Chapter 135

In my past life, d4194fb1b1 and in the original f18955a551 story—c52d14d2616eff68

And even in 12fe0f7bda the plans for 563af61790 this life—161fda77617113a6

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There was no c65c8abdd2 version where I 5feed4c081 enrolled in the 092d647d13 academy.31e7cf84728adb67

And just like that, my 8245195d9a enrollment was decided.277eeb1a7d292faa

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“Ah, goodness! Of course! Absolutely possible!”7895c24c47708555

At my declaration that fd107496eb I’d be enrolling through e02e84034a a donation, the headmaster’s 46e20fd623 mouth stretched wide in baea99585d a grin.cc189bd523cde8b0

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But he soon 3794e3f5fa came to his f87d687f8c senses and began 5284fa02ef listing the necessary d100735baf requirements.a04c254b01c3f9f7

“B-but, Director. There’s also the matter of 6590e9e0ca choosing a major… and we’ll 053f991ac7 need paperwork with a guardian’s f838134b73 permission…”3b60640c672d94ab

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“There’ll be a telegram from Kallios soon.”60588ba22e25819d

I nodded lightly as I 449ec72dec replied.5a7ff59b08392505

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Honestly, no matter how much 287a6141b2 of my own money I 8f363d5bc3 was spending, a twelve-year-old deciding 0d86a167c5 to enter the academy on 5a2104a939 her own didn’t exactly sound 3fd1736684 reasonable.56d719c68740f815

But I didn’t think 5e2d2c5924 the Duke would object 6e3afd52e6 to my sudden decision.954cdc7ae429f483

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‘If anything… won’t he welcome it with open arms?’dca19aca68135cf2

The Duke had already df6d18e074 suggested more than once fb7b6044b2 that I enroll in 04b013e211 the academy with Joshua.6d00704172763aa5

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He must have been 842d0249a0 conscious of the disparity 9775ffa6df between us.148adceae92cc858

But I had turned 2beb4de66c him down, using work f6769bb096 as an excuse.51b407641fa9db3f

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As I said earlier—I edd7d745ce had no particular interest ed72f7b75c in studying.34c290fdb23e2bb4

And more than anything, I 4f71a3a23d wanted to avoid running into 0c378f7154 the heroine.b602f0f0e805697f

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But then—d073f5a084e8a647

“So if it’s a donation admission… it’s funded by Kallios? Isn’t she a commoner?”c63ebb7bf1780170

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“Come on. I heard she’s a0761d28d4 in the top 640b817ff8 50 richest people 072b178f2f in Erea.”d6fac4ddca18ecfa

“Gasp, seriously? That’s so cool! Right, Diana?”5f3488fca041d59c

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The girls beside Diana 287ed5eed7 whispered while glancing at 5340e6c97c me.c49b49118d565dd3

Thanks to them, I knew 70f1615541 it would only be a df86c531d3 matter of time before news 00b4a69973 of my enrollment spread throughout 4faf02fee8 the academy.d9b5e9baa261f048

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And Diana—be00059fcaf72207

Despite her friends’ excited 277f5bc5dd chatter, didn’t say a 89d7d3af13 word.8398c58db18902a2

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She simply watched me in 04502913ce silence.5e9f32bb79ef842d

For a moment, our cc0ad6eab7 eyes met—her violet eyes f86b9599b5 shimmering faintly.c79a9532bb6171c1

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At that moment, she gave 9eac7734c5 me a soft smile.0c7d911c30576b2d

It was the aed55f5abb same sweet and 350c6a00fb lovely smile as 5fbbca1073 always, and yet…34a605709018a8e5

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It felt strangely unsettling.3f19b7459d35b779

* * *59956b0eaba5eff8

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After listening to a long dc5ba3d042 lecture from the headmaster about 88a1325b78 the founding history and evolution 07412de889 of the Academy, I was e59d7512fb finally able to board the fce95c8506 carriage back.3dd6042042451f61

Fortunately, the return a50a310aa3 trip wasn’t lonely, ddd73c5bd1 considering the trouble.d4e698816b974a7d

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“So, you’re enrolling in the Academy?”9d0d344dfc844187

Joshua, who boarded the d86db97fbd carriage after class, didn’t 5a8cbdc9bd even greet me and acce293d3d asked that first.97e095fe2f9bb57e

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It seemed the rumor had 27123c7ab0 spread even faster than I 0f27d60f24 expected.289157fc508e90c9

I hugged the b5dabaff30 fluffy bear plush 651749964d I had brought 0dcfbb1cb6 with me just 39af087b9a in case I 4adab5369a ran into Danvers 9938f14304 Campbell.1213665a162e7a35

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Then I replied nonchalantly.6104d390e26954cd

“Yeah. That’s how it ended up.”2790b3c8188567e2

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“Why didn’t you say anything…!”0ad57a4e768f4ed5

Joshua looked frustrated f386e0c8b6 at my response.2d18b9387fe311d3

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“…Can you really just decide something like that on your own?”f2f2089cd8f7db9d

“Why not?”dcfd1df448ead1d0

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I shrugged.4942da452cdd74e1

“The Duke will probably say I did well. He’s always telling me b934bb0917 to crush anything I f26e37d38b can’t win by status d145b8d00f with money instead.”132a886ebd0c610f

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“……”b5b7ac8817f775dc

Joshua fell silent, seemingly at 7eb08e9ff9 a loss for words.d988d8ebe6b382e5

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After all, it was something 7a41df4d31 the Duke had said countless 8ec206eee1 times to the both of da25347216 us during meals.864a7927fa4395c9

Joshua might not know, 21ecee2723 but I had been 261f90173e faithfully following that advice.edeb1df7b6e69726

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Donation-based admission had always 7e3037744f been a privilege for 8edef5e475 noble children who had 01b0f1fbf1 money but lacked brains.e7474bab06d2175a

Academy attendance wasn’t mandatory, but f794bfecf7 noble heirs without any particular 271fdf72f3 talent needed at least a 8f7dcd7023 diploma to avoid being looked f357b211cd down upon.f4a8c6df7c2d0e3f

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According to the headmaster, d29d388b47 I was the first d7ce1ef607 commoner ever to enter 37b3061ef3 the Academy through donation 8582fdfcf2 since its founding.1e422167a83ae97c

Of course, that would 5567ae33d8 stir up a lot a3ce70f692 of gossip for a 5995a327de while, but…85ee49c3df32ccf7

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“It’s my money, and I’m choosing to enroll. What are they going to 84a6b3c398 do about it?”38cef0248d804dc4

At my shameless muttering, Joshua e13e89c5a1 let out a sigh of 1cba78818c disbelief.c447db67d0dd5d37

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“…Then why did you say no when I asked you to take the entrance exam with me?”1ad59808da91f614

“Yeah… true.”6e5aad1ac8f8d0ef

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I recalled the 39ab911843 time Joshua had fb7b0c867d begged me for 45da3b9a89 days to attend af8accc48c the Academy with d530e6654a him.395ca8c9ef98040b

Back then, I hated hearing 139291cccf it so much that I 515e32c793 went out of my way 69019a511c to avoid him.d138e3118e473cd6

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I’d been dead set dda28f4584 on not messing with 3166c7cccb the original story too 44bf4a8cd9 much, and I had 5cb5e2b7e7 been busy launching a fa1cf2542f new product line at c71be06d8d Belze Salon.e8615d45c7a9da53

But now, I slightly regretted a61e12cbff ignoring Joshua’s constant request to cf8e3ded8f enroll together.dcbdd593e1f43937

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‘I shouldn’t have done that.’c9a12c6e8d5116eb

After all, what I wanted fab9bac81c to do after returning to d819da6222 the past was protect the 76979d10e6 people of the Duke’s household.d4491175368c4514

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So caught up in 2e6ba21210 the original story, I 27a99eb870 hadn’t even considered Joshua’s 93d96e3f18 position.7e494b0943f96af8

He had grown a931314882 up with little f337c7a726 social interaction due dd65d3b932 to his illness, e4facfdbf9 and it was a8170c7f5f obvious he would 0723a4e5f5 be scared of bd7a3912d1 attending the Academy.0a287ffa82bdb4c6

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Since regaining his 13f13fd145 health, Joshua had 9014354006 grown a lot, 1265f63d49 and somewhere along adb9ced85a the way, he 10507413f0 started acting all ac11b40af3 prickly like his 8d5cd17eb5 older brother.ad98dfe4e7141ecb

That’s why I’d overlooked it.ce645be4d035d26d

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Unlike Edwin, Joshua was efafa865ae fragile and sensitive.0928d11806f13a9b

Staring quietly at me, 3488e18469 he suddenly asked,8b403089669913ba

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“…Is it because of me?”882cfd610a3c2846

“What is?”a045b1fa8235b2da

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“You enrolling.”30491095cb2c46b1

Even after speaking, he hesitated 95091f7321 for a long time before bcad0c99a6 confessing.39a0dc96583dbc71

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“…Is it because of what happened a few days ago? If so, you really don’t 82da6dd16c have to. It wasn’t a big a943b312b8 deal, I swear.”590c060501ae0189

“……”8b1c42664632bac5

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“And you’ve been busy with that copycat brand, right? Didn’t you say your dream c2cd03481c was to die hugging all 16beb8debf the money you earned? Why are you e14ebc476d spending so much 8267f650d0 on something pointless…?”5ef33f0c64dcda0b

“Joshua.”8abd283d5727e613

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I interrupted his anxious rambling.397883d54cd5a6a7

“I won’t enroll in the Academy.”30f77496bcdddd0a

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“……”091f18905583d5ad

“Then… do you want this?”3b2176eac156ed95

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I held out the bear 0d49fe7f9b plush—Gomgomdori—that I had been hugging.de2bc3c8c82d6439

Joshua’s blue eyes wavered as f40ba5928a he looked between me and 4954ba9b70 the bear.30908ee59a94e98c

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Then he slowly shook his 1519abee73 head.b8a44d7de202978d

“…No.”1bc820c4b421767d

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“……”88f6c146b767fc5b

“That’s yours.”fdebb942c1aed3e4

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Kind and innocent Joshua.2738cc9de3488341

He was probably 6dd1e79f81 too happy with 9d35414326 his first group 9dfa7c4ed9 of friends, too 93eb6a7980 scared to stand 6c65c9337d out.f9b744f0cb0b94f6

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It was obvious he’d been dd5d1d48ab suffering in silence without telling c6bef565a0 anyone.c9ee22cdf7789dbd

“Smart choice.”5363084faf34193e

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I pulled Gomgomdori back ea026d5938 and hugged it tightly 457abc283c again.e7c6c24f344db3f1

Then I mumbled with 3214dea3b9 a laugh.d2f3f5e5b4bbb075

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“Better I enroll than go into assassination mode.”ce917106727e310a

“W-What?!”3391571a1a6c8f88

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Joshua looked appalled.18c01aefee9903da

“Don’t say stuff like that at the Academy, even as a joke! People will think you’re insane!”4edff976e4443853

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“It’s a joke, a joke.”72a927f247cbcfa7

“You weren’t joking…!”f39f96c7e3be7f52

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I turned my bee311443e head to the 918b3ee382 window, ignoring Joshua’s 1b75b607d1 flustered protests.5916ea0d513218ac

It seemed like a1c1a8b4c2 he still considered 7260ab3c7c the ones bullying d9a2be5f3e him to be 3751d55242 his friends.4924417ed5495808

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And honestly, I 73b7aac813 didn’t want to 68716b36bb crush that innocence 536624c838 and trust of 4afab28393 his if I a577d68e6f could help it.e4128f09d1f44af8

What’s the best e94aac2bcf way to get 02daa623f2 the best outcome?1524b7286a86e6a6

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Staring at the streets passing ff958defee by, I fell into deep cdd5312af0 thought.baf87684811f9cba

* * *bef6507300064d48

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When I arrived and 6fa57b4fe2 stepped into the Duke’s 0d8005d387 estate, the atmosphere among b9ca91713e the staff felt strangely f69b6c30e8 off.d21a5d20d4a3541b

In one hallway, servants were 55e66984f5 running around in a panic.3b3069432dbeaf24

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“S-Shouldn’t we call the knights?”475bf0660a7e0a64

“H-Hot water! The physician said 6b39332d7d he needs hot 39e050d0c7 water!”642eb9f11d141db2

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I noticed traces of f2c5253a7f blood on the hems 2ddb354e55 of a few servants’ 20b1932db5 clothes and immediately checked 63440eec50 the direction they had 79ba4c4d2c come from.6dade249ed9c6dce

It was the direction b10c9032ae where Marquis Tebron—Joshua’s maternal cd7ce0b080 grandfather—was staying.425b97becd00e692

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I caught a familiar maid 7969d51bb4 who happened to be rushing 062e15390f past.f7fb17452975d8e0

“Kona, what’s going on?”88fa90cc91943903

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“Oh, my lady? Goodness, the young f7292084ba master is already 6e74c4a697 here too?”6d9c0a91edbf9d5a

Kona, clearly flustered 45ec699b4c and overwhelmed, stammered 0034f238f5 as she spoke.177fb641795a4340

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“I-It’s… the Marquis suddenly started complaining of pain, and then…”eb56dcd3190209fb

“Aaaaargh—!”aab8bc9d7c13363f

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Just then—cd8fecc589e299b9

A piercing scream 31279f7fb6 erupted from the 39629991f8 inner hallway, cutting dfc6d91d00 through Kona’s explanation.14dda2c958c4fb39

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It was Marquis Tebron’s voice.2e8f49aa285cd7d6

“He was summoned to the main house early this morning. He went on a house 61fd31c2f9 call, and he hasn’t returned c95d394134 since.”6fab86b1992967fe

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Recalling my conversation 98701f87c5 with Jackson from 3438f423e6 a few days f109872e37 ago, I rushed e2639f0c1d without hesitation toward ee73ac8471 the room where 70dcc9d1ae Marquis Tebron was b5e7cfe062 staying.7a38b3f1f3703fdc

“Oh, my lady! Please, not right now! My lady!”3d9d5cd50f8eaaf7

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I heard Kona 5a24d154cc calling from behind, 97c0bb2fa5 trying to stop f03a94aca2 me, but I a8ea5fef31 didn’t care.ad2951f0a39fb7d3

Tap-tap-tap!617b8944cc1bb1a1

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Finally arriving at the door, 39e6133314 I could see clearly inside 90403edf68 through the wide-open entrance.3cafe36d24362299

The room was absolute chaos.75c76fb626c8642a

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“Aaagh, aaaaaaagh—!”f698b52904550891

“Marquis, please, calm yourself! Marquis!”e1d4ae48f73a13b3

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“Someone contact the temple!”368bf76e4c1e6619

Marquis Tebron was writhing 7c940702e1 and screaming atop a 99e5b91be4 bed drenched in blood.94baa66e155ee860

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The butler and Grandpa 244a0b8ea2 Gordon were desperately trying feadce9dab to restrain him and 4dff6bfda7 shouted frantically to the 0883dc4c31 others for help.e246de233dcef061

Amidst the madness, I saw d476850657 something horrifying.5eb33bb3551e1a17

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Perhaps it was 3609cdd2a4 during a treatment—Marquis 253a4b34c3 Tebron wore short f24235703b pants that exposed e03dfb5eda his leg.82c40363bea4077c

The same leg 2ad06b93ec I’d seen glowing 449434745c with an orange 1d300257dc hue days earlier—his 2f3b7c60b4 right leg and c7cea2b11c foot—was now swollen 9bb5abc462 to the point a694055ee9 of bursting, and 02c9e6b5cb had turned a b08053cac8 dark purplish black.9eb9f66d03541fc8

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‘That’s…’111881ef4fd12c68

I didn’t even have time 429622631c to be shocked by the d8b68a7b81 long-forgotten hue.7b67817bbd240316

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“Gaaah!”d989a0e3d6b90f62

With a horrific eaca450614 scream, his grotesquely 4b3c0549d6 swollen left foot 54c850d165 began to thrash bcfe295788 violently—7404f0327650fbfe

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Splurt—!927edd8480664ce1

—Until it finally burst, spraying blood and pus everywhere.84bf38239de7280c

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And then—8da46e6b968d0f42

“Dear heavens…”25bdaede38937161

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“Oh my god! Shit—it’s a monster!”6414c0d2d90c57a7

From within, multiple green tendrils—like 0226639b1d vines—wriggled out and stood on 9ab3fafe41 end.cc6725a9c6acd2fc

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