"I see it. The light, I see it!"21Please respect copyright.PENANAoo8qoEMgyp
21Please respect copyright.PENANAaHJHCiLKav
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANACyG8kJq3LL
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"We did it, Flinty."21Please respect copyright.PENANAju8SSqk2EA
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"Yeah."21Please respect copyright.PENANATCwqDeaCar
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAonA4omdZD0
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This operation should not have made me feel as grateful as I was to be alive.21Please respect copyright.PENANAlKUe6Gbakq
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA6AskkjZbHa
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"Ah, you made it!"21Please respect copyright.PENANALd43vUkxqT
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAznwQTuhzfq
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"Kenny? You have a weird smile on your face."21Please respect copyright.PENANAFofX3HUzHb
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"I'm just happy for them, Flinty."21Please respect copyright.PENANA2PzUb4ekWb
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"Ah, alright."21Please respect copyright.PENANAmGnowpQrDt
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Linda greeted all of us afterward, thanking Skylark in particular for the help and shaking hands with Ng.21Please respect copyright.PENANAOBd5WLijw7
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"Ah, you. I recognize you," she said.21Please respect copyright.PENANAIxqcRPATIT
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"Really? I'm quite surprised. I thought I was inconspicuous, even for an ordinary villager."21Please respect copyright.PENANAGzuk6t23OM
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"You're the one who lives in house 32D."21Please respect copyright.PENANAkTs7rMaKQN
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"...It is concerning that you know that. But, I'm glad that I was able to properly meet you, head farmer Linda."21Please respect copyright.PENANAKv1rtMyfOQ
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAW0TMESsVY2
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"Hey Kenny, aren't you going to wash your shirt?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA2NtvWLbIVz
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"Wash my– you know what, that's a great idea. I don't know if I can, though. It's pure white."21Please respect copyright.PENANAXtzW69fO4Q
21Please respect copyright.PENANAMoiu5aefGe
"I know a trick to wash off any stain! Mom taught me it a while ago."21Please respect copyright.PENANAhCPxXyPikc
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"Really? I'd appreciate you teaching me."21Please respect copyright.PENANAlUKEGgZzO8
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"Of course! Let's go."21Please respect copyright.PENANAFxMOh0ZIxs
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAIYSupv81ur
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"First, you need to turn your shirt inside out."21Please respect copyright.PENANA18aSHIhqZs
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Suddenly, I felt my body grow a little hotter.21Please respect copyright.PENANAzdrkPquAHV
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"Uh, do I have to?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAjkbQnJqCeP
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"Well, you'll need to take it off either way."21Please respect copyright.PENANA1uARbhqCvn
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Darn it, she was too convincing, but the idea of showing my bare chest to Flinty was too embarrassing.21Please respect copyright.PENANAdW7agwYyZx
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"Kenny?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAltjVjj1h7j
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"Yeah yeah..."21Please respect copyright.PENANAKOSE7dZxG6
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I took off my shirt.21Please respect copyright.PENANAcvHpHMxuP4
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"Alright, now come here."21Please respect copyright.PENANARGLw4fOVzy
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAG1gLaRZVmW
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"Ugh, try scrubbing it with your elbow? Maybe you just need a sharper surface."21Please respect copyright.PENANAPmpIhT1HJo
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"Right."21Please respect copyright.PENANAKpMlUsMs1k
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I tried that, but it didn't work.21Please respect copyright.PENANAtsfmIZ4SyC
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"Gah! What is this stain even made of!?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAp1rmIGe9hZ
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"Beats me."21Please respect copyright.PENANAMphUcD8DI0
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"But it came from you, didn't it?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA1GoPHzsHRs
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"I don't know what it is, though. If I had to guess, then..."21Please respect copyright.PENANA9ev5leZ6Ne
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My mind raced to a picture of a syringe. I immediately began to jitter.21Please respect copyright.PENANAsL8f7GHQaL
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"Hold on, give me that shirt, let me try!"21Please respect copyright.PENANA7GGX7jvSF0
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAqUhag9UBxM
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"It's no use. It isn't possible."21Please respect copyright.PENANAbT00vZBYf0
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"That's fine. I can always just get a new shirt."21Please respect copyright.PENANAavBMPw285u
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"But didn't Anabelle make it for you?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAkeysER3EDs
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"Huh? She only made the jacket, Flinty."21Please respect copyright.PENANA9BIlJpGJQL
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"A-Ah, w-well then..."21Please respect copyright.PENANAdRYZgWrEQA
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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.
21Please respect copyright.PENANAhwVsfbFvRq
"K-Kenny?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAVpB149NXyD
21Please respect copyright.PENANA9kb0Xlg7u5
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANApe1PFfLpaG
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"I'm glad you're okay too, Kenny."21Please respect copyright.PENANAV7sfojin4a
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"Y-Yeah."21Please respect copyright.PENANAmZjApYPRXM
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It wasn't just that she was okay. But, I didn't utter it.21Please respect copyright.PENANAC7j9lnUOJG
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"Let's go back to the farmhouse. I'm starting to get hungry."21Please respect copyright.PENANAlQ57FkDduh
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA1Xynl5aMbL
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It wasn't just Skylark, of course.21Please respect copyright.PENANAyomKflNKgV
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"Ah, Kim, you're finally awake!"21Please respect copyright.PENANA3F6NZbyOCQ
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAK4FK39BIHQ
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"Kenny. I see, so we succeeded."21Please respect copyright.PENANAHB1TfuJ6IJ
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"Yes. Panz is still knocked out, but Ng is around. He'll probably join us for lunch."21Please respect copyright.PENANAfGrQ50dlRA
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"That's good. That's great. I'm glad."21Please respect copyright.PENANAIv1gTqHR8f
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She looked over at Skylark.21Please respect copyright.PENANAtisvKnXMEA
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"And, again, thank you for helping."21Please respect copyright.PENANAImmoAd9djA
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"But of course, it is my duty."21Please respect copyright.PENANAW4QIudMnNa
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"You could have at least told me you were tailing me."21Please respect copyright.PENANAfwn3I7sBp1
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"If you knew, it might've interfered with your operation."21Please respect copyright.PENANALjm5zIo5TC
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"That's stupid."21Please respect copyright.PENANAFdf6aDzLhv
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I felt out of place as they quarreled.21Please respect copyright.PENANASDLljmhxMw
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"Kenny, you're alone, right?" Kim asked.21Please respect copyright.PENANAoTWYg7mbbS
21Please respect copyright.PENANAM3wVCLDlIl
"...Yes?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAjPjC2g3Qpp
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"Excellent. Skylark, could you please guard the room?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAvA5T8UG9qP
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"Yes, my lady."21Please respect copyright.PENANARk5pUKJrik
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAj5h3L9eEaO
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"Before I start, I want to say a few things. Please take a seat."21Please respect copyright.PENANAFtOfcN63SP
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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?21Please respect copyright.PENANAqlI90DF3ek
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"I'd like to firstly apologize for deceiving you."21Please respect copyright.PENANAYd14w8M7Hu
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAXdQ8WvEWDZ
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"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?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAyMH5TsPWaZ
21Please respect copyright.PENANAeM6Vmp8uJD
"W-W-W-Wha? Huh?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAcfbtzquSer
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"I know you aren't fond of royalty, but please hear me out."21Please respect copyright.PENANApbIMBNpSEm
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I was stupefied. I couldn't answer her, but she took it as a sign to continue.21Please respect copyright.PENANAYHXkI1IOej
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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?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAjJKJz1daMN
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"My apologies, I must be overwhelming you.21Please respect copyright.PENANAvWaTGaKCce
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"Y-Yes. Can you– so, you're the dumb prince's sister?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAdnbPpyfDWZ
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She scowled at me. Oops.21Please respect copyright.PENANAfWGg6Ug77Y
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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!"21Please respect copyright.PENANATA3GvLRYB9
21Please respect copyright.PENANAo9ZpXn2J5e
"He had two of his lackeys chase me around the town for no reason."21Please respect copyright.PENANAIKuK38Frcm
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"That... well, it's convenient that you mention that. There was a reason for it."21Please respect copyright.PENANAx2iD5iplNN
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I was suddenly invested.21Please respect copyright.PENANAhr8kendlEt
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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."21Please respect copyright.PENANAlrOwo9f7IS
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"Uh-huh."21Please respect copyright.PENANAFiCi1hGTCS
21Please respect copyright.PENANAz6G4qQ6N8F
"I mean it. Forgive him."21Please respect copyright.PENANAkffxd44HKd
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"O-Okay, I will."21Please respect copyright.PENANAp00s24bO6B
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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."21Please respect copyright.PENANAci1GAyJXtG
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The princess stood up and looked at me imposingly.21Please respect copyright.PENANAGJyZftcYB7
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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."21Please respect copyright.PENANASrx0a9lPyJ
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I was even more stupefied. All of a sudden, the princess bowed to me.21Please respect copyright.PENANAMtMJUSfOgD
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"Please, become a royal mage. You will be paid greatly, be given training and a plethora of privileges–"21Please respect copyright.PENANAPle2tsIEWy
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"I refuse."21Please respect copyright.PENANAOgJ2E3sqon
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The utterance of the word royal made my answer obvious.21Please respect copyright.PENANAR6fZ0lIKKl
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"...I had a feeling you would say that. Then, I have another proposal."21Please respect copyright.PENANAErElfTkubh
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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."21Please respect copyright.PENANAuFw3fEOlWK
21Please respect copyright.PENANAXXE8SRqvvg
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAN3QpPoaFGu
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"Thank you. I'm glad that you decided to become an ally."21Please respect copyright.PENANAqpFIctmfPf
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"R-Right. But, if you want a mage, why don't you just ask the Tea Mage?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAiMMvIpFQI7
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"Tea Mage...?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAI8ceFR7Ir6
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"I think his name is Freed."21Please respect copyright.PENANAPzpjsnyqf0
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"Oh, Freed."21Please respect copyright.PENANAmKZHQe1bUy
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Her face twisted into a moue.21Please respect copyright.PENANAFObyCT41jH
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"I see. He must've refused, then."21Please respect copyright.PENANAT6XMhE8wyN
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"He did much more than just refuse. Ugh, I hate even thinking about it."21Please respect copyright.PENANAcqfEmohar7
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANARv0igsfJMN
21Please respect copyright.PENANAP8vhQuYm6j
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANABjIutxSkgP
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"Is that thing also Exotica?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAo79ThFcYpV
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"It's made of it. Also, please don't forget to refer to me as 'Kim.'"21Please respect copyright.PENANAOYhY00QISb
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"Right."21Please respect copyright.PENANAkLSuJSbVyf
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANATwdbm6my3C
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"...It'll probably be fine."21Please respect copyright.PENANAlKvCIOqqoA
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAxJ16n5J3zV
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAbxNzykvo0A
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It made me look forward to the future.