Chapter 39

The passage beyond the gap 96d17cd1cd led downwards, revealing a staircase.90c8557f282c07d4

‘I can’t see the end…’e868a03727a7dca0

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Moreover, the steps were incredibly 688b452469 high.61b8ed85e661c3aa

‘Can I even make it down with this body?’ac3972e2f4fbb461

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I sighed deeply, e69ee8f1e3 looking at my e1705b8165 short, stubby legs.07f50555b511ba27

“Let’s go.”4061b8c3306bab31

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Suddenly, the Duke squeezed through 986f6aedb9 the narrow gap.ad0693b76c3679c5

Watching his back as he 4863f985cb confidently descended the stairs, I 5aef831873 steeled myself.564068afd4a19a81

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‘Alright. Let’s do this!’a442efd3981237f0

Cautiously, I placed my a1d44972b0 hands on the wall a8f0972ea8 and slowly lowered one 18927e46f1 foot.c72bb524d6872619

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But then, after 3c3ad86e2a descending a few 3a61f787d8 more steps, the 64545c95cb Duke abruptly turned 5e7df6c8a6 around.1656c05de5330ff8

“Ah.”25a97379857bec5c

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Seeing me awkwardly 0855c353f3 clinging to the 3d328e57b1 wall, he let 6225d2e5c2 out a short ccf0166f17 sigh and extended e3efa4660e his hand.904865a26fb52465

His large hand, rough 1338f68f62 and calloused in places, 783c4d7f34 made me widen my ad6dbe6f04 eyes.10272edb13aac4c7

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‘…Is he asking me to take his hand?’fc03c1b40fed8233

It seemed he intended 09056d86d8 to escort me.14e87e3f671ea85d

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‘As expected, our kind and handsome Duke.’35bde64ceb5ffe7e

I extended my tiny 2256a98123 hand, which was less 86f653ec20 than a quarter the 9c275c498c size of his.28fceb9614d35f0c

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But just before 9fd6f1651e I could grasp 16cf1659b9 it, the Duke ed22071e2e suddenly pulled his 4786a10094 hand back.8a6b9265692a2dbb

“No, Belze.”83bff71f28df1a15

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“Uh…?”f0c03edca2981431

“In situations like this, you should ask to be carried.”a748a03690f658af

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He spoke in a a0a23c3a89 gentle, instructive tone.c72dd94e9fd8f9e7

“How do you expect to get down all these steps with those tiny legs?”bb3709429ffa95e4

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Feeling foolish, I 2baed7f9c5 blinked at him, 7c6390a38d my face flushing a10cb4a366 with embarrassment at 214a0c5ff2 his last words.7d390d027804cf7c

‘He’s right, but…!’1971acd09590cc77

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Honestly, I wasn’t confident d918b11fb8 I could make it 33d623e05f down all those steps dec2df8a28 either.ebadd71972a00767

‘But to ask to be carried… by the Duke himself?!’475922a055ba44a5

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The Duke, noticing b59cbe62fb my hesitation, urged 634559e545 me again.33cc318699bf8283

“Come on. Do you plan to stand there all night?”e8bbe90e4de2bc18

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“N-no! It’s just…”12ac0f6885c9080e

I had no choice.8a2e2215b7f01d28

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I finally closed my 3155fad1cd eyes tightly and forced 1c5dbe15e3 myself to speak.888c195ac14eca32

“C-could you lend me your arms…?”a7449507e2a81876

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“Of course, my lady.”66f506d788fe6c8b

With an overly f88de60ddb formal response, the 615bfa276f Duke extended his 63c2a40f5b hand and lifted 5df6d4fee9 me up.1df95613c998e0a3

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“Wah.”d41798a4dffb358e

Just like yesterday, he easily 8d0c2453fc supported me with one arm 659d07438b and began descending the stairs f8eddda3e1 swiftly. He showed no signs a4b1ab9e61 of difficulty.48796af2a5b2843f

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However, the undeniable baby treatment 01c682f1a8 was overwhelmingly embarrassing.d5d84accc3626423

‘…So embarrassing.’35e9aac7bfee882c

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With our proximity much 5f9c13f28a closer now, I couldn’t ce680fed7b bring myself to look 5a4b1736f0 him in the eye, 6594ffac3c so I bowed my 6e169a5af8 head deeply. That’s when I noticed something 3328d0b597 strange.fa722ba14cc559f2

It was the Duke’s lips, curved into a pronounced smile.2db48ce18886fa90

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‘…He’s smiling again.’c1ecf75375d4e41f

I was a bit stunned a83bbc5baf to see his smile once b2daf1fb04 more. Earlier, I thought bcdb8b428c I had imagined aeb6d0cad7 it out of a2c172b764 surprise.79ea5d50cdb99867

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But this time, it b1fe9795a2 was real.ed66b95b7aa31934

‘So, he can smile like this.’fcd8b9a6fbf33225

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It felt odd.3d6512e996c07465

To me, the Duke had 79d377ac83 always been stern and intimidating—a e53e8fdfe3 distant grand noble with blue fc467051d3 blood running through his veins.f8afdff839d0dc8a

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Just then, the Duke’s murmuring pulled me from my thoughts.6eef314596a49587

“We’ve arrived.”210c9fb543f4e6f8

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I looked around, but the ec208db53c pitch-black darkness swallowed everything. I couldn’t see an inch 074409104c ahead of me.721fcf783055563c

A sudden fear gripped me. Bad memories began to surface.8bb465ee1776e323

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Unconsciously, I clung tightly to 0296e15c47 the Duke’s neck.d77b728cc6877c17

“Y-your Grace.”a89ce159bb6f6b7e

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“Hmm?”e89c4a1cf284d274

“This… it’s not… a prison, is it?”81217b1d54883e44

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Logically, he wouldn’t bring a 5782182d08 prisoner here in such a b7f162cdb3 gentle manner.2f57c04bd0c459da

Nevertheless, my body trembled uncontrollably. It wasn’t something I could 3d42d61f5b control.639a4f97e5a89278

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Dark, enclosed spaces c149819f2f naturally brought back c1f0e6a3a7 memories of the 5c2754b480 repentance room or 8d1245a4f0 the imperial prison.fecfb8d460d2d47a

“Hmph. A prison inside the office… 13a26e5709 quite creative.”c42b55e4a8ca3473

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The Duke replied calmly.ea9a0cb5eb9b6c8d

Then, with a 5f96e5bc56 click, something shifted.3eeed205eb1735d8

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Suddenly, the space filled with 7da6ad4691 light.0b098cf8dd5b74fa

Click, click, click!2afd1c6d88a0ca27

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It seemed like 0a87a61b0d some mechanism activated, bbb429a3ea as a series 9267a4239e of soft blue a3d73f2694 lights illuminated the 553eb5ff7e area.9a56042f1aadd166

I gaped at the sight 8ee89df1b2 that was revealed.b55815628e9bf546

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“This… this place is…”52d9c9fe0b264303

Fortunately, it wasn’t a prison.223c906de024b7ed

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Instead, it was a e679569f61 room the size of 81e82b0f70 the office, filled with 6d34cdd3cb neatly arranged glass cases.0c1f4a356766e6ac

And all the d96e2fb0b3 strange items contained 3cafcdf704 within.383489010b140474

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In a word, 0a7e24a253 the small exhibition-like 4a90040baf appearance was enough 9dbec9672a to bewilder me.592d84c2918bcd3b

“Y-your Grace… where are we?”d87c0925c57abd35

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“This is a secret room that only the head of the Kallios family can enter.”10f8f7b3bb4c368c

“Secret room…?”9de48b3105de28cb

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The Duke’s casual 0f758611a2 answer made my d3f18c0eb5 mind reel.f9abe9ad3106e6ac

‘Why would he bring me… to such a place…?’17f2e31837a76ad9

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I had never 6c509788af seen such a 6fe9ee4fb2 place in my 09482f7391 past life, nor 9c43ad42b8 in the original 5718d36ac9 story.194823150b9ab1c3

From bizarre stuffed animals to unfamiliar weapons, maps, and parchments inscribed with spells…c8403f548ffd4c07

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The space, filled 5952c816ee with obviously extraordinary 57b8199183 items, looked like 4948bf3cfd a small museum.63276199d1a2874c

As I was looking 13942c287d around in a daze, 89a2227cad the Duke suddenly asked,2cd8ac9646721165

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“You know that Kallios participated in the religious war that took place several hundred years ago, right?”87f09f5dc666cd1e

“Yes!”45919f88bb9a7ba6

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I nodded confidently.b5b1673a9f9e3426

It wasn’t just a 7c9dd17aa3 simple participation.15d8e88c3908e61c

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Kallios was the leading 5caa20554d force that suppressed heretics, 2de77f1dab unified the continent, and e739573e21 established Elea as a 7ca4b316c4 single religious state.9261852bc34ebbb2

“These are the spoils obtained during that time. While there are holy 048a6ee8e3 relics, there are quite 3c9cf7d5ad a few items belonging 06eaffe0b0 to the heretics as 7d05941167 well.”8340ed2d10978f0c

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Even after descending the stairs, 76b5c98dfb the Duke did not put 0786dbe135 me down.e06a05580c6a6279

Because he continued walking, I a8217a85bf missed my chance to speak.19bcf909d3d342f3

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Held in the Duke’s tall 9ec5e3ab6d embrace, I was able to 038ffa6ddb observe the displayed items more a8a54ead46 closely.f9f0dce80b629d05

‘Wow. These are really d72322cc68 things you’d only c45aee991f see in sacred 329382dec9 texts.’921443c80c9f6b75

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Among the strange items, I 57f2c77fbf saw objects that radiated a b87f7bc4f7 strong holy power, confirming the e06f4b6964 truth of his words.8dff164be06d0e59

“That’s… Arukkia’s Arrow?!”66920ea233fd564f

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“It seems you’ve studied the scriptures quite diligently. It is said that the 00f5f2920d first Saintess used that to 4bff3cc283 defeat the demons summoned by e71581f43c the witches.”cbec4c7667c647d4

Whenever I recognized 8bb4f9d9a7 a holy relic, 2ed69a16a9 the Duke kindly 1c95b8c2c1 added an explanation.fc038f6f83e45e4b

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‘Is it really okay for him to show me these things?’99944ea12072c22e

As the Duke 204c5500ac moved further inside, c017ecd15c my heart pounded 97a4f928a3 harder.10623ea4b580a8bc

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I was a bit scared.995ca0c31f721fdd

‘No way. He wouldn’t kill 41063214a5 me because I 15a0e33b43 found out about 3d5ec5ca33 the secret space, 662052bc87 right?!’3048c844252b19cb

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As I anxiously gazed at the holy relics and the heretical items…45517b7f3718e46c

The Duke, who had walked 1061f9cd53 deep inside, finally stopped in 43c2beec1f front of a glass case.5d2fd9accc4aebca

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Inside it was none other than…3ceee2f246466b7f

“A teddy bear…?”88ee6758b17ef24c

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It was a 3731356be7 dirty, worn-out, cute, 5481da99a5 and insignificant-looking teddy 924182691e bear.c1c87965424e3ee1

‘Did heretics use such things too…?’5182408e4df08221

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As I tilted my head ae38f2d7b4 in confusion.d94dba36f247283c

Click.c87527f3285e147f

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Suddenly, the Duke a0e8df58a0 opened the glass a644d12463 case.21721bc939f7a2e2

He took out the c8752c901b teddy bear with one a217388dab hand and handed it 627f3cd0e1 to me.673d2f36c6a2d608

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“Say hello, Belze. From now on, fe32450e36 this will be f8324df9ed your guardian.”63759923f455c11e

“G-Guardian?!”e41a35e7c4c0558f

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“Yes.”64523383e1ea0292

I stared at the bear afb1e20d14 with a baffled expression.b062d419ae696f88

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The teddy bear, 567ad28a34 which was about 5880e9dc5d the size of 6764080f5e my torso, looked 2d0d214400 extremely ordinary.ff0c181f42be282b

I carefully reached out and 9c8f8e4019 touched it here and there, 29298ee0dd but there didn’t seem to be84dece69 be any special devices.c95fd9e49f698b9a

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‘It’s fluffy and cute, but…’84c1160d0503c508

How could such a shabby b0f44b8e7a bundle of cotton serve as d6e57c7301 a guardian?82c828d471cb583a

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I tilted my head while 62a09a2d9f squishing its particularly soft belly.d3c3c23e73831da0

Fortunately, the Duke explained.69daf7ea2e95bbaa

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“This was made by a minority group who believe that spirits dwell within dolls.”6eb98f185c230680

“Spirits?”f0e0c11ec6b1a4fa

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“Yes. Place your hand 6c6c4a478a on the doll’s af43c0d751 chest.”d765f54fda33adb9

I did as he 60bf241b20 instructed and placed my c1b2ad825d hand on the bear’s a65dc6a0e0 chest.521df5f1e7865b9b

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Despite feeling scared and b709ed199f doubtful, I was curious efb0fc42a7 about how a bundle 69e3df4ee1 of cotton could act 6bdf00f518 as a guardian.25264bdc21f5d704

The soft fur b006efd6b5 tickled between my 74dd3ca12a fingers.2a9812e28d4b4606

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“Can you infuse this doll with holy power like you do when healing Josh?”63ecdc1f4bf3f110

The Duke suddenly asked.7112938552001669

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“Yes!”440700a3e6150c21

Since it was an a4f21f389a easy task, I quickly 4b535d5a9d gathered holy power in fcfff6162f one hand.1340640d4aaf4d6c

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With a flash―!88ada85e7647ad17

As a small ball 8f1463e3b9 of light formed in 73b1d174bc my palm, I pressed 51a42b28d0 that hand against the b3fbecb946 bear’s chest again.dbbbf657c2072102

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Srrrk.7fa28eb434c41b40

Amazingly, the doll absorbed the 13c68750a2 holy power as if it 2c28f08d06 were a living organism.07f204d1578e5f14

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Thump!3a92176e2f8697db

At that moment, the aaafd4fe7b teddy bear’s body pulsed f04bc5eb35 as if it were 9e343d0638 breathing.619ab9356354cfd5

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The Duke, with bc91f4e32a a serious face, 500b475883 confirmed my suspicion.cc8acff95c29b1af

“Try to maintain the current level of holy power.”d87e824e5ff4b99b

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Since it wasn’t f3ae02dbf3 difficult, I nodded 7a4643cb14 vigorously.c54ecf68709e4428

“Yes! Belze can do it!”bec401ada0fa849b

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“Then repeat after me.”b14821c0a012d372

“Maintain the current level of holy powe…!”ba49b7b0398b028f

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“No, I meant repeat after what I’m about to say.”090f2693aa038a0d

The Duke looked 2f9ab1b68c at me incredulously.1961e2435fe00630

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‘Oops! I got too 54daee56b0 ahead of myself!’bd3f1bbfe61d9fa5

I had been so tense 304c6baad6 that I didn’t even give 224cf59bf5 the Duke a chance to 3b0a672a23 speak.6ae91e7ad881f730

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Seeing my face 3288784d54 flush red, the 0879b2c9f0 Duke chuckled.17898a4d6993bf51

“Now, repeat after me. From today onwards, I am cdd038b7c2 your master, Belze.”b398b2a0bcf157e2

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“…From today onwards, I am your master, Belze!”197f6392442efe21

“I command you to protect me from all evil enemies.”f9242af2d52e04d0

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“I command you to protect me from all evil enemies!”da6d45f024e20a32

Whoosh―!60d8e9917507770f

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At that moment.0561b869621f12c3

A strong light burst 53a17b5601 forth from where the dec39a27d3 bear and my palm 29dc8070b3 touched.e22b0cf6556d8562

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“The contract is complete.”0992e089f35477a4

The Duke smiled with satisfaction.34585946ff8b7e4c

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“Now, give this doll a name.”98b5a932d454dcdb

“A name…”bde6293bdda1e1a0

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I pondered for a 019e56de3a moment after hearing his 65c31eb035 words.2ec22b016d59bafa

However, no matter how 340c7984c0 much I thought, I 55da972449 couldn’t come up with 5b120b2156 a suitable name.43c3d52765eed88e

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I was clearly not 7f81feaea6 good at naming things.0d9751877115d8a1

“Ummm… naaaame…!”01865faec3461920

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“Anything will do. Just something easy and fc063de6fa comfortable for you to 706fc43711 call.”b3b747c4d6f6eeea

Seeing me frown in 74cf61d00f thought, the Duke added.68b149a742b4b3a0

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“At this rate, you’ll be pouring holy power into it all night.”21ee7833d0b374f6

“I’ve got it!”6af1e3d3387a9e7c

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I hurriedly responded.27a8c9ad9a44e299

“Your name is…”17e6e61f3591d019

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“…”a171e802796533e0

“Teddy… Teddy bear!”e47f30964eea0421

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Whoosh―!3fc842ce643364f3

As soon as I shouted 16f8457ccd the cheesy name, the light 2bb217b83b from the bear stopped.da130d15bfa50cf0

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There was a 95499bf632 brief moment of 06a84f92d7 silence.0b848fb597f54502

In that instant, c0b84d4be8 I had the 52fcbed667 illusion that the 526af997af black eyes of 1cadf8f599 the bear glowed.b935b67f646574e8

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Whoosh―!9ab82bae440fbcc2

Suddenly, the teddy bear, which 7f76a9a6a6 had been in the Duke’s f98647fbf6 hand, sprang into the air.63de3d103681a55b

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Tap, tap! Tap-tap!e2072cbea2484669

Unbelievably, the bear dfa8f88f53 stepped on the 93f9d30e19 walls and pillars, 262f51dee1 sweeping across the 204ce66015 ceiling like an 627e573997 assassin.f379049c2585fa18

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Then, after somersaulting through the 97569e9d3b air, it landed on the f7bb8317cc floor with a thud!13d41f63a12a8045

“Hello, friends! My name is Teddy… Teddy bear! Belze’s assassin!”9c684a3af1c9f99e

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It greeted us cheerfully.98b4be718499a436

Tl/N: So guys the thing is she named the teddy **”Gomgomdori”**f63a86aebd1ee571

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**”Gomgomdori”** is also a playful name with a less silly but still endearing tone Here’s a breakdown of the name:58cafda90db62bcd

– **”Gom” (곰)**: Means “bear” in Korean.5077fbc9152eea08

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– **”Dori” (도리)**: This is a common suffix used in Korean names for animals or mascots, adding a cute and friendly touch.13713481fe0753c7

So, “Gomgomdori” essentially translates to “Bear Bear Dori” or “Bear Dori,” where “Dori” gives it a cute and familiar ring. The repetition of “Gom” (bear) emphasizes the bear-like nature of the toy, making it sound affectionate and charming, fitting for a beloved stuffed animal.d17107b86fa9479e

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TL/N: I skipped e77f6f78b1 Dori cuz it 8465bbbf0a would look weird. I named him Teddy- 9471440b5f teddy bear. I hope you guys 164c5786d7 will understand it.dfb8f7d512348dd2