Chapter 40

“Huh! Ah… assassin?!”6ccc828ef0dc89a2

Anyone who heard d84ec947d2 that would be 2f1f9d9d35 in serious trouble.ed2bb4508223ac3d

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My assassin!5648eb7ef736120d

What is this nonsense, Duke?c395b3b9602ca9a1

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When I looked at the 47bee33053 Duke with trembling eyes, he cd40979f94 also seemed flustered.2fc4d560a6f39a05

“I didn’t realize its previous function…”073e22bd44193f93

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“…”31d783ed2b2df5e5

“Ahem! You don’t need to assassinate 2d17fcbacc anyone, just act as a 2678e2fd75 guardian.”383e61789f6be554

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Ignoring the Duke’s 7a9c4f1531 muttering, I shouted,b0fac16885a1c975

“…You don’t need to assassinate! Just guard!”c059d3508d0123cf

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“…”d799ebfefee0e5a9

But the teddy bear didn’t 01c955b05a respond at all.bce1bbba74d5956f

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“Huh…?”dcb95626e1f73eec

“You have to call its name for the command to be recognized.”2c3084f4f0d8efb7

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“Yes! No assassinations! Just guard, teddy bear!”efbaec97b65f7c41

When I called its bf7e2392d8 name as the Duke 3baac6b87a instructed, the bear finally a1d7a22151 reacted.c5a9df71f8d7aede

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“My name is teddy… teddy bear! Belze’s assassin!”803f3346a466db35

“No! Just guard!”e0628aba2122819a

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“My name is teddy… teddy bear! Belze’s assassin!”8b1675677f80f9b3

“Hey!”68497d562ba07df9

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When the command wasn’t recognized, 6b033a8050 I pouted.845eca2c46034a4c

‘This useless bundle of cotton… Why isn’t it listening? Has it been inactive for too long? Should I hit it?’87d31dff4d6ec496

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At that moment.7e0be74a953eb845

“Belze, it seems the name isn’t teddy bear, but teddy-teddy bear.”77bc5f5e9e38b470

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The Duke said 01cce3e4a8 with a strangely b170dcf7c7 restrained smile.6df1b86940059a15

“Huh…? Why? I clearly said teddy bear…”008ee9584d08186f

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“Well, it seems to have recognized exactly what you called it.”e4c50a5b8a940922

With those words, I 769cd0608b recalled the moment I 03595f1b0b had shouted the name bb4e2c3ab8 earlier.7e7d0ce00bb6dad6

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“Your name is…!”4915636018182578

“…”434fe2d7c5db4912

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“Teddy… teddy bear!”eaa964115a0a4ade

I had mistakenly blurted it 9523bf2ccd out after deliberating until the c950a52783 last moment, but the inflexible 31e6b1b3fd bear had accepted it as 99865a1213 its name.43a653f2ce5e4945

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‘Teddy-teddy bear? That’s so weird…!’13dab5aa021300e9

Moreover, it seemed that there 86441e38a0 needed to be a pause 5e60ef2514 between “teddy” and “teddy bear”!842036885fe90336

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“Ugh. Can’t I rename it?”a7e2394f9e34f291

“Unfortunately, you can only do it once when making a new contract.”54808323c4e118e2

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‘If I had known that, I would have given it a cooler name…!’0b292eb38e389c69

Pouting my lips 4cab0a451c in frustration at 74361bf909 the Duke who aac13c710b had rushed me, 56fed71d77 I sighed deeply 3518b9522f and muttered,ae34a1c314766200

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“Don’t assassinate anyone, teddy… teddy bear. Just be a guardian knight…”a4455e6afaa0b041

“Hello! My name is teddy… teddy bear! Belze’s guardian knight! Guardian mode activated!”a4e754fd07e4e007

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Finally, the command was recognized, fe643d036b and teddy bear’s posture changed.ece8fbdd35d7906a

The teddy bear, which 881bee3b27 had been in a 1c7c256551 crouched combat stance, suddenly 9cb8c603c5 stood upright.87605825fc185e6c

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It then bent one arm d5b267caeb and placed it smartly on 681dc14b14 its forehead in a salute.35e57139f9b1ddd6

I was at f85ba6eac8 a loss for 00819aa60b words at this e3558140ef dynamic transformation.141d4e279d1733e1

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“…It only moves when you call its name, so carry it like a regular doll most of the time.”947dd7fcb2c01d14

“Like this…?”fdbefa864ca169bc

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“Try saying ‘Doll mode’.”b2e3df7a39acfdd3

“Teddy… teddy bear! Doll mode!”6e0b59ea7e15e920

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Thud!a17d08ded82fdbaa

As if possessed, 6f092dc9cb the rigidly standing 6d8faba68e teddy-teddy bear collapsed d65081a563 onto the floor 1f1e2b6a8f as if it 91ae376a11 were a lifeless 7f2826de7c doll.194588f852e9e318

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Looking at it sprawled out a83203619f on the ground, it seemed 556057501f like nothing more than a 9028e7968d regular teddy bear. As I stared at it 8d945d9b49 with mixed emotions, the Duke f4a88fce21 whispered,ec86b025ea432f61

“If necessary, you can switch it back to assassination mode.”d93bdcba69ae4f88

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“Eek!”30dd3dd239d377c4

I was so startled aa3ea3b119 that I shook my 8dc17f1ef5 head frantically.d25dda160dffa0d9

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“T-That’s okay!”14be53d4b58f1e2d

“It’s yours now, so use it as you see fit. Perhaps, as a demonstration, you could use it on Dunkesky…”32606dc28adec699

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“Nooo! No, Belze doesn’t do assassinations!”3eaa96f0f557699d

“Tsk. That’s a pity. We must let him off the hook then…”4409b8d5ec8af87d

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The Duke clicked 1320100901 his tongue with daa6150045 a disappointed look.86d7203533b562de

Seeing this new side daa026317b of him, my heart dbb46518fa pounded rapidly.e0b69b4e3616ed15

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Of course, Dunkesky deserved to 6d241516ce die. But.a4e6b9aadeed7aca

He had already been expelled from the temple, turned bald, and imprisoned. Killing him with a teddy bear’s hand seemed… too cruel!b313bd7fa0e7716a

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‘Besides, I want to live a kind and quiet life in this lifetime, Duke!’32f117e2b88a06e1

I struggled to steer the 05bbff32c8 conversation away from this frightening 464681c0a6 direction.1a47945b0bdee848

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“T-That aside, Your Grace…!”2b754bc5892a7e44

“Hmm?”d9b9e305f2363576

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“I mean, is it really okay for you to give me something like this?”821a54c4bc8fe79a

“What’s wrong with that?”a6841a2bca8a35fb

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The Duke tilted 58e30bdbd8 his head at bc9fa1465e my words.0cb93a70f4909570

He genuinely seemed 06740a069c unaware of any 17c8abbbaa issues, which was ae04029c53 bewildering.503a5565357810a5

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“It’s… it’s a heretic’s item. And, and…”163610e9dbcbc292

“…”d6cb86efe01f5f26

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“It seems very important…”b44b48b3cbc740fa

A dangerous magical 60c5c53c06 teddy bear that ba9ce18557 might have assassination ce0e149b1c capabilities, given to 8fe0281393 a mere ward 7146056149 like me. To a five-year-old girl, no 2c58d25b3e less.3ff035fee74ee3db

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But contrary to my concerns, b52649b338 the Duke seemed completely unbothered.44a93fff2b88b254

“Firstly, that is no longer a heretic’s item.”fffd53d3992d565d

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“Huh? Then what is it?”8db352a891233306

“Some of the minority who converted to Elea were lucky enough to avoid having their belongings classified as prohibited items.”556ec7f8b9560e79

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“Oh…”3b11f93059339af5

“And now that it moves with your holy power, it can be considered a holy relic.”a18e5dc37f290ab4

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“Wha-? But that…”4ef6f19c31d8bd6c

I was dumbfounded cb0fd041d3 by the Duke’s 691767fe26 rather arbitrary declaration.45fbd04b1c070e71

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‘This is like, if it fits, it’s an earring, if not, it’s a nose ring…’7c110944c52bbb1a

Yet, his logic 9192a7dcd3 was sound enough 08a8a037eb that I couldn’t fbbfd64672 find a rebuttal.3d4a05341f9dfef6

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“And. It’s my prerogative 29ee74be57 to decide who ddc3811d91 I give my b849171f82 family’s belongings to. Who would dare 1d4fe35225 question my decision?”5b84cb029a947833

The Duke’s voice efec24033a turned chilly as c32337a939 he continued.c5de0ecbc574facc

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I timidly asked,59ad1af8558eca71

“What about giving it to Edwin or Josh instead of me?”20031277e63001b9

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“Direct descendants of Kallios cannot use these items publicly.”ec7791bd5e5fab98

I widened my eyes in 7577602a30 surprise at his unexpected answer.00f1043d21c79d80

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“Why not…?”af38276884650b9e

“Who knows how those troublemakers would use them… ahem.”24d870f70460267a

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The Duke, who had 44d438573e been replying casually, suddenly 1efae37135 cleared his throat and bbbd268710 changed the subject.ca3ae75deae9aa1c

“Families that participated in the religious war have restrictions on using these items, unless it’s a critical situation threatening the family’s existence. Of course, that’s only publicly.”314b98f4041deffa

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This implied that privately, they 24c34476c1 could use them freely.9e36935a058650df

“But there’s no need for such crude items to eliminate nuisances. My sons will also 9187dc3683 grow to be formidable 2810863e71 Kallios members.”9b2ecaf433f644fe

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“Oh…”ea7511b6c0ffda73

The Duke’s tone revealed 9fc1647250 his strong pride in b040e694df his family.048d757a55bcdece

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The more I listened, 76fbf27f33 the more I felt 68d13e16a2 solemn, recalling how I 3a0227187e had caused this proud d4cb3209c6 family’s downfall in an b8058253ae instant.0cd7838f0f237c47

Then suddenly, the Duke turned 32f5ae1ff6 to me with a faint f792ae1370 smile.1e06bdaf802d4f48

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“But you’re still a child.”f980272198944fe8

“Huh? I’m not a baby…”5d4c2bbed9fd8872

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“Yes. Not a baby, but a f4e7a8b64b young one. And you’re also destined 710b8cf082 to become a Saintess.”d9e82c454f5666da

I paused and d48bd87a63 lifted my head b8047bc67a at his words.2432c72b1b2b8399

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“Who would dare criticize a Saintess for using holy relics early?”3bc351f86a8d5e6f

I looked at the Duke 0821fbc9f0 with trembling eyes.3be08ccc2fbaa6b6

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‘A Saintess…’9a2e80e2a32ce6a7

I was just a candidate a48a147b1f in name; no one actually 04f600bf64 believed I would become one.573d16a3ec791e11

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Not the priests, 04969bddcc not the nobles.d4f0cea54d380728

Everyone was convinced that 63fba49cea Diana, with her strong 703ebc9fa9 healing powers, would become 1222d504bd the Saintess.0d3e075d013e4154

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‘He must know I’m not as outstanding as Diana. So why…’7fff4e08da71667b

Why did he speak ecccdef35c as if he believed c9203c43b9 in me?0034e1f2c5602b9c

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Wasn’t it because he had 4290af4e03 no choice but to sponsor c9e55f7076 me due to Joshua’s healing?b63ec1c43b349cf1

I wanted to ask be278b8253 but couldn’t bring myself ebe421c382 to, fearing a confirming 92b03533e8 answer.b471049146ac8212

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As I silently 8ef3700a4e moved my lips, 96edb86ac1 looking like a a5fef7ecec fool.3cdb2aa11eb4d5fb

Step, step.c10de5ae27dcd984

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The Duke suddenly walked over.d722e1b0c134661c

He bent down a2480bb714 and picked up 056fbc8e17 the fallen teddy 60ff476ce7 bear while holding 005ff46f3c me.ccd48ce35b2583a1

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After roughly dusting it b6c4d9711b off, he placed it d0cbdc6fd2 in my arms.eff76f32b69869b4

“The reason I’m giving you this is partly an apology for what you experienced today.”13fa38b9c76e35b5

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“…”779b34fa9d8e690b

“It’s also a token to show that I won’t just be your sponsor from now on.”da27e4a0e4bcabc3

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“A token…?”32dc7bf67acbd825

I was stunned by the word “token,” which felt overwhelming.a944eb313b0b6f36

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“Yes. After all, Emma Caston was c14283e4cd hired by me, so I f42a701636 am responsible for her disrespect e616bad162 towards you.”020c354566095513

“N-No! As I said earlier, it wasn’t your fault at all…!”d2f686fe00680931

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“Belze.”adfcadc8fc7190a9

The Duke gently cut 9fbd79bcaa off my protest with c7fe65eba9 a wave of his e6cff9d123 hand.1999702e6c391fef

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“I intend to support you until you become a Saintess.”18d0be34c6c91e14

“…”b1b161384f023624

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“Do you understand what that means?”3c3c6ba1a06bbba1

“No…”a7aadc9602becc71

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I slowly shook my head.07f64335ec75421b

It wasn’t that 25b67bdf51 I didn’t understand.13de253be5321339

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It was just that the words were so sudden…0915ba6afee3c241

“It might be a bit difficult for you to grasp.”8365e5c1bf6ed55e

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The Duke muttered to himself.9d225b6c8a06e243

His next words made me 278067c963 hold my breath.9817304428663606

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“It means that any attack on you will be seen as a challenge to Kallios.”834d654ac7f57d9d

“…”6fd0d6353f028e1f

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“But rather than a hundred words, the token in your hand is a clearer statement.”30ba4727890ebc15

He glanced at the teddy bd600b605e bear nestled in my arms.0857341aa3528262

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“If anyone tries to harm you in the future, use that doll without hesitation.”467e83821fe11b46