"Stop messing around!"
Lucia scolded softly, taking a step back as Kurose Akira continued to close the distance between them.
Her gaze wavered slightly.
The idea of Akira helping her bathe left her feeling… hesitant.
After spending so many years in the guild, Lucia knew better than anyone that Akira was hardly the type to behave himself during something like a bath.
"Lucia, can you trust me a little more?" Akira sighed helplessly.
He still felt deeply guilty that Lucia had missed her once-a-week Holy Water Purification because of him. If anything, he ought to compensate her properly for it.
"And besides," Akira continued, "don't you want at least one chance to order me around however you like?"
He spread his hands lightly.
"Today I'll make an exception and become your servant. I'll obey every command you give me. How about that?"
"Obey every command?"
Lucia's delicate brows knit together as she considered it.
Normally, she was already accustomed to the careful service of the attendants of the Holy Church of Light. Being waited on by servants because of her exalted status was something she had long grown used to—it hardly meant much to her anymore.
But Akira… was an exception.
He constantly pushed her around, even forcing her to try that ridiculous chrysanthemum tea. She had wanted to teach this guy a lesson for quite some time now.
Lucia shot him a cool glance.
"You said it," she replied calmly.
The moment the words left her lips, Lucia gently removed the golden ceremonial dress she had been wearing, revealing her fair, full-figured body.
Before stepping into the bath, she turned back toward him and reminded him coldly,
"Remember what you just said. You will obey my commands."
"Don't worry," Akira replied with a smile.
Then he added casually, "By the way, do people usually attend to you every time you take a bath?"
As he spoke, he scattered pink flower petals into the hot spring pool, letting them drift across the surface to add a touch of atmosphere.
Lucia stepped lightly into the water.
The warm bath instantly enveloped her skin, drawing a faint blush across her cheeks.
Pink rose petals floated across the surface, contrasting beautifully against her snow-white skin, creating a scene so breathtaking it felt almost unreal.
Standing beside the pool, Akira couldn't help staring.
No matter how many times he saw her, Lucia's unique beauty always stirred his heart… and made the Holy Light flicker.
"Why are you just standing there?"
Seeing him frozen in place, Lucia gave a quiet order.
"Start by kneading my shoulders. Because of you, I missed my Holy Water Purification, and I've been busy dealing with church affairs nonstop—from last night until now."
"Got it!"
Akira snapped out of his daze and walked toward her.
He crouched beside the bath and began gently massaging Lucia's delicate shoulders.
Perhaps because he understood her body far too well, the strength and rhythm of his hands seemed perfectly tuned to her comfort points.
Lucia couldn't help closing her eyes.
The warm bathwater continued to soothe her skin while his fingers worked skillfully across her shoulders.
A soft, involuntary moan slipped from her lips.
"How does it feel?" Akira asked cautiously.
"Mmm… it's good," Lucia replied calmly as she slowly opened her eyes.
But inside, her thoughts were anything but calm.
Why…?
Why does everything this guy does hit my comfort points so precisely?
Whenever she was in his hands, she found herself almost completely powerless—as if she were entirely under his control.
Of course, Akira understood that feeling quite well.
Whenever he faced Ivsha, the Holy Light would end up entangled as well…
Ahem.
Just thinking about it made the already diminished reserves of Holy Light flicker faintly again—and accidentally bump against the back of Lucia's head.
Lucia: "?"
"Heh… want me to massage your legs too?"
Akira quickly seized the initiative and smoothly changed the subject.
"You—"
Before Lucia could respond, he had already stepped into the water.
He gently lifted one of her feet.
Her ankle, soaked in the warm water, was as white as snow with a faint rosy tint—so beautiful it looked like a piece of fine art.
The moment his palm supported that delicate foot, Lucia felt her ability to resist melt away.
If Ivsha's weakness was her succubus tail…
Then for Lucia—
Every inch of her skin was a weakness.
Yet strangely, when Akira attempted to activate the ability from the [Weakness! Weakness!] trait to locate Lucia's weak points, no red glow appeared at all.
That left him slightly puzzled.
Still—
That didn't really matter.
His fingertips traced lightly across Lucia's pristine skin, gradually moving upward.
But each time he approached the edge of her patience, he would withdraw just in time.
"Stop! Stop that!"
Lucia pressed her lips tightly together, her bright eyes fixed firmly on Akira, signaling for him to stop immediately.
Her snow-white skin had flushed so red it looked as if it might bleed.
Akira noticed her reaction, and his heart stirred.
Deliberately slowing his movements, he asked softly,
"Does it feel uncomfortable?"
"No… it's just…"
Lucia tried to answer, but the faint trembling of her body stole the rest of her words.
What is happening to me?
Lucia!
You are the exalted Pope of Light!
Why are you losing composure like this in front of Akira?
Meanwhile, Akira grew even bolder.
Deep down, he knew exactly what was happening.
The activation of the [Sensitivity] Authority had already turned Lucia into a delicate snowflake ready to melt at any moment.
He even noticed that the Sensitivity value had skyrocketed to an astonishing 599%.
That number had already surpassed the previously known limit of 500%.
He had no idea why.
Perhaps Lucia's mindset had changed somehow?
Lost in those thoughts, Akira's fingertips slowly rose again.
"!?"
Lucia suddenly widened her eyes and glared at him.
They had clearly agreed that everything would follow her commands.
So why had he started acting on his own again?
But from Akira's perspective—
Silence meant consent.
Continue!
Time to purify the snow-white!
"You insolent fool!"
Lucia snapped, kicking at Akira in mild anger.
But the kick landed squarely on the Holy Light.
Her strength was perfectly controlled—neither too forceful nor too light—just enough to reach the precise threshold needed to trigger the Holy Light's burst.
Biu~
The sudden Holy Light Baptism caught Lucia completely off guard.
She instinctively closed her eyes and raised her hand to shield herself.
But it was already too late.
The dazzling radiance spilled across her face, illuminating her skin in brilliant white, like countless tiny stars sparkling across her features.
"Cough…!"
Akira felt extremely awkward.
He wanted to explain that it was just an accident…
But would Lucia believe that?
At the same time, a thin layer of frost spread across Lucia's expression.
She rose gracefully to her feet.
Placing both hands against Akira's chest, she pushed him gently backward into the water.
Then, before he could react—
She firmly stepped down onto the Holy Light.
"Oh? You like making it burst?"
A faint smile curled at her lips, cold and dangerous.
"Then I'll make sure it bursts as much as you want."