Chapter 23: Sona's Special Permission

Sona was still closely pressed against Lucien.

"....."

Suddenly, an inexplicable sensation surged through her, and her aura grew stronger.

"A breakthrough?... Ultimate-Class Devil?"

Sona never expected that she would break through in such a manner.

"Sona, it's not just you—I also had a breakthrough."

Lucien released his own Ultimate-Class Devil aura.

Although he had already reached Ultimate-Class, and Sona had just broken through, due to his high-dimensional Succubus Bloodline, the gap between them was actually quite small.

"Is this... your ability, Lucien?" Sona speculated.

Lucien nodded. "You could say that. I have the ability to purify and evolve things. When I form a close bond with someone, I also gain some benefits in return, accelerating my own evolution."

Hearing this, Sona rested her head against Lucien's shoulder for a few seconds before responding.

"What a ridiculous ability."

"Honestly, Lucien, it makes you seem like a natural-born pervert."

"And... if I'm not mistaken, your strength is so overwhelming because you've already done this with many others..."

As she said this, an indignant look flashed across her eyes before she bit Lucien's shoulder hard.

"Ugh..."

"Sona, honestly, I only just discovered this effect today."

Lucien was somewhat helpless—if he had known earlier, he would have focused on leveling up much sooner.

If he had gone after those sixteen Holy Maidens that Diodora targeted, he might have already reached Ultimate-Class long ago.

"Today was the first time?... That means..."

Sona's eyes gradually lit up, and a pair of heart-shaped pupils subtly appeared in her pink irises.

Then, she hugged Lucien even tighter, to the point where her body trembled, and drool even trickled from the corners of her mouth.

This was her way of compensating for the misunderstanding.

But soon, she realized that this wasn't quite enough.

"By the way, Lucien. Since you have this ability, I can give you a special privilege~" Sona whispered, her breath unsteady.

"A privilege? What kind of privilege?"

"The permission to recruit only female servants." Sona smiled playfully.

"So, in other words..." Lucien raised an eyebrow.

"That's right."

"I permit you to use any means necessary to grow stronger so that you can progress alongside me toward our goal."

"And ultimately, come to the Sitri household to take me as your wife."

As an Ultimate-Class Devil, Sona wasn't particularly concerned about whether her partner was involved with his subordinates. After all, peerage members and a legitimate spouse were two entirely different concepts.

Now that she had lost her purity before marriage, she understood that finding another suitor would be difficult.

So, Sona made a bold choice—she placed all her bets on Lucien.

Because in her eyes, whether it was intelligence, courage, or strength, Lucien surpassed her in every way.

She trusted Lucien—more than she trusted herself.

"Sona."

Lucien released his grip on her silk-covered thighs and embraced her tightly.

He felt he needed to show his sincerity in return.

...

Lucien raised his left hand, and the Boosted Gear manifested in a flash of red.

"By the way, Sona, how about I give you a gift?"

"Lucien, what do you mean?" Sona frowned slightly.

"Sona, if you're caught for losing your purity before marriage, you can tell everyone that the Boosted Gear is a betrothal gift from me."

"That way, the Underworld won't question our relationship, and you most likely won't be punished for breaking your pre-marital vows."

"No! I won't accept it!" Sona immediately refused.

"At least hear me out first."

"My Sacred Gear has mutated. Any dragon soul I absorb can now be shared with a chosen person."

"If you use the Boosted Gear, I can still use it at the same time. As long as our combined usage doesn't exceed its power output limit, we can use it however we like."

"Huh?"

"It works that way?"

Sona swallowed hard.

An Ultimate-Class Devil wielding a Longinus-class Sacred Gear was entirely different from an ordinary human doing so.

An Ultimate-Class Devil's starting line was where human Sacred Gear users hit their ceiling.

Most Sacred Gear users couldn't even wield fifty percent of their Boosted Gear's potential, even after activating their Juggernaut Drive.

If she and Lucien could share it, it would be equivalent to their side having an extra Longinus-class weapon!

"Lucien!"

Clutching the emerald gem he handed her, Sona excitedly wrapped her arms around him.

She saw it.

She finally saw a real hope for achieving her dreams!

Not just her dreams—but Lucien's as well!

"...."

"Tch~"

Sona didn't say anything more, but Lucien could clearly feel her excitement from their close contact.

As expected of an Ultimate-Class Devil, she possessed incredible resilience, power, and an astonishing level of control.

...

Before their parting, Sona gave Lucien a farewell kiss, and they exchanged some final words.

Even then, Sona remained reluctant to let go.

Seeing how deeply she was attached and how lost in pleasure she seemed, Lucien couldn't help but compare her to Nao Hayasaka.

Both of them had been with him after he awakened his High-Dimensional Succubus Bloodline, yet Nao displayed remarkable self-control compared to Sona's overwhelming dependence.

Then again, this was understandable.

A young maiden's love was passionate, while a mature woman's affection was more composed. Their possessiveness simply manifested in different ways.

Releasing Sona from his embrace, Lucien gazed into her mesmerizing pink eyes and made a promise.

"Sona, within one year at the latest, I will come to take you as my wife."

"Mmm, I'll be waiting, Lucien."

"And if possible, I hope you'll also take Rias for yourself." Sona smiled slyly, adding another condition.

"Huh?" Lucien raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, I hope you can claim Rias as well." Sona clarified.

"If you take her, Lucien, you'll gain even more support."

"With close ties to both sisters of the current Demon Lords, the Underworld will naturally assume that you are being groomed as the next leader."

"That way, even if you ascend as an Old Satan, no one will question it."

Sona's expression was gentle. Ever since she had formed a deeper connection with Lucien, she had begun making entirely different strategic decisions.

She wasn't looking at Rias as a competitor but as a valuable political asset.

After all, as long as she herself was the main wife, it didn't matter!

This was Sona's simple and pragmatic way of thinking.

"Alright, I'll do my best."

With those final words, Lucien turned and left.

Everything that needed to be said had been said. With Sona's intelligence, he knew she would execute their plans flawlessly.

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