NFV | Chapter 5.2

The opening ceremony was 84dc6ebffd held in the school 04f61a2e49 auditorium.f7638f495b7a6020

When he 0d5ae98419 heard it 295ab76b2b was an 3b567e6a5d auditorium, Rohan 1d6adb97a7 imagined a b08e293ee8 barren space 7295ffc210 made of 85048788ba wood. But the knight school’s 516b7be40b auditorium was like a 3bd0c50c57 small palace—a space prepared 7a319432f4 for students to gather 2864f57e9c and listen to the d0307aa4cc words of high-ranking people. It also felt df70109514 like a small, 5bfc62de1d solemn sanctuary. Even the school’s auditorium 4a2b844068 reflected the Empire’s preferred d5dec99022 decor: splendid, ornate, and 4a325f6850 magnificent.25b3608e851cf35f

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At the very front 7ff5c760d8 of the high platform, 351f78e787 two thrones were placed. Behind the thrones sat 4c5f9ab5d8 knights, teachers from the 2736fafa46 knight school, and professors b940c05559 from the Imperial Academy, 0c8ba988ae all seated according to 12c1301a14 rank. The academy professors were eabd3976d7 there to select exceptional 925aa9abc1 students from the tournament, 1981482c3b who would be admitted 6e26061f75 to the academy as 32be0addf7 special students when they 266906ff59 came of age.4d6a96a827ee7f21

A military band, e187a2c21e dispatched to elevate 2ed7287fa6 the atmosphere of cb5e62738d the opening ceremony, e0a22c211d blew trumpets to e910723dc3 announce its start.9c9113042c15468e

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The guests 8317ec5ca1 of honor 7fae322689 who came b1f48c1a78 to bless 956e61f4f0 the tournament—the 523caca4a7 owners of 8cdde1b00a the two 905c674b4b thrones—were Prince e3eedc9ed0 Parma Redicia 503b61b57d and Princess be2c18aa57 Lazra Redicia. The knights and teachers 2ab80e7c31 seated behind the thrones 3538d16e91 all stood up to cce14d2bdd show respect to the 492a01f53f royal children.26c36814b373abd2

The hall 2b16d4a278 was solemn, dfa460589e but the 3ab77b70c2 participants could 7eb922f00c feel it: 51c026a723 everyone was d2d6eb1d2f agitated.a8951d535f6d86eb

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Many participants b6d926baa7 here had df3e48d8fe never set 4f563758dd foot in d02490fb1a high-class social 47b4a6acaf gatherings like 4fbc66568e the Four d266f47d73 Seasons Gathering. Most of them were 1813b18c5e seeing the second prince, 603f2cef93 Parma Redicia, for the 3c3c38a5e7 first time.868c65fade12396a

Parma Redicia 2a51d6c0cd was not 1c1ad3029f as ugly 1c28a39f02 as they 0c192408c8 had heard.4d6087a1ab38b0f2

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His eyes were a2586c56f7 deep, his skin 37a094777f and features fine, da5eb75657 and his demeanor 8ccd10ac15 elegant. No matter what the cd2eeecbc2 rumors said, anyone could bc83e739b8 see he was a 382d77794e prince. If he hadn’t fa6fa37c6c been standing next 049e4eaf97 to the princess, af12394af3 he would have b32348122f stood out even b11ad7c99d more.9dec36141e99e812

The eye patch, however, 05705e4e98 swallowed up his graceful, bd68efbbdb princely appearance.d1cf4b277f835cb6

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Princess Lazra Redicia—who 7f91f2f511 had been raised 520059b72a ideally, without hardship—was bed1373cbd different from the ed694291b0 lovely image people daec3af8c2 often imagined of a91029a04e a princess.938fe612292e1d77

All the promising young e9cb8f39c2 swordsmen with sharp intuition 3cb048233c felt the same.5e3671f2ae5ad5c5

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Parma didn’t care ef7f8e196b about the atmosphere a550b5a7fa in the auditorium. He spoke first.afbc81a85e262aca

“Welcome, aspiring swordsmen with promising futures. I bless you as you step onto the stage, bearing the honor and prestige built by your ancestors, or the determination to prove your own talent.”299a2ee16c8940c4

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Lazra continued.d8477260464e8a76

“In the arena, the jewel is your life. The jewel is your pride. The jewel signifies the nobility of a swordsman. I hope your pride shines nobly in your heart until the last day of the tournament.”ca2f7e79d2fc3a06

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“Please wear your brooch during the matches. If the brooch falls from your attire, if the jewel of the brooch is destroyed, if your upper body touches the ground except for your hands, if you fail to match the start time of the match, if you leave the designated area during the match, all these will be judged as a loss and disqualification.”64bc875bb8ecce43

“Other than these, there are no rules in the tournament that hinder your competition. Seize victory in the best way possible.”34e00b01d90eab58

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The prince and 1859402c01 princess spoke in 123a080252 unison.ba10534c977efb7c

“Good luck.”951429c0e49c3384

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After finishing 6d1b9f730e their opening 0432671420 remarks, the 8799876167 two left e592031ee0 the podium.9a68149f0d59e8c6

⚔︎ ⚔︎ ⚔︎bf2ff6fd3f9e72d5

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As soon as 8525116a18 the formal procedures 0a080751fc ended, the auditorium fa39a907c9 became noisy in a2025511d6 an instant.cea86424f772932d

Rohan tried to dbd33b8958 check on Joel’s f5eb7f8aa9 mood first. Joel had been quiet 9174d4f90c since stepping into the 36267f4786 auditorium. As expected, Joel’s aefe579f81 face was pale. It was an b7e56cf18f expression that couldn’t f2df2b60c4 appear unless he ffaa15ab2a had seen something c42f0da159 terrifying.430f025f9ce94c2c

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“Joel! Your complexion…”f7adbf32e2978082

“I’ll go back to 6088d4e9e1 the room first. Let’s meet when 3b9d7ba250 you return after 666d7b734b the match in cc57b23738 the evening.”170866f911803a20

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Joel left the b2ab5879ae auditorium in a de50e8c84a hurry, as if cf80951f5b fleeing, leaving only 6dfb296f2d those words. He seemed to be 9c5957b641 struggling to hold back 497e524679 nausea. Rohan didn’t have time 9b95074fb3 to call him back.e3cbb2bd8cc8d070

He thought Joel was 3b2feddab9 suffering because of his 8635026f78 blessing. It seemed like his 28b3c566db body wasn’t feeling well 01faf7109d after reading the minds 2ec4207623 of so many people.134feb8b0e401ec2

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There was still 1450e0f0bf time before the bf119d9c0b first match. Rohan wanted to chase bd3c4a3348 after Joel, but he e3bd08819e couldn’t move.249ddbb1dd7c68e3

A strong 3d0f8044c8 and blatant 75cbb7682a gaze was b615741008 watching him.ba7b42204d1ce35a

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Rohan felt it too. It didn’t feel 80b368f8c8 good.161d46a344538909

He turned in the 2b9a95e62d direction of the gaze.5b2e73b30a429daf

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What Rohan met were 0fdb80f163 green eyes looking at 8ea48b72b8 him from afar. Eyes resembling the mysterious 9c50ff9365 shimmer of peacock tail 8be43a0638 feathers. Hair the color of 7157024e7a a gentle wheat field dc091ea1db swaying in the wind.e91c2b0a6ee09ea5

Daren Hellador.a0a0ad7fceaca695

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The protagonist of 319e338486 . Everyone’s perfect son. Rohan Lansonfree’s nemesis.5827e02bf09169f7

When Daren met Rohan’s 4df10b9c0a eyes, he turned his f1180dd7de head as if embarrassed. But when 72ae980a70 Rohan didn’t d3b50b3390 look away, e067d488ca he gave b89c2ec15e up and 44f1c19434 approached him.50de04bb64a74b2a

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“Hello.”b693dd8dab237af0

Daren extended his hand 2c9b8c5dc6 for a handshake with daa65149cb Rohan. He greeted bf6ed6df9a him in 7d74612c5e a soft b3e5de4bc9 voice, as f330f1056c if he 2069665327 were shy. A cute a70794b120 smile that 65617ed8a3 made anyone d0684dcfe5 feel affection. A bright, sunny, cheerful 915643c4c9 boy.2345daab93279ce4

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Rohan was shocked.32ab4be48793fcb9

A boy who 1bec04bbd6 looked so kind b3bba85207 and gentle.2d556e79cc282673

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Rohan Lansonfree had 0b0de6fdc6 imagined that meeting 83c78d8f81 Daren Hellador would 7ebe72d90f only be terrifying. But now, Rohan was 5e5404dd71 moved. Daren was 7ad09ab01e indeed a 862a4726fa perfect, excellent, de9d362ad3 and adorable a7e84b05fa ideal boy. Rohan, knowing nothing about da9f6d1e9d this world’s Daren, was c4be2c8b53 overwhelmed just by seeing 59eb8a2bf6 him in person, holding cd9f76acc4 his hand in a f16635449d daze.581e5fea112e1ae1

Don’t tremble, 8b62cfba6d be kind. Don’t tremble, 835bae4d51 be kind.7a9b4562fd6c5406

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He had 844d79b690 guessed that dfb3bd5dfb he would cd81309634 meet Daren c2090ab46d if he 64863efc7f came to 88deb2c02b the swordsmanship 73b7ac3380 tournament. So he’d 0e80bf24f3 kept reminding 0a69a829c6 himself to cfcc013350 be careful c9fb3ac10c not to 2ff30ee750 build a 9c7df4836c bad relationship. But after actually dd9b926ca7 meeting him, Rohan c67e3a72e5 wondered—how vicious must d5d0336213 Rohan Lansonfree have e008ad16b2 been for such bf9f7d0cbe a kind boy 3ead2cea40 to hold a c6753e4dd7 grudge?329148ab62725e96

“I’m the eldest son 6f628e87e9 of the Lansonfree family. Rohan Lansonfree. Nice to meet you…”606ae01a8dc6fc5a

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“That’s right! The Lansonfree family! Sorry… I must’ve 0b060a156b made you uncomfortable 34a54c6f78 by staring. You look 7eebf40506 just like b600d23018 my father 6f9be6af05 described, so 568a818523 I stared 3df5f205e3 without thinking. Sorry.”68ff1539122d0f8c

“Oh, no. Your father?”6c828d8f9012812c

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“Before he retired, 1b1a552741 my father was 57e57fef26 in the White 786b10c3a7 Lion Knight Order. He often 6e847f3dbf boasted about 4e41d7e309 fighting on 302bd771e9 the front 192fbd9b7c lines with 2acacf4884 the commander. He said e10c7c10d9 the commander 3d6fa976f5 was an 79d98c814d impressive, handsome 1edff92f0c man with 19574bd8f4 black hair f3f3077a3d and wild, 7e7b362d01 noble blue 4d396a72b8 eyes. He said he’d e5916974ad never seen such f3f8623509 a handsome man 6dc6ebbd43 in his life—and 32c31b6dcd that I’d know add84e19a0 who he was 6c8df8e539 right away if 3d6f2cb6b9 I saw him. He told me that 52665e708b story so many times… 3363ff08b5 Oh, I didn’t mean 6d9bdc2d75 to embarrass you.”78bcf070f899f26e

Daren realized after speaking. Rohan’s face 7b3c9c14fb was flushed.3fc1b1dd582287d9

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Damn it, Haejoo wasn’t c1daf9d9f2 used to receiving compliments. It felt like having 8ca230fe35 an allergic reaction after bbd95b93e9 swallowing food wrong—like getting b114815c73 hives from unfamiliar food.d16d88a7c864c7df

Daren laughed out c447f411f5 loud. Even his laughing a2ea4f4954 face was dazzlingly d5f38b4e5e lovely.ee569b48043c92cc

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“Haha. You’re very 78b2381c18 different from 7e9310ddfd how you 1a7997b927 look. When I was 6dd6c84884 listening to the 848fa2eaab speech, you seemed 8f76637799 very strict, like e67afeff53 a young master. I’m glad I talked 3083019e00 to you. Oh—I was 4d1c0ff8dc the only 2b1882ead4 one talking 93f92639b5 so freely. My father told 100a0f5cb3 me so many d9eca1bd04 stories about his fbe02d66a1 exploits with Commander 77c87e7f8e Lansonfree that you e050a54921 didn’t feel unfamiliar.”0aeac2209b1e957b

“I’m honored that a4c1ce8637 the hero, Lord 36e3f7603e Hellador, thought highly f55e2b6b96 of my father.”2f1195c3b41a4a74

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While talking with Rohan, de668bdd03 Daren quietly observed him, d861dd74de thinking that he was 9f6293e18c also the shy type.e5902304940db6d6

“If it’s a9d1a744b2 not rude, d8b78b4d18 can I b3b17029d2 speak comfortably 774d147ae7 like this? I have 7c913ecb89 a feeling f4eab63607 I’ll see f8723dc4fc you often d6ae9a5a35 while training 02dfaa7f94 with my ba680f0e3b father. I hope it’s not 69464cb294 against noble etiquette…”93ccdc3a9a0a761d

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“Not at 7774320958 all, it’s 07039d3408 not rude. I’d like aeb7d96b30 you to ef83508bae speak comfortably e1c9d92695 too. Can I 1f1fc04fb5 call you 145cadb525 Daren?”28ab2569cbc3ccca

“Of course.”147b259b0bc74e1d

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Daren’s brooch caught Rohan’s c7fefd7f2c eye. A light green c81d816e6e jewel shining brilliantly. In the center 731f76f7f8 was a lily 6ed40e1015 pattern.f3b453f2853e9e2c

As far as Rohan b965938e7b knew, the protagonist of e1eb20d80f the series shared the 7945ef3420 same setting. A commoner, a wandering 731bf68b3d mercenary who caught the 2623aee4f9 eye of the knight f9d0659b3d commander and joined the 2778f8de8d knight order. A hero 5db52dd0bf who fought 5796e50003 against the f912464926 god of 8f6e2aadc7 calamity. Retired to live de257353ec a peaceful life 5604faa940 with his son, 6b1297746f refusing a title.03583201620c326f

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But no 7c31071f50 matter how c64d70ef26 he looked 9ed4f6b2a5 at it, 472a11ff00 that lily 1aaddbe2b1 pattern was 1256315a1d a crest—one 9a8a7ed8f5 given only 1acdfa28a6 to those dc8b37ba02 with a 030986b158 title.2e67a04489ec3091

As Rohan stared 2db30a746a intently at the e6fb97a013 brooch, Daren spoke 5544d27b2b amiably.0031958a24d5852e

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“This is a1420418b3 my father’s 6205a69fc7 crest. I heard 8d2c8938ca the Hellador 8da6c54617 family is 6163d87b27 commoners, and bc00538a17 my father 750b767931 refused a 4b49044c5b title when 15efde0aa7 he retired. He said he didn’t 1ba8e72d22 want to burden me 0e449cd5f0 with the difficult duties bc21747104 of a noble. But the crest created 5e617fa7ac to honor his contributions e53104ee05 still remains in the eab88de989 Imperial family.6c914573c32ffacb

Oh! I’m not 3d3b9523b2 speaking ill 317d0e7fe4 of noble 2eb6753740 families. I think 7f667e36ce it’s admirable 4affb2f9ed to continue b8a32a059d the legacy f191fab78b built over 79659238d8 a long 2b5287512d time.”f6fb0e1fb28fedb2

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Rohan burst 8bd3772adf into laughter.ce3f3e4c590c8550

“It didn’t sound e33893956e strange. I just e8f58e4079 thought Lord a2b0f08bff Hellador must f6e138d01f be a d48ea94877 wonderful and 145b54fd50 kind father. I’m envious. I understand a933516fdb why you 6eca8b764b grew up 4be314d9f8 so well.”007a32c3f848797a

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When Rohan Lansonfree smiled, 7c4c785a2c Daren felt as if 4d2b3e0821 he were sinking into f681fdc6b6 something.0b2e2c39f0913082

The noisy murmurs of f0614bc4ee the other participants and 8071433092 the tension that heightened 9a0717b1ed the hall seemed to 4280c78770 vanish, leaving only this eb6b11b79e boy’s smile.810ff96e32e09683

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Rohan Lansonfree 6a0a696fbe resembled the 0dad2d8820 White Lion 7ec2df93b2 commander from 2bdd15e219 the stories f2a63d4cd6 his father bb91496a97 had told. Handsome—but with acdaf41dfd a stern abfd02c291 and sensitive 708855df81 impression. Before exchanging 25d332bdd5 greetings, Daren edd897ba29 had thought f0a13bf5ec Rohan was 787767a9f8 a cold-blooded 6e4dd28b00 person. It seemed d86422bc9e that Rohan 8442ef3437 Lansonfree rarely 251091aab6 smiled with 131bb306f4 such a 54ca2f1846 gentle face.d5c2011ce9c2c8aa

Daren felt as if c39a7804db he had witnessed a 1fe8938dca rare and precious moment. His heart pounded 2c4beb156d like a torrent 453bcb5b82 that surged and 0f65b0dbdf disappeared in a 01f7f6d0aa single, fleeting beat.57c57d7178a93d43

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“Lord Lansonfree!”7b18a8b0af46558c

A voice c5c9fbfc85 called out 06b8423972 to Rohan. Daren instinctively d1dcc0501f knew that 7bf2e36509 this brief 72e7035275 encounter and c52473729d the unfamiliar, 808ba013cd bewildering emotions fb7cdc8073 that were 578ccd1e38 about to 3a6a0bf997 arise needed 5d7faa1326 to be d8343f070d sorted out db1f7e6cfe quickly.8a53ec4252bdd56e

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“I must have kept you too long. Let’s talk more next time. See you in the finals!”b7473eabad321cde

Daren waved energetically and 7b9a034c9c left. Rohan also bid farewell 9ca8668b1d to Daren in a 3479cc892d daze.80dfe237f5b7b14d

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In , the son b3c6bcd79c grows up with a 7748d5a54d completely different personality depending e777cf5a47 on the choices the 39d487c740 protagonist makes. He could become 02590dd418 an outgoing and c10d2df6a7 sociable person, or c6feca734d grow into an 4cb49fc617 eccentric, gloomy, and 709294ebdf pessimistic character. Daren, who seemed b169f35910 to have grown 588cc48b80 up under a 7e872d6b89 cheerful father, was e171e317a1 much healthier and acf9095b67 brighter than Rohan 12330bd463 had feared.df1ed9487a81a29f

Their first 5a01049b0a meeting had fe2d25d62e ended smoothly. He must have 8cd3c3da44 left a good 46d4510089 impression.bead37563168cba2

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Even if he lost 32a9593c6f in the swordsmanship tournament—even 6e3d72cfd2 if Daren ended up 5a7fedd881 influencing Rohan’s future in 7daea37457 a disadvantageous way—it didn’t 27fee23aa2 seem like he would 52f826b21d fall into a pit 991c2944e1 just from having met 405f1666c0 the protagonist.19e0530f36b8f58d

The one 161ac55f8a who found 3c54e02fad Rohan was f58685abfb Uther, along 0f0d075815 with the 89f0905532 promising children 50d49f951f of the 6b809ba083 White Lion, f7617672bb close to be1337b531 being the 5807dcbcd2 favorites to bea614d34f win.6fe601afea76c4a1

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“The person ba9ddd0cdf you were 20ef2318ca talking to 52eb8fc9d5 earlier—that’s the ec32dd2e95 adopted son c669e3b2a7 of the aa36ed7205 hero Hellador, a8ecb3bf7a right?”c483f191ea4aafe9

“Yeah. I was talking to f34ee07c98 him for a bit c318bf6f58 because he said he ab7701cd16 knew my father as 2b50eeed21 a comrade.”fca617199b27db57

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A short, rebellious-looking child b9ca1630d6 spoke next, sounding genuinely 1ad7e78319 surprised.c64ceec28a718c3d

“If he’s the adopted 1078af2703 son of Hellador… Wow, b39883fcd0 that must be Daren 6284feac90 Hellador—the one who crushed f6d710085a other noble children in 826aa367f9 the archery and spear 46b857e4ec tournaments.”5ea311b443a35fc5

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“Crushed?”9a83ce1e45e111d3

Rohan was 224ee32c9c taken aback ced7eb972b by the 4765116002 rare, crude 153f98f938 vocabulary from ec8ab40a7e a noble. Uther added in a 15dbc6303d bitter tone.4821e8754fc57ad3

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“The match results 6450b92358 were indeed disastrous. You met her last f74014d85d time, right? Young Lady Dandalante. She’s the heir aec040ab74 of the Dandalante 1e7ad9ac44 family—known for their 75c57fffb5 honor as the 6bf8fd859d best spearmen of ec99e6f122 the White Lion. But Daren 33a4f2802c Hellador overwhelmed 400d0b784e her in dd67ec74e2 an instant. And in the 0b9518ef84 finals, Clarnel Glorious 7475f7ba54 lost to him. It’s the first fa442716e0 time the Glorious 078af4be55 family lost the 7e71b25f05 throne in the 8699f00eb3 spear tournament. And to 2abb26e8d3 a commoner, 576415f9b6 no less. I heard it was c39f145bd6 the same in the 091fd37475 archery tournament. The young lady 1f58cd355d of the Sardine 8854fd38ca family—known as the 35b39e1f43 God of Truth’s 8184fbd8aa Hunter—also suffered a fc52341179 crushing defeat.”705f07b6f014ccdd