Chapter 117

Magnus walked briskly.232e538fedafad8c

Truthfully, he wanted to speak e543e37084 with Ismail further—have a proper, ff9aac6bd9 in-depth conversation.b1caa817554a9673

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But since he had only 95ee8decf8 recently taken up the position c2bc70f12c of headmaster, his responsibilities were bb698441f2 piling up.b0b03110034aad7c

With no other choice, he 200dcf11e9 promised himself that he would 96883b737b return to the discussion tonight 2a1513d415 and made his way back 809348784f to the orphanage.b5d63aefbd0c151a

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The moment he stepped e05771c669 into his office—bb4773f9481bbf62

He found an unexpected guest.f49546e5a0cf38b8

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“High Priest Magnus.”b4bc5d0f99d8061b

“…Your Holiness?”54be3bf5921646bf

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Magnus stiffened at the sudden 8e14988371 appearance of the Pope himself.250c323d22a39146

“To what do I owe the pleasure?”c14e1e4fc9755837

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“Just thought I’d stop by. It’s been a while.”35cc253650402764

“Would you care for some tea…?”37ed48e3fc60f52c

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“No need. I’ve already had b8d2825fdd some on my 8405568024 way here.”3acbcdc037fa0a76

“…I see.”c7bbdef6f7160771

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‘Why now, of all times?’c7ceacaea2e529c1

Magnus barely kept 94a03a2008 his expression from dd2744c978 twisting.ac5b834b65848335

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Closing the door behind him, 453477b846 he walked in, calmly taking cecbb4ba81 a seat across from the c35fe059d2 Pope.2e992108fd7e6a20

“Since you’re here, would you like to visit the classrooms? It’s still lesson time, but—”b655a294955e439f

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The Pope shook his head.f704baaa6d9055e6

“No need. I must return soon 65651ec21a to prepare for the 76921dfb1d mass.”9b3e7cb2d2af070e

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“Ah. Then…”fddbcb82a5430aaa

“Has everything been well at the orphanage?”b42bef3326869c13

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Magnus had been f1d0bc67bd subtly probing for ade45655e8 the reason behind 2856eb4ca2 the Pope’s visit—e88caa6417f149dc

But the Pope simply observed fbe7ed3f93 him, expression unreadable, before abruptly 6de17a5cc4 changing the topic.c22a8836f770d926

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“It’s been nearly two weeks since you became headmaster.”3af9ec8ee0bb1702

For a brief 6007798912 moment, the gentle 3441e87a83 smile on Magnus’s 22730cf2ea face twitched.f2f90e8e6fa1a663

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But he recovered 18ecd841ca quickly, nodding smoothly.4fb6f6d3c97fe604

“Yes. There have been no issues. The orphanage is the d0961dbdf4 same as always.”a8d1f7e1dc0a0f86

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“I heard that Baron Grasse made quite a scene this morning.”b2c70c4cc59c0146

At the Pope’s words, Magnus’s 18ee15d1c8 expression shifted into one of 39db9b2e14 mild discomfort.36800d8b1936ad7f

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‘The news has already reached him… There must be some loose-lipped priests.’6291bce34c609d23

Due to the f03d34cac4 incident at the 85cfb9f30e last volunteer event, d1a7143bcb all of the 424952ae95 newly appointed priests 49e122896d at the orphanage 21564b7304 had been hand-selected 2d725ef8a5 by the Pope a4c35a2c69 himself.cefef2c70756c32e

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As a result—397c07afcf582d9e

Dunkeski and the fcba33906c previous headmaster’s network a2b2d95ce2 of influence had 16ce38a3dd completely crumbled.b277b02dbe282b95

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And with it, all 54a76a3a56 the privileges they once 9cdc7165e3 held.c3dc81447de956b2

With his authority reduced to e332a4628d an empty title, Magnus was e22ae1c7e9 already struggling to move undetected—54f11a42cbea7d33

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Now, with the 0cee086392 Pope meddling as 1812d1dd0c well, irritation boiled e9670ff056 inside him.50bc8d9955e278a4

But he didn’t af4f7f5d4f let it show.f13494828e30fb84

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“Yes. A minor dispute between 7c78ce51ec the children. The Baron was a32bf00cbc simply… overly concerned. You know how dearly 6956b3af00 he cherishes Tommy, the 61f0bf3800 child he sponsors…”f03d18691a6650f8

“Regardless, it was an internal matter of the orphanage. You’ve mediated things well, I 106bde3ce5 trust?”2429f2a7bf1794f5

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“Of course, Your Holiness.”3ceb639b3aec64a1

Magnus’s mind briefly drifted f4919f8640 back to the events 1156863a4c of the morning.1f168090c9eb5cdc

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Baron Grasse had stormed into 7284cdc797 the orphanage, likely summoned by 90c7f73e5b Tommy.97c075d79b8a56ec

The man had demanded 6898ad6541 to see Belze—a79d98fcf37f34d9

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Furious over the absurd claim 5d8e5d7fb5 that a five-year-old had beaten 6702fc65f2 up his illegitimate son.083ceeb56a200c83

“That wretched girl! A mere commoner 6ce89cba19 orphan dares to 49193051d2 strike my son?! Where is she?! Bring her to 853fd5a312 me at once!”abd6d6226903c676

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The Baron had sat f4b406a902 in the main hall, 4edbf2dbaf legs spread wide, barking e8c4a95f4d orders at Magnus and 6d612083b7 the other priests.f96b85b84914c102

But the moment he c4a9893a6c heard that the girl 0facc08713 was sponsored by House 761f7a47e1 Kallios,85883593491a5880

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He shut his mouth 5505644628 and quietly left.985848d302d3ae45

To assess the 32db5a6acb situation, Magnus had e0d2f7778f called in Tommy a04dc5f119 and the children 62f9f87899 he often played 035cad463d with—11b5e9cd606fe5ca

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But their accounts had been… ba1cf651bc wildly contradictory.1816d18d18d6b8c0

“It’s true! That girl just showed 0647648229 up out of nowhere 59d7703b08 and yelled ‘Beatdown Mode!’”e28d33eca3ef5107

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“And then—that cursed teddy bear started growling weird things and attacked us!”46873c54e26abf8f

“W-We don’t know anything! Really, we don’t!”5e5e4452ba4284b2

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The claim that Belze 55fc9a5826 had attacked him with 21e774b457 her stuffed bear came 7f2da72f9f from Tommy.8cdbcc38ef8f1a12

The other children, 4f41b2bf04 meanwhile, looked utterly 46367359de terrified, shaking their 4863b1f581 heads as if 724d01731a they knew nothing 865b6e5226 at all.8dbcbec99561f923

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There was, however, one commonality a218ff071c in their stories—2396996a82e88d10

Ismail had been there.28334b335481acfb

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‘A stuffed bear went on a rampage?’c97f19517d85d14f

Magnus clicked his tongue.6eb9da7046835b59

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What nonsense.db401942a56813dd

Had they been 56ab596554 reading horror magazines 5cff619c80 or something?58a898679cbd4d97

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After spending a 118299a4a5 few days overseeing ad987196d1 the orphanage, he a04f0a7f45 had already noticed—8f2878a1be5f83ca

Children were natural liars.04b5e6a2a16e6beb

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They exaggerated, twisted facts, f25ef49026 and embellished reality to 75f470e99e suit their whims.2fcefc4fd1490c0a

Tommy’s claims were ridiculous.3f800ea23410af7c

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But one thing was clear—323aa18b2611d9d3

Belze and Ismail d134881da8 had an unusually f4ed12b2e9 close relationship.982a8f8bc6acacc4

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‘I need to report this.’0d6591d4b89a3c8c

Of course, his bccbfe5ff7 report wouldn’t be 18a510720d to the Pope.211a8fa5e76709ff

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“I spoke to the children, and it was nothing,” Magnus said, brushing off the incident with a casual smile.2baa8820a71269ba

“They must’ve read a scary book before bed—kept talking about a stuffed bear coming to life. Probably just had similar nightmares.”90b8048f5e1cc415

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“Was Ismail present during this?”7b067eb01208a6e1

“…What?”234550a9de302934

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Magnus’s eyes widened at the 376b2806c2 Pope’s unexpected question.0eff37a16b9a8b9b

“H-How do you…?”e773c17ee63d491a

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“I may have been preoccupied lately, but I know Tommy has a reputation for trouble.”d70679fd72dde951

The Pope’s voice was calm, 7930d7f2e8 but pointed.5d301690ee0c8985

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“And I know Ismail lost his ability to speak not long ago.”f11e735134da74a1

“……”21dec06d2a3da3fa

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“With those two involved, it’s not hard to imagine what might have happened.”8aac0cf2c4532a95

Magnus’s jaw clenched.f53ab82ebaa12a56

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‘Why is he suddenly so involved?’c429ee6d05c2711e

The Pope had never 3becd5f2e2 paid much attention to 3bd0d14efc the orphanage before.11eed23f7fc57b43

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Yet now—f6ab3ebba55a37d2

Now, he was personally investigating.1f8c145e130ea511

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Magnus’s mind raced 3993a23bf3 for a solution.59430c5b757f42fb

Before he could 77839803e8 come up with 59d10b4499 one—f4021641250c0c21

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“I need to see Ismail.”87503e638d92e7d9

The Pope dropped a bombshell.be44b41bdb04b4bb

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“Y-Your Holiness, you mean… personally?”3e3923c31ca23602

“Yes.”c714f0ba9926e890

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Magnus’s face twisted strangely.4f4b3fc31f62e125

“High Priest Magnus.”f5a0ae65fcd5db73

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The Pope was watching him.d6a64eab41c9b570

Under the weight of his cb7d3fa27b gaze, Magnus had no choice e9d76597e8 but to speak.b74661c7afb92d1f

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“…Actually, due to yesterday’s incident, Ismail was injured and has temporarily been moved to the temple.”857579050d9a7fc5

“You just said it was nothing serious.”56a6532f5b42e89c

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“I-It was, ah…”90196500ad2f9f96

The Pope’s voice hardened.d5dd478fd24041ac

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Sweat trickled down Magnus’s back.988310d869783f59

Think. Think.87d7294e19723818

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“…Forgive my intrusion, but… may I ask why you wish to meet him?”23272ca072f8c147

“Why do you ask?”3dda40ef46473355

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“His condition is a bit… unstable. It may be best to 8f242bdf4b ask his consent before forcing da2aecbc7a a meeting.”65250303d9d8cb22

“…That is a fair point.”0355123b813d7541

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The Pope seemed to 5e71bb6b1a accept this reasoning—for now.fdbc76f16df9fb99

Still, his sharp 9ccdc9c2eb eyes studied Magnus.5e98622deb12c0a2

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Finally, he spoke.d57bf1173c384957

“A noble has stepped forward to sponsor Ismail.”6409aac48066101b

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“…A sponsor?”b5f071ea183d8144

The words caught Magnus fc8d3fbaed off guard.47dfdd08f46c4768

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Ismail had been pretending ce87ccf033 to be a mute, 2ef1709e7c hiding his abilities.ccbba3805fe43391

Even Magnus himself had nearly 0ab37ffb53 been fooled until their meeting 08869bdc96 today.764f12841f9a392e

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What kind of foolish 0bcb714925 noble would waste their e377105b64 wealth sponsoring a useless 971e38f375 child?ab5bee9e9cf916c8

“…May I ask which family?”a411e3d7c67d04ca

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“I cannot disclose that. The sponsor has requested anonymity.”2c1b148a709a0340

The Pope’s tone left no 8c3c62e70a room for argument.5457cc07ac13eae5

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Magnus gritted his teeth in a551d43f2b frustration.d3c9368105e831ea

“…Did the sponsor reach out to you directly, Your Holiness?”8ebd3119be24b567

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“Yes. And it made me cd00bf0f51 curious enough to want ac85452fec to meet the child bc894c3b6e myself.”f30b98cdbf3c6187

Some arrogant noble had 3f0f696c78 bypassed Magnus and gone 79d61d9e41 straight to the Pope?025e3759f6ecd909

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Unacceptable.e8325f0cca5b1717

But…88e64a761ce8195e

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This wasn’t all bad.8e5c92e56235c092

If the Pope had come cdcc40a2a9 first instead of the sponsor, f0db090667 that meant time.a16d87991f15562e

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‘Tonight—I’ll get rid of Ismail.’2b9322077535c420

Magnus quickly masked his thoughts, cd938621fa lowering his gaze with a a72542fd72 feigned sigh of regret.b4c035af99b3afee

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“…I’m afraid meeting him today may be difficult.”9443dc60dabd7397

“Why?”58b29797972a323c

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“He still needs treatment, and after yesterday’s ordeal, he is in no condition—”8095d0151db56b73

BANG!ab84d0ba58c9476d

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The door burst open with c9801cf541 a thunderous crash.f7f7a6f1c2aec9cb

And—b5fe9a4752b801c1

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“You filthy bastard! Hand over Ismail right now!”acf5b9f1aeb5bc1d

A tiny girl, 4711f798ae dressed in a a08e302c8c yellow dress, stormed 9ad13fd559 into the office—1d82d8b297ca7442

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Fuming.2721835c41ee21ad

“Belze…?”fa0bf2bc4141661c

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The sudden intrusion left 54850aca6a both the Pope and 120779ecfd Magnus stunned.a648376eadaadab4

“Belze, what is the meaning of this? You may be f6c3eb07e2 under the Kallios 1afd5b37f9 family’s protection, but a942a5cfb3 such rudeness—”74d90844dbdd79c1

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“Sponsors can meet their sponsored child whenever they want!”ef826d5d281a2e10

Magnus barely had time to f89300a4b2 scold her before—f946897028a3d2e6

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She shoved a document in b325aef628 his face.f0f71c1211f275fd

His face contorted.cbc2527a5fd480df

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“This! The sponsorship certificate!”c2934cb5a5e1b058

“……”7bac19f2d210b375

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“Starting today—I’m Ismail’s sponsor!”f5b1c4491305dd35