Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 18

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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 18
I had won.
Thirty matches, thirty victories, zero draws, zero defeats—a flawless sweep.
Those who had tasted bitter defeat to me as a child found it curious how effortlessly I won, so they challenged me one by one in succession.
Eventually, they began to suspect I wasn’t using foresight at all, but rather possessed exceptional visual acuity as an Abiliter, so they resorted to playing rock-paper-scissors with their choices written on paper beforehand.
“So it’s true that accuracy increases with nearer futures….”
They gracefully acknowledged their defeats and scribbled something onto the evaluation sheet.
“The Ability grade assessment is complete. Please proceed to the next test according to the guide.”
“Thank you.”
I was turning to leave Test Room 1 when the proctor spoke.
“We shall meet again at Duke Papiope’s.”
From the proctor’s meaningful expression and enthusiastic tone, I was certain.
Even if I failed the remaining two tests, I would be forcibly admitted to the Talent Cultivation Institute.
But I played the part of an innocent child, bowed politely, and exited Test Room 1.
The moment I stepped out, a guide was waiting as if on cue.
“Tania, please proceed to the Second Test Chamber.”
“Yes.”
I knew the tests would proceed immediately, but I imagined the other candidates would be overwhelmed by the relentless pace.
This too was likely a calculated strategy by the Talent Cultivation Institute.
The guide explained the test procedures in a crisp yet gentle business tone.
“Inside the test chamber, you cannot use your Ability. You must proceed solely by your own judgment. Additionally, the test begins the moment you enter, and your performance will be recorded.”
“Yes.”
Having taken this test several times already to inform the twin siblings of its contents, I placed my hand on the doorknob without the slightest nervousness.
[Overwriting current perspective with Perspective 2.]
As I opened the door, an enormous maze sprawled before my eyes.
Normally, it should have been a simple room.
It was an illusion spell or an Ability that conjured illusions.
Creak—!
Thud.
The guide waiting outside mercilessly shut the door, leaving me abandoned in the dim maze.
From this point forward, no matter how much I moved, in reality I would simply be standing still.
Before me lay an oil lamp and a wooden sword, as if urging me to take them.
I grabbed only the oil lamp and began running at full speed.
I intended to pass every test with top marks so that word of my abilities would reach Duke Papiope herself.
So I had to clear this maze in record time.
Left, right, right, left, right….
I was sprinting forward without hesitation along the memorized path when—
A monster suddenly burst forth from behind where nothing had existed before.
Screech—!
First gate: random monster summoning.
The creature I encountered this time was a monster that spewed toxic gas from every pore of its body.
Fortunately, once I knew how to handle it, disposing of it was relatively straightforward.
The gas emanating from the monster’s body was highly volatile.
I accelerated my pace, pushing myself faster.
The moment I rounded a corner, I hurled the oil lamp backward with a sharp flick of my wrist.
Boom—!
A wave of scorching heat washed over me from behind. Had I been any closer, I would have been caught in the explosion.
“Well, as long as I’m not hurt, that’s what matters.”
I used the blast as a backdrop, my footsteps echoing—tap, tap, tap—as I pressed onward.
With a record-breaking clear time as my goal, I had no time to waste on such trivial obstacles.
Tap, tap, tap—!
Within the endless labyrinth, I advanced boldly without once losing my way.
Though my vision was severely limited without the oil lamp, the absence of its cumbersome weight actually quickened my pace.
Carrying an oil lantern in a child’s body had been somewhat burdensome, after all.
How much time had passed since then?
I had been alone in this space, but at some point, an additional set of footsteps joined mine.
It seemed the second trial had begun.
The footsteps drew steadily closer until they reached my vicinity. I sensed a presence at my side.
“Hello?”
A voice identical to mine—chillingly so—greeted me.
A Doppelgänger.
A monster known to transform into the exact likeness of someone it favors, kill the original, and then impersonate them.
I didn’t spare a glance at the Doppelgänger now running alongside me as I replied.
“Oh, hey.”
“…What? What? Are you an idiot? Someone who wasn’t here a moment ago just appeared, and you’re not even surprised?”
“Could you be quiet for a second? I’m getting my directions confused.”
I was in the middle of a time attack through the maze. The Doppelgänger cried out in bewilderment.
“You—are you even looking at my face while you talk to me?!”
“Do I really need to?”
“Look at me!”
Too annoyed to bother arguing further, I turned my head sharply to face the Doppelgänger.
Without question, it bore my exact face.
“Yeah, it’s pretty. But you’ve got some red pepper flakes stuck in your teeth.”
“What? Where?”
It startled, fumbling around its mouth in confusion.
I shrugged my shoulders, thinking with quiet satisfaction, ‘Even monsters fall for jokes.’
Dealing with a Doppelgänger was simple yet difficult.
The key was to feel no fear.
The stronger the fear the opponent feels, the stronger the Doppelgänger becomes.
In other words, as long as I didn’t panic at facing a monster, I was invincible.
By the book, I should fight the Doppelgänger with a wooden sword, win, and escape—but there was no need to bother with combat.
It lacked the power to harm me.
So both Raspi, the monster tamer, and Rosemary, who had grown accustomed to creatures through him, would navigate this section with ease.
Why don’t I fear monsters, you ask?
Those who have brushed with death countless times at the hands of monsters become one of two types.
Either they develop trauma and feel multiplied terror before them, or they grow numb and cease to fear.
I belonged to the latter category.
So what if it kills me? Well, I’ll simply keep surviving.
The Doppelgänger, irritated by my indifferent response, began chattering beside me.
“Aren’t you scared of me? I’m identical to you! Huh? I’ll kill you and live as you! Still not scared?”
“I already feel like I’m dying from being stabbed by your countless hooks.”
How many question marks does it use in a single sentence? I’m losing track of where it ends.
But the Doppelgänger didn’t stop its incessant prattling. Then, finally….
I stopped.
My continuous sprint came to a halt. The Doppelgänger then giggled with delight.
“What, now you’re scared when cornered in a dead end?”
“No.”
It wasn’t a dead end. I quietly pointed at the door ahead.
I had reached the end of the maze.
Only then did the Doppelgänger realize its role was finished, and its face twisted in frustration.
“…You’re a strange human!”
I ignored the Doppelgänger’s indignant voice and turned the doorknob to enter the next chamber.
Without that noisy creature chattering beside me, my ears finally found peace.
The final third gate.
In truth, reaching this chamber meant the trial was essentially over.
Upon opening the door, the first thing that caught my eye were two transparent boxes.
Inside them, a pregnant rabbit and five elderly, sickly rabbits grazed peacefully on grass.
Two ropes lay before them, as if demanding I choose one.
Following the ropes to their end, I saw they connected to a massive water tank.
It held more than enough water to fill the boxes completely.
The choice was clear: drown the one pregnant rabbit or the five elderly, sickly rabbits.
The trolley problem.
A moral dilemma designed to judge whether one can sacrifice the few to save the many.
I had already made this choice once before.
Sacrificing one for another wasn’t my preference, but I had done it for a faster time.
Yet ironically, whenever I tried to decide and commit to one choice, a voice echoed from the void.
If I chose to kill the pregnant rabbit….
‘What if the unborn kits number five?’
Such additional context was provided.
And if I chose to kill the elderly, sickly rabbits….
‘What if, instead of five sickly old rabbits, there were fifty?’
Another question came—would I still choose? A variation on the same theme.
Endless trials, endless choices, each one demanding unconditional sacrifice.
So this time, I decided to make an entirely different choice.
Thud—!
I sprawled flat on my back right there. Then, gazing at the empty space where the voice had emanated from before, I made my declaration.
“I refuse to choose.”

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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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