Chapter 113: Before She Awakens

After a few seconds, her body relaxed in his embrace, and a soft sigh escaped her lips.Like butterfly wings, her eyelids fluttered and slowly opened, revealing her hazy yet beautiful green eyes.

Still in a state of shock after her near-death experience, she gazed at Adam's delighted face in confusion.

'Why is he so close?'

With the question came the burning sensation of shame and discomfort. They assaulted her neck, cheeks, and ears, painting them a bright scarlet as her pupils trembled.

Then, her right hand moved to cover her chest despite the armor hiding it behind a layer of chitin. Simultaneously, her left palm whistled to crash on Adam's shoulder.

"What are you doing?! Step back, boor!"

However, her pupils constricted as Adam didn't budge. Instead, he brought her closer and hugged her tightly.

"W-What?! L-Let me go!"

Although she felt his trembling arms around her back and the care hidden behind his embrace, a mix of opposing emotions made her shudder.

She wasn't emotionally ready for that! No... she didn't want to receive or give anyone affection. At least, that's what her mind believed.

So why was her heart warming?

The question rumbled in her mind, forcing her to consider the unthinkable: to enjoy the moment.

Yet, her burning neck tensed, and her jaws clenched as she shoved the idea into a lightless abyss.

However, the resistance her brain mustered almost collapsed with Adam's relieved voice.

"You can't imagine how worried I was." He pulled back, his still-wet eyes peering into her. "Never do that again."

The raw emotions and care in them struck her heart, forcing it into a mad frenzy. Still, she softly pushed him back and half sneered.

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"I-I-I won't do it again! You're taking advantage of the situation, you boor. Remove your hands before I become really mad at you!"

Meanwhile, Adam's heart almost exploded as he watched her adorable expression. But he couldn't go against her wish, not when he knew she hated it. Therefore, he reluctantly left the warm embrace and rose to his feet.

Scratching his cheek, he turned sideways as his heart drummed in his ears.

"Sorry. I was too relieved to see your recovery and didn't control myself. I-I..."

His Adam's apple trembled as he gulped down the words he wanted to say. Instead, he adjusted them slightly.

"I like you too much to see you die. So, promise me you'll never put yourself in danger again."

A warm sensation spreading in her chest, Luna leapt to her feet and turned to hide her burning face. S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"You know we had no other choices and that it was a calculated risk." She lowered her head, a soft smile creeping onto her face. "But I promise."

Relief, trust, and a budding love hung in the warm silence for a few seconds.

Unfortunately, as if the halted time had resumed its course, a notification shattered the tender moment with a crisp DING.

[Congratulations on being the first lord to reach the fourth tier! Awarding a...]

[Tiamat's interference detected, warning, warning.]

His smile quivered at the familiar message, and a headache already poked the side of his head as he dreaded the double confrontation he would witness. After all, he still had to receive his special building.

Before it started, he turned to Luna and raised his thumb.

"Even if I disapprove of the method, you're today's hero! Show the others that you're fine. We'll talk more on the return trip."

Catching the clue, she nodded and took joyful steps out of the tower while grumbling that she was not happy, as always.

Meanwhile, he sat on the melted ground and rolled his eyes at the notification's shifting text.

"Can't you let me get the random reward for once? You make everyone hate me because you interfere with your allies!"

Even though he knew she was trying to help him, he massaged his eyes in frustration as he read the first messages.

[Baal waves at you playfully and asks if you feel safer now that he can't see you. He also rolls his eyes at your struggle against a weak Balor.]

Despite the provocation, he swiped his finger to close Baal's and the other demon kings' messages.

"I have nothing to tell you. Just wait until I conquer the demon realm."

Instead, he slapped his leg in amusement as he read the first rewards asked by his side.

[The other gods rejected Izanagi's demand for Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi as a reward.]

"Isn't that Susanoo's legendary sword? Just ask them to descend on my territory next time. You'll have a higher chance to succeed."

[Odin is cursing at Loki for offering a claw of Fenrir.]

"Hahaha! Curse all you want, bastard, because if I get Fenrir as a mythical figure, I might make him eat you like in the legend!"

[Tiamat offers a Kundala as the reward.]

[The other gods rejected her offer...]

[Tiamat: HAHAHA. You have no choice, fool! I have the Kundala on me. I can give it to him whenever I want! Serves you right for always refusing my rewards!]

[...]

[Zeus grits his teeth and curses Tiamat for her interference in his plans.]

[Tiamat: Come! I'm raring to teach you a lesson, bitch! By the way, how is Hera doing? Is she still putting up with all your bullshit, or did she finally find her inexistent pride and left?]

As he roared in laughter at Tiamat's vindictive reply, dark clouds covered Hestia's realm. They rumbled, lightning arcs dancing in them as the system's notification turned red.

[Alert! Alert! System protocol zero activated to stop Zeus' descent into a mortal realm!]

[The other gods channelled their authorities into the system to stop Zeus.]

Simultaneously, he heaved in relief as the sky cleared and clicked his tongue.

"That bastard got me scared for a second." Yet, his eyes sparkled. "But I learned something interesting. The demon kings are not the only ones restricted. Gods can't interfere, either. That's why Tiamat stays in my house."

Even if the realisation didn't matter much, it added a layer of confidence into his heart. After all, he had always believed that Hestia was his only rampart, but after she let some random cultists summon a demon? Not anymore.

As he pondered, a fiery notification delivering the gods' decision flashed before his eyes.

[Awarding the summoning item against the gods will: golden Kundala.]

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An: Sorry for the titles, I had no inspiration... (I plead guilty, though)