Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 5

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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 5
As I suppressed my inner laughter, the soldiers exchanged glances and signaled one another with their eyes.
Cecilia glared at them with fury etched across her face.
“Let me go! What have I done wrong? You’re arresting an innocent person!”
“Whether you’re guilty or not will be revealed soon enough.”
The soldiers firmly secured both of Cecilia’s arms and forcibly lifted her to her feet.
Even as she was being dragged away, Cecilia refused to abandon hope and continued her false performance as my mother.
“T-Tania! Why are you doing this to me? Are you upset because I didn’t buy you candy earlier? If that’s it, I’m sorry. Please tell them it’s not true—people are getting the wrong idea.”
At that, the soldiers looked between me and the Merchant Leader with skepticism.
“This child is an orphan who grew up on the streets. The Trading Caravan occasionally sends her on errands and pays her with food, so I know her well.”
“Ah, yes, what you say is true.”
I nodded along with trembling shoulders, feigning fear, and the soldiers clicked their tongues as they looked at Cecilia.
“Tsk, such an obvious lie. There’s no need to hear more—take her away!”
One of the soldiers tried to take me along naturally, but the perceptive Merchant Leader stepped forward.
“The child seems quite frightened. Allow me to calm her down before bringing her to the Security Bureau Building.”
“Ah, would you do that?”
Seeing me still trembling pitifully, the soldiers wore sympathetic expressions and departed without further objection.
I waved my hand gently at Cecilia as she was being dragged away, bidding her farewell under my breath.
“It was unfortunate to meet you. Let’s never see each other again.”
Relieved to have sent her off, I turned to the Merchant Leader and gave him a thumbs up.
“You’re more capable than I expected. I didn’t think you’d arrive so quickly.”
“By fortunate coincidence, I encountered the soldiers while heading to summon the Security Bureau. I simply acted out the gravity of the situation.”
He lifted one corner of his mouth and ruffled my hair vigorously.
“You’re the one with impressive quick thinking. When you mentioned something near the Central Clock Tower, it sounded so convincing that even I was fooled.”
“Hmm? Isn’t that where illegal ability trafficking happens?”
…
“Hehe. That way, the people involved end up in prison.”
The Merchant Leader asked with a more cautious tone.
“…Can you really learn such things through your foresight ability?”
“Of course not. I just naturally picked it up from living at the bottom of society.”
Faced with yet another tragic narrative, he patted my back with eyes overflowing with compassion.
“How much must you have endured at such a young age….”
As he continued patting my back, he realized that the time for parting was approaching, and he made me another proposal.
“Tania, are you really certain you won’t join our Trading Caravan?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Sigh, I see.”
The Merchant Leader couldn’t hide his disappointment, yet he remained considerate toward me.
“If that’s truly your decision, I’ll at least escort you to the front of the Orphanage. That should be acceptable, yes?”
“Ah, well, before I go into the Orphanage, there’s somewhere I’d like to stop by briefly. Would it be possible to ask you to take me there?”
I had finished dealing with Piramid, and now it was time to accomplish the most important task.
Meeting Aiden again after five years—when he was supposed to be dead.

✦ ✦ ✦
It didn’t take long to arrive near the house where Aiden and I had lived together in that previous timeline.
I bowed my head in gratitude to the Merchant Leader who had brought me this far.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“No need to thank me. After all, I gained something from this too. It was a fair trade, just as you said.”
“Ah, speaking of trades, I just remembered—I mentioned I had two pieces of information before, didn’t I? Now I’ll tell you the second one.”
“That’s not necessary. I’ve already been compensated more than enough.”
“You really should hear this.”
I lifted one corner of my mouth in a playful smile.
“The first information was about the massive crop failure next year, right?”
“…That’s right.”
“Well, the year after that, the Magic Tower will introduce new farming techniques that dramatically increase grain yields, so sell everything you bought this year before next year ends.”
“Huh.”
He sighed and stroked his beard thoughtfully.
“So that’s why you said you’d tell me the second information later.”
“Yes.”
When a crop failure strikes hard, its effects aren’t confined to just that year’s harvest.
Recovery typically takes several years at minimum, but this time was an extraordinarily rare exception.
If one possessed large quantities of grain, it would naturally be wise to wait until prices rose further before selling.
If he hadn’t helped me properly and I hadn’t revealed this second piece of information…
When the bountiful harvest came the following year and grain flooded the market at rock-bottom prices, he would have been forced to sell everything he’d stockpiled at a pittance, crying all the while.
“The more I think about it, the more I regret not recruiting you.”
“Who knows? We might meet again soon enough.”
I smiled brilliantly as I took my leave.
“It was a good trade. I hope your Trading Caravan prospers.”

✦ ✦ ✦
[Overwriting current checkpoint with Checkpoint 2.]
After saving my current checkpoint, I stood before the door of the house where Aiden lived, taking a shallow breath.
I knew for certain that in this checkpoint, he was still alive.
Perhaps it was because I hadn’t seen him in so long, but I found myself inexplicably nervous.
I wiped the sweat from my palms onto my clothes, then knocked carefully on the door.
Some time passed before the sound of a rusted door creaking open announced someone’s arrival.
Creeeeak—!
I etched the man who emerged into my memory as if burning his image into my eyes.
Bronze skin that suited his profession as a mercenary well. Black hair swept back carelessly.
Sharp golden eyes reminiscent of a predator’s gaze, and a long vertical scar running down his left eye.
He looked slightly younger than the last face I remembered.
The moment our eyes met, I burst into tears and threw myself into his arms.
“I missed you so much.”
I felt his body stiffen in shock, but I paid it no mind and continued.
“I tried so hard to live loudly and happily with you. Please don’t leave me first this time.”
I couldn’t do this twice.
Not because returning to the past was difficult, but because I couldn’t bear to witness his death again.
So.
“This time, I’ll eliminate everyone who threatens our peace, and we’ll live together for a long, long time.”
I smiled through my tears and held him tightly once more.
As the warmth I had longed for transferred through my skin, relief bloomed within me.
“Dad.”
Though he cherished me like a daughter, he absolutely despised when I called him that.
So whenever I felt the urge to call him dad, I would blurt it out and shift checkpoints before his scolding could come.
Suddenly curious about his reaction, I lifted my head.
He stood frozen, staring at me as if time itself had stopped.
He must have been bewildered—a stranger arriving suddenly, clinging to him, calling him dad.
I smiled through my tears and activated my ability without hesitation.
I had said everything I wanted to say.
[Loading Checkpoint 2.]
Creeeeak.
Watching Aiden emerge from the doorway, I forced my lips into a smile.
So that our first meeting would be remembered with laughter, not a distorted face.
“Hello, sir. Would you happen to have a piece of bread to spare?”

✦ ✦ ✦
The Old Gentleman gazed down at me in silence for a long while before uttering a few words asking me to wait, then disappeared into his house.
How much time had passed, I wondered.
Just as I began to fear he had forgotten I was outside, the door swung open.
“Come inside.”
The Old Gentleman seated me at the dining table and brought out a steaming stew and white bread.
The ingredients were of far superior quality compared to anything Cecilia had ever given me.
Delighted at the thought of eating the Old Gentleman’s cooking again after so long, I smiled brightly and picked up my spoon.
The Old Gentleman sat across from me, his expression unreadable.
“…What is your name?”
“I’m Tania. And you?”
“Aiden.”
Yes, Aiden it was.
What a longed-for name it had always been.

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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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