The Sun Sword
Sun Sword. A single, straight slash.
Coating the blade in extremely compressed flames, maintaining its shape through rapid rotation. Spinning and spinning the massive, thrashing power that desperately claws to break free, compressing it over and over again. What is born from this process is a single, miniature sun.
A horizontal swing of the blade draws a crimson line through the air. Its ultimate cutting power slaughters the enemy in an instant, as if cleaving through space itself. But it doesn't stop there; the compressed energy is unleashed. A massive explosion follows, snuffing out even the slimmest hope of survival.
Truly a protagonist's ultimate move. Magnificent and overwhelming. Though it would eventually degenerate into a basic attack he spammed without a second thought, at this point in time, it was a one-hit-kill secret technique.
'If I got hit by something like that, I'd be torn limb from limb...'
With my Super Regeneration, I wouldn't die, but it would take some time to recover. Torn to shreds, my head over here, my legs over there, my torso right here, and my arms way over there. Lucia's body would turn into a jigsaw puzzle.
No, actually, it wouldn't just be dismemberment. I'd be charred black, reduced to a lump of charcoal. Charcoal made from Lucia, huh... That would be perfect for a cold winter day. He-he. Maybe I should make some and sell it? I bet I'd make a fortune. "Charcoal made from a beautiful girl! Freshly roasted from my very own legs!" If I advertised it like that, wouldn't a bunch of degenerates buy it in a heartbeat?
"..."
Yujin frowned, seemingly displeased with the devastation he had wrought. He clenched and unclenched his right hand. It was trembling slightly. The back of his hand was flushed red, and blisters were already forming. It looked incredibly painful. Did he injure himself with that last strike? Well, considering the sheer power of the move and the fact that he hadn't mastered it yet, he was lucky to escape with just a slightly burned hand.
'I'm so jealous...'
I swallowed hard, green with envy. Burn me too. It's not fair that you get to burn all by yourself. Keeping all that pleasure to yourself... Hmph, I want to get covered in burns too! Ah... wait, no. Yujin isn't like me, so he wouldn't find it pleasurable. He hates normal pain. Even now, he looks like he's in a terrible mood. Is he holding back the pain? Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck me. A win-win strategy that would benefit both me and Yujin.
"Is your hand hurt?"
I asked gently, feigning deep concern. After a brief hesitation, Yujin replied,
"Yeah, it's nothing."
"What do you mean, nothing? Look at this. You've got blisters."
"I'm fine. It's not a serious injury... More importantly, please step back. If you stay too close, you might get caught in the aftermath."
Actually, I'd love to get caught in it. Please roast me well-done right alongside the monsters. Next time, you can even slice me up with your sword and make a Lucia steak, okay? But of course, even if I said that out loud, he wouldn't listen. So, I'd have to settle for a minor burn.
"If you leave it like that, it'll get infected. No... if you use that technique again, it won't just be an infection..."
"Don't worry. The healing rate of a supernatural ability user is faster than a normal person's. Though, of course, it's nothing compared to your Super Regeneration."
Well, that was true. Supernatural ability users were generally superior to ordinary humans. They rarely got sick, and their wounds healed quickly. I knew that. Even if he kept using the Sun Sword, he wouldn't suffer any fatal injuries. But it would still hurt, wouldn't it? Eu-he, let me help you out a little. For the sake of our dear protagonist. And, of course, for myself.
"Give it here."
"Huh?"
I grabbed Yujin's hand. Heat surged up through his palm. It was the hand that had been gripping extremely compressed flames just moments ago. The searing heat made my hair stand on end, and I almost let out a groan.
"W-Wait... what are you doing? Let go, quick. My hand is burning hot right now. The heat hasn't dissipated yet, so you'll get hurt if you keep holding it."
My skin was scorching. I could practically hear the sizzling sound of meat cooking on a grill. It felt like grabbing a red-hot branding iron with my bare hands. Since Yujin possessed a natural resistance to fire, he could remain calm at this body temperature, but anyone else would have had their hand permanently ruined.
It hurts so good... It was sizzling. My hand was burning up. Ah, no. I had to control my expression. If I wasn't careful, a silly, ecstatic grin would slip onto my face. Wiggling my fingers, I gently caressed Yujin's right hand. Carefully, so as not to irritate his burns... But wow, Yujin's hand was really big.
'I couldn't tell just by looking, but holding it like this really shows the difference...' His palm was hard and calloused. As proof of his long years of sword training, the skin between his fingers and palm was unbelievably tough. Was it because Lucia's hands were so small? Or because Lucia's hands were so soft? Spellbound, I stared down at Yujin's large, calloused hand.
'What if he slapped my cheek with this hand...?' Just imagining it sent a delicious shiver down my spine. The physical strength of a body trained relentlessly day after day. If he struck me with all his might, losing a tooth or two would be the least of my worries.
'He's huge...' This time, I wasn't just thinking about his hand. I looked up at Yujin with fresh eyes. He was over ten centimeters taller than me, with broad, square shoulders. His body was packed with dense muscle, forged through sweat and sheer effort ever since he awakened his supernatural ability five years ago. Though he didn't look overly bulky, up close, his lean frame possessed a remarkably solid, athletic build. Lucia was stronger than she looked, but she was no match for Yujin. If he grabbed my wrists right now and pinned me down, I wouldn't be able to resist at all. He wouldn't even need a sword; he could tear my arms right off with raw physical strength alone. If Yujin wanted to, he could do whatever he wanted to me right here—
'Ah...' What on earth was I thinking? Now was not the time for this.
"Since you have a burn, we should apply ointment or rinse it with water, but we don't have either right now... I'm sorry. Excuse me for a moment."
Slowly, I brought Yujin's hand up to my face. The heat pricked at my skin. Parting my lips, I gently took Yujin's finger into my mouth.
"...?!"
Yujin let out a silent scream. And honestly, so did I. A source of pure heat spread inside my mouth. The roof of my mouth peeled, and my tongue was instantly scorched. The inside of my cheeks burned so intensely that it felt like they would tear apart at any second.
'Mgh...' I choked back a groan, suppressing my scream. If I showed any sign of struggling, Yujin would pull his hand away. No. I couldn't let that happen.
"Lu, Lucia...?!"
"M'sorry. Is it gross? Still, it's better than leaving it alone."
"N-No, that's not..."
My pronunciation was a bit slurred with his finger in my mouth. Closing my eyes, I began to lick Yujin's finger. From the base of the knuckle to the very tip of the nail. His body temperature was so high that my saliva dried up almost instantly, but I kept working my tongue diligently. His fingers are so thick... and so hard... My hands back when I was a guy wouldn't even compare...
After coating the back of his hand and his palm with saliva, I opened my eyes and spoke.
"Okay, this hand is done. Can I have the other one too?"
"Huh? Oh, u-uh..."
Flustered, Yujin offered his other hand. I stared at the hand presented to me, then gently pressed it against my cheek. It really was huge. My entire cheek fit perfectly in his single palm. Hot, large, sturdy... Nom, nom. I bit down on his thumb. I sucked on Yujin's finger like a child sucking their thumb. My golden hair fell forward, obscuring my vision. I tucked my bangs behind my ear and looked up at him. Yujin's face was so red I worried it might actually explode. It felt like I was eating candy. Yujin's hand... somehow tasted sweet. Yes, this was amazing. Even though the inside of my mouth was completely raw and throbbing painfully from the burns, I could barely suppress the laughter bubbling up inside me.
After thoroughly coating it, I pulled my mouth away. I had done it to cool down the heat, but for some reason, it felt even hotter now.
"Actually, this might not do much. But it should at least soothe the symptoms a little. How is it? Does it feel any better?"
"...Yeah, it doesn't hurt anymore."
As Yujin spoke, his expression was as stiff and rigid as his fingers.
Hmm? Did he hate it? That was weird. Sure, having a classmate you weren't even close with put her saliva all over your hand would normally be gross. But if a beautiful girl like Lucia did it, shouldn't that be a reward...? Wait, is he actually a lolicon? Should I have realized that from the moment Aris became the main heroine?
"Be careful. They say burns are the most terrible pain a human can experience. Since you control fire, you're prone to getting burned. You have to be much more careful than everyone else, okay?"
Just in case he was actually upset, I decided to play a little joke to ease the tension. Honestly, I wanted to be the one receiving the punishment, but Yujin wouldn't do that to me... What a shame. I raised my hands to my cheeks, curling my fingers like claws. I flashed him a bright grin, pretending to bite the air.
"If you carelessly get burned again, I'm going to bite you just like this. Rawr~!"
Uh-oh. His face looked even weirder now. W-Was he mad? It was just a joke, he wasn't actually pissed off, was he?
"Hehe, just kidding."
I trailed off awkwardly, letting out a sheepish laugh. Yujin simply nodded without a word. You know those solar-powered bobblehead dolls that shake their heads when they catch the sunlight? He looked exactly like one of those. What should I do... I think he's genuinely angry... Was it really that unpleasant?
Since I used to be a guy before becoming Lucia, I knew the male psyche inside out. Men were wolves with nothing but lust on their minds. I figured that even if he didn't like me, he wouldn't hate it either... Well, I guess not every guy has the exact same tastes. Yujin must have genuinely disliked it. What do I do now...? Honestly, I only pushed it because of my own selfish desires. I arrogantly assumed that since Lucia was a beautiful girl—an ultra-gorgeous girl!—Yujin would obviously enjoy it, and I ended up causing him trouble. This was a clear mistake on my part. I had to make it up to him, didn't I? What should I do... Should I let him feel my breasts? Wait, what if he really is a lolicon and hates that too? No. In the original novel, when Lucia threw herself at him, Yujin definitely reacted. He probably just hated having his hand licked.
"Yujin."
Calling his name, I took his hand once more. It was still burning hot. Making a mockery of my earlier efforts, his body temperature hadn't dropped at all—in fact, it felt even hotter now.
"I didn't get a chance to say this earlier."
"S-Say what?"
"Thank you for saving me. If you hadn't shown up back then... I would have met a truly horrible fate."
Clasping Yujin's firm hand with both of mine, I pulled it close to my chest. I subtly guided it so it pressed right against my cleavage. If I had it my way, I would have just let him grope me, but that would make me look too much like a nymphomaniac. ...Wait, isn't Lucia already a nymphomaniac?
"Think of it as... repaying my debt. If there's anything you want from me, just say the word."
"Anything...?"
"You're my savior, so I want to give you a proper reward. He-het, does that sound a bit too heavy? Then let's call it a wish coupon. Any wish, any favor—I'll grant it. Just tell me what you want."
"..."
Yujin stared blankly at me. He looked like he had a million things to say. Was he even angrier now...? That was weird. It wasn't really something to get mad about, was it? In fact, isn't this every man's dream? Don't tell me... is he really a lolicon? For real, not as a joke? Aris... run away!
"...Ahem."
Just then, a dry cough echoed from behind us. Only then did I remember that there was another person here.
"I don't think we have the luxury of fooling around right now."
Angelica was awkwardly avoiding our gaze. Her face seemed slightly flushed as well. It was unlike her, but her words were classic Angelica. Ah, right. Now was definitely not the time for this. Perhaps feeling guilty about wasting time when every second counted, the moment I let go of his hand, Yujin dashed away. As I watched his retreating back, Angelica slipped up beside me and spoke.
"Lucia."
"Yes?"
"You... No, never mind. Don't tease Yujin too much."
"...?"
Tease? Me? Why? I've never done that! If anything, it's the exact opposite!
Did my inner thoughts show on my face? Angelica let out a heavy sigh.
"You need a sex education class..."
Excuse me, but I'm an adult who knows everything there is to know? Even if my current body is technically a minor.
KABOOOOOOOM—!!!
A flash of light, followed by a deafening roar. A baptism of fire, a sight I had seen before, swept across the earth. Yujin's secret technique wiped out the monsters in a single blow once again. For some reason, its power was vastly greater than before. Every remaining monster was utterly annihilated by that single strike.
...Another power-up? Protagonists are terrifying... I wonder what triggered it this time?