Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 40
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 40
The day Lion was supposed to return.
Outside the labyrinth gate, a crowd of people stood silently watching the door.
“…”
Everyone was so tense that they kept swallowing dryly.
They had received his note saying he would come back in a month, but whether the young master would make it through that time unharmed was still an unknown.
“Preparations?”
“Yes. If Young Master Lion does not return by day’s end, the elite unit is scheduled to move in.”
Knight Commander Rickson, his expression rigid with tension, answered Petrick’s question.
The elite unit of House Asteri.
Composed of Knight Commander Rickson, who stood on the threshold of becoming a Sword Master, along with the knights under him, mages deeply versed in combat, and the finest Healing Mage, it was a special task force that mobilized whenever a grave incident befell a direct line member of the family.
Its might was known to easily surpass that of the Imperial Guard and the Temple Holy Knight Order.
“Shall we prepare them immediately?”
“…Head of the Family. Even without the elites moving, my brother will return. It might only throw the labyrinth into confusion.”
“Right. There is still time left.”
Petrick’s voice sounded fairly composed, but the mana emanating from his body spread like a thickening mist as time wore on.
That was how deeply anxious Petrick was.
‘He didn’t starve to death, did he?’
‘He’s not too injured to walk out, is he?’
A storm of emotions raged.
Petrick drew a deep breath and shook his head.
Useless thoughts were no help right now.
‘Yes. I must think about when he returns.’
This was not a rescue mission.
They had to be ready to care for him once he was back.
“Hoffman.”
“Yes, Head of the Family.”
Hoffman Asteri, head of the family’s Magic Tower and one of the finest Healing Mages, answered at once.
“We must prepare for any eventuality. The moment Lion emerges, ready him for transport.”
“Understood.”
At a gesture from Hoffman, a space cleared, revealing a transport stretcher and all manner of magical devices already set up.
With equipment of this caliber, even someone at death’s door—no, even a person who’d already crossed over and dipped a foot in the Underworld River—could be hauled back and saved.
Hoffman lightly clenched his fist.
The best possible outcome was for his skills to go unused in this affair.
That would be proof that Lion had not been hurt.
The other family members shared the same sentiment.
They simply wished for him to return safely.
They just wanted him to come back without a single thing having happened.
And then, at some point, time passed.
Fwaaash!
The firmly shut library doors swung wide open, and a light so brilliant it was painful to look at with open eyes flashed forth.
“Urk.”
Even Hoffman and Rickshel, both of considerably high caliber, had to shield their eyes from that light with their hands.
Only Petrick alone stared straight into that light to greet his grandchild.
And, most mercifully…
Thud.
From out of the light, a figure walked forth unharmed on two steady feet.
It was Lion Asteri.
“Phew.”
Lion let out a light breath and looked around.
He seemed to have made it outside properly, thankfully.
But…
“…?”
Why—why were there so many people?
Lion felt bewildered.
He had expected Elvia at most, and Rickshel.
And, on top of them, his grandfather. Yet here were the Knight Commander, the combat mages… even collateral branch relatives he hadn’t seen since he was very young.
“Um, did I come out later than scheduled, by any chance?”
It was the only reason Lion could think to ask such a question.
He’d definitely written a note saying he’d come out in a month, so he had no idea why they were all gathered here with such a grim, formidable air.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh!
Petrick, who had been standing at the very front, swept Lion up and flung his arms around him.
“G-Grandfather?”
“…”
At Petrick’s sudden action, every member of the household gaped, then immediately looked away and pretended not to see.
Somehow, it felt as though acknowledging it would bring down divine punishment.
Amidst that atmosphere, Rickshel was the only one who remained perfectly composed.
‘He was terribly worried.’
How much his heart must have suffered.
Had he not been the Head of the Family, had he not carried such great burdens on his own shoulders, he might well have stormed straight into the labyrinth that very moment.
“The Head of the Family has been very worried. Brother.”
“…Ahem.”
Only then did Petrick, having collected himself, detach Lion from his embrace and step back.
“I was merely checking your physical condition. So, how is your body?”
“…”
You said you were checking my condition, so why are you asking about it?
The people around had to bite their lips firmly and stare at the distant mountains.
Lion swept his gaze over them once, then smiled.
‘Ah, I see.’
At last, the situation became perfectly clear.
It seemed his grandfather had been quite worried indeed.
“Just as your check confirmed, Grandfather, I’m perfectly healthy. Ah, since the coming-of-age ceremony has concluded, shouldn’t you inspect the items first?”
“Hm-hm, indeed. Everyone, return to your posts.”
At Petrick’s order to disperse, the people at last gave their individual farewells and swiftly disappeared.
They did not want to intrude upon the family’s reunion.
“We should go as well.”
* * *
Unlike before, Grandfather’s office felt a good deal warmer and cozier.
Though, admittedly, the stack of paperwork had doubled since last time.
“You had a lot of work because of me, didn’t you?”
“Don’t concern yourself with it.”
He had been so worried.
Hearing that curt voice somehow dissolved the lingering fatigue.
It seemed I’d been quite tense without even realizing it.
And apparently the same was true for the rest of the family.
Everyone had the drained, wrung-out feeling that comes after a terrible storm passes.
“…”
My heart ached for no reason.
For the first time, it really felt like I was home.
“It’s late, but I’m back.”
“Ah, first, please come and sit here. It must have been terribly hard on you. Heavens, your face is half gone.”
Rickshel, as if he had a torrent of things to say, rattled them off as he helped Lion settle onto the office sofa.
But…
‘My face is half gone?’
A little of that aching warmth subsided.
Sure, at the beginning I ate a bit poorly, but in the latter half the food situation improved massively, and didn’t I enjoy myself pretty well?
I made hand-torn noodle soup, and then knife-cut noodles after that.
The lake and forest produced a fair amount of food.
Clear stew, spicy fish stew… thanks to the Pungent Berry, I basically threw a Korean food party.
“I’m really fine. Or shall I go back into the labyrinth? So I can show you just how well I lived…”
“Absolutely not!”
“No. Under no circumstances.”
“…”
“Head of the Family. I think we must first assess my brother’s physical condition. Doesn’t his complexion look poor?”
No, I keep telling you I’m really fine?
I wanted to say that, but Grandfather was faster.
“You’re right. Hoffman!”
“Yes.”
Out of everyone who had been dispersing, Hoffman, who alone had not left and instead followed us here, stepped forward.
Glance.
Lion took in the healing mage who had been waiting beside the other two.
Without a doubt…
‘Hoffman Asteri.’
In Lion’s memory, he was one of the people who ranked high on the list of those he didn’t want to meet.
The reason was simple.
“Hoffman.”
“Yes, Head of the Family.”
Hoffman picked up various tools and approached Lion.
“Lion. I’m going to check your condition, so hold out your hand.”
Hoffman was a Healing Mage.
Which is to say, he was a distant relative and Lion’s personal physician.
But when would Lion have ever received treatment?
After the Mana Shock.
To be more precise, it was when every mana circuit in his body had become twisted by the Mana Shock, causing him to suffer terrible pain.
The twisting of the circuits from the shock was a problem, but untangling them was even worse.
Pain that was nearly impossible to endure.
And in young Lion’s mind, that agony and Hoffman became etched together permanently.
Like a terrifying dentist!
Perhaps that was why, at the mere sight of Hoffman, Lion would habitually run away or refuse treatment.
It was a spoiled, ungrateful attitude, but back then Lion had been utterly sincere.
Well, it always ended in failure anyway.
‘…Anyway, that’s that.’
I figured it wasn’t a problem at this point.
Isn’t it common knowledge that if you stay close to a doctor, you can regain health you didn’t even know you’d lost?
And they say the older you get, the closer you should stay to a doctor.
Even a regular doctor is this precious, so what of a Healing Mage, who is a full step above that?
‘He’s someone who’s nothing but a benefit to befriend.’
And I also needed to appeal to those two that my true condition was fine.
Without any fuss, Lion obediently held out his hand.
“…”
The one startled by that, naturally, was the Healing Mage Hoffman himself.
‘This brat isn’t refusing?’
Hoffman’s expression instantly turned grave.
This was the kid who, despite constantly crying that he was in pain at every possible moment, used to flee at the sight of him.
He’d cry out as if dying if you so much as touched him, with no grasp of the fact that getting treatment would stop the pain…
Yet here he was, so composed?
‘Rickshel and the Head of the Family did say he had changed, but is that actually true?’
His heart wavered for a moment, but Hoffman soon shook it off internally.
While gaining some sense could make a person act more rationally, he firmly believed that someone’s fundamental nature was immutable.
So clearly, it wasn’t that Lion’s attitude had changed; rather, his condition must genuinely be bad.
‘Ahem. I should start with the diagnosis.’
With a serious expression, Hoffman checked Lion’s physical condition.
The warm mana unique to Healing Magic spread from Lion’s hand throughout his entire body.
And the result was…
“Huh?”
Hoffman couldn’t help but tilt his head in puzzlement.
“…What’s the matter? Is his condition very bad?”
“No. Let me check again.”
Once more, a warm light examined Lion’s body, this time a bit more thoroughly.
“Ho-ho.”
He… seems fine?
In other words, Lion’s physical condition was equivalent to that of an exceedingly ordinary person.
Mana was still imperceptible, but his bodily state was just about average.
More like, he seemed a bit healthy…?
Though he had no idea what Lion had done while inside the labyrinth, even the circuits that had been fixed—as if the ordeal of Mana Shock had been a lie—were perfectly quiet.
“How can this be, after a journey into the labyrinth!”
“What? Is his condition poor?”
“Is my brother gravely ill?”
The two of them pelted him with questions like hounds on a chase.
“Ah, no. The thing is… Lion’s physical condition is remarkably good. It goes beyond sound; I dare say he is healthy.”
“What?”
“Is that the truth? You aren’t trying to deceive me as you did in the old days, are you?”
Rickshel’s initial joy quickly turned to suspicion as he questioned him.
It was a perfectly natural question to ask, since when Rickshel was younger they used to hide the fact that Lion was ill.
Besides, wasn’t Lion’s face still as pale as ever!
It was just his ordinary complexion, but among those present, not a single person would take that at face value.
“This time, it is no lie. He genuinely feels well.”
…But Hoffman’s voice, filled with sincerity, got through.
“Ahh!”
At long last, the expressions on both of their faces changed simultaneously, melting softly away.
‘Goodness, like grandfather, like grandson.’
Seeing that, Lion let out a quiet laugh.
“I told you all I’m really fine.”
“I myself have absolutely no idea how it came to be this way, Head of the Family.”
“It suffices that you are well. You’ve worked hard, Hoffman. You may take your leave.”
“Yes. Ah, Lion! If you have time later, come visit my Magic Tower. Just in case, I should conduct a thorough examination.”
“Yes. I will do that.”
“…”
Did he actually become sensible?
Tilting his head in wonder, Hoffman left the room.
Click.
The moment the door shut firmly, Petrick cast a soundproofing spell over the room and spoke.
“So. What happened during that one month?”
He had realized that Lion was hiding something.
“Well, that is…”
Where would be a good place to start explaining?
