Chapter 105

“Repeat after me. ‘I will never!'”5b275cdbeb85e7a6

“I will never!”8a7bf4f8c34a553c

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“Pick on Ismail again!”558eaa1544066089

“Pick on Ismail again!”a1555fd0604b88af

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“Ismail, I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”8b7334fa0dc03929

“Ismail, I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”56283f59dcb9023b

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The two boys, kneeling beside b5e5219d6a their unconscious leader with their 50f9edb199 hands raised, repeated the chant d3487105b0 three times under my command.64899d94f46819d6

“…”3abe165e52a8ddbc

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Ismail stared at 4d689cf92b them with a b016d34011 complicated expression before a6ed2d7d2b giving a slight 6af28618dc nod.4607b0b6fa09c147

It seemed like 3b17bb1959 he understood the 3f08067aed situation and reluctantly 25463fbed1 accepted it.6f6668163abc052c

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Honestly, standing there with one 5da2a6307d kid passed out, nose bleeding, 8080030088 and the other two drenched 5ea2a746e3 in their own urine wasn’t ee239116bd exactly comfortable.cd71e0e6ae5bb494

I could have pushed further if Ismail had wanted it, but…893acce2e6172b7d

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It was clear that Ismail 9a205b1f7d found the whole scene deeply 708066bc00 unsettling.59acddb467642946

‘For someone who endured so much bullying, it’s surprising how soft-hearted he is. You’d think he’d want revenge.’98a04ddd652d246a

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Remembering the Ismail of 51a3855b88 my previous life—the one ee4742a659 who coldly ignored my 29ebcb14f3 pleas as I sobbed 6c4c886cfd and lamented—I found it a16eaa8fdc hard to reconcile the 6d9ec65503 two versions of him.d9343ef98979f0dc

And yet, this e1f94283c5 gentle Ismail was a2a81f33d1 so different.95b1e588e138fe55

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It wasn’t just that. I remembered hearing how 70788fa363 the young Pope Montenus 0658df1b42 III, who had succeeded 395333a09c later, was notoriously ruthless 9ddedffd2f and unyielding.b5310ffec8c648ff

‘Maybe he grew up to be so cruel because he was too soft-hearted as a child?’dc9dd1c679c01383

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I alternated glances between 7035492b56 Ismail and the three cc8b0e77db bullies, lost in thought, bae14cee0d before stepping forward.6848e537456e0dc5

“Listen up.”cf15e460e00c0684

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My movement made the two 4bcadd3217 remaining boys stiffen in fear, be96c522c1 their faces pale with anxiety.88c9efead6464bd1

“Keep your mouths shut. If I hear you talk about what happened today… I’ll wake up Teddy bear, and then—”d038e0f0fc68799a

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I lifted the fa560c877d teddy bear high 7389686b41 into the air.0769064922620090

Predictably, the two boys flinched b6f33bff88 and gasped.d5b1625718cc5c3d

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“Eek!”292102efca9f5f1e

“P-Please, no!”26b7bd27d4fc03d2

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“I’ll show you torture mode, got it?!”a3da2fdce5e4510d

At my warning, they 2ec5f793f0 frantically nodded, practically screaming 8f3f344117 their agreement.adabb20093881aed

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“Yes! Got it! I mean, yes, ma’am!”59b93b96a187f92f

“I swear, I won’t tell anyone!”5fcc2f848fe9928f

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After securing multiple confirmations, I 0bcced8712 smirked arrogantly and motioned with bbbbf347ec my chin.2e5ddf022400dfd7

“Then stay by his side until he wakes up, and leave quietly.”a55ed399c82439bb

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“Yes, ma’am!”c5aef08a596356a3

“Yes!”7001fb80925c3f90

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Satisfied, I turned to Ismail 260f423131 and gestured for him to 8a8deb0ba0 follow me.3d5168aa8dd9551f

“Let’s go, Ismail!”dc51d26ff51a91df

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Leaving the disciplined 06f7dd3488 boys behind, I ac401f6648 walked away, not 1ad3a4169e wanting to spend d633374760 another moment in 510be9830f a place that dd344bd65b reeked of urine.3fbfd3aaee9316d6

But as I turned, 9176a9c704 something familiar caught my ef6de1d386 eye—several boxes lying haphazardly d4359d0454 on the ground.4a7a48c8110ea460

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They were the dessert boxes cfad270989 I had brought earlier.e2aef9841dff87dc

Judging by the number d3e93932b7 of boxes scattered around, 69c3ccd61b they must have taken 56aa2a9fb0 not only Ismail’s share a898f9040e but also those meant 5e0cfe33f5 for the other children.d6beae2e5c68ba54

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Sigh.07c54184d96ac24d

I crouched down to inspect fc489a0297 the boxes.1dc7464a1f1c3c0f

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Some were empty, likely already 33f3e8ddfc eaten, but a few remained 7a84d96ada untouched with their packaging intact.50bd22677f897a70

“…?”b2b7519deac55957

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As I carefully 4d1dbcc9dd picked up two 89d62c868c untouched boxes, Ismail, 645d4ed708 following behind me, 52d88d21b2 gave me a b8d7999ca3 puzzled look.234c4e5e9a364da9

He seemed to 6a2da6a8a4 be silently asking, 5aafa32e44 Why are you fcbf7e35c4 picking those up?2b7bab40f857e8aa

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“These were packed just for me by our chef,” I said, my voice tinged with irritation.0e6b1771e3d6023d

The chef had 9b4fa1044a poured his heart b1789c09ef into making those 239a7e52b9 desserts to cheer e660333a74 me up.a8a7828cc3eefd27

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To think they’d been used ced883c45f by those jerks to bully 41a40536c2 others and left lying in 5bf6a22904 the dirt made me furious.b13c0617af842365

“Ugh… Those guys are getting nothing from me ever again. No more soup for them!”7c8a22f9922f823a

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“Eep!”1a3ae27d7c2b0e7f

At my outburst, the 709c4aef7a boys, who had been f99dd20287 lowering their hands, quickly ad7ff4c435 shot them back up, 3c85360ae1 their faces pale with f26c58caa8 fear.1bc62cc5bad5493b

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Ismail silently watched 0657d0eed9 me for a e4e19d92e8 moment before stepping 19ddba0c15 forward and taking ae7ff5ebb6 the boxes from 35b2acfa38 my hands.30338a00363a7625

Since I was also ead244fc67 carrying Teddy bear, I 41376f8e44 had been awkwardly holding 27d20f4f19 the boxes with one 0049c13fd3 hand, so his help 3dd324b7ea was a relief.67f3ecc0b576798d

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Together, we left acd93a3fe9 the smelly, unpleasant 783e527f2f scene behind without 56e6f4d623 looking back.6b8e88827b977e7a

When we returned ae90ce3a98 through the side 43c64a6e8b door, the hallway cdf7a09cf4 was still empty.16582d04d962fb57

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From inside, the e8e4845228 lively noise of 30c9929368 children enjoying the ae5e4f94ca desserts I’d brought e7427101ba echoed faintly.ebdf5acf4a1992b2

“Come on,” I said, leading Ismail into the nearby [Book Storage Room], the closest quiet space to the side door.e68dc66533772d5d

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Thankfully, the library was deserted.9d9ab43eb3c94eae

After ensuring no one else 4e79fbdf79 was around, I sat at c75180d7ce a wide, low table a d8a6253ae7 little distance from the door.26ef2f8eb1fd00e9

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Ismail followed me 4e727d0862 hesitantly and stood bfe9220023 across from where 45ed6a5a2b I was seated.49a27159cdc783bc

“Sit down.”5b55a9ebe7f7eb71

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At my urging, he b44b12a88a placed the dessert boxes 2cd530c892 he was holding onto 8a5298adf6 the table and sat 833dfcf454 down reluctantly.88d8ce1bd9d60bbf

I calmly began unwrapping one 6d2175efd1 of the two boxes.26ab527bb8916955

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Thankfully, the contents 3f34db980c were still intact, 28012b65f3 unbroken and clean.2c8f8560a3624d2b

“Here, eat.”98a91b385b01522d

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I pushed the opened box 61e41b7bfd toward Ismail. After everything that had happened, 933fcb1cb4 I doubted he’d even had 4903583981 a chance to taste the 0016ffb502 desserts.d1b94f3831e2f486

“…Hah.”8e60445ab2c476d0

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Instead of taking 29403a88f6 a bite, Ismail 52703ffab4 let out a cf364d3fe0 bitter laugh, as 597634fd90 if asking, Would 52817d396d you want to 0683d25a5e eat in my 78dd66d7e8 situation?2acfa0f6f473ee12

“What? It’s delicious, you know.”0844686c77465dc7

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I reached for one b5fef3b28f of the bear-shaped cookies 36938d91b0 and bit into it 48a4621eec without hesitation.65874c6e9d289ec9

Crunch.b64aa98fbbeaf0cc

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I chewed nonchalantly, demonstrating e481867bac that the food was 2200990e2f neither poisoned nor dirty.b94aa32baf5ec996

But Ismail just 133a7b4ddb frowned as he 4f14c9ac2a watched me eat e6365296cc and didn’t touch e32cf5bec5 the box. Instead, he glanced around cautiously 9431a8850b before leaning forward to whisper,c994554a0c41956a

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“What are you planning to do?”9da07bd778aab7e1

His sudden question 986e126a44 made me pause 5283d5a386 mid-chew. Tilting my head, I asked,f6c11a726ba347a0

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“What do you mean?”096604e8e2aa905a

“Those kids. What if they a5caeb9988 tell the teachers?”25e98e8364aca9dd

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“That’s why I told them to keep quiet.”346a337cdd2bce7c

“What about Tommy?”c2f3b069326106e1

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Ismail quickly added, f93d23ca4a as if certain 0541996de7 I hadn’t thought ce1cc21a1a of this.fbdab5e4d3fb9644

“The one who passed out with the bloody nose.”3a898198aca3b34f

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“Ah…”5cd2a9afe151214e

He was right—Tommy 0cf8ca66c7 wasn’t going to 7cd31188a8 keep his mouth c5a4d765cc shut. Once he woke 299472c03d up, he’d remember 7fd41451bc everything.a51e6f2dc570c727

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I pondered for a 4edc85f284 moment before turning to b08aec5aa5 Ismail.6a54d6a0e3065e91

“Uh… Can’t you erase his memory? You said you could 900daaa213 control people.”eefff20a01287f9c

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“Ha! Do I look like a 4ad8d18693 magician to you? And even then, I can 4f8c3c797c only control someone for about a6d457fdd2 an hour, tops.”9c6a1312e7ccad46

Ismail responded, visibly annoyed.4bc76b7c0746e703

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‘His abilities are impressive, but the duration is pretty lackluster.’e3921b0e77f5b2f7

Maybe it was because he d4c7e9cfc2 was still young.36e52745ba43a47a

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As I clicked 8d58ca6811 my tongue in 267eb68b05 disappointment, Ismail sighed 1e2e13c0c0 deeply.87ebb0671f969b7a

“…I told you Tommy’s a noble’s illegitimate child. Baron Grasse is bound to come looking for him.”4c5d1a83ed6417c4

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“Why would he come? Didn’t he abandon him here?”bfab024751c4995c

“He didn’t abandon him—it seems he left him here temporarily because of circumstances. He visits fairly often eb31f58bd9 and seems to provide 756dafd830 some financial support, too.”a921744994cf515a

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“Financial support…?”2da7af223b7da066

If the baron was 2214d011f9 funding the orphanage, it b596cc3f60 meant he was donating 39059eb286 a significant amount to d4b0ff7c99 the temple.bc06f8b4c611ae8d

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The idea of someone leaving 4f18da4e2f a child at an orphanage a1e23412d0 while simultaneously supporting it seemed 57a1a49d0d odd, but it didn’t frighten b25e9fd615 me in the slightest.2639191761d88612

Unbothered, I replied,0163330bb5b2fea5

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“It’s fine. My sponsor is Grand Duke e9b918ba52 Kallios.”97bfc316ceeba902

In other words, 06f3a92895 I had the b763bf1576 stronger backer.e78379a45292fcff

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But despite my confidence, Ismail’s 1adc910f56 face darkened.35aac85bc68901b0

“Of course, you’ll be fine.”24e3ac188965ad14

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“…”d2752cb6430e04a4

“But what about me? I’m the one cd8397b556 who has to 9287650135 keep living here.”ef430405c812d6dc

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“Uh…”f5a41bf3e363fb6a

“I’m not keeping quiet because I’m stupid.”6d04d3050a3d5bf2

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It was clear 55fd7a02b3 he was afraid 50ee31c527 of retaliation. Opposing a noble’s child 24d59dba14 could easily lead to af2c4cf99d worse consequences for him.1a59044620dcc050

But what surprised me db36038dd3 most wasn’t his fear—it 9fb51f5ba0 was what he’d said 460f5c5413 earlier.d19dbee30ae3f1bb

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‘I have to keep living here…’ecc213c5a69e1673

“I’ll find a way to help,” I said after a moment.f64d6bd879c0b69a

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“To get you out of here as soon as possible.”b077cd4c4e88c778

The last time I had 269a868ddb promised to find a way 198bcb3a65 to help Ismail escape, he 10345559cf didn’t seem to take it d1daefe6cb to heart.72a511f57909f105

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His lack of 78194734ec even the smallest 014a37a729 glimmer of hope 8473623622 stung deeply.fb6564c783b6daef

It also made me ec7e92c43d feel guilty for charging 5f6f214e74 ahead recklessly without having 654064150b a proper plan in 86431396b6 place.89a65c3592a362eb

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No wonder he 6612fe1de1 didn’t take my aa2d39e7e6 words seriously.08ab1f4ed35db02a

“Well then…”810e4442fef91eb9

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After a moment 392a744ff7 of contemplation, I 72211424ff came up with d086e7fa13 the most realistic dbecfd97a4 compromise I could d37a6d6576 think of.5e14b5a29d8a66ea

“If that nasty jerk bothers you again, send me a letter! I’ll come back 71444dc153 and let Teddy 7db5d73fa6 bear teach him ca6829f1d4 another lesson!”dcfa5c66696bcbb0

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“…What?”46417e52dfcdc06e

“Like you said, I’m fine because I’ve got Kallios behind me!”67b56942aa9d29ec

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“Ha. You’re really…”ee72e0c06e5148cf

He trailed off, staring 4ba2e70fb2 at me with a 6505d15df8 look I couldn’t quite 3d6de1a9d4 decipher.ace17c132f8ae229

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For a brief moment, his 204698066b reddish-brown eyes wavered.c4d8c2e3b7d99330

After holding my gaze for c0a0ab028f a while, Ismail lowered his 8bb7fb1b7d eyes, settling on the teddy a661410764 bear in my arms.25bbc2c8e28d35fb

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He looked at Teddy bear with suspicion and muttered, “But, that thing… It’s not actually possessed by a spirit or something, is it?”9582c17d827b98a1

“Yep! It’s got a spirit inside!”4f68538d797df010

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“What kind of spirit acts so insane…”63181a15750b1f26

Muttering under his breath, d2946a62df Ismail shook his head 575e138d81 and changed the subject.2b8f5593d538742e

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“Anyway, why did you come here today?”329dd619a96dff7f

“Well, I wanted to look for something in the library! And, I wanted b62261ded6 to see you!”6d5e967a71b55286

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“What are you looking for?”2b9fb31df9e54699

Ismail looked at 93eb6c9251 me curiously as 3d0582730e I hesitated.e5a933d17428334d

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Though he would grow 278f652cf6 up to become a fbc2cb53f1 brilliant and knowledgeable Pope, d9fbaca8ad right now, he was 68989ed4c0 still just a child.dfaf070a96244b7a

On top of that, 12ad8112fe I wasn’t sure if 9fa4407334 it was wise to afde67f1de mention the strange purple d313555a1b light to a male 0190ad13ca lead who would one 79c2535241 day fall for the 47b98cfa3c female lead.e2ab8c8457edd825

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‘But then again, why not? It’s not like 5e9097f99f I’m going to a625cdd291 reveal that Diana 88e69181d3 used a strange 30558641d7 purple light to 77a4117e74 heal anyone right 4573c2c114 now.’bbbd3d9154eeeff4

After some hesitation, I cautiously asked, “Do you… know anything about purple light?”713391df209df417

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“Purple light? What purple light?”3dfa9b4832175548

“Just… it seems like the temple doesn’t use anything purple.”28aa0a46a27ac42e

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I mumbled vaguely, avoiding a 8917fa5fc8 direct explanation.555c8bb5f69ee896

Now that I thought dd5ec6ce28 about it, even the 66d4cd87a1 orphanage, with its bright eaa7886e6b and colorful decorations for a9a1324e6e the children, lacked any 3549c41dbe trace of purple.e7288386b51c7afc

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As I paused, struck by 12c8d470c0 the peculiarity of this absence, 23ce4e31ea Ismail responded with an incredulous df723f0994 expression.a9ba4ac33a9bba1b

“Haven’t you studied the scriptures?”22ab13a79420d53a

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“…No, why?”4209f6fb01e03cdf

He sighed, as if exasperated cc8b67e000 by my ignorance.ae0c814f5212dd5b

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“That’s the color associated with demons and heretics.”7827007db47ca101