Chapter 45: Getting Involved

The bell signaling the end of practical training class finally rang in her ears.

Eden Academy welcomed dismissal time.

The setting sun slanted westward, enveloping the entire campus in a warm golden glow.

Students poured out of the teaching buildings in small groups, chatting and laughing as they walked towards the school gate.

The air was filled with the relaxed atmosphere unique to youth.

However, among this bustling crowd, one figure stood out as particularly out of place.

Luna walked through the crowd, her backpack slung over her shoulders, her footsteps heavy.

The usual energetic, full-of-life smile was absent from the girl’s face, replaced by an unmistakable weariness.

Those pale golden eyes had lost their usual brightness, and a faint hint of dark circles had even appeared beneath her eyelids—a trace left by her sleepless night last night.

Utterly exhausted, body and soul.

It wasn’t physical exhaustion—as a Goddess Angel, her physical stamina far exceeded that of ordinary people; this amount of training was nothing to her.

It was mental pressure.

All thanks to that Adjudicator V.

He was just too awful.

Luna cursed silently in her heart.

That guy was like a spider hiding in the shadows, silently weaving its web, then tightening it bit by bit, trapping her within.

He threatened her with the people she cared about most, forced her in ways she couldn’t refuse, making her seethe with hatred yet feel utterly helpless.

She didn’t even know what awaited her tomorrow.

“Luna! See you tomorrow!”

A classmate passed by Luna, waving goodbye enthusiastically.

“Yeah, see you tomorrow!”

She looked up, forcing a smile onto her face.

That smile vanished in an instant, collapsing as soon as the classmate walked away.

The pink-haired girl took a deep breath and continued walking forward.

She exited the school gate, walked through the familiar streets, and arrived at the tram station platform.

She mechanically swiped her card to enter, followed the flow of people onto the tram, and found a seat by the window.

The tram started with a soft rumble.

Luna leaned back in her seat, turning her head to look out the window.

The evening breeze blew in through the half-open window, carrying a hint of coolness that gently brushed her cheeks, stirring her pink hair.

Strands of hair danced in the wind, a few mischievously clinging to her face.

She raised a hand, lightly brushing aside the stray strands of hair the wind had tousled across her forehead, tucking them behind her ear.

Then, the girl simply sat there quietly, gazing out the window.

The setting sun cast a warm golden layer over the entire Academy City Eden.

Those familiar streets, buildings, overpasses, tram tracks… everything seemed exceptionally beautiful in the fading sunset glow.

This was her beloved city.

This was the place she had sworn to protect after becoming a Goddess Angel.

Luna’s gaze lingered on the flowing scenery outside the window for a long time.

Those ordinary street scenes—convenience stores, bookstores, dessert shops, residential areas, schools—each one held countless memories for her.

The dessert shop where she and Hestia had promised to go together in the future.

Luna’s fingers tightened slightly.

She remembered that gentle promise.

She remembered Hestia’s warm smile.

She remembered on the Clock Tower, their pinkies linked, making the vow to “meet in the Surface World someday.” And those sisters in the “Starlight Covenant” group chat who cared about her.

They were all there.

She wasn’t fighting alone.

Luna took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

The wind from outside the window blew in, lifting her long hair.

She raised her head, looking at the sky outside the window, dyed golden by the sunset.

In her pale golden eyes, the weariness and gloom gradually faded, replaced by a resolute light.

Whether it was Crystal Husks, or the Eternal Night Gospel…

She would not yield.

No matter how cunning, how powerful, how calculating that V was…

She would not just surrender.

Just then, her smartphone suddenly buzzed.

“Buzz— Buzz—”

Luna’s body jolted violently, almost leaping from her seat.

She almost instinctively gripped her phone, her fingers trembling slightly, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

Her pale golden eyes fixed on the flashing notification icon on the screen, countless terrifying thoughts instantly flashing through her mind—

Was it V?

What was he going to say now?

What was he going to threaten her with?

What outrageous demand was he going to make?

After all, that guy hadn’t replied since saying he’d make her stronger during practical training class.

Luna took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, then cautiously, as if handling a bomb that could explode at any moment, tapped the message.

Then, she froze.

What was displayed on the screen wasn’t that terrifying black avatar.

It was that familiar, holy white icon—Starlight Covenant.

Luna let out a long sigh of relief, her tense body instantly relaxing as she slumped back into the seat, almost laughing out loud.

It was just Starlight Covenant…

She’d been scared to death.

She shook her head and opened the small “Eden Watchers” group chat they had established earlier.

Sure enough, there were new messages in the group.

Previously, only Hestia and Sylph had replied. Now, the avatars of the others had lit up too.

The first to pop up was a silvery-white avatar—it was a brilliant beam of light, its edges dotted with tiny stardust, looking like a galaxy in the night sky. Below the avatar was a familiar name.

Silver Angel, Saya.

Saya’s message was long, her tone gentle and reliable.

“Sorry, sorry, Artemis, I was in a meeting just now, so I didn’t reply right away. I came as soon as I saw your message!”

It was followed by an apologetic sticker.

“Don’t worry too much, okay? I have my own unique information network here, and I’ve been keeping an eye on the movements of the Eternal Night Gospel. Since that Adjudicator V has appeared at Eden Academy, let’s find him together.”

“The Eternal Night Gospel is our common enemy. We will definitely protect you and everyone else. If you have any more news about him, contact me anytime. I’ll do my best to track this guy down!”

Looking at this long message, the corner of Luna’s mouth unconsciously lifted into a small smile.

That was just like Saya—gentle, reliable, always going all out to help her companions.

Although they had never met in reality, every time they chatted in the group, Saya felt like a big sister, making people feel reassured.

Her fingers tapped on the screen as she replied.

“Thank you, Saya. I’ll share any information I get about V with you going forward. Let’s work together to find him!”

Just after sending this message, another new reply popped up in the group.

This time, it was a deep black avatar.

That expanse of profound black was like a mermaid silently swimming in the deep sea, or like the deepest shadow in the night sky.

There were no extra embellishments, no decorations, just a simple silhouette, yet it evoked an indescribable sense of mystery and… danger.

Serene Angel, Siren.

Siren’s message was short, so short it was only two lines, yet it carried a directness and sharpness that couldn’t be ignored.

“I have the ability to kill an Adjudicator.”

“If Sister Artemis sees that Adjudicator again, you can contact me in advance. I will go and eliminate the one threatening my sister.”

Looking at this message, Luna was momentarily at a loss for words.

That was just like Siren—taciturn, sparing with words, but every time she spoke, she went straight to the point. She never wasted words, never beat around the bush, saying exactly what she meant.

If she said she could kill an Adjudicator, then she definitely truly had that ability.

A wave of warmth surged in Luna’s heart.

Although Siren’s tone was cold, although her words sounded somewhat “murderous,” the concern behind them was genuine.

She was worried about her. She wanted to protect her.

The smile on Luna’s lips deepened, but she also felt a bit helpless. She thought for a moment, her fingers tapping on the screen as she replied.

“Thank you, Siren. But… it hasn’t come to that yet.”

The girl paused, then added.

“The most important thing for you right now is to focus on your studies. If I really need your help, I’ll definitely tell you.”

Regarding the Serene Angel, Luna knew a little.

This little sister was actually a student at Eden Middle School—that ordinary, full-time middle school that didn’t involve any magic aptitude courses.

Reportedly, she was still in her third year, which, converted to the real world, meant ninth grade, two years younger than Luna.

Within the circle of Goddess Angels, the Serene Angel was like a little sister who needed protection.

Because she was so young and hadn’t formally participated in combat yet, the other, older Goddess Angels treated her like a little sister who needed to be cherished.

Luna remembered that in previous group chats, the Serene Angel had mentioned more than once wanting to participate in Crystal Husk subjugation operations.

“I’m ready to fight now.”

“My ability is well-suited for dealing with Crystal Husks.”

“Let me try.”

Every time she said something like that, she would be gently refused by the older sisters.

“You’re still too young. Wait a bit longer.”

“Wait until you’re a little older, until your Magic Circuits are more stable.”

“Focus on your studies for now. Leave the fighting to us.”

Luna had also participated in a few of these “soothing” sessions.

Looking at Siren’s seemingly cold but actually slightly aggrieved replies, she always couldn’t help but smile—this little sister, clearly wanting to help but always being refused, must be quite frustrated.

But it was for her own good.

She was still too young; she shouldn’t be dragged into those brutal battles too early.

Now, looking at Siren’s “I can kill an Adjudicator” message in the group, Luna felt both touched and somewhat helpless.

She quickly replied with a message to placate this seemingly restless little sister, then made the “joint investigation of V” arrangement with Silver Angel Saya.

After handling these, Luna closed her phone.

She placed the phone on her chest, clasping her hands together, gently holding it.

Then, she closed her eyes, feeling the slight warmth transmitted from her chest.

This feeling of being surrounded by companions… it felt so good.

Her pale golden eyes were closed, her eyelashes fluttering slightly in the last rays of the sunset.

Her pink hair was lifted by the evening breeze, a few strands brushing against her cheeks, bringing a slight tickle.

She thought of her past self.

Before becoming a Goddess Angel, before coming to Academy City Eden, no one had ever cared about her like this.

In the past, she lived alone in her own world.

No one truly cared about her joys or sorrows, no one would get tense because she was in danger, no one would firmly say, “I’ll protect you.”

But now…

She had Hestia. She had Saya. She had Sylph. And that little Serene Angel, who was cold but reliable.

They were all here.

They all cared about her. They all wanted to protect her.

Luna opened her eyes. Her pale golden eyes shone with a determined light.

She would definitely protect all of this.

Protect this city she loved most. Protect these precious companions. Protect this hard-won warmth.

No matter what she faced, she would not retreat.

However, just then.

Right at that moment—

“Buzz— Buzz—”

Her phone buzzed again.

A gentle smile appeared on Luna’s face, thinking it was one of the Goddess Angel sisters with something left to say—perhaps Hestia sending some more thoughtful advice, perhaps Saya having thought of some new clue.

She smiled and lowered her head to look at the screen. Then, that smile, like a candle flame blown by a cold wind, instantly froze, then extinguished.

On the screen, that terrifying black avatar lay there quietly.

Nickname: V.

Message preview: Tonight at eight, meet at the previous abandoned warehouse. Come alone.

The girl’s breath hitched.

She stared at those words, stared at that name that kept her awake at night, her fingers unconsciously tightening, gripping the edge of her phone.

Her knuckles turned slightly white from the force.

Outside the window, the sunset was still warm, the evening breeze still gentle.

But Luna’s heart at this moment felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar. She took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

Then, the pink-haired girl raised her head, looking out the window at the sky dyed red by the evening glow.

To protect this city.

To protect her Goddess Angel companions.

To find out that guy’s true identity and completely resolve this threat.

She would enter the game herself.

Actively get close to this guy, gather intelligence, find his weak point, and ultimately…

Drag him out into the open.

Luna bit her lower lip. In her pale golden eyes, fear and unease gradually faded, replaced by a determination that bordered on desperation.

She opened her phone, her fingers tapping on the screen, typing out a single word.

“Okay.”

Then, the pink-haired girl put her phone in her pocket, leaned against the window, and closed her eyes.

The tram ran smoothly along the tracks, carrying her towards an unknown night.