The tent flap was pulled open.
Sunlight pierced through.
“Bell! Get up!”
Kyle’s voice was booming.
Bell opened his eyes.
In his line of sight was a head of long silver hair.
Lilian was sprawled over him.
Her small face was buried in the crook of his neck.
Her breathing was steady.
She was still asleep.
“Holy crap!”
Kyle’s voice suddenly spiked.
Bell’s mind cleared instantly.
This was bad.
“Bell, what are you doing?!”
Tia’s voice came from outside.
The sound of footsteps drew closer.
Bell sat up abruptly.
Lilian was startled awake.
She rubbed her eyes.
“Master?”
Her voice was soft and sweet.
“You sneaked into my bed in the middle of the night again!”
Bell whispered.
He grabbed his clothes from the side.
He pulled them on quickly.
He pulled his collar up high.
It covered the bite marks on his neck.
Tia had already reached the entrance of the tent.
She poked her head in.
The moment she saw Lilian, her face flushed bright red.
“This... this... this...”
Antinoia walked over.
She pushed up her glasses.
Her gaze swept over Bell and Lilian.
It lingered for a few seconds.
“You have a slave?”
Her voice was calm.
But Bell detected a hint of something wrong.
“Yes.”
Bell stood up.
He walked out of the tent.
“What’s the matter?”
Antinoia didn't say a word.
She turned and walked toward the bonfire.
Several plates were laid out there.
It was breakfast.
Toasted bread and boiled eggs.
Antinoia picked up one of the plates.
She handed it to Kyle.
She picked up another.
She handed it to Leon.
Then to Tia.
Finally, she picked up the fourth plate.
She walked toward Bell.
Bell reached out his hand.
Clang!
The plate slipped from Antinoia’s hand.
It crashed onto the ground.
The bread rolled to the side.
The egg shattered.
Everyone froze.
Kyle’s mouth hung open.
Tia’s expression changed.
Leon frowned.
Bell looked at the plate on the ground.
Then he looked at Antinoia.
“Senior?”
Antinoia didn't look at him.
She turned around.
She walked back to her own tent.
Her movements were fast.
“Senior, what’s wrong?”
Tia chased after her.
Antinoia ducked into the tent.
She began packing her things.
Her movements were forceful.
She stuffed her sleeping bag into her backpack.
She threw her water bottle in.
“Senior?”
Tia stood outside the tent.
She didn't dare enter.
“Get lost!”
Antinoia’s voice came from inside.
Tia’s body trembled.
She had never heard Antinoia speak in such a tone.
Bell walked over.
“Senior Antinoia, I...”
“Get lost!”
Antinoia’s voice grew even louder.
He stood in place.
He didn't know what to say.
Antinoia emerged from the tent.
She was wearing her backpack.
Her expression was terrible.
She walked up to Tia.
“Tia, we’re leaving.”
She reached out.
She grabbed Tia’s wrist.
“Eh?”
Tia hadn't reacted yet.
She was dragged along.
“Wait! Senior!”
Tia looked back.
She looked at Bell.
Her eyes were full of confusion.
“Senior, what happened to you?”
Antinoia didn't answer.
She pulled Tia along.
Her pace was quick.
Kyle watched their retreating backs.
He scratched his head.
“This... what is going on?”
Leon stood to the side.
He looked at Bell.
Then he looked in the direction Antinoia had left.
“What did you do?”
“I don't know.”
Lilian walked out of the tent.
She watched Antinoia’s back.
She blinked.
“Master, that woman is angry.”
Bell didn't say anything.
He watched the backs of Tia and Antinoia.
The two had already reached the edge of the forest.
They were about to disappear into the trees.
“Tia!”
Bell called out.
Tia looked back.
Her eyes were red.
“Junior Bell...”
Antinoia dragged her away.
The two disappeared into the woods.
Bell stood where he was.
Bell gave chase.
He was very fast.
The dry leaves underfoot crackled loudly.
In a moment, he had run in front of the two.
“Senior Antinoia, can we talk privately?”
Bell’s voice was calm.
Antinoia stopped in her tracks.
She didn't turn around.
“Nothing to talk about. We’re leaving.”
She pulled Tia’s hand and continued forward.
Bell didn't step aside.
He stood in the middle of the path.
“But neither of you knows the way out. Do you intend to let Senior Tia die here with you?”
Antinoia’s footsteps finally stopped.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Tia looked at her.
“Senior...”
Antinoia let go of Tia’s hand.
“Tia, go back with him.”
Her voice was cold.
“What about you?”
Tia was anxious.
She didn't know why Antinoia was suddenly acting like this.
“I’d rather die than be with scum like this.”
Antinoia walked forward without looking back.
Bell’s throat tightened.
Scum.
The word was piercing.
But he had already guessed seventy or eighty percent of the reason.
After all, he was mentally over thirty years old.
“Senior Tia, you go back first. I’ll go try to talk to Senior Antinoia.”
Bell turned his head and looked at Tia.
Tia bit her lip.
“Then... then I’ll leave Senior in your hands.”
She turned and walked back toward the camp.
Her steps were slow.
Bell took a deep breath.
He quickly caught up with Antinoia.
“Senior, is it because I have a slave that you’re reacting this strongly? It seems... you...”
Antinoia stopped abruptly.
She turned and pointed her staff at Bell.
“Shut up.”
She spoke coldly.
The staff was already emitting a faint blue light.
Bell didn't back down.
He simply tilted his head.
“Did I guess right?”
Antinoia’s fingers tightened around her staff.
She stared at Bell.
In those eyes, there was a flood of anger.
“I’ve looked into your background, Bell.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
“Among the nobles I know, you were considered a special one. Otherwise, I wouldn't have helped you.”
Bell didn't say anything.
He walked over to a large rock nearby.
He sat down.
“Senior, sit.”
Antinoia didn't move.
Bell looked up.
“Senior, it’s not like I haven't looked into your background as well.”
He paused.
“Including Senior Tia’s.”
Antinoia’s body stiffened.
Her fingers loosened slightly.
The blue light on the staff dimmed.
“I once saw it in a dream... a world without oppression...”
Bell looked up with a sense of yearning.
He stared at the sky through the gaps in the leaves.
“What’s the use of saying all this?”
Antinoia’s voice carried a hint of self mockery.
“It seems you hide things very deeply, Bell.”
Bell withdrew his gaze.
He looked at Antinoia.
“Your criterion for judging me as a bad person is simply because I have a slave, right?”
Antinoia didn't answer.
But her silence was the answer.
“I bought a slave only to strengthen my own power. This is merely a means; it doesn't represent the end.”
Bell’s voice was calm.
“The end is the standard that determines good and evil, isn't it?”
Antinoia’s fist clenched.
“The means also become part of the end.”
Her voice was cold.
“Today you can buy a slave for strength; tomorrow you could kill innocent people for power.”
Bell shook his head.
“Senior, you think of me too simply.”
He stood up.
He walked in front of Antinoia.
“I know your past.”
Antinoia’s body shuddered violently.
“Your mother was a slave. Your father was a noble.”
Bell’s voice was soft.
“Your mother was tortured to death...”
Antinoia’s eyes turned red.
“Shut up!”
Her voice carried a sob.
“What right do you have to mention that!”
Bell didn't stop.
“So you hate the system of slavery. You hate nobles. You hate this world.”
He paused.
“I understand you.”
Antinoia’s tears fell.
She bit her lip hard.
“You understand?”
Her voice was mocking.
“You, a young master of a duke’s house, what do you understand?”
Bell’s eyes darkened slightly.
“I understand loss.”
His voice was very soft.
“I understand despair.”
Antinoia was stunned.
Bell turned around.
“Senior, I’m not some kind of good person.”
His voice was calm.
“But I’m not a bad person either.”
He looked up.
He stared at the sky.
“I just want to survive.”
Antinoia’s tears wouldn't stop flowing.
She pushed up her glasses.
But the lenses were already blurred.
“Then... then why did you buy a slave?”
Her voice trembled.
“You clearly know it’s wrong.”
Bell looked back.
He looked at Antinoia.
“Because I need power.”
His voice was serious.
“I need the power to change... to change this miserable world.”
Antinoia was stunned.
“Change... the world?”
Bell nodded.
“Yes.”
He walked up to Antinoia.
“Senior, you hate slavery, don't you?”
Antinoia didn't speak.
But her gaze had already given the answer.
“Then have you thought about how to change it?”
Bell’s voice was soft.
“By relying on your own strength alone?”
Antinoia’s fist clenched.
“I...”
She opened her mouth.
But she couldn't say anything.
Bell’s voice continued to ring out.
“Senior, I know you are very smart.”
He paused.
“But being smart is not the same as having power.”
Antinoia’s tears fell again.
“Then what should I do?”
Her voice carried a sob.
“I can't do anything...”
Bell reached out.
He gently patted her shoulder.
“Senior, come with me.”
His voice was serious.
“Let’s change this world together.”
Antinoia looked up.
She looked at Bell.
Those eyes were filled with tears.
“Can you... can you really do it?”
Bell didn't answer.
He just looked at her.
In those eyes, a firm light flickered.
Antinoia’s lips trembled.
She pushed up her glasses.
“I... I don't know if I should believe you.”
A trace of a smile curled on Bell’s lips.
“Then let’s try and see.”
Antinoia was silent for a few seconds.
Then, she slowly nodded.
“Okay.”
Her voice was very soft.
“I’ll try.”
Bell let out a sigh of relief.
“Then let’s head back.”
Antinoia wiped her tears.
“Wait.”
Her voice suddenly became serious.
“I have one condition.”
Bell was taken aback.
“What condition?”
Antinoia looked up.
Her eyes were filled with earnestness.
“You must promise that you will never treat slaves as tools.”
She paused.
“They are human beings too.”
Bell looked at her.
He was silent for a few seconds.
Then, he nodded.
“I promise.”
A smile curled on Antinoia’s lips.
“That’s good.”
The two turned around.
They walked back toward the camp.
After walking a few steps.
Antinoia suddenly stopped.
“Bell.”
“Hmm?”
“You said just now... you saw a world without oppression in a dream.”
She turned her head.
“What kind of world was that?”
Bell’s footsteps paused.
He looked up.
He stared at the sky.
“It was a world... where everyone is equal.”
His voice was soft.
“No nobles, no slaves, no oppression.”
Antinoia’s eyes lit up.
“Does such a world really exist?”
Bell didn't answer.
He just continued to walk forward.
“It will.”
His voice was firm.
Rate on N.U.
