Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 56
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 56
No—the lights hadn’t come on.
The underground room only seemed bright because that figure’s magic illuminated it.
Freyania shut her mouth and let out a loud hiccup.
He had appeared.
Petrick Asteri.
“Family Head.”
“You’ve come.”
-So this half-elf brat dared to try and kidnap my grandson?
“…”
Looking closely, this didn’t seem to be Petrick Asteri’s true body.
Most likely it was a clone or an illusion spell.
But what difference did that make?
Whether it was Petrick’s clone or the clone’s grandfather who had come, Freyania’s life was already as good as forfeit.
“She claims it was a misunderstanding, but right before that, Elvia confirmed traces that she was about to use force against my brother. We’ve also secured the trusted subordinates she hid in the forest.”
-And where are they now?
“We confined them in another underground cell.”
-So it seems.
Marquis Petrick’s illusion fixed its gaze on Freyania.
“Hiiik…!”
Freyania’s shoulders trembled violently.
Though it was only an illusion, it was a spell imbued with the Archmage’s power without any filtering.
Being exposed to it for long would inevitably cause severe mental damage.
-Have you anything more to say, kidnapper?
“I’m so-sorry. I’m sorry! I was just so jealous! I was so jealous of your abilities! So I thought if only you would become my teacher…!”
Uwaaang!
Freyania finally burst into tears.
-Huh.
“…”
“…Mm.”
Watching the kidnapper wail in return left the rest of the people—and one Witch—with nothing to say.
They hadn’t even confirmed whether the half-elf’s words were true.
In any case, the circumstances of the kidnapping attempt were undeniable.
Calling it a teacher or whatever and saying she would serve him devoutly sounded nice, but Lion was a direct descendant of House Asteri.
It was only because his family and household members had protected him with their utmost effort that he was safe; in truth, he was a priceless and noble existence.
Besides, recently… whether people knew it or not, his value had climbed even higher.
He had become the master of the Library Labyrinth itself, as well as the owner of the treasure the Hero had left behind.
And he was an alchemist who performed feats of alchemy no one else could replicate.
So they couldn’t simply let the little half-elf go just because she cried.
Even less so if the little thing was connected to the Criminal Underworld.
-Elvia.
“Command me.”
-Use the Witch’s power to read that little one’s heart.
“The Witch’s power…”
Rickshel, who had been waiting for the family head Petrick’s decision, murmured softly.
A Witch?
In an instant, something inside Rickshel’s mind clicked—a puzzle that had been incomplete fell perfectly into place.
Sylvia, who had suddenly announced her retirement, and the maid Elvia, who had suddenly appeared with powerful abilities.
And his brother, who had been close to that Elvia as if they had known each other a long time.
And then…
‘The ability to emerge suddenly from the shadows.’
Yes. How had I not noticed this sooner?
That was the power of a Witch, wasn’t it?
Rickshel let out a soft exclamation and looked at Elvia.
Smile.
Elvia looked at Rickshel and gave a faint smile.
“I am honored to meet you again. Young Master.”
“…”
Granny Sylvia. No—Elvia. She didn’t offer any cheeky apology like “Sorry for deceiving you.”
She merely said she was glad to meet him again.
Yet, oddly enough, Rickshel didn’t feel angry.
If anything, he was glad and pleased.
And relieved.
Yes. If it was Granny Sylvia.
If it was a Witch, he wouldn’t have to worry about his brother’s safety.
Hadn’t today proved that?
If Elvia hadn’t been there, his brother might have been kidnapped.
She could guarantee his safety without interfering with his brother’s freedom.
Of course, he would have to ask for the details once this matter was finished.
“All of you, please keep your distance. You may be swept up by the magic.”
Elvia stood before Freyania and slowly closed her eyes.
Rickshel and Petrick each took a step back.
“W-wait a moment. What are you trying to do right now?”
“Hush.”
Instead, Freyania grew anxious.
A Witch? Reading her heart?
What in the world did that mean?
‘Did I do something that wrong?’
What is this? What’s going on?
“Calm yourself, little half-elf child. If you thrash about, only your mind will suffer more. It’s better for you to sleep for a little while.”
No sooner had she finished speaking than Elvia breathed onto her own hand—whoosh.
Darkly gleaming mana wrapped around Freyania’s body, and her body went limp.
“From now on, I will read this half-elf’s heart.”
The shadow beneath Elvia’s feet split into six branches, and the light in the underground room flickered in time with the six shadow branches.
It resembled the rough storyboard of an old playwright.
The first shadow stretched out a hand, and the second shadow touched Freyania’s body. And it drew something out.
The next shadow swallowed it, then reached upward, and from the hand of the sixth shadow, something hazy and monochrome bounced free.
Elvia took it from the sixth shadow’s hand and released it into the darkened underground room.
Fwoosh.
A white light shone, and soon Freyania’s memories began to play out.
“Watch.”
The shadow world Elvia had created opened its curtain.
* * *
Through his illusionary body, Petrick Asteri observed the mind of Freyania that Sylvia had reconstructed.
It began with the beverage brought from the Magic Tower.
-What is this?
-It is the beverage they say Lion Asteri distributed when he visited the Magic Tower.
There was the image of her eyes gleaming, as if she had discovered something in the drink.
‘He practices alchemy at a higher level than me?’
And Freyania’s innermost thoughts were laid bare as well.
A scene of her giving orders passed, and next was the sight of her receiving a returned potion bottle.
-Minus 10 points.
P. S. Do not copy.
Her indignant expression and the image of her fuming that she would seek him out in person.
After that, even infiltrating Mimir Forest personally and eating fruit with Lion…
…To be honest.
“It’s not threatening.”
Petrick murmured this through his ghostly body, and the rest of them nodded in agreement.
Even Freyania’s fantasy of kidnapping was safe to an extreme.
A luxurious room, lavish food.
In case he might suffocate, she provided a top-grade air purification magic tool, and in case he missed nature, she was creating a miniature garden version of Mimir Forest…
“Hm?”
In the midst of that, something caught Petrick Asteri’s eye.
“That is.”
“Is something troubling you?”
Elvia paused the reenactment and looked at Petrick.
“The scene just before.”
-Salamander! Heat the cauldron for me!
“Hmm.”
“That… isn’t that a Spirit?”
Rickshel, who had been looking at the same scene as Petrick, cried out in admiration.
Yes. The lizard she had called to heat the alchemy cauldron!
Even in black and white, he could tell.
That was Salamander, the fire spirit only a spirit mage of at least the intermediate tier could summon.
“She’s a half-elf—how could she have an intermediate spirit? Isn’t it possible because it’s the half-elf’s own imagination?”
“It is not. No matter how vivid, an imagination this clear cannot be projected unless the person experienced it firsthand.”
If so, this meant the half-elf was at least an intermediate spirit mage…
“Don’t half-elves fail to see spirits?”
Perhaps for that reason, elves who had mingled with other races were often shunned among elf communities.
It stemmed from a closed-minded tendency to regard them as half-wits who couldn’t perform their proper function.
Moreover, Freyania was such a handful that she had drifted into the Criminal Underworld.
They had assumed the elves would naturally cut ties with her.
But she commanded spirits, did she?
That changed everything.
Elves regarded those who commanded spirits as deeply sacred.
Even if the one in question was a shunned half-elf, that fact remained the same.
Perhaps the bare minimum…
“That would be the case for one born between an ordinary elf and a human.”
He felt he had to return to the mansion as quickly as possible.
“If she is not a half-elf born from an ordinary elf.”
“Yes. If she is one born between a high elf and a human, it would not be strange for her to possess high spirit affinity.”
“…”
High Elf.
The very few chosen ones who essentially served as kings over the elves.
Their lifespans were longer than those of ordinary elves, they maintained their beauty for ages, and…
Unlike ordinary elves, they were known to be quite fierce of temperament.
And above them stood the Elder Elf who had vanquished the Demons alongside the Hero.
‘Boaresia.’
She had been one of Petrick’s old comrades.
“…”
Elvia perceived that Petrick’s voice had grown subdued and withdrew her magic.
In an instant, the six shadows merged back into one, and the lump of memories reentered Freyania’s body.
At the same moment.
Whoosh!
A massive light radiated from Petrick’s illusionary form and enveloped Freyania’s body as if attacking her…
Crackle—!
A spirit realm defense magic was activated, and soon a voice rang out.
[…Oh, is that you, Petrick Asteri?]
It was a beautiful voice that even a voice-modulation spell couldn’t disguise.
-It’s been a long time.
[It wasn’t such a long passage of years—a mere fifty at most… Ah. Perhaps that is quite a long time for humans. But you, I take it you aren’t actually present there? Hmm, this is rather troublesome.]
“…”
Rickshel signaled Elvia with his eyes.
He didn’t know exactly how the situation was unfolding, but there was no doubt something had happened.
He would hear the details himself, but his brother was currently alone.
Nod.
Elvia nodded lightly and vanished discreetly into the darkness.
-What do you mean, troublesome?
[You triggered that troublemaker’s defensive warding spell, and now our tribal members are on their way to your location.]
-…
[Armed.]
-No doubt because you found it amusing, you didn’t stop them and simply let them go.
[Hahaha, is that not obvious? One does grow a bit mischievous when living a long life. So I ask you to properly welcome these guests before it’s too late.]
-And what do you intend to do if I don’t give them a proper welcome?
[Don’t be so harsh. This is a good chance for these hot-blooded young ones to learn a bit about the outside world. These days, the kids tend to be even more closed off than I am.]
-Tch.
[Besides, it will certainly be a worthwhile experience for your descendants as well. There will be many things they can observe and learn from each other. Hoohoo. Then, I’ll see you soon.]
The beautiful voice delivered only what it wished to say and then broke off.
“Family Head. That person, just who is—”
-In human terms, you could call him the Emperor.
“…”
-His words are as light as feathers, but he is not lighthearted. Until I arrive, be thorough with your “welcome.”
“Yes. Understood. Then, my brother is…”
-Sigh. Only station as many people as you can manage. Above all, I will go as quickly as possible.
The two of them already knew that Lion wasn’t the kind of person who could be hidden no matter how hard they tried.
So they had set a policy of leaving him as undisturbed as possible but keeping him from taking any conspicuous actions.
After all, it was unlikely the elves would take an interest in alchemy.
It was at least a relief that the Elder Elf Boaresia herself had not chosen to show up.
Still, it wasn’t a problem that could be resolved at the household level once someone like that appeared.
‘Because we’d have to receive them not as guests of a marquis house, but as honored guests of the Empire.’