"I see it. The light, I see it!"222Please respect copyright.PENANAepXLXhxPpy
222Please respect copyright.PENANAfCptZTLQ2H
Victoria rushed ahead of the group, and ahead of our guide, Ng. She was right; a couple of dozen meters away was a field where the sun freely shined. I could hardly believe it myself, but Victoria was in it, basking in the light like a reptile. I made it out.222Please respect copyright.PENANAuvCbTGCgrF
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"We did it, Flinty."222Please respect copyright.PENANA9AfYY62ZvQ
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"Yeah."222Please respect copyright.PENANA945CpYwP9r
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She looked awfully happy. I was too, but likely for a different reason. I looked at the rest of the group. Skylark was being himself, Ng had a look of wonder, and Victoria's mental age regressed by twelve years.222Please respect copyright.PENANAqVnMZCtdCH
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This operation should not have made me feel as grateful as I was to be alive.222Please respect copyright.PENANA85ujVDz3GG
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After Victoria finished, we walked around the crops and stood before the farmhouse. Linda was rocking in a chair. She perked up when she noticed us.222Please respect copyright.PENANABJSWAPy5qP
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"Ah, you made it!"222Please respect copyright.PENANASR2uW25UpN
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Linda ran up to us. She exchanged hugs with Victoria. I couldn't help but think of what Victoria said about her, but still, the scene was... it was soothing to the soul. I felt a type of satisfaction I couldn't describe. It was borderline euphoric, watching daughter and mother reunite like this.222Please respect copyright.PENANA0OqKY9bMsE
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"Kenny? You have a weird smile on your face."222Please respect copyright.PENANAEl6kyjS4c7
222Please respect copyright.PENANABpTF1Rooz1
"I'm just happy for them, Flinty."222Please respect copyright.PENANASJpjO1CYmG
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"Ah, alright."222Please respect copyright.PENANAJtykNo2d33
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Linda greeted all of us afterward, thanking Skylark in particular for the help and shaking hands with Ng.222Please respect copyright.PENANAbzMDq07QfH
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"Ah, you. I recognize you," she said.222Please respect copyright.PENANALe8SMMpDpd
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"Really? I'm quite surprised. I thought I was inconspicuous, even for an ordinary villager."222Please respect copyright.PENANAVIi4YwRn4B
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"You're the one who lives in house 32D."222Please respect copyright.PENANAag4iImKl2s
222Please respect copyright.PENANA9RS7TlM0pg
"...It is concerning that you know that. But, I'm glad that I was able to properly meet you, head farmer Linda."222Please respect copyright.PENANAfa7zCfaVtO
222Please respect copyright.PENANArcVPRSVs7P
There was no first order of business to returning from such a mission. It was awkward, admittedly, because while Victoria had her clothes changed, Ng made conversation with Linda, and while Skylark intently watched the sleeping Kim, I didn't have anything to do.222Please respect copyright.PENANAMvDMxFDWmu
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"Hey Kenny, aren't you going to wash your shirt?"222Please respect copyright.PENANAV5bdHSiON1
222Please respect copyright.PENANAtTQFOoAoqu
"Wash my– you know what, that's a great idea. I don't know if I can, though. It's pure white."222Please respect copyright.PENANAc6UKlgUHLX
222Please respect copyright.PENANAlx4LUtdz0P
"I know a trick to wash off any stain! Mom taught me it a while ago."222Please respect copyright.PENANAFqmtZeVW7I
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"Really? I'd appreciate you teaching me."222Please respect copyright.PENANAVYYhUxIdDe
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"Of course! Let's go."222Please respect copyright.PENANAFXFsQN4Elg
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Flinty and I exited the living quarters and ran to the front of the farmhouse. There was a basket of dirty laundry with a washboard inside beside a barrel of water. Flinty took a bucket and scooped up some water.222Please respect copyright.PENANAVa35W3ly8p
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"First, you need to turn your shirt inside out."222Please respect copyright.PENANA1rHFTPvGUS
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Suddenly, I felt my body grow a little hotter.222Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9P4PGv4Dd
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"Uh, do I have to?"222Please respect copyright.PENANAJalMLMvHMk
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"Well, you'll need to take it off either way."222Please respect copyright.PENANA0O19NgLAM7
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Darn it, she was too convincing, but the idea of showing my bare chest to Flinty was too embarrassing.222Please respect copyright.PENANAh628GYlpr0
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"Kenny?"222Please respect copyright.PENANA650zbyfQal
222Please respect copyright.PENANA9vgAsxe7PT
"Yeah yeah..."222Please respect copyright.PENANAMmsoOWpbtH
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I took off my shirt.222Please respect copyright.PENANAdpudTVwDq4
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"Alright, now come here."222Please respect copyright.PENANAHhP8QM2GCw
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She was kneeling beside the bucket. I slowly walked over to her and sat down. Thus began the cleaning of my shirt. I quickly realized that Flinty, what with her frequent pauses and occasional dopey look, knew about as much as I did. But, I didn't say anything. Something about this, even though it made me feel awkward, was nice.222Please respect copyright.PENANA4ie91AL7Le
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"Ugh, try scrubbing it with your elbow? Maybe you just need a sharper surface."222Please respect copyright.PENANAbJaXQodZSr
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"Right."222Please respect copyright.PENANA5BGETwqDYi
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I tried that, but it didn't work.222Please respect copyright.PENANAFQP22E2aTL
222Please respect copyright.PENANAApF5r4eIhQ
"Gah! What is this stain even made of!?"222Please respect copyright.PENANAdPtVB9V8dZ
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"Beats me."222Please respect copyright.PENANAzmqtfEQwa0
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"But it came from you, didn't it?"222Please respect copyright.PENANArhMRM3W0Jk
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"I don't know what it is, though. If I had to guess, then..."222Please respect copyright.PENANAO2C4pnrxfY
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My mind raced to a picture of a syringe. I immediately began to jitter.222Please respect copyright.PENANAilQ3h0SvrK
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"Hold on, give me that shirt, let me try!"222Please respect copyright.PENANAU7EkAcrjgE
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She snatched it from my hands and rubbed it against the waterboard. Her eyebrows were furrowed. She scrubbed it for a good three minutes before growing tired.222Please respect copyright.PENANAx8paKWxpsB
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"It's no use. It isn't possible."222Please respect copyright.PENANAZZAQLdDbEH
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"That's fine. I can always just get a new shirt."222Please respect copyright.PENANAX4vH8BXJ28
222Please respect copyright.PENANAishRt7bfO3
"But didn't Anabelle make it for you?"222Please respect copyright.PENANAknf3HsfNr7
222Please respect copyright.PENANAmRNyor0ZSH
"Huh? She only made the jacket, Flinty."222Please respect copyright.PENANA5kOsnLttXR
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"A-Ah, w-well then..."222Please respect copyright.PENANAnw3aB74ZqR
222Please respect copyright.PENANAcEXFZF7nzb
Her brows were still furrowed but her face was a pretty shade of red.
I grabbed the shirt back and hung it to dry. To be honest, the stain looked even worse, but that was neither here nor there. It was a little chilly being bare-chested though so I put my coat back on.
"..."
Dang. I already began to miss the shirt. I sighed. It would be fine, it wasn't a particularly rare shirt anyway. I walked back to Flinty. Frustration still lingered on her face.
"Stop looking so grumpy."
"Hmph. Fine."
She sighed and got up. I looked at her quizzically, and she tilted her head in return. I didn't know what came over me at that moment, but I wrapped my arms around her.
222Please respect copyright.PENANANrgtfD1dfN
"K-Kenny?"222Please respect copyright.PENANAWgzOLLzqHr
222Please respect copyright.PENANAIjfDd212wh
She fidgeted a little, I didn't let go. Eventually, she returned the hug. I couldn't tell how long I was hugging her, I was too caught up in the moment. I let go of her and put my hands on her shoulders.222Please respect copyright.PENANAyI5V6eEHPE
222Please respect copyright.PENANAJBmFsKVUZv
"I'm glad you're okay too, Kenny."222Please respect copyright.PENANAf3MnF68j5A
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"Y-Yeah."222Please respect copyright.PENANARCmjscyqwP
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It wasn't just that she was okay. But, I didn't utter it.222Please respect copyright.PENANAnii0kOC28a
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"Let's go back to the farmhouse. I'm starting to get hungry."222Please respect copyright.PENANAyMuPLeRCYK
222Please respect copyright.PENANAsFgKHSKxwk
I nodded. We traveled back to the farmhouse. Flinty split up with me to go wash herself, mentioning how her effort made her all sweaty. I simply entered the living quarters. I was expecting to kill time staring at the ceiling as I waited for a meal to come, but the presence of the two people in the room destroyed that expectation.222Please respect copyright.PENANA4JOx265fsQ
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It wasn't just Skylark, of course.222Please respect copyright.PENANAxuLxw6ZyON
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"Ah, Kim, you're finally awake!"222Please respect copyright.PENANAKc8vsAtjPh
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I darted to her. She was rubbing her head under her cloak and had one of her hands held by Skylark. She looked at me, and I caught her smiling.222Please respect copyright.PENANA4cZN73J5dO
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"Kenny. I see, so we succeeded."222Please respect copyright.PENANAmp3yRI5qtC
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"Yes. Panz is still knocked out, but Ng is around. He'll probably join us for lunch."222Please respect copyright.PENANABbPEKzdbL2
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"That's good. That's great. I'm glad."222Please respect copyright.PENANAI1GwMBAakU
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She looked over at Skylark.222Please respect copyright.PENANAdzkObSgLqj
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"And, again, thank you for helping."222Please respect copyright.PENANAPzMtw9xEoR
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"But of course, it is my duty."222Please respect copyright.PENANAELjdP2n7VM
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"You could have at least told me you were tailing me."222Please respect copyright.PENANAJqwbJrpYlA
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"If you knew, it might've interfered with your operation."222Please respect copyright.PENANAOvCcWhs8kv
222Please respect copyright.PENANAGARsBok8rc
"That's stupid."222Please respect copyright.PENANAGvMgofAaLd
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I felt out of place as they quarreled.222Please respect copyright.PENANA8sxK02XU85
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"Kenny, you're alone, right?" Kim asked.222Please respect copyright.PENANAbbqgiSZpY0
222Please respect copyright.PENANAhLfNR7sTMm
"...Yes?"222Please respect copyright.PENANAspPybqX1HQ
222Please respect copyright.PENANAHnJ3YRZLTb
"Excellent. Skylark, could you please guard the room?"222Please respect copyright.PENANAxvz4tqmrv6
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"Yes, my lady."222Please respect copyright.PENANAlP6mOkZWxe
222Please respect copyright.PENANAnf0wkSchAS
Huh? What was happening? I stood with a blank expression as Skylark exited the room. The thought of stopping him didn't even cross my mind.222Please respect copyright.PENANAZOZCacwAcO
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"Before I start, I want to say a few things. Please take a seat."222Please respect copyright.PENANA9rzFItSiYB
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I sat on the adjacent bed. My hands were fidgeting a little. She wasn't going to say what I thought she was, was she? How could she even have found out?222Please respect copyright.PENANAYbmTCTLpXB
222Please respect copyright.PENANAmoTr6d3SP9
"I'd like to firstly apologize for deceiving you."222Please respect copyright.PENANAc3yyh3YJ3s
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She put her hands on her hood and pulled it back. In front of me stood a woman with short hair and giant curls resembling coils. She had eyes a shade of green that could blend in with the leaves. I was shocked by the sudden revealing of her face, but I was hounded more by the colors of her features. I recognized it.222Please respect copyright.PENANAtaChWE0vx7
222Please respect copyright.PENANA3NqvQo6X1w
"My name is Phoebe Zariel. I am the sole daughter of King and Queen Zariel, and I am the older brother of Orice Zariel. You've run into him yourself a few times, haven't you?"222Please respect copyright.PENANAOKDJA0aVbH
222Please respect copyright.PENANAnjTMu7tBDE
"W-W-W-Wha? Huh?"222Please respect copyright.PENANA2cmviVZFPw
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"I know you aren't fond of royalty, but please hear me out."222Please respect copyright.PENANAGoLFjR5AwB
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I was stupefied. I couldn't answer her, but she took it as a sign to continue.222Please respect copyright.PENANA5iIiaPBAA7
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"Many things have been occurring against the Zariel kingdom. From what we know, the East country wants to use land the kingdom controls– the Exotica Mines, specifically– and offer us their exclusive goods in exchange. We refused dealing with them many years ago, and have suddenly seen a spike in criminal and alarming activity, whether it be in the city itself or villages. You are a resident of Buffalo Village, correct?"
"...Wha? What– huh?"222Please respect copyright.PENANAWtIulVtj0i
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"My apologies, I must be overwhelming you.222Please respect copyright.PENANAqwXQy4dm5S
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"Y-Yes. Can you– so, you're the dumb prince's sister?"222Please respect copyright.PENANA8MUvIDiiNh
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She scowled at me. Oops.222Please respect copyright.PENANAFx9cSHCbMa
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"He is not dumb! He has the kindest heart out of anyone in our family! So what if he escapes from time to time? He's only ever done good for the citizens!"222Please respect copyright.PENANACcZnvhKcsk
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"He had two of his lackeys chase me around the town for no reason."222Please respect copyright.PENANAC3jIoc0uK0
222Please respect copyright.PENANAaR1Ck5UKCi
"That... well, it's convenient that you mention that. There was a reason for it."222Please respect copyright.PENANAYYAns91Q8H
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I was suddenly invested.222Please respect copyright.PENANAhkNlb4BLkL
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"He wanted you to meet with the royal magicians, most likely, after seeing what you did to the two rogue knights. He might've been too blunt, however, please forgive him."222Please respect copyright.PENANAua6z3sF4XE
222Please respect copyright.PENANACYAj0UFyiK
"Uh-huh."222Please respect copyright.PENANA208O7S5Zj9
222Please respect copyright.PENANAYBiPj27Rpo
"I mean it. Forgive him."222Please respect copyright.PENANA69LnSJefrQ
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"O-Okay, I will."222Please respect copyright.PENANANFLTQmxIDK
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"Excellent. Moving on, my mission today was similar. I ventured out specifically to find you and see if all the fuss Orice was making was warranted. I came out believing it was."222Please respect copyright.PENANA6r6tWb4wnV
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The princess stood up and looked at me imposingly.222Please respect copyright.PENANAabpXChFusN
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"Kenny, there may be a time when you need to fight for your kingdom. Not in a war, that isn't a citizen's duty, but at the very least, to protect the sovereignty and pride of it."222Please respect copyright.PENANAYYV67DzmXJ
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I was even more stupefied. All of a sudden, the princess bowed to me.222Please respect copyright.PENANApVn1jhtLmQ
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"Please, become a royal mage. You will be paid greatly, be given training and a plethora of privileges–"222Please respect copyright.PENANADjDdr1CumO
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"I refuse."222Please respect copyright.PENANAgnD1uXs2JZ
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The utterance of the word royal made my answer obvious.222Please respect copyright.PENANAXCQgHyteHv
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"...I had a feeling you would say that. Then, I have another proposal."222Please respect copyright.PENANATqTlzhwhLv
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She sat down and crossed her legs.
"Enter the combatant's guild, gain combat experience, and take jobs relating to us. You'll avoid any affiliation and still gain the same rewards."
"Rewards?"
"Well, for starters, money."
I listened a little more intently.
"Additionally, you'll garner clout in the realm of combatants and form beneficial connections. If you need it, I can make sure your family will gain immunity and financial assistance."
"That's..."
The words she was speaking almost seemed fake. All of that, and all I had to do was join the guild and take some jobs? I had suspicions.
"And finally, you'll gain access to all organic Exotica in the palace."
"W-Wait, you don't mean–"
"Correct. All the magical plants in our possession; you won't own them, but we'll allow you to study them."
"..."
At this point, it would be foolish not to accept. But I still had difficulty believing her words.
"...If you see my name in the guild registry, which you probably will, then that means I accepted your deal. But, you don't have to do everything you said. I think just some money and the plants would be fine."222Please respect copyright.PENANAgb0PDaNt8u
222Please respect copyright.PENANAhlsfUQhzLX
She smiled and firmly nodded. I almost felt like I was taking advantage of her. For her to make all of those offers, she must have been desperate. I didn't know quite what yet, but I had confidence that I would find out.222Please respect copyright.PENANAE6X5CANLkV
222Please respect copyright.PENANAQTN6d8Mzcj
"Thank you. I'm glad that you decided to become an ally."222Please respect copyright.PENANAZFwp5yo3ls
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"R-Right. But, if you want a mage, why don't you just ask the Tea Mage?"222Please respect copyright.PENANA6wV55MSzE0
222Please respect copyright.PENANAtTNOzuksKP
"Tea Mage...?"222Please respect copyright.PENANAaLPXWSwpYX
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"I think his name is Freed."222Please respect copyright.PENANAfeX2n7OU7X
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"Oh, Freed."222Please respect copyright.PENANACdgBxC51uk
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Her face twisted into a moue.222Please respect copyright.PENANASYp3dOZAfq
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"I see. He must've refused, then."222Please respect copyright.PENANAbVXjX4nm8a
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"He did much more than just refuse. Ugh, I hate even thinking about it."222Please respect copyright.PENANAZgghdSnYhl
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I nervously laughed. I was also a little worried. The princess made him out to be a delinquent, and I didn't want to be studying under a delinquent.222Please respect copyright.PENANA4SeoTkWJB9
222Please respect copyright.PENANAPoH9gUiGQN
She stuck out her hand. I grabbed it and shook it. After the matter, the princess put the hood back on. I tried looking under it and I still couldn't make out any of her identifying features.222Please respect copyright.PENANA0j4WOBiSKw
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"Is that thing also Exotica?"222Please respect copyright.PENANAbtqeLlhWvR
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"It's made of it. Also, please don't forget to refer to me as 'Kim.'"222Please respect copyright.PENANAorVfXxccWt
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"Right."222Please respect copyright.PENANApgthLvTRgS
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The princess laid down on the bed. Looking at her now, it suddenly hit me, the severity of the conversation we just had and the thing I just agreed to do. I lost my breath for a second.222Please respect copyright.PENANA28Z4cenRVM
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"...It'll probably be fine."222Please respect copyright.PENANAxlQmuujDIx
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With that affirmative thought, I waited along with the princess. Skylark joined us shortly, and not too long after, the rest of the group came. Flinty was first, and Ng, Linda, and Victoria all came at the same time. The three of them were carrying plates of food and drinks the likes of which I'd never seen. The table usually stationed in the living quarters was too small, so Victoria left momentarily to bring a new one. I didn't understand why we didn't move rooms but I didn't question it.222Please respect copyright.PENANAWP1mQf2npH
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It was a large event. Not particularly noisy, but it was large. Words flew, laughs rumbled, and stories were told. It was nice, a scene that accorded with our victory. It made me feel happy. It made me feel like I was a part of something more.222Please respect copyright.PENANALRyyudBG0n
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It made me look forward to the future.