Chapter 40

“Huh! Ah… assassin?!”36e430d7812cfbb9

Anyone who heard that would 197af4860e be in serious trouble.06fc9004dce67e22

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My assassin!7b5d7414eefe5f54

What is this nonsense, Duke?93fb76e5939404f9

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When I looked 4e3c370aa9 at the Duke 0ff1ab7d60 with trembling eyes, 87ff82d03b he also seemed caff8102dd flustered.9e8670e106ca6bc3

“I didn’t realize its previous function…”5044aa931b735cd9

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“…”d4e60464ba8239ef

“Ahem! You don’t need to 558f884f72 assassinate anyone, just act ea381475ff as a guardian.”5b1b812cb7557bea

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Ignoring the Duke’s muttering, fd1b4e8eee I shouted,26f004218632c547

“…You don’t need to assassinate! Just guard!”a293cc691b0b3573

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“…”def611b8c72e191b

But the teddy ddae0b4a70 bear didn’t respond 5aa5b19b52 at all.ed5598e11096424a

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“Huh…?”c0db28f7a4561f95

“You have to call its name for the command to be recognized.”1fb47f0f44f8ad72

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“Yes! No assassinations! Just guard, teddy bear!”d254e4d0fcff6325

When I called its name 844ec6c989 as the Duke instructed, the 86ce4aa5f4 bear finally reacted.add42b2e4ac60758

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“My name is teddy… teddy bear! Belze’s assassin!”8fd758ec9c6ab88a

“No! Just guard!”bdc7c3e193fc53a4

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“My name is teddy… teddy bear! Belze’s assassin!”0829d713b02ea646

“Hey!”1b9bdd3b28fd37b3

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When the command e65b538770 wasn’t recognized, I 1fc4092a55 pouted.42ad5837aaccb54d

‘This useless bundle of cotton… Why isn’t it listening? Has it been inactive for too long? Should I hit it?’dfd052fb17e28f82

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At that moment.53d57c2d910f422b

“Belze, it seems the name isn’t teddy bear, but teddy-teddy bear.”2ca1fbf003b6f6ef

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The Duke said with a 19d80b4d69 strangely restrained smile.5ec64d71ee2425b9

“Huh…? Why? I clearly said teddy bear…”89ae0c0fd7b4b734

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“Well, it seems to have recognized exactly what you called it.”904ea89dd66d2595

With those words, I recalled 90718a892d the moment I had shouted a9ae0e0e3c the name earlier.b06196cae1afa5fd

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“Your name is…!”278e4375ac74299b

“…”16bda0a69fba7c0d

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“Teddy… teddy bear!”4621aa89468568fe

I had mistakenly eab3ea27b8 blurted it out f5d0d03796 after deliberating until c1f76ee541 the last moment, 5913bde7e6 but the inflexible 166e325202 bear had accepted f0e48ce6fe it as its bb06a8057e name.308a212870ee81a3

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‘Teddy-teddy bear? That’s so weird…!’2fea36c20caa57c4

Moreover, it seemed d27e9bb00b that there needed 590d3437b6 to be a e2582865f2 pause between “teddy” b0bf61e0d2 and “teddy bear”!826f741a00e2dac7

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“Ugh. Can’t I rename it?”593d8c5adf23a720

“Unfortunately, you can only do it once when making a new contract.”87c3e1cefc43c975

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‘If I had known that, I would have given it a cooler name…!’9521ab030e9d393e

Pouting my lips in 0b5a6bec6a frustration at the Duke 762ee83d5c who had rushed me, 8f0ff853c5 I sighed deeply and 2c805e9160 muttered,6fd2f370256133f8

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“Don’t assassinate anyone, teddy… teddy bear. Just be a guardian knight…”6c565b319d92a606

“Hello! My name is teddy… teddy bear! Belze’s guardian knight! Guardian mode activated!”c60586828a30f532

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Finally, the command was 04a4a34fe5 recognized, and teddy bear’s 987bae350c posture changed.736fbc4e509cec7c

The teddy bear, which had 87043e28df been in a crouched combat 57d464539f stance, suddenly stood upright.f524b2f83ffa765b

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It then bent 1ca87628c8 one arm and 776f251979 placed it smartly d335d2e7fc on its forehead 6bd8547264 in a salute.98c240871f1da68d

I was at ce74245541 a loss for 1cdd44ea4f words at this 2222eda3f4 dynamic transformation.03d6a6c6f1f1e21d

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“…It only moves when you call its name, so carry it like a regular doll most of the time.”7b8b5a442eda4a97

“Like this…?”49dcabf0e881ce0e

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“Try saying ‘Doll mode’.”46d7b990bcc3ea5a

“Teddy… teddy bear! Doll mode!”cc1a8d9f9816ec8f

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Thud!cadf72fde9037b80

As if possessed, the rigidly 0d46d695f0 standing teddy-teddy bear collapsed onto ce06ded084 the floor as if it 731d03c07f were a lifeless doll.f89dae045deb5816

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Looking at it sprawled out 20dd782500 on the ground, it seemed 7ad9af3dbd like nothing more than a b13ff2bbfd regular teddy bear. As I stared at it 3b6ce376d8 with mixed emotions, the Duke 8130ff5ada whispered,e0de3ee80d7fbca8

“If necessary, you can switch it back to assassination mode.”37fce7640348c380

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“Eek!”9364b5d0d3e0a4da

I was so startled 27ab71e206 that I shook my 4d24d7cad4 head frantically.5803fc0efa0cc7ef

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“T-That’s okay!”be22de3aa0c5b03a

“It’s yours now, so use it as you see fit. Perhaps, as a demonstration, you could use it on Dunkesky…”3bde66a2fc41cdb3

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“Nooo! No, Belze doesn’t do assassinations!”39f716b189080b2e

“Tsk. That’s a pity. We must let him off the hook then…”9da0196e0c7f2ea8

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The Duke clicked his 4d0ad67f78 tongue with a disappointed f8914131b6 look.358d885cb438b2f7

Seeing this new side 5a5ab6dba7 of him, my heart 1d43f7a7d7 pounded rapidly.38f8b9a2b7d86b56

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Of course, Dunkesky deserved to 3ce8a70086 die. But.14241beab056670d

He had already been expelled from the temple, turned bald, and imprisoned. Killing him with a teddy bear’s hand seemed… too cruel!224e703d1abec981

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‘Besides, I want to live a kind and quiet life in this lifetime, Duke!’963c762c8a4adc85

I struggled to steer the 45530b829d conversation away from this frightening b102279b90 direction.8a5f4794a1569c6e

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“T-That aside, Your Grace…!”231278907ff2cbed

“Hmm?”44732487aa747630

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“I mean, is it really okay for you to give me something like this?”33806c2a37d4ce00

“What’s wrong with that?”4cef9b085f1e4a19

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The Duke tilted his 277eb20e26 head at my words.835c54aab7cd3422

He genuinely seemed unaware of b27060b661 any issues, which was bewildering.9da315c7ef9750bf

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“It’s… it’s a heretic’s item. And, and…”cc8d47cadcf2d5cb

“…”3c7751896d61eb3f

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“It seems very important…”782f1aaf84bda495

A dangerous magical teddy 3b31010621 bear that might have ba17e5be88 assassination capabilities, given to 75bd6fc61f a mere ward like b2778074d0 me. To a five-year-old girl, no e50d8b7a10 less.ec5fc3d2b343924c

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But contrary to my b210f62be2 concerns, the Duke seemed 4ac205fdaa completely unbothered.33679a284f86a002

“Firstly, that is no longer a heretic’s item.”56ef6ffb9fa27007

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“Huh? Then what is it?”425274e3af85b059

“Some of the minority who converted to Elea were lucky enough to avoid having their belongings classified as prohibited items.”db6c246be340a333

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“Oh…”bcc2bf8d8bd7f84f

“And now that it moves with your holy power, it can be considered a holy relic.”29a8a493c72779e3

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“Wha-? But that…”827095e8f3bf4147

I was dumbfounded by the 360ac687a5 Duke’s rather arbitrary declaration.3a42f1d243655927

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‘This is like, if it fits, it’s an earring, if not, it’s a nose ring…’51f6ee5fe474f624

Yet, his logic 1665c1d2a3 was sound enough 5d75f8304e that I couldn’t d6472369d0 find a rebuttal.261567edcac36926

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“And. It’s my prerogative to decide 79d7308972 who I give my family’s 89658fd7b1 belongings to. Who would dare question d1814034e3 my decision?”344c5fe62322b8f9

The Duke’s voice turned 59d295c463 chilly as he continued.298358713529e27f

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I timidly asked,366c4f84f4bfca50

“What about giving it to Edwin or Josh instead of me?”eb72afeeb8b729cc

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“Direct descendants of Kallios cannot use these items publicly.”3689da1589eaa2ed

I widened my eyes in 0c29861227 surprise at his unexpected answer.007bbdabc3696926

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“Why not…?”7ac87ea8664f8ad8

“Who knows how those troublemakers would use them… ahem.”b7874f3c4d43be5f

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The Duke, who had been 352d1156d3 replying casually, suddenly cleared his 4cbc05c15c throat and changed the subject.13d9dab35219a0ee

“Families that participated in the religious war have restrictions on using these items, unless it’s a critical situation threatening the family’s existence. Of course, that’s only publicly.”53cdb1c508d08605

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This implied that privately, they 5f4ed844dc could use them freely.ede0a21e3fdc3fe9

“But there’s no need for such crude items to eliminate nuisances. My sons will b3b191d208 also grow to fc71d3f5d8 be formidable Kallios 4d2eb11ba1 members.”2ae2b086d2eeeb87

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“Oh…”5fcd41e1fada7340

The Duke’s tone revealed 6352a68455 his strong pride in 815a1fdb3c his family.3f4c52406e8ce7de

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The more I listened, 36b15e835f the more I felt 43f66ae341 solemn, recalling how I 47563a2783 had caused this proud dd2e58f68b family’s downfall in an 40615e53d0 instant.1e93d80f9788d7a4

Then suddenly, the 156a06926c Duke turned to 935a69faba me with a d42f2cd47d faint smile.defd2e5d16a53542

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“But you’re still a child.”5bedf47ce2259bd1

“Huh? I’m not a baby…”b930899e04ee14df

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“Yes. Not a baby, fd4ecc1abe but a young 1baf4acb8a one. And you’re also destined 8b2bcc7eb4 to become a Saintess.”3889f9fdddda492b

I paused and lifted my 10cfd4f190 head at his words.747e775e39fc99bc

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“Who would dare criticize a Saintess for using holy relics early?”ef4cddf5eb53ea49

I looked at f9c89f4274 the Duke with 1cb2894928 trembling eyes.aa5d0576f8a774a7

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‘A Saintess…’e86e54be50d7b5d2

I was just 7069d75024 a candidate in 0f3030d0fc name; no one 9bdfd841d2 actually believed I 3357c8fa5e would become one.010d9073dc634982

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Not the priests, not 6c284ee877 the nobles.e4cc126073d800c0

Everyone was convinced 144f86e6ce that Diana, with 665f57850e her strong healing 4d61fa5b4d powers, would become 4e7e2be3d3 the Saintess.365b5c42b0c744ba

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‘He must know I’m not as outstanding as Diana. So why…’bb53e16778967dc4

Why did he 24f4605e14 speak as if 0095283292 he believed in 05af3bfcc3 me?6c96608af0c851b4

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Wasn’t it because he had 26357e9b22 no choice but to sponsor 2855bca739 me due to Joshua’s healing?23eb22aec6846d2a

I wanted to ask but 37e674440d couldn’t bring myself to, fearing 94013595c1 a confirming answer.a72a402477a96b23

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As I silently moved c79259a34d my lips, looking like c7bf3e0bee a fool.bfb03dada5d04923

Step, step.ec7e6c20f1ec24ee

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The Duke suddenly walked over.de9e7d598e008709

He bent down 58e11cad33 and picked up b20b28fd8e the fallen teddy 9479537d5a bear while holding 724f5d156a me.a6f30100206f9c56

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After roughly dusting it off, dd8487a562 he placed it in my 7c1e2ced33 arms.4f18b1d9847110bb

“The reason I’m giving you this is partly an apology for what you experienced today.”a707d85a5867ea36

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“…”d1b61cafe4e0ffc0

“It’s also a token to show that I won’t just be your sponsor from now on.”9aa5d1e1919526b4

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“A token…?”b693b4ed2e4a8908

I was stunned by the word “token,” which felt overwhelming.d097ebf6319abf0b

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“Yes. After all, Emma Caston was 03648d26ee hired by me, so I a90241c986 am responsible for her disrespect 58652998ae towards you.”9ef53d39745dde47

“N-No! As I said earlier, it wasn’t your fault at all…!”5e1fb6c1e24c5c75

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“Belze.”5fe492851c8d517d

The Duke gently cut off 2dfa5e18be my protest with a wave 761b011c91 of his hand.17b0a62e208c601c

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“I intend to support you until you become a Saintess.”a1d6f4665a765298

“…”8368e4521598a994

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“Do you understand what that means?”0d56da9687f64d18

“No…”9bf0e38cedaca772

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I slowly shook my head.06b7dda776838acc

It wasn’t that ef1dc8d799 I didn’t understand.b86f32a154d3d029

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It was just that the words were so sudden…7aa36212777e4441

“It might be a bit difficult for you to grasp.”3258aceeb72588ee

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The Duke muttered to himself.0aa332241bf381f6

His next words made me e9a62bf4a1 hold my breath.aa8bd1be870d5b45

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“It means that any attack on you will be seen as a challenge to Kallios.”58c46b455f905587

“…”5b27401f94580c62

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“But rather than a hundred words, the token in your hand is a clearer statement.”78945e3255b0f324

He glanced at c689608de3 the teddy bear 78a17b2059 nestled in my 1dbfce5535 arms.9bfcf3da6ff6644f

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“If anyone tries to harm you in the future, use that doll without hesitation.”1f8b9de4ca8a72c8