A large hall, with glass cells all around, was formed. Even the roof was covered with them; only the floor remained normal, solid and rough.
Even though the area was a closed hall, the greyish skylight inside the glass cells on the roof gave it the feeling of an open sky. The cells on the sides, having green and red borders, gave the surroundings the atmosphere of a mystical forest.
In the middle of all this stood a large cat with golden eyes, baring her fangs at two individuals.
Screech...
The cat's hissing was low and threatening.
A Man with black hair, and his torso was clad in a dark purple shirt, leaving his chest slightly exposed.
And a woman, also having similar-colored hair and wearing a dress of the same color, was covered from neck to toe. Only her slender arms were visible through the cut of her dress, which started from the shoulder and went all the way to her knees.
It was me and Lisa.
The cat, which emerged almost at the same time as the message appeared, was humongous. Her paws' claws, sharp teeth, thick torso, powerful legs, and massive tail were intimidating.
The red flames with golden sparkles dancing over her red and golden fur made her even more threatening.
Most of the glass cells were empty, but almost every cell on the ground level held people, from students to professors. They were far away, and some of those who screamed in desperation and terror were inaudible. The color was drained from almost everyone's faces. Terror and uncertainty were unmistakable in their eyes.
The golden eyes of the cat flickered as she looked at me, and she swung her big paw in the air. It was a light swing, but the entire paw became covered in flames, and a fiery claw was headed toward us.
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[ Several Nubeculas are looking with anticipation. ]
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My head turned toward Lisa, and What is this? I found her standing completely motionless.
At first, one might think that she simply didn't see the attack as much of a threat, but her expression told me otherwise.
'What the hell? Why is she horrified?!'
Hurriedly, I moved using almost all of my stats. They could not be considered high, but they were still almost forty, which could be considered normal in this world now.
Arthur: "Zoe."
I spoke in a hush voice as I quickly closed the distance within a few seconds. With my face facing her and my back toward the huge cat, I stood in front of Lisa.
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' is looking at you. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is looking at you. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is looking at you. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is looking at you. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' is looking at you. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is looking at you. ]
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The claw attack heading toward us was enough to engulf both of us at the same time, but
—"Yes, My king."
A pair of silver, transparent wings appeared on my back, opening in their full glory. The wings met the attack head-on.
It might have been an insignificant attack from the flame cat's perspective.
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments "Hasty decision." ]
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BANG.
The attack created a huge explosion. Although no visible wounds appeared on my body, I still felt as if I had been electrocuted by a stun gun.
Arthur: "AaaAaaAaa..."
My body felt stuck. I wanted to crouch, curl up from the impact, and frown, but I felt like my entire body would sting if I moved even a single muscle. It felt like my blood vessels would burst and my eyes would melt.
Lisa: "A, Arthur, you are—"
She stammered as the painful sensation flowed through me like goosebumps.
I focused back in front of me. I wanted to frown so hard, but despite that, I could only strain my eyes and look at her. Lisa standing completely stupefied, her eyes wide open.
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "You are bleeding..!" ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is clicking his tongue. ]
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Something warm is flowing from the edge of my mouth. The metallic taste lingered on my tongue. I licked the blood from the corner of my mouth and swallowed it.
Arthur: "Miss Lisa?"
At my words, Lisa's eyes shifted from the blood on my chin to my eyes. The concern, anger, and frustration contained within her eyes made me uneasy, but I managed to hide it. I tried to force a smile onto my face.
Arthur: "Are you hurt?"
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is looking at you with concerning eyes. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is sipping his wine. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is shaking her head. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is snorting. ]
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At my words, several messages appeared, and Lisa's eyes shook as if she were looking at something horrifying.
It was meant to be sarcastic since I am a little angry. Even though she could have dodged the attack earlier, why didn't she? But because of the stinging pain, my voice came out hoarse.
'Does my voice sound that horrifying?' I pondered in my mind.
Lisa: "How can you a—"
She was mumbling in a low voice when I suddenly felt the air behind me getting warmer ,and it was rising to a blaze.
I grabbed Lisa's hand and moved my body using my now almost forty stats.
It stung. The sensation of moving my limbs was akin to when they are forcefully moved after becoming numb, devoid of sufficient blood circulation, but urgency required movement.
Grabbing her wrist, I swung her to the side and raised my right arm. Right wing rose to create a shield, and the fire attack was blocked, leaving the wing bruised.
Arthur: "Aamph..."
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[ Handful of Nubeculas are excitedly looking in your direction. ]
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I groaned as I felt a sensation similar to my hand being slightly burned, even though it was not actually burned.
'It's like actually having these as my own body part, but the sensation I feel is like I am being hit by a weaker form of the attacks.' After having used the wings once during the plaza incident and using them now to actually defend against an attack, these wings do feel like mine.
When the heretics attacked the plaza using bombs, Zoe, in order to protect me, took the form of a pair of wings and covered the entire plaza. The bombs were blocked by those majestic wings.
But as explosions occurred on the wing's surface, I felt like I was being bitten by multiple bugs. And now, when the first flame attack was blocked by the entire wings, I felt a stinging sensation all over my body.
Lisa: "A, Arthur?"
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "You are bleeding again..!" ]
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I moved my head, but also felt a warm sensation on my lips again. Blood at the corner of my mouth, which I had licked earlier, was dripping once more. Her eyes were fixated on the corner of my mouth, where the blood was now dribbling. I ungripped her wrist and clapped her cheeks with both hands.
'SLAP'
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' comments "hehe." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' comments "Don't." ]
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'For some reason, that "don't" feels like a cold remark.'
A light clapping sound resonated, but it shouldn't hurt since I didn't put much strength into it. I made her eyes focus on me. I looked into her eyes as I spoke.
Arthur: "Hey, are you alright? Talk to me."
I asked that to understand her behaviour, which made no sense to me.
First of all, only Lisa and I are here. I cannot break the cells open because, according to Magnus, shattering the glass would only make things difficult, and no other method is coming to my mind.
I needed to make her focus before we could fight. The flame cat looking at us, hissed in a cat-like voice. Flames danced at the corners of her mouth, threatening us.
But that is not my problem now. The problem is—
'Why is she acting like this?' My immediate problem is Lisa, who is just stunned, standing like a frightened child.
At my words, she tried to speak, replying to me.
Lisa: "Y, yeah."
Arthur: "Okay, good. I am here. We will defeat—"
Lisa: "We cannot defeat the flame creature."
Arthur: "Ha?"
I became perplexed at her words.
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments "She is giving up even before trying?" ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is disappointed. ]
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Hwang Jini wasn't a warrior, but as her tales are renowned for facing many challenges with only her intellect, she could be called a sedulous person.
I was trying to make Lisa's mind focus, which seemed to be in shambles. But thinking somewhat similarly to 'Hwang Jini', I could not comprehend how she could make such a negative remark with such a clear voice. I was confused.
Lisa: "I cannot defeat it."
Arthur: "Wha—"
Lisa: "It was undefeatable before as well!"
She screamed. Although it was overshadowed by the cat's hissing, yet it echoed in my ears. The light in her eyes disappeared, and the strength in my hands became weak.
Arthur: "Huh?"
Lisa: "He couldn't. I decided then—but now I cannot either."
As my hands left her cheeks, her head hung down. Her words made me recall the event where her husband, the previous Archduke, died.
< 'What was the situation?' Her voice was devoid of life.
One of the soldiers with a higher position, one of the survivors of the attack led by the Archduke, stood stiffly in front of her.
Everyone who was on the front line died, but the ones in the back who fled survived. The person standing in front of her was one of those cowards.
'Archduchess. I am deeply sorry about—'
'Just tell the details.' She said, completely uninterested. The apologies she had heard were so many that she was numb to them now.
The man bowed in shame.
'Two thousand soldiers on the front all died. The Archduke fought bravely on the front; his deeds and bravery are like no other. The battle was tough and... and...'
The man tried to talk about anything other than how the Archduke, the husband of the woman sitting in front of him, died. But he ran out of words as her eyes simply loomed over him.
The man could not speak gibberish. As the dead eyes kept looking at him, he was scared of the woman and sad for her—the generous Archduchess from before was gone.
'A, Archduke fought the flaming Amphisbaena. It is a large snake only heard in legends. It has two heads, one at the front and one at its tail...'
The man lifted his head to look ahead, but the Archduchess's eyes, devoid of any interest, made him shudder.
'T-The flame was all around. Archduke fought with all he had; he even used the Royal Family Ice Magic, b-but it didn't faze the creature. I-it tore the Archduke's limbs one by one as we watched. I deeply a—'
'You can go.' Her eyes were still dead, but this time her voice was coarse. The man felt ashamed as he exited.>
Screeeeech...
A deafening hissing voice brought me back to focus. The source of the terror was terrifying to even listen to, evident on the faces of the people inside the cells as well. But I couldn't turn now; I just kept looking at Lisa.
With all the twisting and turning, her hair became loose, and both her eyes hid behind the long strands. The part of her lips visible because the hair was parted at her nose was twisted, as if she were biting them.
'What should I do?' I don't know what to do.
'Console her? Is there time? Force her to focus?' I couldn't organise my thoughts, and another hissing resounded.
Screeeeeeech.....
It was as if the Flame Cat was angry about being ignored. The Flame Cat opened her mouth wide, and the flames dancing over her fur gathered inside her open mouth.
As those flames condensed within her open maw, the temperature rose little by little until it reached an unbelievable, sweltering heat.
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' comments "This doesn't look good." ]
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Just like 'Raziel' commented, I could feel my back becoming covered in sweat. But all I could do was frown at the woman in front of me, completely defeated, pain coursing through my body.
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[ The 'Flame of Abandoned Soul' has used 'Breath Attack Lvl.1' ]
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Arthur: "Fuck it."
I turned around and swung my right arm; the wing shielded my arm like an armour and clashed with her breath attack, smashing the flames.
Bang..!!!
I am angry. The situation with the script was something I had somewhat predicted, but there is no story here. And Lisa, who was supposed to be cold, calm, and benevolent, is a complete mess.
She was a complete mess when her husband died, but it was so long ago that she should be okay now. No, she never was okay. Losing her beloved was a serious blow to her heart. People before knew the Archduchess to be gentle and benevolent, but she became cold, still benevolent. The only gentleness left was for her daughter, and her cold appearance was what needed to be shown to be strong.
She never truly coped with her loss. She would eventually face her heart and change, but that is something which supposed to happen in the future.
'Why does this happen?' Many times, I had seen existences in this world struggling, and I knew they would eventually overcome those internal struggles.
'But why does it keep happening in front of me?'
I had seen these lost expressions on their faces before, just like Valerie showed in the plaza and now Lisa.
It was foolish to think that I could go without influencing anyone.
But I didn't want to be in a position where I chose how their lives should unfold. Their lives should flow the way they were supposed to, the way I had seen them.
Sizzle. Sizzle.
The attack was neutralised, and the sizzling sound continued as the wing itself was burning. The wings slowly disappeared from view, leaving nothing blocking the flame cat and us.
The right side of my whole body pained as if I were hit by a truck, and—
Arthur: "Pukk—"
The metallic taste of fluid filled my mouth again.
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' comments "Oh no." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is holding her mouth in gasp. ]
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I coughed up a handful of blood.
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is clicking his tongue. ]
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'Isn't this asshole clicking his tongue too much? He will cut it. Although I don't mind if he does.'
I reflexively raised my right hand to cover my mouth, which felt as if someone had moved my hand as it was broken.
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "I don't like 'this' cat." ]
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Gumiho likes cats. Yet, she hates this humongous Flame Cat.
Lisa jerked her head, terrified.
Lisa: "Ah—"
No, she was beyond terrified at this point. She looked as if I had already died.
Lisa: "What are you doing? Let me see!"
—Are you feeling better?
Zoe's voice sounded in my head. It seemed uneasy and concerned.
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[ The skill 'Zoe's Heart Lvl.6' has been used. ]
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[ The skill 'Zoe's Heart Lvl.6' has restored your body. ]
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Arthur: "...I am fine."
At my words, her hand, which was approaching mine while trying to hold the blood, halted.
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is sighing. ]
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Blood dripping down stained my shirt and hand. But with Zoe's help, I felt the pain disappearing. The sizzling burn on my arm, the stinging sensation throughout my body, the feeling of the right side of my body being crushed from the inside out—all of it vanished.
'Yes, I am feeling better.' Zoe's Heart is a skill that was not used for protecting me from external attacks, but for dealing with internal pain and fatigue, my vitality.
'You are the best.' I replied with complete sincerity and confidence.
For someone who didn't like feeling overworked, it was the best skill. And being a 'Character Skill', the skill keeps their own personality intact.
—I live for you, My King.
She sounded happy and relieved, and the sound of the waterfall felt pleasant to hear.
The blood coming out of my mouth had stopped. I moved my hand, which was covered with semi-dried blood, and looked at the Flame Cat.
She seemed enraged.
Arthur: "Let's deal with this now."
With Zoe negating all the pain and fatigue, I felt like I had woken up from a good sleep. I was a little excited now.
Lisa: "What? Wait!"'
But then suddenly Lisa grabbed my left arm. I looked at her; she seemed desperate, though that might only appear that way from my perspective. With my free hand, I held her hand that was grabbing my arm to push it away, but her grip was strong.
'Ah. Yes, she is stronger than me.'
Although it was a shame that, despite being with a strong existence like her, I have to deal with the situation, I understood that she was in no mental condition to fight.
Arthur: "It is alright, Miss Lisa."
I tried so that she would let me go. I was feeling perfectly fine, but she reacted unexpectedly.
Lisa: "No! You'll die!"
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[ Some Nubeculas are startled. ]
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[ Some Nubeculas are holding their hearts. ]
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Lisa: "Why don't you ever listen to me?! Call me Professor! Don't take that class! Don't get yourself too involved! Don't overwork yourself! Don't make me dependent on you! Even now! Why don't you ever listen?!"
Desperation rose in her eyes, intensifying with every sentence she spoke.
Arthur: "..."
I was left speechless. What is she blabbering about? I tried to process her words.
'Overwork? I never want to do that. I loathe overwork.' I grumbled.
'Is this the reason the affection number didn't increase? What is this stupid reason?'
I looked at her with dead eyes, but it was not cold—it was understanding, since I understand why she was so desperate in front of a flame creature.
But if I have to give a reply to her loud questioning words, it would be—
Arthur: "It makes me who I need to be."
Lisa flinched at my words.
Arthur: "Someone you can rely on. So rely on me one more time... Miss Lisa."
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is snorting. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is smiling. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is looking at you with fondness. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "Yes he is..!" ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' comments "He has a good heart." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "But I also like his bad boy persona." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is looking at you. ]
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Ignoring the messages, I felt Lisa loosen her grip. 'Finally.'
Ignoring the messages, I felt Lisa loosen her grip. I pushed her hand away, and it slid without any effort, but she then gripped my sleeve with her fingers in a last effort, her hair covering her face.
'This is not good.' I felt the Flame Cat hissing, and it was getting angry.
The Flame Cat, which had lost its flames in the last attack, looked like a normal huge cat with red-golden fur, but the flames were gradually intensifying around her.
Arthur: "It's alright. There is no one else besides us. I'll clear this. I won't let it hurt you... Nobody will die."
I chose my words carefully. At that, I pushed her hand away, and she clenched her fist tightly.
The loss of strength with which she had grabbed my sleeve was because she believed in my words, or because she no longer had the mental strength to keep clinging on, I didn't know.
I wanted to help her mind focus, free from any worry, but the time crunch and the urgency of dealing with the current situation didn't allow for that peace.
'I think I could hold off until Lisa calms down.' With that thought, I turned around.
I knew it wouldn't be cliché—she wouldn't keep wallowing in the turmoil she was feeling; her mind would calm down after a while, as it should. With a little bit of time, which we didn't have right now, she could make herself focus, and then she could help. I just have to hold on until then.
I would just let someone else do it, fight the huge flame monster cat, the 'Flame of Abandoned Soul'.
But as I said, there was no one else besides us. Everyone is trapped inside the glass cells.
Ducas would have been a huge help... No, he would mess up the script just as much as Persephone—their existence is just absurd.
'It is already messed up to an extent that I don't understand.' I clicked my tongue. I am definitely annoyed.
Arthur: "Let's do it. You and me, 'Flame of the Abandoned Soul'."
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "Yes! I don't like this cat!" ]
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[ Some Nubeculas are pumping their fists in the air. ]
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As I stood in front of the humongous cat, which was five times my size, I raised my hand. The silver ring on my hand shone brightly, and a sword appeared.
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[ The Chronicle-Sword of 'Dawn' has been equipped. ]
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The sword had a wide and long blade, wider than my own arm and longer than two meters, just enough to be held with one hand.
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[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is looking at your sword. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' comments "That sword looks familiar." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments "...The sword of Ice and Flames." ]
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I tightly held its hilt, which was wrapped with leather.
'The church must have spent a huge amount of points on this. It is a chronicle sword, so the story behind it is not famous, but it is original.'
Arthur: "It will be enough for an A-grade script."
The script generated here is a B-grade, which should be close to the limit. The story of the woodcutter was a D-grade, and this one is already messed up to the point that there wasn't a story to it—just emotions.
The Flame Cat hissed even more threateningly, looking at the sword as if she recognized it as a threat.
Arthur: "Let's see then."
'Zoe, it is you and me.'
—I will support you, My King.
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[ Several Nubeculas are clapping and looking in your direction with anticipation in their eyes. ]
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