Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 24

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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 24
Startled by the revelation that the Duke Papiope Adoption Tournament was tomorrow, I stopped dead in my tracks and focused intently on their conversation.
“You call that a question? Of course Elysion will be adopted.”
“But that kid who came in a month ago is no joke either. An Ability User with monster taming? I’ve never seen such a broken ability in my life.”
“Oh, you mean the older twin brother?”
“Yeah. His name was… Raspi, I think.”
Elysion and Raspi.
How could they possibly mention only the children I knew?
This made it impossible not to eavesdrop on their conversation.
I justified my actions to myself and glanced around, pretending to admire the Talent Cultivation Institute building.
“Still, Elysion being a mage should give him an edge, right?”
“Well, unless the tournament involves large-scale battles, it would be difficult for anyone to beat Elysion with just monster taming.”
“He’s truly remarkable. I don’t understand how he can accomplish so much with pure magic without even being an Ability User.”
“Magic is a talent in itself, after all.”
“Now that I think about it, that kid who broke all the entrance exam records still hasn’t enrolled.”
“If they had participated in the adoption tournament, things might have turned out differently?”
“I doubt it. No matter how incredible the rumors say that person is, I don’t think they could beat Elysion. Scores are just scores, after all.”
“Agreed. How could anyone defeat that monster?”
As their conversation came to an end, I resumed my halting footsteps.
In the previous timeline, the second person adopted into Duke Papiope’s Mansion was Elysion.
My only friend.
A fresh wave of guilt washed over me at the thought that I was trying to steal the position he deserved.
In the previous timeline, Duke Papiope had adopted three children.
The third was Rosemary.
So I had vaguely assumed that even if I were adopted this time, Elysion would still have a chance at adoption.
But now that I faced the prospect of competing against him, my guilt toward Elysion overwhelmed me.
In fact, that was partly why I had worked so hard to rescue Rosemary from the Underground Auction House.
Because my actions might prevent her from being adopted by Duke Papiope.
“…Should I just become the Old Gentleman’s daughter instead?”
Wasn’t my selfishness making everyone unhappy?
Perhaps even myself.
I quickly shook my head and steeled my resolve.
“Tania, don’t be weak-hearted. I’ve been running toward this for years.”
But if Elysion truly wanted to be adopted by Duke Papiope, my resolve would surely waver again.
“Let’s take the test first and decide later. I can always change the timeline whenever I want.”
With that, I approached a staff member at the Talent Cultivation Institute and expressed my intention to enroll.
Only children enrolled at the Talent Cultivation Institute could participate in the adoption tournament held by Duke Papiope, so I had to abandon my plan to delay for a week.
“Hello. I’d like to apply for enrollment starting tomorrow.”
“Of course. Could you show me your passing certificate?”
“Here it is.”
“…Is this really Miss Tania herself?”
“Yes.”
“Please, just wait a moment!”
The staff member who had verified my passing certificate looked startled and disappeared somewhere after asking me to wait.
Shortly after, the figure who appeared before me was not that same staff member, but the director of the Talent Cultivation Institute.
He must have been waiting for me desperately, because the moment he heard of my arrival, he came rushing over like an arrow.
“Miss Tania, I was truly chilled to the bone thinking you would never return to us after receiving sponsorship from another noble house.”
“Please, don’t worry about that. I already told you my goal is to be adopted by the Duke.”
“That’s precisely why I was concerned. Have you heard the news that the adoption tournament will be held tomorrow?”
“Yes, well….”
“Of course, with your precognitive ability, there’s no way you wouldn’t know.”
“No. I can’t foresee every situation. My lifespan decreases too, and…. I only learned that much after coming this far.”
“…Ah! In that case, it’s truly fortunate that you arrived in time.”
The director wiped his forehead repeatedly with a handkerchief as if cold sweat was pouring down.
“In fact, after I reported the entrance examination results you achieved, the Duke has been showing considerable interest.”
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
Could it be that the adoption tournament was moved up because of me?
“Miss Tania, the staff mentioned you applied for enrollment effective tomorrow, not today….”
“Yes.”
“Is it possible you plan to remain at the Talent Cultivation Institute even if you fail the adoption tournament?”
I couldn’t answer readily.
I had never once considered the possibility of failing the adoption tournament.
Interpreting my silence in some way, the director grew flustered and hastily made excuses.
“O-of course, I understand that you’ve already seen your future as an adopted child through precognition. I recognize your abilities as well.”
Listening to the director’s words, I realized what I had overlooked.
Now that I thought about it, in others’ eyes, I must have already seen my future as an adopted child.
It was a loophole from the lie I told about being a ‘precognitive’ Ability User.
Before the regression, everyone suspected I had precognitive abilities, but since I brazenly insisted I was powerless, they didn’t know….
“However, I’ve heard that your precognition often goes awry due to variables unless the future is absolutely certain.”
“…Y-yes, that’s right.”
“In fact, before you, there was another child at the Talent Cultivation Institute who displayed such exceptional abilities that adoption seemed nearly certain….”
Elysion.
Everyone still believed without doubt that he would be adopted.
“I’m not sure. For now, I’m expecting that I’ll be adopted, but if that prediction somehow goes wrong….”
No matter how many times I reset the timeline, I couldn’t surpass Elysion.
Just because a game allows save-loading doesn’t mean everyone can clear it.
My ability was merely to dramatically increase the probability of clearing, nothing more.
“Yes, I think I’ll leave the Talent Cultivation Institute. But I won’t accept sponsorship from another noble house, so please don’t worry too much.”
If I did my best and still couldn’t defeat Elysion, I would abandon the Talent Cultivation Institute and live as Aiden’s daughter.
I didn’t have much time left to wait until the Duke adopted a third child.
“Then I’ll come back early tomorrow morning. My curfew is at 2 PM.”
“Oh, 2 PM?”
“Yes. Well-behaved children always respect their curfew, after all.”
Of course, I couldn’t claim in good conscience to be a well-behaved child when I snuck out as casually as eating meals.
I was about to bow to the director and leave when it happened.
“…Tania?”
It wasn’t the director’s low, gentle voice. It was the clear, youthful voice of a young boy.
I lifted my head and looked toward the source of the voice.
“Huh…?”
The one who called my name was.
Elysion—far younger than I remembered him.

✦ ✦ ✦
“Take care.”
“Tania, what do you mean by——!”
The moment Tania disappeared from his sight after saying to take care.
Elysion realized she had done it again.
He had experienced Tania rewinding time countless hundreds and thousands of times before.
Every time Tania shifted the timeline, Elysion moved through time alongside her.
An ability that ‘nullifies’ the opponent’s ability.
That was the power of Elysion, known as the sole non-Ability User among Duke Papiope’s adopted children.
[Now you’re trying to pretend nothing happened after kissing me?]
[If you’re going to seduce someone so brazenly, you need to take responsibility.]
Elysion hadn’t fully grasped the situation until those words left his lips.
How could he think about anything else when the person he loved had kissed him and run away?
Even with his eyes open, he couldn’t see straight ahead.
Every fiber of his being was consumed with the thought of meeting this cunning girl again and scolding her with a confession.
In Elysion’s mind, he was already fast-forwarding through a future where he married Tania, had two children and one pet dog, and lived happily ever after.
He realized something was wrong when….
He understood that the place he was in was the Papiope Talent Cultivation Institute where he had lived twelve years ago.
In this cursed ten-year-old body, no less.

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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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