The girl's slender fingers were as flawless as carved white jade—soft, delicate, and carrying a cool, almost ethereal touch.

Nozomi, currently enjoying the gentle massage on his temples, couldn't help but relax. An expression of pure bliss slowly spread across his face.

When touched by an angel, most mortals would find their darker thoughts dissolved, purified by the divine aura that constantly radiated from their celestial bodies. This was why, despite their selflessness, angels were never truly taken advantage of. Their holiness served as a natural shield.

But Nozomi was different.

Even as Gabriel's sacred light cleansed the violent dragon blood within him, his heartbeat still raced. His chest felt tight—not from tension, but from something deeper. Something dangerously close to temptation.

"How is it, Nozomi? Feeling any better now?"

Gabriel's soft voice, like the chiming of a silver bell, brought him back to his senses.

"Yeah... Please keep going. It feels amazing."

Her fingers moved with grace, her touch weaving magic—not just through divine power, but through a calming warmth that made the world fade away. Nozomi's mind, once clouded by stress and magic imbalance, felt light and peaceful.

"Alright," Gabriel replied with a gentle smile. Her fingertips glowed faintly, divine power subtly seeping into his pressure points, soothing and restoring.

After a while, Nozomi opened his eyes and looked up with gratitude.

"Thank you so much, Gabriel. I feel a hundred times better."

"Really? I'm glad!" she replied with the same purity that defined her every word and action.

Looking at her innocence, something wicked stirred in Nozomi's heart—a playful thought, one tinged with mischief.

He sighed dramatically and said, "Gabriel, I have a once-in-a-lifetime request. Will you hear me out?"

"Hmm? What is it?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Please... grant me a lap pillow. If I can rest on your lap, I think my soul might find eternal peace."

Gabriel blinked, her eyes wide. "A... lap pillow?"

"Yeah. Just let me rest my head on your knees for a bit. It's all I ask!"

She looked conflicted for a moment, but eventually nodded with a warm smile. "If it will bring you comfort and happiness, then... okay."

Nozomi didn't waste a second. He gently rested his head on Gabriel's lap, her thighs soft and warm beneath the school uniform's skirt. Her over-the-knee socks accentuated her slim legs, making her look even more graceful and divine.

As he exhaled, Gabriel flinched slightly from the warmth of his breath against her skin. A faint pink blush dusted her cheeks.

"U-Um... Nozomi, is this really what a lap pillow is supposed to be like...?"

"Absolutely. My mom used to let me rest like this when I was a kid. Please, Gabriel... let me have this moment. It means the world to me."

Touched by his sincerity, Gabriel smiled once more, her voice tender. "Alright then... just for a little while."

Nozomi's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Inside, he chuckled like a mischievous anime protagonist.

"Kazuma from 'KonoSuba'... thank you for this sacred wisdom."

The lap pillow of an angel—it truly was divine.

Gabriel's scent was sweet and calming, like the faint fragrance of lilies. Her aura felt like a soft lullaby, wrapping around him like a warm blanket. After a while, Nozomi flipped around and adjusted into a more traditional lap pillow pose, his head now facing upward, looking at Gabriel's serene expression.

Her kindness and gentleness seeped into him like healing rain.

Without him realizing, a faint wisp of black miasma slowly drifted out from his body and dissolved into the air.

[Ding! Congratulations, player. You have received the Blessing of the Angel. The hidden curse within the Dragon Blood has been purified.]

Nozomi's eyes snapped open in shock.

"Wait—curse?"

Without hesitation, he summoned his system panel with a flick of his thoughts, diving into the hidden data lingering within his bloodline.

[Magic Dragon Body: Previously carried the curse of the Magic Dragon. This curse amplified desire endlessly, eventually transforming the bearer into a Dragon of Lust. (Status: Curse dispelled)]

[Ding! Congratulations to the player. You have unlocked a new transformation: Dragon Incarnation - Holy Dragon Body. This form is born from the purification of the Dragon Blood. Activating this skill allows you to transform into a sacred dragon.]

Nozomi's eyes widened slightly before a grin curled on his lips.

So that's why he'd been avoiding contact with Gabriel instinctively. The overwhelming pressure, the way her divine aura irritated him—it wasn't his own fault. It was the dragon curse muddling his thoughts.

Human beings were naturally susceptible to desire, and the demonic dragon's curse only exacerbated that, turning every spark into wildfire.

Now that he thought about it, even though he had always acted calm and mature, his recent impulses—especially around beautiful girls—were completely out of character. It wasn't lust. It was the curse influencing him.

Sure, he had Mahiru and Frieren around to keep his temperament in check. Occasional emotional release and quiet moments with them helped ease the pressure. But after encountering Gabriel, the hidden curse had been obliterated, like sunlight chasing away lingering shadows.

And as a bonus, he gained the powerful and majestic Holy Dragon Body.

He chuckled softly.

"Gabriel… you're really my lucky goddess, huh?"

That whole afternoon, Nozomi lay on Gabriel's thighs as if they were clouds plucked straight from paradise. Her lap—soft, warm, scented faintly like cherry blossoms—was a sanctuary that soothed both body and soul.

When the chime signaling the end of lunch echoed through the air, he reluctantly sat up.

"Thanks, Gabriel. I seriously feel refreshed. Like… a spiritual cleansing."

"I'm glad!" Gabriel said cheerfully, rubbing her slightly numb thighs. Her smile radiated innocent warmth, like the sun after a rainy day.

"Class is about to begin. I'll head back to the classroom first. But if anything troubles you again, please don't hesitate to talk to me, okay?"

"Of course," Nozomi nodded. "See you later, Gabriel."

"See you!" she replied with a bright wave.

With that, the golden-haired angel floated away with a literal sparkle in her step. Helping others always brightened her angelic halo, and today? She had massaged someone's head, gifted a blessing, and shared the legendary lap pillow. Her happiness index was shooting through the sky!

It even looked like her monthly allowance from Heaven was going to increase!

"Today is the best~" she hummed as she skipped away, already making plans to check in on Nozomi regularly. With enough good deeds, maybe—just maybe—her halo might evolve to the level of her idol, Archangel Jophiel!

...

Meanwhile, Nozomi was riding a high. With the curse dispelled, his heart felt lighter. His mind clearer. And the world around him? A little brighter.

In that mood of pure elation, he sought out Yukinoshita Yukino. Without warning, he cornered her in a quiet hallway and pressed her softly against the wall.

Yukino blinked rapidly, heart thudding.

"W-What are you doing?"

Nozomi tilted his head slightly, voice smooth as silk.

"What do you think, Yukino? If a man stands before a beautiful girl like you, what do you imagine his intentions would be?"

With a gentle gesture, he brushed aside a lock of her midnight-blue hair, revealing her elegant forehead. And with deliberate slowness, he leaned in… and kissed it.

"Mm…!" Yukino's cheeks flared a delicate crimson. Her hands instinctively pressed against his chest, not to push him away, but to steady herself.

Looking up at him with a shy pout, she whispered, "You're acting… different today."

Nozomi raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"

"Your eyes. They're not… perverted."

He froze. "Wait… My eyes looked perverted before?"

"Yes," she said flatly, glancing away. "Like you were about to devour me. It was creepy."

Ouch. That curse really had some lasting effects.

He didn't bother defending himself. Instead, he gently cupped her cheek and her slender waist. "Do you prefer the new me?"

Yukino clicked her tongue, blushing harder. "Not really. You're still insufferable."

Even as she said that, she didn't move away from his embrace.

Nozomi chuckled softly.

"Well then, let me offer a peace gift."

"A gift?" Yukino asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"Yeah. I missed school yesterday and took the opportunity to go shopping."

From the depths of his bag, he pulled out… a bra.

Yukino's eyes twitched. "...Are you serious?"

"This isn't just any bra," he said with the air of a merchant revealing a legendary treasure. "This is called Angel's Blessing. Worn close to the heart, it'll ward off dark spirits, malice, and lecherous intent."

"…Seriously?"

"Would I lie to you?" he asked, eyes sparkling with sincerity. "I only want to protect you, Yukino."

She looked at the garment, then at him, equal parts suspicion and intrigue.

"…Pervert."

Nozomi laughed, leaning in to steal a quick kiss from her lips before she could dodge.

If Gabriel wouldn't help her wear it, then he'd gladly do it himself.

After all, if you want something done right… you do it yourself.