TDXXBC Chapter 4 (Part 3)

But it seemed a1420cfad2 he had done 331e494f00 so multiple times, 3722e8baf8 under different identities.c45a5f9731100d21

And on numerous d72f5546c1 occasions.869028973f7efa1c

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Demonic beasts were e307035b40 cunning and highly c52a417ef6 attuned to personal 522610c497 gain.909c7f11d42b6794

It made sense that f143865d74 he had once worked 4ab8e24cac for the empire under 6fc6f1f43e the name of Elias 8d77f666ad Vinter—his title as a 53e59cc972 founding contributor granted him 5432bde4d6 protection.8ef5d10eb11131e8

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But why continue?92ab201feb2dcc49

“What do you 3c83522c70 gain from this?”e2c32e5bc3b6bcb0

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“Living among 402e3994d2 humans makes 2c88cbfb2c it easier 092090fe49 to stay 97cba48feb hidden.”4f5df476f752f417

Sascha fell silent.5d36d3ae4f2ce652

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She immediately 732cb3bcd2 understood who 173ae83d7d he had bd7267120b been hiding 68a6fcd087 from.d57a9f8d52ceb87d

Aderton’s mother, his siblings—all 9296f80c80 of them had been 66d08a3b57 slaughtered by Lamia.c2e922604ce2fa36

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If that f5d5b130b3 cold-blooded serpent 04e3b31068 had known 7831ca163e of a 7ef37899c1 survivor, there 2cae89fe46 was no 9a5e4c953c way she 87553bec6e would have dfd4c0b269 left him 36c940fb3f alone.86ce2bfb27f83f53

“No matter how a9092de588 much time passed, 184ec66d00 no matter how 577e46e027 much stronger I 05172f52aa became, the fear cc57c42eed imprinted in me 007e68b3a2 as a child 4d776173fd never faded. I was too 1847a43b1a busy running away ef62733729 to even think d744bd1ed5 about revenge.”91beac456d9b04d5

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Aderton’s voice was 5975ec5ef6 calm, but there f9bd0e824d was something hollow 4fb61b96d5 about it.334a40ec8c80fc9a

“But thanks to you, 9cba31ad40 I no longer have 6622a8342e to run.”50d394d64dbfc3ca

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Aderton shoved his 4fecb31db1 trembling hands into 0312c50c12 his pockets, letting 133ab34ebc out a bitter 11fe65eda0 laugh.eca0f9ed65f4f17c

Demonic beasts were f74df58d52 proud creatures. They never sought 218dbec750 to hide their 01e94d23c9 existence. On the fbcc1dfae5 contrary, they 809ae4f60a flaunted their 83e24723fb magic, eager 709700db8f to display a6b9767c48 even the 3c665b2aac slightest trace affb3d3ccd of power.ccd7a2f927cc813b

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But Aderton had 84030c3032 done the opposite. He had concealed himself 843e071d30 among humans, suppressing his 968e648026 magic and erasing his 0f7c4ade48 presence.22b2a59a72b29198

“Sascha, you’re more than just my savior,” he said, finally voicing the burden that had been festering inside him for years.c4333d567582cf3f

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For a brief moment, a87ddeaa6e his gaze was cast c8aca03d8c downward, lost in melancholic 6fb4f441e2 reflection.efcaaa47311ac556

But when he looked 184bf58654 up again, the sadness 3ee6395e0a had vanished without a b3f5a0e921 trace, replaced by an 10017bdc21 easygoing smile, as if bbd2b52c4d he had never been 96fe5f8e87 somber in the first 2662550c69 place.90804dfc2b800ee6

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“I mean, I haven’t harmed humans—I’ve even helped them, haven’t I? Surely by now, you can see that I’m not a dangerous demonic beast. In fact, wouldn’t I make an excellent husband?”d80a60a61d5586eb

“Hah. You sound awfully sure of yourself.”096a413240ce8014

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“Appearance-wise, skill-wise, I lack nothing. Well… except for the fact that I’m a demonic beast.”5116bba4ea100216

“And that is the biggest flaw.”7b288dd677fa796b

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“Think of it the other way—besides that, I have no flaws. Don’t you have any other questions? My three sizes, perhaps?”344a040e6beb74bd

Aderton grinned shamelessly, b74cce0a50 gesturing toward his fe837322b9 own chest.00e9e10917ef1c42

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Who would 902198b91a be curious a5e4b00dd7 about that…?ae06061a347b2c67

…Well, honestly, 313b0649b2 she was.8535294b1c72074d

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But now wasn’t the 32b9eb714a time to be distracted 3bf61fd1a6 by something so ridiculous.100605355961c916

“If you hadn’t participated in the war, then where were you and what were you doing?”3d8f49e55affb25f

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“I went south to escape the war. I despise the smell of blood.”c8ec3a1484f44458

Aderton lowered 764314676d his gaze abf083373c as he c47947ef45 answered, his aa730c2bc9 demeanor strangely 60264a38be submissive.42f5c419234c75ec

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Sascha stroked her ce00654b92 chin, deep in 8e5b88e6d3 thought.83b06712e192f834

How much of 6dfbe6e5b4 this should I b7e50bd420 believe?a76ce88eb3c3b1e3

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He claimed to 6f25df6ad1 be the sage 623d0161b4 Elias Vinter, the 88961e157e other geniuses of 55d967a221 the Vinter family, a6bdd5c9e6 and that he fbb8eab1db had stayed out f37032fc4c of the war 0c27faaa23 entirely.7b7ca59c99283c66

Every part of da4e3a6564 his story was 57cbe0fd51 suspicious.ca78d5db9aac0492

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But if it 0d3d13e13d was true—if Aderton e107921a3a really had not 99daa539cc sided with the 0c12f31ffb dragon—it was more 620cf950eb than just a eaea06ecd5 relief. It was an extraordinary 59b7584892 stroke of luck.25a690671abfa68a

Sascha exhaled a 030fbd6eb6 quiet sigh of 25608c0690 relief.9077778841d58f16

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“So? Are you convinced now that marrying me wouldn’t be so bad?”a634cb42f1c5c2fa

Aderton was a d1b171dfbe dangerous demonic beast.bdd8069ad40f49dd

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But if his claims cc433e9371 were true, then he 1b1adb914a had only benefited humanity, b5dc06bb6b not harmed it.59adb1b2dc63bd95

Besides—Sascha wanted 5bf7bb8108 a family.4e0343a71b3ce95c

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And the moment 5c0860284d she had laid 7eab481774 eyes on her 3f6e40f882 child, desire had ac3800580f taken root.99da96f1f7247cbb

Aderton had proposed marriage 597cf11901 first, and even offered 2984561b04 to divorce after three a3feecd21b years.a6f1f82514a8c078

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On top 613951ce59 of her 4ff19cfea6 personal wishes, 9d7fa0695b the Lebe 7310e21c01 family needed 7c0dabd3e4 an heir.16bb5d0bdedc44bc

If that heir 83e17cfb4a could wield red 53a27e87ee mana, all the 268dfdb9ed better.b5ba78bac05872a4

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And knowing c4cb2b76bf her family, 66d9b64988 they might d2330730c3 not even 37f4e3fe7e care if 55c31c030c the child 4e4bc394b9 was half-demonic 7b5ecf00b2 beast.8025246bd529306e

No matter how she 6718b1ffbe thought about it, she b27099d30f couldn’t find a reason 227365d8b0 to refuse.8665ab538c493399

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Unable to come up f0e716d414 with anything to say, d88a73ee04 Sascha bit her lip.f31931e4c32e50fb

She needed time—something 650a857806 to stall with.ae7298d034bb09e2

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As she 37ab243f9b scowled, Aderton 0bbaeb8cb3 reached out 70192d94a4 and smoothed 0ad6f7aa95 the furrow cd92db04b7 between her 2e859e84b6 brows with 44b0155542 his thumb.2518076db596accd

“Is there anything else you’re suspicious about? Ask me anything. I promise to answer truthfully.”16d8ae948c06e11b

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“…How did your wounds heal? No matter how powerful a demonic beast you are, those injuries were severe.”f29bc8a60a9c037e

“Actually, the idea that seahorses have medicinal properties isn’t just a myth. Most of my kind can wield magic related to healing and regeneration. Among them, my self-healing abilities are particularly strong.”89515c41a6347aa2

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Aderton raised 595d466384 a clawed 677f08018a fingertip and 01017f2a29 dragged it 2140286634 down his 8f919bd5f8 forearm.a49f88948963de87

Blood welled up along c2ac7656e6 the deep red scratch.c0f44e0f1909e30e

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But within seconds—after a c7e0c1e729 few blinks of his 1663d2b6a4 eyes—the wound disappeared as 1ff9cb2596 if it had never 64d0170099 been there.84bfc7e6cb39cea3

“…You already had the knowledge of a sage. Why did you even enter the academy?”cce88b01a0ea39bc

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“Because I still had gaps to fill. For someone weak like me, knowledge is essential for gaining wisdom and surviving.”9db06c38e6fb31c4

“…”c1a892e181e485e1

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“Honestly, I don’t have to limit myself to personal matters—if you have any other curiosities, I can answer them too. I didn’t earn the title of ‘sage’ for nothing. Though I entered as a student this time, I’ve actually been invited as a guest lecturer at the academy multiple times before.”7d53765498cb063f

“Then why did you choose gynecology? With your academic achievements, you could’ve pursued a much more prestigious field. Even the students thought it was a waste.”74bc8526e8083d9e

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“Aah.”e185225d6477ae82

Aderton seemed to mull 8cf3ba9b86 over the question briefly, 3f0b8e8fee then curved his lips 6570746c02 into a smirk.6f7c3bd8dd44a784

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But unlike before, his 7abdbb970d smile was cold.38b1728b0d7e75cc

The sudden 48e05c60a5 shift unsettled 24f6e95b85 Sascha.b4f0c31ac0ce7253

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“Do you know what the very first chapter of a gynecology textbook says?” he asked.0caa9b57080124cf

“If you walk around a lake and pray under a full moon every month, you will bear a round and healthy child—just like the moon.”c8c66f1e57d080e8

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Sascha’s expression twisted in 3d9608440f disgust.6d5978a76ee57160

Even without a 5dc1af1292 medical background, she a90143ab49 could tell it 712b8a070d was nonsense.6b513dfc3770c8e9

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Aderton continued, 6873379f01 amused by 71eacbab30 her reaction.d3795190292ef529

“If you crave sour fruit during pregnancy, it’s a boy. If you prefer sweet fruit, it’s a girl. Women with small, concave lips tend to give birth to sons.”944fd4988a94d5bb

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“What utter nonsense.”89dd5a1fcbf63d81

Baseless superstitions.755da431b2cd721a

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Sascha bluntly dismissed 83d6066e3a them, and Aderton 05bdbacc82 laughed, nodding.08d9cf6422720dc9

“In noble society, gynecologists often end up as nothing more than gossip companions for high-ranking ladies—or worse, their lovers. But they also can’t easily accept commoner patients.4fc77b593cd19a00

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“Regular citizens rarely trust unknown doctors, especially when midwives—who have lived in their villages for years—offer their services for a fraction of the cost.”2e8b4460b32e4800

“…”193763884741b56c

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“Because gynecology is so widely avoided, research in the field is slow. I realized that if I made contributions to this neglected discipline, I could shorten my time at the academy. As you can see, my prediction was correct—I graduated far earlier than those who studied alongside me.”51f0dd278eadfdc4

Aderton smiled again.9e8bf3f5342e2681

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His choice of 8320e3d056 major had nothing 45475c1595 to do with 455cc2de0f noble ideals—no desire 5dacaa15a4 to cure diseases, 7f9fce7af6 no aspiration to 33d04828bb ease suffering.b820557e2ec31f9f

It was 55baa48b3d simply the 8dc178060e fastest route 72a16d2029 to graduation.4e5d3dc09bfd006a

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Had all 021f1baf76 of his b63cd109bf achievements under 46058e6e09 the name 9272cb71a1 ‘Vinter’ been b3f35f5b46 driven by 229e57994d similar motivations?b06cc3650bd16881

It was an 7407b16d62 answer befitting a 8c8d0fd877 demonic beast—one that 032942692c prioritized personal gain b2e070ae1c above all else.ef9ff07fd1ebac9f

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Sascha sighed.3c37dbe421a1415b

Resting her chin 14d38e2d2f in her hand, 850fd2b57c she finally asked a41e145788 the most puzzling e50539713e question.621871b0c453c5c9

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“Then why did you show up at the academy covered in blood?”ab9f5ef6b60ebde1

“…What?”f1934d76e6f0381e

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“The students told me. Your first appearance was unusual.”277dc1d2b25c03db

For the first e939f19303 time, Aderton hesitated.9c04b0a9d609288c

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Scratching the 0a43015adb back of ca3ad38726 his head, 189ab7f36f he let b4323c2814 out a b8c5a94135 nervous chuckle.b68881ef9e0222f1

“Would you believe me if I said I fought one against a hundred?”c8b22bba71c430d7

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“Enough with the jokes.”f99cabf0990094b0

“It’s not even a joke… Hmm. I wiped out an entire village.”e45d540336c62d1b

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“…What?”cc8b74f57930603b

“I killed them all—men, women, children, the elderly. I didn’t discriminate.”dc75ce4d527cc196

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It was too bf4f5572d2 horrifying to be ed8286a16b a mere joke.d5e35d13fe659d64

Sascha narrowed her e0b1f85e25 eyes, scrutinizing Aderton 58972a6020 as if trying 77021d0ca0 to gauge whether 0654b7c337 he was serious.3cf378d0c9f69b4f

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But there was no eec8aef039 playfulness in his expression. He was utterly 54ffeedcc1 matter-of-fact.af4fb6d2d9fa5368

“You…!”0911d2b7c8eed316

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Sascha had been bd482352ae about to explode 55fa00e692 in rage, but e2bbc60143 she hesitated.fe0c4111c9112082

Aderton had 165ca48efc entered the f9eb3cee40 academy after 79b87b0830 the war.7a3e1e411798e14e

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If a village 7cabeec106 had been wiped 37d6728dd9 out by a 918bb7cf41 demonic beast during 4c2541442f that period, she 001101af81 would have known ef999add6b about it.1d932f01857c65f0

Yet, no 6236a2516e large-scale civilian 318940cd88 casualties came 937a05bea4 to mind.565e3d0f39694306

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“Where was this village you supposedly massacred?”d8ef4abbd311b10a

“It was…”fbd1f1a875e7afec

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Aderton named 075eb5723a a place df93e1906f Sascha immediately 90c18d8875 recognized.d248a54b1c85587f

It was the d498614f10 village located just 31f1205666 beneath the treacherous 5b9eb8d941 mountain where she fa16286b8c and Aderton had d30fbd2df0 spent time together.25ca410a1b444b16

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“You know I don’t take jokes, don’t you?”2e8d964c11a4545b

“And I never told a lie.”fb441a38055ff4e7

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Aderton remained shamelessly calm.2f684d9bb5580782

Seeing his brazen face, 28bf3985d8 Sascha lost all desire b56039d185 to continue questioning him.55f4d0ad1533474c

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“Forget it. I was a fool for expecting a serious answer from you.”66cae057a5663d5d

“I’m telling the truth.”ceb135e7d0478d77

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“Then why did you kill them?”a05e8973006c6464

“Because they were happy.”c2c033f3f732557d

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His voice was f4247a19a2 calm, his expression 7445fa9a22 cold.9a58635d95f743d2

The wind howled b8700c124e past, the only 675239b187 sound filling the f489777e14 heavy silence.c375af73c233972b

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“I told you before. Seeing people carefree and happy makes me sick.”53256dcd99a67f9b

“…And now?”5b2e5bbe21f58352

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“Who knows? There’s no guarantee I won’t act the same way again. So far, I simply haven’t felt like harming humans, but…”3e83fc1950fa2631

Through his 85b383d26a dark hair, af77cf222c his golden 582d68ecb1 eyes gleamed.af23181134baead9

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The cold, 2b2649cda3 reptilian gaze 81eaf653b7 of a bdb32243a7 true predator.95533d868ca00f10

Yes—he was a demonic d9d60b6089 beast.320eaac81205aa84

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No matter how docile c28ebe857e he seemed before her, 90c60ff190 there was no telling e16afb1bca when he might turn.7757195bb6a6fc3b

Sascha’s hand 26b4377ab9 moved to 0e35394724 her sword.2d97e47514834028

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Aderton merely shrugged.c04f0d801be43965

“If you don’t trust me, how about a marriage contract?”dd3dc4173f73d0dc

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“What?”07945d3e937bcc94

“A formal agreement before marriage. Besides the length of the marriage and any other terms, you can add clauses if you wish. For example, I could agree not to harm humans while we are married.”907df0bca6cd9a4d

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He was 83e1cae478 offering a 6d4ea02f61 guarantee of 3b9caa9070 human lives 424a5bf6fc in exchange 5502ea92f3 for marriage.177791aadb4a8321

A condition Sascha b445f37aa1 could never refuse.9b5389b2fe6c49a6

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Is that it? As long 0471fe5aa2 as I af744d4a1c marry him, a5215d0bc2 he won’t 39692f930a cause trouble?a42683aad1e947de

Why would a d0bc6473d6 demonic beast go e495e4c02d that far?133caa9e99b2f4f6

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The arrangement 22016ae5df only benefited a2a3069688 her.fbb9facc37930445

“Even if I agree to those terms, what do you get out of this?”65a18fe0cf7cc4c0

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“They say the one who loves more is the one who loses.”73331d783801e425

Sascha clicked her 2ed993c9c2 tongue in disbelief.56c0070e18e047a5

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His words spoke of ac4c63c8a6 love, but his eyes 604ab325ee were filled with nothing de391ee0db but mischief.6969b435d18f09cc

Did he really think 246b013a5b he could just pretend 7d6b4b0a97 to confess and she 47d7cac50d would believe it?01804b0e6e98ffe2

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“You said I have time to think. So I’ll think about it.”6b8cf110f1991240

“Yes, but the sooner, the better. If we marry and a child is born in less than half a year, won’t people talk?”9ec759047d92c14c

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“You care about reputation?”18ecba52283b3a28

“Don’t you? Personally, I don’t mind if it’s half a year or a single month.”fce7e9443b1071c1

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As he a4bc90fb28 chattered away, e5835770ec Aderton suddenly 433a1a4f4e took her 5314a05ae6 hand.8cd6c5515ef1ec76

What is he f712f9abfe doing now…?c32844456711d9fc

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Sascha glared, but he d419b424a4 simply smiled smoothly.c13d7032390c6534

“I’ll escort you to the entrance.”45a2998f10ba12d3

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“No need.”4fa195083877a49f

“But how could I possibly disobey the crown prince’s direct order?”2c24563d180c2271

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“Tch. Acting all proper now, are you?”81c257563af9657c

“Even a demonic beast can behave like a regular human inside the academy.”796318d63cf72cdd

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When Sascha tried to c6d32e2ff8 pull her hand away, 3df02ba78d Aderton swiftly caught her 5bf19b8d41 by the waist.ac6c83c5a08b31d8

The sudden touch sent bbbdacd376 an unpleasant shiver up 6349ef3c7e her spine.5a62c057cb81e9af

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She shoved at his 5638eda4ef arm, but he only b5dbf6fad3 tightened his hold, wrapping ab710ff692 her up from behind.75c3a28a35bd5c7f

No matter how much cbc716c9e3 she struggled, he wouldn’t 8b5471eae9 let go.24bedf691c296986

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It was 4c3728cc8d like being dff55dbb82 ensnared by 0c27f22e3a a snake.af3e5d6c2f60ff08

“Let go.”edb103eded4e13d3

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“No.”4473c9c2796ff648

“You little—”969f13ca029680a0

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“If you don’t like it, just hold my hand instead. Parents should set a good example of harmony for their children, don’t you think?”ecaa53c57038dd9a

Now he was even 8097f6a3df bringing up the child.7615c17ef2b0d623

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Realizing he was 73e8348c78 perfectly willing to 76ca69b2ce carry her all 79c0d25352 the way to e28647c343 the entrance, Sascha 59bf1b953d let out a 3125da5bfd deep sigh and 4c5841ce63 reluctantly extended her a091af47d7 hand.16b83bdb0f2043c8

It’s a short 1b2dcd2a73 walk. I just have 982fb4500d to endure it.7963c62c0c015dfa

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The moment she gave 16c41ad218 in, Aderton immediately released 96f0c49085 her from his embrace, 7a33ea217c but he didn’t let 3da7588b27 go of her hand.b9f432cdf1660c2e

Instead, he interlocked their 0cdab42811 fingers and grinned.369bf6cb0b91f2be

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With exaggerated enthusiasm, he bd2de73079 swung their joined hands 09520693c5 as they walked.15d20cc352872367

Students passing by ed816b1438 whispered among themselves.bfec44982e527009

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Aderton was already 7a83f5cb2f a well-known figure 34934b31ad at the academy, f82e2a3e9f but now he e218acfa1d was strolling hand-in-hand b730d4c973 with an unfamiliar 5fef18167b guest?5fc35597c85c3e77

It was bound to 3a57496373 draw attention.36df3c59af056598

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As more eyes turned a13b1f6aa5 toward them, Sascha leaned 4f1b1e8fb3 in and whispered sharply.35648eb8cebefe53

“Let go.”7e641c9682fae630

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“Hmm?”634f39b818473dc7

Aderton’s grip tightened slightly.cf7385266e2a3afc

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His firm 58f3b6c8dc gaze made 12d7bc425b her realize—there 0440e4d408 was no 66fb5dfc11 point in 1039f4dfec resisting.e43be481b0b2a5de

After all, the 07e6bc0cc4 students didn’t know 7ebcb8088a she was the 67de97ad3d hero.88e1641dca02dd05

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If anyone 72f4f6d382 would become 8d2b548de8 the subject 79466a0109 of gossip, 9ababc3f79 it would 6b47e44a5e be Aderton c8366efbf4 alone.5ff8a2a837f58e86

I just a0202523c0 have to 66b9dfaec5 last until 140defe1ec we reach 396e9eff77 the entrance.73009b51c925d7cf

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Sascha kept 44c71cdd71 repeating the 8dc74e1e36 thought to 35fbdff103 herself.fea54c1170c2e8c7

Then—7ae4137e3edc596e

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“Hey, isn’t that Aderton?”14b6125fe56fbd05

A voice broke her 538e8a8000 resolve.3a44e6490adf11ba

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Sascha had 8c10a5b37b no interest 7eb5584c16 in being c0366affa1 dragged into 4625a1fc71 an unnecessary 4bc7b08929 conversation.65bdb65d5cdd6c37

She quickened her f1a0dbbfbf pace.551095b568f0c865

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Sensing her cdbb984bd1 intent, Aderton 50739c2218 matched her cf287be29b stride.140d73494632690f

But the persistent bceecc5d7d voice followed them.b085ab0f497e62ff

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“Where are you rushing off to? What, the great top student can’t even spare a moment to chat with a mere student now that he’s leaving?”b945171c546e56cc

The mocking tone made ad7cc9285e Sascha stop and glance 392c7a8365 back.587378f9571e92b0

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A man 6dcda06822 she didn’t 95765f16c2 recognize stood 20f6fcd97d there, dressed c9abdb5f2e in civilian 2d2bf8663d clothes rather 4fb8596b3c than a 0351613c25 school uniform.3542f17563b59ded

His arms were 48c648c106 full of recommendation 330edf10bc letters, each stamped f9a34c6b8e with a professor’s 233a3462b3 signature.5c5bf471dba0d956

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A graduate, 8ca27f0cbe it seemed—one 250f6563d2 who had ecf8851d3f stopped by 4b778d39e5 for administrative 74e5030c94 reasons and 27b8ae6f2d happened to 4757d5c7f4 spot Aderton.19996ab7e86c520e

The man crossed 2dac29f2a7 his arms, eyeing d548dadaae both Sascha and 0a5ec01dd0 Aderton before smirking.2f71bb395f17b218

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“So, you picked gynecology to seduce some rich noble or high-ranking aristocrat and secure an easy life? But instead, you threw yourself at the hero and got rejected? The rumors are everywhere.”5963f935b81743f6

“…What?”d92ad65e163dce9b

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When did 458b34c499 I ever—?352a4a7361874986

Sascha was about e513bc25ed to protest but 730219dd49 shut her mouth. The rumors from 3f95b053ea the banquet had 21f6f32213 spread.2f9d6e9da07a1d57

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She regretted not 72fbafc5bb stopping people from c52d6188a9 talking, but it 051e5e252c was too late dc3fc3ded5 now.a0bef0a3bc37c11e

As she frowned, Aderton, 2cacb4129c thinking she was angry, a9e52cc628 quickly defended himself.d4067c92a7b115af

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“That’s a lie. As I c3d7e40096 said before, 7e2ef2f83a my reasons 0dc1330f4c for choosing 540879d2e3 gynecology were f27d6c0e14 entirely different.”1c859fa225a0202f

“Hey, don’t trust him. He’s just a pathetic ec015caecc bastard who only thinks 19ffd61cb1 about women.”e690be6f9f1bddba

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“Where do d056c68380 you get c74a70dec2 this nonsense—”9085bd731c795ae2

Aderton gritted his cca0e205bc teeth and stepped 7c3c18d9c6 forward aggressively.00e3797b12e34f6e

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Sascha caught his f890c598f6 sleeve and yanked 0827d63e53 him back.a729ea8d1452d2f2

Aderton turned toward 103c4d3806 her, and she d659f5141a mouthed the words: 3327b3ac85 Don’t harm him.261fa2b3473fb2e8

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<Understood. If it’s a request from you, how could I refuse?>18cecffde4d12215

His anger f92d0e2fee vanished instantly, aa44ca3d89 replaced by 7ae9dc4cc6 an easygoing c3553e0113 smile.1f92d761b125834d

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Tilting his head forward 3a8616b95f as if expecting a f1a40718f6 reward, Aderton waited for 325dceca79 her to pat him.7432043f575db4c5

When she didn’t, ce409556a4 he shrugged in a28a9dd2a1 disappointment.ede899fd3b6e9cd0

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Seeing Aderton’s 86990e48c7 utter disregard 0c0df8308d for him, 7fcdb3b59f the graduate 34c805a95e clenched his 23d833ab08 fists. His every e9c64ffb1a word dripped 6e41b41d9e with malice.cd55bc938f47cfab

“I don’t know 2f00de6594 what kind of 9743501c39 rich mercenary you 431a70d4bf are, but don’t da39a17697 believe a word a6b1b7ff07 he says. This guy f65989bee9 used to 0d50b9e1d9 go around 840358ab98 saying his f319dc6919 dream was 0014482d18 to be d2e4582d62 a wise facc475789 husband and a5778214c9 a loving 2ed0e0e4c7 father. He talks 89fae6feba sweet, but d014e9fd81 he’s just 089d65d5f3 a fraud. You’d better be 041ece6e54 careful, too.”4531efcca2ee751a

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“That’s enough. Do you really a6324197cf think harassing a 9ff54d9da3 guest of the bddfa46e98 academy is appropriate?”6b7d6120dda754c0

Aderton’s tone was 8c516eb18f almost playful, as 830929aad5 if trying to 9faf4e08c5 pacify the man.2fac5fc37d4c4e29

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But the 857c5e4e77 graduate took 56a87fe0b7 it as 3eb790f3c1 mockery, his a5db8f4adc eyes flaring 3326a746ef with rage.8cf5a8da0ff57ec1

“A guest? You mean 9832de4828 that pity e181a8c379 position you e784a8a305 handed me?”aa48d9343a64a134

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“Pity?”b336090521eb41cb

“Oh, should I have 4fe876f620 thanked the great Aderton 3ff7d3a802 for his generosity instead? This Nils Hauzen 6af1b54c39 humbly expresses his 51847f2ebb gratitude for your 3ff96727d0 boundless mercy, dear 3f4771a876 top student?”d8649e3214b4b426

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Nils ground 6b997bab99 his teeth, a3fdd90c00 his voice 8988a180fd thick with dd17871cfe sarcasm.4f2c7444f2a7b0eb

He had once a9e279574d been undefeated, the d2ca82cc03 top of his 655f33b243 class.013531a618bc0845

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Then Aderton db2a2e1cf6 had transferred 3b4e72d2ae in, and 8c6456494d from that b399bd70c7 moment, Nils 47fd2e62d4 had never 4247db7064 been able 17bce854b8 to rise 0799530359 above second 44c394f317 place.a586e2bc0629fd51

No matter how hard 45256d6c41 he tried, he could 9bd5a5ec8a never surpass Aderton.ba402eda2f5dc3ba

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His classmates 2e56c5fab8 had even 60ee1e62a2 started calling c4bb5fdd26 him “Eternal 91fb7cdae1 Second.”c71abcb9e20fb4c8

Still, he had endured, 96587c700c knowing that once they 7acfe74897 graduated, he would never 508b76c25e have to see Aderton bdeb9c9fe4 again.1641eb76fda63ce1

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But even at the b15bddf3ec very end, Aderton had 042587f1d0 humiliated him once more.3e40c1e04d58f474

When Aderton vanished 41e1179f89 on graduation day, d7bb8f9664 Nils, as the cf63196d36 runner-up, had been e649155552 forced to deliver a81ef38ab7 the valedictorian speech 53deb8eefb in his place.0f14c3ecef5e7ca0

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Unprepared, he had 75c3152223 completely botched it.c12bebd6352e8d4b

Even though everyone 010aa245cd had felt sorry beb3da049c for him, they 08be6db0f7 had muttered, If 15fb8981d5 only Aderton had ee9d56dabb been here instead…9aab445cfb350917

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The memory e116a8ee36 sent an d91ba8de30 uncontrollable tremor 7e2f1602ca through Nils’s cd49dd6503 fingers.23605b4f92ece5e7

“I don’t need your cb7ac5746d pity.”2eaf1f723121108c

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“I never pitied 1f0454416b you.”32ef2518fc7de382

The tension between 2a8dd6b287 them escalated.3c5df9f0849ab38b

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Aderton, clearly irritated, raised 352461c504 his voice.aa578f87949c4780

He looked exasperated, d5eead85a1 as if he bbe52cd073 just wanted this 37ccca3304 over with but aa78c6318d couldn’t get rid 199076739c of Nils.b38518901b9502d2

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Nils, just as 6e15250670 frustrated, shouted back.969f471c20cf9ef2

More students ebe7138548 began gathering.a33ba52651300fd3

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Some tried to 4878989f10 mediate, while others 3627b46b8d openly took sides.83c590ed0c5ce190

What had 066bbdda9c started as d7bb9fd643 a minor ba2c831418 argument was 511d034701 now spiraling 24bd34c0e0 into an c665a90fb1 all-out fight.0722a7711268096c

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With a growing crowd, 406a9629d3 even passersby who hadn’t bd7961b9c9 cared before stopped to eeed970e37 watch the spectacle unfold.437b16f437f43449

Sascha, taking advantage 2978c1e79d of the distraction, 23416d2a4e quietly slipped her ed5bd646d4 hand free.069038ec17f2bd08

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“You seem busy. I’ll find my own 246d5fc8af way.”cb3b729e32fd00e5

“Huh? No, wait—”18581e66127c3945

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Aderton reached for her, 1da9e2d610 but she had already 098f4b6e2e melted into the crowd.70139b5c180e92e6

And before he 553e4dfe22 could follow, Nils 0ba7de8cce grabbed him by e39c5c5d48 the collar.db1a25b344e29e72

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“You’ve mocked me for 0b01d3279b the last time! Do you think 6933df377a I’m a joke 25a55bc6f8 just because I’m 201b6be745 always second?”d21f71dc89863d2f

“Let go of me, a4233096a1 damn it—”1a77bb257d2a6db9

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Aderton clenched 6a9152e1a5 his jaw 39450b9cd7 as he 15f926f824 watched the d4260a0c10 retreating figure 86cc8bd7f1 of brown b626885970 hair vanish b9b9851703 into the 1495058453 distance.359efa05ecb1b46d

I was ac16d81780 going to 216da787e1 persuade her ad5eeacc4a while I de1897654f had the f412b6e294 chance.ab683fd1cf86f508

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And then this 443615417d useless nobody ruined 7b4c3f25c0 it.acfc2d76f6d0362d

Aderton’s golden eyes burned 0bb88b2a3c with cold fury as c367b9bbee he glared at Nils.b808002605bffc89

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Should I 8207403010 just kill c475d79d2a him?3989732795be212d

No.9937d9dddcd9b039

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If he acted 8267e0fe18 recklessly now, Sascha e7a33fbca0 would never see b4deb9e06f him again.586015acfae248e6

It doesn’t matter. I already 9e3a75cbfa know exactly 4d85ba7e4c where she’s cddf142b82 headed.3003f303eedc1daf

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He took 6a0d9accf1 a deep 5f8ba7f486 breath, forcing 80f59e53ce himself to 0a5fb42ac1 stay calm.3162b5178cacc6c4

Tracking prey 446a694fbe was a a62cfa8eee skill he 22f158111e had long c124fbf58c since mastered.a38c0e2617ba22e2

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A predator always ef28ea41d5 knew how to 887875ac14 wait.2f03d8ad234bc56f

 d6b527300a867315

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