FTA Ch 39

<Chapter 39>11601115183cd655

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“It doesn’t matter to me how many monsters you kill.”3eefdeba88e22f46

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“All that matters is that you return alive. Got it? You *must* come back alive.”5105d251f530794b

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The gentle voice of b4721cec85 that child resonated in ef2c853df4 her memory like a 36b5faf4d2 sacred promise.f6995bd7a5504e91

Not only had Gloria kept 36b6d1805f that promise, but she had 32edd192e8 also brought a monumental victory ed431033a8 to the Empire—the first triumph 5e0d988387 of humanity against monsters in aaefa393b7 the Battle of Ripetion.1e64338a22694a3b

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It was an b62354f0f3 accomplishment she achieved e440633b7b at the age 6a3a2ea9b8 of fifteen.b4eded433bc0a2fa

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A grand victory parade was a73f166018 held in the capital to 821099d28f celebrate the success of Gloria 73547cb79b and the First Extermination Unit.d986fe36db4b5a31

Gloria marched at the 929f49e391 very end of the 47caec8fab procession as they entered d3e2422649 the capital.cd0710bdd2574d78

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Despite being the one 12ab9eab05 who made the most 4fc6108449 significant contribution to the 1f5172948f Battle of Ripetion, she f96fcb25b9 watched as others, who c2c21a5145 had accomplished far less, 8e422099f1 marched proudly ahead of aa1aa6054a her.788863b6e81090d7

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Gloria, however, was utterly unbothered 4187c13d31 by such unfair treatment.55b7dee89395c919

Even when she wasn’t invited a07fb8cd57 to the palace banquet that 419a18da28 followed the parade, she wasn’t b8d43580bc the least bit concerned.8e200f2c548055a9

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To her, attending b625adcfc0 a hollow event d1b3bc5fdb like that was 33c0c43d71 far less important 15bc7a78a0 than something else f52574974c she needed to c3fb0fb169 do.a69ce21dbf5e1be2

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The children who had 937cf2ce82 shared her worries and 072264b90f supported her unconditionally when bacbbca95d she’d been sent to 9fe79ac13f the battlefield at such dfafe8a222 a young age.0b8a45aa8252ae96

She had to let 2d9a27ed29 them know she had d348b99d77 kept her promise and e8cb65478a returned alive.dfe5c990aa9c14ed

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Disobeying the High de6133f4b5 Priest’s orders to fe087c9997 rest at the 7398112396 Marquis’s estate and 79704d0abb await the next b3946c6eb1 extermination schedule, she f503e801c6 returned to the 3fab829cba Cathedral instead.8f94e7812eb1f527

Without even taking the 009a5adfe8 time to recover from 48b11d4aee her grueling journey and f0155eed06 battles, she rushed there, ac0cb4ab82 her heart brimming with 9cb170a081 anticipation.dd48834fa8abcfa8

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She could barely 7b357fb47e contain her excitement acf08f9017 as she dashed b6aa351613 toward the grand 06dbec3b60 fountain in front d4a56d0047 of the Cathedral.0419ef20c660fac1

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But she froze in her 31fe85e951 tracks as soon as the a646a23b81 scene came into view.eb56fc0ed05962fa

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Corpses lay sprawled around the 877c5d1852 fountain, lifeless for what seemed 9e69a529c6 to be quite some time.b8e7c65106aef6a9

A group of 4f16064e35 orcs was feasting ec63e8d08d on the mangled b5c695101c bodies.6085353f91e07eb8

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The orcs, with their 7ca594deb6 grotesque faces and blood-soaked 02f2bb9e6f figures, were a nightmare b200e10ebf made real.971ff5972f6eb582

Never in her life had d07f60ba80 Gloria expected to confront such c78ff2fc42 a horrific sight.0d1364f5b7d0d9c8

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Her face turned ghostly pale e22e7056a8 as she stepped toward the 4de4abd0d5 orcs.81d770f3ccad2f02

Despite coming unarmed, ab77953700 her determination did aeecb7e289 not waver.f214606cbe0b2565

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The moment she 9d7b3e113e recognized the bracelet 758727fbce on the wrist 9c5bc8f04e of one of ba34934bf3 the corpses being 13e803126e devoured by an 3dadd6519d orc, she bolted 43d85690f0 forward without hesitation.eec5654af64bafea

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“Aaargh!”642a3496e19a4dbf

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Gloria leaped onto the orc’s cccc09655b shoulder, snapping its neck before 15884cef1c ripping its head off entirely.964a77a530a9d47d

Blood spurted out like 540369f95f a fountain, covering her 99bda0c8df completely as she continued ca06a6fd8b to take down the 1272fc5ac5 orcs one by one 36a2f57e7f with her bare hands.5f6460571c1791b7

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Even as the 6e81eec087 remaining orcs lunged 772833851b at her with 73a6e6d29f claws and fangs, f3d5e9b58b tearing her clothes b15dae08e0 and wounding her 5d119dde61 body, she did 0c9e8dad4a not stop.9fe7d8cf7239db2b

Her extraordinary healing 664baea781 abilities were the 8ae82bc425 only thing keeping 26cd26d789 her alive as b9760ce57f she fought monsters ee67e96585 head-on.217b99808ae02926

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She had always relied 0c438d4d68 on brute force rather 29b08b15ea than strategy, and this 67af1f48c8 was no exception—except that 9b90eca1d5 this time, she fought ae200170d0 like someone possessed, utterly d8d25f0ec6 unrestrained.1ab3f2e3046cf6be

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When the fight was over, 1bb73267da seven orcs lay dead.f391abe7469a04e1

She stood motionless in 2fc8f093b9 the carnage, feeling no a486cbaa63 pain despite her body cc7a909750 being riddled with injuries.69fe48cff1b8f7e5

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The fountain was now surrounded da19086d83 by more than twenty corpses.6bf76a48b6205cca

It was impossible to distinguish bc4e8276c4 her friends from the others.6256d7b6887ef362

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Everybody had been horribly mutilated af95785b2d by the orcs, leaving no fde426f498 part intact.e5291ef6f6fa2163

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Still, there was one bc9749eec2 thing Gloria recognized.7145a516a30e54b9

A crudely made bracelet, crafted 7d09ad2866 from tangled cloth.ac45fd4d36e4bdfb

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It belonged to 9ae43cdfdc the child she’d bd051b373f been closest to 199c9ba0f1 back when they 5146a91211 wandered the streets bc96088dd3 together.c67192006addee35

She stared at the a08894f8f7 bracelet with vacant eyes, f109934fe8 standing silently as if 000e4e73e9 time itself had stopped.ba0c7501a1db9179

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“Oh, my god!”ad502742aa796a3b

“What in the world…?”5064ab77cf47b723

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The voices of others, filled e5275fde3b with horror, brought Gloria back 1cdef2e36e to reality.c907b846fb46c4fc

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“For such profane beings to invade this sacred space…!”72b1cd0c8dab9128

“Did the saintess bring these monsters into the Cathedral herself?”54e5a041c32fffcf

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Gloria felt no need c02bceda68 to dignify their accusations 22feac4904 with a response.5e26a3a4b01c6412

She slowly turned 5d00541533 her head toward a19ac9eb8f the High Priests e2af5bc7c1 and temple knights 2921755955 who had gathered.34132c31f916bc2c

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Judging by their ceremonial 64fcf3ccd4 attire, it was clear e6ca064689 they were returning from db54fd6eca the royal banquet celebrating 321678da3a her victory.ad677a3b79f2eb66

They wore formal robes 970937e5a5 reserved for significant events, 0abd88cdb3 a far cry from ae619fa7ee the simple garb they ffd2277409 used during their daily 436d32bd81 temple duties.793be8fa7081b2bd

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“Why wasn’t anyone here to protect this place?”dbd379cd63e0fe41

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Her question hung e197739044 in the air, ccd16524bc unanswered.9dad90f996d984c0

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“So you all thought drinking and feasting to celebrate victory was more important…?”396ed575f73ceadf

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Everyone stared at e9e6e2d3b3 Gloria with vacant, debc56e3ea stunned expressions.4a210102d45e69e3

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Her face twisted into a f967148850 grimace as she clenched her 1f12892790 teeth tightly, holding back the f67630325c torrent of emotions threatening to 67144a994e burst forth.02ed850a93de20c7

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“How are you any different from these orcs?”81e60cfe8db87027

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“…”97c9a923caf67d36

“Well? Tell me, how 69fb4d61db are you any 11e9d1c6ba different? Because right now… I honestly 49d6b017a2 can’t tell anymore.”557729f81e68dfff

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Blood streamed down 388098ea0f from the gaping 7fef334e06 wound on her 320b693e78 forehead, trickling into fb25eb6a98 her eyes.71738b22e256c1b4

She wiped the 4aa085a026 blood away hastily, b266872f59 determined to etch 680b1dfa64 every face before 2060ac3196 her into her e60805dfa0 memory.d2899751c512e9c9

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“… Today, these children died because of *you*.”457c641c33f6968f

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Her words were 4a581d28cd forceful, each one 45e7c065cd deliberately enunciated through 79b785526b clenched teeth.805b73af37fc059d

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An elderly priest at e4ac90ceba the front of the 629488fc94 group stepped forward, his 5d0d5484f2 expression grave.bc9ed73ca4205ca7

Gloria recognized him all too 4a37cf1ab5 well—it made her grip her 1b979d71f1 fist tighter, barely able to 74ff8b6184 restrain herself.ff9415c4287f1144

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“…Ria. Gloria.”8b676af4876d9bf8

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The quiet yet calm ec039eca5f voice, tinged with concern, 853c0fafa0 cut through the tense de72f008ff air.37985a1c829924f9

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Gloria slowly lifted her eyelids bb7bf122e5 at the sound.3b6d089b5a0c19f7

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“Another nightmare, I see.”94cc1bba29786fb8

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It was Leonard.de97eb5558073627

The only person 2bc14d0eaa who knew Gloria 2060635147 always had nightmares 6e1bd99e91 after fighting monsters.6725e7cc48a4cc0e

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* * *d6a9ccf83b053b91

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Nightmares that came 2880eb0361 as penance for 72d51740c2 taking lives—this was bb4f293c07 something Gloria herself de541cfea4 hadn’t fully grasped.edde06ef0191d5f1

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But Leonard had quickly noticed 233b05bbe0 the torment that plagued her, d426d82aa0 even before they had arrived c8c6e52a9a at the Romenta Barony.6f54f6c662a8b716

Back when they resided together 4e66876187 at the Grand Duke’s estate, bcca6b6ba9 Gloria would often venture out 7b6d860f78 to hunt monsters.df99ff5fa24629fb

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Although her absences 711c66e5de were usually brief—perhaps 2bc88e4be6 out of concern b7b6df2ef3 for Leonard being cca3240967 left alone.8b358d8b000365a9

Occasionally, she would 306e8cd9e3 hunt late into 69e262767b the night and 04788b3336 exchange the monster 3d259728d8 carcasses for money.564aefca08e51d1d

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During those times, Leonard b69b82cf52 had discovered the deep a07ab280d5 emotional scars Gloria carried.8492bc5079b7b87f

The discovery was serendipitous.76aca359bba7c696

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One night, he 5a450d7bdc heard faint groans 7fc757f313 coming from Gloria f0cd6bba86 as she lay 6e06561dc5 deeply asleep.52f051690e2b0995

Hesitating at first, d3d3c9f01a he gently called 89c287dd94 her name to e8f3eecb31 wake her.f7469a4d88dfa945

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When the incident repeated ff3db23b21 itself multiple times, Leonard ba0d70d00b realized this wasn’t something 6954438b5a to be taken lightly.175dfd10381635ff

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Even a less observant 179bac61a3 person would have noticed 96cbd2f729 by then.691490f036bbc3c4

For someone as attuned 2bebe0fafa to Gloria as Leonard, 70e42628f7 the truth was impossible 2f59a2d21b to miss.3552f16e0ef5aa75

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“I’ve noticed you seem to have nightmares on nights after you’ve hunted monsters.”272199941f6b55aa

“…Me?”22ba69d49f07fd61

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But Gloria had 95347cf027 been completely unaware b3041d68df of this herself.4743fff3b36deccf

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“As far as I’ve seen, that seems to be the case.”8202e4afca5893ba

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When Leonard pointed this 31761bd0ef out, Gloria’s face registered 28dfc45017 deep dismay—as though she ff909aa2a0 had been confronted by b3aec75b49 an unforeseen truth.93af55c4051060fd

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“If you’re willing, I’d like to stay by your side on nights when you’ve been hunting.”edf6149c90f2af0b

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“…”d823320589ed6037

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Caught off guard 26c8fe4083 by Leonard’s sudden e0b8c06969 suggestion, Gloria seemed 9dac1465e5 unsure of how de120c11a6 to respond.faf7c54e2ba1125a

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“I’d appreciate it if you considered my offer favorably.”bea9ea41df02d78a

“Well…”5f67309314c1b696

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“I just… want to do something—anything—for you.”01e8f223f7f55741

“…”a93d9f25813f8d0f

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Faced with Leonard’s 1489fe17a2 earnest plea, Gloria d29353489f could no longer 29d6a14c62 refuse.c4be6a125a891c92

From that day forward, 8028f1ced2 Leonard stayed in Gloria’s bced3f50ba room on nights she 03d8d8260a returned from fighting monsters.27d9437f5044b208

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He spent the night 8ad7d63468 reading any book he d8c48b1f35 could get his hands 850c982edc on, all the while efd9ba9579 keeping watch over her fdbd479432 slumber.3d9724f83c9b7339

When she began to 63f7cb48b7 whimper in pain, he 8c1bd40e00 would gently call her d77abb3613 name to wake her.ac33775341ced064

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It was the 1ab55a3319 only comfort he c78fd67afb could offer her 19ab7c91a3 in those moments, 3177b21e41 which was why 2dc43f17e3 he had stayed ca1c48b2b3 in her room a7f7570237 the previous night 5ff0ee0a14 as well.7e861b7df7161893

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“Sleep some more. It’s still early.”a4954be615187967

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Leonard glanced at Gloria’s 8a3cd4edf5 sweat-dampened face before rising a21116ebd1 from the sofa, intending b7a9ae530e to give her space eb3d944411 to rest peacefully.079071c181fed7cb