Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 27

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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 27
Perhaps it was because today marked the Second Adoption Tournament, returning after three long years.
Certainly, the atmosphere of the Talent Cultivation Institute differed markedly from its usual state.
Among the trainees waiting in the Grand Hall, an inexplicable tension seemed to linger.
As I glanced around nervously, Elysion caught my eye.
His radiant presence made him easy to spot indeed.
He stood motionless with an indifferent expression, surrounded by a circle of children.
“Quite popular.”
Elysion’s gaze turned toward where I stood.
In that instant, a brilliant smile bloomed across his previously expressionless face.
It seemed like a smile meant solely for me.
I was about to glance around to confirm whether I was mistaken when—
A familiar voice struck my ears.
“Hero! You’ve arrived, I’ve been waiting for you!”
At Rosemary’s innocent yet merciless cry, every trainee in the hall turned their gaze toward me.
Feeling an intense wave of dizziness, I considered looking away, but decided instead to wave my hand in resignation.
“Yeah, the hero has entered the stage.”
A murmur rippled through the trainees as they stared and chattered about me.
“I’ve never seen this kid before. Could this be the one who broke the entrance exam record?”
“Wow, they’re that young?”
“They don’t look like much. How did they manage such a record?”
“What’s this ‘hero’ business anyway?”
“Heh. Are they just playing some hero game or something?”
Well, they certainly had plenty to say.
Rosemary bounded toward me, while Raspi, after a dry laugh, pursued her with an expression of utter resignation.
“Heroooo!”
Thud.
Before I knew it, Rosemary had thrown herself into my arms, and I patted her back while accepting Raspi’s apology.
“I apologize. I should have kept Mari under better control.”
“It’s fine. I’m used to the attention.”
“Hero, why did you come so late! I was worried something had happened since you didn’t visit for nearly a month!”
“Sorry. It took some time to get permission from my guardian.”
“Still, I’m glad you made it before the tournament started!”
Rosemary, who had been speaking cheerfully, suddenly lowered her voice and whispered softly into my ear.
“This is a secret, but the tournament date was announced the day after we took our test. I think the Duke wanted to adopt you as her daughter!”
“Is that so?”
I had suspected as much, but it seemed to be true.
After all, my ability was the kind that would make even the Duke drool with desire.
Had the Duke failed to adopt me, she would have fabricated any excuse to invite me to the Duke’s Residence.
Her ability was ‘Replication,’ after all.
Of course, duplication came with various conditions, so I likely wouldn’t have been able to take my ability with me.
“Oh, that’s right! Hero, I’ve been learning to write lately, and I can already write quite a bit. I even wrote a letter while waiting for you, and I wanted to show you…!”
Rosemary, who had been pouring out words frantically, rummaged through her pocket before stopping short and covering her mouth in embarrassment.
“Gasp…! I must have left the letter at the Dormitory. What do I do? Please wait here for just a moment. I’ll be right back!”
Before I could stop her, I watched Rosemary dash off like lightning and patted Raspi’s back a couple of times.
“Raspi, that girl’s going to trip. Go with her.”
“…Understood.”
Raspi, apparently concerned about the spirited Rosemary as well, followed her without complaint.
Fortunately, it seemed life at the Talent Cultivation Institute suited her well, as she looked remarkably vibrant.
There wasn’t a trace of worry or anxiety on her face.
Raspi too appeared to be eating well—he’d noticeably filled out compared to a month ago.
I was feeling quite proud watching the children grow up without want, when—
“Are you that kid everyone’s talking about?”
A girl who looked to be in her early tens, with her red hair tied back in a single bundle, stood before me.
Light freckles scattered across her face like stars, giving her a cute appearance.
Wow, I think I’ve seen this kind of development in novels before.
“I’m not sure what rumors you mean, but I’d say you’re probably right.”
I replied while suppressing the excited flutter in my chest, and she placed her hands on her hips, speaking as if indignant.
“You showed up on exactly this date, so you must be getting cocky about doing well on the entrance exam!”
…It should be “getting cocky,” but never mind.
“Duke Papiope is going to adopt Elysion! Do you really think a little thing like you could become a duchess?”
Ah, so she’s supporting Elysion?
How cute.
No matter how much I needed to win, I didn’t want to fight with a child who was rooting for Elysion.
I pulled out a candy that Aiden had given me to eat when bored.
As I was unwrapping the candy wrapper, she cried out indignantly.
“Are you ignoring me right now?!”
“No.”
With that, I popped the unwrapped candy straight into her mouth.
Caught off guard by the sudden action, she blinked with wide eyes.
“Did your blood sugar drop? Eat something sweet and calm down.”
…Hmm. That last remark sounded a bit like something an old person would say, didn’t it?
Well, since my face is that of a child, it should be fine.
After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to let fate take its course and gently pinched her plump cheeks.
The soft, supple sensation felt wonderful. Now I understood why Aiden was always trying to touch my cheeks whenever he got the chance—this was the kind of touch that felt good.
“Why do you say such mean things with such a cute face?”
“Uh….”
“How about being my friend instead of being hostile? More friends is always better, right?”
She didn’t seem like a bad child after all; her face flushed deeply as she stammered out what sounded like an excuse.
“B-but Mom told me to only support the child with the highest probability of being adopted….”
Ah, so that’s what happened.
The Talent Cultivation Institute existed to nurture talent, but there were quite a few who entered with aspirations of social advancement.
It pained me to see children unable to grow in positive directions due to their parents’ greed.
I stretched both her cheeks like cheese and spoke with gentle admonishment.
“Listen carefully. Creating unnecessary enemies is something only C-rank extras do. In fairy tales, that’s worse than Cinderella’s stepsisters.”
“Eh, what?”
“Besides, everyone here is a talented individual who passed the entrance exam. How could you possibly know what someone you didn’t even glance at might become later?”
“But…!”
She tried to say something, but I cut her off with a louder voice.
“And!”
After pouring out my words unilaterally, I finally softened into a smile.
“Isn’t the candy I gave you sweet?”
The child, who had been listening to me with her mouth hanging open, slowly closed it, and her cheeks began to move.
She seemed to be rolling the candy around in her mouth.
It must be sweet.
“Friends are people who share things like that with each other. Isn’t that wonderful?”
No need to worry about getting stabbed in the back either.
After savoring the candy for a while, she chewed softly, and as if she’d made a decision, she carefully extended her hand to me.
“…My, my name is Rachel. I was a bit prickly earlier, wasn’t I? I’m sorry.”
Ah, so she really did need that sugar rush to sweeten up.
I grasped her hand in return with an impish smile, thinking thoughts she wouldn’t understand.
Then, narrowing my eyes into crescents, I whispered like a fox.
“But friend, if you were trying to grab the rope by riding the line well, you’ve already succeeded.”
Because I’m going to be the adopted child this time.

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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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