Chapter 59: Insurance

Hearing Hell’s words, Luna was unusually moved. 

The resolute light in her pale golden eyes began to waver, replaced by a complex, indescribable emotion. 

She looked at Hell, at that white mask, at the slowly flowing red “V” on it, and involuntarily, another image surfaced in her mind—ordinary campus life. 

Walking with Hestia on a sun-dappled tree-lined path, wearing ordinary uniforms, carrying ordinary backpacks, chatting about topics ordinary girls would talk about.

No need to worry about Crystal Husks, no need to think about battle, no need to stay vigilant at all times. 

Sitting with Saya in a dessert shop, sharing the same cake, drinking steaming milk tea, discussing which store’s new product was tasty, which newly released movie was worth watching. 

Going shopping with Sylph on weekend afternoons, trying on pretty dresses, teasing each other about their outfits. 

Living the life of an ordinary girl with those sisters. 

No more eliminating Crystal Husks, no more fulfilling missions, no more risking her life in battle, and no more worrying that one day she would die and never return. 

Luna’s eyelashes fluttered gently. 

Those images were so beautiful, so beautiful that she almost forgot where she was, forgot that she was holding a villain, forgot that there was energy gathered inside her enough to level the place. 

She just… couldn’t help but think, think about those days she had always longed for but never truly had. 

Hell looked at the girl in his arms, at her dazed eyes, slightly fluttering eyelashes, and the motion of her biting her lower lip—he knew he had guessed correctly. 

This Goddess Angel hesitated. 

She was thinking about what she longed for. 

So Hell began to press his advantage. 

“You get this information—” 

His voice was low and clear, every word drilling into Luna’s ears. 

“For the entire Goddess Angel Alliance, for the entire Crystal Skeleton Resistance Front…” 

He emphasized his tone. 

“It’s much more useful than you silently self-destructing with an Adjudicator. Isn’t it?” 

Luna’s body trembled slightly. 

She looked up at Hell. 

Those pale golden eyes churned with complex emotions: wavering, struggle, and a trace of agreement she herself didn’t want to admit. 

‘Although I don’t want to admit it, this guy is right.’

‘If I really self-destructed, what would I get? The life of an Adjudicator. That’s all.’

‘The Eternal Night Gospel has other Adjudicators, more Combatants, and deeper hidden masterminds. There are other Crystal Corpse Factories; Crystal Husks will still be produced; the Crystal Remains Crisis will still continue.’

‘My death would change nothing.’

‘It would only make Hestia and the others sad, make my sisters lose a comrade, make this century-long war continue.’

‘But if I live—if I can get that information from him, those truths, the key to ending the war—then I can change so much.’

Luna’s lips trembled. 

She looked at Hell with a final trace of doubt and vigilance. 

“You… will tell me these things?” 

Her voice was very soft, as if afraid to disturb something. 

“Think about it—” 

Hell looked at her, a light laugh coming from under the mask. There was no mockery in that laugh, only an almost honest sincerity. 

“When have I ever done anything to hurt you?” 

Luna was stunned. 

She involuntarily began to recall. 

From the first time they met on the ruins, he killed T and saved her. 

To the abandoned warehouse, he untied her, gave her food, and even pointed out her shortcomings in battle. 

To the clock tower, although he threatened her with Hestia, in the end he didn’t actually hurt anyone. 

Finally, tonight at the factory, he brought her to destroy the Crystal Corpse Manufacturing Factory, and although the faulty information almost got her killed, in the end he saved her, helped her call for help, and contacted the other Goddess Angels. 

From beginning to end—he really hadn’t done anything to hurt her. 

Not once. 

Luna looked at Hell, at that white mask, at those eyes that seemed to see through everything through the mask. 

‘I don’t know why he’s doing this, nor what his true goal is.’

‘I also don’t know how much of what he said is true and how much is false.’

‘But at least… at least up until now, he hasn’t lied to me.’

‘At least up until now, every word he said has proven true in the end.’

Luna took a deep breath. 

Then—she slowly closed her eyes. 

The energy that had been violently gathering and nearing its critical point began to gradually calm. 

That scalding, about-to-erupt mana receded like ebbing tide, inch by inch from every part of her body, returning to its original calm, stable state. 

The strange flush on the girl’s bare skin slowly faded, returning to its original pale color. 

Her burning body temperature also gradually decreased, from scalding to warm. 

The violent trembling of the entire warehouse also subsided. 

The toppled wooden crates stopped shaking, the ceiling stopped dropping dust, and the window glass stopped its creaking lament. 

Everything began to return to normal. 

Luna opened her eyes again. 

Those pale golden eyes no longer held the previous resolve and emptiness. 

Instead, there was a complex gaze of confusion and vigilance. 

She looked at Hell without speaking, just staring at him. 

Hell saw Luna’s state and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. 

The violently gathering mana fluctuations had finally subsided, the scorching temperature had begun to drop, and the warehouse was no longer trembling. 

He looked at the girl in his arms, at her eyes that had regained clarity but were still complex, at her skin that had gradually lost its flush— 

He’d managed to convince this silly girl. 

His mind uncontrollably flashed back to the thrilling few minutes just now. 

If she had been stubborn, if she hadn’t listened to him, if she had exploded in his arms—he would be dead now. 

No, not even a corpse. 

Just ashes, blown to pieces along with this abandoned warehouse, completely erased from this world. 

Just thinking about it sent another cold sweat down Hell’s back. 

It was really a close call. 

However—before he could fully catch his breath, he noticed a problem. 

Luna was still holding him, clinging tightly. 

Her arms were still wrapped around his waist, her face still buried in his chest, her body still pressed tightly against him. 

She had no intention of letting go. 

Hell looked down at the pink top of her head, then at her hands gripping the fabric of his coat. 

He was silent for a moment. 

Then he spoke. 

“Can you let go of me now?” 

His voice carried a hint of helplessness. 

“No.” 

Luna didn’t move. 

She still buried in his chest, her voice muffled. 

“Why?” 

Hell was startled. 

Luna slowly raised her head, her tear-streaked face tilted up, her pale golden eyes staring straight at him. 

Those eyes no longer held resolve and emptiness, but instead a vigilance and even a hint of… slyness. 

“I’m afraid you’ll deceive me, so I need insurance.” 

Her voice was very light, her eyes fixed on Hell as if trying to see through him. 

“If you don’t fulfill your promise, or if you lie—I can still drag you down with me.”