Just as Kurose Akira tried to move, he suddenly realized—
His body wouldn't respond to him at all.
What…?
Wait!
It hit him instantly.
He was still being restrained by the Sacred Radiance!
Damn it!
At that moment, not only was Lucia sweating nervously—Akira himself felt a level of tension he had never experienced before.
The atmosphere instantly became extremely delicate.
Both Akira and Lucia had fallen into a strange predicament—neither of them could move.
For Akira, it was a little awkward… but still within the bounds of what he could accept.
After all, he was currently… rather immersed in the situation.
But Lucia's situation was completely different.
The assault of the Holy Light was throwing her senses into chaos, and her delicate body trembled uncontrollably.
Inside, she was frantic, desperately hoping this ordeal would end as quickly as possible.
However—
The Sacred Radiance spell she had cast could last over an hour.
Which meant that she and Akira would have no choice but to remain together in this hot spring for the entire duration.
Hiss—!?
Lucia felt like crying but couldn't even manage that.
She had completely dug her own grave!
And worse—
What frightened her even more was that—
The Holy Light was flickering, as though it might… erupt at any moment.
Damn it!
She absolutely refused to become some married woman overnight!
"Lucia…"
Akira had been carefully observing her the entire time, and he noticed the glistening tears sliding from the corners of her eyes.
He truly felt bad for her.
But for some reason—
Seeing Lucia cry… only made him feel even more excited.
The Holy Light grew stronger.
"You…!?"
Lucia's brows knitted tightly.
Her golden-red eyes instantly snapped toward Akira, filled with icy anger.
"Ahem—"
Akira immediately looked away.
Lucia, I swear I didn't mean to!
"Can't you turn it off!?" Lucia demanded angrily.
If the Holy Light kept shining like this…
"That's not something I can control! And besides…"
Akira swallowed.
Was this really something he could decide?
As for the second half of the sentence he never dared say aloud—
Our compatibility is just way too good, Miss Saint!
"Tch!"
Lucia clicked her tongue, her gaze sharp as ice as she shot Akira a cold look.
After a brief silence, she spoke again in a low voice.
"Hurry up."
"…What?"
Akira froze.
Had he misheard?
Would the saintly lady really say something like that?
"I'm not joking!"
Lucia lightly pushed him.
She would rather spend time cleaning up afterward than remain trapped in this state any longer!
If this continued…
She was afraid—
"I'll… try!"
Akira gave her a vague answer.
Just as the two of them remained locked in this awkward stalemate—
Footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the room.
Then the door to the hot spring chamber slowly creaked open.
"!?"
Akira and Lucia both turned their heads toward the entrance instantly.
But there was no one there.
Yet when they looked back—
Ivsha had somehow already appeared silently beside them.
"Mr. Kurose Akira~ what are you two doing here?" Ivsha asked with a bright smile, her pale violet eyes glancing between Akira and Lucia.
She gently cupped Akira's face with both hands and said sweetly,
"My, my~ Mr. Kurose Akira ran away so quickly~ so you came to find the Saintess~?"
"Ivsha," Akira said quickly, "don't you think the situation right now is a bit… delicate?"
"Is it?" Ivsha tilted her head slightly. "All I see is~"
She raised her gaze toward Lucia, the corners of her lips curling into a meaningful smile.
Her slender fingertip slowly traced across Lucia's snow-white skin.
That single touch—
Felt like a flame from the depths of hell.
Lucia's fair body instantly flushed with a faint rosy hue, and the trembling running through her grew even more intense.
"Ah~ so you can't move?" Ivsha finally noticed the abnormal situation and turned to Akira.
"Ivsha really is clever!" Akira exclaimed, immediately praising her. "So Ivsha, hurry and separate us!"
A mischievous sparkle flashed through Ivsha's eyes.
She chuckled softly.
"Don't worry, Mr. Kurose Akira. I'll help you separate… pleasantly."
She paused briefly.
"But we'll have to wait until it…"
Akira: "?"
Lucia: "?"
Before either of them could react—
Ivsha had already moved behind Lucia and gently wrapped her arms around her.
She leaned close and whispered softly into Lucia's ear.
"Allow me to help you, Saintess~"
Lucia: "???"
"Wait—"
"Ah—!"
(What followed was an internal scene involving a succubus and a saintess… the next two million words have been omitted…)
…
Star Kingdom — Royal Capital
Princess Vivian stood atop a high terrace, gazing toward the distant horizon.
Anticipation shimmered in her eyes.
"Have the invitations been sent to the Adventurer Guilds participating in the event?" she asked softly.
The knight standing behind her immediately bowed.
"All invitations have been delivered. Additionally, the nations and tribes who assisted us in conquering the demon caverns will arrive tomorrow to witness this historic moment."
A satisfied smile appeared on Princess Vivian's lips.
She had prepared for so long—
All for tomorrow.
Once the demigod-level Star Knight defeated the Demon King from the Abyss…
The Stellar Ceremony would begin.
At that moment, the brilliant stars in the sky would shine with unprecedented radiance.
Starlight would cascade like a waterfall into the royal capital, bathing her body and soul in celestial power.
She would inherit the strength of the stars.
And with it—
Reshuffle every power within the Star Kingdom.
Princes.
Duchesses.
Grand Dukes.
Lords.
The scattered powers of the Star Kingdom would gather once more… converging at the peak of the royal capital.
The true reforms would begin at that moment.
"Your Highness," the knight said hesitantly, "Prince Tyles and the others may not allow things to proceed so smoothly…"
Princess Vivian merely smiled calmly.
Confidence glimmered in her eyes.
"There is no need to worry."
"They cannot stop us."
…
"Saintess, are you alright?"
Ivsha asked gently, though the pride in her eyes was impossible to hide.
"!"
Lucia said nothing.
She only glared fiercely at Kurose Akira before rushing quickly into the bathing room.
Akira accepted the hostility from Lucia without protest.
After all—
He had genuinely enjoyed that whole situation.
"Mr. Kurose Akira," Ivsha asked with a bright smile, "were you satisfied with the Saintess?"
Akira lightly tapped Ivsha on the forehead.
"Don't do something like that again."
But…
His gaze drifted toward the once-clear bathwater.
Now it shimmered faintly with golden light and a soft crimson hue.
"Well…"
Akira sighed helplessly.
He had already decided he would make it up to Lucia somehow.
However—
Just as his fingertips touched the surface of the water—
A system notification suddenly appeared.
[Pure Blood of the Saintess…]