Lust Knight



[A hell of a mood swing!!!] That's the thinking of all the women on the Sea Devil deck about Sophia's little rant.

Her sisters are definitely the people most shocked by that. [What happened to that sweet and kind girl?!?!]

While Maya and Nea are more concerned about something else. [Was that really a draconic aura?!?!]

But for Lucien, all that matters is that Sophia and the baby are safe. He takes her up in his arms and carries her to the table. "Are you really alright, my love?"

She excitedly smiles as she enjoys being carried by Lucien in the princess position so much. Her heart is now full of joy and good feelings as if the macabre illusion that took so much fear into everyone's heart a few seconds ago hadn't really happened.

"Yeah, we are fine." She kisses his cheek.

Lucien kisses her, too, before setting her down at the table. He caresses her body gently, especially her belly. "You look so thin; I think you're not eating sufficiently."

"Don't forget about her life mana, your life mana, and also my natural life mana affinity..." Sloth comments. "Even if she doesn't eat anything for weeks, it wouldn't hurt the baby and her body."

"Still, she has to eat like any normal person." Angela comments as she walks out of the hallway carrying a tray with a large piece of roasted ham.

Sophia nods and looks at the food with an expression very familiar to Naomi. "Yeah, I feel quite hungry right now..."

While everyone is still in shock due to that situation, Angela has no idea what just happened, as well as the other girls who were on the ship, so she smiles and places the tray on the table.

Lucien quickly takes a sharp knife and cuts a piece of the ham before placing it on a plate and offering it to Sophia. She takes the piece of meat with her hands and starts devouring it wildly.

"Easy, easy..." He pats her head as she smiles.

"It feels so good!!!" Sophia exclaims as she continues to devour the meat. That ham came from a very mana-rich creature and was seasoned with special herbs, making it not only satisfy Sophia's hunger but also help her replenish the energies she used to conjure up such a big illusion.

Lucien quickly cuts more pieces of ham to sate the hungry Sophia while the other girls look at them with confused expressions. [How can they act as if nothing has happened???]

He notices Eve holding back a laugh and also gets confused. "What is so funny?"

"You're funny!" She laughs. "When Claire hit Sophia with the pillow, I was already going to check if she was okay, but you acted as fast as a flash of light..."

He smiles. "I was just con-"

"Yes, yes, everyone saw it." Eve interrupts him. "You were already such an overprotective husband, so it's expected you to be an overprotective father as well."

"Lucien will be the best dad ever!" Sophia comments as she continues to devour the roasted ham.

"..." He doesn't know what to say. The only thing he knows about being a father is that he definitely must not be like his father. But he also knows that he can't just pamper his children and expect them to become good people.

"You're going to be a great mom too," Daisy says to Sophia. "Just keep being as loving and brave as you are."

As Sophia and Lucien smile, Maya can't help but have a strange expression. "With parents like that, the child will certainly be protected, but I'm concerned that the people around you aren't..."

"That was nothing..." Envy comments. "I mean, you guys should be really worried about Donna's mood swings when she gets pregnant."

"..." Everyone, especially Lucien, can't help but wonder about that. Sophia is undoubtedly one of the kindest sisters, and she terrified them like that with just an illusion, so indeed, the future holds much darker days.

"Let's not talk about it… we should enjoy this moment together," Lucien comments and then look at Angela. "Are the girls done?"

"Yep." She nods. "They're already bringing the food; I just came to see if the table is ready."

He smiles as he sits in the chair at the end of the large table, next to Sophia. "I'm hungry too."

"Even after attacking all the trays in the kitchen??" Cassidy asks as he brings more wine bottles to the table.

He makes a teasing expression and strokes Cassidy's leg as she approaches the table. "I'm feeling insatiable today, you know."

She kisses him and giggles before heading back to the kitchen with Angela to help the other girls bring all the food to the table and start the feast.

Lucien continues stroking Sophia while the other girls have thoughtful expressions. Maya looks the most agitated and sits in a chair on his other side with a concerned expression. "How can you act like that after what just happened??"

"..." He just sighs. No one is more concerned about his family's future than he is; he is always thinking of their next steps, their enemies, the mysterious people in the shadows, and also his mother. But as thoughts about the future don't help him at all, he focuses on the present and how to strengthen his group.

"What exactly just happened?" Lust materializes her body in Lucien's lap and asks Maya.

"T-that..." She starts to stutter. "I'm talking about the child! Don't you think a dragon child born with a demon father a human mother is something simple?! It could change everything, the whole universe!"

Everyone understands what Maya means, especially the Sins. Yet, going crazy over that won't help anyone either.

"We still don't know what this child represents." Sloth comments. "Sophia is showing signs of pregnancy so early because of her life mana, but it is inevitable that more children will come with time... and we will only be able to understand more about them after they are born."

"There is nothing to understand about them," Lucien casually comments as he pours a glass of wine. "Children need to be loved, protected, and educated to have a long and happy life, that's simple... My father failed with that, but I won't screw it up with my children."

Lucien's wives, including Sloth, can't help but smile at those words. Even though a peaceful life with him and their children seems like an impossible dream, they know how powerful his determination and their family are.

But Maya shakes her head with a disappointed expression. "Nea was right about you… it doesn't matter how good your intentions are if you don't have real control over your life."

"What makes you think I don't have control over my life?" He asks as he takes a piece of meat from Sophia's plate.

"Perhaps the fact that you are empowering your family to be part of someone else's plans?" Maya asks sarcastically.

Those words make Lucien and the girls upset, but before he can say anything, Pride responds to Maya first. "Be careful with your words, old bird; you have no idea who you're provoking..."

"I am not your enemy." Maya looks at Lucien again. "I don't wish you or your family any harm, but clearly, someone does. I'm still not sure if these people are more interested in your kids or your wives…probably both. Anyway, I won't end well to you guys."

The group can't help but reflect on that, and Greed approaches the table. "The Phoenix has a point; due to the power Sophia just showed, I believe Lucien's wives are as precious as he and their children... after all, that's Lust's power, right?"

"Shut up, Greed." Pride quickly responds.

Envy shakes her head teasingly. "Why do I'm not surprised that Greed is the first to show fear?"

Before the Sins start fighting, Lucien speaks in a casual but also firm tone. "Don't fight, girls."

"If we stick together and keep becoming stronger, no matter what challenges lie ahead, we'll be fine." Lust comments.

"You're very naive if you think like that..." Maya responds. "This is directly connected with two of the three most powerful races of all time, and even the Gods couldn't ignore something that big."

"Yeah, you're right about it." Lucien comments. "But you can't really understand how we act; you're like him, my father..."

While Maya makes an even more confused expression, Lucien explains. "You and my father don't kill your enemies out of weakness, whether it's physical or emotional... But I'm prepared to kill anyone who threatens my family, has any bad intentions toward any of us, or even has any reason to futurely develop such intentions."

"What the hell?!?" She exclaims. "You mean to say you're going to kill and kill until there are no more threats to your family? Isn't that the same as killing more than half the universe??"

He shrugs. "If more than half the universe wants to harm my family, yes, I will."

As one of the oldest creatures in the universe and one of the most used people to real immortality, Maya shouldn't be so concerned about the lives of others. But because having seen more deaths than most people, she appreciates all kinds of life and tries to always believe that killing is not the best solution to any problem.

"Will you clear the way of your children's happiness with blood??" She asks. "Is that what you think it means to be a good father?"

"If it makes them safe and happy, yes, no doubt about it." He quickly responds. "I don't mind getting my hands dirty to keep their hands clean..."

"You're crazy..." She comments.

"Yeah, you've already said that..." He replies. "You don't understand because you have this naive mentality that everyone can be saved through logic and good sense, but the reality isn't quite like that."

Maya wants to keep arguing because, from her experience, she can predict that people like Lucien and his group will be connected to the deaths of countless people over the universe.

But before she and Lucien can continue arguing, Naomi stands between them. "Stop, please..."

Lucien knows she has great affection for Maya despite trying to hide that. And he doesn't blame her for it because Maya is a genuinely good and gentle creature, which he considers the opposite to him.

"Sure... my dear." He caresses Naomi's hand. "You must be hungry too, alright. The food..."

"Just arrived!" Astrid comments as she leads the group of girls carrying trays of food towards the table. In fact, the girls were ready a while ago, but they didn't want to interrupt the argument between Lucien and Maya.

"Great!" Amelia comments as she walks to the table. "I also want to eat this delicious meal."

"Delicious meal???" Donna comments as she walks out of the hallway, still drying her hair with a towel. "I need this more than you can imagine!!"

"Oh really???" Naomi asks sarcastically. "But we all know why you look so hungry even though you've been drinking so much of that..."

"Ahem!!" Eve makes a loud noise with her throat as she elbows Naomi, making it clear for her not to say anything else.

Then she looks at Donna and is surprised that her sister looks so radiantly beautiful. She literally seems to glow as she smiles happier than ever. And, of course, she also looks stronger than ever.

Eve's look leaves Donna confused and a little hesitant. "Big sis..."

"It's all right." Eve comments. "All that matters is that you are happy... we are all fighting for a better future so that we can all be happy."

"Mm!" Donna smiles and hugs Eve before they both sit at the table to start their family feast.

All the girls look thrilled around Lucien, and even Saria is influenced by that awesome atmosphere.

But Maya remains concerned. She can't help but wonder how Lucien, his wives, and children will shape the future of the universe and influence all races with their unbelievable power.