“Hoo~”
“It feels like the boss’s handmade food smells even better. Just smelling it makes my mouth water.”
The beastman mercenary twitched his nose.
The rich aroma of food was carried by the breeze to the mercenaries gathered around the bonfire. With this fragrance, the beastman mercenaries were all heartily devouring roasted meat.
They slightly raised their heads, gazing towards the main camp with longing in their eyes.
“Shhh~”
“Isn’t our roasted meat also quite fragrant? Have you ever eaten such delicious roasted meat before?”
“Besides, that meal was made by the boss for the little girl Subei. Why are you drooling? You’ve lived this long and still want to snatch food from a little one!”
“That’s not it!”
“To be honest, the boss’s food is incredibly delicious. This roasted meat must have been grilled by the boss himself, right?”
“Of course!” Lion Jack bit down on a piece of roasted meat, tossed it high into the air, and swallowed it whole with his wide-open mouth. “You should consider yourselves lucky to be in our camp. Here, the food is good, the benefits are good. As long as you work diligently and serve our boss well, none of you will be worse off than those kingdom nobles in the future.”
“That’s right!”
Black Donkey, chewing on an apple, seconded this with a statement from the Truth Fruit.
“Our boss is also full of responsibility and never abandons anyone in the camp. Just a few days ago, our boss fought alone in the Undead Dungeon to save Jack and me. I, Black Donkey, have never bowed to anyone, but I am completely convinced and sincerely admire our boss!”
Crunch.
Black Donkey took a bite of the apple, a crisp crunch.
Just hearing this sound made the beastman mercenaries around him lick their lips and grin.
“Brother Donkey, can you share some with us?”
“Dream on!” Black Donkey pulled the wooden bucket back with his hoof. “This was personally made for me by the boss. If you want to eat it, go ask the boss yourself.”
“How dare we!”
“Hey, don’t be scared. The boss is actually a very approachable person,” Kuka said from the ground, lowering his voice. “As long as you do things that satisfy the boss, for example, going out to explore dungeons and bring back a few chests for the boss, or beast carcasses. Remember, pay special attention, you cannot open the chests yourselves.”
“Right!”
Lion Jack also extended his claw and gently patted the ground.
“The chests must be given to the boss to open, and the carcasses also need to be dissected by the boss. This is for your own good, you’ll be covered rain or shine, understand? The boss will cover for you when he takes your chests, and if you find good treasures, he’ll give you extra rewards. You must remember this.”
“Understood!”
The beastman mercenaries nodded vigorously and said.
“Brother Donkey, Brother Jack, can you tell us about the Undead Dungeon?”
“Alas!” Black Donkey and Jack exchanged a glance upon hearing this and said, “That Undead Dungeon was truly spectacular. It could be called our boss’s peerless first battle. That day, dark clouds gathered and ominous winds howled…”
——————
In a side room of the camp, Chen Yu’s eyes were filled with a gentle smile as he looked at the fox-tribe loli girl sitting opposite him. On the small table between them were a bowl of rice and a stew of potatoes and meat.
Not only the color but also the emanating aroma made one’s mouth water uncontrollably.
From the moment Chen Yu brought the food.
Subei’s eyes had not moved away from the dishes.
However, she was still uneasy. Her prolonged life as a slave had made her personality cautious and timid. Even a piece of dry bread was a luxury for her on normal days.
Food like this now was something she dared not even imagine.
“Eat,” Chen Yu whispered softly. Subei, sitting opposite him, pursed her lips but did not move her chopsticks.
“What, you… you don’t know how to use chopsticks? Should I get you a spoon?” Chen Yu asked softly. Subei, who had been looking down, suddenly trembled all over and raised her head, her eyes constantly quivering. “Are… are you preparing to sell me?”
“Ah?”
“When they are about to be sold, they are given good food. Have you already found a buyer and don’t want me anymore?”
Looking at Subei, who was trembling and clearly scared yet dared not speak loudly.
Chen Yu’s heart was filled with a pang of sorrow.
Slaves!
This was what true slaves were like.
He himself, who once considered himself a "slave owner," was vastly different from these true slave owners and their treatment of slaves.
However—
He did not want to become like that.
He couldn’t accept it.
Perhaps, deep down, he still possessed a sliver of a bottom line. He could be relatively cold in pursuing his own interests, but he truly couldn’t do things that treated life as worthless, that trampled on life and dignity.
“Don’t worry, you won’t be sold again.”
Chen Yu reached out and gently rubbed the little head of the fox girl Subei.
“From now on, this camp will be your home, and everyone outside will protect you. You will no longer be sold, nor will you be beaten. No one will bully you. Believe me.”
Subei bit her lip and remained silent.
“Pinky promise,” Chen Yu suddenly extended his pinky finger. Subei looked up, her eyes showing a hint of confusion and bewilderment, but the fox tribe was inherently intelligent.
Although she understood the meaning of the gesture, she still extended her hand.
“Look, we’ve made a pinky promise now. Let’s seal it with a thumbprint.” Chen Yu pressed his thumb onto Subei’s tiny pinky. “This way, the contract is complete. You will no longer be sold. I don’t know where you lived or what you experienced. What I can guarantee is that in the future… my camp, Chen Yu’s camp, will be your home. You don’t need to endure darkness anymore. This is your home.” wΑp.kanshu伍.net
Subei, who understood nothing, suddenly felt her eyes well up with tears.
Her eyes reddened, and she nodded vigorously. Tears of grievance suddenly welled up from her eyes, and she continuously wiped them away with her small hands.
“Don’t cry, eat your food quickly.”
“Mmm~” Subei nodded choked with emotion, picked up her chopsticks, and awkwardly yet carefully reached into the wooden basin of potato stew. She didn’t dare to touch the meat yet, only picking up a small piece of potato.
Gently placing it into her mouth, Subei’s little face immediately showed an expression of happiness.
She licked her chopsticks.
After secretly glancing at Chen Yu, Subei picked up a piece of meat, then cautiously looked at Chen Yu again.
“Eat,” Chen Yu said.
Receiving Chen Yu’s permission, Subei finally put the meat into her mouth.
The tender beef melted in her mouth, and the meat juice tantalized her taste buds, causing Subei, who had been crying moments ago, to break into a brilliant smile.
She lowered her head and took a mouthful of rice, then directly cupped the bowl with her hands.
Before long, Subei had eaten more than half of the bowl of rice. Chen Yu was somewhat surprised by how much the little girl could eat.
At this moment, Subei slowly looked up.
“Then, will you be my master from now on?”
“Master?” Chen Yu murmured softly and then smiled slightly. “No, I am not your master. I… am your leader, and you are not my slave. You… are my employee.”
“Leader, employee?” Subei murmured, confused.
“Employee means you will work hard for me from now on, and I will give you corresponding compensation. Remember, working for me doesn’t mean you are a slave; you are exchanging your labor for benefits,” Chen Yu said with a smile. “As for a leader, a leader’s responsibility is…” Read more at:
“To shield you from wind and rain, and to ensure you have food and clothing!”
--
Author’s Notes:
Too busy~ Sorry for the late update, there’s another chapter before 12 o’clock!