Hell was stunned.
He looked up at the pink-haired girl’s serious expression before him. In those pale golden eyes, there was not a trace of falsehood or pretense, only pure, sincere concern.
However, he opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he only let out a bitter laugh.
“The people around me…”
Hell’s voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of barely concealed self-mockery.
“Who is there left that values me?”
He averted his gaze, looking elsewhere, as if afraid to meet Luna’s eyes.
“They all treat me like a plague, wishing they could stay as far away from me as possible. In class, no one wants to talk to me, no one wants to team up with me. The teachers have given up on me, and the classmates wish I would just disappear.”
Hell paused, lowering his voice even further.
“Even my own younger sister… doesn’t want me around.”
As he said this, his shoulders slumped slightly, his whole person enveloped in a gloomy aura.
Luna watched his appearance, a complex emotion welling up in her heart.
This boy… truly was having a hard time.
Although the rumors said he was a scumbag, trash, she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes and couldn’t jump to conclusions.
And right now, what she saw was just a lonely boy rejected by everyone.
The pink-haired girl took a deep breath and raised her hand, placing it over her own chest.
“I value you.”
Luna’s voice was clear and firm, echoing in the quiet woods.
Hell raised his head slightly to look at her, a flicker of surprise passing through his pale eyes.
The girl looked directly into his eyes, speaking word by word.
“I am a Goddess Angel. I value every person—no matter what kind of person they are, no matter how others see them.”
She paused, her tone becoming even more serious.
“That guy just now was a genuine villain. I will eliminate them and protect all of you. So…”
As she spoke, Luna took a step forward, closing the distance between her and Hell.
“There’s no need for you to sacrifice yourself. From now on… don’t do things like that again.”
Hell looked at Luna. In those pale eyes of his, something seemed to be quietly stirring.
He was silent for a few seconds. Then, he lowered his head slightly and spoke two words in a hoarse voice.
“…Thank you.”
Those two words were spoken very softly, yet carried a sincerity that came from the heart.
He raised his head to look at Luna, his expression becoming somewhat complex—gratitude, hesitation, and a trace of… something like relief at finally finding someone to confide in.
“In the past… I really did some annoying things because I was immature.”
As he said this, Hell gave a bitter smile.
“This is what I deserve. I want to make up for it… but I have no way to.”
He paused, his gaze falling on Luna. In those eyes that always seemed weary, there now shone a kind of earnestness and entreaty.
“Miss Artemis… is there anything I can do to help you?”
The boy’s voice carried a hint of careful expectation.
“You all are fighting the Crystal Husks, it must be hard, right? I want to contribute too. I just want to atone.”
Luna looked at Hell, a complex glint flashing in her pale golden eyes.
This boy…
After experiencing what just happened, what he’s thinking about isn’t escape, isn’t fear, but… atonement?
Luna shook her head, her pale golden eyes sparkling with a firm light.
“No need.”
The girl’s voice was clear and strong, carrying an undeniable certainty.
“This isn’t a responsibility you need to bear.”
Hell was slightly taken aback, looking at her as if wanting to say something, but Luna had already continued speaking.
“As long as you’re willing to change, everything will get better.”
Luna’s tone softened a little, carrying a sincerity that came from the heart.
“You mentioned having a younger sister just now, right? If you want to change, why not start with the people around you?”
As she spoke, the girl took another step forward, getting even closer to Hell. Those pale golden eyes looked directly at him, as if trying to convey this belief into his heart.
“I believe… between family, even if misunderstandings arise, they will definitely understand each other.”
Hell looked at her, a complex emotion flashing through his pale eyes. Then, he slowly lowered his head, a heartfelt, almost grateful expression appearing on his face.
“I understand.”
The boy’s voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of barely concealed emotion.
“Thank you, Miss Artemis.”
Hearing this, a faint blush of embarrassment appeared on Luna’s fair face. She quickly waved her hands, her movements somewhat flustered.
“N-no, not at all! I just said some pretty words, I didn’t actually do anything…”
Then, the girl raised her head to look at Hell, that hopeful smile belonging to the “Goddess Angel” reappearing on her face.
“Believe in us—we Goddess Angels will definitely protect all of you!”
Having said that, Luna activated the Teleportation Protocol unique to Goddess Angels.
The next moment, a pink light rose from beneath her feet, quickly outlining an intricate and exquisite Teleportation Magic Circle. The light grew brighter and brighter, enveloping her figure, appearing particularly sacred and dazzling in the dim woods.
Hell stood before her, watching this scene quietly.
The light of the magic circle reflected on his pale face, making that always weary countenance appear somewhat softer at this moment. He maintained that grateful expression, his gaze following the pink figure within the magic circle.
Luna stood at the center of the magic circle and waved at him.
Then, a flash of light.
Her figure vanished from the spot, leaving only a faint mana fluctuation in the air and the slowly dissipating remnants of the magic circle on the ground.
The woods returned to quiet.
The wind blew through the leaves, making a rustling sound.
Hell stood in place, motionless.
He still maintained that grateful expression, gazing in the direction Luna had disappeared, as if still savoring the conversation just now.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
He closed his eyes, carefully sensing everything around him—mana fluctuations, residual aura, any possible prying.
Until he confirmed that Luna’s aura had completely vanished, the fluctuations of the Teleportation Magic Circle had completely subsided, and there was no one spying around—
He finally opened his eyes.
The gratitude, emotion, and relief on that face receded like a tide, replaced by a slowly rising, meaningful smile.
The smile was faint, so faint it was almost imperceptible, yet it carried a composure of having everything under control.
Hell turned around, leaned back against the tree trunk, and looked up at the sky fragmented by the leaves overhead.
He chuckled softly.
The laugh was light, yet carried an indescribable, almost self-mocking meaning.
See.
It really wasn’t that difficult, was it?
From last night’s threat, to today’s “being targeted,” to the carefully orchestrated “sacrifice act” just now—
Every step was within his plan.
Luna’s reaction was exactly as he had predicted—kind, resolute, full of a sense of responsibility, stepping forward without hesitation to protect the “threatened classmate.”
This girl didn’t even question why “Arbiter V” had suddenly disappeared. She didn’t even consider that all of this might be a setup.
Hell looked up at the sky, bright with sunlight, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening.
Next, it was about letting this memory of “being saved by Artemis” take root and sprout slowly in Luna’s heart.
When the day comes that Seshi asks about it—
She would naturally remember this scene from today.
“Ah, yes, I did save a boy named Hell.”
Hell withdrew his gaze, straightened up from the tree trunk, and adjusted his uniform, which had been ruffled by the wind.
Then, unhurriedly, he began walking out of the woods. Time to head back to the training grounds.
Sunlight spilled behind him, stretching his shadow long.
Everything was under control.