First Activity
The Moonlight Dragon, the Cloud Sea Dragon, and the Gem Dragon.
These three dragons had been worshipped by humans for their robust power and majestic presence even before the Saint's arrival. While their position meant they weren't on great terms with the Saint's cult, they weren't openly at odds either.
“Why the dragons? What exactly is it that’s missing from the cult…?”
“It’s just a hypothesis. Those scale pieces and horn pieces they sell in the market aren’t enough to build a tower of this size. It’s just opening up possibilities.”
The Gem Dragon sometimes sells parts of its body in the market. It hides its true form, appears at some random market, pretends to sell worthless minerals, and then vanishes suddenly.
There are many scammers who copy this, and methods to identify the real ones have been spread, but scammers in any world are clever. In response, fake items are created, and ways to spot the deception are also revealed. They develop competitively.
The eccentric Gem Dragon seems to enjoy it, just watching from the sidelines.
Sugar had also bought combination items as props in the original story. She could buy them from the shop where a merchant-scammer stood. At first she thought they were real and spent money, but later a sub-quest appeared to buy the real ones.
“We don’t take it seriously. Even if we did, the dragons wouldn’t help the cult.”
“Then how did you obtain this material?”
“Hmm… I have my own expectations, though.”
Cedric closed his mouth and looked at Ryly. In response, Ryly gave a slight nod.
“Well then, miss. That’s not as important as the matter at hand. Let’s start with the inspection.”
After that, the inspection was conducted using Sugar. Although the words were grand, there was nothing special. Having Sugar stand near the tower, or observing how the tower reacts when Sugar holds her staff and uses magic, or placing Sugar at the top.
“Is there anything you feel?”
“No!”
“Then come down.”
She jumped down immediately. When Ryly tried to catch her, she deliberately changed course and landed next to him.
“…”
“Hmph.”
She’s been a woman with a twisted stomach since earlier. Ryly desperately tried to hold back the urge to grab her pale hair and stuff it in. Next to him, Cedric muttered ‘How childish…’ and wrote the results on paper.
“But the things they’re doing are simpler than I thought.”
“It’s supposed to be. That’s how experiments are. You start with simple things at first. You shake a bottle, check the color, smell it, test the temperature, and probe one by one.”
As Sugar approached, Cedric answered.
“Hmm… But none of them seem to react to me. What on earth is the purpose of this tower.”
“At least it’s not just for decoration. Next. This time, let’s try direct contact.”
To fully test, they didn’t bring subordinates on purpose. Everyone knows about Sugar’s unique mana properties, but just in case. Humans are weak to the unseen.
The general public’s fear of the unapproachable, disgust, a bit of awe, and the resulting hatred.
If Sugar stands there with pure black mana, the expected reaction is fear.
Considering this, they were moved away so they could exert their full power. It was consideration for Sugar and for the subordinates.
“It might be better to check the surroundings first.”
At that moment, Ryly interjected slightly. Since direct contact could be dangerous, it was better to first check if there were parts around here that react differently or have no material.
“That’s good too. Then the two of you go around once and come back.”
Cedric nodded, skillfully holding a pen smaller than his palm.
Immediately, Sugar set off briskly. Ryly followed behind.
“Why are you following? I’m fine alone.”
“Nonsense.”
He held her hand and stuck close.
Sugar stared at his hand for a long time, then exhaled.
“What a fool.”
She was talking to herself.
Sugar recalled the events that had happened. Not just today, but several days ago.
As they walked hand in hand in silence, thoughts kept rising. The main content was her own clumsy appearance. Making Ryly uncomfortable, and making him uncomfortable again.
Why do I always do this?
This man always worries about me and takes care of me. How can I not be able to do that and still get angry?
If I’m angry, I should at least talk honestly about it. I have pride, so I pretend it’s not the case.
She’s like a child. Isn’t that similar to a child who clings to a toy and whines?
Ryly is a person, alive, breathing, with free will. He came to Stille with that will, and stayed by Sugar’s side with that will.
He received a favor that was already too much just for that. If even a little thing doesn’t go his way, his heart twists.
After getting angry, all that remains is regret. The question of why he got angry. Nothing changes. He only tires out the people around him.
Sugar knew this well but still did it. Saying in words that you are the most precious, that I trust you the most, but then doing actions that don’t match.
She becomes obsessed. She wants him to always be hers. Not with other women. To meet her expectations.
If I laugh, you laugh too. If you hate what I hate.
How arrogant this is. She lowers her head in shame.
This cannot be forced. Service and consideration are never like that. Only when done with a heart from the heart can it be called ‘real’.
Originally, it’s not something to ask of others, but something one must do oneself.
Especially to this man. Very, especially.
Sugar looked up at Ryly. He would know. How much he didn’t want her to come with him. Even now, the worry that something might happen is felt through his hand.
But she still flirts in the spring breeze, having strange illusions, and even gets angry.
Perhaps when she was younger, she might have been more mature. Back then, she only paid attention to embracing the young Ryly, so she didn’t ask anything of him.
“Has it increased because I’ve become more dependent now?”
The growing Ryly. A man much larger and stronger than Sugar. His height, shoulders, arms are all incomparable. Now she is even smaller than Ian, a peer woman.
As she chewed on it, her own intention began to appear.
At some point, her heart started worrying about Ryly.
The heart that wants him to be hers, that wants him to become her own.
The heart that was annoyed and frustrated without knowing why.
During the day, being close to Ryly was too good, and at night, she drew Ryly in her mind. Since coming to Stille, she has been living with a tender feeling.
This is definitely…
This heart is definitely…
“A wicked weakness that wants to lean on Ryly! I’m dependent, Sugar!!”
Under the influence of the Saintess Nova, Sugar’s eyes widened as she swept away the superficial.
What she had to do now was only one thing!
“Ryly! I have something to say to you—”
At that moment.
The moment she was about to talk grandly about the remorse for today and the direction for the future.
Blink. It was the feeling of someone turning off and on the light in the room.
Since it was outdoors, it was an absurd expression, but she thought it was the perfect analogy.
Or perhaps Sugar had just blinked, and the world had continued as usual.
Either way, it was a good thing.
Sugar looked at her empty hand. The hand with a vague warmth left in it. But there was no one to hold it. It disappeared in an instant.
Looking around, there were many people. About twenty. Black-robed people she didn’t recognize were all staring at Sugar with wide eyes.
“Who are you…?”
“Why did you suddenly appear…?”
I don’t know either. Sugar was bewildered.
It was a narrow or wide place. A closed space surrounded by gray stone walls. For that reason, it was hard to breathe.
A moment ago, they had been walking hand in hand with Ryly in the forest around the crystal tower.
“What is this…? What triggered it?”
There is always a cause for everything. It couldn’t have fallen here suddenly.
“The time exposed in that place? Or my mindset? Or…?”
While thinking, the people’s gazes became more confused. First, I had to calm these people down.
“Wait. Everyone, please calm down…”
But the reaction was not good. As Sugar extended her hand slightly and opened her mouth, they all trembled like aspen trees and started clustering together. It looked like grazing animals.
“Oh… How can such power…”
“Please don’t be angry… Please take us… It’s too big for us…”
“Are you an Apostle? Has a new Apostle come?”
What kind of nonsense is this. Sugar opened her mouth wide.
First, their clothes. Familiar. And the familiar titles. In the middle of getting an unwanted answer, she felt that the energy flowing through her body was strange. The feeling that it was stuffy and hard to breathe since earlier.
This sticky, unpleasant energy lingering in the body was not of the Evil God.
Sugar quickly started isolation work. Ugh. Holding back the nausea, she pushed it into a corner of her body and wrapped it in mana. Anyone else would have died long ago.
Then, startled, she looked around. The people’s gazes full of fear gradually changed to surprise, and surprise to awe-filled fear. It was visible changing step by step.
What could Sugar do in this situation.
“…K-kneel?”
Thud-
About twenty people knelt at once.
“I’m afraid… I’m afraid… Just please release us.”
“It is too disrespectful to be in the same space…”
“Please forgive us for not recognizing…”
They bowed their heads and started trembling again.
Sugar had a complicated feeling. A completely different attitude from the Shadow Cult disciples she knew before. Sudden unexpected situation. Words she couldn’t say to Ryly.
In the middle of it, she only thought one thing.
“Ryly… I’ll do my best…!”
I’ll prove I can overcome without relying on you. I’ll throw off my weakness.
A strangely illusory thought, but anyway, the direction was good, so maybe it’s fine.
A mixed promise that you hope nothing happens to you, and a vague worry. That I might get struck by lightning right after escaping.
No matter what, getting information and allies is important. I have to do what I have to do.
But I know two Saintesses. The Saint in the sky probably won’t mind this much, right?
With a solemn expression, Sugar wiped the sweat, and extended her hand. For dramatic effect, she didn’t forget to slightly spew black mana.
“Do not be afraid. I will be with you all–”
On that day, the Saintess of the Evil God began her first activity.