angry every time saying 'lewd Sugar!' but, ah, that's really too lewd, what can I say.
Anyway, even so, she's a friend and younger sister that I deeply trust and cherish in my heart.
“I don't quite understand…”
Leon said doubtfully, and Ian smiled bitterly.
“Really. I don't know them well yet. Really… they're amazing.”
“…”
Leon just looked at Ian silently.
From the beginning, I felt she was a gentle person. She understood my attitude when I felt it was disrespectful. She came to pick up the handkerchief I left behind.
She is the blood of the leader of the religion that has firmly taken root in this land. Even royalty can't treat her lightly.
Originally, it would be an act that wouldn't even be allowed to look at her face.
Yet, she came out of Seongdo and mingled with normal students.
“Regarding the staff… What do you think, Ian-nim?”
I wonder what this person who is so high thinks about me. It was a bit curious.
I wanted to know what the Seongdo's thoughts are.
“Staff? That's just a nickname, right? Honestly, I think it's yours because it's your heart. Ancestor-nim probably has some great intention. Of course, I want you to follow that intention, but… I won't force it.”
A very religious answer. Not forcing, but wanting obedience.
“… Many people don't think like that.”
This came out as a casual remark.
I've been tired of people's curious gazes for days. Since the high person said it like this, I wanted to complain.
“That's… Because everyone has a lot of hardships. Like you and Ryly, many people have suffered from heretics… So maybe they want to try something.”
“We haven't even known each other for long. It's just troublesome.”
“… I was a bit curious. Why don't you use Ancestor-nim's staff. Is it because of the heavy burden?”
“The burden is one thing, but if I have to say, I think it's a matter of qualification.”
“Qualification?”
“I understand the people's desire to see heroes. But I can't be that person. I'm too busy worrying about what I can hold in my hands. I don't have the leeway to look around or the generosity to protect others… I don't have it. I'm infinitely lacking to be expected of.”
“…”
“For someone like me, to be given such an object, is it really the right thing? The expectant gazes are honestly… just nauseating.”
Ian closed her mouth. Leon's revealing his inner thoughts was unexpected, she was a bit surprised.
Leon regretted it after speaking.
Why is he talking about this too? The high person. The prince who grew up receiving all love and protection from Seongdo, not knowing the world. Somehow, looking at those purple eyes, words just flowed out.
It might be reverence for the bloodline of a divine being. Like wanting to pour everything out in front of the gods.
‘ … When my mother became like that, I cried and begged, but there was no response.’
But now, if I throw the Saint's staff at her. If I show those purple eyes. I don't know what to do.
Leon just lowered his head.
“Sorry. That was a slip of the tongue.”
Looking at that head, Ian's heart was fluttering.
I don't know what to say.
The heavy burden given by Ancestor-nim. The mind without confidence about herself. The inner thoughts contained in the calm expression and tone.
Looking at such Leon, whether Ian herself is in a position to say something. Such worries came to the forefront.
Should I comfort her by belittling herself as much as possible? Or rather, should I rebuke her solemnly?
The position as Tianzi. Ian's thoughts, Ianne's thoughts. Male. Female. Everything is tangled.
What if it was Sugar? It suddenly came to mind.
That kind and sweet friend, the one who moved Ione's heart, what kind of reaction would she have.
What action would she take towards a young man locked in melancholy.
Thinking, Ian made a decision.
“Leon.”
She called his name first.
Then he slightly lifted his head. Completely black eyes. Every time they meet, he never smiles, always hollow and gloomy.
I don't know what thoughts are in there, but today I learned a bit.
So, as a friend. An act of friendship towards the person who will be my roommate.
Let's stay close in the future.
Ian extended her hand to Leon. Immediately pulled him into her arms, pressing her own chest against his chest, and patted his back.
‘If it was Shu, Shu-ga, she would have done this, right?’
Well, only to the man who allowed her body once.
Anyway, since she wanted to comfort him, Ian hugged Leon. Since Ancestor-nim gave the burden, I, the descendant, should comfort him. That's what she thought.
“Yes, I understand what kind of heart you have. But… At least I won't force it. As Tianzi, I'll respect your choice without saying anything. I hope this is a comfort.”
“…”
“I also received a lot of such gazes since I was young, so I understand a bit… Of course, I'm used to it. But you're not. Suddenly becoming like that must be confusing. That expectation… envious gazes… It's not like you became the Saint overnight. Right?”
She continued talking calmly while patting his back. A woman's voice that's a bit low. A man's voice that's a bit high. That strangely stable tone is soothing.
“So… That heart, at least as Tianzi, I understand. As someone with an extremely high position in Seongdo, I'll understand. So, cheer up.”
After patting Leon's back who was standing silently for a long time, she suddenly looked down.
‘ … The bandage should be fixed well?’
She hid her chest with a bandage that was specially treated to increase pressure infinitely. She checks occasionally in the bathroom if it's fixed, but just in case. It's a bit worrying.
Checking, well, it seems fine.
At that time, Leon started fidgeting his body.
“Ah, I understand. Let go now.”
“Ah… Yeah.”
“… Thank you for the words. It was comforting beyond my station.”
“No. And, I said things like that, but don't think of me as Tianzi or whatever. Think of me as a friend. You don't have to be so high.”
“I'll try my best.”
Leon lowered his head deeply and said 'U, I'll go handle the leftover stuff.' and headed to the opposite side of Ian. The back view of him running hurriedly was strangely worrying.
‘Ah. Now that I think about it…’
I hugged a peer male.
Hugging a man and a woman in a hidden place, what a lewd act, but Ian, who always scolds Sugar and Ryly.
But now I'm a man. Since it's a man, there's no problem.
… No problem.
First, the conversation went smoothly.
Somehow my head is hot, but anyway, I managed safely.
‘I can do it too!’
The distance from men. This is fine, right?
If this is the case, living in the same room won't be a problem, right?
Ian, while thanking Ancestor-nim for guidance and feeling relieved, tightly held her jumping chest.
‘ … I was too tense.’
Looking at Leon's reaction, it didn't seem very pleasant. Maybe I made a slip of the tongue?
Thinking of a bit worried thought, she also started handling the leftover stuff.
***
“Did you finish over there?”
“Yeah. It seems pretty done.”
Sugar and Ryly, who were particularly sticky, peeked out their faces.
“But… How did you clean while doing that…”
“I don't know. Now that the shop is built, I'll be more attached than I couldn't do during that time.”
More than this!
Ian was shocked, Leon frowned, and Sugar made Ian and Leon grab their cheeks with a terrifying Sugar.
“Nonsense. Think about maintaining that score.”
“You too— while enjoying—”
Ian let out a dry cough seeing that sight.
“Hmm. Well, is there any place I haven't been to? And what about ghost cleaning?”
Then Sugar, who was freed from Leon's cheek pinching, answered.
“Wait a minute… I received a map too. Ah, there's one place left. It's in a somewhat cornered place so I couldn't see it. And ghost cleaning… I'll do this with Ryly. After leftover processing is done, Ian-nim and Leon go first.”
“Is that okay?”
“Originally, we were supposed to do it with just the two of us. Thanks for helping this much. Thanks to Leon too for helping.”
“… No. If it helped, that's good.”
Sugar looked at Leon. After looking at him a bit intently, she turned her head and led the way.
“First, the way is this way. I'll guide you.”
Next to such Sugar, Ryly was looking at the map together.
“… Hmm?”
“Why?”
“Here. The structure is a bit strange.”
She tapped a place on the map.
“… Ah. I see? Why is the structure like this? Is it because it's a prison?”
Two people who were following the conversation of the two peeked out their faces.
“What?”
“Here. This room… or should I say passage. There's no entrance. When I look at it actually, it's roughly around there.”
Sugar, looking at the map, raised her head and pointed to a place in the prison with her hand. Since she didn't carry a map and walk around in the original story, she doesn't know the space. Even if she saw it, it's a memory from over 10 years ago. It might have been forgotten.
“It looks quite spacious on the map…”
Muttering, Sugar examined the walls around there. No matter how she looked, there was nothing that could be called a door.
“… Should we just pretend not to know?”
“Yeah.”
“That would be good.”
“… Let's do that.”
Unanimous agreement. A pretty good team.
The four people moved their feet to go the way they came.
Like before, Sugar and Ryly in front, Ian and Leon following behind.
- Kkung kkung.
“Here… to the left…”
- Kkung kkung.
“And straight…”
- Kkung kkung kkung.
“- then a room comes out ahead.”
- Kkung kkung kkung.
“No, who is rolling their feet this big?”
Sugar turned around and stopped, and the bewildered colleagues appeared.
The three people who stopped following her stop.
But the knocking vibration sound didn't stop.
“…”
Then something suddenly came to mind.
Highest caution. If you feel a vibration as if the body is shaking suddenly, immediately leave that place.