Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 28

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

Chapter 28
After a considerable wait, this mad Talent Cultivation Institute teleported every single trainee in the Grand Hall all at once.
It was a scale no other noble house could have imagined.
Only possible because Duke Papiope’s Mansion overflowed with numerous Ability Users and talented individuals.
The destination was a small Island that appeared uninhabited.
Rosemary, examining the Island with curiosity, linked her arm through mine and asked.
“Do you know what this test is about, Hero?”
“No, I have no idea.”
“There’s something even you don’t know?”
“I can’t selectively view only the futures I want to see.”
“Ah, I see!”
Only then did she seem to resolve her confusion and settle down.
I was curious too.
“I wonder what the winning conditions and rules for this test will be…”
“Whatever the theme is, my brother and I will do our absolute best to help you! No one but you can be adopted by the Duke!”
She was showing enthusiasm to the point of snorting.
“Haha, thank you.”
Since the Duke said she would set the winning conditions and rules as she saw fit, there was a high probability they’d differ from what I knew.
This adoption tournament had its schedule moved up because of me, after all.
When the Duke adopted her firstborn, she determined the winner through tournament combat.
Lucian Papiope.
With an Ability called Animal Affinity, he seized victory in the tournament combat.
If Raspi was a monster tamer, then he was an animal tamer in essence.
And he didn’t just win—he achieved an overwhelming victory through his opponent’s complete forfeit.
How could he have won in a place where the only thing you could bring was a single blunt wooden sword?
Did he excel at swordplay?
No.
Did he enter the match with fierce beasts like tigers or wolves?
This either. Tournament arena entry with companions was impossible from the start.
When people think of animals, they typically imagine vertebrates with bodies.
However, insects are also legitimately classified under the phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta.
That’s right. He…
Brought millions upon millions of winged insects into the arena to attack his opponent.
An attack only possible because the arena was outdoors with no roof.
Who could endure millions of insects swarming to attack only them?
Not fainting would be a miracle.
He could have brought flocks of birds capable of flying like insects, but the reason he brought insects instead was…
Likely to create an overwhelming spectacle and force his opponent to forfeit.
Besides, if he’d brought flocks of birds, other Ability Users might have struck them down.
For instance, an Ability User who manipulated fire could have roasted them all.
Of course, the insects burned as well, but I could achieve overwhelming superiority in sheer scale.
“This is why luck matters so much….”
If I had been forced to compete against him at an inopportune moment, I would have had absolutely no chance of victory, no matter how capable I was.
That was when it happened.
A staff member who appeared to be overseeing the proceedings stepped forward before the trainees and cast an amplification spell.
“Before we begin the adoption tournament, those who wish not to participate are requested to move to the designated Safe Zone in advance.”
It seemed they had brought non-participating children as well for the sake of fairness and transparency.
The trainees then filed out en masse, and the number of participants dropped to less than half in an instant.
Most of the remaining children appeared to be at least ten years old.
Among those standing, I was the smallest. No wonder they all underestimate me.
“This feels rather unfair, doesn’t it….”
My mental age was the highest among them all, yet today I resented my short limbs and small frame.
At least Raspi and Rosemary stood on either side of me like guardians, so there were no more children trying to provoke me like before.
Though both were thin, they were taller and had larger frames than their peers, which was reassuring.
Once all the children who weren’t participating had left, the moderator spoke again.
“We will now distribute one egg and one return scroll to each of you.”
The waiting instructors then picked up baskets and began distributing one egg and one scroll to each participating child.
An egg? I had a feeling I knew what the test would be.
“…Is this a battle royale?”
The egg I received from the Talent Cultivation Institute instructor had my name written on it.
It appeared to be a measure to prevent someone from stealing another’s egg and passing it off as their own.
“There is a saying that protecting something is more difficult than injuring someone.”
The moderator paused for effect, then continued with a slight smile.
“The rules of this adoption tournament are simple. Whoever protects their egg until the very end will be granted the qualification to become Duke Papiope’s second adopted child.”
Just as I had anticipated, it was indeed a battle royale format.
A large number of participants simultaneously enter a single arena, compete against each other, and the last survivor claims victory.
Rosemary, who had been listening to the explanation, tilted her head and asked me.
“Hero, it says ‘qualification to become an adopted child,’ not ‘becoming an adopted child’—is that right?”
“Oh, you’re sharp. But you don’t need to worry too much about it.”
In truth, winning this battle royale didn’t automatically mean I would be adopted by the Duke.
After living in Duke Papiope’s Mansion for several weeks during a probationary period, I would need to receive the Duke’s final approval to be formally adopted.
If some reckless ruffian were adopted just because they won a single test, it would cause headaches for the Duke’s Residence.
As long as I didn’t cause any major incidents, there was no reason for the adoption to be cancelled.
I turned my attention back to the moderator’s words.
“The entire island, excluding the Safe Zone, will serve as the arena, and the competition will begin in 10 minutes with the firing of a signal flare.”
He waved the signal flare in his hand for emphasis.
“Ah, most of the magical beasts inhabiting this island are of lower rank, but higher-ranked ones are occasionally found deeper within the island, so I recommend not venturing too far inland.”
At that moment, someone raised their hand and asked the moderator a question.
“Can we use the return scrolls you distributed?”
“Yes. In case of emergency, please use the scroll provided to return safely.”
“Are there any penalties?”
“Of course. Using a Return Scroll is considered as forfeiting the exam, resulting in immediate disqualification and transport to the Safe Zone located at the center of the Island.”
I should have known.
There was no way they would kindly provide an escape route via scroll.
“Ah, and for your reference, intentionally inflicting severe injuries on an opponent will also result in disqualification, so please exercise appropriate restraint.”
At the mention of disqualification for deliberately grievous injuries, the faces of the trainees visibly brightened.
Some even clutched their chests and exhaled sighs of relief.
“…Fools.”
In other words, anything was permissible as long as it didn’t cause severe injury.
Likely, the threshold was whatever a healing Ability User could instantly mend without leaving scars.
I found myself thinking this was the sort of exam format that would have caused absolute chaos back on Earth.
The only reason they were distributing expensive Return Scrolls as escape tools was because this was an institution run by Duke Papiope’s Mansion.
“Now then, for the next ten minutes, physical attacks are prohibited. By any means necessary, I expect you to claim your position.”
[Overwriting current viewpoint with Viewpoint 2.]
I immediately saved my viewpoint and turned my gaze to survey my surroundings.
Everyone was forming teams of several people each.
Since my team was already determined, I moved forward with Raspi and Rosemary.
“Let’s go, you two.”
“Yes, Hero!”
“Yes.”
I intended to head into the densely wooded area.
Since Raspi’s Ability was monster taming, gathering as many monsters as possible would be advantageous.
How long had we been walking?
Rosemary’s pace, which had been matching mine, gradually began to lag. Her gait seemed somewhat unsteady.
Sensing something amiss, I stopped abruptly and turned her around to face me.
“Mari, are you hurt somewhere?”
“Oh, no.”
“You don’t have to push yourself. Would you like to go to the Safe Zone and rest?”
“I’m really fine….”
Rosemary glanced at me hesitantly, fidgeting.
Raspi then exhaled softly, as if he immediately understood the situation.
“Just tell him, Mari. He’ll understand.”
What on earth was the problem?
I stared at Rosemary expectantly, and her voice grew smaller.
“Hero, actually I….”
“Mm.”
She suddenly pulled an egg from her pocket and set it on the ground.
One, two, three…. The eggs kept coming until they reached seven.
They were all real eggs, each engraved with someone’s name.

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