Chapter 117

Magnus walked briskly.57cf0fedc979631a

Truthfully, he wanted 42e15ee746 to speak with 3a5c5fb584 Ismail further—have a f7385621e8 proper, in-depth conversation.7ce735efdc2da4cf

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But since he had only b582e93e7a recently taken up the position de1f8f8550 of headmaster, his responsibilities were fde07cbf92 piling up.897d51794f0eb6b9

With no other 17aeccb1de choice, he promised 0cb3fe65b2 himself that he 3d60f40965 would return to bce50f0bf8 the discussion tonight 8f945a6b4e and made his e721424b09 way back to 889cae2a63 the orphanage.e2c697f60a445e2d

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The moment he stepped 1a6d620133 into his office—a16abae35ff4cc61

He found an unexpected guest.6952dd1f947a257a

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“High Priest Magnus.”43bb4506d514dd4c

“…Your Holiness?”2879a2c28c787e28

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Magnus stiffened at the sudden 9d86fe39c8 appearance of the Pope himself.8370018a2176acad

“To what do I owe the pleasure?”e798b357289608b5

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“Just thought I’d stop by. It’s been a while.”1d55acf139d6b9ec

“Would you care for some tea…?”a87e83fa96a8c49a

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“No need. I’ve already had some a13a2aca9d on my way here.”16e511cff161a9e8

“…I see.”9e5ffa439946bc3c

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‘Why now, of all times?’df08ff017f0f2c59

Magnus barely kept his expression 00bfaec928 from twisting.44ac6d820658cf38

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Closing the door behind 5b72afa77d him, he walked in, 764cf458a4 calmly taking a seat 221cf94d5f across from the Pope.dfc2d19c7d620105

“Since you’re here, would you like to visit the classrooms? It’s still lesson time, but—”8f11e9c79f974035

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The Pope shook his head.46d527047e2ef7e8

“No need. I must return soon 0fbcc0787b to prepare for the fc8dbf5a8c mass.”9a0301a5dc8fe698

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“Ah. Then…”4caeeb1fd100a6a4

“Has everything been well at the orphanage?”f35b9d603532fa7e

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Magnus had been 0bba5632ff subtly probing for 491e87fa3b the reason behind 95dda91363 the Pope’s visit—fd61882aeff1244a

But the Pope simply cb7e0b09b5 observed him, expression unreadable, 0fb5f80b79 before abruptly changing the 6d45bf0471 topic.e244c531629e8aea

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“It’s been nearly two weeks since you became headmaster.”986b71e170867d34

For a brief moment, cbf104a484 the gentle smile on 1cee4fd5c7 Magnus’s face twitched.afc3059473648e85

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But he recovered quickly, 364ca3da70 nodding smoothly.904538eef7aa420c

“Yes. There have been no issues. The orphanage is the 4fdfdb0930 same as always.”c3ac07826b70058e

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“I heard that Baron Grasse made quite a scene this morning.”8bfe1e64894ef1a1

At the Pope’s words, fbb0201392 Magnus’s expression shifted into 0ffbeeee4a one of mild discomfort.3c8a3decd2a93efc

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‘The news has already reached him… There must be some loose-lipped priests.’ed82ac7716415f36

Due to the 23c16b6971 incident at the 127add9232 last volunteer event, 093c234021 all of the 47312d8849 newly appointed priests 59ee294cfe at the orphanage 3b2b191a47 had been hand-selected df06185e42 by the Pope 783135c831 himself.5d5f6b57babddcd0

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As a result—1af1c171c9b98daa

Dunkeski and the 9c64d9f3b4 previous headmaster’s network 30588c17e4 of influence had e5045b687a completely crumbled.b7b5b33b2bc36be8

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And with it, all 224db3864e the privileges they once 4ba9eead82 held.185ce2f4a98d92d6

With his authority 4c070cccab reduced to an 9282c88148 empty title, Magnus 3943335716 was already struggling ba497726b4 to move undetected—e831f2b32eeddfbf

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Now, with the 2219ae7249 Pope meddling as a7291508c7 well, irritation boiled 643e5b2693 inside him.ab69eb3a601b62cc

But he didn’t let it 6c39b81ed7 show.cec0619ebb3fa56c

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“Yes. A minor dispute between the 718351b60b children. The Baron was simply… overly 04c72ba4c1 concerned. You know how dearly he 7bd40d6468 cherishes Tommy, the child he 00eb30ef9b sponsors…”b0a4088fb08b1583

“Regardless, it was an internal matter of the orphanage. You’ve mediated things well, I 24520eb1b3 trust?”18eedcb77e9dd39f

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“Of course, Your Holiness.”444651cac5a265fa

Magnus’s mind briefly ff4a71ee94 drifted back to ee559d96a3 the events of 61fe88ec60 the morning.3851f3731a6e9f33

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Baron Grasse had 275398d274 stormed into the b6796de453 orphanage, likely summoned a12606c4d6 by Tommy.68b35ecd580d1604

The man had demanded to 25036b5a28 see Belze—e09e69b483cce31c

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Furious over the absurd claim 55d8753a46 that a five-year-old had beaten 1d7c365183 up his illegitimate son.9d9badbfce58e4f7

“That wretched girl! A mere commoner c034f86fbd orphan dares to 321414e528 strike my son?! Where is she?! Bring her to me 591fbc1900 at once!”57b58bdf60dec414

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The Baron had e04c4a99f9 sat in the 121f1c3396 main hall, legs 4b4135dac0 spread wide, barking c4f7f46018 orders at Magnus 6df53ae45b and the other 75b9749b7e priests.95531ed861779d93

But the moment he heard 570d5df148 that the girl was sponsored 898078c1f8 by House Kallios,089ebdb2d5fc94d3

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He shut his mouth d1cdd12113 and quietly left.a2677b3387a08bde

To assess the 4264290f0f situation, Magnus had 66f58f4301 called in Tommy fd679888a2 and the children be9a1dc789 he often played 9d0daad6cc with—d5d9a4fdb85b8b98

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But their accounts had been… d5bda46a18 wildly contradictory.9d814991ff011b99

“It’s true! That girl just showed up e9f5af66ab out of nowhere and yelled 2d8d5bbb49 ‘Beatdown Mode!’”5bd2273d518db713

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“And then—that cursed teddy bear started growling weird things and attacked us!”d011d14c47722364

“W-We don’t know anything! Really, we don’t!”8c41b0ab8af53cfa

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The claim that Belze had d0b13a2862 attacked him with her stuffed 628d93aa62 bear came from Tommy.fc1f9a02508d4146

The other children, 6f5564f496 meanwhile, looked utterly 925ad36975 terrified, shaking their a22d504920 heads as if 938b9c46b5 they knew nothing d69bfc8c98 at all.af6fcad3dba0b869

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There was, however, cc1e9c44e8 one commonality in 1a849b6c87 their stories—64067876fae0c9ff

Ismail had been there.ae95cddb7d689180

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‘A stuffed bear went on a rampage?’97c18cf285945338

Magnus clicked his tongue.4ca16fe012426415

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What nonsense.1620448319ec0c9c

Had they been reading horror bc2f02a8e8 magazines or something?03aa5aa25390d5f9

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After spending a few days 1dcd90c6bb overseeing the orphanage, he had 3d507a400b already noticed—424c5a77910bd2bb

Children were natural liars.42f3ef8f6fc8420c

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They exaggerated, twisted facts, d47fe884ef and embellished reality to 46e433fc0e suit their whims.63642ad20d45bd5c

Tommy’s claims were ridiculous.bbb20a65a83bc3a9

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But one thing was clear—aba4409ace9f413d

Belze and Ismail had an f311e01dc0 unusually close relationship.123bb7f735fc93bb

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‘I need to report this.’d5467f21b4de0484

Of course, his report 91193fbca6 wouldn’t be to the a6b255372b Pope.62b043a114c87562

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“I spoke to the children, and it was nothing,” Magnus said, brushing off the incident with a casual smile.bcb85f701b35704a

“They must’ve read a scary book before bed—kept talking about a stuffed bear coming to life. Probably just had similar nightmares.”dfd73f470a71cca7

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“Was Ismail present during this?”f360fa9152f0d8ed

“…What?”affa62d52c956f11

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Magnus’s eyes widened at 794b6e7804 the Pope’s unexpected question.70413ce57aa4ffd0

“H-How do you…?”0c5126c926a7180b

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“I may have been preoccupied lately, but I know Tommy has a reputation for trouble.”eac9e34bb4636365

The Pope’s voice was calm, facf60c999 but pointed.9660040f66095013

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“And I know Ismail lost his ability to speak not long ago.”a3aa579334a20380

“……”a9eaa1b19d69a01c

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“With those two involved, it’s not hard to imagine what might have happened.”16e374c06b00d06f

Magnus’s jaw clenched.86b3676241d7e75f

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‘Why is he suddenly so involved?’49b4f3faffc6df6d

The Pope had never 70be07ae99 paid much attention to e300e1d540 the orphanage before.e3d54179394ff722

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Yet now—ae5c5d89a9a9e695

Now, he was personally investigating.d0e2cc502630eab9

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Magnus’s mind raced for a bdde934f5c solution.23d5628ef4311d44

Before he could d8e337bdb0 come up with c99705430f one—3da4c26e2d371766

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“I need to see Ismail.”c267f0fff19bae12

The Pope dropped a bombshell.2ffb32512df66815

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“Y-Your Holiness, you mean… personally?”5d02543c7d76398a

“Yes.”089e8b787aabead7

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Magnus’s face twisted strangely.1692f9e0833ba2ff

“High Priest Magnus.”8ed9909df05a8f4c

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The Pope was watching him.6608b19aebf1b509

Under the weight of 19d9a90bed his gaze, Magnus had 442220e2f9 no choice but to e089cefcba speak.56732674ac506250

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“…Actually, due to yesterday’s incident, Ismail was injured and has temporarily been moved to the temple.”b92de6d4b041ca91

“You just said it was nothing serious.”b1c23d3f7ed946d4

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“I-It was, ah…”e6175325a82e7f40

The Pope’s voice hardened.56bdb9b1bf8af533

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Sweat trickled down Magnus’s back.ce130f1505d748bb

Think. Think.55aef3e4d2ad03df

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“…Forgive my intrusion, but… may I ask why you wish to meet him?”9b946c1e49b59263

“Why do you ask?”61fe53c07dc2401e

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“His condition is a bit… unstable. It may be best 827315bbc0 to ask his consent 7d6cd4699a before forcing a meeting.”dc8a0bd0486e72bc

“…That is a fair point.”265d68faf618827b

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The Pope seemed 514cb50372 to accept this 2c3fbbc376 reasoning—for now.f1c10de54a812fb5

Still, his sharp 0368611573 eyes studied Magnus.6fe5d33cc1215439

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Finally, he spoke.56cbd5245a5a3ddf

“A noble has stepped forward to sponsor Ismail.”27a418e837a1a701

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“…A sponsor?”9edca0393a128ae4

The words caught Magnus off 3f15b18aa9 guard.6a1f3025900ec026

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Ismail had been pretending to 4a7763fbb6 be a mute, hiding his 06095f82c6 abilities.0d35e6650d76ba87

Even Magnus himself had nearly a20a9f25ee been fooled until their meeting 081b17c7ca today.825be34abdfd29dd

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What kind of foolish dfd87dc838 noble would waste their 2c5afc456c wealth sponsoring a useless 1c376419ff child?0f9b4f775e804f3e

“…May I ask which family?”22a72423b587edf7

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“I cannot disclose that. The sponsor has requested anonymity.”b9a4e61cce4d6274

The Pope’s tone 92e68e71bc left no room 209af5d9ab for argument.d580d17c699d067d

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Magnus gritted his 44373c5410 teeth in frustration.d425fa0a6876da72

“…Did the sponsor reach out to you directly, Your Holiness?”1ccc7f7ca1b37e05

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“Yes. And it made me curious 6337d5191d enough to want to meet a02bf581f2 the child myself.”ddc21adb50eca1b7

Some arrogant noble had bypassed d11e7d4331 Magnus and gone straight to 9b0d4d0f7c the Pope?55ef509054b23e30

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Unacceptable.b22c2da83912174b

But…620322d8626ca4c0

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This wasn’t all bad.7c272b256493e6d2

If the Pope 73eab27cf9 had come first 5431e45ad5 instead of the 33edcb33c3 sponsor, that meant 2c85bfa179 time.0a09385adff60b7c

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‘Tonight—I’ll get rid of Ismail.’d6610c25b4ffa9da

Magnus quickly masked bf3fa54dae his thoughts, lowering 64714f83bc his gaze with 576d952dd1 a feigned sigh 580fa448d6 of regret.f3a6f1a0e7381a9d

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“…I’m afraid meeting him today may be difficult.”c1a38cb4ef50e8b0

“Why?”93701f80de06043b

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“He still needs treatment, and after yesterday’s ordeal, he is in no condition—”0f662cc921124c2b

BANG!25dcd99d3978ef7f

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The door burst 57440abd1f open with a 840d304642 thunderous crash.02db25adf921fb83

And—2c3ef109c7e6c9e8

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“You filthy bastard! Hand over Ismail right now!”41582951ee153305

A tiny girl, dressed 94f5102916 in a yellow dress, 3440dfbb01 stormed into the office—b70fc76083329a11

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Fuming.91ba4886d273c7b8

“Belze…?”9d489ae59c386a88

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The sudden intrusion left both 157499a382 the Pope and Magnus stunned.51d74614bbc8404a

“Belze, what is the meaning of this? You may be 6a43723e14 under the Kallios 252b999c3f family’s protection, but 24e93dff00 such rudeness—”7f84dcec49f00300

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“Sponsors can meet their sponsored child whenever they want!”19d554e3760eabfe

Magnus barely had 43dd633e6d time to scold 78c1ba5e28 her before—1365509e236023f0

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She shoved a document 2c183616bf in his face.d3884ce25cb52f89

His face contorted.44cb5e54a49b6f2c

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“This! The sponsorship certificate!”50db7a6a055957c1

“……”32b7b46393757398

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“Starting today—I’m Ismail’s sponsor!”d78cf316a393a498