The school bell rang.
Bell stood at the classroom door.
His mind was a mess.
Tia had withdrew from the academy.
The girl who was eating cake with him just yesterday.
Today, she was gone.
“Bell.”
Kyle walked over.
His eyes were red.
“You... you should go ask Senior Antinoia.”
Bell nodded.
He turned around.
He headed toward the Aqua Branch.
His steps were quick.
Antinoia was standing by a flowerbed in the Aqua Branch.
She pushed up her glasses.
The moment she saw Bell.
Her expression did not change at all.
“You’re here.”
Bell walked up to her.
“Why did Senior Tia withdraw?”
Antinoia was silent for a few seconds.
“I don’t know either.”
Her voice was calm.
“She left early this morning.”
Bell’s fists tightened.
“She didn't give a reason?”
Antinoia shook her head.
“I asked.”
She paused.
“But she wouldn't say.”
Bell’s throat felt tight.
“Then where is she now?”
Antinoia looked up.
She stared at the sky.
“She should be back at her fief.”
She turned her head.
She looked at Bell.
“Seaview City.”
Bell’s body froze.
Seaview City.
That was the fief of Count Astane.
“Bell.”
Antinoia’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“I saw a deep sadness in Tia’s eyes.”
Her voice was very soft.
“She spent the entire day with you yesterday.”
She paused.
“If there was only one day left.”
Her gaze fell on Bell’s face.
“She chose to be with you.”
Bell’s heart suddenly clenched.
“So.”
Antinoia pushed up her glasses.
“Go and bring her back.”
Bell opened his mouth.
The words were on the tip of his tongue.
But he couldn't say them.
Seaview City.
It was a coastal city.
From the Royal Capital to Seaview City.
The journey would take at least a month.
The carriage rental.
Food and lodging on the road.
And various other miscellaneous expenses.
All these costs combined.
Would be at least five gold coins.
He currently had thirty gold coins.
If he went to find Tia.
It would delay him by another month.
Antinoia looked at him.
“What are you hesitating for?”
Bell lowered his head.
“I...”
His voice was very dry.
“I’m thinking about other things.”
Antinoia’s eyes dimmed.
“I see.”
She turned around.
She walked toward the Terra Branch.
“Then don't go.”
Her voice drifted from a distance.
“You don't care about her anyway.”
Bell stood in place.
Motionless.
The setting sun cast a long shadow behind him.
He looked up.
He stared at the sky.
The cold moon had not yet risen.
But he knew.
Night would fall soon.
Bell turned around.
He walked toward the dormitory.
The streets were crowded with pedestrians.
The magical streetlights turned on.
Emitting a soft glow.
Bell walked very slowly.
In his mind.
He was constantly thinking about one question.
Was Mithril more important.
Or was Tia more important.
Mithril could make him stronger.
It could allow him to escape Cecilia.
It could allow him to survive.
But what about Tia.
The girl who always smiled so gently.
The girl who would give him a mana recovery potion.
The girl who nagged him like an old mother.
Bell’s footsteps stopped.
He stood in the middle of the street.
Pedestrians passed by him.
No one noticed him.
Bell raised his hand.
He slapped himself.
It didn't hurt.
But in his heart.
An indescribable emotion welled up.
“Really.”
He muttered to himself.
“Staying with that monster for too long.”
He paused.
“I’m almost losing my humanity.”
Bell turned around.
He ran toward the Black Stone Tower.
His steps were quick.
The door of the Black Stone Tower was pushed open.
Bell rushed inside.
Leovet Victor was sitting behind the desk.
He looked up.
The moment he saw Bell.
He raised an eyebrow.
“What’s wrong?”
Bell walked to the desk.
“Instructor.”
His voice was hurried.
“I want to request a leave of absence.”
Leovet leaned back in his chair.
“A leave of absence?”
A playful smile curled at the corners of his mouth.
“For a little girl?”
Bell did not speak.
Leovet stood up.
He walked over to Bell.
“Do you know how much time you’ve spent training until now?”
His voice was cold.
“Do you know how your current strength came to be?”
Bell looked up.
“I know.”
His voice was firm.
“But if to escape that monster.”
He paused.
“I have to become something other than human.”
In his eyes.
A firm light flickered.
“Then I would rather spend my whole life with that monster.”
Leovet was stunned.
He stared at Bell.
In those eyes that could see through souls.
A trace of complex emotion flashed.
Then.
He laughed.
“Good lad!”
He patted Bell’s shoulder.
His strength was great.
Bell’s body swayed slightly.
Leovet turned around.
He picked up a piece of parchment from the desk.
He wrote a few words on it.
Then he handed it to Bell.
“Go.”
His voice was very soft.
“Don't let Leon pull too far ahead of you while you're gone.”
Bell took the parchment.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
He turned around.
He walked toward the door.
When he reached the door.
Leovet’s voice came from behind him.
“Bell.”
Bell looked back.
“Yes?”
Leovet leaned against the desk.
“You’re doing the right thing.”
His voice was serious.
“Don't forget that you are human.”
Bell’s throat felt a bit tight.
He nodded.
“I won't forget.”
He pushed open the door.
He walked out.
In the dormitory.
Lilian was sitting by the bed.
She saw Bell enter.
She immediately stood up.
“Master.”
Bell walked up to her.
“Pack your things.”
His voice was calm.
“We’re going on a long trip.”
Lilian was stunned for a moment.
“Where to?”
Bell did not answer.
He turned around.
He began packing his luggage.
Clothes.
Dry rations.
A water canteen.
And that bottle of mana recovery potion Tia had given him.
Lilian watched him.
“Is Master going to find that woman?”
Bell’s hand paused for a moment.
“Yes.”
Lilian lowered her head.
“Master cares about her very much?”
Bell was silent for a few seconds.
“She is my friend, and your friend too, isn't she?”
His voice was very soft.
“We can't leave her behind.”
Lilian did not speak again.
She turned around.
She began packing her own things.
The next day.
Before dawn.
Bell and Lilian walked out of the dormitory.
The streets were very quiet.
The magical streetlights were still on.
The two walked to the Royal Capital’s carriage station.
Several carriages were already waiting there.
Bell walked up to one of them.
“To Seaview City.”
The driver was a middle-aged man.
He looked up.
He glanced at Bell.
“Seaview City?”
He scratched his head.
“That’s quite a distance.”
Bell nodded.
“I know.”
The driver held out his hand.
“Fifty silver coins.”
Bell’s heart suddenly clenched.
Fifty silver coins.
He took the money pouch out of his pocket.
He counted it.
He handed the money to the driver.
The driver took the money.
He counted it once.
Then he smiled.
“Get on.”
Bell and Lilian climbed onto the carriage.
The driver cracked his whip.
“Yah!”
The carriage slowly started moving.
Bell sat in the carriage.
He looked out the window.
The outline of the Royal Capital gradually faded away.
The setting sun dyed the sky orange-red.
Lilian leaned against Bell.
“Master.”
Her voice was very soft.
“Will you regret it?”
Bell turned his head.
“Regret what?”
Lilian lowered her head.
“Regretting for that woman.”
She paused.
“Giving up on Mithril.”
Bell was silent for a few seconds.
“No.”
His voice was firm.
“I can buy Mithril later.”
He looked up.
He stared out the window.
“But I can't lose a friend.”
Lilian did not speak again.
She just leaned against Bell.
She closed her eyes.
The carriage traveled through the night.
The wheels rolled over the ground.
Making a creaking sound.
...
A month later.
The carriage stopped in front of a city gate.
On the city gate.
Three large words were carved.
Seaview City.
Bell jumped off the carriage.
He looked up.
He stared at the massive city gate.
The sea breeze blew past.
Carrying a salty, fishy smell.
“We’re here.”
The driver’s voice came from behind him.
Bell turned his head.
“Thank you.”
The driver waved his hand.
“No problem.”
He pulled the reins.
The carriage turned around.
It headed back the way it had come.
Bell stood in front of the city gate.
Lilian walked up to him.
“Master.”
Her voice was very soft.
“Let’s go inside.”
Bell nodded.
The two walked through the city gate.
Seaview City was very large.
Shops lined both sides of the streets.
There were many pedestrians.
The air was filled with the smell of seafood.
Bell walked down the street.
His gaze swept over the surroundings.
He was looking for something.
“What is Master looking for?”
Lilian asked.
Bell did not answer.
He just continued walking forward.
After walking for about half an hour.
Ahead.
A huge estate appeared before his eyes.
At the entrance of the estate.
A plaque was hung.
Count Astane’s Estate.
Bell stopped his footsteps.
He stood at the entrance of the estate.
He looked at that plaque.
“Found it.”
His voice was very soft.
Lilian walked up to him.
“Is Master going in?”
Bell nodded.
He raised his hand.
“Bell Lucas, heir to the Blood Duke, here to visit!”
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