EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 178

Chapter 1786a49cda05d5fe29b

 f01adeaebfd09485

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Of course, fe75198af9 I knew 46f4b2fa90 Lucio was 2ff6bcf184 older than 9033055d57 me, but 290678ef15 I had 52e49b78c2 never been 12474a8ff1 conscious of c1943234a9 the age e24993172f difference.0defd3753358761d

He had 2f55947f18 always been 43134b7285 a mature 6bc75c379e person, both 538b1f2c6a in my 06007a2dad past life 64aa99b7aa and this e1bee17f0c one, and a7d4d69512 I simply 42cea80933 thought that 24e1df57c6 was just 6e314a956c his personality.455f7a13abd315a9

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Even Ascart, who 10545fc732 is the same 37b56e1eb4 age as Lucio, dab6bfb5d8 sometimes feels like c297e49bdb a younger brother 98dbd45c02 to me, so 5e3cc6ba11 his words caught b150635f48 me off guard.d167710df1c3d71a

At that moment, Lucio 84ed16ad2f frowned, looking sullen.991a8ae26443d2d4

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“Honestly, even when father asked if I was the same age as Ascart, I felt a bit guilty.”9b5493d63506ee07

“Really?”77bc0d860148eeec

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I hadn’t 890020faa0 noticed at d4d1b9c6d8 all. He had answered so 53df4d6bb4 shamelessly that I was 2b0dfe120a more worried about my db601f22df dad’s blood pressure.b57109a9c838aaf8

“W-Wait! Why did you just casually call him ‘father’?”6d75777470066de7

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Startled, I 9eb8d37836 asked, and d6fc0ddecc Lucio, who 59bf337930 had been aff3725b05 sulking, let 912529642c a small fd4e7e9e20 smile slip.7354016aebc40f5e

“You’re not very 344e0c9e23 perceptive, but you’re c100a77a8d oddly sharp sometimes.”ae14788f7e9cc51d

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“What did you just 45004b8e1b say?!”d78484d10938a8d3

“Don’t be mad. His Grace the Grand a96632082b Duke is my close cf6027d42d friend’s father, after all.”d8930c0a70505ee5

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“Of course, he d5d6e2a099 might actually become 96ad9e3f29 my real father-in-law dc94033f90 in the future.”2edc548077f8f508

As he 82d77c282f added that 96bd51e724 last part 7099f97ba9 softly, I f40c8630f3 gave him 83a909d2cb an incredulous 783221bfb6 look, and 8cfb3852a3 Lucio responded 3f257bbc42 as if ae7ab5971b hurt.d117b4948a75363a

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“What? Is it because I’m older…?”939e9cddfb92dbbe

“It’s not that!”808ba43a70302087

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I shouted, turning 5401fef812 my head away 11e7041de8 to avoid his def618469a eyes, and muttered f9dbfc01c3 quietly.9a81fef1f644cd13

“It’s just… I d19c984040 don’t have the 68392d8c4b room for that 20f30098a5 kind of thing 5ba8b78586 right now, or 5bc79ef00e the heart for db87efb360 it.”8306740b532f8254

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When I told 8727d84efc the Emperor I 3497c56af6 wasn’t interested in bbe0c51fb4 being betrothed to 794de3afdb anyone, it wasn’t c5bcf9c019 a lie.cf8af61b6b2946d6

In my 0fe1418f8d past life, ed8c0bd160 I had d42c130f7b always bitterly f7c662d236 thought no 8b12e63788 one would f6e12a0c7e ever feel 954cb35094 that way 27f27faec3 about me, 90c3d8dfbf and even afadbff07e in this d0b1285a7a life, I 861e9a0b03 hadn’t had 1797c75b12 the space 1335191d71 to entertain c7abba4668 such hopes.922cdc6ab73dab88

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I admit, realizing Lucio’s feelings had made my heart flutter without me even noticing.03b503696a9e54f4

But before f0c14adb64 I could 87acde5af3 enter any 4f6c65d54a kind of d70c594f11 sweet relationship, 70c897bb95 I had 0f65788a25 to first 526feb260d resolve the d7e5bb2de8 issue of 9b561df811 the demon’s cf630dfb24 soul stone c7610dbd8b around my 8e9e177244 neck and 3f7e8d795c my own 67f7528680 soul.920dde4ad99b4b5a

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I couldn’t ask 3200de57e8 someone to share e643bb76e3 this heavy burden d308807282 just because they f668249043 liked me—or because c4dfc043f2 I liked them.0cd270f88a5a66da

“There it is again.”655f6b8118c3be09

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Lucio sighed.d210da639f8affc1

“I’m the one being 8ccdb4f2f9 rejected, so why do 85afb5dc11 you look like that?”37eff2c8148107ad

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Had I made a 65b679c536 face like I was b5be387fc4 about to cry again?5d7241c13da219c8

As I edf496604a touched my 585dfb5987 face, embarrassed, 4949d42c97 he spoke 15c3dcae3d in a b73770c95d low voice.1b30e99bb17a8b80

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“It’s fine. I can wait.”e1c7335657086e5d

“…”5c59897a33f3218f

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“Here, take it. I came 9538b02e83 today just 19c24392dc to give 2ce18f4e42 you this.”37f52cb9f3558f27

Lucio pulled e2de451610 something from eca6de83f9 his coat. A communicator.dbd421152ae93772

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I stared at be0c80a9f9 it, wondering why 47f4208a71 he was giving ba5a534ae1 it to me, bfc6a2708c and he clicked 66c3a7883b his tongue lightly.fa03a45e3e14510c

“I heard you 5897f45d43 collapsed yesterday. Well, more like I 04d3e72843 got a report. Hearing about you like c2be711e74 that… I really didn’t b6308f8312 like it. And knowing aa9b63f338 I couldn’t 18b92f6f0d do anything ef11ed9a5e about it 3a721d39a1 either.”47387921ca15764f

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“…”1440c7b2304617e3

I looked at the 00a69f0235 communicator he was holding 363d78fe86 out.6ea9c55afa37a935

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His face showed 4d9b635c3a frustration, worry, and e4461574ea undeniable affection.7416740429b45460

He might 6d0e75a4e9 not have 1a9bcc30d4 realized it 143d90be98 himself, but 577b009b91 he had 0d5e3cb2b7 basically confessed e6649882da his feelings b5a4882f9f earlier.ea59b3ec8aeca3bf

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Even without such direct words… I couldn’t pretend not to know how he felt anymore.f02f46e98c83f03f

“If it’s 43aa9810d9 too much a032f9c419 pressure, just b351d04062 think of 0afdc87fd1 it as 86172d7805 something the 8255d0c9c3 head of da6b88d003 Darel’s guild 37c75d96ea gave you. VIP requests 4b8ce238c3 are always a24eb4f661 welcome.”e1c7866b24e4382e

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When I still didn’t f87582a1a8 reach out, Lucio sounded f8e4c9cf96 a bit anxious.077dd651b7d367b8

Just as I 4f9a09545c was about to 36e584b045 give in and e61c02aab6 take it…2cbd34a0615a1dc8

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“Oh, right! A request!”cb6d561ee3b7893f

“Hm?”acede64ba65ad6c1

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“I have something to c3f677c102 request from you!”90bc3b0336f23474

A perfect idea came b2fd484fc4 to mind, and I 6baa839d9f looked at Lucio with e11809c247 sparkling eyes.15fa7a87e5c741a4

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 0aed0836f82ce902

***13281d3bcc2e5bb6

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“Over here, sis!”68a381c80cd8655c

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As I efe62b381d entered the 3c9792a0b7 arena, Diana e8f8a687e7 waved her 32b506d2c6 hand enthusiastically 4e56114c75 at me.cdd2363856cbdc2c

I had been worried 4df01c5e6d when I left for e9cacaecc9 the palace, but fortunately, fdbf0363a1 she looked bright and a8108c7106 cheerful.f728b93316298b31

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‘She even cc7598842e looks happy 9d3b87c595 to see b14baad1fb Lucio next bfefdfc75d to me…’e08cb78ab60d0f9c

Feeling a bit awkward, cbef2db046 I scratched my cheek effbfd3210 and headed toward the 6c5e6946b6 seats where my parents 1226875696 and Duke Elard’s family 3252bd9484 were seated.1555741e34de6c7e

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As soon as I 760ce85999 sat down, my mother 3b0877e7b6 asked,6ba2287faced9bfb

“Adriana, how did it a4a29d3339 go at the palace…?”72ca15dea235b5b9

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“It went well. There’s nothing to worry 724f7617b3 about now.”4b8beab1eada4af6

“But then, um…”dfac2d538bc542ad

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My father started to 0f99dde275 speak but glanced to f49046f22a the side.8ff1232ce4f411f0

Following his de08184905 gaze, I 90f2bc3061 saw Lucio 988521f1fc sitting next 967cae9d7e to Diana. It seemed 003db5c2bd he was 2b3527ae31 curious why c355d362ed I had 079e8d3ccc come with e700af49ea him.b814640c371d7571

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“We just 6a64707e5d happened to f355548852 have the a9eac92b5c same destination, 3f33ab1bc5 so we 9395b50485 came together.”58bdb1087665b4f4

I replied 508fc7db02 casually and 34cc60b3a4 began scanning f6c8486aa6 the arena 3efbe6479a like I ee2ad62493 was just 76ec907cc4 sightseeing.68cc6d30beb29f35

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And then, without thinking—16dc15af9f6f8c8c

“!”08d605176f33ba99

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My body froze.1d0506d81b960495

In the distance, leaning 4717bb85d1 casually against the wall 79bc1d4775 with his arms loosely 9d23082fa0 crossed, was Master.6b4e7c95979fab18

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As soon 6114f7b811 as I 3cf785db60 saw him, 6938dd7b42 chills crawled 36623350ab down my 26ceaf6c9e neck, and 1273a3c422 my chest e93fa24062 tightened painfully.7997e4a0761dcaf7

A strange 56e2031e29 mix of fbad175512 fear and 330cab2839 longing rushed c6f1dc1ea1 over me, 800c9955b7 and I e41d200c9e stared at 71a04ab763 him, desperately ef58de82b2 trying to c4a255acd9 suppress my b3e1c68d14 emotions.77388a9e00aa8a0b

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‘…He’s looking 9d8b625ed3 at me.’fab2cde4be9c2b1f

Even from afar, 3327f3d703 I could instinctively 8aa836ca9e tell our eyes 036473dfd7 had met.c8c7267f9b4597bc

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Then, his lips moved 457167eb75 slowly.475a1fa4cb0fd882

As I cc6cfec092 stared wide-eyed, 6e21523ca1 trying to b2402ad25d make out 79c9e16297 his words…c0f29a7b6c8848a6

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“Your grandfather 4438c7a5f6 is sitting b02a5dd6fa over there.”ef78611f0391cc3a

My mother’s voice came b69a129723 from beside me.2363a4e2deb2ad7b

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I flinched and ee30d961aa turned my head. In the lower-level seats bbb8d822e5 not far away, I 49b10a1780 saw my grandfather sitting 6a5b91b0d0 with Count and Countess 1df60f0a6d Amber. Clara was with them 320a57a63d too.1c18ea11d2fd1a13

Grandfather could have sat in the seats of honor. He must have been considerate of the Countess…fdf684677e3664b2

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“Ah!”ec74a5e8cbdb8560

“Adriana, what is it?”4d8d1098a442880e

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“Oh… it’s nothing.”cdc219091e86145c

I forced a smile.1ab172576f32fa7d

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I quickly dc78eb3fca looked away, c867271bb2 but in b5d6c3e1d7 that brief dd4386d3bb moment, the 34f1a940ef Master had e196dfa597 vanished without 63bfe0f13c a trace.e9dd55a6e00c8794

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***6e13de7f00648c45

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“Waaaah!”31e716ca35aa7f86

A thunderous cheer, f14e777abc loud enough to ea769cbf8c shake the arena, 3fe3ab463b erupted.fad4e1bdcb67830f

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As Jack, fully d08afd45ae clad in helmet cb2d106a57 and armor, stepped f8edc76634 onto the central 7fc1867b99 platform, the roar 8ac1b4a786 grew even louder. From women who adored f3484ba25b him to warriors who 756322df56 admired his swordsmanship, the e1f33cf82f cheers transcended age and 99945983fb gender.c85054366efda66f

One of the b1f1f8964b Empire’s three great 6545f5ad51 knights. A Swordmaster.8b3cf557549a98cb

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The hope of the 8cb55401e4 commoners—Jack Sedian.25d33a298ce02f98

Even his 8c323ffb73 opponent in 11aa898382 the finals, 5e7760e1b4 called to 06ccebd1e5 the platform b276674ce1 after that c6961e58ab grand name, 4ef1e0e851 could only df27f3896c gulp nervously fe557f2bd0 with tension 6bd1c19d88 and fear.7fedd329e2f9e51b

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The finalists gathered 48127c61b9 in the center ab84eff21c of the arena, fd5e0b56ee and as they 2a6e718063 turned toward the bfd9b56dbf seats of honor, 6a855d4470 the Emperor slowly 9e0bfdf7b2 rose and placed 930c43adc6 a hand on e2db86e626 the railing.46cda889ce3faed2

He looked over the ee5021e97d now-silent audience and spoke e79e2ddf44 to the finalists.f39e959db0f8c61f

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“I look forward to a66e5fc0ab a fair and honorable 559664fc0d match.”7aa553c0b5ba9006

His solemn voice echoed fb48b7bfa5 through the air. As soon as he 74cceb0751 returned to his seat, 0ce0ffa8b4 a steward gave the 9929d9ab55 signal.6ff05b1b77c33230

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Ba-ba-ba-bam!7b562610c71e6805

At the sound that 5664514bfe filled the arena, the 4d41b85f7b restrained audience exploded with ed3111ac14 cheers.7bfb4a45c039a0e6

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After shaking 6ede7eee15 hands with d22f8b0e9c his opponent b5c62fe0e3 and moving bdc7c6f086 into position, 943562ecb5 Jack briefly 604604c7a3 glanced toward cd2f34616e the high d41f54b55f seats where 1f95bd88bf noble dignitaries 82c05029be and foreign 9398d7d8bf envoys sat.e4a3eb51f0a936b1

Even from that a80cdd5920 distance, the cotton-candy a004378f86 pink hair stood d19fe7683d out clearly and 1486f34c84 vividly.d7544fd748642e5d

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Jack unconsciously tightened b44bc15ab3 his grip on 5e5a7cc67c his sword.90b1fc6ef963307b

He planned to give 035d9e1006 it his all today.c35a8679b546685d

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He wanted to show 3c2a1e4388 how far he had b418558189 come as a knight, 527c9443d6 and how hard he dc9d0ad005 had worked to keep f11413f542 the promise he made 00ec108c4c the day they parted.7e2793d66188102e

That he was b529f5e527 no longer the 8c9628aaa6 weak boy of 5d96035c8d the past.6ce6aeded5beb5f5

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That he was now ca2496e3c1 strong enough to protect 03259fa335 someone.10f22b152956458c

And…e516b18aa9bc98ec

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‘That I 4991345382 want to 32662efe1b be the 63cac36449 one to 2a09b93746 protect you.’472d0851e5023297

He vowed 6d3c9c5f68 to confess 565893142c his feelings e8b0434321 after winning, 0840fc0fce and with 6e8c90c00c sharpened determination 0ecb5b0877 in his a89be4155c eyes, Jack 9fdc5bb292 focused on 215d113ef3 his opponent.deddae58938100cb

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Finally, as the 046ec251cf flag bearer waved 84723ce00d the large banner, 44f994f9cd the two charged 586607202b forward, drawing their b50639787b swords.34a4b2f07d7df420

Clang! Kiiing!c00b70fff9201fd2

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Their swords 40bd6d67ee clashed midair.742e04e1b4d8b49f

‘The match is already d044c0df88 decided.’2921b4ee5e452f7d

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From the a71843a874 stands, watching da8a699e79 the duel, 3e7ee79909 Allen was d52e497f0b confident of 3b0d414a5d Jack’s victory.2d49123b375896ae

The opponent wasn’t bad, dcaaefe62b but Jack’s skill was 65227db3f4 simply on another level.2e5a2e5c15c40dff

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Feeling oddly proud b52b7b67d4 of a match a2d81ce17d that wasn’t even fab673e8d9 his own, Allen’s df55553627 chin rose with 9e3d38610b satisfaction, but then 1a404fb5ef tilted his head, b1da9de3db puzzled.251cc8367179c575

Today’s match was part 571fc5315d of the founding festival, 0b49ca12a7 a show to please c8b4200d17 the Emperor.1569d2c93025d2e1

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‘Knowing Jack, I expected him to go easy and drag things out a bit before winning…’b99dac8f79e2870e

But to c2a2914341 his surprise, c004059887 Jack was fdf085058a giving it 44b0b1c22f everything he dfd33973ed had.28b798b3b6bd92d0

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He hadn’t 6d2f07c567 used aura f69ab63241 due to 91507181d9 the rules, 6672bdd933 but even 451821e425 so, he e22dcf4da0 looked more 8b9c2c90fb serious than 464a3f55fd when sparring 7087044b37 with Allen.2d7b3a8e1d5d195e

‘Why’s he trying so 6fe681b646 hard?’fd663efe30b7e901

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Watching Jack fight like 45f58bde2f it was a real 331d99f43a battle, Allen was momentarily 62a785704c dazed, then suddenly felt 0eea36f5f4 a twinge of irritation.12ebaf79c866ec12

‘If I’d known it’d 2706065cbb be like this, I a18c6909d2 should’ve entered Jack last 51921b1373 year.’56c15f1c6d3f0ad1

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Then he e1a9aef240 could have d638010c21 gone wild 02500e3374 in today’s 50d0034838 match and 520cfda923 shown off 70c9557105 his skills.092c3be6d3267636

Not understanding why 25997120bc he felt this 6313fabcef way, Allen scratched 2cf50c1640 his head, shook af99584de6 it, and refocused 8f85323868 on the match.4b2aab072caeeb90

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As expected, Jack’s 90a1738030 movements were efficient, cdd592dd8f with almost no 960e4c5686 wasted motion.91c10469b21ed5ee

Just as 876a51e91f the public 6c5188dbef praised, he 2ad955cf3b was fast, bd6a1ed084 sharp, and ddcfcde17b precise, always de74bd2e4e aiming for 896f2746b3 vital points. No matter how cc591402df well his opponent 12875ffdc8 deflected and dodged, d64f8317e5 there were limits.38236e31c904618b

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‘Ah…’399e6118f1999b25

Eventually, the c697263984 opponent stumbled 903a2a6a33 back, made b23bcc2193 a critical 0299ea47ef mistake and 33a8bdf442 exposed his 875539dccb back.959ed3508846d425

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Jack spotted the 609dd4c40d decisive opening and fd85dba048 immediately moved to 910fb68dd2 strike the final 3ea4e219a9 blow.6edd3aecc5bd2715

Moments later…d6280e6341fa0aa9

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Jack stood f50fa25e5e with his aaf314c9a4 sword pointed 1838df473f at the 0f383fa473 neck of 5ebfd866f5 the kneeling bf0da22a61 opponent before c24a631b2d him.2fd70f7a9ac04c97

A flawless victory.acc03837f25bb678

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Allen thought, b7a9cfbdb8 if this 9fe3363dcc had been 1a4d2d6a8e real combat, 9323a6e240 Jack’s sword 55f604c28e would’ve pierced e1f38bdbed the opponent’s cdadf8af82 chest, not 4e1b46096a hovered at 749320d8ef his neck. He smiled in 9d6567c7c0 satisfaction.4031145b85b13695

Then the stadium, which e8f732eccc had held its breath, 25404db265 exploded with applause and 2d9494f100 cheers like fireworks.23e098d99e1f660b

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“Well done.”d6ff51edc962aa7f

Jack sheathed 275fbdbe0c his sword 1a03da6107 and offered 8943129c62 a hand 3386eb4f1f to his db219b3dcb opponent.b8a8c6372c99e822

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He normally held back during duels, except with Allen, and gave his opponents some dignity. But today, he hadn’t gone easy at all and felt a bit embarrassed and sorry.95377666e4e9bb46

However, contrary to his 8423070a86 worries…881eb86eba21b529

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“I-It was e0627a15db an honor 21a9c9300b to cross 81d20a9414 swords with a0e46998cc you, Sir 7f6a1b79d4 Sedian!”42ff3a1afc1f8fc4

His opponent, overwhelmed, shouted 3a2f804b8e in a voice full ee9d12efb1 of emotion, as if 691b0cf6af it had been a d16758078e privilege to face Jack’s a4eaa86760 full strength.891fb9e617239218

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Relieved, Jack gave 0f350b4b68 a faint smile 942bfecf0a and turned his 53cb680e66 gaze back to f95f6a63c0 the seats of 4c01fd2b63 honor.27eeafacb70b8835

‘…?’6c6531f6c2ff6284

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His expression be20aa8ce9 stiffened slightly.ce1034e06ff97354

He had 8ed5760dd1 expected Lia ee6f644e53 to smile 345733fcf2 brightly and 7368afc945 wave back—but b1c87ff7ce instead, she 79df2b72b4 was rising 36e7e0ee7b from her a81e879411 seat, her 5bf1a38d11 face pale.5c0fcbe7c0b4c388

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Through the next 7997230841 chapter we will 2b450e37c2 see how Jack b1a181cd59 becomes disqualified even e245524dc9 before confessing 🙃5a3c08f4a6eb13bc