Hel was speechless for a moment.
He looked into those pale golden eyes, into that smiling face, into those eyes that seemed to see right through him—
He found himself at a loss for words.
Because she’s right.
He certainly doesn’t “know he’s wrong.”
He just… didn’t want to die.
I just don’t want her to die.
I just didn’t want my plan to fall apart.
Seeing his speechless expression, Luna laughed even harder.
“I guessed right, didn’t I?”
Her voice held a rare, almost childlike, smugness. Her pale golden eyes curved into crescents, wisps of tears still clinging to her eyelashes, yet her smile was so radiant, so…
It’s so heartbreaking.
“hey-hey.”
The pink-haired girl spoke softly with a smile.
“So, you have moments like this too.”
As she spoke, she paused, her smile growing even brighter, yet also more poignant.
“That’s really funny.”
Hel looked at Luna and remained silent for a moment. Then, he narrowed his eyes and spoke.
Are you willing to leave this world like this?
His voice was soft, carrying an indescribable, almost seductive quality.
“There are still many things you want to do but haven’t done yet.”
Luna’s smile froze for a moment.
Hel continued, his voice growing lower and gentler, like a whisper in the dead of night.
“Shopping with Hestia, eating desserts together. Investigating the Eternal Night Gospel with Saya. Going on missions with Sylph. Doing the things ordinary girls do with those sisters.”
At that moment, Luna’s eyes trembled slightly.
Those scenes, those scenes she had dreamed of countless times, those scenes she always believed would one day come true—
At this moment, they flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.
Walking hand in hand with Hestia down the shopping street, trying on those cute hair clips together, and sharing the best cake from that dessert shop.
Sitting with Saya in a quiet bookstore, flipping through books about magic and history, occasionally exchanging a knowing glance.
Fly through the night sky with Sylph, feel the wind rushing past your ears, and look down together at the city they both protect.
besides……
There are many, many more.
Luna’s lips trembled slightly. But soon, that wavering was overshadowed by a deeper resolve.
She looked up at Hel. Her smile remained radiant, and the determination in her eyes remained unwavering.
“Don’t try to persuade me anymore.”
The girl’s voice was soft, carrying an unquestionable, almost stubborn certainty.
“I won’t gamble with my companions’ safety.”
She paused, her pale golden eyes staring straight at him.
“Not even once.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the energy that had been frantically gathering within the girl’s body surged once more.
The tremors throughout the warehouse reached their peak.
Hel looked at the girl in his arms, who was determined to die and whose energy had reached its critical point. Suddenly, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, which were always weary.
He knew that simple persuasion was no longer useful. This silly girl’s determination was more resolute than he had imagined.
So—he changed his approach.
Hel chuckled softly, his voice so faint it was almost drowned out by the tremors of the warehouse, carrying an indescribable air of mockery.
It’s not mocking Luna, but mocking this whole absurdity.
“Then don’t you want to know…”
His voice was deep, yet it clearly pierced through the tremors and roars, each word drilling into Luna’s ears.
“Why should I, as the Executor of the Eternal Night Gospel, save you and kill my colleague, T?”
Luna was slightly taken aback.
Hel didn’t give her time to react and continued speaking, his pace slow, but every word struck her heart like a heavy hammer.
“Don’t you want to know why I asked you to destroy the Crystal Remains Manufacturing Plant of Eternal Night Gospel?”
“Don’t you want to know the truth about the birth of the Crystal Remains?”
“Don’t you want to know information about the Eternal Night Gospel?”
“Don’t you want to know…”
At this point, Hert paused, his eyes fixed on Luna as if trying to pierce through her defenses and reach the deepest desires in her heart.
“Why did I do this?”
Luna’s eyes trembled slightly for a moment. The resolute light in her pale golden eyes wavered slightly.
These are indeed questions she has been eagerly wanting to understand.
Why did he save her?
Why did he want her to destroy the factory of his organization?
How exactly are crystal skeletons born?
What is the purpose of the Gospel of Eternal Night?
What…is he thinking?
These questions had been swirling in her mind ever since she first saw him in the ruins, like countless unsolvable mysteries, entangled and tormenting her.
She wanted to know.
She really wanted to know.
But–
Luna bit her lower lip, trying to hide the wavering in her eyes.
“What’s the point of saying all this now that things have come to this?”
The girl’s voice trembled slightly, but she tried her best to maintain that resolute calm.
“You just want to beg for mercy.”
Hel looked at Luna, at her eyes that were trying to remain firm, her eyelashes that were trembling slightly, and her lower lip that was bitten until it was white.
He knew that this goddess angel was wavering, but was just putting on a brave face. So he gently shook his head.
“This is invaluable intelligence, the truth that no one knows.”
Hel continued, each word sounding incredibly heavy and real, leaving no room for doubt.
“It is the key to turning the tide of the battle. It is the crucial point to completely end this century-long crisis of the Crystal Remains and the War of the Eternal Night.”
Luna’s breath caught in her throat for a moment.
End the war?
The century-long war between the goddess angels, the Eternal Night Gospel, and the Crystal Corpse Crisis… can it be ended?
Seeing the slight change in the girl’s expression, Hel knew his words were having an effect. He pressed his advantage, his tone becoming even deeper and more serious.
“Knowing this is enough to end this war.”
Then, he asked a question and, without waiting for Luna to answer, gave the answer himself.
Why do goddesses and angels protect this world?
“They had no choice but to risk their lives in battle. Wave after wave of goddesses and angels went to fight the Crystal Corpses. Those who ultimately met a peaceful end…”
At this point, Hel’s tone became somewhat heavy.
“They are only a minority.”
Luna’s eyes reddened. She thought of those deceased predecessors who were occasionally mentioned in the “Starlight Oath” group. Those names, those stories, those young lives sacrificed to protect this world.
One batch after another.
One after another, they went on to do it.
Only a few are able to die peacefully.
“Don’t you want to get rid of them completely…?”
Hel looked at Luna’s slightly trembling eyelashes and her wavering eyes, and finally posed the most important question. He stared into her eyes and said, word by word.
“Can we break free from this perpetual cycle of war?”