Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 15
“Krung, let’s go!”
Grrrrrowwwl—!
I leaped onto the four-legged beast and tore through the labyrinthine Underground Prison at breakneck speed.
I had already mapped out Rosemary’s location before entering the prison, so there was no need to wander through this vast expanse.
The Underground was now teeming with the creatures Raspi had brought along.
Fortunately, I had coated myself in Raspi’s scent, allowing me to pass through the monsters unscathed and slip between them with ease.
I pressed forward toward Rosemary’s location, casting furtive glances at my surroundings.
Screams pierced the air—desperate wails tinged with despair and terror, as if death at the monsters’ claws was imminent.
The Prison Administrators who had overseen this place had already fled or been devoured alive by the creatures; they were nowhere to be seen.
Only the prisoners remained, their hands clasped together in fervent prayer to the gods for salvation.
They seemed terrified the monsters would tear through the iron bars and breach their cells.
But Raspi was already aware of that concern and kept the creatures under his command.
Knowing how desperately they clung to hope, my own heart quickened with urgency.
“…I need to rescue Rosemary first, then rejoin Raspi as quickly as possible.”
Alone, I couldn’t save them all.
The original plan had been to retrieve only Rosemary and escape this place immediately with Raspi.
But now that I was here, my resolve wavered.
I couldn’t bring myself to turn away from those trapped here against their will, trembling in fear.
Pushing myself to arrive as swiftly as possible, I soon reached the cell where Rosemary was confined.
Short black hair, a small frame.
I leaped down from the beast’s back and slowly assessed her condition.
The child sat within the cell, her ears plugged, her face buried against her knees.
She waited—as if willing this nightmare to pass.
“Rosemary.”
I called her name, but she had her ears blocked so tightly she couldn’t hear my voice.
I finally pointed to the iron bars and commanded the creature.
“Krung, tear it apart.”
The beast lunged forward and, with a deafening crack, ripped the bars away.
At the sudden loud noise, Rosemary’s body flinched and trembled.
“P-please… I just hope it doesn’t hurt…”
Not a plea for life, but a wish for a painless death—her words revealed the depths of her anguish.
I gazed at Rosemary quietly.
When no pain came for a long moment, she cautiously lifted her eyelids.
Having waited patiently for her to open her eyes first, I smiled warmly and extended my hand.
“Hello, Princess. I’ve come to rescue you.”
Lovely rose-pink hair, clear amber eyes.
Rosemary blinked blankly at the small girl before her, who appeared far younger than herself.
Looking at this girl who called her “Princess,” she seemed to overlap with the white-horse-riding prince from fairy tales.
Of course, the small pink-haired girl before her was no prince, and what she rode was no white horse, but a monster…
That was hardly a problem. What mattered was that she had come to rescue him.
“…Who are you?”
“Me? A friend of Raspi’s. He asked me to come save you.”
Rosemary’s small shoulders trembled. At the mention of her brother, relief flooded through her, and tears filled her round eyes.
“You really came to rescue me because my brother asked you to?”
“Yes. I promised to save the princess.”
“…So I won’t die? I won’t be sold to those strange people?”
My heart shattered at her words.
How much terror must this small child have endured to speak of death so casually?
I deliberately lifted the corners of my mouth into a reassuring smile for Rosemary’s sake.
“You know what? There’s no hero who can’t save a princess.”
Even if I failed to rescue her once, I could simply turn back time and save her again.
As long as I had resolved to do something, there was nothing impossible.
Did my conviction somehow transmit itself to Rosemary?
She stared at me as if entranced, then firmly grasped my hand.
“…Thank you for saving me.”
“It’s too early to say I’ve saved you yet. Save your thanks for when we get out of here.”
I smirked and commanded my beast to sever the shackles binding her wrist in one clean motion.
Rosemary’s ability was superhuman strength.
But it seemed she hadn’t awakened it yet.
If she had, she never would have been captured and brought to this place in the first place.
“Mari, can you walk?”
“Yes, warrior!”
…Warrior?
I was momentarily flustered, then realized I had just been playing the role of a hero saving a princess, and I shrugged lightly.
“Good. Listen carefully, princess. We’ll rendezvous with Raspi first. We’ll rescue the others here after that.”
“Yes, yes!”
I hoisted Rosemary onto my beast, then swung myself up as well.
[Overlaying the current viewpoint onto Timepoint 2.]
Then I galloped swiftly, searching for Raspi, who should be causing a commotion somewhere.
The Underground Prison was designed like a maze to prevent slave escapes, making it harder than expected to pinpoint his location.
I had been racing through the underground passages for some time when—
“Found the one bringing the beast! An Abiliter!”
“Capture isn’t necessary! If we just kill that bastard, we can cut off the endless stream of beasts rushing at us!”
I bit my lip and changed direction toward the source of the voices.
Soon, the Prison Administrators came into view, rushing toward Raspi in a torrent.
Raspi tried to hold them back by positioning his beasts in front, but with Abiliter among the Administrators, it was far from easy.
Then, someone rapidly approached from behind Raspi, cutting through the surrounding beasts.
“Raspi!”
At the startled cry from Rosemary, he reflexively spun around and attempted a counterattack.
But overwhelmed by their numbers, he was quickly subdued.
“Got him!”
Strong hands seized his arms and twisted them viciously, while sharp blades gleamed with menacing intent.
“Let go of me!”
Raspi gritted his teeth and thrashed against them, but his enemies pressed forward without mercy, pinning him down.
I was about to shift my perspective, thinking it was already too late to save him.
Then the Old Gentleman in Mask appeared from nowhere and let out a low chuckle.
“Ganging up on a child—aren’t you ashamed of yourselves?”
In an instant, his figure vanished, only to materialize beside me as if by magic.
“Where did that brat go?!”
“There! He’s with the VIP!”
When he reappeared, he was alongside Raspi, who had been held captive by the Prison Administrators.
The Old Gentleman in Mask freed Raspi effortlessly with his Ability, ignoring the stares of those around him as he fixed his gaze upon me.
“Consider this my repayment for saving me from that monster earlier.”
Though I found his sudden appearance unexpected, I exhaled a sigh of relief.
“…You still have my remaining wish token from our wager, don’t you?”
“Haha! Yes, should we meet again, I shall grant your wish.”
The Old Gentleman in Mask continued with a hearty laugh, speaking as though it were nothing of consequence.
“I’ve freed everyone in the Underground. Now you and I are accomplices.”
“…Why now, of all times?”
“I grew ashamed of myself for evading responsibility as an adult, and seeing you just now, I realized something.”
“What’s that?”
“If no one discovers it, no one can hold me accountable for anything.”
It was an arrogant statement, but knowing his true identity, I actually welcomed his participation.
With his Ability, he alone would be more than sufficient.
“Grandfather, may we leave ahead of you?”
“Yes. If you wish to avoid witnessing something unpleasant, you’d best depart quickly. Since we’ve come this far, I intend to obliterate every last shred of evidence.”
“Thank you for your help.”
I bowed respectfully, then gathered Raspi, who lay sprawled beside the Old Gentleman in Mask.
“Let’s go, Raspi.”
Since he had resolved to erase this place entirely, it was in my best interest to depart swiftly.
As I rode away on the creature, I glanced back and revised my assessment of the old man upward—he wasn’t such a bad person after all.
“At this rate, he wouldn’t be terrible as family.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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