By the time Bell walked out of the bell tower, it was already completely dark.
The mess in the plaza hadn’t been cleaned up yet.
Shattered flagstones, scorched marks, and the broken remains of the dirt puppets.
Tia followed behind him.
She was still carrying Horn.
The madman had woken up, cowering in a corner, clutching the spent cylinder, his eyes fixed on Bell with fervent intensity.
“Lord Bell!”
Horn suddenly shrieked.
He scrambled up from the corner and stumbled towards Bell.
His monocle was shattered, his face smeared with blood, but his eyes shone with frightening intensity.
“What you told me to do! I did it all!”
Horn’s voice trembled.
Not from fear.
But from excitement.
“I followed your instructions and adjusted that cannon’s frequency to the soul coordinates of an otherworldly soul!”
“I succeeded!”
“I really succeeded!”
Horn grabbed Bell’s sleeve.
His grip was strong enough to tear the fabric.
“So…”
He swallowed.
“So, what you promised me…”
“Divine knowledge.”
“You’ll teach it to me.”
Bell looked down at him.
This useless club president.
This monster, whose body was filled with countless soul fragments.
At this moment, the expression on his face was like a child promised candy.
“I will give it to you.”
Bell nodded.
“But not now.”
He pulled his sleeve free.
“First, return to the academy.”
Horn paused.
Then, he nodded frantically.
“Good! Good! I’ll wait! I’ll wait as long as it takes!”
He clutched the cylinder as if it were his life.
Bell turned.
Tia followed behind him.
The three of them, one after another, walked towards the Black Stone Tower.
...
The top floor of the Black Stone Tower.
Leovet sat in a chair, holding a cup of black tea.
Headmaster Griffin stood by the window, his back to the door.
Hearing footsteps, both turned their heads at the same time.
“They’re here.”
Leovet put down his teacup.
He glanced at Horn behind Bell, his brow slightly raised.
“Still alive?”
Bell nodded.
“Still alive.”
Headmaster Griffin stepped forward.
His face was not looking good.
“Bell, what do you plan to do with him?”
Bell glanced at Horn.
The madman was cowering behind Tia, like a startled mouse.
“What do you mean, ‘do with him’?”
Bell countered.
Griffin frowned.
“He’s from the White Tower Society.”
“Such a villain cannot be kept.”
Bell shook his head.
“What do you mean by ‘villain’?”
Griffin froze.
“Killing so many people isn’t villainous?”
“Didn’t you say he even killed his own parents?”
This was what Horn had told Bell a month ago.
Horn would stop at nothing for knowledge.
Bell didn’t answer immediately.
He walked to the window, looking at the Royal Capital outside.
It was brightly lit.
“Are those who prey on the common people in the Royal Capital not villains?”
Bell’s voice was very soft.
“Are those nobles who buy and sell commoners like livestock not villains?”
“Are those fathers who give their daughters to old men for power not villains?”
Griffin’s expression changed.
“That’s different.”
“How is it different?”
Bell turned around.
“Horn killed dozens of people, so he’s a villain.”
“Those nobles caused thousands of deaths, and that’s just ‘the rules’.”
“Is that your standard?”
Griffin opened his mouth.
But no words came out.
Bell looked at him.
“I’m not defending Horn.”
“He is indeed a madman.”
“But his madness has value.”
Bell pointed to the cylinder in Horn’s arms.
“This thing, he made it.”
“I only provided a theory.”
“But he combined that theory with magic.”
“Such talent, it would be a pity to kill.”
Griffin fell silent.
He glanced at Leovet.
Leovet said nothing.
He simply picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip.
“You want to keep him?”
Griffin asked.
“For now.”
Bell nodded.
“I will watch him.”
“If he loses control again, I will kill him with my own hands.”
Griffin took a deep breath.
“Alright.”
“But he must stay at the academy.”
“He cannot leave my sight.”
Bell nodded.
“Understood.”
Griffin turned and walked towards the door.
As he reached the doorway, he stopped.
“Bell.”
“Hm?”
“You’ve changed.”
Griffin didn’t turn around.
“The old you wouldn’t be so cold blooded.”
As his words fell.
He pushed open the door and walked out.
Only Bell, Leovet, Tia, and Horn remained in the room.
Leovet put down his teacup.
He looked at Bell, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“Cold blooded?”
Leovet smiled.
“I think you’ve just gotten smarter.”
Bell didn’t respond.
Leovet stood up.
He walked over to Bell, extended his hand, and patted Bell’s shoulder.
“Oh, right.”
Leovet suddenly changed the subject.
“That Soul Vibration Cannon.”
“What do you plan to do with it?”
Bell glanced at Horn.
Horn immediately clutched the cylinder in his arms tighter.
“Keep it stored for now.”
Bell said.
“This thing is too dangerous.”
“It cannot fall into the wrong hands.”
Leovet nodded.
“A wise choice.”
He turned and walked towards the door.
As he reached the doorway, he stopped.
“Bell.”
“Hm?”
“Your soul.”
Leovet turned his head slightly.
“It’s very special.”
Bell’s pupils contracted sharply.
But Leovet didn’t continue.
He pushed open the door and walked out.
A deathly silence fell over the room.
Bell stood rooted to the spot.
His fingers trembled slightly.
Leovet knew.
He knew his soul wasn’t from this world.
But he didn’t expose him.
Why?
Bell didn’t know.
“Bell.”
Tia’s voice came from behind him.
Bell turned around.
Tia stood there.
Her eyes were complex.
“You…”
Tia opened her mouth.
“Do you regret saving me?”
Bell froze.
“What?”
“If it weren’t for me.”
Tia lowered her head.
“You wouldn’t have fallen out with Cecilia like this.”
“You wouldn’t have become like this.”
“You wouldn’t have…”
“Enough.”
Bell interrupted her.
He stepped forward.
Reached out and pinched Tia’s chin, forcing her to look up.
“Listen.”
Bell looked into her eyes.
“I have never regretted it.”
“Saving you was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
“Understand?”
Tia’s eyes reddened.
She nodded.
“I understand.”
Bell released her hand.
He turned to look at Horn.
Horn was cowering in the corner, clutching the cylinder, his eyes fixed on Bell with fervent intensity.
“Horn.”
Bell said.
“Give me the device.”
Horn froze.
Immediately, he shook his head frantically.
“No!”
“This is mine!”
“I made this!”
Bell didn’t speak.
He just looked at Horn.
That gaze, cold as ice.
Horn’s body began to tremble.
He knew.
If he didn’t hand it over.
Bell would kill him.
“I…”
Horn swallowed.
“I can give it to you.”
“But you have to promise me.”
“Teach me more knowledge.”
Bell nodded.
“I can.”
Only then did Horn release his grip.
He handed the cylinder to Bell.
Bell took the cylinder.
He glanced at it.
This thing was indeed very dangerous.
If it fell into the wrong hands.
The consequences would be unimaginable.
“Tia.”
Bell said.
“Take him to the Soul Research Club.”
“Watch him.”
“Don’t let him run wild.”
Tia nodded.
She stepped forward and grabbed Horn by the scruff of his neck.
Horn struggled for a moment.
But Tia’s strength was too great.
He couldn’t break free at all.
“Let’s go.”
Tia dragged Horn towards the door.
As she reached the doorway, she stopped.
“Bell.”
“Hm?”
“Are you coming home tonight?”
Bell paused.
Then, he nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll make tomato beef stew.”
Tia said, then dragged Horn out.
Only Bell was left in the room.
He stood by the window.
Looking at the Royal Capital outside.
It was brightly lit.
But in his heart, there was only darkness.
Cecilia’s words still echoed in his ears.
“Before restarting this world.”
“I will definitely return.”
“And I’ll ask you one more time.”
“Ask you if you’re willing to change your mind.”
Bell closed his eyes.
He didn’t know.
How much longer he could hold on.
Rate on N.U.
