1. So that's Auberst,
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2. the largest magical city
in the Northern Lands.
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3. We still have a long way to go.
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4. Let's hope we can hitch
a ride on a carriage.
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5. So, we'll stay there
until you can get your
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6. first-class mage certification,
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7. then enter
the Northern Plateau.
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8. I don't think there's
any particular reason
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9. I have to be the one
to get certified.
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10. I won't be able to use it
for long, anyway.
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11. You should take the test, Fern.
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12. You really don't know
this stuff, do you?
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13. Not just anyone can pass.
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14. Of all the skilled mages
out there,
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15. only a fraction have
ever reached the rank
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16. of first class.
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17. I certainly couldn't do it.
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18. Ah.
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19. Interesting.
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20. You don't sound interested.
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21. I should've asked sooner,
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22. but why do we need
to be accompanied
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23. by a crazy-powerful mage
to enter the Northern Plateau?
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24. To increase
the chances of survival.
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25. That area has long been home
to many cunning,
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26. magic-using monsters
like the Einsam.
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27. There was as time
when you wouldn't have dreamed
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28. of crossing it without both
a skilled mage and a priest.
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29. The travel restrictions
they have in place suggest
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30. that danger is on the rise
again in the region.
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31. Something fairly serious
must be happening
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32. out on the Plateau.
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33. We can find out more
about the exam
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34. once we arrive in the city.
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35. But according to Fern,
there will be a combat element.
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36. I should contemplate
strategies.
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37. Surely you'll be fine, though.
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38. With power like yours,
any test should be a breeze.
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39. Even when you
are suppressing it,
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40. your mana is still that
of an experienced old mage.
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41. I'll thank you
not to call me an old mage.
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42. Aw, and now she's sulking.
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43. You couldn't have found
some other way
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44. to describe her than that?
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45. Fine, I apologize.
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46. It's better than calling me
an old hag,
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47. like someone else once did.
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48. How long ago was that?
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49. Forget it, nap time.
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50. Wake me up
when we get to Auberst.
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51. Sheesh.
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52. Never mind.
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53. Why?
Is something wrong?
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54. My view of the sky
was partially obscured.
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55. What?
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56. Just so you know, Fern,
mana is far from the only thing
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57. that determines
a mage's strength.
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58. Technique and experience,
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59. the spells they use,
their control.
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60. Never mind tenacity and effort.
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61. Some of those sound
more like warrior traits.
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62. Finally, there's talent.
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63. All of these factors
come into play.
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64. In my life, I've lost
eleven times to mages
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65. who had less mana than I did.
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66. Four of those times
were to demons.
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67. Including Qual, years ago.
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68. One loss
was to an elf like me,
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69. and the remaining six
were to humans.
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70. I should have eyes
on the graf's city
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71. before much longer.
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72. The road to Auberst
hasn't been an easy one.
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73. Guess I'll take a little break.
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74. That's an awfully nice staff
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75. you've got there.
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76. Oh, what's this?
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77. Yet another group
of filthy bandits?
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78. You'd think
things would be peaceful
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79. now that Aura's been defeated.
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80. Instead, we just get
a different kind of trouble.
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81. Save your speeches, lady,
just hand over the goods and...
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82. You bastard!
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83. If you value your lives,
then I suggest you leave.
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84. Let's get out of here.
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85. My hero, thanks for the rescue.
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86. I'm Ubel the Mage, by the way.
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87. And I'm Kraft the Monk.
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88. Nice ears,
you must be an elf.
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89. I've never met
one of your kind before.
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90. You have the flat eyes
of a killer.
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91. Rescuing you
wasn't my goal here.
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92. I found
the torn-up bodies of bandits
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93. in the woods nearby.
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94. They'd been killed by a mage.
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95. One with tremendous skill.
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96. Ah, I see.
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97. So you came
to lecture me, then?
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98. No lecture,
I'm just an adventurer.
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99. I won't criticize you
for defending yourself,
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100. though the cost was high.
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101. I was simply
saving what lives I could.
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102. You're a shrewd old man,
how boring.
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103. Are you on the road to Auberst?
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104. Yeah.
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105. I'm taking the first class
mage certification exam.
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106. Interesting,
that was Frieren's plan, too.
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107. She should have
some good stories to share
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108. the next time we meet.
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109. The exam
will take place in two months.
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110. This will be your last chance
for some time,
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111. as it is only administered once
every three years.
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112. Also, a fifth-class mage
or higher certification
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113. is required to sit the exam.
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114. Well, Fern, it's up to you.
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115. Mistress Frieren,
I can't do this alone.
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116. Sure you can.
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117. And what happens if I fail?
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118. Are we going to wait
three years for the next exam?
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119. We'll either hire ourselves
a first-class mage,
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120. or travel by sea.
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121. That would be incredibly
expensive, though.
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122. We wouldn't be able
to afford snacks anymore.
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123. But I don't have
any kind of certification.
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124. Wait...
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125. I do have my holy emblem.
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126. Will that work?
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127. I still don't get the
significance of that antique.
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128. Excuse me.
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129. Might I take a look
at that pendant, please?
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130. Correct me if I'm wrong, but
are you here for the mage exam?
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131. Looks like I get
to take it after all.
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132. I'm surprised
there's anyone around
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133. who still knows what this is.
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134. He acted like
it was something impressive.
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135. Well, it's supposed to be.
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136. Frieren, you're not
part of a magic guild, are you?
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137. The organizations
that manage magic
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138. are constantly changing.
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139. I can't join a new
one every time they do.
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140. Huh.
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141. Besides,
I have this to identify me.
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142. A genuine holy emblem,
impressive, right?
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143. I have no clue
what this rusty thing is.
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144. - Heiter?
- None at all.
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145. Fine.
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146. But this is the only
thing that proves I'm a mage,
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147. so if you don't recognize it...
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148. Frieren, we may not
understand the significance
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149. of that necklace.
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150. But still, we know
what you're capable of,
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151. and we know that
you're an incredible mage.
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152. Isn't that enough?
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153. You'll die so soon, though.
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154. Mistress Frieren.
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155. We may not know
what that thing is,
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156. but we do know that
you're an incredible mage.
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157. Good point, Fern.
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158. According to the
Continental Magic Association,
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159. a person becomes a proper mage
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160. once they have achieved
at least a fifth-class ranking.
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161. Why did you get
a third-class certification?
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162. It was the one with the
soonest available testing date.
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163. Apparently, there are 600 mages
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164. who are at least fifth-class.
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165. If you include apprentices
from sixth to ninth class,
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166. there are 2,000 mages total.
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167. Among them, 45 are first-class.
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168. That exam is held
every three years.
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169. Here, at the northern branch
in Auberst
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170. and at the headquarters
in the holy city of Strahl.
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171. Many years, no one
passes the test at all.
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172. Injury and death
are expected outcomes.
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173. Sounds moderately challenging.
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174. Either way, there are a lot
fewer mages around these days.
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175. There used to be more of us?
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176. A century ago,
when the Demon King's
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177. attacks intensified,
you would almost certainly
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178. encounter at least one mage
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179. while strolling through
any given town.
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180. These days, you hardly see them
outside of the magic cities.
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181. Oh.
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182. There are
two months until the exam.
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183. We should spend them training.
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184. Attention, please.
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185. The first-class mage exam
will begin momentarily.
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186. This year's test-takers
seem rather exceptional.
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187. There's Wirbel,
a second-class mage
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188. and the captain
of the Northern Magic Corps.
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189. He's fought against
the remnants
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190. of the Demon King's forces
for years now.
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191. That crafty looking
older gentleman passed
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192. the second-class exam
with flying colors.
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193. He became an imperial mage
after surviving
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194. a bloody power struggle.
Copy !req
195. Denken will be one to watch.
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196. And then we have Fern,
the youngest mage
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197. to ever receive
a third-class certification
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198. with top marks.
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199. Undoubtedly a good egg.
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200. But we have bad eggs, too.
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201. That girl is Ubel.
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202. She's a third-class mage
who was disqualified
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203. from the second-class exam
two years ago,
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204. when she killed the first-class
mage who proctored it.
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205. My.
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206. See any other promising faces?
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207. Huh?
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208. That woman
is radiating the mana
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209. of an experienced old mage.
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210. - Know her?
- I don't.
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211. Listen closely.
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212. I will now announce the
content of your first trial.
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213. You will not be tested
on your own, but as a party.
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214. The 57 exam-takers
will be split up
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215. into groups of three.
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216. We will now assign
your parties.
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217. Interesting.
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218. They're engraved with numbers.
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219. Seems I'm in the second
party, then.
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220. Imbuing the bracelets
with mana allows us
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221. to quickly locate
our teammates.
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222. A unique alternative
to reading off names.
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223. This should be amusing,
to say the least.
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224. These party compositions
are far from normal.
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225. You're bound to end up
with groups of magical misfits
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226. that can't work together
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227. and struggle
to relinquish control.
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228. First impressions
are important, here.
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229. I should be careful
not to make any waves.
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230. I sense my teammates'
bracelets nearby.
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231. Okay, that's enough, already!
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232. Ow, ow, ow!
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233. You're gonna rip them
off my head, you jerk!
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234. I'm gonna kill you,
you hear me?
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235. - I dare you.
- Ow! Get off!
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236. Violence has been chosen.
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237. Nice to meet ya.
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238. It's nice to meet you, too.
Copy !req
239. Now that we've reached
the testing area,
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240. I will explain
your instructions.
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241. This place is home
to a small species of bird
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242. known as the Stille.
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243. As you can see, each party
has been given one cage.
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244. There are two conditions
you must fulfill
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245. to pass this initial test.
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246. The first of which
is by sunset tomorrow,
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247. your cage
must contain a Stille.
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248. - Get away from me!
- The second requirement
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249. is that all party members
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250. are present at that time.
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251. For the most part,
you are free to do as you wish,
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252. but if anyone is foolish enough
to leave the testing area,
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253. they and their entire party
will be failed immediately.
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254. That shouldn't be a problem,
considering there's a barrier
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255. around the testing site
that not so much
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256. as a speck of dust
could get through.
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257. We're stuck,
whether we wanna be or not.
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258. You two were listening
through your combat.
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259. Ready yourselves,
the first test begins now.
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260. Before we do anything,
we need to come up with
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261. - a solid plan!
- How stupid are you?
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262. A plan won't do us any good
if we can't find a bird
Copy !req
263. - in the first place!
- Violence is the default.
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264. Why don't we get moving,
and introduce ourselves
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265. while we're at it?
Copy !req
266. Also?
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267. Use rock-paper-scissors
to decide
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268. who will carry the cage.
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269. You can call me Frieren.
And you are?
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270. Lawine,
I am a third-class mage.
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271. I'm Kanne, I'm a third-class
mage like she is.
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272. The two of us go way back.
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273. We graduated
from the same magic school.
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274. Did they happen
to teach you anything
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275. about the Stille there?
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276. - No.
- Nuh-uh.
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277. I have a fair bit
of knowledge on them,
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278. but I've never seen one
in person before.
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279. Let's start by finding
a Stille and observing it.
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280. I'm exhausted.
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281. You are so undisciplined.
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282. I think we could all
use a break.
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283. Since I feel all right,
I'll check things out up ahead.
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284. It's way safer for everyone
if we stay together.
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285. Yeah, great idea, if you want
to waste all our time.
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286. Lawine, are you strong?
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287. Stronger than her.
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288. You wanna fight, huh?
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289. Are you stronger than me?
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290. I wouldn't
want to fight you, no.
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291. I see, fine.
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292. Go on, then.
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293. Come back if it starts
looking too dangerous.
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294. Right.
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295. And make sure
that you watch the skies.
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296. Way ahead of you.
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297. I fear
the worst for this party.
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298. Wow, Frieren,
you're kinda like our teacher.
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299. And you're a super good
leader, too.
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300. Your constant fighting
has thrust me into the role.
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301. I'd rather not be in charge.
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302. Yeah, I'm sorry.
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303. For whatever reason, we've
kinda always been like this.
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304. But real quick,
what did you mean by that?
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305. - Why watch the skies?
- I meant exactly what I said.
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306. Do you detect mana well?
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307. Uh, why?
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308. Hey.
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309. That was quick.
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310. I came across a Stille.
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311. Nicely done, Lawine.
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312. Now watch it closely.
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313. I told you to watch it,
not catch it.
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314. It's going to fly away.
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315. I think not.
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316. That's pretty nice work, Kanne.
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317. Ah, not bad.
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318. But you really should get down
before it's too late.
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319. Huh?
What for?
Copy !req
320. Stille are incredible
little creatures.
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321. At top speed, they move
faster than sound itself.
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322. Trying to restrain
one like that is pointless.
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323. It was right there,
we almost had it.
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324. We were so close.
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325. Capturing one is going
to require careful observation.
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326. We'll use the remainder
of the day
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327. to learn more
about their behavior.
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328. Kanne used her magic
to control the water
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329. and Lawine used hers
to freeze it.
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330. Their timing
was perfectly coordinated.
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331. Superb teamwork indeed.
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332. You couldn't achieve
something like that overnight.
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333. I was worried
for a while there,
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334. but this might actually work.
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335. Let's go find it.
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336. They must like the lake,
we should stay here!
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337. If we waste time
on your assumptions,
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338. - we'll lose it!
- Or maybe not.
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339. The violence prevails.
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340. Do you guys hear that sound?
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341. Huh?
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342. Where'd Frieren go?
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343. You can barely hear it,
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344. but it sounds like rain,
all right.
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345. It's clearly not raining, so?
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346. Oh, I see.
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347. This must mean
that we're close to the...
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348. A monster!
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349. My staff.
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350. La... Lawine!
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351. That would be why I told you
to watch the skies.
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352. Oh... Right.
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353. Feeling calmer?
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354. Hm.
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355. You called
Lawine's name just then.
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356. Yeah.
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357. But you don't like Lawine,
do you?
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358. No, I don't.
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359. Clearly.
Copy !req
360. So, explain to me
how the two of you
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361. work so well together.
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362. I'm curious.
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363. From time to time,
I can be a coward.
Copy !req
364. In the past,
whenever a critical moment
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365. has popped up,
I completely freeze.
Copy !req
366. It happened the very first time
Copy !req
367. that I had to cast
a flying spell.
Copy !req
368. Thanks to someone's
nail biting,
Copy !req
369. the others are way ahead of us.
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370. You'll have
the water beneath you,
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371. so it's not like you'll die.
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372. If you don't have the courage
to do it, I could kick you.
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373. I hate your guts, Lawine.
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374. I'm well aware.
Copy !req
375. I would be braver
if you weren't always
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376. so mean to me.
Copy !req
377. I'm the kind of person
who needs praise
Copy !req
378. to blossom, you know.
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379. You must be kidding.
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380. This is a prime example
of why parents
Copy !req
381. shouldn't baby their kids
like little princesses.
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382. But if it'll help you fly,
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383. I'll be as nice as you want.
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384. Then tell me my strengths.
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385. If you wanted to kill me,
you should've done it by now.
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386. Even though
you're a complete coward,
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387. you try really hard.
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388. Huh?
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389. You wanted
to hear your strength.
Copy !req
390. Yeah, but... tell me some more.
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391. What? Seriously?
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392. You work hard
even when no one's watching,
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393. and you're always
very considerate
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394. of the world around you.
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395. More, please.
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396. I guess that
you're cute when you smile.
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397. Huh? Gross.
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398. Yikes, close call.
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399. I told you, see?
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400. That wasn't so terrifying,
was it?
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401. Now that you can fly,
I'm done being nice.
Copy !req
402. Lawine's rough
around the edges,
Copy !req
403. but she somehow
always pulls me along.
Copy !req
404. She taught me I can do
most anything if I go for it,
Copy !req
405. no matter how scared
I might feel inside.
Copy !req
406. Before you go, Frieren...
Copy !req
407. Listen... I noticed something
that might be handy.
Copy !req
408. Do you think
it could be useful?
Copy !req
409. Yes, I do, excellent find.
Copy !req
410. We might be able to capture
a Stille, after all.
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