"Lucia…?"
Kurose Akira held Lucia tightly against his chest, his footsteps coming to an abrupt halt.His large hand rested over her waist and hips, clearly feeling the faint tremor running through her body.
"I didn't…"
In his arms, Lucia let out a soft, broken sob. Both hands clenched hard at Akira's collar, her fingers digging through the fabric and pinching into his flesh beneath.
Hiss—
Akira clenched his teeth and sucked in a sharp breath.
That hurts!
And yet—for reasons he couldn't quite explain—he could still endure it.
Lucia's voice came in fragments, uneven and shaking.
"Obviously… obviously she didn't have to do that…! She was just selfish… I didn't want her power at all! I just wanted her to live… I just wanted her to be alive…"
"Lucia…"
Akira stood there in silence, listening as she spoke to no one but herself.
And gradually, he understood.
Lucia's power had been obtained at the cost of that golden dragon's life.
Slowly, the Lucia in his arms lifted her head. Through the veil as thin as mist, those golden-red eyes locked firmly onto Akira's gaze.
The sight made him unconsciously raise a hand, gently lifting the white gauze from her face.
As the veil fluttered aside, Lucia's peerless, breathtaking beauty was revealed to him without reservation.
Her eyes shimmered like blazing rubies, reflecting only one figure—his.The delicate body pressed tightly against him shifted subtly, almost restlessly, rubbing unconsciously against his skin, as if seeking more warmth, more reassurance, more comfort.
Gulp.
Akira's throat bobbed as he swallowed with difficulty.
He had never imagined that Lucia, once drunk, would show a side so completely different from her usual self.
This was no longer the untouchable, sacred saint of the Light Church.
She looked like an ordinary girl—fragile, aching, desperate for comfort.
Was it because of the [Sensitive] Authority?
Did it amplify her emotions, making memories resurface with painful clarity, tearing open old wounds?
But—
This version of Lucia was dangerously alluring to Akira.
Just as he was staring at her, unable to look away, Lucia suddenly frowned. A flicker of displeasure flashed through her beautiful eyes.
"Didn't you say you wanted to comfort me?"
Her voice was cool, carrying a faintly tsundere edge.
"Lie down. On the ground."
"…Huh?"
Akira froze, completely caught off guard.
"I said lie down!"
Seeing that he hadn't obeyed immediately, Lucia began to struggle violently. Her long, slender white legs thrashed about, throwing off his balance while he was still holding her.
"Hey—stop m—"
Thud!
Before he could finish, Akira fell hard onto the ground, landing squarely on his backside.
"Hng—!"
A sharp pain shot up from his hips, and his face twisted instinctively.But compared to that pain, what truly caught his attention was Lucia's position.
She was straddling him.
Her jade-white legs were spread slightly as she sat on top of him, looking down from above.
That unique golden dress looked even more provocative from this angle. Combined with her posture, it left very little to the imagination.
And within those golden-red eyes flickered a faint crimson glow—an emotion so tangled it was impossible to decipher.
Akira's heart skipped violently.
At the same time, Lucia's current personality status appeared before his eyes.
[Sensitive][Fickle][Hypocritical][Aloof][Indulgent][Wealthy][Generous]
Akira's pupils shrank slightly.
What the hell…?
Seven Authorities—active at the same time?
Before he could process it, Lucia placed both hands lightly against his chest, as if feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat.
"There's… a demonic aura inside your body."
Her expression abruptly turned cold as she rebuked him.
"A little," Akira replied vaguely, his gaze shifting away.
The lust-based demonic power originating from Ides was something Lucia already knew about—and had never commented on before.
But now…
She was drunk.
And no one knew what a drunk saint might do.
"Unforgivable."
Lucia's brows sank, her voice turning icy.
"Your sins are grave. You are beyond redemption. You will receive severe punishment from the Light Church."
"Punishment…?"
Akira blinked.
Wait—was she being serious?
Before he could even finish wondering what this so-called "severe punishment" entailed, Lucia raised her hand. Brilliant golden light gathered in her palm.
"Accept judgment!"
"Evil one!"
She scolded coldly as her palm came down, lightly striking his chest.
She's actually doing it?!
Akira's heart tightened. He quickly shut his eyes, bracing himself. With his current physique, he should be able to tank one holy spell without much trouble!
Smack.
But the moment her hand made contact, Akira froze.
There was no pain.
Instead, a cool, refreshing sensation rippled across his chest.
Confused, Akira opened his eyes and checked himself.
No injuries. No discomfort.
Then he looked down.
And realized—
Only his clothes were gone.
…What kind of skill is this?
Please. Teach me.
"Evil one! Not only do you refuse to accept judgment, you even dare threaten me with a burning weapon!"
Lucia's icy voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Akira blinked, baffled. Burning weapon? He wasn't holding anything—
Then he realized the cause.
"…Ah."
Ahem.
The holy light he usually kept tightly restrained had slipped free, bursting forth in radiant, scorching brilliance.And with Lucia wearing nothing but a few translucent golden scales to cover herself, her exquisite curves were on full display.
How could anyone remain unaffected by the Saint's temptation?!
"Hmph. Overestimating yourself."
Lucia sneered softly, then lifted her delicate foot and pressed it firmly against Akira's face.
"Hey—this is going too far!"
Akira protested.
I don't eat popsicles!
"Oh? Still thinking of resisting?"
Lucia scoffed again. With a flick of her finger, golden chains instantly materialized, binding Akira's wrists and ankles, completely immobilizing him.
"?"
Akira frowned.
Why did people from the Light Church always love using chains?
…Wait.
Ivsha likes being chained up. That silver-haired nun is different!
"Now~ you have no strength left to resist."
Lucia nodded in satisfaction. She hooked her toes beneath his chin, lifting his face slightly as she whispered:
"Submit obediently to my punishment. You cannot escape from me…"
"I bite!"
Before she could finish, Akira suddenly opened his mouth and lunged forward, sinking his teeth into her exquisitely shaped toes!
"Ah—!"
Lucia screamed sharply.
Thanks to the [Sensitive] Authority, the pain surged through the dense nerves in her toes, shooting straight into her brain.
"Are you a mad dog?! Let go!"
"Mmmph! (No!)"
"You—!"
Lucia bit down on her lower lip, tears shimmering in her eyes.
She hadn't expected Akira to dare do something like this.
She swore, right then and there, that she would make him understand—
Opposing her was an extremely unwise decision.
As her thoughts churned, Lucia's gaze shifted backward—
Toward the dazzling holy light that had risen behind her, tightly restraining her as well…