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Chapter 24
I was so startled to learn that the Papiope Adoption Tournament was tomorrow that I came to an abrupt halt and focused on the conversation between the two of them.
“Is that even a question? Of course Elysion will be adopted.”
“But the kid who came in a month ago is no joke either. His ability—wasn’t it Monster Tamer or something? I’ve never seen such an absurdly broken ability in my life.”
“Oh, that twin siblings’ older brother?”
“Yeah. His name was… I think it was Raspi.”
Elysion and Raspi.
How could they so perfectly pick out only the kids I knew?
At this point, how could I not eavesdrop?
I lightly justified myself and pretended to look around the talent training institute building while glancing about.
“But still, wouldn’t a mage like Elysion be hard to beat?”
“Well, unless they run a large-scale battle in the tournament, it’d be tough for a Monster Tamer to beat Elysion in other events.”
“He really is incredible, though. How can someone who isn’t even an abiliter do that much with pure magic?”
“In the end, magic is talent too.”
“Come to think of it, the kid who broke every single record in the entrance exam still hasn’t come in, huh.”
“If that kid had entered the adoption tournament too, things might’ve turned out differently?”
“Maybe. But no matter how amazing that rumored kid is, I don’t think they could beat Elysion. Scores are just scores, right?”
“Agreed. How do you beat that monster?”
When their conversation came to an end, I stiffly started moving again.
In the previous timeline, the second child to be adopted into the Papiope ducal family was Elysion.
My only friend.
A fresh wave of guilt washed over me at the realization that I was trying to take the place that should have been his.
In the last timeline, Duke Papiope adopted three children.
The third was Rosemary.
So I had vaguely thought that even if I were adopted this time, Elysion would still have a chance later, and that it would be fine.
But now that the situation had come to actually competing against him, feelings of remorse toward Elysion surfaced first.
In fact, that was also why I had been even more proactive about rescuing Rosemary when she was dragged to the underground auction house.
Because she might not get adopted into Papiope because of me.
“…Should I just become that man’s daughter instead?”
Was my selfishness making everyone unhappy?
Maybe even myself.
I quickly steeled my resolve and shook my head.
“Tania, don’t say weak things. I’ve been running toward this for years.”
Still, if Elysion truly wanted to be adopted by the Duke that badly, I felt like my resolve might waver again.
“Let’s take the test first and decide later. I can rewind the timeline anytime.”
With that, I went to the talent training institute staff and expressed my intention to enroll.
Only children of the talent training institute could participate in the adoption tournament hosted by Duke Papiope, so postponing by a week had to be cleanly abandoned.
“Hello. I’d like to apply for enrollment effective tomorrow.”
“Yes, we’ll process that for you. May I see your acceptance certificate?”
“Here.”
“…Oh—are you Miss Tania herself?”
“Yes.”
“Please wait just a moment!”
After checking my certificate, the staff member looked startled, asked me to wait, and disappeared somewhere.
A short while later, the person who appeared in front of me wasn’t that staff member, but the director of the talent training institute.
Judging by how eagerly he’d been waiting for me, he must have rushed over the moment he heard I’d arrived.
“Miss Tania, I was honestly terrified, thinking you’d received sponsorship from another family and would never come back to us.”
“Oh, you don’t need to worry. I told you before—my goal is to be adopted by the Duke.”
“That’s exactly why I was worried. By any chance, have you heard that the adoption tournament is being held tomorrow?”
“Yes, well…”
“Of course. With precognition, there’s no way you wouldn’t know.”
“No. You can’t foresee every situation. It shortens your lifespan, too… I only realized that after coming this far.”
“…Ah! Then it’s truly a relief that you came before it was too late.”
The director wiped his forehead repeatedly with a handkerchief, as if breaking out in a cold sweat.
“To be honest, after I reported the results of your entrance exam, the Duke showed tremendous interest.”
I narrowed my eyes.
Don’t tell me the timing of the adoption tournament was moved up because of me?
“Miss Tania, I heard from the staff that you applied for enrollment starting tomorrow, not today…”
“Yes.”
“Even if you were to fail the adoption tournament, do you plan to remain at the talent training institute?”
I couldn’t answer right away.
I had never once assumed a future where I failed the adoption tournament.
Perhaps misunderstanding my silence, the director panicked and hurriedly explained.
“O-of course, I know you’ve already seen a future where you’re adopted through precognition. We fully acknowledge your abilities as well.”
Hearing his words, I realized something I’d overlooked.
Come to think of it, from other people’s perspectives, they would assume I had already seen a future where I was adopted.
That was the flaw in my lie about being a ‘precognitive’ abiliter.
Before my regression, everyone had merely speculated that I had precognition, but since I brazenly insisted I was ability-less, no one had known…
“However, I’ve heard that if your precognition isn’t of a definite future, it often goes awry due to variables.”
“…Y-yes, that’s right.”
“In fact, before you, there was also a child at the institute who showed exceptional talent and was almost certain to be adopted…”
Elysion.
As expected, everyone firmly believed he would be adopted.
“I don’t know. For now, I’m expecting that I’ll be adopted, but if that somehow doesn’t happen…”
No matter how many times I rewound the timeline, that would mean I couldn’t beat Elysion.
Just because it’s a game with save-load doesn’t mean everyone can clear it.
My ability merely skyrocketed the probability of clearing.
“Yes, I think I’ll leave the talent training institute. But I won’t accept sponsorship from another family, so please don’t worry too much.”
If I did my very best and still couldn’t beat Elysion, I would give up on the institute and live as Uncle Aiden’s daughter.
I didn’t have much time to wait until the Duke adopted a third child.
“Then I’ll come back early tomorrow morning. My curfew is 2 p.m.”
“Oh—2 p.m.?”
“Yes. A well-behaved child always keeps their curfew.”
Of course, calling myself well-behaved when I snuck out as easily as eating meals would be a lie against my conscience.
Just as I bowed to the director and was about to leave—
“…Tania?”
It wasn’t the director’s low, gentle voice.
It was a clear, young boy’s voice.
I lifted my head and looked toward where the voice had come from.
“Huh…?”
The one who had called my name—
Was Elysion, looking far younger than I remembered.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Take care.”
“Tania, what do you think you’re—!”
The moment Tania disappeared from his sight after saying “take care,”
Elysion honestly thought, She’s started again.
He’d experienced Tania rewinding time hundreds, thousands of times before.
Every time Tania reset the timeline, Elysion moved through time along with her.
An ability that “nullifies” another’s ability.
That was Elysion’s power—the only known non-abiliter among the Papiope adoptees.
[You kissed me and now you’re just going to pretend it never happened?]
[If you openly seduced someone, you have to take responsibility.]
Even as he spat out those words, Elysion still hadn’t grasped the situation.
After all, how could he pay attention to anything else when the person he liked had kissed him and run off?
Even with his eyes open, he couldn’t see properly.
Every ounce of his focus was filled with the thought of meeting that sly girl again and scolding her with a confession.
In Elysion’s mind, the future had already progressed to him marrying Tania, having two children, and raising one companion dog in sweet domestic bliss.
The moment he realized something was terribly wrong was…
When he noticed that the place he was standing in was the Papiope Talent Training Institute from twelve years ago.
In his damn ten-year-old body.
