Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 116
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 116
‘And there must be a reason it fell into my hands.’
A demonic beast’s power exceeded imagination—enough to easily smash an entire territory.
But that would not have been the Demonic Beast’s own will.
Even without Beast Taming techniques, there were plenty of ways to compel it.
For example, violence and abuse from the moment it was a cub.
And if you added something like a Magic Restraint… it wouldn’t even be able to resist.
‘If something happens, this will be a huge help.’
Lion nodded inwardly.
It could serve as a hidden card when danger struck.
And above all…
‘It also got caught.’
Varg, descendant of the Red Wolf Beastfolk.
And Nature, once a druid’s spirit.
If a demonic beast appeared, it was likely a descendant of the beast the druid had raised.
After all, they might find another clue about the main character.
Lion packed the baby food into his bag.
“Thank you. I’ll keep this.”
“Yes! Thank you very much!”
Varg was so overjoyed simply because Lion had accepted his gift that he bowed deeply.
“A-and… I will work really hard!”
“Hm?”
“I’ll fix my attitude, get stronger… become a full-fledged knight and someday protect you, young master!”
Lion burst out laughing at Varg’s earnest eyes and tone.
‘What an admirable kid.’
He was still just learning to adapt to society.
No matter how well he hid his identity, a beastfolk’s values were bound to differ from a human’s.
Yet Varg had already taken a step beyond that by saying he wanted to achieve his own dream.
Of course, as the years passed and his head grew a little bigger, he’d likely develop a goal other than protecting Lion—but still.
‘That mindset itself is what matters.’
If Varg had known that… he would have insisted he had no intention of looking elsewhere, but there was no way he could have.
“Yeah. I’m counting on you.”
Lion smiled broadly, took a Moonlight Pill from his chest, and handed it over.
“You’ll need it later. Eat it not now, but when your body is fully healed and you’re training.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Right. Well done.”
After Lion patted his shoulder a couple of times…
Thud!
Varg collapsed right there on the ground.
“Whoops.”
So he really had pushed himself too hard after all.
Lion laughed awkwardly and looked at Rickson and Jake, who were running over from a distance.
“Haah, this guy! You suddenly went outside and you were here?”
“Thank you, young master. You were holding onto Varg again.”
A lot had happened in between, but it was better to just leave it at that.
“Please take him inside quickly.”
“Yes! Then, if you’ll excuse us!”
Rickson and Jake slung Varg’s arms over their shoulders and dragged him back to the infirmary.
The sight struck Lion as remarkably devoted, and he chuckled.
He wouldn’t have to worry for a while.
* * *
The next day.
As soon as morning came, Lion delivered a remaining bottle of sikhye to Buck, an apprentice servant.
“Th-this truly is made from barley shoots?”
This is truly astonishing… Buck muttered to himself.
He had never encountered a drink like this in his life.
He’d always thought malt—in other words, barley shoots—could only produce alcohol.
His father, a brewery owner, had tried many things, but the result was always the same.
Yellow beer, black beer, brown beer.
In the end, the result was beer.
But for a unique beverage like this to be born!
“How does it taste?”
“The sweet and subtle fragrance is wonderful. It’s a taste anyone, young or old, male or female, would love…”
“Then would your father also like it?”
“My father? He’s someone who’s always seeking something new, so he’d certainly…”
Buck stopped short mid-sentence.
‘H-how do I answer?’
He wanted to say he wished to let his father taste this drink right now.
But could that be taken as meaning he wanted to copy a beverage developed by the young master of House Asteri?
As Buck hesitated for a moment, Lion spoke in a gentle voice.
“It’s fine. You can let him know.”
“B-but.”
“Actually, I’d like you to. I’m very interested in brewing techniques. And I’d like other people to enjoy this drink, too.”
“Such…!”
Overwhelmed, Buck immediately said he would go down to his hometown on his next leave.
“Right. If your father is pleased, invite me along too.”
“O-of course! On the contrary, it would be an honor for our household!”
Unable to hide his brimming emotions, Buck kept bowing until Lion walked away.
“Good. Now that the last sikhye has been delivered…”
He had now taken care of everything that needed immediate handling.
‘Shall I rest a bit now?’
Lion strolled through the mansion at a leisurely pace.
He finally had some breathing room.
‘First, I’ll go and get a nice long nap…’
The moment he thought he would plan the rest afterward—
“Master!”
he encountered Freyania waiting in front of his door.
‘Oh.’
Perhaps thanks to the previous day’s hot spring, Freyania’s face looked much clearer and plumper.
Her trademark baby fat made her cheeks look as smooth as boiled eggs!
But…
The way she moved was stiff and jerky, almost robotic.
“Was the hot spring all right? You actually look tired.”
“No! My condition is excellent! All thanks to the hot spring you made, Teacher! Salamander loved it too!”
Freyania answered Lion’s question at rapid speed.
It felt almost as if she’d been programmed to reply like that.
‘Nah. I’m just imagining things.’
Lion decided to let it slide.
“But what’s the matter?”
“Ah, well.”
Flailing about, Freyania pulled a potion bottle out of her bag.
Inside was hot spring water.
“I wanted to do a bit of research on the hot spring water you created, Teacher… and I was wondering if that would be all right!”
“What’s there to ask permission for? Use it all you like.”
“Ah, really? Thank you!”
“Did you keep waiting here just for that?”
“Yes. Hehe… And I also wanted to tell you that I learned a great deal from Lady Elvia…”
“Young master. You’ve returned. The cleaning of your room is just finished.”
“Eek.”
Freyania broke off mid-sentence and hid behind Lion.
‘For someone who says she learned a lot, she’s still intimidated by her.’
Where had he seen this before?
Lion pondered for a moment, then it clicked.
Ah, this reaction!
The stern but privately caring tiger boss and her subordinate employee!
‘Ah, so that’s it.’
Well, Freyania and Elvia’s first meeting probably hadn’t been all that pretty, so it made perfect sense.
‘Freyania will just have to get used to it.’
Still, it was a relief that Elvia seemed to be considerate in her own way.
“Th-then, since I’ve received permission, I’ll be heading back! Please rest well!”
Freyania hastily stuffed the hot spring water back into her bag and scampered away.
Lion’s gaze slid toward Elvia.
“Just in case, let me ask… yesterday…”
“We had a frank and open conversation. There is nothing for you to worry about.”
“Just as I thought?”
“Yes. Indeed.”
Then that’s fine.
Lion nodded and went into his room.
The room, freshly cleaned, smelled wonderful.
He was always grateful that the servants paid such close attention.
Lion flopped down onto the crisp bedding.
“By the way, how was it for you, Elvia?”
“It was very pleasant. I felt as though the fatigue of many days melted away. There seem to be special properties to it.”
“I’m glad you liked it.”
Lion thought he really ought to keep developing this and that for Elvia’s sake in the future, too.
‘They probably won’t go to the hot spring a second time.’
What should he try next?
While thinking it over, Lion remembered something.
‘Now that I think of it, what should I get for Peter’s gift?’
He had made bold claims about bringing an expensive present, but truthfully, he had no idea what would be good.
“But I can’t exactly give him jewels…”
Lion, still lying down, wiggled his legs.
“Are you thinking of giving someone a gift?”
“Yeah. It’s about Peter…”
Lion briefly told her about Peter.
A child he had met at the orphanage—one who, having been abandoned, kept his heart especially tightly shut.
“But this time he’s being adopted into a proper place, so…”
Lion stared quietly at the ceiling and let the words slip out.
“I want to give him a nice gift so he doesn’t feel intimidated, but I also wonder if it’d be too much of a burden for a little kid.”
“You are quite right. If you hand a small child something so expensive he cannot handle it, trouble will inevitably follow.”
“That’s what I thought. Then what do I do?”
Elvia pulled the blanket that had slipped back over him and offered a gentle suggestion.
“Wouldn’t something like a toy that a child named Peter could play with be better?”
“A toy?”
“Yes. As a rule, small children prefer toys over jewels.”
“That’s true.”
She was right. His wanting the kid not to be intimidated by an expensive gift was probably looking at the child through adult eyes.
‘In that case…’
Lion blinked and formed a plan.
“Then I’ll have to go do some preliminary research later. To figure out exactly what kids like.”
Blink.
Lion’s eyelids slowly closed heavily.
The new bedding, the subtle and cozy scent, all made sleep steal over him.
And on top of that, the warm sunlight.
“Just rest a little first.”
“Heh-heh. Yes. Please sleep comfortably.”
Watching Lion’s eyes close, Elvia smiled faintly and slipped away.
She had no wish to disturb the adorable puppy’s sound sleep.
“Zzz…”
The warmth beneath the blankets and the comfortable position made him not want to move at all.
Even Nature’s light weight as it napped on his chest added to the comfort.
For the first time in a while, Lion fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
From the next day on, Lion went around questioning servants who had children.
“What kind of presents do children like?”
“A wooden sword is definitely the favorite! It’s perfect for a child who wants to be a knight.”
“No. They like cute, big dolls.”
“All wrong! What kids love most is sweet treats!”
“…”
Lion realized that not all
children liked the same things.
Just as each had their own personality, what children wanted was entirely different.
“Hmm.”
Lion put his hands on his hips and sank into thought.
‘The data is still insufficient.’
Besides, these were parents.
It would be best to hear the children’s opinions directly.
“Right. Thanks.”
Lion immediately set out for the village.
To meet the children he knew.
That meant… Branch and Leaf, the kids at Mudu’s house!