Arknights: The Holy Son's Leisurely Life — Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Do You Want to Drain Me?You're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.

After polishing off the last of her takoyaki, Exusiai very ‘generously’ offered her half-finished milk tea to Lucian. He had absolutely zero desire to drink it—sharing a straw was a hygiene nightmare—but he couldn’t exactly stop the energetic Sankta from practically shoving the plastic tube against his lips. Let it be known to all overly affectionate couples: kissing is one thing, but sharing food and drinks is a completely different battlefield.

Before he could even swallow the overly sweet boba, Exusiai’s ruby eyes locked onto a new target.

“Lucian, Lucian! Look, a shooting gallery!” She pointed excitedly at a massive, half-human-sized plush dog sitting on the top prize shelf. “That giant fluffy thing looks exactly like Texas!”

Lucian stared at the stuffed animal in deadpan silence. Aside from a vague similarity in fur color, comparing the aloof Lupo to a ridiculously plump toy dog was a surefire way to get sliced into ribbons.

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Exusiai beamed, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. “I’ll shoot that thing down in ten seconds flat. Time to show you my elite skills!”

“Hold your horses,” Lucian sighed, grabbing the back of her collar to reel her in. “I have absolute faith in your ability to make that poor stall owner weep, but take a look at the sign first.”

He gestured to a prominent wooden board hanging next to the prize rack. Beneath the standard safety warnings, two rules were painted in bold, glaring red letters: [No Originium Arts] and [Sankta Strictly Prohibited].

“How could a carnival game ever let us play?” Lucian spread his hands. “They’d go bankrupt before lunch.”

In Terra, every race possessed distinct traits, usually mirroring animal characteristics. But the Sankta—the angels—were defined by their innate, unmatched mastery over firearms. Every Sankta carried a Guardian Gun, a weapon bound to them by law and soul. Aside from a few hostile territories, they were legally permitted to bear arms almost anywhere. Pitting a race of natural-born snipers against a rigged carnival game was simply unfair.

“Guh-woo-woo-woo~!” Exusiai bit her lower lip, letting out a frustrated, whining noise. She clearly had her heart set on that plushie.

Since today was supposed to be a relaxing date to appease her, Lucian wouldn’t have minded just throwing money at the owner to buy the toy outright. But the stubborn, childish angel refused to settle for such a boring, adult solution.

She turned to Lucian, her eyes shimmering with exaggerated, pleading tears. “Help me.”

“Help you do what?” Lucian blinked.

“Don’t play dumb! You know what I mean~!”

Exusiai closed the distance, wrapping her arms around his bicep and swaying it back and forth, deliberately pressing his arm against the soft curve of her chest. She pouted, her voice dropping into a sugary, coaxing purr. “Lucian, Luuucian, my wonderful big brother~. Just like when we used to sneak out and pretend to be Liberi… help me take off my halo~.”

Lucian winced, a phantom headache throbbing behind his eyes.

The Liberi were Terra’s avian race, characterized by bird-like traits. In Laterano, they made up the largest demographic next to the Sankta. Because the term encompassed all bird species, their physical traits varied wildly; many lacked obvious animal ears or tails, meaning a Sankta could easily pass as a Liberi just by pinning a few fake feathers into their hair.

Back when they were kids sneaking out of the Grand Basilica, that was their go-to disguise. As long as they hid their glowing halos and wings, no one was the wiser.

“Alright, I get it,” Lucian exhaled a long, defeated sigh. “Find a blind spot. Make sure no one is watching.”

“Yay~! I love you the most, Lucian!” the angel cheered, flashing a brilliant, blinding smile while dropping a line that would give any ordinary man a heart attack. Did this girl have zero filter?

Lucian dragged her into the nearest emergency stairwell, letting the heavy metal door click shut behind them. The dim, isolated space amplified the sudden shift in atmosphere. He brought his index finger to his teeth and bit down sharply. A single, crimson drop of blood welled up from the broken skin.

“Ah~,” Exusiai leaned in immediately, her lips parting as she took his finger into her mouth.and support the real translator.Read at elysianreads.com This is a stolen translation. You're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.

The wet, hot slide of her tongue against his skin sent an involuntary jolt of electricity straight up Lucian’s spine, made infinitely worse by the playful, sultry wink she gave him through her lashes. As she swallowed the drop of blood, a deep, invisible tether snapped into place between them.

Lucian closed his eyes, drawing a slow breath as he visualized his own halo and wings dissolving into nothingness. Miraculously, the iconic, luminescent traits of the Sankta vanished into thin air.

This was a secret Lucian had discovered in his youth. While normal angels couldn’t simply turn off their halos, he could suppress his physical traits with a mere thought., any Sankta who ingested his blood would temporarily share this trait, bound to him like a dependent. This subtle, spiritual resonance would linger for hours, allowing Lucian to sense Exusiai’s exact location no matter the distance.

According to the ancient doctrines of Laterano, the Saint would share their flesh and blood with their most devoted followers, elevating them to the rank of [Apostle]—the highest honor in the holy city. As the former Saint, only Lucian held the authority to bestow that title, and the position had remained entirely vacant.

Honestly, Lucian couldn’t care less about the mystical religious implications. He figured his blood just carried a unique, hereditary Originium Art. He never bothered to research it further, and to this day, only Exusiai knew about it. Not even Mostima was privy to the secret.

Stripped of her halo, Exusiai blinked her vibrant eyes. She delicately licked the now-healed puncture wound on his finger, her voice dropping into a teasing whisper. “Lucian’s blood is so sweet. If I ever contract Oripathy again, can I just drink your blood every day?”

“Are you trying to drain me dry?” Lucian flicked her forehead lightly, his tone carrying a warning edge. “That’s too reckless. Even as a joke, I don’t want to hear you say things like that.”

“Mhm… I know.” Exusiai smiled softly, the quiet, tender expression far more stunning than her usual boisterous grins.

Fast forward ten minutes, and the shooting gallery owner was practically sobbing on the floor.

Sporting a cheap cat-ear headband, Exusiai was bouncing on her heels, laughing maniacally. “Hahahahaha~! Lucian, look! I cleared the whole board! Not just the plushies, I even shot down that heavy arcade machine in the back! This boss is so shady, he actually nailed support boards behind the targets! But it doesn’t matter, a cheap trick like that is nothing before the great Exusiai! Apple Pie! ╰(°▽°)╯”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Lucian said, stepping forward to pull the trigger-happy angel away from the counter. He glanced at the growing crowd of stunned onlookers and the utterly defeated stall owner. “You’ve made your point. These people are just trying to make a living, so let’s not drive them into the ground. We’ll take the dog plushie and leave the rest.”

“Eh~? Stingy,” Exusiai pouted, instantly reverting to a spoiled child demanding kisses and hugs to be placated. Still, she obediently lowered her toy rifle, ready to cash out.

Right at that moment, a bizarre anomaly washed over the plaza. Lucian felt a sudden, forceful upward buoyancy—a fleeting wave of absolute weightlessness.

“Huh?” Exusiai let out a confused chirp.

The toy bullet she had just fired inexplicably curved upward, sailing harmlessly past its target. Her flawless combo was broken. She stared at the gun in sheer disbelief. “What was up with that trajectory? Hey, boss! Did you tamper with this gun?!”

“No, it wasn’t the gun,” Lucian said, his voice dropping an octave as he pulled her behind him. “Someone just cast an Originium Art.”

His gaze swept the bustling mall before snapping sharply toward the massive glass skylights. High above, on the edge of a neighboring skyscraper, the glaring sunlight was momentarily eclipsed by a silhouette.

Lucian caught it just in time. A figure vaulted off the rooftop, defying gravity as they cleared a terrifying multi-meter gap, landing smoothly on the adjacent building.

Lucian immediately patted Exusiai’s shoulder. “I need to check something out. Wait for me right here!”

“Eh… Eh?! No way!? Lucian~~~!”

Exusiai’s betrayed, wailing cry echoed through the arcade, looking for all the world like an angel who had just fallen from grace.You're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.