episode_0076

The finals of the grade-by-grade competition.

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A place to determine the strongest representative of each grade. Blood, sweat, and honor are intertwined to determine superiority.

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– Ahh—! As expected, he’s strong! Raymond, a student from Class 3-A! After a fierce battle, he finally sits at the top of the 3rd grade. Aaaah—!!

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The top three students from each grade are the best students. In other words, the three students who achieved the best results in the grade-level competition are the best students.

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– The sparring room has become even more heated! Let’s keep this momentum going and move on to the next match! The second-year students will have their final sparring matches!

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For the students who survived so far, the grade-level sparring is no longer a fight to be among the top students.

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The cheers and applause that shook the training ground. If only those cheers were directed at one person.

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‘And, if I become a student who enters that shining glory.’

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It is truly an exhilarating experience, beyond imagination. Daniel has already experienced it himself during the grade-level competition held last year.

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Daniel relaxed his stiff neck. The pouches on his waist made a rattling sound as they held all sorts of weapons for using magic.

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– Introducing! The strongest student in the second year combat department, Vivienne de Balueger!

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The cheers grew louder. Daniel could tell that Vivian had entered the arena.

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Now is the time. In the first year, Vivian and I had a mud fight and ended up winning by decision, but today, the winners and losers will be divided cleanly.

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– He looks even more serious today! The student who is up against him is…!

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Daniel finally released his wrist. It was clear that this was going to be a very tense duel. It was wise to prepare to roll around and run around like crazy.

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– The only hope for the second-year sorcery department, who wants to keep their place at the top this year, just like last year! Daniel!!

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The door blocking the entrance to the training ground slowly began to open with a heavy sound. Daniel stepped into the training ground.

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As soon as he entered the training ground, he saw Vivian standing there with her usual blank expression in the distance. Daniel’s face became tense.

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The two second-year students who had been staring at each other for a moment slowly walked forward. Soon, Daniel and Vivian found themselves facing each other in the center of the training ground, two paces apart.

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“Vivian.”

“… Daniel.”

“We met again this year. It seems like fate… .”

“Last year, I was complacent.”

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Vivian’s eyes became fierce. Those eyes were in stark contrast to her flat, unchanging voice.

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Daniel swallowed dryly as he looked into her deepening eyes.

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“Really?”

“Yeah. But, that won’t be the case this year.”

“That’s right… .”

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I’m looking forward to it.

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Daniel swallowed his words. Vivian’s eyebrows quirked as if she understood without him saying anything.

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“I won’t give in this time. I’m serious.”

“Okay. I’ll do my best too, so let’s do our best so that neither of us has any regrets.”

“If I win, I’ll take over as head of the Occult Research Club.”

“… This really can’t be helped?”

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Daniel smiled fiercely. As if he liked that expression, Vivian smiled back in response.

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“Instead, if you win… . The place you’ve been wanting to go to. I’ll go with you this summer vacation. ”

“You… .”

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A look of surprise spread across Daniel’s face. He stared blankly at Vivian for a moment, then nodded heavily and turned around.

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“Vivian.”

“Yeah.”

“There is no softness.”

“… You are the one.”

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Daniel and Vivian distanced themselves from each other. The same distance they had when they entered the arena.

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– I guess we’ve had a little chat! It looks like both sides are ready, so let’s start the duel!

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Daniel put his hand into the pouch hanging from his waistband. Vivian, standing opposite him, slowly drew the longsword also hanging from her waistband.

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– Dalian, Shizaak—!!

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As soon as Professor Andres’ shout rang out, the two students sprang into action.

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A duel from which neither side can back down. It has just begun.

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* * * * *

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“Is it just beginning… .”

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Chloe bit her lip without realizing it. Her lips were parched from tension and stung.

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In her eyes, Daniel and Vivian, who had already begun their duel, were reflected. Chloe’s pupils grew larger as she watched the two dueling.

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– Ahh! Daniel! Unlike the previous sparring sessions, you’re using wooden dolls! It’ll be interesting to see what moves you’ve prepared this time!

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A heavy weight resonates through the training ground. It is the wooden doll that Daniel loves to use and moves with magical powers.

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Daniel’s attacks poured down fiercely, at a speed that was unimaginable for a wooden doll of that size. However, Vivian was no pushover either.

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As the wooden doll’s fist slams down toward the ground, Vivian jumps high and runs at full speed along the wooden doll’s arm.

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As Daniel manipulated the wooden doll with a puzzled expression, Vivian, who had already settled on the nape of the wooden doll’s neck, quickly stabbed her sword into the wooden doll’s empty face.

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– Aah! The moment I spoke, Daniel’s wooden doll fell over! That’s really amazing!

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Chloe stared blankly at the sight.

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It was surprising that the two seniors in the Occult Research Club were so skilled, but what was even more surprising was the difference in skill between the two.

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Daniel, who had lost his wooden doll, quickly prepared his next spell, and Vivian was also seen on the monitor quickly moving away and preparing for an attack.

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“… If only I were that strong.”

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If that were the case, I wouldn’t have had to worry so much about dealing with Laura.

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Chloe thought back to the first-year class A students she had encountered so far. Owen, who carried a huge sword, and Hubert, who freely used two swords. In addition, there were also students who had cornered Chloe until then.

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Owen and Hubert unfortunately fell out of the duel because they met Laura early, but they probably would have made it to higher levels if Laura hadn’t been there.

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Laura, on the other hand, was lucky. Since the tournament began, she has not faced Laura even once in the draw.

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That fact, if anything, made Chloe feel even more miserable.

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“… can do it.”

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However, Chloe became more determined. As she continued to recall the advice that Professor Antonelli had given her, Chloe looked at the monitor with a determined look in her eyes.

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‘By the way, you washed the handkerchief well, right…?’

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* * * * *

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Before the duel began, Vivian was confident she could win against Daniel.

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Even though she was a second year student, she didn’t focus solely on the Occult Research Club. As if to prove it, Vivian’s sword had become much sharper than last year, and her swordsmanship had become incomparably more refined.

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Moreover, she is the eldest daughter of the Count Balueger family, renowned for their swordsmanship. She has inherited an abundance of talent for the sword.

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So, it would be strange to lose. If I had faced Daniel in perfect condition, I could have guaranteed a 100% victory.

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“Haa… . Haa… !”

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Not now. Vivian slowly calmed her ragged breathing.

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It wasn’t just Vivian who fought until she was out of breath. Standing opposite her, Daniel barely managed to hide his astonished expression and put his hands in the pockets hanging from his waistband.

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‘You’ve really gotten incredibly strong! I was so complacent!’

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Vivian’s swordsmanship had become so refined that I couldn’t help but admire it. When she even cut a floating piece of dirt in the air cleanly in two, I almost raised the white flag without realizing it.

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However, the match was not over yet. Something was caught in Daniel’s hand.

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“… There was this, right.”

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Daniel smiled wickedly. Vivian, who was looking at him, had an expression of discontent somewhere.

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‘Something… is strange.’

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Clearly, Vivian had destroyed Daniel’s main weapon, the wooden doll. In the first year, she had cornered her with the wooden doll that was both powerful and fast, so this time, too, it was expected that the battle would revolve around Daniel’s wooden doll.

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But once the actual event happened, her expectations were put on the back burner.

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“What are you up to, Daniel.”

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Vivian asked, unable to hold back. Daniel shrugged his shoulders at Vivian, without erasing his sly smile.

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“Well? If you come in first, you’ll know naturally, right?”

“… I feel sick.”

“That might hurt a little… .”

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Vivian grabbed her longsword. Whatever moves she was preparing, it wouldn’t matter if she moved faster than that.

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Daniel slowly opened his mouth, looking at Vivian who was taking a stance.

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“A hotbed of wisdom, a myriad of images that distinguish the times. Thirty segments of thought. ”

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Daniel’s hand slipped out of his pocket, and Vivian noticed that he was holding something in it.

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“Fickle… .”

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Vivian ran out, not quite sure why she had made that decision.

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So, it was a gut feeling. An instinctive premonition that things would go wrong was engraved in Vivian’s mind.

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Vivian, who had run out like lightning, closed the distance in an instant. Daniel was still standing there, dumbfounded.

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“Scene (𒂗𒍪), liberation, the most powerful creation under heaven.”

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Daniel slowly closed his eyes. In his hands he held a strange branch covered with white cloth, which trembled incessantly, amplifying Vivian’s anxiety.

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Vivian felt impatient for the first time in her life, and in an instant she walked up to Daniel’s nose and swung her longsword.

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“dollars.”

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– Ugh!

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As Daniel finished speaking, Vivian’s fierce attack struck his head.

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Vivian muttered.

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“The end.”

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The dull touch of something hitting something. Vivian felt it and was certain of victory. Thanks to her turning the sword just before the blade touched, Daniel’s head was hit by the blade of her sword.

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Since I believed in the illusionary magic engraved on the training ground and struck with all my might, it wouldn’t be strange if I fainted from one blow.

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“I won.”

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A smile appeared on Vivian’s face. It was so faint that it was hard to notice, but it was clearly the joy of a victor.

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“… Huh?”

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However, the joy did not last long.

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Vivian’s pupils dilated. In her eyes, she could still see Daniel standing there.

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Even Daniel was still as far away as before, in the same situation as he was moments ago, just before he attempted to attack.

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“Uh, how….”

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Regret came late, and determination came quickly. Vivian had no time to panic and immediately took up her position.

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Her movements, which were difficult to capture with the eyes, reached Daniel’s nose in an instant. Daniel was still standing with his eyes closed.

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However, the mouth was not like that.

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“dollars.”

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– Phew!

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This time, it was definitely right. Vivian could be sure of it.

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However, the sight that unfolded before Vivian, who blinked once.

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“Ma, nonsense… .”

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Vivian looked at Daniel with trembling eyes. Daniel was still standing still with his hands clasped together, making a strange hand gesture.

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“… Cool?!”

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Suddenly, dark red blood flowed out of Vivian’s mouth. Vivian’s face filled with embarrassment.

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The taste of iron filled her mouth. Vivian spat it out and frowned.

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“Daniel… !”

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Vivian gripped the longsword even tighter. Her eyes widened endlessly as she glared at Daniel.

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This one blow will take all my strength. Vivian’s posture became extremely low.

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The proud technique of the Balueger Counts, renowned for their swordsmanship. Vivian has not yet fully mastered the technique, but even just imitating it is overwhelming.

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I don’t know what kind of magic she used, but Vivian intended to grind Daniel up whole and drink it.

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“Hoo… .”

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Hot air flowed out of her mouth.

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– Shh!

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At the same time, Vivian’s figure disappeared in an instant.

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Vivian’s longsword rushes forward, breaking through the extreme speed faster than the blink of an eye, and rushes in front of Daniel.

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A speed that no one could react to. This time, Vivian was sure of victory.

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And then,

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“dollars.”

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With Daniel’s words, Vivian opened her eyes.

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“… … .”

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She hadn’t moved an inch from where she was before she attacked Daniel.

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A trickle of blood flowed down the corner of Vivian’s mouth. Wiping it away, Vivian thought.

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‘I can’t win against this.’

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Vivian gave up quickly, not knowing what moves her opponent was using. She put the longsword in her hand back into its scabbard with formality and bowed her head slightly.

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“I lost.”

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As Vivian’s words of admitting defeat echoed faintly, the arena was enveloped in silence.

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No one said a word. They just stared at the sight with their mouths wide open.

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In the midst of that shocking scene, the first person to come to his senses was Professor Andres, who was in charge of the event.

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– … With the surrender of student Vivienne de Balueger, the winner becomes student Daniel. Aaaah—!!

-Wow!—!!

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Only then did a cheering sound shake the training ground. Vivian let out a faint sigh as she felt the weight of tension being released all at once.

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It was the moment when the strongest student in the second year defended his position at the top.

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