Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 156
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 156
“Huh?”
Nothing changed even after I put on the mask.
Looking down at my body, I still appeared to be wearing my pajamas.
‘There should have been an effect, though.’
Lion went to a mirror and checked his reflection.
“Oh.”
Fortunately, the reflection looked different.
It had literally become the reflection of an ‘unknowable’ person.
I could see the flashy mask on my face, but the information about the person behind it was indiscernible.
“Nice.”
As expected of an expensive item, the effect was certain.
After firmly adjusting the mask once more, Lion took out the Egg Coin.
“Let’s get going then.”
When Lion inserted the coin into the groove on one side of the letter, it made a clear clinking sound and vanished without a trace.
In its place, an oval magic circle, just like the Egg Coin, appeared on the floor.
It was probably a teleportation circle.
Lion slowly closed his eyes.
Whirr.
The magic circle activated with a soft noise, and new light was felt beyond my eyelids.
When I opened my eyes… a completely new world unfolded.
Until now, Easter had focused on comfort, elegance, and a kind of inner peace, but…
‘This place…’
How should I put it?
It immediately gave off the vibe of a place that pursued more primal pleasures.
“Welcome to the Easter Arcade, sir!”
The staff member greeted Lion with great energy and handed over a coin.
It was the very coin I had just inserted.
“Ah! We cannot recognize our guests here, but identification through conversation is possible, so please be mindful if you wish to keep your identity hidden!”
The staff member informed him of this caution before Lion could even speak.
It seemed they notified him in advance to prevent a guest’s identity from being revealed.
“Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Yes! Then, let me continue with the explanation!”
What followed was a description of the facilities.
It was mostly about how the free bar inside was for unlimited use and how many special arcade machines could only be enjoyed at Easter.
It seemed meant to build up anticipation.
“The amusement facilities are divided into two sections.”
“Two?”
The important explanation was this.
“Yes. Inside the amusement area, the path splits in two. The left side is free, but the right side requires an Egg Coin to use.”
In other words, they were sending everyone who pursued risky pleasure to the right side.
Of course, since the stakes were that much higher, they would have prepared more enticing amusements.
“I can enjoy both, right?”
“Absolutely! The left side also features splendid Easter facilities, so if you enjoy them fully, you can even earn Egg Coins.”
The staff member finished his explanation with a polished bow.
That probably meant I should go in and experience it for myself now.
“Alright.”
Lion chuckled lightly and walked into the arcade.
He had clearly grasped from that explanation exactly how to make the most of this facility.
‘I see. Gather Egg Coins in the left area, then move over to the right.’
These were people who had already cleared one high hurdle by obtaining the hard-to-get Egg Coins.
So, the methods to earn Egg Coins inside would probably be relatively simple.
Why?
Because Easter prioritized their customers’ enjoyment above all else.
They had made it so considerate that customers who came all the way to the arcade wouldn’t have to pant and scramble for Egg Coins as if doing homework.
Because that way, people would go out, spread more rumors, and then more customers would come back in a virtuous cycle.
In short, it was a sophisticated ploy that made people want to return by pretending to give freebies.
It was likely a tactic only possible in a specialized commercial district dealing with wealthy people.
‘Anyway, even though this area had been closed for quite a long time…’
The interior of the arcade was so splendid that words of praise came naturally.
Chandeliers shining in various colors and dazzling lights.
In the bar at the center, a drink that looked instantly refreshing was flowing like a waterfall, and bartenders beside it were making delicious cocktails and snacks.
Each holding a glass of that drink, the guests were amusing themselves in front of various arcade machines.
“We can win Cloud Sheep dolls for free!”
“Look, there’s an Egg Coin shape too, see?”
A machine where you could win cute stuffed dolls.
“I’ve done some axe throwing in my younger days!”
“Actually, I’ve always wanted to try splitting firewood.”
Games like one where you swung an axe down to split toy logs more accurately, and so on!
There were even special telescopes to look around the entire arcade and a space to rest if you got tired!
Truly, it was a dream arcade!
Among all that, what especially caught Lion’s eye was…
“Isn’t that a pond?”
A pond was conspicuously placed on one side of the arcade.
How did they even bring a pond in here?
Lion approached the pond as if mesmerized.
Quite a few people were already fishing for something with toy rods…
“I caught one!”
A man cheered in triumph as he pulled his catch from the toy rod.
Clear water splashed around, but others paid it no mind, staring at him with envy.
That was…
‘An Egg Coin?’
I thought they’d be easy to get, but you can get one just from a single fishing game?
“That’s an Egg Coin exchange ticket, right?”
“Ah, sir. Unfortunately, this one is an ‘Egu Coin’.”
“What? Dammit! I’m fishing again!”
“Yes! You have two attempts remaining!”
“…”
Ah, of course. It couldn’t be that easy to catch one.
‘But there are even “Egu Coins”? This is kind of frustrating…’
Lion knew all about Egu Coins.
Once during an Easter event in ‘In the World,’ they had given out ‘Egu Coins’ as an April Fool’s Day joke.
-Egu Coin? What kind of game is this;
-Thought it was feed lololol
Of course, you could exchange three of those for one ‘Egg Coin’…
-1/3rd feed, insane;
└Thought it was diet feed lol
…Well, because it was the first time, everyone let it slide, but not once did an Egu Coin ever see the light of day again.
“Would you like to give it a try, sir?”
Just then, a staff member came over and handed him a toy fishing rod.
“Shall I?”
Lion took the rod without hesitation.
The rod had a shape somewhere between a real fishing rod and a child’s toy.
“The method is simple. Cast the bobber out, wait for a bite, and then when you feel the most definite bite come in—around that time, you just reel it in!”
Lion nodded at the staff member’s lively explanation.
The biting intensity probably varied depending on what the prize was.
“There’s no set time, so please enjoy yourself at your own pace! However, you have three chances.”
So that’s why the guy earlier said he had two left.
‘Three tries is plenty.’
Lion lightly clenched and unclenched his fist.
When it came to fish, hadn’t I fished until I was sick of it when I was in the Labyrinth?
Especially the feel of that sturgeon I caught at the very end…!
‘It’s still vivid.’
Because it was so incredible that the question ‘How did I even catch that?’ came naturally.
“Then, for the first time in a long while…”
Shall I do a bit of fishing?
Lion cast the toy rod, which didn’t even need bait, toward the pond.
Before he knew it, a playful smile born of enjoyment had crept onto his lips.
Plop.
Maybe because it was a game, the first bite came faster than expected.
‘It feels quite realistic?’
I didn’t know how they managed it, but the sensation of a fairly large fish tapping the bait with its mouth was vivid.
But…
‘Let’s think about this carefully.’
What needed to be caught were the Egg Coins.
An Egg Coin was oval, so it was bigger than a regular coin, but a bite this heavy wouldn’t be it.
First of all, they were flatter, less smooth, and harder than normal fish.
And at most, their size was just slightly bigger than a killifish.
‘In fact, aiming for smaller bites should increase the probability.’
And the staff’s words also held a hidden hint.
To enjoy it slowly because there was no set time.
It seemed the Egg Coins only got caught after a considerable time had passed.
And finally…
‘I have to aim for the bite that feels the least like a fish.’
Of course, they probably set the bites to be as similar as possible, but Lion was someone who fished for his meals.
He could definitely tell whether something was a living creature or not.
The problem was the high probability of catching an ‘Egu Coin’, but…
‘Anything is fine.’
Even if he caught Egu Coins three times in a row, he figured they might just exchange them for one whole one.
He maintained his inward calm.
Tick.
Something hard lightly tapped the rod.
‘This is it.’
It was incredibly subtle, but the feeling was different.
Normally, you would have to hook onto a definite bite so the fish wouldn’t get away…
Swoosh!
Lion immediately lifted the rod and reeled in the line.
And what came out was…
It was something shaped like an oval coin.
First off, as expected, it was coin-shaped, but it was too early to celebrate.
Lion calmly retrieved the coin and examined it closely.
If it were an Egu Coin, the original coin shape should have a crack in it.
[Egg Coin]
-A coin used for special events at Hotel Easter.
-Its round, egg-like shape is quite impressive!
“…!”
A coin lavishly carved like an Easter egg landed in Lion’s hand.
It was perfectly identical to the one he had obtained from the ranch just a moment ago.
“Oh my! Congratulations, sir!”
“My God, how did you get it in one go?”
“Isn’t he too lucky?”
At the staff’s congratulations, the surroundings stirred.
Most of the looks were of envy. To have such luck on the first try!
Even the angler himself seemed so surprised, he’d frozen in place!
“…”
In reality, Lion had stopped for a moment while holding the Egg Coin.
It wasn’t just because he felt good about catching it, of course.
The reason was…
[You have caught a treasure in the special pond!]
[Fishing Proficiency has reached Apprentice Lv. 5.]
‘…My fishing level goes up even with a toy rod?’
It was because of the unexpected level up.
On top of that, the experience points were quite decent.
‘It was definitely around Apprentice Lv. 3…’
He had jumped two levels in an instant!
It seemed the Egg Coin had been recognized as something like a rare treasure chest in the pond.
‘If you think about it, that’s not wrong.’
Wait, if that was the case…
“I still have two chances left, right?”
“Yes! Of course.”
That meant if luck was on his side, he could raise his fishing level even further in this arcade.
‘…Isn’t that great?’
Lion tried hard not to let a grin slip like he normally would.
He was wearing a mask, so people couldn’t identify him…
But there was no need to reveal any characteristics either, was there?
‘Some weirdo might just latch onto me.’
Instead of smiling, Lion lightly brushed his face with his palm.
Then, after pocketing the Egg Coin, he immediately cast his line again.
He had tried his best to act nonchalant, but…
“…”
The people around him stirred for a different reason.
‘H-How thick-skulled must he be to be so nonchalant after catching an Egg Coin in one go?’
‘He doesn’t seem like an ordinary person.’
‘S-Scary! I’d better stay away…’
They had sensed a strange madness in his forced nonchalance.
Bit by bit.
The crowd around him gradually disappeared.
Thanks to that, Lion was able to focus even more completely on fishing.
And the results from his remaining three attempts were quite satisfactory.
He managed to get his hands on two more Egg Coins!