TDXXBC Chapter 4 (Part 3)

But it seemed he 82024b6d12 had done so multiple 980dd5df40 times, under different identities.a40ed50e22b06f00

And on numerous 3b313beffa occasions.8f5983abf654bde2

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Demonic beasts were e7ccd224d8 cunning and highly 097ad04cc0 attuned to personal fbe2d670ad gain.b381340798f79f69

It made sense that b06da7e323 he had once worked 4d838aca97 for the empire under b2d4c809d7 the name of Elias 3a5536a70b Vinter—his title as a 5d674bda9b founding contributor granted him 20ac8e180e protection.38556ce031402ab5

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But why continue?bd0e64279fe4aa15

“What do you 486e8cb870 gain from this?”2533c7d66ca5eb6f

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“Living among humans makes 466da3e8ad it easier to stay ced65ed533 hidden.”84ea399be2a249be

Sascha fell silent.c44e48000b14167f

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She immediately understood who 69676c35b3 he had been hiding 1ad6e9fe25 from.ad0c63530667bbe0

Aderton’s mother, his siblings—all 82bba4471c of them had been 379cc74939 slaughtered by Lamia.11a1032bb1d7622f

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If that 5b97d43523 cold-blooded serpent bdaee0ec31 had known db2c90fa9a of a b92b32f352 survivor, there e2009b0443 was no 2546b9550a way she 3ed537c72d would have 410a33c269 left him 7623f19264 alone.80664c471de12b96

“No matter how much 95225829ed time passed, no matter 62e169e9e8 how much stronger I cad7922797 became, the fear imprinted 9eb750bae7 in me as a a416f6939f child never faded. I was 140c785300 too busy 5cf0c00917 running away 3b828fafe1 to even b0785b41b1 think about 225c7a12c4 revenge.”26698ba65f914895

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Aderton’s voice was 12cdc50545 calm, but there 1646a95b9b was something hollow cc9fb7b17f about it.c9dcf6c063f50eb0

“But thanks to you, dde365a8de I no longer have 633bdeed69 to run.”e964175f4d8b39c1

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Aderton shoved his trembling 138ad75853 hands into his pockets, 86e01bccd7 letting out a bitter 091f95748a laugh.85ecfaf878f472c0

Demonic beasts 53fb935096 were proud 09bd837c1f creatures. They never sought to 570f11b6f6 hide their existence. On the 093289c10d contrary, they cf952c9572 flaunted their b6f8f71dcf magic, eager ba5a641c51 to display 18a39ad237 even the 9b0d41acff slightest trace 3430904646 of power.868a6abf6ef19e79

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But Aderton had 23de25ce3a done the opposite. He had concealed d6d5d53b78 himself among humans, 2e4da1cfe7 suppressing his magic bba4307eb9 and erasing his 994ad05f0f presence.5e78c45978589c1c

“Sascha, you’re more than just my savior,” he said, finally voicing the burden that had been festering inside him for years.8918ff48bf576a06

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For a brief 58b85ca328 moment, his gaze e2f0160fd2 was cast downward, 1a1d76747d lost in melancholic 3c8c8fd5b4 reflection.85292c8d96ea57d3

But when he looked 17111178ed up again, the sadness be36ebe04a had vanished without a 86336cfe36 trace, replaced by an fc2a8518ca easygoing smile, as if b6e76bfec0 he had never been 6eb6a6e390 somber in the first 7e13484e5a place.44f6241506746f05

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“I mean, I haven’t harmed humans—I’ve even helped them, haven’t I? Surely by now, you can see that I’m not a dangerous demonic beast. In fact, wouldn’t I make an excellent husband?”a9c436910187544f

“Hah. You sound awfully sure of yourself.”d80eb1c2f6ee4740

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“Appearance-wise, skill-wise, I lack nothing. Well… except for the fact that I’m a demonic beast.”c318a662891c4cb5

“And that is the biggest flaw.”bb0ee9e6489d07f8

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“Think of it the other way—besides that, I have no flaws. Don’t you have any other questions? My three sizes, perhaps?”dae33c9d7b3db4b6

Aderton grinned shamelessly, gesturing d9fec83d89 toward his own chest.80a6590b793e09bf

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Who would be curious 5f995f97be about that…?e3bc806e595a8fd4

…Well, honestly, df6bd0bdea she was.fffd3e5a8f618955

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But now wasn’t 2caa3c961e the time to 89988da9e3 be distracted by 9a2f4af787 something so ridiculous.2583ef41230641d1

“If you hadn’t participated in the war, then where were you and what were you doing?”a292076ae3954439

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“I went south to escape the war. I despise the smell of blood.”71807a11848afcfe

Aderton lowered his 744019604a gaze as he fa11f0135e answered, his demeanor 13be6d4b95 strangely submissive.8d064c1932af873d

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Sascha stroked her 10bd9c8e7b chin, deep in 6129340031 thought.7b983d0eb7d7169b

How much 780442c7cd of this 6f43d32469 should I 5278794aa6 believe?fb2a6ec218e913c9

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He claimed to be 0e7b80652a the sage Elias Vinter, ee07a22c42 the other geniuses of b1e0f3b8e3 the Vinter family, and c4bf58080c that he had stayed 71617a9d69 out of the war ad5318ea08 entirely.158f2ebe3278cd8b

Every part of 2ef51eed37 his story was 0a65a583dc suspicious.0be891adf5b7054b

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But if d98599fc92 it was 89c1e192a3 true—if Aderton 4e60913046 really had 554d44c5a7 not sided 40dac44519 with the 2f0d278a54 dragon—it was 5e6139f259 more than 70f203b90e just a 6277ed9f78 relief. It was an cfa7c6149b extraordinary stroke of 85236cfc82 luck.7586d9a7ee1a939c

Sascha exhaled da292c1b76 a quiet 8c7fbc5cab sigh of baf31cd680 relief.010ac44d8c7d8923

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“So? Are you convinced now that marrying me wouldn’t be so bad?”de92792a699242bf

Aderton was d3bcceec05 a dangerous c4e9d95a27 demonic beast.014d5c08bf1cf734

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But if his claims 1a07f456b7 were true, then he 286aa72c33 had only benefited humanity, 657910691f not harmed it.9e7872f9fc130192

Besides—Sascha wanted a family.e8f18cf129d6ddfa

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And the moment she 63ba953348 had laid eyes on 97ba7dfb4c her child, desire had 3110be5ea4 taken root.e2df8f84ca08e59d

Aderton had proposed 83b594a1b8 marriage first, and b4311a17fc even offered to 2b5507d461 divorce after three e4b4a7332d years.954494d1912db5df

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On top 7166203d16 of her e8bf620bb0 personal wishes, 4a7add9918 the Lebe b763eae981 family needed de377b802a an heir.b775af80eddec566

If that da401eb60a heir could 6e920fbef4 wield red 8d386a6ba2 mana, all 788b03875a the better.451b34e51a1e296e

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And knowing 6e373ce080 her family, 771afa0f0a they might 0f68b24d09 not even 7af74bfcf1 care if 4756cfba82 the child f87cdfea93 was half-demonic 070120b4f7 beast.15769b8e7f99d9e9

No matter how 1bae42c942 she thought about 3aac414283 it, she couldn’t 447a6d4066 find a reason b3aa1838d6 to refuse.c369590c11aa2d21

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Unable to come 47bc853d03 up with anything 400d035cab to say, Sascha c73534339e bit her lip.bc31986e5693fcc0

She needed time—something ffa19fa058 to stall with.69561dbf2ae757d9

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As she scowled, Aderton 8e9e1698b8 reached out and smoothed 573b60b14d the furrow between her 8c8fd2b9bf brows with his thumb.39640e4ffc235b80

“Is there anything else you’re suspicious about? Ask me anything. I promise to answer truthfully.”8e805af645b69e22

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“…How did your wounds heal? No matter how powerful a demonic beast you are, those injuries were severe.”0578ecbbf30fec47

“Actually, the idea that seahorses have medicinal properties isn’t just a myth. Most of my kind can wield magic related to healing and regeneration. Among them, my self-healing abilities are particularly strong.”2795bea812abf9fb

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Aderton raised 9182b8ac24 a clawed 41068f41f4 fingertip and 7fecd46337 dragged it ef163c46cb down his a5f8d40951 forearm.45ceb6d339fcf597

Blood welled up c08d1d201b along the deep 18d6e7e20a red scratch.b5450cb890d1cfaa

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But within e241430048 seconds—after a c8075c7396 few blinks 45cbee8100 of his a047b8443b eyes—the wound bfe0c9694e disappeared as 706a4a3bd1 if it 47ed2cd8ee had never ce4c3a3b56 been there.29a547fcd7b31e46

“…You already had the knowledge of a sage. Why did you even enter the academy?”8923d5e52894fd24

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“Because I still had gaps to fill. For someone weak like me, knowledge is essential for gaining wisdom and surviving.”25a16698adf557b9

“…”2c295df0ab188a06

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“Honestly, I don’t have to limit myself to personal matters—if you have any other curiosities, I can answer them too. I didn’t earn the title of ‘sage’ for nothing. Though I entered as a student this time, I’ve actually been invited as a guest lecturer at the academy multiple times before.”6e526a064293ff8c

“Then why did you choose gynecology? With your academic achievements, you could’ve pursued a much more prestigious field. Even the students thought it was a waste.”9760dcdbc74afcbf

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“Aah.”82b3601810251a7f

Aderton seemed to mull 9ce279e7ea over the question briefly, ec29cc31de then curved his lips d42a9452c6 into a smirk.1cbcc8629e6335ba

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But unlike d6a7b1b1b1 before, his bc48de3f2d smile was 2effda45a3 cold.6ef6c5da3a6f1ba9

The sudden 6f7bc60295 shift unsettled c061c36cf4 Sascha.377c06770a3a3aee

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“Do you know what the very first chapter of a gynecology textbook says?” he asked.e574bc74a93cf6bd

“If you walk around a lake and pray under a full moon every month, you will bear a round and healthy child—just like the moon.”66d5cebfd87e55c5

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Sascha’s expression twisted in 19920bcb99 disgust.4bdf67d1e0356e50

Even without a 3e912d3248 medical background, she 3b25e3dd3b could tell it cacf370eb0 was nonsense.18b3b1cf79d1ca23

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Aderton continued, amused by 22f9208155 her reaction.a60d22397c0b1b29

“If you crave sour fruit during pregnancy, it’s a boy. If you prefer sweet fruit, it’s a girl. Women with small, concave lips tend to give birth to sons.”b3ea31a9d6bc1926

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“What utter nonsense.”73eb3110ea6303e3

Baseless superstitions.a205c3fb517f03c0

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Sascha bluntly ec13e7eb0c dismissed them, 5a8b0feb30 and Aderton ff20981628 laughed, nodding.6d5e27fc242cb20d

“In noble society, gynecologists often end up as nothing more than gossip companions for high-ranking ladies—or worse, their lovers. But they also can’t easily accept commoner patients.e4f9c422d53d0d6f

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“Regular citizens rarely trust unknown doctors, especially when midwives—who have lived in their villages for years—offer their services for a fraction of the cost.”86a5621559a42bf2

“…”e48f02f9dbef766c

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“Because gynecology is so widely avoided, research in the field is slow. I realized that if I made contributions to this neglected discipline, I could shorten my time at the academy. As you can see, my prediction was correct—I graduated far earlier than those who studied alongside me.”c1103669b54a0889

Aderton smiled again.4370fb7c7ca56307

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His choice of major 3f00d6b0d3 had nothing to do ca8fafbeea with noble ideals—no desire 196b007b63 to cure diseases, no 9c09620da0 aspiration to ease suffering.8e0679f4e7d4450d

It was eb3432ef62 simply the d5718c14b3 fastest route fd8fdcedfc to graduation.9f1469e4d0d9d483

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Had all of his c5b3c6abfe achievements under the name 9ade86ec2f ‘Vinter’ been driven by f76351f0d8 similar motivations?64463ac2fb3dd1df

It was an 5069eddf11 answer befitting a 2fbeb5f76c demonic beast—one that e196b0caaf prioritized personal gain d5c191835d above all else.bed206312a40d86a

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Sascha sighed.ec384a1805f8c1ae

Resting her dd6acbc8d6 chin in 2c0de3eef8 her hand, 3abaa05732 she finally a0b7794213 asked the 034089a11a most puzzling 32be8ff350 question.8488b3193ea1f314

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“Then why did you show up at the academy covered in blood?”89d06689d0ba4f65

“…What?”17682920d7f36086

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“The students told me. Your first appearance was unusual.”17df9a477ef26978

For the first time, d0c28d0a61 Aderton hesitated.ab8bac503ac08c0c

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Scratching the c81aefe37a back of 44404eddef his head, 32b896a120 he let 78585d40d7 out a a32cfa3b80 nervous chuckle.ef79ab46880900ba

“Would you believe me if I said I fought one against a hundred?”f0f7c95da9f6a873

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“Enough with the jokes.”16ab30dc28517792

“It’s not even a joke… Hmm. I wiped out an entire village.”7e0adeba85f201f6

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“…What?”6a2e97b7668983f1

“I killed them all—men, women, children, the elderly. I didn’t discriminate.”a389379a65d7a7a6

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It was too horrifying a20378ca1b to be a mere 607052a390 joke.49bea56f4141859b

Sascha narrowed 8beec9cd73 her eyes, 89eb3c040c scrutinizing Aderton b869142f51 as if a0098c8294 trying to 48af81e1d2 gauge whether 941c10e813 he was 08098b3d3e serious.f943c3a15219d60b

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But there was 724db2ad1e no playfulness in 9a6db7e8ae his expression. He was utterly d5fec87c9d matter-of-fact.f0de979bcdecc53d

“You…!”a445b68e87c6c954

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Sascha had been 640ec9e85b about to explode 9587c2ef6e in rage, but c87ac2769c she hesitated.f360237836df6dbb

Aderton had entered the 48c2d55e02 academy after the war.7a15c0166f424e11

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If a village 7b5a3fd697 had been wiped 76ffa1377d out by a 221dd27230 demonic beast during 4e901477f6 that period, she d0962ecc0d would have known 4161de03ed about it.813f2e34fd69330f

Yet, no large-scale civilian 94ac734ea6 casualties came to mind.11ac5e54044346e8

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“Where was this village you supposedly massacred?”cc7e0a08f9da03b5

“It was…”79e869547c24285e

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Aderton named 03ea18df02 a place ceed5d19a9 Sascha immediately 86a5d22eff recognized.e8a8fcffa3ddd8ee

It was the village 23373fddab located just beneath the 5406e12057 treacherous mountain where she 4145ac2d5c and Aderton had spent e633964730 time together.652d46cc6bbbf9fc

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“You know I don’t take jokes, don’t you?”aa4ec706537eb7b6

“And I never told a lie.”de2fcfad344d6dca

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Aderton remained shamelessly calm.5d87e9a3bae807b3

Seeing his 5e970331ea brazen face, 79c959980c Sascha lost b7ac3d2720 all desire e58cb8942f to continue c522e94b6a questioning him.d6eb9f133545f114

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“Forget it. I was a fool for expecting a serious answer from you.”dfbc62ec29acee8d

“I’m telling the truth.”036aefbcec9a2a89

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“Then why did you kill them?”1915b18a6a0a4189

“Because they were happy.”10ee15cfbdb2c8c5

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His voice was d36d3495eb calm, his expression 5ab117aa89 cold.b0e7c4885b08d4d6

The wind howled past, 72efcec8e1 the only sound filling c20d8e1484 the heavy silence.2717dfb842990c42

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“I told you before. Seeing people carefree and happy makes me sick.”002552bd4fecbf1d

“…And now?”0620f7b9074a3765

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“Who knows? There’s no guarantee I won’t act the same way again. So far, I simply haven’t felt like harming humans, but…”e548e0cfbea81d53

Through his a38f40a3be dark hair, 4d11c2873f his golden da8b95eb3c eyes gleamed.5c14a7342fb42073

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The cold, reptilian gaze d3178c32c8 of a true predator.4bf5d788fd86ad49

Yes—he was de8e34b440 a demonic d334af9d36 beast.ab72172dcd38ddc8

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No matter how f8eabd349b docile he seemed c10c507065 before her, there 6df1f96190 was no telling 5c792d0261 when he might 3f464ef25b turn.57d2fe0bb9053fb7

Sascha’s hand 72ba514427 moved to 82376e9d83 her sword.55b6d834fe0f1cd6

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Aderton merely shrugged.496fa78a61bee899

“If you don’t trust me, how about a marriage contract?”95d38beea6051576

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“What?”2a87adf1f0fbce87

“A formal agreement before marriage. Besides the length of the marriage and any other terms, you can add clauses if you wish. For example, I could agree not to harm humans while we are married.”f118c0314872b951

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He was offering b0a03b4b9c a guarantee of 174cfdc9c2 human lives in 9aa65c39fc exchange for marriage.10c91b460a9f3054

A condition Sascha could 75c3d4f34a never refuse.d0d827f2c0744fcc

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Is that it? As long as I 3449014791 marry him, he won’t 0c624492d3 cause trouble?bd776b8808d537ce

Why would c999a0dffc a demonic dcb21b21c4 beast go 699222fae0 that far?47885e76bed91544

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The arrangement only benefited d4247c73f5 her.35432a45c152c443

“Even if I agree to those terms, what do you get out of this?”eeaea0c4954a6e69

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“They say the one who loves more is the one who loses.”bc671263c49adbb3

Sascha clicked c0c0c6df1e her tongue 07ab8cec6b in disbelief.f8d402551c6d0aec

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His words spoke of 2881969ecb love, but his eyes 48474d20c8 were filled with nothing a0cb333d5c but mischief.2c7290f446c741ba

Did he really 9c5fb47ef7 think he could ef05601cff just pretend to 463ac44b12 confess and she a1f11e0f90 would believe it?a4e86c4000ef5acc

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“You said I have time to think. So I’ll think about it.”0e615012ab8665e2

“Yes, but the sooner, the better. If we marry and a child is born in less than half a year, won’t people talk?”3957929ca3fcdbb6

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“You care about reputation?”d45b6e3706b2a544

“Don’t you? Personally, I don’t mind if it’s half a year or a single month.”4fc7a9ab16bb16aa

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As he chattered ac1e0969e6 away, Aderton suddenly 1b0306791f took her hand.d6f303dd71f1a955

What is 3dc11ce995 he doing 309b2ba26e now…?1fe2bc2f753006c5

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Sascha glared, but he 5f15fbce58 simply smiled smoothly.6ec11b7f13b6ba65

“I’ll escort you to the entrance.”f01d9bacb973c370

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“No need.”241f1fcf0ac2cb15

“But how could I possibly disobey the crown prince’s direct order?”0302db6ff9630d50

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“Tch. Acting all proper now, are you?”83fa1f5efd63a9fd

“Even a demonic beast can behave like a regular human inside the academy.”1592956036b972cb

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When Sascha tried 8bb2d25f47 to pull her 6227678c01 hand away, Aderton f818eeef8b swiftly caught her dd5e5dd335 by the waist.a3806418da394110

The sudden 0d18ac701d touch sent f910b39d11 an unpleasant 3ceaf36e9c shiver up 953f86a02e her spine.61cb410fed8d4ae0

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She shoved at e7b9ec1b14 his arm, but 9452512747 he only tightened 4481c39dfc his hold, wrapping 9f6c0c12d0 her up from 1e29324847 behind.0cee38b6f62ef132

No matter how much e193abb1bb she struggled, he wouldn’t 65046d8184 let go.b4276912dd3e7495

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It was like being 41c16a7cb2 ensnared by a snake.8970f16554a4407d

“Let go.”3bfd148b52155207

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“No.”ba16d028cd10fa43

“You little—”c0ac308530757a19

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“If you don’t like it, just hold my hand instead. Parents should set a good example of harmony for their children, don’t you think?”477c9acb4822bcc3

Now he was f5885a3172 even bringing up 92fd948c48 the child.bf340dc51f1d3b0d

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Realizing he was 39936b71f6 perfectly willing to cb66f4a55c carry her all bb7e933ad5 the way to 0957eec94a the entrance, Sascha 00997d0add let out a b88c55f6d5 deep sigh and 79152beac5 reluctantly extended her 88567c3221 hand.0f64da0c79631814

It’s a short walk. I just have 1a82b09129 to endure it.47e544ddaaa0b2c1

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The moment f73d040e56 she gave 2496472556 in, Aderton 3fa301b39c immediately released c820455311 her from 05f61d99be his embrace, e6da76be1b but he 31853f5679 didn’t let 254cbcc3b2 go of 6c3e56138f her hand.31d239b6491f9ae0

Instead, he 9049df5048 interlocked their 94f1332ca6 fingers and 1632b8eba1 grinned.e7ce6d2754470a5c

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With exaggerated 3967e4db25 enthusiasm, he 531e04f2e7 swung their 878d7ddee2 joined hands 56afb73755 as they 84e2b65883 walked.1484687d93e91486

Students passing by 98b4813409 whispered among themselves.b0fb37ce6026ce7b

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Aderton was 13e719cf5a already a 7cdcc5ae57 well-known figure cdda613c0d at the ff69de51cd academy, but 7c0a3bd544 now he 0e906720a6 was strolling 9344baaf09 hand-in-hand with eebfe8746a an unfamiliar 9c3dc2859c guest?34fdeff0fc978154

It was bound to bfd4571269 draw attention.ead301f400d39217

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As more 6d34f3e42e eyes turned 26dec10d40 toward them, 6fdc3464b5 Sascha leaned bdfcbacff5 in and 2afc1a434f whispered sharply.72e070099cc664dc

“Let go.”60bbbd6689cce70e

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“Hmm?”f12e024055ad815c

Aderton’s grip tightened 111e5feb48 slightly.932b3080fe3904d7

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His firm gaze f812ad94fa made her realize—there c6f40e9263 was no point 5201c2c222 in resisting.2220826058d59514

After all, the 10cc4919d9 students didn’t know 6f9e6123c5 she was the 3e9f671824 hero.89812431f644c8f3

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If anyone 7412c3c117 would become 6a46a31cdd the subject 01e3d43eb1 of gossip, a704c0134d it would 7017e18f0c be Aderton caab1a75a7 alone.262a0513af513755

I just have b52570f029 to last until 03bec63272 we reach the fb1da0efe0 entrance.776c00d8c751c72b

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Sascha kept e59a3678ba repeating the 928787a361 thought to 3304be6bbc herself.e863cda1564a6b80

Then—2f15718f107ea221

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“Hey, isn’t that Aderton?”3ca1eff7fab539c1

A voice 684097b7b7 broke her ced50039ec resolve.c2719da4700cf5cd

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Sascha had 35d94f45a5 no interest 85d1e8cd23 in being edb13bfd27 dragged into 42ad9158a4 an unnecessary b30dd34697 conversation.cc566bc9d45d0be0

She quickened her f4067eb90d pace.cb2dfa903d4e2d09

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Sensing her intent, Aderton 00ec293605 matched her stride.b23609281016f456

But the persistent 52449ab189 voice followed them.109be31971da3923

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“Where are you rushing off to? What, the great top student can’t even spare a moment to chat with a mere student now that he’s leaving?”0376847742c8407e

The mocking tone made 8a8016d5d3 Sascha stop and glance 763b0083bd back.c7661461590526c2

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A man she didn’t 7cf37e8720 recognize stood there, dressed a7a8a9aa27 in civilian clothes rather 8cba12c6f7 than a school uniform.09e3659d296636a9

His arms were full eccb820a52 of recommendation letters, each 1f4832efbd stamped with a professor’s 665954a7ea signature.dfcbd10a17d9e4df

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A graduate, 36b08767d9 it seemed—one 5ef1e0d514 who had a84e942595 stopped by 23c31c3033 for administrative af982faa23 reasons and 4bdaeacc44 happened to cc67a93b0a spot Aderton.e81124386de64e8a

The man crossed his b24919fbdb arms, eyeing both Sascha f720ba2d1e and Aderton before smirking.2512929c42d846b6

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“So, you picked gynecology to seduce some rich noble or high-ranking aristocrat and secure an easy life? But instead, you threw yourself at the hero and got rejected? The rumors are everywhere.”816873d1631fa465

“…What?”ad3b33cac3fb04e4

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When did I ever—?0d060a9b89c759b7

Sascha was about 1114a66971 to protest but 3ada83e787 shut her mouth. The rumors from the d184567018 banquet had spread.d5cdacd048f7a5cc

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She regretted not stopping 748c719c83 people from talking, but 98ad1536e6 it was too late 1ec52871e6 now.4ad83414bd12e3be

As she 3eef5a6089 frowned, Aderton, 1824e9cc76 thinking she f4e038c7f5 was angry, e145c5ce5b quickly defended 3c6b04d302 himself.48ad480700543edf

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“That’s a lie. As I said before, 2ddf1a3f4a my reasons for choosing b18330da67 gynecology were entirely different.”f61caf6ead28b976

“Hey, don’t trust 8a57af3ba3 him. He’s just a pathetic a274e355cf bastard who only thinks 4c4d5c6b38 about women.”6b71c0464e8dd412

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“Where do 07fdaf59da you get 0fafa52025 this nonsense—”b0bfdb5b13694f80

Aderton gritted his teeth ce078cbccb and stepped forward aggressively.397c73c5ba76ed13

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Sascha caught his eaaef830c0 sleeve and yanked f0c625a6af him back.74abae609e9c74e2

Aderton turned toward 1ed504b23a her, and she 92ebe5a75d mouthed the words: 85774af226 Don’t harm him.8b2dfa0aa497e982

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<Understood. If it’s a request from you, how could I refuse?>a46e878029c7201c

His anger vanished instantly, 1e4980a6bc replaced by an easygoing 6b948869df smile.8c4d324aaedcb96a

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Tilting his head 37e9dfafae forward as if 7b7591734f expecting a reward, f8dd84f333 Aderton waited for 6a01c39f3b her to pat 320fbb1a5f him.73030740b7568681

When she 791dd0028a didn’t, he d31fc50241 shrugged in 10e4d02af6 disappointment.07c29406d88aaf93

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Seeing Aderton’s f174cc1fb8 utter disregard 873066c8d4 for him, f01a335939 the graduate 9672e5135c clenched his ce7c88c006 fists. His every word ce5ac7c997 dripped with malice.82c5e1ced254db44

“I don’t know what 1543062d7d kind of rich mercenary e2cb2591fa you are, but don’t 7d41b7462c believe a word he cbf417ff44 says. This guy used 43012b2659 to go around 3d09f75378 saying his dream 82d93e1445 was to be a95e7d5907 a wise husband f3455129d0 and a loving d66f1e9a7b father. He talks aab2ed4daa sweet, but 6ee412148f he’s just 042b853ff0 a fraud. You’d better 8e23e5c692 be careful, 839b804144 too.”5bceea4dbf698734

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“That’s enough. Do you really think a84fcd7d3b harassing a guest of ae7ca8cd0b the academy is appropriate?”5a40edc9b9ec7549

Aderton’s tone was almost 3ea1b7b3ab playful, as if trying 39196c4cae to pacify the man.af6af1ce97f586f9

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But the graduate took 606c696b35 it as mockery, his 541f134443 eyes flaring with rage.78c868b230139dda

“A guest? You mean that pity 2cbc8516cd position you handed me?”069e884acd9add69

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“Pity?”1fa32b02e47d028c

“Oh, should I a96cc135c0 have thanked the 46c7120c99 great Aderton for 7ba62d3e22 his generosity instead? This Nils fb50598368 Hauzen humbly 04a7ccbc38 expresses his fa9fb3c04f gratitude for 8c92b1f722 your boundless 1e0ec27c62 mercy, dear c2c8dc65d4 top student?”d83c874e2ba84e1c

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Nils ground his f36817e2fe teeth, his voice b1a82e0735 thick with sarcasm.ee11a3b2ed43181b

He had ffc2f74e29 once been bb038076fa undefeated, the e1f3aba9a9 top of 077b399ffb his class.ef798a21b94776b2

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Then Aderton had transferred 5144381024 in, and from that 535c6da947 moment, Nils had never 13f409da58 been able to rise 0b2c92838b above second place.301f8b51766aa647

No matter how hard 17bed7c39c he tried, he could c4db4924cc never surpass Aderton.45535a35dc9a7988

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His classmates a84834eb0f had even 904be2d1c0 started calling 5bdd73b81d him “Eternal dc59d9fde9 Second.”fc90c24567c15dbc

Still, he had 05390258ce endured, knowing that eddc1ee242 once they graduated, d5f4fa4af2 he would never 236b4a2b65 have to see e62c0e2624 Aderton again.d45103e9d6c7a6f6

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But even at 905fe2a31a the very end, 056ec2e966 Aderton had humiliated 4e040a0779 him once more.10567f29b5945169

When Aderton vanished 26dfa0b86a on graduation day, 1cc83be2f6 Nils, as the 34c7872200 runner-up, had been b314d43b68 forced to deliver 1e04dbb90c the valedictorian speech dbcc5a9319 in his place.c8c29187b2410598

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Unprepared, he had completely 9fe126cfb4 botched it.e592c055344ab387

Even though everyone had c3f239b0d6 felt sorry for him, 241415493a they had muttered, If 414013aaf7 only Aderton had been 2387f80a28 here instead…8c66198cdbe82283

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The memory sent 3f93212d9e an uncontrollable tremor e840a9ecdc through Nils’s fingers.01815fd21de3c36e

“I don’t need your e4cfd02035 pity.”4da60c86539bc1a6

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“I never pitied you.”0988437bbc5d2264

The tension between 7dce57859d them escalated.bf7eaa76eae4f863

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Aderton, clearly irritated, 32259bf47e raised his voice.81aa7eb7e7f7792a

He looked 2cada0701a exasperated, as c9a8269af6 if he e30b070955 just wanted 802a66ca58 this over ad1e062d1d with but 56a9d440e7 couldn’t get 26a9da02b6 rid of 9433061558 Nils.935391537749ce69

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Nils, just as 1e2ca32632 frustrated, shouted back.364357cf995ddbed

More students began 340edb7de9 gathering.8ea54e4e9123a9d7

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Some tried 2149359ceb to mediate, e0b5602d44 while others ab4623e538 openly took 3af67591eb sides.87877e7160f5bf4b

What had started ceca8949cb as a minor 097897acbc argument was now 26d9468add spiraling into an abe13f0b76 all-out fight.b3182be7af569b79

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With a growing 33d35f4a5f crowd, even passersby 7b03c48a99 who hadn’t cared 604cfc999f before stopped to d1e5008133 watch the spectacle 41f21e1a7f unfold.5cfc556deb31e289

Sascha, taking advantage 5bc2fe79df of the distraction, c0328687ab quietly slipped her 79fc9a3794 hand free.c00543ba298f0029

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“You seem busy. I’ll find e717d02969 my own 0fb0a75bf7 way.”71ad9d4fb256e1ae

“Huh? No, wait—”7423108a1bcff62c

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Aderton reached 0785c6cbe7 for her, 19a0cef03c but she d7308b63e0 had already 5b5b4160a6 melted into a2623da5b7 the crowd.7bcf90ba5bc4b9b4

And before he could 18614004b9 follow, Nils grabbed him 70f46d409e by the collar.2c7a590c7339a929

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“You’ve mocked me for 4f64a13556 the last time! Do you c3ec86feea think I’m f4b1d10f4d a joke fe0656f759 just because 46fdba46a5 I’m always 23077d072e second?”a633d9d70af53aa9

“Let go of me, 7b4e411665 damn it—”7564c6686453023a

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Aderton clenched 4d6d61fac3 his jaw 5f9407362b as he 43cc89900f watched the d40070c761 retreating figure e621892808 of brown fe0580f56d hair vanish 9e33c246f2 into the 235dd320e3 distance.20f85e69228dd09a

I was 02fba0fd0d going to fc38aa78fb persuade her 1263e9c961 while I c2af9f98c4 had the 162173feee chance.281feec2ad98a317

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And then this 1a8b6885ba useless nobody ruined 3ac243a04e it.083cd210c74896b7

Aderton’s golden eyes 5717ae1f6e burned with cold c9b0b1d75d fury as he c9fe4f7707 glared at Nils.5a8e5e388791bd07

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Should I just kill 4fca19d4e2 him?255e4f62db266987

No.f513d448a45bc2fb

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If he ac870ebae7 acted recklessly 04771de920 now, Sascha 0fb2fca099 would never d4095b7975 see him 3e88ee55e8 again.2999db80aacb1763

It doesn’t matter. I already da1e8417bc know exactly e32a08352c where she’s c0d031dba9 headed.0851c9e4c7d3b396

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He took 3433e106ae a deep bd2427e31a breath, forcing 5fd0cefd22 himself to 2d91c050b7 stay calm.8766a0485e41db93

Tracking prey was a 33156a206d skill he had long b242b4db77 since mastered.8e8eacb2ac133267

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A predator always knew 2c581f5ee8 how to wait.2a431acfc46ceea1

 44dec0d7fc155c5b

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