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The subtle tremor and momentary brush were never long-lasting.

The memory, intense and brief like a scorching summer night, fades faintly along with the clouds.

Even as the chilly air tickles my nose, the warm touch of her soft skin remains.

As I slowly turn my gaze, I find Lucia, barely covered by a crumpled blanket, resting her head on my shoulder and softly snoring.

Her skin, as white as snow, is pristine, devoid of blemishes, like untouched snowfields.

Her delicate features and dainty nose are simply exquisite, and her flowing golden hair only adds to her beauty.

How noble and pure she seems. Just waking up, I couldn’t bring myself to even think of touching her.

After a long moment of hesitation, I casually stroke Lucia’s shoulder and find myself in awe of her skin, softer than silk, closing my eyes for a moment.

And I thought.

“…Damn it, this is bad.”

—

Episode 12 – The Strongest Magician Ever

Since joining the Information Command, I’ve heard a multitude of warnings.

Things to be cautious about when dispatched overseas.

Do not exchange classified information in unsecured locations.

Maintain communication amongst staff locally for quick response in emergencies.

Avoid conflict with civilians whenever possible.

Watch your drinking, and abstain from alcohol and smoking while abroad. And so on.

There are countless rules for information officers, almost impossible to count.

But when asked about the most dangerous thing to be careful of while abroad, my seniors would respond in unison.

Women.

It’s not the usual “be careful, or you’ll ruin your life” that you hear.

“Hey, do you know when an information officer is at their most vulnerable?”

“When they first meet the informant who reported acquiring classified intel, right?”

“No, it’s during intercourse.”

“Wait, what?”

“The moment you’re getting it on is when you’re most exposed, you fool.”

Seniors who had been on the field for some time emphasized that ‘people are at their most defenseless during sexual relations.’

Not just eavesdropping, but also assassinations and leaks of classified information; that moment, both mentally and physically, is when they’re at the highest risk.

Thus, male information officers are generally prohibited from having sexual relations while overseas. It’s more of an unspoken rule.

No prostitution, no one-night stands.

If it gets out that you’ve engaged with someone of the opposite sex abroad, you’re summoned to the Inspection Office for intense questioning.

Though overtly seductive schemes are becoming less common, you never know what might happen. Of course, even if it wasn’t coercion, you’d still face disciplinary action.

There are no exceptions to this principle.

The only exception is when sex is used as a means to lure targets.

So I too underwent an inspection by the Inspection Office due to my “scandal with a saint.” It ended with no charges but a warning.

But now.

This time it’s real.

“…….”

The aftermath of last night’s heat, hotter and more intense than a midsummer’s tropical night, still lingers in my body, but my mind is more jumbled than ever.

Who could have imagined?

A mere soldier, at best a diplomat, woke up sharing a bed with a cleric of the Cult. Especially with Lucia, sister of the current Saint Veronica, who now stands among the saints herself.

There is a limit to causing trouble.

My head aches like it’s being pounded, and my stomach feels like it’s being poked with needles.

What would the consequences be for defiling the purity of the saint of the Cult, who leads an immense number of believers worldwide? I can’t even begin to fathom.

At this point, I should be wary not only of the Inspection Office but also of just walking around. The moment news leaks to the media, I might receive threatening letters drenched in fervent believers’ affection along with packages filled with animal carcasses—no, I surely would.

That would make it difficult for Clevenz and Leoni to cover for me.

As I groan, my thoughts swirl back to the moments I’d shared with Lucia, entwined in passion, hiding under the covers together, kissing to muffle our sounds, embarrassed to face each other.

Looking back, it seemed that in our drunken state, we neglected proper precautions.

If Lucia were to become pregnant…

Just thinking about that sent chills down my spine.

“…….”

I had no sense of how to clean up this mess.

As I stared at the empty wine bottle, covered in a layer of dust, as if it were my mortal enemy, I splashed water on my face repeatedly.

“…Ugh.”

Lucia, who had been lost in slumber, stirred awake.

With a soft, somewhat cute nasally voice, she spoke, blinking her hazy eyes as if still half-asleep.

Our eyes met just as she opened them.

“…Ah.”

A soft gasp escaped her slightly parted lips. Staring blankly up at me, Lucia pulled the blanket a bit closer, offering a shy smile.

“You’re up first…”

Seeing that smile, the anxiety about the future that had filled me faded away like melting snow.

Lucia, flustered, brushed her hair away, sneaking glances at me from the corner of her eye, as if shy to make direct eye contact.

“Yeah.”

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No, I just woke up….”

I took a moment to breathe.

Though I had seen her under the moonlight last night, this was an entirely different realm.

Set against the dim dawn sky, Lucia basked in the warm light pouring through the window, appearing almost divine, noble.

At the same time, I felt a tinge of guilt for having been intimate with such a person.

Regaining my composure, I finally spoke up to answer her.

“It hasn’t been long.”

“Is that so? Then….”

Lucia stretched out her hand. With one hand pulling up the blanket to cover her nakedness, her other hand reached out to me.

Lucia, with her outstretched hand, displayed that familiar benevolent smile, which was simultaneously very faint but filled with affection.

“Let’s close our eyes for just a moment. While being an early riser is admirable, you fought a demon yesterday, so you should rest a bit more.”

“…”

For a moment, I was left speechless, sitting still at her figure.

Seeing my lack of response, Lucia gently lowered her head. The cascade of her luscious blonde hair shielded her face, but the redness that blossomed on her cheeks and ears was starkly visible.

Eventually, I pulled her into an embrace, unable to contain my embarrassment, and lay back down on the bed.

*

It took about 20 minutes for Lucia’s blush to fade back to calm. During that time, I held her tightly while gently stroking her back.

Strangely enough, being with her seemed to calm my heart.

We remained silent, wrapped in each other’s arms.

It wasn’t that my mood suddenly soured or that the atmosphere became awkward.

It was simply that I found it extremely difficult to look her in the face. More specifically, it was Lucia who felt that way.

To be honest, I had no idea what to say either. Asking if she was okay felt awkward. And saying something like, “Your rear is quite firm,” just didn’t seem appropriate.

“…”

Feeling the heat radiating not just from my face but my body as well, the blanket felt just as hot as it had the previous night. Despite being crammed into that small bed, I naturally began to feel the warmth too.

To maintain this temperature in a punishment room without even a stove? That was close to the level of Camila, who was practically a walking human furnace.

With Lucia still wrapped in my arms, I lowered my gaze to check her condition. The traces of last night’s warmth, which had been as short and intense as a midsummer night, were evident not only on the bedding but on her body as well.

As I kept my gaze lowered, Lucia, who had been fidgeting with her lips, hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Um…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Yes?”

“Today’s events will remain unknown to anyone.”

Somehow, while still cradling Lucia, I continued speaking, though thoroughly exhausted.

“I swear that nothing about today will leak out. Didn’t I promise to keep our secret?”

“Oh… a secret.”

Lucia nodded her head.

The gentle strands of her hair tickled my skin, yet I felt no discomfort. With her hands neatly clasped as if in prayer, she nodded in agreement.

“Yes. Right…”

“So don’t worry, Saint. If any problems arise, I’ll handle them myself.”

“…Lucia.”

“Yes?”

Lucia, who had been huddled down, slowly raised her head.

“Call me by my name.”

She made the request in a soft voice.

“Just when it’s just the two of us.”

It wasn’t a particularly difficult request. Moreover, I had promised to address her by name the previous night.

I casually stroked her back and granted her wish.

“Alright, Lucia. From now on, I’ll call you by your name.”

“…Thank you.”

Lucia replied in a small voice, lowering her head again. I didn’t miss the shy smile adorning her lips peeking through her slightly bowed hair.

—Knock! Knock!

The sudden sound of knocking interrupted.

Both Lucia, who had been smiling shyly, and I froze in place.

—Knock! Knock!

The knocking came again, this time with a more urgent tone.

Lucia, who had been lying in bed, suddenly sat up straight and cleared her throat, preparing to speak. Her slightly dry voice echoed in the quiet room.

“…Who is it?”

“Oh, it’s me.”

The response returned was simple.

Though slightly misunderstood as restraining myself, the attitude wasn’t what you’d expect to show a saint. No matter how well-known Lucia was for her kindness, it felt infinitely inadequate for an ordinary priest to address a holy figure, bordering on disrespect or even blasphemy.

But neither Lucia nor I could find anything peculiar about the other’s attitude. To put it accurately, we couldn’t afford to.

The reason being,

“Lucia. It’s Veronica, right?”

The person knocking at the door was Saint Veronica.

The distinctly sleepy tone of Veronica’s curt reply was followed by a huge yawn.

Lucia, who had risen from the bed, intended to leap down, but upon making eye contact with me, her face flushed crimson as she slowly descended from the bed. Covering herself with the blanket like a dress, she stood at the door and whispered softly.

“Um, sister?”

“Yeah?”

“What’s going on here… all of a sudden?”

“…What do you mean, what’s going on? Do you really think I only come to see you when something’s up?”

“Well… it’s not that, but still….”

“Oh, never mind.”

The gruff response from beyond the door came again.

“Open the door.”

“Huh? Huh?”

“Open the door, please. I’m cold. Just let me in.”

“Um, um….”

Those piercing blue eyes were insistently turned towards me.

I sat on the bed, slowly closing my eyes.

“…Life.”

Finally, the inevitable had arrived.

 

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