episode_0120

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Karl looked back and forth between the blindfold in his hand and the center of the plaza.

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As the Christmas Eve celebration drew to a close, the ‘Veiled Love’ was about to begin.

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I have seen and heard of this sacred yet profane ritual ever since I came to this world.

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But now that I’m directly involved, my feelings are different from before. I’m nervous and anxious.

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-Ah~ Should we go back to the classroom now?

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Alana’s face came to mind, smiling bashfully and playing with her sword.

When her gentle gaze turned to the sword, he felt uneasy, but did not show it.

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-Just kidding, just kidding! Just wait. The most beautiful saint in the world will come to see you!

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But Alana knew the sword well, so she didn’t miss the subtle changes in emotion.

He quickly ended the joke, caressing Carl’s arm.

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And now, Carl is about to come to consciousness with a trembling heart.

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There was so much going on.

The plan that was made after the ice rink was not only distorted, but also twisted.

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Chloe falls for Unknown sooner than expected, and Beatrice finds another man.

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Now only Daniela and Alana remain.

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I even thought that it was a good thing.

It may have been this way from the beginning.

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Even though the real heroine is only Alana…

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If you try to have too many things out of greed, you might end up losing the precious things that are closest to you. So, even now, it would be best to just look at Alana.

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Groan groan-

There was a commotion outside.

The heat of the ceremony was transmitted to the waiting booth where the sword was.

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There was a mixture of sighs and cheers.

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Outside, in addition to those participating in the ceremony, there were also many people who came to watch the ceremony.

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At first glance, I thought it was amazing that women would do something that was almost like a public confession in front of so many people.

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However, the power of traditions, customs, and anniversaries is so great that we tend to be true to our feelings without caring about what other people think.

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Carl smiled to himself and stood up while still holding the blindfold.

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Now it’s his turn.

Since this is a ceremony in which so many people participate, they are divided into groups and the order is determined.

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Karl prepared to go out into the plaza with the male contestants who would accompany him.

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Looking back, everyone was excited and nervous at the same time.

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They were hoping that the woman they had been waiting for would come to them, but they were also worried that no one would come.

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“Oh, I’m screwed. I’m the same guy as Carl Maynor!”

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Then a man sighed, clutching his head.

He was a student I encountered on my way to and from the academy.

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“Damn! If I go out with that guy, won’t all the girls’ eyes be on me? Even Peonia, who was going to come to me, might change her mind halfway through…”

“Haaah… I have no luck.”

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The other man nearby also sighed.

Frustration began to spread like an epidemic.

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Carl just smiled awkwardly. He didn’t want to say anything to comfort them, because it might hurt their pride.

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What should have been the most exciting moment was turning into a terrible wait.

They now felt as if they were waiting for their turn to be dragged to the slaughterhouse.

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“Stop worrying about useless things.”

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David, sitting in the corner, said in the depressed atmosphere.

He adjusted his glasses and stood up from his seat with a calm expression on his face, as always.

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“You didn’t participate in the ritual because you wanted something. If the woman you wanted really had the same feelings as you, then it wouldn’t matter who was around. Otherwise, if you were just participating as a guest, intoxicated by the atmosphere of the festival and ritual… Good luck.”

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It was a correct answer.

As time goes by, the value of the ritual changes, and many people participate with intentions different from the original intention—just to enjoy the attention of standing in the middle of the ritual—but the origin of this ritual is always love.

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love.

A love that must be achieved and achieved, even if it means avoiding the gaze of God.

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So if you have shown sincerity, if you have someone you truly love and have expressed your feelings to her in some way, then what you have been hoping for may happen.

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“I think that facing fear and acting with sincerity is valuable in itself.”

“…Seriously.”

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Carl chewed on David’s words.

For some reason, David’s words sounded like they were aimed at a knife.

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David’s gaze turned to Karl, who was repeating his words.

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“Yeah, seriously. Carl Maynor, it’s been a while.”

“Yes, it’s been a while, Chairman.”

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This is the first time we’ve had a conversation like this since I saw you in the alley where I killed Eligos.

There was a tension between the two that was difficult to explain, just like back then.

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“I didn’t know you’d participate in the ceremony, but you’re unexpected.”

“Is the chairman anxious because of me too?”

“Is this an event for Chloe? If so, she’ll be waiting outside too, right?”

“…No.”

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Karl was not very friendly with the chairman because he had a rather rebellious nature.

Moreover, since Chairman David seemed to be hanging around Beatrice under the pretext of being the student council president, I didn’t feel the need to treat him more gently.

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But David ignored the sword and just said what he had to say.

When Chloe’s name was mentioned, Karl looked uncomfortable and denied it.

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“Then is it a deviation?”

“You don’t know. Does the chairman have a woman waiting for him? The vice chairman, Daniela? Or…”

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For a moment, the sword flinched and shot forward, then stopped at the end.

It was hastily finished before the name ‘Beatrice’ came out.

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If that man was after Beatrice, I really thought I couldn’t stand it.

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It must have been quite unpleasant, but David smiled lowly and consoled her.

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“Well, it’s not unreasonable to think that way. But I’m just participating because I’m the president. It’s weird for the student body president to miss important events.”

“……”

“And I apologize if I offended you. You have your own circumstances, but I made you uncomfortable out of curiosity.”

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David said this and took a blindfold out of his pocket.

I look through the blindfold and then look around at the people around me.

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“You all must be feeling the mana from the blindfolds you have. This annoying magic will block our eyes, ears, and even our sense of smell. But if we can distinguish the person we truly desire in that complete darkness, it would be really great.”

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Step by step – He continues to speak while walking towards the center of the group.

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“Of course, there may be regrettable moments where no one approaches you… but isn’t that worth it? Because you can overcome the pain and wait for next year’s love. If you use the pain as fuel and come back as a better man, it would be perfect.”

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Everyone’s eyes lit up at David’s sincere words.

Then David slowly approached the sword.

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“That’s why I wanted to tell you. As a fellow man, not as your president, I hope you enjoy this time instead of worrying and feeling anxious. In a way, we’re like comrades. The outside is like a battlefield. There will be countless eyes watching you. I hope that we each achieve what we want in that battlefield.”

“……”

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Karl looked at David blankly.

David smiled a kind smile that didn’t match his sharp features and extended his hand to shake hands.

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“Carl Maynor, if you’re serious about the ritual, I’ll cheer you on. Just like I cheer on everyone else here.”

“Chairman? Are you really participating?”

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Carl asked, taking David’s hand in his.

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“I won’t lie that I’m being sincere as the president. That’s why I’m cheering you on and feeling ashamed of myself at the same time.”

“?”

“At least you guys are going to face your fears, be brave, and check your sincerity. I’m hiding behind the cowardly title of chairman.”

“Why?”

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I suddenly became curious.

It might seem hypocritical to encourage the men while not being sincere himself, but Carl did not feel that David’s words were hypocritical.

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I could just tell he was bitter.

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“It’s too long to explain. Just say that this is my situation—”

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The moment the two shook hands, the time had come.

The student who was hosting the event came in and shouted.

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“Okay, next! Everyone, come out.”

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The tense moment has arrived.

The men in the booth quickly put on their blindfolds and prepared to go outside.

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“…I guess I should go out.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

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Carl nodded and turned around.

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He takes the lead, and the men, including David, walk with solemn steps beside him.

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They truly became determined to go to the battlefield as David said.

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Karl was no exception, and as the lights of the plaza began to come into view, his heart began to race faster.

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*

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Wow-!

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As the men came out of the booth and approached the center of the square, the onlookers cheered.

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It was by no means a solemn and solemn ceremony, but it is rare to see such fervent cheers.

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This enthusiasm is clearly directed at Carl Maynor and David de Leon.

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Because the two were undisputed Academy celebrities.

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The sword walked along, glancing at the people who had come to watch.

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“I can’t help but feel nervous…”

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I asked David, who was walking beside me.

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“That’s true.”

“Is the Academy ceremony this hot every year?”

“No, there has never been such a loud cheer.”

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They had been walking slowly and finally dispersed to their respective seats.

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In the center of the square were soft chairs for men to sit on.

The space between the chairs was wide enough to accommodate a large number of women without interfering with each other.

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Carl took a deep breath and sat down.

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The ceremonies that unfolded here at the Academy were much larger in scale and more elaborate than the ceremonies he had experienced on the colonial islands.

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I knew what happened in the original and I actually saw the ritual itself, so I knew not to be nervous.

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But as soon as I sat down on the chair, I felt nervous.

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Just like in the original, Alana will come.

And Carl will recognize her just like the original.

So the two of them end up dancing under the moonlight. It’s such a simple and certain thing, but rather than being uninspired, my heart keeps pounding and won’t calm down.

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“The ritual will now begin. Gentlemen, please wear blindfolds!”

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Following the host’s instructions, Carl lifted his blindfold.

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“……”

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My eyes are blocked.

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Suddenly, darkness came.

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I can’t even smell the smell of a summer night floating in the air, or the smell of firewood burning in a huge bonfire.

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I couldn’t hear anything – not the noise of the bustling plaza, not my pounding heartbeat, not even the sound of my clothes rustling every time I tossed and turned.

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The knife was surprisingly effective as a blindfold.

Seriously, if we go on like this, we’ll never learn anything.

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How on earth am I supposed to pick a sincere partner in this situation?

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I even began to suspect that maybe he just took pictures of any random woman who approached him and claimed that he was serious.

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“!”

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Then I felt something.

He could sense a number of signs approaching Carl.

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Oh, like this?

The sword smiled.

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Even if you can’t see it, hear it, or smell it, you can still know it this way.

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When the senses were blocked, the body found a way out.

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A sound.

The blindfold helps me feel things better.

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Mana also seeps out through the gaps in the white veils worn by women.

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Each of them has a different way of handling and receiving mana. That’s why the mana emitted by the women who approached them was all different.

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Carl now felt it was only a matter of time before he could find Alana’s holy aura.

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Unfortunately, more women than expected were coming to Karl’s side. But Karl paid no attention and focused on feeling Alana.

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Guguguung-

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Then suddenly I felt an ominous feeling.

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Carl was surprised.

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An overwhelming aura enveloped him. Carl knew this aura.

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“…!?”

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A new darkness falls on the vision that was previously covered by the blindfold and completely obscured by darkness.

I saw the darkness, which should not have been visible, spreading out like a cloud.

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Unknown.

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The magic of the royal family.

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Bam-!

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Carl got up from his seat and swung his sword.

And he stretched out his hand towards the place where the dazzling darkness was coming from.

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He grabbed her thin wrist and pulled it roughly.

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“You…!”

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And then he quickly took off the blindfold.

The curtain blocking the view is lifted.

I saw a woman wearing a white veil following the wrist that had been caught.

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“!?”

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At this point, Carl realized who the woman was.

No, to be exact, I knew from the moment Unknown appeared in my dream.

His subconscious just denied it.

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With trembling hands, he tried to lift the white veil the woman was wearing.

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His instincts were already screaming that the anxiety he was feeling was real, but he had to confirm it.

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wickedness-

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Finally, Karl’s long fingers lifted the veil, and a beautifully sculpted nose came into view.

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“Ah……”

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The sword groaned softly.

Yet his gaze traveled up the bridge of the woman’s nose and into her large, set eyes.

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“You’re finally looking at me again?”

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The woman smiled broadly.

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Even though I had already taken off the magic blindfold, I couldn’t hear any noise around me.

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Carl could not see anything else or hear anything else, just like when he was blindfolded.

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I could only see the woman in front of me.

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Jiiing-

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And I could only watch the woman’s pretty blue eyes turn turquoise for a moment.

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“Happy.”

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Beatrice.

No, Carl felt his heart stop beating at the sight of Unknown’s terrifying gaze.

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