Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 63

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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 63
The Magic Tower Master’s eyes widened as he examined the amount written on the check.
“Oh, five thousand gold? How did a child like you come by such a sum…?”
“I made a quick score before my abilities became public knowledge.”
“A quick… score…?”
His expression suggested he couldn’t quite believe those words had come from a seven-year-old’s mouth.
I lifted the corners of my mouth reassuringly and added, “Don’t worry.”
“I won it all at the Horse Racing Track through legitimate means—fees and taxes already deducted. It’s clean money.”
“No, that’s not what I was concerned about…!”
“The amount I just gave you is seed capital. That should be enough to cover your living expenses through next year, shouldn’t it?”
The Magic Tower Master was about to protest when Elysion nudged him in the ribs, forcing him to nod reluctantly.
An excellent ally indeed.
“This is all the liquid cash I have at the moment, so I can only begin serious investments starting next year.”
“But child, it seems you’ve grown far too cavalier about the world, earning money so easily as an Ability User. What made you hand over a check so recklessly without any assurance?”
“Pardon?”
As I blinked slowly, the Magic Tower Master continued with a lecturing tone.
“We haven’t even drawn up a contract yet, and you’ve already handed over the money. What if I simply took it and refused the contract, or had it written in my favor?”
I shrugged indifferently.
“You’re welcome to keep it and disappear.”
“What?”
Caught off guard by my response, the Magic Tower Master’s face twisted oddly.
But it was true—he could pocket the deposit and pretend ignorance if he wished.
Had I truly cared about losing the money, I would have saved my progress the moment I stepped into the Magic Tower.
“I owe Elysion a debt. Consider this payment in full.”
The Duke Papiope Adoption Tournament.
Elysion could have defeated me and become Duke Papiope’s adopted child, but he chose not to.
Of course, Elysion had yielded because he believed I owed him a debt, but since I had no memory of it, the obligation still weighed on me.
The Magic Tower Master seemed to have given up on being surprised, now observing me with eyes full of curiosity.
“…I thought Elysion was the peculiar one, but now it seems everyone from the Talent Cultivation Institute is strange.”
I was aware that others found me unusual.
A seven-year-old shouldn’t speak or act the way I did.
But what exactly had Elysion shown the Magic Tower Master to be treated the same way as me?
“How many monsters like you are there in that place?”
“Come now, calling people monsters is rather harsh.”
“Would you ever consider staying at the Magic Tower instead of with Duke Papiope?”
The Magic Tower Master seemed quite taken with me.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ve already grown attached to Duke Papiope’s household.”
“I’ll treat you better than Viviana! Come now, wouldn’t you like to learn magic?”
This Magic Tower Master had a chronic habit of coveting other people’s children.
I knew well from future timelines how he’d made absurd demands of the Duchess, so I found myself in an awkward position.
“Father, may I borrow your ear for a moment?”
Elysion suddenly leaned in and whispered something to the Magic Tower Master.
“I see. What? Hmm. Oh, I understand… So that’s how it works. Very well.”
He kept his gaze fixed on me, nodding thoughtfully as he listened to Elysion’s words.
Whatever Elysion had said, it seemed to have completely convinced him—he cleared his throat and swiftly abandoned the idea of bringing me to the Magic Tower.
“Ahem! If you truly prefer Papiope, I won’t press the matter further.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. But in exchange, you must promise to visit the Magic Tower often and get along well with my son Elysion, understood?”
“It would be my honor.”
“I’ll gratefully accept the advance investment. We should set another day to discuss the details. Will you handle the contract yourself?”
“No. I’d prefer to accumulate funds quietly. Negotiations aren’t my specialty anyway, so I’ll send a representative.”
The Merchant Leader of Ageratum Merchant Company would be perfect for this.
“Then it seems we’ve covered everything. I should take my leave now.”
I prepared to depart quickly, worried the Magic Tower Master might change his mind.
Elysion, understanding this, didn’t even ask if I was leaving already this time.
“Tania, next time I’ll visit you in Papiope.”
“Of course. Come whenever you like.”
I waved goodbye to him, though part of me remained curious.
What on earth had Elysion said to the Magic Tower Master?

✦ ✦ ✦
“Father, a word, if you please.”
Elysion whispered quickly before the Magic Tower Master could protest further.
“You like Tania, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Well, there’s a way to make her your daughter without necessarily bringing her to the Magic Tower.”
“What do you mean?”
“As you’ve noticed, I’m quite fond of Tania myself.”
“Hmm.”
“Think about it—if I marry Tania, you’d automatically become her father-in-law, wouldn’t you?”
“Oh, I see… So that’s how it works?”
“Exactly. So Father, just help me succeed with Tania.”
“Understood.”

✦ ✦ ✦
A month had passed since I entered Duke Papiope’s Mansion.
After arriving at the Mansion, I had arranged for Aiden to join as a Papiope Knight.
Once I finished urgent matters like assisting Lucian, time flew by at an astonishing pace.
I had also completed the adaptation period promised with the Duchess.
As it happened, I had several matters to discuss, so I made my way to the Duchess’s Office.
She greeted me warmly despite being in the middle of her work.
“Welcome. What brings you here?”
“A month has passed since I arrived in Papiope, so I came to report on a few matters.”
“Go ahead.”
“I’ve decided to make Lena, who was my temporary maid, my permanent one.”
“Is that so? She must have made quite an impression on you.”
“Yes, absolutely.”
Beyond her competence at her duties, her flexibility and bright personality made her a perfect fit for me.
“If you’re satisfied with her, that’s all that matters. As for your escort knight, I assume you have no intention of changing that.”
“Of course not. Aiden—I mean, Aiden will be my dedicated knight for life!”
As I spoke with conviction, the Duchess let out a soft laugh and replied.
“Very well. I won’t take him away from you. But tell me, did you come just to confirm your maid?”
“Ah! Actually, there’s something I should have told you the moment I was adopted by you, but I completely forgot.”
In truth, I hadn’t forgotten—I simply needed time to understand what kind of people lived in Duke Papiope’s Mansion.
If they were greedy and indifferent to the welfare of their territory’s people, I had no intention of sharing this information with them.
As if anticipating what I might say, the Duchess’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Something you should have told me immediately upon arrival? Surely you don’t mean…?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I mean.”
Given that my ability was foresight, it seemed the Duchess had been waiting for the right moment to ask about it.
I took a deep breath and began pouring out the words rapidly.
“A severe famine will strike next year. Therefore, it’s crucial to purchase as much grain as possible during this year’s harvest season. Of course, if you suddenly import massive quantities of grain, other noble families will grow suspicious and follow suit, which could severely damage the grain market prices. I recommend spreading your purchases across multiple transactions to avoid drawing attention.”
After speaking so quickly, I paused to catch my breath.
It would have been understandable if she hadn’t grasped everything, but the Duchess somehow understood and asked for confirmation.
“A severe famine next year?”
“Yes. That’s why we need to prepare now.”
The Duchess’s expression grew grave.
The soil quality in Duke Papiope’s territory was poor, making agriculture difficult.
The territory was bordered by a mountain range teeming with magical beasts, contaminating the land with magical energy.
Most of the people in Papiope’s territory made their living by hunting magical beasts and selling their byproducts.
These byproducts were more durable than animal hides and had high versatility as magical materials, making them a quite lucrative source of income.
As a result, the territory’s people generally lived comfortably, but they remained heavily dependent on grain prices.
They relied on importing most of their food from other territories.

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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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