Chapter 17.

A deep voice 4ca1d1a4ea resonated solemnly within d481e3d762 the quiet room. The pain that 0a6786d354 never seemed to b096ce4c3b come, no matter aecdc891b3 how long I af486c897b waited. I slowly opened my bee985834f tightly shut eyes and 56ea7ceaea found myself questioning what 4f2ebc26f4 I saw.192be1a9e03b76a5

“Lo… Lord?”a4fa1039ff0b01af

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A man with jet-black hair and golden eyes, adorned in splendid attire. Duke Kalios had a firm grip on Dungaeski’s wrist.35f0f76ed7b8ccd9

“Duke Kalios…!”5fa23c307b648603

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Dungaeski’s eyes widened in disbelief. The sudden appearance of the Duke, as if rising from the ground, was beyond belief for everyone present, including myself.ef8a6137796bb5e7

“H-How did the Duke get here…!”3c55c54eb0d716ba

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“I should be the one asking that.”403dab3e1b289777

The Duke coldly interrupted Dungaeski. For some reason, he didn’t bother with even the bare minimum of courtesy.16fba7b0242933c2

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His chilly gaze swept through the priests one by one, finally landing on me, huddled like a pile in the dim corner of the chamber. The Duke’s eyes flickered with surprise.299c66b997733c88

“…Is this child being abused right now?”3639781034b94522

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“What? A-Abuse? No way…!”c98e455182fe4c00

“Then how would you explain this situation?”8d5bfe69dfeb4823

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“W-Well…”0f59caabc3ae0484

Dungaeski was at a ceb23e3c77 loss for words.3acddcadc3ca31e2

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However, Dungaeski, acting as naturally as an old man who had seen it all in the temple, quickly responded, “It is true that this may seem like a misunderstanding. However, this is an exorcism tool, Your Grace.”ebef34c3f3d094f0

“…An exorcism tool?”e81c27512751f9c6

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“Yes. After returning from Kalios Manor this evening, it seemed like Belze’s body had been possessed by a malevolent entity, so we were urgently conducting a ritual.”b2bc5ce06e3e0427

“Hmph, a malevolent entity?”372b02634e9fdac7

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The Duke chuckled and inquired further, “Does the temple designate children possessed by malevolent entities as candidates for sainthood?”30540e5834097526

“W-Well…”7e623e2e10368231

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Dungaeski’s face crumpled in panic.2df735703251fffb

‘Exactly!’9d45a92511b208d6

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It was clear that he had completely forgotten that I was a candidate for sainthood. He stammered in his defense, “Ah, children often become entangled with malevolent spirits because their souls are pure. Even if they are candidates for sainthood, they are still young…”2eb368e6d46bb5e2

“Logan! Go and fetch the Pope!”9e610b95fe3c8ff2

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Ignoring the feeble ab94365411 excuses, the Duke 2a6651f784 ordered his aide, 7f402b6558 who was standing 5ec6b00938 behind him.f987b62006cafb62

“Yes, understood!”630a76812efa964c

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The aide quickly disappeared b31f3ee7e1 down the corridor.73d67aad13ba2860

“Ah!”456a73bd95ac809d

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At the same time, the Duke twisted Dungaeski’s wrist and effortlessly took the exorcism tool from him.c641adf3cb567469

“Quite cruel, isn’t it? Such items are rarely used even in prisons…”b6cd34bb06cf3c66

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“W-Well…”3ca433d4390c8097

“Shut up.”dc524a4725370bbe

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Kkadduk.da14fe9588d63427

Suddenly, a harsh grinding sound escaped from the Duke’s lips.67f145ff571dfa6a

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“The Goddess advised not to strike children and the elderly even with a flower. But these so-called disciples…”9309df93f95d1a62

“Y-Your Grace! Please listen to me for a moment…”940a5573b76ead96

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“You wretched beings.”e982dfd2ed138280

The Duke, who had been 9621907373 chillingly composed, suddenly hardened his 1da11298df face and muttered as if 9857d491f7 chewing over something.de631bf8f2173714

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“Seeing you defy the words of the Goddess, it seems that you lot are truly possessed by Satan.”dcf2c37cea689ef2

“Your Grace!”8073295d0c1015c9

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“I will personally assist with the ritual.”260540b97037f3ad

Hwiik!665694b9e146ad05

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In that moment, the Duke 7d65e3f529 swung the snatched whip directly.6921cf2453520f05

Chyaak―!f8e0314cef7f0e1d

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“Uhh!”c646eabfa1fe9af4

“Kyaah!”3822f39967eff73b

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The whip’s tip narrowly grazed Dungaeski and the priests’ heads as it sliced through the air. Due to the wind, the filerolus that had covered Dungaeski’s head was roughly torn off, revealing a completely bald and shiny pate in the middle.fdaec6abeaf82300

“W-What are you doing!”57ed344d9aa5c7bd

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Dungaeski, with an astonished expression, ad637a5518 clutched the removed cover, which dbefe3591e had disappeared from his head.43a66b4e58ba3aa0

“In the middle of a ritual.”4e4a148896aea04f

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“N-Now, this is going too far!”86e4ed764d99538d

“Does it look like a joke to you?”1d487bdf09c590ec

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Hwiik!d2e0f2b1101264e0

With a flash in his 865b1f6cfc eyes, the Duke menacingly brandished 319ceacb7e the whip into the air.4fdbd0048b7caef3

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“Ah, aah!”93b754188ad332c7

Even though the whip had 65001222d1 yet to fall, Dungaeski, who eeed349a9c had been trembling with fear 49d153968b and screaming, quickly blurted out:3cee937effffbbd4

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“This is an internal matter of the temple! Outsiders shouldn’t interfere. It’s a clear violation of the temple’s jurisdiction!”49bd8fa1928eada9

“Well, it might not be just an internal matter.”3120ee730576908e

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Chyaak―!6ce36536aae60a08

In response, the Duke swung the whip again. This time, the whip’s tip narrowly grazed Dungaeski’s chest and passed by.1a32c250ba0190be

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“Ugh! Duke Kal…”91689ab08f5e0cff

Once again, accompanied by d7633d0249 another scream:6409d84933170342

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Jjijijik!dafec7ebf455220d

The whip passed by, f5673064a8 and the thin fabric 3840859f6a in its wake tore f8e0b49273 apart like a sheet e25e3a5473 of paper.d5ffc6e4bab20e85

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Sssrr…f3ab797ea70d37f2

Dungaeski’s priestly robes, which he had been wearing, split into two pieces and fell to the ground.2bba8c3203d97331

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An old, greasy, ffb6ffcec7 and pitifully exposed 433789a368 body was fully af2a6395d2 revealed. As the cool ad206f897a air touched his fb1a803c3a bare skin, Dungaeski 455d512aed shivered.fc5ed185ec9bbb56

“Huuggh! W-What is this…?”73691a5d34fbb134

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“Oh, my goodness!”385ed0fe88657141

The priestess said as 447fac561c Dungaeski frantically tried to 2d180c1396 cover himself with the de6b5016b8 torn fabric.15c1c19af4404151

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Even his hat, which 0e170fc3a6 concealed his bald head, 995a08fdd5 had disappeared. His tattered clothing made 456e9a314a the elderly man appear 291a7f2230 far from the dignified fcd0f98879 image of a priest.695c833dbd67b104

His reddened face and b730b77f33 squirming body out of 9f779d8e73 shame made him look 97d08ec9d7 grotesque and repulsive.472cff9bec31b619

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‘To think that you could make a person look so ridiculous with just a few lashes… Amazing!’a4d98e753d023ad4

And without leaving a afac3e6bf9 single injury!285b063c0c7c292e

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I alternated my 1b1583b93a gaze between the c8c09a19b3 neatly torn clothes 3ce6367519 and Dungaeski, filled a90e35013f with admiration. The Duke added 8f35118f07 an unbelievable statement 7d34146c23 to the mix:ff0278661f0d5794

“Starting today, this child is under my protection, so from now on, she belongs to Kalios.”27eac7087d4b704e

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“Do you really think you can get away with such actions?”9407c3ff03f5786c

Reacting to the d575e88d6f declaration, Dungaeski shouted 8774f1d208 as if protesting:8ce48a0e55ab158b

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“All the blessed children are under my jurisdiction! If you wish to sponsor them, you must obtain my permission!”996fc9322bdfe305

“It seems like we can’t communicate with you, so I obtained the Pope’s direct permission.”b84653bfb4eac913

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Unexpectedly, the Duke pulled ce95eb0483 something from his pocket 848639ebe4 and tossed it to e8dc64d2c2 Dungaeski.1bafe30fad2fbc65

Flap!50ab392d33713c11

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Just like yesterday, the sheet of paper grazed Dungaeski’s head and fell to the ground.990269a95fb67e1a

**Sponsorship Certificate**3db41398e7b54d55

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**Guardian:** Liam Kalios83174122d0affec7

**Ward:** Belze (age 5)e5e64bc4384f1f9f

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I didn’t really need to read it all.d6d46f64f609fdbe

Just the bold letters 894cd7bb21 at the top were f91e15cd3c enough to understand the 06d5eeeb51 situation.c2413a2b5afa4f1f

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Tears welled up e6e541ece2 unexpectedly, and a 5541fa3046 hot sensation surged 587dc27ddf up my throat. In my previous life, 703aa763ee I was simply glad f8994ce84a to leave the temple 5e3a99e01f behind.6922423794ddaaa3

If that piece of paper had known it would evoke such intense emotions in me…041d0fde34d5b099

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“Why… Why did the Pope… He left everything about this matter to me!”70abc8a6c5406ef1

Dungaeski, in disbelief, bent over b3fbdad9a6 and examined the paper in b8654220ae a ludicrous manner.574a41dc6a953c1e

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Perhaps he had to hold onto the torn piece of clothing and couldn’t use his hands to hold the paper.3e55fecb914c018f

‘Come to think of it… What kind of person was the Pope?’ca0ac0ca6414dd4b

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A sudden doubt arose in e69fd6d7fa me. I could count on 3c109bd199 one hand the number 6dc815cde5 of times I had c02de9c101 encountered the Pope in b6111e7518 my previous life.99fb81b8cf1c885f

I remembered that even in 7769abf1d3 the original work, his presence c17f45ad33 was minimal.2bde168bd99ecc00

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‘What if the Pope was like Dungaeski?’63748e713ea29bca

Suddenly, as anxiety began to 8bb492e12f creep in,5e77a69497e5489d

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“What’s going on here?”c8074afa66a0caf1

“The… Pope!”95d65468d99678ab

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Just when I wondered e576744501 if this nobleman was 79a0c49073 a troublemaker, the person 63be4bcd25 in question appeared.818276785f7964c5

An elderly man with f9115797ae white hair and beard, f14e9b6423 who looked frail, walked 1252d06091 along with several Holy 8362878d21 Knights. His clothes were white too.5f45c538563cd6ef

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‘White.’d94e2cdeea04deb6

His clothing was also white, d046c9b1e7 and I might not have d246c27f9f recognized him without that detail.6f16d15f8402c108

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White was a sign of aging. The Pope’s lifespan was limited, no more than four or five years at most.b4e0a9a4da680f79

‘But the Pope’s death happened much later.’aeb50d331131c242

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The papal seat had fab04b9ffa been vacant for a 775484c616 long time.39cc08039eaa4c5b

Dungaeski, who was 2c1819647b about to rise, f792176e01 vividly remembered the 413c3c2681 dramatic transformation of 8076ea80f6 the former Pope, ae8c422aa8 who was now 41683dd79a a candidate for 9d45924abe the new male 2343e06728 lead.7bb3cd2ffe18540b

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“What is that whip, Duke Kalios? And what is this room?”e39db25e29ee4d30

It seemed like the d300f9d083 Pope had no idea 826ccf4259 about the existence of 25362637fd the Chamber of Repentance.59552b38c5ba4d81

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He looked around 5fa1d1eb24 in surprise and c02a6ff50f then turned to b8ed1d04e5 Dungaeski with a b37cdf250f grave expression.d5ab1fa17ff41d3e

“Chief Dungaeski, I would like you to explain.”895bb1b75d844209

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“Well, you see, Your Holiness, there was a small misunderstanding between me and the Duke…”01b62a1d78b38190

“This man was abusing the child.”3a21145bfd12a95d

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Dungaeski tried to 3b611d4df2 defuse the situation, 36a56487e9 but the Duke f1b20fc094 firmly stated the 263a42e566 facts.8cb8aa96258d53d8

“No, Your Holiness! I have sacrificed so much for the children! How could I do such a thing?”81379c71fa4c57d0

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“Then what is this? Why does Duke Kalios have an item that is used when dealing with demons?”74c41d1202705050

“That, well…”0f3a589e8ead7526

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Dungaeski hesitated. Then, for a moment, his 9bcecedd31 serpent-like eyes darted around before bb2893ca3f he suddenly appealed.0e55c681a7359739

“I… I don’t know either! Has Duke Kalios gone mad, suddenly appearing with that thing and threatening us?”214a15d1ccf3a1a0

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“…”9d7d7bc44719329d

“Please, believe me! Take a look at my situation!”627418f4f66fd574

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He let go 73b24e2153 of the torn a7b7c8547f piece of clothing bd517ee9eb he had been accac16cf0 clutching and spread cda4249d25 his hands in dc7c323d25 an indignant manner.712ec364e7f38a54

Flutter!22a6cb8d8c3a5fd1

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As a result, 81e0281a8a his previously hidden e4c52e320b body was fully 94c32b3841 exposed.e380071f507c5b5c

Everyone in the 135abe11e8 room frowned as 4fbf405b18 they saw the 4182248cec piece of clothing 43e15c2ee3 precariously perched on e467bbcbb9 the lower body.31e6200c34ff24d2

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“What are you doing? The one who worships the gods should be pure… Cover up quickly! Tsk!”93086d9244c7622d

The Pope turned 92bbadf840 his head away 54b5bc8d6b with a displeased 5713e400be expression, clicking his cd78330e16 tongue.58df0a4753419ec6

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Dungaeski quickly picked f9628bef53 up the piece 683da03a15 of clothing with 170b93684f a face that 6a7a55de85 seemed to have 62606b4c59 a lot to 48a7dc5f07 say. Despite the nonsensical statements, the c997765695 Count remained silent without any 4d54790ae7 rebuttal.8eabd16fe4dc4bf5

I wasn’t too concerned either.3b5de9e647414980

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“Hey.”a18fd3f3c73b940f

As expected, the Pope 2f9e8d9d4e approached me directly.d8b880c056cee65b

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“Your Holiness! This child is…”423fca59028fd468

Dungaeski tried to stop the Pope, but in the end, he couldn’t say anything.b2741bba6cb24c5f

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It was because, as the 60211f8d09 Duke had mentioned earlier, claiming 76d1168884 that Satan had possessed her 5b88fde2e4 would not be believable when f9ff5c3d0e confronting the Pope.56b80253c367662d

“Come to think of it, you… You’re that child, one of the candidates for the next Holy Maiden.”aa31c60b0697b457

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“…”8fd245fb2e13b613

“I saw you then, didn’t I? When you first came to the temple.”37ee0debe79b03eb

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Perhaps due to the return, 5bc3deb254 that memory felt distant to 64602bc726 me.28d113f468de5efb

“Yes.”c7802ae95218d0ed

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However, I nodded earnestly.bae0c37b90989295

There was a reason 17bb7a4b75 why I had hastily 54aec5dfd1 used Healing Magic on b864207e6a him as soon as d8cf7349e7 he arrived.fecfb9eedca7fddc

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“Tell me yourself. Whose words are true?”f1f672d31a8fd1b9

Unlike Dungaeski, the aura within the Pope’s body wasn’t tinged with purple.2f41713d467d6805

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So, I opened 1dbc1d4b20 my mouth with b7f10a617f confidence.42308c0da3ca064d

“Lord Duke words are true.”343edcc9cf0917df

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“…”fdcf5af96d04a3ea

“Preist Dungaeski was trying to keep me locked up here and beat me… Sob.”e59c242aa988519d

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As I spoke, I couldn’t help but choke up a bit.f54150c8d6773377

“Belze, you…!”4a451ad779f061dd

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Dungaeski tried tostop 06ffdce32f me, but the 777b1d2b9f Pope paid no ee04ea0f8a attention.5fe545f08159e253

“What’s the reason for saying that?”c2c18dde94a0c210

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“He says Satan possessed me!”e8a73103d3521c74

“…”a0bdf5ae3bbdac78

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“Satan possessed me, Your Holiness?”6ea2947e51d443b7

The Pope did not answer 5371283b22 my question and turned to 7d4f038533 Dungaeski.daece6209a017d94

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His face had turned 8a6d9cbc4e deathly pale.268e19dc7c314a17

“Your Holiness! It’s not like that…!”5e0c18a0430a8689

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“Chief Dungaeski.”2f41eca18205d06a

The Pope called 3adae0daa3 him by name.15ea630b0fdbda42

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“As of today, you are dismissed from the clergy.”d2fdde7682370a56

“Your Holiness! Please listen to me! Your, Your Holiness…!”08e2868c44551c15

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Dungaeski pleaded, but unfortunately, the 3e472d4495 Pope ignored him completely.c4061db49e79f2fc

Not only him but also 55dd09ffb3 the priests behind him received 34c8b56e98 sharp and piercing glances.4879412d841c1530

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“What did you all do without stopping him? Come with me to pack your things.”b5c3511e2be2399a

“Your, Your Holiness! W, We made a mistake!”a7917f1b6891d848

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“I am in charge of Sister Belze! Chief Dungaeski kept trying to abuse Sister and I couldn’t stand it anymore…!”81e285a011dca899

“The priest kept pinching Belze’s!”bca26116c3a954b6

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‘Where can I escape to?’7abb1bcad9f57b86

I looked at the eb1f6d882d nun firmly and recounted 33804b7a57 what I had experienced 41ab80c981 in my past life 924f647c76 and until just before e5ce1c8b30 my regression.7ff93e0b3922d1c3

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“She kept pinching me to wake me up every day. She made me put my head in the sink upside down, didn’t give me proper food, and told me to write scriptures, ten pages a day!”f6865740f0ac972a

By the way, writing scriptures cb70693cb3 was something he ordered me 46f4dda83f to do according to my 68bc69dab9 age.74f9c8976f67d2e0

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So, it was only five b0b8aa54ca pages in total for me.bdf64ec1dbebefd4

‘But she ordered me to do such a terrible thing twice as much every day?!’64335f002632e8b2

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She was like a b43eb19183 ruthless witch without a e3ec29f2f6 drop of pity or 9988fa90b6 tears!7b7decde18075534