"..."
Lucia stared unblinkingly at the dazzling, resplendent holy light, her golden-red pupils trembling ever so slightly.
She had never imagined that holy light could be this radiant.
Was it… because of her?
Could it be that because of her, the holy light had erupted into such a shocking, overwhelming brilliance?
Akira naturally noticed that Lucia's gaze was fixed on the holy light as well—but something about her eyes felt… off. It wasn't just curiosity—
Wait.
Don't tell me you're about to—!?
Crack!
—Pain!
The instant Lucia lightly sucked at the holy light, the surrounding air seemed to freeze solid.Sound vanished. Motion halted.Time itself appeared to stop.
Akira's eyes flew wide open, utterly stunned by the scene unfolding before him.
Saint Lucia—what a perfect tit-for-tat!
But~
Compared to Lucia's little tiger teeth, Nadya's dragon fangs were far more dangerous!
And!
The corner of Akira's mouth curled upward.
Lick—!
"!!!???"
Lucia froze completely.
This guy—he actually dared to use—!?
Insolent!
"You are not allowed to—!"
Lucia tried to speak, but no sound came out.
Because Akira, relying on his half-dragon transformation, had snapped the chain on his right hand—and lifted the golden scale covering her snowy skin!
This bastard…!
Damn it!
Lucia bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with crystalline tears.
Akira was going way too far!
He had to be punished—properly!
Golden motes of light began to dance at Lucia's fingertips.
But Akira didn't notice at all.
His entire attention had been seized by the breathtaking snowy vista before him, utterly intoxicated by it.
He liked cherry red~
That dreamlike scenery was so intoxicating it felt unreal. Unable to resist, Akira reached out, wanting to touch that vision so close it felt within reach—
"Ow—ow—ow!"
Just as his hand was about to make contact, the holy light suddenly trembled violently, snapping him back to his senses.
He turned his head in confusion—only to see Lucia chanting magic at the holy light itself!
"Come," Lucia said softly, casting Akira a sideways glance.
At the same time, golden points of light danced at her fingertips like brilliant stars.
With a teasing smile, she said,"Let me see just how dazzling that sunlight of yours can truly become. I'm very curious."
As her words fell, the golden motes rained down, completely enveloping the holy light.
The scene was mysterious, majestic—and utterly shocking.
Akira stared, dumbfounded.
What… did Lucia just do?
[You have received Lucia's Blessing of Light: Effect Unknown]
"Blessing of Light?"
Akira frowned slightly as he looked at the system notification.
But in the very next moment, he clearly felt the holy light grow restless—brighter, hotter, as if it were about to erupt at any second.
This wasn't a blessing at all!
This was basically a curse!
The room's temperature continued to climb, turning the space into something closer to a blazing furnace.
"So this is the sun's power that draws down the Arbiter of Judgment?"Lucia stared intently at the radiant holy light, a faint smile curling her lips."Interesting."
Perhaps because the alcohol was in full effect, she had developed an intense fascination with this glowing, burning object. She even reached out, gently running a finger across the holy light.
"Hot!"
Lucia jerked her hand back—but after barely a second, she stubbornly reached out again and grasped the scorching holy light.
She allowed it to burn her skin, like a saint willingly accepting divine punishment, offering everything she had without hesitation.
Akira's expression grew serious.
She wasn't joking.
No—She wasn't fighting him.
She was fighting the holy light itself!
"So this is the power of the sun…?"Lucia examined the holy light closely, her eyes filled with fascination and yearning.
She even turned her head to glance at Akira—her gaze drifting subtly downward.
Her expression made it clear.
She wanted to devour the sun's power. Completely. Make it her own.
"Lucia, stop it! You're drunk!"
Akira knew very well that the Lucia he usually knew would never do something like this.
If she sobered up later and realized she had actually tasted holy light, the consequences—
"Drunk?"
Lucia shot him a cold glance, her lips curling into a mocking smile.
"You really think I'm drunk?"
As she spoke, she gently removed the most mysterious golden scale from her body.
In that instant, Akira saw a beauty he had never witnessed before.
His heart slammed violently in his chest.
Could it be that Lucia's [Indulgent] Authority had completely taken over her consciousness?!
Not only Akira—Lucia herself felt her heart racing.
Whether it was the alcohol or something else, her skin now carried a seductive, mysterious golden-red sheen.
Gulp.
Akira swallowed hard.
He knew it—there was no stopping her now.
Fine!
This is on you, Lucia!
Recording function—activated!
"Come on~ let me see just how powerful this sunlight really is~"
Lucia gripped the holy light tightly, adjusting herself.
But just as she prepared to accept the sun's power—
She froze.
Because she ran into a very awkward problem.
It felt like it just…wouldn't…go in—!?
"Hehe~ so this is the sun's power? I might've underestimated you~"
She kept trying.
Again and again.
No matter how hard she tried, it just wouldn't—
"Should I just give up…?"
"No!"
How could she possibly admit defeat so easily?!
Lucia bit her lip, her heart trembling.
She was the Pope of the Light Church—the only one to inherit the power of the Holy Dragon!
The youngest and strongest pope in thousands of years of the Church's history!
Even the mysterious and formidable Divine Prison of Light had granted her the right to open it!
How could she possibly lose to a small man wielding mere sunlight!?
Her pride and dignity would never allow her to back down.
No matter what, she had to conquer this sun-born power and make it submit to her will!
"Just a little more… just a little more…"
Lucia trembled as she devoted herself completely, offering reverence and devotion to the holy light.
The sight stirred something deep within Akira.
Only Ivsha had ever made him feel this way before.
And now—Lucia was drawing close to that same boundary.
Gulp.
Akira swallowed again, eyes locked onto the edge of the holy light.
Lucia had already taken control of one-third of it.
If this continued, she might really succeed in accepting the sun's power…
"Big sister Alice~ there's a really nice smell here~"
"Where?"
Suddenly—
Vilora's and Alice's voices rang out from outside the door.
Akira's nerves snapped taut.
Crap!
He forgot to lock the door!
If Alice and Vilora barged in and saw him researching holy light with Lucia, that would—
Just as Akira stared tensely at the door, Ivsha's voice sounded from outside.
"Don't disturb Mr. Akira~ he's busy right now~"
"Is that so?"
"So the Guildmaster's inside~ no wonder~"
"Let's go somewhere else~"
"Okay!"
"..."
Thank goodness.
"Phew—" Akira let out a long breath of relief.
Ivsha—absolutely clutch.
But when Akira turned his attention back to Lucia, he froze.
She had succeeded.
She had fully accepted the holy light.
She did it!
Wait—
Suddenly, Akira frowned.
Because he saw anger—and shame—flash through Lucia's eyes.
Her body went completely still.
Akira raised an eyebrow.
…What if I try moving a little?
"Eeek!"
"Don't move! Or I will—!"
"!?"
That familiar tone—
Akira instantly understood.
Lucia sobered up.