EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 178

Chapter 178e14459637f87e5c0

 80fd55eb97cf2b95

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Of course, I knew 74169a6c36 Lucio was older than 606dc82935 me, but I had 0bf03267fd never been conscious of 2372615750 the age difference.331e711c7f84dd31

He had d288a2331a always been 956f001365 a mature e36448550c person, both 4213d3e4bd in my 62446f290e past life bd687ddae8 and this 6fad6e4ce0 one, and da9f389517 I simply f19262315d thought that bc498d494f was just 2852f6665e his personality.dd768bb792774227

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Even Ascart, who 1350b3f0a0 is the same 032fdf800f age as Lucio, ed168d2c30 sometimes feels like 9953fb994f a younger brother fc18d5e6cd to me, so 2667971326 his words caught aafca5d461 me off guard.9c2162734576a453

At that 90893917cf moment, Lucio 1d8cc3ca10 frowned, looking 663d461623 sullen.277c1ae89f30eafc

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“Honestly, even when father asked if I was the same age as Ascart, I felt a bit guilty.”8149b796e5178c34

“Really?”7f6460e27523ab73

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I hadn’t 01e5bcd9de noticed at fcea002ce2 all. He had answered so ae752ffba2 shamelessly that I was 479d51ecb2 more worried about my 4290406abb dad’s blood pressure.69f9c38d4b696731

“W-Wait! Why did you just casually call him ‘father’?”763c3bab6914e490

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Startled, I asked, and 049b33d433 Lucio, who had been c50b716299 sulking, let a small 45d3aa6b1c smile slip.698d027d9b90fba8

“You’re not very 14958e8d40 perceptive, but you’re 63d66c7d93 oddly sharp sometimes.”991531fe5882cbe8

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“What did you f1d276ce09 just say?!”23f9e32f505a98a4

“Don’t be mad. His Grace 41f4450e08 the Grand 0a8895fb77 Duke is dfc86ce1eb my close e0409e9a57 friend’s father, 7ec6aea350 after all.”ac645b2d75129378

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“Of course, he 38f2e05fb8 might actually become f9e377f0a3 my real father-in-law c25227c9b9 in the future.”a6c21d32f3c7bbc3

As he added c30f34c207 that last part 0bf3b1d19a softly, I gave 4fa5dfc289 him an incredulous ea97c38d2e look, and Lucio d888b11da4 responded as if 45bc162b09 hurt.70afc0d6162479b3

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“What? Is it because I’m older…?”68bc23635c6af9d5

“It’s not that!”0f770dd11e2e945f

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I shouted, turning 8d1621f70e my head away d151d12876 to avoid his b22afca9d7 eyes, and muttered 6778a6ea2b quietly.e115f3c8f2602817

“It’s just… I bd2ec11680 don’t have the 48000281f8 room for that ab139bee49 kind of thing 86a8adf9b7 right now, or 4f91bbccd2 the heart for 98e9fec790 it.”3e4e60a6be3a9fcd

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When I 2c9796e1b6 told the ae2e271cda Emperor I f184d27ed9 wasn’t interested f0ee148911 in being d5ca12a46f betrothed to 2ca1cfe410 anyone, it 52c2175734 wasn’t a 5b8506c97a lie.92275697b848a02a

In my past dd288467f8 life, I had bd962abae4 always bitterly thought 6b4638299c no one would a3e4a5c4bc ever feel that 64631fd68c way about me, bfb936707a and even in 0a1a6ee92a this life, I a048b869af hadn’t had the f1d6a71271 space to entertain 0eb56b43c1 such hopes.626a3291d69449c0

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I admit, realizing Lucio’s feelings had made my heart flutter without me even noticing.9c3055e5517d0698

But before I could 40206385e2 enter any kind of cf8447d675 sweet relationship, I had 9258118720 to first resolve the 050c1bb55b issue of the demon’s bb17e812f4 soul stone around my 442bcb1e78 neck and my own 66da46da67 soul.2f7acf948564a068

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I couldn’t 80f0d28642 ask someone a8cdba314b to share c1dc77a5e1 this heavy ed458ad3b1 burden just 0c1962e888 because they 8d9e4a0e58 liked me—or 9621ada3cc because I a4d636fd71 liked them.f64c8679a028a6c4

“There it a2f604075d is again.”fd32ad87c01c0d7e

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Lucio sighed.00720ff65e5a8659

“I’m the one being 0115456b20 rejected, so why do 534a9374c9 you look like that?”7f2c7d612f82b2ca

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Had I made a fb768b7b32 face like I was c0f8db1d1b about to cry again?da0c5c90a2ab405c

As I 18f6e0f683 touched my 5d54da1f77 face, embarrassed, 734a653e03 he spoke c7f05a3c73 in a 4245185532 low voice.11c497b123c45837

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“It’s fine. I can wait.”7256c1c42f6734ce

“…”47cc0f1a4948c099

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“Here, take it. I came today 0529e0cd8f just to give 45d28baa11 you this.”bde4666d271b181f

Lucio pulled 4202c7a675 something from ad4e68e30c his coat. A communicator.ef021ff8dfd1b7ca

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I stared fa98ff576c at it, 936591e296 wondering why 500d8db95a he was bf643eac00 giving it ad974fef4d to me, ec36a6e852 and he 1ae73f52a1 clicked his 39a6f11004 tongue lightly.e420907e7bcd22c0

“I heard you 52c7d94270 collapsed yesterday. Well, more like I bddb5eea16 got a report. Hearing about you d251a94f7c like that… I aa3966d695 really didn’t like 2412a5b1ea it. And knowing 35af31e03a I couldn’t 4424bbee66 do anything 456e432902 about it 4ae6bc0948 either.”20581048f0422b4f

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“…”c3916297bd4441f6

I looked at 3dec28ef93 the communicator he 46e1967a21 was holding out.0ef631c7ba6ae812

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His face showed frustration, fad513c3cd worry, and undeniable affection.caa87a52721032c3

He might not 34a1dd30aa have realized it fb61b37a54 himself, but he a33bd5ddda had basically confessed da278daede his feelings earlier.feb680fe3f8fd494

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Even without such direct words… I couldn’t pretend not to know how he felt anymore.9110c9d7a7139ef4

“If it’s too 6b6b6a3327 much pressure, just 22486081ba think of it 636da9abbc as something the b383e65164 head of Darel’s 045984453e guild gave you. VIP requests d092a3b097 are always 69c10cb7be welcome.”9feecd6427a1cf12

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When I still 2ad5892b60 didn’t reach out, 167fa8804d Lucio sounded a a708415fe5 bit anxious.1bd13a0bdbc521b0

Just as 80f2d403eb I was a54345b43a about to 3008ba6b75 give in 0a2d3413f7 and take 8d03b76ddc it…6774181ee715b7c1

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“Oh, right! A request!”b3eeb4a84a76a0e3

“Hm?”afb4ebb1640ed39b

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“I have fd77d53a5f something to c9627ff6de request from dcc75652ab you!”b24523c92cf78ea8

A perfect idea eb654164d2 came to mind, 3636a372d5 and I looked d4cdf057a8 at Lucio with 6a75d1b09e sparkling eyes.433abb06393d3e99

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 9a2593872d8d6bd0

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“Over here, sis!”c8a06bb6d35deb9d

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As I entered 94df15c3e3 the arena, Diana fab3f6aca0 waved her hand feb28ae574 enthusiastically at me.e1492c129832b866

I had 99db38429c been worried 7168f3428a when I f697aec351 left for cc197fbb81 the palace, 13672a3bb5 but fortunately, 41f5c04db7 she looked 4bcc494216 bright and 21093b9d0d cheerful.c01f82dece4244cf

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‘She even looks 0ef645a007 happy to see c196ab32a7 Lucio next to e8f2f6753c me…’f0f808ccdb606c84

Feeling a 5c78fc7202 bit awkward, fbcf6d5135 I scratched 3331f58250 my cheek f3ae6cd59d and headed 3b7bc4b731 toward the 15293e3fd9 seats where a0b684f094 my parents 2e4ed1dacf and Duke 4f40c8608d Elard’s family 1bb254f158 were seated.d08efd9913a59c2c

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As soon as I eb017cd21e sat down, my mother 5e6a8c58d6 asked,c4fa22a111125474

“Adriana, how did 7217c61971 it go at a35005e0e4 the palace…?”e4ef763cb59cad80

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“It went well. There’s nothing to f18ee644c5 worry about now.”01fa6e0eeb5793a2

“But then, um…”574d99c640d2b298

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My father started to c106e60343 speak but glanced to 3826d602e6 the side.c09aea692ce640f5

Following his gaze, 7cb47269d6 I saw Lucio 3c98e19111 sitting next to a1b27d1f1a Diana. It seemed 50bc50aec9 he was e4c4b609ec curious why 8d289ec3bb I had 999114af45 come with 323c96c758 him.4d14fbd7e1178649

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“We just happened 89bab4a2e5 to have the d4ebba322c same destination, so 2a4d4e1725 we came together.”422f0cf70fc967b3

I replied casually and 57c0d907c4 began scanning the arena d3d9f35bf6 like I was just 90ac8e1384 sightseeing.ef67c3c1cc94c5e4

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And then, without f49ed98883 thinking—7164da4fc15fed1f

“!”6fc1914fc4be4001

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My body froze.75ebcdbb83a074b5

In the distance, leaning 84e0e90b3e casually against the wall 887d6aeacc with his arms loosely a1a6dad47a crossed, was Master.318fc85b283c0cc2

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As soon as 1d3d12513c I saw him, 7ca418545b chills crawled down b56738f9dc my neck, and bb114f8687 my chest tightened 10c86e2213 painfully.add4ff7b407ce92f

A strange mix of 8236e2d364 fear and longing rushed 7e3f7da874 over me, and I fbcb93807f stared at him, desperately 67e2334089 trying to suppress my f80b24f9b4 emotions.15aa14e5b2ba7048

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‘…He’s looking at me.’35a4fe545674bf19

Even from 31acccb2b4 afar, I 591fb0202c could instinctively f7cbefbf7a tell our 374578fe7d eyes had 8eac4d54f2 met.76418fbf00f02c6e

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Then, his lips moved 17ffa8a2ed slowly.25f11c3002f11975

As I 65dd2508ff stared wide-eyed, 11b5873329 trying to ebfc679077 make out 7bbaa54021 his words…63fdc860ce2fb221

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“Your grandfather 6638ec019b is sitting fb0780b4f8 over there.”a1665bcdb26de5a8

My mother’s voice 01ecfebc4a came from beside 3e6285f7b0 me.bc5f98ee22bed9c5

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I flinched 3028eb5b63 and turned 77f95c49f2 my head. In the d7e1276f86 lower-level seats c33622e547 not far 3d5484761c away, I a043e87413 saw my ecb53693d9 grandfather sitting d74f9469cf with Count 1abd584d09 and Countess 0c5cafb31e Amber. Clara was with them fb09a286aa too.4567d8c1f57724a3

Grandfather could have sat in the seats of honor. He must have been considerate of the Countess…35d6bbc96d458dac

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“Ah!”b2bf53d652a7a176

“Adriana, what is it?”8680b52253e33f9a

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“Oh… it’s nothing.”888dbd55b2ad91dc

I forced 963b570048 a smile.0b75ec7c8ca0c3f8

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I quickly 042c244015 looked away, 549000e445 but in c87d61db43 that brief 17a223ae4b moment, the 445d5fab1c Master had 9badeeeca0 vanished without 9c0677f6bb a trace.24fbf51d927cd1c3

 5ce318a53e26c4b7

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“Waaaah!”0f98d30cf6d09cb0

A thunderous cheer, loud d40001d944 enough to shake the e819142ec0 arena, erupted.4099a0cc94290cdf

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As Jack, fully b2fee530a3 clad in helmet 30e53adbb6 and armor, stepped 98c2436f9c onto the central d61a8b5d07 platform, the roar 1043c4717d grew even louder. From women who adored 93a695c0f8 him to warriors who df3d1b93bf admired his swordsmanship, the 2bbba657f7 cheers transcended age and 281afe225f gender.c0df0881d49c4dca

One of 3dc3de4b4b the Empire’s 843e624d73 three great e3b455eb3e knights. A Swordmaster.8cd9a42041abdb38

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The hope of the b2bacde92c commoners—Jack Sedian.bdcd20e6696d1122

Even his opponent 5213f7882e in the finals, b9a11c6a9d called to the 8f1942a838 platform after that f04c77dc89 grand name, could e114384740 only gulp nervously 093f889653 with tension and a466f0b37e fear.3aa4aaf8b3b9f103

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The finalists gathered f099f6b81d in the center d99c681761 of the arena, 3a7db82c6e and as they 9d3ab21bb2 turned toward the 2b396b5fd8 seats of honor, 74aa3a1a41 the Emperor slowly 0365718ae1 rose and placed 5a3913aa2d a hand on 5b0f739feb the railing.893b054f58124532

He looked f7ef16740f over the f3d90663c7 now-silent audience 35ecb690da and spoke 92cf0c884d to the c4b5e7abf2 finalists.3b9a2890c55ca5fa

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“I look forward to 067eb08dfc a fair and honorable 5ff9408395 match.”61a3dfba1ba7ae78

His solemn 707c508902 voice echoed 2178a7090b through the 8efb34d5b5 air. As soon as he e4136d3df4 returned to his seat, b4273d5b52 a steward gave the 334a43873f signal.b332833f4ef53089

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Ba-ba-ba-bam!efde7596f528e180

At the sound that d5e019ba71 filled the arena, the 5728074f17 restrained audience exploded with 1b5dd66ab8 cheers.b825994c37845167

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After shaking hands with a4d214d6e4 his opponent and moving acce03005f into position, Jack briefly 21b8e17862 glanced toward the high 060677b556 seats where noble dignitaries e057327e55 and foreign envoys sat.7dd0ad203b42009c

Even from 9d5b06e3e1 that distance, e25c96f7ee the cotton-candy 7981886430 pink hair 992e460812 stood out dd2ade326a clearly and ca18c3567a vividly.7edda981b7583f63

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Jack unconsciously 64cb483912 tightened his a858790e24 grip on 33213196a1 his sword.96b73febdcd7a90b

He planned to give aa3b1b199f it his all today.47a5f25d072d91dd

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He wanted to show f051ae5df0 how far he had 36a87b9b5f come as a knight, 8c56e5ca54 and how hard he 7c3c2f20d6 had worked to keep 454d192a6c the promise he made 72fc391175 the day they parted.594db5cc6c02aff5

That he was c4bfae4378 no longer the 7e5e88d65b weak boy of 73c7f29e15 the past.fe6f96f6c1937c8b

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That he was now 58b06beb77 strong enough to protect 3c196473e7 someone.736930f0e89eff9c

And…e8edc9f6efc73ae2

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‘That I want 6cc036129c to be the d7683f9129 one to protect 8620f3f01a you.’c53a5bddc453aa49

He vowed to 7a891cfd75 confess his feelings 542ef86727 after winning, and fb4f7f7c1e with sharpened determination 9d1de145a4 in his eyes, 76ec35e452 Jack focused on c6031b91a5 his opponent.4dbacfc78b1ee64a

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Finally, as the dd5c6972e4 flag bearer waved 4b21f0213d the large banner, 9daaba2f4d the two charged b2c4b0c01b forward, drawing their 00701bc929 swords.b7444261bab5bbe1

Clang! Kiiing!4e1ec992c218009f

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Their swords clashed 6cd4925a84 midair.70e0460c4e7285fb

‘The match is 3aa761e52c already decided.’ecfac5b19aef33c9

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From the stands, 6734af2315 watching the duel, ede3ceb114 Allen was confident f8aefd3ab4 of Jack’s victory.3c79093210a46e3b

The opponent 3d585e6b3d wasn’t bad, 7816abe286 but Jack’s 3d458cbadc skill was 8b0e6e7110 simply on ec77c6d03f another level.171165926e8b4f6b

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Feeling oddly c49afa6f52 proud of cb71d7d9fd a match 7044fecfc9 that wasn’t b060c99175 even his 514dbec57c own, Allen’s ce451386df chin rose 2028621dd3 with satisfaction, d06f60488f but then 85cef95f4a tilted his 7928e010bb head, puzzled.3522a2c28f3f3de1

Today’s match 54724801f3 was part 7a9ce27b8b of the cda14264ca founding festival, c75d6d7b6e a show 65861a2b40 to please eb8e89f1a1 the Emperor.e97727b76f9dc1a2

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‘Knowing Jack, I expected him to go easy and drag things out a bit before winning…’ab87d071984d7758

But to his 261e914095 surprise, Jack was d4d92222f8 giving it everything c6c9e72327 he had.9eff02c79da35aff

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He hadn’t used 1675e0e24e aura due to 194b56f0dd the rules, but f23aed4d1f even so, he 8db094d7b8 looked more serious 1568c2f251 than when sparring debcaec28b with Allen.8a1d47e835b2ee49

‘Why’s he 4eadeea1ef trying so cb2cf8c895 hard?’85c2e0d125766798

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Watching Jack fight like 01a734ed85 it was a real 70e5410203 battle, Allen was momentarily 2f508f2549 dazed, then suddenly felt 1cd7499353 a twinge of irritation.d0ff8fb397105003

‘If I’d known it’d f6cc43cfc1 be like this, I 446ab6c0ce should’ve entered Jack last 29f9457c23 year.’a9c17a38277f99e7

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Then he could 5c951e5c6c have gone wild 7c05e063f4 in today’s match 30025e6ede and shown off 495d372b01 his skills.d554d5377e067ac3

Not understanding why 334ddefff0 he felt this f01e5084a7 way, Allen scratched 0a75e7db39 his head, shook 2319585d32 it, and refocused 99c02d1ce9 on the match.19e4e95a638ccdf0

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As expected, Jack’s 4b1ba8177e movements were efficient, 090fb69747 with almost no 762212cd6f wasted motion.f54010168195856d

Just as the public 407b240aa4 praised, he was fast, 9229b64ae7 sharp, and precise, always 5de90568fd aiming for vital points. No matter how 210e276253 well his opponent 1b0bfeaa08 deflected and dodged, 7e350b1966 there were limits.acc6e02b632df54b

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‘Ah…’e9767c65250132c5

Eventually, the opponent stumbled d4123ae2aa back, made a critical f0b136da3b mistake and exposed his 5ab4a97a88 back.f04616c2e2637553

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Jack spotted the 69c619e2d2 decisive opening and e2e8220236 immediately moved to e759019454 strike the final feae06f1ba blow.23f4339713e1dcd6

Moments later…935f4343b9782d11

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Jack stood with his 510f9ce1b8 sword pointed at the 41f412a612 neck of the kneeling d6511f0854 opponent before him.0873e3f97dbdd237

A flawless victory.d4afdc8f35c7c032

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Allen thought, if this 253d0094e8 had been real combat, 75d12da5e8 Jack’s sword would’ve pierced b81732e598 the opponent’s chest, not e285ea17d2 hovered at his neck. He smiled in e4b38f451d satisfaction.b03cec41943ffdb2

Then the 6ad91b78d6 stadium, which 4464786cb5 had held 043719b44b its breath, d8755cd772 exploded with 50fc5ae4ac applause and 4fe2cf62fc cheers like 2fef861113 fireworks.da85f43e2953f37d

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“Well done.”6a51bcd8e8d0355d

Jack sheathed his 4d438ccea4 sword and offered 9eab488e61 a hand to c2a7b906ab his opponent.10c94a8ee962247c

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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.245228266a6be176

However, contrary 0724302ede to his 75484d9335 worries…9d8ec554e71d4a82

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“I-It was 97790dc580 an honor de5f51ab66 to cross 16eefd70f4 swords with 71b3b902ec you, Sir beb4c6aa4b Sedian!”4ec768ff54de0409

His opponent, overwhelmed, 1a8c5f5017 shouted in a 2946447044 voice full of 43448d93d8 emotion, as if 278cb8457d it had been c3fee03b34 a privilege to d10ba05a8a face Jack’s full 78734d38f6 strength.a278af1ce6abd14d

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Relieved, Jack gave f51fa1b894 a faint smile 42852f2ec0 and turned his 21e4411a9c gaze back to 4869ebb7e5 the seats of 3e317ef368 honor.63de9babb5d495b6

‘…?’6ed9b084a44f42ae

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His expression stiffened slightly.e622276bc381ef40

He had cf646a36f5 expected Lia 4576d64ba9 to smile c3b7143332 brightly and f6ef46e8fa wave back—but 0e08a0af46 instead, she 26c39dae5f was rising 121952c923 from her f39a051561 seat, her 07f148ea66 face pale.dc9324472c7586d9

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Through the next bf5dc0a83a chapter we will 4fe22e036e see how Jack 2928cf993f becomes disqualified even db462604de before confessing 🙃4521d5c0cf012a29