FTA Ch 39

<Chapter 39>87edd5e6fa210297

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“It doesn’t matter to me how many monsters you kill.”085e115e3072b05f

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“All that matters is that you return alive. Got it? You *must* come back alive.”399f2cfe7a7e745f

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The gentle voice of 4495a18719 that child resonated in 8445f377a1 her memory like a e445073e0c sacred promise.a5645dda15f8de03

Not only had 126818ee18 Gloria kept that a96df51e43 promise, but she 2294456543 had also brought c7ce09f2c1 a monumental victory 6d760b5a65 to the Empire—the 373ae30204 first triumph of 1b85512d04 humanity against monsters eabe597a8f in the Battle 2ed0fa6a0f of Ripetion.0366e3e8d05d4043

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It was an accomplishment 760c9f76df she achieved at the d46ce64d27 age of fifteen.f815b8eca18da407

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A grand victory b625526c6b parade was held e63818a1ec in the capital 14937be5e8 to celebrate the 5161f61375 success of Gloria bea0451c80 and the First 3d4fabbbed Extermination Unit.c8ff10648df6701f

Gloria marched at the very ce2b392c32 end of the procession as 99d8569e80 they entered the capital.4b99fd0420f7c7e0

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Despite being the one 503d6a86f3 who made the most 6a168752a6 significant contribution to the 385aa24384 Battle of Ripetion, she c841345eab watched as others, who ff2436a69d had accomplished far less, b53fd9cd26 marched proudly ahead of 909beeeebd her.c4fd04094167de93

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Gloria, however, was utterly 741de818a1 unbothered by such unfair eb220a3bd5 treatment.c46404df4959a62a

Even when she f574550d81 wasn’t invited to 46d3c7c569 the palace banquet 0a34fae814 that followed the 2d2671f007 parade, she wasn’t 6b9d455695 the least bit 7a8a99d6bf concerned.ace8ed6017449e82

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To her, attending a 96a83b2a52 hollow event like that 9304a39d61 was far less important fb1a9ef0f8 than something else she fcaee7d386 needed to do.4ac51ee41810fb1a

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The children who d5a1363d93 had shared her d9003d3090 worries and supported efec8d5ad6 her unconditionally when 343347ba47 she’d been sent 95636765da to the battlefield cd116bdd06 at such a 69313e09ce young age.ea24c35dcf200e7f

She had to let 21b1e62d29 them know she had 382207edf3 kept her promise and 536066cdf5 returned alive.a95306765cce8a41

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Disobeying the High Priest’s orders 80a8adf6ef to rest at the Marquis’s 77091e2418 estate and await the next be3f92d3e3 extermination schedule, she returned to 39e3d53e7e the Cathedral instead.93a93443f67fa890

Without even taking the 70197409ca time to recover from f76739dbb5 her grueling journey and 340d963b04 battles, she rushed there, 10c850767d her heart brimming with 95f767fb55 anticipation.35dc7a1fcfe2cceb

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She could barely contain 57f894578e her excitement as she d8deb5812e dashed toward the grand 29d821564a fountain in front of 60fd06ef6e the Cathedral.509e675c7c6674fa

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But she froze in 0b4b2a76d3 her tracks as soon 4b3a621b23 as the scene came f531ab0dbd into view.09d6dfc6b37b14a0

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Corpses lay sprawled around 11fd5bc75e the fountain, lifeless for 6d00da6f6e what seemed to be 2ab2380fce quite some time.a98b77c0f890830f

A group of orcs was a0d16983a6 feasting on the mangled bodies.973b29c44517c3a5

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The orcs, with their grotesque 61ee06b994 faces and blood-soaked figures, were a2a31f87fd a nightmare made real.e9bdeb641a48fa8f

Never in her e29e87a277 life had Gloria f621542c35 expected to confront f76ba67f88 such a horrific 6530b9a75f sight.6820948819a94d73

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Her face turned ghostly pale b96d98281f as she stepped toward the f10850fe54 orcs.ea3e78f7e6132cac

Despite coming unarmed, her determination 1e830a012f did not waver.835a7b32b1aca219

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The moment she recognized the c2c18f87c6 bracelet on the wrist of 75acbd05b7 one of the corpses being dd7bcf86a3 devoured by an orc, she 30261bc95f bolted forward without hesitation.556db44a2f973827

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“Aaargh!”bc7e7cdce5b5f7d2

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Gloria leaped onto the 54169ced88 orc’s shoulder, snapping its 01142b38eb neck before ripping its d0ded2d39f head off entirely.b04e1aaf41f16afd

Blood spurted out like e8ac935342 a fountain, covering her 1a28e64129 completely as she continued 3aab9f3b0d to take down the deb1b177cd orcs one by one 6dbb3cda12 with her bare hands.09a4ba7e74199bd8

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Even as the remaining orcs e328e3eecd lunged at her with claws 8c68595287 and fangs, tearing her clothes b824ee4abe and wounding her body, she b055ea566a did not stop.63c7483248380eff

Her extraordinary healing abilities were ce19b769d1 the only thing keeping her 2e9493e23a alive as she fought monsters a3697b042b head-on.bd4de00bf9e81dfd

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She had always relied 2e56769778 on brute force rather 12b08b7080 than strategy, and this ffa75c8aec was no exception—except that 258c3d9357 this time, she fought 14d0600ba4 like someone possessed, utterly 6f21edf19e unrestrained.ad849c1fab744665

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When the fight 87b9b695fa was over, seven 5e407731af orcs lay dead.acd589fe3ef6d4bb

She stood motionless in the 6243c65419 carnage, feeling no pain despite 61ff6c9e0e her body being riddled with af23d91a85 injuries.7fa8d00ebe4f7ced

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The fountain was now 2d8117c365 surrounded by more than 422f8e2581 twenty corpses.ca203275b1cf4e3a

It was impossible to 9ff758671c distinguish her friends from ccc6f7a9a3 the others.e8153f9fa1de1a04

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Everybody had been horribly mutilated 9c869d8bc2 by the orcs, leaving no 5d796bd021 part intact.a6021f97b2587601

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Still, there was one thing f69c9ff9c6 Gloria recognized.12d27ad4e31b5b56

A crudely made bracelet, crafted 15dd86fda9 from tangled cloth.5378903e2f95f93a

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It belonged to the 5037bbb978 child she’d been closest a5d9d6f5ef to back when they b3f1c1fe6d wandered the streets together.d906ba0a6043d85a

She stared at c25acf0f94 the bracelet with c47c815771 vacant eyes, standing f2c1d64a8c silently as if 698a6f7535 time itself had b713664ce8 stopped.6a1d660be03824db

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“Oh, my god!”775e914d3b377318

“What in the world…?”93b61e40650570c2

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The voices of c243050f45 others, filled with 560aefd48f horror, brought Gloria 3f32cf2365 back to reality.b2dda9d257a13d75

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“For such profane beings to invade this sacred space…!”8dc6d2b04f1c5c64

“Did the saintess bring these monsters into the Cathedral herself?”2e1110191b248597

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Gloria felt no 13f24da90d need to dignify 38b986d6fd their accusations with 1c98c12ade a response.66528b6201ef505b

She slowly turned her 72d8acd9bf head toward the High 471a0b906f Priests and temple knights 727494ac32 who had gathered.bf1e846916b66f96

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Judging by their ceremonial 88bca43d97 attire, it was clear 12067c57e6 they were returning from d60ca9c48a the royal banquet celebrating 9e6d24c152 her victory.8d7aea8ac79428b2

They wore formal robes d224b88a2c reserved for significant events, b1af1575e0 a far cry from c2f67cf05c the simple garb they 6b1a2f53b8 used during their daily 924c9899e7 temple duties.a7f0f6fc41feaa87

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“Why wasn’t anyone here to protect this place?”aae12f1a1003f7f7

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Her question hung 31d82273bd in the air, 5219798daf unanswered.ab5e9fc42a70bf35

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“So you all thought drinking and feasting to celebrate victory was more important…?”7c8239e1979e2196

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Everyone stared at b6119bdace Gloria with vacant, b5cc41b0bc stunned expressions.98e2bd7f78b99d93

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Her face twisted into db4e93b543 a grimace as she 10380f5e69 clenched her teeth tightly, a86970a33c holding back the torrent 9c60169b0d of emotions threatening to e502eca1b3 burst forth.82515a18c1e61ccb

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“How are you any different from these orcs?”cdf88bf9a82a0bf8

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“…”eb2593a98c178445

“Well? Tell me, how fb15994eef are you any f7e47721aa different? Because right now… c7fa5db162 I honestly can’t 577951b2d4 tell anymore.”fde18bbaefd9c77c

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Blood streamed down from the 3783439877 gaping wound on her forehead, 51fb46186d trickling into her eyes.a07c7d6fad52a73d

She wiped the blood 7ab1b89d39 away hastily, determined to 3d776352d6 etch every face before b2b99508a4 her into her memory.a1f4fae7223e646b

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“… Today, these children died because of *you*.”c828c9406eb5d3a3

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Her words were 1c09e56536 forceful, each one ce39abcd61 deliberately enunciated through 9b610997e2 clenched teeth.d2b3b36dd15b5e0c

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An elderly priest 36479dcdb7 at the front 871ebc83fe of the group 1aaf53b6e4 stepped forward, his 374a8c5b38 expression grave.aced26e435b291a6

Gloria recognized him all too 5c0f6e6287 well—it made her grip her 1d504a8b3a fist tighter, barely able to 8c0c0146d9 restrain herself.660d60e6665ab5c6

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“…Ria. Gloria.”468a6e24c84e2b8b

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The quiet yet calm c4b2957aaf voice, tinged with concern, 2214c15f54 cut through the tense c9bcd71024 air.d9fa846cd1e14954

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Gloria slowly lifted her 39ed01c534 eyelids at the sound.3ed9a1895a8ec7f6

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“Another nightmare, I see.”1f4f11dec5305bd3

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It was Leonard.1850604ebc58ba2b

The only person 3c997be8ac who knew Gloria b8b0cdbedf always had nightmares aa5288d576 after fighting monsters.332dbfc82f5fa7e0

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Nightmares that came as penance dc86543abf for taking lives—this was something 4e86c52ec1 Gloria herself hadn’t fully grasped.3dc1f34505e01eeb

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But Leonard had 89f92054e9 quickly noticed the 724803db6c torment that plagued 6bf7c8d0a1 her, even before 9be607496a they had arrived 35769554d3 at the Romenta 72f76e05f0 Barony.69d7bc20ff53e838

Back when they resided together c89f4ad77d at the Grand Duke’s estate, ed4cdc5ec4 Gloria would often venture out ca9c8b61e9 to hunt monsters.970638c9edd2524c

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Although her absences 5d3f22d65f were usually brief—perhaps affec87a9d out of concern 5a0417c2a5 for Leonard being 852ffb145d left alone.f01f64fe0ea35e6c

Occasionally, she would hunt late abaaacdf51 into the night and exchange 68568c33ca the monster carcasses for money.b69e68e8da565a97

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During those times, Leonard d54bc790ce had discovered the deep d535d9f884 emotional scars Gloria carried.a85eba9a57159784

The discovery was serendipitous.f993a91e57c3eb26

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One night, he c3f1e19d87 heard faint groans 8da24c066d coming from Gloria a024c1054b as she lay b69fe65ca8 deeply asleep.294f43678c8998ce

Hesitating at first, he gently 06b4f0da70 called her name to wake 34b1798d86 her.dbfeb30062a95da5

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When the incident repeated 1b1a11b518 itself multiple times, Leonard bdb7c9eefa realized this wasn’t something af83939ed9 to be taken lightly.f73fc09364a6401f

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Even a less observant person ac1d86edc2 would have noticed by then.d22b1edd6c45ed8c

For someone as attuned abe8b60741 to Gloria as Leonard, 0f172f238d the truth was impossible 9ed6371de6 to miss.f75698285ff1b2c0

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“I’ve noticed you seem to have nightmares on nights after you’ve hunted monsters.”0591d2495449b4fc

“…Me?”cdaa22be9579a284

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But Gloria had been d660335332 completely unaware of this 9028a51915 herself.4108ce0a7cd7835c

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“As far as I’ve seen, that seems to be the case.”9430d2ae55ff6065

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When Leonard pointed this out, 173393fdf4 Gloria’s face registered deep dismay—as ce5a648dfa though she had been confronted b341113dae by an unforeseen truth.f41f52bc190693c7

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“If you’re willing, I’d like to stay by your side on nights when you’ve been hunting.”2260fe9813361ad4

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“…”10a4f898cf2a4e1c

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Caught off guard by Leonard’s 7af51d25e0 sudden suggestion, Gloria seemed unsure ac9deed474 of how to respond.cdfe79e187db9e37

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“I’d appreciate it if you considered my offer favorably.”7501ec351fb47fd6

“Well…”d93a479fc8a28a85

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“I just… want to do something—anything—for you.”bab77d756508379d

“…”a146472b364f7321

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Faced with Leonard’s earnest plea, 87f3bb6b56 Gloria could no longer refuse.0dbe2ba416aa0f0f

From that day b5e3d3b88c forward, Leonard stayed 77d52d260f in Gloria’s room 749bbc4630 on nights she 6668fd7316 returned from fighting 38b05932e1 monsters.aa09ab49f73a7f15

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He spent the cd656d0d87 night reading any e169a0c9a1 book he could fe0bec7853 get his hands 640a475b4b on, all the adeef0c41d while keeping watch 1abc7b1425 over her slumber.31033abd549b4040

When she began to whimper b0929ebdd6 in pain, he would gently 98edbba8ca call her name to wake 2190d0cbe4 her.ed8c629992b0b56c

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It was the only comfort 4f3cbadf7d he could offer her in dd4c2a8ce7 those moments, which was why 66e6c94120 he had stayed in her 8b842cf02b room the previous night as 07d4b1041b well.2f3935fafdbe53e9

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“Sleep some more. It’s still early.”d24ecd9ef2028106

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Leonard glanced at Gloria’s 928a016faf sweat-dampened face before rising c15b4d4911 from the sofa, intending 50e130880c to give her space a1065cdefd to rest peacefully.ee6b1f5cf895ef74