A few days later, after saying goodbye to the three lower-ranked warriors, Teresa encountered the meeting that would change her life forever—
The girl who would later be named Clare.
That day, Teresa was once again posing in front of Duran's camera like a model, while Duran enthusiastically tried different dramatic photography angles.
"Another one? Then I'll kill it for free this time," Teresa said casually.
Before anyone could react, she had already killed the second Yoma without hesitation.
Just as she prepared to leave—
Something grabbed her leg.
A dirty face.
Dirty clothes.
Messy shoulder-length brown hair.
A small girl clung tightly to her leg.
The girl looked up at Teresa with watery eyes.
But Teresa wasn't moved at all.
She kicked the girl away.
Of course, she used almost no strength. If she had kicked seriously, the girl would have been split in half.
The girl stood up again.
And hugged Teresa's leg again.
Duran watched this scene repeat several times with great interest.
Finally, a villager suggested something.
"Why don't you take the child with you?"
"This girl was brought here by the Yoma."
Seeing the disgusted looks of the villagers, Teresa understood.
If the girl stayed here—
She would die.
So, like many female Claymores before her, Teresa picked up the girl and decided to take her to another village.
A day later, they found a village where a middle-aged couple agreed to adopt the girl.
Without hesitation, Teresa left the girl with them.
Then she walked away.
From behind her, Duran suddenly spoke.
"What a cute little girl."
"She's definitely going to die."
Teresa stopped immediately.
Her gaze turned sharp like a blade.
"What did you say?"
"I said that girl will definitely die," Duran replied calmly.
"Or worse."
"Why?" Teresa demanded.
Duran asked a question instead.
"How do people on this continent view Claymores?"
"They fear us."
"Yes," Duran nodded.
"You call yourselves warriors, but people call you Claymores."
"If people fear you so much, do you really think they'd happily raise a child brought by one of you?"
He continued:
"When I looked at that couple earlier, their eyes kept shifting."
"They were definitely planning something."
Teresa's expression darkened.
Duran continued coldly.
"That girl will probably be sold."
"Either she'll become a prostitute…"
"Or she'll die from abuse."
"I can't imagine any other outcome."
"Why didn't you say that earlier?" Teresa snapped.
"You didn't like the girl," Duran said.
"You thought she was a burden."
Teresa said nothing.
She simply turned around—
And ran back.
When they arrived, they saw the couple negotiating with several rough-looking men.
One of the men was already touching the girl.
Teresa exploded in anger.
Her sword flashed.
Several men died instantly.
"You're a Claymore! You can't kill humans!"
"Don't kill me—AHHH!"
But Teresa's expression remained cold.
She picked up the girl.
Later that night, beside a quiet lake illuminated by moonlight, Teresa spoke gently.
"My name is Teresa."
She then gave the girl a name.
"You will be called Clare."
Duran quietly captured the moment with his camera.
When Teresa killed the men earlier, he hadn't tried to stop her.
Instead, he simply closed his eyes.
The scene had been too bloody.
Clare hugged Teresa tightly.
At that moment, Teresa finally realized something.
"It turns out…"
"The one being saved…"
"Was me."
"I'm Teresa."
"You'll be Clare."
"Te…re…sa…" the girl repeated slowly.
Clare had barely spoken for years.
Raised and abused by a Yoma, this might have been the first words she'd spoken in a long time.
"Cl…are…"
Duran snapped another photo.
Two lonely souls embracing under the moonlight.
Ever since Clare learned that Teresa's name was written on the moon, she became even more dependent on her.
When she had been imprisoned and tortured by the Yoma, she once saw the glowing words on the moon.
She couldn't read them then.
But people said the words were:
"Teresa, the Goddess of the Smile."
From that moment on, she prayed that Teresa would save her.
And now—
Her wish had come true.
"Clare," Duran said mischievously.
"Why don't you call Teresa Mom?"
Then he shamelessly added:
"Clare, do you like me?"
Clare immediately turned away.
In her mind, Duran was a rival competing for Teresa's attention.
Even though he often gave her interesting gifts, she ignored him as soon as she got them.
Soon enough—
The Organization's subjugation team arrived.
The first team of lower-ranked warriors was easily defeated by Teresa.
But the Organization would not give up so easily.
So they sent the strongest subjugation team in history.
Teresa calmly told Duran to watch over Clare while she faced the enemies.
The four warriors sent by the Organization were the top fighters among the 47 Claymores:
No.2 Priscilla
No.3 Irene
No.4 Sophia
No.5 Noel
Priscilla was considered the most talented warrior the Organization had ever produced.
The battle between Claymores was dazzling.
Teresa's sword danced like lightning—perfect defense and overwhelming attacks.
Irene's famous Quick Sword technique was completely countered by Teresa's ability to read Yoki.
Only Priscilla could truly challenge her.
Priscilla had incredible speed and strength—
But she lacked experience.
"Why?!" Priscilla shouted during the fight.
"Why are you so strong?!"
"You're a criminal! Why won't you die?!"
Her sword felt heavier and heavier.
"Why… Father…"
But Teresa only received a small cut on her forehead.
Her smile never disappeared.
To Priscilla, it looked like the smile of death itself.
Teresa raised her sword.
Priscilla prepared to die.
"Don't!" Irene shouted.
She couldn't allow the Organization's greatest hope to be killed.
Teresa paused.
Then lowered her sword.
"I've become soft too."
"Clare," she said.
"Let's go."
But suddenly—
Priscilla released an enormous amount of Yoki.
"Why?!!"
Her body began transforming.
She had Awakened.
Priscilla appeared before Teresa again.
"Te…re…sa…"
"I don't want to die."
Tears streamed down her face.
She dropped her sword.
"Kill me… before I become a monster."
Teresa sighed.
"I'm sorry. I can't help you."
But she raised her sword.
"I'll grant your wish."
Then—
Slash.
Teresa's arms were cut off.
Priscilla had fully awakened.
She picked up her sword and attacked.
Teresa stared in shock as the blade came toward her head.
"TERESA!!!" Clare screamed.
The other Claymores watched in horror.
CLANG.
A metallic sound rang out.
Priscilla's sword had been stopped—
By a single finger.
Duran stood there calmly.
"Teresa, hurry and reattach your arms," he said casually.
"Don't put them on backward."
Clare ran to Teresa holding the severed arms.
Teresa was shaken.
It was the first time she had ever felt so close to death.
Duran blocked Priscilla's attacks effortlessly with one finger.
"I'm actually angry for the first time," he said coldly.
Without realizing it—
He had grown fond of Teresa.
The awakened Priscilla laughed.
"After killing you… I'll eat some organs."
"Don't be ridiculous," Duran said.
"You're just a monster."
Priscilla attacked wildly.
But every strike was stopped by Duran's single finger.
The other Claymores were stunned.
This speed was beyond their imagination.
"This time I'll eliminate a monster for the people."
Duran stopped her sword.
"Die."
He raised his left hand.
A beam of light shot forward.
Priscilla's upper body vanished.
Only her legs remained.
The future Abyss-level monster Priscilla—
Had been killed instantly by Duran's energy attack.
Duran spun the sword between his fingers and tossed it near Clare.
"A gift for you."
Clare happily tried to lift the sword.
But it was too heavy.
Irene picked it up instead.
"This sword cannot be yours."
"We will use it as her gravestone."
Clare sadly watched the sword become Priscilla's memorial.
"You Claymores have interesting traditions," Duran commented.
"Our sword crests are more important than our names," Irene replied sadly.
Then she looked at Teresa.
"The Organization won't let this go."
"What will you do?"
Duran suddenly spoke up.
"I have a suggestion."
"Teresa and Clare could travel with me."
He felt his face turning red.
After a long pause, Teresa finally answered.
"Seeing the wider world…"
"Doesn't sound bad."
Duran mentally shouted in joy.
His first love had just agreed to travel with him.
Poof.
The time machine appeared from a capsule.
Duran picked up Clare and jumped inside.
Teresa followed.
"Goodbye, Claymores!"
The machine rose into the sky—
And disappeared into space.
After the Claymores left…
The time machine suddenly reappeared.
It turned out the machine didn't have enough energy.
"So we're staying here for a while," Duran said.
"I still have many photos to take."
Teresa shrugged.
"Fine."
"Then let's start our journey around the world."
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