Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 15
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 15
“They’re doing something good, we should help too!”
“I came because I want to help, however small it may be!”
“Oh my, who are these young masters?”
Quite a few of the territory’s residents who were close with Nicholas had gathered.
The person in fine clothes said they ran a clothing shop, and the middle-aged woman in a headscarf introduced herself as a farmer and mother of seven.
There was also an ordinary farmer, a person who raised dairy cows, and so on…
“Nicholas usually isn’t like this…”
“They said they were touched by the young masters’ kind hearts.”
“We want to help out in our own small way too.”
They were truly common folk who worked hard at their own trades.
And finally.
“Yes! That’s right. My husband said he wanted to come too because he missed the kids, but the smithy was so busy, so I came instead…”
Leah, the wife of the blacksmith Mudu.
She was there too.
While speaking, Leah’s eyes met the two brothers’.
To be precise, she briefly looked at Rickshel, then immediately fixed her gaze on Lion.
‘…I didn’t expect to run into her here.’
Lion was flustered but gave a small, unobtrusive nod. Leah’s expression shifted like she’d realized something, and she quickly looked away.
Fortunately, Leah was quite perceptive.
She must have thought there was a reason for hiding their identities.
And thanks to what had happened before, she didn’t seem to think Lion would do anything strange.
In any case, it was a relief.
Because Rickshel didn’t want their identities exposed.
Indeed, if the Asteri heir got involved, it could get messy.
“Ahem… anyway! Since you’re doing a good deed, I prepared a few things in my own way.”
When Leah started pulling out various kitchen items and everyday necessities like hoes forged at the smithy from her bundle, the others began unpacking what they had brought.
Clothes made from leftover fabric and blankets to cover up with.
Several bottles of fresh milk, along with cheese and blocks of butter.
And the farmer who worked the fields, having summoned his courage…
“I couldn’t bring much.”
He set down a well-cured ham.
“Whoa.”
“Such a precious thing!”
Since it was precious meat, and salt-cured ham at that, everyone’s faces lit up.
“To offer so much… This is wonderful, Brother.”
“I know. Our territory’s residents are truly kind.”
Since there were things Rickshel and Lion hadn’t been able to include in the donation for fear of revealing their identities, the two whispered softly with pleased expressions.
That wasn’t all.
“Oh my, everyone brought such nice things… I don’t have much…”
Thud!
When the farmer set down the load he’d been carrying on his back, the kitchen shook.
Five sacks of plump potatoes!
“Whoa, what the?”
“Insane forearms…!”
“That’s a blessing…”
As a few people muttered enviously, the farmer shyly covered his face.
“I didn’t bring much. I just had a lot of potatoes… hehe. I’m strong, so I’ll be helpful.”
The headscarf-wearing farmer chuckled bashfully, boasting that he’d even wrestled a bear in his younger days.
“…That’s truly reassuring.”
Or should I say, physically reassuring.
Lion glanced around.
Contrary to expectations, quite a crowd had gathered.
At this rate, the children wouldn’t go hungry for a while.
Rickshel’s grand scheme seemed to have worked out rather well.
“…”
Meanwhile, Rickshel had grown a little dazed.
He hadn’t wanted or planned for anything like this.
After all, Rickshel had no connection whatsoever to these people.
He’d figured he only needed to build some rapport with Nicholas…
Somehow, with the help of the people around them, it had turned out like this.
Rickshel looked at Lion, who had turned into a flour-dusted mess.
‘All of this is my brother’s doing.’
The result of putting his heart into every little thing and giving it his all.
Suddenly, Rickshel felt that this situation was similar to an anecdote about the Hero he’d heard in old tales.
‘That Hero, too, was said to have started as just an ordinary adventurer.’
Of course, what had been done here wasn’t as grand as a hero’s deeds.
But it was a small act of goodwill.
People who were impressed by each of those small actions gathered to form a party that defeated the Demon King, and they eventually triumphed.
In the end, wasn’t the principle the same?
‘As expected…’
He truly was an amazing person.
Therefore!
‘No matter what it takes, I have to make sure my brother meets the priest.’
His brother was someone who, once he got healthy, would accomplish great things.
“Let’s head out.”
With renewed resolve, Rickshel headed to the orphanage.
“No…”
“It’s not much, but we brought a few things.”
“Food and clothing are always in short supply, after all.”
It was only natural that the orphanage director was surprised.
“Everyone… *sniff!*”
It was the first time they had received this much help from outside.
She wasn’t moved only by that.
Having many villagers help meant many things.
More supplies could come in from now on, the children wouldn’t go hungry, and they could even make special meals.
Was that all?
She even felt it as a hope that they wouldn’t be ostracized for being from a temple orphanage.
Of course, that might not be the case, but as the director of a temple orphanage, she had been quite worried because the children’s futures were at stake.
But as of today, those worries could be put to rest.
“Thank you so much. I don’t know how to repay this kindness…”
Just as she was about to express special thanks to Nicholas.
“I didn’t gather these. It’s all thanks to these two young masters.”
“Ah.”
Only then did the director notice the two of them.
At a glance, their fine clothes marked them as children of a noble house.
One seemed not yet an adult.
The other…
‘An adult?’
He looked older than the younger one, but it wasn’t certain either.
“What brings such noble young masters here… Thank you truly.”
“It’s nothing. However.”
Once the director expressed her thanks, Rickshel stepped forward and began to speak.
From the reason they had decided to donate, to the fact that they had learned of this place from Nicholas.
“Ashamedly, even I didn’t know where help was truly needed.”
After he offered a suitably embarrassed remark, the director’s expression lit up with delight.
“Not at all. To set your heart on doing good and then follow through is a truly admirable resolve. I bow my head in gratitude to you both.”
“Gratitude? We’re just happy we could help.”
“Shall we put away the luggage first then?”
Under the guidance of the farmer who was the mother of seven, the residents moved briskly.
In the cramped kitchen, a knife for cutting meat and a grater were placed. In the storeroom, new hoes and a sickle appeared, food supplies were stacked, and in one corner of a room, new blankets and cloth were set down.
Of course, that wasn’t all.
“Now, how about a bit of cleaning?”
The residents’ goodwill was unstoppable.
They dusted, sorted dirty laundry, and tidied the dishes.
“…There’s nothing left for me to ask of you. Haha.”
The director watched blankly and smiled.
“Then, would you two mind handing out bread to the children?”
Glance— when the director looked to the side, small children who still seemed unfamiliar with outsiders were peeking their heads out.
“There may be some children who speak impolitely; please understand and let it pass.”
“Impolite words…?”
“Some of them are at that age, you see… they might be full of questions. But they don’t mean any harm, so please bear with them.”
She added that she would keep an eye on things and step in if the mood turned strange, then sent the two off.
‘Well, that’s nothing.’
Lion had baked the bread for these children from the start, so it was fine.
No matter how unfamiliar someone is, you don’t treat the person bringing food harshly.
“Okay, Rickshel. Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
Lion and Rickshel began handing out bread to the children.
Some accepted it politely and smiled, but there were also children who quickly snatched the bread and scurried away.
If we’re talking about the atmosphere… honestly, the latter were the majority.
‘If the atmosphere is this bad, making a good impression on the priest is out the window.’
Rickshel worried inwardly.
It was his mistake for not considering the children’s reactions.
No, honestly, he’d thought there wouldn’t be a problem since getting any helping hand at all should be a gain.
But that wasn’t the case.
‘I can understand, but.’
Thinking that time was tight only made him feel groundlessly uneasy.
“Rickshel. It’s okay.”
Lion gave Rickshel a light pat and smiled.
“They’re kids who can perfectly well act that way. From their perspective, they’re probably wondering why all these strangers are doing this.”
“But…”
It seemed he understood in his head but couldn’t quite accept it in his heart.
‘That’s only natural.’
When you thought about it, Rickshel was a child too.
Moreover, he had never once experienced a situation like this.
So he needed a bit more explanation.
“Hmm… right. For example, to those kids, we’re like a banana sweet potato.”
“…Banana sweet potato?”
Ah.
Only then, as if he could finally accept it to some degree, Rickshel let out a short exclamation.
Indeed, just a few days ago, he himself had been reluctant to eat the banana sweet potato Lion offered.
Was that all? He’d even used wind magic to sweep it away.
“That’s right. You need time to adapt and accept.”
When you first saw a banana sweet potato, it was nothing but a dirty plant root covered in soil.
But once you got to know what it was like inside, you realized, didn’t you?
That it was delicious.
That it was okay.
‘After eating that banana sweet potato, the awkward relationship with my brother had improved, too.’
All that time, my brother had waited for me.
And for quite a long while at that.
‘I’ve learned another lesson.’
Thinking purely rationally and being impatient didn’t make things move faster.
Like my brother, if you took it easy and gave your best within the limits of what you wanted to do, things would resolve themselves.
‘Right. Rickshel, calm down.’
I’ll wait until those children realize the bread is delicious.
“…”
Meanwhile, after gently calming Rickshel, Lion observed the children.
He didn’t have a secret method.
He was simply trusting in the delicious bread.
And just as Lion expected, a murmur began to rise from the far side.
“I-it’s delicious!”
“It’s soft… and savory…”
After eating the delicious food, some children grabbed the hands of the relatively older kids and dragged them to stand in front of Lion and Rickshel.
“Hey, try this! It’s good!”
“Um, could I have one more?”
“Haha, if you want to eat and eat again, just say so. We have plenty of bread.”
“…Thank you.”
When nearly all of the children had eaten the bread and were satisfied.
“There’s bread left.”
“Yeah. Looks like someone didn’t take one.”
Exactly one portion of bread remained.
“Ah, I’ll set that aside separately. That child is a bit…”