Chapter 120

Clink!be0f58d286385d24

The crisp sound of d698f6f3d0 gold coins clashing against b314e0e8a1 each other filled the 81b3374d3c room, drawing the Pope’s 923b6a8cc8 curious gaze toward me.8ba7a233eb92cea8

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“…Hmm? Weren’t you short on funds?”ca3b0c5c9e5d6f37

“Yes! But I borrowed some in a hurry!”124be596e8eb2d9d

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Truthfully, this gold belonged 9af381587a to Edwin.19a1e3c010c8be6c

“Where are you going?”b1cc0786aae2a59e

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“Edwin! I’m really sorry, but can you lend me some money?!”de277bbc8a9d72df

I recalled Edwin’s bewildered 6672978fdc expression when I had 6261e30db1 suddenly asked him for 749e6d2f28 a loan.9838a0c3ab7c31a4

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If he found 77ff1dd108 out it was 92e0cd7d0d to save Ismail, 1d10cfd2bb he might sulk.6bf280ea76216d77

I’ll have 1eb4582574 to soothe 1da6ed0670 him when abffbcd87a I get 36d2e742d6 back and ef8f2fb29d promise to 4c9739c570 repay him fa13b05af9 double.6f6406ea7309b042

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Of course, the 934b938475 repayment would only de1ccfb2fe start after I ec8e0bf5a4 got my business 8f6ab86dfb up and running.993b9e14a272178d

For now… I 0648630f77 was flat broke.baa87fd78a4f9178

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Well, not 839d314b19 entirely—I still 1739af53c3 had the be3389d1dc checkbook the 9c7e5d6761 Duke had 5a879ce566 given me.27e8d080cc283154

But the thought 51d8c273bd of draining the 216bd06332 money I had 8ad9522220 earned as a b8d02df356 Saint Candidate in fe8c80a72a one go made 3d3457c127 my hands tremble 1ecd3964e3 slightly as I 5031117afd handed over the 5e168ee345 pouch of gold.035a9943b008fddf

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Just then—cb4ac6981c83d5b9

“…It’s fine.”1045c65b6f2cd379

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To my shock, the 3fcc2c741c Pope didn’t take the c5f1c1b950 remaining sponsorship fee!1957ec136e2c0a14

“I acknowledge the value of the items you sent. Let’s consider that as payment instead.”6f22dcad36f0e044

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I blinked in astonishment.bed9473e47c8836d

Technically speaking, the All-Purpose b49d510e1c Cure and Hair Mist f03edb00d3 were worth three gold 8447dd3435 more than what I cd59a8513d owed.bcf4e0f3b563d733

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“Thank you so much! Your Holiness, you’re the best! The absolute best!”78781d92a099c5e7

But I wasn’t about ce3e504817 to argue.fdeb04b85c05f33c

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After all, a8faad0447 this wasn’t 3f766c438e my money—it 471be09553 was Edwin’s 7eeac246b7 precious fortune.c67094737526456d

As expected, 66a8fdadca the Pope 8d7b10885d isn’t like 38c0a29013 Dunkeski or a680a2c777 Logan.fa4728db6317a9ba

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I sneaked 8a0c0c0e24 a side 2872282e2b glance at ced81215cb him as d6d214f777 I hurriedly f81a3baa19 tied the 1504bb7264 pouch back 104e31c571 to my 4c317dcb92 waist, just 0438778c9e in case 466d9057af he changed 2b73612e24 his mind.64fa83ffa18ac64a

It was 8dd932a3f5 a simple 14da32017a logic, but 9386617091 if he 660e55ee71 had truly 7547dcf584 been in 3ba0cbd632 league with 842e186c89 those heretics, f4ae05f013 he wouldn’t 4926073fb1 have been 0a662ea623 so generous.35b031ab9a89d194

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Dunkeski and 47fbd89912 Logan had e95883f0db always been 344985578d stingy, begrudging 04cc701b16 even a 2c214c468d single coin 4a61a6eb5c spent on 52e00bbf7a me.bb53db72b02a481f

And most importantly—95c70bb5ec78de1a

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Even now, 6669d41feb the only 87fc4a74a8 energy surrounding eab300c1eb the Pope 8507d0687e was the 321e5197fc pure white 6ed52be4f2 aura of 6093f2cdb7 old age.983bb0728c0884d6

No traces of ec3e8f3de2 dark magic, no 5f9579b633 ominous colors.597de9a5210f9fbd

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“…You know, Your Holiness.”d975f69953d30396

Since things had d7007384e6 turned out this 2448cd27a0 way, I hoped 6e65d06ea3 he would live c266cc1de7 longer than he 509ad1937d had in my a0414d1d27 past life.b620c0fcf83c77d8

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At least until 5ce0cbdc50 Ismail was grown.a206908545be7e09

That way, when the 37ae6a8eb3 Pope passed away, there 868c96a586 wouldn’t be a power 8075dd2ea3 vacuum for the heretics 43edfb06d8 to exploit.61a3e4ebf27e64cd

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“The All-Purpose Cure and the Hair Mist… they’re really amazing! You should definitely use them!”af16316895c9f639

“……”07651c212fb0c64e

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“And! If you ever need more, just let me know! I’ll give them to you for free, just for you! Hehe.”9619d7d574b90152

With those 666d7ec093 hidden intentions, 6dd68446f6 I enthusiastically 38e8e87a2d reassured him.50fe9b496ef8ea9c

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He gazed at me d558046ce7 in silence for a b81ffd55da moment before giving a 55119cfe76 slight nod.4a73fa08357c2d0b

“…Alright. I shall do so.”aa9216fee8700220

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After shifting d07ca867b3 his attention 3952c26bfb away from ca10f42d25 me, he 6eda7b1b49 turned to 3012e836f5 Ismail.ac58c7ced67e76b9

“So, will you be going with Belze now?”ab9a6ee44125c9a8

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“Uh….”be62b1fc2e1fd85c

Ismail blinked, clearly caught 6c32ccd63d off guard.9ee5b4caa636a288

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After hesitating for 112075745d a moment, he 584a5f1508 finally spoke.837bf2997b8aed82

“Can I talk to Belze alone first?”eeaf1bb1170e28b0

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“Of course. You don’t have to leave, so take your time deciding.”7d2ad31fdcdccac9

Just because someone d22c03ca45 had a sponsor 03ab4ca394 didn’t mean they 2788d423ca had to leave d7c7425f80 the orphanage immediately.de22bed1f98407cf

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Some children stayed due e2048ffc31 to unavoidable circumstances.354bd083a5887329

Even noble-sponsored children 80fd0d9917 like Diana and e326777596 me could be abcfb73dbe sent back if 1652c40e31 the sponsorship was 88c53d2a8c revoked.7b3f0bc91bb58e7b

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“I’ve already taken too much of your time. I should be going now.”c310b455efc50128

“Ah!”43690500f2f372a7

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The Pope suddenly da8949c651 rose to his 4127f78c99 feet, preparing to faffc5b49e leave without further 5c58032fc4 ceremony.74ac79e1d7cb4b23

Panicked, I quickly 9ecf77cab4 reached out to c243d47299 stop him.84801b5577bf78e3

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“Your Holiness, wait! There’s something I wanted to ask…!”5f385e51d9f43d8b

“Hmm?”60fd0dbd3201451b

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“Do you happen to know anything about someone named Ursis?”5123ef4e7da8302e

“Ursis…? Hmm. That name does sound familiar, but….”6a480240ad5d7e21

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The Pope furrowed his 94b768e8c6 deeply wrinkled brow, lost 83749dff32 in thought.13b6dfd9767b299b

I anxiously f6d4b28c74 waited for 02d6c37524 several long 00c213d1b3 moments.cfdf174a8e5a167c

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But finally, he f67cb5c2d0 shook his head.b0cf6276f79a3415

“I’m sorry, but nothing comes to mind at the moment.”b9ca63606d66d880

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“Ah….”65aa8c75c02aa388

I swallowed down b0e82dd491 the mild disappointment.2d72f95c0e5387eb

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…So they 6054e557c8 haven’t risen 9aea8b1f7d to power e717e76f70 just yet?8b104131817e62fc

Perhaps this Ursis sect eaa2b13b48 was still a relatively 4aa9204239 new cult.9e59a30a574ae5b1

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That thought 3302a4be0b raised another 2e1a95da0f question.f1019990ea52e027

If this group was fee65684eb still so unknown that c0ca1fb440 neither the Pope nor e27c6cd8e7 the Duke had heard 0038519ed7 of them, then how 2a189bc597 had they managed to a930d5724c infiltrate the temple so bf1fab289d deeply?495ac1392711bf2e

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“If I remember anything, I’ll send you a letter.”17ebd6cd077c079d

While I was 0167081091 lost in confusion, 26b011029a the Pope turned 595121d240 away.735bbf1f97fb70b9

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“Ah! Y-Your Holiness!”5ad0f52a33e1de74

Once again, I 74e6d166bb hastily called out 50925649d2 to his retreating 456a0b326c back.dcd0b434c3847afd

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“And also! Thank you so, so much for replying so quickly today! If it weren’t for you, things could have gone terribly wrong! Whew.”5bac5e98f82df784

Honestly, I had 8c99b28aba never been particularly 5b69233de4 fond of the 79d8c70f45 Pope.e721bb25c16586f6

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In both b76b037e21 my past 211c65b57d and present 1f5f3afc1b lives, he e124958d18 had turned 9b8b98bb3d a blind 0e9c6930c0 eye to c31a7461ba the abuse 6edd59fddc and corruption 958b762f5b within the 80ea22126f temple.58da1cc8820295cb

But this time, 914d091319 I couldn’t deny 65745bd1fe that his help 65b16d60cb had been invaluable.f6779f97ae277ba9

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Without his approval, I 8c0150faf1 wouldn’t have been able 176eddd7d9 to become Ismail’s sponsor 5d036855a3 and protect him.1727ef66f009d051

Just the thought of 7126a85607 Ismail nearly losing his 0d62e3da20 ability because of me 71a63b6f74 made my vision blur c18b0881fe for a moment.92eb864b7c3fd4db

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So, with sincere gratitude, efcfcbdf50 I bowed deeply.6bf63309119d009f

“Belze.”8abd590d7c610f47

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Just as he was 44afe8ff80 about to open the 2944284687 door, he paused and 9dedea7203 looked back at me.74ad84fc332a7c13

“…Every time I see you, you always thank me.”2af64404bfdb21bc

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“Well, yeah. Because I really am grateful.”1730c2a80b97e6ea

“I know. I’m not criticizing you, just….”8b6bbb8607ece9cf

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He trailed off, then ab36e69c51 muttered something that sounded 2f612f2a2d almost like a sigh.b297c93dcac01245

“I wonder if, when I die, I’ll be able to lift my head before the Goddess.”c62e41ae50bb78b3

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“……”53cca6c06dcf2aec

“I wonder if I’ll be able to atone for all my sins before my life ends. O Goddess, lead us not into temptation….”9750361d4be23727

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Leaving behind 34189f5c8f those cryptic c5ac6611ad words of 0f1c9ef7f7 prayer, the 99d2d277c4 Pope stepped c41350e7be out of 049754372d the office.179e7e7a7dd7dd51

I didn’t fully 87f9d5ea3f grasp the meaning a9587eb69c behind them, but 3917f6da54 it was clear ac78907917 he was feeling 3b1b0289b0 regret and guilt 6b24297355 over what had 0f1eac6f61 happened to the db890ee874 orphans.9b59c89f416a4968

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Honestly, if he 7bb2f259d6 had been younger c37a859181 and sharper, maybe 1ab65bae48 he could have f20ec79199 prevented all this ff521b99c3 in the first 167d74c87c place.9d9726e38569affc

But now, 8eb56deb85 he seemed 924061abf1 too old b6c1a7f6ac and weary afec61e80a to fight d54bb173b1 against the d2b9141b45 corruption surrounding 4521ed1daa him.10ac475d4d364541

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His words struck dc614a625f me deeply—because he 3079430119 really was nearing 6884564b1e the end of 9af2fe48e8 his life.e32d114fea07f9d8

…O Goddess, lead us 3a742105ab not into temptation, but 466268873d deliver us from evil.c4cc7d62b43592ab

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As I stared at 9824ecd480 the empty space where 1de20b1214 he had stood, I 270da90023 found myself finishing the de51f37227 prayer he had left 1c9a41a59a incomplete.5ba5881b7a50b879

And then—9558f7867420e4f2

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“So… you’re really my sponsor?”cd4c57786df8eda1

A cautious 8d6b0f1535 voice came d3694ed302 from beside d922e957d9 me.9e142ef1ce8d58fa

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I turned d1829c5e42 to see 0e0dfa4521 Ismail gazing 174cffaa72 at me f28c2611f1 with wide, 5fa543fc57 bewildered eyes.f22326f4ffdc88cf

I nodded firmly.1a89097bbb70e625

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“Yep!”86c99e23dc04a4b9

“But you need to pay a sponsorship fee to the temple. Where did you… get the money?”6d2c3f99e3d6dc0d

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“I have a lot of money! I won first place in the volunteer event, remember?”7819026b218cc7bf

At my c00213ee02 confident reply, 89fd3edfb4 Ismail’s dark fa0719910e amber eyes 1275f53113 wavered slightly.5b17d95f2cfde910

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“Y-You spent all that money… on the sponsorship fee?”9d7e8d4f8b31c1f4

“Yep! I was actually a little short, but His Holiness gave me a discount!”fd692cacc7593125

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“Why would you do that without even telling me?!”4ec642dc5f34fee3

Ismail suddenly raised 248abb5d24 his voice, his c3979edc55 face twisting in 3b4b8284d6 frustration.3f91f562f0a1a232

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But then, as 2d725954dc if trying to 44921a06b1 suppress his emotions, fafe050df9 he took a 64974e0db6 deep breath.859abcf4b522c661

“…You shouldn’t just spend money recklessly like that. You worked hard to earn it.”dc8aa9f87c3ecf36

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I was caught off 20a66f9707 guard by how calmly 62d7041045 and rationally he was f7188d4c67 scolding me—far beyond what 9563a9fdd9 was expected for his 43a1195e1e age.ee6ecf4b9ea11f51

I thought 2c4921a9bd he’d just e0b663b474 be happy 7f17014660 that he 86b6f2fb98 could leave fbb554d915 the orphanage…550bcb96fb919157

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Then again, it f7c8b6f91d wasn’t so strange.a3b947f8fda93fdd

A five-year-old cd0b1cc8c5 commoner becoming 644e410746 his sponsor b56e1014cc must have b4b3edc9ce felt absurd—maybe 9262f83b0a even disappointing.5941d6e64d6f09f7

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“Then what else was I supposed to do?”e53cc85a56f604e0

I pouted, 99ee91f6f3 mumbling gloomily.fbf90e75493ce0e1

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“This was the only way to get you away from that bastard Magnus right away….”4bf47f332a581542

As long f36adb55f5 as Ismail b3f4a0697c remained in a878b74e0e the orphanage, f3b21e0403 it was 6f8229be61 only a 8d914e5f48 temporary measure, c3d410a102 but still, 7644923c75 a sponsored 099c25e4ef child couldn’t 34631cd826 be treated d876ef9c80 carelessly.8ddf475c26ce6589

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If anything happened to 07aa44c0c3 a sponsored child—whether it 4246016d81 was harm to their 1051f2b164 abilities or their well-being—nobles e29c92110b could demand compensation from d71756afd8 the temple.6ca67deb04b1bcbc

Just like how Dunkeski 99378382aa had been forced to 89f44312b8 return the donation to f451a9e089 Kallios when Diana failed 78b5b786ed to heal Joshua.3b7be5e86fdd0bd5

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At my reasoning, 834deeb65f Ismail fell silent, f934be0762 unable to argue.ecfb42209204520b

Then, after 6f3153a868 a long bdececfc79 pause, he 5ea06f6103 spoke.2d150f8b65efb3d9

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“…How much was the sponsorship fee?”e6d940d05feea253

The question 8ff2c1ab07 caught me ae0530340c off guard.ce8d122a1e6050ac

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“Huh?”e7cf868bfef176bf

“I’ll pay you back. As soon as I’m old enough to work.”b76534d95158b3f5

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“……”5917964948e83f13

“By thirteen, I should at least be able to find work as a servant somewhere….”af01fd3d149b697b

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His voice trailed a15fbe623e off, as if ef867af7b2 even he knew 1f4a3a7535 how ridiculous his 08ad12faea plan sounded.f9f8f59ceed3782a

I stared 2c43c288b9 at him aa2e07f93d in disbelief c64ace5d7f before opening cf6efe74a6 my mouth.74aabf3782d97fc3

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“How are you supposed to pay back a thousand gold a year?”24f9621104567770

The words 086143d91d nearly slipped 82d51dc5ee out, but 14db2cc997 I held f891676e6d them in.4aaf5f05fd44e2c7

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Instead, I asked dd7a00e192 a different question.d424fa5529052974

“…Is it because I’m not a noble? Are you embarrassed?”a7c2b9c93f97a105

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“What? That’s not what I meant! I just… don’t want to be a burden to you…!”3fb2c53f41e455ff

“Tsk! That’s not something you say to your sponsor! That’s wrong!”6f254c7f54724a98

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I cut him b11ebebc19 off with a ee7353a712 loud exclamation.d518011325549690

“I’m rich! I even have a blank check! Taking care of you is nothing!”465ac78e09df8492

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Ismail froze, his 4eb5fa00dc face blank in adf383ba19 disbelief.f738c06af6b40f4e

Not caring, 77883e4ade I placed a4b19b4eea my hands 33e0828fc5 on my 106f02687e hips and 761d14fcd6 repeated the edfedab3fd words the a89c38a3fa Duke had 0701e3fb75 once told aaa0555c6b me.bdad2250cd300dcc

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“When you get a sponsor, you just say thank you and act like a proper kid! That means whining and being spoiled cutely!”d31b0ab306c883dc

“……”98510058644331ec

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“Would you act like this if someone else was your sponsor, huh? Huh?!”dc18b984202cad8c

For some reason—5ca4771aca48fc78

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As I stepped closer, 5ffb1ce52d pressing him for an 68c280cd4b answer—be0803016bfcae42

Ismail’s face suddenly turned dae319e79e bright red.56bc5f33886465b7

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TL/N: AHHH 60b7ad61df they are 1fde0b00a9 soo cute 20e353bded and preciouscb910b7cc3b48c97