"Mr. Akira… why do I feel like someone is secretly watching us?"
Ivsha's voice abruptly interrupted Akira's movements. At this moment, she was pressed tightly against the wall by him…
"Really? I don't feel anything," Akira replied, preparing to turn his head and check—
—but Ivsha gently cupped his cheeks with both hands.
"Maybe it's just my imagination… please… please don't stop, okay?"Her eyes were filled with naked longing.
"You little succubus," Akira chuckled softly, continuing to channel light magic.
"Mm~ ah~!" Ivsha let out a delicate moan.
The moment holy light blossomed, a sudden notification appeared in Akira's field of vision:
[Tainted Lust Magic and Pure Lust Magic are merging…]
"Merging?"
Akira frowned slightly at the prompt, confusion surging through him.
Why were the two types of lust magic suddenly fusing together?Was it because he and Ivsha were praying to holy light together inside Idis's manor?
As Akira pondered this, his gaze dropped to Ivsha's waist, which he was gripping with one hand.
Upon her snow-white skin, the demonic markings flickered with a deep violet glow. The patterns seemed to pulse faintly—clearly different from before.
Akira's eyes sharpened.
Could it be that the primitive lust magic was drawing out the demonic power within Ivsha, causing this fusion?
"She's already passed out. Are you really not going to stop?"
Idis's voice suddenly sounded beside Akira's ear, jolting him so hard his entire body tensed.
"Ivsha!?"
Only then did Akira realize that Ivsha had already lost consciousness. He immediately extinguished the holy light.
As he held Ivsha in his arms and turned around—
He froze.
Idis and Lucia were standing behind him.
An intense wave of awkwardness washed over Akira.
He had assumed only Idis was present. He hadn't expected Lucia to be there as well.
The sudden situation left him speechless, unsure how to explain himself.
Meanwhile, Ivsha—unconscious in his arms—wore an expression of pure sweetness, which only made things worse.
She was the one who dragged me here in the first place…
"Uh… you two finished talking?" Akira forced an awkward smile.
"Have I been too nice to you lately?"
Idis gently swayed her rose-patterned folding fan as she approached him on high heels.
Hooking Akira's chin upward with the fan, she asked with a half-smile,"Is that why you dared to do something so outrageous inside my manor, little Akira?"
"Cough—cough."Akira cleared his throat twice, desperately trying to ease the embarrassment."Could you at least let me put some clothes on first?"
Idis lightly tapped his head with the fan, then turned and walked toward the rose-carved door.
"You could've wandered anywhere, yet you had to come here," she said softly."That child may not be able to withstand the temptation that comes from one's own inner desires."
As she spoke, her fingertips traced lightly over the rose-covered door, as though reinforcing a seal—ensuring that whatever lay within would no longer affect Ivsha's heart.
At the same time, Akira noticed that the faint pink magical aura surrounding Ivsha had completely vanished.
She seemed to have returned to normal.
"So… what exactly is hidden in there?"
Lucia, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
She could sense a power lurking in that room—one that even made her feel wary.
While it might not threaten her true body, it was absolutely no ordinary force.
And that power was clearly the source that had stirred Ivsha's desire.
Yet strangely… it seemed to only affect succubi?
"That's not something I can casually tell you~"
Idis smiled mysteriously, then smoothly shifted the topic.
"Saintess, some things are better left unknown. Instead, why not focus your thoughts on our cooperation?"
"Cooperation?" Akira froze.
He turned to Lucia, completely unaware that the two of them had already reached some kind of agreement.
"It's because of you," Lucia said coldly, casting Akira a sidelong glance.
Her voice was quiet—but Akira heard it perfectly.
Which only made him more confused.
How did this suddenly become my fault?
After getting dressed, Akira carried Ivsha back to the previous sitting room.
Loserine and the others were already waiting there. When they saw Akira carrying Ivsha in his arms, confusion immediately appeared on their faces.
"Master… what happened to Sister Ivsha?" Alice asked with concern.
"It's nothing. She just fell asleep," Akira replied calmly, his expression unchanged.
"Oh… that's good," Alice and the others let out relieved sighs.
"Since everything's settled, you should head back early," Idis said as she returned to her seat, elegantly lifting her teacup and taking a light sip."I don't usually let people stay overnight here. And frankly, no one wants to stay."
"Why not?"Virola tilted her head curiously, clutching her branch.
"Because~"Idis replied evenly,"Ghosts come out at night."
"Eek—!"
Virola instantly shuddered from head to toe. Even the fur along her deer back stood straight up in fear.
"Then we'll take our leave," Akira said quickly, activating the teleportation array at once.
Just as he was about to step into the teleportation light—
Idis's voice echoed clearly inside his mind.
"When you're free tomorrow, come see me alone."
"?"
Akira froze for a split second, turning his head to look at Idis—his heart filled with curiosity and anticipation.
A mysterious one-on-one invitation…
In the blink of an eye, everyone returned to the guild.
Akira immediately carried Ivsha to her bed, making sure she could rest properly.
After that, he stepped out of the room—and noticed Lucia was still seated in the guild hall.
It was already nine at night, yet she showed no intention of returning to the Church of Light.
"What's wrong? Not heading back?" Akira asked as he sat across from her.
Lucia stared at him with cold eyes, clearly wanting to say something—but hesitating.
"You and the Rose Baroness today—"
Before Akira could finish, Lucia interrupted,"Do you know what she's really trying to do?"
"Her? You mean Idis?" Akira asked, puzzled.
Lucia nodded.
"I only know part of it," Akira admitted honestly."As for her true goal—and why she's backing the Second Princess for the throne of the Star Kingdom—I still don't know."
Hearing this, Lucia warned him,"Then stay on guard around her. Compared to the other contenders for the throne, that woman is by far the most dangerous."
"Got it," Akira nodded.
He would take Lucia's words seriously.
Still, her level of vigilance surprised him.
Was it because Idis was a succubus?
More than that, Akira felt that Idis's ambition went far beyond merely controlling the Star Kingdom.
Lucia's warning only strengthened his suspicion.
She's using the Star Kingdom as a stepping stone…
"To prevent you from losing yourself to desire—"
Lucia's voice cut through his thoughts.
She slowly lifted her white veil, revealing her golden-red eyes as they locked directly onto Akira's, blazing with radiant gold.
"I'm placing a Light Restriction on you. If she dares to do anything to you, she'll suffer for it."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lucia extended a finger and gently tapped Akira's forehead.
The next second, a system prompt appeared:
[Lucia has applied a Light Restriction to you! Suppressive effect against demonic entities activated!]
"Then thank you, Lucia~"Akira smiled warmly.
He could feel that the Saintess was becoming more and more concerned about him.
"You're my Guild Master. Of course I have to consider your safety," Lucia replied coolly."And besides—you're a potential believer of the Church of Light. As the Church's… Saintess, I can't just watch you get drained dry by a succubus."
"Then thanks again," Akira said with a grin, reaching out to gently stroke Lucia's snow-white hair—the same gesture Ivsha and the others loved.
However, it didn't seem to work on Lucia at all.
She merely shot him a cold glance, slapped his hand away, and asked flatly,
"Do you have any alcohol?"
"Huh?"
Akira blinked, startled by the sudden request.
"You want to drink again?" he asked instinctively.
The memory of Lucia's last drunken episode flashed vividly through his mind.
A drunk Lucia had shoved his holy light straight into—
"Relax," Lucia said confidently."This time, I definitely won't get drunk."
…
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