Arknights: The Holy Son's Leisurely Life — Chapter 77

Chapter 77: The Happy Life of Living Together Begins

Rhodes Island’s logistics department had arranged dormitories for the newly arrived Penguin Logistics crew. Every assigned suite was a standard double room. While the square footage wasn’t exactly sprawling, the accommodations were impeccably clean and organized—a massive upgrade from the cramped, dusty old apartment Lucian and the girls used to share back in Lungmen.

Being stationed aboard a massive mobile landship meant the interior design leaned heavily into a sterile, futuristic aesthetic. Reinforced windows offered a sweeping, panoramic view of the desolate wasteland rolling by outside. At first, the sheer novelty of the shifting landscape had Exusiai practically vibrating with excitement.

But the novelty faded quickly once the girls of Penguin Logistics realized a critical logistical issue.

Who was going to share a room with Lucian?

Exusiai was the first to strike. She cleared her throat, a sickeningly sweet smile spreading across her face. “Since Lucian and I are both Sankta, it’s only logical that we share a room. We have similar needs, after all~.”

“How exactly is that logical?” Texas asked, her golden eyes narrowing with deep suspicion.

Exusiai simply pointed up at the glowing ring of light hovering above her red hair. “Look at this, Texas. We come equipped with built-in fluorescent lights. We’re used to it, so it doesn’t bother us. But if you room with one of us, you’ll have to endure a nightlight glaring in your face until dawn. And you know how it is—the more excited we Angels get, the brighter our halos shine! Eventually, it’ll be blinding enough to ruin your sleep schedule entirely!” She tilted her head, her smile remaining perfectly fixed. “Do you really want a roommate like that? You definitely don’t, right?”

Texas’s eye twitched. She wanted to snap back but couldn’t find a decent angle of attack. In the past, Exusiai had always played the role of Lucian’s easygoing best buddy, carefully avoiding tearing the thin paper window that separated friendship from romance. But lately, perhaps sensing the growing number of rivals circling him, the Sankta girl was starting to rip that mask clean off.

To Texas, that sweet smile wasn’t friendly in the slightest. It practically had the words ‘Claiming Sovereignty’ stamped across her forehead.

But betrayal always strikes from the most unexpected angle. Lucian raised a hand, his expression completely deadpan. “I refuse to share a room with Exusiai.”

Exusiai’s smug expression shattered. Fake tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

Before she could throw a full-blown tantrum, Lucian reached out and planted a hand firmly against her forehead, keeping her at arm’s length. “I can’t stand the fluorescent light either,” he stated flatly. “The difference is, I can turn mine off. This little nuisance can’t. Living with her would just be self-inflicted torture, and I’m not doing it.”

“But you can make me turn it off!” Exusiai argued, waving her arms. “As long as you let me drink your—Guh!?”

Before the word could leave her lips, Lucian’s hand snapped down in a lightning-fast grip, pinching her mouth shut. In one fluid motion, he tossed her onto the mattress and pinned her down to keep her quiet.

Texas already knew all of his secrets, which was fine. But Croissant was sitting right there. Lucian would rather throw himself off the landship than let Croissant find out about his blood-replenishing sugar. She had the exact same lack of a filter as Blaze; she would absolutely blurt it out at the worst possible moment.

Watching this unfold, Texas let out a quiet breath, a faint but distinct look of satisfaction settling over her features. With Exusiai firmly rejected, the most logical candidate remaining was her. In fact, there was no one else suited for the role.

“Then it’s settled,” Texas announced, her tone carrying a subtle edge of superiority. “I will share a room with Lucian.”

“Eh~? No way, I don’t want that!” Croissant whined loudly.

The stout defender lacked even a shred of ladylike awareness. She was currently sitting cross-legged right in the middle of Lucian’s bed, rocking back and forth so carelessly that the hem of her shorts rode up dangerously high. She puffed out her cheeks. “I don’t like sleeping with the lights on either, you know! Texas, if you take Lucian, that means I’m stuck with Exusiai! I refuse!”

Exusiai squirmed out from under Lucian’s hold and glared fiercely at the Forte girl. “Why are you guys always unilaterally rejecting me?! I don’t want to sleep in the same room as Croissant either! She snores like a broken engine and her sleeping posture is a disaster! Angelina literally cried complaining about it last time!”

“What did you just say?! You’re just a mere Exusiai!”

Insulted, Croissant lunged forward. She tackled the Sankta, and the two of them began rolling around in a chaotic, tangled brawl, completely wrecking Lucian’s freshly made bed.

Lucian rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. “I’m amazed you two have managed to work together for this long. Do you possess even a shred of mutual understanding?”

Both girls stopped wrestling just long enough to snap back in perfect unison: “You’re the last person who has the right to say that!”

Lucian genuinely had no idea what they were so worked up about. The situation was a tangled mess. Exusiai and Croissant despised the idea of rooming together. Lucian refused to room with Exusiai. It wasn’t even a matter of inappropriate conduct between a man and a woman—if Lucian lacked the self-control to handle the women of Penguin Logistics, he would have started a harem years ago.

He simply didn’t want the nightly chore of feeding Exusiai his blood just to get her halo to dim so he could sleep. It brought back memories of his wandering days right after leaving Laterano, and those were not memories he cared to revisit.

There was only one logical solution left.

Resting his chin on his hand, Lucian delivered his verdict with absolute calm. “Then Texas, you and Exusiai will share a room.”

Smash.

An invisible sound echoed through the room. It was likely the sound of Penguin Logistics’ fragile camaraderie shattering into pieces.

Texas and Exusiai both froze, the color draining from their faces until they looked more defeated than kicked stray dogs.

Only Croissant threw her hands in the air, cheering her absolute victory. “Ya-hoo~! I knew Brother Lucian was the most sensible one here!”

She practically launched herself onto Lucian’s back, her generous curves pressing against him without a single ounce of hesitation. A mischievous, slightly flushed grin spread across her face. “I knew it. Brother Lucian is a healthy man after all~. You always act so annoyed with me, but you’ve actually been drooling over my voluptuous figure this whole time, haven’t you!”

She flashed him a bright thumbs-up. “But it’s fine! Croissant is a very understanding woman! Brother Lucian is my number one crush among all the guys I know, so it’s totally OK! As long as you confess properly and cough up enough betrothal money, I’m available anytime! If you lock it in right now, I’ll even give you an eight-point-five percent discount! Buy now while supplies last! Eh heh heh~?”

Caught somewhere between genuine shyness and sheer greed, she rubbed her chubby cheek against his shoulder like an oversized, affectionate dog.

Texas watched this display with deep conflict. “Lucian… are you absolutely sure you won’t reconsider? With Croissant… is that really what you’re thinking?”

Lucian nodded slowly. “I am always serious. Texas, you and Exusiai are sleeping together.”

A heavy sigh escaped Exusiai’s lips before she choked on her own breath, her soul practically leaving her body and floating out of her mouth.

But that wasn’t the end of the issue. Without turning around, Lucian reached back and grabbed Croissant by one of her horns. Ignoring her startled yelp, he asked, “When did I ever say I wanted to share a room with a Bread Man?”

He continued, his voice dripping with dry amusement. “More, when did any of you get the delusion that Rhodes Island allows mixed-gender dormitories?”

The temperature in the room plummeted instantly.

Lucian peeled Croissant off his back and crossed his arms, looking thoroughly annoyed. “Even back in Lungmen, I never once shared a bed with you. Rhodes Island is a proper pharmaceutical company with strict regulations. But even if they did allow men and women to live together and mess around… where exactly did you get the confidence to think I would agree to it?”

Tears welled up in Croissant’s eyes as she mumbled, “Then you should have just said so earlier… You deliberately let me say all those embarrassing things. You really are a scumbag…”

“What did you just call me, Bread Man?” Lucian raised an eyebrow.

Croissant’s face puffed up like a balloon, her cheeks flushed bright red with absolute mortification. “Idiot! Char Siu! Pan-fried bun! I’m ignoring you! I’m going to go set up a night stall and make some actual money! Poof poof~!”

Making a ridiculous face, she spun on her heel and bolted out the door, finally learning the true meaning of the word embarrassment.

Setting aside the fleeing Bread Man’s culinary insults, Texas looked back at Lucian, her suspicion returning. “I understand the regulations. It’s fine for Exusiai and me to share a room. But what about you and Croissant? Who are you two rooming with?”

“I’ve already spoken with Amiya,” Lucian replied, nodding toward the empty bed. “If the opportunity arises, I plan to bring Angelina on board as well. Croissant’s roommate spot is being reserved for her. As for me, my roommate has already been assigned. It’s a new Operator who just registered with Rhodes Island today.”

Lucian let out a heavy, world-weary sigh and called out toward the hallway. “Come in.”

The door slid open, and a tall, imposing figure stepped into the room.

He possessed grayish-white hair and piercing, icy-blue eyes. His handsome face was completely devoid of emotion, radiating a cold, almost mechanical aura that chilled the air around him. But the most striking feature wasn’t his face—it was the object hovering above his head.

A halo. He was a Sankta.

However, unlike Exusiai’s blinding light, his halo was a matte, non-reflective black, heavily modified with metallic, mechanical devices.

From the moment he crossed the threshold, his piercing gaze remained locked entirely on Lucian. Waiting until Lucian gave a faint nod of acknowledgment, the man bowed with rigid, perfect respect.

“A pleasure to meet you. I am Executor, an enforcer affiliated with the Laterano Notarial Hall. I have officially signed an Operator agreement with Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals and am honored to become your colleague. From this day forward, I will perform escort duties to ensure your personal safety. That is all.”

Lucian stared at the ceiling and sighed heavily once more. His peaceful days were officially over.