Save & Load

“Mmm…”

She wanted to use magic to defeat magic.

So Su Mo decided to try constructing her own prophecy ability through the meditation techniques she learned in the previous training course.

But…

She had never met or fought a prophecy ability user. Information online was scarce, with no concrete impression. The data retrieved from Xiaoqian’s database was vague—just like common knowledge, it only mentioned the ability to peek into future fragments. Not only was it brief, but some parts were garbled, as if the prophecy ability user itself was the world’s supercomputer, and some bug had caused erroneous data to appear.

Su Mo felt that delving too deep into this understanding might not be good—it was her body’s instinctual intuition.

So she decided to take a different path for her ‘prophecy ability.’

Based on what already existed and was understandable, she would expand and evolve.

As long as the goal was achieved—knowing what happened in the ‘future’—what problem was there in calling it ‘precognition’?

Inspired by Xiaoqian’s ‘illegal operation,’ and also fortunate enough to have witnessed the application of a certain time-ability user (though she was screened out during the competitive recruitment because of it), she still hoped that person would have a thriving repair business in the future, get promoted, raise their salary, and marry a rich, beautiful woman.

Amen.

“Save.” Su Mo softly uttered this word. To those who have played games, its meaning was hardly unfamiliar.

She looked at the four save slots spread before her. Now the first one was already painted with a picture of the current bedroom, with a note below: April 4th, 08:03, Home.

“Host, you’re awake? Good morning~” Su Xiaoqian flew back into the bedroom after finishing her wash, greeting her with a smile.

“Mm, good morning. By the way, I’ve just learned a new ability. Xiaoqian, come help me~”

“Okay! What does host need me to do?” Su Xiaoqian patted her little chest, her expression saying she could handle everything.

“Mm, no need to do anything specific.” Su Mo smiled, noticing that the clock now showed 08:05. She said, “Load.”

…

Su Mo lifted her eyes and immediately looked at the clock beside her: 08:03.

Then she stared at the door.

“Host, you’re awake? Good morning~” Su Xiaoqian floated in from the door, saw Su Mo, and smiled in greeting.

“Good morning, Xiaoqian. By the way, I’ve just learned a new ability. Xiaoqian, come help me~” Su Mo said.

“Okay! What does host need me to do?” Su Xiaoqian patted her little chest, her expression saying she could handle everything.

“Xiaoqian, actually, there’s something I’ve been hiding in my heart for a long time. Today I must confess to you.”

“? W-what is it?” Su Xiaoqian looked at Su Mo’s serious face and swallowed.

“You seem to have gained some weight. You might turn into a little chubby ball in the future~”

“…” Su Xiaoqian froze, her face turning to stone. Snapping out of it, she blushed and got angry. “Ah! Host, don’t comment on a girl’s weight! And I have a metabolism that can’t gain weight…”

Watching Xiaoqian lunge at her, Su Mo smiled. “Load.”

…

08:03

“Host, you’re awake? Good morning?” Su Xiaoqian blinked, stared at Su Mo, and tilted her head.

“Xiaoqian, I’ve gained a new ability. Come help!”

“Okay, host.” Su Xiaoqian paused, then suddenly jumped, blurting out a sentence. “Host, you’re not going to say I’m fat, are you?”

“?” Su Mo blinked innocently. “How could I? Aren’t you enviably able to eat without gaining weight? Could you actually get fat?”

“Of course not!” Su Xiaoqian proudly put her hands on her hips. “I didn’t expect the little secret I’ve been hiding to be discovered by host~ Hmph~”

“Of course, because I came back from the future. That’s my new ability. The future Xiaoqian just told me.”

“Eh? Really?” Su Xiaoqian was stunned.

“Of course. Don’t believe me? Xiaoqian, remember the little pudding I bought from the dessert shop near the station last time? You said a passing cat ate it?”

“Eh? I… I even said that? What was future me thinking? Host, I’m sorry >人<. Sometimes I want to taste human things too. And who can resist a mountain-sized pudding? I just did what countless systems would do!"

"Oh, okay. The 'Pudding Theft Incident' has been solved." Shinichi? A new chapter? No, it's a pun: 'The new machine is a flower seed'? Actually, it's a reference to Shinichi Kudo? The original text says "新机子哇一朵子" which is a Japanese pun "Shinjitsu wa itsumo hitotsu" (The truth is always one) misspelled. For translation, I'll keep the pun or just state the fact.

Actually, the original text has "新机子哇一朵子" which is a miswritten Japanese phrase "真実はいつも一つ" (The truth is always one). In context, it's a playful line after solving the case. I'll translate as "The truth is always one." Maybe keep as a pun? Better to use a similar English phrase like "The truth is always one."

"Eh?" Xiaoqian was stunned, then, "Host, you're so sneaky! Deceiving my pure feelings is not allowed!"

…

………………………..Time Dividing Line~……………………..

'Save & Load'

For now, the new ability was named this.

It allowed creating a save file, and by loading it in the future, one could return to the past.

That was roughly how it worked.

But there were side effects. Repeated use would cause others to experience something akin to 'déjà vu.' Too many times might affect the course of events.

This déjà vu might also be related to emotional fluctuations.

Quantum entanglement? Parallel interference?

Also, although she hadn't tried long-span loads yet, intuition told her that the interval between save and load should preferably not be too long—within one day was safest, and no later than a week at most.

Each load would push the next load time slightly further back. Was it a cooldown? Not sure.

But with four slots, could she exploit a bug to bypass the cooldown?

She shook her head. Young people shouldn't think about cutting corners. She had already gained convenience; pushing it too far wouldn't be good.

"So with this ability, isn't the host invincible?"

"Uh…" She had just thought that, but why was this one so excited? And invincible? Invincibility was a debuff!!

"Let's just say it gives more guarantees when facing unknown situations." Su Mo shook her head.

After a moment of silence, "Can we make use of the 'déjà vu'?"

"?"

"What are you thinking, host?"

"I mean, I want to train Ruoruo—cultivate her combat awareness in one day."

"…" Su Xiaoqian was silent.

"What's wrong? Is it not feasible?"

"It's highly feasible, but host, Ruoruo is still a child…" Su Xiaoqian said weakly.

"Oh, don't worry, I have limits. I'm not a devil, just a cute magical girl senior~"

Su Mo completed her transformation in front of the mirror. Ta-da~ Magical Girl Sugar made her sparkling debut.

…

"Ruoruo, today we're going to start magical girl training. It's going to be very tough. Can Ruoruo persevere?" Magical Girl Sugar showed a worried expression.

"I can! I want to become as strong as Sister Lily!" Little Ruoruo nodded earnestly, her eyes full of determination and anticipation.

"Mm, then I'll be very strict."

"Okay, Teacher Su Su!" The little cutie gave a playful salute.

"Then it's settled. Even if you complain, I won't stop until the training is over. Pinky promise!"

"Mm! Pinky promise!"

"Pinky promise, a hundred years no change!" x2

"Save."

Su Xiaoqian watched Sugar's angelic smile and the innocent, clueless Ruoruo giggling foolishly, then rubbed her forehead.

"Poor child. It's too late to run now. You have no idea what kind of hell is coming next~"