Chapter 233

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Back then, before I became Lucia.

While surfing the internet, I once came across a certain myth.

It was an absurd claim that beautiful girls don’t emit any foul odors.

There were other ridiculous claims too, like beautiful girls having no body hair except for their hair and eyebrows, staying clean without washing, never aging over time, and not gaining weight no matter how much they ate. All of it was nonsense.

What do people even think beautiful girls are? Logically, none of that makes sense, right? The person making such claims must be an otaku overly immersed in subculture.

Listen, even if someone is a beautiful girl, they’re still human, right? They might have a beautiful appearance, but aside from that, they’re no different from anyone else.

Their insides are the same, okay? I’ve personally cut open a stomach to confirm, so you can trust me on this.

…But you know what?

Those over-immersed men’s delusions…

Maybe some of them are actually true.

Because, you see, Lucia doesn’t gain weight no matter how much she eats. She doesn’t have any noticeable body hair either. And she really doesn’t age, does she?

Even after not washing for a month, there wasn’t any noticeable foul odor. Is this the power of the Saintess body? Most of her abilities as a Saintess should have been lost, though.

There wasn’t any smell, but I headed straight to the shower because of an odd feeling of discomfort. What if I’ve just gotten used to the smell and my nose has gone numb? Maybe I’m the only one who doesn’t notice, but there could be a strange odor.

Fortunately, the hospital provided all the toiletries, so I was able to enjoy a refreshing shower. I washed my hair with warm water and scrubbed my body thoroughly with body wash.

“…Huh, did it grow?”

I tilted my head as I looked down at the plump healing pouch. It seemed to have grown a bit while I was asleep.

Thinking about it, Lucille’s healing pouch in the past was even bigger than this. It’s fascinating how it’s the same body.

It must be the effect of my body becoming slightly younger after dying and being resurrected during the Great Calamity. Over time, it might grow to the size of Lucille’s in the past.

Actually, Lucia’s size was slightly ambiguous to be called a big bust.

It wasn’t small, but it also didn’t feel quite big enough to be called large.

But Lucille was definitely bigger.

She was similar to or slightly smaller than Teacher Angelica.

“Having a big chest isn’t really all that great, though…”

It just gets in the way, adds unnecessary weight, and is a nuisance when lying down.

Especially when running or moving vigorously, the breast jiggling can be surprisingly painful.

…Yeah, it’s painful and gets in the way, so it’s annoying. Really, super annoying. You even get unwanted attention.

“Hehe.”

I finished my shower with a mischievous smile. First, I’ll go back and apply for discharge, then deal with the most urgent matter.

I planned to fulfill Lucille’s request first. If I’ve decided to tell the truth, there’s no point in delaying. They say you should pull the iron horn while it’s hot. If I hesitate, I might just let it slide.

To meet Yoo-seong, I’d have to go to the Celestial Corps, right?

It would be difficult for an ordinary academy student to meet the commander, but I wasn’t just any student. Lucille. The blessed Saintess who was Yoo-seong’s comrade.

Even if I’m not her, the body is the same. I had a way to contact Yoo-seong personally.

But I didn’t need to go through the trouble of finding Yoo-seong.

After finishing my shower and returning to the hospital room, familiar faces greeted me.

Eugene and Alice, first-year students from Class A of the academy.

The pillar of humanity who leads the Celestial Corps. The commander, the God of War, Yoo-seong.

It was an unexpected combination, but thinking about it, it wasn’t that strange.

If Yoo-seong knew about Eugene’s existence, he’d want to keep him close.

“Everyone, it’s good to see you again.”

My wet hair kept sticking to my face.

I brushed it away and approached them.

“Hehe, did you miss me?”

I missed you all so much.

Even though I’ve seen you all countless times in Luciael’s memories.

Those were her memories, traces of the past.

It’s not the same as facing you in reality.

“Lu, Lucia…”

Alice stared at me blankly.

Her blinking eyes began to glisten with moisture.

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and looked at me again.

Doing that wouldn’t make me disappear.

Alice finally burst into tears and jumped into my arms.

“Lu, Lu, Lu, cia!”

“You’ve become a crybaby since I last saw you, our Alice.”

I hugged Alice tightly as she buried her face in my chest. She must have gone through a lot.

She saw me disappear before her eyes, and when we met again, I had become a devil.

A bitter smile formed on my lips out of guilt. I stroked Alice’s head and leaned down slightly. I whispered softly into her ear.

“I missed you, Frey.”

“…Idiot.”

Her reply was mixed with tears.

It seemed Alice wasn’t the only one crying.

While lending my chest to our small, cute princess, I looked at Eugene. He had been staring blankly like Alice, but now a faint smile was forming on his face. He looked relieved.

With my left hand, I patted Alice’s head, and with my right, I reached out to Eugene. Eugene looked at my hand in confusion.

I smiled brightly, urging him on, and Eugene hesitantly took my hand.

“Eigh!”

“?!”

I yanked his hand hard. With Eugene’s skills, he wouldn’t be pulled along unless he allowed it.

But this was a surprise attack, and Eugene couldn’t resist, losing his balance. I caught him with my right arm as he stumbled. I wrapped my arm around his neck and smiled slyly.

“Thank you, Eugene.”

“Huh…? Uh…”

“Thank you for saving me.”

“…”

Eugene, who was still trying to process the situation, stiffened at my words. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking.

You’re worried about stabbing my heart, right? That felt really good, you know. My heart was pounding, hot and stinging, making it hard to stay conscious. Even Belial passed out from it.

I smiled brightly at Eugene, who was drowning in unnecessary guilt.

Eugene, who had been stiff, finally smiled wryly and spoke.

“I couldn’t have done it alone. It was because you resisted, Lucia.”

Huh? Me?

I didn’t do anything.

I was just watching memories in a dream, right?

I tried not to show my confusion. Thinking about it, Eugene might have misunderstood.

At that time, Belial was under the influence of Lucille’s masochistic tendencies, moaning and groaning.

Belial’s desperate struggle to endure the violent pleasure might have looked like the original owner of the body resisting from an outside perspective.

Since I couldn’t tell him the truth, I just smiled awkwardly in response.

“And you should thank the commander more than me. All I did was finish things off.”

Certainly, Yoo-seong could have saved me alone even without Eugene.

But that’s just a hypothetical.

In the end, it was Eugene who saved me.

I hugged Eugene and patted his head, just like I did with Alice. Eugene flinched and trembled, but he didn’t push me away. Ah, he’s embarrassed. His ears are turning red. Cute, for a guy.

Now then.

It’s finally time to face Yoo-seong.

I deliberately avoided making eye contact. When facing Yoo-seong, I didn’t know how I would react.

Lucille’s lingering thoughts had already vanished. They were no longer there. But because I had read Lucille’s memories, I knew.

I knew who Yoo-seong was to Lucille. I had felt her love in my heart.

Even though she had been eroded by the endless years and had forgotten her love, in the end, she had longed for Yoo-seong again.

To Lucille, Yoo-seong was the other half of her life. Even if they couldn’t be together, he was someone who had occupied most of her existence.

I raised my head and looked forward.

He was standing a few steps away.

My gaze met his blue eyes, so similar to Eugene’s.

Ah. I slightly parted my lips.

A faint sound of wind escaped through the gap in my lips.

“Lu, Lucia…?”

Alice, her face wet with tears, looked up at me. She stared at me in confusion as my body suddenly stiffened.

But I didn’t pay attention to her gaze. No, I couldn’t. My body moved slowly. No, it wasn’t me moving. It felt like something inside me was pulling me forward.

“Lucia?”

This time, Eugene called out to me. I couldn’t answer. I didn’t have the capacity to. I let go of the two people I was holding.

Stepping past Eugene and Alice, who were hesitating at the sudden change in atmosphere, I walked forward. Yoo-seong was getting closer.

He scratched his cheek and smiled wryly. Ah, he looks like Eugene. That smile. No, no. It’s the opposite. Eugene looks like Yoo-seong.

“Luci… a.”

Yoo-seong quickly changed the end of his words. Was he being considerate of Eugene and Alice? Changing the “lle” to “a”. Yoo-seong spoke in the same tone as in the memories.

“I’m glad you woke up safely…”

“Yoo-seong!”

I cut him off and threw myself into his arms.

A spark of intense emotion burst in my chest.

My rationality was paralyzed. Instinct took over.

I stretched out both arms and wrapped them around Yoo-seong’s neck, burying my face in the nape of his neck.

In a voice so desperate it even surprised me, I whispered,

“I missed you. I wanted to see you. Really, so much that it hurts… my hero…”

I hastily closed my mouth.

I stopped speaking, almost biting my lips in the process.

The spark that had paralyzed my rationality quickly faded.

What did I just say?

Cold sweat ran down my spine.

I swallowed hard and thought.

…I messed up.

Of all times, in front of the two of them.

What do I do now?

 

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Lucia prepared herself mentally.

However she didn’t realize that a strong impulse would still linger.

She is an idiot.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Game is game.